01x15 - The Cliff Grundy Story

[bunniefuu]

If all the days were like today,

this job would be a picnic.

Sure would.

Even the women are
calm and peaceable.

'Course, that ain't no guarantee

that the Sioux are in
the same frame of mind.

Might be, though.

We haven't heard
a peep out of them.

Take a gol-darn mean Indian

to start trouble
on a day like this.

Hold up! Whoa!

There's your mean Indian.
Hold up!

He's in trouble!

Go help him out.

Looks like Flint knows him.

Yeah.

Who's after you?

After me?

Nobody's after me.

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

There's no better way
to get a welcome

than fire a few shots
in Indian territory.

Cliff Grundy,
you old son of a g*n.

You're a sight for sore eyes.

Don't you remember me?

Flint McCullough!

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

Why, the last time
I set eyes on you,

you and Jim Bridger were
scouting for General Johnson.

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

You were just a kid.

Come on, let's get
to your wagons.

I need a drink.

Yeah, I can't get over you

being chief scout
for a wagon train, son.

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

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

you could believe it.

Well, he was mighty good to me.

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

He's a mighty good teacher.

Why, Jim Bridger
knows more about the West

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

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

I thought you'd settle down
after the w*r

and marry
the general's daughter.

Leastways, that was the talk.

What happened, son,
she turn you down?

That's as good an answer as any.

It's kind of cold tonight.

I'll find you another blanket.

Don't seem to want
to talk about women.

That reminds me...

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

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

Danged if she didn't win
the whole sh**ting match.

All the money in the place,

the building,
the gambling equipment,

even a solid mahogany piano?

You don't say.

Tell me, Cliff, did you get any

of that money for yourself?

Well, no.

But this old gal
wanted me to marry her,

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

but I reckoned I best
stick to prospecting.

You know, Cliff,
I think you struck it

richer in that gal that you
ever have anyplace else.

Now that you've brought it up,

I'll tell you what happened.

You would have anyway.

Never mind. Just you listen.

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

and I lit out
into these here hills,

my mind made up
I was gonna find me

a real, first-class goldmine.

So you kicked over
the first rock

you came across,
and there it was.

Go ahead, laugh!

But, gentlemen,
you're now looking at

a real, live millionaire.

Do you mean
you found a goldmine?

You heard what I said,
didn't you?

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

'Cause I'm joining
this expedition

you saddle tramps are running

so I can get to civilization
and register my claim.

Yes, sir.

Old Cliff Grundy
sure hit it rich this time.

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

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

like, uh, well, cattle rustling.

You could at least
find your own cattle.

Man gets himself a goldmine,

he's made it, and quick, too.

He can have everything he wants

without sitting around
waiting for no herd to grow.

That's right, friend.

I can see you and me
are the only ones here

know what we're talking about.

Now, you take a good mine...

ADAMS: You take it,
you old windbag.

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

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

Why don't you go along with them

and show them what
a good shot you are?

Sure thing.

I reckon I've
k*lled more buffalo

than any man west of
the good ol' Missoura.

Did I ever tell you
about the time...

No, and don't start now, Cliff.

Cliff's all right, Major.

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

Come on, I'll bunk you down.

Did I ever tell you
about the time

we went buffalo hunting
with no g*ns at all?

Biggest mess you ever saw.

So there I was,
right in the middle

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

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

Well, I'll tell you, boy.

FLINT: Later, Cliff.
We gotta get started.

All right, as soon
as we hit the herd,

we'll break up into teams.

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

Right. But stay close together.

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

And don't k*ll any more
than you need to.

Five or six ought to be plenty.

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

You bet you can, son.

We'll probably get
that half a dozen

before anybody else
pulls a trigger.

All right. Here we go.

Well, there they are.

Yeah.

See what you can do, son.

You're on.

Millard, you come with me.

Hawkes, you circle to the right.

Craig, the rest of you,
follow me.

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

Oh, this ain't close, boy.

I remember the day
I had a hole in my boot

and used them buffalo
for a bridge.

I just walked
right across their backs

so the dirt
wouldn't burn my feet.

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

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

Just take your time
and do this right.

Yes, sir.

They sure are big, ain't they?

Yep, pretty big.

But they ain't half as big
as you are with that r*fle.

You better go ahead
and sh**t, Mr. Grundy.

No, you get the first one.

This ain't no treat for me.

I've been doing it for years.

So many of them.

I don't know which one to sh**t.

Why don't you try the leader?

He's the one we gotta get.

You didn't hit him square, son.

They're turning on us.

Hyah!

Hey, hey, hey, wait!

Hyah, hyah!

Get up there, you little fool!

Oh, he's bad off.

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

We'll have to rig a litter.

Cut of some of those branches.

Millard, give him a hand.

Doesn't seem to be
any broken bones.

I don't see how that can be,

unless the tree protected him
more than I thought.

He's mashed up inside, bad.

Ain't no use fooling
yourself, Flint.

He ain't gonna make it.

I never figured anything
could k*ll him.

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

You don't think he could hang on

till we reach the fort?

Not a chance
in the world, Flint.

He couldn't even
stand to be moved.

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

here waiting while Cliff dies.

No, I don't intend to.

This is Sioux territory.

The sooner we get out of it,

the better off we'll be.

All right, Major,
you take the train on.

I'll stay here with him.

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

I can't just leave him
here to die.

I know how you feel, Flint,

but I gotta get this
wagon train through.

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

That's long enough
for a party of Sioux

to catch up with you.

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

I've got to stay.

Might be days.

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

All right, Flint. You stay.

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

We'll stay here for the night.

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

How's he getting along?

Not so good.

That's bad.

Is he conscious?

Not yet.

Anything I can do?

Ain't nothing anybody can do.

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

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

Kind of took a shine
to the fellow.

I'd be obliged for the company.

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

Leave a barrel of water
and some food.

Pass the word on
we roll at dawn.

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

You reckon the Sioux
would spot us

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

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

You stay here in case
he needs something.

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

Cliff.

Cliff.

Oh...

Listen to me, Cliff.

Where's... that hurts.

You're dying, Cliff.

You haven't got a chance.

The goldmine, the mine,
where is it?

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

Mine... what mine?

Where is...

Where is the whiskey?

Give me my whiskey!

Give me my mine!

Well... oh...

How is he?

He was making a fuss.

Out of his head.

He kept talking about whiskey.

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

Not Cliff.

He said something
about his mine, too.

When he stops talking
about his mine,

then we'll know he's dead.

I was wondering, he...

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

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

It don't hardly seem right,

all that gold just
laying out there somewhere.

I better go have a look at him.

You think he'll
last much longer?

I don't see how.

He's barely breathing.

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

How you making it, partner?

Me insides hurt.

You just try
and go back to sleep.

What's the matter?

He was coughing.
I went in to check.

How is he?

I swear if I don't think

the old buzzard's
getting stronger.

Don't kid yourself, Flint.

You know he hasn't got a chance.

I know it and you know it,

but maybe nobody told him.

Cliff, wake up!

Can you hear me, Cliff?

What do you want?

I want to know
where that mine is.

Mine?

Don't play possum with me.

Where is it?

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

Get out, Craig.

I-I thought I heard him moaning.

Get out.

I guess he's all right now.

Are you all right, Cliff?

No, I ain't.

But I ain't gonna die, neither.

Do you want anything?

A little water, maybe.

I guess I ain't so good at that.

Try and lie quiet.

I'll get you water.

Come here, Craig.

I said come here.

Now, wait a minute, Flint.

We can't let that mine
die with him.

We could split... Shut up.

I ought to beat you
right into the ground.

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

Flint... I said shut up!

Sit down.

You're stirring up the dirt.

How long are we gonna
hang around here?

We just have to wait and see.

That's what you said
three days ago.

And I meant it.

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

I think maybe you're right.

How about giving me back my g*n

just in case anything happens?

Nothing's gonna happen, Craig.

CLIFF: Flint? Hey, Flint?

How do you feel?

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

How do you think I feel?

You're sounding better.

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

but I don't figure I will

as long as you
keep me here starving.

Ain't there no food
around this layout?

You're not ready for
any heavy eating.

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

Well, get at it!

There ain't no nourishment
in conversation.

All right.

How you doing?

Hungry. I told you that once.

You gonna let me starve?

I fed you four cups
of soup already.

Don't you remember?

No.

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

I think you're
too ornery to die.

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

Manson.

Yeah, I remember something.

Shaking me.

It hurt bad.

He won't bother you any more.

Mighty fine friends you pick.

Now, get outside
and get yourself some air.

You've been stuck
in here all night.

Well?

That old buzzard's
no closer to dying

than you and I are.

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

That's right.

That might be days.

Just so he gets well.

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

What good is he?

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

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

and when we leave,
we're leaving together.

Flint, look! The Sioux.

Looks like our luck's
about to change.

He'll be back
with plenty of others.

We gotta get out of here.

Cliff isn't ready to travel yet.

Then we'll have to leave him.

Forget it, Craig.

What chance will we have
if they come back?

What chance would Cliff
have if we left him?

Is it morning?

Yeah, it's morning.

'Pears I ain't a corpse yet.

No, but you may not
have long to wait.

Shucks, what kind
of talk is that?

I feel right pert.

I've done a fool thing
that's apt to k*ll us both.

What are you gabbing about?

I got careless
with Craig Manson.

He slugged me during the night

and made off with the
horses and the g*ns.

We're stranded.

I warned you about him.

He's lower than a snake's belly.

To make it worse,

we've been spotted by the Sioux.

Well.

Let's get moving.

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

Don't worry about me.

I feel fine.

Just...

Sore all over.

Gotta move around
a bit, that's all.

Take it easy.

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

Oh...

Let's get outside

and let me see something else

beside this here tent.

I never said I like you, Grundy.

You're supposed to be dead.

Flint, boy...

a woman told me one day

I was half bear and half devil.

I don't doubt but
what she was right.

Anyways, I'll tell you this...

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

before I get back to
my little old goldmine,

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

of this here mess
I've got us into.

The nearest settlement's
Fort Varney.

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

You think you can try that?

How 'bout them Sioux?

I don't know.

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

I've been expecting
yesterday's visitor

back at any time...
with friends.

I hope not.

There's nothing much we can do

but throw sand at them,

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

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

Mr. McCullough, would
you care to join me

in a little stroll to nowhere?

That reminds me...

Once...

Once I was face to face
with a grizzly.

There I was...

You better save
your breath, Cliff.

We've got a long way to go.

Flint?

Yeah?

How come you did it?

Did what?

Stayed with me.

Maybe I'm after your goldmine.

Flint?

Yeah?

If I had it in my pocket,

you could have it.

I know that.

How far have we come now, Flint?

About 12 miles.

That's all, huh?

That's it.

Cliff, if you could make it,

we could cut across
that high range.

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

Sure thing, boy.

I reckon you must
be getting beat.

That's right.

Hey, Flint, take
a look at them clouds!

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

Those don't look
like rain clouds to me.

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

This wind makes it
like walking uphill.

You want to rest a while?

Not here.

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

You thinking what I'm thinking?

I sure am.

I've been caught in these
mountain storms before.

We gotta get out of this pass.

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

Grab onto my belt.

Let's get behind this rock.

You all right?

Just pooped.

Boy...

I sure could use me
a mouthful of water.

If I ever get my hands
on Craig Manson,

I'm gonna tear him apart.

Save some for me.

Remember during the w*r
when we was taking

them army wagons
across the river

and the river was all swoll up?

I never saw so much
water in all my life.

I think I swallowed
half the river

when my horse stumbled.

Good thing you were
handy with that rope.

Heh, shucks, boy.

You was carrying my tobacco.

I couldn't afford to lose it.

Cliff, tell me something.

Ever since I've known you,

you've been prospecting
from here to nowhere.

Why?

Money never meant
anything to you.

Listen, boy.

It ain't finding the gold...

that's important...

it's the looking.

Most folks go through life

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

No ups, no downs,

just drifting along.

For me...

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

It's the not knowing

whether I'm gonna come up with

just plain mud or...

some of that yellow stuff.

That's living.

Maybe so.

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

But you've found it.

A lot of good it's gonna do you,

though, if we don't get going.

I'm tired.

Thirsty.

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

Up...

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

I've been through here before.

I hope so, son.

I sure hope so.

How much further, Flint?

Just over the rise.

Oh...

Come on, Cliff.

We can't stop now.

We gotta keep going.

Go on, boy.

What?

Old Cliffy can't go no more.

You've got to.

No, boy.

I'm all give out.

Gotta stay here.

Listen, Cliff,
we're gonna make this.

We'll find some water.

No.

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

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

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

You know, Craig Manson
was right about you.

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

and not worth saving, anyway.

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

You did this, you did that.

You've done nothing but sh**t
off your mouth your whole life.

As soon as things get tough,

you lie down and cry
like an old woman.

Go ahead and die if you want to.

You know what's wrong
with you, Grundy?

You're yellow.

You got a streak down
your back a mile wide,

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

You see, you old buzzard?

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

You crow-baiting scarecrow.

I oughta bust your head open.

Good, but...

but not until
we get to Fort Varney.

You need your hat.

We can hole up here.

That sounds...
sounds good to me.

Yeah, we can rest
here till morning.

Come daylight,
we'll find another stream.

Yeah.

How far...

you figure Fort Varney is?

Not sure.

Maybe three days.

Three?

Boy, we'll never make it.

Yes, we will.

If we could only
get over that ridge.

How much time would we save?

Day and a half.

It's too high.

Flint?

Yeah?

I got an idea.

Why don't you
cut across that ridge,

get to Fort Varney,

and then send back for me.

Forget it.

When we get to Fort Varney,

we'll get there together.

No sense being stubborn, boy.

I could wait here
nice and comfy.

Huh-uh.

I said forget it.

Now, you get some rest.

We've got a hard day tomorrow.

Yeah. Real hard.

Cliff!

Wake up, Cliff.
You're not dreaming.

Cliff, you hear me?

You hear me?

Cliff, you hear me?

Cliff!

Cliff!

Cliff!

Cliff!

Cliff!

Cliff!

Grundy!

Grundy, you old buzzard,
come on out!

I'm not leaving here
without you anyway,

so come on out!

I know you're
around here somewhere,

and I know what you're doing.

Flint, behind you!

We better get out of here.

Them critters travel in pairs.

Ought to leave you
here for the other one.

What do you mean,
running out on me?

I was giving you a chance.

I ain't doing nothing
but holding you back.

Making me tromp
around these mountains...

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

Flint...

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

We're going
to Fort Varney together.

You get a bellyful
of that rainwater last night?

Heh, yeah.

Pure, wet manna.

Son, y-you should've left me.

We gotta keep going, Cliff.

Should've left me.

Horses, Cliff.

I hear... I hear horses, Cliff.

Someone's coming.

You should've... left me.

Yes, sir.
Beats me how you did it.

Lucky for you
those missionary Indians

happened along when they did.

I never figured
the day would come

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

Tell you the truth,
I never thought

we'd be drinking at all.

Well, enough of this
shilly-shallying.

We wasted too much time already.

Any strangers
passing through lately?

Anyone in particular
you had in mind?

Yeah, fellow by
the name of Manson.

Craig Manson.

Don't think so.

Nobody by that name, anyway.

Friend of yours?

Yeah.

You might put it that way.

What does he look like?

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

How old?

He's not old. Young fella.

Where'd you get that r*fle?

Which one?

The .44 Henry.

It's mine.

Take a look at the stock.

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

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

What did you do, sell it?

No. How'd you get it?

Man rode in here the other day.

He had this r*fle.

Where is he?

He's still around.

Would you like to see him?

Yeah, we'd like nothing better.

He rode in yesterday

with a festering arrow
in his back.

I did the best I could, but...

is that your friend?

Yeah, that's him.

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

If one of you had been with him,

he'd've had a chance.

That's right, mister.

You'll never know
how sorry we are

we got separated.

You say he rode in?

On a chestnut gelding.

It's over in the livery stable.

Been holding it for my bill.

My services, including
a decent burial,

are $9.

That include the g*n?

You're the man
with the goldmine.

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

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

You're gonna register
that claim?

About that goldmine...

I didn't mean no mineral type.

I met me a widow woman,

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

and rich too, smart.

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

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

if I can.

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

Maybe that's
the best kind there is.

Well, take care of yourself.

Say, did I ever tell
you about the time

I was all alone in the desert

with 100 Indians and 10
mountain lions chasing me?

No, you didn't.

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

with 100 Indians
and 10 mountain lions.

Poor old Cliff couldn't
have lasted this long.

Wonder where the devil
that McCullough went to.

Speak of the devil,

there he is now, big as life.

Howdy, Wooster. Howdy, Major.

How's your back?

Never mind my back.
Where've you been?

You took long enough
burying your pal.

What'd you do, build
him a monument?

Did he go hard, Mr. McCullough?

Stop blaming yourself, boy.

I don't bury my pals, Major.

I take them
to the nearest saloon.

What's that supposed to mean?

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

Well, where is he?

What kept you so long?

Major, I ever tell you
about the time

that I was lost
in the desert with 100 Indians

and 10 mountain lions
chasing me?

Come back here, McCullough!

McCullough!