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The Undefeated (1969)
[ Bugle Call ]
[ Men Whooping ] [ Whooping Continues ] [ Man ] Fire! Aaah! [ Grunts ] [ Horse Neighing ] [ Grunts, Groans ] Bugler, sound recall! [ Man Approaching On Horse ]|It's over! It's over! Corporal Clemens, sir, from|Masters' Brigade at Dante's Crossroads! Who gave you permission to come|ridin' across the face of my|command yellin' like a fool? - Have you got a message for me|from General Masters?|- Yes, sir. - Deliver it!|- That's it, sir! - The war is over!|- [ Men Cheering ] Lee surrendered to General Grant|in Virginia-- a place|called Appomattox Courthouse! - When?|- Three days ago, sir! [ Cheering Continues ] Three days, huh? General Masters just got word|himself, Colonel Thomas! Our wires were down!|With your permission, sir! Rig up a flag of truce,|Blue Boy! - Short Grub?|- Yo! Let's go! I be a sergeant, sir!|Can I be of any service to y'all? I'd like to talk|to your commanding officer! Who be givin' orders today,Jim? Yes, sir? Major!!! I've just received word that Lee|surrendered to Grant three days ago! - Yes, sir!|- You knew it? We received the news yesterday! I don't think you understand,|Major! The war is over! No, sir! Are you telling me that|you intend to keep fighting? - Haven't we just proven it?|- But why? Because this is our land,|and you're on it! We're all Americans! Yes, sir! That's always been|the saddest part of it! - Good day, sir!|- Colonel. Thank you for your courtesy! Damn! Come on! - Captain Anderson!|- Here, sir! General Robert E! Lee|surrendered! Am I right? Yes, sir! That means that officially we|no longer exist as an armed body, yet everywhere I look here|today I see armed men!!! wearing uniforms|and flying the battle flag! - Get it down!|- Yes, sir! Jamison! Yes, sir? - Take down the flag!|- Yes, sir! All right, people,|now listen to me, all of you! We have about 2,000 miles to go! Seven hundred of them are between|here and the Mexican border!!! and through a Yankee|occupation army! We are not gonna give the lowliest|blue belly we meet along the way!!! any reason to suspect we're anything|but a band ofhomeless pilgrims. Until we cross the Rio Grande,|arms and ammunition will remain|in the bottom of the wagons! You men pack those uniforms away|and wear regular clothing. The poorer looking, the better. Now, once across the border,|we still have another 500 miles to go!!! before we reach|a town called Durango! There we will be met by representatives|of Emperor Maximilian!!! who will escort us to Mexico City! - Captain Anderson!|- Sir? - We leave at midnight!|- Yes, sir! [ Soldiers Singing ]|Hurrah, boys, hurrah Down with the traitor|Up with the star Oh, we'll rally|'round the flag, boys We'll rally once again Shouting the battle cry|of freedom We will rally from the hillside We'll gather from the plain Shouting the battle cry|of freedom The Union forever|Hurrah, boys, hurrah Down with the traitor|Up with the star While we rally|'round the flag, boys Rally once again Shouting the battle cry|of freedom - [ Union Song Continues ]|- I wish I was in the land of cotton Old times there|were not forgotten Look away, look away|Look away, Dixie Land In Dixie Land where I was born Early on one frosty mornin'|Look away, look away Look away, Dixie Land I wish I was in Dixie|Hooray, hooray In Dixie Land|I'll take my stand To live and die in Dixie Away, away|Away down south in Dixie Away, away|Away down south in Dixie Whoa! Ah, Mrs! Langdon!|My name is Benedict! Thad Benedict, late of Pittsburgh,|but now of Natchez! This here's my partner,|Jimmy Collins! Word's goin' around,|Mrs! Langdon, that you people are of a mind|to put your place up for sale! - Is that right?|- I beg your pardon, sir,|but I'm the sister-in-law! I believe you want to speak|to Mrs!James Langdon! Ah, Mrs!James Langdon!|Thad Benedict is my name! I was just telling your sister-in-law|here we heard the place is up for sale! - Is that right?|- No, that is not right, Mr! Benedict! Aw, come on, ladies, we've come|all the way from Natchez!!! just to make you people|a handsome offer. Mind if I get down? Yes, she does.|And so do I. My father restin' over there--|he minds too! Well, well, well, well!|You must be Colonel Langdon! James Langdon? Well, uh, Colonel,|I'm here to do you a favor! Well, let's see now!|Uh!!! Langdon Hall Plantation! Ah, yes, here it is!|Fifteen hundred acres! Is that right? Six hundred acres bottomland,|four hundred in pasture|and five hundred in woods! Two streams, three ponds with|a two-and-a-half mile riverfront! [ Chuckles ]|Nice place! Thank you kindly! I imagine the house could use|a little work, though, huh? It could stand it! Yeah! Well, I'll just|have a look inside! We just swept the floor,|Mr! Benedict! You understand? I'll give you 50 cents an acre!|That's my top offer! You buzzards, you come down here lookin'|to get fat on the misfortune of others! This house is not for sale! Not now, not next year,|not ever! - Colonel, we are businessmen!|- You're trash! Well, well! You're a right|plain-talkin' gentleman, ain't you? You hear what the man|said,Jimmy? Trash! All right, who's|gonna pick your cotton, and who's gonna plow up|all that bottomland out there? And who's gonna chop|the wood when it gets cold? Now, now,Jimmy! No need|to get uppity with the colonel! Sixty cents an acre!|Take it or leave it! -Just like that, huh?|-Just like that! If I was you,|I'd grab it! We're gonna get it|anyway, you know! We'll get the house and every last acre|of land when they put it up for taxes! Oh, I see! And, uh, how do you know it will|be put up for taxes, Mr! Benedict? You went busted outfittin'|that rebel regiment of yours! Now, what do you say? Sixty cents!!! or nothin'! [ Horse Neighing ] Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!|[ Whooping Continues ] This belonged to|Granddaddy Langdon, Horace! I think maybe|he'd want you to have it! Thank you, sir! - Little George!|- Yes, sir? - Bring along that anvil and|as many tools as you can carry!|- Yes, sir! Colonel, anybody goin' with us|talk that there Mexican? Why don't you|stop lookin' at me? I can't, Charlotte! I just can't|keep my eyes off you! Well, you make me uneasy,|Bubba Wilkes, so stop it! You know, I've asked you a dozen times|to marry me, and you've never answered! I'm too young to marry! No girl who looks the way you do|is too young to marry! Well, I am! If you don't|believe me, you can ask my daddy! Ask your daddy! Your daddy knows there's|no man better suited to marry you-- Charlotte. Maybe you'd better go on up|to the house and help your mother! Maybe you'd better go on up|to the house and help your mother! - You're a good junior officer,|Bubba Wilkes!|- Thank you, sir! - Don't let anybody tell you you're not!|- No, sir! But as a young man!!! with a desire|for my daughter's hand!!! you're pitiful! It embarrasses me to watch you! - I don't understand, sir!|- You sure don't! You let moonlight and magnolia|blossoms go to your head, and you forget the real|purpose of your mission! Newby! [ Thomas ] Don't tell me|I can't resign,Joe. I volunteered into this outfit,|and I'll volunteer out! There's still a lot|of work to be done! Not for me, there isn't!|I came into this thing!!! three years ago with|7 5 volunteers, all good riders! Do you know how many|of those men are left? No, but I imagine|you're going to tell me! Well, if you'll look out|this window, you'll see ten! Two of them|won't make Christmas! I still can't understand what those men|have to do with you resigning! They didn't join the army,Joe!|They joined me! For three years|I've watched them fall, and not one of'em quit|and not one of'em deserted! Those that are left deserve|more than a pat on the back!!! from some newspaper editor, and|I'm gonna see that they get it! The army needs horses! Well, there's|plenty of horses in the Territory-- wild horses in Arizona and New Mexico--|and we're goin' after them! - And sell them to the army?|- We're sure as hell not|gonna give 'em to the army! All right! Write out a letter|of resignation, and I'll see that-- You came in mighty handy|a few times! Take care of yourself!|We may need you again,John Henry! You'll have a hard job|finding me,Joe! Where to,John Henry? Short Grub, I've been tryin' for three|years to get you to call me ''Colonel!'' Now it's too late! - Where to,John Henry?|- West! - The barn's yours, Newby!|- Yes, sir! Good-bye, old lady! How come you know they're|gonna get in here today? 'Cause I told him|to be here today, that's why! Where do you think you're|gonna mail that thing, Solomon? There's a Pony Express,|ain't there? Somewhere! Still a long ways|to Oklahoma,John Henry! - Anything could happen!|- Not to Blue Boy, it won't! Come on, tightwad,|give me a chew! Wait a minute, Baker!|I've only got one left! - Come on, give me that!|- Hey, that's too big! Come on! Give me that! Give me that!|That's my last one! Come on now, Frank!|I gave you a chew! All right, I've had it!|Give me that, Frank! - Give me that! Give me that!|- Hey! Hey! [ Baker ] Well, I'll be damned.|Lookie yonder. [ Whooping ] Hello, Two Toes!|How's your wife? Pregnant! - What, again?|- Cold winter! - How are you, McCartney?|- Mister McCartney! John Henry, the least you can do|after I come all this way is say hello! - Hello, Mr! McCartney!|- I broke my butt to get here!|You can show me some respect! - Your cookin' still|as bad as I remember it?|- You go to hell! You still got|that mangy old cat? High Bred--|finest partner I ever had! Cleans his paws|and buries his leavings! Lot more than|some folks I know! - Any trouble?|- No! Lost track of time, though! I reckon I'm a day early|or a day late! You're four days late, but they|don't know it! How are things at home? Bad, like everywhere else,|I guess! Yeah! Well, I guess|we better get organized! [ Horses Neighing ] [ Whooping, Whistling ] Don't lose|those two over there! Get 'em all! [ Whooping Continues ] [ Indistinct Shout ] Take your time. I'll have|McCartney send you some grub. That'll be damn nice of you! I hope|I can do the same for you sometime! [ Horse Neighs ] [ Sighs ] Tough way to make a few dollars! Fighting the damn war was|a hell of lot easier than this! Not too close, Mudlow!|Might be catchin'! It ain't right, you folks|holdin' anger on me!!! just because I wouldn't|join your blamed old army! - Go on, get!|-Just mean!Just mean folks! Charlotte, I'd like to talk|to you tonight after supper! After it's dark, you mean? All you want to do is hold me|and hug me and kiss my lips! Is there somethin'|wrong with that? Well, a young lady's lookin'|for a mite more these days!!! than huggin' and holdin'|and kissin'! She's lookin' for somethin'|a teensy bit more substantial!!! than periphery and trimmings! Like what, Charlotte? I've said all I'm gonna say,|Bubba Wilkes! Well? Will you walk out|with me after supper? Walk out? Walk out in these|dreadful swamps where-- where I could get eaten|by a tiger or somethin'? Oh, you must've lost your|foolish mind, Bubba Wilkes! And it just goes to prove you don't have|any true regard for me whatsoever! A tiger? [ Horses Neighing ] The first good grass|you come to, give 'em a rest! - All right,John Henry!|- We'll be back around sundown! Hyah! See'd your dust all day!|What you drivin'? Buffalo? Stage arrived yet? It's overdue! I ain't askin'|'cause I don't care! But if your name's Thomas,|there's a couple of popinjays|waitin' inside to see you! They've been here|for two days now! I give 'em water the first day,|and they tooken root! - Government agents?|- I ain't asked! They ain't said! Are you the gentlemen|that were looking for me? You are|MonsieurJohn Henry Thomas? You have me at a disadvantage! I am Monsieur Pierre Petain! This is my companion,|Seor Luis Escodero! We have the honor to represent|the emperor Maximilian of Mexico! Oh! Won't you have a chair,|Monsieur Thomas? Well, thank you, no!|We're waiting for the stage-- We understand|you have many horses! - Is that correct, Mr! Thomas?|- It could be! We have been authorized by the emperor|to purchase all you can supply! Well, I'm afraid you gentlemen|have made a long trip for nothing! My horses are going|to the United States Army! But, Mr! Thomas, we'll buy|the whole herd, sight unseen! Top dollar, if you|drive them to Mexico! - All expenses paid!|- Stagecoach is comin'! I'm sorry, gentlemen!|Our army needs them! Pardon me! Whoa! Pedro Flats! - Mr! Thomas?|- That's right! My name is D!J! Giles, and this|is my associate, Mr! Ezra Parker! - Howdy! This is Short Grub!|- We're out of the U!S! Army|purchasing office at Fort Clark, and we understand you have|some horses to show us! No, I have some horses|to sell you! Three thousand, to be exact, and it's|the best herd you'll find anywhere! Fine! Shall we go inside?|Thank you! We'll cull your herd|tomorrow, Mr! Thomas, as soon as our wranglers|arrive from Brackettville! I suppose that out of 3,000 head,|we ought to able to find 500 or so|that we can use! - Our usual procedure is this--|-Just rein up a minute, Mr! Giles! You're goin' a little fast for me!|Do you mind trottin' through that again? Not at all! I said|that out of 3,000 head, we might be able to find|500 or so that we can use! You know, animals|that meet our specifications! Well, I have 3,000 for sale,|not 500! Well, surely you don't|expect us to purchase!!! just any old horse|for the United States Army? Well, now there just ain't|''any old horse'' in this whole herd! You'll take 'em all or none! Mr! Thomas, I'm sure|you're aware of the fact!!! that, uh, times are hard! Maybe not as hard as you think! The army's not that hungry|for horse flesh! This country is going through|a period of reconstruction! Money is in short supply!|Hmm? Who can you sell 'em to|if not to us? Monsieur Petain,|hold up a minute there! -Just for the record,|what are you payin'?|- Twenty-five dollars a head! [ Thomas ]|Last month it was 35. [ Chuckles ]|But this month it's $25 a head. Well, these gentlemen have offered|to take the whole barrel, sight unseen! - Is that correct?|- That's correct, Mr! Thomas! - And what's your top offer?|- Thirty-five dollars a head, of course! You just bought yourself a herd!|And you can tell Maximilian!!! he won't find better animals between|Montezuma and the Canadian border! Just a minute! You're selling horses|to Maximilian!!! in preference to your|own country's army? No, I'm selling horses for $3 5|in preference to 25! You two figured to make|$1 0 a head! Are you calling us thieves? Well, Mr! Parker, yes, that's|a pretty accurate description! Wait a minute!|I didn't do anything! You should've! Read that message again,|Sergeant! ''Eighteen rolling units|with men, women and children!!! ''passed through Gladesville,|Texas, 1 0:20 p!m! this date! ''Suspected Confederates!|Probable destination, Mexico! Detain, search and turn back!'' [ Imitating Bird Call ] What do you make of that? It seems I've heard that bird|before, sir, at Missionary Ridge! And if I'm not mistaken,|that's a gray-bellied sapsucker! [ Horse Neighing In Distance ] [ Imitating Bird Call ] [ Imitating Bird Call ] - [ Whistles ]|- [ Whooping ] The river! Come on! [ Man ]|Hyah! Hyah! Hyah! [ Indistinct Shouting,|Whooping, Whistling ] [ Whooping Continues ] Get your weapons! Real sorry, Miss Ann!|We didn't plan things this way! Let 'em go, Sergeant! McClarty, Gibbs!|Turn 'em loose! Let 'em go! Giddap! Hyah! [ Indistinct Shouting ] [ Cheering, Whooping ] - Sir, I don't mean to--|- I know, Sergeant! But if I can't have the whole dog,|I don't want the tail! Yes, sir! [ Horses Neighing ] We'll probably cross 'em|at the old monastery, Eagle Pass! Bon. Well, if we do not|see each other again, then we will rendezvous|on the plain at Durango! - Bon courage, Monsieur.|- Thank you! They are fine-looking|animals, Mr! Thomas! - The emperor will be pleased!|- I hope he is! But whether he is|or whether he isn't, you have the money there|when the horses arrive! [ Agreeing In French ] What's troubling you? Cavalry's comin' from Fort Clark! Damn government agents! Can they stop us? Not if we get across|that river, they can't! Let's take 'em to Mexico! Let's go! [ Horses Neighing ] Well, what are you waitin' for?|Stop 'em! Stop 'em! We'll be mighty proud to stop 'em,|Mr! Giles-- all 1 2 of us-- just as soon as you tell us|how to go about it! Next! Mr! McCartney, when|are we gonna have some meat? Right now, if you want it! Belly cheater! High Bred, you know|what good food is, don't you? You mangy old cat! - Hey, McCartney!|- Mister McCartney! There's somethin' crawlin'|in these beans! Well, you can speak to it,|but don't play with it!!! or else the others'll want one|in their beans too! Hold that plate! Yes, sir, I can just feel|that money in my pocket right now! What are you gonna do with it|when you get it? Well, I had to give that|a lot of good thought, but I somehow ain't come to set|right down on the notion yet! [ Man ] I know what I'm gonna buy me--|some pack animals and traps. Whatever's left over,|I'm gonna get drunk! And if I ever sober up again,|I'm headin' for the Rockies! Well, that might be fine|for you, Whitt, but me bein'better bred,|I got higher ambitions. Like what? Like building a small library|under a big elm someplace! Me and High Bred's gonna go to St! Louis|and open up a little cathouse! [ High Bred Meows ] - Everything quiet out there?|- Would you believe it,John Henry? - I had to wake two of the men!|- Let's hope it stays that way! You ain't expectin' trouble,|are you,John Henry? Trouble? Well, let's see! We got Maximilian on one hand!!! and Juarez on the other|and bandits in between! On top of that,|we're Americans in Mexico!!! taking a cavy ofhorses|to a very unpopular government. Why should we expect trouble? How come you didn't|tell us that aforehand? How come you didn't ask me? John Henry, there's a box canyon|about four miles from here! - Enough forage to fill 'em?|- No, sir, but|there's enough to hold 'em! There's somethin' else!|I rode across two trails! One was wagons and horses!|The second trail was many riders-- at least 40 and maybe 60. The second trail ran|just down the side of the first! Well, if you were to tell me|that a year ago!!! in Virginia or Tennessee,|I'd suspect ambush! It looked that way to me! - Short Grub!|- Yo! There's forage and water about|four miles ahead in a box canyon! Move 'em in there and|hold 'em till we get back! Where are you going,John Henry? I don't believe it! Pick up that bucket! Well, howdy, Sergeant Newby! Save your ''howdy''|for later,Jamison! Right now let me see you|start currying that horse! - Yes, sir!|-Just like old times, eh, Newby? Just like old times,|Colonel! Riders approachin' Two riders a-comin'! Margaret! We have company! Good afternoon!|My name's Thomas! We're drivin' a herd|of horses south, just over the hill! I'm ColonelJames Langdon!|Mr! Thomas, what can I do for you? Well, it isn't|what you can do for us! We came to warn you that you're|probably riding into a bandit ambush! Well, how do you|happen to know that? Well, Blue Boy here|is a full-blooded Cherokee! When he suspects somethin',|you usually get it. There's 40 to 60 riders|moving parallel to you, just out of sight. Waitin' until we get|into those hills? That'd be my guess! - What did you say your name was?|-John Henry Thomas! Don't I know you|from somewhere? To my knowledge, Colonel,|we've never met before! [ Sighs ] Well, we appreciate|the warning, sir! It's late! Will you and your friend|join us for supper, stay the night? Best offer we've had all day! [ Bugle Call ] There's nothin'|like a full stomach!!! for facin' the unknown future! Well, I hate to be|persistent, Colonel, but, uh, I think|the future is pretty certain! I fully agree! I think they'll give you|a couple of days to get up into|the hills before they strike! If this was my outfit, I'd hold|right here and make them come to me. [ Langdon ]|That's good thinkin' I've never yet let the enemy choose|the sight ofhis own destruction. - I like to play in my yard!|- What are these bandits after? Gold, horses!!! women! We had an experience or two|with 'em before the... war. Were you, perchance,|in the war, Mr! Thomas? Yes, Captain, I was! Would it be brash and|presumptuous of me to ask!!! which side you were on,|Mr! Thomas? Well, I favor to think that|I was on the right side, Mrs! Langdon! I detect a shadow of animosity|towards my question! Could it be that you|were a Yankee soldier? What a question to ask a man! Yes, ma'am,|I was a Yankee soldier! Mr! Thomas!!! I'm about to make my rounds|before I turn in tonight! Would you care to accompany me? Thank you, sir! [ Horse Neighing ] I suspected it when I saw those|Union trousers on that Indian boy! My son was killed by Union cavalry|at Shiloh, Mr! Thomas! We called it|Pittsburgh Landing! - You were there then?|- I was! May I ask your rank? I was a colonel|in that cavalry! John Henry Thomas!|Of course! Well, you were on|George Custer's right flank!!! when you charged the breastworks|at Madisonville, weren't you? - We did a job that day, didn't we?|- You were damn cruel! Cruel? ThoseJohnny Rebs had 40-pounders|looking right down our throats! Did you think you|were comin' to a ball? Sergeant! Yes, sir! If I can find the time,|I'm gonna sit down and write|the social history of bourbon! Tell me somethin',|Mr! Thomas! Were you, by chance,|at Chickamauga? I ask because I lost|my brother there-- Ann's husband! I lost 23 in my command|at Chickamauga-- friends and sons of friends, men that I'd known|all their lives! - Now can I ask you a question, Colonel?|- Fire one, Mr! Thomas! Why did you come clear out here|to continue a war that ended|months ago in Virginia? Because I'm a stubborn man!|Does that satisfy you? No! I got no taste for losin'|to a lot of Yankee rabble! - How about that?|- It won't wash! You can be a very|aggravatin' man, Mr! Thomas! - Sergeant!|- Yes, sir! Let's just say|we haven't seen the end! You'll see it quick enough|if you keep drinkin' this stuff! Excuse me, Colonel! Sergeant! Help yourself! [ Man Shouting ] [ Little George ]|The young 'uns, now. Come on over here. You get over here|with me right now! Hurry, now!|Get tucked away! Come on! - Come on, now.|- Mind a suggestion from|a Platte River Indian fighter? Why don't you arm your women?|That's what we did on the|Bozeman and California trail! [ Wilkes ]|Colonel! [ Langdon ]|All our night pickets come in yet? All butJamison, sir! - Well, go get him!|- Carlyle! Little George! It's Jamison, sir! - All right!|- Take him down, George! Captain, issue a rifle|to every woman knows how to use it! Yes, sir!|Carry on, Sergeant! Ladies! Colonel! - Looks like he wants to talk!|- We have nothing to talk about! - Well, he's got you outnumbered!|Let's start from there!|- Finding ourselves outnumbered, Colonel Thomas, is a fact of life|we've gotten used to! With women and children|in the pot? - I'll go, sir!|- No! The colonel and I will go! Let's understand|each other, Thomas! Your Indian friend rode out of here|last night with no explanation! He hasn't returned! One false move|on your part, and my men won't miss! Friend, your men have been|missin' me for years! As far as that Indian boy is concerned,|his father was Bold Eagle, one of the bravest warriors|that ever rode a horse. And on top of that,|he's my adopted son, and I haven't done this much|explaining in years. - Don't press me, Captain!|- Anderson! Yes, sir! Windage and elevation,|Mrs! Langdon! Windage and elevation! Buenos das, seores.|Yo soy Escalante. - Do you speak English?|-Ah, s. I speak English|most excellently! - Then tell us what you want|and be damned quick about it!|- We want everything! We're so poor,|and we need so much! I'm gonna ask you one more time!|What do you want? We want your wagons, your horses,|your guns and your gold! And you also|have some women, seor. - Is this fool serious?|- You can bet your life on it! - But it's preposterous!|- Yeah! - I have more ''mens'' than you!|- If you wanna lose most of'em,|you come right on ahead! Otherwise, you'd better hightail|your ass right on out of here! - I'll fight a thousand of you|before I give you a penny!|- I was hoping you'd say that! Is the flap on your holster snapped|or unsnapped, my Confederate friend? Snapped, my Yankee friend! Well, I guess I'm his pigeon! Hold your fire!|Hold your fire! [ Men Shouting, Indistinct ] Colonel! You went out there to talk!|Why did you have to shoot the man? The conversation|kind of dried up, ma'am! [ Indistinct Shouting, Whooping ] - Fire!|- [ Gunfire ] [ Horse Whinnies ] [ Man Shouts ] Just like old times,|huh, Colonel? - [ Crying ]|- Margaret! - Margaret!|- [ Sobbing ] I can't! - [ Gunfire Continues ]|- [ Horse Whinnies ] [ Whinnying Continues ] Colonel, behind you! [ Gunfire Tails Off] - Don't tell me they're leavin'!|- No, ma'am! They're reforming to charge again!|Leastwise, that's their plan! [ Gunfire ] [ Horse Whinnies ] -[ Gunfire Continues ]|- I'll be damned! [ Battle Cries ] [ Horses Whinnying ] They're leavin' now, ma'am!|That's Blue Boy's little surprise! Well, I'll be damned! Mrs! Langdon, the colonel--|your brother-in-law-- said you lost your husband|during the war! - Yes, Mrs! Thomas!|- I'm sorry! You didn't know him!|Why should you be sorry? My cavalry was|in that engagement! Colonel Thomas,|I wanna thank you! No thanks are necessary! They were|our enemies as much as they were yours! - Their own people shoot 'em on sight!|- We're in your debt! Colonel, why don't you take|all these people and go on home? There's no tellin' what you're|gonna run into farther south! In a day or two, we make contact with a|military escort from Emperor Maximilian! We are going home!|It's ahead of us! All right, Colonel! [ Short Grub ] Who you wavin'at,|Blue Boy? [ Laughs ] [ Cowboy ]|Hyah, hyah! [ Shouts Continue ] - Wanna tell me all about it?|- I was thinkin' about that girl! - What girl?|- The Confederate colonel's|daughter, Charlotte! - She's a pretty girl!|A little young, but pretty!|- I want her! - You want her?|- And she wants me! - How'd you figure that out?|- You raised me to know,John Henry! I taught you what to do when the snow|comes, how to survive in a blizzard, and I taught you how to deal|with men, but women-- Nobody knows|what's on a woman's mind! Well, she wants me, and when|we go home, she'll be with me! [ Man Shouting, Indistinct ] Anything wrong,John Henry? Not yet! [ Cowboy ]|Yah,yah,yah,yah. McCartney,|give me a cup of coffee! Never mind!|I got his coffee! This damn cinch is|pretty near cut in half! [ Hoofbeats Approaching ] Man's coming,John Henry! From Colonel Langdon, sir!|I'm to wait for an answer! We're in a new camp waiting|for an escort from Maximilian! There's a map on the other side!|What's the matter? Ain't you Yanks|ever seen a live one before? Last time I seen a pretty|gray uniform like that, it was all full of holes! - Do you know what's in this, Sergeant?|- Of course I know! There must've been a few words|in that camp before the colonel|sat down and wrote this out! Yes, sir! A lot of words!|I thought Captain Anderson|was gonna have apoplexy! And how about you personally,|Sergeant! What do you think about it? Well, it ought|to be right interesting! - Anything wrong,John Henry?|- You won't believe it, but we've been invited|to a Fourth ofJuly party! [ Thomas ]|We'll be on our best manners today! - Glad you could join us!|- [ Thomas ] Thank you, Colonel,|for inviting us. First time we've ever been invited|to a Confederate shindig! Well, I'm not surprised,|all things considered! Get down! - Thank you!|- Get down, all of ya! Well, we didn't intend|to interrupt the festivities! Well, what are y'all lookin' at? You|ever seen a Yankee before? Just people! Start playin'! Captain! - Sir!|- See that Colonel Thomas|and his men are taken care of! - Sir, I--|- They're our guests, Captain!|Make sure they enjoy themselves! Yes, sir! Wilkes! I'm feelin' a little dry, Colonel!|Would you care to join me,|or don't you indulge? Where's the sergeant?|I'll risk it! - [ Laughs ] Follow me!|- Thank you! You Yankee boys hungry? The captain|appointed me to tend to you! There's a mess of beans|and ham up yonder, and there's|some coffee and grits too! - Grits?|- I wouldn't touch 'em! - Why not?|- Might be unclean! - Well, it will be a change in cooking!|- I'll drink to that! - Make yourself at home!|I'll be right with you!|- Thank you! - Mrs! Langdon!|- Mr! Thomas! That's a mighty attractive dress!|French, isn't it? Yes! I bought it|in New Orleans before the war! Seldom had occasion|to wear it since! You surprise me, Mr! Thomas! You have knowledge|of ladies' fashions? Well, I was once married, and I have|knowledge of the cost of such things! - Here you are, sir!|A little sippin' liquor!|- Ohh! - Good!|- Somewhat finer|than what the sergeant provides! [ Chuckles ] May you be in heaven half an hour|before the devil knows you're dead! - To your health!|-Jimmy! - Excuse me, Colonel Thomas!|- Certainly! Cousin Cora and that Sam-- Well,|they're havin' another go-around! - Oh, shoot!|- Would you excuse us, please? - Of course!|- Colonel, here! Help yourself! - You said that you were|once married, Mr! Thomas!|- Yes, ma'am! But lucky for me,|she left me! I must say, Mr! Thomas,|that whatever your faults are, you do have a quaint kind|of honesty! Well, she was so busy being a lady|that she forgot to be a woman! It was Indian country,|and she didn't like that. It was cold in the winter, hot in the|summer and dusty in the dry spells, and she didn't like that! And when I wanna go huntin' and|fishin', I go huntin' and fishin', and she didn't like that. And I wanted children, and|she didn't like that either! - She didn't like much, did she?|- She's happy now, I guess! She's living in Philadelphia|with her cat, givin' piano lessons! [ Chuckles ]|Won't you sit down, Mr! Thomas? Thank you! Is that Indian boy|really your adopted son? Yes, but I'm as proud of him|as if he were my own blood! -[ Fiddling Resumes ]|- Charlotte? - How old are you?|- Sixteen! Nobody ever looked at me|the way you do! -[ Wilkes ] Charlotte!|- Oh, I'm gonna kill that Bubba Wilkes! Charlotte! Why are you afraid|to have someone see me kiss you? Because-- Because|what I feel is private! I've never|felt like this before, and I want to keep it. I want to keep it|just like it is! -[ Continues ]|- Charlotte! I believe|you promised me the next set! - They bitin'?|- No! Maybe you ain't|holdin' your mouth right! My name's Hughlock Mudlow!|How are you fellas today? Say, you wouldn't happen to have|a little jug of whiskey on you? They won't give me one! They won't talk|to me 'cause I wouldn't join their army! - Well, why wouldn't you join the army?|- I didn't wanna get shot! - [ Spits ]|- Sure glad you fellas came over|here today though! I ain't had nobody|to talk to in-- - Hey!|-[ Cowboy ] Yah! [ Men Shouting, Indistinct ] [ Men Shouting, Indistinct ] !!!two, three! - Get him!|- [ Men Shouting, Indistinct ] - Y'all don't have to ask me twice!|- Here goes another one! [ Indistinct Chattering ] - One, two, three!|- Come on, boy! - Any more takers?|- You made your point,|BobbyJoe! Let it go! Begging|the colonel's pardon! You know, we got an Arkansas|razorback that's just whupped|everybody in our outfit! Well, me and the boys was|just wonderin' if maybe you had|somebody might could take him! Are you speaking of the manly|art of self-defense, Sergeant? Yes, sir! I'm here to tell ya!|Root, hog or die-- no holds barred! John Henry, it wasn't my idea!|Trot him out! - Little George never lost a fight!|- Little George? - He'd better have some meat on him!|- You sure about this, BobbyJoe? - Trot him out!|- Well, go get him, Newby! Ho-ho-ho-ho! Ring around the rosies|a pocket full of posies Ashes, ashes we all fall down [ All Chuckling ] Tell me it ain't|what I think it is! I can't fight!|I'm tired of hurtin' people! This time, you gotta fight! You've|got to uphold the honor of the outfit! I can't! Them blue bellies|called you yellow! You know I ain't no coward! You young 'uns,|you go on and play! Go on! [ Children ] Ring around the rosies|a pocket full of posies Ashes, ashes we all fall down - You wait right here!|Get you out of that blouse!|- Yes, Sergeant! Well, gentlemen, here he is! [ Onlookers Murmuring ] - You sure you wanna|go through with this?|- Biggest Reb I ever saw! [ Thomas ]|He's the biggest anything I ever saw. Here!|I'll write your folks! Huh? Oh! I'm right proud to meet ya!|I'm Little George! [ Onlookers Shouting, Indistinct ] - Get him, BobbyJoe! He ain't tough!|- He ain't? No! Ooh! This is fun, isn't it? [ Shouting Continues ] - Your man there is no coward!|- But he's outnumbered! - [ Growls ]|- [ Man Whoops ] [ Indistinct Shouting ] Get in there, Yank!|[ Laughing Hysterically ] [ Yells ] - No, it's me!|- Oh! Damn grits! Ohh! Well, it was bound to happen! Bound to! - I sure don't feel much like it!|- No! Me neither! - [ Man ] Go get him!|-Just one fool thing after another! Yep! It sure is! [ Yells ] Jimmy, can't you stop this? Stop what?|It just started! [ Grumbles ] - [ Yells ]|-[ Yells ] [ Yells ] Thanks,John Henry! - Well, now, I wouldn't call that|exactly fair, would you?|- No, I wouldn't! - Oh, excuse me, sir! Ooh!|- Nice party,John Henry. -Jimmy, this is ridiculous!|It's gone far enough!|- Ohh! - Somebody ought to stop them!|- Not without takin' a lump, ma'am! All right then! Get him, Buster! Hey, Newby,|will you look at Bubba? Lieutenant Wilkes! Lieutenant! Lieutenant Wilkes, is this|any conduct becoming an officer? No, sir! Hey-- Well, now, Colonel Thomas,|would you care to make this unanimous? With pleasure, Colonel Langdon! - [ Gunshots ]|- [ Horses Whinnying ] [ Gunshots ] Well, now, why'd you want|to do a thing like that? I want this stopped!|I want this stopped now! Well, that's civilization for you! Not like Philadelphia! - Huh?|- Nothing! Oh, uh, Colonel,|Sergeant's got a barrel full! Well, thank you, Colonel!|You've been a perfect host! I've always heard|of Southern hospitality! Now|my men understand what it means! Well, I thought my men'd|do better, Colonel, seein' as how!!! this is the first time in years|we had you Yankees outnumbered! Y'all come back, hear? Windage and elevation,|Mrs! Langdon! Always remember:|windage and elevation. French! - You suppose bandits done it?|- Bandits'd have stripped 'em! More'n likelyJuaristas! I want one man to go back|to those Southerners and tell 'em!!! to forget their escort|from Maximilian. This is it! I might've known it'd be him! He's been actin' kind of|peculiar lately,John Henry! - Figure he's sick?|- Yeah! Colonel! There'll be no escort from Maximilian!|John Henry sent me to tell you! - How does he know that?|- We ran across them four,|five miles south of here! They're dead!John Henry|thinks theJuaristas did it! - I see!|- Colonel, you're not|gonna believe that, are ya? - Why should I not?|- Why would those Yankees bother|to send us word of anything? - It just doesn't make sense!|- What reason would I have|in coming to you with a lie? Yes, Captain, what reason? It's late, son!|You may as well stay the night! - Thank you, sir!|- Margaret, Ann? Set another place! This young man's|joining us for supper! [ Mouthing Words ] -[ Langdon ] Captain Anderson?|-[ Anderson ] Sir? - [ Crashing ]|- Double the night pickets|from here on in, Captain! During the day, I want two men|ahead of the column, two men at|the rear and two on each flank! Yes, sir! - Good night, Captain!|- Good night, sir! - Corporal?|- Yes, sir? Jimmy, how far are we|from Durango? Three days! You know, I-- I've been thinkin'|an awful lot about home! I have too, Maggie!!! and my home is you! Ohh,Jimmy! [ Horse Whinnies, Distant ] I knew it would be nice! Why'd you ask me how old I am?|Do you care? No! I'm glad you're young! It gives us more time|to be together! Oh, I'll always be young|if I always feel the way I do now! When we go back to the Territory,|you'll be with me! Take me now!!! tonight! [ Charlotte ] Oh! - [ Gasps ]|- You go to bed! - [ Grunts ]|- Please, don't hit him! Stop it! [ Gasping ] Hyah! [ Horses Whinnying ] - So Doc says, ''Sorry, partner,|you're gonna die!''|- [ All Laughing ] [ Fiddle:Folk ] Them ''hor-dorv-rees'' was mighty fine,|Mr! McCartney, but for my trimmings, - I'd like a Kansas City steak,|well done!|- You go to hell! John Henry, you ever hear|about that gal in St! Louis?|She had the dangedest itch-- - Shut up!|-[ Fiddling Stops ] We're comin' down to the end|of it now! We've lost 500 horses|between here and the border, and I don't think|that's very funny! We lose any more, and somebody's|gonna be damned uncomfortable! You know what?|I thinkJohn Henry's scared! How 'bout some coffee? - Kind of worried about him, ain't ya?|- Who? Well, you're the worst liar|I ever came across,John Henry!|Blue Boy, that's who! Well, he should've caught up|with us three days ago! You don't reckon|he come across bandits, do you? No, I think|he's too smart for that! You know what I'd be|thinkin' if I was you? I'd be thinkin' he made off|with that little Reb gal! And I'd be thinkin' that he was just|about to the Rio Grande by this time! Well, that's what|I been thinkin'! Ah, he wouldn't do that! Nah, he wouldn't do that!|Thanks, Short Grub! - I've changed my mind!|- Oh-- Oh! - Good morning!|- Good morning! - Well, here they are! You ready for it?|- We're all set to make the count! - Good!|- Did you encounter|any trouble along the way? Well, nothing to speak of! Well, we're here, and the horses|are here! How about that money? Oh, it's coming!!! by special courier|with a troop of the emperor's cavalry! - He is most appreciative!|- Well, how soon is|that special courier due? - Any day! Shall we make the count?|- Why not? [ Horses Whinnying ] [ Speaking Spanish ] 2,505 horses!|I am surprised, Mr! Thomas! - How's that?|- Well, I thought you would|lose more on a long trip like that! Well, I had an understanding|with my men! - I asked 'em not to lose any more,|and they didn't!|- [ Both Chuckle ] - How long we gonna be here,John Henry?|- Till they give us the money! My men haven't been home for four years!|We're a little anxious! So we won't be hard to find!|We'll be right handy! [ Man Shouting Warning In Spanish ] [ Continues Shouting ] [ Band Plays|''I Wish I Were In Dixie'' ] [ Newby ]|Company, halt! Left by twos! Ho! My compliments, sir! [ Stops ] ColonelJames Langdon,|sir, Confederate States Army! - My aide, Captain Anderson!|- General! My name is Lazaro Rojas! In the name of Emperor Maximilian,|I welcome you to our pueblo! We have prepared a welcome banquet for|you and your people, Colonel Langdon! Please, do us the honor... of extending our invitation|to those of your party. - Thank you very much, sir! Captain?|- Sir! Lieutenant!|Dismount the troops! - [ Wilkes ] Yes, sir!|Sergeant, dismount your troops!|- [ Newby ] Prepare to dismount! - [ Newby ] Dismount!|- Ladies! - [ Band Plays ]|- [ Chattering ] -Saludas, uh--|-Amigas! S, amigas! - Thank you very much, sir!|- Salud. Ah, salud. [ Fanfare ] It's all right, kids!|It's gonna be all right! [ Murmuring ] Consider yourselves prisoners|of the Revolution! I shall protest this|to Emperor Maximilian, sir! We take no orders from|Maximilian, Colonel Langdon! Our president|is Don BenitoJuarez! -[ Drumbeats ]|-The drums of Mexico beckon us, Colonel! Please! -James!|- Will you excuse us, Mrs! Langdon? [ Drumbeats Continue ] [ Officer Shouting Command|In Spanish ] [ Officer Shouts Command ] If you think you're gonna scare us with|threats, General, you underestimate us! No, no, Colonel Langdon,|we have estimated you very well! Aside from the men in your party,|there are 3 2 women and 1 7 children! You are friends of Maximilian! He has brought the French|into our country, and they|have tried to ride roughshod!!! over our people! Now Maximilian has brought you|Southern Americans into our country!!! because he can no longer|get help from Napoleon! These Frenchmen|kill the entire population!!! of a small village,|every man, woman and child... -butchered.|- [ Officer Shouting Commands|In Spanish ] [ Shouting Continues ] -Atencin! [ Shouts Command ]|- [ Drumrolls ] [ Continues Shouting Commands ] [ All ]|Viva! Viva! Viva! Viva! -[ Crowd Continues Chanting ]|- That is what happens, Colonel,|to invaders of my country! - My people are not invaders!|- You are here, and you|are friends of Maximilian! - But we're not your enemies!|What do you want of us, General?|- Our forces need horses, Colonel! Not far from here,|there is a herd of 3,000! - Thomas!|- Yes! Thomas! - I'm afraid I don't|understand you, General!|- You will deliver this to Thomas! [ Rooster Crows ] - I'll be damned if I will!|- I believe you will, Colonel! Our Revolution needs those horses!|BenitoJuarez needs those horses! I'm a Confederate officer! You can't expect me to go beggin'|those Yankees for anything! That's in the first place, and the|second place, they wouldn't do it! They have no reason|to care what happens to us! General,|that man Thomas would spit in my face! You will do as I say,|or you will all be shot! I'm not askin' any Yankee|for anything! Very well! - [ Officer Shouts Commands ]|- [ Drumrolls ] [ Shouting Continues ] [ Rifles Cock ] General! [ Officer Shouts Command ] [ Gasping ] - I'll go!|- [ Shouts In Spanish ] You will have the horses|in this place by noon tomorrow!!! or you will all be shot! [ Snoring ] -[ Child Coughs ]|- [ Snoring Continues ] [ Mexican Soldiers Laughing,|Whooping, Shouting ] [ Soldiers Talking In Spanish ] [ Talking Ceases ] [ All Grunting ] [ Soldiers Laughing ] [ Gasping, Crying ] Don't leave me!|Please! Don't ever leave me! All right! Get up! Get up!|Two Toes has dug up something! - [ All Grumbling ]|- Come on! Get up! - Mr!John Henry?|- Yeah? Uh, we got company! -[ Hoofbeats Approaching ]|- Thank you, Mr! McCartney! [ All Groaning ] - [ Thomas ] What's all this?|- We found this man! Found me?|You trapped me, you-- Here, untie him! - [ Chuckling ] I told you|that uniform'd get you in trouble!|- Yeah! - Mr! McCartney,|you got the coffee ready?|-All ready. Good morning! - Bonjour.|- Buenos das. - Wake ya up?|- Ah! Get a little coffee in ya|and settle down, you can tell us what|it's all about! I was given no choice!|That's why I'm here! My family, they're all|gonna be murdered! All of my people|are in his hands! When we reached Durango,|they-- they gave us a party|and then they tricked us! My people are prisoners|of a Juarista general! I didn't want to come here.|I didn't want to cause you people any-- Aw, damn it! Here!|Read this! General Rojas|is more eloquent than I am! What does it say,|John Henry? - That's good coffee! Thank you!|- You really think so? Well!!! it's your game! How do you wanna play it? John Henry, we been dealt lots of tough|hands since the summer of'61 ! Here's one I wish we could pass! - This don't leave us nothin'!|- We ain't never had nothin' nohow! Wait a minute, BobbyJoe!|You mean you're willin' to give up|them horses to them Johnny Rebs? [ BobbyJoe ] Well, I ain't|no Christian, but my mama was. John Henry, remember|when I lost my horse!!! - up there at Pittsburgh Landing?|- Yeah! There I was without a horse, behind|that log and them Rebs was all over me, but there was one|didn't have no gun! Remember me telling you about that one|come crawlin'up to me behind that log? Yeah, but what's that|got to do with this? Well, this Reb, he said he was|all tuckered out and he wanted|to give himself up! - So I told him to get the hell on|outta there! I didn't want him!|- [ Chuckles ] - You know what he said to me?|- No! - ''You got me whether you|want me or not!'' [ Laughs ]|- [ Laughs ] All right! Looks like you're|stuck with us! John Henry, I-- - If we have to get there by noon,|we better-- Where's that--|-[ Departing Hoofbeats ] Short Grub, you better throw|a couple of outriders in front|of the point when we get started! - Yo!|- Break camp! [ French ]|!!!Durango! - YBenitoJuarez.|-S. [ French ] - Muy bien.|-Allez. Crimeny sakes! Those Frenchies|have really found some help! I thought we'd run away|from all that! What about it,John Henry? Looks like we got ourselves|mixed up in somebody else's war! [ Man ]|Yeah, it sure does. - What are we gonna do now?|- Well, that's already been decided! [ Thomas ]|Bring the two chuck wagons up here|and fill 'em full of men and rifles. I'll get 'em! We'll give 'em a taste|of General Sherman's war! I remember! [ Shouting Orders In French ] They're gettin' a little close,|ain't they,John Henry? Yep! - You ready, Colonel?|- Ready! Break to the sides!|Turn 'em loose, McCartney! Hang on, High Bred! Get out of my way!|Get up there now! Get up there now! Short Grub, take care|of High Bred for me! I said a lot of mean words|to the boys, ain't I? - You sure have, McCartney!|- Mr. McCartney! Well, you tell 'em|I meant every damn word! Aah! You! Two steps forward! Aqu. You! You! You! And you! You! Grandote!Aqu!! Mudlow! My turn! [ Spanish ] Hands back. [ Distant Drum:March ] [ Spanish ] [ Spanish ] [ Officer Shouts In Spanish ] [ Horse Whinnies ] [ Shouting In Spanish ] [ Spanish ] [ Welcoming Shouts ] [ Laughing ] Oh, ho! You have completed your mission,|Colonel Langdon! Thank you. - Well,John Henry--|- [ Margaret ]James! [ Stifled Sobs ] You must be Rojas! General Rojas! And you must be|John Henry Thomas! You drive a hard bargain,|General! War is war, Colonel!|You should know that! Yeah, ya!!! win one!!! ya lose one! It is cognac, the only good thing|the French have brought to my country! May I propose that we drink|to the health and success!!! of my President Don BenitoJuarez, the Revolution|and the future of Mexico! Hear, hear! And, General, may I propose a toast|to the United States of America! Not even for 3,000 horses? To the United States of America!!! and the Confederacy! John Henry, what are that|Indian boy's intentions? Probably disgraceful, Colonel! But it's not what he'll do to her,|it's what she's done to him! [ Both Laugh ] [ Both Laugh ] It ain't much like|old times, Colonel! No, it ain't much like|old times, Mr! Newby! What do you plan on doin'|once we get back home? Well, the only place a man can raise|more hell than he can in a war!!! is on the floor of|the House of Representatives! An old friend of mine once told me|people like to vote for heroes! So, I guess that's what I'll do! That team workin' out all right? Sure! You goin' back to the|Oklahoma Territory, Mr! Thomas? Yes, ma'am,just as fast|as I can get there! - There many women out there?|- Some! Good country, I suppose! From the Missouri|to the Pacific Ocean! Mostly good land|for farming and!!! - raising cattle and!!!|raising a family!|- [ Harmonica: ''Dixie'' ] Are you gonna raise a family? Well, I, uh-- - Solomon, can't you play|any other tune?|- Sure, boss! - [ ''Battle Hymn OfThe Republic'' ]|- That neither, Yank! [ ''Yankee Doodle'' ] [ Spits ]|Sure do miss Mr! McCartney! - Yeah, but not his cookin'!|- No, me neither! Put a feather in his hat|and called it macaroni |
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