Rawhide (1959–1965): Season 5, Episode 8 - Incident of the Wolvers - full transcript
With Favor gone, Rowdy has a problem when a pack of wolves start causing bothering the herd. A wolfer and his family offer Rowdy a deal to handle the wolves. At first bypassing the offer, Rowdy later agrees but runs into complications.
♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
- Hyah!
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
♪ Keep movin', movin', movin' ♪
♪ Though they're disapprovin' ♪
♪ Keep them dogies movin' ♪
♪ Rawhide ♪
♪ Don't try to understand them ♪
♪ Just rope and throw
and brand 'em ♪
♪ Soon we'll be livin'
high and wide ♪
♪ My heart's calculatin' ♪
♪ My true love will be waitin' ♪
♪ Be waiting at the end
of my ride ♪
♪ Move 'em on, head 'em up,
head 'em up, move 'em on ♪
♪ Move 'em on,
head 'em up, Rawhide ♪
-(whip cracks)
-♪ Cut 'em out, ride 'em in ♪
♪ Ride 'em in, let 'em out,
cut 'em out, ride 'em in ♪
-♪ Rawhide...! ♪
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
- Hyah!
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin'. ♪
(whip cracks twice)
(cattle lowing)
(gunshots in distance)
What do you figure?
Sounds pretty hot
whatever it is.
This is Comanche country.
That don't sound like
Comanche rifles.
It sounds more like
army carbines.
♪♪
(gunshots continue)
♪♪
♪♪
Heard the excitement.
Thought we'd drop in.
It's nice to see you, friends.
However, it's nothing we
couldn't have handled ourselves.
- Speak for yourself, Sergeant.
-(Sergeant chuckles)
We're with the Gil Favor
outfit back at the draw a ways.
Maybe you men ought to come
back with us, huh?
Where's the rest of your outfit?
You're looking at it.
They got bit up some.
This is all that's left
of a whole patrol?
One troop of cavalry,
me and Corporal Healy here,
and one company of infantry.
Gentleman, meet Vastly
Kandinsky.
I'd say you had a long day,
Sergeant.
I've had shorter.
My corporal's arm needs
looking at.
Maybe we will come back
with you
if you still have a mind
to have us.
You say your trailboss's
name is Favor?
- Right.
- Don't believe I know him.
Well, that don't take too long.
Come on.
I was under the impression
the army had a treaty
with Broken Bow.
That's right.
Somebody on the Indian Bureau
decided
that land was too good
for the Comanches,
so they sent us out to clear
a trail for the settlers.
That treaty specifically bars
settles from Broken Bow's lands.
Well, what do you know
about that?
That's exactly what the Colonel
said to that Indian agent.
How about that?
You know, it seems, though,
that there's more than one way
to read a treaty.
That's what I like about
the army, helpful, real helpful.
Well, now, mister, I don't
reckon the army really cares
what you like about it.
We just do what they tell us
to do.
Yeah, you sure do that
well, too.
If we hadn't come along,
you would have been
squaw bait now.
Possible.
Just bubbling over with
gratitude, ain't you, Sergeant?
Well, I don't recollect
sending up any smoke signals
for help, cowhand.
All right, all right.
Look, Sergeant, we got
3,000 head of cattle out there.
This ain't helping
to get 'em through.
What will?
I wouldn't exactly call this
cattle country, mister.
What are you running a herd
so far out for anyhow?
Money. They pay us to do this.
Well, it might have been a good
idea to wait a little while,
like ten or 12 years.
When a man's hair can sit
more comfortable
this side of the Pecos.
Right now there's about 50,000
miners up around Virginia City,
and they need this beef.
So does Broken Bow.
We gave him 50 head
to let us go through.
We made the deal last week
at Cottonwood.
Well, as long as we're
with you,
that deal is gonna seem
mighty impermanent.
That's my feeling exactly,
Sergeant.
Now look here, Mr. Trailboss,
we'll get some solid behind
our belts if you let us,
and then we'll crawl
out of here.
Not with this boy, you don't.
This arm's too chewed up.
Besides, you look
a little peaked.
How much blood did you bleed
out there?
I don't bleed blood.
I bleed whiskey.
(laughs)
Healy, can you ride
with that wing of yours?
I don't put my arm
in the saddle, Sergeant.
I said he don't ride anywhere.
He better do some riding
or that bush of yours
is gonna be dangling
from some Comanche's
lodge pole before long.
No, we'll get, mister.
Injuns will be back,
and I think they're a little
peeved at you now.
It'd be silly to get 'em
downright angry at you.
Kandinsky, see if you can
get this Irishman on a horse.
MAN:
Favor!
Sure hope Broken Bow remembers
he's a friend of yours.
Look out there.
They're coming from all around.
Front, back, on both flanks.
Chuckles) Well, I told you
this wasn't cattle country.
What's that frame for?
That ain't no frame, boy.
That's what they call
an execution rack.
Fellow once told me
that they can work on you
for a whole week on that
contraption before you die.
Kind of takes the starch out
of body's britches, don't it?
Ain't got their hands
on you yet, soldier.
Rowdy, bed down the herd.
Rotate the full crew
on night hawk.
And no shooting unless
you absolutely got to.
Well, it's up to you, Sergeant.
You can ride along with us
until we raise Fort Collins,
or you can try to bust clear
on your own.
Kandinsky! Forget them horses!
We just joined a cattle drive!
(cattle lowing)
Looks like this herd's
never gonna bed down.
Yeah, it just might be
they don't like
the Comanches either, boss.
As long as we don't see 'em,
we got nothing to worry about.
Oh, say, Mr. Favor,
maybe you better check them...
Mighty jumpy.
(owl hooting, cattle lowing)
Easy, boy.
Anything up?
Oh, nothing, Mr. Favor.
But they're out there,
all right. Listen.
You keep listening, Harry.
When you can't hear 'em,
that's when you start worrying.
Anything definite comes up,
you sing out loud and clear.
Don't you worry about
that, Mr. Favor.
Them Comanches just look
in my direction,
I'll sound off loud enough
to raise half of St. Louie.
Well, leave it to the army
to mess everything up.
You got anything to say,
say it to a general.
Those three only do
what they're told.
Mr. Rowdy, you think
those Indians will let us move
out come morning?
Ask me tomorrow.
All I know is they got us
coming and going.
And if you hadn't been so
anxious to get those dogfaces
out of that hole...
What'd you expect me to do,
leave "em there?
Yeah, maybe.
If I had any suspicion that
that big-talking sergeant was
galvanized...
Look, Clay, a lot of Rebs
joined the Union army
after the war.
What's galvanized mean?
It's a Southerner who was
captured during the war
and joined the Union
to fight Indians.
Well, that ain't so bad, is it?
It's bad enough.
When one of "em joined up,
the Yankees took a soldier
off the frontier and sent him
to join Grant or Sherman.
We got another name for 'em
back home: traitor.
Yeah, well, I don't care
what they are except trouble.
Sergeant, I do not think
we are making friends.
Now, now, big man,
don't be thinking.
That's reserved for the cavalry,
not the infantry.
Correct, Sergeant?
Whatever gave you the idea
you was cavalry?
Just 'cause the government
was stupid enough
to issue you a horse?
(Kandinsky laughs)
Well, now I never heard
the Lieutenant complain.
Yeah, and he got butchered,
didn't he?
(laughs)
Which shows how much
that wet-haired boss and boy
know about soldiering.
Let's get back to the herd.
I
You aimin' to start
a conversation, cowhand?
Yeah, that's right, Sergeant.
- Whereabouts you from?
- Fort Collin.
No, I mean before that.
(chuckles): What's the matter
with your ears, boy?
I'm one of New Hampshire's
original Green Mountain Boys.
Can't you tell that?
Anything wrong
with answering the question?
Suppose you try another one.
You been soldiering long?
That, me lad,
is army information.
Now, you shut your mouth, Healy.
I think this boy's earned
the right to some answers
by rushing so heroically
to our aid this morning.
Ask away, cowhand.
Um, you ever wear gray?
Now, that's not what's
on your mind, and you know it.
What's on your mind is how long
I've been a Fed,
ain't that right?
That's right-- some of the boys
think you're galvanized.
(chuckles):
Some of the boys?
Or you?
Like you said, Duclos,
I bought myself
a few answers this morning.
That's right, you did.
Name: Joseph Duclos.
Rank: First Sergeant,
United States Cavalry.
Now, that's something that
every soldier carries with him,
carries it right to the grave.
They even carve it on the marker
sometimes, if there is a marker.
Ought to be good enough for you.
Well, it ain't if I get killed.
I'm a little particular
about who they plant me next to.
(laughs):
Is that so?
(chuckles)
You know, your boys were
just about exactly right--
I got took when I was wounded
at Chattanooga.
And then I had two choices:
I could either rot in
McNeil Prison for the duration,
or I could come out here
on Indian work.
Well, I'm a soldier, and
I thought it was better than...
getting saddle sores
from a jail bunk.
Especially when all you had to
do to, uh, walk out of that cell
is just change the color
of your uniform, right?
Listen, Mister...
You sit down and shut up.
Maybe you'd like to try taking
this blue uniform
off of me, boy.
Don't push it, Sergeant.
I might be tempted.
Rowdy.
Got a herd to take care of.
Let's get to it.
What was that all about?
Nothing important.
Boy's a mite feisty, that's all.
He ain't that feisty.
He's not liking the color
of the sergeant's uniform.
You know, Healy, if you'd
shut up as well as you drink,
you'd be a dandy.
Now, that boy
don't bother me none.
Good.
Let's keep it that way.
We got trouble enough
with Broken Bow and the herd.
I agree.
You just keep your fleas
out of my hair,
and I won't stomp them.
This ain't the cavalry,
Sergeant.
Any stomping goes on
around here, I do it.
Well, that's right,
you are the C.O.,
ain't you, Mr. Favor?
Yeah.
(laughs)
(cattle mooing, men shouting)
You feeling better, Corporal?
(chuckles)
The only thing that'd be
making me feel better
would be the backside
of a horse.
(wagon rattles)
Lordy be.
This wagon is worse than
a marrying cart.
Marrying cart?
Uh, uh, courtesy
of county court.
You see, to court a girl, you
must contract a marrying broker,
and he takes the two of you out
in the marrying cart.
Uh, no springs, mind you.
And the broker sits
in the middle.
Sure sounds like
a hard way to see a girl.
Aye, lad.
Why do you think I left Ireland?
(laughs)
Wishbone, no noon stop.
We'll roll till sundown.
Or till you're stopped.
Use another hand, Favor?
You know anything
about herding cattle?
Well, I got Kandinsky this far,
didn't I?
I don't want to be
running this army,
but that sergeant of yours
is just asking for it.
Not my sergeant, Mister.
I be foot soldier,
he be cavalry.
When this patrol we started, we
was half infantry up mountain.
I still say
he's chewing ground glass.
Ha! You should see sergeant
in czar's army.
(chuckles)
Sergeant Duclos--
he uses sharp woods,
but Russian Cossacks
more special.
They use sharp swords.
(laughs)
Well, we got a flock of them,
ain't we?
I count better than a hundred,
and that's just on the skyline.
I'd as soon you didn't sound
quite so cheerful about it,
-thank you.
-(chuckles)
Got to say I'm delighted.
We got them,
so we might as well lean back
and enjoy the ride while we can.
How many of them in your patrol?
Three or 400-- sight too many
for 25 cowboys.
But I reckon we'll get a chance
at a recount 'fore long.
Maybe not.
They let us go this far.
There's another way
to look at it.
Further he lets you move,
the deeper in you get.
You know what I'd do
if I was you, Favor?
Just a wagonload of advice,
ain't you?
Way I see it, any good C.O.
would be a fool
to risk his whole command
for three stragglers.
It's what they call tactics.
You learned tactics, Sergeant?
At West Point, Mr. Favor,
class of '57.
And as a private major
under Forrest
when we were fighting rings
around the whole Union Army.
I'd say your tactics
have slipped some, Sergeant.
Trading major's bars
for those stripes,
uh, don't seem like
exactly a good move.
As far as the general order
of 66 is concerned,
I'm doing very well, thank you.
According to that,
no ex-rebel can rise
above the rank of sergeant,
so that puts me
right on top of the pile.
You know, Favor,
my ex-lieutenant
was a wet-eared fool.
I'm just itching to see
how you end up.
I
(shouting in distance)
Rowdy, take a look.
Getting worse.
More of 'em
every time I turn around.
Ain't there anything we can do?
Keep them beeves movin'.
I
You seen Dobkins?
No, he's back there
on the flank some place.
Yeah, I was gonna relieve him.
He might've
fell asleep somewhere.
With these Comanches
around here, I doubt that.
Sure has gotten
quiet around here.
Yeah, that worries me.
Dobkins?
Bring it back
at the chuck wagon.
Harry?
Rowdy... look.
Harry.
He had these on him
when you found him?
That's right-- he was
propped up on a war lance.
Wonder why.
Sam Reilly's uniform.
Well, this message
is easy to read.
Broken Bow wants
another dead sergeant: me.
You?
Oh, didn't I tell you
that him and me
ain't the best of friends?
I think it has something
to do with the fact
that I killed his son
up at Red Cliffs last year.
You what?
Killed his son.
I got a nasty habit
of killing Indians
who take a knife to me.
Or anybody else,
for that matter.
'Course, the fact
that his wife got killed
didn't help matters none.
You mean Broken Bow has
a personal grudge against you?
Well, I wouldn't say
that he's partial to any of us,
but me, he don't like special.
This was Harry Dobkins'
first drive.
You know how old he was?
Well, I don't reckon
he's gonna get any older.
And that's all
you've got to say?
What would you like me to do,
mister, bring him back to life?
Why didn't you tell us
about this before?
- Slipped my mind.
- Slipped your mind?!
All right, break it up!
Sergeant, look up there.
It's too early for the sun.
Nah, that ain't the sun.
Healy, how far'd you say
that sodbuster's place was
-from here?
- Not that far, Sergeant.
- Settler?
- Fella named Beard.
Why do they hate him so much?
Mr. Beard's wife good woman.
She give us water sometimes.
And a pretty broth
of a thing she was, too.
And a handsome lad for a son.
They slip your mind, Sergeant?
(chuckles):
Well, I'm sure you heroes
are gonna rush out there
to save 'em.
Oh, the Comanche'd
just love that.
I'll get the rest of them in.
FAVOR: No, it's much too late
to do them any good.
Wishbone, break out the rifles.
The rest of you men pass
them out to the night hawks.
From now on,
we'll ride in pairs.
No more fires.
What are you
standing around for?
The way I figure it, Sergeant,
Dobkins is dead because of you,
and that goes
for them settlers, too.
You might forget that,
but I won't.
Things get kind of complicated,
don't they, Favor?
Ain't easy to be a C.O.
Oh, I'm certain
they'll get harder
before they get easier.
I
(lowing)
(howling in distance)
(barking in distance)
(horse approaching)
You think a Comanche'd
come up on you like this?
I don't know what they do.
Maybe that's the way
they came up on Harry Dobkins.
Count at least a half a dozen
in the last hour,
all over the place.
Yeah, well, just keep 'em
quiet and peaceful.
A stampede now
would really fix us up.
(warbling in distance)
(howling in distance)
(lowing in distance)
(howling in distance)
(hooting in distance)
(footsteps approaching)
Oh, Hey Soos, couldn't you
have whistled or something?
Pardoneme, but I've been
listening to the Comanche.
I don't see them,
but they are there.
Well, it don't take any brains
to figure that out.
Por seguro.
Once long ago,
the Comanche raided my pueblo.
- What they did...
- They'll do again,
unless you boys
keep your ears open.
You know, was I one
of Broken Bow's braves,
I'd have me two new pelts
in my string...
just about your size.
That fella's worse
than any Indian I ever saw.
No eyes can see what
a man really is, Senor Wishbone.
(warbling in distance)
(whistling in distance)
(barking in distance)
(whistling)
(whistling continues)
(whistling stops)
(whistling in distance)
(warbling in distance)
(whistling in distance)
(warbling in distance)
(rustling nearby)
Too close.
What are you doing out here?
I was just taking a walk.
You know, it's a wonder
you ain't up to your knees
in Indians by now, the way
I just walked through your men.
They're drovers,
not Indian fighters.
Well, they better
start learning mighty fast.
Comanches are gathering
up ahead right now.
You know, I don't believe
you're going any place
tomorrow morning, Favor.
Oh, we'll move tomorrow.
We'll move if we have
to stampede the herd...
(horses approaching)
Give a hand.
Easy, now.
(pants)
I was never afraid of Indians.
We-we got along just fine.
Mary Lou, she... she used
to feed 'em once in a while.
We got along fine.
What happened?
I don't know.
I-I swear I don't.
(sighs)
They were in the house
before I knew it.
Then they took me, and...
Mary Lou, and the kid,
took us outside.
They set the place on fire.
Broken Bow, he... he just stood
there and-and looked at me.
We've et together.
Lots of times.
Then he... he told me that
he was going to kill
my wife and the boy.
Unless what?
Unless you turn over
them soldiers to him.
If that was a man out there...
but i-it's my family!
I don't have to tell you what
those devils would do to 'em.
- Wish...
Mm-hmm.
Mr. Beard could use
something hot and strong.
Yeah, I got just the thing.
Come along.
What chance do you think
the, uh, wife and kid
would be alive by then?
I guess about 50/50.
The woman'll be alive.
So will the child.
What, you got a crystal ball
or something?
Mm. Right here.
Broken Bow don't want
that woman and that kid,
he wants me,
and he wants me bad.
Just keep reminding me
about that, Sergeant.
You know, Broken Bow
has a much better opinion
of me than you do.
Guy I am.
He knows I will buy a pig
in a poke no matter what.
He's going to show me
the woman and the kid.
Most likely right on that ridge,
right over there.
Uh, Sergeant.
This place is beginning
to bore me, it is.
Uh, me and 'sky are wondering
if you're ready to take a walk.
Nobody's going no place, yet.
Why not?
You heard the man,
that woman and child ain't
gonna have a chance out there
unless we go out and get them.
Unless the sergeant
here goes out.
We ain't got the firepower
to force Broken Bow's hand.
Mmm...
even if we do what he wants
we got no way of being sure
the woman will be all right.
Yeah, but that's a chance
we got to take.
This is rough country, Cowhand.
That sodbuster settled out here
without army authorization.
So it's all right for Comanche
to butcher woman, is that it?
Sergeant, I not stay here
while those Indians
kill that woman.
Somebody give you a promotion
I didn't hear about?
You ain't going nowhere.
I'll tell you,
Sergeant, someone is
if they have to go feet first,
someone's gonna call
Broken Bow's hand,
and Comanches don't bluff.
Well, now, you got more sense
than I gave you
credit for, Cowhand.
We're both learning.
All you greenhorns
are just alike,
you give an inch
and the first thing you ask for.
He's right.
We back down now none of us
will get out of this alive.
We got to do something.
We will.
I'll go out and talk
to Broken Bow in the morning.
After what's happened already?
Before anything else happens?
Well, now you're talking sense,
Mr. C.O.,
but I'm gonna go along with you.
That could
only make things worse.
Now listen to me, will you?
Broken Bow don't care
about these men of mine.
I was the one at Red Cliffs,
and I'm the one
that he cares about.
You dangle me in front of him,
and he might just forget
everybody else.
Well, that's a good way
to get yourself killed.
I've been feeling
kind of sickly lately anyhow.
All right, all right,
but if he won't make a deal,
we ain't gonna sit around
while those Comanche slaughter
that woman and child.
Understand that, Sergeant?
Sure I do. Us Yankee soldiers
catch on real quick.
Oh, yeah, if I, uh,
don't get back,
you know what to do.
You're taking a big chance.
Spread out a bit.
Oh, hey, you know, how well
do you know this Broken Bow?
We're on shooting terms.
(horse neighs)
He's coming down.
(sighs)
They got to do it, Yates.
They're doing their best, Beard.
That's my wife and kid.
Look, Beard, they'll
get her back, huh?
FAVOR:
Broken Bow,
are the woman and child alive?
Our fires and our knives
have small patience.
They are alive,
they will not be.
We sealed a bargain between us.
Man to man.
Now you come in paint
when we meet, why?
Give us the three blue coats
and there will be no war.
These men only do
what their chiefs tell them.
The same as your braves.
He don't care
about that, Favor.
I told you.
Big Buck here wants me...
for personal reasons.
Ain't that right, Indian?
You know, Indian,
that boy of yours
was a grown man.
He was a warrior,
and he fought like one.
He'd have killed me if I
hadn't killed him first.
And his mother?
Your squaw run out
in front of them horses
when they stampeded
and you know it.
It was an accident, Broken Bow,
an accident of war.
Forget it, Favor.
This buck don't want
conversation, he wants blood.
All right, Chief,
I'll tell you what I'll do.
I'll make a deal with you.
I'll ride out alone.
Shoot, me, one trooper
against a whole nation.
Now that's fair enough,
ain't it?
You let that woman
and that child go free,
and you let this herd
go through.
Now how about that?
I have an execution rack
waiting.
It will be filled.
All right, Chief.
You know, I'm a chief, too.
And right now I'm gonna ride
back into camp,
and I'm gonna kill both my men.
Yes I am.
Then I'm gonna
cut my own veins open.
And while I'm dying I'm gonna
write a curse on you
with my own blood.
And the curse I put on you
is gonna stay on you
until the day you die.
Under a pile of butchered dogs,
and your soul's
gonna be with it,
and you ain't gonna have
no eyes.
You lie.
DUCLOS: Do I?
Well, why don't you test me?
But I'd advise you
to think it over first.
You got until the sun is high.
If you decide to exchange me
for that woman and that child,
well, you just make smoke
up on that rise yonder.
But you got to do it
before the sun
gets straight up and down.
And if I don't see smoke,
you're gonna have three dead
horse soldiers on your head
for the rest of your life.
Which ain't gonna be long.
How do I know
you keep your word?
You don't.
You think other soldiers come?
There are no other soldiers,
not for three days ride.
Ain't that a crying shame.
You better hurry up
and make up your mind, Chief.
You only got till noon.
I will consider it.
If I decide you lie,
the woman and her child die
on the execution rack
built for you.
Missed your calling, Sergeant.
It was a great act.
That wasn't an act, Favor.
Well, your wife is all right
for now, Mr. Beard.
Either way, we got until noon.
Well, that's it.
We'll know when the sun
is straight up and down.
One way or another, we better
be ready for anything.
I still don't see what
we've gained by all this.
Time, for one thing.
Broken Bow ain't gonna believe
all that double talk.
I think he will.
Sergeant, you're just looking
for a place to run.
Oh, you're so right.
I can't find none.
You expect us to believe
you're gonna ride out there
all alone, is that it?
Well, I ain't exactly anxious.
If you got better idea
I'll listen your ear off.
Right now we got a herd
that needs holding.
Let's get to it.
I still think we ought to...
Look, Rowdy, let's take care
of first things first.
I want to get this thing
settled right now.
All right, I'm listening.
Any man who'd, uh,
turn his coat inside out once
is bound to do it again.
And you think Duclos
is gonna find
an easy way out of this?
That's right, I think he's
looking for a backdoor.
Only he ain't gonna find it.
Well, I think he knows that.
So does Broken Bow.
Look, Duclos may not be
particular
about the color of his uniform,
and he certainly may not win
popularity contest,
but I do believe
that he is jack leather army.
He is soldier
right down to the ground.
Yeah, well, I've seen
soldiers run before.
Not when there's no place
left to run.
Well...
you said something about
first things first.
It started with Duclos,
it's gonna end with him.
I'm making sure of that.
Corporal Healy,
I never get chance
to kill Cossacks.
Sort of a wasted life, huh, Ski?
Ha.
And, Sergeant, why do you
be trying to win all the medals?
I'm a hero.
You know, I ain't
especially fond
of Broken Bow myself.
Oh, you ain't even
in his league, sonny boy.
Corporal Healy,
I reckon you know the situation
about as well as I do.
Now when you get back to Fort...
What makes you think
I'll be going back to the fort,
Sergeant?
Because you're still
in the army, and...
you're still taking orders.
I want you to tell the colonel
that Broken Bow
has about three or four
hundred of his braves out,
and his whole village,
and they're moving
in a northeasterly direction.
Sergeant?
I-I'd just like to say...
And what can you be saying?
Why do you have to squat
way out here anyhow?
- Leave him be.
- What else you expect, Sergeant?
Him trying to make a land treaty
with them heathens.
It don't make no difference now.
What are you all getting
chilblains for?
I got till evening.
Why by that time General Sherman
will probably show up
with the whole department
of the Missouri.
I
Hey, why don't you
take it easy, huh?
What's he gonna do,
sit there all day?
What do you want him to do--
break into a song and dance?
You know, I swear,
I think he's gonna do it.
Well, of course
he's gonna do it.
What kind of a man
do you think he is?
I ain't sure about that.
(laughing)
You know, I come to this country
to get out of czar's army,
and I end up
in president's army.
Don't see anything funny
about it.
Sure, because I am more free man
in this army
than when I am Polish civilian.
Yeah. (laughs)
(sighs)
Sergeant, I tried
to tell you this before.
My wife is a fine woman.
She's a tough woman, too.
Has to be
to get along out here.
I've been wondering
just what she'd think
about what we're doing here,
and I...
I guess I got the answer.
Now, you listen to me, Beard.
BEARD:
Wait a minute, Sergeant.
I want... I want you
to hear this.
People that live out here--
they...
Well, they take their chances.
They got to learn
to get out of their own trouble.
I don't think
Mary Lou would want you
to turn yourself over
to those Comanches, and...
well, I don't, either.
That's the way you feel, huh?
(sighs)
She's been good and kind
to them Indians.
Maybe... maybe
they'll let her be.
There ain't any "maybes.”
If I don't go out there,
you ain't got no wife,
and you ain't got no child.
Now I'm gonna go out shooting,
and I'm gonna keep shooting.
Maybe they'll shoot back.
That's what I'm counting on.
(Beard sighs)
What is it, Duclos?
What's the catch, huh?
Well, I got just so much brain,
cowhand,
I can only see one way to go.
Oh, we better take another look.
You run out there,
no matter how much talking,
you ain't gonna come back.
Oh, now, just maybe
I've had my say
and then some.
Yeah, well... (laughs)
...that goes both ways.
I've been shooting my mouth off
a little.
It's good for the liver.
Worst thing a man can do
is think too much.
Tell me something, cowhand.
Did you ever see
Forrest Cavalry in action
during the war?
No, never did.
Well, it was a sight
to behold.
The old man did
a little talking himself.
But he always knew
what he was doing.
He got shot up some.
We all did.
We did everything for that man
he asked us to,
except win the war.
I had no right getting through
Brice's Crossroad.
I was almost dead
at Chattanooga.
I got no kick coming.
I'm long overdue.
Do you know, this time,
I got an idea,
we're... we're gonna win
the war.
Hey, Mr. Favor, you know,
the boys and I--
we've been laying around
a little bit.
Uh, we could use some exercise.
What kind of exercise?
Oh, that depends
on the Comanches up there.
There it is!
DUCLOS:
Cowhand?
You just give me
the fastest horse you've got,
and then stand by.
You know, Snowshoe Parker--
he rode 300 miles
through the whole Sioux nation.
Yeah, that's right. That was
during a snowstorm, though,
and the Indians weren't all
lined up, waiting for him,
like this, uh, right here.
What are you doing, Healy?
You're not going anywhere.
Oh, I wouldn't be knowing
about those lads, Sergeant,
but, uh, we are.
He's right, Sergeant.
We've decided we go with you.
Well, I'm the one that does
the deciding in this outfit,
and you've got your orders.
Is that a fact now?
And I suppose
you'll be putting us up
for a court martial
after tomorrow morning's work.
Well, I'd like
to be hanging around
just to see
how you do it, Sergeant.
We make the odds
more better, Sergeant.
"Ve make the odds more...”
You think it matters
whether there's three of us
or one of us out there,
you square head?
We're army, Sergeant.
We'll not be sitting.
Well, you will.
For one thing, in your shape,
you couldn't fight a squaw,
and for another, somebody's got
to get the word back
to the fort.
Do you want me to send him?
He can't even say, "Indian,”
let alone count 'em.
That might be,
but I can fight.
I go with you, right?
Wrong.
For two reasons.
One-- you're an infantry,
and you can't stay on a horse
unless you're soldered,
and two-- somebody's got
to stay behind
and see that this flaming
Irish potato head
don't get any cute ideas
about following me out there.
FAVOR:
Sergeant?
You admitted
that your patrol started
the fight with the Indians.
Looks to me now like
Broken Bow wants to stay out
of the army's way.
- He's running for it.
- So?
If you take your information
back to the fort now,
you'll just be building a coffin
for him.
That's right.
Broken Bow hasn't got a chance
against two regiments of army.
He'll fight anyway.
And you know what'll happen
to Comanche women and children
in a standup fight.
Yes, I do know.
No doubt about it--
the Indian is done.
We'll fight him 15,
20 more years,
but he's a walking dead man
right now.
If the army
doesn't finish him off,
the politicians will.
I don't make any claim that
the army way is the right way,
but I think
it's more merciful.
You see a dying animal,
you kill it, you do it a favor.
The army way not be
the moral way,
but I don't get paid
for making judgments.
Broken Bow and people like him
are gonna keep fighting,
because it's the only way
they know how.
But he's dead right now,
and I think we ought
to get on with the burying.
See that you give this
to the supply sergeant
at Fort Collins.
It's government property.
Mr. Favor, do you think
they'll let her go after...
I... I just don't know.
Sergeant, you're not gonna be
making a coward out of me.
Let me go with you.
You've got your orders, Healy.
Private, see
that the corporal carries on.
I will see to it, Sergeant.
Duclos, we owe you an apology.
Yeah, that's right, you do.
Stand aside.
Just one thing, Sergeant.
You were a Confederate.
I just can't understand, well,
the way you feel
about the Union army.
I'm not in the Union army, boy.
I'm in the army
of the United States.
The American army,
your army, my army.
You know, it ain't
a bad horse trade at that.
One family of sodbusters,
two stragglers, 25 cow pushers
and 3,000 head of prime cattle
for one broken-down,
overage horse soldier
who should have cashed in
his chips at Chattanooga anyhow.
Major Duclos,
good hunting, huh?
Well, thank you, cowhand.
Mr. Favor, you got a lot
of army in the right places.
Too bad we couldn't have gotten
in a real fight together.
Well, maybe next time around.
Yeah.
Mr. Favor,
if anything happens to me,
you see Corporal Healy get
to Fort Collins, yeah?
I'll do my best.
Now would you be looking
at him.
Making like he's the only
cavalryman in the whole world.
Well, I ain't gonna
let him do it.
(yells)
Leave 'em be.
(hoof beats approaching)
I gave you a direct order,
Kandinsky.
Uh, Corporal Healy--
he have an accident.
They bring him to Fort Collins.
Why you square head, what do you
use for brains, anyhow?
Five years I been in army.
Nobody ever let me ride a horse.
Always, I want to ride horse.
(laughs)
Well, how long you figure
you can stay on?
Long enough this time, no?
And something else, Sergeant.
Always, I want to kill Cossacks.
Now we got plenty Cossacks
to kill, yeah?
Well, I don't see no Cossacks,
unless you mean
that Yankee cavalry up there.
Yankee Cossacks, Sergeant.
You sure you're ready, Soldier?
Ready, Sergeant.
Kind of wish we had a bugle.
At a walk, forward, hold.
At a trot, forward, hold.
♪ At a gallop ♪
♪ Forward ♪
♪ Hold. ♪
(shouting)
(men yelling and shouting)
(gunfire)
(yelling continues)
(gunfire)
(yelling continues)
(hoof beats retreating)
(distant yelling)
Yahoo!
Hyah.
Mr. Beard,
go get your wife and boy.
Head 'em up!
Move 'em out!
♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
♪ Keep movin', movin', movin' ♪
♪ Though they're disapprovin' ♪
♪ Keep them dogies movin' ♪
♪ Rawhide! ♪
♪ Rawhide...! ♪
Hyah!
(whip cracks twice)
- Hyah!
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
♪ Keep movin', movin', movin' ♪
♪ Though they're disapprovin' ♪
♪ Keep them dogies movin' ♪
♪ Rawhide ♪
♪ Don't try to understand them ♪
♪ Just rope and throw
and brand 'em ♪
♪ Soon we'll be livin'
high and wide ♪
♪ My heart's calculatin' ♪
♪ My true love will be waitin' ♪
♪ Be waiting at the end
of my ride ♪
♪ Move 'em on, head 'em up,
head 'em up, move 'em on ♪
♪ Move 'em on,
head 'em up, Rawhide ♪
-(whip cracks)
-♪ Cut 'em out, ride 'em in ♪
♪ Ride 'em in, let 'em out,
cut 'em out, ride 'em in ♪
-♪ Rawhide...! ♪
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
- Hyah!
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin'. ♪
(whip cracks twice)
(cattle lowing)
(gunshots in distance)
What do you figure?
Sounds pretty hot
whatever it is.
This is Comanche country.
That don't sound like
Comanche rifles.
It sounds more like
army carbines.
♪♪
(gunshots continue)
♪♪
♪♪
Heard the excitement.
Thought we'd drop in.
It's nice to see you, friends.
However, it's nothing we
couldn't have handled ourselves.
- Speak for yourself, Sergeant.
-(Sergeant chuckles)
We're with the Gil Favor
outfit back at the draw a ways.
Maybe you men ought to come
back with us, huh?
Where's the rest of your outfit?
You're looking at it.
They got bit up some.
This is all that's left
of a whole patrol?
One troop of cavalry,
me and Corporal Healy here,
and one company of infantry.
Gentleman, meet Vastly
Kandinsky.
I'd say you had a long day,
Sergeant.
I've had shorter.
My corporal's arm needs
looking at.
Maybe we will come back
with you
if you still have a mind
to have us.
You say your trailboss's
name is Favor?
- Right.
- Don't believe I know him.
Well, that don't take too long.
Come on.
I was under the impression
the army had a treaty
with Broken Bow.
That's right.
Somebody on the Indian Bureau
decided
that land was too good
for the Comanches,
so they sent us out to clear
a trail for the settlers.
That treaty specifically bars
settles from Broken Bow's lands.
Well, what do you know
about that?
That's exactly what the Colonel
said to that Indian agent.
How about that?
You know, it seems, though,
that there's more than one way
to read a treaty.
That's what I like about
the army, helpful, real helpful.
Well, now, mister, I don't
reckon the army really cares
what you like about it.
We just do what they tell us
to do.
Yeah, you sure do that
well, too.
If we hadn't come along,
you would have been
squaw bait now.
Possible.
Just bubbling over with
gratitude, ain't you, Sergeant?
Well, I don't recollect
sending up any smoke signals
for help, cowhand.
All right, all right.
Look, Sergeant, we got
3,000 head of cattle out there.
This ain't helping
to get 'em through.
What will?
I wouldn't exactly call this
cattle country, mister.
What are you running a herd
so far out for anyhow?
Money. They pay us to do this.
Well, it might have been a good
idea to wait a little while,
like ten or 12 years.
When a man's hair can sit
more comfortable
this side of the Pecos.
Right now there's about 50,000
miners up around Virginia City,
and they need this beef.
So does Broken Bow.
We gave him 50 head
to let us go through.
We made the deal last week
at Cottonwood.
Well, as long as we're
with you,
that deal is gonna seem
mighty impermanent.
That's my feeling exactly,
Sergeant.
Now look here, Mr. Trailboss,
we'll get some solid behind
our belts if you let us,
and then we'll crawl
out of here.
Not with this boy, you don't.
This arm's too chewed up.
Besides, you look
a little peaked.
How much blood did you bleed
out there?
I don't bleed blood.
I bleed whiskey.
(laughs)
Healy, can you ride
with that wing of yours?
I don't put my arm
in the saddle, Sergeant.
I said he don't ride anywhere.
He better do some riding
or that bush of yours
is gonna be dangling
from some Comanche's
lodge pole before long.
No, we'll get, mister.
Injuns will be back,
and I think they're a little
peeved at you now.
It'd be silly to get 'em
downright angry at you.
Kandinsky, see if you can
get this Irishman on a horse.
MAN:
Favor!
Sure hope Broken Bow remembers
he's a friend of yours.
Look out there.
They're coming from all around.
Front, back, on both flanks.
Chuckles) Well, I told you
this wasn't cattle country.
What's that frame for?
That ain't no frame, boy.
That's what they call
an execution rack.
Fellow once told me
that they can work on you
for a whole week on that
contraption before you die.
Kind of takes the starch out
of body's britches, don't it?
Ain't got their hands
on you yet, soldier.
Rowdy, bed down the herd.
Rotate the full crew
on night hawk.
And no shooting unless
you absolutely got to.
Well, it's up to you, Sergeant.
You can ride along with us
until we raise Fort Collins,
or you can try to bust clear
on your own.
Kandinsky! Forget them horses!
We just joined a cattle drive!
(cattle lowing)
Looks like this herd's
never gonna bed down.
Yeah, it just might be
they don't like
the Comanches either, boss.
As long as we don't see 'em,
we got nothing to worry about.
Oh, say, Mr. Favor,
maybe you better check them...
Mighty jumpy.
(owl hooting, cattle lowing)
Easy, boy.
Anything up?
Oh, nothing, Mr. Favor.
But they're out there,
all right. Listen.
You keep listening, Harry.
When you can't hear 'em,
that's when you start worrying.
Anything definite comes up,
you sing out loud and clear.
Don't you worry about
that, Mr. Favor.
Them Comanches just look
in my direction,
I'll sound off loud enough
to raise half of St. Louie.
Well, leave it to the army
to mess everything up.
You got anything to say,
say it to a general.
Those three only do
what they're told.
Mr. Rowdy, you think
those Indians will let us move
out come morning?
Ask me tomorrow.
All I know is they got us
coming and going.
And if you hadn't been so
anxious to get those dogfaces
out of that hole...
What'd you expect me to do,
leave "em there?
Yeah, maybe.
If I had any suspicion that
that big-talking sergeant was
galvanized...
Look, Clay, a lot of Rebs
joined the Union army
after the war.
What's galvanized mean?
It's a Southerner who was
captured during the war
and joined the Union
to fight Indians.
Well, that ain't so bad, is it?
It's bad enough.
When one of "em joined up,
the Yankees took a soldier
off the frontier and sent him
to join Grant or Sherman.
We got another name for 'em
back home: traitor.
Yeah, well, I don't care
what they are except trouble.
Sergeant, I do not think
we are making friends.
Now, now, big man,
don't be thinking.
That's reserved for the cavalry,
not the infantry.
Correct, Sergeant?
Whatever gave you the idea
you was cavalry?
Just 'cause the government
was stupid enough
to issue you a horse?
(Kandinsky laughs)
Well, now I never heard
the Lieutenant complain.
Yeah, and he got butchered,
didn't he?
(laughs)
Which shows how much
that wet-haired boss and boy
know about soldiering.
Let's get back to the herd.
I
You aimin' to start
a conversation, cowhand?
Yeah, that's right, Sergeant.
- Whereabouts you from?
- Fort Collin.
No, I mean before that.
(chuckles): What's the matter
with your ears, boy?
I'm one of New Hampshire's
original Green Mountain Boys.
Can't you tell that?
Anything wrong
with answering the question?
Suppose you try another one.
You been soldiering long?
That, me lad,
is army information.
Now, you shut your mouth, Healy.
I think this boy's earned
the right to some answers
by rushing so heroically
to our aid this morning.
Ask away, cowhand.
Um, you ever wear gray?
Now, that's not what's
on your mind, and you know it.
What's on your mind is how long
I've been a Fed,
ain't that right?
That's right-- some of the boys
think you're galvanized.
(chuckles):
Some of the boys?
Or you?
Like you said, Duclos,
I bought myself
a few answers this morning.
That's right, you did.
Name: Joseph Duclos.
Rank: First Sergeant,
United States Cavalry.
Now, that's something that
every soldier carries with him,
carries it right to the grave.
They even carve it on the marker
sometimes, if there is a marker.
Ought to be good enough for you.
Well, it ain't if I get killed.
I'm a little particular
about who they plant me next to.
(laughs):
Is that so?
(chuckles)
You know, your boys were
just about exactly right--
I got took when I was wounded
at Chattanooga.
And then I had two choices:
I could either rot in
McNeil Prison for the duration,
or I could come out here
on Indian work.
Well, I'm a soldier, and
I thought it was better than...
getting saddle sores
from a jail bunk.
Especially when all you had to
do to, uh, walk out of that cell
is just change the color
of your uniform, right?
Listen, Mister...
You sit down and shut up.
Maybe you'd like to try taking
this blue uniform
off of me, boy.
Don't push it, Sergeant.
I might be tempted.
Rowdy.
Got a herd to take care of.
Let's get to it.
What was that all about?
Nothing important.
Boy's a mite feisty, that's all.
He ain't that feisty.
He's not liking the color
of the sergeant's uniform.
You know, Healy, if you'd
shut up as well as you drink,
you'd be a dandy.
Now, that boy
don't bother me none.
Good.
Let's keep it that way.
We got trouble enough
with Broken Bow and the herd.
I agree.
You just keep your fleas
out of my hair,
and I won't stomp them.
This ain't the cavalry,
Sergeant.
Any stomping goes on
around here, I do it.
Well, that's right,
you are the C.O.,
ain't you, Mr. Favor?
Yeah.
(laughs)
(cattle mooing, men shouting)
You feeling better, Corporal?
(chuckles)
The only thing that'd be
making me feel better
would be the backside
of a horse.
(wagon rattles)
Lordy be.
This wagon is worse than
a marrying cart.
Marrying cart?
Uh, uh, courtesy
of county court.
You see, to court a girl, you
must contract a marrying broker,
and he takes the two of you out
in the marrying cart.
Uh, no springs, mind you.
And the broker sits
in the middle.
Sure sounds like
a hard way to see a girl.
Aye, lad.
Why do you think I left Ireland?
(laughs)
Wishbone, no noon stop.
We'll roll till sundown.
Or till you're stopped.
Use another hand, Favor?
You know anything
about herding cattle?
Well, I got Kandinsky this far,
didn't I?
I don't want to be
running this army,
but that sergeant of yours
is just asking for it.
Not my sergeant, Mister.
I be foot soldier,
he be cavalry.
When this patrol we started, we
was half infantry up mountain.
I still say
he's chewing ground glass.
Ha! You should see sergeant
in czar's army.
(chuckles)
Sergeant Duclos--
he uses sharp woods,
but Russian Cossacks
more special.
They use sharp swords.
(laughs)
Well, we got a flock of them,
ain't we?
I count better than a hundred,
and that's just on the skyline.
I'd as soon you didn't sound
quite so cheerful about it,
-thank you.
-(chuckles)
Got to say I'm delighted.
We got them,
so we might as well lean back
and enjoy the ride while we can.
How many of them in your patrol?
Three or 400-- sight too many
for 25 cowboys.
But I reckon we'll get a chance
at a recount 'fore long.
Maybe not.
They let us go this far.
There's another way
to look at it.
Further he lets you move,
the deeper in you get.
You know what I'd do
if I was you, Favor?
Just a wagonload of advice,
ain't you?
Way I see it, any good C.O.
would be a fool
to risk his whole command
for three stragglers.
It's what they call tactics.
You learned tactics, Sergeant?
At West Point, Mr. Favor,
class of '57.
And as a private major
under Forrest
when we were fighting rings
around the whole Union Army.
I'd say your tactics
have slipped some, Sergeant.
Trading major's bars
for those stripes,
uh, don't seem like
exactly a good move.
As far as the general order
of 66 is concerned,
I'm doing very well, thank you.
According to that,
no ex-rebel can rise
above the rank of sergeant,
so that puts me
right on top of the pile.
You know, Favor,
my ex-lieutenant
was a wet-eared fool.
I'm just itching to see
how you end up.
I
(shouting in distance)
Rowdy, take a look.
Getting worse.
More of 'em
every time I turn around.
Ain't there anything we can do?
Keep them beeves movin'.
I
You seen Dobkins?
No, he's back there
on the flank some place.
Yeah, I was gonna relieve him.
He might've
fell asleep somewhere.
With these Comanches
around here, I doubt that.
Sure has gotten
quiet around here.
Yeah, that worries me.
Dobkins?
Bring it back
at the chuck wagon.
Harry?
Rowdy... look.
Harry.
He had these on him
when you found him?
That's right-- he was
propped up on a war lance.
Wonder why.
Sam Reilly's uniform.
Well, this message
is easy to read.
Broken Bow wants
another dead sergeant: me.
You?
Oh, didn't I tell you
that him and me
ain't the best of friends?
I think it has something
to do with the fact
that I killed his son
up at Red Cliffs last year.
You what?
Killed his son.
I got a nasty habit
of killing Indians
who take a knife to me.
Or anybody else,
for that matter.
'Course, the fact
that his wife got killed
didn't help matters none.
You mean Broken Bow has
a personal grudge against you?
Well, I wouldn't say
that he's partial to any of us,
but me, he don't like special.
This was Harry Dobkins'
first drive.
You know how old he was?
Well, I don't reckon
he's gonna get any older.
And that's all
you've got to say?
What would you like me to do,
mister, bring him back to life?
Why didn't you tell us
about this before?
- Slipped my mind.
- Slipped your mind?!
All right, break it up!
Sergeant, look up there.
It's too early for the sun.
Nah, that ain't the sun.
Healy, how far'd you say
that sodbuster's place was
-from here?
- Not that far, Sergeant.
- Settler?
- Fella named Beard.
Why do they hate him so much?
Mr. Beard's wife good woman.
She give us water sometimes.
And a pretty broth
of a thing she was, too.
And a handsome lad for a son.
They slip your mind, Sergeant?
(chuckles):
Well, I'm sure you heroes
are gonna rush out there
to save 'em.
Oh, the Comanche'd
just love that.
I'll get the rest of them in.
FAVOR: No, it's much too late
to do them any good.
Wishbone, break out the rifles.
The rest of you men pass
them out to the night hawks.
From now on,
we'll ride in pairs.
No more fires.
What are you
standing around for?
The way I figure it, Sergeant,
Dobkins is dead because of you,
and that goes
for them settlers, too.
You might forget that,
but I won't.
Things get kind of complicated,
don't they, Favor?
Ain't easy to be a C.O.
Oh, I'm certain
they'll get harder
before they get easier.
I
(lowing)
(howling in distance)
(barking in distance)
(horse approaching)
You think a Comanche'd
come up on you like this?
I don't know what they do.
Maybe that's the way
they came up on Harry Dobkins.
Count at least a half a dozen
in the last hour,
all over the place.
Yeah, well, just keep 'em
quiet and peaceful.
A stampede now
would really fix us up.
(warbling in distance)
(howling in distance)
(lowing in distance)
(howling in distance)
(hooting in distance)
(footsteps approaching)
Oh, Hey Soos, couldn't you
have whistled or something?
Pardoneme, but I've been
listening to the Comanche.
I don't see them,
but they are there.
Well, it don't take any brains
to figure that out.
Por seguro.
Once long ago,
the Comanche raided my pueblo.
- What they did...
- They'll do again,
unless you boys
keep your ears open.
You know, was I one
of Broken Bow's braves,
I'd have me two new pelts
in my string...
just about your size.
That fella's worse
than any Indian I ever saw.
No eyes can see what
a man really is, Senor Wishbone.
(warbling in distance)
(whistling in distance)
(barking in distance)
(whistling)
(whistling continues)
(whistling stops)
(whistling in distance)
(warbling in distance)
(whistling in distance)
(warbling in distance)
(rustling nearby)
Too close.
What are you doing out here?
I was just taking a walk.
You know, it's a wonder
you ain't up to your knees
in Indians by now, the way
I just walked through your men.
They're drovers,
not Indian fighters.
Well, they better
start learning mighty fast.
Comanches are gathering
up ahead right now.
You know, I don't believe
you're going any place
tomorrow morning, Favor.
Oh, we'll move tomorrow.
We'll move if we have
to stampede the herd...
(horses approaching)
Give a hand.
Easy, now.
(pants)
I was never afraid of Indians.
We-we got along just fine.
Mary Lou, she... she used
to feed 'em once in a while.
We got along fine.
What happened?
I don't know.
I-I swear I don't.
(sighs)
They were in the house
before I knew it.
Then they took me, and...
Mary Lou, and the kid,
took us outside.
They set the place on fire.
Broken Bow, he... he just stood
there and-and looked at me.
We've et together.
Lots of times.
Then he... he told me that
he was going to kill
my wife and the boy.
Unless what?
Unless you turn over
them soldiers to him.
If that was a man out there...
but i-it's my family!
I don't have to tell you what
those devils would do to 'em.
- Wish...
Mm-hmm.
Mr. Beard could use
something hot and strong.
Yeah, I got just the thing.
Come along.
What chance do you think
the, uh, wife and kid
would be alive by then?
I guess about 50/50.
The woman'll be alive.
So will the child.
What, you got a crystal ball
or something?
Mm. Right here.
Broken Bow don't want
that woman and that kid,
he wants me,
and he wants me bad.
Just keep reminding me
about that, Sergeant.
You know, Broken Bow
has a much better opinion
of me than you do.
Guy I am.
He knows I will buy a pig
in a poke no matter what.
He's going to show me
the woman and the kid.
Most likely right on that ridge,
right over there.
Uh, Sergeant.
This place is beginning
to bore me, it is.
Uh, me and 'sky are wondering
if you're ready to take a walk.
Nobody's going no place, yet.
Why not?
You heard the man,
that woman and child ain't
gonna have a chance out there
unless we go out and get them.
Unless the sergeant
here goes out.
We ain't got the firepower
to force Broken Bow's hand.
Mmm...
even if we do what he wants
we got no way of being sure
the woman will be all right.
Yeah, but that's a chance
we got to take.
This is rough country, Cowhand.
That sodbuster settled out here
without army authorization.
So it's all right for Comanche
to butcher woman, is that it?
Sergeant, I not stay here
while those Indians
kill that woman.
Somebody give you a promotion
I didn't hear about?
You ain't going nowhere.
I'll tell you,
Sergeant, someone is
if they have to go feet first,
someone's gonna call
Broken Bow's hand,
and Comanches don't bluff.
Well, now, you got more sense
than I gave you
credit for, Cowhand.
We're both learning.
All you greenhorns
are just alike,
you give an inch
and the first thing you ask for.
He's right.
We back down now none of us
will get out of this alive.
We got to do something.
We will.
I'll go out and talk
to Broken Bow in the morning.
After what's happened already?
Before anything else happens?
Well, now you're talking sense,
Mr. C.O.,
but I'm gonna go along with you.
That could
only make things worse.
Now listen to me, will you?
Broken Bow don't care
about these men of mine.
I was the one at Red Cliffs,
and I'm the one
that he cares about.
You dangle me in front of him,
and he might just forget
everybody else.
Well, that's a good way
to get yourself killed.
I've been feeling
kind of sickly lately anyhow.
All right, all right,
but if he won't make a deal,
we ain't gonna sit around
while those Comanche slaughter
that woman and child.
Understand that, Sergeant?
Sure I do. Us Yankee soldiers
catch on real quick.
Oh, yeah, if I, uh,
don't get back,
you know what to do.
You're taking a big chance.
Spread out a bit.
Oh, hey, you know, how well
do you know this Broken Bow?
We're on shooting terms.
(horse neighs)
He's coming down.
(sighs)
They got to do it, Yates.
They're doing their best, Beard.
That's my wife and kid.
Look, Beard, they'll
get her back, huh?
FAVOR:
Broken Bow,
are the woman and child alive?
Our fires and our knives
have small patience.
They are alive,
they will not be.
We sealed a bargain between us.
Man to man.
Now you come in paint
when we meet, why?
Give us the three blue coats
and there will be no war.
These men only do
what their chiefs tell them.
The same as your braves.
He don't care
about that, Favor.
I told you.
Big Buck here wants me...
for personal reasons.
Ain't that right, Indian?
You know, Indian,
that boy of yours
was a grown man.
He was a warrior,
and he fought like one.
He'd have killed me if I
hadn't killed him first.
And his mother?
Your squaw run out
in front of them horses
when they stampeded
and you know it.
It was an accident, Broken Bow,
an accident of war.
Forget it, Favor.
This buck don't want
conversation, he wants blood.
All right, Chief,
I'll tell you what I'll do.
I'll make a deal with you.
I'll ride out alone.
Shoot, me, one trooper
against a whole nation.
Now that's fair enough,
ain't it?
You let that woman
and that child go free,
and you let this herd
go through.
Now how about that?
I have an execution rack
waiting.
It will be filled.
All right, Chief.
You know, I'm a chief, too.
And right now I'm gonna ride
back into camp,
and I'm gonna kill both my men.
Yes I am.
Then I'm gonna
cut my own veins open.
And while I'm dying I'm gonna
write a curse on you
with my own blood.
And the curse I put on you
is gonna stay on you
until the day you die.
Under a pile of butchered dogs,
and your soul's
gonna be with it,
and you ain't gonna have
no eyes.
You lie.
DUCLOS: Do I?
Well, why don't you test me?
But I'd advise you
to think it over first.
You got until the sun is high.
If you decide to exchange me
for that woman and that child,
well, you just make smoke
up on that rise yonder.
But you got to do it
before the sun
gets straight up and down.
And if I don't see smoke,
you're gonna have three dead
horse soldiers on your head
for the rest of your life.
Which ain't gonna be long.
How do I know
you keep your word?
You don't.
You think other soldiers come?
There are no other soldiers,
not for three days ride.
Ain't that a crying shame.
You better hurry up
and make up your mind, Chief.
You only got till noon.
I will consider it.
If I decide you lie,
the woman and her child die
on the execution rack
built for you.
Missed your calling, Sergeant.
It was a great act.
That wasn't an act, Favor.
Well, your wife is all right
for now, Mr. Beard.
Either way, we got until noon.
Well, that's it.
We'll know when the sun
is straight up and down.
One way or another, we better
be ready for anything.
I still don't see what
we've gained by all this.
Time, for one thing.
Broken Bow ain't gonna believe
all that double talk.
I think he will.
Sergeant, you're just looking
for a place to run.
Oh, you're so right.
I can't find none.
You expect us to believe
you're gonna ride out there
all alone, is that it?
Well, I ain't exactly anxious.
If you got better idea
I'll listen your ear off.
Right now we got a herd
that needs holding.
Let's get to it.
I still think we ought to...
Look, Rowdy, let's take care
of first things first.
I want to get this thing
settled right now.
All right, I'm listening.
Any man who'd, uh,
turn his coat inside out once
is bound to do it again.
And you think Duclos
is gonna find
an easy way out of this?
That's right, I think he's
looking for a backdoor.
Only he ain't gonna find it.
Well, I think he knows that.
So does Broken Bow.
Look, Duclos may not be
particular
about the color of his uniform,
and he certainly may not win
popularity contest,
but I do believe
that he is jack leather army.
He is soldier
right down to the ground.
Yeah, well, I've seen
soldiers run before.
Not when there's no place
left to run.
Well...
you said something about
first things first.
It started with Duclos,
it's gonna end with him.
I'm making sure of that.
Corporal Healy,
I never get chance
to kill Cossacks.
Sort of a wasted life, huh, Ski?
Ha.
And, Sergeant, why do you
be trying to win all the medals?
I'm a hero.
You know, I ain't
especially fond
of Broken Bow myself.
Oh, you ain't even
in his league, sonny boy.
Corporal Healy,
I reckon you know the situation
about as well as I do.
Now when you get back to Fort...
What makes you think
I'll be going back to the fort,
Sergeant?
Because you're still
in the army, and...
you're still taking orders.
I want you to tell the colonel
that Broken Bow
has about three or four
hundred of his braves out,
and his whole village,
and they're moving
in a northeasterly direction.
Sergeant?
I-I'd just like to say...
And what can you be saying?
Why do you have to squat
way out here anyhow?
- Leave him be.
- What else you expect, Sergeant?
Him trying to make a land treaty
with them heathens.
It don't make no difference now.
What are you all getting
chilblains for?
I got till evening.
Why by that time General Sherman
will probably show up
with the whole department
of the Missouri.
I
Hey, why don't you
take it easy, huh?
What's he gonna do,
sit there all day?
What do you want him to do--
break into a song and dance?
You know, I swear,
I think he's gonna do it.
Well, of course
he's gonna do it.
What kind of a man
do you think he is?
I ain't sure about that.
(laughing)
You know, I come to this country
to get out of czar's army,
and I end up
in president's army.
Don't see anything funny
about it.
Sure, because I am more free man
in this army
than when I am Polish civilian.
Yeah. (laughs)
(sighs)
Sergeant, I tried
to tell you this before.
My wife is a fine woman.
She's a tough woman, too.
Has to be
to get along out here.
I've been wondering
just what she'd think
about what we're doing here,
and I...
I guess I got the answer.
Now, you listen to me, Beard.
BEARD:
Wait a minute, Sergeant.
I want... I want you
to hear this.
People that live out here--
they...
Well, they take their chances.
They got to learn
to get out of their own trouble.
I don't think
Mary Lou would want you
to turn yourself over
to those Comanches, and...
well, I don't, either.
That's the way you feel, huh?
(sighs)
She's been good and kind
to them Indians.
Maybe... maybe
they'll let her be.
There ain't any "maybes.”
If I don't go out there,
you ain't got no wife,
and you ain't got no child.
Now I'm gonna go out shooting,
and I'm gonna keep shooting.
Maybe they'll shoot back.
That's what I'm counting on.
(Beard sighs)
What is it, Duclos?
What's the catch, huh?
Well, I got just so much brain,
cowhand,
I can only see one way to go.
Oh, we better take another look.
You run out there,
no matter how much talking,
you ain't gonna come back.
Oh, now, just maybe
I've had my say
and then some.
Yeah, well... (laughs)
...that goes both ways.
I've been shooting my mouth off
a little.
It's good for the liver.
Worst thing a man can do
is think too much.
Tell me something, cowhand.
Did you ever see
Forrest Cavalry in action
during the war?
No, never did.
Well, it was a sight
to behold.
The old man did
a little talking himself.
But he always knew
what he was doing.
He got shot up some.
We all did.
We did everything for that man
he asked us to,
except win the war.
I had no right getting through
Brice's Crossroad.
I was almost dead
at Chattanooga.
I got no kick coming.
I'm long overdue.
Do you know, this time,
I got an idea,
we're... we're gonna win
the war.
Hey, Mr. Favor, you know,
the boys and I--
we've been laying around
a little bit.
Uh, we could use some exercise.
What kind of exercise?
Oh, that depends
on the Comanches up there.
There it is!
DUCLOS:
Cowhand?
You just give me
the fastest horse you've got,
and then stand by.
You know, Snowshoe Parker--
he rode 300 miles
through the whole Sioux nation.
Yeah, that's right. That was
during a snowstorm, though,
and the Indians weren't all
lined up, waiting for him,
like this, uh, right here.
What are you doing, Healy?
You're not going anywhere.
Oh, I wouldn't be knowing
about those lads, Sergeant,
but, uh, we are.
He's right, Sergeant.
We've decided we go with you.
Well, I'm the one that does
the deciding in this outfit,
and you've got your orders.
Is that a fact now?
And I suppose
you'll be putting us up
for a court martial
after tomorrow morning's work.
Well, I'd like
to be hanging around
just to see
how you do it, Sergeant.
We make the odds
more better, Sergeant.
"Ve make the odds more...”
You think it matters
whether there's three of us
or one of us out there,
you square head?
We're army, Sergeant.
We'll not be sitting.
Well, you will.
For one thing, in your shape,
you couldn't fight a squaw,
and for another, somebody's got
to get the word back
to the fort.
Do you want me to send him?
He can't even say, "Indian,”
let alone count 'em.
That might be,
but I can fight.
I go with you, right?
Wrong.
For two reasons.
One-- you're an infantry,
and you can't stay on a horse
unless you're soldered,
and two-- somebody's got
to stay behind
and see that this flaming
Irish potato head
don't get any cute ideas
about following me out there.
FAVOR:
Sergeant?
You admitted
that your patrol started
the fight with the Indians.
Looks to me now like
Broken Bow wants to stay out
of the army's way.
- He's running for it.
- So?
If you take your information
back to the fort now,
you'll just be building a coffin
for him.
That's right.
Broken Bow hasn't got a chance
against two regiments of army.
He'll fight anyway.
And you know what'll happen
to Comanche women and children
in a standup fight.
Yes, I do know.
No doubt about it--
the Indian is done.
We'll fight him 15,
20 more years,
but he's a walking dead man
right now.
If the army
doesn't finish him off,
the politicians will.
I don't make any claim that
the army way is the right way,
but I think
it's more merciful.
You see a dying animal,
you kill it, you do it a favor.
The army way not be
the moral way,
but I don't get paid
for making judgments.
Broken Bow and people like him
are gonna keep fighting,
because it's the only way
they know how.
But he's dead right now,
and I think we ought
to get on with the burying.
See that you give this
to the supply sergeant
at Fort Collins.
It's government property.
Mr. Favor, do you think
they'll let her go after...
I... I just don't know.
Sergeant, you're not gonna be
making a coward out of me.
Let me go with you.
You've got your orders, Healy.
Private, see
that the corporal carries on.
I will see to it, Sergeant.
Duclos, we owe you an apology.
Yeah, that's right, you do.
Stand aside.
Just one thing, Sergeant.
You were a Confederate.
I just can't understand, well,
the way you feel
about the Union army.
I'm not in the Union army, boy.
I'm in the army
of the United States.
The American army,
your army, my army.
You know, it ain't
a bad horse trade at that.
One family of sodbusters,
two stragglers, 25 cow pushers
and 3,000 head of prime cattle
for one broken-down,
overage horse soldier
who should have cashed in
his chips at Chattanooga anyhow.
Major Duclos,
good hunting, huh?
Well, thank you, cowhand.
Mr. Favor, you got a lot
of army in the right places.
Too bad we couldn't have gotten
in a real fight together.
Well, maybe next time around.
Yeah.
Mr. Favor,
if anything happens to me,
you see Corporal Healy get
to Fort Collins, yeah?
I'll do my best.
Now would you be looking
at him.
Making like he's the only
cavalryman in the whole world.
Well, I ain't gonna
let him do it.
(yells)
Leave 'em be.
(hoof beats approaching)
I gave you a direct order,
Kandinsky.
Uh, Corporal Healy--
he have an accident.
They bring him to Fort Collins.
Why you square head, what do you
use for brains, anyhow?
Five years I been in army.
Nobody ever let me ride a horse.
Always, I want to ride horse.
(laughs)
Well, how long you figure
you can stay on?
Long enough this time, no?
And something else, Sergeant.
Always, I want to kill Cossacks.
Now we got plenty Cossacks
to kill, yeah?
Well, I don't see no Cossacks,
unless you mean
that Yankee cavalry up there.
Yankee Cossacks, Sergeant.
You sure you're ready, Soldier?
Ready, Sergeant.
Kind of wish we had a bugle.
At a walk, forward, hold.
At a trot, forward, hold.
♪ At a gallop ♪
♪ Forward ♪
♪ Hold. ♪
(shouting)
(men yelling and shouting)
(gunfire)
(yelling continues)
(gunfire)
(yelling continues)
(hoof beats retreating)
(distant yelling)
Yahoo!
Hyah.
Mr. Beard,
go get your wife and boy.
Head 'em up!
Move 'em out!
♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
♪ Keep movin', movin', movin' ♪
♪ Though they're disapprovin' ♪
♪ Keep them dogies movin' ♪
♪ Rawhide! ♪
♪ Rawhide...! ♪
Hyah!
(whip cracks twice)