Arizona Page #5

All I can say is I didn't know

how bad things were going to be.

This would have happened

to those who were going yesterday.

- You're not to blame.

- Of course not.

And we'll get supplies somehow.

Sure we will, and I'm still glad I'm here.

Doggone it, I wish a certain fella

would quit playing his banjo in California.

Union soldiers are coming.

Hundreds of them! Much more on their way!

- Union soldiers?

- Yep.

Union soldiers are coming.

- Are they going to stay here?

- What do you think they'll do to us?

- This is Confederate territory.

- It ain't no more.

- Not with the Union soldiers moving in.

- You know what we'll be? Prisoners of war.

They'll take our property away from us

and drive us out of Arizona.

No, they won't.

Can't blame us for being deserted

by the government now.

I'm for being back in the Union

no matter what happens.

We belong to the United States again

and I'm telling the world I'm doggone glad.

Let the soldiers know how we feel.

Give them a real greeting.

Hey, there's Sol. Hi, Sol!

Ain't this something to holler about?

Hiya, fellas.

Hi, Phoebe. Look what we met.

- Where are they from?

- Advance guard, California Column.

California?

- Say, I wonder if...

- Yeah, he's here.

Hey, Miss Phoebe.

Well, soldier, did you see California?

Yep, heard there was trouble out here.

Glad to see us?

That flag sure seems homelike.

Still baking them pies?

Maybe, for a hungry man.

You better start making tracks for home...

'cause soon as I can figure

to get leave from this Army...

- You're going to have a visitor.

- There'll be a pie.

What do we do now?

Put it on the table over there.

Now you stay out of here

unless I call you, see?

Well, I'll be dogged.

What's ailing you?

Phoebe, you know, this is the first time

I ever seen you in a dress?

Any complaints?

Just like I always figured.

You sure are pretty.

Nobody could look pretty

feeling as silly as I do.

Well, there's a dinner on the table.

You claim to be a man...

let's see what you can do to it.

Well, I'll be dogged.

Turkey?

Who shot it for you?

Who do you think? I tailed it for two hours.

Pie, turkey...

Phoebe, you sure are pretty.

There ain't been a dinner like that

in or near me in a long spell.

Not even in California.

You aren't much of a hand

to talk while you eat, are you?

Meals like that don't come often.

A lot happened to Arizona since you left.

Those soldiers sure are welcome.

I enlisted in California

soon as I heard about it.

I'm ready to settle down now.

That gallivanting fever is gone for good.

Well, you're in the Army, Sergeant.

You'll go where they tell you.

My enlistment is up soon.

Maybe I can get free even before then.

Is that job still open?

The stock could use some water.

I asked you a question.

I know you did.

I'm thinking.

A man named Jefferson Carteret

came here after you left.

He helped to hold this town together...

when it looked like

there wasn't going to be any more town.

You mean you took a fancy to him?

I didn't say that.

I'm just sizing you up by comparing you.

Carteret wasn't jigging around California

when I needed help.

Didn't go looking for a shade tree

when the rumpus started.

I knew you'd never understand that.

I understood, all right.

But I'm different now.

Are you?

A year ago you went away,

said, "See you soon."

Now you're back saying,

"Grab me while I'm here."

What's different?

Maybe I don't stand up so good

when you start comparing.

I wish there was some way

to show you how I am now.

There is.

Tell me. All I want is a chance.

When will the Colonel be here

with the main body of troops?

A couple of weeks. Why?

I'm going to have the best ranch in Arizona.

But it takes money to get started.

I want you to go to the Colonel

and get me an Army freighting contract.

Is that all?

Just walk up to the Colonel

and make him sign a contract.

It can be done, for instance, by a man

who wants to prove how good he is.

Why don't you ask me something easy like

walking on water with a horse on my back.

You asked for a chance, there it is.

Good evening, Miss Phoebe.

Oh, Mr. Carteret, good evening.

How are you?

I'm well, thank you.

I was just passing by

and stopped to pay my compliments.

But I didn't know you had company.

You know now.

Mr. Carteret, this is Sgt. Muncie.

Peter, that's no way to be.

I'm being the way I want.

And this what's-his-name

don't fit into my idea of a pleasant evening.

Mr. Muncie!

I'll consider the source, Miss Phoebe.

Meanwhile, I hope to see you soon,

without the gentleman in the Union suit.

- Good evening.

- Good evening.

So that's what you've been

comparing me with.

Insulting respectable people

in Arizona isn't good for your health.

I don't like him.

How do you know?

You never met him before.

I got a good nose.

He happens to be something

you'll never be, a gentleman.

He happens to be a sweet-looking dude...

and a woman that'd pay any heed to him

ought to have her head looked into.

Oh, I see.

In other words,

you mean I'm just plumb crazy.

- Phoebe, I was only trying to tell you that...

- Good night, Sgt. Muncie.

Good night. The dinner was good.

I'll see what I can do

about that Army freighting contract.

Teresa, I think I picked myself a man.

"There being no security of life

or property within its borders...

"it becomes the duty

of the undersigned Col. Carleton...

"to represent the authority...

"of the United States

over the people of Arizona."

Martial law, that's what it is.

That sure fixes you, Judge.

My good man...

Gentlemen, the Colonel

has merely stepped in...

to relieve me

of a few of my administrative duties.

I accept his generous offer

of cooperation with open arms.

That's what you say.

Don't crowd me. Let's see, where was I?

The Colonel's just declared martial law.

Yeah?

And Phoebe's already got an order

to supply hay for the government horses.

And our drivers are quitting

to hook up with her.

There's that soldier helping her.

If she supplies hay,

she'll be doing their freighting next.

And with the Army contract to build on...

she'll take over

all the business in this territory.

Well, anyway, there's Indians

to take care of her wagons.

Idiot. She'll have Army escorts.

Ward, we haven't a chance.

Unless we stop Phoebe right at the start.

- We can't fight the Army.

- No.

But we can help the Army

fight those who betray it.

Have you declared allegiance to the Union?

Soon as you told me.

There's one thing in our favour.

The colonel doesn't know anything

about anybody in Tucson yet.

Buttercup, as a good citizen of the Union,

you're going to the Colonel...

with confidential information

about Miss Phoebe Titus.

That's sure taking a chance.

You want to keep control

of the freighting business, don't you?

- Why, sure I do.

- All right.

How would you like to see your wagons

with big banners on them...

Lazarus Ward, The Government's Choice?

- Do you think, maybe?

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