Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990) Movie Script

♪ ♪

(dog barking in distance)

Dan?

Dan, you old horse

thief, where are you?

(Chuckles ): Morning, friend.

Where's Dan? Dan?

Yeah, Dan Riley, the

fella that owns this place?

Oh, him.

He lit out for parts unknown.

Lit out?

Yeah, I guess with the

game disappearing like it is,

there just wasn't enough

in it to keep him interested.

Something we can do for you?

Yeah.

I got a little dust I'd

like to get weighed.

Maybe you can check the

mail, see if there's a letter for me.

Name's Dillon. Matt Dillon.

Sure thing.

(Clears throat)

CLERK (chuckles ): Well,

what you know about that?

I got one right here.

Matt Dillon, Esquire.

Heh. Sure does look like

it's been a time

getting here, don't it?

Now, let's have a look

in that poke, friend.

We'll just call it

postage due on that.

All right, come on out of there.

Oh, please. I'm not armed.

What are you doing here, mister?

Don't shoot. Don't shoot.

They just kept me

alive to cook and fetch.

What's your name?

Fraley. Jim Fraley.

I came here with a

surveyor three weeks ago,

and they just killed him.

They must've

killed Mr. Riley, too.

I'm not surprised.

Did you ever own

a store, Fraley?

No, sir.

Well, you own one now... 50%.

The other 50% goes

to Mrs. Dan Riley.

You'll find her address

back there in that ledger.

Yes, sir.

Just remember one

thing... I'll be back this way.

Those books better be in order.

Dan Riley was a friend of mine.

Yes, sir, you bet.

(Birds chirping, dog

barking in distance)

(Whistling)

(Cattle lowing)

(Men shouting)

(Whistling)

(Tail rattling)

(Neighing ) Mother!

(Grunts)

Tomas! Hyah! Sí!

(Man speaking

rapidly in Spanish)

Oh, hush up, Tomas.

You sound like an old woman.

Besides, it wasn't

my horse's fault.

Mom,

if you can't handle Spitfire,

I can have Eduardo

saddle up Granny for you.

Thank you, young lady.

I can handle Spitfire just fine.

Didn't look like it from

where I was sitting.

(Gunshot)

When am I gonna teach you that

appearances can be deceiving?

(Men shouting in distance)

Give it to Cook Swag.

Now, back to work, everybody.

Fun's over.

(Groans)

Señora!

Ah-ah!

The leg will be

fine in a little while,

but, uh, what if this

had been your neck?

Meaning?

Meaning there's no need

for you to ride with the men.

If anything should

happen to you,

who will take care

of la señorita Beth?

Why, you would, of course.

Why do you think I kept you

around here for 20 years for?

Certainly not for your cooking.

Beth loves you like a father.

She's a very headstrong

young woman,

much like her mother.

Tomas. It's true.

She has much to learn.

And this fine place

you've built for her,

what is going to hold it

together if you're not here?

For once I'm way

ahead of you, Tomas.

I wrote a letter to a man

I knew a long time ago.

I asked him to come here.

He once risked his life to

help me save this ranch.

Señora, I've been with

you for 20 years, and...

I don't see such a man.

Well, it was before your time.

Before 20 years? Uh-huh.

And with one letter,

you expect him to come?

I don't know.

When did you write this letter?

Four or five months ago.

Four or five months?

He still is no here?

And still you

expect him to come?

If he's alive,

and if the letter reaches him,

he'll come.

MIKE: I don't know if this

letter will ever reach you, Matt.

It's a voice from the past,

from someone whose

life you once saved

at great risk to your own

and for whom you had,

I think, some small

measure of affection.

Where will you go?

Oh, I don't know.

Some place, find work, I guess.

Must be lonesome,

not knowing who you are,

where you come from,

why you were shot at.

Guess you think on it.

Yeah.

I been thinking

on it, all right.

You're almost well now.

Yeah.

That means you

either got to go, or...

or make up your

mind about staying.

You mean I got a choice?

I guess so.

You don't know who you

are, or where you're from,

and maybe you never will.

I don't think you're married,

so that solves one problem,

but you sure are something.

You got a way about you,

tells me, whatever you did,

you did with authority.

I like that.

I like you, too.

I tried not to, but...

That a proposal?

You can go straight to hell.

Mike...

I'd like to stay.

MIKE: Many things have

happened since you left,

one of which may be

of real concern to you.

Return if you can.

With warm remembrances

of days gone by,

Mike Yardner.

(Loon calling)

(Dove cooing)

(Groans ): What the...?

(Horse neighing)

(Panting)

(Shouting in native language)

What's your name, son?

MAN: Name's Nachite.

He was after your horse

and your Winchester.

I figured that.

Who are you?

Name's Brighton, Chalk Brighton.

Gold miner, trapper.

As of the moment, Chief Scout

in the employ of the

United States Cavalry.

I'll take that little

cub from you now.

You point that rifle

in a different direction,

we'll talk about it.

(Chuckles)

(Horse neighs)

What do you want him for?

I figured Geronimo sent

him and his little brother

to round up reinforcements.

We got the little one already.

You mean Geronimo

is on the loose again?

We figure, him and his

brother split off from him

when he took off into Mexico.

But Geronimo ain't the one

that's causing the trouble.

Who is?

The War Chief, named Mandac.

Folks around here call him Wolf.

(Neighing)

Been burning and

looting up north.

You headed that way?

Uh, no. I got business

down south of here.

My name's Dillon.

Not Matt Dillon?

The marshal that put

the lid on Dodge City?

A few years back.

(Chuckling ): What do you know?

Matt Dillon.

Well. Well, come on.

We'll round up your packhorse

and make us some coffee.

There's fresh water over yonder.

Come on.

(Chuckling)

Easy there, Hiawatha.

Don't get any bright ideas.

(Sighs)

Let me ask you

something, Brighton.

You knew that

young warrior there

had me in his sights.

Why did you let him

chunk the rock at me?

Well, the truth is, I didn't

know you from Adam.

I was kind of interested to see

what sort of aim the boy had.

Any closer, he'd have

taken my head off.

(Chuckles)

Well, look at it this way.

That boy is shirttail

kin to Geronimo himself.

His grandson, if I got it right.

If he'd put that rock

where he'd wanted to,

at least you'd have

been murdered by quality.

You never did say

what you was doing

down here in the territory.

Well, I don't know it's

any of your business,

but I'm looking for a

lady, name of Yardner.

Yardner?

What's your business

with Mike Yardner?

Personal.

Why, you know Mike Yardner?

It's a mite more

than just knowing her.

Me and Mike Yardner's got

us a sort of understanding.

If I didn't have to get this

one back to headquarters,

I'd ride on down

there with you...

just to make sure you

don't get any fancy ideas.

Her being a widow woman and all.

Well, I'm sure she'd appreciate

your concern there, Brighton.

She still live

down by the river?

It ain't but half a day's ride.

Dillon, there ain't much chance

that Wolf has worked his way

this far south yet, but it

don't hurt to be careful.

Tell Mike to keep

her eyes peeled.

Yeah, I'll tell her.

(Whooping and distant gunfire)

TOMAS: Horse thieves!

You dogs! (gunfire and whooping)

(Whooping and gunfire)

(Shouting in native language)

(Gunshot ) (yells)

(Horse neighs)

(Whooping recedes)

(Flames crackling)

Mike!

(Pitcher shatters)

Mike!

(Gunshot)

Mike.

(Gasps)

Damn them.

They headed

south, over the mesa.

South?

Mike, hold on a minute here.

What do you think you're doing?

You said they went south.

That means they're

headed for Mexico.

I don't understand.

The Walker ranch

is right on their path.

Beth went down

there this morning.

She'll run straight into them,

on her way back. Who's Beth?

She's my daughter. Let me go.

Where is this ranch?

It's six miles down the valley.

All right, they were

running a bunch of horses.

Maybe I can get

there ahead of them.

Matt!

She's all I've got.

(Whooping in distance)

(Whooping)

(Panting)

Hyah! Yah!

Yah! Yah!

(Whooping)

(Grunting)

No!

Let me go!

(Speaking native language)

No.

(Speaking native language)

(Grunting)

Geronimo... (speaking

native language)

(Birds chirping)

(Shouting)

Help!

Help me!

(Nickers)

(Bird chirping)

(Grunts)

(Horse whinnies)

(Grunts)

(Hooves galloping away)

(Chickens clucking)

(Cattle lowing)

(Horse neighs in distance)

(Galloping horse approaches)

What happened?

I didn't get there

in time, Mike.

One of the Apaches

rode off with her.

Oh, my God. Now, look.

She's not hurt,

and she's still alive.

This is what you've

got to remember.

What are we going to do?

They're going to be taking

her back to their village.

We're going to need the Army.

You know, I met a fella

out here this morning.

He said he knew you. A scout...

Chalk Brighton. He's stationed

at Madera in the next valley.

Get you something to eat.

Mike.

That letter...

Why did you send it to me?

It's... Beth.

I told you she

was my daughter...

but I wrote that letter

on her 21st birthday.

I thought it was time she

knew who her real father was.

You saying she's my daughter?

Yeah.

Why did you wait

so long to tell me?

I don't know if I can make

you understand, but I'll try.

When I fell in love with you,

your whole world was bounded

by this valley and this house.

You'd lost your memory.

This was the only

life you knew...

but when your memory came back,

the man I'd fallen in

love with, ceased to exist.

In his place stood another man,

Matt Dillon, with awesome

responsibilities in a world...

We both knew there

was no place for me.

(Sighs)

It didn't seem decent or just

to add to those responsibilities

that which was...

in some crazy, impossible way...

another man's child.

Didn't think I'd make

you understand.

Mike...

I do understand.

I tell you, you can be

mighty proud of her.

She was free out there.

She risked her neck to

come back and help me.

Well, she always was a

foolish, headstrong child.

Oh, Lord, Matt.

We may never see her again.

Don't say that, Mike.

We'll get her back.

I promise you.

How long's it going to take

to get to this Madera place?

Not long. We should

be there by 10:00.

(Baby crying ) (woman screams)

(Clamoring)

(Woman screams)

We don't have

a lot of time here!

Look alive, there!

Look alive!

Lieutenant Davis.

Sir.

What are these Indians

doing back in town?

Well, sir, there

wasn't enough room

for them all on the train.

What do you mean,

there wasn't enough room?

Well, sir, some of these

people are old and sick.

Some of the younger ones

have babies in their arms.

There just wasn't any more

room for them on the boxcars.

You should have

made room, Lieutenant.

Now get them off the street

and out of my sight.

Yes, sir.

Move it.

Hey!

What the hell is

going on down here?

That's none of your

business, Mr. Brighton.

The hell it ain't.

These are reservation Indians.

They're friendlies, General.

Not anymore.

From this day forward,

until Geronimo surrenders,

all Membraes and

Chiricahua Apache

will be considered the enemy

and those captured,

prisoners of war.

General, that's treachery.

No, Mr. Brighton, it's war,

and since the bulk

of the Indians are now

on our hands, there'll be no

further need for your services.

Draw your pay, Mr. Brighton.

You're no longer

working for the Army.

Davis.

Hey, Chalk.

How'd he get them to come in?

(Wry laugh ): Well...

first he promised

them extra rations,

then when they got here,

we surrounded them

and disarmed them.

It was a very daring

military engagement.

We should really all get medals.

Where they being sent to?

About as far away

as the good general

can send them.

Where's that?

Florida.

Florida?

Why, they can't live in Florida.

It'll break them.

He wants to break them, Chalk.

(Child coughing)

Damn his hide.

Damn all their hides!

There ain't none

of 'em worth spit!

Mike, we keep this up,

we're going to kill the horses.

It's all right, we're

almost there.

Where's headquarters?

Down the street,

two-story building.

See if you can find Chalk.

We might need him as an

interpreter for the Indians.

I'll talk to the general.

Where's the general's office?

Uh, upstairs, at the

end of the balcony.

I'm here to see the general.

The general's busy.

Come back later.

I gotta see him now.

This is urgent.

Mister, I'd hate to

put a civilian in irons,

but that's where

you're going to be

if you don't take your

hand off this door.

How long is he gonna be?

We'll let you know

when he's free.

Mike.

What are you doing here?

I came here with Matt Dillon.

I hear you two have met.

Yeah. Well, we've

howdy'd, but ain't shook.

When I run into him,

he said he was going

to see you. Why?

It's a long story, and

now is not the time.

The hell it ain't.

What are you

doing here with him?

The Apache hit the ranch.

They killed everybody,

and they took Beth.

Oh, my God, darling.

Oh, Mike, I'm so sorry.

When... when did it happen?

Yesterday.

They would've killed me, too,

if Tomas and two

of the wranglers

hadn't locked me in the hideout.

Well, what about Beth?

She was at the Walker ranch.

They caught her on the way home.

It's all right, Chalk.

Matt's got a plan.

What kind of plan?

Well, he says the Army

has two of the Apache boys...

They're related to Geronimo.

He's thinking of

getting the Army

to trade them boys for Beth?

Well, it will work,

won't it, Chalk?

Where is Dillon?

He's in the general's office.

He asked me to get you

to help talk to the Apaches.

Let's get on over there.

Come on, darling.

DILLON: I'm sick and tired

of waiting out there, General.

We gotta talk.

Who is this man, Harris?

My name is Dillon. Matt Dillon.

The Apaches have

abducted my daughter.

I need your help.

Well, I'm sorry to

hear that, Mr. Dillon,

but I've got a few more

important things to deal with

than the plight of some

unfortunate, young female.

General...

Look.

I can do no more for you

than I can for the relatives

of other young women

who have been foolish enough

to get themselves

abducted out here

in the last couple of years.

I have no way of helping you

any more than I

have of helping them.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

You do have a way

of helping, General.

That's why I came here.

Oh, really?

You have two Apache boys

locked up in your guardhouse.

Now, they're both

kin to Geronimo.

I've got a feeling

the old chief might trade

them for my daughter.

I'm sorry about your

daughter, Mr. Dillon,

but tomorrow morning,

I'm going to hang those

bloody young savages

until they're dead, as

a lesson to Geronimo.

Now get him out of here, Harris.

(Grunts)

(Shouting)

Guard!

If there's ever been a

less competent officer

in the United States

Army than you, Miles,

I don't know who it is.

You've had your men

out in the field for months.

All you've got at the

moment are two Apache boys.

Now, you're going

to take their lives,

plus the life of my daughter,

just so you can get off a wire

about your military brilliance?

Guard! Guard!

Let me tell you

something, Miles.

Anything happens to

my daughter, I'll kill you.

(Grunts)

Lock him up!

Come on.

Open up.

(Groans)

(Grunts)

I can't go any further.

I'm not an Indian.

If you were an Indian,

you would walk and

you would not complain.

You speak English.

My mother was white, like you.

She was a school teacher.

My father took her

from a wagon train

and brought her to his camp,

as I bring you to mine.

What?

You think I'd ever

stay with you?

You're crazy.

I'm not going

another step with you.

You're gonna

have to kill me first.

(Gasps)

(Wolf howling)

Mr. Dillon.

Mr. Dillon, your wife

is here to see you.

It'll have to be a

short visit, ma'am.

I could get myself

into real trouble.

I understand.

What happened?

Oh, I got into it with Miles.

He's not going to

lift a finger to help us.

How'd you get in here?

I told the corporal the

Apache abducted our daughter.

He has a sister her age.

They're just children.

Where's Chalk?

He's out back with the horses.

He said he wanted to help.

I figured we could

use all we can get.

Be glad to have him.

They took my Colt,

but I've got the Deringer.

I'd rather not use

that unless we have to.

Then how?

What about a,

uh, fainting spell?

Did you ever have one?

Never.

Well, now might be

a good time to start.

Just make sure you,

uh, land close to the bars.

(Moans dramatically)

Ma'am? Ma'am?

Ma'am?

DILLON: Get the keys, Mike.

(Strained grunts)

DILLON: Give me the gun.

Mike, could you get

my gun belt for me?

It's up in the office.

Now, what am I

going to do with you?

I won't holler, sir. Honest.

I'm hoping you get

your daughter back.

All right, inside.

All right, boys, come on out.

Either of you speak English?

I speak.

We're gonna take

you out of here.

Why do you help us?

You are our enemy.

Your chief, Geronimo,

has my daughter,

and I hope to trade you two boys

to get her back.

(Speaks native language)

Yes, we go.

Matt.

Matt, open this door!

The way things

are with Geronimo,

there's no guarantee

either one of us will get back.

Matt, you can't do this to me.

Matt! You can't leave me!

Matt, please!

(Door closes)

Matt!

(Wolf howling)

(Footsteps approach)

(Panting)

(Horse nickers)

From now on, we're in

Geronimo's stomping grounds.

Yeah, except it wasn't

Geronimo that took her.

It was a different chief.

How do you know that?

For one thing, he

was a younger man.

Another thing, he

didn't look full blood.

He had reddish hair, paler eyes.

Wolf.

Half-breed, all right.

Got good reason to hate us, too.

His daddy was killed

in the '70s uprising.

The Army hanged him.

We've got to find some

way to get word to Geronimo.

I got an idea Nachite,

here, can help us.

I got an idea he could ride

right into Geronimo's camp

if he wanted to.

We will never lead you to him.

I'm not asking you to.

I'm asking you to tell

Geronimo what I want.

You tell him we'll meet him in

peace at a place of his choice.

What do you say?

Kyeta comes, too.

No, he stays with me.

If Geronimo got

both of you back,

he wouldn't have any reason

to trade for my daughter.

(Speaking native language)

I go.

We'll be in Fronteras.

We'll wait for you there.

How long?

Three days.

All right, three days.

I will meet you at Posado Real.

(Speaking native language)

(Shouting in native language)

(Speaking native language)

(laughter)

(Grunts ) (cheering)

(Grunting)

(Shouting in native language)

Enough! You come!

(Whimpers)

So, Beth's yours, huh?

That's right.

As proud fathers go, you

were sure gone a long time.

Wouldn't have been if I'd known.

Well, Mike didn't tell me,

but I figured it was something.

She don't normally

take to strangers,

but she... she took to

you like she trusted you.

Make a difference, eh, Brighton?

No, no, no.

No, I signed on this

game for my own reasons.

Such as?

I was planning on

marrying Mike Yardner

one of these days.

Still do.

Figured I'd wear

her down in time.

Then you come along...

child's daddy...

heading down to Mexico to

hunt Geronimo single-handed.

You were stealing

my thunder, Dillon.

I couldn't let you

get away with that.

Wasn't what I had

in mind, Brighton.

Yeah, I figured.

Anyway, I'm...

I'm still optimistic.

How's that?

Well, hell, this game

ain't half over yet.

Before it is, there's

a dozen ways

you could get yourself killed.

Maybe more than a dozen.

(Chuckles)

(Birds chirping)

(Horse whinnies)

(Dog barks)

I don't mind telling

you, Brighton,

being in this canyon

makes me feel

like a dogie in a chute.

I get the same feeling every

time I come through here,

but it saves more than 40 miles.

MAN: Hyah!

(Gunshots)

Bodine.

Colonel Bodine, if

you please, Brighton.

Colonel Aloysius Felton Bodine.

Welcome to Mexico.

DILLON: Bodine?

Yeah. General Wood cashiered him

back in the '75 campaign

for brutalizing prisoners.

What's he doing down here?

Scalp hunting.

Gets $100 for every

Apache scalp he brings in.

Man, woman or child...

Doesn't matter to Aloysius.

(laughs ): Not a whit, Brighton.

You see, Dillon,

the colonel here

attacked a party of my

Apache scouts last winter.

Killed five of 'em.

Shot 'em in the back.

Well, an Apache's an

Apache, right, Chalky?

Who's your new friend?

My name's Dillon.

Matt Dillon.

Well, well, well.

You're a little out of

your jurisdiction here,

aren't you, Dillon?

Badge don't carry

no weight down here.

I'm not wearing a

badge now, mister.

Used to tie my hands a little.

They're free now.

You're in my way.

I think you better learn

to count, my friend.

You don't take a step

unless I say different.

You've got to

understand, Dillon.

You left civilization back there

on the other side of the border.

Down here, I make the rules.

Now, who's this?

Another scalp for my collection?

Touch him, you're dead.

You better listen

to him, Bodine.

His scalp is money in my pocket.

(Gunshot)

Hold it! Don't move,

or the next one'll

be in your eye.

Tell your men to

drop their guns.

Drop 'em.

Now, off their horses.

Get off.

Your gun.

Ow!

Now, we're going

to ride out of here.

One false move out of

you, I'll blow your head off.

If he don't, I will.

Get moving.

BRIGHTON: Keep

'em covered, Mike.

We'll meet you down canyon.

All right, Bodine, step down.

You're walking back.

You can pick your

horse up in Fronteras.

Come on, boy.

Looks like you've just

come into some horse flesh.

All right, get moving.

I'm going to look forward

to seeing you again.

All of you.

Oh, I wouldn't say that, Bodine.

You ain't got but one ear left.

(Horse snorts)

Is this what you want?

You want to make an

Apache woman out of me?

Well, you can make me put on

Apache clothes...

and you can make me

walk behind your horse,

like an Apache woman...

and you can make

me lie with you...

but that doesn't make me Apache.

That only makes me a slave.

When my men took

you, you were not afraid.

When I left you in the desert

where many would have died,

you were not defeated.

Your spirit is strong.

Your sons will walk with pride.

You come with me, now.

Where are you taking me?

Now.

(Whinnies)

(Bird screeches)

This is the place

we will stay tonight.

This is where you

will become my wife.

Why are you afraid of me?

Shouldn't I be?

I will not hurt you.

You took me away from my family.

You murdered my people,

and you burned their homes.

Don't you think

that's hurting me?

That is war.

Who started that war?

There was peace until

you and your chiefs

left the reservation.

The reservation.

Look out there to the north...

as far as beyond the great river

you call the Colorado,

and there, to the east,

as far as the land

of the Comanche,

the place you call Texas.

All of that was

ruled by the Apache

from beyond memory.

It was not until your people

came to number ten times mine,

until the soldiers

came building forts

and your leaders

turned tribe against tribe

that the killing began.

Have you been

to the reservation?

No.

The reservation is

desert, and barren.

Barren of green

grass and sweet water.

The reservation is the men

gambling their days

away in the dust.

The reservation is the

women gathering hay

for the white soldiers' horses.

It's my people lining up

for their weekly gift of

government flour and beef.

Truly, my people have

become beggars in their our land.

I will die before I go

back to the reservation.

And until I die,

I will live the life of

an Apache warrior.

I will ride these mountains,

and I will kill my enemies.

And I will have the

woman I choose.

Mike, darling, I'm in the mood

to serenade the stars.

What's your pleasure?

Whatever you like, Chalk.

Mm-hmm.

(Plays harmonica)

(Chuckles)

What have we got here?

Brand-new patron

of the arts, huh?

See that?

Listen to this.

You don't like that, huh?

Well, that's-that's

the very best part

of my whole repertory.

Now, see if you like this now.

Let's see here.

(Plays melancholy tune)

♪ ♪

(horse snorting)

Well, looks like

Chalk's got that boy's

interest, doesn't it?

(laughs)

That's 'cause he's

never grown up himself.

DILLON: He's a pretty good

man when the going gets rough.

I can vouch for that.

But that doesn't

mean he's grown up.

Well, I don't know.

He's pretty serious.

He's talking about, uh, wanting

to marry you.

(laughs)

Would it bother you if he did?

You going to?

I've told him no a dozen times.

Well, uh, ladies been

known to change their mind

about such things.

Well, I...

had it in the back of my mind,

when Beth got married

and went away from home.

Hard to think of having

a daughter at home,

much less one of marrying age.

Makes me realize

how much I've missed.

And what she's

missed not having you.

You've done a great

job with her, Mike.

Does she have a young man?

Oh, just about every boy

for 50 miles around

is in love with her.

But no one special.

She's the prettiest

girl in the territory.

I'm not surprised.

(laughs)

(Wolf howls)

Huh?

Oh.

(Horse neighing)

Well, why not?

(Continues playing

melancholy tune)

(Speaking native language)

(Horse neighing)

(Distant talking and laughter)

Geronimo... (speaking

native language)

(Dog barking)

You wish to see me?

Nachite bring news.

He and his brother were

captured by the white soldiers,

taken to the prison,

but a white man broke them

out and brought them to Mexico.

Why would a white man

help two Apache boys?

Because he wants the

white woman you have taken.

He will give me

Kyeta in return for her.

She is mine.

If he takes Kyeta

back to the Army,

the boy will die.

He is my blood.

I will kill this white man

and get Kyeta back.

Kill him if you wish,

but not when he comes

to Geronimo in peace

to trade for Kyeta's life.

The blue coats will hang Kyeta

by the neck until his death.

But is that a way

for an Apache to die?

So hear me, Mandac.

You will deal with

this white man.

(Dog barking)

Go.

Tell this white man

I will meet him here

when the sun is high tomorrow.

(Bell ringing)

(Indistinct chattering)

You gentlemen will excuse me.

Where's she going?

If I know Mike,

she's trying to find out

if this town has anything

resembling a bathtub.

What about the boy?

Do you think we

need to lock him up?

Yeah. I asked him about that.

He said the grandson

of Great Chief

Geronimo will not escape.

You have his word

as an Apache warrior.

I'll accept that.

CHALK: You remember the time

I took you to

Tucson on the train

and we set ourselves

up at the Palace,

had supper brought

right up to the room?

Mm-hmm.

(Chuckling)

Yeah.

I remember, you...

you ordered raspberry wine.

I never even knew they

made a drink like that.

Delicious.

It should have been...

Two dollars a bottle.

I remember you got

into a shooting scrape

with one of the Earp boys

before we even left the lobby.

Yeah.

That was Virgil.

I believe it was Virgil.

Never would have

happened if he...

hadn't been looking

at you that way.

You can't shoot a man

for looking at a woman.

I can.

Would have shot him, too,

if you hadn't

stepped in the way.

Why didn't you tell me

Matt Dillon was Beth's daddy?

He told you?

It sort of come out in the

course of conversation.

I guess it's none

of my business, but

how in the hell did you ever

end up in Matt Dillon's arms?

(Sighs)

I found him in the desert.

He was hurt so bad,

he couldn't even

remember his name.

It was weeks before

he was well enough

to tell me where he belonged.

We were together just once.

Then he rode out of my

life and back into his own.

He rode away from you, huh?

Gee.

When God makes fools,

he sure makes 'em

on a grand scale.

(laughs)

I think that's just about

the nicest compliment

I've ever had.

It'll take some getting used to.

I always figured Johnny

Yardner was Beth's daddy.

Does it make a difference?

I reckon it will down the line.

It seems to me

you're going to have some

hard decisions to make.

Chalk, I'm very fond of you.

Always have been.

But right now I can't

think of anything but Beth.

(Quietly ): Yeah.

(Chuckles)

Raspberry wine.

(Sighs)

(Chatting and laughing)

Hombre.

(Slaps bar)

Tequila.

Sí.

Hey, when the...

when does the party

start around here?

(laughing)

The party is now.

This is a party?

Hey.

Uno mas.

There you are, darling.

(Sighs)

Oh, hey.

Hey, lookie there.

Hey, hombre.

This could be your lucky day.

What you got here

is a major rat problem,

and I'm the man

to solve it for you.

No comprendes, huh?

No comprendes?

Okay, let me illustrate.

(Woman screams ) Señor!

(Men shouting)

CHALK: Now, what I propose

is that I spend

the entire evening

very vigilantly watching

here, and-and every time

one of those little

devils shows fur, "pow!"

Now, I figure,

oh, maybe one

free drink per rat?

That strike you as fair?

No, no, señor.

No is good to shoot inside.

To kill the rats, we use this.

(Speaks Spanish)

Strychnine? Sí.

It kill many rats.

Muy muerto.

So, poison, sí.

Pistola, no.

Well, there's always

somebody right there

to take the joy out

of everything. Hmm?

(Door opening)

Well, well.

If it isn't my old

friend, Brighton.

(Music and talking stop)

Well, Buenas noches, Colonel.

Come on, come on over here.

Let me... let me

buy you a drink.

Absolutely.

First of all, though,

let's... settle that

matter of my horse.

Oh, forget about

that horse, Colonel.

You're... you're

well rid of that horse.

You know what you ought to do?

You ought to get

yourself a mule.

A mule? Yeah.

There's only one thing

you've got to be careful of.

You've got to pick you one

that ain't smarter than you are.

(Crowd quiets)

(Chuckles softly)

You're always joking,

ain't you, Chalk?

You're going to die joking.

Maybe tonight.

Talk is cheap, Colonel,

especially when you got all

your men standing behind you.

But how are you on guts?

Gun or knife?

You pick, if you have the guts.

Well, if it's my

pick, neither one.

(laughs softly)

(Scattered chuckles)

That's what I thought.

If we're talking about guts,

we don't even have

to get out of here.

We can settle this right here.

Hombre... mescal... seis.

What's that?

Strychnine.

Poison, Bodine.

Sure death.

Terrible way to die.

Rips the guts right out of you.

What are you doing?

Now, hombre,

uh, revolvo the, uh, vasos, hmm?

Hey. Hey, everybody,

come on up here.

We're going to

have a little party.

Come on now. Come on.

Uh-uh. No... no peeking.

No peeking.

Hombre?

Listo.

You're crazy.

After you, Colonel.

No.

No, Chalk.

You first.

Whatever you say.

(Crowd gasps)

There's five left, Colonel.

I should've pointed out,

the first man to drink had

a numerical advantage.

(Groans impatiently)

CHALK: Of course, we

can stop right now, if you...

if you ain't got

the stomach for it.

(Gulps)

(Crowd sighs, chuckles)

Now there's four.

Yeah.

I can count.

(Woman gasps)

(Grunts)

(Crowd murmuring)

(Relieved laughter)

I sure did hope it

wouldn't come to this.

(Door opens)

What's going on here, Brighton?

Colonel and me is just

whiling away the evening.

Drink up, Chalk.

(Blows loudly)

(Chuckles softly)

(Coughs)

(Wheezes, coughs)

(Gasping)

(Coughing, grunts)

(Yells out in pain)

(Gasping)

(Moans)

Was his game, Dillon.

Better hold it.

All right, get up, Brighton.

Damn it, Dillon. I had

him. (crowd gasping)

Maybe you still do.

Just wanted you to

have all the facts, Bodine.

You owe me one, Dillon.

You have any idea

what would've

happened to us in here

if he'd have dropped dead

and you'd have

gotten up off that table?

Oh, hell. You're...

you're probably right.

I never was much

good at thinking ahead.

Wolf says you come.

Wait here.

That's Dillon.

(Dog barking)

Bodine's got to know.

You wait.

Hyah.

Three years ago, last May,

about 35 miles

southwest of here,

me and Crawford,

and about a 100 men,

surrounded Benito's camp.

The Apache had

never been attacked

down here on his

home turf before.

It kind of spooked him.

They all come in, even Geronimo.

I wonder what got

'em started this time.

Oh, the usual thing.

The government wants them to

squat down there in San Carlos.

Turn them into law-abiding,

civilized farmers.

But your Apache brave

just dearly loves

to be let alone...

To hunt and ride, where

and when he wants to.

Well, you know

something's got to give.

The question is where do

you stand on all this, Brighton?

Well, I'll tell you, Dillon...

I shot 'em, shot at 'em...

been shot, been shot at,

going onto 15 years now.

(Sighs)

Some of 'em ain't much good...

but some I... I count

among my dearest friends.

Just makes a man sad sometimes.

Why?

There's one thing you ought

to know 'fore we get into this.

What's that?

That Apache brave, that Wolf...

If he's harmed my

daughter, I aim to kill him.

I figured that.

It comes to that...

I ain't gonna have

much choice, am I?

You come now.

(Speaking in native language)

Chief, here's the boy.

Where's my daughter?

You told me that

your father was dead,

that he died before

you were born.

That's true.

Then this man lies.

He says he is your father.

Chalk, I don't understand.

It's the truth, girl.

He's your father.

He also lies.

Do we take the word

of the man who is paid

by the blue coats to hunt

us down like animals?

Without truth, there

is no trade to honor.

I will keep this woman.

It is hard to see the truth...

but you have brought

home the young warriors,

and yours is the

right to fight Mandac

to death for the woman.

Now, hold on,

hold on a minute, Chief.

You may not believe me and

him when it comes to the girl,

but there's one truth

you better listen to.

The new soldier chief, General

Miles, has sent your people away.

Away? Where to?

Put 'em on a train,

sent 'em to Florida.

Many days travel, even

by the white man's train.

How do I know this is true?

It's true, Chief.

Many of your people

have already been taken.

You're badly outnumbered

by the blue coats.

Let there be peace

between you and I.

I'll take my daughter back,

and I'll tell the

general of your deeds.

We have heard such words before.

They mean nothing.

I must send to San Carlos.

We must know if what

Brighton says is true.

I will never give up,

no matter what the

Army Chief has done.

(Shouting in native language)

(Gunshots)

What's going on? Scalp

hunters. Bodine, probably.

He must've followed us up here.

Stay. You run,

I will find you...

and if you come

between us, I will kill you.

Get up here.

No, not that way. It's a trap.

Go this way.

(Grunts)

(Woman screaming)

(Grunting)

(Screaming)

(Grunts)

(Gunshots)

(Gunshots in the distance)

(Grunts)

(Gunshots)

He's been hit.

Can you ride?

I can ride.

Take her out of here.

(Whinnying)

(Clicks)

(Grunting)

(Screams)

(Groans)

(Sighs)

(Coughs)

It's all right, Chalk.

It's all right.

It's going to be all right.

Get some water, girl.

Bodine?

(Groans)

(laughs ): Well...

that... that helps.

It does, for a fact.

(Coughs)

(Grunts ): Pretty soon...

somebody's going to

be coming down that hill,

cutthroats or Apaches...

One or the other.

(Coughing)

Either way...

you can't stay,

and... and I can't go.

That's the hard truth,

and you know it, Dillon.

(Coughing)

Here. Easy, now.

(Gasps)

Get mounted, girl.

Do like he says, honey.

That's your daddy talking.

You take care of Mike... hmm?

Now get the hell out of here.

(Whinnying)

I guess I'm lucky.

Apaches... don't take scalps.

(Coughs)

(Birds chirping)

Oh, it's all right,

honey, you're safe now.

Chalk?

You both need your rest.

There's no time for that.

Why? It's Wolf.

If he's still alive, he's

going to be after us.

Put some things together.

We'll head back to Madera.

By the way, your daughter showed

some real sand there.

Well, what'd you expect?

She's a Yardner, isn't she?

She's also a Dillon.

Or so I've been told.

You've been told correctly.

Now, come on.

MAN (shouting ):

B Troop, present

arms!

(Man shouts orders)

(Wind whistling)

(Bird screeching)

(Whooping)

(Shouting in native language)

(Gasping)

(Shouting)

(Crowd murmuring)

(Chickens clucking)

Whoa, Whoa.

(Horses snorting)

(Cattle lowing)

General Miles put out

the news on the telegraph.

He accepted the surrender at

Skeleton Canyon two days ago.

I got all the fixings

for a celebration.

I want to thank you

for coming after me.

It was very brave.

You were the brave one.

Me?

I was scared to death.

He never really hurt me, though.

I think everything he did

was his way of testing me.

And in the end, he

showed me respect.

I understand.

I...

I don't know how to say this.

His men killed

Tomas and the others.

They tried to burn

down this house,

and they probably would

have killed mother, too,

if they could have found her.

I should hate him

with everything

that's in me, but...

I can't.

What's wrong with me?

There's nothing

wrong with you, girl.

There's a war going on out here.

Terrible things happen to

people in wars on both sides.

He told me he would die

before he went back

to the reservation.

That he would live the

life of an Apache warrior...

and that he would kill

his enemies to the end.

Is this the end for him?

Pretty close to it, I'd say.

Thank you again for helping me.

Beth?

I'm not too handy

with words, but

if the Lord asked me what

kind of daughter I wanted,

I'd sure know what to tell Him.

I'm real proud of you.

Lieutenant Davis?

That's me.

My name's Dillon.

I, uh, understand

you were a good

friend of Chalk Brighton.

Friend, yeah.

Chalk Brighton

was the finest scout

that this Army ever

put into the field.

He raised me.

He raised me just from a pup.

He taught us all.

You can just ask any

shave tail, any sergeant,

he'll tell you the same thing.

"Friend" hardly says enough.

Salute.

Lieutenant, I'm

looking for information.

Were you at Skeleton

Canyon the other day

when Geronimo surrendered?

Mr. Dillon,

I happen to be the aid to

General Nelson A. Miles.

My presence is mandatory

at all such occasions.

My duties included

bringing the pen and ink

so that the old chief

could make his mark.

There's a young Apache

chief, name of Wolf.

Was he at Skeleton Canyon?

Was he there?

Well, he was a bit

late for the ceremony,

but he was there in enough

time to throw a war lance

that almost landed in

General Miles' mess kit.

Then he high-tailed

it out of there.

I think he headed

up for the valley.

Yeah, he was there all right.

Lieutenant, I thank you.

(Horse neighing)

(Bird screeching)

Don't be afraid.

I'm not.

In another day,

I would have taken

you for my own.

But my people and our

ways have been swept away.

In all the world now,

there is no good place

left for an Apache.

So I have come back

to give you this.

So you will remember.

(Gunshot)

No!

MIKE: Beth!

(Groans)

Get away from him!

No, Mother, no!

No, no!

He wasn't going to hurt me.

He only came to say good-bye.

MIKE: Oh, my God.

We better get him

up to the house.

No!

(Panting)

(Horse snorting)

Where are you going?

The place I showed you.

It is a good place.

(Horse whinnies)

(Thunder rumbles)

(Thunder rumbling)

(Horse whinnies)

(Wind whistling)

(Thunder rumbling)

(Cocking gun chamber)

(Wind whistling)

(Thunder rumbling)

I did not harm your daughter.

She told me.

(Thunder rumbling)

(Wind whistling)

(Horse whinnies)

♪ ♪

Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990) - full transcript