Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990) - full transcript

James Arness rides again as Matt Dillon, the US Marshal he made popular in the 1955-75 TV series. In this movie he goes after a renegade Apache named Wolf (Joe Lara) who has taken his daughter captive. As a bargaining chip, Dillon helps two sons of Apache chief Geronimo out of the fort stockade and offers them in trade. Dillon is aided by an Army scout, Chalk Brighton (Kiley).

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(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)

(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)

(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)

(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)

(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)

(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)

(Horse whinnies)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪