07x32 - The Last Mission

[bunniefuu]

(fanfare plays)

♪♪

♪♪

Are you the Cartwrights?

Yes. I'm Ben Cartwright.
These are my boys.

Sergeant Devlin.

Would you be good enough
to accompany me, sir?

(sighs): Yes.

Reckon what they're
planning on doing, drafting us?

Well, you don't have
to worry about that...

The object is to win
wars, not lose them.

(Little Joe chuckles)

Hello, Ben.

Keith!

Keith Jarrell!

Colonel Keith Jarrell.

My goodness gracious.

17 years, Ben. Remember?

The Southwestern territory?
The Apaches? Comanches?

Remember? How
could I ever forget?

My goodness, you're
a sight for sore eyes.

You haven't met my
sons... This is Little Joe.

Colonel Jarrell.

- How are you?
- My son Hoss.

My pleasure, young gentlemen.

Well... sit down, sit
down, come on, sit down.

Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Cartwright,
I sure glad you're home.

(speaking Chinese)

Hop Sing... Hop-Hop Sing,

he's an old friend of
mine, Colonel Jarrell.

- Oh. Old friend?
- Oh, of course, of course.

Listen, uh, he's got a
whole bunch of men outside.

Will you, uh, get some coffee

and make up a mess
of sandwiches, will you?

- For whole army?!
- For whole army, yes. (chuckles)

(Hop Sing speaking
angrily in Chinese)

Keith... what brings
you to the Ponderosa?

To what do we owe this honor?

Ben, I've come
because I need your help.

My help?

Major Cartwright
was a fine soldier,

a man to be counted
on for any mission,

however difficult or dangerous.

Now, wait a minute.

(chuckles): Now,
that was 17 years ago.

Ben, I need that
dependability again.

You know the
Indians and this land

better than any
man in this territory.

I need you to guide me
to the Jarbidge Mountains.

I must find Elkoro, w*r
Chief of the Paiutes.

HOSS: Elkoro.

That the young fanatic
that led that attack

at Pyramid Lake a
couple of years ago?

Yeah. He wiped out almost
a whole battalion of militia.

He's the one.

After that battle, the tribes
broke up and scattered.

He's up there in that
mountain with a band

of warriors, women
and their children.

Some 80 heavily armed
men who refuse to recognize

the authority of
the United States.

Ben, I want to talk peace,

to convince Elkoro that we're
willing to extend our friendship

to him and his people
at almost any price.

Colonel, that little band
of men you got out there

wouldn't stand a chance if the
Indians decided to attack you.

Precisely why I've brought
only a small detachment.

Two troops of cavalry
were sent out last year.

They were repulsed
with heavy casualties.

This time, the army feels
that we must find Elkoro

and convince him that
ours is a peace mission.

Don't you think that a
permanent treaty with Elkoro

is worth the trouble?

Yes, of course I do.

Then join us, Ben.

Yes, of course I will.

(theme song playing)

All right, get
ready to move out!

Can't hang around here all day.

Horses all watered?

Canteens all filled?

All right, let's move;
we got a long way to go.

All right, tie off
these Irish pennants.

Where you think
you are, the Navy?

What do you think you're doing?

Going with Pa,
that's what I'm doing.

(Hoss sighs)

No, you ain't. I'm
going with him.

I already got my horse
saddled and everything.

I know you got
your horse saddled.

I got my horse saddled,
too, and I'm going with him.

No, you ain't. Let me
tell you something...

No, all right, all right,
now, we'll make it

a sporting
proposition, all right?

Sporting proposition... High
card goes, low card stays.

Wait a minute. Them
cards the same ones

we played poker with
the other night, ain't they?

- Yeah, they're the same cards.
- Yeah. Well, them pasteboards

is educated, and you
ain't no gentlemen.

Yeah, well, just exactly
what's that supposed to mean?

What, that I cheat? Is
that what you're saying?

That's right.

Yeah, well, I don't
think that's very fair.

If you just... just
look at the cards,

there's nothing
phony about it all.

Just look right at them, take
any card you want to take.

Okay?

Hmm.

Ace of diamonds.

That looks to me like a three
of spades underneath there.

Nice try.

Why don't we just
stop playing the games,

and we'll both go.

Look, Joe, somebody's
got to stay here

and look after the
ranch, and you know that.

I know, doggone it.

Quit worrying about it.

I'll take care of Pa.

Yeah? Who's gonna
take care of you?

BEN: What's all this about?

Little Joe and me
was just cutting cards

to see who's gonna go
with you and I won; I'm going.

Oh, I see.

I have nothing
to say about that?

(sighs) Well, Pa,
there ain't no use

in both of us staying here
just to take care of the ranch.

- I mean, one can stay here, and...
- Oh, I see.

One of you can stay here
and take care of the ranch,

and the other can come along

and take care of the poor,
weak, old man, is that it?

Aw, come on, Pa, now that's
not what Hoss meant at all.

- What we meant...
- The answer's no.

What do you mean, no?

N-O. No.

All right, look, Pa.

You can tell me
to go jump in a well

and I'll do it without
thinking twice.

But I won that... that
card cutting and...

and I'm going, even if I have
to go out there and volunteer

and go as a bluecoat
with the colonel.

Now you make up your
mind which way it's gonna be.

You know, Hoss, you
talk that way to Elkoro,

and, well, he'll have his
whole tribe surrendering.

Then I'm going, right?

Well, I always said

two Cartwrights are
tougher than one.

Come on.

(door opens)

Morning, Ben. Ready to march?

Yeah, all ready.

Except, uh, one little problem:

we have a little
mutiny on our hands.

We have an extra volunteer.

Hoss.

It's your decision, son.

I hope you realize
the risk involved.

Yes, sir.

Good-bye, young man.

Good luck, Colonel.

You take care of yourself, now.

Yeah. You, too.

Little brother, don't give away
the ranch while we're gone.

Yeah, you watch yourself, too.

Forget you're the
biggest target on the field,

- aside from that wagon.
- (laughs)

Prepare to mount!

Mount!

Follow by twos!

Forward... ho!

♪♪

♪♪

BEN: Colonel.

What is it, Ben?

We got company.

Where?

Over your left shoulder.

From now on, we're
in their territory.

Sergeant Devlin.

Yes, sir.

I want a man on point.

Also establish flank security

about 300 yards out
along those foothills.

Remember, this
is a peace mission.

If the men are fired on, they'll
fall back on the main body

without returning
fire. Is that clear?

Clear, sir!

Wiggins, you take the point.

Shaw, left flank.

Huntley, right flank.

And keep your eyes peeled
if you want to save your scalp.

Keith...

might be a good idea
to substitute a white cloth

for that guidon.

They're gonna have us
under surveillance from now on.

We might as well let
them know why we're here.

Private Lowell...

convey that to Sergeant Devlin.

I want the man on
point to carry a white flag

as a sign of truce.

Yes, sir.

I thought it'd been too
quiet the last couple of days.

If Elkoro decides to attack,

we're just gonna
be sitting ducks.

Well, let's just
hope he doesn't.

He can see what a small,
peaceful party we are.

Keith, you've been
fighting Indians long enough

to know how
unpredictable they are.

Look up ahead now.

There's no turning back now.

(rattling)

(horse neighing)

(rattling)

(neighing)

All right! Lend a hand here!

(neighing continues)

- I'll teach you to control your mount...
- Sergeant.

JARRELL: Mr. Cartwright!

This is a military matter,
and you'll stay out of it.

Keith, that sergeant
was brutalizing the boy.

I know enough
about the military...

I know something of
the military, too, Ben,

and I give orders here.

Sergeant, one more
infraction of the rules,

you'll account to a
general court-martial.

You all right, boy?

Keep out of it, Cartwright.

I'm all right.

Thank you, mister.

I'd best stay out of that
sergeant's way, if I were you.

He's poison.

JARRELL: Ho!

Ho!

More coffee, Colonel?

No, thank you,
Poker. That'll be all.

Mr. Cartwright?

No, I'm fine, Poker. Thank you.

You can join the others, Poker.

I'm sorry about today, Ben.

Devlin's a good
soldier. I need him.

Well, Keith, a good soldier
doesn't abuse the men under him.

Ben, that boy's carelessness
almost cost us the wagon.

There are enough foodstuff,
blankets and medicines in it

to keep Elkoro's people
alive for the winter.

Devlin knows that.

I guess he just lost his head.

It's been a hard ride.

Guess we're all a bit edgy.

Let's see now.

Barring any hostile action,

we should reach the foot
of the Jarbidge Mountains

in about two days.

Yeah, that's the
way I figure it.

This spot might
make a good camp.

As a matter fact, it
would. Uh, I know it.

Splendid.

We'll plant our white
flag and find some way

to bring Elkoro to negotiate.

Well, that's my job.

I'll go on ahead
and seek him out.

Ben, you know how
dangerous that can be.

(chuckles softly)

I would like to
leave Hoss behind.

If Elkoro's in any mood
to talk, one man's enough.

And if he isn't...

well, Hoss would just
make an extra scalp for him.

I don't have to tell you
what this means to me, Ben.

To the mission.

I couldn't ask, yet
I knew you'd offer.

Look at this, Ben.

(laughs)

Mexican brandy.

And look at the year! (chuckles)

The same year you and I crossed
into Mexico after Comanches.

Our baptism of fire, remember?

You know, Keith, I've
always been suspicious of you.

I always figure that
underneath that regulation tunic,

there beat the heart of an
unabashed sentimentalist.

(chuckles)

Duty is a hard mistress, Ben.

One day, you wake up
wondering where it all went.

Wondering what you got
to show for all the years...

All the scars.

But you, Ben, you've
got something to point to.

You've got three fine sons,

the Ponderosa,
wealth and respect.

And I've got...

one final mission.

And this bottle of brandy.

Well... to the last mission.

To the last mission.

(howling in distance)

Just a coyote probably.

Yeah, them coyotes
may have feathers.

Better have a look around.

Be careful, Ben. I
can't afford to lose you.

Keith, I can't afford
to lose me either.

(both laugh)

(harmonica playing)

Yeah, you sure enjoy your chow.

Yeah, that's mighty
good grub, Corporal.

(hooting in distance)

(hooting continues)

You hear something,
Mr. Cartwright?

Don't you?

Sergeant, I suggest that you
get your men away from the fire.

They're sitting ducks there.

All right, you men, take cover!

It's kind of spooky
out here, ain't it?

Yeah, sort of.

Hoss, you and your pa

known Colonel Jarrell
a long time, ain't you?

Yeah, well, Pa has. I ain't.

How long you been with
him anyhow, Corporal?

Going on ten years.

Ride through Texas,
Kansas, Montana...

All them blazing spots.

Wherever there
was Injuns to fight.

He was sure some
fine officer in them days.

Earned every bar
on his shoulders.

Till the Creek Summit
m*ssacre, that is.

That was where that whole
column of soldiers got wiped out,

ain't it?

Yes, sir.

The colonel's braves
cut them to pieces.

Nary a soul nor
beast walked away.

Colonel Jarrell
was never the same.

His wife and daughter
was in that m*ssacre.

His wife and daughter?

Yes, sir.

They joined up with the column

on their way to
be with the colonel.

We rode out there
the next afternoon

and found what was left of them.

Thought we'd have
to tie the colonel down.

Never saw a man
act like that in your life.

Kept screaming
for us to k*ll, k*ll!

There was nothing to sh**t at.

Not an Injun in sight.

Just some wagons...

and poor soldier boys...

the colonel's dead kinfolk.

DEVLIN: You telling
those stupid yarns again,

Poker?

I wasn't doing
nothing, Sergeant.

We just having a... a little
jawing session, that's all.

Right, Mr. Cartwright?

Yeah.

Crazy old barracks rat.

He's gets to lying
worst every year.

He was just telling me
about the colonel's wife and...

Wife and daughter,

and how they got
k*lled in the m*ssacre?

Yeah.

No wife, no daughter.

Colonel Jarrell's
never been married.

You mean that all that was...

In Poker's head.

Now, let me give you
some free advice, Cartwright.

You stay away from my men.

Sergeant, what makes you
such a pleasant one anyhow?

Now, get this through
your head, Cartwright.

Maybe to you and your meddling
father, I'm some kind of a dog.

Well, if that's so, I
only serve one master:

Colonel Keith Jarrell.

I do my job and I don't
ask any stupid questions.

In other words, I'm a soldier.

You get in my way again,

and you'll find
out, the hard way.

Don't you thr*aten me.

I'm not threatening
you, Mr. Cartwright.

I'm just telling you,
for your own good.

Ben, why is it always
so cold in the morning

just before the light?

Didn't seem that bad
in the old days, did it?

Well, we don't have
the hot blood of youth

to help us out today.

Don't seem to be helping
me much, I'll tell you.

How about you, Poker?

Cold don't bother me much, sir.

I just follow orders.

Well, we better
finish packing up.

Pa?

Hmm?

How long did you say it'd been
since you seen Colonel Jarrell?

Oh, about 17 years I'd say.

Why?

Talking to old Poker last night,

and he told me the colonel
lost his wife and daughter

in that Creek Summit m*ssacre.

Did he ever mention that to you?

Never did.

Just wondering.

JARRELL: Prepare to mount.

DEVLIN: Prepare to mount!

- Mount!
- Mount!

Colonel, who's
riding point today?

Poker?

Sir?

You ride point.

Forward, ho!

Get moving, Poker.

♪♪

Come on, soldier! Make 'em pull!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

- Let's go.
- Get over there. -Let's do it.

Move 'em!

(men chattering)

Hyah! Hyah!

- Hyah! Hyah!
- (men shouting)

(shouting continues)

Make 'em pull! Ha!

Whoa!

Sir, that's... that's
Poker's horse.

♪♪

(sniffling)

He was a good man.

(sobbing quietly)

Stop sniveling!

He died like a soldier.

Sergeant.

Form a burial detail.

Yes, sir.

(sniffling)

JARRELL: Mount!

Colonel, you're gonna
need a new point man.

I'm volunteering.

You're a civilian;
you're not obligated.

Nevertheless, you're
gonna need a new man.

It's up to you, son.

So long, Pa.

Giddyup.

Forward... ho!

(clicks tongue)

Ben?

No, thank you.

Son?

No, thank you, Colonel.

To a task well done,
young Cartwright.

It took courage and fortitude
to volunteer to ride point.

Ah, wasn't much to it, Colonel.

Those Indians tired pretty fast,

and I don't reckon they
was bent on k*lling, anyhow.

Ah, those red devils are
always in a k*lling mood.

Keith?

How come you
didn't tell me about...

your wife and daughter
being k*lled by Indians?

I must get some sleep.

Keith, I... I asked
you a question.

Tomorrow's another day, Ben.

We'll talk then.

Good night.

Night, Keith.

Wiggins, how's it going?

What's the matter?

Cartwright, you
and your old man...

well, most of this outfit,
we... we think you're all right.

You... you trying to tell
me something, Wiggins?

Did Lowell talk to you?

No. Why?

Poker was a friend
of mine and Lowell's.

The night before he got it,

he told us about
the colonel's plans.

He said he weren't
gonna go through with it.

Said he was gonna
tell you or your pa.

Devlin heard him.

That's why he put him
out on the point to die.

Look, buddy, you ain't...

you ain't making a
whole lot of sense to me.

You got to help us.

You and your pa, Hoss.

What are you talking about?

Jarrell didn't come
here to make no peace.

Oh, he talked headquarters
into thinking so.

But that ain't what
he's got on his mind.

He come here to wipe out
Elkoro and all those Indians.

All of them.

With ten men?

I'm gonna show you
something that'll convince you.

- I'm gonna...
- (quiet whistle)

(quiet whistle)

(whispering): Do you hear it?

(quiet whistle)

(grunts)

Keith! Keith!

Wiggins.

Cart... wright...
Tell... tell your pa.

T... Tell...

Well, Ben, it's time.

It'll soon be sunup.

Yeah.

- Good luck.
- (Hoss sighs)

What's your horse doing here?

I made up my mind,
Pa. I'm going with you.

We had this out last night.

- You're staying here.
- (quietly): Pa,

there's something
going on around here,

this whole setup...

If there's something wrong
with this whole setup...

"If"?

Pa, you know it is.

First it was Poker,
then Wiggins.

They both tried to
tell me something.

I'm trying to say something
to you, if you'll listen.

If there's something wrong,

it's better for you to stay here

and keep an eye
out, for both our sakes.

I've got to go see Elkoro.

You're right.

Now you take care of yourself.

You take care of yourself.

Be careful.

Something troubling
you, young man?

Well, Colonel, now
that you mention it, yeah.

Couple of things.

First is Elkoro, and then you.

There's some questions I'd
like to get some answers to.

Answers?

That's right.

(chuckles)

The answer, young
Mr. Cartwright,

can be found in that wagon.

You have my permission
to enter it and look.

- Colonel, you can't...
- Relax, Sergeant.

We'd have uncovered our
little secret presently, anyhow.

A few hours more or
less scarcely matters.

Go ahead, have a look.

An interesting w*apon,
don't you agree,

Mr. Cartwright?

Never saw anything like it.

What is it, anyhow?

It's newly invented by a
man named Richard Gatling.

It'll give this small unit
the firepower of 100 men.

You plan on using this?

Precisely.

With that g*n and the
element of surprise,

peace should come
rather quickly, I should say.

It's the only way
peace can be achieved.

You're out of your mind.

On the contrary, I'm a realist.

These inferior savages
who stand in the way

of our civilization
must be annihilated.

It's the only way.

Sergeant Devlin,

place Mr. Cartwright
under guard.

If he tries to
escape, sh**t him.

What about my pa?

Your father will be

a regrettable sacrifice
for the cause of peace.

For that, I'm truly sorry.

Yeah.

Not half as sorry
as you're gonna be!

Run, Hoss, run for it!

I think I got him, sir.

He won't go far.

- But what if he does?
- Well, we can't go after him.

- We can't leave the Gatling g*n.
- I don't like it!

Well, neither do I,

but we don't have
much choice, do we?

♪♪

♪♪

I came to see you, Elkoro.

You have found
me, Ben Cartwright.

I wish to speak of
peace with honor.

Then you are a
welcome sight to my eyes.

Come with me.

(clicks tongue)

♪♪

Tobacco good.

Thank you.

I must tell you,
Ben Cartwright...

that in these mountains,
our people are starving,

our horses are dying.

We have no food, no amm*nit*on.

And each day, I bury men
who are like my right arm.

Good fighting men who
die of the lung sickness.

In the beginning,
I had 50 warriors.

Now I have 15.

Even the will to fight
is dying within us.

Then make peace.

The white man's peace.

My warriors have fought
well, Ben Cartwright.

They are men, not animals.

They could not endure
prison or sl*very.

Oh, Elkoro, they...
they won't be slaves.

I give you my word.

Colonel Jarrell, the
soldier who's with me,

he's empowered to make
a peace treaty with you.

And that treaty will be honored.

You have my word on that.

What will happen to my people?

Nothing will happen to them.

They'll go to the
reservation at Pyramid Lake.

But they'll be free
to hunt, to farm,

to live.

This was once all our land.

We were free to hunt everywhere.

As far as we could ride.

Now that time is gone.

'Tis gone. I cannot
bring it back.

All right.

I will meet with the soldier.

We will make a treaty.

Good.

You're a true chief
to your people.

(footsteps approaching)

What is it?

A white man.

My warriors found him in
a desert not far from here.

He's been shot by your soldiers.

It's my son.

Pa...

Jarrell... It's a trap.

He's fainted.

We have both been betrayed.

- (yells in Paiute)
- Wait a minute.

I will deal with the soldiers.

Hold on, hold on, wait, Elkoro.

You-you can't face
those soldiers alone.

Stay here with your son.

When I return, we will talk.

Elkoro! Let me deal with him!

I will let you bury him.

♪♪

They're out there.

I can feel them.

We won't see them till
they're right on top of us.

All the better.

(Paiutes screaming, whooping)

Fire!

Cease firing.

Pretty sight, huh, Colonel?

It's only the
beginning, Sergeant.

They'll be back.

See to the men, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Only one survivor, sir.

Lowell.

He'll live to hang.

- (arrow whooshes)
- (grunts)

Sergeant?

Sergeant Devlin!

Many of my men were k*lled.

I better go back with you.

Thirsty work for you, huh, boy?

Well, don't worry,
it'll soon be over.

When I get through, there
won't be a single Indian left.

Nothing can stand against me.

I'll destroy
everything that does.

It's Mr. Cartwright, sir.

I've got eyes.

Jarrell!

I'm coming in.

Don't do it, Ben.

Don't try it.

Drop to the ground, Cartwright!

There's been enough
k*lling here today.

I gave you an order, Ben.

Do I have to k*ll you?!

We came here to make peace.

There'll be no peace
till they're all dead!

You don't know what
you're saying, Jarrell.

They've got to die!
Every one of them!

You're gonna
have to k*ll me, too.

I'm going to fire, Ben.

This is an a*t*matic w*apon!

It'll k*ll every one of you!

Nothing can stand against it!

LOWELL: No!

No, Colonel!

- I've got to k*ll them!
- Keith!

- k*ll them! k*ll them! k*ll them!
- Keith!

You don't understand, Ben.

I've got to k*ll them.

They massacred my
wife and my daughter.

I've got to k*ll them!

k*ll them! k*ll them! k*ll them!

(crying)

We will have peace,
Ben Cartwright.

Yes.

Yes, we want peace.