Original subtitles

thing of my life, my friends,

or my enemies. But the key to my

identity [music] lies somewhere out

there, and I will search until I find

the man I was

and hope to be

again.

This constant travel that I endure has

many hardships and surprising rewards.

Motion has so far kept me alive and out

of the grasp of my pursuers.

But if I am allowed one honest

complaint,

it gets downright lonely.

Sometimes I ache for the company of real

friends.

However, this much I know,

on the prairie, in the hour before dawn,

no man needs a friend.

>> [music]

[music]

>> Whoa, hey.

Why are you throwing down on me? I just

saved your life.

>> So you say.

How do I know it wasn't you who was

trying to shoot me?

>> Because I'm here and he ran off.

>> Well, you're here.

And he's laying halfway down the other

side of the ridge with your knife in his

neck.

>> Now you just wait a moment.

>> There's really no debate.

A wise man would shoot you just to be on

the safe side.

But as it happens,

I'm not a wise man.

I'm a lucky one.

So you make the coffee and I'll gather

the wood.

>> [snorts]

>> So what are you doing in this part of

the world, mister?

Mister?

>> Lazarus.

>> Looking for someone?

Man?

Who?

Me.

>> Huh, a philosopher. I like that.

Well, when you discover, I hope you like

what you find.

I can respect a man's secrets.

Normally I don't harbor secrets about

myself, but uh

I'll test your powers of observation.

Who do you take me to be?

>> Well, I can't tell much from that shirt

you're wearing.

But those breeches tell me you are or

were a Union soldier.

And I know you're

pretty damn unpopular with someone who

still is.

I tore this from the fellow who was

trying to shoot you.

He's a sergeant.

You seem unconcerned for a man who was

almost killed.

>> I've been almost killed many times, Mr.

Lazarus.

>> Anything else you can tell about me?

>> No.

>> Good.

Anonymity has its virtues.

There is a scene from a play I once saw

in Chicago.

King Henry disguises himself before

battle

and visits at the campfires of his

troops.

Because nobody knows who he is,

they talk freely about the king.

What we're doing here reminds me of

that.

>> Touch of Harry in the night.

>> Well, one thing we know about you,

you're an educated man.

>> Or an actor.

>> Which is not necessarily the same thing.

>> And are you a king?

>> In a way.

>> God save our dear General himself some

trouble running in front of a locomotive

like that.

>> Always ride ahead of your troops, Tom?

That way you're the first one to have

the adventure.

>> Main column's about a mile back,

General.

>> Very well.

Lieutenant Cook, send an orderly ahead

to tell my wife that we will arrive late

tomorrow afternoon.

And that we will have a guest

who will be spending the night.

Thus beginneth the tale, Mr. Lazarus.

>> Now the General is a bit his teeth.

Whoever the hell he is.

>> Why, that's the slayer of Jeb Stuart,

the hero of Hanover, Brandy Station, and

Yellow Tavern.

>> [music]

>> Why,

that is the boy General himself, George

Armstrong Custer,

the Golden Cavalier.

>> I'm his brother,

Tom.

>> We are the dead.

>> Pleased to meet you, Mr. Lazarus.

>> [music]

>> Well, we're over there by the fire house

first.

>> Well, what do you say we go take a look

at it?

>> Sir, I believe Major Elliott would like

to report.

>> The hell with his report. I see my wife.

>> And now the sun is up, we [music] still

haven't said a word to each other. So,

finally, I say to this mystery man,

"What's brought you to this part of the

world?" And he says,

"I'm looking for someone." And I say,

"Oh, yes? Who?"

He says, "Me."

And I think, "What luck!

A genuine philosopher, come right here

to Fort Hays." Now, you must understand,

Lazarus, that uh we are in the most

desolate place here.

And your saving my life is of secondary

value.

>> Oh, I don't subscribe to that at all.

I think saving your life was a very

valiant and precious act.

>> Thank you, my dear.

But I can't tell whether that's a

testament to me or a compliment to

Lazarus.

>> Well, Ollie, I'd say it's both at once.

It's a compliment to the social graces

of Libby Custer.

>> Uh you hear?

>> I'll second that.

>> But what I was about to say was that

saving my life was of secondary value.

Next to you telling us who you really

are.

And let's hope there's some

entertainment in this tale, Mr. Lazarus.

>> Well, General, I don't believe you'd be

all that entertained by my story.

>> At my table, I would be the judge of

that.

>> You must excuse my husband, Mr. Lazarus.

He's been on the plains too long.

You don't need to earn your place at

this table at any rate. You've doubly

earned it already.

>> Well, I could tell you about my recent

adventures in Texas.

They entertained me to be sure.

Well, I was riding out on the staked

plains

on a mission for the federal government

that I'm pledged to keep a secret. The

man is full of secrets, I tell you.

I crossed the Red River and was

intending to steer clear of Indian

territory till I hit the Canadian. There

I knew I'd have a dangerous sprint

through Indian territory to get to where

I was going.

Well, what I hadn't counted on General

was some of your brethren from the ninth

cavalry who were chasing Kiowa and

Comanches out of the area. An angry band

of Kiowa, mad as hornets, they sighted

me riding alone through the territory

and they decided they wanted my scalp.

But I had grown attached to it and

wanted to keep it for myself.

So,

I rode hell-bent for leather for canyon

country and got lost in a maze of deep

arroyos.

The Kiowa couldn't find me.

I rounded a corner on one of those

arroyos only to come face-to-face with a

grizzly bear

standing 12 ft tall on his haunches.

He spooked my horse. I was pitched to

the ground. I grabbed my pistol. I

emptied it into his chest.

>> Oh, my.

>> That hardly slowed him down.

I got up and I started to run.

I ran and I ran.

I could hear the grizzly growling and

snarling, thundering in my ears.

I could feel the heat of his breath on

the back of my neck.

The stench was stifling.

Well, I ran around the corner in the

canyon

thinking that I eluded the bear

only to run smack-dab into that angry

band of Kiowa.

>> What happened then?

>> Well, the Kiowa scalped me.

The bear ate me up.

>> So, really we can't say.

>> [laughter]

>> God damn Custer luck.

Any other man be laying in the dark with

a bullet in his ear.

>> Well, I say we shoot him down.

Where no one can stop us.

>> Well, it's one thing to set an ambush at

night from a distance.

But it's something else entirely to

shoot a man.

A general no less.

Claim staring you in the face.

>> Might be easier for [music] you if it

was you had your head shaved for being

late to muster.

>> Damn it.

Ain't talking about shaved heads here.

I'm talking about saving the lives of

the men in this [music] regiment.

A damn fool Custer.

He got half my patrol killed just

because he wouldn't listen to the

scouts' warnings.

>> Yeah, jumping on a horse and yelling

charge might have worked with Johnny

Reb.

But these Indians is different.

>> It's going to be an expensive lesson,

boys.

And I for one don't want to be paying

for Custer's schooling with my scalp.

So, we better take [music] care of this

ourselves.

But this time we make sure Custer has no

way out.

>> Cuba.

The whole of South America for that

matter.

Now, that's a real land of opportunity.

A man like me could go down there,

offer his services,

and the next thing you know,

you're a king.

>> [laughter]

>> A king?

Woah, what that must be like.

>> Never having to be constricted by your

superior's small-mindedness.

It is unfailing, Lazarus, and applies to

civilian life as well.

That in the way of every great man is

somebody with one more star on their

shoulder telling him it can't be done.

>> Well, General.

Hate to bring up a delicate subject, but

you'll never get to Cuba

or anywhere else if people keep taking

potshots at your back.

>> Just so, which brings me to my point.

I have a proposition, Mr. Lazarus.

Would you be interested in becoming one

of my scouts?

>> What?

Can't say I've done any scouting,

General.

>> You'll be trained by the best there is,

Will Comstock, my chief of scouts.

>> Well, I could use a job and I

I do like the company.

But you don't want me for scouting.

You want somebody to watch your back.

>> Right again, Lazarus.

You see, this isn't the first attempt on

my life.

It's got to be one of my own.

But I don't know who to trust.

Now maybe you as an outsider can spot

things I can't see.

>> Well, if I take this job, I'll have to

look around your camp.

>> That's why we'll make you a scout as a

cover.

>> Do you have any idea who's behind these

attempts on your life?

>> Oh, absolutely.

>> You do?

>> At the age of 23

I became a brigadier general.

During the last 6 months of the war

I captured 10,000 prisoners

including seven generals.

And during that time

I never lost a color.

>> Never lost a gun.

>> And certainly was never defeated.

>> So, who do you think could be trying to

kill you?

>> Everyone who wishes he were me.

>> How do you gents?

Room for extra hands?

Name's Lazarus. I just signed on with

the scouts.

>> We don't play with dead men.

>> Lazarus.

>> [laughter]

>> You're the general's new pal, ain't you?

>> The general don't have many pals around

here, does he?

>> Not in this outfit.

>> Shut up.

Don't speak with disrespect to our

leader.

Mr. Lazarus might run and tell you.

>> Just looking for a hand of cards.

>> Can I take my spot?

>> I got duty.

>> What's your name, sergeant?

>> Bradock.

>> Thanks for the seat.

>> So,

we hear you're the one that saved the

general's life.

>> The man I was looking for.

>> General, I'd like to speak to you

privately.

>> And top

>> More secrets.

>> I found the man with the missing button.

>> Splendid.

>> But just now I have a far more important

mission for you.

>> General, I'm trying to tell you I may

have found the man

>> is going to shoot me in my own

encampment. Look, I have had a carriage

shipped out to my lovely wife, and I

promised to take her for a spin.

But we have an inspection today. I would

therefore like you to take my place.

>> And I would love to hear another one of

your preposterous stories.

>> Then it is settled.

>> I will meet you at the stables in an

hour, sir.

>> Does anyone ever say no to either of

them?

I've never known how.

It can't be easy being the brother of

everybody's hero.

I'm a hero myself.

I've won the Congressional Medal of

Honor twice.

Most people who receive it once aren't

alive to enjoy it.

I don't compete.

He's my brother.

He's magic and I love him for it.

Of course,

I hate him for it, too.

Never the name Custer's mentioned,

all anyone ever thinks of him.

Some men have a way of making their own

luck and

some men are just plain lucky.

In his case, they have a name for it.

Custer luck.

The best example of it is going riding

with you

this afternoon.

Now, excuse me.

Don't be mistaken, sir.

In spite of everything I say about my

brother,

I'd ride to my death for him.

>> So, was it your husband's idea that you

come on these campaigns or

did you insist on coming west?

>> Well,

women have very few opportunities to

have any real adventures in this world.

>> You're not afraid of the danger?

>> Well, my husband and I have an

understanding about danger. We will not

let it deter us from the life we choose

to lead.

>> Then you must love him very much.

>> Why would I not?

What woman would not love a hero such as

him?

Do you know that General Sheridan gave

me the table upon which Grant drafted

the surrender terms at Appomattox?

And with it a note that read, "Take

this, madam, for no one has done more

than your husband to bring the surrender

about."

I mean, what woman wouldn't perish for

the privilege of being in a man's arms?

Up ahead, that's the cabin that

Armstrong and I have discovered.

We escape here sometimes.

Let's get out of the cold.

>> Oh.

>> Put the hammer on the table, please.

And I'll set up lunch if you'll start a

fire.

>> Okay.

>> Thanks.

My husband puts a great trust in you,

Mr. Lazarus.

Or else he wouldn't have asked you to

protect him.

And I put a great trust in you as well.

You are a charming man, Mr. Lazarus.

And your mystery is no small part of

your charm.

I enjoyed watching you stand up to my

husband at dinner.

You did it with grace telling that silly

story.

But you did stand up to him.

>> I hope he didn't take offense.

>> What you must understand about my

husband

is that

he's a kind of

child?

>> And

like a child

he is sometimes

winning

exuberant and eternally optimistic.

But also like a child

he can be stubborn self-absorbed

and frankly

reckless.

>> Well, I can't imagine a child

accomplishing what he has.

>> There's no question

that my husband is a great man.

I would defend with my life the record

of his achievements.

I honor him for it.

But as for [clears throat] love

I love him as I would love a child.

You see he leaves me no other choice.

Because

you see

he leaves me no other child.

So you see

Mr. Lazarus, when you marry a boy

general

you get them both.

>> [snorts]

>> I don't know what to say.

>> [snorts]

>> It does have its

have its good points.

For one thing, whenever I am permitted

to be with Armstrong, I am always first

lady of the post with all the honors

pertaining thereto.

>> [clears throat]

>> Although

I admit it is a poor cure for my

particular kind of loneliness.

But I have no alternative, you see.

An army post is too small a world and I

would rather die than subject Armstrong

to that sort of humiliation among his

own kind.

>> Maybe you don't understand.

>> So, fidelity or its lack

has never been an issue.

Until now.

But you

you are not as kind, Mr. Lazarus.

You are different from Armstrong. For

one thing, you're not from the post.

Yes, you've come here, but you'll be

gone soon enough. And for another thing,

you are not a child. You are a man.

>> Abby.

I can't do this.

I understand your loneliness.

And perhaps you can sense mine.

But your husband trusts me.

He trusts you. He loves you.

It would be dishonorable to violate that

trust.

>> Honor?

I am sick of honor and of valor [music]

and patriotism.

Don't men

ever think about love?

>> I think about it more than you'll ever

know.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

>> Come up here, sir.

>> So, you know something?

>> I believe I found the man who tried to

kill you.

>> I told you many men have tried to kill

me.

>> I mean the night we met.

>> Continue.

>> Well, I

>> Sir.

>> I looked around the camp, played cards

with some of your men.

One of them was wearing a tunic with a

button missing.

>> Go on.

>> They also knew that I was the one who

thwarted the attempt against your life.

>> Really?

What's this man's name?

>> Radic.

Benteen's company.

>> I should have known.

Benteen's not an admirer of mine.

>> I think you should question him.

>> Oh, you think I should QUESTION HIM?

>> BEG THE GENERAL'S PARDON, BUT THE UH

CHIEF OF SCOUTS HAS FOUND SOMETHING he

wants you to see pretty quick.

>> What is it?

>> Well, he wouldn't say. Just told me to

get you out there pronto.

>> Where's there, soldier?

>> About 3 mi due east of here. Just before

Norton Creek.

>> All right.

To my office.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Lazarus, grab your mount and follow me.

>> Yes, sir.

>> There, my trusted boy.

>> Jamie.

Jamie.

Is that you, Jamie?

>> Do you know me, corporal?

>> Do I know you?

Hell, I owe you my life.

>> You do?

>> Yeah, I thought it was you.

And then that when when Sergeant

Braddock told us you'd save the

General's life, I knew it was you. Some

people never change.

>> What's your name?

>> You don't know my name?

Charlie Johnson.

Is something something wrong with you,

Jamie?

>> No, Charlie, just some things I can't

remember.

When did Sergeant Braddock tell you I

saved the General's life?

>> Well, it was the other night, you know,

when you when you done it.

>> [music]

>> I mean, Braddock he

>> You're one of them, aren't you?

>> One of who?

>> One of the men trying to kill Custer.

>> Wait, you're crazy. Why would I do that?

>> You tell me.

Right now.

Or you can discuss it with General

Custer when he gets back.

Custer's not coming back.

Ever.

You lied to him.

The chief scout's not out there, is he?

The General's riding into a trap.

Comstock will be there, all right.

He's one of us, too.

You said you owed me your life.

>> That's right.

>> I don't remember it.

I'm calling in the marker.

>> We were friends, Jamie.

Good friends.

>> And get the hell out of here.

>> Hey.

Say what?

Meet me at Broken Bear Rock. That's a

couple of miles due east of here.

Maybe I can help you remember.

>> General!

General!

>> [music]

>> Glad to see you're so keen about

scouting.

General,

you've been set up. We need to go back.

>> I believe we can handle this situation.

[music]

>> The General!

>> [music]

[music]

>> He's coming.

>> [music]

>> That's patient, boys. Coming right up.

>> [music]

>> Damn it! Something's wrong.

>> [music]

>> Horse is lame.

>> I'll just escort him up here.

>> Don't worry, boys. We'll all be close

enough to see his face when we kill him.

Come on.

>> What's wrong, General?

>> Oh, the world, Willie.

Just too many villains in it.

I'm thirsty, fool.

And my friend Lazarus, [music] you see.

Every time I meet him on the trail,

he saves my hide.

>> Drop your guns. RAISE YOUR HANDS.

>> HIT HIM UP!

>> [screaming and groaning]

>> BLOODY INFERNO!

>> YOU HALT, MISTER.

OR SO HELP ME GOD, I'll shoot you

myself.

>> I believe we're about to be joined by

Major Elliott's patrol.

>> You need us down there, General?

>> Have the goodness to put yourself under

arrest.

>> Pope, Davis, FOLLOW ME.

>> OPEN FIRE!

>> YES, SIR.

>> YOU CAN LEAVE US ALONE.

WHY DID YOU stop me from killing those

men?

>> Those men were unarmed prisoners.

>> We execute unarmed prisoners all the

time.

It's the only way.

>> After a trial. Those men had none.

>> I am their trial.

Do you think it really matters when I

find them guilty?

Now or two hours ago?

>> You know why those men tried to kill

you, General?

Because you act like a hot-headed child.

You told me you wanted what it would

feel like to be a king.

Well, even kings have a day of

reckoning.

>> It may come, Lazarus.

But I'll meet it head-on, just like I

meet everything else.

>> In the meantime, my mystery man,

I'm told you have an appointment with

one of the conspirators.

The only one of them left.

What's his name?

>> Johnson.

Don't be so surprised.

You're not my only spy in this camp.

Johnson shot his mouth off before he

deserted.

Well, I want him dead.

So, where is he?

Which way did he go?

Come now, Lazarus. Don't pile up another

count of obstructing justice.

You're already in serious danger of

being shot by a firing squad.

Or at the very least, going to the

stockade.

>> West.

Then he's lost to both of us.

It would appear the Indians are being

particularly difficult just west of

here. Major Elliot came across a dead

settler yesterday.

The muscles of his right arm were

severed to the bone.

Cheyenne.

The nose was slit. Arapaho. And the

throat cut by the Sioux.

It's not the Indians barbarism I find so

disturbing. It's

>> [laughter]

>> their cooperation.

Oh, come now, Lazarus. Not even a smile?

Yes, I was furious with you.

Still am, I guess.

But you saved my life.

Twice.

And that is not an obligation I take

lightly.

So, get out of here.

We comfort ourselves with the fact that

since we didn't know who the hell you

were when you got here,

we won't feel your loss when you go.

I accept your resignation from the

scouts.

Tonight.

You understand?

Oh, Lazarus.

>> I appreciate you saving my brother's

life.

But I don't appreciate any liberties you

took with his wife.

>> I took no liberties.

>> Good.

There are two men here in love with her.

Both capable of killing you.

>> I just wanted to say goodbye.

>> Yes, ma'am.

>> Yesterday, you were right.

You saw what I could not, and I want to

thank you for stopping me.

>> I saw right.

I wonder how many nights I'll lie awake

cursing myself because I did.

>> There are not many men like you in the

world, Mr. Lazarus.

>> And there aren't many women in the world

like you, Mrs. Custer.

>> [music]

>> Johnson.

Johnson.

I've got an idea.

While we're waiting.

Why don't you gather the wood this time?

I'll make the coffee.

>> How did you know?

>> Remember me?

Not wise,

but lucky.

I just took a chance whichever way you

said he'd gone.

Exact opposite would be the truth.

Remember what I told you when we first

met?

A wise man would shoot you just to be

safe.

And I feel myself getting smarter every

moment.

>> Johnson could hear the shot.

>> Oh, no doubt he will. Unless Tom,

you haven't stuck that gun in his ear,

have you?

>> No, Audrey. It's in his neck.

>> There's one more thing, though.

See, I talked to the corporal before you

arrived.

He says he's known you all your life.

Oh, now I finally see it.

He's the only one who knows your whole

story.

But you really are looking for yourself,

aren't you?

>> Well, you're the king.

You tell me.

>> Always the gamesman, Mr. Lazarus?

Help me with this little puzzle.

>> What do you mean?

>> Well,

you saved my life when you stopped

Braddock.

And you did it again when you warned me

about Comstock. Now, I did reciprocate

by not shooting you earlier today for

obstructing justice.

But it still comes out I owe you one

life.

And that's a pity,

because I dearly want to kill you.

So, there's the quandary.

How to save your life,

and yet take it from you.

I HAVE IT.

>> NO!

CUSTER!

>> YOU'RE RUNNING UP QUITE A DEBT, CUSTER.

I wonder on what stricken field we'll be

asked to pay it.

>> Shortly afterward, Custer [music] was

court-martialed and found guilty of

shooting Charlie Johnson as a deserter.

His defense was that it was necessary

for discipline.

He was given a slap on the wrist.

During the trial, when [music] reporters

hounded Libby,

her response was always the same.

She'd say, "You think my husband is too

zealous in the performance of his duty,

[music] but you have only to gaze on the

medals upon his chest and the stars on

his shoulders

to know that his country [music]

disagrees."

Gallant Libby.

Lucky Custer.

Out of this sad experience, I come away

with my given name,

Jamie.

Short for James?

Perhaps.

But it's not enough to unlock my

identity.

For now,

I must remain Lazarus.

>> In 1864, 33,000 Union soldiers were

crowded into a prison camp in Georgia, a

place where justice and revenge were

often the same thing. See the great

untold story of the Civil War,

Andersonville, all in one day starting

tomorrow afternoon at 4:00, exclusively

on TNT. Coming up, Michael Douglas and

Hal Holbrook, a judge has taken the law

into their own hands in the Star

Chamber, next on TNT [music] Saturday

Nitro.