Original subtitles

[MOOING]

FAVOR: Mr. Kurtz, Pete here has come up with a shortcut

that's gonna save you a lot of miles.

Turns off to the west just a ways.

I thought you told me to stay with you to the San Luis before I turned west.

Yeah, well, that was the best I knew then.

Pete's just come in from scouting with this though.

See, Mr. Kurtz, if you turn off here

and follow the trail that parallels the telegraph line,

you'll hit the San Luis as soon as we will,

but you'll be a lot farther west.

You recommend it, Mr. Favor?

Oh, if Pete says so, Mr. Kurtz.

[CHUCKLES]

I kind of-- Kind of hate to leave you folks.

Well, it is just a day earlier and you'll be safe enough now.

You better get ready. The turnoff's right up here.

- Where's your daughter? - Well, she's...

Probably wherever that-- That fella Rowdy is.

She's been dogging his footsteps for days.

Hyah!

Do you hear it?

Why, yes, I can.

And the Injuns can read those sounds?

Well, I don't know if they can read it, but they sure know what they mean.

Talking wires they call them.

Listen and you'll hear them again. Do you hear those dot dashes?

I wonder what they're saying.

Yeah, probably talking about some general's bunions, I suppose.

I gotta get back to work.

Come on, you gotta get back to your wagon and stay there.

[CLICKING]

Lieutenant, this message is for you. Urgent.

Now, what is it?

"J.T. Whitley, second lieutenant, Telegraph Repair Detail, urgent.”

All right, get on with it.

- "Fort Milton reports--" - Yes, yes.

Poor boy, getting mighty warm for this time of year.

Wonder what it's gonna be like in July.

Sure nice right now though.

Grass is up,

birds are singing,

flowers will be in bloom before long.

Yup.

Them Comanches gonna be heading south for Mexican horses too.

Maybe already started.

Yeah, most probably.

I reckon I'd be getting started my own self.

You mean, you're going over the fence, Hap?

Ain't no fences out here, Tooky boy.

I don't see much point in waiting till we get back to the fort.

I had you figured right, Johnson.

Every year there's at least one.

One what?

Winter soldier.

You're right.

The Army counts on it.

I wouldn't hardly wanna disappoint them.

You're really gonna do it, Hap?

Well, of course I am.

Well, I had it planned that way when I joined up in the fall.

Spend me a nice warm, pleasant winter,

cozy barracks with some good company.

And come the fine weather and move on California, points west.

Maybe the Sandwich Islands. Now, how's that sound to you?

Yes, sir, go on to the South Seas.

Yes, sir, some of them pretty island girls.

[CHUCKLES]

You ought to come along with me, Tooky boy.

Heh. Not me.

That's desertion, Hap.

- If they ever catch you-- - Oh, now, now, now.

They don't never catch winter soldiers.

Most of the time they don't even chase after them.

No, sir, they got too many other things to occupy theirselves with.

Things I ain't got no hankering for at all.

Now, ain't he a fine specimen.

No conscience, no loyalty, no sense of duty.

Say, corporal,

if you got any notion about telling that there lieutenant

or anybody else about me,

you can just bet you're gonna be wearing them stripes in your grave.

Troopers, to horse.

Come on, troopers, let's get mounted. On the double.

- What's up, sarge? - Comanches.

Gonna warn the ranches and herds between here and the San Luis.

Comanches? Around here?

Over any hill. So keep your eyes open and your rifles ready.

All right, come on. Let's go, move.

Well, that settles it, Tooky boy. I'll see you in Tahiti.

You're really leaving, Hap?

You bet you I am, and you can have my share of Comanches

and my compliments too.

- But out here, where will you go? - I don't know.

I reckon I'll start with that Watson's trading goods place

where we was yesterday.

I'll manage there.

Well, happy days, good partner.

I always heard the government sold these trading post franchises

to the worst kind of riffraff bunch of robbers

out to get rich quick off the heathens and us poor traveling folks.

Mr. Wishbone, can I get some chewing tobacco?

Not unless you got a gold mine hid out some place.

Oh, this jasper reminds me of a fella I knew back in Natchitoches.

Robbed his own mother of her teeth for the metal in them.

Anyway, eating tobacco's upsetting to the stomach.

Oh, it's sure gonna be a long month of Sundays

in freezing weather on the equator

before I ever come back to this so-called trading post again

or my name isn't Wishbone. Giddy up.

Howdy.

I'd like to speak to the trader.

Why, how do, Mr. Watson?

You look to me like a man who might be interested in a fine bargain.

Where's your detail?

Oh, they off up over the hills somewhere, chasing wild goose.

Ain't no need to worry about them.

Appears to me that, uh, you might be interested in making a little money.

Now, am I right?

These for the uniform.

Well, now, you a pretty smart fella.

How'd you know what I was gonna ask you?

Don't you think I've ever seen a winter soldier before?

You gotta get rid of that Army stuff quick, so I'll trade you these.

They ain't nothing but cheap Injun trading goods.

That's what I've got.

Your weapons?

Oh, you bet you.

Now, there, that's the latest Army issue.

Twelve shot repeater and both of them together,

oh, it must be worth about a hundred dollars.

Both registered to the U.S. government.

[CHUCKLES]

Oh, you ain't serious.

Why, this old rickety thing for them two fine pieces?

Twenty shot. Ought to see you to the railroad, barring accident.

Well, now, suppose I run into Injuns?

Man alone, a gun won't do you no good anyhow.

Mr. Watson, those two fine pieces,

must be worth at least 10 of these old junks

and, say, uh, about 200 rounds. Now, how about it?

Take it or leave it.

[SIGHS]

Mr. Watson,

just between two fine gentlemen,

you ain't nothing but an out and out thief.

Who's trying to sell who stolen Army goods?

I'm taking a big chance just keeping it on my premises.

If you don't like the offer, you can go to the next place.

And I reckon you know how far that is.

[SIGHS]

Well...

How about my horse and saddle out back?

I got a broke saddle you can fix and I'll trade even.

But that horse with the U.S. carved on its hoof, no thanks.

Oh, now, you know I can't ride that horse no place.

That's your problem and I'm not making it mine.

Let me tell you something.

You know you're wasting your time out here with these poor Injuns.

You ought to be back East, robbing rich widows and orphans. Heh.

Oh, now, hold on. Just a second.

There was a chuck wagon out there.

And the fella, name called, uh, Wishbone.

You wouldn't happen to know where that herd was camped, would you?

A few miles west. They're heading for the San Luis crossing.

- Figure on joining up with them? - Well, now,

that wouldn't be no business of yours.

Not unless you was figuring to tell them bluecoats next time they come through.

Well, I might. If I can see a profit in it for me.

That ain't loaded. I've seen to that.

Now take off that uniform and get off my premises fast.

You, uh,

wouldn't just give me a little sack of grub

and some chewing tobacco, would you?

Try that trail herd. Maybe you can bamboozle them.

You're a mighty nice fella.

Can't thank you enough, Mr. Favor, for letting us tag along all these days.

It's been a real pleasure, Mr. Kurtz.

Ellie and me will miss you all.

It's a real lonesome thing, traveling alone out on those prairies.

Well, I'm sure you'll be just fine now.

Well, it ain't me who will be most lonesome.

She's real took for the first time.

She's only 16.

Um, goodbye, Ellie.

So long. Giddy up there. Come on.

Mushy.

Mushy, doggone it, you call this water?

Mr. Wishbone, that's all I could find. I had to dig 3 feet for that.

Well, you quit digging too soon. You didn't strike water yet.

You expect me to cook with this stuff?

I'm sorry, Mr. Wishbone.

Oh, boy. I tell you, between thieving traders and dry camps,

I'll be switched if I know why I keep coming on these drives.

It gets so a man can't even look forward to the after-place down below.

You snakebit or something, Mr. Wishbone?

No, I'm not snakebit or something and I haven't got a gut ache neither.

Just happened to need some medical remedy.

It may not do me any good,

but at least it can't make anything worse.

[HAP LAUGHING]

Well, now, what do you know about that?

If it ain't old Wishbone.

WISHBONE: Huh?

Why, it's a blasted miracle, that's what it is.

Well, you remember me, don't you, Wishbone old boy?

You ain't forgot your good friends from Natchitoches so soon now, have you?

Oh, well, I guess not.

[HAP CHUCKLES]

Well, I'm Hap Johnson.

Myrtle Johnson's boy?

Oh, there was a time when her and your mama were just thick as thieves.

Of course that was a ways back,

but I'll bet you recollect now, don't you?

Myrtle Johnson?

Haven't you got anything to do?

No, I don't think I recollect any Myrtle Johnson.

Oh, sakes alive. The times we did have together.

Of course now, you was somewhat older than I was

and you didn't hardly pay too much attention to me,

but there was a time there when you was kind of my boyhood hero.

[HAP CHUCKLING]

Johnson, you said your name was?

You bet you. Hap. Short for happy.

Because I used to bawl so much when I was a baby.

Well, now,

do you remember that teacher? Now, what was her name?

- Old Hazel Tewksbury? - You bet you, Hazel Tewksbury.

Recollect the time when she tanned my hide,

when I let them pigs wallow in her petunia bed.

I got a vague recollection.

Oh, surely. Everybody back in Natchitoches remembers that.

Well, now, how all the folks back home?

Oh, fine, I guess. I don't get back much anymore.

Ah, me neither, me neither.

We don't get back the way we ought to and that's for sure.

Well, now, so you're trailing a herd of cows north, huh?

Ain't that a coincidence.

Wish, I'm going the same way my own self.

Well, how is it you're way out here all alone without a horse or anything?

Oh, well, I got me a horse. He's back up over the hill yonder.

See, I made camp before you all come along

and I just kind of ambled over to see who you all was.

But I never figured to run into an old friend like you.

[LAUGHS]

Well, now, how do, how do? Hap Johnson's my name.

Yeah, this is a fella from down where I used to live. Natchitoches.

Wishbone and I is old, old friends.

Welcome to you, Mr. Johnson.

Any friend of Wishbone is a friend of ours.

Thank you.

- Make yourself at home. - You bet you. Don't mind if I do.

HAP: Well, see, there I was,

just running for my life,

and that bear is so close behind me,

I could feel his hot breath breathing on my britches.

And all of a sudden, I stubbed my toe.

What happened?

Well, that rifle went flying out of my arms

and landed in the ground with the barrel pointing right up at me.

And it was just then that I knowed I was saved.

Saved? How?

Why, I run down that gun barrel and hid,

and that bear went right over me and on down the trail.

[ALL LAUGH]

- I reckon he's still running. - We better turn in.

No telling how much sleep we're gonna get tonight.

Oh, now, the party's just getting started.

I got a whole heap more stories to tell.

I'm afraid Rowdy is right.

We're more than likely to have trouble with those critters out there tonight.

So we'll ride double night guards.

Mighty serious young gent.

Don't seem to appreciate my storytelling.

Well, it ain't exactly that.

You see, Rowdy had sort of a sad parting today.

PETE: Yeah, a very pretty young lady.

Oh, yeah, of course, she was only crowding 16. Heh.

All right, all right, you men have had your fun.

Well, now,

what kind of trail herd is this with young ladies traveling with you?

Oh, she was just traveling along with her father,

homesteaders on the way west to Colorado.

Oh, yeah? What happened to him?

They took off about noon.

Took a shortcut parallel to the telegraph line to the San Luis river.

Ah, them poor nesters.

I feel sorry for them sometimes.

Traveling out here all alone,

not a penny to their name,

- nothing to go on. - Oh, I don't know.

Kurtz didn't seem like no pauper to me.

- Did he to you, Quince? - No.

He sold a farm back east.

He must have got some money for that.

QUINCE: In fact, he even offered to pay Mr. Favor for his keep.

Well, better get down.

Yeah, good night, gents.

Good night.

HAP: Mr. Favor?

I appreciate your hospitality, letting me eat dinner and all.

No thanks necessary.

Well, you got a mighty fine bunch here.

It's just a pure pleasure to be with them.

Appears to me though you might be needing another hand to railroad.

I'm afraid not, Mr. Johnson.

Well, now, it ain't just my storytelling recommends me.

I can punch cows with the best of them.

I figured maybe being an old friend of Wishbone's...

Well, I would dearly like to help an old, old friend of Wishbone's,

but like I say, I just ain't got the room.

It shouldn't be too much trouble for you to go back to traveling on your own

like you say you've been doing.

Heh. Is there something about me you don't like?

Yeah, let's just say, um,

you don't amuse me.

Oh.

You didn't hire that fella, did you?

- No. Do you want me to, Wish? - No.

You know, I don't know what it is, but there's something fishy about him.

I thought you and he was old friends.

Oh, no. To tell the truth, I don't even remember him.

Of course, he did recognize me,

but I'm sure we was never good friends.

Did you, um, notice anything about his clothes?

Yeah.

There is something strange about them.

Yeah, well, they're brand new.

But they're real cheap, like Indian trade goods.

Like what you'd get at a trading post.

Like the one that you visited today.

Now, wait a minute, you can't get by with this sort of thing.

I'll complain to Washington.

I demand to know what this is all about.

This.

And this.

Lieutenant.

And that. Where is he?

How should I know? I wouldn't let him stay here.

We've got a lot more important things to do

than waste time looking for one deserter. Where did he go?

To a trail herd west and north of here,

headed for San Luis crossing.

All right, that's on our way. You're under arrest.

Me? Now, wait a minute.

This is going to cost you your franchise.

Leave two men to guard him.

We'll pick them up after warning the valley ranches.

Over here.

All right, troopers, you're on guard. Give me that evidence.

Winter soldier.

Oh, hey there, Wish.

Well, I've been looking all over for you.

What are you doing here?

I thought you went back to your own camp.

Well, now, I did.

But I couldn't go away without saying goodbye to a good friend.

I thought, uh, maybe you'd do me a little favor,

and we could do some trading.

What kind of trading?

Well, I need me some vittles.

And I just thought maybe you'd give me a sack of grub

for this here fine blanket.

It's just like new.

Looks like Army issue.

Oh. So it does.

But a fella sold it to me, so it's all legal-like.

Oh, I'll bet.

Oh, now, Wish, do you doubt my veracity?

Yes, I do.

You know, I've been thinking, Mr. Johnson.

I don't remember you back in Natchitoches.

And I don't think you remember me.

Now, I don't know what your game is, but I don't like the smell of it.

So I'm not gonna do any kind of business with you.

Now, you take that blanket and get out of here

before you get thrown out.

Why, now, hold on there, good partner.

FAVOR: You heard the man.

[CHUCKLING] Well, now, what is the matter with you two gents?

Is this any way to be treating a fellow traveler?

Why, you'd think I was some kind of criminal or something. Heh.

Maybe you are, Mr. Johnson. Maybe you are.

If that's your real name.

That, um, government-issued blanket sort of helps add it all up.

Adds up what?

Well, you are a winter soldier, ain't you?

A deserter.

So what if I am?

Well, it ain't the worst thing in the world.

I just don't like fighting.

I like to live free as a bird and I don't hurt nobody.

So, what business is it of yours?

- You riding herd for the Army? - Nope.

Heh. I'll bet you're scared they'd find out and charge you.

Ain't no worry there. I'd tell them you didn't know nothing about it.

That ain't what worries me.

You figure I can't do the work just as good as any man?

Oh, I guess you could, if you wanted to.

Well, now, you got me. What is it?

I just don't like your kind around.

Uh-oh.

You're one of them kind of fellas, huh?

You're just a little might of a hypocrite, ain't you?

You figure you got a group of boys here ain't never broke a law?

You just plum sure they're all lily-white.

One thing I know about all the men I got, I can depend on them.

Nobody can depend on a winter soldier, because he's just out for himself.

When you need him, he never there.

Now, will you take your gear and get on back to your camp?

Happy days, boss man.

He went back to his own camp? Where?

Well, off that way.

We just came that way. We saw no signs of a camp.

- Search this place. - Yes, sir.

ROWDY: Now, just a minute, lieutenant.

I don't have time to argue, cowboy. I've got a warning to sound.

Look, see all you want. We got nothing to hide.

Oh, would you mind not making a ruckus though?

We've got an awful fidgety bunch of cattle out there.

Lieutenant.

Look at this.

Rub off the mud.

Now, this wrangler swore there was no such horse here.

Si, I swear it. I never saw this horse before.

Of course not.

- Bring him along. - Now, wait a minute.

TOOKY: Lieutenant.

Whoa. Come on.

Whose bed roll is this?

Uh, it's mine.

WHITLEY: You threw him out of camp, but, uh,

not before you did business with him, huh?

You're both under arrest.

Come on, be reasonable, man.

Give us a break.

At least give us a chance to go after Johnson and bring him back, huh?

We'll probably find him ourselves.

Meanwhile, you and your wrangler will be held at the trading post

until we get back tomorrow night.

We got a job to do.

We can't just stand still. Those cattle need water.

You should have thought of that before you bought stolen Army goods.

- Look, I told you, you-- - It's no use, boss.

He's typical Army.

You can't expect him to be reasonable, take that away.

But what does he take me for? Do I look like a trader?

One measly blanket

and a horse who is no better than the one that joker rode off with.

Don't worry about Johnson. I'll track him down and bring him back.

Maybe you better take somebody with you.

- Quince. - We'll get him, boss.

Pete, you take over the herd.

Your main problem will be to keep them from running.

- They've got the smell of water now. - Don't worry about it.

And if they go, just try to keep them from killing each other.

And don't let them run all the fat off.

I'll manage.

[FAVOR GRUMBLES]

Oh, since you'll be at the trading post tomorrow night, what then?

Then we take you to Fort Claiborne for trial.

Unless they've brought Johnson back.

And Johnson corroborates your story.

[FAVOR GRUMBLES]

Well, what about Kurtz and his daughter?

Shouldn't they be warned about the Indians?

It's more important to warn the valley ranches.

That's the probable route of the Comanches.

- Why, how do, ma'am? - Pa.

- Pa. - Now, hold on. I ain't no wild Injun.

I ain't no highwayman neither now.

Fact is, I ain't nobody for you to be scared of at all, Mr. Kurtz.

Well, I was sent here to help you by your good friend and mine too,

Mr. Gil Favor.

Mr. Favor sent you?

You bet you, he surely did.

What'd he send you for?

Why, just to ride along the trail with you ways and give you some protection

in case you might need it.

Why? Has something happened?

No, no. You're safe enough.

The thing is, he wanted me to come

and tell you about this here shortcut he found out about after you all left.

But you wasn't with the herd when we left them yesterday.

Where'd you come from?

Well, now, it was just a lucky thing.

See, I was ambling along the trail,

figuring to catch up with them sooner or later.

And I must've just after you all left.

Anyway, when Mr. Favor found out about this here shortcut,

he told me to come right on ahead and tell you about it.

You knowed Mr. Favor for some time then?

Some time?

Oh, we was boys together back in Texas.

Couldn't be much better friends.

So most naturally, when he asked me to do him a favor, I was happy to do it.

And you all too, being good friends of his.

- Well, we do thank you, mister, uh...? - Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Harwell T. Johnson.

Hap is short for happy, which is the way I like to make folks feel.

This-- This here is my daughter, Ellie.

How do, ma'am? Right proud to know you.

Oh, that Rowdy fella was surely right about you.

What'd he say?

Why, just that you was the prettiest thing west of New York.

- Honest? - You betcha.

And I'd put it a little further my own self.

Maybe even Paris or France or somewhere like that.

Uh, we was just getting ready to sit and eat.

You join us?

Well, now, thank you. I don't mind if I do.

And then after we eat, we'll get on

about the business of that shortcut, huh?

I guess.

Mr. Favor says so.

You betcha.

I don't get it. They turned off.

Yeah, they're heading due west.

So did this jasper Johnson according to the tracks.

Either he is trailing them real close or he's riding with them.

That's it. He's joined them.

Yeah, but why'd they quit the main trail?

Let's go.

Are you sure we're on the right trail?

We'd be close on to San Luis, if we'd stayed on the telegraph line.

Well, now, you just don't worry about a thing, Mr. Kurtz.

Uh, this is the right trail, all right.

Well, it sure is taking us off away from everybody.

We ain't got too much water, you know?

Oh, well, there's water just up a trail a piece.

Yes, you just keep right on going.

Giddyap.

ROWDY: Unshod, huh?

Comanches, all right. No more than three of them.

Scouts most likely.

Look at that.

That print's right over the wagon track.

Yeah, they passed after.

They know about the Kurtzes then, don't they?

Heading that way.

You know the way Indians track, Quince.

They could follow along that ridge

and watch these wagon tracks a mile away.

Well, what do you wanna do, Rowdy?

That sort of changes things.

[SIGHS]

Plenty.

Jim, you ride on back. Not to the herd, to that trading post.

That patrol ought to be there by tonight.

Get that patrol over here.

And the boss too and Hey Soos, every last man.

Make it fast, will you?

Now, see that, Mr. Kurtz, just like I told you. Water.

Well, it ain't much.

It ain't much good.

Oh, well, it will do just fine for cooking and watering the stock.

And it's gonna be more and better tomorrow.

Now, could I help you unpack that wagon?

Unpack?

Well, I mean, just get down whatever you might need for tonight, you know?

No, thanks. I'll manage.

Well, alrighty.

Well, I'll just get some more firewood then.

Oh, now, Miss Ellie, ma'am.

You still wasting sighs over that cowpoke?

Rowdy?

Did he really say those things?

Why, you know he did.

Oh, he cared a whole bunch for you.

Of course, you ain't gonna have no trouble attracting the fellas.

Like bees around honey.

Quick as you get out there to Colorado.

I might even be one of them my own self.

Oh, now you're teasing me.

Why, no, I ain't. You just wait and see.

Of course, now, your old daddy there,

he might be holding some of them fellas off.

Pa? How come?

Well, I mean, him being so rich and all.

See, some fellas, they're kind of scared of that.

Pa? Rich?

I won't have no trouble there. Heh.

Well, he looks mighty prosperous to me.

Say, what'd he do anyway back there where you come from?

Arkansas. He had a farm.

Ah.

Sold it, I expect before you come out here.

I reckon.

Oh, boy, I just hope he ain't carrying too much money with him.

You never know what kind of fella you're liable to run into

up here in these hills.

Yeah. I know. We're just lucky, I guess.

How's that?

Well, we haven't come across any dishonest men,

like I thought you was when I first saw you.

But you're nice. Almost as nice as Rowdy.

KURTZ: Ellie.

- I'm coming, Pa. - There's things to be done.

I know.

[ELLIE LAUGHING]

HAP: Yeah, I'm in the brush, I look up at a tree,

and I see three birds sitting there on the limb.

Now, I pick up my old trusted pistol and I shoot one down.

- How many is left? ELLIE: Why, two of course.

HAP: No, they ain't nothing there.

You shoot one, the other two are gonna fly away

if they got any sense at all.

[ELLIE LAUGHS] [WOLF HOWLING IN DISTANCE]

Now I'm gonna tell you the story of old Daniel Weatherby.

This here is a great Injun fighter from back in the old days.

Old Daniel, he got there and was fighting about, oh,

must have been 111 men if I recollect.

And they tied him up against the tree with rawhide ropes,

and there was one rope up against one side tied to a eucalyptus tree

and there's one rope up against the other side, tied to a pine tree.

And them Injuns come at old Daniel Webster

and there wasn't nothing he could do.

He swung back and it let his feet go and he kicked one of them over.

He swung so hard, he went right around in a circle.

He come down again, he kicked another Injun.

He kept on kicking, and he got to be going so dang fast,

them ropes broke and he went right through the wall

and them Injuns went right straight across Oregon Trail

and landed in California.

Do you believe that?

FAVOR: Look, lieutenant, don't be foolish.

The Comanches have likely got twice as many men as you have.

If not a lot more.

Rowdy said to bring every man you could gather up.

If you leave us here, you're gonna have to leave men to guard us.

Now, which is more important?

The charge against us or saving those lives?

All right.

But we'll keep your guns.

And you won't get them back unless we're about to go into action.

And don't forget, Favor, you're still under arrest.

All right, all right. Let's go.

And so there I was, hung to the tree with a screaming savage redskin

just coming right straight at me with that scalping knife

flashing between his teeth.

- Well, what did you do? - I didn't do nothing.

He scalped me and I died right on the spot.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Hey, help me here.

Come on, Johnson, help me.

Rowdy.

Well, what happened?

KURTZ: Well, I heard something out there.

I seen somebody sneaking around, sneaking in toward the fire.

And I whupped him on the head.

Oh, poor Rowdy.

But what was he doing out there sneaking in on us?

How do I know? He must have had a good reason.

Anyway, you didn't have to whup him so hard. You like to kill him.

He's coming around.

[HOOFBEATS]

[GROANS]

I'm sorry, young fella.

I didn't know it was you, I wouldn't have hit you like that.

Well, that's all right.

- Wow. - But what was you doing out there?

I thought you was a redskin.

I think there's some Indians out there.

Yeah, I'm afraid you're right.

But that ain't why I came down here. Where's Johnson anyway?

There was a horse just took away.

I bet that was him taking off.

Why would he do that?

He's got a good reason, I can tell you.

And I thought he was so nice.

Anyway, he's gone now.

The main thing is, what do we do if the Comanches are out there?

You think they might attack us?

Well, that depends on how many of them there are.

They might try to run off the horses.

That's the kind of raiding parties they've been on lately.

Well, we could put the horses here.

But there's just us two men.

Yeah, well, there's no use worrying about that now.

They probably won't attack before dawn anyway,

and by then, the lieutenant should be back with that patrol.

If Quince got to the trading post.

If they hadn't left.

Don't worry. He'll get back.

[RUSTLING]

Rowdy.

No need for that, cowboy. I ain't no gunfighter.

You just drop that gun.

You and me are gonna go back and talk to that lieutenant.

You can tell them the whole stories. Let my boss and wrangler get off.

Well, now, maybe I am and maybe I ain't.

Maybe you ain't got much to say about it.

But you better let me keep my gun.

Yeah, why is that?

Because there's Injuns out there.

I seen them back up in the hills.

You mean, you came back on your own accord?

Well, it wasn't but two of them.

They looked like scouts.

But they could be waiting for other ones.

And you just might need this old gun,

rickety as it is.

Yeah, that's real noble of you.

Now, you just hand it on down.

Rowdy, he could've run off and saved himself.

I'm not too sure he didn't do that anyway.

Probably got scared out there by himself

and he came back here for protection.

Well, you might be right. I ain't never been very brave.

But I'd like to keep my gun.

Just hand it on down here.

You can settle yourself down here in camp.

I'll give you the gun back when and if the time comes.

We'd better follow these tracks.

Hell you, lieutenant, we cut across these hills, we'll save nothing but time.

Now, this man knows what's he's talking about. So let's go.

[WOLF HOWLING IN DISTANCE]

Oh, now, now.

What's this here?

[ELLIE SOBS]

I'm sorry.

I guess I'm just kind of like you. I'm not very brave.

Well, now, you just might surprise yourself.

I wouldn't mind it so much

- if I just hadn't missed one thing. - What's that?

Wedding.

I wanted one so bad.

HAP: To that cowboy, huh?

To anyone.

Ever since I saw a picture of a bride.

She was all dressed in white.

All frilly.

And beautiful.

Well...

Dreaming is all right.

Just so you don't use it to run away with.

You always got to remember what's real

and what's important.

Well, you got to appreciate what you got.

- What I got? - Why, you got life.

It ain't no use to be worrying about dying.

Not now nor never.

There's time enough for that when and if it happens.

Right now you ain't dead.

You're alive.

And you're just so pretty, I can't hardly stand it.

Tears?

No, I...

My eyes are just tired from watching.

Well, you rest them. I'll watch a while.

No, it's almost dawn. I can do my part.

Fine.

Rowdy.

Yeah?

I'm sorry I didn't say a proper goodbye to you yesterday.

I'd like to now.

Well, there's no need for that now.

Maybe there is and maybe there ain't.

But I know what's real now.

I won't pester you again.

Goodbye, Mr. Yates. It's been a real pleasure knowing you.

Well, it's been a real honor knowing you, Ellie.

It really has.

Mighty nice folks, ain't they?

That's right.

They'd be safe in San Luis now if it wasn't for you.

What's the idea of taking them off the trail for anyway?

Well, I figured there'd probably be soldiers down there

and up here we could ride along alone for a ways.

You sure it wasn't about Mr. Kurtz having some money?

What are you talking about? I ain't no thief.

Oh? That Army stuff, that don't count?

Well, I didn't do that for the goods alone.

Besides, I wouldn't take anything from them people.

I ain't that far gone. Not yet.

The thought never even crossed your mind, did it?

Just because I don't wanna spend all my days in Army barracks,

don't make me no criminal.

Yeah, but it won't be long for you, the way you're going.

You won't amount to anything.

Well, just maybe I ain't gonna have too long

to worry about that one way or the other.

Say, just about 10 minutes.

You gonna give me my gun back, cowboy?

KURTZ: Rowdy.

Mr. Kurtz, uh, you better keep an eye out that direction.

Never know where they're gonna come in from.

They got two scouts down here close already.

Yeah. One thing I want you to do for me, if you will.

If...

If you see that there's no chance for Ellie...

I've already put one aside for that.

Thanks.

I just couldn't myself.

You keep an eye on that side, will you now?

Rowdy, look out!

What's happening up there?

Looks like they're turning away.

Keep watching. They may be coming around the other side.

Wait. Wait, look, it's the soldiers.

[GUNFIRE]

Look, men, they've got them on the run.

[KURTZ CHUCKLES]

Ellie, honey.

- Ellie, we're saved. - Oh, Pa.

No, no, don't shoot.

You still just bound and determined

to send me back to some federal prison,

- ain't you, cowboy? - Mr. Yates, listen.

He came back to help us.

Rowdy, he could have saved himself.

All the more reason to stay.

He's made a good start on something else besides a winter soldier.

You know what you're asking, don't you?

Maybe five years back on some rock pile.

Maybe not.

That's what we tell them about you coming back.

You run now and the winter soldier's all you're ever gonna be.

- Are you giving me a choice? - That's right.

[SIGHS]

Well...

I'd really like to.

But I just ain't made that way.

It wouldn't do no good.

I'd just run off again, I know I would.

Ain't no sense in trying to change me.

A winter soldier's all I am.

Mr. Johnson, please, won't you just try?

I'm afraid not, Miss Ellie.

Remember what I was telling you about what's real?

Well, I know what's real for me too.

I'm just a rolling stone.

And I guess I'll be rolling off.

Mr. Kurtz, you tell that there lieutenant that them drovers

didn't have nothing to do with that stolen Army goods. I just left it there.

About this here horse,

I'll try to leave him up the trail for you some place.

Because I ain't no thief.

Not yet anyway.

All right.

Goodbye, Johnson.

Miss Ellie,

you hang on to your dreams.

Happy days, everybody.

You think he'll get away, Rowdy?

I don't know, Ellie.

But one thing's for sure.

Looks like you might get that wedding you've been dreaming about.

Are you asking?

Huh? Me?

Oh, no. No, I...

I'm just a rolling stone too.

I guess I'll be rolling on away.

Head them up!

Move them out!