The animals smell the river.
On that side, the wind of the United States.
On this side, the wind of Mexico.
And on both sides, the dust in your eyes.
The gringos call this river the Rio Grande.
What a small river for a name so large.
Where is this Sterner?
He's late.
He will come, don't worry yourself.
There's much in the cart for him.
Much that appeals to him.
Brady?
- Who are you? - Pancho Gil.
I am the agent of Don Cipriano Castro in the north.
I run the stage station at Del Norte.
I have been expecting you.
Where is Sterner?
He cannot come, other business.
I will take the cart
across the river into Puerto and deliver it.
I was ordered by Don Cipriano
to deliver the cart personally.
There are new orders.
I'll take the cart.
You disobey the orders of Don Cipriano?
I disobey your orders.
Diego.
- You gonna cross? - Si.
Stay on this side, Martin.
Pablo can stay with the cart at the Customs.
I will cross over to Puerto,
make arrangements with Senor Sterner.
I want to see the other side of the river.
But the risk is foolish.
Somebody may remember about you.
I want to see the other side.
Diego!
Lie still. Keep yourself quiet.
Get Sterner.
You all right, mister?
Speak English?
Don't move. You need help.
Where you live?
Not here.
I sent for help.
Your horse, it was frightened by the tumbleweed.
What's a Mexican doing
with a horse like that, anyway?
Probably stole it.
Starke, can't someone get a doctor?
I go.
I get Dr. Stovall.
Tell him the man's leg seems to be broken.
Forget about your gun.
Do you speak English?
- Yes. - I'm Doc Stovall.
Drink a lot of this in English.
You're gonna need it.
A fine thing, this happens.
What about the merchandise?
The cart is at the Customs.
Settle your troubles later, Ben.
I got to set a leg.
What's your name?
Brady. Martin Brady.
Well, listen, Brady.
Your leg isn't broken half as bad as you smell.
How long you been riding to work up a smell like this?
26 days.
I figured longer.
But, then who figured you were not a Mexican?
Go ahead, have another drink.
Well, if you won't, I will.
- Hey, Doc. - Yeah?
Can you fix it? I can't lay around here.
Sure I can fix it, and who says you can't lay around here?
This is what is called palpation, Brady.
It hurts, doesn't it?
Well, you're lucky.
You're plenty lucky that you broke your leg in the vicinity
of Herbert J. Stovall, MD.
All right, here we go.
Hombre, hold your friend.
You and the boy help me down here.
Get those sticks, will you, Ludwig?
Now, do exactly as I tell you.
This is a broken leg.
There, that's right.
Hold it there. Now, there it is.
Now hold it.
Hold it.
That's enough! That's enough!
Oh, Doc, I want to ask you a question.
All right, Ben.
Ludwig, show them where to put the sacks.
How long will he be here?
Oh, a couple of months.
A couple of months?
Well, he can't be moved.
That's a bad leg.
It'll take some time, you know.
Diego.
Hey, Doc, how bad is it?
I've got a job.
I come across the border for a couple of hours,
here I am, flat on my rump in Sterner's warehouse.
Well, you should've thought about all that
before you broke your leg.
Good.
You can still feel.
So you got a job in Mexico.
How long you been down there?
All right, what do you do?
For a living, I mean.
I ride.
With a horse like that, I didn't figure you walked.
Who do you ride for?
The Castros.
How'd you ever get a horse like that just riding
for the Castros?
Now, look, Doc, I didn't steal him.
Who said you did?
Because I know what you're thinking.
That horse is mine. The Castros gave him to me.
It's a gift.
He's the only thing I've got in the world, so lay off.
All right. What's his name?
Lagrimas.
Lagrimas?
That's Spanish, isn't it, for tears?
Confidentially, Brady.
You didn't get any gift like that out
of the Castros just riding for them.
Not an Andalusian stallion like that.
Oh, I mean, I believe you that they gave him to you.
What did you have to do for them?
Doc, look, how am I going to pay you?
My other patients aren't worrying.
Why should you be a pioneer?
I'd like to pay.
Well, how about this?
I've got a bay mare, Kentucky.
How about putting that horse of yours to stud with her?
It would be even.
I don't know what the Castros would say.
What they don't know won't hurt 'em.
You got a deal.
You do me a favor, huh, Doc?
On your way out,
you hit that big, black bonehead right
on the nose with a rock,
then we'll be even.
I'm going to tell him you said that.
I heard the cart moving.
Where's Diego?
Diego's on a stage to the south.
I need instructions from the Castros.
The cart is with Pancho Gil on the other side of the river.
And the guns?
Also with Gil.
Which sacks?
The ones with the ties split about one inch from the end.
- Is this it? - Si.
- Heavy, huh? - 500 silver pesos cannot be light.
I'm not complaining.
Beautiful, huh?
Sacks of ore are legal.
Duty free.
No trouble with the Customs.
I get the money, Castro gets the guns, eh?
A good arrangement.
Everyone is satisfied, huh?
- Somebody. - I told you, nobody.
Is Captain Rucker.
Good evening, Mr. Sterner.
Good evening, Captain.
You Brady?
I'm Captain Rucker, Company E, Texas Rangers.
I heard about your accident.
Broke a leg once myself.
Never considered it much of a pleasure.
What you got there, Ben?
- Ore? - Yeah.
Gold ore. Only gold ore.
My Mexican customer.
Must be rich to send it so far.
The Mexican smelter, you see,
it loses most of the silver by getting the gold.
The owner wants a trial up here.
Huh, Brady?
Talking with Major Colton about you this afternoon.
Up at the Fort.
He's the new commanding officer.
Saw you yesterday when you had your accident.
We don't get many Americans
from below the Rio Grande.
And he's curious about you.
Is he?
He'd like to ask your advice about things down there.
He'd like you to stop in and see him.
Sometime when you start getting around.
There's no hurry.
I'd like you to stop in and see me, too.
Oh, I'll be late for supper.
Nice to meet you, Brady.
See you later, Ben.
Coffee, is hot.
Gracias.
You feel better today, Mr. Brady?
No, Chico.
I am sorry.
Chico, what's that other name of yours besides Sterner?
Huh? Ah, Ludwig.
Ludwig Sterner.
How long you been here?
From Kassel, in Germany, I came last month.
Oh, you are new here, too.
Well, you didn't break your leg, huh, Ludwig?
Ludwig.
I think Chico's a better name.
Chico Sterner.
Means small. I study Spanish.
Ludwig, come.
You see too much of Brady.
Uncle.
Is good man. My friend.
Ludwig, from Germany you come to learn business.
Who knows the business?
You, my uncle. But is not business.
Is hurt man, is sad man.
You know what is a pistolero?
To carry a gun?
You know what is an assassin?
- Mr. Brady? - Yeah.
In Mexico, Mr. Brady is necessary.
To the Castros, my good customers, he is necessary.
But I do not like him on my place.
And we do not make friends.
You homesick, Chico?
Huh?
Excuse me, it means?
Oh, it means you wish you were back home and not away
in a new place.
Now I understand.
- Well, are you? - No.
Oh, I think you are.
Martin Brady, you are the one I think is homesick.
You got the word wrong, Chico.
I haven't got a home.
Well, good morning, Brady.
Glad to see you on your feet.
Well, at least one of 'em.
Are you gonna ride out to the Fort with me today?
Well, I was planning on it.
Well, now look, Brady.
I don't want to seem indelicate.
If I'm going to introduce you to the commanding officer
of the United States Army Post,
or if you've got any ideas of a social life in this town,
I got a suggestion.
Huh.
There's a bathtub in the back end of Peeble's barber shop.
The water'll be hot by the time you're able
to hobble over there.
Oh, Ludwig, put this stuff on my bill
and bring it over to the barber shop, will you?
Hey, Doc.
You can save the water.
I don't want no bath.
The Major's quarters are right down through that arch.
I have to look in on a boy in the dispensary.
I'll be waiting for you when you come out.
Or vice versa.
Anything I can do for you?
Yeah.
Keep this for me, will you?
Now, please be careful.
Be especially careful when you take it through the door.
Against the far wall.
Right over there.
My name is Martin Brady.
I'd like to see Major Colton.
He's busy. Do you have an appointment?
He wanted to see me.
I'm the fellow from Mexico who broke his leg.
Would you mind waiting in there, please?
He'll see you in a few minutes.
Everybody has to wait a few minutes.
I'm Mrs. Colton.
Forgive me for staring.
It's just difficult to believe
that you're the same man I saw lying in the street.
I mean, I was there.
I know.
You know?
I remember.
Please sit down.
You'll have to forgive the way things look.
We're just getting settled around here.
You got a pretty room here, Mrs. Colton.
Thank you. It's gonna be a lot prettier.
We brought the furniture from Missouri.
I come from Missouri.
Do you?
We were stationed there just a few years.
Did you leave there recently?
No.
I live in Mexico.
I never knew anyone who lived in Mexico before.
An American, I mean.
Not many do.
Do you like it here, Mrs. Colton?
When you accept an Army life, you have no great choice.
You just try to accept what comes.
Perhaps that doesn't make sense
to a man like you, Mr. Brady.
I wouldn't say it didn't.
Will you be in Puerto long?
No, I don't suppose so.
I wish I could say the same.
You got to excuse me, Mrs. Colton.
I can talk sometimes
to my horse.
Come in, Mr. Brady.
Lunch at 12 sharp, Ellen.
Captain Stoker and Mr. Hight will join us.
I regret you had to wait, Mr. Brady.
How's the leg?
That was a bad fall you took.
I saw it. Oh, it's coming along.
Glad to hear it.
Have a seat.
Mr. Brady, I'd like to ask you a few questions.
Yes, sir, Major.
As I understand it, you're in the employ of the Castros.
Sort of a bodyguard.
That puts you in a position to observe things.
Know what's going on.
It's also my understanding that the southern Apaches,
under their chief, Fuego,
has its central rendezvous south of the border.
Somewhere between the river and the town of Carmen.
Is that correct?
Might be.
Just, "might be"?
Yes, sir.
I see.
Do you know who the properly constituted authorities
are in that area?
- That depends. - On what?
On who's the governor.
And the Castros?
The Castros own the place. Most of it.
Just who are the Castros, Brady?
What sort of family?
Well, there's Don Cipriano, the eldest.
He's the boss.
And Marcos, the brother, he's the General.
That's the family.
Oh, that's interesting.
Mr. Brady, what I'm gonna tell you is in great confidence.
Sort of a military secret.
But I think you're the man who may be able to help me.
Help your country.
In fact, do it a great service.
The idea's quite simple, really.
To approach the properly constituted Mexican authorities,
from what you say, this would be, in fact, the Castros,
towards the end of forming a joint military operation.
Into Mexico?
Into Mexico, or the United States,
in pursuit of Apaches wherever found.
You mean, get the Castros to let you lead American troops
onto Mexican soil?
Well, in conjunction with their own forces,
you understand.
Well, what do you think?
Major, you ever heard the word gringo?
Of course.
Well, it sort of says how they feel about you.
Gringo.
- Is that your only comment? - Yes, sir.
Well, never mind.
Thank you for coming, anyway, Mr. Brady.
Major, the Apaches hide below the border
and they raid north
because the Castros like it that way.
You'd have to find some way of making it
worth their while to turn against Fuego.
Did you have a satisfactory visit, Mr. Brady?
It was all right.
Shall we be seeing you again?
Possibly.
Soon, then.
Yes, siree, and the first thing you know,
we'll be pushing south into the golden heart of Mexico.
Hogan, get me another Stonewall there, will you?
I'll tell you something, gentlemen,
this is the beginning of the era,
for our fair and beautiful city.
How about the Apaches, Mr. Hight?
Apaches?
My dear sir, may I in my humble opinion
point out to you there are certain projects
that would strain
the vast resources of our great country,
the United States of America,
but would hardly cause a mighty institution
like the Continental and Southern Railroad to bat an eye.
You follow me?
Can you imagine what's gonna happen when railroad money
starts rubbing up against Castro pockets?
How about you there, Mr. Brady?
What's your opinion?
You're an expert on things Castro and Mexican.
You mean, if it's a question
between money and the Apaches,
which one would the Castros choose?
That's the notion.
I'd hate to be an Apache.
Well put, Mr. Brady.
I tell you, gentlemen.
It's sin and corruption!
Three groans, there, Mr. Brady, in honor of the occasion.
What's the occasion, Mr. Hight?
Do we need one to lift a glass?
Thank you, Mr. Hight.
I better get along.
- Hello, Brady. - Doc.
They're bringing that stallion of yours back.
Now we're even. My bay mare told me to buy you a drink.
- Thanks, Doc. - Anytime.
Anytime.
Howdy, Brady.
Captain.
You never came in to see me.
I've been meaning to, Captain.
Brady,
I'd like to have a talk with you.
All right.
I'm glad to see you're able to get along
without your crutches.
How does the leg feel these days?
Oh, it's fine.
Brady, I knew your father.
I don't know who you knew, Captain, or who you didn't.
The James Brady that I knew fought
with Joe Shelby's Missourians.
Slayback's regiment.
He was killed by a man named DM Follett.
Shot in a quarrel, witnesses said.
Next day they found Follett at the edge of Presidio
with the back of his head blown off.
Who killed him?
Nobody knows.
Brady didn't have any friends.
Just his boy.
I assume you're the boy, and I assume you killed Follett.
I'll leave town, Captain, if that's what you want.
The general opinion was
that you did the community a service.
Follett was wanted by every sheriff between here
and Montana.
You should have stayed around to find out.
All that I want is for you to carry a gun for the Rangers
instead of the Castros.
I could use somebody Spanish speaking.
Private in the Rangers gets $40 a month and rations.
State provides the ammunition.
You provide mount, rig, arms, clothes.
The Rangers? Me?
That's the idea.
What's gonna happen to you
when the Castros are finished with you?
Or maybe, when you decide you're finished with them?
Why don't you start life all over again this side
of the river, where you belong?
Be seeing you.
- Good morning, Mr. Brady. - Mr. Peebles.
About time for another haircut, isn't it?
Mr. Brady, Mr. Brady.
Uncle wants to see you.
It's important.
All right, Chico.
The guns have disappeared.
Disappeared?
The men of Pancho Gil took them south,
but General Marcos never received them.
They've disappeared.
The wagon has disappeared, the guns have disappeared.
- But how? - How?
Who knows?
Maybe the men of Pancho Gil took them.
Maybe Apaches, Salcidistas, bandits.
Maybe General Marcos himself took them.
Well, one thing's certain, I didn't take them.
Cipriano Castro holds you responsible.
You were entrusted with the responsibility
of bringing the guns back.
You did not bring them back.
But I had a broken leg.
Doesn't he know I had a broken leg?
The Castros do not recognize broken legs.
They only recognize mistakes.
You made a mistake breaking your leg.
"You will return at once.
As soon as you're able to ride.
Meanwhile, during your idleness at the border,
you will make yourself useful
listening for such information
as may be of interest to me."
You see?
Maybe I won't go back.
Maybe I'll stay right here.
Are you crazy?
What's crazy about it? I was born here.
I don't care where you were born.
Mexico's your country.
You belong to the Castros.
So stop talking foolishness.
Go back where you belong.
As soon as you can ride.
Go back.
♪ Now, how I came to get this hat is very strange and funny ♪
♪ My grandfather died and left to me his property and money ♪
♪ And when the will, it was read out ♪
♪ They told me straight and flat ♪
♪ If I would have his money, I must always wear his hat ♪
Everybody!
Careful, your leg.
It's all right, Chico.
Better get this wagon back before your uncle finds out about it.
Don't worry.
I wait for you, Mr. Brady.
♪ I should like to have one just the same as that ♪
♪ Wherever I go, they shout, hello ♪
♪ Where did you get that hat ♪
♪ If I go to the opera house in the opera season ♪
♪ There's someone sure to shout at me ♪
♪ Without the slightest reason ♪
♪ If I go to a chowder club to have a jolly spree ♪
♪ There's someone in the party who is sure to shout at me ♪
♪ Everybody ♪
Good evening, Mrs. Colton, Major.
Good evening, Mr. Brady.
Quite a party.
I never saw a party like this before.
Surely they have parties in Mexico.
Oh, sure. But, this is different.
I mean,
well, this is an American party.
By the way, Mr. Brady, when are you returning to Mexico?
I don't know exactly, Major.
I'm beginning to like it here.
Imagine.
Shall we dance, my dear?
Not now, Starke. It's too crowded.
It's the first dance, Ellen.
Will you excuse us, Mr. Brady?
Pretty woman.
Yeah. Sure is.
We don't get many that pretty out here.
Anyway, they don't stay very pretty long.
Not after they've been here for a while.
But she's a pretty one.
Turn any man's head.
You coming in to see me sometime?
Join up?
I've been thinking about it. Yeah.
You belong with us. You know that.
Long as you stay out of trouble.
What kind of trouble?
Oh, well, there are all kinds of trouble.
You know one kind, you've been living in it all your life.
Then there's another kind of trouble,
doesn't look like trouble at all.
Sometimes it looks as pretty as a picture.
- Major. - Captain Rucker.
Oh, Major. Here you are.
I've been looking everywhere for you.
You can't dance every dance with your husband, you know.
Major, please.
Mrs. Colton,
you look as pretty as a picture.
Thank you, Captain Rucker.
Excuse me.
Could I talk to you, Mrs. Colton?
Certainly.
Well, it's kind of private.
Could we go to some place where it's not so noisy?
You make it sound very mysterious, Mr. Brady.
Oh, Mrs. Colton, may I have the pleasure
- of the next dance? - Oh, I'm sorry.
The next dance is taken.
Mrs. Colton,
I got to explain myself.
Oh, you don't have to say anything, Mr. Brady.
I've heard all those stories about you
and I don't believe a word.
Oh, that doesn't matter.
I don't know what you heard, but it doesn't matter.
I almost wish I did believe them.
It makes you seem so much more-
Mrs. Colton, please.
You've got to listen to me.
Look,
I'm thinking of staying in Puerto.
I think that's a very nice decision, Mr. Brady.
I'm not staying here just to get into trouble again.
Just put your gun down.
It's as simple as that.
Your kind of trouble.
And what kind of trouble am I, Mr. Brady?
Look, I got a chance here.
I just had my whole life handed back to me on a plate.
Now, I can't go ahead and mess it up for-
For what, Mr. Brady?
Now, don't act like you don't know what I mean.
Don't act like you don't know.
I know you have your hand on me in a very rude fashion.
You think, because I felt sorry for you,
because you seemed interesting-
I've seen the way you look at your husband.
I've seen the way you look at me.
You don't love him, do you?
You don't know him.
Well, I know about him and you.
- You don't know anything. - I got eyes. I can see.
There's no more love between-
I love him.
He's a fine man.
You should be half the man he is.
He's one of the bravest men I've ever known.
And he's kind and he's smart,
and he tries.
- And I love him- - You're lying.
She's too good to dance with me,
but she ain't too good
to take a walk with that gun toter from Mexico.
From what I hear, she ain't been too good
to take a lot of other walks, either.
Not that I blame her.
The husband she's got,
she'd be better off married to a flagpole.
That's just about what she had back in Missouri.
Everybody but the flagpole.
And now she's got herself a gun toter from Mexico.
You brought him, didn't you, Jakey boy?
Who?
That tame rattlesnake that works for them Mexicans.
- Huh? - Says his name's Brady.
Mr. Brady is my friend.
You pick mighty funny friends, Jakey boy.
I'm talking to you, Jakey boy, you better hear me good.
I say he's a cheap, third rate, gun carrier,
and he and the Major's wife should be run out of town.
She ain't no better than him.
You stop saying bad things about Mr. Brady.
- You're getting mad, Jakey boy. - Is good man.
Is my friend.
You shouldn't have done that.
You'd better start saying your prayers, Jakey.
What do you want?
I got into some trouble.
I had to leave my horse on the other side.
Shooting, huh?
With gringos, huh?
Well, we had some shooting here, too.
With Salcidistas.
They took the garrison and the City Hall,
they burned my stage station,
they ran off with all the wine and the women.
But not Senor Gil.
Senor Gil is gone.
He keeps one foot on the bank of the river, ready to jump.
Will you get my horse?
Will I get you your horse?
Now you ask favors.
Listen, Brady.
It is the plan for Asunsolo here
to ride south with an urgent message for the Castros, but
with a horse like yours, you can ride very well and fast.
I will get you your horse, if you will deliver the message.
I'll take your message for you.
You wait here.
Quiet.
"As for the guns, I regret to inform you
that I personally have no further information."
Brady.
You ride now with this letter
to the hacienda at Valdepenas for the Castros.
It is urgent.
Hey.
The Senor Sterner says for you to stay
on this side of the river.
"Do not come back," he says.
The law in the gringo country is very strict.
And the one I shot?
Well shot.
Dead.
Like the nephew of the Senor Sterner.
Two less gringos.
The nephew of the Senor Sterner is dead?
Dead.
He bleeds too much.
I have an urgent express for the General.
You tell him Brady is here.
Martin Brady.
I will notify the authorities.
Hey, Peto, tell the General, Senor Martin Brady
- is here with an express- - Martin, Martin!
Hey!
- Diego. - Aye.
On two good legs.
You know him?
Not as sergeant.
I am a sergeant in charge of food and drink.
Martin, a man finds his fortune in war.
I am in luck.
We go to eat together and have a little drink.
Later. First I got to see General Marcos.
Martin, let me tell you something.
The General has force, he wins battles.
He made me a sergeant.
Martin, everything has changed.
Don Cipriano Castro is the governor in the capital city.
Si. A situation that promises much for you.
Is the General who brings us the luck.
You go find the General, he gonna bring you luck, too.
The General will see the Senor Brady.
Brady,
the General will see you.
Leave the pistola.
Here, let me hold it.
- Take the horse. - Si.
What happened to the guns?
General, I was in Puerto with a broken leg.
I know about your leg.
What happened to the guns?
Well, if you know about the leg, then you must know
I had nothing to do with the guns.
Take your hat off.
You were responsible for the guns.
If you want to break your leg, that's your business.
What was the report that you don't come back?
The report was false.
I'm here with a letter from Pancho Gil from Del Norte.
Hand me the letter.
While you were in Texas, there was an invitation for me
to join my cavalry with the army of the United States
and fight Fuego.
Did you hear of it?
I heard of it.
I never answer.
What kind of Yankee swindle is this?
I believe it was an invitation to fight Fuego.
Gringo clothes.
My brother, Cipriano, your patron,
asked you to make observations in Texas.
What's the army force at Puerto?
There's a battalion of cavalry.
The troops are Negroes.
I have heard they use blacks.
I never believe it.
Who commands? Is he black, too?
No, he is not.
His name is Colton.
- Did you ever see him? - Three times.
Who's the power at Puerto?
That army commander?
He is the military power.
It is distinct from other power.
You are saying a commander of a district carries
no civil power?
Who polices their civil government?
The Texas Rangers.
They act as police sometimes.
And who buys these assassins?
That's what I mean by the power.
They are not bought, General.
I would not call them assassins.
He doesn't call them.
A hired pistolero is in no position
to form opinions of assassins.
Go to your patron, my generous brother,
who is in the capital city.
My generous brother who is now, "His Excellency,"
the Governor.
Explain to him about the guns.
Si.
Aye, Martin, a little drink
and then we begin your homecoming feast.
You were wrong about the luck, Diego.
Whatever luck I have lies with the Governor,
not the General.
I'm leaving for the capital city.
But what about our little fiesta?
You have it, compadre.
Goodbye, Diego.
Brady.
Don Cipriano.
You limp scarcely at all.
Oh, the leg.
It's all well, patron.
I'm all better.
I'm glad.
Did you want something?
I just came to report on my trip to the north.
Maybe I should say about the guns.
It's unnecessary.
I understand.
Sit down.
Thank you, patron.
How did you like the north?
- Well- - I missed your services.
For reasons of personal security, of course.
We had difficult times.
But also, I simply missed you, Brady.
Thank you, patron.
How is my abominable brother?
Don't tell me.
The description could give me only pain.
It would be worth another revolution
to keep Marcos busy somewhere else.
There is something I must tell you.
When I, in my own person, took over the government,
I did what some head of our family
should have done two centuries ago.
You see, we can never be bothered.
There was always something else.
Our bulls, or our books,
hunting, liquor,
women, indolence, something.
Now, I have done it.
The Castro family at last is secure.
And so what follows?
Another Castro with ambition.
Marcos?
I am very much afraid that Marcos
wishes to become governor.
I am therefore much pleased to see you here.
Your orders at this time are to remain in readiness
until I call you.
Inform the house man that you're stabling your horse,
that you're to be fed and bedded
in quarters here until further notice.
Is that clear?
Yes, patron.
Senor Brady is leaving.
Patron, I have not been paid since I left for the north.
It requires a note in your hand.
I need the money.
There is neither pen nor paper convenient.
Forgive me.
I shall arrange it at a less busy time.
Brady, your appearance.
It is Texan.
Dress yourself more properly.
Si, patron.
Mr. Martin Brady.
Well, I do declare.
Martin Brady.
Tell me, how long y'all been down here?
Hello, Mr. Hight. Oh, a few weeks.
You're a smart boy.
This is where the gold is.
The mother load.
What're you doing down here?
I mean, besides-
You mean, you haven't heard?
Travis Hight has got this railroad junket
nailed down tighter than a pinewood coffin.
What railroad junket?
Without precedent, Brady.
Four stagecoach loads of northern notables.
A railroad president,
various eminent legislators,
a distinguished officer of our armed forces
are going to arrive in this city,
as the official guests of the State of course,
to partake in the fiesta of that great saint, San Ildefonso,
the patron saint of this beautiful city.
Who's coming down here for the United States Army?
Why, our man from Puerto,
Major Starke Colton and his charming wife.
Very impressive, didn't you think, Ellen?
Very.
I'm expected at the Governor's palace,
Mr. Hight, and I don't want to be late.
Oh, indeed you don't, Major.
Indeed you don't.
And when you and the other gentlemen are having
those preliminary discussions,
Travis Hight will have the privilege
of entertaining your beautiful ladies personally, if I may.
Thank you.
Gentlemen.
Well, ladies, tonight you are with Travis Hight.
That rhymes.
Oh, look out. Look out.
Well, Mr. Brady.
How are you?
Well, ladies, I want you to meet Mr. Brady.
Mr. Martin Brady.
He may live down here in Mexico,
but he's a Missourian all the way through.
Mr. Brady, you remember Mrs. Colton.
Mrs. Colton, this is Mr. Martin Brady.
You remember him?
I remember Mr. Brady.
Hey, how about joining our little group here
and showing the ladies the sights?
I'd like to, Mr. Hight, but-
No buts there, Mr. Brady.
Now listen, you got to come with us.
You know this town like a book.
Come on, girls. Let's all get in there and join Mr. Brady.
Let's get out of here.
There's a price on your head, you know,
for killing that man.
Oh? How much?
$200.
I figured I ought to be worth more than that.
Did you have to kill him?
He drew on me.
Look,
I ran away from you once before up there, in your country.
You're down here now.
Down here, I don't run.
Do you kill down here?
In your country?
If I have to.
For the same reason you killed in Puerto?
For money.
When it's done for money, it's allowed.
And that's why it's your country.
You think without that gun, no one wants you.
Why do you suppose Captain Rucker wanted me?
For the gun. Nothing else.
But I don't.
No.
I want you to know something.
The stories that man told about me, the man you killed,
they were all true.
No one meant anything.
No one does.
Not Starke, not any of them.
And now, not you.
Not with half a man.
I thought, perhaps you were going to be the one.
The whole one.
But you're not whole, are you?
You're not complete without your machinery for killing.
But then we all fail ourselves, don't we?
Because, here I am.
I'm always betrayed by hope.
I keep thinking I could be wrong.
But you won't leave it there, will you?
Senores, I will now propose a toast.
To our honored guest, Major Colton.
Commander of the United States forces.
And to my beloved brother, Marcos.
Our best wishes in the campaign against the Apache.
A speedy victory and a great triumph.
My apologies for taking you away,
but I have an assignment for you.
Sit down.
I have received word that my brother Marcos plots
to kill me.
He is not content to be general of the army.
He must be governor as well.
He was always greedy.
Even as a child.
Do you know what makes life hard, Brady?
The fact that it always forces us into making a choice.
And if we do not make a choice, it is always made for us.
I have no wish to kill Marcos.
But life has to be faced.
Responsibility, Brady.
Obligation.
It is not to me like killing a friend.
You must realize that.
Marcos and I were never close.
Senor, I would be pleased
if you would send another man on this assignment.
You're the only one I trust.
I don't wish to go, Senor.
And I do not wish to be killed.
Now as one man to another, tell me, which is more important?
I appreciate your delicacy.
It is very touching, but very unrealistic.
Very gringo, Brady.
Senor, I am a gringo to you?
It is not easy to wipe out the heritage of the blood.
But enough of this.
The important thing is that you serve me and serve me well.
Now, three men will ride with you.
They await you with your horse in the stables.
- With good luck- - No, Senor.
What do you mean, no?
What is it you want?
More money?
Beware of greed, Brady.
- I will not go, Senor. - You will not go?
No.
And what will you do instead?
I don't know, Senor.
But I know this.
You put this gun in my hand,
I wish now to put it down.
I respect your wish.
It may surprise you, but I do.
I myself have no stomach for killing.
When you return from this assignment,
then we'll discuss your wishes.
Your future.
But I'm not going.
Do you know our laws, Brady?
Do you know that by law a servant may not leave his master
until all his debts to the master are discharged?
But I'm not in debt to you.
You owe us 3,000 silver pesos.
- For what? - For the guns, Brady!
The guns that disappeared while in your care.
- That wasn't my fault. - The law says it was.
You were responsible.
The law also says that if you attempt to leave my employ
before the debt is discharged, I have the right to kill you.
And being unlike my brother Marcos, I am a man of the law.
Your law, Senor.
Not mine.
Don't be a fool.
Without my protection, you are nothing.
Where will you go?
Your Americans have a price on your head.
They will put you in jail and let you rot.
You belong here.
No, Senor.
Not anymore.
Then you belong nowhere.
Brady!
Whoa, horse.
Whoa!
We got to rest, horse.
Those Castros don't give up, do they?
Well, neither do we.
Papa, Papa!
Oi.
I am Santiago Santos.
This is my daughter, Maria.
You have already met my sons.
I doubt you remember.
What about my horse?
A little pus in the hoof.
In three weeks' time, he'll be chewing up my remuda.
Already the mares take cover.
Three weeks?
Aye, Senor Santos, I'm trying to get to the north.
Three weeks or three months,
it makes no difference, Senor Brady.
This is your home.
Here.
Eat.
Sleep again.
Gracias.
Whoa.
We share your pleasure, Senor.
Does this mean that you leave us?
I can't say that I want to.
We invite you to stay.
Stay.
We have already talked among ourselves.
Agustine, Andres, Maria.
It is the agreement.
I don't understand
how anybody could be this good to me
or I should have such luck.
You know why I came into this area?
A man is measured in a minute.
Apaches, Apaches!
Andres!
20 years of peace.
20 years.
I say it is possible.
They have been planning this push
against the southern Apache.
They may have pushed some clean over the sierra.
The people of the rancho are my people.
We must help them.
I'll go with you, Senor Santos.
Gracias.
Agustine can stay with Maria.
Don't go up there. It's no use.
All we need is some shovels to dig graves, that's all.
Hold that!
Nine.
Nine of my good troopers and Lieutenant Scanlon.
All dead.
I don't know what to do.
I don't know where I am.
I don't know nothing.
How many Apaches were there, Tobe?
- About 20. - And not Fuego?
Uh-uh, some sub-chief named Magues.
Did you get Magues?
Get him?
Didn't even see him.
They run off north hightailing it,
what's left of 'em.
You don't know where?
How do I know where they've gone, Mr. Brady?
I don't know where I am.
Who's in command now?
Me, I guess.
The Major's wounded.
I don't think he's gonna make it.
You better stay here, Senor.
I'll send somebody back to help.
Come on, Tobe. Show me where the camp is.
Major, my name is Brady.
I remember your name.
What I wanted to say, Major,
the Santos family would like you to stay with them until-
I have a rendezvous with Captain Rucker
and the Mexican forces
at El Pulpito.
I intend to keep that rendezvous.
Major, you're 100 miles inside Mexico.
You have to follow the same trail north that Magues took.
You can't fight him if he turns on you.
You have to cross the sierra, Major.
You can't cross the sierra on a litter.
Who's the commanding officer?
Thank you, Sergeant.
You can move out.
Yes, sir, Major.
Forward. Ho!
It is a march of fools, Martin.
Where is the rendezvous?
El Pulpito.
But I'm delivering him to Fort Jefflin.
He won't know the difference.
It will not matter.
You will only deliver a corpse.
Adios.
Ellen.
Sergeant,
send six men to attack the rear.
Major, you can't send-
I'll send anybody I see fit.
Just as long as I'm in command.
Sergeant.
Sergeant!
He's breathing, but that's about all.
What we gonna do, Mr. Brady?
We're gonna go down and find out what's in that wagon.
That's what the Major wants, isn't it?
Come on.
We got Magues, Mr. Brady.
We got something else, too, Tobe.
Take a look at that.
Man, that's US Governor's property.
That's just plain stealing.
Is it El,
El Pulpito, Sergeant?
Not yet, Major.
Maybe tomorrow.
I dislike to be late.
Fuego's on the mountain.
I've killed Magues.
Yeah, we sure killed him, Major.
My,
my wife is at Fort Jefflin, Sergeant.
If I don't survive the charge,
please take her this ring.
You going back to Puerto?
Going to stay there?
I don't know.
Maybe if you stayed in Puerto for a little while.
It's wrong.
To feel like this?
It's wrong.
What we are and what we did,
and God help me,
what I'm feeling right now for you
with my husband not even in the ground yet.
We've said everything.
There's nothing more to wait for.
Nothing more to know.
If you want me, Martin, you'll have to come and get me.
You'll have to cross the river.
Thank you for bringing this.
Look,
what we did, maybe that was wrong.
But not what we feel.
What a pity then, that life is what we do
and not just what we feel.
What about Magues, Captain Stoker?
Brady got Magues.
And we've got 96 rifles and 8,000 rounds of ammunition,
stolen from you, I understand.
It's in your camp now, instead of up
on the mountain with Fuego.
Excellent, Captain Stoker.
The American forces will retire
from El Pulpito within 12 hours
and from Mexican territory within 48.
I don't understand, General.
Your brother and Major Colton agreed that-
Where is Major Colton?
Major Colton is dead.
Too bad.
So is my brother.
The Governor is dead?
Regrettably.
And so it has been necessary for me to become the governor.
Another thing, Captain Stoker.
In your camp you hide the outlaw, Martin Brady,
wanted by the government of this state.
Martin Brady is here with me.
My company.
What branch of military services do you represent?
No branch. Texas Rangers.
Police?
No police were included in the arrangements,
only the military.
You are here illegally.
Within 12 hours, Captain Stoker,
you will retire with your illegal allies.
Before you go, you will surrender to me the assassin.
The murderer,
the pistolero, Martin Brady.
I better get out of here.
I'm not gonna let you go.
It's a matter of honor.
You look after your honor, Captain.
I'll look after my skin.
I've done it before.
Brady!
Witnesses say that fellow, Barton,
from Fort Jefflin drew first.
If you ever come back, I'll do all I can for you.
Lagrimas.
Horse called tears.