Original subtitles

The way everybody's acting, you'd think we's carrying a million in gold.

Yeah, this is one time that the brass on board's worth

more than any gold shipment. I tell you that.

Well, according to the itinerary, general,

our next stop is Sherman's relay station,

only another 15 miles.

Fifteen miles!

That's about fourteen and a half too far.

It's coming, Obie.

Good.

We'll take our time, wait till they're close.

Hey, they're stopping.

They're making it easy for us.

Captain, I'll be using your mount.

You and Sergeant Carruthers can stay with the coach.

Sir, my orders are to take you--

Captain, you have just received your orders.

Yes, sir.

Is there a shortcut to that next way station?

Yes, sir.

Due east over the ridge.

That's fine.

Now that we don't have to stop them,

the target for all of us will be the general.

Hold it.

Now what is that old bearcat up to?

Father.

Can't you be patient? It isn't much further.

There are people waiting for you in Laramie, important people.

Lucy, I just want to stretch my legs,

just get the dust out of my lungs.

Even just be alone for a bit, I'll be all right.

You don't seem to realize,

you're not just a general anymore.

Just a general? I always thought

that was a pretty important thing to be.

You're just gonna let him ride on alone, captain?

You heard his orders, Harper.

I'm not about to disobey him.

Well, I got my orders too, from the stage line.

I'm taking your horse, sergeant.

You can have my nice soft seat up on top.

Harper, take care of him,

he's been under quite a strain.

I'll do my best, ma'am.

If your father's gonna be the next president,

he ought to start thinking of others instead of himself.

Obie, what do you make of all that?

I've got no idea.

But it's making our job a lot simpler.

Bring the horses, Jason.

Giddy up.

Harper, you heard my orders, I'm riding alone.

I heard them.

But I'm not in your army, general.

And I never was.

I was hired as your escort.

To do my job, I have to ride with you.

You don't think I can take care of myself, huh?

I wouldn't know about that.

Somebody seems to think you need looking after,

so here I am.

Yeah, so I see.

I'm fed up with talking politics.

I was just riding to blow the cobwebs out.

As far as I know, we got nothing

to talk about, sir.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

That makes you just about the only man in the whole country

that doesn't want to tell me something.

Let's keep it that way.

Mike's still scouting for that stage?

Yes, and I'm afraid he'll break his neck doing it.

Well, I suppose we shouldn't blame him.

'Tisn't every day we have the next president

of the United States coming through here.

Now wait a minute, he's not elected yet.

- He's not even nominated. - He will be.

Daisy, help me, will you?

Hmm. Slim, you knew him.

What kind of a man is he?

Well, when I knew him, Daisy, he was-- he was hard driving,

he was strict but he had to be,

and he was a fine officer.

I guess his record in the war proved that.

And he did a lot to put an end

to the Indian troubles out here.

Well, isn't all that in his favor?

Sure, but that still doesn't mean

he's gonna be a good president.

Maybe not.

But I like what I've heard and read of him.

He comes straight to the point and says what he thinks.

Hey, maybe he could use a good campaign manager.

I think I'll suggest you for the job.

Slim. Aunt Daisy.

It's coming! It's coming!

I'll get the coffee ready, Slim.

All right.

The general, where is he?

Isn't this his coach?

It was until he decided to leave it.

I wouldn't worry, Lucy.

Your father's a fine horseman.

He'll probably be along any minute.

He should have been here before us.

You know your father, he probably went off on some tangent.

That's exactly what I'm afraid of.

That man Harper, is he reliable?

Is he with the general?

Do you always answer one question with another?

That depends on how it's asked, ma'am.

If Jess Harper is with General Barton,

I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.

I'm sure we don't.

Ah, the general was tired of the coach,

your man Harper is riding with him.

Perhaps we can wait inside?

Oh, sure.

- I'm Slim Sherman. - Jeremy Thorne.

This is General Barton's daughter.

I hope we won't be putting you to any trouble,

Mr. Sherman.

Won't you come in?

Oh, and that's--

that's an invitation, miss, not a question.

General.

I used to do this as a boy, Harper.

Very relaxing.

Gets all the kinks out.

Well, this ain't the Potomac,

and you're not using silver dollars.

Eh?

Yeah, I get your point.

I suppose my problems don't amount

to much alongside General Washington.

Maybe not, but right now I figure mine do.

You got problems?

Just one, getting you to Laramie.

They'll all be waiting, won't they?

You're not dealing with troops now, general.

You can't keep a town waiting.

Besides, your daughter will be worried.

It's time we ride.

Is that an order?

If that's what it takes to get you moving,

yes, sir.

You know, another time and another place,

you'd have your hands full

telling me what to do, Mr. Harper.

But right now all I can do is envy your single-mindedness.

You stay that way.

Take my word for it,

keep your life simple and straight.

That way, you can get some sleep at nights.

Thanks for the advice.

You coming?

I'll get the horses.

[ gunshots ]

Cover our flank, Harper.

Go on, get moving.

Nice shooting.

Two of them are hit.

How about you?

Oh, I've been hurt worse.

Well, we put them to running, Harper.

I doubt if they'll be back.

Yeah, at least not for a while.

I'll take care of this best I can.

- Here. - Then we're clearing out.

Um, ow.

I wonder why an ambush.

The war isn't exactly ancient history, you know.

A lot of people like to see you dead.

Including you, huh?

War ended for me a long time ago, general.

What are you, Harper?

Republican, Democrat?

I don't pay much attention to the party.

I'm more interested in the man.

Oh, then I suppose you'd think twice before you voted for me.

I'd think twice before I voted for anybody.

Got it.

I really think it's best, Lucy.

It isn't just the people in Laramie,

we can give them an excuse for the general being late.

But the men from the party are a different story.

After all, they traveled all the way out here just to meet him.

I'm sure you can handle it, Mr. Thorne.

Now hold on. Jess and your father shouldn't be this late.

If you're going into town, you ought to get in touch with the sheriff.

We can organize a search party.

I don't believe you understand, Mr. Sherman.

Suppose we do stir up the sheriff and the townspeople,

and then we find the general has been hunting

or fishing or simply sightseeing.

Now wouldn't that make us all look a little foolish,

including the general?

She's right, Sherman.

Might be that politics is a little over your head.

Why don't you let us worry about it, hmm?

Captain and I will smooth things over, Lucy.

Thank you, Mr. Thorne.

All right.

Giddy up.

Ha. Ha.

I don't mean to upset you, Miss Barton,

but seems your father just might be in trouble.

My father is one thing,

the general with the presidency

almost in his hands, that is quite another.

I see, so that comes first.

Well, I won't look for your father,

but you won't mind if I check on Jess, will you?

Rider coming, general.

You don't think they're gonna try again?

I'm not waiting to find out.

Take cover.

Well, you'll never get a better shot.

No need to.

What's the matter, general?

Don't you recognize one of your former officers?

I had a lot of them, Harper.

Yeah, well, this is the one I told you about.

My partner.

Sherman.

Well... he's put on a few pounds.

Most of us have.

Over here!

General. Where in the blazes have you been?

- Where do you think? - Hello, Sherman.

We were worried about you, general.

No use to worry, I was in capable hands.

What happened?

Oh, we had a little skirmish a ways back.

Mr. Harper here acquitted himself

very expertly in driving them off.

Them?

Yeah, there were three of them, that's all we know.

General got nicked in the arm.

I figure Daisy could patch him up,

so we could go on into Laramie.

Well, we'll have to take him.

Mr. Thorne and the captain took the coach into town,

said they were gonna smooth things over

with those men you were supposed to meet.

Yes, Mr. Thorne would do just that.

He's very good at oil pouring.

But, Mr. Harper, I can't say

that I agree with your diagnosis of my...

little scratch.

This thing could be serious.

Tell me at this relay station,

can you put up a few people?

Well, we've got the extra bedroom,

and there's the bunkhouse.

Fine.

Lucy can have the room, I'll quarter in the bunkhouse.

That stubborn old war horse.

I pulled him out of a close scrape

and he moves in on us.

Not much we can do about it.

He's just set against going into town.

I'm glad he was your C.O. and not mine.

We've already had to cancel the general's reception

for this afternoon.

Is this a foretaste of what it's going

to be like to campaign with him?

You can plan it for tomorrow noon.

I think I can have him here by then.

I strongly suggest that you do that.

You were sent out here to bring him into Laramie.

Yes, Mr. Thorne.

And what about the speeches he's been making?

I thought you were going to write them for him.

I did.

He tore them up.

Did you tell him that attitude may cost him the nomination?

Yes, many times.

And so did his daughter.

Gentlemen, we may have made a mistake in the man.

Oh, he's a popular hero, a name,

but he's too stubborn for his own good and ours.

There are other men.

Like yourself?

Naturally I have certain hopes.

Mr. Thorne, I don't quite know how to stress this,

but your political future is tied in with the general's.

Without him you're dead.

Bide your time, you'll make the best running mate

this country ever knew.

Just bring the general around to the party's views.

That's easy to say.

Well, I think you can find a way.

Now this is the speech the general will deliver

tomorrow afternoon in Laramie.

You'll give it to him, Mr. Thorne.

And make sure that he agrees to every word of it.

If he won't, there is not much point

to either one of you showing up.

Thorne.

What are you doing here, Loomis?

You were supposed to contact me

in Cheyenne, not Laramie.

We decided to do our work elsewhere than planned, Mr. Thorne.

Just in case those plans included setting us up for a hanging.

You haven't tried already.

Oh, you might say we had a practice run.

And the general?

Just a scratch, we think.

Where is he?

- I don't know exactly. - Is he coming into Laramie?

Eventually, yes.

But it doesn't make any difference now.

I want the whole thing called off.

- Called off? - Here's the rest of your money.

Paid it in full. Now just forget the whole thing, get out of town.

We didn't go into this just for the money.

I know, that's why you were picked for the job.

But the general at this time

has become very important to us.

Whatever you say, Mr. Thorne.

Then you're leaving.

What else is there to do?

Good.

Glad I saw you in time.

I think it might be better if we didn't meet again.

You know something, Jason?

I'm not at all sure that Mr. Thorne is acting

in the best interest of everyone who hired us.

We ain't for sure leaving,

not after just laying Quinn in his grave.

This is supposed to be the final payment.

I just figure we got an advance.

Don't worry, Jason, I haven't forgotten my brother,

or that the general killed him, not for a minute.

How's your hand?

Just aching to hold a rifle, Obie.

You'll get that chance... and soon.

Golly, Jess.

General Barton's gonna stay in our old bunkhouse,

ain't that something?

Yeah, it sure is, Mike.

Next thing you know, we'll have to have a pass to get in the barn.

Come on, give me a hand.

If there's anything else you need, sir, just let me know.

Uh, no, Sherman, don't leave.

Lucy, I'm very tired.

You just don't realize what's at stake, do you?

Yes, I do. Just a little bit more than anybody else around here,

I'm beginning to think.

Then why are you throwing this chance away?

You seem to be doing everything you can

to lose the nomination.

Because I--

I'm sorry to drag you into a family quarrel like this

but this is a public matter now.

You see, Sherman, they're trying to get me to soft-pedal some of my views,

get them to conform to those of the party.

In short, they want to turn me into a puppet!

You cannot always have everything your own way,

at least not at first.

I'm used to having my own way,

and I'm used to winning, that's all I know!

Do you think I should give in,

let them tell me what to do?

Frankly, sir, I can't see anyone telling you

what to do about anything.

Well, maybe you will be able to after you get

to know my daughter better.

Now, Lucy, I really am tired, my wound hurts very much,

and I'm planning on sleeping, do you mind?

Yes, truthfully I do.

But arguing with you two old army mules

is just too much for me.

I never realized

how unreasonable Lucy can be at times,

but then I...

I never did really get a chance to get to know her.

She's just concerned about you, sir.

I guess you're right.

Well, Sherman, they used to call you Slim, didn't they?

Still do, sir.

All right, then, Slim, my name is George,

not general, not sir.

George Barton.

I don't know, sir.

I-- I doubt if I could call you George any easier

than I could call General Grant Ulysses.

Here, let me give you a hand.

Yeah, thanks. You know, I'm sorry

about keeping your friends waiting today,

but you see, Slim, I'm playing a game.

I'm trying to find out just exactly

how badly those politicos from back east really want me.

Well, you can stay here as long as you'd like, sir.

Well, thanks, thanks. I...

I am tired. I can't sleep!

I haven't had a good night's sleep for weeks.

That's not like you, sir.

As I recollect, you were the only one

that could sleep before a battle.

Yeah, that's right, I could.

But you see...

this is a kind of a battle that I don't know how to fight.

Well, nobody should have to tell you about fighting, sir.

Hmm.

I hope you're right.

Thanks for reminding me.

Oh, and, Slim...

keep 'em out of here for me, will you?

That's an order.

Yes, sir.

Uh?

George.

The general's getting some rest,

he wants everybody kept out.

[ horses approaching ]

He won't be getting much rest, I can tell you.

- General here, Sherman? - Inside, resting.

Good. I've got to see him.

You better make it later.

He's pretty tired.

I'm afraid you don't understand.

This is urgent.

It'll still have to keep.

I'm just following his orders.

Are you suggesting that you try to keep us

out of there by force?

I will if I have to.

Captain, you better straighten this man out

before I do it myself.

You'd better let him in, Sherman.

Mr. Thorne has been handling this whole trip.

He's very close to the general.

Close enough to call him George?

That's not very funny, Sherman.

Sergeant, cover this man.

I don't see anything funny in two so-called army men

who won't carry out their commander's orders.

I don't think you're in a position to argue.

We seem to have you outnumbered, Sherman.

I'd say the odds were against you.

Mr. Thorne...

the odds have just changed.

This is ridiculous, Sherman.

You've no right to try to keep me from seeing the general.

I do as long as he doesn't want to see you, Mr. Thorne.

And he doesn't, you or anyone.

Look here, Sherman--

You look, captain!

The general's wounded and he needs his rest!

Why didn't you tell me this, sergeant?

I hadn't had much chance, sir.

Is it bad?

I don't think so, sir. It's his arm.

He and Harper were attacked.

Oh, I had no idea.

Under the circumstances, I--

Mr. Thorne.

There's no use arguing with them.

They don't know what's important and what isn't.

I think your father's important,

that's good enough for me.

I'm pleased to know he's in such good hands.

Come inside, Mr. Thorne.

I didn't realize what had happened, Sherman.

I'm sorry. Sergeant and I'll see that he's not disturbed.

Thank you, captain. We'll take care of your rig.

Slim...

you might be a big man with our next president.

I don't think the first lady will let you anywhere

near the White House.

I wonder if she's gonna try running the country, too.

Jess, I... I feel sorry for the old man.

I haven't even been able to talk to him.

He'd either been asleep or surrounded by those people

ever since we got here.

As I told you, Lucy, it's most important.

It was practically an ultimatum.

Either he agrees to this or he's out.

Let me have it.

I'll make him agree to it.

He's got to get some sense into him.

You're so much like your father,

you even try to do things his way.

Forcefully, directly.

Seems to get results.

You're a woman.

You ever thought of trying another approach?

I agree in the main with what the party stands for,

except for a few issues that they're deliberately sidestepping

on which I'm gonna back to the full.

Now I want a better reconstruction program

for the south, a fair one.

I hold that we need reforms in our land policies

right here in the west.

We've got to do something about the Indian situation.

And then finally, we've got to put a check

on the power of the railroads and the other big interests.

Now these are the things that are getting me into hot water.

We've been hurting a long time of those things.

People want them.

The people, yes, but some of the other groups

that are backing the party financially, they don't.

That's why they're putting the pressure on me.

But you should stand up and tell the people that!

You're absolutely right.

Thank you, Mrs. Cooper.

It means a great deal to have someone like you

on my side.

General...

I reckon I was a little hard-nosed this afternoon.

But I'll tell you this.

If you meant everything you just said right now,

I might even vote for you.

Well, Harper, with you and Mrs. Cooper on my side,

I don't see how I can lose.

MIKE: Me too.

I can't vote but I can show you

the best fishing holes around here.

Thank you, young man.

I am sure that that's some advice

I'd be very happy to take.

Nice night out, general.

Lucy was wondering if you'd care

to join her on the porch.

Well, it sounds like a good idea.

Come on, Slim, you can help

fill me in on the local politicians.

Oh, I think Lucy wanted to talk to you privately.

Yes, I'm sure,

but after having such a pleasant meal,

I have no desire to spoil my digestion with an argument.

Come on, Slim.

Well...

Thorne was right about one thing,

it is a nice evening.

He was right about some other things, too.

Oh.

I suppose he had a top-level conference in town today, hmm?

He did. And they want you to give this speech to the people

in Laramie tomorrow, without changing it.

I don't even have to look at it.

I know what's in it, and you know I can't stomach any part of it.

I expected you'd react that way,

but remember it's your decision.

It's not mine.

Hey. Is that all you got to say?

I think I've said it all before.

Too often perhaps.

You want him to compromise, make deals, is that it?

I only want him to get what he deserves.

The highest honor this country has to offer.

I'd give my life for him.

Your life?

You really want the presidency for me that much?

Yes, I do, for you.

And for Mother.

She'd want it to.

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm sure she would.

I haven't given you much, have I, Lucy?

I've always been proud of you and I always will be.

Even if I did... compromise?

Why do you make it sound like such a dirty word?

Yeah, it's like a bribe.

You take it once, the next time it's easier.

Pretty soon, there's no stopping.

If you let this go by,

you will never again get a chance to do anything important.

Well, how can you say that what I'm doing now isn't important?

Can you compare commanding a frontier army to the work

you'd be doing in Washington?

If I help bring peace to the West,

it's important to the whole country.

Then you have to do it alone.

I have spent my whole life

on some dusty, dirty army posts,

practically cut off from civilization,

ordering clothes from a catalogue.

I won't be coming out west with you again.

I just can't live this way anymore.

Now wait, Lucy.

See, I...

I've been so busy, I...

I didn't realize you didn't have a chance

to live the life

that you'd like to like any young lady should.

You... you've devoted your life to me, haven't you, Lucy?

Wasn't that my duty?

Well, I guess in a way it was but...

and I guess with your mother gone,

I have neglected my duties as a father.

All right, Lucy...

I'll do it your way.

It is better, believe me.

Miss Barton, why don't you try thinking of him

as your father instead of a general?

His whole life has added up to this moment,

and he was ready to pass it by

just because he suddenly came down

with an acute case of ideals.

You could use some of those yourself.

I saw how you twisted his insides

to get your own way.

The truth galls you, doesn't it?

Now if you're gonna start using your womanly charms,

why don't you try acting like one?

Instead of some kind of a cold female commander-in-chief.

Hi!

Shh.

[ hens clucking ]

You may count on me, Mr. Thorne.

I'll have the general in town at noon sharp.

Fine, Lucy. I'll have everything ready.

You're sure the general's still asleep?

Well, he hasn't stirred.

Sherman's right, we better not disturb him.

He'll need the rest.

He sure will.

With the general not showing up in town last night,

maybe your shot winged him good.

I doubt it.

He's probably at the relay station.

We still got a chance to hit him

before he gets into town.

[ wagon approaching ]

Someone coming, let's get to cover.

Just the man I wanted to see, Jason.

I don't care about the driver

but I want Thorne alive.

[ horses approaching ]

They look like the same ones that were after the general.

Get them moving!

[ gunshots ]

Leave him be.

What are you doing here, Loomis?

I told you to clear out.

Where is the general?

No, that's all off now.

Our plans have changed.

Not mine.

Where is he?

The relay station.

Is he coming into town?

Is he coming into town?

Not right away.

He's been resting in the bunkhouse.

You wounded him, it's pretty bad.

Not half as bad as it's gonna be.

Thank you, Mr. Thorne.

You've had this coming for a long time.

We aren't having much luck, are we?

No, I guess not,

but just being here is enough for me.

It is?

I thought we came here to fish.

Yeah, that's right.

Well, what do you want to do?

Move on upstream.

All right.

You lead the way, captain.

- And, general... - Yeah?

If we move in a little quieter,

maybe we won't scare all the fish away.

Well, Mr. Sherman,

you were the one who said we should let him sleep, look at this.

The most important meeting of his life only a few hours away,

and the general decides to go fishing.

He must have gone with the boy.

Have any idea where they might be?

Could be a lot of places.

Where's Mike been going lately?

Well, he's been having luck up the lake.

He's also been fishing the stream.

Um, they might be anywhere where there's water.

With what happened yesterday, we better start looking.

Yeah, I suppose you're right, captain.

You and the sergeant take the west trail to the lake, I'll take the stream.

I want to go along, in fact, I insist that I go.

All right, Miss Barton. I don't have time to argue with you.

I'll saddle you a horse.

Don't worry, Miss Barton.

Mike will take good care of the general.

He hardly ever gets lost.

I've seen those men before, Mike.

They're dangerous, I tell you what you do.

You head back for the ranch as fast as you can.

Tell Slim that I need him.

Tell the captain and the sergeant too.

I want to capture those men,

find out why they tried to kill me.

Are they the ones?

Yeah, they sure are.

All right, now you go fast but do it quietly.

I'll take a shortcut.

Good boy.

I think we're wasting time riding together.

Why don't I go this way and you go downstream?

Sure you can take care of yourself out here?

The daughter of a cavalry officer?

I think I can manage, Mr. Sherman.

Slim!

Slim!

Gonna chance moving in on the way station?

Won't be easy.

Well, we'll give it a try.

All we need's one lucky shot.

Father.

OBIE: You're trapped, general.

Throw out your gun and then come after it!

Give it up, general!

The girl won't get hurt if you come out alone.

No, you-- you can't surrender, you never have, Papa.

Papa?

You never called me that before, Lucy.

Please, don't give up, not just for me.

I agreed to do that last night, didn't I?

I was wrong, Papa.

You are what you have to be, a fighter.

Thank you, Lucy.

We're on the same side now.

I hope you haven't forgotten how to take an order.

What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna draw their fire, and when I do,

you make a run for it down the river.

You've waited too long, general.

Is it a deal or not?

Jason.

Get over there behind that next rock.

[ horse approaching ]

They're flanking us, Obie, let's get out of here!

We're getting the general. Forget about the other one.

Drop it.

- All right, Mike, you be a good boy. - Yes, sir.

Yeah. Thank you.

You know, folks, I dislike making speeches all the time,

but I can't leave without telling you

what these last few days have meant to Lucy and to me.

We don't exactly know where we're headed,

but this time, we're going together, in all honesty,

saying what we believe in and believe in what we're saying.

We wouldn't be leaving without your help.

Matter of fact,

without the help of Jess and Slim here,

I wouldn't be headed anyplace.

We all want to wish you a lot of luck, general.

Thanks.

There are three votes for you in Laramie you can always count on.

Three and a half!

We'd better ride, if we're gonna make

that big welcome they got planned for you in town.

LUCY: I think they'll wait for the general, Slim.

Don't rush him.

Now that's the kind of talk I like to hear.

Come on, Slim. Let's get going while I'm still ahead, huh?

Okay, tiger.