Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

Woah!

What do you think, Sarge?

I'm not your sergeant anymore, Jobe.

Tell that lard-headed cook. He's the one gettin' paid to think.

All right, what's the matter now? The horses or you?

JOBE: Rider coming up, Corporal Smoot-- fast!

I see him.

I see him.

He's riding awfully hard, Corporal.

Maybe he thinks this is a chow wagon.

You wanna fight him or feed him?

I may be only a cook, but they put me in charge, Private Kanin!

I didn't want this dirty detail.

I'd rather be back in my mess tent, but they put me in charge!

Nobody's gonna stop this wagon.

They got your stripes, but they ain't gonna get C. T. Smoot's.

Ten years it took me to get these stripes.

No mark against my record and there ain't gonna be none.

Whoa!

What the devil are you--

What are you blue jackets tryin' to do, start another war?

That's just about close enough, mister.

Yeah? Well, mister, you're on private property.

Shiloh property.

That's what the map calls it.

You the owner?No, I just work for the Graingers.

And they're particular about who comes ridin' in their grazin' land

and starts shootin' up their property.

Well, you just tell 'em this is a U.S. Army prisoner detail--

Corporal C. T. Smoot in command.

Our little cook is gettin' downright salty.

Well, does that give you the right to shoot at anybody you meet?

You ever hear of the Veda vigilantes?

Tore up most of northern Wyoming before the U.S. Army caught up with 'em.

We've got the surviving Veda brother right in here,

and I'm not takin' any chances, mister.

Corporal, you took a big chance firin' on somebody you never saw before.

Well...

he ain't no ordinary prisoner.

It's a big responsibility.

VEDA: Give me water!

Water!

We're takin' him to Fort--Water!

We're takin' him to Fort Steele. Gonna turn him over to a civilian judge for hangin'.

A man generally gets a trial first.

He'll get one, mister...

first class and by the numbers just before they string him up.

At ease, Private Kanin.

VEDA: Water! Give me some water!

Must be gettin' awful hot in there.

Well, that's why we're takin' a shortcut through your property.

As you can see, our water barrel's sprung.

Well, there's plenty of water at the ranch house.

My orders say, "With all dispatch."

We'll get plenty of water in Medicine Bow before nightfall.

That is, if you don't object to our trespassing through your property.

This'll get you to Medicine Bow with a... liveprisoner.

Give the prisoner a drink first!

That pan-walloper's beginnin' to sound more like West Point than Cook and Bakers School.

You keep forgettin' whose got rank around here

and you'll be ridin' to Fort Steele inside with Veda!

Give the prisoner a drink first! That's an order, Private Kanin!

You heard the two-striper, Jobe.

Give the vigilante a drink.

Sure, Sarge.

And don't you be foulin' up this here detail!

I don't have to do nothin' but wait, Corporal.

We'll see who's wearin' stripes when we get to Fort Steele.

JOBE: Corporal Smoot! Corporal Smoot!

Yeah?

The prisoner-- something's wrong with him.

His face...

Keep away from him, Jobe.

Don't touch him! That's an order!

Veda!

Tryin' some kind of trick, huh?!

Let me tell you, you're not gettin' away with it!

I don't wear these stripes for nothin'.

You get a good look at him?

All I wanna see.

Well?

Only one thing I know makes that kinda blotches on a man's face.

Scarlet fever.

You sure?

I'm sure.

I ain't no doctor. What am I supposed to do?

Well, just give some orders, Corporal.

Jobe, unhitch the horses.

Never heard of horses dyin' of scarlet fever--

only humans.

I gotta plan this out--

keep calm.

Gotta figure all the angles.

And then what, Smoot?

If you think I'm gonna ask you for advice, you got another thing comin', Private.

As you say, you got the rank,

and yougot the problem.

[ horses moving ]

Get up! Get up!

Jobe!

Where you goin'?!

Over the hill, Cookie. Over the hill.

Get yourself back here!

Ya hear?!

You're deserting! That's an order! Come on back!

Every horse.

He's taken every last horse.

Expect he don't wanna be brought back.

Stop him, Kanin! Stop that deserter!

With a bullet, Corporal? You orderin' me to shoot Jobe?

You'll pay for this!

I'll have you court-martialed for desertion--

stealin' government horses and equipment!

Come back!

Kanin!

Kanin! Right here, Smoot.

Maybe when those ignorant animals get tired of being chased,

they'll go back to the wagon.

If you say so, Smoot.

Where you headed?

I want you right beside me.

I'm not givin' you a chance to desert, too.

I know what I'd do...

if I was in command.

You do? What?

I'd send you back to your kitchen, meatball, that's what I'd do.

I won't forget that disrespect.

C. T. Smoot's got a good memory!

The answer is stillno.

But what difference would it make, Aunt Holly?

It makes allthe difference to a lady.

Even in this weather?

In any weather.

I guess I'm just not a lady, then,

because I don't think it'd make any difference to the ladies of the Century Club

whether I wear four petticoats or one--

or none.

By the time we get to town, they'll be limp as lettuce anyway.

Honestly, Aunt Holly,

I'd like to cut my skirts off to here.

At least in the summer.

VEDA: Hello?

Help!

What on Earth--?

Help!

There's somebody in there.

Elizabeth! Help!

Elizabeth, we don't know who's in there.

Well, whoever it is, he's calling for help.

It's locked, Aunt Holly. We've got to find some way to open it.

Elizabeth, come down off that wagon.

But he looks sick.

KANIN: Stay away from that wagon!

Get away from that wagon!

Stay away from that wagon!

Soldiers.

Aah! [ Holly screams ]

No! No!

No!Can't you females hear?

Stand clear of that.

Let her go!

Stand clear, ma'am.

VEDA: One more little step and I'm gonna tighten this chain.

Nobody's gonna do this to C. T. Smoot!

That's a mighty small target, Smoot.

Make him let her go! Do something!

VEDA: You do, and you'll have to explain thishangin' at Fort Steele, Corporal.

Oh, he wouldn't. She's only a girl!

Hard bet to call, ma'am.

VEDA: All right, now empty that rifle!

You hear?

[ whispers ] Not now...

[ gasps ]VEDA: You know somethin'?

I can wait, but I don't believe this little girl can!

All right!

VEDA: Oh, you're the smartest blue-belly in the world, ain't ya?

Now, throw it over here!

Throw it!

Now, ma'am...

Yes?

Kindly fetch that corporal's 44 and bring it over here.

Now, you can shoot if you have a mind to, ma'am.

I give you one shot, maybe two if you're fast on the hammer.

Of course, if she was my kin, I think I'd...

just gently lay that pistol on my doorstep.

Thank you, ma'am, ever so kindly.

Now, you go on over and visit with the blue boys.

I reckon you got a lot to talk about.

Now, missy, I'm gonna loosen this chain a little now,

so you can reach down there and get me that gun.

VEDA: I'm not foolin'!

Do try and pick it up by the barrel, you hear?

By the barrel!

[ Veda chuckles ]

[ coughs ]

You better plug your little ears up.

Oh! Oh!

Well...

Y'all wanna try these on for size?

Well, that was very nice of you to be so generous to those soldiers.

If they'd taken a shot at me, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been so pleasant.

Oh, I wasn't exactly pleasant.

I just gave 'em my canteen to help 'em get to Medicine Bow.

Well, all right. They're gone-- that's that.

How many of those fence posts can you get fixed tomorrow?

That's gonna be awful slow work in this heat.

Don't tell me how hot it is. I know how hot it is.

I also know that a steer can smell a hole in a fence five miles away.

Well, I'm not tryin' to get out of any work, Mr. Grainger,

I'm just suggestin' that fence-mendin' wait until some of the men get back.

The Virginian's got all the hands halfway to Gilmore by now.

That herd's gotta get there while they still got some fat on it.

If you'd been back on time, you'd be out there with 'em.

By the time anybody gets back,

you and I are liable to be chasin' cows through the streets of Medicine Bow

if you don't get that fence fixed.

All right, I'll do the best I can tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Mm-hmm.

How are ya at fixin' lemonade?

Oh, I, uh--

Uncle Clay!

Uncle Clay...

What-- what happened?

They took the buggy.

Who did?Made us walk...

Who took it?The prisoner.

Where's Holly?

Where's Holly, Elizabeth?

Outside.

Here, miss, sit down over here. Come on.

HOLLY: Oh...

Holly.Oh...

I'm all right, Clay. I'm all right.

Although I can't say the same thing for my shoes.

Oh, it-- it's Elizabeth we've got to worry about.

She's been through the most terrible ordeal.

What on Earth happened?

Well... oh, dear...

Never mind. We can talk about it later.

Oh, I'm-- I'm really not an invalid.

Elizabeth?

Ah...

Wonder what a man has to do...

to get a drink of water around here!

Ain't that Jobe somethin'?

I bet he's told every yahoo in Medicine Bow.

I bet they telegraphed Fort Steele.

Ah... they'll be waitin' for C. T. Smoot, all right.

You'll get used to bein' without your stripes.

There's worse things can happen to a man.

Like what?

Like gettin' the boot at our age.

Bein' and old soldier ain't much reference for civilian life nowadays.

The only chance you got of getting your stripes back and me keepin' mine

is getting that kid.

Hmph.

Scarlet fever's some price.

I didn't say bring him back.

Gettin' infected isn't gonna help my cookin' career any.

Army'd be right pleased if we buried that fever--

saved the whole countryside from a first-class epidemic.

Hey, mister, get these things off us.

He's talkin' to you, mister!

Come back here! I want these chains off!

I'm not askin' you, I'm tellin' you--

Aah!

[ spits ]

I'm gonna make a believer out of you, son...

first chance I get.

She asleep yet? Mm-hmm.

She was gone before I got her shoes off.

He didn't really mean to harm her.

He was just half out of his mind with fever.

He tell you that?

Well, I could see the marks on his hands and face.

Those dark, red blotches.

Scarlet fever?

That's what the soldiers said.

There's nothin' we can do but pray that she doesn't get it.

Clay?

He's gotta be stopped.

Clay, that's not a rabid animal out there.

You just can't go out and shoot him.

Yeah, well, if she comes down with it, will you still say that?

Yes.

He could've killed all of us, but he didn't.

Why, that boy's not more than 20.

He's sick and he's scared.Well, we can't let him start another epidemic.

The last time scarlet fever hit Medicine Bow, they buried a lot of good people.

Clay, I understand how you feel, but please don't go with them.

Why not? I--If I get sick, too,

there'll be no one to take care of her.

I hate to sound like a wife, but we need you.

Please stay.

All right.

[ door opens, closes ]

Trampas!

Take these men over to the blacksmith's shop and get those chains off 'em.

That old buggy and horse isn't fast,

but it may be dark before you find him. You'll need help.

That Federal prisoner's my responsibility.

I never said he wasn't, Corporal.

CLAY: All I want is that he be recaptured

before he spreads scarlet fever all over the territory.

SMOOT: Well, we don't need any civilian help, Mr. Grainger.

CLAY: But you do need my horses and weapons, eh? You men don't know Shiloh.

Trampas does.

SMOOT: All right, but this is Army business, and I'm in charge all the way.

All right, Trampas?

CLAY: Trampas?

You help the Army, all right?

Let's get movin'.

Right over there.

Let 'em have two of our best horses.

Boy, I guess you hit every chuck hole you could find, didn't you?

I suppose you wanna see me dance at the end of a rope just like everybody else.

You better be faster ridin' than you are drivin'.

Come on out here. Come on!

That's it, boy. Couple more good licks.

All right.

Now I know how Veda felt when he pulled these off those red wrists of his.

Must have cut into those fever marks somethin' fierce.

I'll get the horses.

Hey, mister, you're only half done!

Hey, we haven't got all day!

You know somethin'? That boy's afraid.

He wasn't overly impressed by our three carbines.

That's fear, all right. I can smell it in a man.

Well, every man's afraid of somethin'.

Wonder what cooks are afraid of.

Me first, Private.

Now get up, you old sway-belly!

Get up! Get up, you hear?

I guess I-- I just run the heart right out of ya.

I'm sorry.

I'd feel a lot fatter if I had my brothers with me.

Well, they might get me,

but they'll wish they hadn't.

Nice-lookin' piece. Beats Army issue.

I'm only loanin' em. Mind you bring 'em back with the Veda boy.

Oh, sure, Mr. Grainger, we'll do that.

Mr. Grainger...

Uh, that's, uh-- that's a lot of territory.

Maybe we should wait for the foreman and some other hands.

You know there's no time, Trampas.

Well, I was just thinkin' of the women-- uh--

if Veda were to double-back.

I haven't forgotten how to use a Winchester.

Move out.

Good luck.

You sent Trampas with 'em?

Yeah. I wouldn't want the Army getting lost.

But he shouldn't be the one to go.

Why not?

Well, because when Trampas was only eight years old,

he lost almost his whole family to scarlet fever.

Well... he's not eight anymore.

Look for buggy tracks!

What do you think I'm doin', you dumb biscuit-roller?

That fever just-- just jumps mountains and swims rivers.

Funny thing, how it'll just--

just skip one man and just pounce on another.

They say it's a mean way to die.

Found 'em! Over here!

You're a born leader, Smoot.

A born leader.

TRAMPAS' FATHER: You heard what the Judge said, son.

These folks'll take care of you, same as if you were their own kin.

And you ain't exactly an orphan.

I'm still your legal father.

But you know I make my living traveling, and that's no place for a boy--

especially with your ma dead and your brothers gone, too.

You need somebody to look after you.

I'm not much at writin',

but one of these days, I'll be back, and I'll look in on you.

Now, son, you go with these nice folks and mind you what they say.

Son? Come back here. Son! Come back!

Gone!

Miserable buggy tracks just disappeared.

Over here, Corporal.

Good work.

Follow me!

This the one you're lookin' for? The old doctor book?

Yes. I was just curious.

Well...

[ sighs ] Doesn't seem to say too much.

I don't think the doctors know much more about scarlet fever than we do.

What are the first symptoms?

The very first ones?

Now, Elizabeth, my dear, there's no need for you to start worryin'.

Chances are...

Just what are the chances, Uncle Clay?

Well, I don't know, but you're young, you're healthy...

I feel feverish.

I keep looking at my hands and my face.

Your eyes are as clear as a dipper of spring water.

You just had a whole lot of sun and a whole lot of walkin' for one day.

Here, come read it for yourself.

I've been over it so many times, I've like to...

read the print right off the page.

You know, you're so tired and worried that you--

you imagine those symptoms.

You know, you worry enough and your mind can play a lot of strange tricks on you.

I remember one time, I ran a nail clear through my boot,

and I got so worried about blood poisoning that the foot actually began to swell.

Then my knee.

Old Doc Isaacs took one look at it,

and he crammed my foot back in the boot, and he says,

"Ten hours work and a nice square dance, and that hoof'll be as good as ever."

He charged me four dollars.

Old Doc always charged double for acute cases of worry.

I get the point, Uncle Clay. So did I.

Thank you.

He ain't in it and he ain't under it.

But I can't understand no boot marks anywhere.

Maybe...

What?

I said, maybe Veda got so light-headed from the fever,

he just floated away.

More likely your eyesight's as bad as your jokes, Kanin.

Oh, I can see, all right.

I can see a first-class court martial for a second-class cook.

Yeah?

Before they break me,

I'll see to it a certain ex-sergeant gets himself a dishonorable discharge--

or my name ain't C. T. Smoot.

[ horse approaches ]

Where you been?

Been checkin' out that canyon.

I thought you mighta run off and hid, Trampas.

SMOOT: Did you find any footprints?

No. Just a lot of broken branches.

Could be deer or any other stupid animal.

TRAMPAS: Or Veda.

He knows he's bein' tracked.

You'll probably find him holed up in that canyon, waitin' till dark.

You wanna take a vote on it, Corporal?

What makes you so sure?

'Cause he's alone, he's on foot, and he's afraid.

I expect you're an authority on that, Trampas.

All right. We'll try the canyon.

How do we know "fever-shy" ain't just doggin' it till Veda's long gone?

We don't. But we keep goin' till Isay we stop.

TRAMPAS: Corporal!

Come on.

That's why there hasn't been any footprints.

He's been draggin' this branch behind him.

Lookie here.

Boot marks-- headed right up in them rocks.

Looks like we run outta canyon.

It dead-ends at that out-croppin' up there.

SMOOT: Can a man climb up those rocks?

Not without ropes, he can't.

You hear that, Kanin?

Looks like our little vigilante's picked himself a first-rate tombstone.

Yes, sir, I can see my Army commendation right now.

Kanin.

You take this ridge high as you can get.

I'll take the other side.

What about the civilian?

Huh?The civilian!

Oh, yeah-- uh-- Trampas,

you pull guard duty here on the low ground--

just in case he gets lucky and makes a run for it.Now, Corporal--

Don't you think we oughta wait him out?

We got a better chance of him givin' himself up once he knows he's trapped.

Now, wait a minute. You go up there and he'll start firin' at you.

That's Army business, son.

Don't you get your civilian heart all bothered.

Well, aren't you at least gonna talk to the boy-- give him a chance to surrender?

That little murderer is gonna hang anyway.

How do you know? Maybe not.

He hasn't even been tried yet.

Escaped prisoner gives up that right.

Oh, and bringin' him back over the saddle

kinda covers up the fact that somebody let him escape, huh?

KANIN: It makes it easier for everybody--

including yourself.

Does it?

Either way is better than dyin' of the fever.

Well, sick or not, that's a human being up there, not some animal,

and I don't think your orders included an execution.

You wanna hold hands with scarlet fever?

You wanna spread that fever all over this territory?

You ever see a real good case of the fever?

Veda!

Veda!

They're comin' up for ya!

Now, you come on down here and surrender!

Veda!

I told you I'd make a believer outta you.

SMOOT: Kanin, what are you doing?

Don't you worry, Cookie.

This one's all mine.

SMOOT: Kanin!

Well, it's gonna take a whole regiment of you blue-bellies to get this Veda.

[ gasps ]

[ chuckles ]

Oh, I wish my brothers could see me now.

I bet they wouldn't call me "Junior" again.

Before this is over, Marcus Veda is gonna be a big name.

They might even-- they might even write one of them songs about me.

[ chuckles ]

[ hums ]

[ laughs ]

[ clicks ]

[ shots fire ]

Pistol shells!

Now, you--

you gotta give me a chance, you hear?!

Give me a chance!

All right. I'm givin' up!

I'm givin' up, you hear?!

Listen, you blue-bellies! I'm surrendering!

Smoot!

Get him, Smoot!

KANIN: Don't let him get away! Get him!

Save your ammunition, Cookie, till you got somethin' to shoot at!

VEDA: I give up!

Please! I give up!

SMOOT: Trampas!

Trampas!

That fever-crazed kid is heading right toward ya!

KANIN: Don't let him get close to you, Trampas!

You'll get the fever yourself, Trampas!

You don't want no part of that scarlet fever, do you, Trampas?

You drive that boy back into the canyon...

We'll take care of him.

Fever's gettin' closer to you, Trampas.

Fever's gettin' closer to you, Trampas.

TRAMPAS' FATHER: You heard what the Judge said, son.

These folks'll take care of you, same as if you were their own kin.

And you ain't exactly an orphan. I'm still your legal father.

Son?

Son?

Where are ya, son?

Son? Can you hear me?

SMOOT: Trampas! Trampas!

Veda's almost on ya! Use your gun, Trampas!

Don't do it.

I give-- I give up.

[ coughs ] Oh, yeah? You stay right there.

You stay right there, you hear me?

[ coughs ]

Now, you stay right there.

All right, now you get on this horse.

Get on!I can't.

Yes, you can. Now, they're gonna be down here any minute.

Now you get on that horse!

Hurry up. We're fresh outta time. Will ya get on the horse?

Come on!

Try!

All right, Veda.

It's your choice.

Either you ride outta here with me,

or you stay here and get killed.

Pull! Try, Veda. Try!

Give me a hand, will ya?

[ laughs ]

If it wasn't for my fever, you'd help me, wouldn't you?

Come on, Veda, pull yourself up. Pull!

When I get my strength back, you gonna have fun holdin' on to me.

All right, let's get outta here.

Trampas!

It's me, Kanin.

Did you get him?

Yeah, you got him.

Everybody's got to be a hero.

All right, then.

Let's just see if you can keep him.

SMOOT: Get off that horse, Kanin.

That's an order!

You're not in your mess tent now, Cookie.

This is your last chance before I shoot you.

[ chuckles ] Good as you shoot, lard-head, I got lots of chances.

I've got to shoot!

I'm ordering you back, you deserter!

You-- Jobe-- you're all against me!

Nobody can make a fool of C. T. Smoot!

Hold it right there. Turn to your left.

In there.

Hey, now-- now that you got me, mister, what you gonna do with me?

Sure you're gonna take my fever home with you?

I'm takin' you to Medicine Bow where there's a doctor and a jail-- now, get goin'.

You think they want the fever?

You're not gonna get close to anybody. I said get goin'.

Listen, we can't go fast enough with you holdin' on to me like a steer.

Them blue-bellies gonna catch up with us.

Aah! You're cuttin' me in two!

You'll keep up or I'll drag you there on the ground, you hear me?

Don't you know them soldiers are gonna shoot you?

Why don't you give me a gun? We can get 'em before they clear the canyon.

Veda, you're not worth killin' a man for.

Get up!

Easy, Sergeant.

Easy, now.

Don't go pullin' no Smoot.

Slow and easy.

Them stripes...

is just about sewed on right now.

Hmm!

Hold it.

Hold it, I gotta rest.

There's no time to rest. Let's get movin'.

No time?

Mister, they're gonna hang me. Now, I never killed nobody.

My brothers never let me do nothin' but hold the horses,

but they're gonna hang me anyway for what my brothers did!

You'll get a trial-- a fair trial.

A fair trial. You seen the Army way.

You're a civilian. You'll get tried in a civil court.

Now, come on!

Listen, Army or civilian, it's gonna be a rope!

There won't be any lynchin' in Medicine Bow.

The law's there to protect you.

That's your guess, mister! It's my neck!

And they're ain't no law book in the world that's gonna save it!

I know the people there.

The law is more than just a book to them. Now, come on!

Well...

you're gonna have to kill me.

[ grunts ]

[ grunts ] All right.

You'll get the fever! [ laughs ]

All right.

You had enough?

Now, let's go. Come on.

Let's go.

[ whistles ] Yaah!

Well, that ain't me.

This horse come up lame. That's an actual fact.

Don't think I coulda planned it any better myself.

All right, get off. Get over by that rock.

Think those soldiers have given up?

What difference does it make to you if I get caught, anyhow?

There some kind of reward out for me?

Not that I know of.

Well, then I just-- I just don't understand you at all.

I mean, the vigilantes would never even stop if one of their own men got hit.

I mean, my own brothers told me-- they said--

they said, "If you catch one, you're gonna be on your own."

I mean, a man that's gonna risk gettin' his head shot off for me...

ain't gonna save me from a bullet just so I can go off and get hung.

Especially since I never done nothin' except tag along--

I never really was one of 'em.

Sure.

You were just a junior member.

Don't you call me that!

Call you what?

What you said! Nobody calls me that!

The horse picked up a rock. He's all right now. Get on.

Now, listen...

I bet you can't figure me out, neither. I mean...

You read about the vigilantes and everything they done in newspapers,

but you don't know why we did 'em.

You know what one of them reporters said about my brothers and me?

They said we was like a shadow on the land.

I carried that little piece of paper with me till it fell all apart.

I mean, we never had no choice!

I mean, what would you do if you was run off your own land by the law?

I mean, a man's gotta fight back a little, don't he?

Save your smoke. I'm not your judge.

Ain't you, Trampas?

If you ain't, what you got this rope on me for?

You're being hauled, Veda-- hauled off Shiloh property.

All right, let's go.

Who are they?

They're men from town.

Well, there's only one reason they're there, and that's 'cause they want me!

Veda!

We gotta get there one way or another. Now, get up here.

[ gun fires ]

Hold your fire!

Trampas, don't come any closer.

Mr. Wrengell, I got a sick man here.

That's far enough.

The young soldier told us all about that one.

Now, we don't want no fever in our town.

I wanna talk to the sheriff.

WRENGELL: He's out to fetch the Army.

Where's Ryker?

The deputy's got his hands full in town.

People there still remember that last epidemic.

You oughta remember that yourself.

Did Ryker send you here?

Nobody had to tell us what to do.

We got our families to think about.

Now, we don't want any trouble,

but you better take that fever right back to Shiloh.

We got men watchin' every road into town.

Where's your law books now, Trampas?

Ain't no different from them murderin' soldiers.

They'll listen to me.

They have to.

Look at me.

Now, you don't see any fever on me, do ya?

All I'm askin' is-- is you quarantine this boy on the outside of town.

You better quarantine yourself.

You probably got the fever now, too.

Now, I warned ya. Don't make me back it up.

Don't do anything to make 'em start shootin'.

All right.

I know most of you men.

Is there one among you willin' to kill a man unarmed?

Well?

Mr. Wrengell?

Mr. Anneman?

Mr. Clyde?

[ horse gallops ]

Veda! Veda, come back! It's your only chance!

Veda!

Wrengell! He's headin' back to Shiloh. Give me a horse!

You do the same thing yourself, Trampas.

TRAMPAS: Veda!

[ fires gun ]

What do you want, the fever or a bullet?

That's it, boy...

That's it, boy...

bring him over this way.

Just a little closer. Mm-hmm...

Get off that horse, Kanin!

Smoot!

Smoot, we got him!

We got him. Get yourself over here.

Don't you play the sergeant with me.

I'm the one who took your stripes away from ya.

"Dumb cook" saw you take the officer's whiskey.

"Dumb cook" got tired of your names.

I turned you in. I'm gonna do it again.

Get off that horse, Private!

Drop that rifle!

19 years of barkin' at recruits...

makin' 'em learn to ride, teachin' 'em to shoot--

how to be a soldier.

Drop your rifle, Kanin.

Wipin' officers' noses, takin' all the dirty patrols,

fightin' Indians, killin' them savages whether I wanted to or not,

and every one of 'em wantin' to get this three-striper!

Every one of those chevrons cost me a piece of my hide!

And what were you doin', Cookie?

Sittin' in your mess tent, safe and well-fed?!

Poundin' pancakes?

What makes you think you can pass judgment on a soldier?

Don't make me kill ya, Kanin.

You already done that, Cookie.

They was my life.

19 years, you biscuit-rollin' Judas!

[ fires shot ]

I...

I coulda made Sergeant Major.

Ka--

All right, you blue-bellies!

Oh...

Veda?

Veda, you hear me?

TRAMPAS: Are you hit?

The ranch.

He's headin' for the ranch house.

Smoot.

Smoot... can you hear me?

Yeah.

Can you move?

Ah... more or less.

Fetch-- fetch me that bandana.

Please.

What do you got in there?

A derringer?

Just-- just you give it here.

Don't you open it!

KANIN: That's mine. Give it to me.

I'm not gonna give it to you till you tell me what's inside.

It's my teeth.

Nobody in the whole United States Army knows Sergeant Kanin got false teeth.

I don't wanna die without 'em.

[ coughs ]

I'm... sorry I turned you in.

Did you-- did you-- go on over to your tree and die.

This here-- this here spot reserved for the top two grade.

[ crickets chirp ]

Elizabeth, didn't I tell you to go to bed?

What does an old man have to do to get a little peace and quiet?

[ chuckles ] I don't think you're so old. Oh.

Tired, maybe, but not old.

Old enough to know what to do-- leastways, that's what I would've thought.

It's not an easy thing, Clay.

I hope that boy stays clear of Shiloh.

I'd hate to have to make a choice, Holly.

Did you find what you were lookin' for in there?

Well, if I didn't, it's my own fault.

The answers are all in there.

Trouble is being man enough to live up to it...

when your own family's being threatened.

I suppose that's why prayer was invented.

Yes, and I been praying, too.

May not look like it sittin' here with a loaded gun--

but I have.

For Elizabeth.

Even for that boy.

So have I.

And for Trampas.

Clay, I wish there was something I could do to help.

I'll settle for a hot cup of coffee.

Ask and you shall receive.

I think there's enough for two cups.

Holly...

you've got to get some sleep.

I'd rather wait this out alone.

Clay, you know I can't sleep.

If you want to help, you do as I ask. Please.

Sometimes...

I think you are the most stubborn, obstinate, irascible man that--

that I ever loved.

Good night.

Don't forget the coffee.

[ horse approaches ]

You out there! Show yourself!

[ fires shot ]

Clay! Stay back, stay back!

Are you--In the hall, both of you. Keep down.

Can't see anything out there but my own livestock.

Come on, get it over with.

[ floor creaks ]

[ Holly screams ]

Why don't you get in here, old man?

That rifle.

Turn it around.

This one's empty.

Now, I-- I think a man could outfit himself pretty smartly from here.

I'm gonna need some food and water,

a horse, and some shells.

What did you do with Trampas?

You didn't--

I mean, he's all right.

Yeah, he don't give up too easy.

Now, I suppose you got a lot of guns around here.

Let's have a look at your collection, shall we?

The study.

The ladies and I will be right behind you, won't we?

All right, hold it right there.

You know, it'd be a pure shame to ruin a nice piece of furniture like this.

I bet you got a key, don't ya?

What's that big one for?Cellar.

You want the little brass one.

[ empties shells on desk ]

Don't any of you try anything. I don't think you're fast enough.

VEDA: I think your husband's deaf,ma'am.

I don't like to ruin good rifles,

but I don't think I better leave you anything that'll shoot.

Why don't you just take what you need and get out of here?

I think he's enjoyin' it.

Well, you're right,ma'am.

See, all my life I've had to jump for other people.

For my brothers and everybody.

So, now it's my turn to make somebody elsejump, you see?

You know, if I told you how many people my brothers killed, you wouldn't believe it.

See, I couldn't even go to school for what they done.

But you know, one day I broke into that school house,

and I wrote my name-- Marcus Veda--

in letters about that high on the blackboard.

And they made me erase it!

But I think before this is all over, they gonna have some trouble forgettin' my name.

Will you leave us alone?

[ Veda chuckles ]

He's half out of his mind with fever.

Doesn't know what he's doing.

[ chuckles ]

No, I don't have any fever, ma'am.

You see, I just did all this with my belt buckle.

I mean, a body will do just about anything to stop a hangin',

especially when it's his own.

What--

Oh, what you put this poor girl through!

Now, don't you fret yourself, ma'am-- it's all over.

I, uh--

I believe I'll keep your keys for a while, if I may.

[ horse approaches ]

Trampas.

VEDA: Uh-huh.

Trampas.

I figured he'd show up. Now, let's all get out of the way, shall we?

Move, you hear?

All right, hold it right there.

Now, that's just his horse.

VEDA: Maybe he got throwed.

Not likely.

I certainly hope not.

I need him...

A guide and a hostage.

And then what?

Well, he still thinks I got the fever, so maybe he'll just die of fright--

save me the trouble.

Hey, Trampas!

VEDA: Hey, you come on in here, you hear?

Ain't no use you tryin' anything!

I got your boss and his family with me!

All right, I seen your horse! I know you're out there!

Well, maybe it'd be a good idea to get you folks out the way before all the fun starts, huh?

Just so you don't get any ideas about bein' a hero.

Where's your cellar?

Well, thank you, little lady. All right, move.

Move!

Now, you just stay all in there until I get ready to let you out.

Now, Trampas...

you're-- you're gonna make me hurt these good people in here.

Now, I'm only gonna count to three!

That's one!

You're makin' it awful rough on 'em!

Veda.

You know, you remind me of a brother of mine that was always late.

[ laughs ]

Drop that letter opener... unless you're planning to dig your own grave with it.

[ chuckles ]

Say, you...

certainly did know your way around out there.

You know, I'm gonna need a guide.

Except this time, you'regonna be the one that's roped.

You don't happen to know where I can find a nice, little, rough piece of rope, do ya?

Maybe a couple of horses?

How 'bout out in the barn?

Nice and easy, now.

Not too fast, now, you hear?

[ fires shot ]

I ain't gonna miss again!

[ thuds ]

Why don't you come and get me, Junior?

Don't you call me that!

TRAMPAS: Sure thing... Junior!

Now, you know that bothers me...

but I think I know what bothers you, Trampas.

I-- I'm gonna give you a little present!

I'm gonna give you my fever!

You're a little more scared of that than you are this gun, ain't ya?

Well?

It's comin' for you.

You can't get away from it now.

It's comin' for you, Trampas!

[ laughs ]

Here's the fever!

Fever!

Fever!

The fever!

Mr. Grainger, I'd like to thank you.

Glad to be of help.

And you, sir.

Detachment.

Move out!

Well, I guess I almost had you dancin', didn't I, Trampas?

Almost, Junior.

Almost.

Smoot.

Smoot, if you ever...

I mean evertell anybody at Fort Steele about my teeth,

I'll drown you in your own soup pot.

What makes you think I'll be cookin' any more Army soup...

or that you'll be eating any?

[ theme music playing ]