Original subtitles

♪

Well, Clyde, lively little town here. How's the book coming?

Fine. I finished that, and I'm starting another.

"Rex Montana and the Gauchos." How does that sound?

Sounds like South America, but how do we get there?

California, and around the Horn.

California.

To get from here to California,

you have to go right through the Paiute country.

The Paiutes won't bother you.

They don't know what happened to their little Indian girl.

But keep her out of sight.

Unh-unh. Find wagons going East, huh?

♪

Well, Mr. McCullough, finally we see you...

After we're in sight of Salt Lake City.

Yep. Brigham Young blazed our trail, Major...

over the Wasatch range and right to this spot.

When he reached here he looked down in that valley and said,

"This is the place."

I don't blame him...

thinking about what's between here and California.

I'll be on my way, Major.

Salt Lake's got a lot to offer. Oh?

Restaurant cookin' and, uh...

a few other things. For instance?

Oh, store shoppin'.

I might buy myself a new pair of boots.

You, uh, think you can find your way down there without me?

Well, I doubt it, but if you leave a few sticks along the trail

and maybe knock some of the trees over, I might be able to.

All right, Major, I'll do just that.

What's he in such a hurry about?

What do you think?

Boots. Ha ha ha!

Go on, Charlie, keep 'em rolling, will ya?

We're heading for some decent food.

Yeah, but I'm warning you,

you go eating a lot of that restaurant cooking,

you're gonna get yourself poisoned.

Poisoned? Me? After eating your cooking?

Ha! I'm immune.

I am Shanwaukee, Chief of the Paiutes,

and this is my daughter Loaitha!

Looks like a Cherokee to me. He's a long way from home.

The girls looks like a Paiute. Real pretty, too.

Welcome to the Great Salt Lake.

Why do you follow us?

Shut up, you moth-eaten Injun.

I got a hot fancy for you, baby!

Come on, give us a little kiss!

Mommy! My books! That's Rex Montana!

Relax, folks. Nothing to worry about. We're all friends.

REX: Griff!

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Ho-whoa!

It was just a stunt. An eye-catcher, I must admit.

Hope we didn't scare anybody.

Well, you scared me, mister.

One gunshot around this country usually leads to another.

There's enough trouble around here these days

without making it up, play-acting.

You the wagon master, sir?

I am. I'm Rex Montana.

I read a lot of books about you, Rex...

Mr. Montana.

Thank you, son. Rex'll do.

We've got a big Wild West show in Great Salt Lake City.

Fun for everyone.

A couple of hours of relaxation.

Hope we'll see you all there tonight.

Heeyah!

Heeyah!

He sounds like Confederate money looks when you try to spend it.

Rex coulda shot him if they hadn't been friends.

From there to there with that pretty girl in between?

Not likely, sonny. Aw, leave the kid alone.

You just believe it if you want to, boy.

All right, folks, let's get back to the wagons.

Bill. Hello, Major.

I don't know what's happened to people these days.

They just seem to have lost their Go To California spirit.

Do you know that we've dropped ten payloads since we hit here,

and not a single wagon has signed on?

Hey, Major. How do you spell gar-an-tee? What?

Gar-an-tee. How do you spell it?

What do you want to know for?

We guarantee nothing.

We just guarantee to get 'em there, that's all.

That's what I'm trying to jot down.

And remember, folks,

the excitement and glamor of the West!

Rex, give the folks an example of what they'll see tonight.

All right. Loaitha, please.

Let it go, Loaitha!

Boy, that fella sure can shoot.

Rodney? Rodney Miller?

Yeah, that's my name.

I'm Clyde. Clyde Winslow. There's Rex!

Higher!

That fella sure can shoot!

Don't you remember me? We're old friends.

Yeah?

Um...

I'd sure be obliged for a drink.

Well, not here.

You come with me.

One more.

Say, there's nothing Confederate about that shooting, is there?

It's a trick of some kind.

I'll show you.

Hey, buster!

Try to hit this.

Don't worry, I'll buy you a new one, buster.

I still don't believe it. He switched watches on me, that's what he done.

Ha ha ha ha!

He sure did, Charlie.

Come in, Rodney.

Here it is.

Geez, this is nice of you.

I like to take a little nip myself once in a while.

It's real nice of you, Mister, uh...

I can't think of that name again.

It isn't Mister, it's Clyde.

And you've known me a long time.

It's real nice knowin' ya.

I'd... I'd sure be obliged.

Sure, Rodney.

Don't you remember Virginia City?

Beaverhead Valley?

That's Montana country now.

Last Chance Gulch? I had a little newspaper office there

and you used to come in and see me all the time. Don't you remember?

I'm trying to think.

Here, have another drink.

Gold! That's why your father brought you two kids out to Montana.

You had a brother. Bill.

Bear Tooth Pass.

You were there, Rodney.

Don't you remember the massacre?

A lot more people would have been killed if it hadn't been for you.

I, uh, I'd sure be obliged.

Help yourself.

Well, I guess it's better you don't remember.

Better for you.

Do I know her, too?

She was from the East. Mrs. Montana for a while.

Rodney, come here.

Do you remember him?

Rex Hankins.

Now he's Rex Montana. I gave him the name Montana.

He-he's the shootin' fella!

Bang, bang, bang!

I sure hope I can remember this. Bill'd like to hear it.

Bill your brother?

Yeah, him and me's all that's left.

Where is he?

Who?

Bill.

Um...

I'm trying to think.

Here, have another drink.

It ain't far. He's...

Shh. Bill don't like me to drink.

Where do you live?

Huh?

Where do you live?

I got a pretty mare. She sees me home.

She's got white spots.

Why the locked door, Clyde?

Who you got in here? You going for some local fun?

You been drinking again?

No class, and holed up with some stumbleweed.

All right, beat it. The party's over.

Hey hey hey!

Ha ha ha ha!

It's that shootin' fella!

Bang, bang, bang!

Let's you and me have a drink.

No-no, you go ahead. It's on me.

Obliged! Ha ha ha!

I saw him on the street and I thought I'd better bring him up here.

Oh, you were great on the street.

I hated to leave, but I thought it was better.

What's he after? What's he want?

You can speak up. He wouldn't understand you,

and if he did, he wouldn't remember for two minutes.

And when he's sober?

He's the same.

I guess he's been the same since Bear Tooth Pass.

Get rid of him.

I'd sure be obliged.

Yeah... sure, go ahead.

A good, hot meal, a soft bed. That's what you need.

How you fixed for pocket money, friend?

Take it. Oh, no, not that much.

He'd be a pest on the street.

I know drunks.

Here you are. You have a little fun for yourself, Rodney.

Thanks! You come along with me.

Bang! Bang, bang!

Ha ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

What was Rodney doing in our room? Why did you bring him here?

I was afraid. Afraid of what?!

I was afraid he might kill you,

and I couldn't let that happen.

It's your fault, Clyde. You talked me into coming West again.

Ohh, did I know I was gonna see Rodney?

Why did we come West?

So I could write a book.

You'd be dead in the East if I didn't, Rex.

I'm warning you, Clyde.

Don't let anything happen to me.

Remember that.

I've thrown this thing away a dozen times!

I'm sorry.

I think you were stuck on her.

How many?

I had one with Rodney. A fella doesn't like drinking alone.

Forgetting a thing is a lot better than remembering,

and remembering is all you get out of a bottle.

If that's for me, I'm busy. I don't want to see anyone.

Well, come in.

A friend of yours, Rex.

Timmy. And his mother, Mrs. Clark.

Well...

the fair lady from the wagon train.

I'd hoped to see you at the show tonight.

Timmy couldn't wait until tonight, Mr. Montana. He has something...

Mr. Montana, will you write your name on my book?

Sure, son. They're leaving for California.

They won't see you after the show tonight.

Well, I'll get you some tickets.

Uh, your father with you?

I don't have a father anymore.

Oh. That's too bad.

Timmy, isn't it?

There we are.

Say, uh, I was just going out.

Why don't you folks join me

and we'll see the town together?

Why, I...

I'm afraid we have some other plans, Mr. Montana.

Mommy, what plans?

Well, Timmy, I just think that... Go ahead, son,

sell me.

Please, Mommy?

All right.

Good boy.

Oh, uh, here's a copy of our latest.

Come along.

We'll see you at the show tonight,

Mrs. Clark, Timmy.

Thanks, Clyde.

Look behind you, Rex! Them Indians are coming!

Whoop-whoop-whoop! Aaaah!

Is there something you wanted with me, Charlie?

Oh, no, not a thing.

That's my cook, folks.

Well, glad to have you with us, sir.

Bill, this is Mr. and Mrs. Johnson,

they're gonna be with us.

Check their wagons and assign them a place on the train.

All right, Major. This way, folks.

How'd you talk Rex into going on to San Francisco?

I had nothing to do with it.

Howdy, Major.

Mr. and Mrs. Cornwall here,

they have something to say to you.

Hello, folks. Did you change your minds?

Well, California always was our real goal, Major Adams,

but, well, I was afraid until now.

We'd heard so many grim stories about the crossing from here to California.

But now with Mr. Montana along, I won't be a bit scared anymore.

Please, Major. Can we get back with the train?

Can you make room for us?

Well, you just go on down there and find Bill Hawks

and he'll assign you a new spot on the train.

Thank you, Major Adams. You're a kind man.

All right.

Hey, Wooster,

don't you think that sign over there

ought to read "Rex Montana's wagon train"?

If I hear any more about Rex Montana,

somebody around here is going to...

With all these wagons signing on,

looks like that's the right thing to do.

You know, maybe you're right.

Charlie, you seem to like to read.

Why don't you go buy a cookbook?

A cookbook. Huh!

And what are your plans, Mr. McCullough?

Well, the train's shaping up,

I guess I better be on my way.

I'll meet you at Pilot's Peak. Why?

What do you mean why?

Well, uh...

I don't think we really have any need for you on the train anymore.

After all, we've got Rex Montana,

the world's foremost expert on the West and on Indians...

I don't know what we want you for.

But maybe you could come along and ride in a wagon,

read one of those books.

You might learn something.

All right, Major Adams, sir.

This time you win.

I'll see ya. Have a nice trip.

Lies.

It's a pack of lies!

What did I say wrong, Bill?

Where did you get it, Rodney?

Get what, Bill?

You mean my snootful? I can't think.

The book.

Did you see it in a store?

Did you steal it or buy it?

Tell me... can you remember now?

Remember what, Bill?

Bear Tooth Pass.

You were the real hero there, Rodney...

Fighting to save Pa and me and all the others.

That's how you got to be like this.

Rex Hankins a hero?

Except for him and some Indian girl,

there wouldn't have been a massacre.

And Clyde found out the truth.

I told him just how it was.

How you stood there alone against those Indians to give us a chance.

Why did he write something like this?

Ha ha ha ha ha!

There's that shootin' fella, Bill!

Bang bang bang!

You saw him?

You saw Rex?

He was in Salt Lake City?

Yeah.

There's plenty to eat here, Rodney.

You better stay a spell and take it easy.

You can do some plowing if you feel like it.

Just take care of yourself.

I'll be back as soon as possible.

I... I'd be obliged, Bill.

All right.

You've got a right to it.

Now, you go to sleep, Timmy.

He's here by our wagon. I can see him.

Please, Mommy? Will he say good night to me?

Oh, Rex.

Sleep tight, Timmy.

Over by the big tree?

I'll meet ya.

When Timmy's asleep.

Is he still there?

Now, you go to sleep, Timmy.

Please, Mommy. Be nice to him.

Good night.

Who do you figure to use the knife on, Loaitha?

That woman. She's taking Rex from me.

I was afraid of that.

This is nothing, it's just a caper.

You've seen it a dozen times before.

This is your fault.

The hotel... I saw you take her to his room.

It was the kid and his books.

I'm on your side, Loaitha, you know that.

Rex'll come back. He needs you.

Now, don't let him mess up that pretty little face of yours again.

You expecting someone, Shan?

Shanwaukee! You cut my name in half like you cut my life.

No, no, not me.

I was the one that tried to chase you off the show

after you were talked into it.

You are right, it was not you.

But we follow the setting sun, Mr. Winslow.

You promised, gave your word.

I hope to ride from the Great Salt Lake with the sun in my face

back to the land of my people.

I am Cherokee Indian,

but I am forced to speak false words as Shanwaukee.

Shanwaukee, father of Loaitha...

a Paiute.

Well, where we go, what happens,

I have nothing to do with it, you know that.

Hankins!

Aaah!

Bill! Charlie! Yo!

Loaitha! Listen to me, Loaitha!

That's our story and you've got to stick to it.

Now, do you remember that?

Yes, Rex.

Who fired that shot?

You. That's right.

It's all right, Loaitha. Try to forget it happened.

What is this, another stunt?

This is no stunt. This man's dead.

He's not from our train. Who is he?

Milly, please. Yes, of course.

Loaitha can tell you.

The type, not the name. Loaitha?

I... it all happened so fast. He grabbed me.

Good shootin', Rex.

She told me about him before.

In town.

Seems tonight he tried to cozy up to her.

I heard her scream. I guess all you folks did, too.

I guess he must have trailed your wagon train, Major Adams.

Loaitha?

Yes. It was a warm night, I came out here to be alone.

Loaitha...

it's all over now.

This is a mighty peculiar way for a man to go courtin'.

Yeah.

Get Charlie and take care of this body, will ya?

All right. Charlie, come on.

Major...

I'd like to say the last words, if permitted.

You knew this man?

No... but I'm good at words.

Yeah, I know.

Did you come to Chapter 8 yet, Major?

The bloodbath at Tucson?

Yes, I've already passed that.

Bill, you know something about Apaches, don't you?

Sure do.

Did you ever hear of an Apache

that wouldn't scalp anything living or dead?

No, I don't think I ever did.

Well, maybe Clyde did gloss up a point or two.

But that part about the molasses and ants, that's true!

No, just listen to this.

"An ominous, solid wave of paint horses and painted faces,

"an evil surf, roaring toward the lone man

"on the floor of the quiet valley,

the blood-thirsty Indians..."

Go on! Go on!

Yes, I think Mr. Clyde Winslow did gloss up quite a few things.

Griff, you're cheating.

Sure. Ain't you?

Ha ha ha ha!

You takin' him, Griff?

Doin' pretty good, Rex.

I don't want to break your game up.

I just want to talk to Clyde for a minute.

Why, sure. Sure, Rex.

What kind of magic you got, anyway,

talking me into coming here?

I had nothing to do with it.

You were the one mentioned California.

What are you trying to do to me?

First it was Rodney and Bill...

Now we got Loaitha to worry about.

Don't worry about it, I'll see she's kept out of sight.

Listen, you lost me, Clyde.

You was nothin' until you found me,

a stumbleweed in a jerk town.

You really lost me.

What's the matter, Major? You got that feeling again?

Yeah, I got that feeling again.

All right, call me a superstitious old worrywart if you want to,

but I got that feelin' again.

What's that wagon doing out of line back there?

I don't know, I'll go check.

Tonight, Loaitha.

This is your big chance... Don't miss it.

Do you want to pick petals off daisies all your life...

"He loves me, he loves me not"?

With him, there'll always be a Milly or a Mary or a Becky or a Clara.

With your own people, there'll be a fine young brave,

and you'll be every petal in his life.

You'll find the Paiutes... You'll find your father!

No. I will not do it.

Why not?

My father will gather the Paiutes,

and they will ride here and kill Rex.

Well, I was only thinking about you.

I will tell Rex what you asked me to do!

All right, he's battered my face before.

And he'll batter yours again as long as you're with him.

I will not speak to Rex, Mr. Clyde.

And if that is all I have to hope for,

as you say,

I will be every other petal in his life.

Doesn't this country look like home?

Cherokee country?

The land is much the same.

I was thinking the same thing... Shan.

Why do you call me that?!

To see anger in my eyes, hear it in my voice?

I want you to feel it in here.

Think of Rex, think of the Wild West show.

One thing is a fact: cowboys fight Indians,

and it'll always be that way,

Indians on one side, cowboys on the other.

And he's a cowboy, a cruel rope that binds you and Loaitha to a carny show.

You're an Indian, Shanwaukee,

and whether you like it or not, you're a brother of the Paiutes.

Think of Loaitha... think of her as really being your daughter.

Being another Indian makes her your daughter, Shanwaukee.

I would like to wear this when I meet the Paiutes.

Good luck.

All right, folks, we're ready to roll.

Let's get loaded!

That's what the Major said... Get loaded.

I like you, Griff.

Keep your chin up, Loaitha. Smile.

I know it'll be hot staying up in that wagon all day,

but this is apt to be a pretty hot day for me, too.

We're going right through the heart of Paiute country.

And if I do?

Well, after the wagon train settles down tonight,

we'll take a walk.

Shan!

Shan!

Shan!

Clyde.

Where's Shan?

Who? Shan!

Heh heh...

This is my chessboard, Rex.

Yours and mine together, I should say,

and your whole life.

Shanwaukee was my bishop, I used him well.

I tried to capture your Queen, but failed.

Rodney was a pawn.

And Bill... Bill was a fine knight,

but he was expendable. Stop that kind of talk!

You're not writing a book.

But you're wrong, Rex. I am.

What are you trying to say, Clyde?

Shanwaukee's gone to the Paiutes

to tell them that Loaitha's here and what happened to her!

I am Shanwaukee, a Cherokee.

I come to speak with the chief of the Paiutes.

Speak. I am Tahzan.

I search for the father of Loaitha.

He lives in the sky.

When he could no longer see Loaitha,

his lips refused food and water.

There is a man who has cut many lives in half...

Major Adams, why are you fighting me?

I know this country better than you or any man alive.

I tell you the best route is to the south.

Now, why do you insist on fighting me?

I don't want to fight you, Montana...

or the Indians or the mountains or anything else.

But we're gonna fight 'em all if we go south.

The old Spanish trail, the Santa Fe,

is the best and fastest route to California.

You must know that.

I know that, Montana... If you're there, on it.

But have you ever tried to travel from right here to the Santa Fe trail?

The Washo Indians, Major?

I'm not talking about the Washos.

Here we've got nothing but flat land ahead of us,

we've no mountains to cross.

And there's a treaty with the Paiute nation that they'll keep.

A treaty? Loaitha.

That's right. You cannot believe what my people say.

There's a Paiute talking, Major.

Come on, let's get these wagons rolling.

ADAMS: Montana, this is my wagon train,

and I've got a scout out there who would let me know if there was any trouble.

You can take your outfit and go anywhere you want to,

but this train is gonna go where I want it to go.

The Major knows what he's doing, folks.

Sure does. Let's get this outfit movin'.

Major Adams?

Yes, Timmy?

Has there ever been a book written about you?

MILLY: Timmy!

I'm sorry, Major Adams,

but I'd like to do what Mr. Montana suggests.

I would too. So would I.

Let's vote on that.

Oh, I've known Mr. Montana for a long time...

and I'd like to do anything Major Adams says.

Well, Mr. Montana...

let's just get our horses and ride out and see which is the best way to go.

Where's the Major, Bill? Rode out a ways, Flint.

I don't know what's up, but you better warn the people.

There's a Paiute party headed this way.

Wagons'll clear through there all right. Let's get going.

Montana.

I know where wagons will go.

That's not why I came out here.

I came out here because I want to find out something.

What's eatin' you?

Why do you want to try to turn me south?

Let's don't waste time.

Montana...

answer my question, will ya?

Stop bothering me.

Why don't you go ask your people which way they want to go?

I know you.

You're their storybook hero.

But you're just meat and potatoes in my book, mister.

What are you goading me for, Major? You've seen me shoot.

Yeah, I've seen you shoot... Plates and a ten-cent watch.

But how good are you against a gun,

with a man's eyes on you?

You saw the man I shot in camp.

And the hammer on his rifle was cocked.

You know that, because I saw you lookin'.

But were his eyes on you?

Was he looking down that gun barrel at you when you killed him?

Stop baiting me, Major.

I knew a gunslinger once. I knew him a long time.

But I never saw him draw his gun.

He had a reputation, just like you.

Everybody was afraid to do anything but pat him on the back.

I'm-I'm warning you. Stop baiting me!

It isn't quite the same as a ten-cent watch, is it, mister?

Now go on back and tell those people that you've changed your mind.

Here comes your evil surf, Montana...

with their paint horses and their painted faces,

led by your own Indian boy.

Shan... uh, Shanwaukee.

I-I was looking for you all day.

Shan...

Heeyah!

Well, here they come.

Shan! Shanwaukee!

Shan! Shanwaukee!

The Paiutes have given their word, Mr. Winslow.

There will be no deaths.

Give us Loaitha...

That is all we ask. Right here.

Loaitha! Loaitha!

Loaitha! Loaitha!

Our friend Shanwaukee speaks of much suffering.

It will soon be forgotten, Loaitha.

Amen.

Start getting the folks back to the wagons, Bill.

All right, Major.

You had better words for that stranger we buried just the other day, Mr. Winslow.

He was a better man.

I kind of figured at the time that you knew him.

He was a great man, really great.

He spent his whole life taking care of the real hero at Bear Tooth Pass.

Major Adams...

I'd feel almost clean if you'd let me tell you the truth.

I'd like to tell you the real story about Rex Montana.

Why did it have to happen, Mommy?

Why did it have to be Rex Montana?

I don't know, Timmy.

Would the truth be respectful at this time, Mr. Winslow?

Respect for him?

I created Rex Montana, Major.

He was a figment of my imagination.

I was a newspaperman.

I didn't care about gold, just writing.

One day this kid rode in, Rex Hankins.

I never saw a kid so scared in my life.

He told me about the massacre and how he tried to stop it,

and then he rode on out of town.

I wrote a fine story and called the hero of it Rex Montana.

Sounded better than Hankins.

Later on I learned the real truth about Bear Tooth Pass,

then I got an offer to wrote a book.

Got on the trail of this Rex, and I found him.

He could smile and he could shoot, and that was it.

Well, we tied in together,

and I kept on writing books about Rex Montana.

Now do you see why I want to tell the truth?

What about Shanwaukee and that Indian girl?

That was my fault, too.

Oh, I don't mean the miserable lives two fine people have lived...

Anyway, Rex and I were roaming about the Paiaute country

looking for facts for the books.

Rex saw her and said she'd be great for the show.

Actually, it was a kidnapping at first.

She fell in love with him when he turned on the charm.

Now I'm beginning to see.

I created this hero, Major.

I gave him the glamor and the power that he used to destroy people.

Now can you see why I've got to tell the truth?

No, Mr. Winslow, I don't.

You can't do it.

No? Why not?

I'll tell you why not.

Because there's a lot of little fellas in the world just like Timmy Clark

that need a hero, somebody to look up to to pattern their lives after.

And a lot of grown-ups need heroes, too.

There's been enough destroying in the West, and killing...

Indians, buffalo, rivers being dammed up, fences built...

No, Mr. Winslow,

you just go on writing your books.

The West can use some fancy words written about it,

and a little glory, too.

There's a hundred wonderful stories you can write.

No, Major.

I'm turning back.

There's a fellow I've got to find...

Rodney, that real hero I was telling you about.

He needs someone to take care of him.

Are you gonna let the ghost of Rex Montana destroy you?

Well, Mr. McCullough, do you think you can get us to California?

I'll tell you, Major... I'll try real hard.

So long. So long, Wooster.

Well, Mr. Winslow,

have you changed your mind?

About turning back and finding Rodney?

No. I'm still going back, Major.

But I've been thinking. I'm going to take your advice.

I know that heroes sell books,

and I also know that there are two kinds of heroes.

The ones I'm going to write about are gonna be the real ones,

the ones that I've met and I know.

Like you say, Major,

there's a hundred wonderful stories to write.

They may not make money,

but maybe, just maybe,

they may come in handy fifty years from now

for the people that are interested in the men

that are really making this country great.

Well, that's the way I like to hear you talk.

I'm glad I met you, Major.

And I'm glad I met you.

I'll be looking for those books of yours.

So long.

Poor Mr. Winslow. He sure took Rex's death hard, didn't he?

Yeah, Charlie...

he sure did.

Come on, let's roll.

Wagons...

ho!

Heeyah! Giddyup there!

♪