Apache Territory (1958)

[bunniefuu]

The desert is a k*ller.

Hundreds of miles of burning, blazing sand...

and a few scattered waterholes,
none of them reliable in a dry season.

My name is Logan Cates.

You're wondering why I'm out here.

A man just drifts when he's
without illusion, without purpose in life.

I'm on my way to Yuma,
this is the only way to get there.

But you don't move
too fast, not if you want to live.

Vigilance is the
price of life in Apache country.

Even if you find
water, you're only half out of it.

You still have to get through the Indians.

Apaches.

Wagon burned, everybody k*lled.

Mother, Daddy...

You'd be all right, you'd be all right now.

What's your name?

I better get you away from
here before they come back.

We'll head for Apache Wells.

Stay there, I'll be right back.

Go back, I just want to see if it's safe.

- Drop it.
- Don't sh**t mister.

Looks like somebody already took
care of that, how it happened?

Apaches ambushed me and
my friends back at Bates waterhole.

I heard a shot and tried to get
away, was the only one who made it.

Yeah, I know.

I saw it happen from up
on a hill, I fired those shots.

You saved my life, thanks mister.

- What's your name?
- Lonnie, Lonnie Foreman.

- What's yours?
- Logan Cates.

Sure glad to have met up with you Mr Cates.

- What's the matter with her?
- Apaches k*lled her folks.

Help her.

You're safe now.

She sure is pretty.

- How old are you son?
- 19.

- So you think she's pretty, eh?
- Yes sir.

Hoping I could find someone
here that take care of her.

Guess I'll have to take her on to Yuma.

- You mind if I trail along?
- Glad to have you.

- I'll fill the canteens, we can get started.
- Better wait till after sundown.

- Safer to travel at night.
- Yes sir.

- My name is Lonnie, what's yours?
- Junie, Junie Hatchett.

That's a pretty name.

See my harmonica? Want hear me play it?

Quiet.

- Apaches?
- No.

I'm Grant Kimbrough.

And my fiancee and I are on our
way to Yuma to take the stage east.

- May I ask your name?
- Cates, Logan Cates.

Mr Cates, may I present Miss Jennifer Fair.

- Hello Logan.
- Hello Jen.

Well, you two have met before?

We known each other a long time.

I never heard you speak
about Mr Cates before Jennifer.

There was nothing to say about him.

What happened to the girl?

Mr Cates found her out in the
desert, Apaches k*lled her folks.

- Apaches?
- Yes sir.

We haven't seen any.

You don't see them
Mr Kimbrough, you feel them.

Miss Fair is been out here long
enough to know about Apaches.

We better water our horses and be on our way.

I'd wait till after dark.

We want to catch the morning stage, there
won't be another one till late in the week.

You can always get another
stage, you can't get another skin.

Mr Cates...

I led a whole cavalry
detachment through the w*r.

And now I believe that I'm perfectly capable
of taking care of Miss Fair and myself.

But you don't have that cavalry now.

I'm sure that whatever
Mr Kimbrough decides will be right.

Whatever you say Miss Fair.

Me and Mr Cates are going to take
you to Yuma after it gets dark.

He said it's safer than moving
around out there in the daylight.

- You like Mr Cates, don't you?
- Sure, he saved my life and hers too.

We'll be ready to leave
in a few minutes now Jennifer.

Grant?

Don't you think it would
be wiser if we wait until dark?

Oh no dear, we should leave right now
if we expect to catch that stage in Yuma.

But it'll be much safer to travel at night.

I thought you were
going to abide by my decisions.

Well, under the circumstances,
I think we should listen to him.

Jennifer, how well did
you know this Logan Cates?

Grant, there's nothing
for you to be jealous about.

I'm sorry darling, but you
know how much you mean to me.

Thought you were leaving.

No, we're going tonight,
along with the rest of you.

That is, if you can tolerate my company.

I always liked your
company, you know that Jen.

You had a strange way of showing it.

Told you once Jen, I didn't like to
be tied down, like to keep moving.

- What kind of life is that for a woman?
- Why didn't you let me decide that?

I thought my way was best.

As it is, it turned out best for you.

At least Grant Kimbrough
knows what he wants in life.

He's a man a woman can depend on.

I'm glad you found that kind of man.
Jen, I know you'd be happy.

I wanted that for both of
us Logan, but you wouldn't have it.

Well, it's over and done with,
I was hoping I'd never see you again.

After tonight you won't.

Looks like a dust cloud.

No, a dust cloud doesn't
hug the desert that way.

Cavalry.

I've heard that injuns
sometimes dress in army uniforms.

No, it's a cavalry all right and the way
they're riding, somebody is after them.

And that could only be Apaches.

Fill your canteens and we'll be on our way.

I'm Sgt Sheehan,
of 5th Cavalry out Fort Yuma.

We're testing dry wells and
were ambushed by the Apaches.

They hit us from all sides, I, I lost 10 men.

- Where it happened?
- About 10 miles south.

Probably Churapati, he's on the loose again.

Churapati?

A renegade chief,
you think they followed you?

I didn't look back.

Sergeant, would you mind
if we rode along with you?

Very well, but it'll be hard riding,
we won't stop until we hit the fort.

- Oh, we don't mind, I'll get our horses.
- Yeah.

Ah, I think we got a good start on those
Apaches, we'll make the fort all right.

- Fort Yuma is 30 miles Sergeant.
- I know that.

You couldn't ride those
horses five miles, they're beat.

We can't stay here, we'd all be massacred.

Stand a better chance here than
you do out there in the open.

There's a lot in what
you say, what you suggest?

Spread your men out across these rocks so
we can stop any charge that Churapati makes.

- A good idea.
- How's your ammunition?

We got enough, a
couple of kegs of black powder.

Styles, Graves, Conley, Webb,
spread along these rocks.

Zimmerman, tie down the horses.

What for? To stay here and be
slaughtered like the rest of the troop?

I sure ought to keep on moving,
I'm not taking any more orders from you.

You take another
step soldier and I'll k*ll you.

As long as I'm in command you'll do as
you're told. Now, tie down those horses.

You should've stayed back at
that desk in St Louis Sergeant.

Sergeant, do you think it's
advisable to make a stand?

What Cates says makes sense.

We got a better chance
staying here then making a run for it.

Well Sergeant, whatever you think is best.

How do you fight them? They're like ghosts.

Like I told you Mr Kimbrough.
You don't see them, you feel them.

Awful quiet out there.

I wonder what they're up to now.

Churapati is got us
boxed in, can afford to wait.

If I were back at my desk in the
Adjutant's office, I'd know what to do.

This my first skirmish with Apaches.

When you think they'll attack again?

- Your guess is as good as mine.
- What should we do?

- Keep a sharp look out at all times.
- Graves, get back up there.

We'll build a corral and tie the horses down.

And we'll ration what
food we have between us.

Zimmerman, you and Webb bury Styles.
Conley, give me a hand with the corral.

You seem to be expecting
to stay here quite a while.

Maybe.

Of course, you have
some plan for getting us out?

My only plan is to stay alive.

- Styles was a nice fella.
- Good soldier too.

- Wonder if he had any family.
- Yeap, wife and kids back east.

Going to be rough
on them, especially the kids.

You got a couple of
kids yourself, ain't you Webb?

Yeah, two boys.

- You expect to see them again?
- Course I do.

What you getting at?

You better start thinking about
how you're going to get out of here.

And not depend on that
pen-pushing desk sergeant.

Zimmerman, you've been sore at Sheehan
ever since they busted you down to Private.

Why don't you let up on him?

He got us into this trap...

and now he thinks that saddle
tr*mp is going to get us out of it.

Oh, why not?

- Cates knows what he's doing.
- So do I.

And I'm not waiting around here for an
Apache arrow in my belly soldier.

Tie this end off over there.

Ah, hold them.

Conley, unsaddle the horses.

Oh Sergeant, I'd just unloosen the
cinches and leave the saddles on.

All right.

Just loosen them up a little Conley instead.

This all the food we got between
us. I'm putting you in charge of it.

- How long do you think we can hold out?
- I don't know.

Lonnie, bring some firewood.

Now, don't you worry about a thing Junie.

Me and Mr Cates will take care of you.

It's a new experience for you,
isn't it Logan? Taking care of people.

- Apache.
- One of Churapati's scouts.

- This man is no Apache, he's a Pima.
- Apache, a Pima, he's a stinking redskin.

Cut his throat and toss him
out in desert for buzzard meet.

You're right, he belongs out there
with the rest of those heathens.

The Apaches hate the Pimas as much as they
hate the whites, why you sneak in here?

Many days, no water.

- I go.
- Wait, what's your name?

- Lugo.
- Will you stay and help fight the Apache?

I stay.

Are you crazy? He'll stick a
knife in the first back that's turned.

You talk too much Zimmerman,
we need every g*n we can get.

This man is wanted for m*rder.

m*rder?

By the United States
Army, he k*lled a soldier.

He's on the wanted list in
every fort west of the Mississippi.

- Let's finish him off right now.
- Is that the truth, Lugo?

I k*ll in self-defense.
Soldier try to steal my gold.

That's one is swell, an Indian with gold.

I show.

- Where you get that?
- In hills.

Then it belongs to you.
Let's get back to our posts.

You're taking on quite a
responsibility Mr Cates.

I hope you know what you're doing.

You can bet on one thing,
I'll sleep with my eyes open tonight.

All that gold, on a mongrel redskin.

You look at sky and wish it turn black.

You want storm.

That's right, but
there's not a hatful of wind.

- It will come.
- The time of the year for the wind.

- Soon.
- Hope you're right.

- Apache won't fight in storm.
- That's a chance I'm gambling on.

Why you wait for storm? Why you stay?

You can go.

Yeah, but they can't.

You can go if you want
to Lugo, you don't have to stay.

You my friend, I stay.

Thanks Lugo.

Thanks.

I wonder why Cates
keeps looking up at the sky.

Maybe he's expecting a miracle.

We keep on listening to him
it'll take one to get us out of here.

I ain't waiting for no
miracles, I'm getting out.

- You have some idea of how to do it?
- Yeap, I got it all figured.

- Tell me about it.
- I'm not telling you anything.

Grant.

You're not going to get
involved with him, are you?

Why not? If he has some
way of getting us out of here alive.

But what about the others?

I'm sorry about the others darling
but we have to think of ourselves.

If there was a way out
of here Cates would've found it.

Jennifer, I wish you'd stop
depending on Cates and trust me.

We have a whole life ahead of us.
We're not going to die out here.

- Anything going on out there?
- Nothing.

- You expect Churapati to attack soon?
- There's always a chance of that.

- We can hold off till help comes.
- Help?

Yeah, I figure your CO sent out a
scouting party to look for you.

You figured wrong.

Fort Yuma is undermanned, every available
soldier is needed to defend the fort.

Now we really need that storm.

- How old are you, kid? 15, 16?
- What you mean 16? Be 19 in September.

You know, I got a couple of boys.
You kind of remind me of the oldest.

He's younger than you, but he's big.

Someday he's going
to be bigger than his old man.

Bet you two have a
lot of fun together, don't you?

Yeah, yeah, we sure do.

I ain't got no family.

You know, I wish I'd done what I
started out to do in the first place.

Go out to California and
get myself a little homestead.

- Get married maybe.
- There ain't nothing like a family.

Sure hope we get out of here.

We got to get
out of here kid, we just got to.

Lonnie, water the
horses and get something to eat.

- Yes sir.
- Zimmerman, take over the kid's watch.

I'd have all going take at that dr*fter.

He's all right, he's smart, Cates is.

Smart? Smart enough
to get as all slaughtered.

Get away from me Zimmerman,
I'm not going to listen to you.

You don't have to
listen, you can see, can't you?

Desert full of Apaches in front of
us and a murdering redskin behind us.

That Pima happens to be friendly.

There's no such
thing as a friendly Indian Webb.

- You fought them long enough to know that.
- Sure and I'll fight them again.

My kids need me.

No heathens are going to k*ll me.

They will, you just stay here long enough.

- Hear I have some grub coming.
- Well, what little there is of it.

Here Junie, you do.

Thanks.

Better eat your food or it'll get cold.

Say, this is good, you make yourself?

Oh, I helped.

It's just like, coming home
after a hard day on the range...

finding all your vittles ready...

a woman fussing around all comfortable like.

That's feel real warm inside.

You'll have all that some day Lonnie.

You will too, Junie.

Maybe...

Well Cates, you got all the
answers, what we going to do now?

Just what we've been doing.

Conley, Graves, get back on those rocks.

Wait.

You've given your last order
around here mister, I'm taking over.

First thing we going to do is get
ready to move out of here tonight.

I think Zimmerman is making sense.

Nobody is leaving,
we're all staying right here.

You saddle tr*mp I'm
going to shut you up right now.

Like I said before, nobody is leaving here.

We're all going to stay
and fight this out together.

It would be a losing fight, those Apaches
can m*ssacre us any time they want.

If Churapati had enough men to
attack us, he'd done it a long time ago.

We're better off than he is,
we've got water, he hasn't.

What if he becomes
desperate and charges us anyway?

Then he'll come out in the open where we
can see him, just like he wants us to do.

Our best bet is to wait here and
let Churapati make the next move.

Webb, Lonnie, take care of the sergeant.

We'll get through all right, that is
if your lady friend don't slow us up.

- Don't worry about that.
- I'll have the horses ready after dark.

I've worked out a plan with Zimmerman.
We're getting out of this pest-hole tonight.

But Grant, we can't do that.
We must depend on Logan Cates.

Why? What is he done to keep us here?

We got to move out Jennifer and he
won't do that but Zimmerman will.

- We're going with him.
- But how can you be sure of your plan?

Trust me.

And when I get out to California, I'm
going to find me a piece of ground.

Not a great big piece, just
maybe ten or 12 acres on a slope.

And I'm going to build me a ranch house...

I'm going to build me
a big bay window in the parlor...

so I can just sort of sit in there
and look out over my whole spread...

Well, aren't you going to get kind of
lonely in that old house all by yourself?

Oh no, I'm going to have me
a wife and a whole passel kids.

When the kids grow up,
they can help me work my spread.

You make it sound wonderful Lonnie.

You ever been to California Junie?

- Sure love to go though.
- Honest?

You know, I always had trouble talking to
girls ever since I knee-high to a tadpole.

But...

I don't have any trouble talking to you.

- Oh, you, you're just spoofing with me.
- No, honest, I mean it.

You're just a different
that's all and, what I mean to say is...

Well...

- I'd better be going on watch.
- Lonnie, you take care of yourself.

What made him do a fool thing like that?

I don't know, what I do
know is we got one man less.

Oh, why don't we make a break for it?

Why? So we can all join Zimmerman out there?

- Think they'll attack?
- I wish I knew.

There'll be no sleep tonight, get back to
your posts and keep your eyes on the desert.

- I'm sorry Zimmerman stole your gold Lugo.
- He not steal gold, I hide it.

- You save my life, you my friend.
- Thanks Lugo.

Zimmerman had a plan to get away.
Grant and I were going with him.

You think I'm a coward, don't you?
To have thought of doing such a thing?

Well, I'm afraid Logan, we're all afraid.

- There's nothing against being afraid Jen.
- You're not afraid, you're not, are you?

Man is not afraid of what's
ahead of him only what's behind him.

Things are worth living for, he's afraid
of losing them. Me, I got nothing.

The way you wanted it, isn't it Logan?
You're like a rock, immovable.

You're like a man who
barricades himself from everyone.

I never could get past that
barricade Logan, never.

A man can't help the way he is Jen.

Was sorry for that once but now I'm glad.

I'm glad you're strong and immovable
because we need that strength.

It's all we have.

We'll have to depend
on a lot more than that...

like ammunition, water and what food we have.

There isn't any food, we've used it all.

- Where you go?
- We need food.

Hold it. It's me, Cates.

Lugo.

That ought to last us for a little while.
Take care of that, will you?

- You're hurt.
- It's just a flesh wound.

Deep enough to be dangerous, sit down.

You know Mr Cates, a good
commander never leaves his post under fire.

I had the feeling that you'd deserted.

That's a natural conclusion for you to draw.

Vanishing, you must admit it's irregular.
After all, you didn't warn us you were going.

Thank you.

If you'd taken the trouble to look in the
corral you would've found my horse was there.

Logan, thanks.

- Thank him for what?
- For risking his life so we could have food.

Oh yes, so we can stay alive for
Churapati and his renegades to k*ll us?

- You see nothing, no?
- Nothing.

They will come.

The well is drying up, as soon as that
water is gone, we can't hold out much longer.

- Oh Junie...
- Oh good morning Mr Cates.

What you going to do with the water?

Miss Fair and I are going to make some stew.

Tell her to forget it.

- Lonnie...
- Yes sir.

Get all the canteens
and bring them over here.

Now listen, we only got enough water for a
couple of days, so we're going to ration it.

First to the horses
and then to us as we need it.

So, make your thirst last before you drink.

Lonnie, fill those canteens, you're
in charge of them from now on.

Yes sir.

We don't stand a chance here.

If those Apaches don't k*ll us,
we're going to die of thirst.

- Stop it Webb, we'll get out of this.
- Yes, we've been in tougher spots than this.

- No.
- We haven't.

We're going to die.
We're going to die right here.

I'm never going to see my kids again.

Maybe you better go back
there in the shade Webb, try to rest.

We'll call you if we need you.

Don't worry Junie, trust Mr Cates.
He won't let any harm come to you.

- I know, he saved my life.
- He'll get us out of here.

- He's the only one who can.
- You like Mr Cates, don't you Miss Fair?

- I always have.
- But you're going to marry Mr Kimbrough.

Well, you see Junie, I want
a home and family so Mr Kimbrough.

Stick these canteens over here
where I keep an eye on them.

- We sure can't afford to waste any water.
- Here's your food Lonnie.

Won't taste as good as the stew
Junie was going to make but...

as you say we can't waste any water.

You know, I bet you could make about the
best stew in the whole doggone world.

Thank you for saying so Lonnie.

I guess I won't get a chance
to make any for you though.

When we get to Califor...

- Well, that is if you want to go.
- Oh yes, I want to go.

- You want a bite?
- All right.

- Here Logan, take this coffee.
- Oh thanks.

How long can you go on like this without
any sleep? Why don't you get some rest?

I can't chance it.

You took on a responsibility that you
didn't have to, you could've left us.

Do you regret it now?

I only regretted one
thing in my whole life Jen.

Was I part of that regret Logan?

You were all of it.

Then, why? Why?
Don't I deserve an explanation?

I don't know if I can.

Never been able to explain it to myself.

You see Jen, all my life I've been
a loner, I had to fight for everything.

No one cared for me and I learned
not to care for anybody else.

So, I grew up without any
responsibilities except myself.

I became a dr*fter.

- What were you looking for Logan?
- I don't know. I never did know.

Only know one thing, I've
never been able to settle down.

There was always
that other hill to ride over.

- But you told me that you loved me.
- I didn't want to hurt you Jen.

- You did love me when you went away.
- Not as much as I might have later.

See, I didn't know what might
have happened if I stayed..

- Might've been another hill to cross over.
- Why didn't you tell me all this Logan?

I would've crossed those hills with you.

Get some blankets, quick.

Hey, get back up here.

- It's Graves, he's dead.
- Never mind him.

Webb, Webb, come back.

Come back.

Come out, you heathens.
Come out where I can see you.

Come out I said, come out.

- They're dragging him away.
- Save your ammunition.

- They're out of your range now.
- What will they do to him?

They'll t*rture him till he's completely mad
with pain, then they'll let him die slowly.

Let's bury that trooper Conley.
You know if he's got any family?

Yeah, wife and kids back in Illinois.

- They should be notified.
- You do that when get back to the fort.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul.

He leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name is sake.

Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,

I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me.

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies.

Thou annointest my head
with oil, my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy will
follow me all the days of my life.

Why don't they k*ll him
and have it over with?

Churapati is in no hurry, he'll
t*rture Webb till we all break.

Logan, isn't there something we can do?
We can't let him suffer this way.

We'll have to put up with it
or we'll all wind up like him.

- Everything is going to be all right.
- Jenny...

It is they did to my
daddy, they tortured him like...

Try not to think about
it Junie, it's all passed now.

- Storm will come now.
- Conley, get the blasting powder.

Lonnie, get four canteens and empty them.

- Empty them?
- That's right.

Open them.

Those are too wet,
dry them out over the fire.

Yes sir.

Should be dry enough now Mr Cates.

Gather up a bunch of rocks small enough
to go through the necks of these canteens.

I don't understand Cates.

What you expect to gain by all this?

That miracle Zimmerman
mentioned is about to happen.

- Miracle? This is nonsense.
- You're wrong Kimbrough.

Still a miracle, feel that wind?

In a couple of hours, it'll blow into
a storm, Churapati is got no cover.

He'll have to dig himself in,
he can't run and he can't fight.

When the storm is over, Churapati
will still be out there waiting for us.

When the storm is over, Churapati and his
Apaches will either be dead or scattered.

You mean you intend to
attack them during the storm?

That's right, I'm going to blow
them up with these canteens.

- It's impossible, they'll never work.
- It worked before.

We can go in a few minutes.

When we go, stay close together, we
don't want to get separated in that storm.

- Well, what if they see us coming?
- They won't see us.

They'll have their
faces buried in the ground.

When we get there, we'll spread out.

We'll hit them at four
different points at one time.

I'll throw the first canteen, then
you throw yours as fast as you can.

How we going to light
the fuses in this wind Mr Cates?

Put your hat over the
canteen, light the fuses under...

then throw fast before
it blows up in your face.

All clear?

Conley, Lonnie, Kimbrough.

No, the whole plan is too
risky, we don't have a chance.

You trying to say you won't go with us?

Well, there must be other
ways of getting out of here.

There's no other way.

What about the Indian? Why doesn't he go?

He's staying with Jennifer and Junie.

You mean you're going to leave
an Indian alone with the women?

That's right.

Well, I'm not going
to leave Jennifer with him.

I think we'll be safe with Lugo.

We don't get back...

I'm depending on you
to get them out of here safely.

Let's go.

- What is it Lugo?
- Somebody come.

- Grant, what happened?
- We're getting out of here right now.

- But the others.
- I'm not concerned about the others.

Let them go on with their fool plan.

Why did you leave them?
They needed your help.

I'm not going to risk my life.

How could I have been so wrong about you?

Will you try and understand? I only
want to get us out of here alive.

What about the others? Don't you
think they want to stay alive too?

I'm not concerned about
them, let's get our horses and go.

Not going with you.

You can't mean that.

I don't want to spend
the rest of my life with a coward.

We belong together.

- Get away from me.
- Jennifer...

Get out of my way.

I want my horse.

All horses stay here.

No heathen is going to give me orders.

I said get out of my way.

All right, have it your way.

There they are.

- Where is Kimbrough?
- I don't know, maybe got lost.

- Want me to go look for him?
- No time for that.

Now remember,
I throw the first canteen, spread out.

- Are you all right?
- Yeah.

I think we got most of them, let's get back.

Conley?

Conley is dead and Kimbrough
is wandering around out there someplace.

- Probably holed up till the storm is over.
- He came back here.

Lugo k*lled him in self defense.

He didn't have the courage to fight,
he wanted me to leave with him.

Why didn't you?

I couldn't live the rest of my
life with that kind of a man.

You sure did trust me, Lugo.

Hold it, open.

- This for you.
- Lugo you, you shouldn't give me this.

You my friend, you save my life.

You and girl buy house in California.

Thanks, Lugo.

I go now.

Bye Lugo and thanks.

Well, I guess this is it Mr Cates.

If you ever get out to California,
I hope you'll come visit Junie and me.

- If I ever get out there I will.
- She'll make a fine wife Lonnie.

I know you'll both be very happy.

- Bye Junie.
- Goodbye Miss Fair.

- Goodbye Mr Cates.
- Goodbye Junie.

- Be good Lonnie.
- Thank you Mr Cates.

It's so quiet and peaceful.

And yet the desert can
be so cruel and unfriendly.

It's not unfriendly when you know it Jen.

You know, you're like the desert Logan.

You keep your secrets deep within you.

There's a part of you
that I, I never knew existed.

I don't think you knew either.

Bye Logan, hope you find
what you're looking for.