All language subtitles for Bonanza Ride The Wind

Dad-burn, look at him go.

All the way from
St. Joe in eight days.

That's something... you know,
that's less than half the time

they've ever done it in
before. That's hard to believe.

I believe it's a miracle.

I tell you, this Pony Express
is gonna be the biggest thing

that ever happened to the West.

What an idea.

You know, they put together
the best string of thoroughbreds

in the country for this job.

They're gonna need 'em

getting over the Sierra
into Sacramento from here...

The last leg of the
trip and the toughest.

I don't think we have a horse
in the Ponderosa this fast.

I wouldn't be so sure of that.

Hey, Joe!

I had a vision.

Yes, sir.

A vision of this land.

I saw the populous East
and the great, growing West

tied together with
a single thread,

a thread of courageous
young horsemen riding the wind,

never leaving the saddle,

an ever-changing
group of horsemen

whose determination
and strength and courage

will make the Pony
Express a living reality.

That was my vision,
my hope, my dream.

But before we can do all that,

I must have pledges
of your support,

pledges that all other
communities so far

have given me.

And as soon as our
receipts start rolling in

and a grateful government
grants us a mail subsidy...

How do we know that'll happen?

I been trying to get
'em to shake loose

for ten years,
for my stage line.

All I got so far is six
government mules,

three inspectors,
and a tax bill.

(laughter)

Ludlow, you're asking
us to put our money

into this express
company of yours.

I'd like to know a
little more about you

before I put a nickel in it.

You want to know about
Charles Ludlow, huh?

You ever hear of the Erie
Canal Riverboat Service?

The New Orleans Clipper Lines?

The Washington and
Boston Packet and Mail?

My father formed
those companies.

(indistinct chatter)

Yes, uh, gentlemen,

I was privileged to
make my contribution

to the growth of
this great land,

but I consider those
accomplishments

to be less than nothing

compared to the task
I'm embarked on now.

'Cause I've long
known of the cryin' need.

What about Winnemucca
and his Paiutes?

You think they're
just gonna sit there

and let you ride
across their land?

Well, now, let's
not start worrying

about a bunch of redskins.

It's my job to handle them.

Winnemucca's braves are...

more than just "a bunch of
redskins," Mr. Wade. Uh...

they're about as fierce a tribe
as you can find around here.

I think they're to
be reckoned with.

Well, you haven't had any
trouble with Winnemucca

since that fight at
Pyramid Lake, have you?

No.

No, but he's a...
he's a strange man.

(chuckles) You never know
what's going on in his mind.

Oh, he... might let you
ride across his territory

without any trouble at all.

Yeah, he could do that.

But then he might just
as well decide to fight.

Now, look, did we come
here for advice or dollars?

You heard what Mr. Ludlow
said about needing your support.

Now, how about it?

- Thank you, Curtis.
- (indistinct chatter)

My partner, Mr. Wade,
has, as always, hit the nail

exactly on the head.

Our most pressing
need right now is money.

I'll pledge $6,000.

- Thank you.
- (indistinct chatter)

By golly, if Ben Cartwright
thinks that much of the deal,

I'm for it, too.

You can put me down
for 2,000, Ludlow.

I'll go for 1,500.

Excellent. Uh...

you just write down here the
amount you intend to invest.

Uh... start with Mr. Cartwright.

- Thank you, sir.
- Thank you.

Well, the, uh, Cartwright
trick rider, I do believe.

(chuckles)

We had a little race
outside of town. (chuckles)

Yeah, well, you still
owe me a rematch.

Well, I'd much rather you
raced for the Pony Express

than against it.

- Uh, my name's Jabez Ludlow.
- Good to see you.

Why don't you join us?

Well, I've been
thinking about it.

Well, uh, I think we have plenty
of work for this young man to do

on the Ponderosa.

- Thank you, gentlemen.
- Thank you.

Mr. Cartwright. Uh...

my partner, Mr. Wade, and I

would like to speak with
you privately, if we may.

Fine.

Boys, wait for me.

(indistinct chatter)

Joe...

you ain't seriously thinking
about joining this outfit.

Well, why not? Sure, I'm
seriously thinking about it.

You heard what Mr. Ludlow
said about being one

of the most important things
to ever happen to the West.

Yeah, but, Joe, you're
gonna risk your life.

Well, it's my life, isn't it?

(sighs)

Gentlemen, I... I
don't know what to say.

Say yes, Ben.

You're the man we want,

the man we need to make
this a going enterprise.

I've been watching the...

progress of the Pony Express
with a great deal of interest.

Ben, as a member of
our board of directors,

you'll be invaluable to us.

You see, it takes men
not only with vision

but men with a practical
knowledge of the West,

uh, to make a thing
like this a going one.

WADE: What do you
say, Mr. Cartwright?

You want to be a part of it?

Yeah.

Yes, I want to be part of it.

(whoops) Look at him go!

He's scooping up
sand in his back pocket!

MAN: "Not over 25 years.

"Must be expert riders and
willing to risk death daily.

- "Orphans preferred.
- (men laughing)

$125 a month"?!

Our horses can't
carry that much weight

over the distances
we have to travel.

Sorry.

Next.

Name.

Aaron Bornstein.

I weigh 130 pounds, see
lightning and hear thunder.

Can you ride a horse?

- Mister, I was born on a horse.
- (chuckles)

Well, boy, you're gonna
get a chance to prove it.

You mean I'm hired?

Yeah, you're now a
Pony Express rider.

Pick a bunk in the back room.

- Name.
- Pat Henley.

- What do you weigh?
- 129 pounds.

WADE: That's about right.

HENLEY: I was
born on a horse, too.

WADE: Pick a bunk
in the back room.

Excuse me, friend.

- Looking for a job, friend?
- Yeah.

- Where you from?
- Right here in Virginia City.

- Got a ranch right outside of town.
- Cartwright!

Hey, Jabez, how you doing?

Fine. You, uh,
decided to join us, huh?

Yeah, yeah. You
finally talked me into it.

I'm glad.

It's a big job. We, uh...
we need riders like you.

Son, it sound like
you got the fever.

I have.

You'll get it, too. I can
guarantee that, mister.

Just so that paycheck
comes in each month.

It don't matter to me
one way or the other.

(chuckles) I better
get my place in line.

- I'll see you later.
- Right.

When are you gonna
learn how to read?

All right, it says,

"Neither rain nor
sleet nor gloom of night

will stay the
courier on his way."

I guess they never heard

of a horse stepping
in a prairie dog hole.

(laughter)

All right.

Pay's 125 a month.

That's more money than most
of you have seen in your lives.

Out of that, you buy your
own gear and handguns.

Handguns?

What about using a rifle?

Like to keep
Indians at a distance.

Well, that's why we give
you fast grain-fed horses.

You use 'em for speed.

Outrun 'em, don't
try to outfight 'em.

And I've got one rule
you better all remember:

bring yourselves
and the mail in on time

or bring yourselves in dead.

That's all. Be here tomorrow
morning ready to go to work.

You're Joe
Cartwright, aren't you?

Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

I'm Emmett Carver from
down Carson City way.

Hi, Emmett.

Your dad and mine
know each other.

- Oh, yeah, that's right.
- Yeah.

Yeah, I heard my pa
mention him many times.

What do you think of that Wade?

He sure like to kid, don't he?

Oh, yeah.

He's a real barrel of
laughs, that's for sure.

You know, I told my dad this
was gonna be a real safe job.

- (chuckles) -Wait'll he hears
about that number one rule,

on schedule or
dead... That'd kill him.

Please, please,
don't use that word.

- I'll see you later.
- All right.

Hey, fellas, here's the
schedule, who rides and where.

Excuse me, fellas.

JABEZ: Joe...

- Yeah.
- Uh, don't mind Mr. Wade.

He's, uh... he's
tough but he's fair.

He'll take care of his men.

How long you known him?

Mm, about three years.

Used to be an Indian
fighter in the southwest.

Pop thinks he's the man
to make this operation work.

I'm inclined to agree with him.

Well, I got to admit,
he talks tough enough.

- (laughs)
- I'll see you tomorrow.

Right.

- Hey, Joe?
- JOE: Yeah, Hoss.

Was afraid I'd find you here.

I saw your horse
tied up out here.

You know, we got a
lot of work to do, Joe.

We got to move all those cattle
down from that north pasture.

Yeah, well, I'm afraid
I'm not gonna be able

to help you move 'em.

Joe, you didn't...?

Yeah, I joined 'em.

(sighs)

Pa sure ain't gonna like that.

I know. I'm not looking
forward to telling him, either.

Well, I guess I
better get on home.

(laughing): I... I sure don't
understand you, Joseph.

Why couldn't you at least
have talked to me about it?

Because I was afraid
you were gonna say no.

Because you were afraid
I was going to say no.

And could there possibly
be a reason for me saying no?

- Yes, sir, but I... oh...
- Yes, sir! Yes, sir!

With Adam gone, I
need both of you here.

This ranch won't run by itself.

Look, Pa, you gave
money to the Pony Express.

You're on the
board of directors.

Now I just don't see why
you won't let me ride for 'em.

Because I... Because
I need you here.

Oh, now, you know
that's not the reason.

Look, Pa, nothing's
gonna happen to me.

Look, you-you told me how
important the Pony Express was;

that's it's the biggest thing
that ever happened in the West.

Well, I want to be part of it...

just for a little while.

Look...

young man, you
get yourself upstairs

and pack those bags of yours

if you're going to report to the
Pony Express in the morning.

Now, get off with you.

Yes, sir.

Hey, don't look so sad.

You lose about 190 pounds,
I'll put a word in for you.

I lose 190 pounds, I
couldn't keep a saddle on me.

Pa... you know
what those fellers

are gonna be riding
through, don't you?

Yes, yes, I know.

Freezing blizzards,
1,500 miles of dry desert,

- I know.
- Endless mountains...

Not to mention a couple
of thousand Indians.

Hoss, I know.

But I tell you, if I was
25 years younger...

Well, you don't think I could
have stopped him anyway, do you?

No, dad-burnit, I
know you couldn't have.

♪♪

Whoa, whoa, boy. Whoa!

Whoa! Hey!

- Whoa! Stop!
- (townspeople murmuring)

Hey, you guys,
get out here quick!

Hurry up!

(townspeople
chattering excitedly)

MAN: Whoa, come on,
come on... Whoa. Whoa!

Easy. Easy. Easy.

Whoa. Whoa.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

It's Emmett's horse.

Hoke, what's the arrow holding?

Scalp.

Little Joe's out there, too.

(speaking native language)

(whooping)

(whooping)

(blowing bugle call)

(bugle call blowing in distance)

(blows bugle call)

(blowing bugle call)

Hey, Ed! Indians!

You better stay
here, Joe. It's safer.

Don't worry. I'll outrun 'em.

- Hyah.
- Hyah. Hyah!

I don't know whether you're
skillful, or just plain lucky.

It don't matter, boy,

just as long as I keep
taking your money.

Uh, greetings,
fellow mail carriers.

Wade wasn't kidding when he said

we had the fastest
horses in the West.

They're really movers.

Hey, where's Emmett? He quit?

He's dead.

Paiutes.

Jumped him between
here and the last station.

Sent back his pony and his hair.

Just so's we'd know.

We thought you was
a goner, too, Little Joe.

Yeah, well, I guess
I had a faster horse.

I never told you boys
this was gonna be easy.

I never promised you brass
bands and cotton candy

for the rest of your lives.

We lost a man, sure,
and we're all sorry.

But are we gonna
let that stop us?

I've been fighting
Indians all my life,

and I've yet to meet
the feathered buzzard

that could scare me out of
doing anything I've set my mind to.

And I've set my mind...

yes, and my heart, on making
the Pony Express a reality.

Well, now, if any of you
feel that you can't cut it,

you can just roll up
your gear and call it quits.

That's all I've got to say.

Told his pa he
had a real safe job.

Little Joe, you quittin'?

No, I can't quit.

I got too big of an
investment in this company.

Still owe me a month's pay.

(footsteps approaching)

MAN: Hello?

Anybody here?

WADE: In here.

Rejoice for the press has come
to make you famous, Mr. Ludlow.

(chuckling)

Tully, Washington Globe.

I am pleased.

Well, I'm not Ludlow.

Name's Wade.

Oh?

Can I help you?

Oh, no, I'm afraid not.

You see, I came out here
to do a story on Ludlow

and his famous pony riders.

Oh.

Look at that.

"Ludlow and Wade."

(chuckling): Oh.

Then you're partners.

Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Wade.

But I'm afraid you
still can't help me.

You see, back East,
nobody ever heard of you.

All they talk about is the
great visionary, Charles Ludlow.

Well, they should.

Without him, there wouldn't
be any Pony Express.

TULLY: Oh, yes, he's a
very famous man, you know.

- (snaps fingers)
- Caught the imagination

of uncounted thousands.

All right, friend, here's
your chance to meet him.

This is Mr. Charles
Ludlow, my partner.

This is Mr. Tully of
the Washington Globe.

- Oh.
- It's a real honor, Mr. Ludlow.

It isn't often that I stand in
the presence of greatness.

LUDLOW (laughing): Well,

now, you flatter me, Mr. Tully.

Oh, no.

My editor sent me 3,000 miles
just to write a story about you

and the way you've built
your great Pony Express.

Well...

I'll certainly tell 'em
all I know about it.

(laughs)

Would you like some coffee?

Well, I'd rather have a drink?

Oh, I'm afraid

we don't have spirits
in this office, Mr. Tully.

Oh.

Well, in that
case, coffee it is.

Uh, Charles, I'd
like you to look

at the bills for
those new horses.

Curtis, that can wait.

You know I don't
care about business.

Get our guest some coffee,

and bring me some, too.

You see, Mr. Tully...

this is more than just a story.

This is a saga.

I had a vision, a great one.

A vision of this land of ours.

The populous East and
the great West tied together

by a single thread of riders.

- Mr. Ludlow...
- Of courageous young..

- Mr. Ludlow?
- Yeah?

I, uh... I want to
get this all down.

- Ah...
- But, you see, I-I'm...

At the moment,
I'm still a bit groggy

from my-my trip, and I
wonder if it'd be possible

to arrange an interview
for, say, this afternoon?

Oh, well, um...
(Charles chuckles)

Well, of course, at-at your
convenience, Mr. Tully.

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

And I want you to
know, the whole nation,

the whole world is
waiting to hear your story.

You're the man of the hour.

- TULLY: Believe me.
- Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Tully.

I'll... I'll see you later.

Curtis!

Curtis, did you hear
what he said about me?

Oh, Curtis, we're going places.

Who knows what we might do!

"Man of the hour," he said.

"Stand in the
presence of greatness."

Why, the Pony Express
might be a stepping stone.

A great opportunity!

Think of that, my friend.

A whole nation at my feet.

Think of it, my friend!

I have been
thinking of it, Charles.

Here, drink your coffee
before it gets cold.

I wish you could've
known Emmett Carver.

He was really a heck of a guy.

Always laughing
and joking all the time.

I know, Joe.

(sighs) Joe, you ride again

the first thing in the
morning, don't you?

Yeah, I guess I do. I...

better get some sleep.

Pa...

you reckon you could ride
into Winnemucca's camp

and talk with him?

(sighs)

(softly): I don't know.

I did sit in to that peace
meeting with him...

Pyramid Lake.

(sighs): Well, he
ain't very peaceful

with nobody right now, is he?

♪♪

Tobacco.

Ben Cartwright no forget.

It's been a long
time, Great Chief.

(Winnemucca grumbles softly)

Why you come on my land?

To speak of peace...
with an old friend,

and to ask why my old
friend kills the pony riders.

They do no harm.

They carry only letters,

sometimes medicine.

They are men of peace.

Hear me, Ben Cartwright.

First one pony
rider, then wagons,

then many white men,
many white guns...

soon my land become your land!

But it would not
happen that way.

And there is a way to avoid it.

By making a treaty,

and setting down in that
treaty the number of riders

that you would allow
to cross your land.

And that way, you could
control the situation.

Treaties... easy to
break by white man.

I have seen many
false white faces,

heard many false white words.

How can you speak
to me of treaties!

You are a father.

You have sons.

Do you wish to see your
sons die before their time?

BEN: I am a father.

I have sons.

One of them is a pony rider.

Father's heart is
hard to carry, but...

Winnemucca is not only a father,

he is leader of his people.

My people must survive.

You tell your pony men

if they come on my land...

I will kill them.

- Did you get to Winnemucca?
- Yeah. We saw him, all right.

Yeah. Where's Mr. Ludlow?

He just went down to
the hotel with Mr. Wade.

What did Winnemucca say?
Is there any chance for a treaty?

No.

Now, Joseph... I
know I haven't any right

to ask you not to
make your run, but...

as a father, I'd sure feel a
whole lot better if you didn't.

Pa, you know I can't do that.

If I don't make the ride,

one of the other fellas
is gonna have to. I...

I can't back out just
'cause the going gets rough.

(sighs)

- BEN: Come on.
- HOSS: Look, Joe...

delay it as long as
you can, anyhow.

Let Pa have a chance
to talk to Ludlow.

(softly): Yeah.

(bugle call blowing)

(horse galloping)

Let's wait a while; Pa's
down talking to someone.

Mr. Wade, we have no choice.

We've got to reroute
the Pony Express

- around Winnemucca's terri...
- We can't!

It's as simple as that.

Wade, what do you want
anyhow, an Indian war?

It'll take us months to build
those new relay stations.

If we stop those riders now,

we'll never get that
government subsidy.

And without that, we're
finished, out of business.

Well, as far as I'm concerned,

no business is worth the
loss of a single human life!

And no Indian is gonna
dictate terms to me.

If we have to lock
horns, with them, so be it,

- but I say...
- I say Ben is right!

(sighs): We'll just...

have to cease operations

till the stations are built.

Oh, Curtis, Curtis,

why don't you
calm down a little.

Now, when you're
older and wiser, you'll...

Don't you patronize me.

I didn't realize I
was doing that.

You haven't realized
a lot of things.

You want to stop
the riders; I don't.

I think we better put
this before the board,

- let them decide.
- Fine, if that's what you...

Cartwright, what
are you doing here?

You're supposed to
be out on your run.

We've got a schedule to keep.

- My pa said to wai...
- I know what your pa said.

- Bornstein...
- Yes, sir?

You're gonna have to
do Cartwright's job for him.

Yes, sir.

You stay here.

I do my own riding, Mr. Wade.

And keep that schedule.

Hyah!

♪♪

- What are you doing here?
- Waiting for Mr. Ludlow.

We were to hold that
interview, you know.

Yes, I know.

You know, very few men

live up to your
expectations of them.

But that Mr. Ludlow...

everybody I talk to says,
"Mr. Ludlow says this,

Mr. Ludlow says that."

Mr. Ludlow is a past
master at saying things.

Doing things is something else.

Why am I telling you
this? Do your story.

Well, now...

Ludlow is only a story
if he runs the Express.

Now, if that doesn't
happen to be true...

Why should I lie to you?

I can give you a lot of reasons.

How about resentment,
just for openers?

Look, Mr. Wade,
Ludlow is my story

until I learn otherwise.

And to my readers, he's
the leader of this outfit,

the visionary.

To be quite frank, he's the
dashing man on the white horse.

And what if he fell
off that white horse?

Oh, now, that would
be another matter.

But let me caution you...

You don't knock down a man
like Charles Ludlow very easily.

I know that.

I was going through some
of Ludlow's files the other day.

I ran into some very
interesting reading.

How's that for openers?

Looks like you're holding
all the aces, Mr. Wade.

You see, gentlemen,
it's quite simple.

We must have a peace
treaty with Winnemucca.

- No, Ludlow, you can't...
- Now, now, please, please, please.

I have prepared...
just such a treaty.

There is the document. Huh?

And I think they'll find
that quite acceptable.

You see, we offer to pay
for any one of our riders

who crosses Winnemucca's lands.

The last time we
tried to get a treaty

with that old Paiute,
it took almost a year.

Now, why should it be
any different this time?

It won't be any different...

not unless we come up
with some gesture of goodwill

to Winnemucca.

Cartwright, talk sense.

Our only chance to
survive is to obtain

a government subsidy.

Isn't that right, Mr. Ludlow?

- Well, I...
- Well, isn't it?

Yes, yes, yes!

But I still don't see what
that has to do with this treaty.

We-we can't go on
conducting business

without a treaty
with the Indians.

If we have to suspend the
Pony Express, even for one day...

If we hold up the
mail, we've failed!

No, no, I tell you, no!

I don't have to
tell you gentlemen

the financial structure
of this company is shaky.

If we don't get that subsidy,
we're out of business.

Now, Curtis, we'll
do this my way!

And I insist on a
treaty with the...

- You insist?
- I insist!

What makes you think
you've got the right

to insist or anything else?

As soon as our friends here
take a look at these papers,

we'll see who they'll
listen to, you or me.

(low, indistinct chatter)

What are these papers, Wade?

- His creditors' reports.
- Creditors' reports?!

What kind of creditors, Wade?

I'll tell you what kind.

The men who've
backed and supported

various and assorted companies,

such as the Erie Canal
Riverboat Service,

New Orleans Clipper Line,
Washington and Boston Packet,

all of which were
headed by Mr. Ludlow,

and all of which went broke!

That was all in
the past. It's over.

Is it?

Isn't your father trying to stop

the operation of
the Pony Express

while we palaver with
a bunch of redskins?

You think that's the kind of man

the government is gonna
subsidize... a quitter?

He's ready to send us
into bankruptcy right now,

just as surely as he did
these other companies.

What are you trying
to pull off there, Ludlow!

(clamoring)

- BEN: Wait a minute!
- Are these reports true?

BEN: Wait! Wait!

Let's hear what
Mr. Ludlow has to say!

(clamor stops)

I do not deny... those reports.

WADE: Look, if you don't
want to lose your money

the same way all
Mr. Ludlow's other creditors did,

I'm asking you to give
me a fighting chance

to keep the Pony
Express in operation.

Don't give in to Winnemucca.

We'll fight him!
We'll outrun him!

We'll run him into the
ground, if we have to.

And how many pony riders
will have to die in the process!

They volunteered! If they
don't like it, they can get out.

We've got a right to
protect our interests.

I say we give Mr. Wade
a vote of confidence.

- Now, wait a minute...
- And I second that motion.

- All in favor, say "aye"!
- OTHERS: Aye!

Opposed?

Opposed.

The board has
spoken, Mr. Ludlow.

You're no longer the
head of this organization.

♪♪

Aren't you gonna do
anything at all, Dad?

Son, I've already told you,
it's not any more my affair.

What was it all for?

A pat on the back for me
and another failure for you?

I was hoping this was it!

That once, just
once in your life,

you'd finish something,
you'd-you'd see it through!

Son, you heard what
they said to me in there.

You... you saw what happened.

I saw you crumble and collapse
before a man named Curtis Wade.

I watched him take the
Pony Express away from you

without even a struggle.

Didn't you ever really
care about the Express?

Or was it just a...
another bunch of words

for you to sound off with?

Son... you shouldn't
speak this way to me.

I've always wanted you
to be proud of your father.

Proud?

Of what?

Of his failures?

Of all his great
achievements that went bust?

Of watching him run out
on one thing after another?

Last thing in the world I
wanted was to let anybody down.

Especially you.

Well, you've done
something worse.

You've let yourself down.

(door slams)

♪♪

♪♪

(horse neighs)

(hoofbeats approaching)

Get going!

Cool him out.

He's a good one...
He run 30 miles.

30 miles, did you say?

I couldn't stop at
Indian Wells station.

- How come?
- Paiutes.

Paiutes?

(panting): Mr. Cartwright...

your son Little Joe...

he's trapped in that station.

I heard the shooting.

I circled the place.

Them Paiutes was
having themselves a time.

How do you know it
was Little Joe in there?

We were supposed
to pass in the road.

We didn't.

Give me another
horse! I'm going with 'em!

I ain't never missed
an Indian fight in my life.

Mr. Wade...

you really fight
all those Indians

back in Texas, like
you tell us about?

(whooping, gunfire)

(whooping continues)

(gunfire)

(whooping continues)

(gunfire)

(gunfire continues)

(whooping continues)

(whooping, gunfire in distance)

(blowing bugle call)

(bugle call continues)

(bugle call continues)

(blowing bugle call)

(whooping continues)

(gunfire)

(gunfire continues)

(grunts)

(horse neighs)

(neighs)

(gunfire continues)

(neighs)

(whooping continues)

(gunfire continues)

(relieved sigh)

I'll tell you, those bugles
were music to my ears.

Yeah.

(grunting, panting)

It's gonna have to
come out... All right.

LITTLE JOE: Hang on tight.

(panting)

Now.

(tosses arrow to ground)

(panting)

Oh, no... Easy. Easy, Jabez.

(gasping)

(gasps, yells)

Pa...?

What did they do?

Papa?

I'm proud of you. (sniffles)

You hear?

(sobbing): I'm so proud of you.

Is this according to your
schedule, Mr. Wade?

No, I... never wanted
it to come to this.

Reckon what he was trying to do?

He was trying to...

get a peace treaty
with Winnemucca.

Pony Express was his...

his dream, his life.

BEN: Charles Ludlow
left us all one thing...

His dream.

And that dream was his legacy...

The Pony Express...

Which is now our responsibility.

We will not turn away from it.

We will not flinch
from this task.

God willing...

the Pony Express will
flourish and prosper,

memorial enough for any man.

♪♪

Those were good
words, Mr. Cartwright.

Thank you, Mr. Wade.

And you were right...
The best thing we can do

for Charles Ludlow is to
keep the Express going.

Going through Paiute territory?

Well, that was our
decision, wasn't it?

(Ben sighs)

I think we ought to
reconsider that decision.

Charles Ludlow tried to
make a treaty and got killed.

His death was unnecessary.
He should have known better

than to try to deal with
Winnemucca alone.

He tried to prevent
the death of others.

Or isn't that important to you?

The thing that's important
to me, Cartwright,

is to keep the
Pony Express going.

Now, if some people
get killed in the process,

that's regrettable,

but it's not gonna stop us.

I'll make this thing work.

That's the least I
can do for Ludlow.

For Ludlow?

Or for Wade?

- Morning, Mr. Cartwright, Hoss.
- Morning.

Hoke, Little Joe ought to be
back anytime now, shouldn't he?

Right. You aren't
worried, are you?

Well, that
and a buckskin, friend,

is what is known as
a father's prerogative.

It's a wonderful day for
fathers at the Pony Express.

My name is Samuel Bornstein.

- Aaron's father. How are you?
- Oh...

Fine, of course.
You look wonderful.

My name is Car...

- He called you Cartwright.
- Yes.

- So you're Little Joe's father.
- That's right.

I know you all from
my son Aaron's letters.

- Ah.
- He is Herb,
and he is Hokey...

and you...

You're not a rider.

No, I-I wish I could
be, Mr. Bornstein.

I'm Little Joe's
big brother, Hoss.

Isn't it wonderful?

All over Philadelphia, they
don't talk about anything else.

Those boys, riding all the way
from Saint Joseph, Missouri,

to the Pacific Ocean.

It's a miracle.

Yeah, that's what
it is, Mr. Bornstein,

it's a miracle, all right.

(bugle call playing)

Luck, Hoke.

(people cheering, whooping)

- (whistling, whooping)
- Hyah! Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

What'd you think of
that, Mr. Bornstein?

- Ain't that something?
- Oh, yes.

- Any trouble?
- Yeah, big trouble.

Raid at Indian Wells.
Don't ride till I talk to Wade.

Hold my horse for a
minute, will you, Jeb?

- Oh, Joe, how are you?
- Fine, Pa. Hoss.

Just a little bit tired.

Uh, Joe, this is Mr. Bornstein.

Aaron's father; came all the
way from Philadelphia to see him.

It's a pleasure
to meet you, sir.

I got to get inside and
talk to Wade. Excuse me.

Yeah.

Is something the matter?

Oh, no, no, of
course not. (chuckles)

Joe's always in
a hurry that way.

My boy... he should
be coming in now.

Ed and Rudy are dead,
and the horses are gone.

(Wade sighs)

We can't afford
losses like that.

You mean we can't afford
to lose men like Ed and Rudy.

TULLY: I told you boys
there was a story here.

(English accent): Do
you think that this will stop

the Pony Express, Mr. Wade?

No, it will not.

Get moving, Herb... you
were due out ten minutes ago.

But if Indian Wells is gone...

Just pace yourself, and
make it to the next station.

You're the boss, Mr. Wade.

(Wade sighs)

Cartwright.

I'm sorry about Ed and Rudy.

That mail has got to go through!

Yeah.

I'd rather like to see
the departure, Mr. Wade.

In England they say that
your Pony Express chaps

are even better riders
than the Russian Cossacks.

You've heard
correctly, gentlemen.

Right this way, please.

Oh, come, now, Wade, it
can't be as bad as you look.

Oh, no?

Indian Wells is the
third station I've lost.

We're fighting Indians
on a thousand-mile line.

Sioux, Cheyenne,
Crows... and now Paiutes.

But all that makes
excellent copy.

"Curtis Wade...
Trailblazer, pioneer,

Indian fighter."

(chuckles) You're becoming a
very important man, my friend.

And who knows,
with a little luck,

you might become an even
greater man than Charles Ludlow.

(bugle call playing)

Got plenty of ammunition?

Full box.

Pace him real good...
You got a long haul.

Thanks.

(people cheering, whooping)

That's my boy.

(whooping continues)

That's him.

Hey, Aaron! Hey,
guess who's here, Aaron!

Your...

Aaron!

Aaron! Aaron!

It's me! It's Papa, Aaron.

- Aaron, my boy!
- Papa!

Oh, you don't know how
I was waiting to see you.

Papa, Papa, what
are you doing here?

What am I doing here?

What am I doing here? I
came to see my son, my boy.

Is that a sin?

- (laughs): No, Papa, no.
- Oh, stand back,

let me get a good
look at... Your face.

Aaron, what's wrong?

Oh, Papa, it's just a
nosebleed. That's all.

Remember when I was a
kid, I used to have nosebleeds?

Nosebleeds?

What is a tough Pony Express
rider doing with nosebleeds?

- (Aaron laughs) -Eh, you
should hear how they talk

about Samuel Bornstein's
son in Philadelphia.

Mr. Cartwright, let's
buy our sons a beer.

(coughing)

You go right ahead,
Mr. Bornstein.

We'll join you in a few minutes.

- Oh, fine, Mr. Cartwright.
- (coughing)

Come, Aaron. Come.

We'll have a beer.

- You rode all the time, didn't you?
- Aaron?

Oh...

What's the matter with Aaron?

I don't know. Riding
too many hours

and too many miles, I guess.

He's not the only one.
Herb's in pretty bad shape, too.

That Indian Wells
station being gone

ain't gonna help
matters much, is it?

Yeah, Wade says he's
gonna send some more men

out there tomorrow. I don't
know where he's gonna get 'em.

Paiutes have raided it twice.

They're sure
gonna raid it again.

Like asking a man to ride
into Winnemucca's tent.

One thing doesn't change...

Philadelphia, Virginia City...

- Beer is beer.
- (chuckling)

Oh.

Hey, young man.

Are you sure you're old
enough to be in a saloon?

(chuckles) Well, I
guess if I'm old enough

to ride the Pony
Express, I'm old enough

to have a beer in a saloon.

Come on, now tell the truth.

The only time you ever used
a razor was to cut out pictures

from The Police
Gazette, ain't that right?

(laughter)

Aaron, how long since
you known this little boy?

Well, he's a pretty
new man, Papa.

(coughs) He replaced
Emmett Carver.

Emmett. Isn't he the one
who always made the jokes?

Uh-huh.

Well, what
happened? Did he quit?

Well, Papa... yes, he quit.

Quit?

I thought you told me he
was killed by the Paiutes.

(coughing)

SAMUEL: Aaron, this
cough, what's wrong?

It's the dust, Papa. That's
what... that's what does it.

It'll go away.

It'll be all right,
right, Little Joe?

Yeah.

Yeah, I think it's probably
just the dust, Mr. Bornstein.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Uh, three more
beers for our friends!

Company's here.

Well, looks like you're
having a little celebration.

What's the occasion?

We're just having
a friendly little beer.

Would you join us?

These riders carry the mail.

It's a dangerous job. They
have to be sober to do it.

Well, listen, what
about that beer, huh?

How 'bout a toast?

- L'Chaim!
- It means "to health."

Yeah, to health.

Wade.

What do you want?

I want a job.

A job?

You're gonna need a man
out at that Indian Wells station,

and I'm putting in for it.

Now, Indian Wells is the
roughest station we have

on the whole Western route.

I know. But I got a little
brother and a lot of friends

who are riding through
that Winnemucca country.

Least I can do is be
out there and see to it

that they got fresh horses
when they get there.

All right.

You got yourself a job.

Oh, by the way,

I ordered that
station fortified.

We'll have a little
surprise for Winnemucca

if he tries to hit it again.

Be out there in the morning.

I'll be there.

(sighs)

(knocking)

LITTLE JOE: Jabez?

(doorknob rattles)

- (knocking)
- Jabez, let me in.

(grunts)

What's happened to you?

You want a drink?

No, thanks.

Well, I do.

Little Joe,

did you ever
know a fella that...

killed his own father?

Oh.

Oh, so that's what
this is all about, huh?

What, this is the way
you make penance?

Penance for something
you didn't even do.

(laughs)

Didn't do, huh?

Well, maybe I didn't put
the arrows in his back,

but I did it.

Oh, I did it.

So now you sit around
in this stinking room

and you booze yourself senseless

and that's how you
show how sorry you are?

(scoffs) Well, whatever
happened to the Jabez Ludlow

who-who talked
about riding the wind?

The guy I used to know, who
didn't know what it was to quit?

I'm no good to anyone.

I'm finished.

I can't ride a horse anymore.

I can't ride for the Pony
Express, I can't ride

for anyone.

Look at my leg!

The trouble's not with
your leg... it's with your guts!

Come on! Stand up
when I'm talking to you!

You sit there and whine

about how much
you love your father.

Is this how you prove it?

The Pony Express,
your father's dream,

the dream he gave his life for,

that's still going on.

And, Jabez, it's gonna
go on without you.

Well, look at me!

What do you expect
me to be able to do?

Well, you can still think!
You can still use a gun.

You can still ride well enough
to go out to Indian Wells

and help my
brother Hoss repair it.

There's a lot of things
you can do, Jabez.

If you just had the guts.

You know, you were wrong...
You didn't kill your father.

But you're sure
killing his memory.

Joe.

When do you want me to be at...

Indian Wells?

Soon as we get
you a cup of coffee.

(war whoops)

(gunshot)

(gunshots)

Billy, Hank, flank 'em.

Wilson, you and the rest
of the fellas follow me.

We'll hit 'em head on. Come on.

(gunshots)

No. Looks like they're
all cleared out of here.

Boy, this place looks like
it's been hit by a twister.

Mr. Cartwright.

Mr. Cartwright.

Mr. Cartwright.

All time you not eat.

All time you just look sad.

Listen to this house, Hop Sing.

Listen to the silence of it.

(sighs)

You remember when we
built this house, Hop Sing?

This room was filled
with so much happiness.

Mrs. Cartwright,
Little Joe's mother.

Adam, Hoss. (chuckles)

- Little Joe.
- (chuckles)

They filled this house.

That's what it was built for.

Happiness.

Love.

Family.

Hop Sing not
like silence either.

(sighs)

Where's it all gone?

Mr. Cartwright, I fix
you some hot food.

You eat.

(knocking)

Somebody at door.

Um, I'm Curtis Wade.

I'd like to see Mr. Cartwright.

Come in, please.

Mr. Cartwright inside.

Mr. Cartwright.

Ben.

In spite of some of the
difference of opinion we've had,

you've always been the
best friend and supporter

the Pony Express ever had.

I've tried to help.

Well, I've-I've come
to ask your help again.

The Pony Express is
in danger of collapse,

and I'm just about
at the end of my rope.

I'm almost through, finished.

My riders are exhausted and...

I haven't got enough
money to pay them,

let alone hire new riders.

I need ten horses at Indian
Wells tomorrow morning,

I haven't got five
worth their salt.

I know it, and
the riders know it.

The only thing that's
holding the Express together

is the guts of those young kids.

Sit down.

I think I can give you ten,
maybe a dozen horses right away.

And a whole lot
more by next week,

as soon as they're rounded up.

Well, it isn't the
horses alone that, uh...

That mail subsidy still
hasn't come through.

I need money, Cartwright. Money.

How much money?

$5,000, $6,000.

(sighs)

I've already put
most of my ready cash

into the Pony Express. I...

I've got a ranch to run, a

business that's taken
me years to build.

If I give you what's
left of my cash reserve,

I'd be putting this
whole place in jeopardy.

Well I'm not used to
begging, Cartwright.

I came here hoping to keep
the Pony Express together.

It may have been
easy for Charles Ludlow

to lick your boots,
but not for me.

All right, you got
what you wanted.

I'm finished.

Wait.

I told you how hard it was
for me to give you that money.

I didn't say I
wouldn't give it to you.

I've got two sons working
for the Pony Express.

There's $5,000 in here.

You can have that

and the horses from the remuda.

Ben, I know I'm not
another Charles Ludlow, I...

I can't spin words
out of the air

- the way he could, but I...
- Ludlow's dead.

(sighs)

All that remains of him
is what you've kept alive...

The Pony Express.

Just so long as you
keep faith with that,

and with those young
fellas who lost their lives,

I'll keep faith with you.

Mr. Cartwright.

What brings you to town?

Oh, brought some
fresh horses for the boys.

- Good.
- (both chuckle)

- And I'm waiting for my Aaron to ride in.
- Ah.

(bugle call playing)

That would be him.

(cheering, whooping)

(coughs) Papa.

Papa.

Aaron. Aaron.

BEN: Aaron.

- Gentlemen, please.

Please, monsieur, can I not
get one uninterrupted minute?

We need a good pose.

S'il vous plaît.

What do you want my
picture for, anyway?

You're becoming famous all along
the Eastern seaboard, Mr. Wade.

There's a lot of talk about
you as a possible candidate

when the national convention
convenes next month.

(laughs softly)

Oh, that's nonsense.

The Washington newspapers
don't think so, Curtis.

Neither does the
New York press...

My publisher's betting on you
to stampede the convention.

You're the hero of the moment.

The man on horseback.

Look, gentlemen,

I have a big enough
job to do right here.

That's the kind of talk that
makes headlines, Mr. Wade.

And presidential candidates,

- eh, gentlemen?
- (indistinct chatter)

That all for now, boys.
You, too, Mr. Fontaine.

Mr. Wade and I have some
private matters to discuss.

But, monsieur, when
will I ever finish?

Patience, my friend.
I'll see to it that you get

- plenty of opportunity.
- (chatter continues)

FONTAINE: It should be done,

the idea... the
man on horseback.

- You'll get the opportunity.
- It should be done.

(sighs)

Well, Curtis, we finally
got something going.

You've kept the
Pony Express alive

and you're on the
verge of success.

But it can all be wiped
out in ten seconds.

We've got a Washington lobby
fighting for that mail subsidy.

The mail subsidy that will
keep the Pony Express going

and your image high
on that white horse.

But lobbies cost money.

Lots of money.

I've given you
every cent I have.

Well, then you'll
have to get more.

That, or just watch
everything collapse.

Get more where?

Winnemucca's stopping my riders,

delaying schedules,
he's killing men.

My riders are just about beat.

Their horses are
dying on their feet.

Since they hit Indian Wells,
there've been two more stations

deserted by their crews.

Leaving the supplies and
the horses for the Indians.

What do you expect of me?

You've got that money
Ben Cartwright gave you.

That's the back
pay for my riders.

They haven't seen
a dollar in months.

Charles Ludlow weakened,

and his indecision
cost him everything.

It cost him his dream.

His reputation.

His life.

Now there's the Pony
Express, the subsidy,

and a national
nomination at stake.

How much does that
mean to you, Wade?

♪♪

Now you're getting smart.

This is how you stay
on that big, white horse.

How's it going, Wilson?

Fine, Jabez.

Well, she's all
loaded and ready.

Good.

Say, where's Hoss Cartwright?

Oh, went in to Virginia
City to get some,

uh, supplies and ammunition.
He'll be back tonight.

Mr. Wade had quite an idea

about bringing these
cannons out here, didn't he?

He sure did. Those
Paiutes should think twice

before they hit us again.

MAN: Paiute!

What's that they're dragging?

It's a body.

Are they in range
of that cannon?

I think so.

Fire at 'em.

Yes, sir.

Get that cannon down there.

Let's go.

Come on, fellas.

Hold up, whoa.

There it is.

Set that range about 500 yards.

All right, fire.

Good shot, Wilson.

Load it up again.

Danny, Joe, go after
him, we'll cover you.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.

It's hard to tell who he is,

dragged through the
sand the way he was.

It's Pat.

Hey, this Indian's still alive.

Wait a minute, Jabez. We
ain't just got a Paiute, here.

This one's Bear Dance,
Winnemucca's son.

Jones.

Go tell Mr. Wade
what we got here.

Yes, sir.

Drag him off and tie him up.

Get him, fellas.

When'd that horse of
yours make his last run?

Yesterday.

(scoffs)

What are you makin' a face
for? Yours came in last night.

(bugle call playing)

There he is.

Right on the money. Good luck.

Giddyup. (chuckles)

(whooping, cheering)

(bugle call playing)

Joe, watch yourself. There's
Paiutes all along the trail.

(shouting, whistling)

Whatever it is, I
don't want to hear it.

Oh, you'll want to hear this.

A rider just brought it
in, it's from Washington.

They've pigeonholed the
mail subsidy in committee.

And our friends in Washington
don't think there's a chance

in a thousand of
even getting the bill out

on the floor in this session.

Why?

We fought Indians and storms.

We brought the mail through.

They know that if we
don't get that subsidy,

the Pony Express will die!

There's talk of
secession in the South.

Congress is engrossed
with bigger matters.

What about all those stories in
the magazines and newspapers?

Oh, Wade.

There is nothing more
dead than yesterday's news.

Well, I will say this.

Looks like it took a
civil war to beat you.

Nobody's gonna stop me.

I put too much into this.

All right.

Then you've got to do
something spectacular.

Something that will knock the
whole nation down to your feet.

Winnemucc.

Yeah, good old Winnemucca.

He's already made
you a famous man.

He might even make you immortal.

Strange, isn't it?

How fate plays
with a man's life.

Yeah, but how?

Well, now, you're an old
Indian fighter, aren't you?

Whoa.

- Oh, hi, Pa.
- Hoss.

That's eight kegs of powder and
400 rounds of ammunition, Billy.

That ought to do it. Thank you.

Missed you, boy.

Yeah. Missed you, too.

- How's it going?
- Pretty good.

We're turning that
relay station into a fort.

I don't think old Winnemucca's
gonna fool with us

when he finds out
what we've done.

- Yeah, we got enough stuff here.
- Yeah.

You see Joe?

Yeah, earlier this morning,

but he had a noon
ride into Sacramento.

Pa, quit worrying about Joe.

He's big enough to
take care of himself.

Oh, I keep telling
myself that he is.

I guess one of these
days, I'm gonna believe it.

MAN: Mr. Cartwright?

Hoss. You better get that
thing loaded and get out of here.

You're gonna miss
all the excitement.

Huh? What excitement?

Mr. Wade just left, took all
those newspaper men with him.

- There's gonna be a hanging.
- What?

They got Winnemucca's son
out at Indian Wells this morning.

They're gonna string him up.

Sure wish I could go with you.

I got a doggone
run in a half hour.

Winnemucca's
raids have hampered,

but not stopped
the Pony Express.

His ruthless attacks
on innocent riders

have not diminished our
resolve, but strengthened it.

And today, gentlemen,

those raids are
gonna come to an end.

The Paiute chief must claim
his son's body by sundown,

or lose face before his tribe,

so these sneak attacks'll stop.

We're forcing him
out in the open.

And as you can see,
we're ready for him.

If he can pull it off,

he'd be the man of the
hour, wouldn't he, Tully?

You've got Mr. Wade's
word for that.

A patriot's promise.

Curtis Wade is a
giant on horseback.

You can use that phrase
if you like, gentlemen.

MAN (shouting): Paiute!

Get that cannon around.

MAN: Get inside!

Hold. Hold it. Hold it.

(hoofbeats)

Hold your fire. It's Little Joe.

Run for it, Cartwright.
We'll cover you.

I gave Winnemucca my
word I wouldn't try to get away.

You don't have
to keep your word.

LITTLE JOE: Winnemucca's
willing to make a trade.

My life for his son's.

If you're willing to do that,
he'll stop making his raids

on the Pony Express,
and he'll talk peace.

(wind whistling)

(hoofbeats approaching)

(horses chuffing)

(wind whistling)

I'm giving you a
chance, Cartwright.

Break and run.

I'm hanging this Paiute.

Wade, didn't you
hear what I said?

Winnemucca's
willing to talk peace.

Winnemucca's trying to trick us.

Can't you see that?

He doesn't want peace.

He wants his son back alive.

(wind whistling)

Get ready to fire.

Get ready to fire.

I told you I brought you
out here to see a hanging

and the end of Winnemucca.

There it comes.

Wade!

Give me those reigns.

No, you can't do it.

I said, give 'em to me!

No, you're not gonna do it!

You don't have any more
guts than your old man.

(horse neighing)

Haw. Haw. Haw!

(horse neighing)

- (neighing)
- Hyah!

Haw! Haw! Haw!

(neighing)

- Get out of here!
- (neighing)

(neighing)

Oh.

(grunts)

(neighing)

I've got to kill him!

It's a trick. He
doesn't want peace.

You mean it's you that
doesn't want peace...

to get in the way
of your ambitions.

(grunting)

- (neighing)
- Haw. Haw.

- (Wade groans)
- HOSS: Haw. Haw. Haw.

- (Wade grunts)
- HOSS: Haw.

(neighing)

(neighing)

(Ben panting)

(Ben panting)

Go home, boy.

♪♪

♪♪

I say, old man, he
doesn't look much

like a giant on
horseback at the moment.

Does he?

Cheer up, Tully.

There's always another story.

Gentlemen, wait for me.

It's up to you now.

Gonna keep the Express going?

You bet we will.

Great ideas and...

great enterprises
don't die easily.

Not when they're
built on great dreams

and great courage.

The Pony Express was
that kind of great dream.

And the young riders
who carried the mail

and bound a continent
together provided all the courage.

I think as long
as men are alive,

they'll remember and tell
tales of those young riders

who blazed their way into
the history of our nation.