Rawhide

Yes, sir. That's it. The Overland Mail.

San Francisco to St. Louis in 25 days.

2,700 miles in 25 days and 25 nights ...

When the weather and Injuns behave.

A lot farther and longer when they didn't.

People said it couldn't be done.

They laughed, called it the Jackass Mail.

But when mail and passengers and gold...

began coming through from California day in, day out...

the whole country sat up and took notice.

San Francisco to St. Louis:

The shortest, fastest, "backbreakingest" ride you could buy for $200 gold...

meals included.

Yes, sir. That's it.

TheJackass Mail.

This is the relay station at Rawhide Pass...

One of many strung along the 2,700-mile route.

Here, while a fresh team of mules was hitched to the stage...

the driver and passengers could wash, have some food...

and go on to the next station many miles away.

Doggone it, Tom. It ain't been no picnic for me neither.

I'm just gettin' mule skinner wages...

and that don't include no bonus for learning you the business.

I've knowed your old man for 40 years.

There weren't nothin' too tough for him.

That's why when he cracks the whip, men and mules just lay back their ears and take orders.

Why, if any man was to talk to him the way I'm talking to you...

he'd poke both fists right in their whiskers.

Well, can't you even talk back?

Hey.

The trouble with you is y-you just don't listen.

Here I've been trying for five, six months to learn you the business...

and you're-you're still shaving, taking a bath.

Well, it's no wonder them mules don't take to you kindly.

See here. What's your old man gonna think of me...

if I send you back lookin'just as much of a dude as when you first come out here?

Well, doggone it! Can't you say something?

Yeah, Sam. Bugle's blowing.

That's the trouble. You get me so riled up I can't even attend to business.

Try 'em again, Billy.

Now do it like I learnt ya. Then come out and help me with them mules.

Get! Hyah!

- Whoa! - Hello.

You still here in this center of civilization, Tom?

I won't be much longer, Mr. Scott. I finally got my pardon.

- So you're going back east, huh? - Yes, sir.

- When? - One week.

He hasn't half learned the business yet.

What's the baby's name, Mrs. Holt?

- Callie. - Callie? I never heard that name before.

Short for California, Sam. Born there, wasn't she?

- Placerville. - In a mining camp?

- That's right. - Poor little thing.

- That's tough. - It's tough to be born anywhere.

Little more coffee, Mrs. Holt?

No, thank you. And please stop calling me Mrs. Holt. I'm "Miss."

- Miss Holt? - Yes.

Have a little more coffee, Mr. Slade?

Coffee? This stuff tastes like burnt corn boiled in branch water.

Well, could be. We don't run no fancy hotel here.

You couldn't get it down with a swig of whiskey.

Back wherever you came from I'll bet you were glad to get a drink out of a sluice box.

But it didn't cost $200 in gold, it didn't.

That's the price of the stage ticket, Mr. Slade.

- The company throws the food in extra. - You call this food?

Mule boy here seems to like it.

Mule boy doesn't. But it's eat or starve, so I- I eat.

Just wait till I get back to Missouri.

I'm a-gonna take it up with the fella and raise hob with him...

whoever's runnin' this here company.

Looks like trouble for old J.C.

J.C. Can take care of any trouble that comes his way.

- Who's J.C.? - J.C. Owens.

It's his father, superintendent of the eastern division.

I'll give you his address in St. Joe if you'll throw in a couple of complaints from me.

- Hyah! - Well, see you in St. Joe, Mr. Scott!

- You just pull in from the west? - Half hour ago.

- You didn't by any chance see four men on the road? - Nope.

- Who you looking for, Lieutenant? - Fella named Zimmerman.

Rafe Zimmerman?

- Yeah. - I thought they had him in prison over at Huntsville.

He broke out- The day before he was due to get hung.

Him and three others.

- You didn't see 'em, did you, Todd? - No. And I don't want to neither.

Figure they crossed over into Mexico?

No, they're after gold. Lots of it.

Found that out at La Mesilla, where they held upJohnny Madden's stage.

- Well, Johnny drove through here just yesterday. - That's right.

- Do much damage? - Plenty. Killed Johnny Madden.

- Johnny Madden killed? - Johnny?

Yeah. We're here to give you escort...

as far as La Mesilla, if you're ready to go.

I'm ready to go all right, but I got a responsibility: My passengers.

- You and little Callie will have to stay here, Miss Holt. - Why?

- Company rule. - That's right, ma'am.

Company rule, my foot. I paid my fare. It took all the money I could scrape up. I won't do it.

I'm sorry. It's a company rule not to risk the lives of children.

If you're bent on going, I can't stop you...

but you'll have to leave the baby behind.

That's one responsibility I'm not allowed to take.

Leave Callie behind? Jibber-jabber.

That's up to you, ma'am.

Here, you. Take her things.

- He'll do nothing of the kind. I'm not staying here. - Go on. Hurry it up.

Afraid you are, ma'am. Company rules.

Leave these things alone!

You leave me and my things alone!

I'm going in this stagecoach, and the baby's going with me!

- Stop her, Tom. - Just try and stop me!

- I said stop her, Tom! - How?

- Well, grab her. Doggone it. Grab her. - Let me go!

Take your hands off me! I've got to get to St. Louis!

- Let me go! I've got to get on that stagecoach. - Come on. Hurry up.

Take your hands off me! Let me go!

You fool! You'll make me lose my job!

- Hurry up, Gil! Get 'em on out! - Let me go!

I hope you're happy with what you've done.

- I'm sorry I hurt your arm. - Thanks for not breaking it.

Don't blame me, ma'am. I'm only a hired hand here.

You'll only lose one day, ma'am. You can go in on the stage tomorrow.

Tom, you take her things inside, and I'll look after the mules.

Take it easy. That's everything I own.

- What are you doing? - I'm taking this room.

- I'm sorry. This is mine. - Not tonight it isn't.

What are you afraid of? Coyotes?

Yeah. The kind with boots on.

Wait a minute.

Is there someplace around here I can take a bath?

- Yeah. The pitcher's full. - I said bath.

Come on.

You see that?

That what?

That "what" that Sam is pumping water into.

That's a horse trough.

Well, just don't use any soap. The animals don't like it.

Is that where you take a bath?

- No. - Don't you ever take a bath?

Now and again, back in the canyon, a hot spring.

That's more like it. Mind if I borrow this?

Well, it looks as if you already have.

You sure you know how to use it?

- I've seen them around. - Well, here.

In that case, you might just as well take this too.

And you'll find my towel and my soap in my room.

Have a nice bath.

- Where's she goin'? - Back in the canyon.

She's doing what you ought to do once in a while: Take a bath.

Keep dry outside and wet inside. That's what a man does in this country.

What's that? You hear anything?

- No, I don't hear anything. - Where's your gun?

Where do you think? She took it.

Psst.

Now, who can-who can that be?

- What are you gonna do? - Keep a bead on him till you find out who it is.

- Are you the station keeper? - No, I just work here.

Where's the boss?

Oh, he's around.

Just the two of you work here?

I guess you're wondering who I am, huh?

Well, there aren't many strangers come along.

I've been wondering about you too.

But I guess you're all right.

Deputy Sheriff Miles, from Huntsville.

Oh. Owens is my name.

It's all right, Sam. You can come out now.

I hear they killed one of my best friends, Johnny Madden.

- That's right. - Ought to be shot down like a mad dog, that Zimmerman.

Not a doubt about it.

Trooper said he's looking for gold.

Just stand still, Todd.

Get your hands up.

Get over against that wall.

Higher.

Face it.

Now stay that way.

- Hiya, Sheriff Zimmerman. - Keep 'em covered.

Sure, Zim.

- That everybody, boss? Just them two? - Don't know for sure.

- By golly, it worked, just like Zim said. - We could have rode straight in.

- Yancy, take a look around outside. - Sure.

- Here. Take this. - You reckon that I'll be needing firearms, boss?

- Take it. Put our horses in the corral and hide the saddles. - Sure.

Take a look around for guns.

- Gratz. - Yeah, Zim?

All right, Todd, Owens, turn around.

- Listen, Zimmerman. - I'll do the talking!

I gotta say something!

Now, I want answers, and I want 'em right.

What time's the next stage due here?

- One from the east. - What time?

- Tonight. - What time?

About sundown.

What about the next stage from the west?

- That's tomorrow. - What time?

Usually early mornin'.

That right?

I ask you, is that right?

- Yeah. - Know how much gold it's carrying?

- No. - You?

None. That shipment went through today.