Cheyenne (1955–1963): Season 1, Episode 11 - Quicksand - full transcript

Jeffry Billings?
No.

Somebody looking for
Jeffry Billings?

I am.

Cheyenne Bodie.

Well, at your service.
Uh, pardon my glove.

I must say, uh,

you haven't wasted
much time getting here.

I figure the sooner
we get started,

the sooner you'll be able
to get settled up there.

I take it you've been up to
Owl River country before.

You'll be able to find your way
and that sort of thing.



We'll manage to stumble
across it somehow.

Excuse me.

Did I hear you say you're
going up the Owl River?

Yes, that's
right.

Well, I'm Frank Endicott.
And my mother-

Well, that is, my mother
and I own a ranch up there.

Oh, always glad
to meet a neighbor.

Rather a long way
from home, aren't you?

Do you always come
this far

to take a bath,
eh?

I came down
to pick up my fianc?e.

Oh, you're to be
congratulated.

The point I wanted
to make is,

is long as we're all
going up the Owl River,



it might be safer
if we went up there together.

Safer?

Comanches are out.
They're taking scalps.

Is that right,
Bodie?

That's what they say.

I think he's got
a good idea.

All right. Glad to
have you with us.

We'll be leaving in an hour. Good.

Stage is coming, Frank.

Well, we'll
meet you then.

At the fork,
west of town.

Righto.

Well, those Indians
have certainly

got him trembling
in his boots.

I reckon that's
your bride-to-be.

Well, she's no prizewinner.

What did you expect?
She looks right nice.

I thought she was
supposed to be young.

She's 30 if she's a day.

Frank, when you
get to be my age,

you'll realize a woman
ain't a woman until she's 30.

Miss McIntyre?

You're Frank.

That's right.

This is John Pike,
my mother's foreman.

How do you do?
Howdy, ma'am.

Your mother,
is she here too?

Well, it's
a pretty long trip,

and she's not
getting any younger.

I'll get the rig.

Can't tell you what
a thrill it is to meet

my glamorous
second cousin

after hearing
about him all my life.

It's a lovely engagement
ring you sent me.

Yeah. Ma picked
that out...

from a catalog.

Oh.

Got everything,
Beef?

All set.

Here they
come, sir.

Well, are we
all ready?

Yes, sir.
Any time you say.

Good.

Oh, my dear,
I'd like you to meet

Mr. Bodie,
our guide.

Pleased to meet you,
Mrs. Billings.

I feel a great deal
safer already.

My dear,
you couldn't be safer

if you were in
St. Paul's.

Shall we?

Frank Endicott's
party joined us

on the outskirts of the town.

And three days later,

we were at the edge
of Comanche country.

Bodie?

How far do you think
we've gone today?

Not too far to turn back.

I've been listening
to the lady cough all day.

It's none
of my business but,

if I were you,
I'd forget the Owl River.

Is that so?

You a doctor, then?

Just a guide.

But I know what it takes
to pioneer this country.

A woman's got to be as strong
as a man to survive out here.

I suggest you let me
worry about that.

You're paying
the freight.

Besides, my wife
wouldn't even

consider returning
to London.

You don't realize
what you've got here.

While the whole world's
going to Hades in a bucket,

here a man can live the way
men were intended to live.

This is the last
frontier.

You'll have to
forgive me,

but it happens
to be my pet subject.

Now, uh...

how many miles

do you estimate
we've gone today?

Twenty?

I'd say closer to 15.

Thanks.

On the seventh day,

the axle broke
on the Endicott buckboard.

And later the same day,

some hungry buzzards
led us to a dying saddle pony.

What's wrong?

I'll have to shoot him.

Broken leg?

No, somebody just plain
ran him to death.

Hello, where did you
pop from?

Oh, it's a little
hard to say. I was lost.

It's lucky for me you
come along though, wasn't it?

I sure do hope you take
another passenger.

Why certainly.
We couldn't possibly

leave you stranded
out here.

That your horse?

No, sir, I carry
this saddle

around with me
all the time.

If he's your horse,
how come you didn't

put him out of
his suffering?

Well, you see, I saw these
Indian signs. Lots of them.

I just didn't feel free
to waste the bullet.

Well, put your
saddle in the wagon,

and you can
ride in front.

Oh, incidentally,
my name is Billings.

I sure do thank you,
Mr. Billings.

Found some
pony tracks up ahead

I don't like the looks of.

There's an old,
abandoned way station

about a quarter mile
up the road.

We'll head for it.

At least you'll have some cover
while I look around.

Mr. Bodie,
back there!

Bear left at the fork.

Hyah!

What happened to
Billings?

Billings!

The wagon!

They're gone.

I wouldn't
count on it.

There's some out
at the wagon,

a couple of more
behind those rocks

out past
that quicksand.

Anybody like to
say anything?

Uh- I guess he was
the closest thing

to a father I ever had.

I'm sorry, John.

Hey, cut it short,
will you?

Amen.

I expect you're
wondering why

I didn't stop
at the wagon.

Well...

The old boy
bolted with me.

He had the bit
in his teeth.

Wouldn't stop
for love nor money.

It's the first time
he's ever-

Let me see it.

Tsk.

You badly hurt?

Oh, he's lost two or three
drops of blood at least.

I wasn't
talking to you.

It hurt?
Some.

So bad.

Have it fixed up
in a minute.

Just as good as new.

Can't you go
someplace else?

Remind me to tell you
about yourself sometime.

We'll have this
fixed up right away.

You certainly
run him off.

Sure reminded me
of Ma.

I remember once,

we had this
ranch hand.

And he got hold of
some whiskey,

and he got drunk.

Ma gave him
a tongue-lashing that almost

took hide off of him.

He lit out.

And...

didn't even stop
to get his pay.

Sure reminded me
of her.

Take that as a compliment.

Our side of the family
thinks highly of your-

Your mother.

That better?

Feels fine.

I wonder if you'd
get me that canteen?

Oh. Surely.

What's
the matter?

I think it's empty.

Empty?

Looks like we might
be here for a while.

So maybe we better get
some kind of a system set up.

I guess we better have
two men

on guard
all the time,

starting now.

You and Beef
will take first guard.

We will?

Any objections?

Yeah, now that you
mention it.

Like what?

Oh, like I don't
remember anybody, uh...

electing you general.

Somebody's got to run it.
That's right.

And Bodie's the best man.

I wouldn't be too sure
about who's best man.

You know who I am?

Call you the Utah Kid.

They say you killed
some men in barrooms.

That doesn't make you
an Indian fighter.

Hello, dead man.

You're fast.

But I hired out
as guide to this party.

That makes me
more or less responsible.

Put that gun away.

You heard
what he said.

You're the general.

But don't ever forget
which one of us is best man.

Thanks.

Don't mention it,
governor.

It would have
been me pleasure

to have blown
his brains out.

Providing,
of course, he has any.

Do you think
they'll attack?

It's hard telling.

No reason why they should.

We can't last more than
four or five days

without food and water.

All they've got to do
is wait us out.

Lavinia?

Lavinia?

Couple of them
out by the wagon,

pretending to be coyotes.

Another one
behind them rocks.

Well, you better
get some sleep.

I'll take over.

You want to get the chill
out of your bones,

I got a little fire
going in there.

Good night.

Room for another?

Why, sure.

Make yourself
right at home.

Feels good.

I could toast myself
like a muffin.

It'll be dawn soon.

What's your watch say?

Oh, I don't
have a watch.

Huh. That's
my timepiece.

I study 'em some.

Can call most
a hundred by name.

Strange for a wagon
driver, isn't it?

Yeah.
It helps though.

Like there.
That's the North Star.

When we get out
of this place,

why, I'll be
following that star

right back to
where I live.

Where are you from?

Work at a homestead.

Valley of
the Sweetwater...

in Wyoming country.

It's nice.

You know, pretty.

Nice grazing too.

Most everything
a man would want.

Sounds wonderful.

Valley of the Sweetwater.

I can't see why you'd
ever want to leave a place

with a name like that.

Well, sometimes it gets
kind of lonesome by myself.

So I go and take
a job for a while.

I always
come back.

There's no reason to be
lonesome, a man like you.

Well, I've never had
much luck

when it comes to
finding somebody.

You know, a man gets
said no to just so often.

Then it hits him.

He ain't exactly catnip
to the ladies.

Oh, I know.

Back home...

I used to
sit and...

watch the people

walking hand in hand.

I used to think to myself,

"Everybody but me
has somebody."

But I never gave up hope.

You see what happened?

I found Frank.

Yeah.

Well...

I think
I'll turn in.

Night.

Come out.

Die.

Don't shoot.

They'd like us to waste
what few bullets we've got.

Come out.

Fight us.

Never saw an Injun
carry on like that before.

Indians are like
anybody else.

You got the quiet ones.

You've got
the showoffs,

like Pretty Feathers
there.

You ladies
will excuse us.

I think it's about time
the rest of us had a council.

Will you kindly
keep watch in there?

I guess we all know
where we stand.

They've got food and water.

They can wait us out.

If anybody's got a piece
to speak, now's the time.

Begging your pardon.
Go ahead.

Well, like you say,

they've got
food and drink.

But we've got Kelly Lad.

It's my thought
a man could ride for help.

The odds are 100-1
against making it.

You've never
seen him run.

He's fast as the wind.

It's not just a case
of speed. We're surrounded.

Won't be easy
to break through.

But what's the alternative?

Starvation, torture.

And what about
the women?

All right,
we'll try it, tonight.

Early, before moonrise.

But, like I said,

it won't be
any church social.

I'd like to have
a shot at it.

I say we draw for it.

High card goes.

All right.

If that's agreeable
with everybody.

Cut.

Eight.

Seven.

Your turn, sir.

Deuce.

Queen.

There's a woman
in your life.

King.

Trouble from
the dark-haired man.

Well, now, what do you know?

The long journey.

Godspeed. Good luck. Thank you, sir.

All set?

Hyah! Hyah!

I think he's made it.

I hope so.

Think I heard something
just outside.

I'm gonna take
a look around.

Cover me, huh?

Sure.

Hair looks right pretty
when it's down like that.

It's an awful
waste.

What is?

Are you really gonna
marry that feller?

See where that's
any of your business.

I know something about ya.

What?

Oh, that fella ain't
gonna make you happy.

Aren't you supposed
to be on watch?

Get out of here.

Well, you don't want
me to leave, do you?

You see, I told you
I knew something about ya.

Well, you walk
around here

like a Sunday school
teacher, don't you?

So cool, butter wouldn't
melt in your mouth?

But I know
what's going on

inside that head
of yours.

Do you want me to put it
in words for you?

I don't have to
listen to this.

I ain't gonna
tell nobody.

It's just between
you and me.

Will you get out of here?!

Mm. Mm.

Take your filthy hands
off of her.

Don't you know enough to stay
out of places you ain't wanted?

I ought to splatter you
against that wall.

That gun makes you
a big man, don't it?

Put it away,
Kid.

Do you think
this gun's

the difference
between you and me?

Do you?

Here, you got
the gun.

You see.

You're mush inside.
That's the difference.

He's mush inside.

That's the difference.

Takes guts to kill a man.

Bodie.

We should take
a look out there.

Not a trace of them.

Do you think
they've gone?

Nope.

They're out there,
waiting.

For what?

Somebody to do
something stupid.

Sure quiet.

Yeah.

Look.

I plugged the canteen.

I'd be willing to take
a chance at the water hole.

Nope.

You wouldn't look
too good without your hair.

See? Where are
the Indians?

Indians, where?

There's nobody out there.

We're in here
dying of thirst!

And there ain't an Indian
in 40 miles of this place!

Frank, please! You keep
your hands off of me.

If it hadn't
been for you,

I wouldn't be here
in the first place.

Your fault.

An old maid who couldn't
get herself a husband.

What did you have
to pick on me for?!

I'm sorry.

Forget it.

We kill buffalo.

You
hungry?

Ella?

Ella, I'm sorry.

It's all right,
Frank.

Could you forget
what I said?

It's not your fault.

Everything is just
the same then?

No, I'm...

afraid not.

Oh. Ma picked
that out herself.

Maybe that's
the trouble.

Oh. You- You'll change
your mind, Ella.

When you meet Ma
and see the ranch.

I'm not gonna
see your ranch.

Not gonna
meet your mother.

If I get out of here,
I'm going home.

Much as I want a home
and a family of my own...

I can't marry you.

Oh, why not, Ella?
Why not?

I think one mother's
enough for you.

I'd be a little careful
about showing myself

if I were you, ma'am.

Thank you.

I guess I was daydreaming.

Suppose you can
daydream at night.

I do, more often
than not.

You do?

Sure.

You know, it's funny,
but I'll bet we're

quite a bit alike
in lots of ways.

I believe we might be.

It's none
of my business, but...

are you gonna
marry Frank?

No.

Well, do you
think it's bad

when two people
are quite a bit alike?

I mean, do you think
two people

like that could
get along together?

I think they might find it
easier than most.

You really think so?

You can turn in now, Beef.
I'll take over.

Right.

I certainly did enjoy
our conversation, ma'am.

Good night.

Cheyenne.

Cheyenne!

Anybody got a piece
of white cloth?

Think it's about time

me and Pretty Feathers
had a talk.

Ain't that taking
a big chance?

What good will it do?

It's better than
doing nothing.

What can we lose?

He's got a pretty fair
opinion of himself.

I just might be able to
euchre him into something.

Is this
all right?

Thank you, ma'am.

Hold that gun out here.

How much chance do you
think we've got, Jeffry?

Well, I-
You can tell me.

I'm not afraid
of the truth.

No.

No, I realize that now.

Seems I've always
been the one

who was frightened
of the truth.

Thing is, Lavinia...

I owe you an apology.

There's no need
for it.

Look, this may be
the last opportunity I have

of talking
to you like this, and...

Well, I...

I'm gonna
make a speech.

The thing is, I-

I've taken a rather
good look at myself

in these past few days,

and I'm- I'm not
very fond of what I see.

Stubborn and selfish.

Cowardly, thoughtless.

I've been so busy
pretending

to be something
I'm not,

I haven't had time
for the most important-

Jeffry-
Please, darling.

The most important and...

beloved thing of my life.

You.

Oh, what a pity

we had to come

to this godforsaken place
before I discovered it.

That's the end of my...

My little speech,
darling.

I think it's a beautiful
little speech.

I am Chief Yellow Knife...

of Comanche Nation.

Comanche?

Comanche.

Oh, yes.

The coyote people
that live off

the leavings
of other tribes.

They say your squaws
do your fighting for you.

Don't see any now.

But then maybe you didn't
come here to fight.

Maybe...

you die.

I was raised
by the Cheyenne.

In that tribe, a man who
makes a sign of peace,

then draws a knife
is called woman-hearted.

No Comanche
woman-hearted.

I say your chief is a coward.

You call me coward?

You coward.

I tell you,
"Come out. Fight."

Well...here I am.

No.

If you're not a coward,

you'll fight me,
man for man.

If I fight...

you bring other white faces
out here?

They not have gun?

You let them go free if I win?

Yes.

But you not win.

We not fight with knife.

Tomahawk, bare hand.

You big man.

Maybe more strong.

You maybe win.

But that not show
you more brave.

We fight,
show who most brave.

You, me.

We will fight...

there.

You know

swallowing sand?

Quicksand.

We fight there.

You...

me.

Who calls help is loser.

Who calls help is coward.

All right.

Go now.
Bring others.

Ella?

I want you
to take this ring.

No, Frank.

I thought we understood
each other.

I don't mean like that.

I mean, to have.
L-Like a present.

Why?

Because I'm in your debt.

How do you mean?

I'm not going home either.

If we get out of this...

I'm going to St. Louis.

And I'm gonna find me
somebody I pick out myself.

And I don't care whether
my ma likes her or not.

It'll be somebody
I picked out...

and somebody
who's picked me.

I'm glad, Frank.
Real glad.

I'll take your ring.

I'll keep it always.

What did he say?

We've got one chance
to get away.

But he wants us
all outside, unarmed.

Unarmed?
That's right.

You'll just have to trust me.

I don't know any
other way out for us.

All right, Kid.

What do you take me for?

It's the way I said, Kid.
It's our only chance.

Look, mister,
I don't trust Indians.

He wants everybody outside
without guns.

Well, I'm staying here,
and my gun's staying with me.

You gonna force my hand?

I don't mind, general.

Look...I don't want to
have to draw with you.

I don't blame you. But
you're coming out of here.

Walking or feet first,
you're coming out.

Make your move.

One last time.

I'm asking you.

Please drop that gun belt.

Look, you bought
yourself a showdown.

Now stop trying to
crawl out of it.

I guess the rest of you
better get started then.

Oh, now, you're
a pretty big target.

I'm gonna give you
a better deal.

Are you ready,
general?

I don't care whether
you draw or not...

because I'm gonna
kill you.

I'm gonna
count to three,

and then I'm gonna
kill you.

You ready?

How come
I never heard of you?

You want to come outside now?

Yeah, sure.

You mind if I get my hat?

Let him go.

You can't win,
Yellow Knife.

I got nothing to gain
by crying for help.

But you have.

I'd rather drown here
than be killed by you.

Then we both die.

It is no great thing.

If all the Comanche
are like their chief...

then the Comanche
are brave men.