The Professionals

That's your man.

-Draw your pay. -You wanted him broken.

Yeah, but not ruined.

Now, get out of here.

Mr. Marshall.

Ever heard of a J.W. Grant?

He needs you. Urgent.

My husband.

Hurry. Hurry.

Please, hurry.

Get out of here.

Baby!

It's nice to see you.

I'm Joe Grant. Thank you for coming, Mr. Ehrengard.

Got your telegram, Mr. Grant.

It's a pleasure, Mr. Sharp.

Yeah. Me too, Lizzie.

Mr. Grant, l'm your local bank representative.

As per your instructions, this box contains....

Thank you for coming, Mr. Fardan.

The receipt, Mr. Grant.

Exactly $1 00,000 in gold coins.

Not a coin larger than $50. That's quite an unusual request.

Thank you. Move out.

Mr. Grant. Slow freight ahead.

-Sidetrack it. -You should count the money.

-Didn't you count it? -Well, yes, of course, but....

Thank you.

Henry "Rico" Fardan. Virginia Military Academy, Philippine campaign...

...Cuba with Roosevelt's Rough Riders. Married a Mexican woman.

No children. Wife deceased.

Joined Pancho Villa as weapons expert and tactician.

Your hair was darker then.

My heart was lighter then.

Left Villa's forces, June, 1 91 5.

A year of wildcatting and prospecting. Results: negative.

Now demonstrating automatic weapons. Salary: $40 a week.

Hans Ehrengard. Ex-cavalryman, cattle boss, wrangler...

...bull-whacker, packmaster.

Jacob Sharp. Specialist with rifle, rope and longbow.

Most dependable scout and tracker in the territory.

Any objections to working with a Negro?

What's the job, Mr. Grant?

How well do you know him?

-Well enough. -What's your feeling toward him?

I have the highest respect for him...

...as a soldier.

Last week, your respected soldier kidnapped my wife.

His ransom note.

Your job:

A mission of mercy.

Raza. Captain Jesus Raza.

Jesus.

What a name for the bloodiest cutthroat in Mexico.

Mrs. Grant is a prisoner about 1 00 miles across this desert.

A hellhole. For Raza, a fortress.

He was born in that desert.

He and his men know every ravine, every rock, every cliff.

It'd take a battalion at least a month.

But a few daring men...

...specialists, led by you...

...could do it in one bold, swift stroke.

Why not? You're fluent in Spanish. You know the terrain.

You know Raza. How he thinks and reacts.

-l know you can do it. -l don't think so, Mr. Grant.

One thousand dollars a man going in.

If you bring her back safe and sound...

...another 9000 dollars for each of you.

-How many men does Raza have? -Pasqual?

Last month, 1 50, maybe. Now?

-lf I were you, l'd pay the ransom. -There it is.

One hundred thousand dollars in gold coins, as requested by Raza.

Will that guarantee that she won't be killed? You know Raza.

Say we were lucky enough to get there.

How do we get your wife out? Safely?

Gentlemen, l don't know where else to turn.

-What we really need is an equalizer. -Name it.

A dynamiter with a delicate touch to blow out a candle...

-...without denting the candleholder. -Who?

Him.

Arrange to have that man at the train where we pick up the horses.

-Where is he? -Not far.

-Get the details. -ln jail.

-ln jail? -He says that $700 will bail him out.

But is he dependable? Can he be trusted?

I trust him.

Then you've got him.

-Rico, buddy, l don't deserve you. -l agree.

I can understand you getting into a crap game and losing $700...

-...but how'd you lose your pants? -ln a lady's bedroom.

Trying to raise the cash. Almost had it made too.

You realise people are the only animals who make love face to face?

He's all yours.

Thanks. Again.

You could have telegraphed the money yesterday.

Yesterday, I didn't have the money.

What's the proposition?

You won't lose your pants.

Your life, maybe, but...what's that?

Hardly anything at all.

-Well? -Nice animals.

-Picked by Mr. Ortega. -You can depend on them.

This one is Mrs. Grant's favourite.

Bred for speed.

He'll need a lot more than that for this job.

-You'll have to make them do. -Mr. Grant...

...l can make them go, but I can't make them do.

$1 00,000 for a wife? She must be a lot of woman.

Certain women have a way of changing some boys into men...

-...and some men back into boys. -That's a woman worth saving.

-Where are we going? -The Painted Mountains.

That's right.

-You want us to go back to Mexico? -This time strictly for cash.

-What's the deal? -$1 0,000 per man, for nine days' work.

More money than we ever realised out of all our schemes put together.

No detours!

I made us a contract. All the way.

-They know who took the woman? -Raza.

Our Raza? A kidnapper?

-Grant's got a ransom note to prove it. -Well, l'll be damned.

Most of us are.

Last week Mrs. Grant went riding.

Across the border.

She was born in Mexico.

I suppose she got lonely for it.

By the time we were alarmed, the note of ransom arrived.

You'll want to know how she looks.

Those were taken four years ago on our wedding day.

I guess I'm not much good without her. Not anymore.

-What part of the hacienda is she kept? -l'd only be guessing.

We have to know.

-The goat-keeper must know. -ls he still there?

-What goat-keeper? -By name, Padillia. Eduardo Padillia.

He was devoted to Mrs. Grant.

Twice a day he brought her goat's milk. lt was almost a ritual.

By this, he will know you have my blessing.

Like myself, he would give his life for the senora.

When you cross under that bridge, you're in Mexico.

You'll leave as soon as it's dark. It's safer to travel by night, rest by day.

Bring her back to me.

Please.

We've been following the same tracks.

-Mexicans. -How many horses?

Eight. More likely 1 0.

-How long ago? -Couple hours.

-Which way they headed? -Same as us, south. Only, circling.

Now, why should they circle?

Raza's men?

-Why not? -This far north?

That's a good question.

Could be anybody. Even friendly.

-Could be. -Jake, shag them. Look them over.

But just look.

We'll camp at Dead Man's Canyon. Spot us by the Painted Hills.

I'll find you.

Rico. You know something?

Me and Raza are the two most corruptible bums.

-We'd do most anything for money. -And have.

But not kidnapping. That's not our trade.

Why did Raza pick Grant's wife to kidnap?

Company. Eight. Next bend up ahead.

-Last night you saw tracks for 1 0. -That's right.

-Any cover? -Both sides.

Cut out your two horses and the dynamite mule.

-Maybe they're just passing. -lf so, they'll ride in single file.

The leader in front, and they'll palaver. If it's trouble, they'll come as a group.

If the leader takes his hat off and passes it across to cover his gun...

...let go, fast.

-Bill, you take the point. -They got bolt-action rifles.

-Same setup as Durango? -Yeah. Why not?

-They're here. -They're here.

Good morning, friends.

Good morning.

They're Americans.

-You got lost? -Just looking for a place to camp.

What you got in those packs, boss? Gold?

You got more gold in your teeth.

He says I've got more gold in my teeth. How funny!

-lt's very dangerous around here. -Oh, that so?

Sure. Many bandits hide in these mountains.

Very bad men. They steal from anybody.

-Especially gringos. -ln that case, we'd better keep moving.

Go with God.

-That makes 1 0. -That's right.

Shoot the horse. Shoot him!

-Bury them deep. -Nine more of their horses are still left.

-You gonna shoot them too? -We can't spare the food and water.

You can turn them loose.

-What's so funny? -People.

We just killed 1 0 men. Nobody bats an eye.

-When it comes to a stupid animal.... -But harmless.

Nothing's harmless in the desert, unless it's dead.

Want to face another pack of Raza's men?

-They'll head south, to camp. -They'll head to the river, north.

Suppose they follow us? What then?

Then shoot them.

All right. Cut them loose.

God almighty.

I've known heat before, but this is....

I hate the desert.