Original subtitles

[MUSIC PLAYING]

NARRATOR: In the summer of 1869,

Cochise, bold chief of the Chiricahua Apaches,

made a brutal vow to kill every man, woman and child

in southern Arizona.

Many of the settlers in the area had already felt the fury of Cochise's bloody oath.

A small detail of United States' Cavalrymen

were escorting the survivors to a hastily established outpost.

There the army was determined to make a last-ditch stand.

[LAUGHS] I know how to spell our name.

Go work.

Hey, hey look!

It's Bruce.

Don't get your hopes up, sis.

When the Captain comes a-courtin', he doesn't usually bring a crowd of people along.

Ellen. It's good to see you, Bruce.

Is something wrong?

Your pa at the house? Yeah.

Let's go talk to him.

That front wagon there. Isn't that the Carter family?

What's left of them. Apaches hit them this morning.

Your place will be next.

Sure glad you came to stand them off, Captain.

We'll make our stand at Apache Wells. Oh.

You're going to have a hard time talking Pa into leaving.

They all wanted to stay, too.

The Apaches made a pretty good argument against it.

[HORSE SNORTS]

Sergeant Walker!

SERGEANT WALKER: Ho! Have some of the men find their wagon.

Hitch it up and bring it to the house.

MIKE: Captain, wait.

Don't you think you ought to talk to Pa first?

I think he'll understand.

Pa!

Captain Coburn.

Mrs. Malone.

Cochise has gone on the warpath. What?

We're escorting the settlers in to Apache Wells.

Well, I didn't ask for any escort.

Neither did they. Cochise sent his braves to burn them out.

Pa knows how to deal with the Apache.

There's no dealing with them, Mike.

How many guns do you have?

Just this one,

but she has never failed me yet.

Look, Mr. Malone,

our job is to protect you people,

but we can't put soldiers at every farmhouse.

You've got to come in where our strength is concentrated.

You better listen to him, Harry.

Kate,

we've given ten long years of hard work to build up this place.

And you'll give your life if you try to hang onto it.

Cochise made a vow he'd kill every white man in southern Arizona.

Looks like he's already started.

Now this is no time to argue.

I'm not going to let you stay here and get killed.

Well...

I guess it's the only way.

It will take me a little while to pack.

I'm sorry, ma'am. We can't wait.

Troopers will bring your wagon around.

Be ready to go when it gets here.

Come on, Ma.

Pick up what you can, kids.

Captain,

shall I order the men to dismount?

Sergeant Walker gives the orders.

I...

I know that, sir. But the, uh,

the men asked me to talk to you.

They're complaining that you're driving them too hard.

They need a rest.

They can rest when we get back to camp.

I know that, Captain,

but we've got to stop somewhere.

There's water here, hay for the horses.

We can stand off the Apaches here

as good as any other place.

Bodine, are you taking command of this outfit?

No, sir.

But when I was a sergeant, the officers used to listen to what I had to say.

Is that why they broke you to corporal?

They'll need me again, sir.

Maybe they will,

but by God, I don't!

And if you give me one more bit of trouble,

I'll bust you all the way back to private.

Now, mount up!

Yes, sir.

Locking horns with the Captain again, huh, Bodine?

I don't back off from nobody, Sergeant.

No. That's why you're here.

You and a dozen more like you that nobody else could handle.

Sergeant, I want to tell you something.

He might break the rest of them,

but he won't even make a dent in me.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Sergeant Walker! Yo!

Put a match to it.

No use leaving anything for Cochise. Yes, sir.

Ho!

NARRATOR: Captain Coburn drove the settlers hard all day,

but nightfall and weariness finally forced a halt.

I want your complete cooperation tonight.

If we're attacked, they'll probably hit the wagons

and the horses first.

I want you people to bed down right up there in those rocks.

There will be no fires, no noise.

Be ready to move out at daylight.

We don't have much water, sir.

I know.

Give the women and children what they need.

Save the rest for the horses.

Get them started, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

All right.

Bring your belongings and come with me.

Look, Captain, what about us troopers?

We're just as thirsty as they are.

We've been riding in that hot sun all day.

It won't hurt you to go one night without water.

Now look, Capt... That's all, Bodine.

You know,

we'd better get ready to help if there's Indian trouble.

Let's ask the Captain if he'll lend us a couple of rifles.

You know how I am with guns, Mike.

I can't hit the broad side of a barn.

[CHUCKLES] Well, if those Apaches get close,

you'll learn fast enough.

[LAUGHS]

Any chance those Apaches will hit tonight, Captain?

They don't let me in on their plans always, Mike.

I just try to keep ready.

Doug and I would like to help,

if you'd let us have a couple of rifles.

I appreciate the offer,

but I only have enough guns to arm my own men.

[SCOFFS] Well,

I guess we'll have to sharpen up the old ax, huh?

Many a battle won with less.

ELLEN: Hey, Mike, Doug?

Come on, give me help.

Here. Mom and Pa went up the hill.

You can take them up, huh?

DOUG: All right.

[GASPS]

Oh! [LAUGHS]

It's been a long time since we've been able to talk to each other.

Over a month.

The Colonel hasn't been too generous with leave time lately.

Well, you won't have any more excuses.

I'll be right there in Apache Wells.

I won't be looking for excuses.

Come on, I'll walk you up the hill.

Mmm-mmm.

I like it right here.

[HOWLING IN DISTANCE]

Hmm...

Listen to that lonely sound.

It's probably a lonely Apache scout.

[HOWLING CONTINUES]

Did you come out here just to protect me from the Indians?

Not exactly,

but they'd give anything for a scalp as pretty as that one.

How about you, hmm?

It'd be awfully easy to

get in the habit of you.

Why don't you?

I'm not a very good bet for a girl like you, Ellen.

A man in my business doesn't stick around too long.

Your warning comes a bit late, Bruce.

Go on up the hill.

I'll see you later.

[WATER SLOSHING]

You know that's all the water we have.

You'd never have done that if you weren't hiding behind those captain's bars.

I'm not hiding behind anything, Bodine

I fought in this army for ten years before they pinned these on me.

I don't need them now.

[SCOFFS] Oh?

You mean you're willing to forget you're an officer and make it man to man?

I've tried everything else with you.

I guess that's the only language you understand.

[LAUGHS]

[CHAINS RATTLING]

[GRUNTING]

[MEN YELLING]

[HORSES WHINNYING]

No.

[GROANING]

Captain!

Captain Coburn!

Captain! Captain! Captain!

Captain!

You'll kill him, sir!

[PANTING]

Pick those horses up,

put a guard on that water.

Yes, sir.

NARRATOR: Apache Wells, Arizona Territory.

Colonel Homer Reed commanded a troop of cavalry

whose assignment was to hold the lonely outpost at any cost

and to protect the settlers in the adjacent area.

Nearby families had already taken refuge here.

Only the most distant ranchers remained to be accounted for.

Attention!

At ease.

That Captain Coburn's outfit?

No, sir. That's the morning patrol.

The Captain was due back yesterday, wasn't he, sir?

I'll send a detail if they don't return by nightfall.

The old man is lost if Coburn's not around.

It would suit me if that stiff-necked captain never came back.

[GUNS FIRING]

Uecker, sound assembly!

[PLAYS REVEILLE]

[MEN WHOOPING]

[GUNS FIRING]

[MEN WHOOPING]

[GUNFIRE CONTINUES]

Pick him up!

[GUNFIRE CONTINUES]

Now, take care of your wounded.

The rest of you, hold your posts.

They might come back.

Good work, Sergeant.

Thank you, sir.

Captain and me have ridden together for a long time.

Can't lose him this close to home.

Those Apaches are getting bolder every day, Bruce.

I thought they were going to follow you right into camp.

Maybe next time they will.

I'm getting sick and tired of having to turn tail and run

every time an Apache sticks his head up.

When are we getting those new rifles, Colonel?

I've put in requests at least a dozen times.

Army keeps sending back excuses instead of rifles.

They give us an impossible job and no tools to do it with.

How long do you think we could hold this place against an all-out attack?

Not long,

with our old, worn-out guns.

Do you think Cochise would risk all his horses on a frontal assault?

He's smart, Colonel.

When our patrols can't stand and fight, it shows weakness.

He won't be long in taking advantage of it.

Well, at least you got the settlers back here,

where our power is concentrated.

Show them where to set up camp, will you, Captain?

Yes, sir.

Bodine.

Why didn't you pick him up?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Stand up when I'm talking to you!

You heard me call.

With all that shooting?

I didn't hear nothing.

That beating the Captain gave you didn't teach you much, did it?

[LAUGHS]

Oh, I haven't, uh... I haven't forgotten anything about that, Sergeant.

[LAUGHS]

He did a pretty good job on you.

Yeah! [LAUGHS]

You...

Anybody else want to take a look, huh?

Anybody else want to take a look?

Look! Come on, look!

Anybody else down here?

Come on!

Look at it!

Don't think that this gives Captain Coburn the whip hand.

Oh, I'm going to be a good soldier from now on.

[LAUGHS]

Every time that captain rides out of this camp,

I'm going to be right behind him.

He catches a bullet, I want to make sure he's dead.

[LAUGHS]

NARRATOR: Malone's old rifle had finally failed him.

Ironically, an Apache bullet had caught him just as safety seemed assured.

He's dead.

I thought we'd made it,

but he was laying dead on that seat when we got in.

If we joined the army,

could we get some rifles, Captain?

I'll see that you get guns some way.

Good,

'cause we're ready to fight.

No.

[REVEILLEPLAYS]

SERGEANT WALKER: Ten-hut!

Ease!

NARRATOR: Colonel Reed had fired off an angry demand to his home base.

After two weeks of anxious waiting, a reply finally came.

All right, what is it? A shipment of those new lever-action rifles

just came in from back east.

They're sending you 40 of them.

When do we get them?

You'll have to meet them beyond the Chiricahua Mountains.

They hired some scouts to bring them that far.

Figured you fellows were the best ones to sneak them past Cochise.

They sure give us the tough end of it.

It's up to you, Bruce.

We'll get them through.

MAN: You're going to have your hands full, Captain.

Those mountains are crawling with Apache.

Three different bunches of them gave me a run.

I had to come around here,

through the Apache Pass, to get by them.

May as well go back the same way.

Keep your eyes open. The guns will be here,

at Hatchet Rock, tomorrow noon.

Hatchet Rock?

Might as well keep it, Captain. Might come in handy.

Thank you.

You've done a good job. Rest is up to us now.

Better get some rest.

Thank you, sir.

Well, Bruce, the army finally came through.

Forty repeating rifles. [CHUCKLES]

That'll improve our chances against Cochise.

Improve them?

Trade our old single shots for those new lever actions?

We can hold off all the Apaches in this territory.

We'll have to bring them in first.

I'll get some men together right now, sir.

Take as many men as you need.

I don't want to be left shorthanded,

but take enough troopers to get the job done.

We'll sneak out of here after dark.

The Apaches won't even know we're gone.

Uh, Captain?

Yes, sir?

That last mission you were on,

there's a rumor that you beat up one of the men.

Colonel, you know how rumors get started on small posts like this.

This is a serious matter, Captain.

I'll overlook it this time, but from now on try...

To baby them a little more?

Captain,

there are two ways to get men through a door.

You can kick them through,

or you can lead them through.

That's right, sir. They wind up the same place anyway.

[SIGHS]

Take a look out there, Colonel.

That's not exactly the cream of the crop,

yet we're expected to make soldiers out of all of them.

I know.

It's a ragtag bunch they send us to fight Indians,

but this mission is vital, Bruce.

We can't afford any trouble in the ranks.

I don't expect any trouble, sir.

Sir?

With the Captain's permission,

I'd like to go along on this one.

You've sure got a sixth sense for something big, haven't you, Sergeant?

Well, sir,

when you've been around long enough to get these stripes,

you're bound to know something's going on.

I see.

It's the rifles, isn't it, sir?

Yes, it is.

Let's just keep it between the two of us.

The less the men know, the less the Apaches can get out of them

in case they're captured. Yes, sir.

Ten-hut!

I need ten men for a mission.

It's a very important one,

and it's very dangerous.

I'm asking for volunteers.

Come on, Doug!

[WHISTLES]

[SIGHS]

CAPTAIN COBURN: What's the matter with you, Fuller?

What about you, Higgins?

Thank you, men.

We'll leave tonight.

Check your equipment.

Take care of your horses.

Dismissed.

Captain?

What is it, Sergeant?

Well, you said this was an important mission, but...

It is.

We sure haven't got the best men riding with us.

Those two green Malone boys, it's their first time out.

Bodine, he's always trouble.

They'll do, Sergeant.

Have them ready after chow.

Yes, sir.

They're proud to be riding with you, Bruce.

I'm glad to have them.

They'll make good soldiers.

Watch out for both of them, especially Doug.

Mike can take care of himself,

but Doug,

he'll need help at first.

I'll keep an eye on him.

I guess it's because I'm older,

but they seem like

such boys to me.

They'll be men when we come back.

All right, they're waiting for us, Doug. We've got to go.

Goodbye, Mom.

Bye.

Take care of Doug, huh?

Goodbye, sis.

Bye, sis. Take care.

Everybody here is counting on you, Bruce.

You've got to get those rifles through.

We'll do our best, sir.

NARRATOR: Under the cover of darkness,

Captain Coburn moved out

with his little band of volunteers.

Everything depended on his success

in reaching the rendezvous with the supply wagon

and the 40 rifles.

Coburn led his men deep into the Chiricahua Mountains.

When they reached Apache Pass,

the Captain sensed that hostile eyes were watching from the high rocks.

It looks peaceful enough now, sir.

Apache can hide in a badger hole.

Hold it up here a couple of minutes. I want to take a look in there.

Yes, sir.

Apaches wouldn't take on this many soldiers, would they, Mike?

You're not scared, are you?

A little.

Aren't you?

Of course not.

That's what we joined up for. To get a crack at them.

I think I can shoot once,

but I wonder if I'll be able to reload this thing with a bunch of Indians

hollering down on me.

You'll do fine.

Come on, just remember we'll be fighting them side by side.

[GUN FIRES]

Ho!

CAPTAIN COBURN: All right, two men dismount and take cover.

He signaled to someone up there before I got him.

That means they know we're coming.

[LAUGHS]

Look a little pale, boys.

I thought you wanted to see them butchered.

Leave those two kids with the horses.

Assign a rear guard, and the rest of you come with me.

Yes, sir.

SERGEANT WALKER: Malone brothers, stay with the horses.

Yes, sir!

SERGEANT WALKER: Bodine? BODINE: Yes, Sergeant?

You, you. Post a rear guard and cover them.

Rest of you come with me.

[GUNS FIRING]

Doug, get down.

Doug, I saw one. I saw one up there! What?

Let's go get him.

But the Sergeant told us to stay here.

But he didn't tell us not to fight.

Look, I'll circle around this way.

You come right up in back of him.

Mike?

Come on now.

You've got to get your feet wet sometime.

This is as good a place as any.

[PANTING] I'm scared, Mike.

I'm scared.

I never should have joined the army.

Look, I know how you feel.

Everybody's nervous at first.

You'll get over it once you get into the action.

Well, come on.

Let's go get us an Apache.

Mike!

Mike!

[RIFLE FIRES]

Doug! Come on, Doug!

I'm coming, Mike.

[RIFLE FIRES]

Doug, help me! Doug!

Doug, come on, help me!

[WHIMPERING]

Mike?

[SOBBING]

Where's Mike?

I'll tell you where he is.

The Apaches carried him away.

This kid didn't have enough guts to help his brother when he needed it.

I can't believe that, Doug.

It's true.

He just kept calling me.

I couldn't make myself go to him.

I can still hear him. [SOBBING]

I can still hear him calling for help.

Get your horses.

On your feet.

It's Mike.

Mike!

Mike!

Mike!

Oh, please! Please let me go!

I've gotta to help him! Come on, now!

Mike! Take it easy, kid.

Please! Let me go!

Let me go!

Doug!

Mike! Mike! Mike!

Doug! Listen, Doug. Mike! Mike!

Now, you listen to me.

It's too late for you to help your brother now. He's dead. You understand that?

He's dead!

Get him on a horse.

[RIFLE FIRES]

NARRATOR: The troopers were on the run.

The Captain couldn't afford to lose one more man.

If those 40 repeating rifles

didn't get back to Apache Wells,

Cochise would massacre every one of its defenders.

Far as we go, Sergeant.

We going to be here long, Captain?

I don't think so. Why?

I get the feeling we're being watched.

You could be right.

Dismount.

Keep your rifles handy.

Are we going to go back the same way we came, sir?

I don't think it makes any difference how we go back, Sergeant.

If we get hit again, we'll just have to make a run for it.

We left half our men lying dead back there.

Yes, sir.

Some of the best ones, too.

There's only seven of us left to get them guns through.

Six.

Six men and a worthless, yellow kid.

SERGEANT WALKER: Don't be too hard on him, Captain.

Remember that was his first time under fire.

That's no excuse.

I've got no use for a coward, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Bodine? Hmm?

When are we gonna get out of here? Shh.

When I say so.

Come on now. We've got a couple of pretty good horses,

and I'm itching to see new country. What are we waiting for?

No, no. I've still got something to settle with that captain.

You'd better get it settled, because I don't intend to ride back to that

death trap at Apache Wells.

I got you out of there, didn't I? Don't do me no more favors.

Look, I'll promise you one thing, Barrett.

We'll never go back with this outfit.

Hold your fire!

Glad you're here, Captain. I didn't aim to wait long.

Kind of jumpy, aren't you?

With good reason.

We came within an ace of tangling with a herd of Apache

about an hour ago.

Chiricahuas?

No, they was Tontos,

but they was wearing war paint and seemed to know where they was going.

To join Cochise.

That's my guess.

We're a little shorthanded. Be glad to have you ride with us.

Not on your life.

My contract with the army called for me to bring this wagon right here

and no farther.

I value my hair too much

to travel into Chiricahua country

with old Cochise on the warpath like he is.

You got a point there.

Army doesn't give us any such choice.

That's your problem, Captain.

Mind if we take off now?

All right, gather around, men.

This is what we came for,

forty repeating rifles,

the only guns of their kind in southern Arizona.

Ooh-wee.

Now, with these rifles, the Indians could wipe out

every white man in this territory.

It's up to us to get them through to Apache Wells.

And we will,

or else there will be seven more dead troopers lying in these hills.

Now, if we are overrun,

the last man alive will light this fuse

and stay with this wagon until it's blown to hell.

Are there any questions?

Good.

Sergeant, do you want me to take the team?

Sure.

Go ahead, Bodine.

Hey.

I thought you said we weren't going to go back with this outfit.

You just relax, Barrett.

Just relax.

There's been a change of plans.

I didn't tell you to stop, Bodine.

But, Captain, it's a long pull up that hill. The horses are winded.

All right, dismount.

We'll rest here for a minute.

[GRUNTS]

[HORSE WHINNIES]

Good shot, Barrett.

Come on, tie him up.

Now, the rest of you keep those rifles pointed right straight up in the air.

Now, me and Barrett are taking off with these rifles.

Don't worry. We're not hogs.

These guns are worth plenty. We might need some help.

Come on now. The Captain didn't offer you anything

when he asked you to volunteer.

You go along with me, I'll make you all rich.

You do that, and you'll sign the death warrant of everybody at Apache Wells.

Don't you worry about that.

These guns will make us king of the mountain.

Higgins, what about you? I know you like money.

Come on, you'll never have another chance like this,

as long as you stick with that uniform.

Eight dollars a month don't pile up very fast.

[LAUGHS]

I knew you'd see it my way.

Well, Fuller?

Oh, that's right. Yeah, you'd rather,

rather have the Captain chew your tail out every day,

while you're waiting for the Apaches to come along and finish the job, huh?

You'll be running the rest of your life, Fuller.

You'll have to change your name and hide your face wherever you go.

[LAUGHS]

How long do you think he's been called Fuller?

That's right.

I changed my name to get in the army.

I sure don't mind changing it to get out. Right, right.

And when we get to where we're going, which is Mexico,

as soon as we cross that border,

you can just call yourself lucky when those senoritas

start swarming all over you, huh.

[LAUGHS]

Kid,

how about making it unanimous?

Oh, come on, now.

You sure don't want to face your folks,

not after letting your brother get killed.

What about them?

Can't just leave them here to die.

BODINE: Ah, don't worry about it.

We'll let them loose before we leave.

They'll make their way back all right.

Come on, kid. You coming with us or not?

All right,

as long as you're letting them go.

Pack those rifles on the team.

We're heading across country.

[GROANS]

I'd offer to take you with us, Sergeant,

but you might slow us down.

[LAUGHS]

Damn you, Bodine.

[BODINE LAUGHS]

Well, Captain...

[SIGHS]

You've been top dog for a long time.

You know, there's an old saying, "Every dog has its day."

[LAUGHS]

And I'm doing the barking now.

I thought that uniform would do something for any man that wore it,

even you, Bodine.

Well, it did something for me.

It got me just what I've been waiting for.

A chance to turn traitor?

Well, I guess it's all in the way you look at it.

You see, the uniform I started out in was gray.

When I was captured at Shiloh, they gave me a choice,

to rot in a stinking Yankee prison camp,

or join you blue coats fighting Indians.

You see, Captain, sir, I'm sort of a galvanized Yankee.

I don't have too much respect for this blue outfit.

The kind of a man you are, I don't imagine you had too much loyalty for the gray one.

I'm going to tell you something, Captain.

Changing uniforms taught me one lesson.

A man only owes one loyalty,

to himself.

Come on, Bodine, we're ready to go!

All right, head on out. I'll be with you in a minute.

Higgins, pick up that loose stock. All right.

BODINE: This is your idea, Captain.

You ordered the last man to stay with the wagon

till it was blown to hell.

[LAUGHS]

You're the last man.

See you in hell, Captain, sir!

Sergeant?

Sergeant, can you hear me?

[STRAINING] Yes, sir,

I can hear you.

I can see, too.

Listen, I...

My rope's tied to the wagon,

but I don't think yours is.

Can you roll away from here?

[GRUNTS]

[PANTING]

I'm sorry, sir.

I...

I can't make it.

Long way to Apache Wells, Sergeant.

Think you can make it?

I sure don't want to stay here, sir.

[PANTING] You're going to have to rest.

[PANTING]

Now, don't you go passing out on me.

I won't pass out on you, Captain.

Just keep talking to me.

I don't know why you don't go ahead and leave me here anyway. I'm...

I'm slowing you down.

I know how determined you are to get those guns.

Now, you listen to me.

We'll make it back together, or we won't make it at all.

You got more guts than any man I ever knew.

It must have been bred in you.

Not exactly.

Actually, I come from a long line of losers, Sergeant.

As a matter of fact, my family motto was

"If at first you don't succeed,

"give up."

[LAUGHS]

You sure switched that around somewhere.

I tried to,

when I was nine years old.

I'll never forget that.

Big old kid knocked me down

and I just lay there. Thought it'd be safer.

Until he kicked me.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, something must have popped inside of me,

because I got up and fought back

for the first time in my life.

Kind of liked it.

Did you whip him?

No. No, he beat the tar out of me.

But I learned something, though.

We're all going to die someday.

It's better to die fighting than

lying with your face in the dirt.

That sort of spirit sure made a hell of a soldier out of you.

Yeah.

I knew I wanted the army when I was 15.

Ran away from home to join up.

Clawed and scratched my way through the ranks till I was a topkick, like you.

Of course,

with my background, if it hadn't been for the war,

I'd have never made officer.

I...

I won these bars fighting in the field.

There's going to be a star there someday, Captain.

There won't be anything there

if I don't get those rifles back.

Yes, sir.

Come on.

[GRUNTING]

[GROANS]

I'm sorry, Captain.

Looks like I'm going to have to carry you.

[HORSE APPROACHES]

[HORSE SNORTS]

[GROANING]

Now look dead, will you?

You couldn't have found a better decoy.

Here he comes.

[CAPTAIN COBURN GRUNTS]

Colonel Reed.

CAPTAIN COBURN: Get him to the hospital tent.

Sergeant Walker, Captain?

Yes, sir.

The guns and the rest of the men. Where are they?

We lost them, sir.

Step inside, Captain.

I want to see Captain Coburn. Sorry, miss. You can't see him now.

But I can't...

No, Captain.

I won't allow another mission to leave here.

You said yourself the Tonto Apaches were joining Cochise. What does that mean?

It probably means they're preparing for an all-out attack.

Exactly. And they might hit any time.

That's why we've got to have those rifles.

I need every man here

to have even an outside chance of defending this place.

I can't send half my command off

on some wild goose chase now.

Then give me four men. I'll get those rifles back.

You had 11 when you lost them.

That mean I can't go, Colonel?

That's exactly what I mean.

You failed once, Captain, and put us in deep trouble.

One more failure would mean certain disaster.

Don't you understand?

We've got the fight of our lives trying to hold this place.

You see those people out there?

They were all depending on you.

They may all be dead this time tomorrow.

But by God, we'll go down fighting.

And you're asking me to send more troopers?

What's the matter with you?

I'm relieving you of your command, Captain.

You'll fight when we're hit,

but you have no further authority here.

If we survive, a court martial will decide your future in the army.

That will be all, Captain.

I said that will be all!

[CHILDREN CHATTERING IN DISTANCE]

Ellen?

I'm sorry, Ellen. I... I wanted to tell you myself,

try to make it a little easier for you.

Easier?

Both my brothers are gone, and you're going to make it easier for me.

How?

You said you'd watch out for them.

You promised to bring them back.

Why didn't you?

Well, I tried.

When the Apaches hit, I tried to put them in a safe place.

A safe place?

You're standing there without a scratch,

yet both of my brothers are dead,

and you left them in a safe place?

Ellen, did the Sergeant tell you?

Doug's not dead. He's alive.

Oh, I don't believe you. They're both dead.

No, they're not.

Well, then where is he? Where is Doug?

He deserted,

but he is alive.

You're lying.

Doug would never desert. He's too loyal.

Oh, I knew I shouldn't have let him join the army.

He wasn't the kind to make a good soldier.

He was so timid

and didn't like fighting.

He couldn't even stand the sight of blood.

But he'd never desert Mother and me.

It's true, Ellen. He went with them.

Well, then they forced him to go. They forced him!

If he's alive, I know he'll be back.

Just as well get that out of your mind.

He's not coming back.

Why?

Because he is a deserter!

And if he comes back, he'll be shot.

Oh, you could, couldn't you?

You could shoot a poor, frightened boy.

Oh, it's funny how blind I've been about you.

It's funny I didn't see it long ago,

the way you force your men,

expecting them to be as strong as you are.

Well, you're cruel, Bruce.

Cruel and brutal.

The way you beat up that man coming up here.

You beat his face to a pulp because he wanted a dipper of water?

Oh, it's funny how I didn't see then how truly heartless you are.

Well, no wonder Doug ran off.

No wonder they all went. You drove them to it.

They ran off to get away from you!

Now, just a minute.

Maybe I did make a mistake.

But you might as well hear all of the story.

Doug didn't desert to get away from me.

He could have saved Mike's life, and he didn't do it.

He didn't want to come back and face you.

That's why he deserted.

No.

[CRYING] No!

[CHILDREN GIGGLING]

NARRATOR: Coburn knew that because of his failure,

the entire camp could be overrun by the Apaches.

The Colonel had ordered him confined to post.

But a heavy weight of guilt made him decide

to disobey that order

and take the gamble of going alone after the guns.

Soldier? Yes, sir?

I need your sidearm.

Would you mind saddling the horse for me? Yes, sir.

NARRATOR: The Captain hoped to pick up the track of the stolen rifles by daybreak.

He studied the trail taken by the deserters.

At least he had a fresh horse for the search ahead.

BODINE: Ho!

These old packhorses have about had it.

No more than me. Riding all night through these mountains,

I bet we didn't cover 10 miles.

That's right, Fuller.

We didn't run into any Apaches, either.

Now, look, we're going to hold up here

and hide our valuable merchandise.

You keep talking about how valuable these rifles are.

I'm beginning to wonder if we're going to live long enough to cash them in.

You know what your trouble is, Higgins?

You don't have any faith in me.

Yeah, that about sums it up.

Give me a hand here. Hold it up.

You treat all this stuff with loving care, boys.

This here rifle I'm holding

is worth $1,000 in pure, raw gold.

Ooh-wee!

Yeah, but worth's one thing. Getting's another.

Don't you worry about that, Higgins. I'll get it.

I'll get $1,000 apiece for these rifles, maybe more.

You see, boys, I'm a first-class salesman.

A traveling salesman.

This here is my sample case.

How far you traveling, Bodine?

Oh, not too far.

My best customer is right up in those hills somewhere.

Cochise?

That's right, boy.

Apache gold is what I'm dealing for.

You said we were going to sell those guns in Mexico.

What's the matter, sonny?

You getting cold feet?

Do you want to go back,

to a firing squad?

I'll be glad to dump these rifles.

We can start making better time.

Our next stop will be Mexico,

where all those senoritashang out. [CHUCKLES]

Yeah, and old Cochise's next stop

will be Apache Wells.

Well, I'm glad you boys are beginning to appreciate

just how well I use this head of mine.

HIGGINS: What are you talking about?

The army is going to be too busy fighting Cochise to send anybody chasing us.

[LAUGHS]

You already got the army wiped out and you ain't even found Cochise yet.

Well, now, there you go worrying again, Higgins.

I won't have to find him. If I get close enough, his braves will find me.

They'll probably cut your throat before you get a chance to talk to him.

BODINE: Oh, no.

This is my insurance.

He needs these guns a lot more than he needs my scalp.

Keep a sharp lookout.

Time enough to let down after we close this deal and get across the border.

Come on, let's go!

Sonny boy,

you take care of the horses.

Listen, I'm going to go up there and pick me out a spot.

Why don't you all get around the other side,

you know, just in case?

Good idea.

[HORSE GRUNTING]

NARRATOR: The Captain would have given anything to get a crack at Bodine,

but recovering the guns was his prime concern now.

Bodine was hurried up into the mountains,

where Cochise waited with a party of braves.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]

Soldier, you are a very brave man,

or a fool.

Neither one.

I'm just a hunter out after big game.

The hunter was captured by the game he was seeking.

It's the only way I could get to see the mighty Cochise.

The army insults me, sending an underling to parley.

Nobody sent me. I came on my own.

The white eyes do not let their soldiers ride alone through the Chiricahuas.

[LAUGHS]

Nobody gave me permission to come.

Then you deserter.

If you want to call it that.

A man who turns on his friends cannot be trusted by his enemies.

We will talk no more.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]

Now wait a minute! Wait a minute!

I'm not asking you to trust me.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]

[RIFLE CLICKING]

[RIFLE FIRES TWICE]

[RIFLE FIRES FOUR TIMES]

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]

You have more of these?

Forty rifles.

Forty thousand in gold if you want them.

Show me the rifles.

I am not like your people. My word can be trusted.

When I see the rifles,

you will get the Apache gold that means so much to the white eyes.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]

NARRATOR: Coburn trailed the deserters back to where they stood guard over the guns,

waiting for Bodine's return.

[GUN FIRES]

BARRETT: Higgins, get away from him!

Let me get a shot at him.

[MEN STRUGGLING]

MIKE: Now, let's go get us an Apache.

DOUG: I'm scared, Mike.

I'm scared.

I never should have joined the army.

BARRETT: Get out of the way, Higgins!

CAPTAIN COBURN: That's no excuse.

I've got no use for a coward, Sergeant.

Captain...

Captain!

BARRETT: Get him off of me, Higgins. Get him off of me!

Doug...

Let's get out of here.

That kid...

I should have known.

The guns!

Where are they? Now, look!

[MAN SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]

He say two men ride away with horses.

We will follow.

But if this is a trick, you will be the first to die.

NARRATOR: Cochise knew he must keep those rifles from reaching the cavalry

at Apache Wells.

No use trying to outrun them, dragging these packhorses.

Give me a hand, will you, Doug?

Are we going to fight them off here, sir?

We're going to try to slow them down. It's up to you to get these rifles on through.

I won't leave you here alone, Captain.

You're going to obey orders, soldier.

Yes, sir.

It sure feels good fighting on the right side for a change.

Come on, help me load these.

Yes, sir.

Better get going, hadn't you, Doug? Yes, sir.

[GRUNTS]

NARRATOR: With five guns, Coburn hoped to buy enough time

for Doug to get to Apache Wells.

[RIFLE FIRING]

[RIFLE FIRE CONTINUES]

It's Coburn.

It's Coburn!

Wait a minute, Chief. It's no trick.

I mean, I've got the same rifle he has. I'll get him out of there for you.

I'll get those rifles for you!

At ease, soldier!

There are your rifles, Colonel.

Break them out.

Issue one to each man.

Captain Coburn stayed behind to fight off the Indians, sir.

Alone? Yes, sir.

He wouldn't let me stay. He...

He said it's the only way we could get the guns through.

Could still be alive.

Corporal.

[RIFLE CLICKING]

Captain Coburn's in trouble.

I need some volunteers. Mount up!

Think you can ride, son?

[REVEILLEPLAYS]

Oh. Yes, sir!

Go get him.

Yes, sir!

[RIFLE FIRE CONTINUES]

[RIFLE CLICKS]

[BULLETS WHIZZING]

[RIFLE CLICKING]

[GUNFIRE CONTINUES]

[REVEILLEPLAYS]

[MEN WHOOPING]

[GUNFIRE CONTINUES]

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]

NARRATOR: Bodine was caught between the army and hostile Apaches.

All he could do was try to save his own hide now.

[YELLING]

[RIFLE FIRES]

[LAUGHS]

[STRAINING] Yes... Yes, sir,

Captain, sir.

Captain Coburn?

Captain Coburn?

Everything's all right, Doug.

Everything's going to be all right.

Ten-hut!

Forward!

Ho!

Go ahead, Doug.

Oh, Doug!

Good work, Captain. For once I'm glad you disobeyed orders.

So am I, sir.

The boy made the difference.

Go ahead, Captain.