Cheyenne (1955–1963): Season 1, Episode 1 - Mountain Fortress - full transcript

That's the second one today.
What do you think?

We'd better get
to some high ground.

If there's a way up there-

We'll find it.

I like a barber
for my haircuts.

What's the matter?

Somebody rode this way,
Smitty.

Maybe not more than
a half an hour back.

Injuns?

No, white men.
Their horses were shod.

Buenos d?as, amigos.



?Qu? tal?

Buenos d?as, se?or.

What do you do here, huh?

I might ask you
the same question, amigo.

The Indians.

I saw their signals.

I come here,
wait for the night to come.

Now, maybe you'll tell me
your business, huh?

It's no secret.
I scout this country.

He draws it up
on little pieces of paper.

When we get to a settlement,
we put them all together,

and we got a map.

Sabe?

You, uh, alone?



S?, I like very much
to be alone.

So you go, yes?

You own this part
of the country?

No, se?or.

It is too big for me.

Why don't the rest of you
come out.

Easy, Perado.

It's all right.

I'm sorry, mister, but with
those Shoshones kicking up

we didn't wanna take
any chances.

We look like Shoshones?

No, not close up,
but down there...

Oh, I've seen Indians
pull tricks before.

Let 'em by, Perado.

My name's Manson.
Who are you?

You must be new in these parts,
Mr. Manson.

So?

This here is Cheyenne.

So you're Cheyenne Bodie.

As long as we're getting
acquainted,

why don't you ask
the rest of your friends

to join the party.

All right boys,
come on out.

This is Stew Davis.

Stew, this is Cheyenne.

I heard...

but I didn't catch
this other gentleman's name.

My name's Smith, mister.
Smitty Smith.

You can call me Mr. Smith.

Don't get smart.

You gotta excuse Stew,
Mr. Smith.

He don't cotton none
to Yankees.

Yankee? Me?

I'm a Texan.

That makes you one
of the human race, I reckon.

Sorry, Mr. Smith.

Quite a crowd.

Yeah, ain't it.

You see,
we were on our way to Mexico.

Perado here has got him
a rancho below the border,

but no cash.

Well, me and my friends
were aiming to supply the cash,

get some cattle,
and that's it.

Manson,
there's another one!

If you're not familiar
with the country,

I wouldn't advise
travelin' south.

Or any direction, as long as
the Shoshones are out there.

Oh, you know this country,
huh?

It's my business.

Maybe you can get us through,

past those Injuns.

I've done it before.

Well,
maybe you could do it again.

Maybe.
But not right now.

Fort Kermus is waiting
on Smitty's drawings.

Ferman Pass
is a little out of our way.

Yeah, and, uh,
I'm almost out of pencil.

Well, we'd pay you
to scout us through.

We're already being paid.

You ain't a bit friendly,
are you?

When I've got time for it,
I'm real friendly.

Right now, I've gotta-
Manson!

Manson!

Maybe we better
take a look.

What do you make of it,
Cheyenne?

Looks like the stage

from Valance Point to Kermus.

Yeah, but what's all that
dust kicking up behind?

Yeah, that's not just the wind
doing that.

It's clearing up a little more.
I can make it out.

Those smoke signals
weren't foolin'.

You don't mean
the Shoshones?

Shoshones, bah.
Bunch of farmers.

Do not sell them short,
Plank.

Oh, I might show off a little
in front of their squaws.

Them squaws is gonna be mighty
proud of them tonight.

They're attacking the stage.

It don't look too good,
does it?

You think we ought to lend them
a hand?

I don't figure
we got any choice.

All right, boys,
let's go down there.

Mount up.

Smitty,
see about the driver.

What about that bunch
that got away?

S?, they gonna bring back
some more.

It's too late
to worry about 'em now.

Cheyenne.

You all right,
driver?

Get the woman out.

Woman?
Woman!

He's right,
there is a woman in here.

Anything busted anyplace,
ma'am?

It's all right now, miss.
You hurt, ma'am?

Feel better?
Come on.

Easy.
Easy, ma'am.

Was anybody else with you,
ma'am?

No, just the guards.

They were killed.

The situation is, uh,
how you say?

She's a complicate,
huh, Manson?

It'll clear up.

Cheyenne.

Take off your hardware.

You, too, Smith.

You have ears,
se?or.

Go on.

Plank,
bust it open.

All right,
back on the rock.

You know, I've been roped
into lots of deals in my life,

but there ain't none
to equal this.

You know,
it was real nice of us

to help Manson
rob that stagecoach.

What else could we do?

I was tellin'
the fellas,

if somebody'd give me a hand
on that busted wheel,

me and my passengers
would be on our way.

Might be a couple of big,
fat drawbacks to that.

Yeah,
that's what I thought.

Nobody leaves this rock
till I tell them to.

And when do you think
that'll be?

Just as soon as those
smoke signals die out.

And that's where you come in.

Perado.

You figure it five days
to the border?

S?, five.
Maybe, six.

It will be never.

You wanna make a bet?

Sure is a nice feller.

You all right,
miss?

Yes.

I'm sorry
I went to pieces.

But those Indians...

Those vicious savages.

Well, the Indians think
we're the savages, miss.

That doesn't give them the right
to murder innocent people.

They're only fighting
for what's theirs.

The Shoshones used to live
in the high country.

Rivers, plenty of game,
good soil.

We pushed them right down
into the desert.

And now, we taking even that
away from them.

How can you defend them
after what they just did?

I'm not defending them.
I'm just explaining them.

My mother and father were killed
by Indians,

yet the Cheyenne raised me
like one of their own.

I- I haven't even thanked you
for what you did for me.

How'd you happen
to be traveling alone

in Shoshone territory?

I was on my way
to Fort Kermus.

My- My fianc?'s there.

He's expecting you?

Yes, I wrote to him.

He knew I was to be
on this stage.

Is there any way I can let him
know that I'm safe?

Won't need to.

I figure you'd pick the kind of
man that'd come lookin' for you.

What you thinkin'?

Lady's got herself a soldier
at Fort Kermus.

What time were you due there,
driver?

'Bout an hour ago.

You folks ain't polite.

Talkin' so we can't hear you.

Joe's talkin' about
the patrol

that's gonna come lookin'
for that stagecoach.

I figured on that.

That's why we're clearin' out
of here tonight.

Well, what makes you think
it's safe to travel at night?

Well ain't these Indians
got a superstition

that the great spirit
can't find them

if they get knocked over
at night?

I wouldn't count on it.

All War Cloud has to do
is tell them it's more practical

to fight at night,
and they fight at night.

A man that knows the Indians
as well as you do

can come in mighty handy.

You can get us through.

I don't like the job.

And when I don't like a job,
I turn it down.

I seen men like you before.

You got what they call honor.

Well, honor can get you
real dead.

Killing me won't get you
to Mexico.

No, killing you
wouldn't do any good.

So I'm gonna put
the lady's life in your hands.

Now, you wouldn't want anything
to happen to her, now, would you?

No,
I don't think you would.

Not a man with honor.

So you'll lead us
out of here tonight.

And when we get to the border?

You can turn around
and head back.

Now,
you're a mapmaker.

Show us how you aim to save
the lady.

This is the rock we're on.

Fort Kermus lies 18 miles
to the north, up this valley.

Here's a smoke signal.

Here's another.

War Cloud's fighters
are all the way

between these two points.

And here's a pass heading west.

You gotta go through it
to get to Mexico.

If you can get through at all.

Course, the sensible thing
to do would be to head north.

Make a run
for the fort.

The Shoshones won't get
too close to civilization.

That's the way!
Shut up.

That'd be real smart of me,
now, wouldn't it?

Walking right into the law.

Well, take your pick
of routes.

They're all scouted out
for you.

We're still heading
for Mexico.

Manson.

You're forgetting one thing.

What's that?

Those Shoshones that got away
when we attacked.

By now, they're close
to their main lodge.

They'll be back
with the rest.

Before night?

Maybe.

Them Injuns ain't dumb.

They ain't gonna figure us
for holing out up here,

when we could've made it
to Fort Kermus.

I'm worried.

I don't think Manson's
gonna let us go

when we get him
through the pass.

I never thought he would.

I suppose you're thirsty?

A little.

Why are you looking at me
like that?

'Cause you're pretty,
ma'am.

Manson.

The patrol.

There's four of 'em.

Gimme that thing.

Lieutenant,
Shoshones, sir.

If that patrol
picks up our trail,

they'll walk
right into Manson's hands.

And he won't think twice
about wiping them out.

Ain't there any way
we can warn them?

Well, we can try.

Been more than Indians here.
Look at these tracks.

White men.
How many?

Well,
it looks like enough

to give them savages
a good mixing to.

Then Joan might be safe.

Looks like they headed
for that rock.

That'd be a good place
to hole up.

Come on.

Perado, Plank, Stew.

That blue-bellied patrol comes
up here, start shootin'.

Take your places.

Manson.

You wanna get to the Mexican
border, don't you?

You'll see to that.

Look, Cheyenne, there's a rope
waiting for me and my bunch,

and we don't care much
how we keep our necks out of it.

I meant what I said about you
being responsible

for that girl's life.

Manson,
I'll make you a deal.

You ain't in any spot
to make any deals.

Maybe I am.

How do you know I'll lead you
to the border?

How do you know I won't lead you
into a trap?

The first sign of it,
and that girl gets killed.

And so do you
and your men.

You need me.

I give you my word that
if you don't kill those men,

I'll see that you
get to the border.

You made a deal,
Cheyenne.

No shootin'
unless I give the word.

And bring that girl here.

Get down, Spotty.
Get down.

Here they come.

Best Yankee bait in the world's
a Yankee girl.

Joan.

You two men stay here
and keep your eyes open.

Oh, Brad. Brad.

You got here pretty quick,
lieutenant.

I don't understand.

How did you get-?

Well, she was unconscious
when we found her.

The Indians left her
for dead.

There's been more than
just three of you here.

They saved my life,
Brad.

You- You might at least
thank them.

I'm sorry.

I'm grateful.

Signal the men
to come up.

Drop your guns,
blue-bellies.

Manson.

Just behave yourself,
lieutenant,

and nobody'll get hurt.

Brad, I had to.
They would've killed you.

Blue-belly asked for that.

Don't nobody else
try it.

Better do as he says,
lieutenant.

Come on, sergeant.
Let's go.

There must be something
we can do.

Not now.

What are you figuring?

We sit here and let Manson
do what he wants?

Well, I'll tell you,
lieutenant.

Just as long as Manson's got
all the guns,

I'm real content
to sit quiet.

Well, I'm not.

There's no use getting riled up,
lieutenant.

That isn't gonna solve anything.

When's another patrol due
to leave the fort?

Tomorrow morning,
probably.

Well, won't they miss you
before then?

No.

I wasn't due back
until late tonight.

Well,
that won't do us any good.

Manson'll have us moved out
by then.

Where's Miss Carter?

Up there.

What do you intend
doing with her?

Ask Cheyenne.

He knows-
Lieutenant's asking you!

Don't try anything,
Yankee.

Another fool move
like that,

and you won't get a chance
to leave this rock.

Now, get saddled.

We're riding out of here
as soon as it gets dark.

You figure Manson's
gonna let Miss Carter go

when we reach the border?

He can't afford to leave anybody
behind that knows where he went.

Lieutenant!

Back sooner
than I expected.

You think they know
we're up here?

You tracked us.

You figure
that's all of 'em?

Hard tellin'.

We gotta get
out of here, now.

Now?

You can think of more ways
to get a man buried.

Shut up.

If we can get out of here
while those Injuns are busy,

we'll make it.
How 'bout it?

Well, why ask me?

You'll do what you want to,
anyway.

Back to the top.

Soon as those Injuns pull out,
we'll try it again.

Use your head,
Manson.

Indians don't pull out,
not for good.

They're all around this rock.

Well, that means they're calling
their friends, don't it?

You think they'll hit us
tonight?

As long as those drums
are beatin',

you got nothin'
to worry about.

I thought you'd like
something to eat, Miss Carter.

I don't think so.
I'm not hungry.

It surely makes me feel bad,
ma'am,

to bring you just
sow belly and beans.

If only we just had some greens.

Doesn't matter.

Well,
I know it ain't much.

I-i-if you'd only try some.

No, I'm really not hungry.

This here's the second time
I got humiliated

by sow belly and beans.

It just ain't lucky for me,
I guess.

W-when was the other time?

I-it was the time I put my
dinner on a skillet lid

and took it to General Lee
with my own hands.

Where was this?

It was just before Gettysburg,

and this bunch of officers
comes along and stops.

As the horses parted,
there was General Lee,

sitting atop his gray horse.

I-I don't remember how come that
skillet lid got into my hand,

but there was me at Lee's
stirrup, offering it up.

A-and he took the skillet lid
in his hand, and-

A-and he sat
looking at it like...

Like he didn't know what it was.

And I says, "I'm surely sorry
we ain't got no greens, sir."

And he looks at me square
in the eye, and he says,

"It's elegant."

And o-one thing
frets me often...

You know, I-I never gave him
no knife to eat them beans.

Come on, Spot.

He likes you.

He don't usually
cotton to Yankees.

I wonder how long
the drums will beat.

Why don't you go down
and ask them.

S?.

Hey, you make a joke
with Perado, huh?

That'll be all right.

If I hadn't insisted upon
coming out here,

none of this
would've happened.

Don't say that.

Two years
is a long time.

You begin to forget how much
you love someone

until you see them again.

I've been waiting
to hear you say that.

Anything yet?

No, nothing but noise.

They must think we got an army
holed up, here.

This here's gonna be
quite a gathering.

Just yesterday, I thought this
was the most beautiful country

I'd ever seen.

It'll be that way again
after this is all over.

Not to me.
Never.

Time does a lot.

After you and the lieutenant
are married,

you'll forget
this ever happened.

I never thought
I'd envy a soldier.

There m-must be a girl
somewhere

who feels the same way
about you.

She'd be waiting.

I know.

Maybe.

They'll be pouring in on us
in a little while.

Those drum beats are building up
to a stop.

I wish them things would stop
a-studying on me.

That's what I hate
about them buzzards.

They anticipate too much.

Yeah.

I wish there was some way we-
We could get you out of here.

Here they come.

I want our guns.

Get back over there.

I thought you had
a little more sense, Manson.

Giving you a gun
makes sense?

Look, the enemy's out there.
Not you and me.

We'll be fighting
to save our skins.

I'm going after the guns.

Go ahead, shoot.

Every man you lose now

means that much less chance
of you saving your own hide.

Stew.

Yeah?

Give them
their guns back.

What do you think?

We can probably hold them off
if we have enough ammunition.

This rock is like a fortress.

We won't have to defend
the back side at all.

Nobody can make it
up there.

But if I know War Cloud,

he'll make a big fuss
about attacking the trail,

but he'll try to scale
the north side too.

Well, then,
we'd better cover the trail.

That's what War Cloud
would like.

All you need is your two best
marksmen down there.

The rest of us will defend
the north side.

Plank, Perado.

Cover the trail.

Take cover along this front,
and don't waste any shots.

When they start coming up,
we'll pour it on them.

Well, you heard him.
Get goin'.

I wish there was someplace
to go.

Lieutenant, you'd better
stay with the lady.

There they are.

Never thought I'd be fighting
alongside a Yankee.

Can't hardly believe it.

Consider yourself lucky,
Reb.

Spotty, get down.
Get down, Spotty.

Holy smokes.
They're bringing up ladders.

The Indians, they're coming up
the back way.

Hold your fire.
They're pulling back.

Call your men
off the trail.

Plank, Perado.

Next time they try,
they'll storm the top.

We gotta get out.

We got nowhere to go.

Maybe not.

But we can get her
out of this alive.

I'll ride down the trail
with some men to draw them off.

You and the lieutenant
can get out then.

You can ride toward Fort Kermus,

and maybe you'll meet
the patrol.

Nobody's leaving here.

Maybe I leave, huh?

We'll all die, anyway.

I'd like to think
the se?orita live.

Shut up, Perado.

Kiley knows the way
to the fort.

He can ride
with Miss Carter.

No, Brad.

When do we start?

We'll wait
for the second attack.

When they're off their horses,
we'll start out.

They're off their horses.
Let's go.

I said
nobody's leavin' here.

But we will leave,
amigo.

Drop the gun.

Now we go, s??

Get started.

Kiley, when we break through
that west end,

you and Miss Carter cut across
and head for the fort.

What'll happen to you?

Nothing that wouldn't've
happened, anyway.

What you aiming to do with
that Confederate flag, Stew?

I'm fixing to plant this
in a piece of ground.

I'm aiming to stay
in this country.

Here, hold this.

Thought we was
going to Mexico.

Will you please keep an eye
on Spotty, ma'am?

All right.

Let's go!

I think we can make it now,
ma'am.

There's no way out.

Except the way
we came in.

Let's go.
Hyah!

Lieutenant, look.

Let's get out of here.

Hyah!
Hyah!

Will you be staying at the fort
long enough for our wedding?

Well, I'm afraid not.

Smitty and I will turn in
our drawings,

and take off
on a new assignment.

But we'll see you again?

Well,
it's hard telling.

The west is a pretty big place.

Yeah...

but an Army lieutenant's wife

does an awful lot
of travelin'.