Rock Island Trail (1950)

[bunniefuu]

Right down the road, I'll show you the

darnedest contraption you've ever seen.

Beats all, what some lunatics

will do these days.

Down the road a piece is

one of them new steam engines.

The driver's going to stop

and let us take a look at it.

How exciting!

Oh, you've seen steam engines though,

haven't you, Constance, back East?

Yes, Father and I rode one

in Buffalo.

Oh.

Weren't you just frightened

to death, my dear?

No.

But I will admit it was dirty

and uncomfortable.

Suppose it had exploded.

They do, you know?

This one didn't.

Tomorrow this engine in Joliet

is going to race


the stage coach to Ottawa.

Winner gets the contract

to carry the mail.

Me, I'm betting on the stage.

I disapprove of gambling.

So do I, lady.

Excepting on sure things.

Five minutes to rest

your eyes on a device

that will surely prove that a fool

and his money is soon parted.

Don't get too close.

Them dang things blow up


right frequent like.

Hey, what's our bull master mechanic

doing on this wheezy old tea kettle?

Where's your engineer?

The owner's probably

got him out on sick leave.

You got her hot?

I got enough putty up


to bust her dome off.

Is it liable to explode?

It's hissing like a snake.

It's just steam escaping.

Yes, so, Hogger,

I'm glad you agree with me.

What holds up progress in this country

is the attitude of women.

They're all so naturally timid,

they won't accept anything new,


and that stifles progress.

It's a wonder to me that men get

anywhere, women being what they are.

Women won't ride on trains, why?

Because they're new, so they

won't let their husbands ride 'em,

and they won't let their

husbands invest in railroads.

That holds back the progress


of the whole nation.

It's a wonder to me that men ever got

past the oxcart stage of transportation

what with women

always yapping on 'em,

"It's new,

so it must be dangerous."

I tell you, Hogger, that...

I beg your pardon, sir.

Ma'am.

I was not eavesdropping,

but I could not help


overhearing your,

your, shall I say,

somewhat childish discourse.

If women are so timid,

how did civilization get this far west?

Do you suppose the early

settlers would've come

if the women didn't uproot their

homes and climb into wagons

to traverse a thousand miles of

country infested by warlike Indians?

Uh, you may have a point there,

I never thought of that.

I suggest you read early American

history with a less biased eye Mr...

Loomis, Reed Loomis, ma'am,

chief engineer of the

Chicago and Rock Island.

And if I may have the...

Constance Strong.

And this is Miss Annabelle Marsh.

Charmed.

Mr. Hogger McCoy,

our master mechanic.

- Hi.

- Board.

Board for the stage coach.

May I say

it's been unusual to hear

such brilliant and logical argument

come from such a pretty young lady.

I look forward

to continuing our debate.

We must be going.

She sure rustled

and bustled at him.

I presume you'll be

stopping at the Joliet house.

We can resume

our talks there later.

Hardly.

I shouldn't have spoken, of course,

but your views irritated me.

However, the matter's ended.

Look, but you're not going

to leave me an anti-feminist.

And just when I was beginning

to change my views on women.

Now, if we were both men,

we could debate this subject

until one of us had

convinced the other.

Any further conversation's

impossible.

My fiancee is going

to meet me in Joliet.

Good day.

But...

Don't tell me you're one of

those old-fashioned girls

who isn't allowed to speak to another

man just because she is engaged.

I never expected you

to be so medieval.

The Joliet house,

after dinner, this evening.

Uh, 8:00?

8:00.

You've been picked up

by a strange man.

Yes.

And you know,

it's not at all unpleasant.

Constance.

You could make more dates with girls

by starting arguments with them.

I don't understand it.

Now that's basic.

That's whatsit?

You can figure out

people's motives that way.

For instance, the stagecoach people

that have evil motives against us.

Well, we're going to beat

them to Ottawa, easy.

Well, unless they manage

an accident for us.

Hop down, I want

to check that boiler.

Hey, I just checked it,

are you trying to insult me?

I'm thin-skinned, you know.

Yeah, like an elephant.

Be back in a minute, boss.

♪ You ought to travel

The Rock Island Trail

♪ It's the way to see

The country you love

Down by that stack of tires.

♪ You'll find A beautiful sight... ♪

Now, let's sum up

like the lawyer fellas say.

You want to give me $500 to

see that the engine busts down

and don't beat

the stagecoach to Ottawa.

Well, so far, we've had

a meeting of the minds.

But, now, we divide

like a busted coupling pin.

I say pay now,

and you say you'll pay later.

Gentlemen, it just ain't no deal.

I'm a man that operates best

with barrel head cash.

I don't operate with that

"tomorrow money" at all.

It ain't spendable.

Give him the money.

If you fall down on the job

you could get awful unhealthy.

Oh, I'm a man that worries

about his health.

Yup. Now let me

store this plunder.

Come on, now, boss,

I got the money.

Sure, I double-crossed you fellas,

it was a pleasure.

Probably this ill-gotten money

ain't gonna do me no long-term good,

so I'm going to spend it

fast on wine, women and dice.

Why you...

You ought to get you

a pair of these gloves,

you're going to skin up

your knuckles one of these days.

We'll do our talking to my varmint,

looks like yours is going to be

asleep for some time to come.

Come on up here, bucko,

just get around here.

Who do you work for?

You ain't polite, mister,

speak when you're spoken to.

Who's your boss?

Kirby Morrow.

All right, now,

pick up your playmate

and go tell him

your whole sad story.

Morrow, the big steamboat owner

and head of the Steamboat Association.

Hey,

I guess he just don't want

us competing with his boats.

Well, that's a natural feeling.

I heard a heap about him.

They say he's k*lled half a dozen

men in river fights and in duels.

You ever seen him?

No, I haven't, but we will.

Letter for you,

Mr. Morrow. Thank you.

Will you put this up

in my room for me?

Not interested in a lady's words

as long as she isn't present,

eh, Kirby?

Well, in Vicksburg,

I hang on her every syllable.

But this isn't Vicksburg.

Mr. Morrow, we came here to discuss

a problem, a mutual problem.

You've shown a complete

lack of interest.

So far, nothing's been said

to interest me.

Soon these railroads will be cutting into

the profits of your riverboat lines,

just as they're already cutting

into our stage business.

As soon as they get started,

you're going to get hurt.

Repetition bores me.

- You're already said that a dozen times.

- It's true nevertheless.

You can't stop progress.

That's right,

but you can delay it.

I find that remark very vague.

That's because

you don't know Kirby Morrow.

Well, those marks on your faces

tell me you failed.

We was beat up something awful.

That's somewhat less

than a tragedy.

Of course, I suppose

you told them who sent you.

No, I...

Well, you'd have talked too

if you took the beating I did.

I'll thank you not to insinuate

that I'd ever conduct myself

in the same manner as you.

Sorry, Mr. Morrow.

Here comes Reed and that fellow

you said was an engine driver.

We'd better duck.

That seems plausible.

Go ahead.

Suppose a rail gets out of place.

Well, a section hand rides over that

track in a handcar every morning.

Good old beef

and garden green soup.

I'm for a bowl of that.

After I've had several appetizers.

Uh,

large whiskey smothered

in two drops of water.

Ale.

Same for me.

Mr. Loomis,

are you going to request

a detachment of soldiers

to ride the trains

as a protection against Indians?

No, we're making treaties with

most of the important chiefs.

Will the Indians

live up to the treaty?

Yes, I think so. I've talked

to all the chiefs in Illinois.

The more important ones among them

are in favor of becoming civilized.

In fact, several of them are

sending their children to school.

Well, these outbreaks are

mostly due to misunderstandings,

such as when Black Hawk wiped out

General Bugby's Ninth cavalry

detachment at Caw Creek.

In that case, the Indians...

Sorry, I don't like that statement.

I had friends in the Ninth

and I don't intend to stand by

and listen to you accuse them

of stupidity and cowardice.

Gentlemen.

Gentlemen, now...

Quiet!

Reed...

This is in the best

old time tradition I see.

I gamble the name on that

card is Kirby Morrow.

At your service.

I take it I'm being

challenged to a duel.

Well, this is ridiculous,

dueling is against the law.

It is in Illinois

but not in Mississippi.

And I'll be only too happy

to provide you transportation

on any of my boats, Mr. Loomis.

And I might just as well tell you

that I won't accept your apologies,

I don't care what they are.

No apologies, Mr. Fashion Plate.

I don't want the cause of this duel

to be some fancied insult

to your alleged friends

in the Ninth.

I'll give you your duel

on some other grounds.

Your challenge,

the grounds don't matter.

All right, then I'll accept in some manner

in keeping with your highfalutin code.

Would it be satisfactory if I, uh, slapped

you across the face with a glove?

I believe that's traditional,

isn't it?

It is.

Here, use mine.

Thanks.

Here, what kind of conduct

is this for a gentleman duelist?

I advise you not

to choose pistols, Mr. Loomis,

because I'm the best shot

in Mississippi.

However, down on the river,

we got a form of dueling

that might appeal to you.

Both men are tied together

by their left wrists,

in their right hands,

they carry hunting knives.

Oh, no.

Clothes are too expensive

and I've only got two suits.

No, I've already

chosen the weapons.

This is ridiculous.

Dueling is ridiculous.

Here's your g*n,

Steamboat Bill, it's unloaded.

I'll bet it is.

Why, Kirby,

whatever happened to you?

I hope you ladies will excuse me.

You know that gentleman,

Miss Strong?

Kirby Morrow?

Why, of course.

He's my fiancee.

We were to meet him here for dinner.

Well, it seems pretty obvious

that he won't be present.

May I have the honor

of your company?

I do wonder what happened to him.

Oh, some rude

tavern brawl, no doubt.

And so, we proved the bankers

wrong in every respect but one.

They said we couldn't float

road bed across the sand dunes,

proved 'em wrong.

They said we couldn't get across

the marshes of the Sag Valley,

we proved 'em wrong.

They said we'd go broke,

we proved them right.

♪ Maybe you're going home

♪ To see your mom

Or your dad

♪ Maybe you're beating

The trail to a meeting

♪ With some old pal ♪

Constance, that's the song we heard

the railroad workers singing.

Yes.

Constance has a

lovely voice, Mr. Reed.

Really?

Now, don't disappoint me.

Please don't be one of those

singers who has to be coaxed.

♪ Just grab that Rock Island

Choo choo, you lucky boy

♪ And we'll be on our way

♪ You ought to travel

The Rock Island Trail

♪ It's the way to see

The country you love

♪ You'll find

A beautiful sight

♪ To the left or the right

♪ And the skies will be bright

With sunshine above

♪ Here comes the Rock Island

Train round the bend

♪ Woo Woo

♪ It'll get you

Where you're going in style

♪ It travels over

Lowland and highland

♪ You'll see the best

Of your land and my land

♪ When you take

The Rock Island train

♪ Here comes the Rock Island

Train round the bend... ♪

Well, singing like that

would've been worth coaxing for.

My singing teacher once said

Father got 10 cents on the dollar

for what he invested in my voice.

Goodness, I didn't know

it was so late.

I have letters to write,

would you excuse me?

I'll be right up, Annabelle.

Really?

Really what?

Will you really be right up and waste

all that wonderful moonlight outside?

I have a long, hard trip

before me tomorrow.

Oh, I thought the real reason might be

that just because you're engaged,

you're afraid to be seen

in the most casual conversation

with another man.

You know, old-fashioned stuff.

Then let us walk in the moonlight.

I have so many questions I wish

to ask you about your railroad.

I shall try

to be most enlightening.

Uh, about the railroad I mean.

Constance, I'm surprised that

you still prefer the stagecoach.

I had come to the conclusion

that you were a very progressive

and modern young lady

and here I find you

acting like a...

It won't work, Mr. Loomis.

You can stop trying to maneuver me

by playing on my vanity.

I had already made

preparations to go by stage,

so, I'm going by stage

even though you pretend to

think that I'm old-fashioned.

Well, I'll wait for you in Ottawa.

Ladies.

Will you pardon us

a minute, Annabelle?

Of course.

I'll walk down along the train.

Constance, I don't want

you to talk to that man.

I'm not in the habit

of taking orders, Kirby.

Well, I'm not in the habit

of being played for a fool,

so I'm afraid I'll have to insist.

Mr. Loomis.

Yes?

Can I get two tickets?

By a strange coincidence, I happen

to have two tickets in my pocket.

Let's get Annabelle.

We're losing.

It's 50 miles from here to Ottawa.

They've got to change horses

ten times between here and there.

Well, if you ladies will excuse me,

I've got to get up to the engine.

♪ Here comes the

Rock Island Train round the bend

♪ Woo woo ♪

She's getting there.

She's moving down the mainline

and singing like a birdie.

Hey, fella, you asked for work.

When you come, bend your back.

Here goes to my new invention.

Well, that smells...

I smell cloth burning.

It's my hat,

madam, but it's out now.

That's a waste of lard.

I'm gonna beat that stagecoach

if I have to use up all

the hog fat in Illinois.

We'll be in Ottawa

an hour ahead of 'em.

But listen, I'm gonna make it two hours

if I have to tie down the safety valve.

♪ Here comes the Rock Island

Train round the bend ♪

It's getting stronger.

Oh, what?

Hold still, you little wildcat!

Mr. Loomis!

Oh!

Oh, I see.

At first, I thought

you had gone mad.

Thank you very much, Reed.

I mean, Mr. Loomis.

It was a pleasure,

I assure you, Miss Strong.

And, of course, I mean, Constance.

The road's coming into sight.

I wonder if we'll see the stage?

Ya!

Ya!

Aren't you glad

you didn't ride the stage?

Adios, Morrow!

I'll see you in Ottawa.

Here comes the train.

Hello, Mr. Strong.

Annabelle, I thought you and

my daughter were coming by stagecoach.

No, we were put on the train by a very

nice man who tore off her clothes.

What?

Oh, it's quite all right, Mr. Strong.

A man tears my daughter's clothes

off and it's quite all right?

Yes, they were on fire. What?

The clothes, I mean.

That's plausible.

I hope she replaces them

before getting off the train.

Well, she has in a way.

Oh, I'm beginning to see.

Hello, Father.

Father, this is Mr. Loomis.

And that's Mr. Loomis' coat.

Well, I...

Well, a small accident, sir.

Annabelle was telling me.

Young man, how'd you like

to have dinner with us?

k*ll two birds with one stone,

get your coat back and

tell me about railroads.

It isn't that I don't believe

your devices are mechanically correct,

it's just that I have a

banker's dislike for pioneering.

Well, someone's got to provide

transportation for the Middle West.

This could be the bread basket of the

nation with transportation secured.

I know all that.

Even before you told me

so repetitiously at dinner.

It's just that you

want to build empires.

And I want to protect the money

the investors have entrusted to me.

I'm going to wait till

the pioneers go broke.

Good evening,

Mr. Strong. Good evening.

I'd like to call on

Miss Constance if I may.

She's in the music room

of our suite. Thank you very much.

Kirby has such a wealth of manners

and such a poverty of ethics.

Come in.

Well, you know why I'm here.

I feel sure I do.

But you were never one

for avoiding issues, Kirby.

Put it into words.

Well, I'm trying to find some kind

of an explanation for your behavior.

The explanation's in

that little box on the table.

You know, I'm not in the habit of letting

anybody take things away from me.

"Things," Kirby?

That's the trouble.

You regard things

and people as the same.

They're not.

I'd hoped this could be friendly.

I'm also not in the

habit of being friendly

at the same time

I'm being made a fool of.

But this isn't final, Constance.

Good night.

I'd like a few words with Loomis

if you'll excuse us, Mr. Strong.

Of course.

Loomis, the Sheriff

called on me today

and he left no doubt in my mind

what his actions would be

if I caused you any further

trouble or if any harm came to you.

So I presume you took

your troubles to him.

No, I didn't.

But you go right on thinking

anything that'll make you happy.

Oh, I won't attack you.

Not here in Illinois, the so-called

stronghold of law and order.

But one of these days, south of

the Ohio or west of the Mississippi,

we'll run into each other

and I'll k*ll you.

You're something

out of the Dark Ages,

or else you're

just a swaggering bully.

I don't know which,

but whichever it is, I'm tired of you.

You know, the Sheriff might be

just about as upset

if you m*rder*d me as vice-versa.

No m*rder.

I'm just tired of you

having all the fun.

Look at that sign.

The letter "O" to be exact.

Say, that was a fine shot.

It was my turn to show off.

I look forward to meeting you

one of these days

on the other side of the river.

Thought I heard a shot.

Somebody's celebrating

down at Camptown.

Probably. Let's get back

to the table.

Don't underestimate Morrow,

Reed, he's come a long hard way,

left many a broken man

along his path.

Yeah, that was kind of childish

of me with that p*stol,

but he rubs me the wrong way.

You sh**t well, can you sing?

A little. Why?

I'm sure Constance would appreciate a

baritone and someone to turn the pages.

Reed, are you on the level about

building track all the way to Rock Island?

Mr. Strong, someday, I intend to build

track clear across this territory.

Let's not indulge in pipe dreams,

the Mississippi is in your way.

However, I will assure you

financing for track to Rock Island.

Let's not discuss it now.

You go turn pages

while I enjoy my cigar.

So, fine feathers Morrow

got his lance broken, huh?

I don't understand.

Indian custom.

Warrior sticks his lance in the ground

outside a young squaw's lodge.

If it's broken in the morning,

it means she says no.

I can't say I enjoy being compared

to a squaw, Mr. Loomis.

When was I demoted to Mr. Loomis?

My name's Reed.

Really, Mr. Loomis?

I don't believe I invited

any such familiarity.

Oh, why are women like that?

Why are women like what?

Always so worried about

the appearance of things,

move, countermove.

That's a lot of nonsense.

We both knew

right from the beginning.

I haven't the faintest idea

of what you're talking about.

I knew right from the beginning.

'Course I'm not gonna

ask you to marry me.

Would I be bold to ask why not.

'Cause you're rich.

What is that, a disgrace?

Is it like having a

two-headed brother or a...

Do you mind explaining?

Not at all.

Rich women tell their

husbands what to do.

Me, I'm gonna tell

my wife what to do.

Good night, Mr. Loomis.

Don't be silly.

Forgive me if I seem dull-minded,

but it seems to me a man

who has just mauled me about

and kissed me by force...

Really? By force?

Yes, by force.

And then informed me he had no

intention of asking me to marry him.

Is that a fair statement

of the facts?

Uh, reasonably so.

Good night, Mr. Loomis.

But you overlooked

a very simple solution.

Tell me, please.

I'll get rich.

Father.

He won't marry me.

That's strange.

From his actions

I would've thought otherwise.

But it's quite all right.

Honey, I may be broad-minded,

but what will your maiden aunt say about

such an extremely modern attitude?

Well, you see, sir,

I don't want to get married...

Young man, my daughter

has just told me that

your intentions are not honorable.

Personally, I don't care much

about a man's intentions,

because, in the end,

a woman always gets her way.

Well, I just don't want to be

anybody's poor relation.

Father, tell him he's crazy.

I can't do that, honey,

he's quite sane.

Never hurt any girl to wait until

a man made a little money. Smoke?

No, thank you, sir.

I don't suppose it'll bother

you folks too much

if I take a little stroll

on the veranda.

I hate all men.

Population of the world

would decrease rather rapidly

if all women felt like that.

Two can play the waiting game.

Hey, Reed. Reed.

Huh?

What is it?

You better get over to the mess hall,

somebody's smuggled in

a barrel of whiskey.

Got any idea who did it?

Just as good an idea as you got,

them steamboat people.

That big tie-layer Barton,

he's at the head of it.

I didn't like his looks

when you hired him.

All right, let's go.

All right, that's enough!

That's all, men!

It's going to get early

real sudden around here,

and we got a grade

to make tomorrow.

Are you telling us that we

can't even have a little drink?

What I'm telling you is

you're fired.

And you've got just five minutes

to get started backtracking.

Do you men like

being treated like this?

- Dump that whiskey

in the river, Hogger. - Yeah.

Get your hands off of that barrel

or you'll feel a sledge.

Well, you're the worst spike

driver in this outfit.

You'd probably miss.

Just lay your hand on that barrel.

How about a whiskey with water?

Hey, don't overdo it.

Probably more water than

you've ever encountered before.

Now, start up that track

fast enough to dry off.

Now, I'll tell you something.

Heaving a shovel or swinging

a sledge is hard work

when you haven't had any sleep.

And you've got about three hours

till that whistle blows.

And I'll tell you something else.

This mile of track into Rock Island

is going to get built in the morning

if I gotta prime every one of you

with a kick

in your handkerchief pocket.

That's all.

You know something?

They'll go to bed

just like little lambs now.

Just goes to prove that whiskey should be

kept from the lower classes.

Thank you, Martin.

Are you Mr. Strong?

That's right.

Where to, sir?

End of track.

And the young lady too, sir?

Unless your hearing is poor,

I said end of track.

Yes, sir, we're due to leave immediately.

I'll get your bags aboard.

The man's right, end of track

is no place for a woman.

Where I'll be the only woman,

when there's a possibility

of Indian trouble.

I admit the possibility

is remote, but I still say...

You've said it before.

And I've said I want to be

on the first train into Rock Island.

You think Rock Island and end

of track is gonna be the same

by the time this train gets there?

Reed made a contract

for the 17th of this month.

Tomorrow is the 17th.

Well, that's what I call faith.

He's had labor trouble,

you know? I know.

And also, I know Reed.

- All aboard!

- Just a minute, conductor.

You'll have to hold

the train. Hold the train?

Young man, this train is due to leave

here right now, and it's going to leave.

These are orders

from the w*r Department.

You are to await the arrival

of the train from the east

to pick up a very important

passenger for end of track.

Well, now I don't know

that I'm going to do that.

Well, I know.

Well,

well, all right.

If this is not a military secret,

might I inquire as to who

this important passenger is?

It's not a military secret, sir, but

as a matter of fact, I don't know.

Excuse me.

Probably some political bigwig on

a junket to the construction camp.

So he can go back to Washington and

advise against helping the railroads.

Train is ready for end of track, sir.

Thank you, lieutenant.

Father, look.

Tickets for both these ladies

for end of track.

End of track, sir.

No lady ever goes

to end of track. Hmm?

The maid's afraid she's going

to be scalped by Indians.

What's that?

Do you mind letting me in on this?

I don't speak French.

You heard correctly.

I am an Indian.

Oh, now really?

It quite startles

so many people. But French?

And your English

is so perfect. Thank you.

But it's not nearly so perfect

as my grandfather's.

He did not start studying

until he was over 60.

Who is your grandfather?

Keokuk.

The peacemaker?

Well, he became known

as that after he began

leading the tribes toward

peace and civilization.

Oh, I'm beginning to understand

why the army was so

concerned about your welfare.

May I ask one more

impertinent question?

Where did you get that gown? Oh.

In Paris.

Father, in short order, you're going

to be stuck for a trip to Paris.

Your Indian princess

is taking long enough to dress.

I'll bet she's gonna knock your eyes

out with another Paris creation.

Prepare yourself

for a shock, father.

Well, young lady, for the first time

I really believe you're an Indian.

It's beautiful.

Thank you.

Hold it. Looks like

we made it, men.

Anybody got a headache?

Mr. Loomis?

Yes.

I'm the mayor of Rock Island.

I suppose

as the first train arrives

you'll be able to keep

the celebration quiet

until I can make my speech.

Well, I don't know... Hey, Reed!

Looks like you're gonna have some

fireworks with this celebration.

Get your r*fles, you men.

This'd be the first scalp

I took in ten years.

Shut up, you blood-thirsty liar.

Don't anybody fire until they do.

How'd you do?

What's all the show about?

I don't know.

I was told to guide these

Indians down to end of track,

and meet some

big chief or something.

Guiding Indians ain't the

brightest thing I ever heard of.

You got a drink?

Uh, no whiskey allowed

at end of track.

Mister, I recognize this man

from Fort Des Moines

and he was never farther away

from whiskey than one big jump.

You got me mixed up

with my brother, soldier.

We're the spittin' image of each other.

He spits a little further than I do.

Would you want me

to tell how and why

you or your brother happened

to leave Fort Des Moines?

Come on with me.

But you don't have to

talk so blame loud.

Hello, Connie.

Oh, I'm glad that train

was on time today.

There's a sight.

There's nothing to be

frightened of, Annette.

Oh, I'm no longer afraid,

mademoiselle.

I see.

Au revoir.

I'm quite sure I will be well protected.

I have no fear.

May we?

Huh?

I will teach you the French.

Gee.

Get up!

You weren't getting too big

a thrill of the ceremony.

Speeches bore me.

Father says the contracting of

freight exceeds all expectations.

He says, in short order,

you're going to be wealthy.

Does he?

He also says if you don't give up

the idea of bridging the Mississippi,

you and the road could

wind up in bankruptcy.

Reed, stop looking at the river.

Does that blamed old bridge

mean so much to you?

Constance, half the United States

lays near the side of that river.

I could decide all these

arguments in my sleep.

I have in fact.

It's been a year since

that night in Ottawa.

You said you wanted money.

Didn't matter to me.

Now I wonder which you want most.

Me, or a bridge.

The issue was never in doubt.

Grovel all you want to,

old father of waters.

What difference does it make

who throws the first bridge across?

It's just a question

of whose name goes

on some plaque

which nobody'll ever read.

Go ahead.

Build your blamed old bridge.

I'll wait.

That's very nice of you, darling.

But I don't know anything

about counterfeiting,

and we're just $2,00,000 short.

Oh.

Well, you can get

that much from the army.

Look, I know you get around

with the financiers

but the army

is quite another matter.

I've already talked

to General Taylor,

in Washington, at a ball.

We danced 11

straight dances together.

Next morning we went riding,

and that afternoon, at tea...

Just a moment.

How big is this General Taylor?

Hmm.

As big as you are.

Oh?

And he's 65 years old.

I got him all excited

about the bridge.

He thinks it's badly

needed by the army.

Uh...

I wasn't gonna tell you.

But if you want a bridge

more than a bride...

I want you to have your way.

We're gonna have great kids,

take after their papa for size

and their mama for brains.

Reed, this thing's gotten

to be a nightmare with me.

Can't you be satisfied

with a small bridge?

Do you have to have

a big one like this? He does.

Well, we'll put all the army money

and our shirts into one heap.

You can star

driving piling tomorrow.

Did yesterday.

Now you see why

I'm so mad about him.

Yeah, and I can understand

why people get mad at him.

I'm trying to think.

What about?

Your expression at every train

that goes across.

I think the best description is,

"He looks like an idiot

with a slingshot

"who's just found a deserted house

with all its windows unbroken."

Well, it does give me

a kick, honey.

I wish I can make your eyes

light up like that.

You make something inside me

flare up like a torch.

Now let's get down to facts.

Are there liable

to any more obstacles

in the way of your making

an honest woman of me?

Not a chance.

We lay an easy 300 miles of track

from the Iowa shore to Fort Fletcher.

Say to Uncle Sam,

"Pay us the last payment."

Then we sit back and cut

coupons, and raise brats.

9:30, bucko.

You could've shook me before

you tried that water, Stewart.

When you've been on the grog

shaking never works.

I'm up. Let me relax,

I gotta get over this shock.

Well, you said

you had to go to work.

I'll make it.

I won't like it, but I'll make it.

Mr. Morrow?

Yes.

Here's the manifest

on The Princess.

100 barrels of resin,

200 barrels of turpentine,

and 70 bales of cotton.

I hate to ask for insurance

on the cargo,

it has the makings

of such a fine fire.

Well, we're not insuring

either cargo or vessel.

This is worth

a lot of money and...

Look, we're sh**ting

for much higher stakes

than a vessel and a cargo.

So I don't want

any insurance investigators

cold-nosing around.

Or they might get the impression

that The Princess

was set on fire deliberately.

The crew's all ashore

and drunk by now.

So there'll be nobody to testify

she just didn't go adrift.

Sure you want

to handle this all alone?

Sure, I'm sure.

Then I know it'll be done right.

You'll get those

pretty clothes all dirty.

You're aboard my ship, Loomis.

Pointing that p*stol at me

makes you a pirate

and they hang pirates

on the river.

Well, I don't want know what

they do to bridge-burners,

but we won't find out.

Start topside,

we're changing course.

Doctors said I didn't need

rebandaging until tomorrow.

They were soiled.

You just want to act like

a little angel of mercy.

Florence Nightingale.

Anyway, you're an angel

of some sort.

No wonder Morrow

tried to burn me up.

Why don't you two get married and stop

dripping honey all over my house?

Bad for the rugs.

That's right.

Get married,

so you can fight with each

other like ordinary people.

You know the answer.

The young man has scruples,

won't marry a rich woman

until he's got money.

I'll say this for you, Reed.

You can start from scratch,

you're the brokest man I know.

That bond issue was offered

yesterday on the street, no bids.

Of course, I could give my money away.

Then we'd both be broke.

And he'd have

no excuse whatsoever.

Let's not carry

this thing too far.

I, uh...

I did, I'm afraid.

This morning I wired the executor of

Mama's estate to put all my money into

Rock Island bonds.

What's that?

That's Sioux for, "The woman shines."

The highest accolade.

A buck Indian's most ardent

profession of love and devotion.

I'm thinking of your mother's

father and grandfather.

They must be spinning so violently that

they've dislodged their tombstones.

How they fought for that fortune.

And now it's in the bonds

of a defunct railroad.

Constance, your money's

gone down the drain.

Suppose we could win a judgment

from the boat association,

we might rebuild that bridge

if we got a big enough judgment.

Reed, we only have your word

that that boat didn't just accidentally

drift against that bridge.

But we know it was sabotage.

In all justice...

Constance,

you bought Rock Island bonds.

And now you believe in justice in a court

that's controlled by the steamboat people.

I'm beginning to doubt

your sanity.

Young man, it looks like

you're gonna get your wish.

Constance, you better make up

your mind to be happy, but poor.

Hey, poor people.

Huh?

You're wonderful.

Well, there it is.

I want to tell you, sir, that every

big-city lawyer has refused this case

on the grounds that

we lack sufficient evidence.

The board of directors

thinks I'm foolish to...

Bring it to a small-town lawyer, huh?

Well, no...

That's right.

Tie up over there, will you?

Hey, son.

Yeah?

From that hair and

the freckles on your face,

I'd say you're

one of the Tanner brood.

Some kind of relation to

old man Springtime Tanner?

Yeah, he's my grandpa.

I'm Stinky Tanner.

Well, you sure

wear the family marks.

I'm Abe Lincoln.

Pleased to make

your acquaintance, Stinky.

What are you catching, catfish?

No, you can't get cats here,

they don't like the current.

You get bass and bream here.

Over there where there's

no current, you get cats.

Over there where the boat

burnt down the bridge.

Now if you want some big cats...

Hold on a minute, son.

Uh...

I see you got an extra pole.

If you'll excuse me, Mr. Loomis,

I'm going fishing.

Well, but, Mr. Lincoln, I...

It's been my experience that a fellow

who's all puzzled up gets

unpuzzled when he goes fishing.

Bye, Mr. Loomis.

And to resume, Your Honor, we have

proven beyond a shadow of a doubt

that this was an accident,

and not actionable at law.

The Princessbroke loose from her moorings

and drifted down against the bridge.

Now, in closing, I shall also

like to point out to Your Honor

that the opposing counsel, Mr. Lincoln,

has not asked one single question

in cross-examination of

our many expert witnesses.

My case rests.

Well, Mr. Lincoln.

If the court please,

I should like to call

an expert witness.

An expert witness on the currents

and cross-currents

of the Mississippi River

at Rock Island.

We've had so many experts...

Why, I'm sure the jury

will wish to hear

this expert witness.

I intend to prove

that The Mississippi Princess

did not drift against the bridge,

but was deliberately steered

across the current.

Very well.

I wish to call Mr. Stinky Tanner.

That man's a fool to bring that child

in here against expert witnesses.

Shh. Let's wait.

I believe in Mr. Lincoln.

Are you attempting a practical

joke on this court, Mr. Lincoln?

Judge, I'm as serious

as an unfed mule.

Swear him.

Do you swear

to tell the whole truth

and nothing but the truth,

so help you God?

Yes, sir.

Stinky, this is a picture

of that burnt bridge.

Now, I'll show you the section

that's still left standing.

Can you catch catfish there?

No, there's

too much current there.

The best place

for cats is over here,

where the steamboat

hit the bridge and burned it.

Here, where there is no current?

Yes, sir, cats won't stay

where there's any current.

In other words,

the current would not carry

any drifting boat

into this burnt section.

That's right.

Well, then,

gentlemen, it would appear

that The Mississippi Princess

did not drift

but was steered under her own

power into the bridge.

Take a hand, Hogger?

I ain't too particular

about my company,

but I'm too particular

for you loafers.

You hunting trouble?

You know,

I've been known to do just that.

Watch out for those gloves, Bill.

How long since you've been paid?

Same as you, half a week.

Yeah, half in money

and half in script

to be cashed when the road

reaches Fort Fletcher.

How do we know it'll ever get there?

I know it'll get there. How?

'Cause Reed Loomis says so.

Oh, why do you idiots think all

this whiskey's coming into camp?

I know.

It's because somebody

don't want to see this

railroad built, that's why.

They're likely to get their way

as far as I'm concerned.

You dang loafers.

Darned idiots.

There ain't a man working

in the whole kit and valley.

Track layers will be caught

up with us in a week.

We know that.

Someone's gotta hunt up

the survey party and tell Reed.

Well, that makes sense.

How about you?

You know the country.

Not me, I'm a railroad man,

not a messenger boy.

Here's the mail.

End of track, Mr. McIntyre,

and your official mail. Thank you.

Hello, Hogger.

Hi.

Say, somebody around end of track

have been making inquiries about you.

Want to know if you're the same McCoy

that used to be down at Fort Des Moines.

I ain't never been

near Fort Des Moines.

Get me a horse and some accouterments,

and I'll go find Reed.

Hello, Hogger. Good to see you.

Anything the matter?

I caught the trail of a million Indians

when I forded the Sauk River.

They're Keokuk's people.

They rendezvous over there every summer.

They're peaceful.

I didn't hunt 'em up to find out.

I like my Indians at a distance.

Field-glass distance.

You know who's stirring 'em up, and

you know who's causing the trouble.

Yeah, naturally.

Joe,

I've got to go back

to end of track.

Let's see, four days going,

four days back,

and a day to settle the trouble,

I'll see you in nine or ten days,

you'd be all right?

Sure, I'll be all right.

Bye, Joe.

If you settle this ruckus in one day,

you're wasting your time

running one measly railroad.

You ought to be

President of the USA.

Looks like somebody's

trying to commit m*rder.

Are we gonna deal

ourselves in? Let's go.

Here comes

a couple more. Don't sh**t.

Now if anybody should

happen to ask you,

there goes a couple of

pretty fair horseman.

We're not in the habit of leaving

our wounded to the enemy.

And your own General Taylor said

the Plains Indians have the

finest cavalry in the world.

Hey. Ain't you that Indian girl

who'd come in on the train

with all that foofoo ra?

Keokuk's granddaughter.

And you're Mr. Loomis,

the man who's building the railroad.

You were pointed out to me.

This doesn't make any sense.

Why should Indians be trying to

sh**t Keokuk's granddaughter?

They're Sioux.

They don't like Keokuk,

or at least his ideas of adopting

the white man's way of life.

Did you think all Indians

agree about everything?

We don't.

We're people.

Thank you.

I don't think they were

anxious to k*ll me though.

Probably just wanted

to capture me.

That would put them in a position

to dictate to my grandfather.

I understand you're having trouble

building the railroad, Mr. Loomis.

Well, that's one way

of putting it.

We're hexed, that's what we are.

And I know who's hexing us, too.

But we are having a little more

than the usual troubles.

Whiskey coming

into camp, troublemakers,

200 grade workers won't

even lift a shovel.

I see.

Perhaps I could help you.

Well, I'm afraid we might not have

a shovel small enough for you, Miss...

Uh...

Say, what do they call

an Indian princess anyway?

Well, I insist that people I'm not

interested in call me princess.

You call me Aleeta.

And even though you don't think

I could handle a shovel

I might surprise you and

help you get your railroad built.

Oh.

There's a good place for us

to make camp down there

by the river.

Down here.

Come here.

Well, I guess we must have

a couple of dozen by now.

Well, you Indians

sure do it the easy way.

Just make 'em jump

right into your net.

Us, we scramble around

diggin' 'em.

Do you mind if I have

a puff of your cigar?

Huh?

This habit isn't Indian,

it's Parisian.

You're sure a strange mixture.

I've often felt so.

Indian by birth,

cosmopolitan by education.

It makes strange impulses.

For instance,

I like men who build things.

Most Indians don't.

They want everything just

the way nature made it.

Uh,

You think we got enough frogs?

Let's go rest on the bank.

You don't rise to the bait, Reed.

The conversational bait

didn't work, so

I thought I'd try proximity.

What's her name?

Whose name?

Don't be ordinary.

Constance.

I hate her.

If I had her out on the plains,

I'd swing her scalp from

the ridge pole of my teepee.

First, of course,

k*lling her by a process

involving burning splinters,

which takes many days.

You look so sweet,

and sound so blood-thirsty.

Well,

at least that's what I would've

done before I went to school.

I finally find a man

I'd like to investigate,

and he carries another woman's

charm in his medicine bag.

May I have another puff

of your cigar?

You know,

I could have some warriors

carry you off.

Kidnap you.

Hold you in a rendezvous

out on the plains.

Hey, be careful.

You make me nervous.

Of course.

Because you're not sure I'm joking.

You must be.

Maybe.

Let's go back to camp.

Yeah.

What in the name of Robert Roose is

that bunch of Indians doing here?

Getting jobs.

You boys get out there

and sign 'em on.

A few of 'em can write,

the rest of 'em can make their mark.

Indians working with

pick-and-shovel, it's unheard of.

The ones in front can speak English,

they'll interpret for the rest.

Get going, boys.

Let's get some grade made.

This is the first time

Indians ever worked for pay.

And now that the Indians

are working,

the other fellas want

their old jobs back again.

Well, people are like that.

Put 'em all on, Mac.

You're going back surveying?

That's right.

And then to Davenport.

Keep things movin'.

I will if I have to learn

to speak Indian.

You're a callous cur.

You callous cur.

What do you want me to do,

break my arm to prove that I love you?

I may save you the trouble.

Only a callous cur

would leave a woman

as attractive as me to talk

to some moldy businessman.

You callous cur.

You said that before.

Mm-hmm.

I grow repetitious

in my spinsterhood.

Careful.

So you are the Constance.

I should've known.

Well, I'll just have to

call off my witchcraft.

Witchcraft?

Yes, I was having an

Indian curse put on you

so you would die

of some disfiguring disease.

Hello, Reed.

I was terribly bold with him,

all too Parisian.

Never increased

his heartbeat by one iota.

Oh, I'm sorry. Miss Strong,

may I present Major Porter.

Miss Strong.

Major, this is Reed Loomis.

Major.

Mr. Loomis.

As soon as the men start to

cluster in the refreshment room,

we'll manage

a gossip together.Fine.

So you're a one-woman man.

Well, one woman at a time.

What are you looking for?

Something to fracture

your skull with,

or something with which

to fracture your skull.

I may as well be grammatical

even though I'm murderous.

Honey, I have to go.

I know, logically, you have to go.

But I want to be

illogical. I'm a female.

Hmm. Muah.

Come on.

Well, there are the pallbearers.

Shall we go in?

You gentlemen burying the nation

because the stock market

took a header?

Looks bad. Take a look

at these treasury reports.

May I smoke?

Of course.

If it wouldn't shock everybody,

I would myself.

That's Kirby Morrow,

the big steamboat man.

Mr. Morrow, sir.

Dancing in the main dining room.

And refreshments in the annex.

Thank you very much,

but I don't think I'll go in just now.

I think I'll smoke a cigar first.

Yes, sir.

Good luck with

your business meeting, Reed.

Thanks, we'll need it.

Goodbye, darling.

Will you

get my horse, please? Yes, sir.

Would you call my carriage?

Quickly, please.

You're not leaving.

Has something offended you?

Nothing has offended me,

and I'm not leaving.

It's merely that I forgot

to tell my coachman something.

That language, I studied it.

Couldn't make head or tail of it.

No syntax.

I dare say you think we Indians

are an odd people, Major.

You're right. We are.

Shall we go inside?

You dirty redskin.

Well, your throat can't be cut

if you can swear, old man.

You've just been ear-marked

or throat-marked, rather.

Well, they got away with your

nice thoroughbred, Kirby.

You're afoot.

Of course, my horse

could pack double,

but I don't think

you'd enjoy the company.

However, it's only 12 miles

to Davenport, and...

I don't think it's gonna rain.

Those nice new shiny shoes ought

to be real pleasant to walk in.

Adios.

Gentlemen,

I've been listening

to all this testimony.

To me, it sums up to this.

The Rock Island entered into a contract

with the Unites States Government

in which the Rock Island agreed

to lay track to Fort Fletcher.

The Rock Island has not

fulfilled its contract.

And is now asking for more

of the taxpayer's money

so that it may lay this track.

This is ridiculous.

Senator, there's a panic on.

I'm fully aware

there's a panic on, Mr. Loomis.

That's one of the more cogent

reasons I take this stand.

We must retrench

in times like these.

On the contrary, Senator,

if we are to defeat

this panic we must expand.

A somewhat radical theory

of economics to my mind.

No, gentlemen.

I'm gonna fight this bill

on the floor of the Senate.

And I'm gonna see

that it's defeated.

Hello.

Well, what's the matter, Constance?

Aren't we speaking?

Really, Kirby.

Let's not have good manners.

Well, at least your manners

ought to be good enough

to introduce me to your

charming companion here.

No.

Well, it isn't necessary.

You're Chief Keokuk's

granddaughter, aren't you?

The educated Indian princess.

And, of course,

everyone on the Mississippi knows

the celebrated Kirby Morrow.

Well, I didn't realize

I was so famous, thanks.

All the Sioux and Sauk

tribes know you.

They've even given you

an Indian name.

I'm not familiar enough

with the Sioux language

to know the meaning of that name.

It means warrior, without honor.

You know, some man is gonna

have a very interesting life

even though it might be

a little dangerous.

Naturally, I mean the man

that you marry.

Well, did you get

your money, Loomis?

Why don't we just skip

all the preliminaries

and get right to the point?

Would you like to step out on the

lawn so I can beat your brains out?

I don't believe so, thanks.

And do you mind if I rush off

and leave you in bad company?

Alone.

Say, what are your bonds

selling at this morning?

Now, don't walk away.

I'm interested. I've been buying

those bonds ever since the crash.

That makes me

one of your investors,

so I feel I'm entitled

to a little of your advice.

What should I do with them?

You'd never follow my advice.

No, I guess not.

You know, at first, I thought

I might use 'em for wallpaper

in a saloon on one of my boats.

Then I thought it might be

very interesting...

if you never got to Fort Fletcher.

That might make me wind up

owning a bankrupt railroad,

but I'd be your employer.

Well, I'll just carry

a resignation around

all made out in advance

for that day.

But I won't mail it,

I'll deliver it by hand.

I do wish you'd stay

with us for dinner.

I'm afraid I'm condemned

to a dull dinner...

with the Commissioner

of Indian Affairs.

But I will see you next month.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Mr. Morrow?

Yes.

I wish to satisfy my curiosity,

Mr. Morrow.

Couple of roughnecks

tried to cut my throat

but they didn't quite

get the job done.

They were not roughnecks.

All three are accredited

members of the Sauk tribe

despite their rough clothing.

Oh, they were your men.

I hope you've learned

your lesson, Mr. Morrow.

If any more attempts

are made on Mr. Loomis' life

I shall have to have you k*lled

in a long, painful manner.

You would much rather

your throat were cut.

Drive on.

Now wait a minute.

You know, you're wasting your time.

You'll never get him away from

Constance, he's in love with her.

I am completely aware of that

and had no intention of trying.

You know, I admire you.

You're in love with him,

and what I said was a body blow.

You never even turned a hair, and

your voice remained perfectly calm.

You've got control.

Of course.

I'm an Indian,

which means another thing.

We make very sound friends

and implacable enemies.

Remember that.

Driver.

He says 50 r*fles isn't enough.

Tell him that's all I can get.

The army's watching all the

g*ns west of the Mississippi

like they was diamonds.

Tell him there'll be plenty of r*fles

and a lot of ammunition on the train.

He accepts.

What's that last he said?

He said all white men are liars, and

your word probably isn't any good.

But he accepts because he figures

this deal is to your advantage,

and you won't lie.

You know, that Indian'd do

pretty good in the steamboat business

the way he figures.

Or any other business

for that matter.

We'll be ready to leave

in five minutes. All right.

I repeat, Constance,

I think the idea's idiotic.

I can handle anything Aleeta can.

Yes, but to go

to an Indian village, I...

I don't think you need worry,

Mr. Strong.

Let's use Reed's office

to change in.

Thank you.

I tried to persuade her not to go out

there, but I didn't have any luck.

Neither did I.

Then it's undoubtedly all right.

Although I'd feel a lot better if

we didn't have the payroll on board.

You and I and the guards are

the only ones that know about it.

They're loading the stuff now.

That's all that has to happen

is for us to lose that payroll.

It'd cause more delay

at end of track.

As it is now,

our arrival at Fort Fletcher

and the termination

of that army contract's

gonna be the closest tie in history.

Train's ready.

Hey, Hogger.

I've got a special run.

String going out to end

of track, you wanna take it?

No, sir, I just pulled in a 30-car string

from Davenport with a weak back farmer

and a loose driving wheel.

What I want is rest

and a little whiskey.

I just asked.

All right.

Where can I find Mr. McCoy?

What'd you say?

McCoy!

Ought to be along pretty soon.

Soon?

Yeah.

That's fine.

Hey.

Get yourself a beauty rest,

Rafe. I'm pulling this string.

But you said...

That was then, this is now.

Can I highball?

Just a minute.

McCoy!

Hogger McCoy!

McCoy!

What was that?

That was the reason

I left Fort Des Moines.

You girls, get back inside!

Boss!

How many r*fles

have you got, Mac? Forty-five.

End of track, huh?

Can you get me

a big piece of canvas?

We'll use that smoke to signal

my people at the Sauk River.

Tell him all we have to do

is wait till nightfall,

we can pick 'em off like flies.

All right, then do it

the hard way.

Constance, do you mind

if I kiss your man?

Well, Loomis, you win,

you got the best hold card.

My granddaughter is dead.

Go, Loomis.

Now wait a minute...

You're wasting your time, Loomis.

It will give me great pleasure

if you whimper, Morrow.

Well, I'd sure hate

to disappoint you, Chief.

I now pronounce you man and wife.

Kiss the bride.

It was a long tough job,

but I finally got it done.

Frankly,

I didn't think we'd make it.

But here we are,

about to pull into Fort Fletcher.

And we're solvent.

Father-in-law,

you know it's only 2,100 miles

from Fort Fletcher to California.

No, no, not again.

You bankers are hard to convince.

You'll live to see the day when

this whole nation'll be on wheels,

when a billion tons of freight

and millions of passengers

will be moved every day.