First thing is I agree with Sam Houston.
- I say we have to fight for our rights. - Well, I disagree.
We've gotten along alright as a free state under the Mexican Republic for years. I see no reason to fight.
You've overlooked one thing, Jim.
Although the Spanish gave us the right of colonization in 1821,
when Santa Anna seized control of the presidency, we ceased to be a free state.
- Now we can either fight or face the prospect of a government by military authority. - General Houston, excuse me!
Gentlemen, I'll get to the point.
I have been commissioned to recruit an army for the defence of Texas as an independent republic.
Many of you are already well acquainted with the difficulties and complexities of such an undertaking.
The others of you soon will be.
If victory is to be ours in the coming struggle,
we must have every able-bodied man in Texas under arms.
In the absence of any act of fighting, Sam, it has become increasingly difficult to convince the people of the danger.
Men are reluctant to leave their families and farms.
That is why I called you gentlemen together.
I have just received a despatch that General Santa Anna has occupied San Antonio.
Colonel Travis with less than 200 men have withdrawn across the river to the Alamo
to prepare for its defense. At this moment, that is the only
military force between the Mexican army and the Sabine river.
And those men need help!
How do you feel, Jim? - I'd feel better if somebody moved me out on that wall.
Never get any shootin' done in here. - Don't be too sure of that.
There's a lot of them left out there. Some of them may even pay you a visit.
Just bring 'em in. Me and Mr. Bowie's all ready for them.
I don't think we have to bring them in, Sam. It looks as though they intend to come in on their own.
Any word from Houston? - Not yet.
You figure the messenger got through? - I hope so.
Sam's a good man, he'll send some boys down to help us.
He better send them pretty quick.
What's to fret, Bill. You can always run out if things get too tough.
Ah, ah, you aren't planning on leaving, are you Jim?
No, I guess not. Don't figure I couId run very good.
I don't run good either, Jim.
Colonel Travis!
- Yes?
There's a Mexican out there riding under a white flag. Says he wants to talk to you.
What did he say, Colonel? - He just said if we don't walk out of here right now
with our hands in the air, we won't waIk out at all.
What are you gonna tell him, sir? - Is this cannon loaded? - Yes, sir.
This is driving me crazy.
First they spent a couple of hours blowing the place apart, then you have to sit around for a couple of hours
and there ain't a sound. - You don't figure they're running out of ammunition, do you?
Why don't you stick your head over the side and find out. - I ain't that curious.
I ain't had no real sleep in four days. How long's a man supposed to stand it?
If you're tired of it here, why don't you just open the gate and walk out.
I've been thinking the biggest mistake I ever made was when I walked in.
You had all the way from Tennessee to think it over...
If I'd had 5 more miles to go, I'd probably changed my mind.
I don't understand that anyway. What are you guys from Tennessee doing way down here?
Ain't no war in Tennessee. - Seems to me you could've found one nearer home.
Well, I was considering starting one,
but Davy Crockett said you Texans need some heIp, so I come down here to fight.
I'm fighting. Still don't know what I'm fighting for. What're you fighting for?
I got a ranch up at Oxbow, with a wife and kids.
There's 4 or 5 more of us who's got a ranch up that way too. Ain't that right, Stroud? - Yeah.
That answer your question?
Got a famiIy of my own in Tennessee.
I wish mine was there instead of where they are. - Yeah? Where's Oxbow located?
Up north of here. - There ain't no Mexicans up that-a-way, is there?
None that I know of. - Well, I don't see what you got to worry about?
It's not the Mexicans I'm worried about.
We got word that Santa Anna's giving out land grants to Texans to fight on his side.
Why you don't think anybody's gonna hire out for him, do you?
Yeah, I know one of them already. Got a lot of followers too. Fella named Jess Wade.
Well, here we go again!
Hold it! It's one of our boys!
Came right through the Mexican line.
It's one of our boys! Open those gates!
I'm Colonel Crockett Lieutenant. What can I do for you?
Got a dispatch from General Houston. Where's your commanding officer?
Hey Lieutenant! What's going on up north?
Same thing as going on here. They're raiding up around Oxbow.
You heard what the man said, didn't you? - Yeah, I heard him! - Come on, let's go.
Stroud! Kaye! Come with me, I wanna talk to you.
Bill!
Lt. Lamar, sir. I got a message from General Houston. We've been expecting you.
How soon will the troops be here? - There are no troops.
Right now, the General's recruiting a fighting force for the defence of Texas. It may be days before...
Why'd Sam waste his time sending us a message like this?
The General asks that you hold the Alamo as long as you can.
There's a whole army out there. How long does he think we can keep them back? - I don't know, sir.
But he feels the longer the Alamo holds, the better his chances are in getting ready for Santa Anna's army.
Dave, muster the men.
So there's just 5 of us here who's got families in Oxbow.
Nobody to take care of them. If one of us don't do it, nobody else will.
Now one man here ain't gonna make any difference,
but one man up there could take care of all our women folk and kids and get them to a place where they are safe and then come back.
How's he going to get out? - The messenger from Houston got in, didn't he?
Who's it gonna be? - Well, if it's agreeable with all you fellas, I figure we'd draw lots for it.
I got a handfuI of beans here, and one of them's black.
Whoever draws the black bean goes. You want to start off, Johnny?
Why not?
I have here a dispatch from General Houston.
"March 2nd, 1836. On this day, Texas has been declared an independent republic."
That's fine, Colonel, but what I want to know is are we going to get reinforcements or not?
We haven't sIept in a week. - I'm afraid we aren't. General Houston doesn't have an army.
He's recruiting one as fast as he can.
So if Santa Anna can be held here for a few days Ionger,
it can mean the difference between life and death for Texas.
We all know General Santa Anna is going to give no quarter.
I'm staying here, but anyone else who wants, may withdraw.
Those who volunteer to stay with me, step forward.
Would you heIp me out, Sam?
Anyone up there who wants to leave?
Mr. Stroud, I assume you have your reasons for leaving.
I'll see that you get a horse in a moment. Lieutenant.
Men, this is the dispatch I'm sending to General Houston:
"I am besieged by a thousand or more Mexicans under General Santa Anna.
I have sustained a continuaI bombardment and cannonade.
The enemy have demanded a surrender at discretion.
Otherwise, the garrison is to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken.
The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily
and will, no doubt, increase to 3,000 or 4,000 in four or five days.
I have answered the summons with cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the wall.
I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier,
who never forgets what is due his own honor and that of his country.
I shall never surrender or retreat.
Victory or death."
Lieutenant, see that the General gets our message.
Sir, with your permission I'd like to stay here in that man's place.
He's leaving, why not use him as a messenger?
No, you brought Houston's message. You're going to return with ours. Yes, sir.
Get Mr. Stroud a horse.
Back to your posts.
Mapes!
Never thought I'd live to see the day Johnny Stroud had turned yellow.
Who says he has? - He's runnin' out, ain't he?
Didya ever figure it might take more nerve to leave than to stay?
Worst that can happen to you is somebody else say you died a hero.
'Cause the man is gonna be called a coward the rest of his Iife. - Then why is he leaving?
We drew lots for it. Johnny was always unlucky.
Carlos! - Senor! Senor Stroud!
I not know it was you. I thought they come back.
Where's my wife and son?
I bury them over there, Senor, beside my father.
What do you do now, Senor? - I'm going back to the Alamo.
A lot of Mexicans are going to pay for this. - Senor,
it was not Mexicans who did this. It was Americans.
Now you and your father been with my family a long time, Carlos.
My wife and my son and I, we loved you very much.
It's no time now to start lying to protect your people.
I'm not lying. They have Mexican uniforms, but they are not Mexican.
I hide in the hills and watch. Sometimes they are so close, I can almost touch them.
I do not lie, Senor.
Wade's guerrillas. - You know who they are?
Yeah, maybe I do.
Come on, Carlos, we gotta find somebody to take care of you.
Sam Houston! What brings you to Franklin? - Hello, Fred.
I've got bad news. You want to gather the people?
With the General's permission, sir, it's my wife. - Go ahead, son.
Darling... darling... - Daddy! Daddy!
Hey, how's the big man of the house? Do everything your mother told you?
Folks, the Alamo has fallen.
What about the garrison, Sam? Travis, Bowie and... - They're all dead.
I asked them to hold out as long as they couId. And they did.
They've given us time to recruit more men. But now
General Santa Anna's army is free to move, and they're sweeping across Texas.
Franklin may be next on their list.
My troops are just a few miles outside of town.
We're going to try to head him off at Gonzales. Meanwhile there's no time to lose.
I want you to evacuate all women and chiIdren and men over 60 from Franklin.
I'll leave this detachment to accompany the wagon train. This is a black day for Texas.
But I can assure you of one thing. No one shall ever forget the Alamo.
Get everyone alerted. The wagon train must leave as soon as possible.
Good luck to everyone. - Good luck to you, sir.
I can't believe it. Every single man killed.
No, not all of them.
Travis gave everybody a chance of leaving.
One man took it. A man by the name of John Stroud.
Come on, honey.
Excuse me, Ma'am, who's the fella you talk to around here?
Gage. He runs the newspaper. The man down there with the one arm.
Thank you, Ma'am. Come on, son.
Mr. Gage? Yeah. You got a mission school around here some place where I can leave a child?
I'm afraid you're out of luck, fella. - In a little while, there isn't going to be anything left in Franklin.
We got word that Santa Anna's coming this way and we're pulling out. - Where're you headed? - To Nacogdoches.
Oh, could anybody on the wagon train maybe I can pay to take care of the boy?
Him? - Yeah, what's wrong with him?
Well, he's a Mexican. Or maybe you didn't know we're at war with them?
I didn't know we were at war with kids. - Why don't you take care of him yourself?
That's not fair, Mr. Gage. The gentleman undoubtedly wants to join the army.
I'll look after him, Ma. He won't be any trouble. And there'll be no charge.
What's your name? - Carlos.
What are those bells for? - For the men in the Alamo.
What about the Alamo? - It's fallen, and every man in it was killed.
Stroud!
What are you doin' here? - I might ask you the same thing. - I got orders to be here.
Those orders come in mighty handy sometimes, don't they Lieutenant? - Are you the John Stroud
that left the Alamo? - That's right.
Hey folks! Gather round! Gather round!
This here is the man that left the Alamo.
My man was there. - So was mine.
And I can be proud of one thing; he didn't run away. - But he had a reason to leave.
And I thought you wanted to join the army.
Maybe I did. - Which one? I'm sure General Santa Anna would be glad to have you.
Mr. Gage. - One of the great privileges I enjoy is the choice of the people that I talk to.
You don't have to carry on a conversation with me, just answer yes or no.
Do you know the names of the families travelling on this wagon train? - Yes.
Is there a Mapes, Kaye, Billington and Hawes? - No.
Thanks.
I don't know about the rest of you, but it seems to me that the air around here is getting pretty foul.
Look, Carlos, you stay here, huh. Be a good kid.
You know, maybe the kid's right. He must've had a reason for leaving.
Mister, the way the people in this town feel about that man, you'd better talk soft if you're trying to defend him.
Oh, now wait... wait a minute boys, I ain't tryin' to defend him.
I reckon I'm just as good a Texan as any of you.
Senor! Senor Stroud!
All right, you soldiers, take him down and lock him up.
Senor Stroud! That's the man. He was one of them, the men in the Mexican uniforms.
Are you sure? - You think I forget the man who killed my father?
Stroud, you better get out of town.
Maybe I like it here. - I don't care what you like or don't like. I'm telling you to get out of town!
What'll we do with him? - Let's string him up! - Get a rope, Ed!
Stand back, everybody!
We'll have no lynchings in Franklin.
I'II try to get you out of here alive, Stroud. Get on your horse and get out of town.
I got business here. - Get out of town or I'll throw you in jail. - That's up to you, sheriff and I'm not leaving.
You're not onIy a coward, Stroud. You're a fool.
Get on. Get his hat there.
Sort of gave you a rough time, didn't they?
They did the same to me. Got an awful lot of law in this town.
Seems like. - My name's Dawes. What's yours?
Stroud.
So you're the guy who quit the Alamo, huh?
What I heard, there wasn't much use in stayin'.
Man's a fool to buck a game if the cards are stacked against him.
I know a lot of guys who didn't feel that way about it. - They ain't walkin' around, either.
What you figure on doin' when you get out of here?
Gonna get myseIf hung. - No, I mean... I mean if you don't get hung.
Maybe do what a lot of others are doing. Join the Mexicans.
What do you mean by that?
I thought you were smart enough to figure that out for yourself. - Maybe I can't.
A lot of good men on the Mexican side. - I heard of some.
As Iong as we understand each other. - I figure we do.
Fine. Let's figure a way to get out of this place.
It's been done before. - How? - You'll see.
Beth, Kate, hurry up! We're aImost ready to go.
Mr. Gage, I've got the money from the vault. Where do you want it? - We got room in here. Put it in the wagon.
Ready to go? - Just about. - Alright men, check your equipment. Let's get ready to roll!
You know, it's sure is a shame we have to leave here so soon. - Yep, I'd sure like to be here
when they break Stroud out of jail. - Yeah, that's one hanging I'd Iike to see.
Hey, maybe that's them now. - Who are you expecting? - Some friends of mine.
Ah, it's just some kid. - Maybe it's a friend of mine.
I didn't know you had any.
The wagon train is leaving now, Senor. The soIdiers go with it.
You better get back. - I'll not leave you. You are my father now and I'll not leave you.
They say after the wagon train goes, they will take you out of jail and hang you.
Nobody's gonna hang me, boy.
Carlos, the wagons are about to leave. - I'll not go!
Carlos, I'm your father now, is that right? - Si Senor.
Well, a good son always obeys his father, isn't that true?
That is true. - Then go with the Iady. - But they will kill you. - No, they won't.
You're going to obey him, aren't you, Carlos? - PIease take care.
Be good to the boy.
Where'd you pick up the kid? - He's an orphan. - And a Mex.
What's wrong with that? - Nothing.
Maybe that answers something I've been trying to figure out about you and the Mexicans.
You said you wanted to get out of here.
I don't see any future in stayin'.
You ever hear of Jess Wade?
What about him?
He don't like Texans. - From what I hear, Texans feel the same way about him.
That sort of gives you something in common, don't it?
He's paying Franklin a visit,
as soon as that wagon train and those soldiers get a few miles away. - What's that got to do with me?
We could always use another man. - Maybe Wade won't feel that way about it.
Well, you won't have to wait long to find out. How about it?
I don't owe Texas anything. You can count me in.
All set? Alright, let's move out.
You want somebody to spell you, Ma? You've been leading that team over the road for quite a while now.
No thanks, Tom. You go back and heIp those that need it.
Fred and I get aIong fine.
Hi, honey! - Hi. - How are the kids behavin'?
I don't know. They're so excited, I'm afraid they're going to be pretty hard to handle.
Daddy, are we going to see Indians? - Well, I hope not. - I want to see Indians!
Now you just mind what your mother teIIs you.
He'll be alright, Carlos. - He won't be alright!
They will hang him now. I left him when he needs me. - That was his wish.
If I had stayed, I couId have told them why he left the Alamo,
to help his family and the families of others.
The only reason he came to Franklin was to find a place for me.
Then he was going back to the Alamo. I heard him say it. - And you believe him?
He meant to go back. I swear it! You believe me, Miss Beth? I do not lie.
You will tell the others, You will tell them that he is not a coward.
I'm afraid it's a little late for that.
There go the soldier boys. - You sure they got Dawes in jail?
They weren't taking him to church the last time I saw him. - The next time I send you on a job, stay out of saloons.
We only had a couple. - Couple of gallons.
We'll head for the bank. The rest of them can break Dawes out.
This ain't gonna hold the Mexican army. - It'll hold for a while.
What you wanna do? Run out and leave them the town for them? - Why not, there ain't nothing left ain't it?
What gets me is while we're fighting Mexicans, that deserter from the Alamo will be sitting nice and snug in jail.
Now, why don't we string him up? Like we was going to. - Now hold on! Wait a minute.
Wait for what? If we're gonna get shot up, he's gonna stretch. - What are we waiting for? Let's hang him!
Hold on now! - Hey, Jim, shoot twice if you see any Mexicans.
Stop or I'll shoot! - Oh, go ahead and shoot!
Looks like we're gonna have visitors. - Hey, maybe it's Wade.
No, it's not Wade. - Who is it, then? - It's a lynching party for me.
Alright, Stroud, we got a nice new necktie for you made of cowhide.
Come on! - Get him out of there!
Here's a rope!
It's a raid! - Take cover boys!
Which side are you on? - Here!
Ain't no goId in that bank! - They cleaned your place out. - Alright, get to your horses!
Cobby! Open up this barricade!
Thanks!
Where'd you come from? - Town. - Why'd you leave?
Had a littIe throat trouble. - They were gonna hang him. - Why?
He quit the Alamo.
That right? - That's right.
The Alamo? What were you doing there in the first place?
What would you be doing there if the whole Mexican army was after you? - That wasn't what I asked you!
That's the answer you'll gonna get.
I'll say one thing for you, you've got plenty of guts because right now, you could be in a lot of trouble.
I've been in trouble before. - What makes you think I want you up here?
You don't like Texans and neither do I. - Then answer my first question.
What were you doing in the Alamo? - I left, didn't I? - Why?
I heard the Mexicans were giving land grants at the end of the war.
I've given land grants but I'm the one who decides who gets them.
Anybody who works with me will be treated alright. What's your name?
Stroud, John Stroud.
Cavish, get me some fresh coffee.
That must've been some fight the boys put up.
I bet old James Bowie carved up a hundred of them before they got him.
Is that right, Stroud? Did old Bowie fight them with his knife?
How about Davy Crockett? I heard that was a man could charm a possum right out of a tree.
Naw! When a possum saw old Davy Crockett looking at him, he just knew that was the end.
So instead of waitin' to get shot, he just climbed down and dropped dead at Davy's feet.
You say Davy Crockett did good?
Wait a minute, Stroud, we wanna hear more.
Why don't you tell us why you run out on old Davy Crockett?
Maybe he just didn't feel like hanging around getting shot.
I've been thinking, if you quit on them, maybe you'll quit on us, too. - Leave him alone, Cobby.
He ain't answered my question yet. I say he's yellow.
Cobby, I believe that gentleman thinks you talk too much.
You'll do. You can help us start chasing the wagon train the first thing in the morning.
Wasn't any money in the Franklin bank. That means it's on the wagon train.
What's the matter? - We turn off here, head straight for High Peak.
If you ask me, I think we oughta keep going though these low hills.
It's safer. If we get strung out going through that gorge and somebody happen to jump us, we're in trouble.
That's Indian territory, Tom. I know all about Indians.
I lost an arm with 'em. I'd like to keep the one I got left.
You know, those are the chances we gotta take. We save a whole day by going through the gorge.
That's the way it's gotta be. Let's go. - Hyah! Come on boy!
Cavish! Take five men and find yourself a spot on that cliff.
Cobby! You and Stroud get up on that crag.
Keep an eye on him. - I'd rather keep a gun on him. - You can do that too.
You won't be needing this for a while.
What about this Stroud? You think he'll work out. - I hope so. I can use him.
I tell you one thing, I'd sure hate to fight him every morning before breakfast.
Then why'd you send him off with Cobby for? He's liable to shoot him in the back. He don't like him.
That's what I figured. This is Stroud's first raid.
If he don't work out, Cobb will take care of him.
Tie 'em up.
Get up there as high as you can and I'll get down on that ledge.
Don't get any funny ideas. There's only one way out of here and that's right by Wade.
Hold it! Whoa! Whoa! Hey, Tom!
What are you stopping for? - Why Tom, driving a wagon through that gorge is like putting your foot in a bear trap and I don't think
any sensible man would do it.
Greg, I got scouts out there. They haven't reported a thing.
Oh, I don't... I just got a feeling.
If we're gonna see your feelings, we're going on ahead. Now get the horses movin'.
Hey Jess, here they come! - How far off? - Oh, a good half hour.
All strung out in a nice long line. In this gorge, we can pick them off like ducks.
Anything in sight? - Not yet.
What's holdin' 'em up? - Wanna trade places for a while?
You stay up there where I can keep an eye on you and we'll get along just fine.
What's the matter, Cobby? Don't you trust me?
Sure, I trust you. I trust you so much I'm not going to give your gun back till the shootin' starts.
Got a couple of friends on that wagon train.
What are you gettin' at? - That's why I joined up with you, to help keep them out of trouble.
Why you dirty double-crossin'...
Go ahead and shoot, Cobby.
That wagon train's about half a mile away. You fire that rifle, you'll have those soldier boys right after you.
You're lyin'! - Come on up and see for yourself. - I will.
Cobby! Stay here.
There's firing above the gorge, Lieutenant. What are we gonna do?
It's probably an ambush at High Peak, just Iike I told you.
George, take the first four men and head up back to those cliffs.
Fight the way through if you have to. - Yes, sir! You four men, come with me!
Alright, follow me!
Get those kids behind those trees!
Cobby! Stroud!
I'm comin' after you, Stroud.
Now I'm gonna find out if you're really yellow. If that's why you left the Alamo.
I'll tell you why I Ieft. I had a wife and son at Oxbow.
I came back to take care of them, only you and your gang got there before me.
I think I remember, Stroud. She had pretty yellow hair, didn't she? Same colour as the kid's.
Too bad she wouldn't listen to reason.
Come on, we're gettin' out of here! - Let's go after 'em. - We'll go after them later.
Make an opening there.
Were Mexicans, sir. They cut run when they saw us comin'. We picked up one of their horses.
You sure it was Mexicans? - That's one uniform I'm not gonna forget, sir.
Did you get a close look at them? - Not too close but they were Mexicans, sir.
Let's look at the stuff in the saddle, see what we can find out.
Miss Beth, that's Senor Stroud's coat.
I'm not lying. It is Senor Stroud's coat. - Look at it. - Let's see it.
I thought Stroud was in jail in Franklin. - So did I.
Stroud joining up with the Mexicans? It don't make sense.
Maybe it does. On top of everything else, it looks like our Mr. Stroud's turned renegade.
No, Senor, that's not true! They're not Mexicans. They're just dressed like Mexicans.
Hush, Carlos!
Well, if it's Stroud, there's no one I'd rather see left up in those rocks without a horse.
But you cannot just leave him. Please, Lieutenant!
We'll be camping here until morning. Post a five man lookout. - Yes, sir. - Lieutenant!
Can I have that? Please?
Hey, kid, where you goin'? - I'm thirsty.
I'm going to find him, Miss Beth. - It's impossible, Carlos. But you'll get lost out there.
He's like my father. I must try and find him. - No, you'll never be able to.
And even if you did, don't you see? Well, he's not a good man, Carlos.
He's a very good man. - But he broke out of jail and joined the Mexicans.
I tried to tell you, Miss Beth. They're not Mexicans, they're Americans disguised as Mexicans.
That's even worse.
It's best you try and forget him. - I'm sorry, Miss Beth.
Give me your foot.
Thank you very much, Ma'am. I promise I'll come back.
Where does he think he's going, Ma'am?
He thinks he's going to find John Stroud. He really beIieves he's out there.
That ain't no place for a kid. Come on, Bob, we better tag along. We'll take care of him, Ma'am.
Senor Stroud! Senor Stroud!
Tom! Tom!
The kid was right, Lieutenant, here's Stroud!
What did you two men get the idea you could leave this encampment without permission? You'll hear about this later.
You see, Miss Beth, it was Senor Stroud. He needs help.
Well, he sure came to a mighty poor place for it.
Beth, get up from there.
What do you want me to do? Let him lie here and die? - Why not? Saving the trouble of hangin' him. - How can you talk like that?
He was going to attack the wagon train and women and children, wasn't he? What could he expect?
You have no proof of that. - And what's he doing in that Mexican outfit?
I don't care what he's done. He's a human being, and he's gonna be treated like one.
Can somebody help me get him to the wagon.
I'll give you a hand, Miss. - So will I, with the Lieutenant's permission. - You're gonna let them help him?
He was shooting at us just a little while ago. - Go ahead.
You know something? I think you've lost your grip on the ramrodding of this wagon train, you know?
Yes, Beth? - Well, you know something about doctorin', Mr. Gage. - A little.
If you'd tell me what to do ... - Why shouId we do anything for him?
Because he's hurt. And you're the only one who can help him.
He's also a renegade and a murderer. - That's not true.
We don't need you, boy! - But what you just said about Senor Stroud... - I said we don't need you.
You better wait outside, Carlos.
Can you do anything for him? - Maybe I can, maybe I can't.
I think maybe you can.
I think he means it, Mr. Gage.
Get some hot water.
AIright, get 'em up!
Let's go! Everyone up! We're movin' out in half hour.
Everyone up! Movin' out!
Get up, ladies! Movin' out in half hour.
Let's go! Everyone up! We're movin' out in half hour!
Movin' out! Movin' out!
How are you?
Well... I don't know yet.
You weren't feeling so good when Carlos brought you in last night.
Oh, you better take it easy. - I gotta get up sometime. Might as well be now.
I... I will get you some food.
You stay there, Senor.
Thanks. - For what? I'd do it for anyone.
You know, this isn't going to make you very popular with your friends.
I don't care what they think. - Maybe I do.
Then why don't you teII 'em the truth.
Carlos toId me you left the Alamo to take care of your family and the families of your friends.
Who'd believe it? - I do.
You're no coward.
Then why don't you try telling that to Lieutenant Lamar, you know, he offered to save Alamo in my place.
Stroud.
You'll remain in this wagon. You're under arrest.
Aren't you gonna say something? Aren't you gonna try to defend yourself?
That was Wade's gang of outlaws you were with. - That's right. - Why'd you join up with them?
Was a good way as any of getting out of town.
Stroud, you had every intention of joining the attack on this wagon train.
I did not. - You're a very unconvincing liar. - Tom, why don't you
ask Mr. Stroud who fired the shots that kept us out of that ambush.
- Well? - I fired the first one.
Are you trying to tell me... - I'm trying to tell you nothing except that you're still in trouble.
Wade knows you have the money from the Franklin bank and he wants it. And if you're not real smart, he's gonna get it.
For the sake of these women and children, I hope for once in your life, you got the decency to be telling the truth.
From now on, I'm gonna keep this wagon train out in the open. Beth!
Alright everybody, finish your chow as fast as you can! Let's get this wagon train rolling!
What do you intend doing now? Don't have very much choice, I'm still under arrest.
I wouldn't be looking, if you happen to fall out the back end of the wagon.
Oh, thanks very much. I'll play along the way I am.
There's not much future in it. - Oh yes, there is. - What?
Jess Wade. - You really think he'll attack us? - Yeah, if we keep on going this way.
If I was running this outfit, I'd head south and cross the river further on down.
Why did you join up with him? - He's the man that killed my wife and son.
That's why you want to stay with us?
Now he's gonna be real surprised when he sees me. He thinks I'm dead.
Why didn't you tell Lieutenant Lamar that? - You heard what the Lieutenant said, I'm a very poor liar.
But you aren't lying. - Maybe I am.
I left the Alamo. That's pretty hard to justify, even to myseIf.
Your family was in danger. - So were the families of a hundred other men.
Guess mine was any more important than theirs.
Are you condemning yourself? - Yeah, I'll condemn another man who did the same thing. I'm no different.
It's done now. Regretting it won't undo it.
I know. That's what's bad about it. - Other men have made mistakes.
Not like mine. - What good would it have done if you had stayed?
What good did it do that I Ieft? - I didn't help my family. I didn't help anybody's.
That's something Lieutenant Lamar could understand. He has a family. - Sure he'd understand it,
but only if it happened to him.
Look, Miss Beth. You'll only stir up a lot of antagonism if you stick with me.
Why don't you switch to another wagon?
Why don't we go after 'em? - In open country? What do you want to do? Get shot?
All I want to do is get my hands on some of that money.
Well, heading the way they are, they'll cross the Trinidad river at Cutner's Point. We'll be there waiting for 'em.
Sure, when they get the wagons out in the river, we'll pick 'em off in the water. - That sounds easy.
I'm not a man that likes things easy. You follow on after 'em and keep an eye on 'em.
- Any change of plans, we'll be at Cutner's Point. - Let's go.
Whoa! Fall in.
Lieutenant Lamar? Sergeant Macauley, sir, Army of the Republic.
Orders from General Houston, sir.
Well, what is it, darling? - Orders. To report to San Jacinto at once.
Everybody?
Myself and this detachment of soldiers.
What about us?
The word is, Ma'am, that General Houston's ready for an all-out attack against Santa Anna's army at San Jacinto.
Troops can no longer be spared for the protection of a wagon train. - Is that so?
Well, you go back and tell Sam Houston... - What are soldiers for if not to protect their families.
As a soldier, Ma'am, I can't question a command. - Sergeant,
my previous orders were to see these wagons safely across the Trinidad river.
That's what I intend to do.
If I couId have a fresh horse, sir, I'll start back at once with the men.
The soldiers are staying with me.
If you want to remain, sir, it'll be on your own conscience, but I don't think you can ask twenty of your men to do the same.
And why not? I'm in command here, Sergeant.
I'm afraid that will be called desertion, sir.
Desertion? - Your orders are to report to San Jacinto at once, sir.
I'll go when these wagons are across the Trinidad river.
I'll tell that to General Houston, sir.
Sergeant, if we leave now, these people will be defenseless. There are no able-bodied men here,
only women, children and elders. - I'm still here. How wouId you classify me?
As a deserter, Mr. Stroud.
Oh. Kinda looks like there's gonna be quite a lot of us, doesn't it, Lieutenant? - These people need protection.
My family needed protection. - They'll have to be murdered if we leave here.
My family was murdered. - I'm not only trying to protect my family. I'm trying to protect others as well.
Look, if you had bothered to ask, you would have found out that's why I left the Alamo. I was trying to do the same thing.
Stroud, from what you're saying, I... I can't figure out what side you're on.
You have your orders, Lieutenant, if I were you I'd obey them.
Go ahead, darling, we'll be alright.
What do you intend to do? - I intend to take these wagons through.
I'll get my horse.
Alright, men, check your equipment. We're leaving for San Jacinto right away.
Mr. Stroud? Good luck.
Thanks, we're gonna need it.
Do you mind shaking hands?
Take care of them, will you, for me, Fred?
Good bye, darling. - Lieutenant, I'd like to have ten of your rifles.
Alright, you first ten men bring your rifles up here!
What do we do now, Mr. Stroud? - Get these wagons in 2 lines of 4 each!
If we run into any trouble, I don't want to spread out all over the country.
It'll be kinda rough from now on, Ma'am. We're gonna ride without a break. - Come on.
They headed this way? - No, somebody must have figured we'd be waiting for 'em, they took off southeast, towards Boulder.
That's a long haul from here. - We can still make it in plenty of time.
The soldiers left them. - What do you mean? - Just what I'm telling you. The whole military detachment took off.
Figure they're laying some kind of trap? - No, I watched them long enough to make sure. They ain't comin' back. - Let's go.
Wade's gang is coming from three miles back. Hey, get the rest of the women and children on the bottom of the wagon. Come on, let's go!
My line's broken!
Pile everything you have in back of the wagons. Come on, get those children down behind that bank.
These women know how to shoot a gun? - If they don't know how, I can teach 'em. Alright, come on, let's go!
Give me the gun, Carlos! - How can I shoot without it? - Get down!
This is a trap for sure. I knew he's was leading us into a trap. - Keep quiet and help!
Reload. They'll be comin' back.
Cavish, Dawes, Morrell und Brown, you come with me. We'll circle the wagon and come in behind them!
Williams, when you hear me shoot, you take the rest of the men and get them through the front.
Hey Gage! Grab yourself a horse and a couple of pistols and follow me.
You want me to go with you? - You can shoot, can't you? - Mr. Stroud, I can shoot real good!
Come on, let's go, then.
Now remember, don't shoot till you're sure we can get one.
Get up there. Wade'll try to come around this side of the lake behind the wagon.
Hah! Get out of here!
Hey! Stroud! Stroud!
Stroud! You're going over the fall!
Stroud!
Everybody alright? - Yes, thanks to you, Mr. Stroud.
You haven't got far to go now.
Carlos, I'll be back for you just as soon as I can.
I'm headed for San Jacinto.
Alright Mr. Gage, let's get these wagons rollin' - You heard what the man said! Let's get these wagons rollin'!
He'll come back, Miss Beth. - I hope so, Carlos.
So do I. For both of us.