Original subtitles

Hyah! Hyah!

With the first shot of gold

heard at Sutter's Mill,

California became the magnet that drew a tough

and adventurous breed of men.

There were the good men and the bad.

The ones who blasted sand and rock

for the precious metal,

and those others who were out

to take whatever they could get.

Always, there was Wells Fargo.

Expanding to meet the new demand

for safe transport of bullion

and dust to the federal mints.

My name is Jim Hardie.

We of Wells Fargo needed men desperately.

And we had to take our chances on the ones we got.

This is the story of one such gamble.

It's a big strike, all right.

Bigger than Placerville.

They figure to take 50 million in gold

out of that Whiskey Mountain area

in the next year.

That's a lot of work for somebody.

That's right.

Come in.

You sent for me, Mr. Carter?

CARTER: Yes, I did.

Flagg, you know Jim Hardie.

Yeah.

I've played poker with him.

How are you Sam?

Still on the Shasta run?

No, I...

There are some changes being made.

Wells Fargo is about to open

branch number 167 right here.

Whiskey Mountain Strike, huh? Correct.

We'll run a feeder line from Pleasant Valley

down to Oroville, one trip a day.

And of course, there'll be the usual

banking express services.

It ought to grow in to a big operation.

And, Flagg,

I am putting you in charge.

SAM: Me? It's a promotion.

You've more than earned it.

Congratulations, Sam.

Well, I...

Oh, I admit I'd wondered

if I was gonna stand the next 50 years

buckin' the weather from a driver seat.

Now these are requisitions

that will get you all the equipment you need.

And get up there as soon as you can.

Oh, don't worry.

I'll take care of everything.

Hardie will be going with you.

Why? CARTER: Couple of reasons.

Partly because I want him on hand to help out

until things are running smooth.

That ain't necessary.

I can handle this.

Sure you can.

But a lot of times in a new office

there's details crop up.

Maybe I can lend you a hand with them.

After all, Hardie's had more experience

in the organization and in this business

than you have.

Mr. Carter, either I'm big enough

for this job or I ain't.

It's not a question of that, Sam.

The real reason I'm going up is to try

and hire a shotgun messenger.

Buzz Crabtree is coming over

from Sacramento to do the driving,

but we're still shy a guard for him.

If I can't find the man I want,

then I'll have to train one.

After that, I'm through.

I'll leave. Oh.

I guess I kind of spoke out of turn, huh?

JIM: It's all right.

I'm not trying to step on your toes Sam,

or trying to run your office for you.

Well, that's settled then.

I want you both on the first stage

for Pleasant Valley. And good luck.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Carter.

Who's the boss here?

What can I do for you?

I'm looking for a job.

How are you fixed for drivers?

I got one coming. Oh,

shotgun messenger then?

Well, I...

I guess maybe you better talk

to Jim Hardie here.

What's your name? Ed Brink.

I've been driving and riding shotgun both

for Pioneer Stages down near Placerville

and Carson City.

Overland lines out of Salt Lake.

I've heard of you. ED: Huh?

Sounds right to me.

What I heard was they fired you.

You heard wrong.

I quit. Why?

Well, that's my affair.

Well, I don't think we can use you either, Brink.

Well, wait a minute.

You mean you're turning me down

just because of some yarn you heard,

huh?

Well, look there was somebody

in that Overland office.

Well, we just didn't get along.

He's been trying to smear me.

I think there's somebody in this office

you wouldn't get along with either.

We don't need to talk about it.

We can't use you. Well,

that's a fine way to do business.

A man comes in here

with all the experience behind him,

all the savvy needed for the job,

and you kick him out without even a trial.

Well, I wouldn't work

for that kind of an outfit anyway.

You're not.

No luck? No.

Fellow in there by the name of Hardie

heard something about that last job

down in Overland Stages.

He threw me out.

Hardie.

Jim Hardie?

Yeah, sounds like it.

You know him?

Know of him.

We'll have to figure out something else.

I don't understand you, Hardie.

I agree with Brink.

You said yourself we were gonna have

a hard time finding experienced men.

Now, can we afford to turn one away?

I'll take green-hands and train them myself

before I'll hire Brink or anybody like him.

There were too many things about his losing

that last job I don't like.

Well, you think he's a crook?

I don't know.

But I don't wanna take any chances either.

Mister? Yeah?

Oh, yeah kid.

I was wondering if there was any chance

to make it in a job here with Wells Fargo.

Well, there might be.

What's your name? Tad.

You look husky enough, Tad.

Might find something for you

to do around the stables.

Oh. Oh, please sir.

I was hearing what you were saying

about needing a shotgun messenger.

SAM: Now, wait a minute kid.

How old are you?

Well, I'll be 21 in a few more months.

How many more months?

Well, I'm 18.

Well, there's a job around the stable.

That is unless you wanna come back in a few years.

Boy, who ever gave you the idea

you want to ride shotgun for Wells Fargo?

It's all I ever wanted.

Can't you see that's out of the question?

That's my department.

Tad, I'm Jim Hardie.

How do you do, sir?

You got any folks?

Me and my pa, he...

Well, he's laid up.

I take care of him.

We came down here from Pleasant Valley

because I heard about the new

Wells Fargo branch opening here.

And you wanted the job that bad, huh?

Tell me, if you were riding shotgun and you were held up,

what would be the first thing you'd do?

Well, that sort of depends.

Well, would you take a shot at the outlaws or wouldn't you?

No, I'm afraid not.

If there were passengers aboard,

it would be too dangerous.

And what if you had gold on board?

Even then, I'm afraid not, sir.

The lives of the passengers are more important

than any gold.

Well, then, suppose you didn't have any passengers.

Then that'd be different.

Come here, boy.

Have you ever used one of these?

No, not too much, they're too easy.

Come with me.

Think you can hit that, boy?

All depends.

Well, let's see.

Feels like he shoots a little to the left.

Yeah.

But not too far to the left.

I can sight it in for you if you want me to.

Never mind. Mr. Hardie,

why do they call them shotgun messengers?

Well, that's what they used to carry,

it was a scatter-gun.

However, out here, where there's a lot of space,

a rifle usually works out a little better.

Well, what if the outlaws get in close?

Then you do the best you can.

Use whatever is handy.

Try to watch for a break and get the drop on them.

When you got a shipment on board,

Wells Fargo don't take many excuses, boy.

You see, kid, why it's a big job to ask for?

Yes, sir.

Let's go in.

Hey, Mr. Hardie,

I'm sorry if gave you the wrong answers.

You didn't give me the wrong answers, boy.

You're working Wells Fargo, if that's what's worrying you.

You can go home and tell your daddy.

Oh, you mean it?

You really mean it?

You'll start your regular run tomorrow.

But your regular driver hasn't shown up yet,

so I'll be driving for you.

Here's a little something for you

in case you need it.

Yeah.

I don't know what to say

except I'll do my very best for you.

Can't ask more than that from a man, can you?

Hey, boy,

what is your last name?

Cameron, Tad Cameron.

See you in the morning.

You bet.

Cameron.

What was the Cameron we had working for us?

About seven, eight years ago.

Chuck Cameron.

Sure.

You don't suppose that's his kid?

If it is, it doesn't make any difference.

The boy gave the right answers,

even when he felt they were wrong for Wells Fargo.

We're hiring him, not his daddy.

What did your pa say about your new job?

Well, he thought it was swell, Mr. Hardie.

Didn't you tell me he was laid up?

Yeah, he had an accident once.

Legs.

You don't need to keep such

a death hold on that rifle.

You can lay it down in the boot.

If trouble comes, you can see it

a long way off from up here.

Yes, sir.

Don't forget to put your safety on.

You think I couldn't remember a thing like that?

Well, I think a lot of good men

have forgotten it.

Few things I wanna tell you about your job.

In the first place, you're paid

to be suspicious.

There's no one to get near this coach

or they bought a ticket.

Unless he works for the lines

I understand.

Your responsibility begins

the minute the coach starts to roll.

It ends when it reaches the other end of the line.

In between, you're on your own.

If you get into trouble, you can't look

for help from anyone.

Not from the driver or passenger.

Not from the driver?

No, sir. It's a Wells Fargo rule.

In case of trouble, the first thing

the driver is to do is throw down his rifle.

The outlaws know this and they won't bother him.

It's sort of an unwritten law.

It's the only way we can keep

the stages rolling.

Then I know of a driver that should've been fired.

Instead, he probably got a medal.

What are you talking about, boy? Forget it.

I'd guessed it the day before.

He was the son of Chuck Cameron,

a man who had once worked for Wells Fargo,

a man Wells Fargo had struck off its honor roll.

Here they come now.

We'll catch them down in those rocks.

Mr. Hardie, look.

You better get your rifle, boy.

Hyah!

All right. She's all yours, Tad.

We got $5,000 aboard and no passengers.

You just lay on the leather, Mr. Hardie.

I've got me an idea.

What do you think you're doing?

Your job is to drive, remember?

Pick me up on the way back.

That ought to hold them.

Let it go. There's only one of them.

But we haven't a chance to catch that stage now.

Have you ever seen such a fool trick as he pulled.

It worked.

Looked like a kid.

Yeah, so he is.

I did it.

I stopped them.

Hurt much, Tad?

No, not too much.

Good night, Doc.

You're quite a hero, boy.

Everybody in town's talking about Tad Cameron.

Well, I don't believe in heroes.

A man either does his job or he doesn't.

Did yours today, all right.

Why don't you take a few days off now

and let your arm heal up.

Well, no, it isn't anything, really.

I can make my run tomorrow.

All right with me. Suit yourself.

Better get a long home, your dad is probably looking for you.

Yeah, I suppose so. Good night.

Good night. Good night, Tad.

Well, Sam? Don't say it.

Looks like maybe I was wrong about the kid.

Guess he played in luck.

Luck?

What he did today was about as nervy a fool trick

as I've ever seen a man pull.

But it worked.

Yeah, he's got a lot of brains and courage.

I think he's gonna go a long way.

I hope you're right. Me, too.

Cameron.

How do you feel, kid?

I don't know you.

Oh, but the whole town knows who you are.

Yeah, made quite a reputation for yourself

all in one day.

Yeah, I've seen you in the Wells Fargo office.

Your name is Brink, ain't it? That's right. Ed Brink.

This here is Milt Youngman.

Let's go on up to our room.

I wanna talk to you.

I don't know as we got anything to talk about.

You're wrong kid.

Now, let's go.

The back stairs.

By the way, you don't know where the boy

and his pa are living, do you?

Well, I'm not sure.

Some shack in the outside of town I hear.

Why? You figuring on calling on them?

Maybe.

Sit down, kid.

What do you want with me?

Relax. We ain't gonna hurt you.

We're here to do you a favor.

Oh, yeah sure.

Now, listen good.

We know all about you and we know about your old man.

Suppose we was to tell Wells Fargo

that you're Chuck Cameron's kid.

I ain't ashamed of it.

Whatever they say, he wasn't guilty.

Yeah, but Wells Fargo

don't see it that way.

You wanna keep your job, don't you kid?

What do you think?

Oh, I think you'll go along with us then.

You ain't even told me what you're after.

Oh, not a like kid honest.

Just a hint now and then

when there's a good shipment going over to Oroville.

And not too much fuss when...

me and Brink check the stage for it.

Yeah.

We ain't greedy.

And we don't wanna overdo it

or get Wells Fargo suspicious.

And there'll be a nice cut in it for you.

That's right.

Your old man is a cripple.

But did you ever think if you could get one of them

fine surgeons over in Frisco...

And suppose I don't go along.

Then we'll knock you off the box

and come back and take care of your old man.

Leave my old man alone. You got nothing against him.

Matter of fact, you're wrong.

Eight years ago on the Hangtown run

we tried to make the same kind of a deal with him.

But he wouldn't use his head.

It was you.

You're the pair that got him in all that trouble

and got him crippled and thrown off his job.

Try and prove it.

But you know what will happen if you give us trouble.

I could go to the law.

With what? Yeah, with what?

Open the door, Ed.

Let him go home and think it over.

Pa, I still don't like this.

Why should I run away from those two?

You stood up to them.

And what it did get me?

I gave 10 years of my life

to Wells Fargo.

I beat my heart out

on those stage runs.

And then they left me to sit here like this,

with a body that's only half-alive.

And without a dime.

Except what my boy can raise.

I won't have you risking your skin

for that outfit.

Yeah, but pa, to run way...

You're right, Tad.

There's no way to whip any problem.

Mr. Hardie. If you're gonna quit boy,

don't you think you should've told me?

I would have but...

you weren't at the office.

I was out looking for you.

So, this is your pa,

Chuck Cameron.

You knew?

Yes, I knew.

All right.

But you and Wells Fargo

have got no quarrel with the boy.

Or with pa my either.

What happened eight years ago, it wasn't like they said.

He had nothing to do with those stage robbers.

He was seen talking to them

just before the stage pulled out.

I didn't tip them off.

I wouldn't do it.

They must have found out from somebody else.

And you didn't try to stop them when they took

the shipment either. TAD: Don't you understand?

The stage was full of passengers.

Pa couldn't risk a fight.

Mr. Hardie, I told you yesterday that

I'll put the lives of passengers

before any gold shipment.

Yet you hired me.

That's right. I did.

But that was Pa's thinking.

But the driver, he didn't pay attention

to no rules like you've told me.

He grabbed for his rifle.

Only this time, the safety wasn't on.

The bullet... CHUCK: I've never walked since.

And after 10 years with the company.

Because I was seen

talking to that pair.

I was thrown out.

No job. Nobody to look after the kid.

No money for a doctor.

I can understand your being bitter.

But you must remember Wells Fargo is a big company.

You've got a license to make mistakes

like anyone else.

And all the evidence pointed against you.

Forget about me.

But those two crooks are here now.

And they're working on my boy.

Brink and Youngman, they call themselves now.

You've got to stop them, Hardie.

Ed Brink? Are you sure?

My boy described them.

They're the same pair.

Killing,

claim-jumping, stage robbery,

it's all one to them.

Couldn't they be arrested for that job

they pulled eight years ago?

I don't know whether we could

make it stick or not, Tad.

You wanna do something for me

and for the company?

Reason I signed on with Wells Fargo was...

was to prove that the name Cameron

could be relied on.

You name it, Mr. Hardie, I'm your man.

Load up, everybody. We're ready to roll.

There's the signal.

I knew that kid would come through.

Any sign of Hardie?

No. The regular man showed up last night.

He's driving. I like that better.

How about our horses? They're all set.

Let's get started.

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hey, there's Mr. Hardie, Buzz.

Pull up.

What happened? What are we waiting for?

All set, Mr. Hardie.

I'm sorry, folks. We're gonna have to ask you

to get out for a little while.

We tried to pick you a shady spot

so you'd be comfortable.

I don't think you'd like where we're going.

I hear it.

Right on time.

Ho!

Whoa! Whoa!

Hold it right there.

All right, you, driver,

drop your gun over the side.

Too nice a day to get killed.

That's sensible. Where is the gold?

Inside. Get it.

Hold it! Drop the gun.

I said drop it.

Get down.

Keep him covered, Buzz.

Is he hurt bad?

I should've known.

I couldn't make a deal with your old man either.

Well, that does it. I'm finished up here.

I'll be going back to San Francisco.

You know, I can't help remembering

what Brink said,

about not being able to make a deal

with the Cameron's.

For me, that's clear enough proof

your father wasn't mixed up in anything.

When I get back, I'll talk to the right people,

see what we can do.

Oh, do you think you could Mr. Hardie?

Well, I can try.

Maybe we can get him a pension or...

some doctors to fix up those legs of his.

And you, Sam,

you think you're gonna be able to run

this office without me?

What do you mean can I...

Sure I can.

And I got good help.

Good luck to you. Same to you.

I never had any doubts

about Tad Cameron,

and I needn't have.

Wells Fargo couldn't boast

a better shotgun messenger

than he turned out to be.

We had to gamble with human nature

once in a while.

And it was always a good feeling

when we saw that gamble pay off.