Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

♪♪

Whoa.

Here.

Excuse me, gents.

I think you're sitting on my freight.

I'm sorry.It's all right.

Well, you have a good time, you hear?

I'm gonna try.

Just don't kiss all the girls or empty all the bottles.

I'll be goin' that way myself one of these days.

I'll let 'em know you're coming.

Hand it up.

And when you see the foreman,

tell him not to worry about his job.

I'm too soft-hearted to take it away from him.

Of course, of course.

Well, so long, pard.

I wish you would come along with me.

So do I.

[ whistle blows ]

All the way to San Francisco.

That's quite a trip.

Yep.

Business or pleasure?

Well, a little of both.

My grandfather's business and my pleasure.

Well, be wise.

Get your business over with first.

I understand San Francisco is quite a lively town.

Is that right?

AGENT: There you are. Train leaves at 8:30.

Is there somewhere that I can

put this suitcase until train time?

Sure.

Thank you.

Whoa.

That door's to knock on.

So's your head, the first soldier catches you behind this desk.

Oh. Where you been? You're two days late.

Anybody worried about me besides you?

No.Good. Where is he?

He's out on an all-night training patrol with the boy wonder.

What in blazes would the first sergeant be doing on a training patrol?

Well, MacDowell wanted him, so he went.

It's a wonder our new C.O. doesn't want Trapp to tuck him in bed at night.

Well, I guess I won't be able to say goodbye to him.

Here are the orders for the new recruit.

Voucher for team and wagon.

Travel voucher. Meal tickets. All used up.

Now, you've got something for me.

I'm afraid I don't, Tom.

I don't think that's very funny, soldier.

You promised me. You promised that

by the time I got back with the new recruit, I'd be a civilian, signed, sealed and delivered.

All I said is the papers should be here.

I'm not responsible for what they do or don't do in Washington.

When's the next mail?

Two days.

I'm sure your discharge papers will be in it.

Two days?

"Willard J. Thorne."

A fancy name.

Well, where is he, Tom?

Outside.

Where is he?

Wow.

I heard of drinking whiskey,

but I never heard of taking a bath in the stuff.

There's an empty bunk in "C" barracks. You can put him in there.

I'll do that.

Two days!

Sorry, mister.

I'm not gonna like this any more than you will,

but you're gonna be Willard J. Thorne

for two days longer than we expected.

[ man shouting orders ]

Sergeant, take charge.

Yes, sir.

Detail, fall out.

Where the blazes have you been?

Well?

Well?

I had a little trouble.

You had a little...

Uh, do you mind if I take off for a while?

Trouble, huh? In what saloon?

What are you getting so excited about? This isn't even the army's time.

I'm supposed to be a civilian by now, remember?

I remember I carried you "present"

on the morning report for two days.

How do you think Sonny Jim would like that if he found out?

I appreciate it, Joe.You appreciate it.

Well, I'm glad, Sergeant.

But I didn't do it for you.

For all I care, you could be mustered out as a private.

Then why?

Because I don't like to look bad.

And when one of my non-coms is absent without leave,

I look bad.

You really believe that, don't you?

Sergeant, there are only two secrets

to being a good top kick:

back your non-coms to the hilt

and never let your commanding officer realize he isn't running his own troop.

Now, Mike Rourke is sick.

Till your papers come through, you'll have the second platoon.

You're not serious?

Why not?

Well, Joe, I'm practically a civilian.

Not until it's official, you're not.

I don't have any dead wood in my troop.

It won't hurt you to soldier for a couple more days.

All right, Joe. If you say so.

That new recruit--Thorne?

Where are you putting him?

I haven't decided.

Can I have him?

Why?

Why not?

You got him.

All right. Let's see if he can walk.

Take him back to the barracks. Let him sleep.

Oh, no. That wouldn't be such a good idea in case we got an inspection.

Take him to the guard house. Let him sleep it off there.

MacDOWELL: Sergeant Trapp.Yes, sir?

Come in here, please.

At ease, Sergeant.

I mean relax, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

I've been going over the accounts.

Provisions obtained locally, mess hall,

hay and grain for the animals.

Hardware.Yes, sir?

Your methods seem somewhat unorthodox in some respects.

How is that, sir?

Well, you show the total amounts

paid out to the various provisioners,

but you don't show the specific amounts paid for each item.

Yes, sir.

That's the way your father wanted it when I ran his troop, sir.

I learned from him.

The general was one of the best.

Well, don't you think it could be helpful for us

to have an exact record of all purchases made, Sergeant?

I'm sure it could, sir.

I'll look into it if you'd like. Is that all, sir?

One other thing.

This afternoon I saw a trooper being taken to the guard house.

Who was he?

I don't know, sir.

Why?

You mean,

why is he in the guard house or why don't I know, sir?

Well, whichever one you prefer to answer first, Sergeant.

Well, sir, I don't insist on knowing

every detail of everything that goes on here.

That's why I have subordinates.

They're good men, and I trust them.

You ought to do the same.

Oh?

Can I speak freely, sir?

You may.

I don't mean any disrespect to the captain,

but, uh,

sometimes it takes years for an officer to learn

that there are some things a non-com can do better and faster.

Your father always said that learning that lesson

was one of the secrets of his success.

That's why the general wanted me to be your first soldier,

seeing that this is your first command.

For instance?

Well, for instance, that patrol we went on

the day after you came here,

and your horse went lame just as we had that skirmish

with those reservation-jumpers.

What about it?

Well, later I made sure the men knew

your horse really went lame, sir.

Things like that are important to the men.

I'm sure they are.

I know how the men think, sir.

After all, I've spent most of my career teaching them how to.

I know how it'd be if the story got around

that Big Sam MacDowell's son

was scared witless the first patrol he went on.

A story like that could ruin you.

Yes, I believe it might.

Well, thank you for your concern...

and for your tact, Sergeant.

Yes, sir. Is that all, sir?

That's all, Sergeant.

Sir!

You'd better take it easy at first.

Want a drink?

Not too fast.

Hey, what's the matter? Never seen bars before?

Hey!

Thanks.

Don't thank me too soon.

Take it slow.

I think you'll live.

I don't.

What did I do?

From the looks of it, you tried to drink

the whole territory of Wyoming dry.

What day is it?

Sunday.

I'm almost afraid to ask what town it is.

Town?

You're not in jail, soldier.

You're in the guardhouse.

This is Fort Killman.

You, on your feet.

I said on your feet, soldier. Now!

Good morning, Sergeant.

Get out of here.

Find something interesting for him to do.

So nice of you to come visiting, Sergeant.

Hard-head.

Did you hear what I said?

Are you in charge here?Stand up.

'Cause if you are...Up, trooper! U-P!

And not when you've finished telling me your story. Now!

Now, then...Sergeant-- Sergeant--

Shut up, trooper!Why don't you try to listen to me?

Because I told you to shut up, and I meant it.

Now, are you gonna get it through your head that I mean what I say,

or are we gonna have to do this the hard way?

Shut up.

Now, you're gonna have to learn some things,

and learn 'em good.

When I tell you to do something, you do it.

And when any other non- commissioned officer tells you to do something, you do it.

You do it first, you do it fast,

and you do it with a smile on your face, is that clear?

Shut up.

And keep your mouth shut.

You open it to eat,

you open it to breathe, if you have to,

and you open it to speak,

if asked a question or given permission.

Is that clear?

Good.

Now, I'm gonna tell you something.

You're on my list.

That isn't good.

I had a conversation about you with the commanding officer.

I didn't like that,

and I don't intend for it to happen again.

So you're on my list.

I'm gonna be watching you.

Ask around. Find out what that means.

Then start soldiering.

Is that clear?

Well, answer me. Is it?

You made it clear enough.

Except there's been some kind of mistake. I'm not a soldier.

I have some enlistment papers in the orderly room that says you are.

Then they're forgeries.

Don't remember signing your name?

I was waiting to catch a train west. That's all I remember.

And you don't remember getting drunk either, I suppose, hmm?

Do you deny you were?

I guess I can't.

So what does your loss of memory prove?

It isn't the worst life in the world, once you get used to it.

We don't want to hurt you. We just want to make soldiers.

And if we make men while we're at it, we both profit, don't we?

Don't we?

Just remember: We got rules.

We live by them.

Good or bad, we live by them.

Because without rules, we've got nothing.

You, uh, still feeling sick, son?

Sit down.

And consider yourself lucky. This is Sunday.

Rest up. Tomorrow you start soldiering.

Sergeant, can I get a look at those enlistment papers?

TRAPP: I guess so.

When?

You make reveille tomorrow morning, looking like a trooper,

Sergeant Beale will give you permission to see me right after mess.

Why not sooner?

Because I said tomorrow.

Is that good enough for you?

Guess it'll have to be.

All right, Thorne, let's go.

Huh?Let's go. You rested long enough.

I mean, what'd you say? "Thorne"?

My name isn't Thorne.

Your name'll be zero if you don't get on your feet.

That's what it is.

That's what this whole thing's about.

I'm here for somebody else.

You're Willard J. Thorne.

No.

My name's Stacey Grainger.

I'm from the Shiloh Ranch.

I didn't enlist in this army or any other army.

Don't you see? I don't belong here.

Where do you think you're going?

To see the Sergeant.You can talk to him tomorrow.

Well, he ought to know that I don't belong to the army.

Tomorrow, after reveille.

Well, I don't have to stand reveille.

I don't have to wear this uniform, I don't have to listen to you anymore,

and that's all there is to it!

No, there's a little more to it than that.

You made me lose my temper, Thorne.

My name is--Thorne.

And you made me break an army regulation.

Sergeant Trapp wouldn't like that.

Only, you won't have any proof,

so there won't be any point in bringing it up.

And your name is Thorne. Right?

Right?

All right, Private Thorne, let's move.

Pity how some men drink more than they can handle.

Whenever you're ready, Thorne.

All right, Thorne, grab hold.

Go on.Nope.

What?

I said no, I'm not sawing any wood.

You know, that's what I thought you said.

And I'm not taking any more orders from you or anyone else.

Because you're not a soldier.That's right.

Well, now,

you look like a soldier to me.

And you look like a soldier to prisoner Martin over there.

And you look like a soldier to this guard standing here.

And they both heard me give you an order.

You still refusing to carry it out?

Hey, Beale, he's not well enough for this kind of work.

You stay out of this.

You refusing to carry out my orders, son?

That's right.

Well,

this must be my lucky day.

Hey, Beale, wait a minute.

Come here, kid.

I'll carry you as much as I can.

Well, thanks, soldier, but I just don't...

Grab on.

You don't understand.Look, you're the one who doesn't understand.

If you refuse an order, it means the guard house.

Automatic on this post.

So?

Out here, he's got to follow regulations.

He's got to go by the book.

You let him get you in there,

you belong to him.

He owns you.

And he can fix it so you never get out.

Now, grab on.

This is Sunday. Sergeant Trapp said I could rest.

That was before you took a swing at me in the guard house.

I'm gonna talk to him tomorrow.

Well, sure you are. Right after you stand reveille.

[ sawing continues ]

[ coughs ]

Good evening, Mr. Grainger.

Evening, Sam. You wanted to see me?

Well, not really, Mr. Grainger.

Well, I thought you ought to talk to him, Mr. Grainger.

He came into the bunkhouse about ten minutes ago.

You see, I been figuring that, uh,

someone would come down for it, but nobody did.

So I thought I ought to drop it by.

Drop what by?Stacey's suitcase.

What are you talking about?Stacey's suitcase.

Right here.

He left it in the depot. He forgot it when he got on the train.

Are you sure?Yes, sir. There's his initials.

I know it's Stacey's suitcase.

What I'm asking is, are you sure he got on the train?

Oh, yes, sir. He got on the train, all right.

I saw him coming, running at the last minute.

But I saw him swing aboard myself.

He hasn't wired back for this?

No.

I figured it was kind of odd,

seeing how he was planning a big time in San Francisco and all.

Yes, it is odd.

More than that.

Sam.Yes, sir?

When you get back to the station, send that wire for me, please.

"Bill Johnson, Green River, Wyoming.

Confirm if Stacey Grainger aboard train

at Green River.

Reply immediately."

Are you saying I don't know what I saw?

I'm saying that I sent my grandson to deliver

some papers to my foreman in San Francisco,

and I'll be mighty interested to find out why

he left behind the papers I told him to deliver.

[ reveille plays ]

Ten-hut!

Report!

First platoon all present or accounted for, sir.

Second platoon, one man absent, sir.

One man absent, sir.

Who?I'll find out, sir.

I'd appreciate that, Sergeant.

Dismissed!

Why did you report him absent?

He could've been accounted for.

He wasn't here when I checked.

Get him up.

All right, let's go. Come on, let's go. Come on!

Come on.

On your feet, Thorne.

Sergeant Trapp, I want to talk to you.

You did your talking, son.

And I listened, and I gave you a chance.

Sergeant...I tried to be nice.

You made me look like a fool.

Well, from now on, you do your sleeping on your own time.

If you have any time of your own. Which I doubt.

What about those enlistment papers?

That I was gonna let you see after you started soldiering?

Seems to me you didn't keep your end of the bargain,

and I have to have another conversation about you with the old man.

I warned you, I wouldn't like that.

I want this man shaped up.

You understand.Yes, sir.

Sergeant, I've been working all night.

I don't even remember going to sleep.

After you left, he decided to get tough with me.

He figured he had you in his pocket.

I told him it wasn't gonna work that way.

Shape him up.STACEY: You believe that?

You really believe it was that simple?

Or don't you want to hear the truth?

Sergeant, do you know what's happened to me?

Know I've had my head busted?

That I've been kicked and beaten?

I probably haven't eaten food for about three days?

Do you know I am not Private Thorne?

My name is Stacey Grainger.

My grandfather's name is John Grainger.

We own the Shiloh Ranch, outside of Medicine Bow.

Now, if there is a Private Thorne, I don't know

who or where he is.

And that's the truth, so help me God.

How do you figure something like that could happen, Thorne?

I told you, my--Or, uh,

Grainger.

How do you figure?

I told you, I don't know.

But you can prove it by sending a telegram to Medicine Bow.

How do you figure, Beale?

Lots of men enlist under different names.

That's it?

I mean, that's the end of it? That's all you're gonna do, huh?

No.

If you want, I'll tell you how I figure it,

based on 27 years of experience.

27 years of listening to

every excuse and lie a quick-thinking recruit could dream up

once his sign-on pay was turned into whiskey.

It wasn't that way.

I say it was.

I say any man who's spent any length of time in the service

has come across a dozen like you:

bottle-fighters;

cowhands down on their luck;

kids who listen to the sweet promises of some recruiting sergeant,

reach for the enlistment pay, and sign their name.

Then they wake up in the middle of nowhere, figure they made a mistake.

Some play sick,

some pretend they're too stupid to obey an order,

and some of 'em come up with a new wrinkle, like this one.

You know what I do?

I listen and I sympathize,

and then I make soldiers out of 'em.

Gonna make one out of you too.

I wouldn't be too sure of it, Sergeant.

Then you're a hard-head.

In any fight between a hard-head and a first sergeant,

you know who wins?

The man with the stripes.

I want to talk to your superior.

Nope.

You mean, you're it?

There's no one higher than you, huh?

Not as far as you're concerned.

Well, I don't believe you.

There's got to be an officer on this post, and I want to talk to him.

Well, now, that could be arranged.

You have a right to see the commanding officer.

Then why don't you just--If you're a soldier,

and if you have my permission.

Well, are you? Are you a soldier?

Because only soldiers on this post have commanding officers.

Now, how about it, mister. Are you or aren't you?

If I say I'm not?

Then you are impersonating a trooper.

You're on this post without authorization. I'm gonna throw you in the guard house,

let you rot for about a month,

then I'll bring charges, and you can spend a year in federal prison.

Well?

You win either way, don't you?

Lesson number one.

Well, Thorne?

All right. I'm a soldier.

And as a soldier, I demand to talk

to the commanding officer of this post.

I guess you're ready for lesson number two.

Come on.

[ man shouts walking cadence ]

Now,

you stand here at attention.

You know how to stand at attention,

soldier?

Well, I guess that'll do for now.

You stand here till I send for you.When will that be?

That, soldier, is lesson number three. Guard?

This man is under arrest.

If he moves off this spot, shoot him.

You come with me.

Out.

Well, how do you expect me--Out, now.

On your feet, Sergeant.Oh, come on, Joe--

On your feet.

Well? Where'd you find him?

What?

Where did you find him, Beale?

You know where I found him. You sent me after him, remember?

I sent you after Willard J. Thorne.

You brought back Stacey Grainger.

You don't believe that story?

You think he can make it up?

A yarn that can be checked in five minutes?

No, he's Grainger,

and you probably picked him up in Medicine Bow just like he says.

Joe, how long have you known me?

Oh, you went to Cheyenne,

and you picked up Thorne, all right, because you brought back Thorne's papers.

And you took the train to Medicine Bow.

But Thorne had gotten to you by that time,

so you picked up another body to take his place.

That's crazy. How could I get away with a stunt like that?

You couldn't, for long.

You got him drunk, right?

You expected your discharge papers to be waiting for you

when you got back, right?

You figured you'd be long gone before he came to, right?

Joe--Right?

This Thorne-- Seems his girl walked out on him.

He figured he'd enlist in the army to teach her a lesson.

The next day, he changed his mind.

Heartbreaking.

How much, Beale? A hundred?

Three? Five?Joe!

How much?

Five.

But you could have it.

$500?

I've been in this man's army for 27 years.

I retire in three.

You think you can buy

27 years of my life for $500?

I guess not.

Well?"Well?"

You got any ideas?

About what we do with him?

You mean you're not gonna turn me in?I wish I could.

But that'd mean turning myself in too.

I don't think Mr. West Point would like it

if he knew I carried you "present" on the duty roster for two days

while you were out kidnapping civilians.

I never thought of that.Obviously.

No, I'm in it now.

And I'm not throwing away 27 years for anybody.

The first thing we've got to do is to shut

Mr. Stacey Grainger up.

I want him in the guard house. Some charge he can't beat.

Like what?

Hitting a non-com. Can you do it?

I can do it.But not yet.

Let him get a little hot first.

Mr. Grainger? A telegram just came in.

Bill Johnson went through the train at Green River.

Stacey wasn't on it.

How do you explain that?

I don't.

The stationmaster said he saw him get on.

Without his suitcase.

Maybe he got on, he got off short of Green River.

Why?

Let's go to Medicine Bow.

Yeah.

♪♪

Sergeant Trapp?Yes, sir?

Where's the captain?Outside, soldier.

My name is Stacey Grainger. I don't know how I got here, but I don't belong.

I said, outside, soldier.Now, I need some help.

I've been trying to see you all day.Get him outside.

Captain!Just a moment, Corporal.

What's this all about?

He's the new recruit, sir.No, I'm not.

I wasn't talking to you, soldier.That's what I'm trying to--

I said I wasn't talking to you.

You just stand there and listen.

You'll get your turn. Well?

The one reported absent, sir.

Only, he wasn't absent. He just disappeared for a while.

Sergeant Beale couldn't find him.

First of all, he shows up drunk to the ears. Couldn't even stand.

He's been sleeping for two days, and now he's screaming he wants to talk to you.

I told him he could after I gave him permission.

Is that true?Part of it.

"Part of it, sir."

Sir.

Come in to my office.Okay.

You can't do that.

I can't what?

Of course, the captain may do anything he pleases.

It's his post.

But I won't be responsible for what happens to discipline afterward.

Are you threatening me, Sergeant?

No, sir. But discipline is what runs an army post, Captain.

Discipline and regulations. Your fa--

The general taught me that.

I have to think what he'd say if he knew you were undermining

the authority of your first sergeant in front of the troops.

What would he say, Sergeant?

He'd say that there is a prescribed way to enter an orderly room.

You knock on the door, you enter in an orderly manner, you speak to the first sergeant.

And until you gives you permission, you do not speak to the commanding officer.

Do you intend to give this man permission to speak to me, Sergeant?

Yes, sir.When?

When he learns to do what he's told without talking back.

All right, Sergeant. Carry on.

Captain, he's--

Whoever said the first soldiers don't run this army?

No one at this fort.

You still want to bump heads, son?

I still want to talk to the commanding officer.

You know all you have to do.

Start soldiering.

All right, Sergeant,

you listen good.

My name is Stacey Grainger.

I never enlisted under my name or anybody else's.

And as soon as I prove that, you and I are gonna have another conversation.

Where were you?Why? What happened?

He tried to go crashing into MacDowell's office.Joe, I'm sorry.

Well, stop being sorry, or we're both going to be in trouble.

You want me to be with him all the time?Yes!

I want you with him wherever he is.

And I want him in the guard house.

Anything you say, Joe.

Can I help you, sir?

Not really.

But you can help yourself, Sergeant.

Sir?

Don't ever try anything like that on me again, Sergeant.

I let you get away with it this time because I didn't want to make you look foolish out there.

But I'm still in command here.

Yes, sir. There's no doubt of that, sir.

And I'll listen to any man in my command who wants to talk to me.

Is that clear?

Yes, sir. Whatever the captain says, sir.

Thank you, Sergeant.

And, Trapp,

In the future, if we have anything to discuss,

let's keep it between the two of us.

Let's leave my father out of it.

Well, seems to me we've met somewhere before.

Seems to me we have.Let's get the saw moving.

You can have your social hour some other time.

[ steam whistle blows ]

Well, like I told you, the train was already moving,

and Stacey comes runnin' in from down there by the grove,

and he caught the last car right over there.

Where were you?

Well, I was where I should be--

taking the mail and the freight into the baggage room.

About 60 feet away,

and looking from the light into the dark.

Did you see Stacey's face?

I told you, he was running and reaching for the grab iron.

Then you didn't see his face?

Well, I couldn't swear one way or the other.

But it was Stacey.

There's no mistake about that.

Hmm. Here in plenty of time,

yet he had to run to catch the train.

And he forgot his bag.

Why?

I couldn't answer that.

There's some tracks in the grove.

Team and a buckboard.

Whoever it was stayed long enough

to feed the horses and eat some canned food.

They didn't belong to the railroad.

There's no fire.

Either they liked cold food, or they didn't want to attract attention.

How many were there?

There are three sets of prints--

one made by a brand-new pair of boots.

Stacey was wearing new boots.

Yeah. The other two

were square toe, flat heel.

"Square toe, flat heel"?

Cavalry boots, maybe?Could be.

Maybe he ran off. Enlisted, I mean.

Not likely.

Hup, two, three, four! Hup, two, three, four!

Hup, two, three, four! Hup, two, three, four!

Hup, two, three, four! Faster, soldier! Faster!

Hup, two, three, four! Hup, hup, hup, hup!

Hup, two, three, four! Hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, two, three, four! Hup, hup!

Hup, two, three, four! Hup, two, three, four! Hup, hup...

Hup, two, three, four! Hup, hup!

Hup, two, three, four! Hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup!

All right, Second Platoon, hit the floor!

Let's go. Let's go.

Let's go. Reveille in 20 minutes.

All right, Thorne, let's go.

Oh, I can't.

You want to sleep all day? We've got a lot of work to do.

It can't be. I never closed my eyes.

Then you've been sleeping with them open.

I never went to sleep, and you know it.

That's too bad.

Tonight you ought to make a real effort to get to bed a little earlier.

All right, Thorne.

Now you're really mine.

♪♪

Here we go again.

You all right?

Still got that fire burning inside you?

They must've poured a gallon

of the rottenest whiskey

this side of the Mississippi down my throat.

Poured it down you?

That's the only way.

They slugged me,

put me in a uniform,

and poured a bunch of rotgut whiskey down my throat

and then hauled me in here.

Who? Who did?

I don't know who.

I don't know why.

I only know that I... I'm not a soldier,

I didn't join up, and my name is not Thorne.

Are you... Are you saying

you're really a civilian

named somebody else,

and you got Shanghaied?

Yeah, that's right.

I've heard a lot of 'em, but that's the best one yet.

You don't believe it?

Sure.

Sure.

And you might make it work. It's just that crazy.

Just stick to it. That's what you have to do.

And what'd you do?

Nothing.

Well, something, I guess. That Trapp--

He said my bunk wasn't made up right.

Tore it all apart and said for me to do it over again.

He said I had five minutes.

He's still waiting.

Well, it was made up just fine the first time.

Better than most.

He just wanted to show who was boss.

How long ago was that?

A couple of weeks.

Trapp says I'll be in here till I go out

and make up that bed.

But he'll give up before I will.

What if he doesn't? Hmm?

He will.

Don't worry about that.

I'll just keep coming back.

But if all you have to do to get out of here

is just to make a b...

Why, Billy? Why?

Because I'm right.

I'll beat them.

I'll just keep coming back

and coming back

and coming back.

Before you, you see a wall.

It's called Sergeant Trapp's Wall.

It doesn't do anything. It doesn't protect against anything.

Doesn't hold anything up.

Worst of all, it's never in the right place.

It's got to be moved

over and over and over.

Look yonder.

Over there you see where this wall is gonna be.

You're gonna move it

from here over to those rocks,

rock by rock, on the double.

We can beat him, Stacey.

All right, let's beat him.

On the double! Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup!

Hup! Hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three, four!

Hup, hup, hup, two, three...

Mail's in.My discharge?

I haven't checked.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Funny, they're doing all the work and you're doing the sweating.

I wonder where Willard J. Thorne is right now.

Lay off, Joe. I didn't know it was gonna work out like this.

[ reveille plays ]

The prisoners secured?

Are you serious? They're half dead.

My papers come through?Uh-huh.

You mean it?

I said it.

Then I'm out.

As soon as we get you processed.

The only trouble is,

that leaves me with a little problem:

What do I do with Mr. Stacey Grainger?

Nothing. Why should you do anything with him? Leave him where he is.

I can't.

Something else came in the mail-- a telegram

from Medicine Bow addressed to the commanding officer

inquiring about the whereabouts of Stacey Grainger.

A copy has been sent to every military installation in the territory.

Get rid of it.

Too late.

It's already been logged in by the company clerk.

MacDowell is gonna have to see it.

Then misplace it. Lose it for a couple of days.

For how long?

A couple of days.

Two days, Joe.

Then throw all the blame on me.

Let them come look for me.

You'll be in the clear.

Will I?

No, I'm afraid I made a mistake, Tom.

I jumped too soon.

And now I'm gonna have to rectify that mistake.

I'm gonna have to send the word to Medicine Bow.

All right, but you don't have to do it right away.

You could give me a head start.

No, I'm afraid I can't do that either, Tom.

You know how the army likes everything wrapped up in neat little packages.

Somebody's gonna have to be here to stand charges.

So,

you're under arrest

[ groans ]

I guess you knew I was holding something out.

It wasn't $500, Joe.

It was a thousand dollars. You can have it all.

I thought you understood.

You can't buy 27 years.

[ body thuds ]

Tom? Tom?

Oh, my.

[ door opens ]

You men all right?

You worried?

I look after my men.

Yeah, I guess you two are too tough to hurt.

But sometimes Sergeant Beale overdoes it.

Oh, uh, the captain

went on a training patrol this afternoon

Be gone for a week.

He asked me to tell you he'll see you when he gets back.

Stacey, he didn't lock it.

You're right.

You suppose he forgot?

It's possible.

Unless he planned it that way.

Why would he do that?

I can think of one reason. If I'm right, I wouldn't get past that door.

You mean he's waiting out there?

Could be.

But if he isn't...

if he did forget to lock this door...

I'm not spending another week here waiting for Captain MacDowell.

So let's try it.Wait a minute.

I wasn't including you.

I'm a civilian. All I've got to do is get out of here,

prove who I am, and then I'm out of this mess.

You really are a soldier.

You run away, and you're a deserter.

I am not going to stay!

Why not, Billy?

All you got to do is go out there and make that bunk, and that's the end of it.

I don't think so.

Tomorrow I'd just be back in for something else.

I promise I'll bring help.

No, Stacey.

I've been fooling myself.

I can't beat him.

Yes, you can.

We'll do it together, the right way.

That means that you stay.

♪♪

[ clattering ]

Billy! No!

[ door shuts ]

Elizabeth? That you?

Stacey!

Detail, ho!

[ shouts order ]

Sir, I'm Captain MacDowell, United States Cavalry.

John Grainger. This is Trampas.

This is my grandson, Stacey Grainger.

I know him as Private Willard J. Thorne.

You're mistaken, sir.

Possibly so, sir. And if that's the case,

I'm prepared to apologize now in the name of the United States Government.

Do you always back up your apologies with guns?

No, sir.

The guns are to enforce the arrest of Stacey Grainger

for the murder of Sergeant Thomas Beale,

during his escape from confinement at Fort Killman.

Now, I didn't kill anybody, and you know it.

Another mistake by the army, Captain?

No, sir.

Do you have proof?

Sergeant Beale's dying declaration.

Beale wasn't anywhere around.

I never even saw him.

I'm sorry, sir. I'm taking you back.

You've no jurisdiction, Captain.Yes, I have, sir.

A soldier was killed in the performance of his duty.

I have the right to hold the murder suspect in custody,

and I intend to do so.

Very well, Captain, but my men will ride with him.

And we'll turn him over to the civilian authorities in Medicine Bow.

No, sir.

He's coming back with us to Fort Killman.

You just admitted that he's a civilian.

I only admitted that possibility.

You must understand, Mr. Grainger,

that even though I believe that he is Stacey Grainger,

I have no authority to release him from my custody.

And if you do take him back?

I'm not going back.

Just a minute, Stacey.

Captain?

He'll be held in custody pending a hearing

to determine who has jurisdiction over the case.

Will I be permitted to attend that hearing?

Yes, sir.

Stacey, I want you to go back.

I know you're innocent, and we'll prove it.

But until we do, it's his duty to hold you.

All right, Captain.

I just came from the post dispensary.

Billy Martin?

I thought you'd want to know.

I don't think you'll believe this, but...

I didn't want him to die.

Sometimes you have to tear a man down

in order to build him tip again.

How far do you tear a man down, Sergeant?

And how do you build up a Private Billy Martin?

How many Billy Martins were here before him?

What did you say it was? 27 years?

How many Private Billy Martins can a man tear down

in 27 years, Sergeant Trapp?

Go on, walk away.

But you and I are still gonna have that little talk.

And you're gonna have to listen.

You can't keep putting it off forever.

I'll talk to you.

I didn't kill Beale.

Beale said you did.

He said it and died.

He said it to you?That's right.

And nobody else heard?Nobody else about.

I see. Well,

knowing that I didn't kill him, that gives me a long jump

in front of everybody else.

I can think about who else might've done it.

You're through, Trapp.

I'm gonna see you nailed to the barn door if it's the last thing I do.

You really think you can hurt me, huh?

You think about it.

I told you who I was.

You ignored it. Why?

Any man can make a mistake.

I'll admit to that one.

Who was it that picked up Thorne in Cheyenne? Was it Beale?

Because that's gonna come out.

It has.

In fact, I'm the one who brought it to the captain's attention.

Who sent Beale?

And, uh,

why'd you leave the door to this cell open?

Beale left the cell open.

Then he went to check the stable.

That's where you killed him, and that's why you'll hang.

Unless, uh...

Unless it was Martin that killed him.

You ever thought of that?

That it was Martin that stabbed him, and you saw it,

even tried to help Beale, but it was too late.

Then you ran because you knew how bad it looked.

I thought you heard Beale's dying declaration.

He said it was me.

I, uh, could have been confused.

It could be, if I think about it,

that Beale was trying to clear you.

That he was saying,

"Not Thorne.

Not Thorne."

Yeah, it could be.

You think about it.

There's no need for you to get hurt.

For anybody to get hurt.

You really think I'd let you get away with everything you've done.

You rather hang?

[ door opens ]

Good evening, Captain.Trapp.

I've just heard from area headquarters.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to learn that as far as the cavalry is concerned,

you are now officially Stacey Grainger.

You mean I'm free?No, I'm afraid not.

There's still the matter of Sergeant Beale's murder.

But until we turn you over to the U.S. Marshall,

I'm going to arrange to billet you

in the officers' quarters.

Just a minute. I don't think this is wise, Captain.

Don't you?

No, sir. Civilian or not, he's still a prisoner.

I think it's wise.

Captain, if this man escapes

or injures another trooper in the attempt,

you're gonna have a lot of explaining to do, even if he's innocent.

You don't think he's innocent, do you, Sergeant?

Well, yes, sir.

It's possible.

Tell him what you just told me.

He's trying to get me to say that

Private Martin was the one who killed Beale.

Did he?

I know he didn't. Not in the stable.

Well, that's where Beale was supposed to have been killed.

Isn't it?Yes, sir.

Stand aside, Sergeant.Captain--

Stand aside!

Yes, sir.

Will that be all, sir?Just one more thing.

You're under arrest.

You've made some mistakes since you've come here, sir,

but this is your worst.

I wish it was-- for your sake

and mine and the troop's.

Because I have made some mistakes.

But I won't make the biggest one of all.

I won't try to cover my mistakes up.

You're going to stand trial.

You won't accomplish anything, sir.

You'll just make the whole service look bad.

Or good, and I'll accomplish enough.

Ten troopers saw you go into Beale's room.

Not one saw you come out.

And we found blood stains, proving

he was nowhere near the stable when he was stabbed.

You know what your father would say if he were here right now?

I'd like to think he'd approve.

But just between you and me, Sergeant,

I couldn't care less.

Your pistol.

♪♪

Mr. Grainger.

Stacey.

♪♪

[ theme music playing ]