The Stalking Moon (1968) - full transcript

[Theme music]

[Grand music]

[Tense music]

[Horse snorts]

[Gun cocks]

[Neighing]

[Thumps]

[Thuds]

[Baby crying]

[Gunshot]

[Speaking foreign language]



[Speaking foreign language]

What tribe are you with?

Where are they from?

[Speaking
foreign language]

Where are you from?!

[Speaking
foreign language]

Could be up from Mexico.

Where are
the rest of their men?

Odds are,
about a day's ride ahead,

looking for food
and a place to hide.

I'd put one of them
on a horse

and have him tell
the tribe

they have to come
to San Carlos

if they want to see
these people again.



Sergeant rudabaugh,
I want to move out.

[Sgt. Rudabaugh]
Yes, sir.

You heard the man!

Thompson,
bring those horses up here!

Collins,
get these people lined up.

Men together.
Women and children together.

Let's move it!

Foothills by sundown,
sergeant.

- Yes, sir.
- [Woman] Mister...

For the love of god!

Who are you?

What's your name?

Do you have a name?

Oh, Nick. Nick!
Come on up here!

Get her name.
Some kind of name.

[Speaking
foreign language]

You can talk to me.

Do you speak English?

What is your name?

Sarah.

Sarah. That's fine.
Your name is Sarah.

Carver.

Sarah carver.

When were you captured?

Long... time.

Were there any survivors?

All... dead.

It's over now.

Do you understand?

It's all over now.

Come along.

Buck,
bring that horse up here.

Hurry!

[Speaking
foreign language]

Let's go. Come on!

Carver party.

Outside lemmington...
About 10 years ago.

Found a man, a woman,
and three young boys.

I wonder what she went
through all those years.

[Man] All right,
everybody, move out!

You sure picked
a hell of a way

to end 15 years
with the army.

I don't mind
getting out alive.

Ho!

Sergeant rudabaugh,
you take over.

Forward!

[Tense music]

- Apaches?
- Yeah.

- How many?
- Just one.

But there were
three men.

They were all armed.

One set of tracks
and a buffalo rifle.

Salvaje.

I thought
he was in Mexico.

He was here...
Not more than a few hours ago.

[Sgt. Rudabaugh]
The last I heard of salvaje,

he was clear down
to window rock.

[Commander] What the hell
is he doing up here again?

He took on
10 troopers down there,

killed four of them,

and not a one of them
got a look at him.

Let's Bury those people.
Get moving.

[Commander] Sergeant rudabaugh,
form a burial detail.

[Sgt. Rudabaugh] Collins,
foster, burial detail.

- [Man 1] What the hell's going on?
- [Man 2] What's happening?

[Sgt. Rudabaugh]
Salvaje, that's what.

Let's move!

[Hoofbeats approaching]

Hey, collie.

- Look after him.
- Pulling out in the morning.

Open up!
Clear the way!

We must go now.

I must go.

My dear woman,
just be thankful you're alive.

We cannot stay here.

Of course she'll go!
She's not staying here!

You won't
be staying here.

[Doctor]
She wants to go now.

[Man]
Today?

Yes. Please.

[Man] I can't give you
an escort today.

Sam!

And if I could,
where would you go?

Do you have a place
to go?

[Doctor] Where
do you come from?

[Carver] Columbus.

Would you still have
people there?

Yes.

[Man] Well, either way,

there's no sense
in going today.

You and your boy
should rest now.

Get some food in you.

[Doctor]
You're wasting your time.

What do you mean
"I'm wasting my time"?

She insisted
upon seeing you

because she wants
to leave here,

not because
she wants to be fed.

We've been
all through that.

Well,
she's not leaving.

Sorry, I can't give you
an escort out of here

for another five days.

If I could, I'd have you
on your way right now.

The only person who will
be leaving here is Mr. Varner...

In the morning.

And if I can, I'll keep
Mr. Varner from leaving, too.

Now, you go on back
to your tent.

We'll give you an escort
to silverton

by the end of the week.

You can contact
government agencies.

They'll take good care
of you.

Toomey, escort this lady
and the boy back to the tent.

Yes, sir.

God only knows
what's going on

in that
poor woman's mind.

Going.

Where is she gonna go?

You know, you're not gonna know
how to live out there

any more
than that woman will.

Well, what the hell
is so important

out there anyway?

After 15 years.

One more year,
that's all I ask.

That's all you asked
last year.

That's all I'll ask
next year.

I'm short of good men.
I need you, Sam.

You've got Nick.

No.
Nick's a breed.

- He's good.
- He's a breed, Sam.

If he wants to move on,
he'll move on.

He's here
because you took him in.

If he cares about anything,
it's not about this army.

Not this year, major.

I got a place to go to,
and I'm going.

Thank you for the whiskey.

Place to go to.

[Sgt. Rudabaugh]
Thought you was leaving.

Sunrise.

Seen Nick?

Not here.

- Buy you a whiskey?
- No thanks.

Your breed ain't too happy
about you leaving, yo know?

Well,
he'll get used to it.

Time he was on his own.

I try to win you
a little money.

I figure I'll buy you cow
for your farm.

Ranch.

Yeah, ranch.

There goes your cow.

Come on.
I'll buy you a drink.

[Chuckles]
Come on.

I got a drink.

Maybe someday I show up.

You teach me
grow onions, huh?

You want to grow onions,
you know where to find me.

[Thuds]

You teach me everything
so good, huh?

I'll do it again.
I got to draw blood, huh?

Be a big waste
of 10 years, wouldn't it?

[Whispering]
Mister.

Yes, ma'am?

Are you going
to silverton?

No, ma'am.
I'm not going to silverton.

You can take us.

I'm not going to silverton,
ma'am.

The major said.

Oh, well, he said I was
leaving in the morning,

but I'm not going
to silverton.

We have to go.

Well, you get an escort
to silverton in five days.

Too late.

Well, I'm sorry, ma'am.

Please.

I'm going to new Mexico.

I don't go
by way of silverton.

The army will take
good care of you.

You don't have to be afraid
anymore.

Good night, ma'am.

Please.

[Solemn music]

[Whispering]
Please.

Tell the major
that the lady and her boy

will be needing
a transportation voucher.

Take you to hennessy,
ma'am.

You can get the stage
for silverton from there.

As far as I'll take you.

[Steady music]

[Clanging]

[Clanging]

Silverton stage?

Day after tomorrow.

We can use some rest.

Julio, ven acá.

[Wind howls]

[Clears throat]

Well, we're going
to silverton together?

Those of us
who are going.

I sent my family
back to Wichita.

That's where I'm heading.

[Laughs]

You know,
this man in hopperville

has real strong hope
for this territory.

Why, just the other day,

he says, "Lee, now,
if you wait it through,

you can bring
your family back.

[Laughs]

"Sooner or later,
we're going to run

all the Indians out,"
he says.

[Laughing]

[Wind howls]

Ashki! Ashki!
Ashki!

[Man]
He took my knife.

Tried to kill me.

Ashki!

What's the trouble?

Ashki!

Ashki!

My boy. He's gone!

Bring out my horse.

[Wind howls]

[Neighing]

[Tense music]

[Neighing]

[Neighing]

[Neighing]

[Neighing]

[Ominous music]

[Creaking]

[Cocks gun]

Never... seen...
Nothing...

Like him.

Salvaje.

[Music continues]

[Scraping]

He'll come back.

Not here.

We should go now.

He'll come.

We're not going
anywhere.

He's finished here.

He did
what he came to do.

He is not finished.

He came for his son!

He'll come back
for his son!

[Thwacks]

You pulled us out here

knowing all the time
he'd come after us?

I thought he would not get
to us in time.

Five days!

You couldn't wait
for five days?

You could have had
an army escort in five days.

Is that worth five days?

He will come back.

We cannot stop.

Well, we've stopped.

Whoa.

Where's the mex?
What's going on?

He's dead.
They're all dead.

Salvaje.

Nobody leave the wagon.
We're moving out.

These people
are going to silverton.

Government travel papers.

All right. All right.
Put them on.

Hurry it up!

Just show this to the
stationmaster at silverton.

You riding with us, mister?

Sure feel better if somebody
was riding behind us.

I'd appreciate it.

Hah!

[Upbeat music]

Whoa.

Changing horses!
15 minutes!

Much obliged.

Depot.

Train comes in
over there.

Come on.
We'll get your tickets.

Columbus?

You said you wanted to go
to Columbus.

I don't know.

Well, you said
you had family in Columbus.

My... family is dead.

Well, must be
somebody left there...

Friends, somebody.

All right.

Columbus.

I'm afraid this won't
take them to Columbus.

This voucher
can't cross them into Ohio

on the revel line.

And there would be a change
in Kansas City

to the revel line.

Get them to Topeka.

Uh... what about Topeka?

You want to go
to Topeka?

It's far.
It's in Kansas.

All right.

Topeka.

Two?

The lady and the boy.

Train should be here

sometime
about 2:00 or 3:00.

It'll take them
as far as taspola.

They'll have to
change there

and wait on
for a train to gallup.

Shouldn't be
more than a few hours.

Then
they can ride this ticket

through to dodge city.

God willing.

Then
just wait till Tuesday.

Then they can just take
the bdr&o

right on through
to Topeka.

Could you get along
without that shoe box?

Well, I figure
I can travel some before sunset.

Much good luck.

Thank you.

[Neighing]

He buried them.

He can tell you
more than I can.

All right, Ollie,
get that team ready,

and get
the passengers on.

We're moving out.

[Man] Ready to go, Shelby.

You buried them, huh?

We're all out of beer.

All out of ice.

Got some coffee,

and there's still
some cereal left

on the stove
if you want.

Coffee.

[Man] Ready to go, Shelby.

Giddyap!

A hell of a way to live...
Driving a stage.

Can you cook?

I got a parcel of land
in new Mexico.

Uh...

Bought it
through the mail.

Only seen it once.

For the last eight years, I've
been sending money down there

to an old man who's supposed
to be buying cattle for me.

It's not much of a house,
but a... place to live in.

The old man and me would
probably get more work done

if we had somebody
to cook for us.

It might be better
for the boy than the city.

You might not like it.

I never lived with anybody
in my life.

But I've agreed with myself
that you're welcome to come,

if you want to.

I have to sell my horse.

[Slow music]

[Engine chugging]

[Train whistle blows]

[Steady music]

[Grand music]

Buenas tardes.

Buenas tardes.

- Buen día.
- Sí, buen día.

[Cow mooing]

[Metal squeaking]

There's a pump
around the side.

[Slow, bright music]

[Dog barks]

[Dog whimpers]

Hear you had
a bad winter.

Lose many cattle?

It was a bad winter.

Near kill them all
last winter.

[Dog whimpering]

Come on, boy.
Come on.

[Grand music]

Now,
I know that uh, we agreed

that uh, you'd come down here
and do the cooking,

and I appreciate it, but

I can't say I'm real happy

about the way you stand
around the room.

Now come on, sit down
at the table, both of you.

Come on. Come on.

With food on your plates.

Now, from now on,

we'll be taking our meals
together.

I got nothing
against talking.

I don't mind a little
talking now and then.

Anybody feels
like saying anything,

well, just ought to say it,
you know, uh,

anything.

Pass the peas.
Pass the meat.

Just whatever you want to say,

you just speak up.

Speak up.

Pass the meat.
And give me the salt.

Tell that to the boy.

Go on. Tell him
if he wants some peas,

he ought to say,
"pass the peas."

Let's get this thing
settled.

[Speaking
foreign language]

What's the boy's name?

He wasn't given
his name yet.

Well,
let's give him one now.

What would you like
to call him?

What was
your father's name?

Thomas.

Good. Good.

You want
to call him "Thomas"?

He wouldn't understand.

There is already too much
for him to understand.

You, uh...

Anybody wants
to say anything, well,

just go right ahead
and say it.

Pass the peas.

Pass the salt.

Whatever you want passed.

It's...

It's not easy...
For me to talk.

It's... been a long time...
Since I have talked.

But I would like
to say this...

That it pleases me...
To be here.

And I think... it is
a beautiful place to be.

It's not much,
but it's better than sand.

Plenty of blankets and uh,

more firewood
just outside.

I want you to know
that you're free here.

You can come and go
as you please.

There's a view
from that north Ridge...

Sometimes I think you can see
all the way back to Arizona.

Good night, miss carver.

[Door shuts]

Good night.

[Solemn music]

[Music swells]

[Slow, grand music]

[Music quickens]

[Solemn music]

[Thunder rumbles]

[Rain falling]

[Thunder rumbles]

[Tense music]

[Horse snorting]

Yeah, I think Sam varner make
you better scout by now, boy.

[Speaking
foreign language]

[Horse snorting]

[Chuckling]

Ah, you son-of-a-gun,
you picked me up, huh?

I spotted you
from the Ridge

about
four miles back.

I tell you the truth,
varner,

I figure I find you dead
over some onion patch, huh?

I listen at the fort.

I hear from the Indians
about the boy.

You know what he is,
this boy?

Yeah.

Oh. Well, I figure
maybe you don't know.

So I ride hennessy.

I dig up that grave,
hennessy.

I figure
maybe you're in it.

Goodbye, Sam, huh?

Then, I ride silverton.

Silverton,
they're all dead, too.

Even your horse dead,
silverton.

Then, I hear
he stops wagon at oakley.

Two days later,
he's already Columbia pass.

I figure it out.

I come tell you.

He's on his way.

Figured good, huh?

Real good.

[Snorting]

[Peaceful music]

[Horse snorts]

[Hoofbeats approaching]

Nick will be here
for a while.

Salvaje is on his way.

[Tense music]

[Snorting]

Have you told him
anything?

I think...
He already knows.

There's a Mexican family
down the road.

Ride over
in the morning... warn them.

[Suspenseful music]

It has nothing to do
with you.

It has to do with me.

I didn't have the courage
to die.

I knew what I had to do
to stay alive.

I chose to be with him.

Tomorrow I'm going to take
my boy away...

And salvaje will find us,

and maybe that
will be enough for him.

It won't be.

It...

Will keep him
from here.

What about after here?

I buried his dead
at hennessy.

They're all dead
at silverton.

Dead all the way
across Arizona.

I have to think about that.

If I can, I have to stop it.

You and the boy

aren't leaving here.

I want you to stay here.

It's right
that you're here.

[Solemn music]

[Horse snorting]

Hey, old man.

You want to make
card game?

I teach you poker, huh?

You talk too much,
huh, Nick?

Hey, boy.
Hey, come here.

[Speaking foreign language]

Hey.
[Speaking foreign language].

Come here!

Come here!

[Speaking
foreign language]

You going to be white,

you better learn
white man's game, huh?

Yeah. [Shuffles deck]
Pretty good, huh?

Sit down.

[Speaking
foreign language]

See this?
That's cards, huh?

See that?
That's numbers.

Numbers.
All numbers, huh?

Say this number.
Four.

Four. That's four.

Say that.

[Speaking
foreign language]

- Four.
- Four! Attaboy.

Say this one here.

Say that one. Three.

Three.

[Speaking foreign language]

- Three.
- Three.

Three.

I teach you count, huh?

Okay, say, "ace."
"Ace."

Ace.

Deuce. Deuce.

- Deuce.
- Three.

- Three.
- [Speaking foreign language]

Four. Four.
Four.

- Four.
- Five.

- Five.
- Attaboy.

You going to make
good poker player.

You want a cigar?

You take cigar.

Attaboy.

[Suspenseful music]

[Door shuts]

[Cocks gun]

[Bleating]

[Snorting]

[Banging]

[Whinnying]

[Banging]

Where is she?!

We didn't see nobody.

She's gone.
The breed's looking.

Get inside.
Bolt the doors and windows.

[Door closes]

Nick!

I lose him! Someplace
I lose him, damn it!

[Splashing]

[Tense music]

Tell the boy
she's not dead.

[Speaking foreign language]

[Somber music]

Tomorrow morning.

[Door opens]

You all right?

Yes.

[Gun cocks]

We have to start
before the sun's out.

[Suspenseful music]

[Bird hoots]

[Music continues]

[Horse whinnies in distance]

[Horse whinnies]

He's doubled back!

[Music intensifies]

[Gunshot]

[Whinnying]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Dog barking]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshots]

[Speaking foreign language]

[Yells in foreign language]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshots]

Open up!

[Somber music]

[Whinnying]

[Tense music]

[Growling]

[Fire crackling]

I teach him poker.

I teach him
take your money.

How come you never give me
chance beat you, varner?

Come on,
I play you stud.

Maybe you make him
tough scout, huh?

Maybe.

Maybe this one
don't want to be tough scout.

Maybe not.

Figure you beat the man,
you win the breed, huh?

I'll tell you something,
varner.

Maybe the man beats you.

Maybe this half-breed,
he'll be Indian.

[Clanking]

Feed my dog.

[Tense music]

Here, boy. Here.

[Gasping]

[Whispering] Ned.

Ned.

Ned! Ned!

[Footsteps approach]

[Whispering]
Ned. Ned.

[Screams in distance]

[Suspenseful music]

[Cracking]

[Thuds]

[Gunshots]

[Cocks gun]

I saw something.

You find the old man?

Yeah.

[Door opens]

[Door closes]

[Suspenseful music]

You won't hear him.

I'll hear him.

It doesn't happen
that way.

He just comes.

I'll hear him.

I'm going
across the clearing.

Head for the north side
of the corral,

into the trees.

I want to draw his fire.

If I don't, at least
he'll be watching me.

When I get to the middle
of the clearing,

I want you
out the storeroom window.

Our best bet's still
having two of us on him.

Keep well behind me.

If I can keep
his eye on me,

he'll still think there's
one of us in this house.

Let him know
when I'm halfway across.

He's there!

[Suspenseful music]

[Music continues]

[Music intensifies]

[Gun cocks]

- Sam!
- [Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshots]

[Music fades]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Whinnying]

[Gunshot]

Hey, Sam.

Yeah.

[Somber music]

[Thoughtful music]

[Shuffling cards]

[Music fades]

[Clicking]

[Creaking]

[Slight noise]

[Slight noise]

[Clicking]

[Blowing]

[Slight noise]

[Gunshots]

[Tense music]

[Tense music]

He's hit!

[Suspenseful music]

[Music continues]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshots]

[Gunshots continue]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot]

[Tense music]

[Rustling]

[Rustling]

[Thunks]

[Music intensifies]

[Music continues]

[Gunshots]

[Breathing heavily]

[Music fades]

[Steady music]

[Music swells]