Original subtitles

He'll do as good as anybody, Jay.

Good.

Get him ready to take in, Jay.

And now, "Colt .45"

A Warner Bros. Television production.

Banning lie ahead ?

About four miles, mister. We're ridin' in ourselves.

- Accident ? - Accident on purpose.

We found him back in the hills.

The Sioux had lifted his scalp.

I thought Two Moon's party had gathered for a parlay.

I guess he thought so too.

He downed a buck on Sioux treaty land.

And something stirred them up.

What ?

You ask a lot of questions.

I expect a lot of answers.

I'm Captain Sam Colt.

I have a temporary federal appointment

as Indian agent here.

Then you oughta know it don't take no more

than the sight of a white man

with his hair still in place

to stir up those red bellies.

Two Moons has a reputation of a peaceful chief.

Maybe we better wake that fellow up and tell him.

He'd be mighty pleased to know it.

Jay..

I hate army captains almost as much as I do Indians.

Think he'll foul up what you're tying to do, boss ?

Might.

Best thing is we just make sure he never finds out.

Ink's still wet, folks !

I was thinking I can hear about when the army's coming back.

I hear a writer's going after the troops tonight.

Could take him a whole week to catch up with them.

Whole town'd be in cinders by the time they get here.

It isn't that bad yet,

Two Moons a fair man and he'll parlay.

It says right there.

"The Sioux under Two Moon have left their camp

on Little Sandy to maraud in the north.

We could all be killed in our sleep.

There's one sure way of getting around that.

How ?

Stay away.

Good afternoon.

Something I can do for you ?

You can soften the tone of your stories on the Sioux.

That's assuming you're the editor.

Well, I'm Seth Johnson the editor.

But a man by the name of Harry Warden

is the owner and publisher.

- 'Have you met him ? - No, I haven't.

Well, had you, I wouldn't have anything else to say.

See, he's more concerned with selling papers

than he is with printing the pure truth.

Well, how does that sit with you ?

Oh, I keep hanging around hoping I can change him.

Meantime, are you a renowned gunman

aiming to terrorize the citizens here ?

No.

Our new Indian agent.

Say, I can get a good story on that.

What do you think the chances are of an Indian uprising ?

Quite small if wise heads prevail.

If not, rather good.

What about Custer ?

Is he moving his army into the territory ?

No, the general's much more concerned

with Sitting Bull than Two Moons.

Two Moons is basically a peaceful chief.

But if he's aroused, he's bad medicine.

Well, Mr. Warden and...

some of our councilmen aren't particularly noted

for exuding sweet reason, captain.

But maybe if I can print a good strong editorial..

That would be a help.

Seth..

There's some trouble at the saloon

you wanna cover it for the paper ?

What is it, Ed ?

Ed Garrick, the prospector.

'He's giving Clay, that young breed a bad time.'

Is Clay armed ?

He's got a knife.

Would you like to join us, captain ?

Yes, I would.

Just because a man has some white blood

that doesn't make him a white man.

My nose tells me he ain't no whiter than this floor.

Clay never causes no trouble, Mr. Garrick.

Maybe that's because nobody here in Banning

has the guts to face up to a Sioux.

I'll go. Is that what you want ?

See what happens if you do face up to one of 'em ?

They stick their tails between their legs

and run like the little cur dogs that they are.

I'll stay.

You're gonna stay, Indian.

Moose here has been hankering to Indian wrestle.

Sure. Ain't had any fun in days.

No breed's gonna do that to one of my men.

If you want any men left fit for work, mister

I suggest you get on back to your diggin'.

You standing up for that Sioux, Colt ?

I haven't been with the Sioux for a long time.

And how many scalps have you taken

since you quit running with the red bellies ?

None.

Go on, Clay.

Seth came here to cover a story,

'not write an obituary.'

You told me that hunter was killed on treaty land.

That's right.

What were you doing on treaty land ?

Taking a shortcut back to my diggings.

Oh ?

On my way down, I did some asking around about you, Gary.

Why ?

'I'm always interested in a man who's been'

"cashiered out of the United States Army.'

Even more interested when I found out

his diggings are petering out.

Could it be you've heard about the gold and silver

on the Sioux treaty line, Garrick ?

I told you, I was taking a shortcut.

If you don't believe that explanation, I can't help it.

- Big man. - Yeah.

A Sioux war era would sure take a lot of starch out of him.

I shouldn't have dislocated his shoulder, Seth.

I could've just beat him and let it go at that.

Let's call it a slight case of stupidity, Clay.

It won't sit too well with the townspeople.

Even if I do write the facts.

You think that man, Garrick

might go to the town marshal about it ?

Well, not for a couple of days.

He's taking a prisoner over Ragtown way.

You know, Clay, I think you oughta go off

on a pony hunting trip.

It'll give things a chance to simmer down around here.

Oh, Clay, this is Captain Colt

temporary Indian agent here.

Stirred up quite a rumpus, didn't ya ?

'Yes, I shouldn't have done it.'

It's hard enough for a half white

to live peacably here.

That's good advice, Seth.

'I think I'll take it.'

Clay..

You won't go back to the Sioux ?

No. No, I won't go back to the Sioux.

'He has a little spread down by the river cabin.'

Raises himself ponies.

You know, folks around here were just beginning

to get a different idea about the Sioux.

'Knowing him.'

Then these miners appeared in Banning.

Yes. How did you know ?

There's nothing they'd like better

than an Indian uprising.

The people that would be killed..

It's not conceivable anyone would look forward to that.

You can be sure that those men

would be in the clear once the fighting started.

'They'd wait for the army to push the Sioux'

clear back out of the Black Hills.

Then they'd go in for what they really want. Gold.

Who has burned my barn and killed my ponies ?

Gold seekers.

Last night, I saw them.

They make war on ponies.

I should've known they would do something.

I'm called Running Deer.

I've come from your tribe, Ko Inota.

I'm known as Clay, Running Deer.

Even with this having happened

you would be known by a white man's name ?

I've known good white men.

They would be shamed by this.

Then the good ones will suffer with the bad, Ko Inota.

I've been sent to bring you message.

Two Moons begins to thirst for the blood of the white man.

I wish that would not happen, Running Deer.

Two Moons would listen to your words kindly.

There's little here to keep you

from saying them to him and his council.

Yes.

There's a white man. An Indian agent named Colt.

Two Moons should know him.

Why do you not keep up with me, Running Deer ?

It is not done, Ko Inota.

Won't you do it ?

For me ?

- Captain. - Clay.

This is Running Deer of Two Moons' tribe.

Why aren't you out rounding up ponies, Clay ?

I've nothing to ride.

The gold hunters have burned my barns

and killed my ponies.

Garrick's men ? Are you certain of that ?

I myself saw them as I came to get..

...Clay for my chief.

Why does Two Moons want Clay ?

Because he prepares to make war on the whites.

He sent an emissary to seek a parlay with the gold hunters.

They killed him without warning.

This emissary, did he ride peacably ?

In the Sioux custom, captain.

Clay, do you intend joining Two Moons ?

I will tell him that it's Garrick's men

who want this bloodshed.

- Will he listen to you ? - I have reason to believe so.

I will also tell him that you're here.

- And arrange for a parlay. - Good.

My information about Garrick's mine was right.

It's running out.

I'll ride to the north after dusk.

You can meet me there with the arrangements for the parlay.

You don't actually intend printing this

in my newspaper, do you, Johnson ?

'Well, I didn't have it set up'

just to give the boys practice, Mr. Warden.

But it's excusing the Sioux.

And that is something I will not countenance.

It excuses no one, sir.

It merely asks the people of Banning

to act reasonably.

And who are you ?

Mr. Warden, this is Captain Sam Colt.

You have quite a responsibility, Mr. Warden.

I had hoped you'd use it wisely.

I'll use my newspaper as I see fit, captain.

Well, so far, you're using it

for the interests of a man who wants

nothing but death for you

and everyone else in Banning.

Oh ? And who might that be ?

Ed Garrick.

Garrick happens to be one man

who isn't frightened by a bunch of savages, captain.

You believe that, don't you ?

Implicitly.

And it's time some of the others in Banning remembered

'that it's tough sinewed men like Garrick'

who opened the west in the first place.

Garrick is the kind that trespasses

on Indian treaty land.

He'd do anything for gold, even murder.

Well, I don't know about that.

Garrick started this whole trouble

with the Sioux purposely.

And in cold blood.

Do you think he'll be around

when Two Moons' braves retaliate ?

Yes ! And what do you mean, started it in cold blood ?

He killed Two Moons' emissary for no reason.

You mean the Indian who was killed last week ?

Yes.

Well, you certainly can't fault him for that.

This red belly came riding into his camp

shouting, shooting his gun in the air.

A man has a right to protect himself.

Have you lived here long ?

Twenty-three years to be exact, why ?

Well, in that time, you ought to know better.

Than what ?

When an Indian shoots his gun in the air

it's a sign of peace.

When a man comes riding into your camp, shooting...

In the air !

He wants to show his gun is empty.

Empty gun. No bullets.

Sign of peace.

A man can get kind of unpopular around here

if people begin to think he's siding with the Sioux..

Mr. Warden..

You're not siding with anyone.

Except the idea of using some common sense.

But it isn't common sense to go against

your own people, captain.

It's just downright foolishness

not to understand that Garrick and his men want war.

With Two Moons' braves chewed up by the army

he's free to go in and exploit the treaty land.

But you'll all be dead.

He's right, Mr. Warden.

Well, alright.

But put a little pep into it, Johnson.

Give it a little sting.

- And put my name on it. - Yes, sir.

Thank you, captain.

I couldn't have pulled that off in a million years.

You know, I could use some coffee before I start

inserting the purple prose.

Interested ?

Interested.

Bill Myers makes a pretty good cup of coffee

Seth !

Seth ! Seth !

They caught up with him just right outside of town.

Who caught who, Ed ?

Garrick and his men.

I tried to stop them but..

- Just take it easy. - 'They hung him.

Right there, they hung him to a tree.

- It was awful. - Who got hung ?

Clay, the young breed.

When's the marshal due back, Sam ?

Not until |late this afternoon.

Alright, Ed, let's have the details.

We ran across him at the river.

Clay and a pretty young Sioux.

What happened to her ?

Well, he diverted them until she swam across the river.

A-And then..

What were you doing with them, Ed ?

I..

I guess I got talked into something.

Garrick got the idea to hurrah

the, the Sioux Camp and..

If I don't get back

telegraph General Custer and tell him

plan B has become necessary.

What are you gonna do ?

Try and stop a war.

What do you have, Colt ?

Get your horses.

I'm taking you in for the murder of Clay.

You're a little out of your territory, ain't ya ?

I said, get your horses !

We're all going back to Banning.

Now, what makes you think so ?

These.

It's four to one, Colt.

How many times do you figure you can

pull those triggers before we got ya ?

Once for sure, Garrick.

I think it's a bluff.

Well, there's one positive way to find out.

Well, now, look, captain

we probably got off on the wrong foot.

'It was probably all my fault but..'

'I'm man enough to apologize.'

'And I was hoping that you were gonna be man enough to..'

Get behind the wall, I'll cover ya.

Break it off and pull it out.

They scared your horses off.

Well, not yours.

You think we could ride double ?

Not a chance against Indian ponies.

I..

I dropped my gun out there.

I'd feel a lot safer with a weapon.

You'll get a pistol when they hit us.

'"You think they're still out there ?"

Yeah.

What are they waiting for ?

Somebody to do something stupid.

- We can't just sit here. - What do you suggest ?

I think one of us ought to take that horse

and make a break for it.

Our only chance is to stay here and hold out.

Two against all of them ?

I guess they'll hit us before dark.

When they do, aim for Two Moons.

'If we Kill their chief, there's a chance they'll draw off.'

Maybe.

What happens if they don't ?

Well, if you're a praying man..

You want sing your death song, white face ?

Then die.

Let the man free.

You are free to go.

Thank you.

Can I tell the people of the town

the chief of the Sioux will not make war ?

I will have to search my heart

before I can give such message.

The man who killed the chief's emissary is dead.

The Sioux can ride home with honor.

There's one question.

Ask it.

Why are you letting me go ?

You know Ko Inota ?

I don't think so.

'Known as Clay.'

I know him.

Ko Inota, my son.

Seth !

What is it, Ed ?

Well, we can understand

Captain Colt has to go but..

...it seems a shame for you to be riding out

just when the town's of a mind to listen to you.

Seth's riding with me, Mr. Childs.

Yes, sir. But I just thought that...

Not for long.

Just far enough to pay the town's respects

at the burial of Two Moons' son.

♪ There was a gun that won the west ♪

♪ There was a man among the best ♪

♪ The fastest gun or man alive ♪

♪ A lightning bolt when he drew that Colt .45 ♪

♪ He carried the message of law and of order ♪

♪ Into a wicked land ♪

♪ With a Colt single action army revolver ♪

♪ Blazing from either hand ♪

♪ There was the right, there was the wrong ♪

♪ The gun was quick, the man was strong ♪

♪ And peace was made when they'd arrived ♪

♪ A lightning bolt when he drew that Colt .45 ♪

♪ Colt .45 ♪

♪ Colt .45 ♪