Original subtitles

If all the days were like today,

this job would be a picnic.

Sure would.

Even the women are calm and peaceable.

'Course, that ain't no guarantee

that the Sioux are in the same frame of mind.

Might be, though.

We haven't heard a peep out of them.

Take a gol-darn mean Indian

to start trouble on a day like this.

Hold up! Whoa!

There's your mean Indian. Hold up!

He's in trouble!

Go help him out.

Looks like Flint knows him.

Yeah.

Who's after you?

After me?

Nobody's after me.

I just wanted to let you know old Cliff was coming.

There's no better way to get a welcome

than fire a few shots in Indian territory.

Cliff Grundy, you old son of a gun.

You're a sight for sore eyes.

Don't you remember me?

Flint McCullough!

I didn't know you were out West, boy.

Why, the last time I set eyes on you,

you and Jim Bridger were scouting for General Johnson.

That was... '57? No, '58.

You were just a kid.

Come on, let's get to your wagons.

I need a drink.

Yeah, I can't get over you

being chief scout for a wagon train, son.

Not that Jim Bridger didn't speak high of you.

He did, and when Bridges said a man was good,

you could believe it.

Well, he was mighty good to me.

I guess anything I know about scouting I learned from him.

He's a mighty good teacher.

Why, Jim Bridger knows more about the West

than any man alive... 'cepting me, maybe.

I never did figure you'd make your bread scouting.

I thought you'd settle down after the war

and marry the general's daughter.

Leastways, that was the talk.

What happened, son, she turn you down?

That's as good an answer as any.

It's kind of cold tonight.

I'll find you another blanket.

Don't seem to want to talk about women.

That reminds me...

Did I ever tell you about this here dance-hall gal

who went into a fair old game with what she won from me?

Danged if she didn't win the whole shooting match.

All the money in the place,

the building, the gambling equipment,

even a solid mahogany piano?

You don't say.

Tell me, Cliff, did you get any

of that money for yourself?

Well, no.

But this old gal wanted me to marry her,

wanted me to stay around and run the place for her,

but I reckoned I best stick to prospecting.

You know, Cliff, I think you struck it

richer in that gal that you ever have anyplace else.

Now that you've brought it up,

I'll tell you what happened.

You would have anyway.

Never mind. Just you listen.

I left that old gal and her money and her dance-hall,

and I lit out into these here hills,

my mind made up I was gonna find me

a real, first-class goldmine.

So you kicked over the first rock

you came across, and there it was.

Go ahead, laugh!

But, gentlemen, you're now looking at

a real, live millionaire.

Do you mean you found a goldmine?

You heard what I said, didn't you?

Why aren't you up there, then, digging away?

'Cause I'm joining this expedition

you saddle tramps are running

so I can get to civilization and register my claim.

Yes, sir.

Old Cliff Grundy sure hit it rich this time.

I've heard about your rich strikes before, Cliff.

I don't know why you don't turn to something more substantial,

like, uh, well, cattle rustling.

You could at least find your own cattle.

Man gets himself a goldmine,

he's made it, and quick, too.

He can have everything he wants

without sitting around waiting for no herd to grow.

That's right, friend.

I can see you and me are the only ones here

know what we're talking about.

Now, you take a good mine...

ADAMS: You take it, you old windbag.

Flint and the boys have got to get up early in the morning

and get us some buffalo... We're getting short of meat.

Why don't you go along with them

and show them what a good shot you are?

Sure thing.

I reckon I've killed more buffalo

than any man west of the good ol' Missoura.

Did I ever tell you about the time...

No, and don't start now, Cliff.

Cliff's all right, Major.

If he can't shoot a buffalo, he can sure talk him to death.

Come on, I'll bunk you down.

Did I ever tell you about the time

we went buffalo hunting with no guns at all?

Biggest mess you ever saw.

So there I was, right in the middle

of them buffalo, and not a cartridge to my name.

MILLARD: Gosh, what'd you do then, Mr. Grundy?

Well, I'll tell you, boy.

FLINT: Later, Cliff. We gotta get started.

All right, as soon as we hit the herd,

we'll break up into teams.

Hawkes, you take one. I'll take the other.

Right. But stay close together.

Don't get any further apart than you have to.

And don't kill any more than you need to.

Five or six ought to be plenty.

Hey, can I ride with you, Mr. Grundy?

You bet you can, son.

We'll probably get that half a dozen

before anybody else pulls a trigger.

All right. Here we go.

Well, there they are.

Yeah.

See what you can do, son.

You're on.

Millard, you come with me.

Hawkes, you circle to the right.

Craig, the rest of you, follow me.

I sure never thought we'd get this close to a herd of buffalo.

Oh, this ain't close, boy.

I remember the day I had a hole in my boot

and used them buffalo for a bridge.

I just walked right across their backs

so the dirt wouldn't burn my feet.

I sure am glad I'm with you, Mr. Grundy.

Now, don't go running no fever, son.

Just take your time and do this right.

Yes, sir.

They sure are big, ain't they?

Yep, pretty big.

But they ain't half as big as you are with that rifle.

You better go ahead and shoot, Mr. Grundy.

No, you get the first one.

This ain't no treat for me.

I've been doing it for years.

So many of them.

I don't know which one to shoot.

Why don't you try the leader?

He's the one we gotta get.

You didn't hit him square, son.

They're turning on us.

Hyah!

Hey, hey, hey, wait!

Hyah, hyah!

Get up there, you little fool!

Oh, he's bad off.

Yeah, we'd better get him back to the train.

We'll have to rig a litter.

Cut of some of those branches.

Millard, give him a hand.

Doesn't seem to be any broken bones.

I don't see how that can be,

unless the tree protected him more than I thought.

He's mashed up inside, bad.

Ain't no use fooling yourself, Flint.

He ain't gonna make it.

I never figured anything could kill him.

I guess a herd of buffalo will out-tough anybody.

You don't think he could hang on

till we reach the fort?

Not a chance in the world, Flint.

He couldn't even stand to be moved.

Well, Major, you can't keep the whole wagon train

here waiting while Cliff dies.

No, I don't intend to.

This is Sioux territory.

The sooner we get out of it,

the better off we'll be.

All right, Major, you take the train on.

I'll stay here with him.

I just can't leave you here by yourself, Flint.

I can't just leave him here to die.

I know how you feel, Flint,

but I gotta get this wagon train through.

I'd only be... a couple of hours.

That's long enough for a party of Sioux

to catch up with you.

Major, I know what you'd do if he was your friend.

I've got to stay.

Might be days.

I don't think he'll last that long.

All right, Flint. You stay.

I'd've been disappointed in you if you didn't.

We'll stay here for the night.

If there's no change, we gotta roll first thing in the morning.

How's he getting along?

Not so good.

That's bad.

Is he conscious?

Not yet.

Anything I can do?

Ain't nothing anybody can do.

Flint's gonna sit here with him for a spell.

If you don't mind, Flint, I'd like to stay with you.

Kind of took a shine to the fellow.

I'd be obliged for the company.

Charlie, get some boys to help you set up a tent here.

Leave a barrel of water and some food.

Pass the word on we roll at dawn.

Well, he's as comfortable as I know how to make him.

You reckon the Sioux would spot us

if we built a fire and made us a pot of coffee?

I could sure use some. I think it'll be all right.

You stay here in case he needs something.

I'll go find some dry sticks that won't smoke much.

Cliff.

Cliff.

Oh...

Listen to me, Cliff.

Where's... that hurts.

You're dying, Cliff.

You haven't got a chance.

The goldmine, the mine, where is it?

You want to leave it to somebody, don't you?

Mine... what mine?

Where is...

Where is the whiskey?

Give me my whiskey!

Give me my mine!

Well... oh...

How is he?

He was making a fuss.

Out of his head.

He kept talking about whiskey.

That doesn't necessarily mean he's out of his head.

Not Cliff.

He said something about his mine, too.

When he stops talking about his mine,

then we'll know he's dead.

I was wondering, he...

He didn't happen to mention where that mine is, did he?

No, and if I know Cliff, I don't expect he will, either.

It don't hardly seem right,

all that gold just laying out there somewhere.

I better go have a look at him.

You think he'll last much longer?

I don't see how.

He's barely breathing.

I kind of think you and I'll be leaving tomorrow.

How you making it, partner?

Me insides hurt.

You just try and go back to sleep.

What's the matter?

He was coughing. I went in to check.

How is he?

I swear if I don't think

the old buzzard's getting stronger.

Don't kid yourself, Flint.

You know he hasn't got a chance.

I know it and you know it,

but maybe nobody told him.

Cliff, wake up!

Can you hear me, Cliff?

What do you want?

I want to know where that mine is.

Mine?

Don't play possum with me.

Where is it?

Tell me, or I'll shake you to pieces.

Get out, Craig.

I-I thought I heard him moaning.

Get out.

I guess he's all right now.

Are you all right, Cliff?

No, I ain't.

But I ain't gonna die, neither.

Do you want anything?

A little water, maybe.

I guess I ain't so good at that.

Try and lie quiet.

I'll get you water.

Come here, Craig.

I said come here.

Now, wait a minute, Flint.

We can't let that mine die with him.

We could split... Shut up.

I ought to beat you right into the ground.

Now, don't let me catch you inside the tent again.

Flint... I said shut up!

Sit down.

You're stirring up the dirt.

How long are we gonna hang around here?

We just have to wait and see.

That's what you said three days ago.

And I meant it.

Looks to me like he ain't gonna die at all.

I think maybe you're right.

How about giving me back my gun

just in case anything happens?

Nothing's gonna happen, Craig.

CLIFF: Flint? Hey, Flint?

How do you feel?

I feel like I've been tromped on by a herd of buffalo.

How do you think I feel?

You're sounding better.

I don't know why. I don't feel no better,

but I don't figure I will

as long as you keep me here starving.

Ain't there no food around this layout?

You're not ready for any heavy eating.

I'll see if I can fix you some soup.

Well, get at it!

There ain't no nourishment in conversation.

All right.

How you doing?

Hungry. I told you that once.

You gonna let me starve?

I fed you four cups of soup already.

Don't you remember?

No.

What good's eating if you can't remember how it tasted?

I think you're too ornery to die.

That other fellow... What's his name?

Manson.

Yeah, I remember something.

Shaking me.

It hurt bad.

He won't bother you any more.

Mighty fine friends you pick.

Now, get outside and get yourself some air.

You've been stuck in here all night.

Well?

That old buzzard's no closer to dying

than you and I are.

That means we'll be stuck here till he gets well?

That's right.

That might be days.

Just so he gets well.

I'm not risking my life for that desert rat.

What good is he?

You didn't mind him so much when you thought you could get his goldmine.

Get it straight, Craig, we're staying until he gets better,

and when we leave, we're leaving together.

Flint, look! The Sioux.

Looks like our luck's about to change.

He'll be back with plenty of others.

We gotta get out of here.

Cliff isn't ready to travel yet.

Then we'll have to leave him.

Forget it, Craig.

What chance will we have if they come back?

What chance would Cliff have if we left him?

Is it morning?

Yeah, it's morning.

'Pears I ain't a corpse yet.

No, but you may not have long to wait.

Shucks, what kind of talk is that?

I feel right pert.

I've done a fool thing that's apt to kill us both.

What are you gabbing about?

I got careless with Craig Manson.

He slugged me during the night

and made off with the horses and the guns.

We're stranded.

I warned you about him.

He's lower than a snake's belly.

To make it worse,

we've been spotted by the Sioux.

Well.

Let's get moving.

You're not gonna help by hurting yourself, you know?

Don't worry about me.

I feel fine.

Just...

Sore all over.

Gotta move around a bit, that's all.

Take it easy.

Don't try anything you're not up to.

Oh...

Let's get outside

and let me see something else

beside this here tent.

I never said I like you, Grundy.

You're supposed to be dead.

Flint, boy...

a woman told me one day

I was half bear and half devil.

I don't doubt but what she was right.

Anyways, I'll tell you this...

I'm close enough to it so as I ain't gonna die off

before I get back to my little old goldmine,

so let's figure how we're gonna get out

of this here mess I've got us into.

The nearest settlement's Fort Varney.

I figure it's maybe four or five days on foot.

You think you can try that?

How 'bout them Sioux?

I don't know.

They might leave us alone, but it's not likely.

I've been expecting yesterday's visitor

back at any time... with friends.

I hope not.

There's nothing much we can do

but throw sand at them,

and somehow I ain't got much confidence in that.

The sooner we get started, the better off we are.

Mr. McCullough, would you care to join me

in a little stroll to nowhere?

That reminds me...

Once...

Once I was face to face with a grizzly.

There I was...

You better save your breath, Cliff.

We've got a long way to go.

Flint?

Yeah?

How come you did it?

Did what?

Stayed with me.

Maybe I'm after your goldmine.

Flint?

Yeah?

If I had it in my pocket,

you could have it.

I know that.

How far have we come now, Flint?

About 12 miles.

That's all, huh?

That's it.

Cliff, if you could make it,

we could cut across that high range.

It won't be easy, but it'd save us a day.

Sure thing, boy.

I reckon you must be getting beat.

That's right.

Hey, Flint, take a look at them clouds!

I wouldn't flinch in a right good rain just now.

Those don't look like rain clouds to me.

No, but there ain't no law against hoping.

This wind makes it like walking uphill.

You want to rest a while?

Not here.

We'd better try to find a cave or something.

You thinking what I'm thinking?

I sure am.

I've been caught in these mountain storms before.

We gotta get out of this pass.

Sure is a... A nice day for a walk.

Grab onto my belt.

Let's get behind this rock.

You all right?

Just pooped.

Boy...

I sure could use me a mouthful of water.

If I ever get my hands on Craig Manson,

I'm gonna tear him apart.

Save some for me.

Remember during the war when we was taking

them army wagons across the river

and the river was all swoll up?

I never saw so much water in all my life.

I think I swallowed half the river

when my horse stumbled.

Good thing you were handy with that rope.

Heh, shucks, boy.

You was carrying my tobacco.

I couldn't afford to lose it.

Cliff, tell me something.

Ever since I've known you,

you've been prospecting from here to nowhere.

Why?

Money never meant anything to you.

Listen, boy.

It ain't finding the gold...

that's important...

it's the looking.

Most folks go through life

knowing exactly what's in store for them...

No ups, no downs,

just drifting along.

For me...

every time I pan a stream, it's...

It's the not knowing

whether I'm gonna come up with

just plain mud or...

some of that yellow stuff.

That's living.

Maybe so.

I figure everybody's got their own idea of living.

But you've found it.

A lot of good it's gonna do you,

though, if we don't get going.

I'm tired.

Thirsty.

If I don't get some water soon...

Up...

There's a crick on the other side of this ridge.

I've been through here before.

I hope so, son.

I sure hope so.

How much further, Flint?

Just over the rise.

Oh...

Come on, Cliff.

We can't stop now.

We gotta keep going.

Go on, boy.

What?

Old Cliffy can't go no more.

You've got to.

No, boy.

I'm all give out.

Gotta stay here.

Listen, Cliff, we're gonna make this.

We'll find some water.

No.

How 'bout your goldmine? You gonna give that up?

I don't care. Don't care no more.

All right, stay here and rot if you want to.

You know, Craig Manson was right about you.

You're just a good-for-nothing old prairie rat

and not worth saving, anyway.

Talk. That's all you are, Grundy, talk.

You did this, you did that.

You've done nothing but shoot off your mouth your whole life.

As soon as things get tough,

you lie down and cry like an old woman.

Go ahead and die if you want to.

You know what's wrong with you, Grundy?

You're yellow.

You got a streak down your back a mile wide,

and it's yellow, do you hear me? Bright yellow.

You see, you old buzzard?

You're not as weak as you thought you were.

You crow-baiting scarecrow.

I oughta bust your head open.

Good, but...

but not until we get to Fort Varney.

You need your hat.

We can hole up here.

That sounds... sounds good to me.

Yeah, we can rest here till morning.

Come daylight, we'll find another stream.

Yeah.

How far...

you figure Fort Varney is?

Not sure.

Maybe three days.

Three?

Boy, we'll never make it.

Yes, we will.

If we could only get over that ridge.

How much time would we save?

Day and a half.

It's too high.

Flint?

Yeah?

I got an idea.

Why don't you cut across that ridge,

get to Fort Varney,

and then send back for me.

Forget it.

When we get to Fort Varney,

we'll get there together.

No sense being stubborn, boy.

I could wait here nice and comfy.

Huh-uh.

I said forget it.

Now, you get some rest.

We've got a hard day tomorrow.

Yeah. Real hard.

Cliff!

Wake up, Cliff. You're not dreaming.

Cliff, you hear me?

You hear me?

Cliff, you hear me?

Cliff!

Cliff!

Cliff!

Cliff!

Cliff!

Cliff!

Grundy!

Grundy, you old buzzard, come on out!

I'm not leaving here without you anyway,

so come on out!

I know you're around here somewhere,

and I know what you're doing.

Flint, behind you!

We better get out of here.

Them critters travel in pairs.

Ought to leave you here for the other one.

What do you mean, running out on me?

I was giving you a chance.

I ain't doing nothing but holding you back.

Making me tromp around these mountains...

we could've been miles away from here by now.

Flint...

I don't want to hear any more out of you.

We're going to Fort Varney together.

You get a bellyful of that rainwater last night?

Heh, yeah.

Pure, wet manna.

Son, y-you should've left me.

We gotta keep going, Cliff.

Should've left me.

Horses, Cliff.

I hear... I hear horses, Cliff.

Someone's coming.

You should've... left me.

Yes, sir. Beats me how you did it.

Lucky for you those missionary Indians

happened along when they did.

I never figured the day would come

when I'd be drinking a toast to some missionaries.

Tell you the truth, I never thought

we'd be drinking at all.

Well, enough of this shilly-shallying.

We wasted too much time already.

Any strangers passing through lately?

Anyone in particular you had in mind?

Yeah, fellow by the name of Manson.

Craig Manson.

Don't think so.

Nobody by that name, anyway.

Friend of yours?

Yeah.

You might put it that way.

What does he look like?

Well, he's my size, thin face, light hair.

How old?

He's not old. Young fella.

Where'd you get that rifle?

Which one?

The .44 Henry.

It's mine.

Take a look at the stock.

The initials "F.M." stand for Flint McCullough.

They're there, all right, clear as day.

What did you do, sell it?

No. How'd you get it?

Man rode in here the other day.

He had this rifle.

Where is he?

He's still around.

Would you like to see him?

Yeah, we'd like nothing better.

He rode in yesterday

with a festering arrow in his back.

I did the best I could, but...

is that your friend?

Yeah, that's him.

You shouldn't have let him go out by himself.

If one of you had been with him,

he'd've had a chance.

That's right, mister.

You'll never know how sorry we are

we got separated.

You say he rode in?

On a chestnut gelding.

It's over in the livery stable.

Been holding it for my bill.

My services, including a decent burial,

are $9.

That include the gun?

You're the man with the goldmine.

We'd better get started if we're gonna catch up with the wagon train.

Not me. I'm catching me a stage to Big Falls.

You're gonna register that claim?

About that goldmine...

I didn't mean no mineral type.

I met me a widow woman,

one of the prettiest women I've ever laid eyes on,

and rich too, smart.

She's been aching to latch onto me for years,

so I decided to give in and settle down...

if I can.

That's the goldmine I've been harping about.

Maybe that's the best kind there is.

Well, take care of yourself.

Say, did I ever tell you about the time

I was all alone in the desert

with 100 Indians and 10 mountain lions chasing me?

No, you didn't.

No? Well, there I was, all alone in the desert,

with 100 Indians and 10 mountain lions.

Poor old Cliff couldn't have lasted this long.

Wonder where the devil that McCullough went to.

Speak of the devil,

there he is now, big as life.

Howdy, Wooster. Howdy, Major.

How's your back?

Never mind my back. Where've you been?

You took long enough burying your pal.

What'd you do, build him a monument?

Did he go hard, Mr. McCullough?

Stop blaming yourself, boy.

I don't bury my pals, Major.

I take them to the nearest saloon.

What's that supposed to mean?

Cliff Grundy's alive, and he's meaner than ever.

Well, where is he?

What kept you so long?

Major, I ever tell you about the time

that I was lost in the desert with 100 Indians

and 10 mountain lions chasing me?

Come back here, McCullough!

McCullough!