Dead Man's Walk (1996): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript

One day a dark woman with a sword
will come on a white mule.

When the woman comes on the white mule,

it will be the end of the time
of the Comanche people.

There will be wars and pestulence.

And our people will perrish.

And you my son, must not turn your back to
the woman on the white mule.

Your death will come only

when your great hump is peirced.

Do not turn your back on her...

Beware the dark woman
on the white mule [repeated].

Mornin', Major.



What do you see, Gus?

Look at that, Woodrow.

Mattie's carrying an old snapping turtle
as if it was a basket of peaches.

They say if one of them devils bites you,
don't turn loose until it throws.

It's no wonder they call
Mattie the "great western".

Have you ever seen a sight like that, Woodrow?

A whore, carrying a snapping turtle.

Naw. I doubt anyone
else has either.

I think we should, uh... talk
to the Major.

Ah, Major.... Major?

Mr. Coleman.

Um, Major, when is it payday?

Payday?

You wish to be paid? Out here?



Tell me, what would you buy if I paid you?

Mattie.

Say I owe her for 7 or 8 pokes already.

Well, that's your problem, Mr. Coleman. Mail
coaches do not frequent these parts.

I never frequented them either, 'til now.

I'm scared she's going to set that
turtle on us.

You ain't the only one with
unpaid bills.

(Woodrow) What do you think she means do with it?

Don't know and don't care.

What do you mean, you don't care?

I thought you liked Mattie.

I did... until last night.

Tried to get me a poke on credit,
she wouldn't give it to me.

A whore who won't give credit
deserves to get pecked by a snapping turtle.

Well good morning, Mrs. Roberts.
You have a new pet?

Nope. I just felt like throwing
a snapping turtle at 2 cheap sons-of-bitches.

The scouts are back.

Major!

Bigfoot Wallace and Shadrach are back.

Good. Maybe they can enlighten us about
all that screaming

that kept me awake all night.

Turtle for breakfast. Now that's fine!

Who caught him?

Why the "great western", who else.

You best wrap up, Mattie.

I like giving my customers a free look.

I'm going to make them feel prosperous.

Storm is coming. You'll have iceciles hanging
off your milkers if you don't get dressed honey.

I haven't heard anymore noise from
across the river, Mr Wallace.

I suppose that Mexican died?

We found his remains.

He was tourchered pretty goodbefore he died.

Comanches caught him.

Three of them, looked like.

You sure it was
Comanches, Mr Wallace?

Oh, it was Comanches alright.

This here's a great Commanche war trail

we're camped on.

That full moon last night?

It's what they call a Comanche Moon.

When it shines, they raid.

Snatch a few Mexican young'ns to sell,

or keep for slaves.

I figure is was Buffalo Hump's boys

who caught that the Mexican.

Buffalo Hump?

I surely hope that scoundrel is
not in this vicinity.

That Mexican didn't have no way to kill himself.

Didn't have no gun.

No, but he had a knife.

A knife is adequate if you know where to cut.

Where would you cut?

You cut the juggular.

Right here.

You can do it with a broken bottle.

Or even poke a big mesquite thorn in there...

if that's all you got available.

You want to cut 2 or 3 times though.

That way you bleed to death before they
get a chance to do much torchuring.

Me, I shoot myself in the head if I got time.

(Shadrach) Well... that can go wrong too.

Don't be sticking no gun in your mouth
unless it's a shotgun.

Why not?

It's hard to miss your head
with a gun in your mouth.

No it ain't.

That bullet could ricochet off a tooth...

come out your ear.

You'd still be healthy enough for them
to torchure for a week.

You shove the barrel of a gun
up against an eyeball.

And pull.

Now that's sure.

Then if some sqaw comes along and

chews off your privates...

you won't know the difference.

My... this is a "cheery" conversation.

Some of these boys are inexpereinced Major.

If they don't know the proper
way to finish themselves,

they could wind up prisoners
of the Commanche someday.

That'd be real bad.

Comanche can keep a captive alive
3 or 4 days...

while they have their fun with them.

Back in the tidewater, Mr. Wallace,
we usually refrain from

discussing suicide methods over breakfast.

He got no call too on people like that.

Oh, there's worse than that happens.

What's worse than having your privates

chewed off?

Having them pull out the end of your gut.

Tie it to a dog.

..and chase the dog around the camp for a while

until there's about 50ft of your guts strung out

for the brats to eat.

Oh God!
- To eat?

Comanche brats eat guts like
white brats eat candy.

Well, I'm certainly glad I wasn't
very hungry this morning.

Talk like this might unsettle...

a delicate stomach.

Gentlemen.

Or, they might run a stick up your fundament,

set it on fire.

That way, your guts done be cooked
when they pull them out.

What's a fundament?

That's a hole in your body.

It ain't your nose, or your mouth,
or either one of your ears.

Figure it out.

I aim to keep my own guts inside of me
if nobody minds.

Hey, Sam...

Loan me that hatchet.

I'm ready for breakfast.

All I got is a cleaver, Miss Mattie.
- That'll do.

Why would you keep a thing like that?

Why would he keep a smelly old
turtle's head?

Why would a squaw chew off your privates?

That's a better question.

Two riders coming from the west.

I think they're Americans, but ain't sure.

Well they're Americans Zeke. But they
don't deserve to be.

John Kirker and Jim Glanton.

Scalp hunters.

We seen their tracks in Mexico.

Scalp hunters.

It's a gorey trade.

Pays good though.

50 dollars a scalp, I hear.

Mornin', boys.

You lost?

No, John, we ain't lost.

Looks like you've been busy.

That's right.

We put in a good day's work.

Caught 8 Comanches by the waterhole.

Kill'd them all.

I killed 3, and John killed the rest.

Two men kill 8 Comanches?

Now that's active.

Look at that.

John, John.

Hey! Hey!

Get away from them scalps. That's
government property now.

Now be neighborly, John.
We're just looking.

Get away from them scalps. I said.

This ain't Indian hair,
Major, it's Mexican hair.

And most of it is young hair.

Young hair?

Children's hair.

These skunks probably had supper

with some little Mexican family
then wiped them out.

That's a lie!

It's Comanche hair, Major.
We took it legal.

Eight Comanches, Jim?

Yep, yeah, 8.

Eight Comanches could string
you two out from here to Santa Fe.

Indians grease their hair, Major.
There ain't a bit of grease in this hair.

That's government property
ya'll handling, now get away!

I say we hang these low dogs.
All they been doin' is killing Mexicans.

We're here to scout a road from San
Antonio to El Paso, Mr. Wallace.

And we will encounter our share
of wild indians.

I don't approve of the scalp trade myself.

But it is legal whether we like it or not.

You men finish your coffee and leave.

You're not welcome here.

Let's go, Jim.

Shad...

Here's some coffee.

I didn't put no mollasses in it.

I know you like it strong.

Thank you Matilda. It's kind of you.

Down by the river!

It's a woman and a little boy!

She's scared.

You boys better go back and wait by the fire.

I got to to talk to her.

[translated] Come here.

[translated] It's okay

[translated] Don't be afraid

[translated] It's okay.

[translated] Come here.

[translated] Are you hungry?

[translated] Go eat.

Lord have mercy.

Look at that boy. That
boy's starving to death.

What were they doing out there?

What'd she say?

She's scared. Afraid Buffalo Hump's
gonna come notch her nose.

Notch her nose? Why?

She is one of his wives, and
she misbehaved.

Now she's afraid he's going to come
cut her nose.

And he'll do it too.

He's already cut that young'in's
tongue out for stealing food.

So Buffalo Hump's out there.

He might be raiding in Mexico.

Or he might be out there watching us.

Buffalo Hump's the meanest Comanche
on the plains.

They say he's taken 1000 captives out of Mexico.

Alright, behooves us to mount a
solid guard.

Mr. McCrae, Mr. Call!

You take the first watch.

You stay awake too.

You nap, you're liable to wakeup
without no hair.

Can't you keep still?

The Major expects us to be alert.

I doubt there's any Indians out there.

If he caught you drinking on guard,
he'd shoot you.

We're lucky the Major even let
us be Texas Rangers.

But how'd he catch me? He'd
have to sneak up on me.

And I'd have to be a whole lot drunker
than this

not to notice some fat man
sneaking up on me.

You cracked and now you're getting drunk.

You're too darn good to live with, Woodrow.

Where did you get that whiskey anyways?

Johnny Carthage left laying out
by the saddle.

Not only are you a drunk, you're a thief!

I should have picked another
partner, by God.

Shut up! Unless you want a lickin'.

You're always criticizing.

Like I said, we're lucky
to be Texas Rangers.

We oughta try and do it right.

Well, I'm doing it well enough.

What else is there to do except
hide behind this dern rock.

[thunder]

I hope it rains.

At least it'd wash off this darn sand.

[music]

They say Bigfoot's been all the way the China.

They say he knows every creek in Texas

whether it's boggy or not.

He's a first-rate Indian killer, besides..

Myself...

I'd rather know every whore.

They say indians can imitate any sound.

Say they can fool you into thinking they're

a wolf, or coyote, owl, or cricket.

I doubt a Comanche would
pretend to be a cricket.

Nope, that's Indians.

They're talkin'

They're talkin' in animal.

Let's go kill us one.

We kill 3 or 4...

Major raise our wages.

I ain't going.
That ain't what we're supposed to do.

Well I doubt he's a real major anyway.

Even if he ain't a Major,
he gave us a job.

We're earning 30 dollars a month.

Long Bill says we'll get all the indian

fighting we want before we get back

to the settlements.

Yep.

I'm going exploring.

I hear there gold mines in
this part of the country.

Think all the whores I could buy

if I had a gold mine.

I could buy me a whorehouse!

Ain't you coming?

I was told to stand guard not to go

prospecting!

I got a job to do. I aim to do it.

Yeah, well do mine too while you're at it.

You go off and get captured.

Major won't like it one little bit.

Neither will you!

You remember how that Mexican screamed?

[wind]

Go on you badger.

Go on now... git!

[wind]

Woodrow?

[Music]

Woodrow!

[Music]

Arrrg.

[Music]

Gus!

Gus, you're alive

Stop that hollering.

Yeah if there's any indians between here

and a Cimarron River they'll know right

where to find us.

There wasn't but one indian.

He was huge.

This is Buffalo Hump's land.

Got his markings.

You saw a Buffalo Hump?

Well I've seen him too.

Came in a flash of lightning.

He was just sitting there on a blanket.

His eyes.

Where'd all this blood come from from?

From you.

Lucky it ain't your lifeblood.

I seen the indian twice in the lightning flashes.

One time he was throwing that lance.

He was alone.

Why would the man be sitting out
there on a blanket all alone?

Where's he going?

Shadrach goes where he pleases.

Always has.

That indian's out there.

Shad ain't scared of nothing.

Dern Mattie!

Was that indian as big as they say he is?

He was big, Johnny.

[Music]

Ain't many soldiers with a sense of

direction are there?

I doubt he's a major, or even a soldier.

And I suspect he stole that uniform.

If weren't along he couldn't find the

El Paso if he had six months.

Shad, I swear those are mountain goats up

there on that ridge.

Those are mountain goats. I see them you

see them Woodrow?

All I see is a hill.

Looks like goats to me

Meat for the pot...

Let's go boys!

[Music]

Careful now boys, don't scare the billies.

Josh is off to the outhouse again.

Ever since you drank that alcky water you

can't hardly keep your pants up.

I guess you boys just you think you're all

just gonna fly right up that hill.

[Music]

Y'all better hush.

The young fool!

Well get mounted, get that horse back!

[Music]

Where's your rifle?

Look up on the hill where I fell down.

Stop this wild shooting everybody!

We'll be out of bullets if everybody keeps

shooting at the air.

[Music]

Bill?

Dean

Hope that arrow ain't poison Johnny.

I swear it looks like it's stuck right in the bone.

It just fell out the sky.

I still ain't see no indians.

Of course Not. They ain't fools like us.

They don't stand around out in the open.

Good god he's done killed somebody else.

[Music]

Where's your guys?
I don't see old Josh anywhere.

He's right here when we stop.

Well he ain't here now.

He went over that sage to

answer the call of nature.

Josh... get on out of there boy!

[Music]

I'm his partner... I gotta go help him!

Stay down boy....Get back!

Curse that boy, they'll take him for sure.

I fear that they got him now.

The young fool.

Wonder who shot his horse?

Kicking Wolf... he's our marksman.

[Music]

Hope that boy remembers what I told him

about killing himself.

[Music]

Oh dear lord... I've never seen that before.

He scalped him without even slowing down!

Help me!

Shoot him Shad!

Too far off. It'd take a cannon
to hit him from here.

Well now this is merry.

We're running around like chickens and

Buffalo Hump's cutting our heads off.

Help me!

I can't see!

[Music]

I can't see.

Zeke gonna have to keep his hat on in the

winter I expect.

If he lives.

[Music]

Mattie!

Come back Mattie!

This ain't no boulevard!

I'm gonna go get Zeke.

He ain't dead, he's scalped.

[Music]

Zeke.

Zeke quit moving.

Zeke you gotta be still.

I'm here. No, I'm right here. I'm right here.

I'm a take you back to camp.

Help me look for my pistol so I can do what

Bigfoot said.

Don't be talking that way.

Don't be talking that way. You ain't

dying you just got your head skinned.

Come on now. Come on. Sam's a good doc and

he'll make a peltis for you now get up

Get on up here.

My head's on fire bad.

Zeke, you got to be still.

Look, folks live through scalpings all right.

We’re going back to camp.

No! I do bad this time.

He might come back.

That big one, he might come back.

[Music]

Oh lord, he's bloody!

People don't die being bloody Call.

Maybe Sam can patch it up.

Good God almighty.

All right.

It's your time now.

Let's get at it.

Might hurt a little bit, huh?

All right...

You ready...

All right, come on... One

Two...

Three!

It's coming Johnny.

That'll make a good bandage and give him

a hat; or flies to be all over that wound.

Woodrow?

Look!

[Music]

I'm glad there weren't more of them.

If there was...

I doubt we could whip them.

We can't whip them.

Well if it was live or die, I expect we could.

If it was live or die... we'd die!

Any three of them could finish us.

That Buffalo man... he could do it all by

himself he took a notion.

I wish I had a cannon.

They'd leave us alone if we were better armed.

We are better armed.

That big man killed Josh with an arrow,

scalped Zeke with a knife.

They'd a had more rifles, they'd a kill us all.

[Music]

I ain't never seen no people like them Comanches.

I didn't know what wild indians was like.

[Music]

[BANG]

Zeke's done for himself.

Oh Zeke.

Oh God I wish you hadn't done that.

[Sobbing]

Zeke and Josh was pards.

I don't guess they'll mind bunking
together in the hereafter.

Anybody who knows a good scripture let

him say it, we got a skedaddle. I don't

fancy another fight with Buffalo Hump.

There's that scripture about them green pastures.

So say it then Bill.

Well...

There's them green pastures.

That's all I can recall.

Leave me beside still waters.

I think that's what Bill's talking about.

I remember that...

Still waters...

Well...

This ain't no green pasture.

Amen that's good enough.

Let's go while we still got our hair.

Why it's that Comanche woman.

I guess they took the boy.

Good lord, they done notched her nose.

I wonder why folks want to say

scriptures when they buried somebody?

They're dead, they can't hear no holy talk.

Well it's this custom.

Folks get to thinking about heaven
when somebody dies.

I'm glad I seen them wild indians.

Well I ain't!

Josh and Zeke are dead.

And I nearly was.

As soon as I get to Austin

I'm gonna buy a better gun.

Still glad I seen them Comanches.

[Music]

Ah!

Hey, see, that wasn't so bad.

I believe you're next.

I changed my mind.

Let's go looking for a horse.

I thought you had a toothache Bill?

Man's teeth belongs in his head.
That's my opinion.

Myself, I can't afford a dentist

or a cooler. I can't even afford to get drunk

unless I steal some whisky.

I'll buy you the whisky.

Woodrow!

Woodrow.

They're getting up an expedition to take

Santa Fe from the Mexicans.

Texas rangers are welcome to go.

Where is Santa Fe?

Got Long Bill, Blackie Slidel,
Johnny Carthage. Button brothers.

They're all ready to leave.

And Matilda's going to.

You didn't answer my question...

Where is Santa Fe?

Well...

It's out where we went the first time.

Only further.

If it's further than we went the first time

we'll never get there.

They mean to annex Nuevo Mexico
and make it part of the

Texas Republic.

They say Caleb Cobb's leading the troop.

Now everybody's heard of Caleb Cobb.

No everybody ain't, cause I ain't.

Anyway Bigfoot and Shad are joining up.

We need to join up ourselves.

They say there's gold and silver piled

everywhere in Santa Fe.

They say there's enough gold
to fill up two churches.

Well... why would the Mexicans

just want to give us two churches full

of gold?

Don't sound like no Mexicans I've met.

You are too darn contrary Woodrow.

I've never met a person that's as apt to

take the opposite view than you.

Well I guess I spent too much time with mules.

Yeah it's too many dern questions.

And you ain't come up with a single answer!

I don't think you know anything you just

heard some wild talk now you want to go fight.

What about Buffalo Hump?

If Santa Fe is out in his direction he'll find us,

he'll kill us.

Some of the army's coming along
on the expedition.

Buffalo Hump has an army too.

If he can find 10 warriors to ride with him

then he's got an army.

Besides he lives there.

What makes you think we can whip the

Mexicans even if we do get there?

What makes you think we can't you fool?

Well, we didn't whip him at the Alamo!

Damn it Woodrow, I'm about war out from

arguing with you.

I have never met a person

that's as stubborn as you.

[Music]

Well saddle-up Woodrow. It's Santa Fe or bust.

Well I didn't expect you'd want to go

fight Mexican's Mattie.

You become a ranger too?

I'm needing to get to California before

I'm old Woodrow.

I hear there's roads to the west up

around Santa Fe.

Y'all shut up.

I think my skull is broke.

Are you with us Woodrow?

Well you boys want me I guess I'll join up.

Let's get to joining.

Sign up gentlemen, this is your last chance.

Sign up now or you'll regret it.

The great Texas Santa Fe Expedition is

ready to leave!

This here's a free man's army.

All we furnish is the muskets, the

ammunition, and the grub.

Only we don't call it an army.

Yeah, I wouldn't call it an army either.

If these fellas are specimens of your

soldiers, they're mostly car sharks and

barbers.

Be fine for trading and such but...

what do you plan to do for fighting men

once you tell the Mexicans we're taking

over Santa Fe?

That ain't your worry.

That's ours.

No it's ours...

if we're gonna take our scalps over in that direction.

Captain Billy Falcon is such a fire

brand I expect he can handle the entire

Mexican army all by himself.

Well if he's such a scrapper maybe he

can handle Buffalo Hump.

Him and his boys cooked two mule skinners

to death not 10 miles from here.

Why he oughta be a big rascal.

I'll get up a party and go after him.

You boys can come... if you're game.

Whoa Billy.

Now you can go chase after violent comanches

if you want to, but you ain't taking

one of my new pistols.

(squawk)

That Buffalo Hump fella, he just might

just get the best of you.

Then I'd be out a gun.

Wouldn't I?

Ahh

Wouldn't I!?

I thought one of these was mine.

It ain't.

Take these men over to

Quartermaster Benoit and get them outfitted.

This enterprise sets sail just as soon as

General Lloyd arrives.

General Lloyd?

Ha...He's going?

That's right.

Well I scouted for him once.

He's been drunk every day

for the last 20 years.

General Lloyd

couldn't find Mexico if you tied him to

a horse and pointed him south.

Man can't even ride.

Well if he can't ride we'll put him in a wagon.

(squawk) Raise the main sail, lower the jib.

This way gentlemen.

Well, we got Phil Lloyd, a talking bird, and a dentist.

Think we can take New Mexico?

Well, just may, with

"hang the general", "eat the bird",

"keep the dentist".

Dentist might come in useful

up in the falls.

That bird might be tasty.

Well speak of the devil.

Here's the general now.

Drunk of the lord.

This way.

[Music]

A bonnet's a bonnet I 'spose.

Oh now Miss Pait,
that's a very becoming bonnet.

Well... if you say so Clara.

Thank you ma'am.

Good day Dr. Morris.

Good day Miss Forsythe.

[Music]

Here are your cigars. My father tended to

them personally.

Well...

Your pa tended to them too well Clara.

Never buy a cigar till you smell it.

It's very good advice.

But I won't take it.

I don't fancy cigars.

Dispose of this please sir.

Do what ma'am.

Dispose of this.

I can see you're tall

but I don't know if you're useful.

I'm Clara.

Who are you?

Augustus McCrae.

Augustus.

Did you hear that Mr. Bragnoli?

He's roman like you.

I don't think so Miss Forsythe.

He's just a young rascal from Tennessee.

What's that in his hand?

Has he been stealing from you?

No, it's just some wrappin
I asked him to dispose of.

He ain't done it yet so I guess he's a laggard.

Better hurry McCrae.

I aim to keep this piece of paper forever.

Keep it forever... that scrap?

When you have important "soldiering" to do?

I'm keeping it cause you gave it to me.

Gus...

Don't you want to pick a gun?

Now why don't you pick one out for me Woodrow.

I expect they're all alike.

We're gonna buy horses. Don't you want to

pick your own mount?

Hello.

Are you a Roman too sir?

Oh no... no...

This here is Woodrow Call.

He's just a plain Texan.

Woodrow...

Why don't you, uh, grab me a musket

as you leave.

Why...

I believe I've smitten Mr. McCrae.

Doubt I could smite you though Mr. Call.

Not unless I had a club!

Hey you... go along now.

Your friend Corporal Call is waiting for you.

Well no no

He's not a Corporal. He's just plain

Texan ranger like me.

He's more enterprising than you though.

I bet he makes Corporal any day now.

Put these on that table please.

Hello pa.

This is Augustus McCrae from Tennessee.

He's a Texas ranger but, seems to have

time to spare so I put him to work.

I see.

She's brash ain't she?

Yeah you don't have to wait for an

opinion on Miss Clara's round.

She'll give you one before
you can catch your breath.

I ought to go look at those horses.

Many thanks for the visit

Was it a visit?

Well, it seemed like one to me.

The door ain't locked.

Come back and pitch in with the

unpacking Mr McCrae.

If you have the time.

[Music]

Yeah, if he doesn't have the time...

I expect he'll make it.

[Music]

Here.

I hope this one suits you.

Keep it. I ain't going.

What?

You don't want to go on the expedition?

I'd rather marry that girl.

Marry her?

You ain't known her but...

10 minutes!

Yeah well 10 minutes is enough.

He's a cutter ain't he.

Meets the girl, next thing you know he wants to

go for the preacher.

You ought to visit a whorehouse.

It'll clear your head.

[Music]

Howdy Sam.

Howdy.

Hey mister!

Evening.

I'll go ahead and put these on outside.

That way you won't lose no time.

Or you can just sit there on the bed and

put them on.

You ain't been here that long.

[Music]

If I don't see you before we leave,

Goodbye Maggie.

[Music]

Well, goodbye...

Woodrow.

[Music]

Well?

What's your opinion?

Is she lively?

I got no opinion.

You ought to be cleaning your weapon.

It's brand new.

You need to clean the grease out of the barrel.

General Lloyd's here, we're leaving tomorrow.

Y'all may be leaving...

I ain't.

Hell you signed up right there

in front of Caleb Cobb.

You try to back out now,

he'll hang you for desertion.

Hang ya 'till crows peck out your eyeballs.

Believe I've heard enough of this gloom talk.

I'm a go take a walk down by the river.

I guess I'll walk with you aways.

I didn't request your company that I recall.

It's a free country I guess I can walk

by the river if I want to.

Don't touch it.

You don't understand
nothing about it Woodrow.

She ain't the marrying kind.

You ain't hardly even the whorin' kind.

But we ain't going away forever.

You're determined to marry her why can't

you wait till we get back from Santa Fe?

Because she's first.

Now she tried to flirt with you

you're too dumb to notice.

What if she marries though some fool

while we're gone?

I'd be heartbroke forever.

Somebody's fishing.

What kind of food fish at night?

Fish can't see the bait.

Well, fish don't need to see - it can smell.

Gus! Gus! You all right?

Where is everybody?

Off-hooring.

I didn't have no cash, so I stayed to

watch the camp.

Well Gus just fell off a

bluff down by the river.

Come on Johnny, Gus might be dead.

Walk Johnny.

Indians can swim.

Who can swim?

Indians!

That biggin with the

Hump might be right out there in the water.

They swim under the water and grab folks

right out the boat.

Well we ain't in a boat, we're on the

shore.

[gun shot]

Did you hit 'em?

Hit who?

Did you hit the indian you shot at?

Who shot?

You shot! You so drunk you can't remember

Shooting your own gun? (I shot?)

Woodrow!

I didn't shoot nobody

Hey there, you listen here Mr. Rascal.

If I see an indian I will shoot him.

There you are.

Johnny shot at somebody

he can't remember who.

I hope it ain't that Buffalo Hump.

I hurt my ankle and I don't expect I could

outrun him tonight.

Johnny who did you shoot at?

Matilda at that big turtle.

Now I got two of you down.

If this ain't a darn nuisance.

Let's get on to camp if you can hobble

I'll come back for Johnny later.

Hope that girl's in that store tomorrow.

Well go see her
maybe she'll sell you a crutch.

Can you get up?

[whistling]

Stay quiet don't interrupt me.

I'll have to do it all over again
if I lose my count.

[whistling]

So it's you and not Mr. McCrae.

I guess he ain't as smitten as I thought.

He meant to be here at dawn but he fell,

hurt his ankle.

Just like a man.

Is it broken?

Suspect he done it dancing with a senorita.

No it was dark he fell off a bluff.

I thought some liniment might help.

It might if I rubbed it on him myself.

If I could just buy some and take it to him

he could do it himself.

You know nothing of medicine sir.

Tell Mr. McCrae,

I consider it very careless of him to go

falling off a bluff.

When I smite a man

I expect more careful behavior.

Thank you ma'am.

You're welcome.

I suppose you told her I was drunk.

You mean to marry her yourself, don't you?

Marry her??!!

I don't even know the woman's name!

Hyah!!

It don't take long to learn a name.

You mean to marry her and not know it.

You must have broke your brain when you

took that fall.

I don't intend to marry nobody!

I'm off to Santa Fe!

Let's go boys.

Buffalo Hump's burned down a farm

this side of Bastrop.

We're going after him.

Johnny, you and Gus go pack up the wagon.

Meet us up the trail.

The rest of you pack it up.
Let's go! Come on!

This is a passle of stuff to pack up.

Gus won't be no help, he's a cripple.

Oh hush your yap.

B-Be sure to bring me my long johns.

I don't know what I did to rile you?

But I hope to see you up the trail...

if i live.

I'm sorry I swung at you Woodrow.

I was drunk.

Goodbye.

[Music]

[Neighing]

[Music]

There you are.

I see that you're unreliable.

I might have suspected as much.

Let me see your foot.

What... excuse me ma'am?

I need to know if you're gonna recover.

I might have plans for you but if you're

a goner I won't waste my time.

[Music]

Plans?

If you recover you could be my assistant

in your spare time.

Of course there are other applicants

if you're not interested.

That dern Woodrow Call I imagine.

No... not Corporal Call.

He's a bit too solemn for my taste.

And I expect he's too slow to make a

fool of himself.

I like a man who'll make a
fool of himself immediately

Like you.

[Music]

What were you thinking of when you fell

off that cliff Mr. McCrae?

I was worrying about indians.

Goodness...

Thought you might have been
thinking 'bout me.

I had a notion I'd smitten you but I

guess I was wrong.

Haven't smitten Corporal Call,

that's for sure.

Now he's not a Corporal.

I told you that.

He's a ranger like me.

Can't you hear?

Now that's better.

Perhaps I have smitten you.

And I intend to call him "Corporal Call".

I could choose names for
my admirers I suppose.

Goodbye Mr. McCrae.

I feel we have to depart in the morning.

Well this job will only keep you a

couple months.

But I expect to visit from

you before you depart.

Give my respects to Corporal Call.

Well now...

If he's a "Corporal",

I ought to be a

Corporal myself.

"Corporal McCrae".

No don't sound right

"Corporal Call"!

Somehow that has a solid ring.

[Music]

Big...

I can't swim hardly a lick.

We won't be wimming Bill, not today.

See them tracks?

The war party crossed here a few hours ago.

Dern them comanches.

They would beat us across.

How many do you make of it Shad?

About 30.

But what do we do then?

We'll rest our horses.

We've come 60 miles already since Austin.

We'll have to ride further than that to catch

up with the troops. And these horses will

never make it without rest.

What do we eat?

You might hook a fish... if you're lucky.

Ahh!

[wooping]

Hyah!

[Music]

I killed one!

I killed one!

[Music]

Well he was just a young'n.

Not too young to have killed you...

if you hadn't been quick.

You gonna scalp him?

You killed him it's your scalp.

I know.

He'd a scalped you if he could have.

Scalping ain't my way.

Yeah, it'll be your way when you're a

year two older boy.

If you survive that long.

We'll hunker down and wait.

When it's dark we'll head out and

find the expedition.

[Music]

Oh!

It was him. Buffalo Hump behind the log!

The devil. I hate to let him come at us

come at us like this.

He got Josh and Zeke.

Now he got Wally here.

Get back here you.

Don't, you be trying
no ignorant fight'in Big.

We spied a split.

They're going to be

sneaking in among us we don't leave

right now.

Try not to let your eyes get tired boys.

'Cause when your eyes get tired your

scalp's in the most danger.

Let's go! It's time.

Get him off me Jimmy!

Come on, get up.

Leave him. Come on.

Step up.

Step up now!

Why didn't you wake me so we

can leave with the expedition you fool.

Cause I ain't a dern alarm clock

"Mr. Rascal".

We gonna get us a fine scalping

if we don't catch up.

Johnny, we gotta

stop here at the store.

Step up.

Step up!

Stop here at the store.

That store ain't even open.

I don't care if it ain't open!

Stop!

We ain't got no time for your nonsense.

Stop before I strangle ya.

Whoa... Whoa!

All right!

Arg!.... Oomph!

Look pa...

It's Mr. McCrae.

My Roman.

'Spect he's jumped down off into that mud

to propose to me.

Ain't you coming down?

I still got this sore ankle.

What kind of "Romeo" falls off a bluff and

cripples himself just when it's time to

propose to "Juliet"?

You're supposed to sing me a song or two;

and climb up here and beg me to marry you.

What?

Ain't you read Shakespeare?

What's wrong with your schooling?

I can't climb.

Ain't you coming down?

We don't usually welcome customers this

time in the morning.

Now, I ain't a customer.

I want to marry you.

But I have to leave.

And Johnny won't wait long.

[Music]

Don't you look at me.

Wait, you'll get muddy.

Where's Corporal Call?

What's become of him?

Now you would ask.

He's off chasing indians.

He ain't a "Corporal" neither.

I told you that.

Well in my fancy he is.

Don't you get brash with me after I got

my feet on muddy just to see you off.

I don't want Woodrow Call anywhere

near your fancy.

Will you marry me?

Once I get back?

[Music]

Well I don't know.

How do I know who's gonna walk into my

store while you're off wandering the

prairies?

I might meet a gentleman who could

recite Shakespeare to me for hours.

But I love you.

[Music]

I won't be happy for one minute...

unless I know...

you'll marry me once I get back.

Well I can't say for sure.

Not right this minute.

But I will kiss you.

If that would help.

[Music]

Come on Gus.

I'll help you up.

Thank you ma'am.

[Music]

Step up.

Step up now!

[Music]

Youngster just killed his first comanche.

Bave was floating down the Brazos,

hiding behind a dead mule.

Young Call here
shot him dead.

That's alert behavior Mr. Call.

I'll make you a Corporal on the spot.

I say that's hasty.

It's probably just dumb luck.

Now let me decide the promotions Billy.

If a Comanche was to float up on you

under a dead mule,
I imagine you'd be scalped.

I'm always wary of dead animals

when I cross a river.

You lost five men and this cub's the only

one of you was able to kill an indian?

[sqauk] Man overboard... man overboard.

Birds got a point.

Maybe if we'd had a boat we might have

done better.

I won't be sending out

anymore punishment squads

if this is the best you can do.

Come on... come on.

Life's just as dangerous, whether you're

a corporal or a private.

Howdy.

You're back.

Hey Gus.

Have you saluted him yet?

Now why'd I salute him?

He's my part.

He may be your part
but he's a Corporal now.

He killed a red boy and the Colonel

promoted him.

So you killed one.

What was it like?

Well he was almost on me. I just shot in time.

As soon as your leg kills propper

we'll have another fight.

You'll kill comanche,

Colonel promote you too,

then we'll be Corporals together.

And if I don't?

They would want to kill me and that'll

be the end of things.

[Music]

Who's that?

Bes Das. He's a pawnee scout.

Dell Chase, he's mostly Apache.

Must have spotted something.

Buffalo, the great herd,
they'll cross the river soon.

Should we tell the Colonel?

Nah, he'll find out when he
catches up with us.

Let's go boys. It's buff!

[Music]

Look at all them buffalo.

Look at those buffs Johnny Kirker.

They say it takes two days

to ride past this herd.

Even at a trot.

Colonel... look.

Looks like we're not the only ones who

likes buffalo liver.

[Music]

He's got three scalps on his lance.

That's our men's hair Colonel.

Can't we get out for them sir.

Not today Billy.

That's Kicking Wolf over to the side.

Buffalo Hump's the killer,

Kicking Wolf's the thief.

The best horse thief on the planes.

He'll put us a foot, if we don't

watch close.

What are we going to do about our red

reighbors then Colonel?

It's almost time

to make camp and prepare the grub.

Maybe we ought to invite them to join us.

Sir?

Ask them to dinner?

After what they did to our boys?

This is a war Colonel.

Yes, you're right Mr. Wallace.

But even in war

it's the custom... to parlay.

Who's gonna invite them... sir?

Bes Das can do it.

Mr. Wallace, you can join them.

And Corporal Call his companiera.

Give the Corporal a chance to live up to

his promotion.

And kill a buffalo calf on

the way back.

Sam can cook the sweet breads.

That ought to flutter our gas.

Let's go. Come on!

[Music]

You young boys keep your traps shut.

Bes will do the palaver.

[Music]

[speaking Comanche]

[Neighing]

[Speaking Comanche]

[Music]

I wonder why he pointed that lance at us?

He said that both of you belong to him.

He says he will take you when he is

ready, but not today.

He's coming to eat supper with the

Colonel and will bring his wives.

Now how does he figure we belong to him?

You cheated his lance.

His lance is hungry for your liver.

Well, he can just stay hungry.

What about me? I didn't cheat his lance.

No, with you it is different.

Different how?

Different because you killed his son

back on the Brazos River.

We'll go down and kill a couple of calves.

Sam will take the liver and sweet meats.

Leave the rest.

Well, I head on back to
camp and report.

Call, McCrae...

Come with me.

[Music]

You weren't told to come

I'd prefer it if you go back.

"Prefer" all you want.

I don't work for no army.

I won't be told what to do by no pup!

You weren't told to come.

There's engines around buffalo.

They crawl in with them, shoot from under

their bellies. Now I got business to tend to.

I don't care if that murder'n Comanche

is coming to eat - now get out of my way!

Will you tell him Captain?

Last time we rode together

you scalped some Mexicans I recall.

I despise young fools.

[Music]

Woah, he's the Colonel's friend.

We best not kill him, Woodrow.

Disarm him.

The guns with his boots.

Give him anything to shoot with

he'll kill us.

You yanked that gun pretty quick.

You'd make a fine Corporal.

I might make a Corporal yet.

That fella was rude.

I won't tolerate rude behavior.

Uh, Colonel.

Ah, thank you Mr. Cole

Sir?

I think Gus McCrae deserves to be a

Corporal too.

Well he's puffed up tall as a main mast.

Let's say a report.

What did he do to earn this honor?

He whacked John Kirker on the head

with his pistol.

Kirker followed us when he wasn't

supposed to.

Wouldn't go back when we asked.

You whacked Johnny?

Yes sir.

John Kirker is the sort of fellow who will

kill you for picking your teeth if he's

not in the mood for teeth picking.

If you whacked him well then you ought'n to be

made a corporal.

You oughta be made a General!

You best watch your flank for a few days...

Corporal McCrae.

Kirker is as mean as a weasel.

Why don't you fellas get something to eat.

Sir.

Thank you.

I'll make a short speech. Damn short.

Now Buffalo Hump is a murdering devil.

And I know every one of you would like

the chance to kill him.

If you are patient...

that chance may come.

Today is not your chance,

because he is my guest.

And I will shoot the man who so much as

looks at him funny.

That mean we can't spit
while he's in the camp?

Yeah.

Yeah you can spit.

Just don't spit in his general direction.

Colonel why are you having him to dinner

if he's such a killer?

Curiosity.

If you want to know the metal of your opponent,

it don't hurt to look him in the eye.

I never looked the devil in the eye.

Ain't looking to start now.

I say you bed down with a rattlesnake,

you're most likely to get bit.

Here he comes.

[Music]

Tell him he's welcome.

And throw in some guff about what a

great chief he is.

How he's stronger than the buffalo

and wiser than the bear.

Tell him his name's enough
to freeze Mexican blood.

We need some wind here.

They expect it.

[speking Comanche]

Taking a fancy to Mattie has he?

Yes.

He wants her for his wife.

He says he's seen her before.

Mmm Hmm

He calls her "turtle catching woman".

He wants Captain Faulkner's rifle too.

Shadrach what do they call you in Comanche?

Wasape

"Tale the bear".

You tell that rascal

that Mattie is the woman of

"Tale of the bear".

[Speaking Comanche]

What did he say?

He said "Tale the bear" is too old for

such a strong woman.

He still wants the rifle.

Well Billy, you should have hid that fine

gun of yours now you're gonna have to

give it to him

This gun cost me six

months wages... Colonel.

I ordered it from England.

And I waited two years to get it.

I'll be damned if I'm giving it to him.

Give it to him anyway.

You don't invite a

great chief to your camp

and then let him leave without a present.

That's elemental.

I don't care what's "elemental".

I'll not give up my gun.

Give him a musket.

It's more than he deserves.

I'll decide what he deserves.

I won't do it.

I'll resign first.

[Music]

You're resigned Captain.

[Music]

I will not tolerate mutiny.

[Speking Comanche]

[Music]

[end captions]