Virginia City Page #2

and driven cattle through most of it.

I know every water hole and arroyo,

almost every cactus bush.

It's pretty dry and barren,

but I'm sure I can make it.

Well, General Page.

If Captain Irby says he can, he will, sir.

Jeb Stuart told me

he was the smartest scout he ever had.

And he added that Irby could lead

a cavalry raid to Hades and back.

From what I hear, that's a pretty accurate

description of Virginia City, general.

By the way, Irby, where is the messenger

who brought us the good news?

One moment, sir.

Julia,

the president would like to see you.

Mr. President,

may I present Miss Julia Hayne...

...the daughter of Colonel Hayne.

Mr. President.

I knew your father, Miss Hayne.

He was a gallant soldier...

...which explains the courage you found

for such a dangerous mission.

Thank you, Mr. President.

We're proud of you and deeply grateful.

Good luck to you, captain.

The hopes of 10 million

will be riding with you.

Doggone that confounded...

...dadgummed, slab-sided, dad-burned,

tarnation, doggone...

Quiet.

...buffalo.

Right. The lamp.

Irby left the joker in the pack

when he didn't shut off this tunnel.

Sure enough left the road open

to the powder magazine.

- There it is.

- Yeah. Here.

Hey, not yet.

Wait until the sentry changes at 10:00.

Doggone that confounded...

- Shut up.

- ...dadgummed...

- What are they digging?

- Earthworks, the last line of defense.

Is it as bad as that? Are they so close?

Seventy miles,

at Spotsylvania Court House.

But they'll never take Richmond now, Julia.

You've brought us new hope.

Who's billeted here?

The 17th Cavalry.

They're using it as headquarters.

They'll probably move on any day now.

Looks strange, doesn't it?

Oh, Vance,

do you remember the old days here?

The parties father used to have

in this house?

It was fun growing up together,

wasn't it?

I wish it could have lasted forever.

We were close then.

Do you remember the last Christmas

I spent here before the war?

Frost was glistening in all the fields...

...holly wreaths were in all those windows,

mistletoe in the hall.

And Father standing in the doorway

with the light behind him...

...so straight and proud and handsome.

And now...

...wet leaves cover the ground at Shiloh,

don't they, Vance?

Julia, why do you torture yourself

with memories?

What have I got left?

The war's taken everything.

Not me, Julie.

Perhaps someday we...

But now, I just feel dead inside

and I will be till the war is over.

When do you start west?

Tomorrow, by troop train to the border,

then by stage.

We'll see each other later then

at Virginia City.

Yes. But remember, when we meet,

we've never seen each other before.

- Then the Federals can't suspect.

- Oh, I'm an expert at that now.

Treating friends like strangers

and enemies like friends.

I won't forget.

What time is it?

Around 10:
00.

Let's go back to Richmond.

The prison.

Back to town

as quick as you can make it.

Dog-darn this dad-blame swamp.

Marble, I never thought

you'd turn out to be a water buffalo.

If I don't get out of this water,

it's gonna take the curl out of my hair.

If you don't shut up, you're gonna have

a bullet parting your hair.

Here are some tracks, men.

They're running every which way,

but they're probably headed upstream.

Come on.

All fish head upstream, my friend,

that's how they get caught.

Come on.

Gentlemen, this is Captain Bradford...

...one of our most reliable sources

of enemy intelligence.

I question that, sir.

A man of any intelligence would hardly

spend a vacation in Libby Prison.

I understand, at the time of your capture...

...you were tracing the report

of gold shipments to Richmond.

That's correct. The shipments were made.

Ridiculous. How could the silver and gold

that might dribble through to the rebels...

...affect the outcome of this war

one way or another?

They couldn't, sir,

so long as those shipments were small.

I have reason to believe the rebels'

next shipments will involve millions.

- That could prolong this conflict for years.

- Where could they get millions?

Only one place, sir. Virginia City in Nevada.

Three of the richest mines in America...

- ...belong to Southern sympathizers there.

- Virginia City. That's a rebel hotbed.

- You'll have to watch yourself.

- Thank you. We will.

By the way,

I'm taking these men with me, sir.

We always work together.

Well, what are their qualifications?

Well, sir, Marblehead there...

Yes, sir.

...he's probably one of the finest

horse-thieves east of Chicago.

- You mean Kansas City, sir.

- Oh, Kansas City.

- And Moose.

- Yes, sir.

Well, he's had four wives, so he's had

to learn how to keep undercover.

Shucks.

Well, that settles it.

Draw what money you need

from the paymaster.

And before you leave, look over

the Washington reports on Virginia City.

Thank you.

- Good luck to you.

Thank you, sir.

- Sir.

- Sir.

Hey, why did you say

I only had four wives?

- Well, what was it, five?

Sure.

Oh, I keep losing count.

This is most uncomfortable.

I've never had such a rough ride.

My congressman

will certainly hear about this road.

In fact,

I think I'll write to President Lincoln.

He's kind of busy right now.

- There's a war on, you know.

- Oh, the war, the war.

When I think of all those brave boys

on the battlefield, so many of them.

- It's bad for business, you know.

- What is your business, mister?

Life insurance.

- Perhaps I could interest you in a policy.

- No, thanks.

Great American Insurance Company,

Cleveland, Ohio. Fine protection.

- I would not be a good risk.

- Nonsense, you look as fit as a fiddle.

I suppose you avoid

all unnecessary forms of excitement?

Oh, sure, sure.

I just sit home, reading books.

Oh, you Westerners are lucky.

No taxes to speak of,

nothing to worry about.

Of course, you are deprived of the glorious

opportunity to defend your country.

You are lucky to be out here.

They tell me they are

drafting men your age in the North.

Yes. Yes, they are.

That's the part of the war

I don't approve of.

What business

are you three gentlemen in?

- Well...

- We're in the mining business.

Gold mining. We thought we'd mosey

around Virginia City for a spell.

Doesn't your friend know there's more

silver than gold in Virginia City?

- Yes, but...

- We're in both.

That's it.

So you're from Virginia City,

are you, Miss Hayne? You haven't said.

Haven't I?

Now that we've all mentioned

our business, how about you?

Since you joined us a few miles back, I

suppose you live in this part of the country.

- Cattle business?

- No, no.

Maybe you could say I handle hardware.

- Full line?

- Oh, full enough.

- Hardware.

- Here is one of my samples.

You take this, Mr. Marblehead.

I'm a trifle gun shy.

Any of you gentlemen

happen to be carrying a gun?

No, no, no, not me. I never touch them.

All I want's a pocket full of rocks.

Guns are for warlike people.

What made you ask?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes