03x03 - The Enemy

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

Still followin' us?

Yup.

- Crow? - Yup.

How many?

Four.

How much longer you think they'll hold out?

- About thirty seconds. - Yeah?

Then I guess it's about time I make me a snort.

Make them blackbirds that much more thirstier.

[male #1] 'Here they come.'

Whoa!

Here, you squint-eyed, greasy skin, murderin' red devil.

Come and pull the trigger on some of this.

[sighs]

[chuckles]

Here you are, chief. Got one for you, too.

[male narrator] From the early '50s onward it was only possible

to reach many Western settlements

by crossing land owned by the Indian.

And the United States government made treaties

with various tribes to ensure safe passage.

Here.

Sadly, there were always

unscrupulous men who abused

these treaties, which often led

to armed conflict between Indian and white.

Some of these conflicts, such as the army's pursuit

of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce have been recorded.

But there were dozens of other struggles

whose records have been lost in the passage of years

but which were no less frightening and deadly

to those involved.

How much you think them horses will bring?

I'd say, near a 100.

[speaking in foreign language]

[laughing]

[speaking in foreign language]

[laughs]

[speaking in foreign language]

It's time.

[speaking in foreign language]

[speaking in foreign language]

[speaking in foreign language]

There's one in every crowd.

[groans]

[shrieks]

[intense music]

Let's get outta here.

Yah! Yah! Yah!

[indistinct yelling]

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t]

[yelling]

[g*nsh*t]

[music continues]

[indistinct yelling]

[g*nshots]

[g*nshots]

[whistling]

[clamoring]

Are you crazy?

You sh**t one of them,

they'll lift our hair sure.

'All they want is the wagon and the horses.'

[speaking in foreign language]

[music continues]

[indistinct yelling]

[Tripp] 'Now, you boys is all new to this here Indian fighting'

'so I want you to remember what I told you.'

'And one more thing.'

When it comes to fighting Indians, a feller's gotta

keep his ears to the ground 'cause they is tricky.

Now, there you got your Grey Hawks and your Blue Hawks.

Now, your Blue Hawks is just your kinda common

every day, ordinary tornado-type Indian.

But them Grey Hawks

they got a special knack for slipping in on a man.

'Yes, sir, you'll be out there on the perimeter'

watchin' and waitin', and you know they're out there

'cause the hair's standing up on the back of your neck.

And you're waitin' there and then pretty soon

there's a closeness of breath.

They is on ya and got a knife between your ribs

and they're walkin' away with your gizzard. Yup.

'And what's more, they'll walk away..'

[stomping]

Ah. Tell him I'll be right there.

[male #2] 'All clear! h*!'

[Tripp] All that salutin'.

You know it wouldn't surprise me one bit

if that wasn't invented by a sailor?

[all laughing]

Ha-ha.

Say, boys, you know, all them Hawks he's talking about

Grey Hawks, Blue Hawks, etcetera

there ain't no such thing.

Uh, Sergeant Tripp here

he's the only Hawk I know of.

He's part. The other part, I ain't figured out yet.

[all laughing]

- Colonel. - Got a job for you, Zeb.

Uh, this is Lieutenant Ayeless.

Yes, sir, we've done met.

Oh, good.

At ease, lieutenant. It's Two Bears again.

He's been raiding freight wagons into Coalburn.

I want him brought into this fort

so that I can tell him personally

that he's gonna be nailed tight

as a coffin if he doesn't stop.

Now, Two Bears, he's smart enough to know

that if he goes on raidin' them freight wagons

'it just gonna bring grief to his own people.'

Well, smart or not, he's doing it.

Half a dozen freighters set on in the past few weeks.

Ah, you know, back in '55, we made a treaty with the Injuns

for letting us pass through to Coalburn and back.

But them freighters, they're abusing that treaty plenty.

'I know, I know. We've been through all this before.'

We're in the wrong as usual.

But I, I've got my orders.

You know, colonel, to get down to Coalburn

we're gonna have to pass through Blackfoot Country.

Well, Blackfeet haven't given us any trouble up to now.

Well, that's 'cause they've been staying off

to themselves pretty much.

'But believe me, their teeth are sharper than most.'

'Colonel, who have you got in mind to, uh..'

[clearing throat] ...to command this expedition?

Lieutenant Ayeless.

Well, he's, uh, relatively new to the territory

but he has notable credits.

Um, first in his class at West Point.

Uh, colonel, how far west is West Point?

Mr. Macahan, West Point graduates

like Lieutenant Ayeless here may not know everything

there is to know about fighting Indians.

'But I don't have to tell you that the academy'

'is the finest military institution'

'that ever turned out an officer.'

Yes, sir.

And in recent years

men at the academy have, uh..

[inhales] ...undergone specialized training

in, uh, Indian warfare.

Oh, 'cause they got a lot of Injuns back there, do they?

Macahan, I expect this job to be done.

And like I said, Lieutenant Ayeless was, uh..

...head of his class.

Yes, sir.

First light, lieutenant, take five men.

- Yes, sir. - Now, hold on a second here.

Five men and Sam Tripp.

Tripp?

- Tripp. - Oh.

Yeah, you're right. Sam Tripp.

Good luck, Ayeless.

- First light. - Yes, sir.

Permission to question the colonel, sir.

Permission granted.

Is it essential that Mr. Macahan

be associated with this mission, sir?

According to your dossier, lieutenant

you were transferred out here from general staff

because you've been voicing a ferocious desire

to fight Indians wherever they can be found.

- Is that true? - Yes, sir.

'Well, let me put it to you this way, lieutenant.'

In our early days out here

before we began hiring men like Macahan

we discovered that some of our officers

couldn't find their way back to the fort

let alone find Indians.

[chuckles] That answer your question?

Yes, sir.

Something else, lieutenant?

Well, just one thing, sir.

Mr. Macahan is a civilian.

Is he still under my command, sir?

Well, now that's a little tougher, lieutenant.

Technically, since Macahan is paid by the army

he is, by regulations, under your command.

However..

...you may find that his interpretation

of that technicality will vary a trifle from your own.

Yes, sir.

- And, uh, Ayeless. - Yes, sir?

This is your first patrol out here.

I expect you to bring this mission

to a successful conclusion.

Yes, sir.

Of course, now I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it.

Being scalped ain't the worst thing

in the world that can happen to you.

They only take a little piece right from here

clear on into the back there.

I knowed a lot of people that lived through it.

Of course, it doesn't improve your looks much.

There's only one fellow. That was up on the Wind River.

Jack was his name. That improved his looks.

He was the..

...ugliest-looking man you ever saw in your life!

Hey, uh, Zeb.

- Where are we headin'? - We?

Well, sure. You can't do nothing right without me.

Well, I don't know, Sam.

I don't think I can take you on this one.

Why not?

Well, 'cause you

you're making yourself too big a target there.

Well, that's the trouble. I gotta see some action.

Sitting around here jawing, tellin' stories

ain't good for me.

- Now, where are we heading? - Well, it's nothing big.

Just turn over, take a little ride to Coalburn.

Coalburn? Through Blackfoot Country?

Who's in command?

Uh, Lieutenant Ayeless.

Ayeless?

Sure hope you know how to pray.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[female #1] Whoa!

Mama, are we still lost?

Oh.

Well, I'm sure we'll find somebody

along one of these roads to tell us where the fort is.

It's just, uh..

[panting] Well, the horses are very tired.

We'll have to lighten the wagon some more.

Susan, Jeff, climb back there and hand down the chairs.

Mama, if we stay lost, what will happen to us?

Nothing is going to happen to us

because we are not going to stay lost, as you put it.

Now, you and your brother just hand down the chairs.

- The harp weighs more, mama. - The harp stays.

I told you that before. Now just hand down the chairs.

[horses trotting]

[intense music]

Mama, mama, Indians!

My God! The g*n!

Get your father's g*n!

[screaming]

[breathing heavily]

Oh..

[breathing heavily]

[intense music]

[breathing heavily]

[breathing heavily]

[breathing heavily]

[breathing heavily]

[speaking in foreign language]

[speaking in foreign language]

[speaking in foreign language]

[instrumental music]

Sam, come here, look at this.

Gentlemen, if there's something going on here

I would like to be included.

Ah, these are Injun ponies.

Passed through here not more

than three, four hour ago, lieutenant.

[Tripp] Tried to cover up the tracks.

Along with a, a big wagon they got.

Crow?

Yeah, it's either Crow

or it could have been Blackfoot.

Either way, we better talk in a whisper from here on out.

Voice carries a mile or better in these rocks.

'Move 'em out, lieutenant!'

Are they going to k*ll us, mama?

Oh. No.

No, of course not.

[sighs] Try not to be afraid.

Would you play, mama?

Oh.

[harp music]

Go away. Go on, get out of here.

Get.. Stop it, get out of here.

I'm warning you, get out of, get out of here.

Get out of here!

Jeff, no! Jeff, come back.

'Jeff. Jeff, come back.'

Jeff! Oh!

[laughing]

Stop it!

[screaming]

No! Stop it!

Stop it! Stop it! Oh!

'Stop.. Please.'

Let me go!

Please stop it! Let me go!

Please stop it!

[screaming] No!

[speaking in foreign language]

[sobbing]

[breathing heavily]

Go ahead, stare.

Stare.

You loathsome, despicable.

You're nothing but savages.

Savages! Savages!

[intense music]

You go to wagon. Stay!

Now!

[grunts]

[dramatic music]

[Tripp] 'Crow.'

And all young bucks, too.

I'll tell you something else, Sam.

That ain't Two Bears neither.

'That's Wolf Paw, son of Two Bears.'

He ain't as smart as his pappy neither.

Look it there. He hasn't even set out any guards.

That's the truth.

This is Blackfoot Country.

He's really asking for trouble.

'Don't you know them young bucks is gonna put up a fight?'

[Zeb] 'That ever bother you, Sam?'

[Tripp] Always.

I'd better get down there and tell Ayeless what's going on.

Now, Sam, you keep writing the thing

about that Ayeless business and I'll tell you something

he's gonna put you on report.

There'll be enough paper to paper a squad room.

And him the head of the class, too.

You better get the head of the class up here

and let him take a peek at what we got.

[speaking in foreign language]

Psst.

[music continues]

Sergeant, in the future if you have information to impart to me

you will come to me, salute

and deliver your message. Is that clear?

Uh, anything you say, Ayeless, but--

I'm tired of warning you, Private Tripp.

- Macahan. - Lieutenant.

Now, there's eight Crow just over down in that ravine there

and they're being led by Wolf Paw.

He's the son of Two Bear.

And by the looks of 'em, they feel pretty safe.

- Now, I'm thinkin'-- - I'll have a look for myself.

He won't know what he's lookin' at.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Bows and arrows and lances. - Uh-huh.

Now, I suggest we flank them and sweep in from the north.

Sweep? You try to organize a sweep--

Ah, no, no, no, hold on.

Lieutenant, I think we better have us a little discussion.

'Now, you see, if we try to go in there'

'in broad daylight like this'

it's gonna give them Indians time to mount up and ride.

Then they are gonna be able to fight.

Bows and arrows against r*fles. What chance will they have?

[Zeb] Chance?

Lieutenant, let me tell you something'

in case you didn't know.

Along with the Sioux, them Crow Indians there

is probably some of the world's finest cavalry.

'Just when you start talking about flankin''

'and sweeping and such like that'

you're talking about getting a lot of people hurt.

Now, I got an idea or two

that just might keep us from getting anybody hurt.

You have an alternate suggestion then?

I do. Now this here day's almost gone.

We wait it out tonight

and at first light

me and Sam, we go down there amongst them.

We run off their horses.

Now, a Crow without a horse..

...is like a bird without wings.

That's an excellent tactic, Mr. Macahan.

I think it just might work.

[dramatic music]

[intense music]

[dramatic music]

[Tripp] No guards on the horses.

Two Bears would have him sting for that.

Mm-hmm.

Now, Sam, we don't wanna start no w*r here.

So don't do no k*lling which you don't absolutely have to.

[music continues]

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

[g*nshots]

[horses neighing]

[g*nshots]

[indistinct yelling]

[g*nshots]

Charge!

[horses neighing]

[clamoring]

[speaking in foreign language]

- Mommy. - Shh, shh. Quiet. Be quiet.

Sam. Now, lieutenant, we went to round up the ponies.

Let's go.

[speaking in foreign language]

It's soldiers, children. We're saved.

Lieutenant.

'Lieutenant.'

My God!

How long have you been here, ma'am?

[sighs] Since yesterday.

They, they rode down on our wagon.

Are you and the children alright?

Uh, yes, yes. Yes, thanks to you.

I don't know what would've happened to us

if you hadn't come along.

It's alright.

There's no danger now.

But I do want you and the children to remain in the wagon

till I've dealt with these Indians.

Yes. Of course.

- Tripp. - Here.

Do any of these savages understand English?

[Tripp] All of them do, one way or another.

Which one of them is Wolf Paw?

Right here in front of me.

Where is your father Two Bears?

I said, where is Two Bears?

Are you sure he understands?

Oh, he understands, alright.

But look at it this way, lieutenant.

What if it was your father he was hunting?

Would you answer?

Well, then you tell him, in his own language

that if he doesn't tell me, he will suffer the consequences.

It won't be necessary. He understands.

Where is Two Bears?

You will tell me now!

Alright.

I want the men in a line with their r*fles.

- Firing squad? - Yes.

And now that you understand

maybe you can make him understand.

- And this time, do it in Crow. - Uh..

Wolf Paw..

[speaking in foreign language]

You mean, he's willing to die?

Can't you get it through your head, lieutenant?

He'd rather die than tell you where his father is.

'His braves, too.'

Then tell him that his braves will die first.

Every one of them, if necessary.

Tell him!

Wolf Paw..

[speaking in foreign language]

[speaking in foreign language]

He says, uh

if he has to die, he'll die.

That's the way they are, lieutenant.

Fine.

Then take them in front of the wagon, two at a time.

- But you can't-- - Move!

- Lieutenant.. - Alright, you and you.

Take two at a time.

Form rank and prepare to fire.

It's not your place to do a thing like this.

You just watch me.

[dramatic music]

Now, for the last time..

...where is Two Bears?

[spits]

Detachment.

- Ready! - Lieutenant.

Aim!

[music continues]

[Zeb] Hold on! Hold on here!

Put them r*fles down. What's going on?

Ayeless is fixing to wipe out the Crow Nation

'startin' right here.'

Prepare to fire.

Mister, you give an order to fire

I'm gonna gut you neck to knees.

You use that knife on me, Macahan, and they'll hang you

from the highest gallows in the United States Army.

[Zeb] 'Damn the army and damn the gallows.'

There's something you berry pies from West Point

don't seem to understand, maybe never will.

Let's just put it this way, mister.

There ain't gonna be no dead Indians here today!

Have you got that?

The colonel specifically ordered me

not to return without Two Bears.

And these Indians are going to tell me where he is.

That's where you're making your big mistake.

Two Bears probably don't even know what's going on here.

Wolf Paw, does your pa know anything about this?

Two Bears not know.

And you take his word for it?

You are damn right I do.

He respects his father too much to lie.

'And he and these young bucks don't have two bits patience'

'for the white man's treachery.'

'You k*ll Wolf Paw, and Two Bears will burn'

'every settlement and homestead in a 100 miles!'

After which, the colonel will have your brains bronzed

whatever is left of 'em.

Alright.

They'll go back to the fort.

But I'll still see to it that they are tried and hanged.

For raidin' freight wagons?

For abducting a white woman and her children.

Tripp, I want these savages tied for riding.

You can't tell me that Wolf Paw and those braves of his

were out there trying to abuse a woman?

- I don't believe it. - Sure don't figure.

[Ayeless] 'This must've been a harrowing experience'

for you and the children, Mrs., uh..

Baxter. Elizabeth Baxter.

- My daughter Susan, son Jeff. - Hello.

I'm Lieutenant Ayeless, ma'am.

- Are you sure you're alright? - Oh. Yes.

We are now, lieutenant.

But they were very rough with us.

At one point, I thought they were trying to k*ll my son.

- 'It was terrifying.' - Yes, I'm sure it was.

But, ma'am, a woman traveling alone out here, I..

[chuckles] Well, I got some bad advice, lieutenant.

I left Livingstone Falls with the understanding

that a day's ride would get us to the fort

where they were organizing a wagon train to Saint Jo.

But there were so many forks on the trail

and none of them marked, uh..

It's easy to lose one's way out here, ma'am.

I should've headed back

but I gambled we were going in the right direction.

Well, we'll be at the fort in a few days.

So all you'll have lost is a little time.

What will happen to the Indians, lieutenant?

For raiding freight wagons along the trail

they'd be sentenced to prison.

But you may rest assured, ma'am

that once we get back to the fort

I will personally see to it

that these savages are hanged

for what they did to you.

Wolf Paw.

You took the woman and her children.

- Why? - She is not harmed.

That's not what I asked you.

Soldiers will think worst. Let them.

[instrumental music]

Take ten!

Ma'am, uh, you and the children can get off

and stretch your legs a while if you like.

We'll be here a few minutes.

- Stay close, children. - Yes, mama.

Here, let me help you.

Thank you.

You know, I, I don't believe

I've ever heard your son speak.

Stopped two years ago

when my husband drowned in the river.

Oh, no. And the boy saw it happen?

Well, his father had started to repair a bridge.

Took Jeff along for company.

Somehow, the bridge gave way and..

Later, when Susan and I got there

there was no trace of my husband

and Jeff was still clinging to the remains of the bridge.

'It was as if he was frozen'

'with the horror of what he had seen still on his face.'

It took forever to get him down.

And despite all we've tried..

...he's not made a sound since.

I am sorry.

But I, uh, I can't help but wondering

why an educated and obviously well-bred lady as yourself

why you would've come out here in the first place.

I didn't have any choice, lieutenant.

[horses trotting]

- Ayeless. - Gentlemen.

[Zeb] 'I'd like to take Sergeant Tripp here and head up'

into the back country, do a little scoutin'.

You have my permission to take Private Tripp with you

Mr. Macahan.

But we'll be moving out soon, so you'll have to catch up.

[Zeb] 'Yeah, we figure to do that, lieutenant.'

When you're movin' out

be sure you do it as quiet as you can.

We'll, uh, talk more later, ma'am.

[instrumental music]

Where did you get that?

Did you take it from a freight wagon?

Or did you get it from a white woman?

You tell me where you got that garter!

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[whistling]

[dramatic music]

[horse neighs]

No. Do not fire!

- Army Colt. - It's got to be Ayeless.

[music continues]

What the hell do you think you're doing?

You stay out of this, Macahan.

Couple of miles of ridin' on his belly

will calm this one down.

- Did you fire that shot? - Yes.

- A rattler shied my horse. - I tried to stop the sh**ting.

This savage attacked me!

Yeah, to keep us from maybe getting k*lled.

k*lled? I don't understand.

Lieutenant, we got three, maybe four hours.

And then the Blackfoot are gonna be down our backs

and up our noses. The hills are crawling with Siouan.

All of it spellin' trouble.

We're not at w*r with the Blackfoot.

No, but the Crows are.

Now, why do you figure he tried

to stop you from taking that shot?

'Cause he's the son of a Crow chief.

'And him and his braves are prisoners'

'right here in the middle of the Blackfoot Nation.'

You might've told me that.

[Zeb] I didn't figure it was necessary.

The Crow-Blackfoot w*r is one of the oldest in our country.

Didn't they tell you that at West Point?

Sam, I want you to tell these boys

to have their r*fles at the ready

and look out of both sides of their eyes

at the same time.

But nobody fires a shot till I say so.

[Zeb] Har! Har!

[dramatic music]

Let's move out.

[grunts]

[instrumental music]

[Ayeless] Two or three hours, I believe you said, Macahan.

It's been half a day since my infamous g*nsh*t.

'Where are your dangerous Blackfeet?'

[Zeb] 'They're too late-coming, lieutenant.'

'They got their reasons.'

'They're gonna be here, and then you'll have to do'

some real pointed thinkin', west or east.

[Ayeless] We'll see.

[intense music]

[music continues]

Well, there they are, Mr. Ayeless.

Blackfoot.

The only tribe about the size of the Apache.

They never gave the white man an inch.

Not only that, but like the Apaches

they got ways of makin' a man wish

he'd never been born.

[music continues]

[intense music]

You say his name is Red Kettle?

That's him, alright.

He'd get us right where he wants us, too.

'You know, it looks like you're caught in the middle'

'lieutenant, you get the job of protecting'

these Indians from those Indians.

Tell our men to keep their r*fles in the boot

till we find out what kind of mood he's in.

That means no shootin'.

Don't even touch your weapons unless we're fired upon.

It's alright, children. It's alright, it's alright.

[music continues]

Sam, that cover over there

'wouldn't you say it's a couple of hundred yards?'

With them up there on the ridge

it's more like a couple of hundred miles.

Tripp, you better handle that wagon.

Good idea, lieutenant.

I'm gonna keep you company, ma'am.

Susan, climb in back.

[grunts]

Now, lieutenant

let's go nice and slow around this corner up here.

Kind of like, uh, whistlin' in a graveyard.

Get up there!

[intense music]

[speaking in foreign language]

Looks like Red Kettle wearing his Sunday w*r hat.

Now, just take it slow and easy, lieutenant.

You ain't gonna do anythin' till I give the word.

Just make sure the Crows stay with us, Macahan.

The Crows got more to fear from the Blackfoot than we do.

[music continues]

What's your out feeler's name, ma'am?

- Smokey. - Hang on to something.

Get ready, lieutenant.

- Let's go! - Ha!

Smokey! Ya-ha!

[intense music]

[indistinct yelling]

Hiya!

Mommy! Mommy!

- You alright, ma'am? - Yes.

Hang on!

[indistinct yelling]

Take cover!

[Ayeless] Everybody, run to cover!

Get down! Get down!

Ready!

You're wastin' your time, they're not comin' in.

'Save your ammunition. You'll need it later.'

[Ayeless] 'Well, why aren't they coming in?'

[Zeb] 'I don't know.'

[music continues]

[speaking in foreign language]

[Zeb] 'Hold your fire!'

- Hey, they're leaving! - They're running, Mr. Macahan.

Hold on! Hold on! They're not through yet.

But they, they're retreating.

[Zeb] 'That don't mean nothin', lieutenant.'

'w*r is a very special sport to the Indians.'

'And it's played by rules of honor.'

'He could be playin' cat and mouse with us.'

How is that they don't mind if soldiers are gonna cross

their land with some Crows?

- But they've ridden away. - 'Yeah, well..'

'I can't figure that part out neither.'

But until I do, I want you and your soldier boys

to stay low, lieutenant.

I'll take Sergeant Tripp here, and we'll scout around.

That's an excellent idea.

You have my permission to take Private Tripp with you.

Come on, Sam.

When are you gonna quit volunteerin' me?

Which one of us is gonna learn how to pray, Sam?

Jeff, Susan, you can come down now. It's safe.

There you go, partner.

Here we are.

Well, I guess you two aren't used

to running away from Indians, are ya?

We weren't that scared, were we, Jeff?

Say, listen, you were very brave.

Both of ya. Brave as any of my soldiers.

I guess I was kind of scared, mister.

You can call me Colin if you like.

But there's nothing to worry about now, nothing.

Hold to that thought, alright?

[horses trotting]

[g*nshots]

[g*nshots]

[g*nshots]

[Zeb] 'So that's what pulled them away.'

They got themselves another toy to play with.

[panting] You got any ideas?

Nothin' that might not get us k*lled.

I don't find that funny no more.

On the other hand, we can't just leave 'em there, Sam.

- Look, you remember Dry Wells? - 'Remember it?'

[Tripp] 'I got an arrowhead in my leg that keep reminding me of it.'

Yeah, you still got your scalp, too, ain't ya?

Now get on over and tell Ayeless what we need.

Three fast horses.

We need 'em muy pronto. We ain't got all day.

Alright.

[g*nshots]

Sure takin' their own sweet time.

What are the odds we don't live through the next charge?

Tally, what are you doin'?

Twenty-seven, twenty-eight. Countin'.

What do you think I'm doin'?

- Twenty-nine. - Have you gone plumb loco?

We're about to greet the devil and you're out countin' cans?

Here they come!

Come on, Tally, get over there!

[clamoring]

Go on, Tally!

[indistinct yelling]

[trumpet blowing]

[speaking in foreign language]

[horses trotting]

- Whoa! Yeah! - Hey!

Soldiers!

[g*nshots]

[trumpet blowing]

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

- Whoa! Whoa! - Whoa!

What, I should give 'em another blast, Zeb?

Well, not unless you want me to lose the hearin' I got left.

Well, I thought I did pretty good, considerin'--

Well, considerin' what?

Well, considerin' that I wasn't no Gabriel

to begin with.

'Ha!'

Hup, hiya! Hey!

Hiya, hiya, hey!

Yee-haw! Ha-hiya!

Hey, hey.

Ha-ha!

Come on, we ain't got much time.

- Where's your wagon? - 'Got no wagon.'

How are we gonna save this stuff?

Red Kettle gets a hold of you, mister

you won't have to worry about your stuff.

I don't care about Red Kettle. He's your army's problem.

All I'm interested in is gettin' these goods to mining camp.

All our money's tied up in it.

All the money in the world

is not gonna keep you out of an anthill

if Red Kettle figures out what made that dust

back there in the draw.

We're all the army there is, mister.

You're lookin' at it.

- There's only two of ya? - 'That's right.'

[Zeb] 'And these five horses draggin' branches.'

You're comin' or ain't ya?

Alright, I'm comin'.

- Come on, Tally! - Alright.

Get aboard here.

[speaking in foreign language]

- Ha-ha! - Zeb!

Lookie yonder.

Yeah, I see him, Sam.

With any luck, why, we'll be halfway to cover

before he gets word to Red Kettle.

[intense music]

[instrumental music]

They should be here by now.

I never should've let them go.

How long have you lived out here, ma'am?

Close to eight years now.

My husband Eric and I had a lovely home in Boston.

Everything seemed so perfect then.

What made you decide to move west?

My husband's health.

The doctor said that Eric needed a warm, dry climate.

'Eric refused at first'

'knowing how much I loved Boston'

'and the life we were leading.'

Then he became worse.

And..

Well, I insisted we move west.

[sighs]

It seems so long ago.

Susan was barely a year old then.

She's a lovely child.

She'll grow to be as lovely as her mother, I'm sure.

That's very gallant, lieutenant.

Colin, if you will.

Colin.

You sound as though you're looking forward

to living in the east again.

Oh. Oh, yes.

But it won't be easy.

I abandoned our homestead

and everything we now own is in the wagon.

Well, don't you have relatives living in Boston?

None living there now, no.

Well, then, how will you live?

'I don't know, lieutenant.'

At least, my children will grow up in civilized surroundings.

And maybe, just maybe

I can find a doctor to help my son.

Uh, I think

you're a very brave woman.

I saw you reassuring my children..

...comforting them.

You seem to have a way with

well, speaking to young children.

I love children.

We'd planned on having a large family.

It must be very difficult, uh, raising children by yourself.

'It's not been easy.'

'Fortunately though, they themselves have been wonderful.'

How about you, Mr. Ayeless?

'You said you wanted a large family.'

'You are married, then?'

Uh, no.

My wife is dead.

I have no children.

Oh, Colin, I'm so sorry.

[male #3] 'Lieutenant.'

Excuse me.

[horses trotting]

- Hya! Hya! - 'Here come the Indians.'

- Move! - Don't fire until my command!

[indistinct yelling]

Easy, everybody. Easy, everybody.

Alright now, pick a spot and stay put.

[Zeb] They got us pinned down here.

'We're gonna have our troubles gettin' out.'

Didn't you hear the lieutenant? No shootin'.

I ain't in no damn army.

As long as you're under my protection

you'll obey my orders to the letter.

Is that understood?

Why, sure enough, general.

We understand things like that real good.

Don't we, boys?

Hey, they're leavin'.

Don't worry, they ain't goin' far.

I wanna thank you, mister. You, too, sergeant.

My name's Jobe Pender. Tally Gibbons, Mose Hatch.

Wanna thank you for savin' our bacon back there.

If it hadn't been for you two, we'd all be a mess of bones.

Well, now, mister, you're tellin' the truth there.

Sam.

Them Indians yours, lieutenant?

[Ayeless] 'They're my prisoners.'

'I'm takin' them back to Fort Ellis.'

All that way, huh? Why don't you just sh**t 'em?

You'll have to ask Mr. Macahan about that.

[sighs]

[intense music]

Well, perhaps they've decided to withdraw for good.

No. They're out there, lieutenant.

Savages.

We oughta just leave the Crow here

and let them k*ll each other.

You hate all Indians, do you, lieutenant?

Yeah.

I hate them.

You got any-any particular reason?

My first duty station out west, Mr. Macahan

was at Fort Smith.

My wife knew that she couldn't join me right away

so she gave me this flask filled with brandy.

"To my husband. Love always. Jane."

I never opened it.

I promised myself I would save it

until we could share it together.

After a year, she came to join me.

Her stage was attacked.

She was m*rder*d..

...by savages.

Your noble Indians, Mr. Macahan..

...they took my wife

as these Indians took Mrs. Baxter.

The only difference is, is that she was luckier than Jane..

...because we hit them before they were able to do to her..

Uh, lieutenant, I, I am sorry.

Well..

[sniffles]

We can't stay here forever, can we?

No.

We'll be headin' out before first light.

[instrumental music]

[horse neighing]

[Zeb] 'Well, looks like we got company again, lieutenant.'

'Let's see if a little talkin' will help.'

[horses neighing]

[horse snorts]

[horse snorts]

[intense music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

What are they doing out there?

Havin' a palaver.

Well, I can see that, private. What are they talkin' about?

Oh, old times, old combats, for one thing.

- They know each other? - Know each other?

Lieutenant, that man sittin' on the blanket

down there with Red Kettle

knows every Indian in these mountains.

He's near one hisself.

And if Red Kettle could count coup on Zeb Macahan

the story would be told around the campfires

from father to son, from now till ice caught fire.

Well?

Well, like most things of this type, it's simple enough.

We're free to move on.

All we got to do is give him Wolf Paw

and the rest of them Crows.

Surrender the prisoners?

That's all there is to it. What do you say?

No.

'Now, I don't give a damn for these Indians'

or for those Indians over there, for that matter.

But no Indian is going to tell

'the United States Army what to do.'

Just hold on a second now, general.

Like my friend Tally here would say

"That ain't sound business."

Jobe's right. Our lives for a bunch of stinkin' Injuns.

Well, that oughta be k*lled anyway?

Now that don't make too much sense, do it?

My decision stands. The prisoners remain with us.

- Just a minute-- - You heard the lieutenant.

The palaver's over.

Mr. Macahan.

Well, lieutenant general, sometimes

that buck of yours fools me.

I'm gonna try somethin'.

[horse trotting]

[horses trotting]

[gibberish]

[laughing]

[grunting]

What's Macahan doing?

'There was nothing wrong with that man before.'

I don't know, but I think I'm beginnin' to get the gather.

Yes, sir, I think old sergeant..

Private Tripp's got the plan.

[gibberish]

[gibberish]

[gibberish]

It's workin'. Kettle's beginnin' to boil.

Well, what's he up to?

Well, you see, Macahan's trying to convince Red Kettle

that we got an idiot amongst us.

Oh, nothin' intended, lieutenant.

You see, an Indian, when he sees

'and senses somethin' different in somebody'

'he thinks it's been spelled.'

Sort of possessed by the devil, so to speak.

And what's more, he thinks it can come out and rub off on him

and he'll end up barkin' at shadows.

[laughs]

[gibberish]

[gibberish]

[gibberish]

[gibberish]

Done a proper job, son. Proper job.

That depends on whether or not Red Kettle

had somebody watchin' from up there.

Oh, if they'd have seen anything, Sam

we'd be in a fight right now.

What it did do is buy us a little time

but the only trouble is, there's only an hour of daylight left.

We can't cross that river after dark.

I don't understand either of you.

I may not know everything there is to know about Indian warfare

'but one thing I do know is'

'one of the basic principles of military strategy is'

if you want to elude an enemy, use the cover of darkness.

That's right, lieutenant

unless you happen to be surrounded by Injuns

'that are gonna be watchin' us every second.'

'They see us tryin' to sneak out'

'they'll know we tried to trick 'em.'

Our only chance, lieutenant, is to camp by the river

then in the morning, just meander on across

like we didn't have a worry in the world.

But we've got a day or more still to the fort.

That's right. We got us a chance.

But I wouldn't build no tomorrows on it.

Move out!

Giddy-up. Giddy-up.

[wagon rattling]

[wagon rattling]

[instrumental music]

How come you keep eyein' that gal, Jobe?

Somethin' comin' to me is all.

[music continues]

I don't understand your concern, Mr. Macahan.

Red Kettle backed off because he thinks

we have an idiot among us.

If he didn't attack us before, why should he do so now?

Well, now, Red Kettle is a real good chief and all that

but don't forget he's an Indian and he live by superstition.

Now, he believes that if he brings down any harm

to a prisoner who's not all there in the mind

that's gonna mean misfortune for himself and his tribe.

Yes, that's exactly the reason

why we have nothing to worry about.

Oh, it spotted out droolin' and clawin' at him.

See, he's got a 100 years of superstition

that he's hooked into there.

But he also happens to be a very intelligent man.

And I'll guarantee you that he's back over there right now

'and he's beginnin' to wonder whether or not we tricked him.'

So we're not exactly home free.

Far from it.

Lieutenant, if you take my advice

I'd like to see you let them Injuns go.

'Cut 'em loose, give 'em back their weapons.'

We're gonna need all the help we can get

to fight our way out of here.

Cut them loose?

[Zeb] 'They got a stake in this, too.'

They're gonna be dyin' just like you and me.

Now, a man's got a right to a say-so

when it comes down to that.

Zeb's right.

With just us against them over there

it's gonna be a scalp dance.

I suppose I have no choice

but to trust your judgement, gentlemen.

Give them back their weapons, Tripp.

Seems to me, the lieutenant's

finally growed himself a side order of brains.

[laughs]

[instrumental music]

[dramatic music]

It was the perfumey water that set it for me.

Perfume that had to drive me half crazy that night

in the High Ladies Salon in cr*pple Creek.

Remember that night, huh?

Well, I had to buy you so many drinks all night

before we went up them stairs.

Please..

I gotta tell you, lady, it was worth it.

- Please don't. - "Please don't?"

Don't you go actin' the high-and-mighty lady with me.

Come on, we know each other better than that, honey.

I'm not trying to act high-and-mighty.

I just want you to leave me alone.

- Oh, I see. They don't know. - No.

Well, I can understand that with your kids

hearin' everythin' like that.

But nobody's gotta know about

our little secret, honey. Huh?

Just as long as we can get along real good.

[groaning]

Le me, let me go, you!

You pimp!

[groans]

What are you gettin' mad at, general?

Got a little piece of merchandise here for grabs.

[groaning]

[groans] Ain't no need to cause a ruckus.

What's the matter with you, mister?

Looking to get k*lled?

No, her and I are just old friends from her saloon days.

Ain't that right?

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[breathing heavily]

From now on..

...this wagon's off limits to you and your men.

If I so much as see you look in this direction..

...I'll have you shot.

Is that clear?

Yeah.

[music continues]

[music continues]

- Mr. Macahan. - Lieutenant.

You're still awake?

You know, I, uh..

There's a thing I wanted to say to you.

'You know, I, uh, noticed, lieutenant'

that, uh, when somebody don't measure up to your standards

you, uh, you have a tendency to kinda push 'em aside.

Like, that, uh..

...Mrs. Baxter there now.

'Now, maybe she ain't perfect'

but then which one of us is?

Damn sure not you or me.

'An understandin' word from you back there at the wagon'

'might have helped a lot.'

Somethin' to think on.

[music continues]

[snoring]

[snoring]

[dramatic music]

[g*nsh*t]

[grunting]

[Tripp] On your feet, troopers.

[grunting]

[music continues]

I thought he was trying to k*ll me.

If he had been, you'd be dead.

[speaking in foreign language]

Blackfoot. There was two of them. One got away.

[Tripp] 'Be a real coup for them to take a scalp'

right in the middle of our camp.

Yeah, except I don't think that's what

they was here for this time, Sam.

Uh, they wanted to get a look at Spotted Elk

'our crazy Indian here.'

I'm afraid that this time Red Kettle got his answer.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

Lieutenant..

...I ought to take a look down along the riverbank.

See if I can find a place where we can slip past Red Kettle

without bein' seen.

Alright.

Don't take any unnecessary chances, Mr. Macahan.

Lieutenant, don't you never worry about that.

[g*n clicks]

Be real quiet now, general.

Real quiet.

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[Jobe] You all stand easy, soldiers. Just right where you are.

Hey, you Indians.

I'll give you a choice.

You can die right here now or out there.

- What's it gonna be? - For God sakes, man!

At least give the Indians their weapons back.

And have 'em circle around back of us and k*ll us? Unh-unh.

When word of this reaches the fort, you all three will hang.

Oh, I don't think so, general.

You see, we're gonna save your lives

and the lives of that lady there and her kids.

'Now, if you hang us for that'

you're gonna be in a lot of trouble with the settlers

more than with these Indians.

That ain't smart politics.

'Now with these Crows gone'

we all got clear passage back to the fort.

Ain't that a little bit better than what we was facin'?

[g*n clicks] Depends. Hold it right there!

What you're facin' right now is a barrel of this g*n, mister

and it's just itchin' to go off!

Put them g*ns down!

All I'm tryin' to do is save everybody's hides.

I said drop 'em!

Get your weapons, men.

Now what you gonna do is get.

- There's Blackfeet out there. - We wouldn't stand a chance.

At least you stand more of a chance than 'em Injuns

you was gonna send out there to their death.

I tell you what, you're gonna pick up them g*ns and be off!

Or I tell the Blackfoot you're fair game.

[speaking in foreign language]

A forthright decision, Mr. Macahan.

Unfortunately, one that the army manual

would not allow for me to make.

Yeah, well, turn the other cheek that, uh..

That's how we get a man k*lled.

Tell me.

Is our friend Red Kettle still along the river?

He's not only over there, he's gettin' reinforcements.

So we have no choice but to cross in the morning.

No choice.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[ululating]

Fire at will, men!

[g*nf*re]

Charge!

[firing continues]

[screaming]

[horses neighing]

[screaming]

[gasping]

[Indians ululating]

God!

Susan, Jeff!

[Indians ululating]

[g*nsh*t]

Come on, little girl. I got you. Up. There we go.

[dramatic music]

[Elizabeth] 'Oh, Jeff.'

'Uh, he can't swim. Someone, please! Please! Jeff!'

[horse neighing]

[indistinct chatter]

'Oh, please! Someone..'

'Please! Ah! Ah! Please.'

[Elizabeth crying]

- Colin! - I'm here, Elizabeth.

Here, come here! Come quick.

Elizabeth, come on. Get up!

Get up on the.. Here, hurry! Hurry! The children are fine.

Hurry! Come here, boy. Come here!

Ha! Ha! Come on! Ha! Ha!

[Colin] Come!

[music continues]

Take cover!

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t]

[Ayeless] 'They're retreating!'

Regroup! Regroup!

[Tripp] Save your ammunition.

[Ayeless] Hold your fire!

Hold your fire!

[Indians ululating]

[crying]

He cried. Oh, dear God!

He cried.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you both.

'Thank you.'

'Thank you.'

Let's take cover now.

After they regroup, they'll be comin' again.

So we'll have to outrun them?

Well, not unless we leave the wounded.

The fastest way would be straight in, but..

See, if we took the flatland, it's longer, but--

But that's open ground again.

[Zeb] 'And that's the reason I'm thinkin' or it'

won't occur to 'em that fast.

Now, me and Tripp here, we can hold 'em off

as long as possible.

'Of course, it won't take Red Kettle long'

to figure out what we're doin'.

When he does..

...rest will be up to God and the horses.

You're right again.

Good luck, Mr. Macahan.

You too, sergeant.

Mount up and move out!

[instrumental music]

Sorry we had to lose your wagon.

I got something that's a lot more precious in return.

My son cried.

Isn't that miraculous? He cried.

You know there's a, there's a doctor at the fort.

- Perhaps he could help. - Perhaps.

I...I am sorry.

I truly am.

Instead of understanding you, I just walked away from you.

- You had that right. - Right?

After my husband died..

...I had no income.

I lost the farm.

My children were crying with hunger.

In town there were no jobs for women except for--

Elizabeth, please..

You don't owe me any explanation.

But I feel it's important that you understand.

I feel I do understand.

I just hope that someday you can forgive me.

There's nothing to forgive.

[instrumental music]

Well..

...you had to go and volunteer me again, didn't ya?

What the hell you complainin' about, Sam?

Got your, got your strength back for you, didn't I?

[Indians ululating]

Looks like you're about to herd 'em.

[instrumental music]

[horse neighing]

[horse neighing]

Oh, whoa!

[Ayeless] Glad to see you again, gentlemen.

[Zeb] Well, lieutenant, looks like we've both been lucky so far.

- There was no pursuit? - Oh! They're out there.

They're probably five minutes behind us

if Red Kettle's followin' us.

Now, if he went on ahead

could be up there waitin' for us. Fort's just ahead.

Let's move out, men.

[speaking in foreign language]

[instrumental music]

[Ayeless] You know, I never thought I'd be fighting

on the same side with Indians.

Hey, you spend much time around Indians, lieutenant

you'll realize they're forty or more Amerindians.

There's only one thing they want really.

- What's that? - Be listened to.

Yeah, maybe two things. Listened to and heard.

'That's fort up ahead.'

[instrumental music]

Halt!

[dramatic music]

Well, I guess they'd have been disappointed

if you'd have fallen for that bait.

Should've known better.

Looks like it's gonna be a horse race.

Which we'll do our best to win.

We're going to have to make a run for it.

But don't worry, we'll get through.

Now, Jeff, hold tight to your mother.

[speaking in foreign language]

Mr. Macahan.

They don't think there's a chance of makin' it.

What's your opinion?

'Well, I tend to agree with 'em.'

Here's one thing to know if you wanna think about.

[Ayeless] 'What's that?'

Well, he says he's gonna take his braves

back out on the flats there.

Take the Blackfeet with 'em.

- But that's suicide. - Probably.

But it'd save our lives.

[instrumental music]

No. They'll stay with us.

We'll make that fort together or not at all.

You know, lieutenant, I don't know who's bendin'

whose mind around, but..

...you and I, we're thinkin' more alike all the time.

Ready! At a gallop!

Forward, fall!

[speaking in foreign language]

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nf*re]

[indistinct chatter]

[firing continues]

[ululating]

Come on.

Get up!

[dramatic music]

Why did they stop?

They're honorin' you, lieutenant.

Honoring me?

Comin' back for Wolf Paw like that.

Red Kettle considers that an uncommon act of bravery.

They honor that.

You better acknowledge it, lieutenant.

Where the hell's your military courtesy?

[instrumental music]

[speaking in foreign language]

[music continues]

- What did the doctor say? - Jeff's still in with him.

But it looks very encouraging.

If he can cry, that's a start.

So you, you will be staying on for a while then?

- Yes. - May I call on you?

I'll be looking forward to that.

Elizabeth..

Yes.

There's something..

...I've wanted to ask you..

...almost since the first moment I saw you.

Yes?

Well, I..

...I'm not very good at this sort of thing.

[instrumental music]

- Gentlemen. - Well, lieutenant.

Talk that young lady out of goin' back to Boston yet?

Well, Mr. Macahan, I'm going to take a page from your book.

- As the saying goes. - How's that?

[Ayeless] 'Going to examine the situation.'

Consider carefully

and seize the opportunity if it presents itself.

[laughs] Good!

[wagon rattling]

Wish him well.

[instrumental music]

Headed back to papa bear.

'You know, under my recollection'

'that's the first time in history'

that US government has sent Injuns

back to their own chief for punishment.

Thanks to your good words at the hearin', sir.

[instrumental music]

You called me sir.

I just realized, this is the first time since I met you.

And how you've avoided it, I will never know.

But this is the first time that you've called me sir.

I, uh, guess that's right, sir.

I'll buy you a drink on that, lieutenant.

No.

This one's on me, Mr. Macahan.

Sergeant, I-I know this isn't by the book..

...but would you care to join us?

Uh, yes, sir.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]