Hondo Page #5

around there.

Some of them belonged

to that there chestnut you were riding.

That one with the cast-off horseshoe.

Yes, sir, it's a mighty nice

little set-up you got yourself here.

Nice ranch. Pretty woman.

You could get yourself killed

talking like this.

Or l could get that

new-fashioned Winchester

since he bushwhacked

this lady's husband.

Did she know that,

l figure she wouldn't look at him like

he was the high cockalorum

of every tribe from here to Salt Water.

Hondo.

l tried to tell you.

Mrs. Lowe, we're ready to leave.

Mr. Lane?

- Stridon.

- Yes, sir.

- Form the troops, column of twos.

- Yes, sir.

l want you to accompany us

as far as Twin Buttes.

Haven't any time to lose,

so l'd be obliged if you'd saddle up.

- Im not going.

- You're not going?

- That's right.

- But why?

- Gave my word.

- Your word to whom?

- Vittorio.

- Surely a word given to an

- lndian desperado wouldn't be...

- Mister, when l give my word, l keep it.

Now Ill give you a piece of advice,

there's only one family

between here and Twin Buttes,

and you're too late to do them any good.

So you better gather up what settlers

you have and hightail it out of here.

Sir, l have my orders,

and these orders will be executed.

Ma'am.

Prepare to mount.

Mount.

Forward,

ho!

- Angie.

- l can't talk now. L have to think.

Ill put your things outside.

- Before l go l want to explain something.

- Yes?

It didn't happen

in the low way you heard it.

- l didn't bushwhack.

- l never for a moment thought you did.

- But you killed him.

- l didn't have any choice,

- he cut loose at me...

- l should have known that.

l should have known you were lying

to make me think well of him.

Poor Ed. L guess he wasn't the sort

of man to die well.

Sorry now l hated him so much.

l guess he couldn't help

being weak and selfish.

- l just didn't have any choice.

- l know that.

You're gonna feel differently about me?

No one has any control

over the way they feel.

Im never going to change

the way l feel about you.

But,

what about him?

Yeah.

Guess there are some things

that just can't...

He's gonna be a good man.

Good spread to his shoulders.

Head works, too.

Other night, after you went to sleep,

he crawled up into my bunk

and put his arms around my neck.

Made me feel kind of funny.

Like he was depending on me.

Lot of things l'd rather do than this.

You're going to tell him?

lf l don't, somebody else will.

And l got a belly full of lies.

Look what l got!

- Hold him by the gills like l showed you.

- Sure.

- Johnny, l want to tell you something.

- lts a nice perch, ain't it?

Bass. Remember the shape of its head?

Oh yeah, l forgot.

Bass have a jaw that stick out like this.

What l wanted to tell you is,

while back,

a man came at me with a gun.

- l had to kill him.

- Good. Indian?

No, he was a white man, Johnny,

but l didn't have any choice. He...

l told you to press down on the shank,

and then you won't stick yourself.

Won't break the hook, either.

Here, bite down on this stick.

That's the way Indian youngsters

learn not to cry.

- Johnny, this man l killed...

- No!

Your ranch in California,

it's far, too far for gossip to travel.

Go wrap your thumb

in some bayberry leaves.

You and your silly ideals.

You think truth

is the most important thing.

- lts the measure of a man.

- Not for a woman.

A man can afford to have

noble sentiments and poses.

But a woman only has the man

she marries. That's her truth.

And if he's no good, that's still her truth.

l married a man who was a liar,

a thief, and a coward.

He was a drunkard and unfaithful.

He only married me to get this ranch,

and then he deserted Johnny

and me for good.

And that's your fine truth for you.

- Could l bring Johnny up on that?

- No, l guess you couldn't.

And then you come along

and you're good and fine,

and everything that Ed

could never hope to be.

And now, with your vanity, you want to

spoil Johnny's chances, and mine?

- Varlebena.

- What?

When the Indians wind up their

squaw-seeking ceremony,

they only say one word. Varlebena.

It means forever.

Forever.

Well, we caught the wild cat.

Give us a hand, will you?

l can't understand,

we killed him on the last charge.

Vittorio?

They had us surrounded.

Could've cut us to pieces,

then they withdrew.

That's why they pulled out.

Anytime their leader is killed,

that means their medicine's bad.

- This poor child.

- We're going out with this troop.

- Vittorio's dead.

- No, he can't be.

Everybody gets dead, it was his turn.

Now get your possibles.

l have some medicine in the cabin.

Thank you, Mrs. Lowe, l'd be

eternally grateful

if you'd pass among the men first.

No, you're wounded,

Im going to fix you up.

Thank you, ma'am.

The men are in worse shape than l am.

Come on, do as he says.

We'll take care of him.

- Sergeant.

- Yes, sir?

Dismount the men.

- Hitch their horses up to the wagon.

- Yes, sir.

You'll find harness in the barn.

Len.

- What do you want?

- Take four men and gather the settlers.

We'll probably catch up with you

at Errad Crossing.

Wilson, McGrath, Lyon, Johnson.

- How is he?

- He'll make out.

Don't know much.

Led us into an ambush.

But l ain't ashamed of him nohow.

Bullet holes are in the front of him.

All those youngsters from the Point

are like that.

They got to learn.

Partly they learn, partly they die.

But l gotta float my stick same as you.

l never saw one of them

l had to be ashamed of.

Join in and keep moving.

Move it along, there!

Hurry up!

Come on, move along here!

Come on, hurry it up.

Hurry it up!

Circle the wagons!

Wheel her around.

Circle the wagons!

Hold on!

Stay in the wagon.

Keep everybody in the wagons.

And don't unhitch.

Hondo!

All this circle's doing

is protect the horses.

We gotta turn some wagons over.

And stay here? That's what they expect.

We gotta do what they don't expect.

That's why all the heavy artillery's

in Buffalo's wagon.

Buffalo!

Lieutenant, get down.

Are you ready, Buff?

- l was born ready.

- Let's go.

Circle the wagons.

Close up.

Stay down!

Sergeant!

- l don't want to be an Apache, Mama.

- Now, you be quiet.

We're going to get out all right.

Now, help me, hurry.

- Ready again, Buff?

- As l told you, l was born ready.

Throw me your knife.

Get out of here!

All right, Hondo!

They're not following.

Leader's dead.

They'll powwow and pick a new one.

We're out of trouble

if we get a move on.

And am l going to get to drive?

Before we get to San Dimas,

you'll be a top teamster, son.

- How are you, Lieutenant?

- Fine, thanks to you.

And you're all right, thanks to Lennie.

He shot that Indian offen your back.

- Thanks.

- With your rifle.

Its his.

Don't look like we'll be needing it

much more today.

General Crook will be here

within a month with a large force.

- That'll be the end of the Apache.

- Yeah.

End of a way of life.

Too bad, it's a good way.

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