Original subtitles

In the years between 1820 and 1880,

there was a period on the Texas frontier

little recorded by history, a time of violence and fear.

Indian tribes betrayed by government and army treaties

and incited by white traders, gave birth to renegade bands

composed mostly of young braves bitterly angry

at the white man's ruthless encroachment

into the lands they considered their birthright.

These small bands, splitting away from the tribal structure

of Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache, began a series

of savage raids on isolated white settlements and ranches.

By 1870, these raids for cattle, horses, and human captives

had reached as far north as the Canadian River.

And over the years, they grew in magnitude and terror

until men, women, and children were being carried off

and traded into slavery.

The men who paid in gold, rifles, and gaudy trinkets

for these captives were a gypsylike and notorious breed

of white and Mexican outcasts known as Comancheros.

Eventually, they came to be regarded as more savage

than the bands of renegades with whom they traded,

so that by 1873, the word Comanchero had become synonymous

with violence and terror.

And there was one particular place,

a rocky fortress buried deep in the Western wasteland,

that became a marketplace for their traffic in human misery.

Long after Lincoln's proclamation

had given the black man his freedom,

a white slave market flourished

in the heat and dust of the Southern Plains.

It was a place where families were split apart,

children were torn from mothers and wives from husbands.

And those who witnessed these tragedies called this place

the Valley of Tears.

Let me go.

All right, all right.

Everything's gonna be all right.

A few lucky ones are to be liberated from,

they think, the red savages.

Blue Jacket, how are you?

She's strong.

So is an ox.

Ma'am.

Well, how are you there?

Teeth.

Well, she's not much to look at but maybe she's got

a few years left in her. Britt, do you think so?

All right.

One jug of whiskey, the finest.

One rifle, the latest.

Two rifle.

If she was pretty-eyed, one.

Hm.

Britt.

Let me see the lass.

No.

Easy, just let me see the lass.

Two jugs of whiskey, two rifles.

Done.

Please, I'm her mother, you can't.

No!

Well, I see what caught your eye.

How old are you, darling?

How old are you?

Eighteen.

Eighteen.

And fresh.

And growing riper by the minute, I tell you.

I'm caught all over generous at this one, I sure am.

Two jugs of whiskey, two rifles.

Ah.

Well, what do you think, Britt, should I offer

the ignorant savage more for this one?

Yeah.

She looks a might timid to me.

It's a long way to Chihuahua.

Well, the lad's taken a liking to her, all right.

Two jugs of whiskey, two rifles...

and this.

Done.

Well, Britt, look here.

There's the hand of God in that face.

Auburn hair too.

That's rare south of the border.

I think maybe we can turn a darling profit with this one.

Who are you, husband?

Brother.

What are you good for?

Strong.

Good for work.

I'm not in that business.

The men I deal with are only interested in the ladies.

What about them silver mines at Santa Rita?

Seeing as how we're passing them up there,

we might get maybe a hundred for him.

One jug of whiskey.

You better take it or you'll wind up

shooting him like a lame horse anyway.

Done.

- I'm staying with... - Dan, no.

So, now we come to you, lass.

Britt, look at those eyes.

Green with flecks of fire and silken hair.

I ain't seen the likes of this since Dublin.

All right, three jugs of whiskey,

one full case of ammunition for them rifles of yours.

No trade.

Renegades.

Either you're looting and burning and scalping

or you're tryin' to cheat an ignorant old Irishman.

Hoxie, show the chief that thing that I took a fancy to

at the last mission.

That's it, yes.

Chief.

Nothing in this world grander

to drink your darling whiskey out of, believe me.

I keep.

What are you gonna do with her?

- What do you think? - Keep.

You take her for that.

Well, she's nothing more than a bloody child.

No want child.

- You take. - She needs me.

If she's with me, I won't be able to run.

If you separate us,

someway I'll find a way to cut your heart out.

She's right, Blue Jacket.

You take 'em both or you'll never get

a decent night's sleep, I promise you.

Oh, aye.

Where did you stray from, darling?

A long way from here.

Well, we're on our way to Mexico.

Would you care to join us?

Maybe your last chance out with a white man.

Well, what's the matter, darling?

- Do you got no use for a man? - When I see one.

- I'll pass on this one. - Why?

She's a troublemaker.

She'll have the other girls raising up in mutiny.

It's too bad.

I'd rather ride with you, Irishman.

Sorry, darling, but you're too strong for our blood,

used to frighten farm girls.

You'd be like putting a hornet in with the hens.

- Sorry. - Sure.

This is more like it.

Give him the chalice, Hoxie.

Mister?

Lawman?

My name's Dillon from Dodge City.

I'm McCloud, Josiah McCloud.

Rachel's my daughter-in-law and the girl,

Marcy's my granddaughter.

She's only seven years old.

Rachel's brother Dan, they took him too.

Was one of 'em wearing a blue cavalry jacket?

That's right.

Then it's him you're after.

You got any idea where they're taken 'em?

They'd be better off killed.

There's a place where people are being traded

and sold like livestock.

Slave market run by white renegades out of Mexico.

Find them.

Bring 'em back.

I'll try.

This slave market, do you have any idea what it's called?

A lot of things.

The people that have seen it call it Valley of Tears.

We're moving out.

Load 'em up.

Bring that team down here.

Get in there.

Move along, ladies.

Get in there now.

Keep moving.

Move towards the back there.

You... Inside.

You can't leave my sister with them.

Dan.

- Dan. - I'll do it, boy.

If they're fixing to kill him, don't get caught up in it.

I've seen worse in a Dublin pub.

Get the wagon ready to roll.

Easy there, will you?

Chief, don't let your lads bruise me merchandise.

You're a bloody fool.

Now get on your feet, we'll be getting outta here.

Buy her from that animal.

Pay him anything he wants, please.

Oh I'd like to, laddie,

but my ship has not come in as yet.

You know what she's in for.

Well, whatever it is,

it can't be worse than what we'd be taking her to.

My god, please.

Laddie, the Injun's got his heart set on her.

There's nothing even a man like me can do.

You're no better than them.

Well, that's been said by better men than you, me boy.

Go with him.

Or he'll kill you.

Please.

She's speaking sense, lad.

Come on.

I'm sorry, lass,

I was tempted to trade the whole thing for you.

But it would've been bad business.

I'll see you next month, Blue Jacket.

Get him aboard, Hoxie.

Get in.

All right, lads, away we go.

Come.

Leave her alone.

Take me.

Would you take care of her?

Mama.

Mama.

- Your mother will be back. - Mama.

What's your name?

Marcy.

What's your doll's name?

Everything's gonna be all right.

What's going on?

I'm not sure.

The way I get it, we go with him.

The rest of 'em are headed somewheres else.

Where are they taking us?

Home to meet their mothers.

Yeah?

Looking for a renegade named Blue Jacket.

Pulled out early this morning.

He and them flame lickers of his

got good and loco'd last night.

Drunk renegades.

Don't mix well with a man's supper.

He brought some white women with him?

Yeah.

Some prime female flesh.

Why?

I was hoping to do business with him.

Well, like I said, he done business and left.

But I got a gal I'm willing to bargain for.

Seventeen, a might skinny, but she'll fill out.

There was a girl with him I wanted to see.

She was about 18, blonde, wearing a red dress?

She was a pretty one all right.

He made a deal on her right off.

Who bought her?

Fitzpatrick.

When'd he leave?

At late yesterday.

There was a woman and a little girl.

Were they with him?

Who are you, mister?

I'm a trader, just like yourself.

What's your name?

Hargis.

Hargis, never heard of you.

But if you're what you say,

someone around here will know you.

You listen, mister, the woman that Indian stole belonged to me

and he took her without a-paying me a red cent.

Now, where is she?

Blue Jacket wouldn't trade for her.

Then she's still with him?

I'm gonna give you one chance

to tell me where they went, just one.

Now, where?

Last I seen Blue Jacket,

he was heading toward his village.

South.

The woman was with him?

Her and another white woman.

What about the little girl?

Her too.

Ah yes, I was seeing Katie steady in them days.

Of course, no good Irishman ever gives up his heart easily.

But one day, Katie fixed me with a baleful eye

and she said, "Timothy Fitzpatrick,

"we've been walking out now for seven years.

"Don't you think it's high time

"that we was getting married?"

"Married," says I.

"Are you crazy, girl?

"Who'd have us?"

What's the matter with you, lad?

You're usually good for a chuckle or two.

Sorry, I was thinking.

Well, I was just thinking that it's gonna be

about two days we'll be reaching the Mexican border.

I think we ought to linger there awhile.

Have some fun.

Wash some of this trail dust out of our lungs

with some good drinking whiskey.

Hey, listen.

I know a lady down there and she's got a younger sister,

surely she does.

Oh, she's a dazzling girl.

Dark, gypsy eyes and a haughtiness about her

that is most pleasing.

Sounds good.

But you better not be lying about the way this girl looks.

Lying?

- Have I ever lied to you, lad? - Oh.

Well, maybe.

Maybe I leaned on me imagination a bit.

Go back and tell the boys that they can look forward

to two days of drinking.

I think it'll lift their spirits somewhat.

Come.

No.

No.

No!

Don't fight, don't.

Mama.

Mom!

Mommy.

Mommy.

No.

No!

Little girl.

What's your name?

Where'd you come from?

Go on.

You must be thirsty.

Not too much now.

If you take too much, you might get sick.

Your name Marcy?

Marcy McCloud?

Marcy, I'm gonna take you with me.

Now, you don't have to be afraid, I'm your friend.

I'm a lawman.

You stay here.

So it's gonna be you, huh?

No use fretting.

Might not be so bad.

I lived on a hog farm.

Thirty miles to the closest neighbor.

Just me and those hogs and my husband, Opie.

What happened to him?

They killed him.

Damn fool.

He went for his rifle.

Hadn't fired it in years.

Probably didn't even work.

Only it wasn't me he was worried about.

It was them stinking hogs.

Oh, I know it sounds hard.

But come down to it,

where I'm going can't be any worse than where I was.

Maybe for you too.

Goodnight.

There's a chance they won't even get us there.

How can you say that?

The law will be following us by now.

Texas Rangers.

Even the Army, maybe.

I can't believe I'm here.

Just a few days ago, I had a job in a dress shop.

A family.

And now they're dead.

Murdered.

And I'm being taken off to be sold to the highest bidder.

No better than an animal.

I'll never be able to live through it.

I can't, I can't.

It won't come to that.

There's bound to be some help coming.

Help me.

Please.

I'll try.

All right, all right.

Up till now, you've been a gentleman.

Think I need a drink.

Are there more?

Nope.

That's all of 'em.

Mrs. McCloud, I got your child.

She's alive.

My child?

I got no kids.

And I'm not Mrs. McCloud.

She's dead.

Tried to put a knife in Blue Jacket.

When'd that happen?

Yesterday.

They were gonna kill the kid too but I started screaming

and they turned her loose.

Well, you did the right thing.

I found her wandering in the desert.

Well, ain't that something.

We better clear outta here.

That buck's probably on the way to spread the word.

The kid, where is she?

Over here.

She hasn't said a word since I found her.

I think she's in shock.

Can't blame her, seeing her mother get killed and all.

Been close to it myself the last couple of days.

You can help.

How's that?

She's lost her mother.

She's gonna need a woman.

You gotta be snake bit.

Me?

Mothering a kid?

I don't know anything about 'em.

Well, lady, you can learn.

Get your horse.

Where are we going?

South after Fitzpatrick.

Isn't that like looking down the barrel of a cannon?

I don't get it.

I'm after a young woman that was traded

to the Comancheros by Blue Jacket.

She's from Dodge City.

Her name's Cynthia Emery.

Well, marshal, I'm sorry about the girl,

but she's none of my business.

Yeah, maybe so, but I still can't leave you here.

Don't tell me you're fixing to drag me and this kid along.

I got no choice.

I'll give you one.

I'm headed for San Anton.

The fact is, I was headed there

when that mangy son of a wolf took me.

Well, I'm sorry, but I'm still gonna have to take you

with me, Miss... Silks, Stella Silks.

Why?

Well, why? Because we're a hundred miles from nowhere.

The countryside's infested with renegades.

There's no food out here, no water.

I leave you here, you're gonna die.

Can't get much straighter than that.

Listen, Marshal, that Cynthia kid, she'll make out.

When I was 18, I was...

Forget what I was doing.

I'll only slow you down.

Miss, they get her to Mexico, you know what she's in for.

I know.

I'll get your horse.

Hoxie, give the animals a rest.

What about those prisoners?

That wagon's gotta be hotter than Hades.

Well, Britt, I never knew you

to show such sweet concern before.

Well, you want 'em fat and sassy for Chihuahua, don't you?

Aye, but now you're speaking

of 'em as though they was cattle.

Ain't they?

Hoxie.

Get 'em out.

Get out of there.

Come on.

Get out.

Why are you being nice to me?

I don't know.

I guess, maybe, 'cause you're scared.

Have you ever done this before?

I've done my share.

- What's your name? - Cynthia.

Cynthia Emery.

Where'd they capture you?

Kansas.

Just a few miles from Dodge City.

Any folks?

They were killed.

Hey look, come on, don't now, it won't do you any good.

Where are you taking us?

- Mexico. - Why?

You mean you don't know?

No.

Why?

Well, ask any one of those women.

No, you tell me.

Business.

Female business.

Fitz calls 'em fancies, except the ones he's talking about

get paid for it.

You ain't gonna have any choice.

Sorry, but I figured you knew.

I'll be a slave.

You'll be alive.

I'd rather be dead.

Yeah, that's what they all say.

But you wouldn't, come down to it.

Face it, it's the only way you're gonna survive.

I'm not cut out for this.

I ache from bustle to bone.

Oh.

Mm.

How is she?

No change.

What day is it?

I think it's Thursday.

I'd have been in San Anton by now,

soaking in a tub of hot water.

There's a job waiting for me there.

And here I am in the middle of nothing,

saddled with a lawman and a kid who can't talk.

I'm sorry.

You pulled me out of a tight spot.

How'd you get into this?

They hit the stage I was on.

Only one they took alive.

Stage from Abilene?

Abilene.

Devil's half-acre, ever been there?

A time or two.

I used to work the Alamo Saloon there on Cedar Street.

Toughest block on this side of hell.

Up to a week ago, I ran my own place.

I liked Abilene.

Why'd you leave?

Marshal ran me out.

I coulda stayed if I paid him more, but I wouldn't.

Now, Abilene, places before just...

faded memories.

What part of Kansas you from?

Dodge City.

Dodge.

Now, there's a town.

You know the Long Branch there?

Yep.

Hear it's run by a woman.

That's right.

Level with me.

What does she pay you to stay open?

All the law allows.

And you're the law?

Well, at least you're honest about it.

We better get moving.

Come on, honey, you gotta eat something.

Can't get her to eat.

Honey.

Honey, please.

Are we that hungry yet?

Marcy, look what I got for you.

Go on, take him.

Take good care of him now, he's yours.

He's just a baby and he needs someone to look after him.

Will he run away?

Well, I don't think so, not if you keep him warm and fed.

But I tell you what, I'll fix a little cage for him tomorrow, just in case.

Mama?

Mama?

Marcy, Marcy.

Your mama's gone.

But your grandpa, he's waiting for you.

You better get some sleep now.

Can I hug you?

Sure.

All right, you lie down now.

I just learned something about you, big man.

You're a pushover.

Think he's hungry?

If he is, he's not alone.

What does he eat?

Well, you wanna get down

and pick him some of those plants there?

- Okay. - All right.

There you go.

Make sure he doesn't get away now.

Not exactly Kansas City.

Sorry, that's the best we can do.

Supposed to be quite a place, Dodge.

One town I haven't hit yet.

Maybe I'll just show up there someday, stir things up.

Yeah, I'll bet you could too.

Well, do you ever stop to think of what you're gonna do

when you run out of towns?

Never think about.

Bad for my peace of mind.

Most towns, women will cross the street to avoid me.

Men who knew me by my first name at night

didn't know me at all during the day.

Hypocrites.

I'm gonna open those doors that have been closed to me.

Someday, I'll end up in a town

like St. Louis or even Chicago.

Live out my days a nice old lady with gracious ways.

Church cheese, lectures, concerts.

Why wait?

Takes money.

I'm saving for it.

Well, you're young now, you better not wait too long.

Comanches.

Comanches.