Original subtitles

Well?

I got so cold out there I thought my intestines would turn to icicles.

You wanted to go.

It's no good, Major.

Another five miles and the storm will be up to the wagon beds.

That bad, huh?

Yeah, sometimes you can't even follow the trail.

If we have to winter over here, half our stock won't make it through the spring.

A lot of people won't, either.

Well, there are other routes. Such as?

The old fur trappers had a way of getting into the Green River country.

In Jim Bridger's day it was a pretty good trail.

That was 30 years ago.

You'd have to hitch up a team of mountain goats

to get a wagon through there now.

Well, in the morning I'll go out and have a good look.

I think we can get through.

McCullough, I make the decisions around here, that's my job.

It's my job to find a trail.

Well, I said I'd think it over, didn't I?

You goin' someplace, McCullough?

I'm Just gonna have a look around...

while you're thinkin'.

Sort of a reconnaissance mission.

Which way you gonna reconnoiter?

South, toward the Green River country. Any objection?

I suppose not.

But you be back here before sundown tomorrow, ya hear?

I won't be late.

If your guess is wrong, get word back to me before that.

It's no guess. Oh?

No, it's a calculated risk.

First principle of tactics, remember? Get outta here.

What are you doing here?

I'm on a bloody hunting trip...

You know, climb some, shoot some...

Great sport all round.

Not in this weather.

How well I know.

You alone?

Oh, no. We had guides, porters, horses...

The whole show, very impressive.

What happened to 'em?

They ran off in the middle of the night.

All right, tell me why.

Afraid, I presume.

Afraid of what?

The mountain, perhaps...

Big Steve, probably.

Who's Big Steve?

Lord Steven Campden.

Never heard of him. You know the type...

Climb the highest mountain, shoot the largest tiger...

May I say, I'm Steve Campden II.

No medals, though. Just Little Steve.

That's a family joke. It's not very funny.

Maybe it's time you outgrew it.

Believe me, I tried.

Big Steve, huh?

Who are you?

I thought I was a Good Samaritan,

but I'm beginning to think I'm a fool.

What are you doing here?

I ride scout for a wagon train.

Bit far off trail, aren't you?

The south pass is snowed in.

I'm headed for the Green River country.

Look for yourself.

McCullough, eh?

Nothing personal, McCullough.

I've been robbed once in this country.

Like a burnt child, I like to profit from experience.

Forget it.

You know this country, McCullough?

Nobody knows it... I've been through it.

You won't get through it now.

The pass is blocked by an avalanche.

How far up? Mile or so.

Where are you heading?

Cerro del Penetente, the Spaniards called it... Repentance Mountain.

The Indians have got another name for it... Peak of the Angered God.

I say, that's a mountain, McCullough!

I say, that's my kind of a mountain.

Sharp enough, high enough, mean enough.

I've come 7,000 miles for that mountain.

Been climbed. Indians, perhaps.

Not the west face.

I'm after the west face.

How about it, McCullough? Care to come along?

Not a chance.

Scared?

Got a hundred wagons waiting for me to find a pass through these mountains.

Three of us would make it up the west face to the top a lot faster.

You'd see all the passes from up there.

That's a thought.

That right, Little Steve?

Yes, you probably could.

I'll think about it.

Yes, you do that.

Well, we're bedding down here for the night.

You're welcome to join us if you wish.

McCullough...

I've climbed a lot of mountains.

I've met a lot of men.

I've never been licked.

I'll build a fire.

You're right, Campden, the trail's completely wiped out.

I had an idea you didn't believe me, McCullough.

I've been burned myself.

What makes you think I'd want to burn you?

Well, McCullough? What do you say?

What is there to say?

That wagon train of yours must be getting pretty anxious.

There's not much I can do about it, though.

There's one possibility... Penetente.

What do you say, McCullough? The top of the world!

You can see all the passes from up there.

We could make it by this afternoon.

What about the other side?

The east slope's a lot simpler.

Takes three days longer to get there, though.

This way, with luck, we'll be up and down by nightfall.

Yeah, with luck.

That's a lot of mountain, Campden.

Maybe it can't be climbed.

It's not a god, McCullough...

It's not a man... It's a mountain.

Rock. Ice. Snow.

Ha! It can be climbed.

What makes you so sure?

As a matter of fact, I doubt there's a peak this side of the Himalayas

that I can't manage to master.

That we can't.

"We," huh?

You. Me.

My son.

Now, you go back to the Major.

If he asks any questions, you just don't answer!

The Peak of the Angered God.

Doesn't look mad to me... Looks scared.

The storm god is preparing a reception for us.

We mustn't be late. Most ungentlemanly.

McCullough, remember what I told you about that rope?

Some.

Keep the rope taut,

belay it around the rock or myself if necessary,

play follow-the-leader,

one man stationary, the other two moving.

By thunder, McCullough, you're a born mountaineer.

Now, I'm going to take a shot at this face.

It'll save a lot of time if it goes.

Scared?

So am I.

You're no coward.

Nope, just human.

Do you think he is?

I don't know... but we'll find out.

Will you?

I never have.

Mother never did, either.

She wanted to call me Richard.

That was her father's name.

He was an earl.

Ever since I can remember it was "Little Steve."

Everyone would laugh, pretend to see a resemblance.

Certainly my father's son, they'd say.

Then he'd laugh and look proud.

They were wrong, you know.

You think so?

Mark was his son.

He was my older brother.

He was just like him.

Climb the sheerest cliff,

shoot the largest water buff.

He was his kind of man. Then why isn't he with him?

Mark died over over in India during the mutiny.

Big Steve was his commanding officer.

Got him the Victoria Cross... Posthumously, of course...

For "conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy."

Mark was his son.

It'll go, Steve.

It'll go.

Clear to the shoulder.

I said we'd have luck.

And after the shoulder?

One bad spot...

A couple of hundred feet of sheer rock.

But it's simple after that.

Campden. Yeah?

You said it's a tricky climb.

A challenge, if that's what you mean.

I don't think your son's up to it.

I don't mean to interfere, but... Well, then don't.

We could leave him here,

come back for him after we've got help from the wagon train.

Nonsense. Best thing in the world for him.

Give him confidence.

You want to go, don't you, Steve?

Well, sir, I...

I tell you boy, there's nothing like it in the world

When you stand with your two feet straddling a virgin peak

and look at the sky and shout, because you've won.

I was doing much shouting on the Wetterhorn,

and that that was a comparatively easy peak.

As our guide said, "Nice day's climb for a lady."

Muscle spasm. Vertigo.

It happens, even to the most experienced climber.

But you've learned, Steve.

I've taught you, and you've learned.

Have I?

You're a man, Steve.

Men aren't afraid, they don't panic... not our kind of man.

Why not? How can he be sure?

I'm sure. Why?

Because he's my son.

All right, let's go.

Careful!

Come on, boys!

We have to keep going!

There's a cave up there.

Do you think we can make it?

Yes, we'll make it.

Aaaah!

Steady.

Use your legs, boy.

Steady, boy.

You all right? Yes, quite. Thank you.

Get the lantern.

For the time being we'll leave our packs here.

Maybe the ledge widens.

Huh. Or narrows.

This cave has no bottom.

Incredible.

Like another world!

We'll remember this all our lives.

Sure will.

Listen.

Sounds like an animal to me.

An animal? Where?!

With all these echoes, it's hard to tell.

Could be anywhere...

In front of us, above us...

might even be behind us.

What kind of an animal?

This is the kind of place a cat might hole up.

Yes, a panther.

A jaguar or a...

Or what?!

The cave is high... isolated.

Strange forms of life develop.

It's closer.

It's stalking.

Stalking what?

Us. Here.

Hold the lantern high.

Let it catch the light of its eyes.

Not too bad a kill...

Darkness, a moving target.

It's a cat, all right.

An albino. Probably blind.

Hunts by sound and smell.

Vestigial form of puma, maybe.

I never saw a puma with teeth like that.

Know anything about the Ice Age, McCullough? No.

This is a leftover.

Very suitable to a cave, too.

A pale white remnant of the age of caves.

Meaning what?

Throwback, McCullough...

Throwback to the saber-tooth tiger.

Fantastic.

Yeah, it's fantastic.

I'd rather stay with the storm.

Here, we've got a fighting chance.

I fight better what I can see.

We've got ears, brains.

Two .45s, a candle, and a box of matches...

I don't like the odds.

Or the company.

What do you suppose they are?

Some blind horror that should have died out 10,000 years ago.

Who knows?

Whatever they are, they seem to know we're here.

Wh-what do you think started them?

The shot.

They probably can't see us any better than we can see them.

Must be hundreds of them... Thousands!

We're not gonna stay here.

It's a big cave, there must be another way out of it.

Maybe it goes all the way through the mountain.

There's only one way to find out.

Aaaaah!!!

McCullough!

McCullough!

Could you see him?

Yes. I think I can get to him.

We'll use the ice axe for a belay.

Give me the axe.

Now the rope.

Now, you brace yourself... I'm going down to him.

Why?

I mean, he's dead, isn't he? Perhaps.

Perhaps he's just stunned.

Anyhow, those things, whatever they are...

No need to be frightened, Steve.

All right, brace yourself.

Get it taut... here I go.

A little bit of slack.

All right, enough.

Enough.

Ohh!

Is he dead?

He's all right. He's alive.

Start to pull us up, boy.

Hold it!

Take up the slack.

Pull, boy, pull!

Tie it off! Don't just sit there!

Wait a moment.

Now me.

All right.

Let me see.

Well, why don't you say it?

Go on, I know what you're thinking!

I'm a weak, clumsy, incompetent fool!

It's true, so why don't you say it?!

Say it!!!

McCullough.

How you feeling?

I checked you over. There's nothing broken.

You were lucky.

You hit that ledge.

That's about as lucky as you get.

I don't see how you got me up here.

The boy pulled and I carried.

Thanks.

That isn't very much to say, but...

Nonsense. You'd have done it for me, for any man.

Had to be done.

Maybe.

It'll have to be set.

It'll take the two of you. At least.

I sent the boy for the packs.

He should be back pretty soon.

We've got ten left.

Well, we can use some of the stubs.

Here, boy. Give me a hand.

We've gotta set this leg, but we can't do it here.

Let me. Hold your weight there.

Now tighten your body up and I'll just drop you right on down.

I've got him.

Easy, easy.

Can you hold him there? Just get his right leg.

All right, let's go.

I'll get a blanket.

Hold his leg.

You don't have to look... Just hold.

You ready? Yes. Get it over with.

Again. Harder.

Hold on. Hold on.

It hurt. Oh, God.

Give me the axe.

Let's have some light.

Tighter.

It's gonna hold.

But not even Steve Campden'll be able to climb on it.

You can't carry me to the top of that summit and down again.

It'd take four men, a stretcher, and luck.

We'll give it a try.

Oh... will we?

Well?

Well, at least the storm's over.

It'll be light soon.

And then?

I don't know.

Don't know?

What are you waiting for, McCullough?

I just can't leave you here.

And if you stay?

One life or three lives, McCullough?

There's got to be another way.

There isn't.

I don't like gentlemen, McCullough,

I never did.

Too many manners, too few guts.

I don't need you, McCullough.

I don't need anyone... I never have, and I never will.

Have you ever been to Australia?

No. I was born there.

My father was a deportee. Convict. New South Wales.

My mother died. That made her lucky.

I ran away from home when I was thirteen.

Hit the London docks. Three shillings in my pocket, no family, no friends.

But I knew where I was headed... The top of the heap.

And I got there... alone.

I don't need you, McCullough...

I don't need anyone.

All right...

you got it.

I'm sorry I haven't any matches.

I'll manage.

I'll send help as soon as I can if I make it.

You'll make it. Both of you.

What?

I said you'll make it, both of you.

I can't.

I'm sorry.

So am I.

McCullough, he's going with you.

That's up to him.

He's my son, he's a man...

he'll climb that mountain, scared or not.

That's all there is to it. Is it?

I told you, he's my son!

There's no reason for this... Not one possible reason.

Yes, there is.

You.

Huh!

McCullough...

you can't do it alone.

Quick, Steve... you can catch him up if you hurry.

What's the matter, Steve? Are you afraid?

Yes.

Yes, I'm afraid.

I... tried to keep it hidden,

keep you from knowing.

But you knew.

You knew all the time, and you didn't care.

Well, now I'm the one who doesn't care.

I don't care that I'm a coward.

I don't care I'm not your kind of son.

Because I'm not... I never was.

It's too bad Mark isn't here.

He was the brave one.

"Conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy"...

He'd crawl out of here and save himself and McCullough and you.

But Mark isn't here. Mark is dead.

And I...

am a coward.

I'm going to wait right here...

wait here and die.

You're afraid, are you?

You want to die.

Funny...

that's what Mark said at the end.

Mark?

Ha ha ha ha ha!

One has to laugh, Little Steve.

The jokes that God plays on one.

One has to laugh... or cry.

A man has courage all his life...

not afraid of anybody or anything...

gets to the top of the heap, out of the slime...

raises himself by his own efforts.

Then he has two sons.

He teaches them all he knows,

gives them the world.

And... they both turn out to be cowards.

Both of them!

In India you were Mark's superior officer in that burning village.

You were the one who...

"Conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy."

Two heroes in the family.

One living, one dead... With a hero's death.

Tell me, was it a hero's death, Big Steve?

Mark was a soldier.

He had his duty.

If he'd done it, if he'd obeyed my orders,

a hundred men would have lived.

Including Mark?

Including Mark!

He was an officer, wasn't he?

An officer doesn't crouch in a hole and wait to die,

ask to die.

He had his duty.

Yes, and he failed.

Oh, I had my duty.

Duty.

Just because he showed fear...

was that duty? Or was it murder?

Well, what about it, Little Steve?

Ready to climb the mountain?

No.

I'm not going anywhere.

I don't want to be saved.

I want to stay right here...

stay here and rot...

along with you, right here where we belong...

with the rest of the throwbacks.

The pale little white things

that have been buried here for 10,000 years.

Right here in our cave.

McCullough!

McCullough!

Wait a minute!

Come on.

Come on. Come and get me.

Big Steve Campden

against the nameless ones.

Come on.

The top of the world.

It was what he wanted.

I never knew why...

but I know now.

I thought you were afraid of mountains.

I was. I mean, I am.

That's what's so strange.

What's the use? I'm still a coward.

Nothing's changed, not really.

He could be wrong, you know.

I told you I was frightened... scared to death...

every ledge, every rock, every step of the way.

But you climbed.

Maybe having courage is more than just not being afraid.

A man who's never been afraid...

maybe he isn't brave... Maybe he's just lucky.

Maybe having courage means...

maybe it means being scared... Scared to death...

but still climbing.

You really believe that?

Mm-hmm.

I read a poem once a long time ago about courage.

There's one line that I remember:

"and bravely dare the danger nature shrinks from."

"Dare the danger nature shrinks from."

That's what it said.

Well...

better get down.

You first.

You sure?

I'm sure.

Oh.

Getting brave, are you?

Now...

I'm...

blind as you.

Where are you?

So...

no... no...

McCullough, look!

Mountain climbing. Caves. Saber-toothed tigers.

I swear, Flint,

it's a good thing this train of ours doesn't run on the ocean...

You'd come back riding a whale,

spouting stories about a great, big sea monster.

You know, that horse of yours came back by hisself.

We kind of figured you might be in real trouble.

Then Charlie tried to ask the horse some questions about it,

he wouldn't answer.

We thought maybe the horse was just plain ashamed of what you was up to.

All right, forget it, will ya?

Forget the trail, too... It's blocked.

Well, that figures.

Not even a wagon scout is silly enough

to try to climb the face of that cliff for fun.

Or is he? Go head, rub it in.

I made a wrong guess.

Just thought it was worth a try, that's all.

Aw, Flint, it was worth a try.

What was it you called it? Calculated risk?

That's what I called it.

But we're right where we started.

Oh, I don't know.

Last couple of days been kind of warming up.

Old Whiskers here says there's definitely gonna be a thaw,

he can feel it in his bunions.

That ain't the only sign, either. Take a look over there.

If that ain't a thaw startin', I'm a monkey's uncle.

You look it. Monkey or no monkey,

we better get started. Bill, how you doin' with that stretcher?

BILL: It'll be ready in about two shakes.

Think you can get him down by sundown?

It won't be too tough to get up to the top

and we can use these ropes to let him over the cliff.

I wish we had one of those mountain goats to show us the way back down again.

Don't need one.

Got Steve Campden... He's a born mountain climber.

Best in the business.

You mean I have to go back up there? Back to the cave?

I should think you'd want to.

I can't. Why can't you?

No one can make me go back up there... not even you.

That's right... nobody can.

Except... What?

Little Steve Campden.

Family joke. I thought you'd outgrown it.

This is my day to be wrong.

We'd better get going.

All right, boys.

Widens out here, Bill. Another four feet.

Flint, take a look at these tracks.

Some three-toed animal. They're all over the place.

I've never seen tracks from an animal like that before.

That wasn't any tall tale you were spinning the Major.

There's something real strange here... mighty strange.

There still is.

Steve.

Campden!

Dad!

Aaahh!

He's gone.

He wanted the top of the world.

He got it.