w*r Arrow (1953)

[bunniefuu]

Whoa! Easy, boy.

Whoa, there. Whoa.

Ah.

Souvenir.

Of what?

Oh, the great Southwest, the

dangerous Indian territory.

Hey, Sarge, ya know,

this is gonna make somethin' nice

to hang on the wall when I retire,

somethin' I can tell

my grandkids lies about.

That arrow's at least a year

old. Pick up a fresh one.

Listen, Sarge, I think

the arrow's extinct.

Couple of weeks, you'll be

pullin' 'em out of your back.

I heard that in St. Louis

a thousand miles ago.

By now, I thought we'd be hackin' our

way through a solid wall of Indian flesh.

Wait until you run into Satanta, chief of

the Kiowas. You'll know you met an Indian.

Oh, he's a tough one, huh? Got his whole

tepee covered with buck sergeants' chevrons.

The only fella gonna get those stripes is

the fella I give 'em to after I got yours.

All right, let's get

movin' back there!

Comanches?

Comanches would have taken a

prisoner. That's a Kiowa specialty.

Picket the horses while

I try to find a shovel.

Great place for souvenirs.

Detail reporting

to Colonel Meade.

Open the gate!

Left to right!

To the left, go!

Forward, go!

Major Howell Brady, Sergeants Luke

Schermerhorn and Agustus Wilks...

reporting

from St. Louis, sir.

How do you do? Captain

Neil, Lieutenant Rolier.

Still a sergeant,

eh, Schermerhorn?

I guess soldiers are like

water. They find their own level.

Pour the sergeants a bath

and a drink: the drink first.

Come along, Major.

You're to be quartered here for six months

under nobody's orders but your own.

Those are

Gen. Schofield's words.

I don't like it, even

from the secretary of w*r.

That's natural.

This is good whiskey.

Washington doesn't have to send anybody

around, investigating my command.

As far as I know,

they haven't.

Then what is it? Major Howell

Brady taking over this fort?

I've already

turned down three.

I've been in this army

too many years to be fooled.

Things haven't gone well here, and

they've retired generals for less.

I haven't heard talk of retiring

you. Your record shows...

I know. But you're as good

as your last casualty list.

All right, I'll play the game.

Game?

By elimination, you must be here to

fight Indians. Yeah. That's about it.

One major and two sergeants is not

what I'd call a fighting outfit.

Well, it's a start. What can

you do that I haven't done?

The Kiowas are having a field day,

but why? Nobody's stopping them.

They don't come out by the

hundreds and thousands anymore.

They raid by 10s and 20s.

They hit and they're gone.

I know. I saw some of

their work a few miles back.

Family named McMurdo.

At least they're buried under

a cross. Crude, but a cross.

How can I stop this

with only one command?

You might break it up

into companies or platoons,

send 'em riding

in all directions.

That's what the Kiowas want.

They'd cut us to ribbons.

The only hope for law is to keep this command

intact. When it's gone, the Kiowas rule.

They seem

to be ruling now.

If you're here to fight Indians,

Major, there's a lot of work waiting.

I hear you have Seminoles

in this territory.

Yeah, a small tribe up by Golden.

At least they're peaceful.

You know their chief,

Maygro?

Not personally, but I fought

against his father in Florida.

- What's your opinion of them?

- For eight years in Florida,

they held back almost every regiment of the

army, marines, the navy and 50,000 militia.

All that

with just 400 warriors.

Incredible, wasn't it?

Heh. Expensive too.

The government had to scatter them all over

the country so there wouldn't be another w*r.

Now they're a poor tribe of

vagabonds living in sod huts...

and trying to raise

a few scrawny sheep.

But they

can still fight.

Fight who?

Kiowas.

You couldn't get a Seminole Indian

to fight for his sister's virtue.

Why not? They've laid

down their g*ns for good.

The Kiowas run through

their village Just for sport.

Could you get me three

fresh horses and $500?

Anything, Major. I'll have

you quartered within the hour.

Well, don't bother

with anything elaborate.

I'll move Mrs. Corwin out of Capt.

Corwin's house. He was k*lled recently.

Please don't inconvenience

anyone for me.

There's room for the woman

at my place. You're the C.O.

By the way, there's a birthday

party at my house tonight.

That hardly gives me time

to buy a present.

Don't bother.

You've already given me one:

the funniest story

of the year.

Seminoles fighting Kiowas.

Happy birthday, Colonel.

Thank you, Major.

Excuse me.

Certainly.

So I told him he had to be

in full uniform at all times.

The colonel's special blend.

Major Howell Brady,

ma'am.

I came to dance, if

you'd do me the honor.

We were holding

a conversation, Major.

You should try holding

a girl sometime, Captain.

I have a feeling that patience is not

one of your stronger virtues, Major.

Consider the life span

of the average human,

then subtract all the minutes we

waste in meaningless formalities.

Criminal. There's little enough

time for small pleasures as it is.

As I live and breathe,

a philosopher.

A... a realist.

Well, whatever you are, I'm glad

someone finally asked me to dance.

Is there something about you

I should know? I'm Mrs. Corvvin.

I'm, uh, sorry about having

taken over your house.

The fortunes of w*r, Major.

Besides, any man who's held

every rank from private to major,

won a field commission, been breveted

twice for exceptional gallantry...

and won the Congressional

Medal of Honor,

there just isn't enough that we can

do for him. Who told you all that?

Col. Meade, and not

without a little envy.

Oh, ah, I'm taking a room in

his house. Yes, so I heard.

And he who gossips will be out

chasing Kiowas in the morning.

They should be anyway.

Don't you go, Major.

We've lost too many

good dancers already.

I'm even more sorry

about your husband.

When did it happen?

About six months ago

on a scouting party.

He must've been

quite a man...

for his memory to have kept you

single on the frontier this long.

They've been proposing to me

by platoons lately.

Bad training.

There are times when

the individual soldier...

is much more effective

than the unit.

You're an exponent of

the one-man frontal att*ck.

Yes, but I believe in

cautious reconnoitering first.

Better be careful, Major. You're

revealing your position to the enemy.

Enjoy your waltz, Major?

Were we Waltzing?

It was more like

a musical fencing match.

I couldn't get past her

guard. Nobody ever does.

She's a greater thr*at

to this post than the Kiowas.

- Something oughta be done.

- You'll have to go to the end of the line.

Not him. He doesn't waste his

time on meaningless formalities.

Major Brady, perhaps you'd

tell our younger officers...

of your experiences

fighting the Cheyenne.

They look about as

friendly as the Cheyenne.

A later dance,

Mrs. Corwin?

The Captain's Quadrille. Write

'Elaine' on your card. Thank you.

I thought you were

above flirting.

Was I?

I hear he came from St.

Louis and Washington.

He's still

Just another soldier.

Well, tell me,

what's he doing here?

Trying to get Seminoles

to fight Kiowas.

Why, Colonel,

you're jealous of him.

Hey. I always knew you

were a brave man, Major,

but goin' in through the colonel's

back door ain't recommended,

even for heroes.

That's Capt. Corwin's

widow. Oh. I'm sorry.

I always figured that

Corwin was too ornery to die.

Them Kiowas ain't choosy

about who they k*ll.

You knew him?

Yeah, I knew him.

It'd take more than a few

Indians to keep me away from that.

We're ridin' in a noose. I

know. Care to pick a number?

At least five,

or they'd be afraid.

Not 10,

or they'd have cut loose.

Seven.

Lucky seven.

We'll have to fight our way out. Yeah.

Probably try to catch us

at that other rise.

Tell Wilks to keep his eyes front.

He don't even know they're up there.

He's got barroom eyes.

When we reach that rim,

we'll go into a run.

Come over it sh**ting.

I'll take the left. You

and Wilks take the right.

How about them fellas

tellin' us it was dangerous...

for just the three of us

to ride in this country

They call this Coffin Rim. It's not famous

for the births that have happened here.

I'll bet you a dollar there

ain't an Indian within 10 miles.

You got a bet.

How're we gonna prove it?

Easy. Four Kiowas have got you in

their sights now. Don't look up!

Are you serious? When we hit

that ridge, you do as I do...

if you want to live long enough

for another promotion. Yes, sir.

Uh, you fellas

is lucky I was along.

You're right. I just

made an easy dollar.

Wilks and I will do

some cleaning up.

You contact the Seminoles

and tell them what I said.

I'll do what I can.

All right.

Schermerhorn,

I hate to bring this up,

but don't you think I oughta

hold the dollar? Just in case.

Uh-uh. if anything happens, I'm gonna

need some gambling money where I'm going.

Well, that Schermerhorn.

That feller could charm the Rocky

Mountains into goin' south for the winter.

Psst!

My father, Chief Maygro, said to

give you some food while he talks.

Rabbit, eh?

We call it Texas buffalo.

Say, you talk English

real good.

Why shouldn't I? I went

to school in San Antonio.

What's your name, honey?

Avis. It means bird. And do not

speak of putting salt on my tail.

Some fella already

b*at me to it, huh?

Uh, my name is Wilks.

Sergeant Wilks.

And this fella here...

I forget his name.

Anyway, he's married

and got 16 kids.

You make him

sound interesting.

Uh, you like this life

out here? I hate it.

Would you like to spend your life in

a mud hut with corn husks for beds...

and rabbit

for food every day?

Well, uh, I might

if you was with me.

I won't be. I'm going someplace.

Any particular place?

Anywhere. It couldn't

be worse than this.

Maybe you and I could

work something out.

What I want,

you don't have.

Oh, try me.

Good food and clothes

and a decent place to live?

Well, that sure

lets out enlisted men.

What's your father

think about all this?

My father will not let me

leave. He won't? How come?

He says there's only one way

to get the things I want.

He could be right.

I don't care.

I know what I want. I'm going

to get it. Wait a minute.

There's a lot to be said

for bein' a nice girl.

Weren't you just suggesting

we could work something out?

I didn't mean... Who are you to

tell me what is nice and what isn't?

When I get the chance, I will

leave and I will do what I want.

Then you want us

to help you fight the Kiowa?

That's right, Maygro.

You Seminoles.

We are Kanyuksa Indians

from Florida.

Among our people,

'Seminole' is not a good word.

All right, Kanyuksa.

We number 300,

maybe 25 men

who could fight.

That's more than enough.

I try to understand... We have to

fight the Kiowas on their own terms.

A small, fast-moving,

hard-hitting force,

one that knows the country,

understands the language,

has endurance and doesn't

ask any luxuries.

Why should we do this

for you?

For six months' service, the government

will give you land of your own.

Like this? No, this

will be green land...

with water and cattle,

trees to build houses with.

Where is this land?

The whole

Santa Media Valley.

But to get it, we must fight. Yeah.

That is one thing

we cannot do.

Aw! We make foolish journey

to come here.

Why don't you

ask your people?

I am the law

of the Kanyuksas.

I say no.

You afraid, Maygro?

Come.

We speak with others.

Tell us, how will our

families eat when men are gone?

The army will send

supplies every month.

Meantime, $500 until the

first supply train comes.

We have put down

our g*ns for good.

Fighting will only lose us

the peace we find.

Peace?

You mean hunger!

Let me die fighting, not

from peaceful starvation!

Pino, you're too young to remember

what w*r did to the Kanyuksa.

When you have to fight,

you fight!

Even a snake

or gopher knows that.

Are we to sit around...

and watch the Kiowas run

through our camp for sport?

The young men have the heart,

but we have no weapons!

If I had a g*n,

I would show them...

that the Kanyuksa have at least as

much courage as gopher! Pino, sit down!

When elders speak,

you listen. Sit down!

I am your leader.

When we were

driven from Florida,

we pledged to keep peace.

We knew it would be hard.

You want new leader,

say so.

Then as long as I am

Maygro, your leader,

I do what I think best.

You're less than women!

I'm ashamed that I talked to

you as equals, as men of courage!

Major!

Kiowas!

Well, at least you got

six more horses.

I never saw g*n

sh**t like that.

Fifteen times without reloading.

It's a Henry repeating r*fle.

This is the w*apon you'll have.

Makes one man equal to 30.

You teach

strong lesson.

I always said whoever called the

Kanyuksas 'Seminoles' was right.

That's all they ever were:

Seminoles, cowards, and renegades.

Avis, this is no time

for such talk.

You might yet turn out

to be men.

No one will give you anything

unless you fight for it.

Quiet.

We will go with Major.

I know,

and I am going with you.

You will stay in village where you

belong with the rest of the women.

Try and keep me there.

Hey, Schermerhorn, you

captured the wrong Indians.

Them ain't fighters:

they're sheep eaters.

I'm beginnin' to feel a little foolish.

You got the face to go with it.

I guess you're right.

Colonel, this is Maygro... Who said

these Seminoles were to be quartered?

The orders,

some of the fine print.

You don't pull sleeping

quarters out of the air.

Give 'em a g*n and a horse and

they'll be gone by tomorrow morning.

The Kanyuksas will...

I'm talking to the major!

Go on, Maygro.

The Kanyuksas will not go. They will

fight well for land and food promised.

What land? What food?

The Santa Media Valley,

and a wagon train to

their families every month.

I need all the supplies

I have!

The supplies will be ready at

the nearest army railhead monthly.

You just furnish

the transportation.

Where are you going?

To Major Brady's house

to stay with my father.

That would not be good.

They put me in a tent worse

than the hut I came from.

If you would marry me,

I would build a house for us.

What will you build?

A jackal hut?

Made of handsome sod and

magnificent mud? No, Pino. Never.

A house is good because of how

you live in it, not how it is made.

That is not for me!

Hello.

I'm Mrs. Corwin.

Elaine Corwin.

My name is Avis.

Your dress

is very pretty.

Thank you. Coming from another

woman, that's the highest compliment.

Did it cost much?

No. I made it myself. You can't

buy ready-made dresses out here.

Someday I'll have

a dress prettier than that.

I'll show you how to make one

with my patterns.

If I had the cloth, I could sew it

myself. I might have some cloth too.

Thank you,

but I'll get my own.

Afternoon, Mrs. Corwin.

Hello, Major.

You're about to have a new resident

in your house. Oh, homesick already?

As far as I'm concerned, one house is

the same as another on an army post.

I'm disappointed.

I'm flattered

by your disappointment.

And I'm properly

put in my place.

About my new resident...

It's Avis.

I understand

she's moving in.

I guess she wants to be

near her father. Uh-uh.

She's dying to have

a dress like mine,

probably so her father will

realize how pretty she is.

Or Pino.

Or you.

She has a kind

of untamed charm.

They say that a wild plant

never lives very long indoors.

I'm gonna be too busy

to conduct social experiments.

Speaking of experiments, the talk is

that you'll never train the Seminoles.

The only thing that talk

ever trained is a parrot.

By the way, they don't like

to be called Seminoles. Oh?

Suppose we discuss it later?

Be all right?

Very well.

Well, your men are ready. I gave 'em

each a horse and a Henry repeater.

These g*ns will speak their

own answer to the colonel.

Just load 'em up on Sunday,

and they'll sh**t all week.

For you.

Well, you can't see

through the paper, you know.

Oh.

There's enough material for a dress,

pattern, needles, thread.

If you need any more help, I

can't give it to you. Thank you.

Hope it'll give you

something to do.

She told you, didn't she?

Yeah.

I'll be a better woman

than she is.

What do you do

with your old losers, Major?

All right, now, keep

your elbow on your knee.

The stock dug

into your shoulder.

That's it. Just like that.

Pick your targets

carefully,

every sh*t.

All right, Luke.

Take a steady grip

and squeeze.

Don't pull the trigger, or you'll

jerk the barrel off the target.

Keep this little ball Just underneath

what you're aimin' at, like this.

All right, one at a time.

Maygro, you lead off.

Ha!

All right, Pino.

I'm not sure

this is such a good idea.

What?

Leaving the fort after dark.

Could get mighty dangerous

out here.

Everything's dangerous

in this country.

I know.

I mean, danger doesn't stop

at the walls of the fort.

I know that too.

Why, even in your own home.

Once I walked into my living

room, and there was a rattler.

Gave me quite a start.

Once I walked into a room...

and there was one of the most

beautiful women I've ever seen.

Gave me quite a start.

Anyway, if I didn't get outside

once in a while, I'd go crazy.

Sometimes the fort seems

Just like a prison.

Why do you stay on?

Oh, it isn't easy for a woman to

pull up roots and start traveling.

Colonel Meade wouldn't have

anything to do with it, would he?

Why do you ask that?

Because he's entirely too paternal

for a man who isn't the fatherly type.

I'm very fond

of jack as a friend.

Nothing more,

and he knows it.

A smart officer prepares

for a long campaign.

He'd have the same luck with me

that he's having with the Kiowas.

That seems to be true

for everybody.

Something tells me that

you'll do a little better.

With you?

I was thinking

about the Kiowas.

Oh.

I don't know.

Their raids aren't haphazard.

There's a plan behind them.

I'm sorry

I even mentioned it.

All right, pick a subject.

Something far away, something

like Washington or St. Louis.

Oh, the buildings hem you in

and the noise wears you down.

I've had

a warehouseful of quiet.

Tell me about the parties

and the dresses...

and the crystal

and the silver.

And the colds and bad food

and the empty conversation?

Oh, sounds wonderful.

To be sitting with a cold in a

noisy restaurant in Washington...

listening

to bad conversation,

I'd give all the love

that's in me.

Now or when

you get there?

I... I don't know what

made me say that.

Don't you?

Do your plans really

include a return to the East?

I don't know, except... Well,

then why don't we talk about it...

when you really know

where you're going?

All right, Wilks, take over.

Yes, sir.

Now, you all know

how to sit on a horse.

I'm gonna show you

how to jump a horse!

Now pay attention.

Pino, follow me over.

When the time comes, you'll

have to dig 'em faster and deeper.

Man should not fight in

hole. He should stand erect.

And get his head sh*t off?

In case of a sudden att*ck, this is what

we'll use these trenches for. Ready?

Think we had enough?

Even the army don't work this hard.

That's why we're out here. Come on.

He's training those Seminoles like a cross

between Kentucky frontiersmen and rustlers.

Digging holes, f*ring dismounted,

charging four at a time.

To fight Indians, you've got to give

'em a spectacle. Stun 'em, make noise.

I'd like to be looking on when Brady's

bunch meets its first party of Kiowas.

Those lads aren't

interested in playing games.

It'll take him a month to

round up his Seminoles again.

One way or another,

I'd like to see it.

A toast...

to the memory

of Brady's bunch.

Oh, hello, Major.

Looking for the colonel?

No, he's in his office.

I made sure of that.

May I come in?

Oh, of course.

Would you like

a cup of tea?

No, thank you.

Oh, um, how's your army

coming along?

If maneuvers mean anything,

we're unbeatable.

We'll know shortly. I leave

in a day or so. Oh, so soon?

Mm-hmm.

Elaine, I-I don't know how long this

will take or how well it'll come out.

What an alarming lack of

confidence. It isn't like you.

I have my moments.

Sometimes when we play

make-believe, we get overconfident.

Worse, we lose sight of what's

make-believe and what's real.

Are we talking

about the same thing?

I think we are.

If we ever get

the Kiowas in line,

I can just about pick

my next assignment.

I've had enough of this special

frontier duty to warrant it.

You're very fortunate,

Major.

I thought I might ask for a

tour of duty in Washington,

the A.G. office

or something like that.

Where the buildings hem you in

and the noise wears you down.

When a man has nothing but time on

his hands, no one to share it with,

he concentrates

on noise and cold.

He has to blame

his loneliness on something.

Elaine, I... I-I'm not doing

a very good job of this,

but I'm trying to tell you

I... I'm in love with you.

I know.

I wish you hadn't.

The other night,

that was one thing.

I'm sorry for it. This is

different. No, it's worse.

I don't understand. It's really very simple.

I'm not in love with you.

You haven't given yourself

time to think about it.

I don't have to think about it.

I know. I don't believe that.

You and your supreme ego, Major.

Can't you stand being rejected?

As much as you can stand being a

woman. Don't worry. I'm a woman.

I'm beginning to wonder.

I'm genuinely impressed,

Major,

but I'm afraid

nothing's changed.

You're so wrong

about that.

I'm sorry I troubled you.

They hide out somewhere in the

northeast. Raids have been in this area.

There are certain ridges and canyons

they have to take to reach this spot.

Suppose we stake this

one out. Spread out.

Thanks for volunteering

to be bait, Pino.

I must make myself as strong a

man as you so Avis will notice me.

My blood is slowin'

down to a walk.

Stop complainin'.

We're makin' a hero out of ya.

Well, I'll trade my medals for a piece

of that fire. Go up and join 'em, then.

I think I will.

All right, go on.

On second thought, I think

I'll stay right where I am.

Wait until we're sure.

The last second.

These make good graves

for later.

You better dig it

a little wider, Wilks.

Ah! Aw, you can

bury me sideways.

Luke, come here.

Get 'em ready. Tell 'em not

to mistake me for a Kiowa.

Lesson grows stronger.

Here comes

some more of 'em.

Major Brady!

I almost k*lled ya!

He got away!

Who got away?

I don't know,

but he wasn't an Indian.

I better get me a pair of

them eyeglasses. Oh, forget it.

Got a match?

Yeah, I think so.

This could have been picked up

by some Kiowa off Corwin's body.

I hope so. The man who

carried it was white.

Corwin's dead. He went on a scouting

trip with a corporal and a private.

I found their bodies b*rned and tied

to a wagon wheel. There are his papers.

Must be some other white man

fighting with the Indians.

Could be almost anyone. There

are a lot of renegades out there.

But your job is the Indians.

I know my job, Colonel.

I guess this belongs to Mrs.

Corwin. I'll see that she gets it.

Uh, Brady.

It's difficult to prove that your men

k*lled as many raiders as you claim.

But let's assume you're

truthful. Congratulations.

Where did you find it?

I won it. First prize

in a free-for-all.

The man who carried it

was white.

Was he tall

and dark-haired?

I didn't get

a good look at him, but...

I'd say that's a pretty fair

description of almost anyone.

Do you think he's alive?

It's only a feeling,

woman's intuition.

I was hoping

that he had d*ed.

He went on that scouting

expedition to desert.

He wanted me to go with

him. Meade found his body.

b*rned. Who could say

it was him?

I saw his papers.

Meade showed them to me.

The whole idea's

pretty far-fetched.

Roger was

a very farfetched man.

He cultivated the friendship

of some influential Mexicans...

that didn't like

the Guadalupe Treaty,

that lost them

their lands in Texas.

They offered him a small fortune

to start the Indians fighting again.

To get Mexico

back in the w*r?

I don't know.

I- I think so.

Why didn't you

turn him in?

I didn't think

that he was serious.

It would have been a very

difficult thing to prove.

Then when I heard he was dead, there

didn't seem to be any point to it.

Quite a man you married.

Sure, I married him.

I was in love with him.

But you can't hate him

any more than I do now.

Yet you insist

on remaining tied to him.

You lock the gate on your emotions,

refuse to fall in love again,

all because you're living in wedlock with

a ghost. Apparently more than a ghost.

That's all he is. A body

was identified by Col. Meade.

That sets you free legally

in any court.

There are other things

besides legal freedom.

I've the feeling that he's

still alive. And now this.

This saber doesn't prove

anything. It could've been found!

It doesn't prove

that he's dead either.

Luke, you, uh... You didn't like

Capt. Corwin very much, did you?

I took more kindly to scorpions.

Why?

Never did warm to these

galvanized Yankees,

but Corwin was the sourest

pickle in the barrel.

Fought for the Confederacy,

huh? He never stopped fightin'.

He joined us

Just to get even.

I never saw one man could

hate a Yankee so hard.

Enough to stand by and see a lot of 'em

slaughtered? He wouldn't be standin' by.

He'd be helpin' out.

Good evening, Major.

Good evening, Captain.

These dances sure break up

the monotony on the post.

You should try

chasing Kiowas for that.

Those savages know we're having

a dance in here? Probably.

If I were commanding this post,

they'd show respect for rank.

I think they've earned

their celebration...

much more than your rank has

earned you any respect, Captain.

Made from the cloth

you gave me.

No. I never gave you any

cloth as beautiful as that.

I was going to wait here until

you came out, so you would see it.

Did you wear it especially

for the celebration?

I did not make this dress for an

Indian celebration. I'm not a savage.

Did I do as I said I would? Hmm?

Did I make myself a better

woman for you to look at...

than the woman

who cried on your shoulder?

Avis, I doubt that

anywhere in the world...

there's a woman better

to look at than you.

Thank you.

Take everything you need. You

won't see a quartermaster for weeks.

That's as good as gettin' two

weeks away from your mother-in-law.

Brady.

I... I just wanted

to wish you luck.

That'd mean bringing your husband

back, if it is your husband.

I know.

If it's me personally

you're wishing luck,

it'd mean

bringing him back dead.

Yes.

You don't give a man a very

comfortable choice, do you?

I'm being honest for the

first time in my life.

It isn't easy for me

either.

But I'm the one who has

to make the decision.

Boy, I never thought I'd end up

one of them female 'personators.

Ha-ha!

He don't seem to mind!

Hey, he's prettier

than me!

Here they come!

Boy, are they gonna

get a surprise.

Take their r*fles

and let 'em go.

Keep that one here.

I wanna talk to him.

Speak English?

Know any Kiowa words,

Maygro?

I can speak with him. Ask him if

there's a white man riding with 'em.

He just say, 'k*ll me. '

Ask him again.

All right, let him go.

Major, he understand

only t*rture.

I don't.

I said let him go.

He say k*ll him.

He thinks

we sh**t him in back.

Give him an escort. Tell him

we'll keep after his people...

until they stop

fighting.

Yes, sir. A Kiowa a clay

keeps me rollin' in pay.

Twenty a month. That's

about 65 cents a Kiowa.

I'm gonna run a special:

two for a quarter.

We've done all right. Two raidin' parties

a day. That's pretty good huntin'.

It's just fair. It's a new

record for this territory.

Unless we find

their leaders,

it will take us the rest of our

lives to wipe out the Kiowas.

The Kiowa talked.

I don't believe in t*rture. He

would have k*lled himself anyway.

He not return

to tribe disgraced.

We're trying to bring law into this

territory. Yet, one life for many.

Pino!

There is a white man.

Corwin.

He was officer in your army.

He lead Kiowa raids.

Where does he hide out'?

Many place. He move every

day. He has heard of us.

What'd I tell ya? Any outfit Agustus

Wilks joins becomes immortal overnight.

He worries.

When w*r parties

do not come back,

people and their chief Satanta

ask questions.

Anything else?

He know, to rule this land,

he must destroy fort.

When was that

scheduled for?

Not for long time.

But because of us,

and doubt spread

among his tribes,

he will be forced

to do it soon.

Any day.

The fort isn't easy to defend...

with a hill

looking down on it.

They had to build it

where the fresh water was.

Let's go back

and get us a drink.

Did you learn anything about... Yeah.

He's...

He's still alive?

Still alive.

What's your claim

this time, Major?

Twenty raiding parties. Would

you like to see the bodies?

That's a nice,

round number.

I'm too tired to play

word games today.

You'll get my written report in the

morning. Should be stirring stuff.

Is it true you do not send supplies

to my people? That door's to knock on!

Before I cut you

in two, tell me!

You enlisted in this army

as a scout. I'm a colonel!

There are limits to the

liberties you can take with me!

Tell me!

Did you send the supplies?

No.

We kept our word! Why you not

keep your word? I gave you no word!

But I did, through an

authority higher than yours.

What are my people to eat?

Dirt?

The supplies haven't

arrived from the Army depot.

When they do, I'll let you know. Until

then, get out of my office, Maygro!

You can't treat him

like that. He's a chief!

Of what? A worthless band of vagabonds?

Now, if there's nothing else,

Major... There's a lot else, Colonel!

Capt. Corwin is alive and

directing the Indian raids.

Who told you that?

A Kiowa.

Huh.

Just before he d*ed.

All right, he lied. But

let's assume it's true.

Then someday we'll find him.

Maybe he'll find you first.

What do you mean? He

plans to destroy this fort.

Good. We'll be

waiting for him.

Just remember

where you heard it first.

About these supplies: You've

got more than you need.

I'm not authorized

to issue them to you.

Wars are won by initiative,

not authorization.

I never cared much

for debates, Major,

especially

with junior officers.

All right, Meade,

fight your own private w*r.

But before you're through, you'll

need more than those eagles.

Brady!

Brady, they've gone!

Maygro? And all the men.

They just rode out.

You must get them back. What for?

To save your precious Capt. Corwin?

There are other things to consider:

the women and children in this fort.

I've never seen

my father so angry.

Why didn't you go too?

I told my father I would not go.

I told him we were gonna

be married. Married?

I had to tell him something. That's just

another promise he'll think I've broken.

I'll tell him the truth someday.

Thanks.

I stayed because I want

you to go after them.

You need them,

but they need you more.

They've known

hunger before,

but this time their

hunger will have a purpose.

Bring them back, Brady.

I wasn't sure I liked you

the first time I saw you.

Now?

I can stand you.

Not enough to have you

give me away in marriage.

Won't help to catch up with Maygro unless

we've got more than words to offer him.

Supplies from the

quartermaster warehouse? Yeah.

Biggest wagon load of everything you

can find. Findin's gonna be easy.

Gettin' it out will be the job.

You can turn it down if you want.

Well, I've had a pretty good

career in the army.

Not as good as yours, Luke,

but it wasn't bad.

I'll let you wear my

stripes while we do it.

I always knowed I'd get to

wear them stripes someday.

Use the back gate. Be sure

to watch out for the 0.D.

How much time

we got left, Luke?

Two more minutes before the officer

of the day will be making his rounds.

Maybe he'll be late tonight.

Capt. Neil is never late.

Capt. Neil!

We'll never drink all that!

Two of 'em is for the horses.

He'll be here any second! I

never drink without a chaser.

Oh-oh.

Firin' squad,

here we come.

Start thinkin' what you're

gonna say at the court-martial.

Anybody in there?

No, sir.

We go on.

Just a few more minutes, Maygro.

We wait too long now.

Good work! Did you have any trouble?

Trouble? Ha! Aw, no, we didn't have

no trouble, Major. We was just...

By the orders of Col. Meade,

you're under arrest.

Any move to resist would

save a tiresome court-martial.

Don't get drunk with power. I

still outrank you. Temporarily.

What's the charge?

What do you think?

Somebody made the mistake

of dropping his pay book.

The major didn't have

nothin' to do with that.

This room is off-limits

to prisoners.

So we took

a few supplies.

You can do anything you want with

your men and supplies, but not mine.

The secretary of w*r

can't protect you now.

The supplies

will be replaced.

In the meantime, they must be

officially listed as stolen.

Meade, this isn't West

Point: it's Indian country.

No regulations

ever stopped an Indian.

My first duty

is to this command.

What good were they doing

sitting here? That's my concern.

The concern of every dead

settler from here to Arkansas.

You've been waitin' for me to make

a mistake like this. You're the type.

Capt. Neil is waiting. You'll

be under guard in your quarters.

You plan to run the

Seminoles by yourself? Yes.

I'm gonna run 'em

out of this fort.

Even you can't carry

petty jealousy that far.

Until the army replaces me,

I'm still commanding!

And using your rank

to make a personal w*r!

Out here

the U.S. Army is the law!

I'm not gonna see it handed over to a band

of rabble! Even if they do the job better?

Even if they can

do the job better.

With them leaving

and Brady under guard,

that's the last

of Brady's bunch.

Good evening,

Mrs. Corwin.

Good evening.

We have only a few moments

before we are discovered.

We need horses and g*ns. They

are going out the back gate now.

How'd you get in?

Mrs. Corwin.

Let's go.

You two stay here.

You can't get rid of us.

We know too much.

It'd be desertion. If we accomplish

something, they might be good to us, but...

It's service above and

beyond the call of duty.

All right, you enlisted.

You shouldn't be here.

Get going!

I'm not leaving!

Don't be crazy!

I'm staying here to prove

that you'll all come back.

You don't know what they might

do to you. She made up her mind.

It's the only thing I

can do to help. All right.

There's no doubt the Kiowas are gathering

to get ready for the att*ck on the fort.

How many you think? About every

brave who can ride a horse.

You can't hide

that many Indians.

You can decoy your opposition by sending

out small parties to strike at everything.

That'll keep the colonel running in every

direction. Would Corwin know to do this?

He's a professional soldier,

isn't he?

Then when Meade's patrols are out,

he'll hit the fort with a big att*ck.

You told Meade about

this? Yeah, I told him.

What is our job?

We'll break up into scouting parties

to see if Corwin uses this plan.

Let the raiding parties go out,

then trail 'em to the main force.

That way we'll know

where it is.

Remember, if any of us are seen

or heard, the fat's in the fire.

Let's go.

Who's gonna play hide-and-go-seek

this time? I'll take this bunch.

All here.

We move fast, Satanta.

Make sure horse do not

stumble. Kiowas ride over you.

That's the spirit.

When the att*ck starts,

we keep going until everyone

inside the fort is k*lled.

My tribe take big chance. It's

no chance: it's a certainty.

You make mistake,

you make no more.

Stop worrying. just start

counting the loot.

Well, I saw it.

How'd it look?

Biggest w*r party in local

history headin' in this direction.

Them Kiowas sure been breedin'

fast. Was Corwin with them?

It's Corwin. I got a

glimpse of Satanta too.

That fella with all them

sergeants' stripes on his tepee?

Better warn Meade. Listen, Meade

would rather have you in irons...

than b*at the Kiowas. He'll have

his chance to do both. Mount up.

Back to give yourself up?

Where are all the men?

Out on patrol.

How soon will those patrols

return? They just went out.

What difference does it make?

Drop your sidearms on the floor.

How many men are here? He said drop

your sidearm. You're under arrest.

Twenty? Forty? Fifty? Twenty.

Think you can put my whole

detachment under arrest? Just you.

You'll need even me. In

a half hour, every Kiowa...

in this territory's gonna be climbing

these walls. I don't believe that.

You oughta have more faith,

Colonel. Put it on the table.

You're adding one charge after another!

I'll see you in front of a f*ring squad!

You won't live to see anything

if we don't get moving.

Pile up

all your amm*nit*on.

Set your a*tillery up

on the north wall.

Put your women and children

in the powder magazine.

I'll give the orders!

By that time, the Kiowas

will be finishing your meal!

You lost your rank when you deserted!

That's for a court-martial to decide!

I'll make sure of that!

Open the gate!

Sir, we sighted a full force of

Kiowas heading toward the fort.

Very well.

Major, take charge

of your bunch.

I'll handle the troops

that are left.

Is that all the amm*nit*on you

could find? That's all, sir.

We'll need 20 times that.

Not with these old pieces.

Six rounds

and they'll blow up.

What good is a*tillery here? What good's

a fort with a hill lookin' down its throat?

Nobody will be able to move inside this

compound. You're overdramatizing things.

Aw, there's one

in every fort.

Get that man's name!

Come on, boy!

Get him inside. Inside,

ladies. That's it.

Brady, it can't be

this bad.

Your husband and every Kiowa in

this territory are dropping in on us.

That's right,

spread it out.

As fast as you can.

I'd rather stay out here. I

want to see him for myself.

You'll be tortured if you're

caught. He wouldn't let them.

Once those Kiowas get inside,

nothing will stop them. Where's Avis?

She's in the quartermaster

warehouse, held as a prisoner.

I'd better get her.

Brady!

Oh, Pino, I'm so glad

to see you!

I am glad too, Avis. Put

her in the powder magazine.

No!

Go with Pino!

But why

the powder magazine?

If necessary, we'd both

rather see you die that way.

Avis, you must do as

the major says. Yes.

It is time I listened

to other people. Go on.

One of those g*ns is out!

The other ain't got far to go!

Brady, never

have I been so wrong...

and somebody else

so right.

I owe you more

than I can say.

Luke, get every man you can. Try to

drive the Kiowas out through the gate.

Wilks, get the colonel

into his office.

Maygro! Pino!

You men come with me!

Right here!

Oh, Brady.

Good luck, Major. Take

care of the Seminoles, sir.

Don't worry about them.

You just take care of Elaine.

You've made the word

'Seminole' an honorable one.

The days will be long till you

return. We'll be back someday.

Troops! Atten-shun!