The Young Riders (1989–1992): Season 1, Episode 17 - Decoy - full transcript

The Army requests a rider to deliver a special dispatch, and Cody volunteers for the job. Along the way, he encounters brigands, a bear, and a desolate widow, but he remains committed to his task. Meanwhile, the Riders tend to an abandoned baby.

You know what I like
about literature?

The way it makes life
so much richer.

You know what I mean?

Jimmy's right, Cody.

After what happened to him
with that Marcus fella,

you ought to know
that stuff ain't nothin'
but a bunch of lies.

You got to do somethin'
between rides.

Besides, it's fun
and it helps a man
better himself.

Lord knows he could use that.

If it's self-improvement
you're after,

you could try reading the Bible.



I already read it.

Hmm.

Rider comin' in.

There you go, Lou.

Thanks, kid. See ya.

Come on, lightning.

I sure hope
Emma's cookin' supper.

I'm starved.

What's wrong?

Emma ain't cookin'.

Huh?

Now you sure
you're gonna be all right?

Well, I think we can survive
chef hickok's cookin'

I thought Sally hogan's
wedding was next week.



Her father got nervous.

Amazing what a shotgun can do
to a body's social calendar.

Now there's the cut
of a fine figure.

Uh, you, too, Sam.

Now, Sam, remember,

when she catches the bouquet,

don't go shootin' it
out of her hand.

I'm sure going to miss you boys.

Come on.

Bye-bye!

All right, boys, gather round.

There's a special document
at fort laramie

that has to be delivered
to fort miles

to the undersecretary
of war hisself.

Now, which one
of you boys is up?

Well, I think it's my turn...

But I believe a job
as important as this one

should go to the bravest,

best lookin',

best read rider you got.

And I just happen
to be available.

I just wish I knew
what the big deal was.

Well, you and me both, Cody.

But Ben fetterman's a good man.

Got himself
an important job to do.

If he says it's urgent,
I got to believe
he means what he's sayin'.

Anyway,

you got yourself
a good horse, boy.

So, ride safe
and watch your back.

I'll, uh, bring you
a pretty little apron
when I come home.

I'll take care of you
when I get back, hickok!

Hickok,

normally I don't condone
this sort of thing,

but he deserved it.

Rider comin', open the gates!

My scouts tell me
you should make fort miles

in 2 and a half days.

Yes, sir!

It shouldn't take more than 2.

I forgot. You pony riders
have a reputation for speed.

Whatever happens, be damn sure
you make that delivery

to undersecretary Stanfield,
personally.

Is that understood?

Whatever you say, major.

You've got a lot of lives
riding on you, son.

I won't disappoint you, sir.

No, I don't think you will.

Yes, sir!

Somethin' wrong, captain?

So, you're with
the pony express.

Read about your outfit.

Just can't see
what all the fuss is about.

Teaspoon!

"Missy is a good baby.

"Please look after her,

"and when she's old enough
to ask just tell her

"her mama died.

"Thank you and god bless."

And it's signed "desperate."

What kind of mother
would do somethin'
like that?

Well, probably someone
in pretty bad trouble.

What are we going
to do, teaspoon?

Well, we just, uh...

I wish to hell I knew.

Well, we're already doin'
the cookin' and cleanin'.

How much more can motherin' be?

Whoa! Whoa! Hold up there.

Pony express rider
from fort laramie?

Who wants to know?

I'm lieutenant Gibbons.

I've been ordered
to relieve you
of your communique

and deliver it personally
to the undersecretary.

You got these orders
written down somewhere
where I can see 'em?

Of course.

That's far enough.

What the hell
do you think you're doing?

Being careful.
Now let's see those orders.

I suggest you hand over
those documents

before I'm forced
to take harsher action.

Yeah. I appreciate that,
lieutenant.

But I think the only action
you're going to be taking

is gettin' on down
off of that horse of yours.

It goes for you boys, too.
Let's go. Move.

He's just got one shot.

That's right.

You're the closest, lieutenant.

Do what he says.

You're makin' a mistake, boy.

It ain't the first.

Let's get those gun belts off,
boys.

Throw 'em around those rifles.

Now scatter 'em.

If I'm making a mistake,

you boys will have my apology.

With that head she kind of
looks like ike.

Drools like Cody.

Teaspoon!

Shh.

Keep your voice down, Ben.

If you're here about
that special delivery
to fort miles,

you got nothin' to worry about.

My boy got off just fine.

Ought to be at his destination
about this time
day after tomorrow.

Good.

What the hell we carryin',
anyway?

Can't say.

Well, we ain't never
had no secrets
between us before.

I guess it can't hurt
to tell you now.

War's coming, teaspoon.

Don't see like
there's any way around it.

Soon as Lincoln takes office.

But what's that
got to do with us?

Your boy is carrying
a list of officers

the army thinks
might have divided loyalties.

Stanfield's got to know
who they are,

so he can weed them out
before the shootin' starts.

How many people
know about this message?

Just Stanfield
and a couple of his aides,

none of whom are aware
of the assigned route.

Relax, teaspoon.

I can't tell you this isn't
a dangerous mission,

but I don't think you got
anything to worry about.

You don't, huh?

Whoa, whoa.

You all right, mister?

You've got to help Bart.

Butchers are trying to kill him.

We got to get him

out of there

before they get back.

Ok.

Now you're in no condition.
I'll handle it.

Now, where is he?

He's, he's

ok, ok, ok.

All right. You stay put.
I'll be back.

Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup.

She's a happy little critter,
isn't she?

Giddyup, giddyup, giddyup,

giddyup, giddyup, giddyup...

How about these?

Well, they're shiny,
and they make noises.

Well, so's your gun.
But you wouldn't
give her that. Would you?

Never mind.

What do I know anyway?

More about cooking, I hope.

Yeah, Jimmy. What on earth
are we gonna have
for dinner anyway?

I'm working on it.

I better go check
on this menu,
don't you think?

Somebody want to hold her?

Buck, now relax, son.

She ain't going to explode.

You put one hand
under the bottom

and the other one
right around the back.

There you go.

I just can't understand
how a mother could
leave her baby like that.

I sure wish Lou
would hurry up
and get back.

Teaspoon, I think
she just sprung a leak!

Bart's big.

The only family I got.

Raised him from a c-cub

when his mother
was killed by trappers.

I can't just leave him there.

Look, I'm going to get him out.

I swear.

When's the last time he ate?

Just take my neckerchief.

As long as you have that,

he'll treat you like family.

Anything else I should know?

Don't tell him I'm hurt.

He don't take

bad news too well.

What's he going to do
when he finds out?

Just wear that neckerchief,

you'll be all right.

I'll throw him
some logs down there,

but you're going to have
to tell me what to do
when Bart gets out.

Oh, he's out. Now what?

Hey, mister, your bear's out.

Thanks, son.

Take care of him for me,

would you?

He's persnickety,

but his heart's
in the right place.

Oh, I got some bad news
for you, Bart.

Oh, my god!

Now hold on there.
Now... now... now i... i...

I know what you're thinkin'
and I didn't have nothin'
to do with it.

I was trying to help him.
I swear.

Oh. Oh, that's a good boy.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, I know how it feels
losing a friend, Bart.

Let's hope it's a better life
your friend's going to, Bart.

Bart!

Bart, go on, get out of there!

Yeah. I know.
I know. Ba... ba... ba... ba.
Go on. Get out.

Well, git!

Uh, mister,

there's something
you should know.

Ashes to ashes,

dust to dust.

May this man's spirit, uh,

Never rust.

Well, I guess that's it.

I mean, I guess
you're on your own now, Bart.

Oh, no.

You bleeding, too?

You going to be all right?

I guess there's only
one way to find out.

Easy boy.
Take it easy.

It's just a graze.

You're going to be ok.

Well, you can go now, Bart.

Suit yourself.

Now hold on just
one minute there, Bart.

Don't go following me.

I can't be
lookin' after no bear.

Now go on, get.

Don't you understand English?

Didn't you hear
what I just said?

I said you can't come.

Oh, for Pete's sake,
am I gonna have to
put you back in that hole?

Hold on there, Bart.
Now hold on.

Take it easy.

I was just kiddin'.

You don't really think
I'd do something like that,
do you?

It ain't that I wouldn't
like the company, Bart.

It's just where I'm goin',
you'd only end up
as bear stew.

Probably a couple
of year's supply
from the looks of you.

So long, Bart.

Ha!

Um, uh, buck, you, uh,
you take her shoulders

and I can take her legs
and kid, uh,

get underneath, just in case.

In case of what?

There we go.

There we go.

Put her down.

I thought you've been
through this before,
teaspoon.

Making 'em
and taking care of 'em
ain't quite the same thing.

Well, look at that.

You been holding out on us, ike?

Uh, kid,

would you mind, uh,
tossin' this in
the, uh, washtub?

Oh, yes, sir.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

How are you holdin' up?

When we get back,
I'm going to personally
see to it

you get a stall of honor

and a lifetime supply
of fresh oats.

There he is!

Damn it! The entire army's
looking for me, solar.
Come on.

I hope you're up for this,
big fella.

Get up there. Yah! Yah!

Yah! Yah!

I'm sorry, big fella,
but we got to get back up
in them hills.

Take cover!

Come on. Now.

If you've got any ideas,
I'd appreciate
hearing 'em now.

Yah! Yah! Yah! Yah!

Whoa.

Come on, come on, boy.

Cross your hooves,
these folks are friendly.

I could sure use
a meal right now.

Anybody home?

Now, ma'am,

I know how this looks, but...

Don't come any closer!

Ma'am.

I'm going to kill

all of you.

Hold on a damn minute!

I'm a pony express rider.

I don't mean you any harm.

All right?

I think you ought to tell me
what happened here, ma'am.

I'd like to help you.

Where's your husband?

My husband?

Oh. He'll be...

He'll be back soon.

You...

You're welcome to stay.

Jason would love the company.

If you go to the window there,
you'll be able to see him.

He'll be coming
down from the mine.

Just like always
he going to be bellowing
for his supper.

Go on.

Let him see ya.

Let him see ya.

Else he's going
to be wondering why

there's another horse
in the corral.

You see him?

No, ma'am.

Well, you just must not
be looking in
the right direction!

You...

You got to look west.

West.

It might be...

It might be hard

with the sun setting.

Might... might...

He's already home, ain't he?

Who said you could
leave your post?

I smelled the meat.

Anyway, the only thing
coming through
that canyon is wind.

We should have shot him
when we had the chance.

He had a gun pointed
at the lieutenant's heart.

Yeah? Well,
if he gets through,

we're all going to be facin'
a firing squad.

Curb your tongue, foley,

before you lose it.

Funny how an election
can change a man's life.

It's not the election,
Lincoln or Douglas.

The south's going to pull out.

Lieutenant, if he gets through,

what chance have we got?

Synder's patrol is on him.

He'll have to come through us
before he can get to the fort.

He won't get through.

Told us to leave.

Jason said,
"this here is our land,

"we worked hard for it.

"No one's going
to make us go."

They left.

But they come back.

Jason thought that
he could reason with them.

He was wrong.

After they, uh,

told me I had one day
to pack up,

I told them to go to hell.

They keep coming back,

they ain't going to run me off.

I'm not going to let
Jason down that way.

You might need something
to wash that down.

That sure is pretty.

Jason gave it to me
last year for our wedding.

The only thing
I have left from our

trip west.

You all right, ma'am?

You're leavin' in the morning?

Have to.

Would you do me a favor?

Will you lie with me tonight?

Take mine.

You said yours was ailin'.
He ain't fast
but he's strong

and healthy.

Thank you.

You've done
yourself proud, big fella.

I ain't going to forget
what you did for me.

You going to be all right?

I've been doing
some thinking, uh.

Oh, it's time for me to move on.

I done what I had to do.

I got relatives back in Ohio.

I'll be better off
raising my baby back there.

Jason was so proud.

I take comfort in that.

I'm going to come back
and help you.

You don't have to.

I don't even know your name.

Mary Lou.

William.

Be careful, William.

I will.

Take care now.

Well, you're in for
an interestin' afternoon.

Get up there, big boy.

It's been too long.

They should've been back by now.

Lieutenant knows
what he's doin'.

Come here, boys.
I want to show you somethin'.

Wright, you stay on watch.

We'll be back soon.

Don't worry, you'll get a turn.

Come on, boy.

See you back at camp.

I know I don't deserve
another chance.

But when my husband died,
i... i just got so scared.

Your husband?

He had the pox.

I know what I did was wrong.

Leavin' her with you like that,

but my folks put me out
when they heard about missy.

And, well, miss Shannon
was the only other person
that understood.

I don't mean to pry, ma'am,

but how are you going to
look after her now?

Well, I was packed
and ready to leave when,

when my mama came,

and she heard about my husband
and she said
she wanted to help.

She said she was sorry.

Was she a good girl?

She was an angel.

Rider coming!
Open the gate!

Mr. Undersecretary,
William f. Cody, sir.

Pony express.

I, uh,

have specific orders
to deliver this
directly to you, sir.

Oh, thank you, uh, Mr...

Cody, sir.

Cody, yes.
Thank you.

Excuse me, sir.

Just what the hell
do you think you're doing?

Don't worry, son.
There was nothing
on that paper.

You were the decoy.

The real message was
delivered yesterday
by captain merrick.

You did a good job, son.

And the government
of the United States
appreciates your efforts.

Captain merrick to see you, sir.

Well, well, the pony express.

What happened, boy?
The horse throw you?

Whoa, whoa.

Come and get it!

Emma?

Listen, promise me
you won't marry Sam.

Uh, I don't know
how my heart would take it,

but my stomach would just die.

Have a sandwich.

What in god's name?

This is Mary Lou.

She'll be staying
until the next stage comes.

Emma, could you show her
where she could
wash up, please?

Absolutely, be glad to.

She had some trouble
with claim jumpers

up in the mountains,
so I decided
to give her a hand.

Come on, sweetheart.

You look bone tired.

Well, son,

guess I owe you an apology.

I heard about you bein' a decoy.

No, you don't, teaspoon.

I had a job to do and I did it.

Well, you sure
missed some excitement
when you were gone, Cody.

Well, then I guess
I'll have to stick to books.