Original subtitles

Colonel Fremont? Kit Carson reporting, sir.

Are you ready to ride? Yes, sir.

Carson, I'm entrusting you with the most important

mission of my careerso far.

I want you to deliver these dispatches to Washington, DC,

without fail. Yes, sir.

Today, I have written a new page

in the history of the West.

You can guess what I mean, of course.

Afraid I can't, sir.

Carson, at this very moment, we're standing on American soil.

- We are? - I have just taken California from the Mexicans.

You're taking the news to Washington.

You'll proceed at once, by the shortest possible route.

With absolutely no unnecessary stops.

Yes, sir. Oh, uh...

Colonel, there is one stop that is necessary.

Is it a matter of life or death?

It's worse. It's a woman.

Howdy, folks. I'm the Old Ranger.

In the year 1846, while Kit Carson, the famous frontier scout

was riding towards Taos, New Mexico

to see that certain woman,

General Stephen Kearny was approaching the same settlement

from the east, with a small detachment of dragoons.

Now, he was in a hurry to reach California

and set up a military government.

He foresaw no trouble

because fighting with Mexico, he thought,

was drawing to a close.

But, trouble did lie ahead for General Kearny,

much farther west, at a place to go down in history as...

Yes?

You have a, uh, night's lodging for a tired traveler?

Kit!

Oh, Kit!

Mm!

Ah, you look like the bride I carried over that same threshold once before.

Six months and three days ago, to be exact.

So good to be home. For how long, Kit?

Well, like I said, one night's lodging.

One night? Oh, Kit, why?

Dispatch from Colonel Fremont.

Good for the country, but bad for you and me.

I have to rush it to Washington.

You're riding alone.

Don't worry, Susan. The Apaches are behind me now.

But the Comanches are ahead of you.

Don't worry.

I've often wondered, Susan, if he were alive,

would I be here?

You are here, and you're my husband!

And I bet you're starved, so I better get started in the kitchen.

Kit?

Ah, that was fast.

Coffee's always on for you.

Well, I hope it's not on for anybody else.

Who is it? Sergeant Teague, 1st Dragoon.

What do you want? I want Kit Carson, if he's here.

It's all right.

Ma'am.

What is it, sergeant? We just got into town. We need you.

For what? To guide us west?

The fastest route to California.

Sorry, sergeant, I just came from there.

I'm sorry, too, but you're going back.

We're moving out in 20 minutes.

Not me, sergeant. I'm taking dispatches to Washington DC.

On orders of Colonel John C. Fremont.

I'm afraid not, Carson. I'm taking you with me.

On the orders of General Stephen Watts Kearny.

Yeah. Yeah.

Does that mean you'll be riding back west, through Apache country?

He'll be leaving in 20 minutes, ma'am.

That's kidnapping! We call it drafting.

What about this? We'll see it gets there.

And just to show you that the Army has a heart, ma'am,

I'm gonna give him time to say good-bye to you.

I'll wait outside.

Up there on the rim.

Report to General Kearny. We're investigating.

Get some water, sergeant.

Is he dead? He's supposed to be.

Ed. Ed, swallow.

You know him?

He's a friend of mine, Lt. Edward F. Beale,

serving with Company B, Second Dragoons.

Company B? They were slaughtered by the Apaches.

They died to the last man.Yeah.

I thought so too.

Ten-hut!

How is he, sergeant? He ain't come to yet, General.

What does the doctor say? There's no bones broke.

Just bruised, half-starved, dried out, sun-scorched,

footsore and still out from that knock he took on the head

when he fell off the rock.

Otherwise, he's gonna be just fine! Well, thank you, sergeant.

For a most explicit medical report.

That's tasty medicine, Doc.

No, you can have another one by sundown. Not before.

When can I get up? Oh, with a good night's rest,

you'll be on your feet in the morning.

Thanks, Doc.

Where's this outfit headed? West to California.

You think they'll grant me permission to ride a remount east?

After what you've been through,

they'll let you ride anywhere you want.

You know where I want.

All right. Move out!

Giddap! Hey!

About Susan, Ed.

First, there's one thing you've got to understand.

She has no idea you're alive.

She thought you were killed in action.

So if I walk in alive,

it'll be like she's seeing a ghost.

A shock to her.Yeah.

I've uh, got a shock for you too, Ed.

After what I've been through, I can take almost anything.

Give it to me.

Susan's married.

Married?

She thought you was dead. So did I.

How long have I been dead?

Ever since the massacre of Company B at Apache Pass.

Massacre...

You mean to tell me not a man got out of that trap?

Only you.

Why wasn't I reported missing? Why dead?

After the massacre, the Apaches put the bodies in the wagon,

tied 'em to the wheels,

and set 'em on fire.

There was one man who couldn't be identified.

He still had a saber in his fist.

It was your saber.

McBane broke his blade on an Apache's skull.

He borrowed my saber just before I left.

He died with your saber in his hands.

So... you were reported officially dead.

Who'd she marry?

Me.

- How long ago? - Little over six months ago.

Ed, how were we to know you were alive?

I came across the remains of your company myself!

What forces were you scouting for?

Officially, I wasn't scouting.

Who made the official report? I did.

I said official! I was alone, Ed.

I identified 'em the best I could, and I buried the bodies.

You buried the bodies? I couldn't leave 'em for the vultures!

Or maybe you couldn't leave 'em for official identification.

What happened after you buried me?

I made my report to Fort Bowie, and then I rode East.

Oh, that was real convenient for ya, wasn't it?

Listen, Ed... Susan was gonna marry me!

Ed, she didn't say anything... What other lies did you tell her besides the big one...

that I'm dead? Take it easy, Lieutenant.

Now, take it easy! I'm not dead, Carson.

But you're gonna wish I was.

Ed, look! Do what the Doc says! Rest.

Get your strength back! I'll get it back.

Then I'll get her back.

Break your arm, sergeant?

Sorry, sir.

Carson, you've been gone so long, I was about to report you missing.

Maybe even... dead.

Oh, you look fine, Ed. Like your old self again.

Not quite my old self.

Since you saw me last, I officially transferred

to the First Dragoon.

In charge of the scout detail.

- Congratulations. - What's your report?

No fancy fiction, just the facts.

All right, Lieutenant, these are the facts.

Saw a small band of Apaches north of here on the prowl.

We cut southwest, we'll have a clear trail

for the next couple of days.

And after that?

Well, after a night's rest, the sergeant and I will scout it again.

A night's rest? It may be too late.

We can't plan only two days ahead.

You ought to know that, Carson.

You're a man who always plans ahead.

Is that an order, Lieutenant, or just something personal?

That's an order!

Get moving!

Hold up. What is it?

I saw something up there on the ridge.

It's gone now. Apaches?

No. Apaches don't wear metal buckles.

Mexican officers do.

Stretcher! Stretcher!

Twenty six casualties?

Hold your fire!

Let 'em through!

Well, they got us outnumbered ten to one.

Whole regiment of Mexican lancers.

Ah, your Colonel Fremont, he said this war was ended.

Well, even colonels make mistakes, General.

Lieutenant Beale!

Sir! Sound recall.

We'll make another attempt to get through their lines.

Lines, General. They're three of them.

All right, we'll try anyway.

We can't. Best thing we can do is hold out until we...

Until what? Until Colonel Fremont declares another end to this war?

Sound the attack. No, sir.

Did you say no, Lieutenant?

That's insubordination.

It's better than mass suicide.

Wha... General, can you hold out until I get help from San Diego?

You can't get through.

I can sneak through.

Depends. With luck, and one volunteer.

Sergeant Teague.

Just a minute. Lieutenant Beale has also volunteered.

If he gets back, I'll forget the court-martial.

And if he doesn't, I won't need one.

Get started.

Gentlemen.

Capitàn!

Siì, Capitàn.

Wait here.

Why'd they stop firing, General? What does it mean?

Well, it could mean one of two things.

Either they're closing ranks for another attack, or...

they might be running out of ammunition.

Maybe they're out of ammunition.

Well, possibly, but not for long.

Nothing to keep them from bringing in fresh supplies.

Better look after your wounded, Doctor. Thank you.

Wait here.

Well, we're in trouble.

An enemy wagon broke down in the pass.

I saw three lancers. There might be more.

We can slip around them.

No.

That wagon's loaded with ammunition.

Could be used against General Kearny.

San Diego hard to find from here?

You can see the bay from right over that next hill.

Then we won't need you anymore.

Sergeant Teague and I will proceed to San Diego.

You'll remain behind and destroy the wagon.

Well, that's no job for one man.

I'll go with him. You'll come with me, Sergeant.

You can't expect one man to...

That's enough, Sergeant!

Is the order... clear?

Very clear.

Strange how things work out.

Maybe it's my turn to report you dead.

Is that the way you figured it, Lieutenant?

Get started.

Good luck.

Sergeant?

Lieutenant, he hasn't got a chance. Let me go back.

Hold it, Sergeant! He'll be killed!

That wagon has to be destroyed. He said so himself!

But he can't do it alone, I'm going back and giving him a hand.

That's enough, Teague!

I'm going back, Lieutenant!

Sergeant!

That's insubordination. Yeah!

Like your insubordination with the general.

Well, it's not worth his suicide.

Sergeant!

Go ahead, shoot.

You're killin' one man down there, why not two?

You aren't even fit to wear the uniform.

Kit's twice the man you are!

Are you finished?

Get down to San Diego.

One of us has got to get through.

Well, move! Yes, sir!

Nice work.

Where's Teague?

On his way to San Diego.

Why did you come back, Lieutenant?

Maybe I did it for Susan.

Well, if we get through this mess,

we'll go back and see Susan together.

It's her decision.

If we get through.

Carson must have gotten through!

Oh, those bluecoats.

That's the prettiest shade of blue a man ever saw!

Ed... Take good care of her, Kit.

You got any coffee on? Don't I always?

So Lieutenant Edward F. Beale went his way on

to fame and happiness, while Kit Carson

finally got to settle down with Susan...

after he became Indian Agent it Taos, New Mexico.