The Outriders (1950) - full transcript

Late in the Civil War, three Confederate soldiers escape from a Union prison camp in Missouri. They soon fall into the hands of pro-Confederate raiders, who force them to act as "outriders" (escorts) for a civilian wagon train that will be secretly transporting Union gold from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to St. Louis, Missouri. The three men are to lead the wagons into a raider trap in Missouri, but one of them starts to have misgivings....

Ripped, corrected & synched
by Fingersmaster. Enjoy!

Alright, you rebels!
Fall in!

Get in them ranks, men.

Hurry it up!

Attention!

Southern gentlemen,
officers, troopers...

I want you men to have
all your blankets

and all your clothing
and be ready to march by noon.

No, you're not leaving us yet,
not permanently.

You're just going
for a little walk.

The smallpox has broken out
up on the hill.



Up in Benton, they say
it comes from down here.

They say this camp
is a pest hole,

and all you southern gentlemen

brought the disease
with you from Dixie,

so we're gonna see what we can
do about giving you a bath.

- Take over, Lieutenant.
- Yeah.

- ♪ Jolly red, hey
- Jolly red, hey ♪

♪ Jolly red, ho
Jolly red, hey ♪

♪ If you wanna have a good time
Join the calvary ♪

♪ Join the calvary
Join the calvary ♪

♪ If you wanna have a good time
Join the calvary ♪

♪ Join it, hey ♪

♪ If you wanna have a good time
Join the calvary ♪

♪ Join the calvary
Join the calvary ♪



This is my first detail
as a wet nurse.

And, by hooker, I'm gonna see
it's a good one.

You may find a little ice
still in the water,

but don't let that bother you.

Get in there and scrub,
clothes and all.

When you get through with your
clothes, start on your hides.

The water won't take
the dirt off, scrape it off.

And if that won't work,
we'll see

what a good cuttin' edge
will do.

Alright, Rebs, in!

Yeah!

A bath a year.

If they don't watch out,
they'll spoil us.

A year at Benton
don't wash off easy.

Yeah. You boys still
hankerin' to go home?

Yeah, you gonna fix it
for us?

I might.

I just might.

Hey.

Come on in,
Yank.

Plenty
of room.

Couldn't take the chance,

the Sergeant'd chew me good.

Just being
neighborly.

Sure, Reb...

after the war.

Hold it, Rebs.

That's far enough.

Now get back, go on.

Get back.

That's enough, Jesse.
That's enough.

I just wanted to
make sure.

You hear
what I hear?

Hounds.

We'll try and work our way back
to our own lines,

find our old outfits.

Not me.

They'll be a whole
new generation

grown up to take
my place.

I want to get back
to New Orleans

and into a white linen
suit again.

It's gettin' dark.
We ought to get started.

I feels busted.

Ugh. I reckon it's
the kidneys again.

Let's start.

Neighborly to leave us
a change.

We got a night's
walkin' to do.

Must be cookin' breakfast.

Breakfast.

Yeah.

I move we chance
askin' her for some.

Come on.

Bad news
from Centralia.

Why, ain't you heard
about it?

No, we've been
out west, mining.

Oh. You didn't tell me that.

No, I didn't.

There was a raid.

Some of Quantrell's bushwhackers

came over the bluff
in the morning

and spent the day looting.

Every man in
Centralia dead.

They didn't
leave one.

The bloody-handed
Amalekites.

You can't
call it war.

It's one of the
soldier towns,

didn't have a garrison
of over 15 men.

It was murder!

Vengeance is mine,
said the Lord.

Vengeance is mine,
and I will repay.

I got two brothers with Grant,

and if it goes on any longer,
it'll be three.

How come you men
ain't in uniform?

You tell him, Will.

I took a Minié ball
at Pittsburgh Landing.

They can't use me anymore.

I got it early too.
Wanna see the mark?

No.

Well, you done
what you could.

What do you think about
the escape at Benton?

Benton?

Oh, you wouldn't know about
that either

comin' from the West.

Three Rebels broke outta
the stockade and killed a guard.

Heard it in town last night

that a posse chased 'em
down this way.

Where'd you say you was
when you got hit?

Pittsburgh Landing.

Anything wrong with that?

No, nothin'. Nothin' at all.

Leaving us?

Uh, got to feed
the hogs.

Something's wrong.

Where did he go?

Vengeance is mine.
Where did he go?

Don't! Pa's halfway
to town by now.

Why? What does he know?

It was him.

Only Rebels would call
it Pittsburgh Landing.

Around here, we call it Shiloh.

Clint,
get all the guns in the house.

Get some food.

Come on, Jesse.
Get the horses.

Will!

Come on, Will.
You alright, Clint?

Yeah, I'm alright.

Leave him, Will. Come on.

It's too late now.
We've lost our lead.

Get off! Get off!

Come on!

That's trigger-thinkin',
boy.

Yeah. Real trigger.

How about a drink
of water?

Better make it
a long one, farmer.

They don't look
like soldiers.

Must be irregulars.

What's the difference?

They Yanks, and we ain't.

I'm Keeley.

Keeley.
I ride with Quantrell.

What?
Quantrell.

Jesse Wallace, cannoneer,
New Orleans Light Artillery.

Clint Priest, militiaman,
North Carolina volunteers.

Sergeant Will Owen,
Hood's Texans.

After that, I spent a little
time in Mexico in the Southwest.

When I heard the war started,
I joined up with Hood in Texas.

How much time did
you spend out west?

A couple of years.
Mining?

Some, trapping too,
a little of everything.

You know Santa Fe?

I been there.

You.

You talk like a gentlemen.

You've been fightin'
in a fancy outfit.

How come you're only
a foot soldier?

You're an officer, you've got to
answer for your men.

Like this, I answer to myself.
Makes war less complicated.

What's your story, dad?

I joined up right after Sumter.

Alright.
Here's where I stand.

I've been with Quantrell
all the way.

At the beginning,
we went to Richmond

and asked for commissions,
but they don't approve of us.

They don't like our idea

of burnin' 'em out
and wipin' 'em out.

They like to take their tactics
from books.

We rode into Centralia a while
back. We didn't use no book.

We heard about that.

A raider's a man,
who kills instead of captures.

He's a free agent.

He depends on himself for pay.

And he fights.

Or fights because he wants
to hurt somebody.

You men'll never make it back
to your regiments.

You wanna throw in with me?

Count me in.

What about you?

You're fightin' 'em,
ain't you?

You?

I don't know.

I give you some time to think
about it.

About 20 minutes.

While your friend's thinkin'.
Tell him we'll be thinkin' too.

Tell him we'll be thinking
we don't like the idea

of strangers leaving our camp
knowing where it is.

It'll be a lot better for us
to give him a military burial

than to leave him loose
for the Yankees to find.

Will,
have you gone crazy?

You losing your mind?

Keeley means
what he says.

Nobody stands in his way.
He gets what he wants.

When they sing out the name
"Keeley," people jump.

Keeley's a murderer
and a looter.

He said himself he had no right
to that coat he's wearing.

Yeah, and he'll murder you
if you don't thrown in with him.

He butchered a town
of unarmed civilians.

You're gettin' to be a real
Yankee-lover, Will.

Is that what a year
in Benton did to you?

Or maybe you just lost
your belly for fightin' there.

Hold it,
you roosters.

Jesse makes sense,
Will.

Keeley's fightin'
for the cause too.

Maybe you don't hold with
the way he's fightin',

but it's the only way
left for us.

My boy was killed the first time
the guns went off.

Wasn't nobody but me
to take up for him.

There ain't nobody but me to
fight till the fighting's over.

- Here comes Keeley.
- Here comes Keeley.

What happened?

Federals.

When?

About five days ago.

What happened to
Harrison and Boon?

Yankee patrol got
both of 'em.

How close were you
to Santa Fe?

The bluff.

The bluff?

You mean to say
you only went

150 miles in more
than four days?

We got lost looking
for Lost Spring.

Lost...

Listen.

Sometime next month,
a man named Don Antonio Chaves

is leaving Santa Fe with a few
wagons and an armed guard.

He'll be makin' for the
Federal Treasury in St. Louis.

He'll be carrying
a million dollars

in gold bullions
from the Mexican mines.

Union Detachment in Santa Fe
can't spare

any blue-bellied soldiers
to convoy him.

So he'll be goin'
as a merchant train,

with the gold hidden
under his freight.

Quantrell's told me to take it.

And now you're
tellin' us.

Now I'm tellin' you,

'cause you're
the only man in this camp

that knows the Southwest.

Quantrell needs that gold,
and we're gonna get it for him.

We're gonna get it
for the Confederacy.

What's your plan?

You three'll travel
to Santa Fe,

now, today.

Boy,
you ride along with 'em.

Come back and tell me what day
the wagons pull out.

You lead 'em right back here
to Cow Creek.

Get 'em bedded down
with sweet water

and green feed
for their animals.

Then, when they're good
and bedded down,

we'll come and visit 'em.

You mean you bushwhack 'em
in their sleep.

Yeah, I'll bushwhack 'em
right enough,

and you'll help me do it.

You know as well as I do how
things are going up at Richmond.

You know that a million
in hard gold

means 10,000,000 more
Confederate credit.

That's why you'll help me!

If a man wanted to see Santa Fe
and he was in a hurry,

what route would he take?

Go up the Arkansas
to Ash Creek.

Turn at Pawnee Fork
and make for the Cimarron.

Up the river to Cold Spring,

then 80 miles west.

From McNess Creek
to Round Mound,

then to Point of Rocks,

45 miles to Sandy Bluff.

After that, Medicine Hat
and Hyena's Peak.

Due west to the Rio Colorado,

then cut south to White
Springs, then Poison Creek.

Another day to Ocate,
then to Rio Gallinas,

Ojo de Bernal,

from there to White Hill.

Next stop, San Miguel.

Is that right,
Will?

Drinking their coffee
out of silver mugs?

Even the bowls they use
for washing made of silver?

Silver mugs?

Why man, there's a fandango
every night.

And the nights are hot.

The women wear thin,
white blouses and red skirts.

It's been a long time
since I saw a dancin' woman.

It'll be three days more.

Three days.

Me, I kind of relish
gettin' old.

It takes the bother
out of living.

Santa Fe, let me at it!

Man, look at them
church steeples.

Beat anything
I ever seen.

It's no
New Orleans,

but it'll have
to do.

Real silver
for buttons.

You two get cleaned up
and stay inside.

Don't talk to anybody.

I'll be in bed.

Don't rouse me unless Sherman's
comin' into Santa Fe.

You want me, I'll be in the bar.

Stay out.

Will,
we've come a long way.

It's a long way back.
Stay out.

Give a man a horn
and he'll blow it.

Stay on, Jesse.

Will, where we going?
We just go in.

Let's relax, boy.

We're headin' straight
for Chaves.

I wanna find out
when he leaves.

You're jumpy, Will.

Yeah.

Let's keep moving.

What're you gonna say,
Will?

Shouldn't be hard.

Travelers on the loose always
join trains for protection.

Ha, ha. He's gonna
protect us?

Wait here, please.

I can only catch a few words.
She's begging to go along.

I hope she talks him
into it.

Looks like real nice company
for a long wagon ride.

Pulling out tomorrow
at sunup.

She wants to take a child
with her.

What can I do for you?

My name is Will Owen,
and this is Jesse Wallace.

Antonio Chaves,
a sus órdenes.

There's a third man
riding with us.

We'd like to join
your wagons.

We figured we might
make ourselves useful.

Ha, ha. Everybody wants
to join my wagons.

I don't mean to wish
to seem inhospitable.

The Apache are usually out
looking for horses

this time of year. We're
riding good ones.

We'd appreciate
some company.

Where do you come from?

Chihuahua in the south.

We heard you're headin'
for St. Louis.

I'm sorry,señores,but I have
no real need for your services.

I'm taking only a cargo of hides
and a smallcaballada,

a herd of ponies to sell
in the States.

Like he said, the Apaches
have an eye for ponies.

We're carrying rifles.
We know how to use 'em.

Ha, ha. Please forgive
my impoliteness,

but I must forego
your company.

And now if you'll excuse me,
I have business.

Mr. Chaves, forgive
our impoliteness,

but you could use
three more outriders.

The Indians--

If you ride east,
you'll ride by yourselves.

I trust you'll have
a pleasant journey

and arrive home
in good health.

The trail is a wide one.

Please give my wagons
plenty of room.

If you come
within 200 yards,

we'll fire on you.

Three Conestoga's,
two open wagons,

a stagecoach, a carriage
and a chuck wagon.

Yeah. They're hauling with mules
instead of oxen too.

Looks like one man
to each carriage and wagon,

three or four outriders,

the rest of 'em
are wrangling the ponies.

A priest.

Looks like a sick man.

Looks like the lady
won her point.

She must be a widow.
She's wearin' black.

Don't see the child
she was talking about.

Unless it's that boy.

If he is, she birthed him
when she was five.

Where do you think
they're carryin' the gold?

Right under your nose
in them open wagons.

Can't you see they're haulin'
with four mules instead of two?

They're camped down
for the night.

Suppose the Don don't go
by way of Cow Creek.

That ain't
gonna be good.

We'll have to let Keeley
know which way he does go.

He'll bushwhack him
someplace else.

Yeah, then at
the first shot,

the Don will have his wagons
down in a barricade.

And then it won't be
an ambush anymore.

They'll have a fight
for their lives.

I like it better
that way.

Me too.

I never shot
from behind yet.

Puts me in mind
of Vicksburg.

It's only thunder.

Yeah,
I know it is,

but it makes me think
of the big guns.

Big guns
and small arms.

Let's go see.

Jesse, Clint and me,
maybe we can drive 'em off.

If we do, Chaves should be
real glad to see us.

You lay back here,
and see if we make it.

If we do,
you light out for Keeley.

Here's your route.

They're attackin'
on foot.

Make for
their ponies.

They think we're trying
to scatter 'em,

they'll break
to save 'em.

Kick up lots
of dust,

so they won't know
how many we are.

Mr. Owen.

My thanks

and my apologies.

We had to
be cautious.

You were strangers.

We're still
strangers.

This is Father Damasco,
Mr. Owen.

I'm taking him east.

There is something eating
at his belly.

It causes him
great pain.

No doctor in Santa Fe
can help him.

It's your
wagon train.

With four men gone,

the Indians are bound
to come again.

Mr. Owen,

I can use your
rifles now.

If we join you now,
we take on your risk.

I know.

We can make
a bargain.

I know this country.
I'll take you through it.

Very well.

Climb down, boys.
We're joining up.

Camp here tonight.

- Camp here.
- Camp here.

- Camp here.
- Officer Owen.

No sign of them today,
yeah?

None.

Perhaps you'll do me the honor
of dining with us tonight.

Thanks. I have to
post the guard.

Oh, uh, well, Mrs. Gort
will have some food for you

when you get back.

You're making a mistake, Will.
He eats better than we do.

One of these nights, we'll be
leading him into Cow Creek.

Won't make it any easier
to know his life story.

I wouldn't mind
knowin' hers.

Help you, ma'am?

For you.

Don Antonio
sent them.

And you bring them.
Thank you.

Eat it while
it's hot.

Thank you kindly,
ma'am.

Having a nice trip?

I'd never slept out
before this.

It's nothing. It all depends
on the company you keep.

Roy's my company.

You've got a big
boy there.

Almost big enough to be
in uniform.

Roy isn't my boy.
He's my husband's brother.

I have no children.

Oh. Going to meet
your husband?

Major Gort is dead.
He was killed in the war.

I didn't know there
was fighting this far west.

There was enough.

Then you haven't got anybody
to look after you.

She's got me.

I thought you
were asleep.

No, I wasn't.

They won't come back
again tonight.

The Indians,
will they?

I'm not scared
of the Apaches.

A woman and a young boy.

Did you have to take him
away from home?

I'm taking him home

to his brother's people
in Ohio.

I'll walk you back.

We can find our way.

Say, Will?
Yeah.

How many nights
do you figure

it'll take us
to reach Cow Creek?

I was only askin'.

What're you doing
up here?

It's too cramped
in the coach.

Don Antonio said I could ride
if I wanted to.

You picked yourself a
good spot to see the show.

If there are Indians,
we'll be the first to see 'em.

You think
there'll be any?

We're pullin' out
of Apache country.

Sure, but the
Comanches come next.

The Pawnees
after them.

The Pawnees
are the worst.

Maybe it's the way they eat
that makes 'em so mean.

They yank the liver
out of a buffalo

while it's still breathing
and down it raw.

Their idea of real pleasure
is to spread the gall

over the top to make
a sauce.

Lay off, Jesse.

He gets it all
out of books.

Sure, but the man who
wrote the book saw it.

I wanted to
ask you.

Could I take my turn
at guard tonight?

I suppose you can

if you want to.

I want to.

Looks like rain.
The ponies'll be restless.

It's looked that way
for the past three days.

Just the same, you'd better
sing to 'em tonight.

Ready?
Yes, I am.

Haven't you enough
men for guards.

Do you have to
use a boy?

I asked him.

I'm sure Mr. Owen
will understand--

Jen.

Alright. I'm sorry.

What are we
waiting for?

Come on.

This is your position.

Just sit tight
and keep your eyes open.

Where will you be?

Right over there
within gunshot.

You alright?

I ain't scared.

You'd better put
that poncho on.

Was that you, Will?

What do you mean?

I thought I heard
a noise.

That was the rain,

the horses stirring around.

That was
your noise.

I figured maybe
we're in trouble.

No.

You'd better get back now, Roy.

Come on.

Who fired that shot?
We'd like to know.

Wait a minute.
I will ask Mr. Owen.

Mr. Owen.

The men want to know
who fired the shot.

I did. I thought
I saw something.

You, Mr. Owen?

I'm the one that
fired the shot.

Alright, Will.
You fired the shot.

We pull out in half
an hour.

We need sleep.

We've been at it all night.

The Pawnees
don't sleep.

Half an hour.

Half an hour, men.

Half an hour.

Mr. Owen.

I want to thank you.

Thank me for what?

It was Roy.

He told me he fired
the shot.

Keep him in the carriage
with you from now on.

I'll be getting
back now.

Fine-looking woman.

Yeah.

That's why you're makin'
your move fast.

Taking the blame for
the boy. That was smart.

Puts you in good
with her.

First thing I know,
you'll be beatin' my time.

Stay away from her,
Jesse.

Don't talk like that,
Will.

All you'll do is drive
me right into her arms.

I said, "Stay away."

We've been together for a long
time, you and me, blanket mates.

It's been share
and share alike,

but you wanna
know something?

Tell me.

It's all over.

Jesse, I'm gonna
flood the prairies

and wash out gullies
with my tears.

It'll rain wholesale.

Sure.

I thought you were
the mule skinner.

Can't you keep them
from balking?

They're all in
from last night.

They don't wanna go.
Well, they gotta go!

Keep 'em moving.

Mr. Owen.

Mr. Owen, I have
a suggestion.

What is it?

It is within your jurisdiction,
but the men are tired.

Why don't you make it
a short day?

We're in Pawnee country.
We gotta get out of it.

Is it only the Indians
who drive you, Mr. Owen?

Hold it!

Hold it.

We got company.

He says he wants
some calico.

He's changed
his mind now.

He wants ten ponies.

What does
he want now?

The same thing he wanted
in the first place.

All the ponies.

If I put a bullet in this old
hyena, we'll have to fight 'em.

We might be able to drive 'em
off, but if we don't...

Whatever you say,
Mr. Owen.

We've still got three hours
of daylight left.

Move.

We could afford them.

The men are talkin',
Will.

What they got
on their minds?

They're sayin' they could
have fought off the Pawnees,

only you chickened
on 'em.

And they're talking about
last night's roundup.

They've got a taste
of the rain

and eight hours of hard riding
fixed good in their heads,

and they're saying that you
give all that hard work away

to a scabby Indian who would
have run if you'd said "boo."

What do you think
about it, Clint?

Me?
Yeah.

Well, Will, I reckon
you had your reasons.

It ain't easy
to be in command.

I always did feel
sorry for the general

when I was
in the line.

Good evening.
Hello, Mr. Owen.

I need some
drinkin' liquor.

- Have a hard day?
- Let me get the mug.

I want
all you've got.

Oh, that's a large thirst
you have.

I don't want it for myself,
it's for the men.

They need something
to lift them up.

You shall have it.

How are you feeling,
father?

Much better, Mr. Owen.
And you?

Can't be very easy
riding on that litter.

We'll be
in St. Louis soon.

That's right.
It won't be long now.

Aguardiente.

I would suggest
you mix it with water.

Thanks. You won't get
much sleep tonight.

Stay in the stagecoach
till sunup.

And keep those blinds pulled.

When do you want us
to move on? Five minutes?

Anybody want a drink?

A drink!

♪ Nita ♪

♪ Juanita ♪

♪ Be my own ♪

♪ Fair bride ♪

Hey, what we need
is a hoedown.

What's a hoedown
without a female?

Get Mrs. Gort!

- Yeah, that's what we need.
- A female!

Come on out, Mrs. Gort!

How about a hoedown?

Alright, boys!

Alright, hold it!
Hold it!

Hold it!
How about a square dance?

Alright, now, some of you
gotta be females,

so put on
the heifer brand. Yeah.

Clear off
the dance floor.

First time I ask
a bearded lady.

Will you do me
the pleasure?

All four couples,
forward and back.

♪ Make your feet
Go clickety-clack ♪

♪ Clickety, clickety
Clickety-clack ♪

♪ Eight hands up
And round you go ♪

♪ Round and round
And let her go ♪

♪ Two-headed couples
Do-si-do ♪

♪ Bring it high
Bring it low ♪

Gee, you look mighty clean
and pretty tonight, honey.

♪ Swing your partner
Let her rip ♪

♪ Round and round
The pretty little ring ♪

Ow, you stepped
on my foot.

Quit tryin' to swing me.
You're the female.

♪ All the men left
Right and left grand ♪

♪ My, my
Don't she look grand? ♪

♪ Take her on home
As quick as you can ♪

♪ You know where
And I don't care ♪

♪ Take your lady
To an easy chair ♪

Don't be afraid of me,
you painted cat.

Painted cat, huh?

Come on!

Alright, now, boys,
mind your manners.

Mind your manners.
Right this way, ma'am.

Alright, boys,
on with the dance.

- Alright, form your square!
- Now, form your square!

Let's have a square dance!

Alright, find your mate
and don't be late.

Come on.

♪ Make your feet
Go clickety-clack ♪

♪ All men left
With your left hand ♪

♪ Round that girl
As quick as you can ♪

♪ Two steps left
And twirl that girl ♪

♪ Round and round
And give her a whirl ♪

♪ All men left
With your left hand ♪

♪ Around that girl
As quick as you can ♪

♪ Two steps left
And home you go ♪

♪ Grab your girl
And round you go ♪

♪ Two-headed couples
Forward and back ♪

♪ Make your feet
Go clickety-clack ♪

♪ Clickety, clickety
Clickety-clack ♪

I'm taking my turn.

Let her decide.

My shoes are worn through.

Get another pair.

Alright.
I'll only be a minute.

Put them on.

You never showed yourself
like this before.

I was afraid to.

Afraid of the men?

No.

You.

Why? Why me?

Because you want me most.

When you're with me,

it's always as if you remembered
something else suddenly.

I'll take you back.

Have a nice time,
Will?

What's on your mind?

You.

You're backslidin', Will.
Am I?

Yeah.

You're beginnin' to figure
about how to keep her alive

at Cow Creek.

You know something?

Keeley should have made me
top man.

I'd never let a woman come
between me and the cause.

Especially a dead woman.

You're a good man, Will.

You want to take over,
it'll have to be with a gun.

Yeah, I know that.

You'll take a new position down
back of the train riding trail.

I want to make sure you don't
fall a little behind me

out in the point
when we're alone.

The time is past
when I can show you my back.

Goodnight, Will.

Goodnight, Jesse.

Flood time.
Real high over the banks.

I've never seen it
like this before.

Better bed down here
for the night.

Take a look at it
in the morning.

We'll camp here!

She ain't dropped none.

If anything,
she's up a little.

We're losin' time, Will.

And we ain't got
none to spare.

Keeley can't chance it more
than two days out in the open

waitin' for us
at Cow Creek.

You can blame the river
if we don't get there on time.

They need that gold
up in Richmond, Will.

I've given up
for four years.

It's enough.
I've done my share.

She'll be alive.

They'll all be alive,

and it'll be the river's doing,
not ours.

I reckon we done
all we could.

I can't say I'm sorry, boy.

What do you think,
Mr. Owen?

We'll have to wait
till she lowers

before we can
make a fording.

Thought you were in a hurry.
Your friend, the priest,

he don't look like he's got
many days to waste.

I cannot risk my other people
and my wagons.

Not with a current
like this.

When I was in the artillery,

we snaked cannon
heavier than your wagons

across streams
stronger than this.

And we didn't wait
for a fording either.

The trick is to make
the current work for you

instead of against you
and build a raft.

You heard him.
He said he can't take the risk.

There is no risk.
Look.

Here's your river.

The current runs
this way.

You work a light line across
and then a heavy rope.

You hitch it up to a tree
on a far bank.

Up here.

The near end of your rope
holds your raft.

Right here.

You load her up
and turn her loose.

Downstream current
swings her across

like the pendulum
on a clock.

And how are you going
to get the raft back?

Same thing.

You have a return line
on your side of the river,

hitched to a tree.

How do you get the line across
in the first place, Jesse?

Swimming?

You know I can't swim, Will.

Split the men
into two work parties.

Have one of them fell some trees
for a 25-foot raft.

The others can start
by cutting the mules out.

Go away!

Come on, get to this.

All set?

Ready!

Alright, men.

Steady on it!

Steady, there.

Take it easy!

That was close.

What's the difference?

It wouldn't be
much of a loss.

It's only
a load of hides.

That's right.

- There she comes!
- Keep her rolling now.

Look out for the log!

Jump! Jump!

There goes our raft!

And a chuck wagon!

Look out for that current!

There goes the raft!

Yeah, that way!
You lucky boy!

You men will have to chance it.

Come across on your horses
like I did.

Turn the other animals loose.

The boy!

I'm going for him.

Stay where you are!

Mr. Owen is coming
to help you!

Don't let him!
You can't stop him now.

Ah! Roy!

Swim! Swim!

- He can't swim!
- The current's got him!

Roy! Roy!

Mr. Owen.

He's gone.

Will, he's gone.

He's gone.

He's alone in the water.

I know. I know.

He wouldn't wait for you
to come and help him.

He wouldn't wait.

He was trying
to be a man.

He wanted to be brave
like the major.

Brave like the major.

The major ran away
when the shelling started.

He ran behind the lines

and tried to bury himself
in the sand.

When it was over,
his own men came after him,

put him against the wall,
and shot him.

Everybody in Santa Fe
knew about it.

Roy couldn't live
with it any longer.

I had to take him away.

I took him part of the way.

The river took him
the rest.

You've got to let the dead
stay dead.

I know.

I know.

Well, you done
all you could, Will.

Ain't nothing more
you can do.

You gotta go
through with it.

You think I will?

I don't know, boy.

You're in love with her, Will.

And it's tearing you apart.

You think even the gold
isn't worth it.

Even the confederacy.

You want to go to Chaves
and tell him. Call it off.

Don't do it, Will.

What is it?

We pull into Cow Creek
tomorrow night.

We bed down there.

I want you to stay
near me.

Something's wrong,
isn't it?

Just do like I say.

Stay near me,
that's all.

I'll stay near you.

Get up!

Take it easy, boy.

I'm going ahead
to patrol.

Howdy. Riding alone?

Bringing in a train.
So am I.

Anything up ahead?
No.

Nothing doing
at Cow Creek?

Didn't notice nothing.

How far did you come?
Santa Fe.

Hey! Santa Fe!

That case, maybe you ain't
heard the news yet.

What news?
The war news.

You going to keep it
a secret?

Couldn't if I wanted to.
And I don't want to.

I like to watch people's faces
when I tell them.

Alright. Watch mine.

Well, the war is over.

What?
Well, it happened at Appomattox.

Lee and Grant
come face to face,

and Lee says
how he can't go on no more.

They say Grant must've been
a farmer himself

because he let them
keep their mouths.

That ain't all!

Hey! Hey!

The war is over!

The war is over!

The war is over!

Too bad we used
all the brandy.

We didn't.

I'll be right back.

We came close.

Boys, I'll tell you,
I'm gettin' older,

but I've still got
a few days and nights left

if I keep my feet dry.

And them nights
was beginnin' to bother me.

A man's awful alone
at night.

You better head
for Keeley.

There's a chance
he hasn't heard.

He doesn't mix
with people.

We don't want this train
bushwhacked by mistake.

Better start now.

Wait a minute.

Why?

The war is over,
killing is over.

This killing is over.

No, it isn't, Will.

You didn't think Keeley was
gonna let that million dollars

go to Richmond, did you?

Keeley isn't a soldier, Will.
He's a bandit.

So were you.

So were Clint and me.

He's real smart,
if you look at it.

Keeley was playing it safe,
hiding behind the flag.

Now,
there isn't any flag.

You knew it all along.

Will, you were all South.

Keeley needed you bad
because you knew the West,

but he couldn't tell you why.

He could tell me.

We talked it over,
and we decided--

You decided I'd bring the train
through, and then you'd tell me.

Then you'd give me my share,
is that right?

Sixty thousand dollars, Will.
Maybe more.

Will, you were raised poor.
Think what that means.

Did you talk it over
with Keeley, Clint?

No, I didn't, Will.

In that case, take his gun.

Was there a share
for me too, Jesse?

Yeah,
for you too, Clint.

I'll bet there was,
right out of this barrel.

I hope your pants
are tight, Clint.

They're tight enough,
boy.

Take off your belt
and tie his hands behind him.

What--

Tell 'em, Jesse.

You tell 'em.
This is your idea.

There's a bushwhacking party
waitin' for you at Cow Creek.

They'll wipe you out.
How do you know?

He ought to know.
He led you into it.

All the way from Santa Fe.

You led us 800 miles
into a trap,

and now you tell us about it
before it's sprung.

Why?

There's no time
to explain now.

Keeley would have had pickets
out for 20 miles back.

They're scouting us
right now.

What do you suggest?

Head for Cow Creek, anyhow.

We'll have water
at our backs.

We'll make a stand.
We can fight them off.

Suppose we turn around.
Double back on our trail?

I tell you we've been seen.

He'll be after us.
They have fast mounts.

We have wagons.

I shall be riding
directly behind you.

You've made yourself
a deal.

Hitch up those teams!

We'll leave the carriage behind.
Move fast.

Ready?
Ready.

After you, Mr. Owen.

Let's go!

They're cutting us off
at the creek!

We'll have to make a stand!

Now it's up to them.

What was their plan?

It wasn't supposed
to begin till tonight,

when everyone
was asleep.

Keeley isn't expecting
a fight.

He's thinking it over.

Over there!

I'm coming across
under a flag of truce!

At your own risk!

Come along.

That's far enough.
Not one more step.

Mr. Will Owen.

Don Antonio Chaves.

You see,
we've got you numbered.

But that ain't the point.

I want your gold.

And you want your lives.

We can arrange it peaceable.

No bloodletting
either way.

Don't come any closer,
I said.

Why not be reasonable?

It won't hurt to talk it over,
civilized.

The gold will go back
to his family,

who have no need for it.

Their need was for him.

So was ours.

So Keeley was gonna
bushwhack Chaves.

Don Antonio should have let him
finish his remarks.

Keeley had his mouth open
like a gulf-oyster at low tide.

Don't mourn him too long.
I won't.

This means a bigger share
for everybody else.

Everybody except you.

Don't you figure
on collecting.

I'll collect alright.

Not with your hands tied,
you won't.

They'll be able to untie me.

You won't be here
to meet 'em.

I'd still collect
and you'd still be alive

if I spoke a word for you
when they came.

They'll try it again,
that's sure.

They'll probably
wait till dark.

Then come down fast.

Maybe we could split up.

Outflank them,
take 'em in the crossfire.

Might be.

A man could work down
that draw,

up around the hill behind them
without being seen.

- Hold your fire, boys.
- It's Will coming back.

Find anything?
Yeah.

I found a place
that might work.

We'll start
as soon as it's dark.

Jesse.
Yeah.

I don't know how he got
the knife, but he got it.

Must've slipped across
to join them.

And he'll be bringin' 'em back
in about an hour.

Hey, Will!

Give my love to the lady!

Tell her I'm coming calling!

Come on.

Once they start,
we'll only have about two minutes.

See 'em?

Now!

Come on!
We're going after 'em!

Is that you, Jesse?

Leave him to me.

Yeah, it's me, alright.

If I'd known it was you,
I'd given the first shot.

Would you, Jesse?

You shot my belly out, Will.

You haven't got a drink on you,
have you, Will?

I sure could use a drink.

How many shots
you got left, Jesse?

Not a one, boy. Sorry.

Thanks, Jesse.

That's all I wanted
to hear.

He said he was
out of bullets.

-- English --