Original subtitles

Thank you.

Advance and be recognized.

Captain Hayes.

Sorry, sir, I didn't recognize you.

Colonel Vance is expecting you.

Go right in, sir.

Colonel.

Come in, Hayes.

Shake hands with Jim Fuller.

Mr. Fuller.

My pleasure, Captain.

Well, what's happening on the line?

A war.

Jim here is the assistant postmaster general of the United States.

You were line superintendent for the Overland stage lines before the war, I believe, Captain Hayes.

That's right.

I won't beat around the bush.

We've got a situation on our hands, and we think you're the man to handle it.

You're in a position to render a great service to your country.

Have you seen any of these yet?

No, Captain.

Just issued by the government.

I've seen them.

A holder of any of these notes can present it at any bank and redeem it for its equivalent in gold.

To preserve its credit, the government must at all times have the gold in its mint to back it up.

Gold from California.

Up to now, there's been no schedule for bringing gold in,

but the issuance of paper money will change all of that.

We need gold to fight the war.

We need as much as we can get and as fast as we can get it.

And the Overland stages are going to bring it in for us.

There'll be other conveyors, but Overland will bear the brunt of it.

And we want you to take over your old job to run the Overland stage lines, Captain.

I respect my government's wishes.

My apologies, sir, but I don't want the job.

You're the best cavalry officer in my command, John,

but there's no man in combat that can't be replaced.

I think you should go where you're needed most.

There are many good men that can run a stage line, sir.

We're subsidizing Overland with a million and a half

dollars to hike the schedule from a weekly to a daily run.

It'll mean 60 more Concord stages, 2,000 more horses and mules,

thousands of tons of hay and grain.

I'd appreciate the names of a few men you think can operate that size line.

That's the situation we're in.

2,000 miles, 1,700 through the worst territory in the country, a country that's not even a state yet.

You know there'll be breakdowns, bandits, Indians.

Your biggest problem is that the Confederates want that gold as bad as we do.

Daily schedule.

I don't think I can do it.

We think you can.

Where would I operate from?

Main office, Atchison. You'll work out of Julesburg.

Would be Julesburg.

Pretty rough riding, sir.

I've ridden worse.

You're John Hayes, aren't you?

I was a messenger boy for Overland when you were line boss.

I'm Rod Miller, 7th Regiment, 3rd Division Infantry.

Hi, he's Captain Grace.

Fine, sir, when I last saw him.

He's a stuffed shirt.

You can say it, I can't.

You weren't a messenger when you joined the Army.

A little too old for that, sir.

I left Overland when I got married.

All right, let's see a picture.

We got a farm just outside of Julesburg.

Pretty.

Pretty?

She's the prettiest girl in the whole territory.

Except in one, maybe.

You home on furlough?

Furlough?

I guess you might call it that.

A long furlough.

Gangrene.

Whoa!

Whoa!

Ten-minute stop, folks!

With any luck, we'll be in Julesburg tomorrow morning.

You'll be there.

I understand they got a good man running this place.

Let you know after I drink his coffee.

You better eat if you're hungry.

Supper's a four-hour ride from here.

Besides, I cooked this pie myself.

What kind is it?

You know something, ma'am, I never was able to figure that out.

I'll take a piece.

I'll have some, too.

Coffee?

Got any more of that pie?

Sure.

Sure.

How about you, mister?

I'll stick with the coffee.

I'll fix it, Yankee.

Good coffee.

Here you are, soldier.

Thanks.

Hey, this pie's been salted.

Salted?

How's yours?

Mine's fine.

It's delicious.

Yours?

Wonderful.

Hey.

Anything wrong?

There's salt in this pie.

Well, uh, no one else is complaining.

Well, no one else got the salt.

Well, soldier, you don't like it, don't eat it.

Just pay up and get out.

Suppose he doesn't.

Well, then I'll take it out of his hide,

because there's nothing wrong with that there pie.

Then you eat it.

Hey, this is none of your business.

I said you eat it.

You better eat it, Willis.

No man tells me what to do.

He can.

He's John Hayes, your new line boss.

All of it.

Come on, Roy.

What do you suppose is the matter with him?

Come on, folks, let's get going.

Thinking of tomorrow?

I haven't seen Jeanie in most of 18 months.

That's a long time to be away from home.

You know something, Mr. Hayes?

I don't want pity.

Don't look for it.

You got any family?

No.

Maybe sometimes that's the best way.

I wouldn't know.

Whoa, whoa.

Gotta get moving, soldier.

Here's your bag.

Just throw it down.

Honey, I'd like you to meet someone.

This is Jeanie, Mr. Hayes.

Hello, Jeanie.

John Hayes?

That's right.

Everybody in Julesburg knows you're coming.

Ready to go, boss.

Anytime.

Good luck.

You come and see us when you get fixed up.

That's our place.

Thanks, I will.

Hello, Mr. Miller.

Hello, Mrs. Miller.

Let's go home.

This here's Julesberg, folks.

Two-hour stop.

Stocktender!

Stocktender!

If I get my hands on that stocktender, I'll...

Hey.

The Overland stage sign's missing.

Something's wrong.

Folks, there's a cafe across the street.

You can wash and eat there.

We'll pick you up later.

Look after the horses.

I'll see what's going on.

Sure.

What happened to the sign?

Overland?

Moved out a couple of days ago.

Where'd they go?

I wouldn't know.

Button him here.

Your name Hayes?

Try that door over there.

I've been expecting you.

I sort of got that idea.

You haven't changed.

You have.

Well, I've made a little money.

Owned the hotel, some other things.

I guess it's going all right.

You can tell me about that later.

Where's the Overland Station?

Well, I wrote a letter resigning as Overland's agent about a week ago.

As far as I know, there is no station.

Nobody got your letter.

Well, I can't help that.

I didn't have the time for the job.

I needed the room here.

There are record supplies and horses.

Where do I find them?

I wrote the main office about that, too.

They're gone.

A couple of stock tenders lit out with the horses and supplies and burned the records.

Territorial Marshal's working on it now.

Booting the schedule up to daily runs.

That must be quite a job.

The way you handle things isn't going to make it any easier.

That's the way it happens sometimes.

John.

You know I married Norma.

What are you afraid of, Clay?

What happened?

Did you hear about the stock tenders stealing the horses?

I heard.

I brung the stage around to a couple of stables.

Full up.

At least that's what they told me.

I hear Putnam's out, too.

You tell me what's happening.

Oh, another thing.

Logan, Wilson, and Pines quit.

You got no drivers.

I got you.

Oh, you quitting, too.

No.

You know.

Oh, muscle and no brain.

Sure, I'll stick to it.

How many passengers are going on the Salt Lake?

All of them.

Then we've got no choice.

You take the stage on to Crown Point and pick up your relief driver there.

All right.

I'll eat some feed for the horses.

All right.

Get it.

That bunch on the porch.

Norm?

Sure.

Them's Putnam's boys.

The one on the end in the rocker with the black hat.

He's Mace.

He runs things for Putnam.

He's supposed to have a price on his head in three states.

Give him plenty of room around this town.

Clay Putnam doesn't need anybody to fight his battles.

As rich as he is, he can afford to hire someone to keep his nose clean.

Your name, Mace?

You said it right.

Mine is John Hayes.

Glad to know you.

Mister.

Lift up those skirts.

Let's see what you got under there.

I wouldn't want you to forget it.

The name's Mace.

Oh, hello, Mace.

Afternoon, ma'am.

I thought I'd drive in the tower and pick up my husband.

Some men are just born lucky.

Russ, tell Mr. Putnam his wife's here.

Mr. Putnam already knows.

Hello, dear.

Hello.

You'll be needing us for anything?

Nothing I can think of. See you in the morning.

That wasn't necessary, Clay.

You knew John was on his way back.

This trip to pick me up wasn't necessary either.

That's a lot of woman.

Never hear any of us disagreeing.

About that.

We'll buy this place or rent it.

You make the deal. If there's any sense to it, I'll take it.

Just drop 50 cents on the table.

On your way out.

Take your soldier boy home, lady.

No good bluebelly.

We don't like the color of that suit, mister.

It's too bad they didn't shoot your head off instead of that arm.

That goes for me.

That goes for me too, you no good Yankee.

What'd you want to come back here for?

So you's a northern soldier, is you?

Don't pay any attention to them, Rod.

That's just what they want.

We don't want no Yankee lover around here.

That's a pretty outfit you got on, drummer boy.

Your mama buy it for you?

You got a loud mouth, but I don't see no gray on you.

Don't make no difference what you see.

What we see is who wears the pants in your family.

I think maybe I'll take the drummer boy's suit off.

You're a brave bunch.

You're scared of nothing as long as you're fighting one man.

You mean half a man, don't you?

He's a lot more man than you'll ever be.

Well, I'll sure be around any time you'd like to find out.

Looks like I'm gonna have more trouble with her than I am with him.

All right, you've had your fun. Let him go.

Another blue coat. Or is it yellow?

Friend of yours? Was once.

Throw him in a water trough.

My apologies, ma'am.

When he comes to, I'll beat a little sense in him myself.

I think Mr. Hayes has already taken care of that.

You don't understand, ma'am.

I'm gonna beat him for losing the fight.

I'm telling you, she read back and bow.

You should have seen Russ's face.

You already told me. So?

So, the last time I saw Hayes, he was riding off with those two kids.

I just wish none of this had happened.

Hayes had no friends in this town. Now he's got two.

Well, what can they do for him?

Probably nothing. My point is, it just wasn't necessary.

I still say we should let Overland operate

and give Hayes all the rope he needs to hang himself.

We could have picked those stages off one by one.

I'll tell you again.

Don't underestimate him.

Never saw a man I couldn't handle.

Well, I won't argue the point.

We've already hacked at Overland's roots here.

The thing to do now is to make sure they don't sprout again.

Easy way to do that, if what you say is true.

How's that?

Get rid of Hayes.

If we do that, we have every Union soldier in this territory on our necks.

Our job is to see that gold doesn't get through to fight the South.

Nothing more and nothing less.

Meaning?

Meaning we'll do everything in our power, short of bloodshed,

to stop Hayes in the line.

Wreck his stations, run off his animals, burn his barns and his feed.

That's the hard way, isn't it?

That's the only way.

Still say we ought to kill Hayes?

Get out.

Some of those people grew up with me.

Known me since I was a kid.

Yelled at me and called me names like I was responsible for the war.

Even in the lines, we never hated the men we were fighting.

We believed one thing and they believed something else.

They were on one side and we were on another.

But why should they hate me here?

This ain't even a staging.

In the lines, you hear a young man cry when something rips into him.

See him die, and it's common pain and misery,

no matter which side he's on.

People don't understand that who are out of it.

They get hurt by seeing friends and kin dying.

And it's the other side that did it.

It goes both ways.

Maybe.

More coffee?

If it's like the last, better just leave the pot.

Well, thank you, sir.

Rod?

Honey, you sit down. Let me do things.

There's nothing that can't be cleaned up. I can put on a fresh pot.

Half a man. That's no lie.

Oh, Rod.

I've been home one day and already I found out what it's like trying to run a farm with one hand.

We'll do all right.

Yeah, sure.

With you doing all the work.

How about running a stage station?

Think you can do that?

Sure.

Where's the station?

Right here.

Overland will use your house and barn, build a corral and bunkhouse.

You'll get paid for any changes in the rental besides your wages.

But what about Putnam?

Putnam quit. We might have trouble from him, I'll have to tell you that.

Well, why would Putnam want to make trouble if he already quit?

Because he's a southerner.

We're changing to a daily run. It'll be a lot of work, but that isn't all.

Those stages will be carrying gold for the union treasury from Sacramento.

That's why me and Putnam knows it.

And you think he'll try to get that gold?

If he can't stop us from running.

Julesburg's mostly rebel now.

You saw that this morning.

They won't sell to us. I'll have to bring in everything we need, even drivers.

Plenty of farmers around here were Union when I left.

We ought to be able to get supplies from them.

How about horses?

Rod will get horses if he has to take them off the plow.

I ought to be able to get some of the boys to help me put up a corral and a bunkhouse too.

You sleep on it. I'll go have a look outside.

Wait, I'll show you around.

Hey.

Hey.

Hey.

Come on, I'll show you where we can build a corral and a bunkhouse out here.

After wagging in the grain from Julesburg, build out to the beach here.

What about water? One dry, we can dig the well lower.

Just ain't gonna make it, Jim.

I ain't gonna make it.

Just half a man.

Listen, it doesn't make a man any less,

because he lost something fighting for what he thought was right.

Come on in the house. I'll fix us some breakfast.

You're two days late.

Did you see the inside of this station?

You saw me come out.

Every station from here to Dawson's the same.

I've been riding for almost two days now with these same horses.

I had to stop to feed and rest them.

Thanks. You'll draw a bonus for that.

I'll drive the stage in. You can rest.

I can use it.

What you gonna do about the stations?

Keep going with new men and equipment.

Yeah, well, you better see the men have plenty of bullets.

Kirk, who runs Dawson, told me someone tried to burn this place down and steal his horses.

But he scared them off.

My bones are stiff from riding. When do we get out of this box?

Pretty soon. Let's not have any trouble from you, mister.

We're getting up already.

Have we got a station in Julesburg yet?

Yeah. Willows Farm.

Rod.

Hi, honey. We always can use some coffee.

Hey, Bill, pull that wagon over there behind the well.

Coffee?

New bunkhouse in Corral.

It's not hard to figure out what a cheap little ranch like that needs them for.

Yeah.

Not all them horses.

Just might be for hauling stages.

Yeah, they sure got them.

Men and horses. Plenty of both.

Recognize any of them?

There's two of them. Anderson and another.

I think his name was Bowmeister.

Farmers. Yankee hotheads.

Miller kids collected every union sympathizer in these parts for Hayes.

Thanks to the likes of you.

Sodbusters. All of them.

Yeah, well, when one of them holds a shotgun in your face, you tell him.

I still owe that Miller kid and Hayes a good going over.

You can pick up your mail at Willows Farm.

Rod, Jeanie.

- Hi. - Hi.

One-hour stop. All out.

Well, I hope we get something decent to eat here.

We do the best we can, sir. Go right on in.

Wash them down and see that they get plenty of rest. They earned it.

Yes, sir.

Eat up and pick yourself a place in the bunkhouse.

You can sleep for the next three days.

Much obliged for the short nap.

And look after my horse.

The horses look like they've been traveling a lot further than Crown Point.

Since Dawson, the stations are there, and that's about all.

I'll need men, horses, and feed.

I've been riding around seeing farmers.

You got plenty of hands till harvest.

That's time enough to get rolling.

Tell them to bring guns and watch out for horse thieves,

and, uh, I'd be careful about riding around the country.

Why? You expecting trouble?

We already got it. Who's taking the eastbound?

I am.

Got any objections?

You sure are scraping them from the bottom of the barrel.

Where'd you find this old relic?

Relic?

Say, I was driving stages when you were still in swaddling pants,

and I can still outdrive you.

Any man that's been around that long has got to be dead.

You sure this ain't old Christie's grandson?

I was a whip with Overland when John first come to work for the line.

He never said a word about knowing you.

Just showed up this morning and asked if we could use a driver.

Got me a small farm down a piece.

I heard about your situation, and I figured you could use a driver.

Say, how's the wages?

Bad deal all around.

Don't even know if there'll be a man at your next relief station.

Well, if there ain't, you just go on to the next one.

And if there ain't nothing there, just go on to the next.

Just like when I first started.

15 years ago.

20, and I run a pony express before that.

Hey, well, do I get the job, or don't I?

Your food's on.

Coming.

You got it. Just show back in one piece.

Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee.

Shame on me, Cuss.

Ain't changed a bit in 10 years.

Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee, hee.

Say, how do you drive one of them things?

Thought you'd be asleep by now.

Rod's asleep. I decided to catch up on some sewing.

Everything all right?

Put another man on to watch the horses.

I want to thank you for what you've done for Rod.

And for me, too.

It's the other way around. I should be thanking both of you.

Mr. Hayes, they say a war makes a man grow up fast.

But in a lot of ways, Rod's still a boy.

Things have always hurt him easier than most,

and stayed with him longer, too.

And now, he just can't believe

that losing an arm couldn't make any difference with us.

He keeps saying he's half a man.

I know it's going to take time, but...

I think that your letting us run this station

is about the only thing that's going to make him forget what's happened.

Ain't he?

You go in some place.

I'm quitting. You can't stop me from leaving.

Nobody's stopping you after you tell us what happened to the horses.

The stock tender's stolen.

You can do better than that.

All right, shoot him.

I'd be glad to.

Now, wait a minute. I ain't done nothing.

You can't kill me.

Go ahead. Blow his head off.

Now, wait a minute, Mr. Hayes. I'll do anything.

You can't kill me.

I won't ask you a second time. Who took the horses?

Logan, Wilson, and a couple others. I never seen them before.

Was one of them called Russ?

Yeah, Russ. That was it. I heard one of them say it.

Where'd they take the horses?

Wing Canyon. They're all there.

Russ, he's going to drive them south in a couple days.

Who gets them?

He's supposed to turn them over for delivery to Confederate Calvert,

but I think he's going to sell them.

You know something? Yeah?

My advice to you is to get out of here, quick.

You don't have to worry about that. Thank you.

Come on, boy.

Look at him go.

Don't see anybody.

No.

Here we go.

Ha!

Do you know it's 10 miles back to town?

It's closer to 11.

You looking for somebody, mister?

Your boss? He ain't here.

His horse?

Mrs. Putnam's.

Oh. I'll wait.

It's all right, Ed.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm expecting Clay any minute. Won't you come in?

I don't think Clay would appreciate finding me in his house.

It's my house, too.

- Hello, John. - Norma.

You've done very well for yourself.

I guess I have.

It's what you wanted, isn't it?

In most ways.

It was your choice.

Why didn't you write to me?

Would it have made any difference?

Might have.

My bad luck.

I'm glad I got to see you again, John.

We're still friends.

You know we always will be.

You should have told me you were expecting company.

I came here to see you.

Well, I suppose if you wanted to meet Norma, you wouldn't do it in my own house.

What do you want?

Better said between us.

There's nothing about me Norma doesn't know.

That's right.

All right. I've just come from Wing Canyon. We've got our horses back.

You'll be hearing it from your men pretty soon.

I'll make this short.

The stages are going to run. You and nobody else is going to stop them.

You may stop one and maybe two, and that's about all.

There's enough blood running on the battlefields without starting here,

but we'll play it any way you want it.

It's up to you.

Hayes, how many of you did it take to get those horses?

Two. Me and a one-armed boy.

I warned you about underestimating him.

Any time Hayes wants to face off with me, he can do it.

I don't want blood spilt any more than John.

That gold isn't going into a Union treasury without a fight from me.

I have no quarrel with that.

Just remember you're fighting for the gold.

In the Union.

You keep your purchases in this row and check them against what we send the other stations.

That way you'll always keep a record of it.

How's that seem to you, John?

Reasonable.

Looks like you're as much of a bookkeeper as I am.

All I know is I'm glad we've got Rod around.

Well, it's time to make the rounds.

Stay where you are. I'll do it.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee.

How about you, Jeannie?

No, thanks. We'll pull up to here.

When you bring in the horses, put him on his and cart him back to town.

I don't even know if...

He's alive.

Nothing works for him. That shot was meant for me.

Let's get him to bed.

There.

Well, we got real trouble.

Russ is dead.

Rod Miller's probably the same by now.

How did it happen?

After Hayes took the horses, Russ took some of the boys into going back after him.

They waited till night.

Nobody figured Russ would do any shooting.

He tried to get Hayes, shot the kid instead.

Hayes picked him off.

If he hadn't, I would have.

That's in the fire now.

What are you gonna do about it?

You'd like to see this break out into open killing, wouldn't you?

I'll see it in your face.

You gotta make up your mind.

You want Overland stopped or not?

There's more than one way to skin the cat.

Sure, but you ever try to skin a live cat?

Man's gonna get pretty skinned up himself.

You can't play a gentleman, Clay, and do what you want done.

I could have once.

Not anymore, thanks to you and Russ.

We already have most of the farmers against us, so keep this down.

Anyone wants trouble will get it.

Just don't go looking for it.

I'm not Russ.

And stay away from Millers.

I'll wait for Hayes to come to me.

Doctor, don't let me hear the truth.

He hasn't got a chance.

Look, Mr. Hayes.

I know how you feel about the people of Julesburg after all that's happened to that boy.

It's true that we sympathize with the South and will continue to do so.

But we don't sympathize with Clay Putnam and his kind.

We've had enough, Mr. Hayes.

Whenever you get ready to make your move, we'll all be behind you.

Thanks, Doctor, but this is my fight.

She's got a lot of nerve, coming here.

How is he?

No better.

May I come in?

He's sleeping.

No point in you coming in.

You know I'm not your enemy.

Nor yours.

Your husband is.

You can't blame me for that.

John, stay out of Julesburg.

Mace is waiting to kill you.

John, be sensible.

Mace is a professional killer.

Thanks for telling me.

I think you'd better go.

How's it going?

They're all ready to roll.

Well, let's get these people out of here.

Come on, folks, let's go.

I'll give you a ride, little honey.

Come on.

Let's go.

We couldn't wait for the next coach.

Why?

The little girl.

Let's go.

Let's go down there and get the gold.

Go tell Mr. Hayes.

How's the boy?

Not so good.

You taking Crown Point?

Hanks and Crown Point.

Tell them the new stages will be coming through next week.

Yes, sir.

And tell them to be careful, you too.

Yes, sir.

Boss?

Mr. Hayes! Mr. Hayes!

Mr. Hayes!

Scott Dredd!

Quiet down, son, quiet down.

Everybody's dead.

Looks like you've already heard.

All those people dead.

That little girl.

We didn't figure it'd be quite that bad.

Stagecoach robbed.

Dead passengers eluded.

Scavengers.

Everyone looks out for himself.

I blame myself.

Trouble with you, Clay, is that you're rich enough to be an honorable man.

I can't afford it.

I did think this happened in the name of the Confederacy.

Whether the South wins or loses means nothing to me.

Never has.

I should have known that scum like you could never put anything above yourselves.

I want you out of Julesburg.

As a matter of fact, me and some of the boys are

staying for more of that Union gold coming through.

You get out of Julesburg before I kill you.

Kill me? I don't think so.

I don't think so at all.

I've handled two-bit gunslingers like you before.

No point you and me falling out, Clay.

I'm still gonna stop overlanding.

And I'm killing Hayes.

I don't want you for anything.

Suit yourself.

Just might ask her what she was doing visiting Hayes this morning.

Think I'm going into town. I'll be along later.

John?

He's dead.

I thought it all over, Clay.

I can't live with you any longer.

I'm leaving you in the morning.

Well, I can't stop you from doing what you want.

It's not what I want.

It's what you're forcing me into doing.

You're blaming me for what happened to the stagecoach and the Miller boy.

Yes, I told you before...

Self-righteousness, you know, it just doesn't fit you.

Why don't you come out and say what you really mean?

I don't understand that.

Oh, but I understand you.

You've never worried about anybody else besides yourself in the whole of your life.

Including me.

I won't listen to you when you're like this.

And I never fooled myself about the reason you married me, either.

It wasn't for love.

All right, then.

At first that was so. I won't deny it.

Because you can't.

See, that's the trouble. I understand you.

And I still love you.

You'd never be leaving me if you didn't think you had somebody else to go to.

That's not true!

You're a liar.

Look at me straight in the eye and tell me that you're not still in love with Hayes.

I told you when I married you that it was all over with John and me.

But you've kept bringing him between us.

It's not John Hayes that's breaking us up. It's your jealousy.

And you've given me your answer.

There's nothing more to say.

Except this.

You walk out of this house.

You go out the way you came in.

There's nothing but the clothes on your back.

And I wouldn't depend on going to Hayes, either.

Because Mace is going to kill him.

But he already hasn't.

I love you, Clay.

I guess I know I always will.

But if you let anything happen to John Hayes, I swear I'll see you hang.

I've got to stop Mace.

I've got to stop him.

About time he got here.

I expected you a little earlier.

I'm here.

Go get him!

Back off, Mace!

I never had it figured this way.

I had to stop Mace.

Take care of Norma.

I intend to.

How are things in Julesburg?

Better.

That's good.

What about Mrs. Putnam?

Norma's going back east to live.

We just said goodbye.

I'm going to move your station back to Julesburg.

I wish you wouldn't do that.

I can still run it.

I think you could at that.

I know I could.

With a little help.

Well, seeing as how this is still going to be an oval and swing station,

I'll drop by and look in on you from time to time.

If you don't mind.

I wouldn't mind at all.

I'll make it soon.

Soon.