All language subtitles for S1E38 - The Monty Britton Story

Poison.

Oh, Mrs. Sumter?

I think we'd better
wait a couple days

before we use any
water for washing.

All right, Major.

We'll have water by that time.

I'm, uh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Sumter.

I understand.

How much longer are we
gonna have to stay here, Major?

Nothin' but sand and wind.

Mr. Cowan, we're gonna stay here

till I give the order to move.

In the meantime, just save
all the water you can.

There ain't much left
to be saved.

I know.

Major?

Yes, Mr. Britton?

How long do you think you can
keep these people from knowing?

Knowing? What?

We're short of water.

The next two springs
up ahead are dry.

You figure that out
for yourself?

McCullough's two days overdue.

If there was water at Dry Wash,
he'd have been back in a day.

You seem to know a lot
about this country, Britton.

I've seen maps.

You were in the army, huh?

I didn't say that.

Just about the only people
who have seen maps

of this area
are surveyors and soldiers.

I picked you for a soldier
first time I saw you.

It could be I was a surveyor.

Could be we're gonna
get rain, too.

Pheasant under glass, and
the Champagne's being chilled.

Eh, we'll still have
rabbit stew.

Oh, but nice big
fat rabbits, Monty.

Quit trying so hard, Betty.

Monty, more trouble?

It's not just me this time.

All of us.

Howdy.

Here's a piece of antelope meat

for the pot, Mrs. Britton.

Last there is.

We don't need
your charity, Mr. Redmond.

Who said anything about charity?

Why, you'd be doing me a favor.

Man traveling alone like I am...

I ain't much of a cook,

and this meat ain't used soon,

it's gonna spoil for sure.

That's very thoughtful
of you, Mr. Redmond.

Now, look, when you joined
the train a month ago,

I told you my name was Garth.

Well, it still is. Here now.

Well, all right,
if you'll share it with us.

Well, that's a pleasure
I didn't count on.

Then why do you always
show up at mealtime?

No need to draw any more water.

There's plenty for two.
I'm not hungry.

I ain't one to cause trouble

between a man
and his wife, Betty.

We'll just make it
some other time.

Company J are present, sir.

I think you forgot
something, didn't you, Amos?

You didn't salute me.

No, sir, I thought you
was supposed to salute me first.

It's just the other way around.

The junior officer
salutes the senior,

like the lieutenant
salutes the captain,

the captain salutes the major.

The major salutes the colonel.

That's right. Now you got it.

Company J are present, sir.

Dismissed!

Dismissed!

Show arms.

Front shoulder arms.

Left shoulder arms.

That's the man who
never wore a uniform?

That's what he says.

He didn't learn
the manual of arms

farming in no Mormon country.

I'd say he's lying,
wouldn't you?

Well, he could be, I suppose.

There's only one reason

a man hides the fact
he's been in the army.

That's 'cause
they looking for him.

I thought there was
something funny about him.

Monty Britton's
a deserter, Major.

It still means a lot
to you, doesn't it, Monty?

And what about you?

I've forgotten the army.

That makes two of us.

I wouldn't care if I never
saw another soldier.

But I'm afraid
we're gonna have to.

There's no water at Dry Wash,

or Flint McCullough would've
been back here by now.

I'm afraid he hasn't had any
better luck with Crystal Springs.

That means there's just one
place this train can go for water.

Fort Paiute.

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

Monty, it's my home.
My father's...

I told you I don't want
to talk about your father.

How long are you gonna go on
torturing yourself this way?

For the rest of my life.

You knew that when
you came with me.

How does it look, Major?

Well, not too good.

I'm not worried
about our people here,

but I am about McCullough.

What do you figure happened?

I don't know.

I knew the water holes were low;

that's why I sent him out,

but I didn't figure
they'd be that low.

You want me to go look for him?

No, Bill, I need you here.

This outfit's as spooky
as a bunch of longhorns.

You drop a tin cup
and they're liable to stampede.

Major, why don't we
just push on?

Bill, do you know where
the water holes are?

Nope.

Well, neither do I,

so we'll just wait
for McCullough.

Major, what kind of shape
are we really in?

Bill, I figured we'd have
three good chances for water...

Dry Wash, Lava Basin,
and Crystal Wells.

If they were dry,
Flint was going to go on

to Fort Paiute and try
to get some help for us.

I guess now that he's
gone onto the fort.

And if he didn't?

Well, if he didn't,

we got more trouble
than we can handle.

Flint!

Flint! Flint!

Here. Come on.

Flint!

Here, boy. Come on, here.

It was... poison.

Well... kill my horse!

Flint! Flint, listen
to me, will you?

Flint, it's Major Adams.

Tried, Major. All dry.

Crystal Springs... poison.

I asked you, and we
got a right to know!

Sure, we're low on water.

Did I say we weren't?
Did the Major?

What do you expect
out in the desert?

I expected to keep
moving and get across it.

If we don't move soon,
I'm going out alone!

You go right ahead, Mr. Cowan,
go right on out there.

We'll stay together.
That's one thing we will do.

Is he dead?

No, but he might as well be.

Near as I could make out
from what he

was able to tell me,
he lost his horse.

Poison water. He was
trying to get back to camp.

I'll go get some help. No.

Spooky as our people are,

they're liable to panic
if they know what happened.

You tell Wooster
and nobody else.

Tell him to hitch up my team

and bring the wagon
around this side

of the knoll,
clear away from camp.

I'll meet him there. All right.

Charlie. Charlie!

Yeah, yeah?

Major says he wants us
to hook up the team

and pull the wagon
outside the circle.

He wants what?!

You heard me.

What does he want that for?

Look, don't ask any questions.

Just do as he says.

Those are his orders.

Don't you know better

than to question
the orders of a major?

It's a hard life,

but if a man's lucky enough

to have you for a wife, why he...

You want something
here, Mr. Redmond?

He was just visiting, Monty.

Just being friendly.

I'm always curious about folks.

I like to know what they've done

before they joined up
with the train.

We told you what we did when
we joined the train in Salt Lake.

We tried farming.

We failed.

With the exception of us
being from Salt Lake,

that makes us
just about the same

as everybody else on this train.

'Cept me.

I was a soldier.

Served my hitch all the way.

You ever a soldier,
Monty Britton?

No.

Maybe that's just as well.

You might not have liked it.

Some don't.

Then they try to run out on it.

It's a bad business,

'cause they never make it.

There's a bounty on deserters,

and there's always somebody

looking to collect that bounty.

I seen a deserter shot once.

Keep the stock
away from the water!

Easy, boy, easy.

Easy, now, easy.

He's clean out
of his head, Bill.

Listen, you and Charlie
guard this wagon.

I don't want anybody
around here,

not as long as he's
raving like this.

All right, sir.

We got a right to know
what's going on, Major.

We want to know why you
pulled your wagon out of line.

If you'll just
keep still a minute,

Mr. Cowan, I'll tell you.

Flint McCullough is back.

Everything's all right,

but he's picked up
some kind of sickness,

and I don't know yet what it is.

I'm gonna keep him away from
the other wagons for a few days.

It might be a touch of cholera.

He'll be all right,

and so will everybody else

as long as you
just stay away from him.

Did he find any water?

This is the longest dry pull
on this whole trip,

and you all knew it.

You knew it wouldn't be easy,

but not one of you wanted
to turn back.

We couldn't now
even if we wanted to.

I told you that
I'd get you to California,

and that's exactly what
I intend to do,

but you'll take orders
from me, every one of you.

We've got full faith
in you, Major.

Thank you, Reverend.

Beginning right now,
everybody's gonna turn in

every drop of water
you've got left.

We'll pool it
in one central place

and share and share alike.

You're a poor liar, Major.

I've been thinking

the same thing about you.

Don't try to carry it
all alone, Major.

I'd be a poor preacher
if I couldn't sense trouble.

Want to tell me how bad?

Reverend, there's
no water ahead.

I've got to get a man
to Fort Paiute,

and maybe they can get
water wagons to us.

The shape our stock's in,
we'd never make it there.

If you're looking
for volunteers...

Thank you, Reverend, but no.

You'll do more good here.

These folks are gonna need you
before we get out of this.

Who knows how
to get to the fort?

Only one man in this train,
as far as I know.

Flint McCullough.

And right now, he doesn't
even know his own name.

I'll take over, soldier.

I told you before,
Reverend, I'm a farmer.

So am I.

There were lots
of farmers at Shiloh.

You save your talk
for those that want it.

I'd rather save it
for those who need it.

Is there something
you want to tell me?

Yes.

Leave me alone.

All right, folks,
it's time for water call.

One quarter cup per person.

Let's face it, Major.

We're not gonna get
out of this alive,

none of us.

Go get your water.

All right, folks. Line up.

Line up for your water now.

Charlie, one quarter cup
per person, no more.

All right, Major.

Redmond, I thought
you were supposed to be over

giving the preacher a hand
with the water barrels.

Oh, yeah, I must've dozed off.

Can I see you a minute, Major?

Yah, Bill.

I don't see how a man
could get any lower, Redmond.

Deserting from the army
might be one way.

There's only a cupful
in that canteen.

I'm traveling alone.
I only get one share.

I hope the Major
decides to shoot you.

I doubt I'd tell him
if I was you.

Might prove embarrassing.

Your wife don't object to
drinking out of my canteen.

You're a liar.

Am I?

She's only human.

She gets just as thirsty
as the rest of them...

and just as lonesome.

Just don't tell 'em.

Yeah, come on. Get off.

Turn him loose, Bill.

Go back to your wagon, Britton.

That's an order, soldier.

Quarter of a cup.

One measly quarter of a cup.

Yesterday it was a half a cup!

That was yesterday.

Where do you think
you're going?!

Cut that out! Cut it out.

Come on, get back in line.

Next man to cause
any trouble around here

will do without water.

I mean that.

I ain't fair!

Me and my man
had two barrels of water.

We deserve more!

Lady, you heard
what the Major said.

Ladies, ladies! Ladies!

Ladies, you ought to be
ashamed of yourselves.

We're gonna die! We're all
gonna die! What can we do?

Monty, we can't go on
being alone forever.

You knew what it would be like.

No friends...

A friend is somebody
who considers it

his right to pry into your past.

You saw how Major Adams
and the others look at me.

They're calling you a deserter,

and you're letting them
believe that.

Oh, Monty, why don't
you tell them the truth?

Your father's
a West Point major.

You're an army brat.

Your whole life has been army...

and you ask me why?

But this rejection of...

everything and everybody.

I think it's
the other way around.

Well, you saw what
happened back there,

everybody fighting for water
like a bunch of animals.

Look, I-I know
how Major Adams feels.

I know how my own father
would feel.

Do you?

When my father was in command,
what choice did he have?

None.

Then why must you
blame him forever?

Because even a major
can make a mistake.

I'm looking for a major
who can admit it.

Do you think my father

wouldn't admit it
if he knew he was wrong?

I don't know. Would he?

Monty, he didn't know!

He did what he had to do.

He threatened
to shoot me on sight.

Sure. I could get
to Fort Paiute.

I could get those water
wagons back here on time...

if those people over
there'd send me.

But they won't.

What are you doing here?

Flint, understand me, will ya?

We're in real trouble.

I've got to get a man
to Fort Paiute

to get help for us to get water.

Now, can a man make it
to Fort Paiute?

Do you understand me?

I can get there.

Ride...

Ride north.

Then a night.

A night...

Em...

A-A day, maybe.

Flint. Flint! Hear me.

Can you give me the landmarks?

Flint, listen to me.

Can you give me any landmarks?

Stop it. Stop it, boy. Easy.

Britton, this wagon's
off limits for you.

Get on back to camp.

I want to talk to you, Major.

You can talk to me back in camp.

I told you
the wagon's off limits.

Do you want to expose
yourself to cholera?

The kind of cholera
he's got isn't catching.

What do you want?

I told you I'd seen
maps of this territory.

And I told you you were army.

You couldn't be wrong,
could you?

I could be, but I'm not.

No, you're a major.

Britton! Sir.

Why don't you say

what you got
on your mind, soldier?

What I was isn't important,
but what I know is.

Go on.

You've overstayed, Major.

You've got one chance left...
A man who knows this country,

the best horse in the train,
two canteens of water.

That man might be able
to make it to the fort

and bring you help in time.

Yeah.

And the wrong man
with the best horse in camp

and two canteens of water
might just keep on riding.

He might, at that.

You want to forget I said that?

No.

Then don't.

I'll be at my wagon
if you want me.

Sir.

Well, I guess I'd better
go check on McCullough.

I can't just volunteer.

Can you understand that?

A man has to feel
that he's wanted...

that he's needed...

even at a time like this.

I have to have that.

Can you understand?

I understand.

Oh, Monty, I love you so much.

It's good to be wanted,

to be needed.

It's going to be
all right, Monty.

We can start a new life

in California, I know we can.

I don't know if it'll be
any easier than it has been,

but I'll try harder.

I promise you.

We'll both try.

If we just love
each other enough...

Britton, we'd like
to talk to you a minute.

Yes, sir?

You sure you know the way
to Fort Paiute?

Yes, sir.

Come along with me.

Bridger tell you, Redmond?

That you wanted to see me,
that's all.

I gotta have a man
to go to Fort Paiute,

and I picked you.

You were a soldier, you served in
Arizona, and you know the desert.

Britton here'll
tell you the way.

Me, Major? Well, I
don't know this country.

I just told you Britton
will give you the landmarks.

You'll have
the best horse in camp

and two canteens of water.
You can make it.

Well, why me?

I ain't the only man in camp.

What's the matter, you
worried, Mr. Redmond?

That's easy for you
to say, Britton.

They ain't sending you.

I got your number
and you know it.

You'd like to see me out
in that desert, wouldn't you?

Well, I'll do my share,
Major, like I always done,

but I ain't taking directions
from no deserter,

and neither will
anybody else in camp

when they know what you are.

Britton?

Don't look at me, Major.

You're in command.

Sir.

Why, Monty, why?

Why? How should I know why?

He's a major, isn't he?

I never claimed to be able to
figure out your brass-bound army.

Command isn't
an easy thing, Monty.

You of all people
should know that.

I'm sure the Major must
have a good reason.

All I know is
I'm sick of command

and I'm sick of regulations
and everything they stand for.

Army? Sure, I know
something about army.

Keep your mouth shut
and never volunteer

for anything,
that's what I know.

ADAMS: Bill, I haven't
got any more ideas.

Major.

I'll go if you want me to.

Well, Reverend, you can't go
any more than I can.

I'm sure you've heard of the
curse of command, haven't you?

Well, you and I fight
in different armies, Major,

but we got the same problem.

You decided yet
who's going to go?

No, I haven't.

Making decisions is a mighty
lonesome job, Reverend.

I hate to be wrong
in my judgment of any man.

I was really surprised
about Redmond.

He's young,
and he's stood this trip

better than anybody else.

Mm-hmm, and he's got no family.

That's it, Reverend...
He's got no family.

You know, in war
there's always a price

on being young and strong
and... single.

There always has been,
there always will be,

but it doesn't make
an officer feel any better

about choosing a single man
for a job.

I'll try talking to Redmond.

You talk to him
if you want to, Reverend,

just count me out.

I'll take that.

Well, I just saved
a few drops is all.

And you condemned Monty Britton.

ADAMS: I remember you, Cowan.

You had big dreams, didn't you?

Well, tell me something.

Does a man's dream leave him
just because he's thirsty?

And you, Ben Johnson.

You wanted to get to California

so you could start a winery.

Well, do you think those grapes
have stopped growing?

And you, Cronestead,
you wanted build a hotel.

They need hotels
in California now.

And all of you,
you're all alive.

You still got your dreams.

Aren't they worth fighting for?

Well, then, stop
this confounded bickering

and fighting among yourselves!

I been proud of you people,
every one of you.

I never brought a finer bunch
of people across this country.

You're not whipped.

Sure, you're thirsty,
but you're not whipped.

Well, there's soldiers
up north of us.

They can get to us.
They will get to us.

The Reverend Sumter here,

he reminded me
of something yesterday.

He reminded me that God Almighty
created this desert,

the same as He did the lakes
and the rivers

and each and every one of you.

I'm gonna ask you
to remember that.

Remember that you're
men and women.

SUMTER: Dear God,
make us remember

that we're all
brothers and sisters

under your heavenly arm.

Monty, will you listen to me?

I told you before,
I'm through crawling

on my hands and knees
and begging a man

just 'cause he's got a "major"
in front of his name.

That's not the
reason. What is it?

You told me yourself...

A man has to know he's needed.

Monty, I need you.

These people in
this train need you.

And I needed them.

What's it been like?

We tried to make
a life in Salt Lake,

and what was that like?

Questions and questions
on top of questions.

Could I answer them?

Never be able to answer them.

I think you will someday, Monty.

You believe that, hmm?

I came with you.

There's always
a decision to be made.

Always.

Well, I made one once,
and I was wrong!

But you go on making decisions.

May I come in, Mrs. Britton?

Please, come in,
Major, and sit down.

Thank you.

Britton, you'll never know

how I hate to ask this of you.

What's the matter, Major?

Have you reached
the bottom of the barrel?

Is that what you
consider yourself, Britton?

They asked everybody else,

and now you come to me.

That makes me very proud.

Oh, Monty, please.

Let him run to Redmond,
his brass-bound soldier boy.

What do you want, boy?

What do you expect me to do?

You know what I want, Major.

I want the best horse
in this train,

all the water you've got left.

Those are my terms.

I'm not speaking about terms.

Well, I am, and I'm making them.

You said you had no idea
if I'd ever come back.

Well, what makes it
any different now?

How do you know
I won't go over that hill

and just keep right on going?

I don't know, soldier.

I don't know.

Good night, Mrs. Britton.

You had to do it, didn't you?

You had to rub his nose in it.

That's what he wanted to hear.

Well, he's gone, all right.
Took our best horse, too.

Think he'll be back?

The way he talked last night,
I'm not so sure.

He'll be back, Major,
I know he will.

He's gone, ain't he?

He left last night
and took the rest of the water.

Just like he did before, he deserted
and took the rest of the water!

Monty Britton took
the last of the water!

We're all gonna die!

Aw, shut up!

Major, look!

There's a sandstorm coming.

Sandstorm!

Tie down everything
that's loose.

Bill, go look after the stock.

Get inside of your wagons,
everybody!

This wind'll blow you
clear to California.

If there's water out there,
I hope it does.

You take Mrs. Britton
back to her wagon.

Go on, now.

I liked it better
before you tied it down.

It was rocking me to sleep.

If you don't get me a prettier
nurse than Wooster, though,

I'm not gonna get sick again.

He tells me
it's been three days.

Seems like more.

Well, all I can say is it's about
time you got back on the job.

How much water we got?

None.

I thought we had enough
for one more day.

We did, Charlie,
but Britton took

the last of it with him.

Then he was a deserter
like we thought.

We don't know that.

I'd like to think
because of his wife,

if for no other reason,

he'll try to get
through to the fort.

Flint, what do you think
a man's chances are?

I've never lied to you, Major.

With a fresh horse
and plenty of water...

I'd rather stay here.

In this kind of weather,

man's got a chance in a million.

Mrs. Britton, you all right?

Yes, I'm all right.

Would you care to tell
me about your husband?

He was an officer,
not a deserter.

Lieutenant Monty Britton.

Not a West Pointer.
He did it the hard way.

A Mustang major...

a line officer commissioned
for bravery in the fields.

Then what happened?

When he gets back,

he'll have to tell
you that himself.

Where there's life,
there's hope.

I'm down to platitudes, Major.

Reverend...

what kind of a man

do you think Monty Britton is?

He's as hurt a man
as I ever knew.

It's a deep hurt...

way down inside,

so sore and...

raw and real

that even his own wife
couldn't soothe it.

That's what I figured.

You know, Reverend,
I don't think it

really matters much

what a man has been, does it?

It never matters, Major.

The only thing that matters

is what a man is.

Yeah, well.

Here comes that McCullough.

He's got the constitution
of a horse, and less brains.

He oughtn't even
be out of that wagon.

What the devil
are you doing out here?

You know you shouldn't
be up and around.

Kind of foolish to be worrying

about my health, isn't it?

Take a look.
My eyes are pretty sunburned.

Could be a mirage.

Where?

I was on that rock
over across the wash.

Looked like some dust.

Maybe some dust
made by some wagons.

Like I said,
it could be a mirage.

Here, Reverend,
see what you think.

I'd hate to say, Major,

but I can hope

and I can pray.

It could be
just a devil twister.

Yep. Devil twister, maybe.

But, uh, until
they prove me wrong,

I'm gonna stick
to the other extreme.

Here, try these on
those sunburned eyes of yours.

Well?

You know, Major,
when we get to Sacramento

I'm gonna buy you
a long, cold drink.

You know something else?

I wasn't worried one little bit.

You know something?

If I'd have slept
all through this like you did,

I wouldn't have been
worried a bit, either.

Water!

Major Clinton. Who's in charge?

I am. Seth Adams,

and I'm sure glad
to see you, Major.

Seth.

Form ration lines.

I've only so much water.

I'll demand
strict discipline, Adams.

You'll get it.

Betty.

I have a sick man.

Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Sissions, Christie. Give me a hand here.

Bring him right over here, men.

Here, ma'am.

Thank you.

I never saw anything
like it, sir.

He come through that sandstorm

looking like a ghost.

He hadn't had a drop of water.

We figure he must've
give it all to his horse,

but he insisted
on coming back with us.

Acted like he just had
to prove something.

'Course, I don't blame him

for wanting to get back.

That'll be all, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

I said some harsh things, Betty.

I'd like to know
you'll both forgive me.

It's a brave thing he did.

He's the same man
I married, Father.

Betty, our whole family
was army.

The disgrace he brought on us!

And then he took you
away from me.

He didn't take me away.

I went with him
because I wanted to.

And I'll stay with him
for the same reason.

Well, Major, looks to me
like we're gonna have

to thank Monty Britton
for saving our lives.

Yes, I suppose.

There's no suppose
about it. I know.

So, he's Lieutenant
Monty Britton, huh?

Not is, Adams. Was.

He's a man with a yellow ticket.

Oh.

Dishonorable discharge, huh?

What happened?

His first command,

his senior officer killed.

Monty pulled back.

The enemy turned his flank,

his entire troop wiped out
to the last man.

And Britton took the blame, huh?

He was court-martialed.

He was found guilty.

Given a dishonorable discharge.

He ran in the face of the enemy.

Did he?

Or was he just obeying

the last orders
of his senior officer,

orders that happened
to be wrong?

Think I haven't
asked myself that?

Major...

I don't think there's
ever been a court martial

that couldn't be reviewed,
has there?

The review would've
been automatic.

He disappeared.
I didn't know where to find him.

His pride got in his way.

They always told me
that a man had to have pride

to be a good officer.

Betty.

Bill, Charlie, come here.

Want you to give us a hand
with Lieutenant Britton.

Get him back in his wagon.

He's gonna need
a lot of rest and care

before he goes
back on active duty.

All right.

Major.

Wagons ho!

Next stop, California!