Escape from Fort Bravo Page #4

We have to bring her back

in spite of what she's done.

I can't let her get killed out there.

You want me to send Beecher?

For what, his honeymoon?

No, I'll bring them back.

Like she said,

I'm the man who finds everybody.

Come in.

Well, what is it?

I understand you're going after them.

That's right.

Where do you think they'll go?

Texas.

They ought to be across the Gila by now.

They'll need fresh horses.

That should be Lordsville.

Five of them?

Three men, a woman and a coward.

I wanna request permission to go along.

- Ask the colonel.

- I got it from him. I need it from you.

What's the matter?

Don't you trust me?

Think I'll shoot them in the back

or tie them to an ant hill?

I'm thinking about the same thing you are.

The girl.

I don't know whether you'll save

or kill them, I just know I'm going along.

- With my permission, you are.

- Yes.

Or without it.

That's right.

All right. Maybe you're right.

We'll take Chavez and Eilota.

And pick six men.

And I mean pick them.

Yes, sir.

Symore.

- Yes, sir.

- I'm pulling out. Take care of those flowers.

- Yes, sir.

- If you don't, I'll dig them up and plant you.

- I know you will.

- Now, if I don't come back-

- You'll be back, captain.

Only the good die young.

In that case, I'd say I've got a long time.

I'd say forever.

- Beecher.

Yes, sir.

Take them outside of town and camp.

I'll look for the man who's afraid.

- Where, captain?

- In the saloon, where else?

Chavez.

Handsome. I just love a man in uniform.

All right. Let me stay in it.

Something for you, captain?

I'm looking for a man.

Who's stopping you?

He's about 25, sandy hair, blue eyes,

should be crying in his beer.

- Would whiskey do?

- Just as good.

Try him.

What's this?

Nothing.

I do not know

The axioms and tables tell

Faith was a bloodstain

Where a hero tell

Or was it a jungle

Where two children trod,

Looking tor violets

Angleworms and God?

Don't try and understand that, Roper.

That's a poem.

I won't.

You're not after poems.

You're the man

that's always after people.

And you get them all, don't you?

Almost.

You see, Roper, you were right.

I'm yellow.

Haven't you ever been yellow?

Do you know what it feels like to be yellow?

No, because you have to have a heart

for that. And you haven't got one.

You've got a big fist inside you

that's always doubled up.

I'm glad you got me.

I'm glad it's over.

- Where are they, Bailey?

- Where?

Halfway home.

- How long were they here?

- They haven't got a chance, Roper.

When we got here, they told us

the whole country's alive with Mescaleros.

You know how they kill a man.

Yeah, I do.

I couldn't go with them.

I'd rather you got me.

You see how yellow I am, Roper?

Well, every man isn't like you.

Or Cabot or even Marsh.

Some men are like me.

They aren't killers and they can't be.

They're told to be.

There's something in the world

except being a hero.

There's something better

than being tough.

All right.

Take me back.

I'll take you back, Bailey,

but all together.

You'll have company.

This is Captain Roper.

- Sergeant Compton, sir.

What is it, sergeant?

He's bogged down 20 miles north

with a settler's wagon train.

Women and children.

We got jumped this morning.

I don't like to take them alone.

- Who attacked you?

- Mescaleros.

About 30 of them.

- They have arms?

- About half of them.

What shape are you in?

Not good, sir.

Beecher, take the detail and help them.

You're going on alone?

I'll take the scout and Bailey.

Doesn't seem like three runaway

Confederates are important.

They aren't, but I gotta get them back.

- It's just the book?

That's right.

Then I'm going.

All right. Chavez, get these people back

into town and then report to headquarters.

Yes, sir.

Campbell?

Yes, boy?

You all think Roper's still following us?

He'll follow us, boy.

Clear into Richmond, Virginia.

He's the kind who'll follow a man

right around the Earth.

And if he's following a woman,

he's liable to walk right off it.

But don't you fret, boy. You still got me.

I wasn't fretting, Campbell.

I was just trying to keep you

from singing.

In Lordsville,

they said there'd be Indians everywhere.

We haven't seen a living thing.

- What are you thinking about, Carla?

- Nothing.

Something's the matter.

I said it's nothing.

Well, it's this country, I guess.

It frightens us all.

It's why Campbell is singing

and Cabot can't bear to listen to him.

Perhaps we're beginning to hope

Roper catches us.

Maybe that's what you're afraid of.

Or that he might not.

Don't worry, Bailey. I'm not lost.

I'll get you to your friends.

You stay here.

Beecher.

Carla, forgive me, will you?

You know I will.

What I said about Roper,

I had no right to say.

- No, you didn't.

- Will you forget it?

I already have.

Carla...

Oh, Carla, Carla.

We got a rough road ahead,

but we'll have that wedding of our own.

Let's just remember that

and forget everything else.

Yes, soon we'll be home.

Carla.

Carla, we have a lifetime ahead of us.

Isn't that enough?

Or isn't it?

That was a stupid thing to do.

So I shot a rattlesnake.

What do you all want me to do?

Take it home and keep it for a pet?

It wasn't the snake, Cabot.

It was the noise.

A shot here's like spitting in the ocean.

Yeah, but one fish might hear it.

If it's Roper you're scared of,

I'll stay behind and wait for him.

I'd just as soon shoot him too.

One snake or another.

It's not Roper.

You're talking like a fool, Young.

- Give me that gun.

- No, it ain't Roper and it ain't the snake.

I'll tell you what it is.

It's your girl, Marsh.

She got you tied up in knots, hog-tied.

Give me that gun.

Take it.

Captain, not that I care about you,

or you, Cabot, or this gal.

But we're gonna need each other

if we wanna get through.

And I'm a homesick old man.

Drop that gun, Cabot.

Drop that gun, Cabot.

That's right, Cabot. Drop it.

You too, Campbell.

Get their arms.

Pack this stuff up. I'm taking it back.

How, Roper?

The same way you brought Bailey back?

- Maybe.

- I was thinking of the girl.

I wasn't.

Mind if I tell you something?

- You can't tell me a thing, Marsh.

- I'll try if you put that gun away.

What do you wanna tell me?

That you're a liar.

What are you trying to do? Kill him?

Why don't you take it out on me?

That's what you'd really like to do.

I'm the one who made a fool of you.

Proud of it?

Yes, I am.

Well, don't be. It wasn't that hard to do.

Saddle up. We're getting out of here.

Shut up, Campbell.

Looks like we're gonna ride

till we fall out of the saddle.

That's all right with me.

He might fall out first.

It's all right with me too boy.

I almost got born on a saddle.

My old woman was riding a plow horse

in Kentucky when it come my turn.

Campbell, I can't imagine you being born.

Even in Kentucky.

Oh, a man can't pick his spot.

But all things considered...

...a man who got born on a horse

might as well die on one.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes