Original subtitles

Good thing you had these in the house.

But you brought them last time you were here.

Oh, I did?

I'm through with this. Can you get any clean cloth for bandages?

Who are you?

What kind of a question is that?

I don't know what your game is, but you are not that two -legged swine, Claxton.

My ears now do the work of my eyes.

Your voice tells me you are not he.

A Warner Brothers television production.

The waterhole must be around here somewhere.

Well, anybody could make a mistake in this country. I just picked the wrong

bunch of rocks, that's all.

Oh,

here's my mistake.

That waterhole is just beyond these rocks, not in them.

We'll both be drinking cool, fresh water in just a couple of minutes.

That's him, all right.

Are you sure?

Six years in that Deer Lodge prison could change a man's looks.

As Telson.

Well, let's get it over with. You take him over there.

Stand up and turn around, Telson.

Get your hand away from the gun.

News travels fast, doesn't it, Hammond?

Ain't nothing happens in this territory that Claxton knows something about.

Since when did he put you as head of the welcoming committee?

You never had nerve enough to do a job by yourself. Who else is with you?

Hold it, Claxton. Don't come any further.

and I take it easy, fella.

So you had to come out in the open.

Your gun whelps couldn't finish the job.

But my name isn't Claxton, it's Maverick.

Well, Well, that's finished.

Oddly worth the trouble, I'd say.

You should respect the dead, mister, no matter what they were like alive.

Why?

They're lucky.

If that slug had creased your skull just a quarter of an inch deeper, you

wouldn't be talking right now.

Pays to have a hard head.

Here's what saved my life, deflected the other slug.

This fella you mistook me for, this Claxton.

Who is he?

Didn't you say you were just riding through, Maverick?

Yeah, I'm on my way to Cheyenne.

I was told this was the shortcut to the Bozeman Trail.

Then take my advice and keep riding.

This doesn't concern you.

Seems I heard mention of Claxton somewhere.

Let it go at that.

You better relax for a while.

I'll make it.

I'll need my gun.

Maverick, I appreciate what you've done for me.

If you want to ride with me away, I'll put you on the trail proper.

All right.

I want to make Fort Bozeman by tonight.

You, uh, you know anybody at the fort?

No, but it seemed like a safe place to bed down.

Better keep riding.

Why?

Well, with somebody who looks as much like Rod Claxton as you do, they'll have

to shoot first and ask questions later.

Now, Telson, I know this is tough country, and the Army's having a big job

keeping the lid on it, but you can't tell me that they're going to just go

shooting at somebody without a good reason.

All right.

If you want to be a trusting soul, that's your affair.

That's the road to the fort, and that's the main road. Take your pick.

I'll leave you here.

Stand where you are.

Both of you, you're under arrest.

Don't try to escape, or I'll... I know, Lieutenant. You'll shoot first and ask

questions later.

Don't give me any provocation, Claxton.

I'm not Claxton.

Tell him, Telson.

Telson?

Gus Telson?

Disarm that man.

What is happening, child?

Sergeant of the Guard on the Double!

Sergeant Rafferty, take these prisoners into custody.

Dismiss the detail, Corporal.

So, you caught the murdering renegade, Lieutenant.

Let me go wake up Captain Ransom and give my report.

And you bring them over to headquarters later.

This is one time the captain shouldn't mind having his nap spoiled.

It's Claxton!

They got Claxton!

No.

Get them off their horses.

All right, give me a chance to get my foot out of the stirrup.

We'll take them to the captain.

Perhaps Le Bon Dieu is not so forgetful after all, eh?

They'll hang him, Papa Rambo.

It's a pity they do not use Madame Guillotine in this country.

Time you are getting back home, my petite.

For a year and a half, I've been leading... Troll's personally trying to

hands on Claxton, and he falls right into your lap.

I'm sorry, sir. If I'd known it meant so much to you, I'd... You'd what,

Lieutenant?

Come in.

Sergeant of the Guard, reporting with prisoners as sergeant, sir.

So you finally slipped up, Claxton.

Captain, I... Silence.

I have a right to be heard, sir, and I intend to make the... Sergeant, if he

opens his mouth again, shut it for him. Yes, sir.

He claims he isn't Claxton, sir.

Naturally. He claims his name is Maverick.

So your name is Maverick.

And I suppose that's Little Miss Muffet.

Well, speak up.

My credentials are in my breast pocket.

The only credentials I need are right there.

That's me.

And where's the rest of your bunch?

Hammett, Doyle, and the other cutthroats?

Just a minute, Captain. I didn't mean that is me. I mean it looks like me.

You tell that to the hangman.

Sergeant, get him out of here. And post a double guard.

You heard the captain.

Let's go.

Captain, I've had all this I can take. My name is Bart Maverick, and I can

it. With stolen credentials?

We're not as stupid as you think.

You can leave walking or being carried.

What's your choice?

Guess.

Come along. Child, you just make things worse.

No.

I must find a way to help him.

To speak to him.

Untie their hand.

Everything out of your pockets.

So, you claim you ain't Claxton, eh?

My wallet, my identification's in it.

Let's see you duplicate the signature without looking at this one.

With pleasure.

He's right -handed.

What difference does that make?

Claxton's left -handed.

Or supposed to be.

He uses both hands as good as most people use one.

Why are you so interested in getting me hanged, Telson?

Just making a comment.

They're identical, all right.

Well, Sergeant, that ought to prove something.

Sure.

It proves you should have taken up forgery instead of killing and robbing.

Get them into a cell.

And your gratitude overwhelms me.

You stand in there babbling off like a fountain. You could have told them I

wasn't Claxton.

Wouldn't have done any good. The captain expected me to back up your story.

In the mood he was in, we'd both be hanging out there in the sun by our

I should have let you die back there at the waterhole.

What do you mean, back up my story?

And that lieutenant recognized you, didn't he?

You're mixed up with Claxton.

They haven't got anything on me.

When they check my story out, they'll find I've been in dear large prison,

got out.

They'll have to let me go.

A lot of good that does me.

It will.

They won't hang you for at least a month.

Army red tape.

And by that time, I'll be back with Claxton over my saddle.

Why? You after the reward?

No.

My reasons are strictly personal.

Psst. Rod.

Rod, how did you get in here? What happened?

Now, wait a minute. Is there anything I can do?

Get away from that window, girl.

Get away before you get hurt.

What's the idea? She must know Claxton. She know I'm not him.

She knows him.

That's why I'm gonna kill him.

Nelson, whether you like this or not, I'm in it up to my ears.

I've got to know what it's all about.

All right.

It ain't much of a story.

About six years ago, Claxton was United States Deputy Marshal.

That's when he went wrong.

He began to use the information he got in his office to pull robberies, hold

-ups, that sort of thing.

He had quite a gang. I was his second -in -command.

Yeah. Well, to make a long story short, he slipped up on one job, and I saved

him by taking the blame.

He was going to use my share of the loot to take care of some of my kin.

He didn't do it.

So when you got out, he knew you'd come back here to even up the score. That's

why I sent those two guns after you. That's it.

I could kill him with my bare hands if need be.

I found out how he took care of her.

Word gets around, even in prison.

Did you say her?

That girl at the window.

She doesn't know it.

But I'm her father.

Well, this Claxton sounds like quite a gent.

I don't know why the Army's so interested in him.

His case sounds like something for the civilian authorities.

Claxton hates the Army.

He pulls their tail every chance he gets.

A long time ago, he got the army payroll.

Three months running.

It's quite a trick.

He's got a line on everything that comes up the Bozeman Trail.

He knows when there's money, when there's a guard, and when they're riding

light. He's been driving him crazy for a year and a half.

What's that?

Well, now I know what it's all about.

But something still bothers me.

Suppose you don't catch up with Claxton when you get out of here.

What then?

You won't be the first innocent man to feel a rope around his neck.

It's that noise again.

What do you think it is?

Who cares?

It's our time.

Just put it down in the stool, will you?

You'd better eat it. You've got a long ride ahead of you.

Ride? Ride where?

You'll find out soon enough.

Captain, I demand an explanation.

Where are you taking us?

You have a right to know that.

You're going to Fort Fetterman to stand military trial.

Mil... Doesn't look like much of an escort, does it?

Well, it's my hope the rest of your band of cutthroats will think the same

thing.

Lieutenant Reed, upsides.

Yes, sir.

By now, your friends will know you've been taken.

They'll be looking for a chance to set you free.

But we're going to give them that chance with certain reservations.

Sergeant, get them mounted.

I got a funny feeling.

Right between the eyes.

Yeah, me too.

Don't you think it's about time you told the captain the truth?

Would he believe it?

Boy, that guy sure does spit an image of Claxton.

Telson with him?

Yeah, he's with him. He's right up front.

Nice, easy target.

You gonna take a crack at him?

We're gonna take a crack at all of them who they think they are trying to pull

out that wagon trick They ain't carrying nothing valuable.

Maybe the boss wouldn't want us to The boss left me in charge and I'm giving

orders I don't want anybody to fire till I put the first bullet in Telson.

You got that?

Yep. Have you got that?

Get those men out of the wagon.

All of you men out.

There are three men that side.

Have it for your men.

These orders aren't for us.

I was a young shave of rawhide in my way through a lot of trouble when I met

her.

Old man Rambo tried to break us up.

Helena and I ran off and got hitched anyway.

When Caprice came, I was in jail up in Beaumont.

So your wife brought the baby home to her father?

Yeah.

When I got out of jail, I... I heard Helena died.

Just a year after I was sent up.

The old man took the girl and raised her.

Told her her father was dead.

You can't blame him for that.

He was just trying to protect her.

I went along with it.

I stayed away, sent him money when I could.

But she's still my daughter.

Where does Claxton fit into this?

That was my mistake.

When I took that last jolt for him, I told him about the old man and the girl.

Ask them to look out for them. See that they didn't want for nothing.

Then it started to look like you and Helene all over again. Is that it?

No.

I loved Helene.

I married her all legal and proper.

But Claxton is using the girl like he uses everybody else.

That's why I gotta kill him before it's too late.

Well, the question is, what do we do now?

Between the army and Claxton, we're in a bit of a mess.

Well, sooner or later...

He's got to turn up at the Rambo place.

I aim to be there waiting for him.

You're in no condition to travel, Tilson.

I know that.

I can't make it alone.

You got to help me, Maverick.

You sure do ask a lot of a stranger, don't you, Tilson?

I ain't asking for myself.

It's for my kid.

I'm begging you, Maverick.

I'm in it this far.

I might as well go all the way.

You stay there and rest.

I'll pack our gear.

What's the matter?

You shouldn't be so stubborn, ma 'am. With Claxton's gang on the loose, you

your grandfather would be much safer at the fort.

Thank you very much for your concern, but we'll be all right here. Good night,

Lieutenant.

A pity you did not hang that pig when you could do it.

That's right, Papa.

Good night.

Detail mount!

Easy, easy.

I'm getting dizzy.

Someone is coming.

I don't hear anything.

But I do, thanks to my blindness.

Two of them, walking their horses.

Rod!

Rod!

Rod!

Rod, darling.

I was so worried.

The soldiers were just here and they told me what happened.

But I knew they couldn't keep you.

Are you all right?

The lieutenant said that... Slow down. Slow down and take it easy.

Oh.

He's hurt bad.

Help me get him into the house.

Soldiers always seem to hit the wrong one.

Caution!

It's a good thing you had these in the house.

But you brought them last time you were here.

Oh, I did?

I'm through with this. Can you get any clean cloth for bandages?

Who are you?

What kind of a question is that?

I don't know what your game is.

But you are not that two -legged swine, Claxton.

My ears now do the work of my eyes.

Your voice tells me you are not he.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but... Shh.

She's coming back.

Will these do?

That's fine.

I've never seen him before.

Is he one of your new men?

Yeah.

His name is Gus Tellson.

I hope he'll be all right.

Child. Yes, Papa?

See, there's a fire in my room.

There is a chill in the air tonight.

Yes, Papa.

I'll get you and Mr. Tellson some blankets.

Thank you.

I am an old man without eyes.

But if you bring pain into that child's heart, I will see you in your grave.

She believes her father to be dead.

She has never known his name.

Relax, Papa Rambo.

Tellson feels the same way. He was coming here to get rid of this Claxton

business. That and nothing more.

And who are you?

What is your purpose here?

Same as yours.

And his.

To finish Claxton.

Only my reasons are a little more selfish.

Ah, the reward, eh?

My life.

You'd understand that if only you could see.

I understand, all right.

If you could fool Caprice, you could fool anyone.

Except Claxton.

Your fire is ready, Papa Rambo.

Your room is as warm as toast.

Ah, merci.

In that case, I will leave my door open.

I want to talk to you, Caprice.

On the porch.

Papa Rambo has ears like a cat.

So I gathered.

What's wrong?

Wrong?

Nothing, Rod. Nothing's wrong.

You had the strangest feeling when I kissed you.

Like it was the first time.

That should make it more interesting.

You seem so different.

Was it bad?

The foot, I mean.

It won't be one of my fondest memories.

Yesterday, after I drove Papa Rambo home, I saddled up a horse and went up

Signal Hill.

I waited all day hoping some of you men would come.

Signal Hill?

Overlooking the fort.

You named it that yourself.

Oh, yeah.

It's been a trying day.

I'm not thinking clearly.

When will it be over?

This fighting and running?

Soon, Caprice. Sooner than you think.

I get so afraid for you at times.

You just can't spend your life fighting. There's too many of them.

It's not easy to change when you're not alone.

Only because they made you be.

Are there lying accusations?

Oh, Rod, we can run away together. California.

Get married. Raise our children in a new land.

You're quite a woman.

I'm your woman if you want me.

Well, right now, woman, I've got some heavy thinking to do, and you need your

sleep.

I don't have to be hit with an anvil.

I can take a hint.

Kiss me goodnight.

Are you going to stand out there talking all night?

Ears like a cat.

And you are a minx.

Now go on to bed.

Follow that path I told you about. You will have no trouble finding the place.

Ash, it must be a remarkable resemblance to fool Caprice.

I'm not sure that she's fooled.

How often does Claxton get out here to the ranch?

Oh, sometimes two or three days together, sometimes not for weeks.

He's a smart one.

You never know what he will do or when.

I just can't understand how you'd ever let Caprice get mixed up with a man like

him. She has her mother's blood.

Mother had your blood.

No, it's too late for that cane, Papa. You should have used that 20 years ago.

It's as you say.

It's too late now.

I am an old man, but I am not helpless.

I didn't say that.

I'll see you in a while.

You don't have to do that.

I can feed myself.

Well, you'll have to eat to keep your strength up.

I, uh, I didn't mean to sound rude.

I want you to know I'm grateful for what you're doing, Caprice.

Your name is Miss Rambo to you, Telson.

Behave yourself, Papa.

I asked Mr. Telson to call me Caprice.

Granddaddy's right.

A man like me has no right to call a young lady by her first name.

That's nonsense.

Maybe so.

But I shouldn't have come here in the first place.

And the moment I'm able to travel, I'll leave.

I wouldn't want to do anything to make you sorry I came to your house.

See that you keep on thinking that way.

Don't talk that way, Papa.

It's all right, Miss Rambo.

We understand each other.

The old man and I.

Patrols out.

Stay low.

Neat. Very neat indeed.

I heard you coming a mile away.

Let me unsettle him for you.

Thanks.

Did you find the signal hill?

I found it. I also found out Claxton gets his information.

Ah.

There's coffee on the stove if you want it.

Caprice?

Here, Rod. In Papa Rambo's room.

What are you doing in here?

Papa Rambo made me bring him in here.

He said the couch was too hard for a wounded man.

Well, what do you know?

What about that?

Oh, the sling?

He gave me that, too.

I almost had one of those relapses when he did. You don't understand him.

Understanding works two ways.

Why do you say that?

Don't pay any attention to him, Caprice.

Gus always likes that last word.

Isn't that right, Gus?

Yeah. It's a failing of mine.

I better get cleaned up.

Come out here.

He's coming.

Claxton? Well, how do you know?

He rides a mare that's single -foot.

I heard him across the hardpan flats, two minutes away.

How many with him?

Alone. Who are you talking about?

Who's alone, Papa Rambo? Caprice, you'd do anything I ask of you, wouldn't you?

Well, of course, but what... That's what I'm afraid of.

I hate to do this.

What are you doing?

No time to explain, Papa. Inside, quick.

What's wrong?

You just lie there and don't make a sound.

Claxton's coming.

Claxton, give me a gun.

You do what I tell you, Gus. There's no time for heroics.

You sit down, Papa Rambo.

Invite him in, but act normal.

Leave the rest to me.

You don't have to shout, Claxton.

You're moving. You're a dead man, Claxton.

Put those hands over your head.

You heard me up.

Other people don't.

That's why we're going back to Fort Bozeman together.

My own father wouldn't know the difference.

Mine would.

A gun belt collects the non -bucklers.

Rod.

Rod, darling.

Capri, stay back. Stay back!

All right, mister, what's it gonna be?

Make up your mind.

I don't understand.

I fooled you, too, huh, baby?

I thought it was you.

So does the Army.

Your name's Maverick, isn't it?

That pipeline you've got with the Ford is pretty efficient, isn't it?

So you know about that, too, huh?

Give me a rope, Caprice. The army wants Rod Claxton. The army's gonna get him.

What are you gonna do?

I'd bother with a rope, Claxton.

You have no intention of delivering me to that fort alive.

Why don't you get it over with right now? Why don't you want Caprice to see

you're really like?

Don't tempt me, Maverick.

Get that rope. But, Rod!

Honey, you remember what I promised you?

We'd go away together and start a new life all over again.

Well, this is our chance, beginning right now.

You're not going anywhere with my daughter, Claxton.

Daughter?

No! No!

Looks like you're the only one left to finish off.

Oh, Guthrie.

Caprice? Caprice, help me pull this toad sticker out of my back.

Caprice!

I see it, but I don't believe it.

I'm glad you got here, Lieutenant.

Claxton was going to kill me.

That's not going to work, Claxton.

Look, I don't know who's what.

We're not being taken in.

Sergeant is on that man.

Now, Lieutenant, I can take... That's enough, Sergeant!

I told you he was trying to kill me.

He was going to turn me in as him. He made me change clothes with him.

He knifed me when I tried to resist.

Is that true, Miss Caprice?

She'll tell you I'm not Claxton.

Can you tell me, which one is he?

He's the man you want.

He's Rod Claxton.

You dirty little double -dealing.

Take him outside, Sergeant.

Tie him to a saddle and tie him tight. Yes, sir.

Well, it was providential that we were passing along the trail when I heard

gunshot, Miss Caprice.

Here, you men.

Carry that body out into the other room.

Give me your gun, I'll knock you out.

I can't do it, Claxton.

They chopped me neck off. You crazy, Rafferty? You take me in and they'll

me. And how will you get your share of the loot?

I've got everything stashed away.

We'll split it, just the two of us.

All of it?

You heard me, didn't you?

Lieutenant, go outside quick and stop Rafferty before he lets Claxton escape.

What are you talking about?

Rafferty. It's Claxton's contact at the fort, the one who fed him all that

information.

It's impossible.

I used a heliograph from that supply room underneath the sentry box. When I

in the guardhouse, I saw him go up and down those stairs twice.

I didn't see his face, but I saw a knife slit in his boot.

I just saw that same slit in Rafferty's boot.

You expect me to believe that... Oh, there's no time.

It was a mistake to trust the likes of him. Yes, it was, Sergeant.

You'll have plenty of time to realize just how big a mistake.

I know what it meant, Caprice.

He promised you a lot of things.

Pretty close.

Places like New Orleans, San Francisco.

He promised to take me away from these lonely mountains.

I understand.

How could you?

I didn't understand myself until today.

You're a brave girl.

Do you know what I first began to understand?

When you kissed me.

It was so different.

So gentle.

I never felt that way with Rod before.

Would you kiss me again?

Who is the tall, dark stranger there?

Maverick is the name.

Riding the trail to who knows where, luck is his companion, Campton is his

Smooth as a handle on a gun, Maverick is the name.

Wild as a wind in Oregon, blowing up a canyon, easier to tame.

Riverboat, ring your bell.

is a legend of the West.

Rebel, I'll ring your bell.

Farewell, Annabelle.

Luck is a lady that he loves the best.

Hatch to New Orleans.

Living on Jackson, Queens.

Maverick is a legend of the West.