Thank you.
Advance and be recognized.
Captain Hayes!
Sorry sir, I didn't recognize you.
Colonel Vance is expecting you. Go right in, sir.
Colonel!
Come in Hayes. Shake hands with Jim Fuller.
Mr Fuller. My pleasure, captain.
Well, what's happening on the line. The war.
Jim here is the assistant Postmaster General of the United States
You were a line superintendent for the Overland Stage Lines before the war, I believe Captain Hayes.
That's right! I won't beat around the bush
We've got a situation on our hands and we think you're the man to handle it.
You're in a position to render a great service to your country.
Have you seen any of these yet? Just issued by the government.
I've seen them.
The holder of any of these notes can presented at any bank.
and redeem it for the equivalent in gold
To preserve its credit the government must, at all times,
have the gold in its mint, to back it up.
Gold from...California.
Up to now there's been no schedule for bringing gold in,
but the issue of paper money, will change all of that.
We need gold to fight the war.
We need as much as we can get and as fast as we can get it.
And the Overland Stage is gonna bring it in for us.
There will be other conveyors, but Overland will bear the Brenner.
And we want you to take over your old job.
to run the Overland Stage lines, captain.
I respect my government's wishes. My apologies, sir, but I don't want the job.
You're the best cavalry officer in my command, John,
but there's no man in combat, that can't be replaced.
I think you should go where you're needed most.
There are many good men that can run a stage line, sir.
We're subsidizing Overland with $1.5 million,
to hike the schedule from a weekly to a daily run.
It will mean 60 more Concord stages
2000 more horses and mules.
Thousands of tons of hay and grain.
I'd appreciate the names of a few men you think can operate this size line.
That's the situation we're in.
2000 miles, 1700 through the worst territory in the country,
the country's not even a state yet.
You know there's be breakdowns, bandits, Indians...
Your biggest problem is that the Confederates want that gold as bad as we do.
Daily schedule! I don't think I can do it.
We think you can.
Where would I operate from.
Main office, Atchison You'll work out of Jules berg.
Would be Jules berg.
Pretty rough riding, sir! I've ridden worse.
You're John Hayes, aren't you?
I was a messenger boy for Overland when you were line boss.
I'm Rod Miller, 7th Regiment, 3rd division infantry.
How's Captain Grace?
Fine, sir, when I last saw him.
He's a stuff shirt.
oh, you'll get to (hate?) like him
You weren't a messenger when you joined the army?
No, been too old for that ,sir. I left Overland when I got married.
All right, let's see your picture.
We've got a farm just outside of Jules berg.
Pretty.
Pretty! She's the prettiest girl in the whole territory.
Except one, maybe...
You home on furlough?
Furlough!
Guess you might call it that. A long furlough.
Gangrene.
Too bad.
Ten minutes stop, folks.
With any luck we'll be in Jules berg tomorrow morning.
You'll be there!
I understand they got a good man running this place.
Let you know after I drink his coffee.
Ai, you better eat if you're hungry. Supper before I ride from here.
besides I cook this here myself.
What kind is it?
Eh, you know something, I never was able to figure that out
I'll take a piece. I'll have some too.
Coffee?
Got any more of that pie?
Sure.
How about you, mister?
I'll stick with the coffee.
I'll fix that Yankee.
Good coffee! Here you are, soldier!
Thanks.
Hey, this pie has been salted.
Salted!
How's yours? Mine, fine!
Delicious! Yours!
Wonderful!
Anything wrong!
There's salt in this pie!
Well, eh, no one else is complaining!
Well no one else got the salt.
Soldier, you don't like it, don't eat it. Just pay up and get out.
What if he doesn't?
Well, then I'll take it out of his hide, because there's nothing wrong with that there pie.
Then you eat it.
Hey, this is none of your business! I said...
You eat it!
You better eat her, Willis.
No man tells me what to do.
He can. He is John Hayes. Your new line boss.
All of it.
All right
What do you suppose is the matter with him.
Come on, folks, let's get going.
Thinking of tomorrow?
I haven't seen Jeannie most of 18 months.
It's a long time to away from home.
You know something, Mr. Hayes?
I don't want pity.
Don't look for it!
You got any family? No.
Maybe sometimes that's the best way.
I wouldn't know.
Jeannie!
Rod!
Oh, Rod, I thought you'd never get home.
Better get moving, soldier. Here's your bag.
Just throw it down.
Honey, I'd like you to meet someone.
This is Jeannie, Mr. Hayes.
Hello, Jeannie. John Hayes?
That's right.
Well, everybody in Jules berg know you're coming
Ready to go, boss?
Any time. Good luck.
You come and see us when you get fixed up.
That's our place.
Thanks, I will.
Hello, Mr. Miller.
Hello, Mrs. Miller.
Let's go home.
Here she comes.
This is Julesburg corpes. Two hours stop.
Stock tender!
I get my hands on that stock tender, I'll...
The Overland stage sign's missing.
Something's wrong.
Folks, there's a cafe across the street. You can wash and eat there, We'll pick you up later.
Look after the horses, I'll see what's going on. Sure.
What happened to the sign? Overland ? - Moved out a couple of days ago
Where did they go?
I wouldn't know!
Putnam here?
Your name Hayes?
Try that door over there.
I've been expecting you!
I thought of got that idea.
You haven't changed.
You have.
I've made a little money.
On the hotel - some other things. I guess it's going all right.
You'll can tell me about that later. Where's the Overland Station?
Well, I wrote a letter resigning as Overland's Agent about a week ago.
So as I know... there is no station.
Nobody got your letter. Well I can't help that.
I didn't have time for the job, I needed the room here.
There are records, supplies, and horses! Where do I find them?
I wrote the main office about that too. They're gone.
A couple of stock tenders lit out with the horses and supplies and burned the records.
Territorial marshal’s working on it now.
Booting the schedule up the daily runs that must be quite a job.
The way you handle things isn't going to make it any easier.
That's the way it happens sometimes...
John! You know I married Norma.
What are you afraid of, Clay?
What happened?
Did you hear about the stock tenders stealing the horses?
I heard.
I brung the stage, I know a couple of stables. Full up At least that's what they told me.
I hear Putnam's out too. You tell me what's happening.
Oh, another thing, Logan, Wilson and Pyne's quit. You got no drivers.
I got you. Or you quitting too?
No. You know, no muscle and no brains. Sure, I'll stick.
How many passengers are going on to Salt Lake? All of them.
Then we got no choice. You take the stage on to Crown Point and pick up your relieve driver there.
All right. I'll need some feed for the horses.
All right, get it.
That bunch on the porch, know them?
Sure. Them Spotnam's boys.
The one on the end in the rocker with the black hat, he's Mace.
He run things for Putnam.
He's supposed to have a price on this head in 3 states
Gives him plenty of room around this town.
Clay Putnam doesn't need anybody to fight his battles.
As rich as he is, he can afford to hire someone to keep his nose clean.
Your name Mace?
You said it right.
Mine is John Hayes. Glad to know you.
Mister!
Turn around.
Lift up those skirts. Let's see what you got under there.
Lift.
Wouldn't want you to forget it. The name's Mace!
Oh, hello, Mace. Good afternoon, ma'am
I thought I'd drive into town and pick up my husband.
Some men er just born lucky. Russ, tell Mr. Putnam his wife... Mr. Putnam already knows.
Hello, dear. Hello You be needing us, (Benefer?)?
Not that I can think of. See you in the morning.
John!
That wasn't necessary, Clay!
You knew John was on his way back. This trick to pick me up wasn't necessary either.
I don't think that even me it's a man.
That's a lot of woman.
Ever hear any of us does disagreeing about that!
We'll buy this place or rent it. You make the deal. If there's any sense to it, I'll take it
Just drop 50 cents on the table on your way out.
Take your soldier boy home, lady. No good blue-belly.
We don't like the color of that suit, mister.
It's too bad they didn't shoot your head off instead of that arm.
That goes for me too you no good Yankee. What you wanna come back here for?
So use a northern soldier, is you?
Don't pay any attention to them, Rod. that's just what they want.
We don't want no Yankee lover around here
That's a pretty outfit you got on, drummer boy. Mama buy it for you?
You got a loud mouth, but I don't see no Grey on you.
Come on, Rod.
Don't make no difference what you see.
But we see who wears the pants in your family.
I think maybe I'll take the drummer boy's suit off.
You're a brave bunch. You're scared of nothing as long as you're fighting one man.
You mean half a man, don't you.
He's a lot more man than you'll ever be.
Well I'll sure be around any time you like to find out.
Looks like I'm gonna have more trouble with her than I will with him.
All right you've had your fun.
Let him go.
Another blue-coat or is it yeller?
Friend of yours? Was once.
Throw him in the water trough.
My apologies, ma'am.
When he comes to, I'll beat a little sense in him myself.
I think Mr. Hayes has already taken care of that.
You don't understand ma'am, I'm gonna beat him for losing the fight.
Clay I'm telling you, she red back and bow.
You should have seen Russ's head!
You already told me. So ?
So, the last time I saw Hayes, he was riding up with those two kids.
Just wish none of this had happened. Hayes had no friends in this town. Now he's got two.
What can they do for him?
No - probably nothing, my point is it just wasn't necessary.
I still say we should let Overland operate,
and give Hayes all the rope he needs to hang himself.
We could have picked those stages off one by one.
I'll tell you again ...
don't underestimate him.
Never saw a man I couldn't handle.
All right, I won't argue the point.
We've already hacked over in Bruce Hill. The things to do now is to make sure they don't sprout again.
Easy way to do that if what you say is true.
How's that?
Get rid of Hayes.
We do that we have every union soldier in this territory on our necks.
Our job is to Se that gold doesn't get through to fight the south.
Nothing more...
nothing less.
Meaning?
Meaning we'll do everything in our power short of bloodshed to stop Hayes and the line.
Racking stations, run off his animals,
burn his barns and his (spie?)
That's the hard way, isn't it?
That's the only way.
Still say we oughta kill Hayes.
Get out.
Some of those people grew up with me, known me since I was a kid.
Yeller that mean. call me names like I was responsible for the war.
Even in the minds we never hated the men we were fighting.
We believe one thing and they believe something else.
They were on one side, and we were on another.
But why should they hate me here?
This isn't even a state yet.
In the lines you hear a man cry when something whips him doing.
See him dying and it's common pain and misery,
no matter which side he's on.
People don't understand that or out of it, they...
They get hurt. I've seen friends and kin dying.
and see other side of the (?). Goes both ways.
Maybe!
More coffee?
It's like the last, but it just leave the pie.
Thank you, sir.
Honey, you sit down, let me do things.
There's nothing that can't be cleaned up. I can put on a fresh pot.
Half a man! That's no lie.
I've been home one day, and already I've found out what it's like to try to run a farm with one hand.
You do all right.
Yeah, sure, with you doing all the work!
How about running a stage station?
Think you can do that?
Sure.
Where's the station? Right here.
Overland will use your house and barn. Build a corral and bunk house.
You'll get paid for any changes and (??), besides your wages.
But what about Putnam?
Putnam quit. We might have trouble from him, I'll have to tell you that.
Well, why would Putnam wanna make trouble if he already quit?
Because he's a Southerner.
We're changing to a daily run. That'll be a lot of work, but that isn't all.
Those stages will be carrying gold for the Union Treasury from Sacremeno.
That's why I'm here and Putnam knows it.
And you think he'll try to get that gold?
If he can stop us from running.
Jules berg mostly rebels now. You saw that this morning.
They won't sell to us, I'll have to bring everything we need even drivers.
Well, plenty of farmers around here were Union when I left.
We ought to be able to get supplies from them.
How about horses?
(?) get horses if he have to take them off the plow
I oughta be able to get some of the boys to help me put up a corral, a bunkhouse too.
You sleep on it. I go have a look outside.
Wait, I'll show you around.
Well, come, I'll show you where we can build the corral, and the bunkhouse out here.
Have to waggen in the grant from Julesburg.
Build out to the (?????) here.
What about water? One drive we can dig the well lower.
Just think I can't make it, Jeannie.
I ain't gonna make it!
Just half a man!
Listen, it doesn't make a man any less if he lost something fighting for what he thought was right.
Come on in the house. Fix us some breakfast.
You are two days late!
Did you see the inside of the station?
You saw me come out.
Every station from here to Dawson's the same.
I've been riding for almost two days now with these same horses.
I had to stop to feed and rest them.
Thanks. You'll draw a bonus for that.
I'll drive the stage in, you can rest.
I can use it.
What you gonna do about the stations.
Keep going with new men and equipment.
Yeah, well you better see they have plenty of bullets.
Kirk around Dawson told me someone tried to burn his place down and steal his horses.
But he scared them off.
My bones are stiff from riding. When do we get out of this box.
Pretty soon now. Now, let's not have any trouble from you, mister! We got enough already.
We got a station in Jules berg again?
Yeah, Miller's farm.
Hi, Honey. We always can use some coffee.
Hey Bill, put that wagon over there behind the well!
Coffee?
Coffee ?
Coffee?
New bunkhouse and corral.
It's not hard to figure out what a cheap little ranch like that needs them for.
And all them horses...
Just might be for hall and stages.
Yeah, they sure got them. Men and horses. Plenty of both.
Recognise any of them?
There's two of them, Anderson and another. I think his name was Baurmeister.
Farmers. Yankee hot heads.
Miller's collect every union sympathizer in these parts for Hayes.
Thanks to the likes of you.
Sad (?) all of them.
Yeah, well, when one of them holds a shotgun in your face, you tell them.
We still owe that Miller kid and Hayes a good a good going over.
You can pick up your mail at Miller's farm.
One hour stop. Pull out.
I hope we get something decent to eat here.
We do the best we can, sir. Go right on here.
Wash them down. See they get plenty of rest, they earned it. Yes, sir.
Eat up and pick yourself a place in the bunkhouse. You can sleep for the next 3 days.
Much obliged for the short nap.
And look after my horse.
The horses look like they've been traveling a lot further than Crown point.
Since Dawson. The stations are there and that's about all.
I'll leave men, horses and feed.
I've been ride around seeing farmers. We got plenty of hands to harvest.
That's time enough to get rolling.
Tell them to bring guns and watch out for horse thieves, and, eh...
I'd be careful about riding around the country.
Why, you expecting trouble?
We already got it. Who's taking the eastbound?
I am!
Got any objections?
You sure are scraping them from the bottom of the barrel. Where'd you find this old relic?
Relic! Say I was driving stages,
when you were still in swaddling pants.
and I can still out drive you.
Any man's been around that long gotta be dead. You sure this ain't old Christy's grandson?
I was a whip with Overland when John first come to work for the line.
He never said a word about knowing you. Just showed up this morning and asked if we could use a driver.
Got me a small farm down a piece. I heard about your situation,
and I figures you could use a driver.
I say, how's the wages?
Bad deal all around. Don't even know if there'll be a man at your next relief station
Well, if there ain't, I just go on to the next one.
and if there's nothing there I'll just go on to the next.
Just like when I first started.
15 years ago. 20!
And I run a Pony Express before that.
Hey, well, do I get the job or don't I?
Your food's on.
Coming!
You got it. Just show back in one piece.
Shame on (?)
(?) in ten years!
Say, how do you drive one them things?
One should be asleep by now.
Rod's asleep. I decided to catch up on some sowing.
Everything all right?
Put another man on to watch the horses.
I wanna thank you for what you done for Rod...and for me too.
It's the other way round. I should be thanking both of you.
Mr Hayes, they say a war makes a man grow up fast.
But in a lot of ways Rod's still a boy.
Things are always hurting easier than most and stay with him longer too.
And now...
he just can't believe that losing an arm couldn't make any difference with us.
He keeps saying he's half a man.
I know it's gonna take time, but...
I think that...
your letting us run this station is about the only thing that's gonna make him forget what's happened.
Goodnight. Goodnight.
You going some place?
I'm quitting. You can't stop me from leaving.
Nobody's stopping you Ed, if you tell me what happened to the horses.
Stock tender stole them.
You can do better than that.
All right, shoot him.
Be glad to.
Now, wait a minute! I ain't done nothing You can't kill me.
Go ahead, blow his head off.
Now wait a minute, Mr. Hayes I'd do anything. You can't kill me
I won't ask you a second time Who took the horses?
Logan, Wilson, couple others I've never seen before.
Was one of them called Russ? Yeah, Russ.
That was it. I heard one of them say it.
Where did they take the horses?
Wing Canyon. They are all there.
Russ he's gonna drive them south in a couple of days.
Who gets them?
I suppose turn them over for delivery, to Confederate cavalry, but I think he's gonna sell them.
You know something?
My advise to you is to get out of here.
Quick.
You don't have to worry about that. Thank you.
Look at him go!
Don't see anybody! No.
Here we go!
You know it's 10 miles back to town!
It's closer to 11.
Looking for somebody, mister? Your boss.
He ain't here.
His horse? Mrs. Putnam's.
I'll wait.
It's all right, Ed.
Yes, ma'am.
I'm expecting Clay any minute. Wont you come in?
I don't think (?) will appreciate finding me in his house.
It's my house, too.
Hello, John. Norma.
You done very well for yourself.
I guess I have.
It's what you wanted, isn't it?
In most ways.
It was your choice.
Why didn't you write to me?
Would it have made any difference?
Might have.
My bad luck.
I'm glad I got to see again, John.
We're still friends.
You know we always will be.
You should have told me you were expecting company.
I came here to see you.
Well, I suppose if you wanted to meet Norma you wouldn't do it in my own house.
What do you want?
Better said between us.
There's nothing about me Norma doesn't know.
That's right.
All right. I've just come from Wing Canyon. We got our horses back.
You'll be hearing it from your men pretty soon.
I'll make this short. The stages are going to run.
You and nobody else is gonna stop them. You may stop one or maybe two and that's about all.
There's enough blood running on the battlefields without starting here,
But we'll play it any way you want it. It's up to you.
Hayes, how many of you did it take to get those horses.
Two. Me and the one arm boy.
I warned you about underestimating him.
Anytime Hayes wants to face off with me. He can do it.
I don't want blood spilled any more than John.
That gold isn't going into a Union Treasury without a fight from me.
I have no quarrel with that.
Just remember, you're fighting the Union.
You keep the purchases in this row and check them against what we send the other stations.
That way you'll always keep a record of it.
How that seems to you, John?
Reasonable.
Look like you're as much of a bookkeeper as I am.
All I know, I'm glad we got Rod around.
Well, it's time to make the round.
Stay where you are, I'll do it. Pour yourself a cup of coffee.
How about you, Jeannie? No thanks, pour up to you!
When you bring in the horses, put him on his and cut him back to town.
I don't even know if he's alive.
He's alive.
Nothing works for him. That shot was meant for me.
Let's get him to bed.
Well, we got real trouble.
Russ is dead. Rod Miller's probably the same by now
How did it happen?
After Hayes took the horses, Russ talked some of the boys to go on back after them.
They waited till night.
Nobody figured Russ would do any shooting.
He tried to get Hayes. Shot the kid instead.
Hayes picked him off.
He hadn't, I would have.
That's in the (?) now.
What are you gonna do about it?
You'd like to see this break out to open killing, wouldn't you?
I see it in your face.
You gotta make up your mind. You want Overland stopped, or not?
There's more than one way to skin the cat.
Sure, but you ever tried to skin a live cat? Man's gonna get pretty skinned up himself.
Can't play gentleman Clay and do what you want done.
I could have.
Once. Not anymore, thanks to you and Russ.
You already have most of the farmers against us, so keep this down.
Anyone wants trouble will get it. Just don't go looking for it.
I'm not Russ. Then stay way from Miller's.
I'll wait for Hayes to come to me.
Good night.
Doctor, let me hear the truth.
He hasn't got a chance.
Look Mr. Hayes, I know how you feel about the people of Julesburg...
after all that's happened to that boy.
It's true that we sympathize with the South and we'll continue to do so,
but we don't sympathize with Clay Putnam and his kind.
We've had enough, Mr. Hayes.
Whenever you get ready to make your move, we'll all be behind you.
Thanks doctor, but this is my fight.
She's got a lot of nerve coming here.
How is he?
No better.
May I come in?
He's sleeping.
No point in you coming in.
You know I'm not your enemy.
Nor yours.
Your husband is.
You can't blame me for that.
John, stay out of Julesburg.
Mace is waiting to kill you.
John, be sensible. Mace is a professional killer.
Thanks for telling me.
Think you better go.
How's it going? We're all ready to roll.
Well, let's get these people out of here.
Come on, folks. Let's go.
I'll give you a ride little Honey. Come on.
Let's go! We could wait for the next coach.
Why ? The little girl... Let's go.
Let's go down there and get the gold.
Go tell Mr. Hayes.
How's the boy?
Not so good.
You taking Crown Point?
Hanks and Crown Point.
Tell them the new stages will be coming through next week. Yes, sir.
And tell them to be careful. You too. Yes, sir.
Stubby... Boss...
Mr. Hayes!
Everybody's dead. The stagecoach raid.
Quiet down, son, quiet down now.
Tell me what happened. Everybody's dead.
Looks like you already heard.
All those people dead.
That little girl.
We didn't figured it'd be quite that bad.
Stagecoach robbed...
Dead passengers looted...
Skunk amateurs!
Everyone looks out for himself.
I blame myself.
Trouble with you, Clay is that you're rich enough to be an honorable man.
I can't afford it.
And to think this happened in the name of the Confederates!
Whether the South wins or loses, means nothing to me. Never has.
I should have known that scum like you could look for anything above yourselves.
I want you out of Julesburg.
Matter of fact, me and some of the boys are staying for more of that Union gold coming through.
You get out of Julesburg before I kill you.
Kill me? I don't think so.
I don't think so at all.
I've handled two-bit gun slingers like you before.
No point you me for not clear.
I'm still gonna stop Overland. And I'm killing Hayes.
I don't want you for anything.
Suit yourself.
Just mind ask your wife for what she was doing visiting Hayes this morning.
Pick them all into town, I'll be along later.
He is dead.
I thought it all over, Clay.
I can't live with you any longer.
I'm leaving you in the morning.
I can't stop you from what you want.
It's not what I want.
But your forcing me into doing.
You're blaming me for what happened to the stagecoach and the Miller boy.
Yes. I told you before I... So righteousness, you know it just doesn't fit you.
Why don't you come out and say what you really mean.
I don't understand that.
I understand you.
You're never worried about anyone else besides yourself in the whole of your life.
Not in me.
I won't listen to you and your likeness.
I never fooled myself about the reason you married me either.
It wasn't for love.
All right then. At first that was so. I won't deny it.
Because you can't.
See, that's the trouble, I understand you.
I still love you.
You'd never be leaving me, if you didn't think you had someone else to go to.
That's not true!
You're a liar.
Look at me. Look at me straight in the eye and tell me that you're not still in love with Hayes.
I told you when I married you, that it was all over with John and me.
But you kept bringing him between us.
It's not John Hayes that's breaking us up, it's your jealousy.
And you're giving me your answer.
There's noting more to say. Except this:
You walk out of this house. You go out the way you came in.
With nothing but the clothes on your back.
I wouldn't depend on going to Hayes either.
Cause Mace's gonna kill him. If he already hasn't.
I love you, Clay.
I guess I know I always will.
But if you let anything happen to John Hayes, I swear I'll see you hang.
Gonna stop Mace.
Gonna stop him.
'Bout time he got here.
Get out there and cover me.
Look this way.
Expected you a little earlier.
I am here.
I'm coming out.
Go get him.
Back off, Mace.
I never had it figured this way.
Had to stop Mace.
Take care of Norma.
I intend to.
How are things in Julesburg? Better.
That's good.
What about Mrs. Putnam.
Norma's going back east to live. We just said goodbye.
I'm going to move your station back to Julesburg.
I wish you wouldn't do that.
I can still run it.
I think you could at that.
I know I could... with a little help.
Well seeing is how this is still going to be an Overland swing station...
I'll drop by and look in on you from time to time
If you don't mind
I wouldn't mind at all.
I'll make it soon.
Soon.