Original subtitles

Come on.

Come on. Come on.

I can't make it.

My bad leg's gone on me.

Ain't no use in letting it hold us both back.

You go on ahead, and keep close to the brush.

Come on, Frank. Come on. Go on! Get going!

All right. I'll see you in Mexico.

Yeah. I sure hope you find your woman.

I'll find her if I get out of this.

Howdy, folks. I'm the Old Ranger.

Way back in 1844,

Samuel Morse sent the first public message

over the telegraph he had invented.

That first message read: "What hath God wrought?"

As the frontier pushed west, so did the poles and wires,

and Sam Morse's magic machine was used for sending all kinds of messages.

One of them, in 1892,

had to do with the escape of bank robber Frank Girard

from Yuma Prison, Arizona Territory.

It began with a telegrapher's key

tapping out the coded words...

And add this: that he limps, left leg.

All right, Roach. I'll give you one more chance.

Where was Frank Girard headed?

If I had any idea, Warden, I'd tell ya.

You're lying! Two men planning a break together don't hold out on each other.

Now, where was he headed?

If he did tell me, I don't remember.

We've got a good place to bring back a man's memory...

solitary.

That'll soften him up.

Jerry!

Frank?

You lucked out of there, Jerry.

He-hey! Hey! I knew you'd make it.

Look here.

I got everything you need, from the ground up.

Look at that. Make a new man out of you.

A drink would make me a better one. Where's the bottle?

Yeah.

That's your Winchester in the saddle boot there.

There's a brand-new Colt in the bag.

Yeah. How's this nag?

Well, she'll hold up to Mexico all right.

Well, she better hold up longer than that,

'cause we're going riding to San Carlos first.

San Carlos? Yeah.

Gonna pick up a girl.

What, Helen?

That's right. There's gonna be three of us riding into Mexico.

Well, Frank, ain't you seen this?

Yeah, I seen it.

That's what give me the guts to break out of prison.

Well, it's too late, Frank.

Besides, everybody in San Carlos knows ya.

Now, that's the last place you oughta go.

We're gonna hit that town when they're asleep.

What if somebody sees ya?

Nobody's gonna see me... except Helen.

Forget her, Frank. You'll find another woman.

You always have.

Helen's different. She's different, all right.

She's the only one you ever really wanted and you couldn't get.

So much, it's got you out of your mind. You know that?

You're all mixed up, Frank. You're just plain crazy.

Now listen.

If you wasn't my brother... If I wasn't, I'd let you go this alone.

Well, you... you are,

and, uh, we'll go riding into San Carlos together.

Frank?

Frank Girard.

Hello, Helen. But how...

I busted out. I come here to get ya.

Get me? I'm gonna take you with me to Mexico.

Unless you've got some other plans.

Yes, I have.

I'm taking the midnight stage to Bowie.

Bowie, to see Will Harlow.

I read about that while I was stuck up there in prison.

That's why I busted out.

Will Harlow, my old friend. It's pretty clear now

to see why he was so anxious to get me out of the way.

You held up his bank. What else could he do?

I wore a mask. He didn't have to identify me.

He could see your eyes. He'd have known your eyes if they were shut.

He nearly tore off my knee, too, with that bullet.

That's another thing I got him to thank for.

Well, he could've shot you in the head!

Not Will. He's too soft.

He just wanted to get me out of the way so he could take my woman.

Frank, I don't understand you.

I was never your woman.

You were all I thought about up there.

All those months.

Y-You shouldn't have.

Oh, look, I liked you, but there was never anything between us.

You know that. You're gonna like me even more when we get to Mexico.

You let go of me!

I'll yell for help.

All right.

I don't want no woman that don't want me.

Just one thing:

you better forget that you ever saw me here.

She's still gonna marry Will Harlow.

Well, that's good riddance. Let's head for Mexico.

The border's that way!

We're going to Bowie, to attend a wedding.

Hi, Mr. Harlow.

Working kind of late tonight, huh? Yep.

The stage on time, Mr. Earnshaw?

Yeah, should be rolling anytime now.

You're kind of anxious, ain't ya? Yeah.

Well, I can't say that I blame ya.

I'd be kind of anxious myself if I was expecting a pretty girl.

Well, I sure hope she's not too disappointed by the wedding being put off.

Yeah, I hope not.

Yah!

Hi, Lem!

Darling, you look wonderful. How was the trip?

Lovely. Did you get my letter? Yeah, it just came yesterday.

Oh, the family's so happy.

And I'm so happy to see you.

But I'm afraid I got some bad news.

Bad news?

It's just as bad for me as it is for you.

Now, I know I promised you we'd get married

as soon as you got here, but we can't.

Not tonight, anyway.

There's no minister.

I thought it was all arranged.

It was, but the reverend was suddenly called east.

He left this morning. There's no... no chaplain here at Fort Bowie.

The nearest minister's at Arrow Flats. That's a good three days' ride.

Not more delay?

Oh, darling, you know, I'd travel for three years if it was necessary,

but I just can't get away right now, and I don't know when I can.

What can we do?

We'll think of something. I promise you that, darling.

We'll figure a way out.

What's the matter? You look... You look worried.

No. Just disappointed.

Hey, Mr. Harlow!

Mr. Harlow, you two ain't got a thing in the world to worry about.

We... me and my telegraph... We can whip this marriage problem right now.

We can still get you married tonight right in my office.

Without a minister?

You just leave it to me and my magic machine.

Giddyap!

Mr. Harlow,

tonight we'll make history!

We sure will.

Oh, let him be. It ain't worth it.

They just can't seem to wait starting their wedding, huh?

All right, let 'em start.

And I'll finish it.

With a bullet.

That'll make history, won't it?

You hear that? All the way from Fort Apache.

275 miles from here. Well, what'd he say?

The army chaplain said it's all right.

He can marry you by telegraph.

Oh...

But under certain conditions.

Witnesses.

Now, to begin with, there must be...

Says we have to have two witnesses.

Well, that'll be easy enough. Hold on.

They can't be just witnesses from here.

They have to be special witnesses. Special?

They can't be just lookers. They gotta be listeners,

and they gotta understand what they're listening to.

Well, couldn't you be a witness then?

Nope. Can't be the people that are sending or receiving.

But you're the only man in town that understands that thing.

You just leave that to me.

Oh, excuse me.

Oh, that's quite all right, Mr. Hargrove.

This'll take me a little while anyway.

I don't wanna frighten that dear sister of mine.

Every time she gets a wire, she thinks somebody's passed away.

Well, this is something.

They want me to be a witness at a wedding in Bowie.

Oh, how nice. When are you leaving?

I'm not. They want me to witness it from right here by just listening.

How sweet. I just love weddings.

May I listen too?

You wouldn't understand a word. It'll be in Morse Code.

Oh, well, that really won't matter.

It's the sentiment.

First witness... San Carlos.

Now I'm gonna see if I can raise the Dooley Ranch. Where's that?

Only 300 miles away as the wires stretch.

Betts!

Oh, there you are.

Well, they're all branded and ready for market.

You know, this is gonna be the biggest shipment we... Quiet, dear.

I'm about to witness a wedding. A wedding?

Have you got the rings?

Ain't you got it?

Can we start now? Sure thing.

On an occasion like this, I oughta be wearing my Sunday suit.

Well, just so long as the minister's properly dressed.

Oh, he'll be properly dressed, all right.

He's a army chaplain. At least I should be wearing my coat.

I should be over here. She should be over there.

Now, let's see now.

Nothing can stop us now.

I'll tell him we're ready.

Move the horses around the other side of the bank.

Mount up and wait for me by the gate. Where you gonna be?

I'm gonna see if I can't get a clean shot at him through that window.

Frank, listen... You just do as you're told.

You're out of your head.

That prison's done something to your head.

Too many nights I spent thinking about her.

Picturing her in that soft cotton, soft and white.

Hair around her neck, waiting for me.

He ain't got no right to her.

Now go on. Move the horses on.

All set now.

No, I better stand it.

And just so that our ceremony won't be interrupted,

I'm gonna cut off all the circuits.

Except the parties that are involved.

All right. Start talking.

Well...

when we were planning the break,

Frank seemed to have just one thing on his mind...

a woman.

He said she lived in San Carlos.

Go on.

Aw, he was crazy about that woman.

And I mean crazy. When he heard that she was set

to marry another man, he really went mad.

He... He talked real wild. He make any threats?

Well, he swore he was gonna stop that wedding,

if he had to use a gun to do it.

Who is this woman?

Uh, name was, uh, Helen.

Helen Flynn. Helen Flynn?

That's the name of a woman that's getting married right now over at Fort Bowie.

Fort Bowie? What are you talking about?

They're using the telegraph.

Yeah, she's marrying a man named Harlow.

That's him! Stole his woman.

Frank said he was gonna get that man, if... if he had to hang for her.

Girard's had plenty of time to catch up with them.

Get a warning through. "Fort Bowie... Urgent."

The wire's tied up with the wedding.

Well, break in on it.Can't. Bowie operator's got me grounded.

For how long?

Till this thing starts clicking again, we're out of luck.

Well, uh, let's hope this fella Harlow isn't.

Dearly beloved,

we are gathered together here...

and at Bowie...

at, uh... at, uh...

San Carlos,

and at the Dooley Ranch,

in the sight of God

and in the face of this company...

To join together

this man and this woman, who are present at Bowie...

In holy matrimony.

Crying?

Don't you feel well?

I feel just fine.

It's just such a happy moment,

I just can't help it.

I always weep at weddings.

There, there.

Wilt thou love her,

comfort her, honor, and keep her...

Corporal, get this out right away.

Mark it "United States Army, official and urgent."

Yes, sir. No, Corporal.

Are you countermanding my order, Chaplain?

At the moment, God is countermanding your orders, Major.

I am conducting a sacred ceremony.

Oh.

You are conducting a what?

A wedding ceremony.

And I will allow no further interruption.

We break in, there'll be others. Carry on, Corporal.

Carry on, Corporal.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Would you be kind enough to let me know

when the United States Army has permission to use the telegraph again?

Certainly, Major.

Wilt thou love her, comfort her,

honor and keep her

in sickness and in health...

In sickness and in health...

And forsaking all others,

keep thee only unto her,

so long as ye both shall live?

I will.

Helen, will thou take this man

to thy wedded husband, to live together after?

So long as ye both shall live?

I will.

Uh, Wilbur, this here's the part where you take, uh...

Take your right hand... Take her right hand, and...

And you... With your... With your right hand...

Uh, that's fine.

Now, right after the second part there,

the preacher... minister'll give her the ring.

The minister?

Well, I guess that's one thing a telegraph can't do.

So I expect you better give me the ring, and, uh,

I'll give it right back to you.

I better let him know I got the ring.

So we don't know what's going on in Bowie.

Matrimony or murder?

Come on. You better give me that rifle.

Keep out of this. You better listen to me now.

Excuse me, Wilbur.

I guess as long as there's nobody else to be the best man,

it's my duty to kiss the bride.

Why, Mr. Earnshaw.

First, I better open up the circuits.

There she goes. She's working.

Thank you, Mr. Earnshaw.

Oh, thank you, ma'am. Uh...

Hey, that's for me.

Fort Bowie... Urgent!

It's from the Yuma Prison.

"Frank Girard is out,

and out to get Wilbur Harlow."

Out to get you!

He must've followed me. You saw him?

Well, he said he'd leave me alone if I wouldn't say anything.

Come out, Harlow! Show yourself!

If you're man enough!

You got a gun? Here. Right here.

Stay here with Helen.

Will, don't!

You keep low, back there.

Come on, Frank. The whole town's gonna be out here.

Come on out, Harlow!

You gonna hide behind a woman's skirt?

That's all, Frank. You too.

It's all over, honey. Now, you go back inside.

I kept telling you, Frank, it's crazy.

Yeah. I guess I knew it all along.

You didn't give me any choice.

I'm sorry I drug you into this.

If I'd just listened, we could've been together.

Mañana-land.

Sure no way to have a wedding end.

Maybe if you got away from here, you might be able to forget.

Well, Will told me...

No. No.

My boss'll probably raise the roof,

but we are going to take a little trip.

Well, you can afford a big one now.

I just got a message from Yuma.

"There's a reward out for Frank Girard. $1,000."

I'll tell Yuma to wire the money right now, tonight.

You know, as kind of a wedding present.

Samuel Morse died in 1872.

He knew his invention would make history

when he sat at the key himself to send that first message:

"What hath God wrought?"

In Arizona Territory in 1892,

God wrought the marriage of Wilbur Harlow

and Helen Flynn at Bowie,

in a unique wedding over the wire from Fort Apache.

So that night, a telegraph key like this one

was the instrument that united a couple in holy matrimony.

Mr. and Mrs. Harlow always kept their deep gratitude to God

for inspiring Samuel Morse.