01x38 - The Monty Britton Story

[bunniefuu]

You boys.

Are. Mrs.

Sumter.

I think we better wait

a couple of days
before we use any water for washing.

All right, Major.

We'll have water by that time.

I'm. I'm sorry, Mrs. Sumpter.

I understand

how much longer
we're going to have to stay here, Major.

Nothing but sand and wind, Mr.

Carr.

And we're going to stay here
till I give the order to move.

In the meantime,
you just save all the water you can.

I ain't much left to be saved.

I don't know,

Major.

Yes, Mr.

Britton.

How long do you think you can keep
these people from knowing?

Knowing what

will show the water

next to the springs up ahead of dry.

You figured that out for yourself.

But tell us. Two days overdue.

If there was water, dry
wash should have been back in the day.

You seem to know a lot
about this country, Britton.

I see maps.

You're in the army, huh?

I didn't say that.

But just about the only people
that have seen maps of this area.

Surveyors and soldiers.

I picked you for a soldier.

First time I laid eyes on you.

Could be.

I was a surveyor.

Could be.

Were going to get rain to.

Desert under glass.

And the champagne's been chilled.

We'll still have rabbit still.

But nice, big, fat rabbits, Marty.

Could try as many.

Might be more trouble.

It's not just me this time.

All of us,

honey.

Is a piece of meat.

The problem is buried.

Last is we don't need your charity, Mr.

Roman.

I'm sitting in my chair

for you.

Doing me a favor, man.

Traveling alone
like I am by much of a cooking this meat.

And you soon is going to spoil for sure.

That's very thoughtful of you, Mr.

Redman.

Now, look.

When you joined the train a month ago,
I told you my name.

Was gone.

Well, it still is here now.

Well,
all right, if you'll share it with us.

Thanks. Pretty sure I. Didn't count on it.

Why do you always show up at mealtime?

If I need to draw any more water,

that's plenty for two.

I'm not hungry.

I want to cause trouble
between a man and his wife, Betty.

We'll, uh.

We just might do some of the time.

Come on.

Yeah. Sure.

I think you got something done, James.

It didn't salute me.

No, sir.

I thought you suit me first.

It's just the other way around.

The junior officer salutes the senior
and the lieutenant salutes the captain.

Salutes a major. Major. Say so, Colonel.

That's right. Now you got it.

Come on, T.J..

Our pleasure, sir.

Yes, Master.

Yes, Miss

Collins.

Who brought it? Hey.

Left shoulder. Hey,

that's a man who never wore a uniform.

That's what he says.

You were in the manual of arms
farming in a mormon country.

I'd say he's like you.

And he could be.

I suppose

there's only one reason a man hides
the fact he's been in the Army.

That's cause they're looking for.

There something funny about him.

Monty Britain's a deserter, Major.

Still means a lot to you, doesn't
it, Marty?

What about you?

I've forgotten the army.

That makes two of us.

I wouldn't
care if I never saw another soldier.

I'm afraid we're going to have to.

There's no water.

Dry wash. McCullough
would have been back here by now.

I'm afraid he hasn't
had any better luck at Crystal Springs.

I mean,

there's just one place
this train can go for water.

Fort Paiute.

If you'd like that.

Wouldn't.

Only it's my home.

My father told.

You I don't want to talk
about your father.

How long you going to go

on torturing yourself this way?

The rest of my life.

You knew that when you came with me.

How does it look, Major?

Yeah, That's a good.

I'm not worried about our people here,
but I am about McCullough.

What do you figure happened?

Oh, I knew the water was low.

That's why I sent him up.

I didn't think it would be that low.

You want me to go look for him?

No. But I need you here.

This job puts a spook.

It's a bunch of long range.

You drop a tin cup
and they're liable to stampede.

Major, why don't we just push on?

Well, you know where the water holes are.

Nope. Well, neither do I.

So we'll just.

Wait for.

McCullough.

Major,

what kind of shape are we really in?

Bill, I figured we had three
good chances for water,

dry wash, lava basin and crystal wells.

They would reflect

what's going to go on in the Fort Paiute
and try to give some help for us.

I guess now that he's gone on to the fort
and if he didn't,

if he didn't,

we got more trouble than we can handle.

Cliff

Flint.

Flint.

Here.

Flint,

Table.

Here.

All of the.

Boys k*lled by Flint.

Please listen to me. What do you.

Flint Adams

told me.

You all dry

springs

cause you.

I asked you and we got a right to know.

Sure.

We're low on water.

Did I say we weren't with the major?

What do you expect on the desert?

I expect you to keep moving
and get across it.

If we don't move soon, I'm
going out alone.

You go right ahead, Mr.

Callan. Go right on out there.

We all stay together.
That's one thing we will do

as he did.

No. But he might as well be

there as I could make out
from what he was able to tell me.

He lost his horse, poisoned water.

He was trying to get back here.

I'll go get some help.

No spook.

These are.

People are liable to panic if they know
what happened because nobody else.

Only hitch up my team.

Bring the wagon around this side.
The North Croatian camp.

I'll meet you there.

All right.

Charlie.

Hey. Yeah. Hey.

You suppose
he wants us to hook up the team

and pull away and outside the circle
he wants. What?

You heard me. What does he want that for?

I don't ask any questions.
Just do as he says.

Those are his orders.

And you know better than to question
the orders of a major.

Well, that's a hard life.

But if a man is lucky enough
to have you for a life, where are you?

You want something here, Mr.

Redmond?

He was just visiting Marty.

Being friendly.

I'm always curious about folks.

I like to know what.

They've done for
they joined up with the train.

It tells you what we did
when we joined the train in Salt Lake.

We tried. Farming.

We failed.

The exception was being from Salt Lake.

That makes us just about the same
as everybody else.

On the strength.

To me,

I was a soldier,

served my head all the way.

You ever sold your mind in Britain? No.

And maybe just as well.

You might not like it.

Some don't,
and they try to. Run out on it.

And business.

They never make it.

There's a bounty on deserters,
and there's always somebody looking to.

Collect that bounty.

I seen a deserter shot once.

Give this back to the white boy.

He's losing.

He's in easy.

Out of his head.

Bill.

Listen, you and Charlie guard this way.

Anybody around here?

As long as he's ready to make this.

All right, sir.

We got a right to know
what's going on, Major.

We want to know why you pull your wagon
out of line.

You just keep still a minute, Mr. Turner.

I'll tell you.

Fred McCullough is back.

Everything's all right.

He's picked up some kind of a sickness,
and I don't know yet what it is,

So I'm going to keep him away
from the other wagons for a few days.

It might be a touch of cholera.

He'll be all right.

So will everybody else.

As long as you just stay away from him.

Did he find any water?

This is the longest dry
pull on this whole trip.

And you all knew it.

You know, it wouldn't be easy,
but not one of you wanted to turn back.

We couldn't now.

Even if we wanted to.

I told you that I'd get you to California.

And that's exactly what I intend to do.

But you'll take orders from me.

Every one of you.

We've got full faith in you, Major.

Thank you, Reverend.

You get it right now.

Everybody's going to turn in
every drop of water you've got left.

We'll put it in one central place
and share and share.

Like.

A Paul.

I imagine.

I've been thinking the same thing
about you.

Don't try to carry it all alone, Major.

I'd be a poor preacher
if I couldn't sense trouble.

Well, tell me how bad,

Reverend.

There's no water ahead.

I've got to get a man to Fort Paiute
where they can get water wagons to us.

Say, PA stocks,
and we'd never make it there.

If you're looking for volunteers.

Thank you, Reverend, but no,

you'll do more good here.

These folks are going to need you.

Where we get out of this.

Who knows how to get to the fort?

Only one man on this train,
as far as I know.

We cut off

the road. Now.

He doesn't even know his own name.

And I'll take over, soldier.

I told you before, Reverend, I'm a farmer.

So my.

Who are lots of farmers at Shiloh?

Save you Talk for those who want it

and others.

Save it for those who need it.

Just something you want to tell me? Yes.

Leave me alone.

All right.

First time for water.

Call One quarter cup per person.

Let's face it, Major.

We're not going to get out of this alive.

None of us.

Go get your water.

All right, folks.

Line up right up here.

Water, Charlie.

One quarter cup from first.

No more

that you were supposed to be over giving
the preacher hands the water barrels.

Oh, yeah. I must have dozed off.

You mean a major?

Yeah. No,

I don't see how a man should get
any lower.

Redmond's

certain from the Army Might be one way.

There's only a couple in that county.

I'm traveling alone. I only get one share.

Of the measure decides to sh**t you.

I doubt I'd tell him if I was you.

My proven best.

Your wife don't object
to drinking out of my canteen.

You're a liar. Am I?

Well, she's only human.

She is just as thirsty.

The rest

and just Islamism.

Well, just don't tell them.

What to do.

Ended up.

Turning loose. Bill

back here.

Wagon Britain.

That's an order of soldiers.

Word of a company.

One measly quarter of a cup.

Yesterday was a half a cup.

That was yesterday.

What do you think?

You're going to get out. Cut it out.

Get back in line.

Next, man.

You cause any trouble around
here? I'll do it. Of water.

I mean, that.

I mean.

It ain't fair.

Me and my man have two barrels of water.
We deserve more.

Lady, you heard what the major said

late last night.

Shake your

damn body.

We can't go on being alone forever.

You know what it would be like?

No friends.

A friend or somebody who considers it

his right to pry into your past.

Sergeant Major Adams and the others.

Look at me.

They're calling you a deserter.

And you're letting them believe that.

Lady, why don't you tell them the truth?

Your father's a West Point Major.

You're an Army brat.

Your whole life has been on me.

And you ask me why.

But just this rejection of everything
and everybody.

I think it's the other way around.

You saw what happened back there.

Everybody fighting for water.

Like a bunch of animals.

Look, I know how Major Adams feels.

I know how my own father would feel.

Do you?

Well, my father was in command.

What choice did he have?

None.

And why must you blame him for every.

Because even a major can make a mistake.

I'm looking for a major who can admit it.

My father wouldn't admit it
if he knew he was wrong.

I don't. Know, buddy.

Marnie.

He didn't know he did what he had to do.

He threatened to sh**t me on sight.

I forget to tell you

I could get those water wagons back here

on time

as people over there send me.

But world.

What are you doing here,

Flint?

Understand me?

When you were in real trouble,
I've got to get a man to Fort.

PIO to get help for us to get water.

Now, can a man make it to Fort Piatt?

Do you understand me?

I ain't got there

right.

I know.

I had a knife,

and I. And.

And they made me

plenty.

Hear me? Can you give me the landmarks?

Flint, listen to me.

Can you give me any landmarks?

Stop it by easy

rhythm.

This wagon's off limits for you.

Get on back to camp.

I want to talk to you.

Imagine you can talk to me back in camp.

I told you, the wagon's off limits.

You want to expose yourself to cholera?

The kind of cholera
he's got isn't catching.

What do you want?

I told
you, I've seen maps of this territory.

And I told you you were army.

You couldn't be wrong, could you?

I could be, but I'm not.

No, you're a major.

But look.

Why don't you say what you got

in your mind, soldier?

I was isn't important.

But what I know is.

On. Your overstate, Major.

You got one chance left.

A man who knows this country best
was on the train.

Two canteens of water.

That man might be able
to make it to the fall.

I can bring you help and time.

Yeah.

I'm the wrong man.

With the best horse in camp.

And two canteens of water
might just keep on riding.

It might at that.

You want to forget I said that?

No. Then don't.

I'll be in my wagon if you want me,

sir. Well,

I guess I'd better go check on McCullough.

I can't just volunteer.

Can you understand that?

A man has to feel that he's wanted.

That he's needed,

even at a time like this.

I have to have that.

And you understand?

I understand

the army.

I love you so much.

It's good to be wanted

to be needed.

It's going to be all right, lady.

You can start a new life in California.

I know we can.

I don't know if it'll be any easier
than it has been, but

I'll try harder,

I promise you

both try.

We just love each other enough.

And, like, talk to you a minute.

Yes, sir.

You sure you know the way to Fort Paiute?

Yes, sir.

Along with me,

Bridger.

Tell you

if you wanted to see me.

That's all

I got.

I have a man to go to Fort Pyle.

I picked you.

You were a soldier.

You served in Arizona,
and you know, the desert written here.

I'll tell you the way

he made you.

I don't know this country.

I just told you.

But I'll give you the landmarks.

The best. Harrison Camp.

Two canteens of water.

You can make it

here.

Why me?

I ain't the only man in camp.
What's the matter?

You worried, Mr. Redmond?

That's easy for you to say, but.

Name sending you.

I got your number.

And you know you like to see me out
on that desert, wouldn't you?

Well, I'll do my share.

Made you like I always done.

I ain't taking direction from no deserter,

and neither will anybody else in camp
when I know what you are.

Ready?

I don't. Look at me.

Measured.

You're in command, sir.

But why, Marty?

Why? Why?

I should. I know why.

It's a major, isn't he?

Well, I have a claim to be able
to figure it out.

You a brass band?

Army commanders.

Not an easy thing. Money.

You of all people should know that.

Well, I'm
sure the major must have a good reason.

But all I know is I'm sick of command and
I'm sick of regulations and everything.

I stand for army,
so I know something about army.

Keep your mouth shut.

Never volunteer for anything.

That's what I know.

Well, I haven't got any more ideas,

Major.

I'll go if you want me to.

Reverend,
you can't go any more than I can.

I'm sure you've heard
of the curse of command, Evans.

You know.

You and I fight in different armies,
Major, but we've got the same problem.

You decided yet who's going to go?

No, I haven't.

Making decisions.

There's a mighty lonesome job, Reverend.

I hate to be

wrong in my judgment of any man.

I was really surprised.

About Redmond.

Young.

He stood this trip
better than anybody else.

And he's got no family.

That's it. Reverend.

He's got no family,

you know, And w*r.

There's always a price
on being young and strong and single.

Always has been and always will be.

But it doesn't make an officer feel
any better

about choosing a single man for a job.

I tried talking to Redmond.

You talked to him.

If you, Reverend, just count me. Out.

I I'll take that.

Well, I just saved a few drops as all

people.

And you condemn minded Britain.

I remember you, Colin.

You had big dreams, didn't

you? Tell me.

So does a man's dream
leave him just because he's thirsty?

And you, Ben Johnson.

He wanted to get to California

so you could start a winery.

What do you think?

Those grapes have stopped growing.

And you?

Christ said you wanted to build a hotel.

They need hotels in California now.

And all of you, you're all alive.

You still got your dreams, aren't
they worth fighting for?

Well, then stop this, Tom.

And bickering
and fighting among yourselves.

I've been proud of you people,

every one of you.

I never brought up fighting
a bunch of people across this country.

You're not equipped?

Sure.

You're thirsty, but you're not whipped.

Well, these soldiers up north,
I was thinking.

Get to us.

They will get to us. Reverend
Sumpter here.

He reminded me as something yesterday.

He reminded me
that God Almighty created this desert

the same as he did
the lakes and the rivers

and each and every one of you.

I'm going to ask you to remember that.

Remember that your men.

And women,

dear God,

make us remember

that we're all brothers and sisters

under your heavenly arm.

Marny, we listen to.

You before I'm

through crawling on my hands and knees
and begging a man

just because he's
got a major in front of his name.

That's not the reason. What is it, then?

You told me yourself.

A man has to know he's needed

somebody. I need you.

These people on this train need you.

And I needed them.

What's it been like?

We tried to make a life in Salt Lake.

And what was that like?

Questions and questions
and type of questions.

Could I answer them?

And I haven't been able to answer them.

I think you will someday.

Money

to believe that.

I came with you.

So it was a decision to be made

always.

But I made one once and I was. Wrong.

To go on making decisions.

How commandments is written.

Please come in. Major in Sudan.

Thank you.

Vernon.

Let me know how I hate to ask this of you.

That's not a major.

Have you reached
the. Bottom of the barrel?

Is that what you consider yourself
written?

You asked everybody else,

and now you come to me.

It makes me very proud.

Omani Please.

Let them run to Redmond
is brass bound soldier boy.

What do you want, boy?

What do you expect me to do?

You know what I want, Major?

I want the best horse in this train.

All the water you've got left.

Those are my terms.

I'm not speaking about terms.

Well, I am. And I'm making them.

You said you had.

No idea if I'd ever come back.

Well, what makes it any different now?

I. You know, I won't. Go over that hill.

I'll just keep right on going.

I don't know, soldier.

I don't know.

You're not British.

You had to do it, didn't you?

He had to rub his nose in it.

And that's what he wanted to hear.

Well, he's gone.

All right.

Take our best horse to think
you'll be back. What?

We talked last night.

I'm not so sure.

Get me back, Major. I know he will.

He's gone

last night. Took the rest of the water.

He deserted just like he did
before he deserted the rest of the water.

And he took last of the water.

We're all going to die.

All right. Shut out,

Major luck.

That's a sandstorm.

Current sandstorm,

Right? Already This horse.

They're going to stop.

Get inside of your wagons.

Everybody is waiting for you.

All right, Now, here, take.

This is pretty back. Boy.

We're now

I'd like to better
before you try to Down is dragging me to

you. Don't get me a pretty Mr.

Mustard, though.

I'm not going to get sick again.

He tells me it's been three days.

It seems like more fair.

All I can say is
that by the time you get back on the job.

That's why don't we go?

No. I thought we had enough
for one more day.

We did, Charlie,

but Britain took the last of it with him.

Then was a deserter like we thought.

We don't know that.

I'd like to think because of his wife,

if for no other reason, that he would try
to get through to the fort.

And what do you think a man's chances are?

I know a lady

with a fresh horse and plenty of water.

I'd rather stay here

in this kind of weather.

It's got a chance in a million.

Britain.

You're all right,

sir. I'm all right.

And you care to tell me
about your husband?

He was an officer, not a deserter.

Lieutenant Monte Briton,

not a West Pointer.

He did it the hard way.

A mustang major,

a line officer

commissioned for bravery in the fields.

And what happened.

And gets back.

You had to tell you that himself.

Well, life was hope.

So I'm down to platitudes.

Major Herman,

what kind of a man you think

money Britain is?

He's as heard a man as I ever knew.

It's a dead person.

Lay down inside,

so sore and raw and real

that even his own wife couldn't do that.

That's what I figured.

You know,

I don't think it really matters much.

But a man has been.

Does it?

It never matters, Major.

The only thing that matters is
what a man is.

Yeah.

All right.

Here comes up.

McCullough.

He's got the constitution of a horse
and less brains.

You have not even be out of that way.

What the devil are you doing out here?

You know, you shouldn't be up and around.

Kind of foolish
to be worrying about my health, isn't it?

Take a look.

My eyes are pretty sunburned.

It could be a mirage.

When I was on that rock

over across the wash,

some dust,

maybe some dust made by some wagons.

Like I said, it could be a mirage.

Yeah, I see what you think.

And I hate to say, Major,

and I can hope

and I can pray.

It couldn't be just the devil twisting.

Yeah,

Devil Christian, maybe.

But until they prove me wrong,

I'm going to stick to the other extreme.

And try these on those sunburned eyes of.

Yours.

Well,

you know, Major,

when we get to Sacramento,
I'm going to buy you a long,

cold drink.

You know something else?

I wasn't worried one little bit.

You were selling.

To try to slept all through this
like you did.

I wouldn't have been worried about eating.

Oh, Major Clinton, who's in charge?

I am Seth Adams.

And I'm sure glad to see you, Major.
That Well?

Well, I'm rising lines.

I've only so much water,
I'll demand strict discipline.

Adams, You get it.

Ready.

I have a sick man.

Sergeant

Chrissy, give me a hand here.

Right over here, man

Yes, ma'am.

I never saw anything like it, sir.

You come to that sandstorm
looking like a ghost.

We hadn't had a drop of water.

We figured
you must have give it all to his horse.

And he insisted on coming back with us.

Acted like he just had to prove something.

That's.

I don't blame him for wanting to get back.

I don't. We all, Sergeant?

Yes, sir.

I said some harsh things,
but I'd like to know you both.

Forgive me.

It's a brave thing he did.

He's the same man I married, Bobby

Petty.

My whole family was army disgrace.

He brought on us.

And then he took you away from me.

He didn't take me away.

I went with him because I wanted to.

And I'll stay with him
for the same reason.

Madge, it looks to me like we're going

to have to save money, Burton,
for saving our lives.

Yes, I suppose.

There's no suppose about it.

I know.

So. He's Lieutenant Monte Burton now.

Night is us.

Was is a man with a yellow ticket. Oh.

Dishonorable discharge, huh?

What happened

is first command,
the senior officer k*lled

Monte, pulled back, the enemy, turned

his flank, his entire troop
wiped out to the last man.

And Burton took the blame.

It was caught myself.

He was found guilty,
given a dishonorable discharge.

He ran in the face of the enemy.

Did he?

Was he just obeying the last
orders of his senior officer?

Orders?

That happened to be wrong?

I think I haven't asked myself that,

Major.

I don't think there's ever been a court
martial that couldn't be reviewed.

As you

review would have been automatic.

He disappeared.

I didn't even know where to find him.

This pride got in his way.

They always told me that.

A man had to have.

Tried to be a good.

Officer,

that he.

Well, Charlie

wants to give us a hand and Lieutenant

get him back in.

His wagon is going to need
a lot of rescue.

Care before he goes back on active duty.

And here.

He is.

Hey, stop.

California. No.