04x12 - The River Crossing

[bunniefuu]

I don't like the looks of that sky.

I don't like the looks of this river.

We could be in for a tugboat.

I never did like this little river.

It's oriented

around 50 more wagons.

We're going to get a cross tonight

and, you know.

I've had nightmares about this river.

Even in sandwiches till you
give me a river any time with rocks and.

At least you see what you're up against
in a river like this.

It's just.
It just even is a no account woman.

You never know what you're up against.

Oh, what are you mumbling about?

Nothing. Nothing.

You remember the Horner wagon, don't you?

Well, it went down right over there.
I know that.

We couldn't save the. Owners
and we couldn't save their stock.

All that.

But that's five years ago.

Well, I forgot who had

a. Car getting darker all the time.

But any minute it goes.

Of course not.

I don't even get

handed my foot.

The Indians call it the Devil River,
don't they?

Halfway across.

Now, Sure.

Be glad when we get across

those wagons.

We're going to have to cross the mountain,
that's for sure.

I'm glad to see him instead of me.

Charlie, take my horse back to the other
side and hold up the rest of wagons.

Tell the folks to come across tomorrow
morning.

Go back. We're halfway across.

Why can't they come across now?

Cause it's
too hard to see quicksand in the dark.

Alternate colors due back tonight.

He can bring them across in the morning.

Well, suppose he don't get back
and you bring them across me.

Cross that river, Charlie.

Now, why don't you just stop arguing
my color?

I will be. Back.

Hey, listen, my color doesn't always get

where he's supposed to
when he's supposed to.

You know, that's. All for now.

Quick. You're arguing with you.

Oh, aren't you getting farther away
from that bank all the time,

Major?

It's almost dark.

That's why I'm trying to get you to hurry.

I'll turn it
now, Flint. We'll wait for you.

Three, five.

Never thought you'd dump me off
in the middle of a river.

And especially this old river.

Oh, don't be such a crybaby.

You've been across this river
a dozen times.

And you're still alive.
Got to complain about inaction.

Go on, get out His one. Go.

But I don't want to get back.

Oh. That blasted river.

God blessed me to do

that. I.

That's just a river.

All right, Charlie, I know where

you always were.

Oh, f*ck it.

Oh, God.

I knew it was going to open up any minute.

What happened?

White social.

Soldiers.

Our warriors got

no. No one to fight.

Don't talk.

See if I can help you.

It's too late.

Are you sure about the soldiers?

Do you not think I know my m*rder*r?

Do you not think that?

Equal. Now

I am.

Why the.

Drink up?

Heavens!

It was a hard night. You deserve it.

Yes, a very hard night.

I always said if I had an Indian post,
I know how to handle them.

The minute there's an incident,
you hit right at them.

And hit hard. Yes.

Excuse me, sir.

I understand you're the new officer
in charge of this post.

I'm Colonel.

Buckner. Colonel,

I've just come from the Comanche
village. Oh.

Do you know that you m*rder*d over
a hundred women and children?

I thought it was closer to 200.

Why did you attack the village?

The Comanches m*rder*d one of my officers
this morning.

I see.

How long have you been out west, Colonel?

A week.

You've got a lot to learn about Indians.

The Comanches
have a lot to learn about me.

Did you know we had a treaty with them?

A treaty that allows them to k*ll
United States Army officers.

A treaty that.

Guarantees the peace.

That says that our differences
will be arbitrated.

I don't arbitrate the m*rder
of one of my officers.

It took 20 years to get that treaty.

And you wipe it out in one week.

How dare you come into my post
and criticize me?

How many men do you command, Colonel?

That's a military secret.
Well, I'll tell you. A hundred.

Exactly. 100.

Have you any idea how many Braves
Doc Eagle commands?

I'm not afraid of Comanches.

If you live long enough, you will be.

This arrow was taken off the

body of my officer,
and it stays on my desk to remind me just.

How he died.

He k*lled 100 Comanches
because of this arrow.

And I'd k*lled 200 more if I had to.

You've got more to learn
than I realized, Colonel.

This isn't a Comanche arrow.

It's Kiowa.

That's

here.

Has any right to leave us like this.

You're
getting ready for wagons to cross tonight.

I sure wouldn't want to go out there
with the major.

Wasn't going to cross us. He's
going to come back and told us what to do.

He sent me a direct order
sending you in the same place.

I don't feel safe. Look out for me, sir.

I don't blame you, ma'am,
but I'll do the best I can.

Make sure to join us tonight.

I made you want to leave
the rest of the train across the US.

Oh, yeah. McCullough. That's our scout.

What are we supposed to do
in the meantime?

I'll make it up to get a good night's
sleep.

During all the time
that river keeps rising

as long as the river is out there and
you're here, I think you'll be all right.

Rain like this.

There's no telling what that river
is going to be like in the morning.

There's nothing we can do about the rain.

But tomorrow we just make till the morning
and sleep well.

I don't like it.

I got a half a mind to start out
right now.

I'd be afraid
that river's full of sandbags.

You can't even see the markers.

That's
why the makers of the crossing tonight

will widen the bay to come back with you.

Because my color is going to be here.
He knows more about the river Holland.

All McCullough.

McCullough. Supposed to be here.
Why is he here?

What kind of an officer made you run it?

Don't you worry about coming here,

Brewster.

Oh, I didn't know anybody was asking
me. I'm just getting a little water.

Make some coffee. All right.
This is the hardest hit.

And they know Ray

Thomas is a flash, but I'm sure glad
we just had to cross that river tonight.

No sign of a cellar? No,
but he'll be here.

What if he doesn't get here?

Well, I'll take it from myself.

I hope he gets it.

Me too.

Even Charlie.

The river will be.

Ready in just a minute.

Major,

Where is the major?

Just across the coffee.

That's a good place for him.

I'm sorry, Charlie, but I got to wake him.

Yes, Major. Yes,

McCullough.

I knew you'd get back
first. Imagine, he's across the river.

We'd have to train.

You've got to take the rest.
Of course. In the morning.

You wake
everybody up. We're leaving right now. We?

Just a minute.

You better take a look at that river
first. Come on, Charlie.

Run for you.

See what you mean? To

try to figure that a river
can rise that much in such a few hours?

Well, it's always been a dangerous river.

You remember that haunted wagon, don't
you remember?

I don't want to try to pull it up.

Take a piece of wagon float.

Naturally

not. It's a large,

but one of this high.

Charlie, you can't see.

The Marcus will never know
where the quicksand is. Sure is dark.

And it sure is.

You color.

That's right. Well, I'm job is more.

Can you get us across that?

But tonight, what kind of an outfit
is a major running train?

Split up
half over here and half over there.

The major usually knows what he's doing.

Well, I want to get with the others.

I don't like. This kind of business.

There's safety in numbers. Suppose
we were to get in trouble.

With the Indians?
You don't have to worry about that.

This is Comanche country
we've got a treaty with.

And I still want to get with the others.

The longer we. Wait, the worse
this is going to be.

We got to wait
on. We can see where we're going.

Don't we flinch?

That's right. Charlie, what's the matter?

You're afraid?

Yeah.

That's one way of putting us.

That's all we need.

You don't know what you're talking about.
You don't know that river.

I know the Major crossed here
a few hours ago.

Now, why can't we?

Because we have to do what Flint says.

That's why. Because he's in charge.

Well,
I'm going to talk to some of the others

and see what
they got to say about that. How?

You better not fool around.
That's too much, mister.

You'll find out you fell off
more than you can sh**t.

And I lose

broken things.

Scott of the Pony.

Has come to warn his white brother.

The whole Comanche nation
raised with darkness.

They will avenge their women and children.

I was at the village,
the Comanche Burn Army post.

k*ll everyone, their whole post.

Now they ride toward the river.

They will be here by dawn

too. My brother offered in French.

You're looking for me, Mr.

Moore.

You get my family out of here.

I'm not waiting to be scared
by the Comanches for my country.

Like everybody. Wake up in here. Wake up.

We had a crush ready for daybreak
when he went to his Wake

Island.

What's going on out here?

It's all right, Charlie.
Why don't you tell him what just happened?

Get back to your wagon, Moore.

The Comanches are on the warpath.

They burned the army camp.

That's all I know. I'm afraid
that's true, Charlie.

You said we had a treaty
with the Comanches.

The army broke the treaty.

They wiped out an entire village.

That shows you
how much your treaties are worth.

The Indians are going to wipe us out.
If we don't get across that river.

You'll never get across the river tonight.

Why haven't we?

The major made it
now when it was like this.

You want the Comanches
to get your women and children.

You know what's going to happen to them?

Can you guarantee their safety?

McCullough I can't guarantee anything,

but I'm telling you,
you'll never get across the river.

How are you going to avoid the quicksand
of You can't even see the markers?

I don't know,
but I'm not waiting any longer.

I'm crossing
anybody that wants to come along with me.

It's more than welcome to it.

Anybody who wants to wait for
the Comanches, You're welcome to do that.

Oh, all.

So it's true about to come out here.

Yeah, actually, I'm afraid it's true.

But then you can't blame the people
for being afraid.

I don't blame you.

You're not going to let him go out there.
And how am I going to stop him?

I don't know.
You got to do something. What?

A river in front of us.

And the command is coming up behind.
We can't move in the direction.

Well,
maybe we could try to cross the river.

I saw what was left of a wagon train
one time after a Comanche attack

in 20 years ago.

I still remember I was.

Left 20 years ago.

I was a kid taken after Jim Bridger.

Dark Angel was just a boy growing up.

I feel differently
about Indians and graduated.

I hope the dark ego
feels differently about his father.

Lot can change in 20 years.

Well, I hope so.

So I tell you one thing
that hasn't changed, and that's the river.

Now, Comanche isn't that Devil River.

It's a fine choice, ain't it?

I only chance this was the Comanches.

Rule all along.

Take.

I'll say it again more.

You haven't got a chance
of crossing that river.

Yeah,

Yeah.

And easy, boys.

You get up the next

afternoon.

Look out.

Take this one.

Hop it up and

take it easy.

You're getting close to land.

It's like you're going to make it.

And it's like he's stuck in a quicksand.

He sure is. Give me a horse, Charley.

I'm going to need some help.

We go out there, we'll get stuck, too.

We wouldn't stand a chance out there.

He was a fool to go with me. You,

Crockett.

The way

to Davis or style?

You can't move somebody.

We're seeking

somebody

get on.

I'm getting a chance to quit. Joey.

I'm going to let you stay here.

If I don't come back, don't come after me.

Good luck

in the race.

Don't let them fight. No, Just go deeper.

Drop the rain.

Do any chance

get out The rain?

Why doesn't he come up?

Maybe he's come down there

and he after the second fast.

Your only chance is to swim out.

I'll help the lady.

Charley, draw up the boy.

I have to swim out.

Ramp the rope, boys.

Hold on.

Oh, All right.

Come, boys.

Boy. Right.

I want to make it up

my butt.

Let's go.

Look, look.

Get knocked.

She all right?

She's going to be.

All right, folks.

You might as well go back to your wagons.

Nobody else
got to try to cross that river tonight.

I brought you some hot broth, Mrs.

Moore.

You get it? To drink as much as you can.

Jarvis.

I'm sorry, Mrs.

Bligh.

Oh, no. Take

no to that, you boys.

Oh, no, no. She.

Look.

You fellows, look at your mother.

She needs you

to do.

That to someone in your wagon to see.

I had nowhere else to go.

Ironic, isn't it?

You can't stay here.

Where else? That's your problem.

My problem is a responsibility of the
lives of every person on this train.

You any idea what the Comanches
would do to us if they found you here?

Colonel Buckner, Please, sir,
let me explain.

This horse between McCullough and me.

He's not going to turn us out.

I have no other choice.

I'm a white man and I'm in trouble.

We're all in trouble thanks to you.

You know that


standing
between the Indians on this train.

Thanks to you. All right.

I made a mistake.

I admit it.

And I'm sorry for it.

I'm sorry, Colonel.

It's too late to be sorry.

My officer was dead.

He was k*lled right outside
that Comanche village.

How was I to know that? They didn't do it?

You're in command.

It's your job to know.

I had 100 men in my garrison.





I had to teach those Indians a lesson.

You haven't taught them very well.

They're burning the countryside
to the ground, searching for you.

They're savages.

They had to be shown
what would happen if they resisted.

Colonel, for 20 years, the Indians
and the white people in this

part of the country have been looking
for some kind of understanding.

And you've
wiped it out in one single night.

How do you really expect me
to risk the lives

of the people on this train to save yours?

Lieutenant Bevin,

Let's not take up any more Joe.

I didn't know he was wounded.

He's lost a lot of blood.

You know how to take out a b*llet?

Yes, sir.

Flint

boy, you better take it out.

Jim just wrote instead.

There's a large band of Indians
coming our way.

I understand the situation.

You just tell me.
Get the colonel on his horse.

I'll try to find someplace else.

It's too late for that, Lieutenant.

Charlie, get your kit kept up.

The lieutenant take care of the colonel's
will,

Lieutenant.

It's a nasty wound.

It's getting cut
off. You comfortable here?

Shall I

circle
the wagons, get ready for an attack,

Pass out the g*ns and ammunition.

One man

and stupid, thoughtless man.

We got to do something here.

We sit as helpless as dark equals village
and just as innocent.

We got to circle up
and get ready to fight.

Buckner When I think of all the people
who have lost their lives

and all the people who are going to lose
their lives because of buckler, I could.

Why did we take that b*llet out of him?

Why didn't we just let him die?

Why did they send him out here?

Why doesn't the army send
somebody out here in charge of a.

Post who knows what they're doing?
Well, you're in charge.

You've got to tell us what to do.
What do you want me to tell you, Charlie?

Try to get across the river
when you haven't got a chance.

Run for the woods
and get cut down like so much wider.

Circle up 50 wagons
and try to fight 5000 men with 50 men.

What do you want me to tell you?

Before the treaty,

this used to be one of the bloodiest
trenches on the trail.

When I was a kid, Bridger used to.

Tell me stories

about what
the Comanches had done to the white men

and what the white men
had done to the Comanches.

I guess I heard the same stories.

Well, maybe he saw for himself.

I wonder what he's thinking

of. Revenge.

And then the bloodshed and hatred.

Will I begin again
just because of some stupid.

Book and

movies in.

For centuries?

We're done for now.

What are we gonna do.

That circle now?
I'll have to fight from behind the wagons.

We can't fight from behind the wagons.
Look up there.

We're going to die.
We're all going to die.

Davis was right.

Now, wait a minute. Listen to me.

If we keep our heads, we've got a chance
of coming out of this alive.

But if you panic, you're going to die
right here.

What do you want us to do?

Nothing. Nothing. That's what I said.
Nothing.

I want you to go back to your wagons
and act as though everything is all right.

Have you lost your senses?

We've got to put up a fight of some kind.

We haven't got a chance.

If we fight, we're not going to fight.

I know more. About it than you do.

And they respect and admire courage.

We're going to be talking on this Braves
as though everything was all right.

Oh, God help us.

We haven't got a chance at all.

That's what you were really trying to tell
us, isn't it?

No, I'm
telling you that we have a chance. One,

I'm gambling that we still have a treaty
with Doc Eagle.

You're gambling with our lives.

I'm gambling for them.

Well,
the Comanches aren't keeping any treaties.

They've already brought down
the Army post.

We're not the Army.

Now, let's try and convince ourselves
that this is like

any other night in peaceful territory.

Let's look.

What are they going to do?

I don't know.

But what about those army officers?

Let's drag them out here
and turn them over to the Comanche

so they have an attack here.

But what do you think's going to happen
to the train if they see the officers?

Well, what's going to happen?

If they find them. Here,
Maybe they won't find them.

Flints, right? We'd be fools.

Let the Indians know they're here.

Now, go on back to your wagons
and trust me, That's what you pay me for.

Trust me. We have to trust him.

It's all we can do.

We'll have to do it.

You know what's funny?

How a man can keep everything steady
but his stomach.

Tell him every cup of coffee
to his both good.

He's still unconscious.

You're going to turn us over to them.

What would you do, Lieutenant?

I'm glad
I don't have to make that decision.

If you go outside, change your clothes.

I don't want them to split the uniform.

They know we're here. You know that.

We haven't got a prayer.

If you know any prayers,
you might say that

I can use all the help we can get

my first post.

I couldn't wait to get out here.

See the West now.

Doesn't look like I'm going to have
any time to see it when you come out.

Two weeks ago.

Two weeks, huh?

I never even saw
an Indian till two weeks ago.

It's too soon to give up hope, Lieutenant.

They haven't attacked yet.

I've heard tales

about the Comanches skinning men alive.

Don't believe everything you hear.

It's easier

and I've made my decision.

I wonder if Doug Eagles made his.

I don't see no point
in dying on an empty stomach.

No point in dying at all, Charlie.

Until it's time.

You know, my whole life has been passing
before my eyes.

I just remember the Dallas 85 year old
Bill Hawks in the last two Hanafi Plague.

Oh, why don't you write out your will?

You know you still got time.

I've been thinking about the quarrels
I had with a major too

Wishy washy or soggy Thomas. Sorry.

Well,

if you see a chance. I

hate to think of my dying
without a major here to

just don't seem like.

That Lieutenant about to send.

You out there.

Yeah, there are

McCullough.

I don't want you to let them get me,

like, my g*ns over the.

I want you to sh**t me.

You'd be doing both of us a favor.

You know I can't do that.

Lieutenant Burns,

I want you to sh**t me.

You hear what I'm saying to you?

I'm ordering you.

sh**t me.

I'm your commanding officer.

I order you, k*ll me.

Oh, no, sir.

Sorry.

Oh, God.

Let me die.

Die quickly.

Looks almost normal again.

Yeah, I think we can get across, huh?

I don't make a run for it, Charlie.
Nobody.

Let me ask you to do.

Your friend said I'm a hustler. Yeah,

You first.

Gather around, please.

I'd like to talk to you.

The river's down this morning.

I want you all to be ready
to cross at noon.

Well, what about the Comanches?

I'm going to go
talk to Doc Eagle right now.

If I'm not back by noon,
Charlie was to lead you across the river.

You just do as he says
and you'll be all right.

There's one thing I want you to remember.

After the massacres
that you've read about happened,

because somebody got trigger happy.

So even if the Comanches come down here,
keep your hands away from your g*ns.

Your lives may depend on it.

You mean we're supposed to stand by
and let ourselves be k*lled?

No, of course I don't mean that.

But you people have to learn
that every inch.

And you see, it doesn't want to k*ll you.

But the Comanches are on the warpath.

They haven't attacked us.

They attacked the Army post.

They've got a. Score
to settle with the Army.

But as far as I'm concerned,
we still have a. Treaty with them.

And if we fire first, we're breaking it.

Suppose they fire first.

Suppose they don't.

Let's operate on that supposition.

Why don't
we turn the Colonel over to them?

Why should we risk our necks for him?

That's what I say.

We have our children to consider.

Turning the colonel over to the Indians doesn't guarantee the safety of this train.

I want your people to be

ready to cross at noon.

Thanks, Charlie.

Oh. You better take care of this for me.

You sure you know what you're doing now?

But I've got to find out what talkies
I really want.

Doc, you go.

Will.

Doc Eagle, chief of the Comanche
speaking friendship.

Dark Eagle, comes in tribute
to the courage of his brother,

who has entered into a valley of death
alone and unarmed.

The name of Flint
McCullough is not unknown to us.

We are willing to hear what he has to say
in the name of friendship and friendship.

I would remind the chief of the Comanches.

He has a treaty with a white man.
This is a.

Treaty, not Aisha's was not burned by
the white man's army in our own village,

Blood of our women and children
stain the earth.

The anger of Doc Eagle is just.

I can't deny that.

Can you deny that our people are dead?

Because I trusted the white man.

Your village was destroyed
because one man is a

doc. Eagle knows that all men.

Are not created
equal in wisdom, strength or.

Valor.

It is my hope that Doc Eagle is wiser
than the white man.

But he will not answer.

Fire with fire Our blood with blood.

How else can fire and blood?
The answer to.

Today's revenge
may well be tomorrow's execution.

I do not come for vengeance.

I came for justice.

Let me turn the Colonel over to the Army.

He will be tried and sentenced.

I am not here for your white
man's justice.

I demand Comanche justice.

Your colonel has sinned against my people.

I will show the White Army
how we deal with those who betray us.

The Dark Eagle has his, just as will he
allow the wagon train to pass in safety.

We ask one life,
give it to us and cross the river.

You ask for one life.

All right.

I'll give you a life.

The colonel's life.

My own

fishing. PA,

a carnival.

Wonder what

you. Are An Indian scout.

I am chief of an Indian nation.

We each must do what we must do.

No boat.

Stay where you are and keep quiet.

And try not to make a sound.

If my way seems cruel.

Remember the cruelty of the dying
voices of my village

is my way Seems savage.

Remember I take one life and I spare 300

If the lesson I would teach the army
seems hard

to remember the lesson
they came to teach me.

My praise have said to me

k*ll women and children.

Make them suffer as we are suffering.

But I have said to my braves,
and today the whites are the savages.

We are not.

I understand.

If you do.

Then there is still hope
between both our peoples.

My heart weeps for my village

and for a life lost
that was dear to my heart.

I know I buried.

I saw her grave with her name upon it

and I wondered what friend had best.

I will not forget.

Much has changed in 20 years

and much has yet to change.

What good would it do to take your life?

What exchange?

To free a m*rder*r and k*ll a friend

when you are needed

and you are a voice in the wilderness
that speaks to all men?

I wish it was possible
for you to show mercy.

I wish I could.

But I can see no way
to show mercy and gain respect.

I must ask for the army
and the only language they understand.

But, Lieutenant, he has no responsible
for what happened to your village.

That life I will give you, Lieutenant

will not be armed, but he will watch
what happens to his colonel.

And then he will be set
free to tell what he has seen.

I give you this because in the terrible
moments that have been between us,

you have shown courage
that I must respect.

And you have shown kindness
that I must honor.

It will.

If the Great Spirit wills it,
we will meet again.

While we are free to go.


between the Comanches and the river.

But they both subsided and

they ought to be able
to pull up in an hour.

I'm sorry about your husband, Mrs.

Moore,
but as you know, it couldn't be helped.

And as for the colonel,

if any one of you would try to stop
the Comanches, we'd all be dead.

What'll I do to k*ll him?

Deliver him to the nearest army post?

He seems cruel. Yeah.

Yeah, that's cruel.

In darkness, he k*lled the world
live because of his compassion.

He had every opportunity
to avenge the cruelty of the colonel.

But he didn't do it.

He only asked what any court in
this country would have given him.

The life for the m*rder of his people.

And you folks who plan to settle
an Indian country.

It's important that you remember
that we'll never have peace out here

until we realize that an Indian is a man,

not an animal.

They got a river across them.

We said. Well,

carry over.

Move him.

Come on round

here.

McCullough, What happened?

Let me read.

Hold you up as usual, Major.

You're absolutely right.

Come on, get out here.

Yeah, Well, come on now.

What's wrong

on? It's wrong.