Western Union Page #5

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there wouldn't be no war.

Ain't that something to drink to?

-Yeah, but I think...

-You know...

a good thing can be made to last

a long time if you don't spoil it.

Besides, I'm a patriot.

Halt!

Are you Mr. Creighton?

Yes, I'm Creighton.

I'm Captain Harlow,

from Fort Laramie.

-How do you do, Captain?

-I'm afraid I've got bad news for you.

Chief Spotted Horse of the Ogallala

Sioux has sent in word...

that you can't build any more line

through his nation.

No? Why not?

One of your men wounded

his son yesterday.

They were drunk, Captain.

They raided our camp afterward

and they killed several of my men.

Spotted Horse says none of his

Indians killed any white man.

Some renegades got a few

of his young bucks drunk...

and talked them into a horse-stealing

raid to get some more whiskey.

The renegades did the killing.

So the chief feels that

white men are to blame.

-Who are the renegades?

-Spotted Horse says he doesn't know.

Indians or not, I'm going ahead

with the line, Captain.

-The Government is counting on it.

-I realize that, Mr. Creighton.

Washington has already notified me

to help you all I can...

but most of my troops have been

ordered to the army of the Potomac.

Besides, an Indian war means a

massacre. You wouldn't want that.

-Of course not.

-We have Spotted Horse's brother...

at Fort Kearney as a hostage for the

good behavior of the Ogallala.

I might try putting

a little pressure on him.

-Maybe in two or three weeks...

-I can't wait.

See, winter is almost here and from

now on every day counts.

If I could talk with the Chief

perhaps I could change his mind.

I'm afraid that's too great a risk.

After what's happened you'd have to...

go into his territory alone or with

a couple of men, and unarmed.

Even then, there's no telling

what he might do.

We've got to take that chance

and with your permission, we will.

Thank you.

Come on!

-Mean looking devils, aren't they?

-Just don't get your wires crossed.

Whatever we do,

we got to do quick.

Indians can't stay interested

in one thing very long.

That's him.

Hook up your wires.

-How.

-How.

He says you come in peace today,

but there won't be any peace...

if you try to take the singing wire

through the Ogallala nation.

Tell him the Great White Father who

speaks over the singing wire is...

sorry for the wounding

of his indian son...

but that the lightning talk is strong

medicine and it must go through.

He says the Ogallala doesn't believe

the singing wire's strong medicine.

Ask him if he'll let ten

of his strongest braves...

hold the tongue

of the singing wire...

that is, after we've proved

it's harmless.

He says yes.

He wants to know why

we pour water on the ground.

Tell him we must make sacrifice

to the Rain God...

who's brother to the Lightning.

Spotted Horse sees the connection

between the Gods.

Now hold the wire, Shaw,

and explain to him that it's...

good medicine for us,

but it's bad for our enemies.

Let them have it.

That's enough, Blake.

He says the Great

White Father's lightning...

is the strongest medicine

they've ever seen...

that the singing wire can go through

his nation in peace.

Tell him I promise that the singing

wire will make good medicine...

for the Ogallala against

their enemies.

He says peace, peace.

Now let's get out of here before they

have a chance to think it over.

I was sure everything was going

to be all right from the first.

-Weren't you?

-Of course.

Never gave it a thought.

Barney, get up there!

Boys, I've called you to give you

some good news for a change.

We've practically licked our job.

We're on the last leg

and the finish is almost in sight.

You fellows have all

done a great job.

ln Salt Lake City, everybody gets

two months' pay as a bonus.

And tonight, double portions

of grub for everybody.

Come and get it.

Come and get it!

Jack wants to see you, Vance.

-What for?

-It's a matter of life and death.

He had an argument with a fellow

over in Elkville and the fellow...

plugged him in the stomach.

-Where is he?

-Only a couple of miles from here.

All right. I'll meet you

on the other side of the camp.

All right.

Sorry, Vance, this is orders.

Come on.

Get the horses, boys.

Hi, Vance.

Now don't look so blamed sore.

I got you up here

to save you from a roasting.

I'm going to burn out

Western Union tonight.

Didn't want you

to be a part of it.

-That's mighty white of you.

-Well, you used to be one of us...

and as far as I'm

concerned, you still are.

You kept your mouth shut and played

square. I didn't wanna see you hurt.

Get hold of yourself, Jack.

You can't fight a thing as big

and as important as Western Union.

-Why, it's plumb loco to...

-No, it ain't, to me.

If this thing don't work tonight,

something else will.

I'm gonna stop'em if I have

to cut down every Yankee pole...

between here and Omaha. Now,

are you gonna be with us or not?

Jack, I want to give you some

of the best advice you've ever had.

-Yeah?

-Let Western Union alone.

I'm not gonna let them alone

'till they've paid ten times over...

for every foot of wire they're stringing.

This is better than owning a gold mine.

Steal their cattle, steal their horses,

burn them out.

When they need more wagon,

more horses, more cattle...

...we'll be on hand to sell it to them.

-You're a fool, Jack.

You can't go against a thing

as big as this without getting hung.

Maybe I will, maybe I won't.

If you've got any sense,

you'll string along with us.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

You come along with us, and I'll

cut you in for half of my share.

-It's a bargain on one condition.

-Yeah?

That you agree to give up

this bonfire business...

and come back to Missouri with me.

We'll join up with General Moseby

and be real guerillas.

Tie him up, boys, and tight.

Sure you won't change your mind

and come with us?

-Not this trip.

-All right.

Come on, boys.

I looked everywhere, Mr. Creighton,

but I can't find him.

-All right. I'll see him in the morning.

-Good night.

Good night, Joe.

-You looking for Shaw?

-Yes.

I saw him ride out of camp

over an hour ago.

This timber's so dry

it'll burn up like paper.

Be sure you circle

the whole camp.

Fire! Fire!

Everybody out! It's a forest fire!

Forest fire! Come on!

Blake!

Come on! Get up! Get out!

Come on, everybody!

Take the horses out of the corral

and hitch them up.

Hurry!

-Get all this on the wagons. Hurry!

-It's warm tonight.

Never mind that.

Get the insulators loaded.

Blake, come here!

Give me a hand!

The road's blocked.

Head for the lake!

-Where do you want him, Doc?

-Ambulance.

Come on, you fellows,

get out of here.

Look out for that tree!

You can come back for more.

-Charlie.

-I'm so tired.

What's the matter, Herman?

A little accident?

No. When the fire started

licking at his boots..

he ran clean up

out of his britches.

Come on, now, Cooky,

behave yourself.

Here, eat your stew,

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