Fort Yuma

I'm Mangas Colorados.

My son, Mangas.

Antonio, medicine man of my people.

Captain Philip Santley.

Lieutenant Wilson.

Your government wants peace. The Manbreno wants peace.

Let the war between our people be at an end.

I speak for my people and my government.

When I say that the rights of the Manbreno shall have the respect and the protection...

Dirty murderer!

Stop that man.

Who is he?

I've never seen him before, captain.

It looked like he's out of his mind, sir.

Plump out of his mind.

What a time he picked.

How is he?

He's dead, never knew what hit him.

- Lieutenant Wilson. - Yes, Sir.

- Who's riding to Fort Apache? - Cassidy, sir.

Now this almost the end of December.

That makes a supply-column leaving from Fort Apache to be here any time now.

Twenty men and a load of ammunition will never get passed Mangas.

It can make things pretty warm here with all that powder.

The Manbrenos aren't a very big tribe, captain.

Yeah, I know. But that ammunition could change things.

Anyway, I'm taking no chances.

I'm asking for two full companies, to reinforce the post.

Cassidy, I appear for the Fort's ordinance, sir.

Escort this to General Crook personally, Cassidy, you understand?

Yes, sir. I'd ride now, sir.

Right, and step on it.

Cassidy, keep your eyes open.

I'm practically on my way back, sir.

In case I don't get back in time, a Happy New Year to you, captain.

- Same to you, Lieutenant. - Thanks.

Merry Christmas to you.

Thanks, Sam.

As long as I'm not at this Christmas dinner,

tell the cook to split up my portion and go for the men.

All right, get out of here.

- Merry Christmas. - Merry Christmas.

My father wanted peace.

I want Fort Yuma!

Don't you know if you don't let loose of me?

You'll throw away the chance of peace treaty.

Don't you know that?

Don't you know that you will have all the U.S. Army if you do this?

That's U.S. government business...

You'll have to answer General Crook for this.

What are you gonna do? You'll have trouble for this.

You're breaking the treaty.

Don't do that.

You can't get away with this, they will hang you.

Everyone of you.

- Is it good. - That ought to do it.

Be sure to check it over carefully. It's gonna be heavy loaded.

Alec.

You want me, Lieutenant?

We're leaving for Fort Yuma first thing in the morning.

- Lights out in one hour. - Yes, sir.

Excuse me, sir.

About my termination for training.

I got tactics and communication memorized, sir.

How about it?

Can you read it to me?

- I know it by heart, sir. - Can you read it?

No, sir.

Can you write it?

No, sir, but I know...

When you can I'll forward your application.

I never heard of an officer in the U.S. cavalry who couldn't read or write.

Yes, sir.

I told you it wouldn't work, Milo.

I guess they just wouldn't cut out brass, that's all.

Oh, is that so?

You got too much studying to do than to waste time and feel sorry for yourself.

Come on.

I'm not feeling sorry for myself!

And I asked you a million times, not to call me Milo!

Okay, Mike, okay.

Hello, Ben.

Lieutenant Keegan.

What are you doing here?

I'm going to Fort Yuma with you.

How did you get your orders?

General Crook.

I wouldn't count on it.

You better get back on your own outfit.

Merry Christmas, Lieutenant.

Thank you, sir. The same to you.

You'd like some punch?

No. Thank you, sir.

Now, what's on your mind?

I've been assigned to take the supply column to Fort Yuma.

Yes, yes, according to the duty list it's your turn.

That's right, sir.

Well, what's the trouble?

No trouble sir, I'm requesting another scout.

Why?

I'd rather have not an Indian with my company, sir.

We've known Jonas for years. He rode with the outfit for a long time.

Now since when has he ceased to be a friend and become just another Indian?

There is nothing personal in this request, sir.

Of course not.

That is your business, I suppose.

There's no other scout available.

Then I'll go without one.

You'll be blessed well with any scout I see fit to sent with you!

You run your company, Lieutenant. Leave the rest of the army to me!

Yes, sir.

Now wait a minute! I haven't dismissed you yet.

Now look, Lieutenant...

You've been out in this territory for a long time.

No one knows any better than you how tough it is to straighten out this mess with the Apaches,

and put an end to these raidings and killings.

You've been with me from the very beginning.

You've known them all.

Geronimo, Nana, Victoria, Cochise, the whole lot.

There's more to this, Lieutenant,

then just turn to see how much Apaches we can shoot.

We're supposed to make them believe in us.

We're supposed to convince the Indians that we want to live in peace with them.

I know that is not easy to do when we're shooting them down.

But we are just about to got it linked.

Mangas Colorados got his Manbrenos on to Fort Yuma right now.

And they're just about ready to sign.

That means it's over. It's up for a few renegades.

That's the easy part, we can smoke them out.

Then there doesn't have to be another shot fired in this territory.

Do you know what that means?

That means the settlers can come and work the mines,

without worrying about their families winding up on some Apaches' poles.

This country can live in peace again.

There is one thing I've learned out here, sir,

and that's never to trust an Apache.

Well, I never have and I never will, treaty or no treaty.

You got a good record, Lieutenant, militarily speaking.

You're a good soldier, fought well, but there's another side to you,

I have never known a man who hated Indians any harder than you do.

You're the only officer on the post, that never took a prisoner.

You've got more Apaches killed than the whole company of men.

- Where is Jonas? - I sent him back to his own unit.

What? What?! You counter ended an order of mine!?

If you ever dare to do that again, I will court-martial you.

Now find Jonas. Bring him here.

Yes, sir.

Come in... Both of you.

Shut the door.

You know each other, you soldiered together.

Two men from entirely different worlds. Yet both Americans.

For 15 years I've been trying to bring peace between the peoples of your two worlds.

In the final analysis, I guess it depends on the individual.

Now you two will go to Fort Yuma!

And if there's any trouble, I'll hang you both.

Come in...

I didn't mean to intrude you, Gen. Crook. I just wanted to say good night.

You haven't Miss Crown, just some army business, it's over and done with.

Oh, this is Lieutenant Ben Keegan. Miss Melanie Crown.

- How do you do, Lieutenant. - How do you do?

Lieutenant Keegan will command the column to Fort Yuma.

- I see. - Miss Crown will travel with you

she' going to the fort to establish a school for the children.

Miss Crown is a missionary.

My pleasure, Sister.

Thank you, brother.

- I haven't met this gentleman. - Forgive me, this is Sergeant Jonas Arabia,

Lieutenant Keegan's scout.

I'm pleased to know you.

Gracias.

Well, I will not interrupt you any longer Gen. Crook. Thank you for the lovely party.

- Good night. - Good night.

Good night.

Well, I still have guests. Remember what I told you, both.

I've been waiting for you.

What are you doing here?

Did anyone see you come in?

No one.

You should know better than to come here.

- You're leaving tomorrow. - That's right.

How do you know?

Jonas told me.

He says he's going with you.

Yeah, he's going with me.

Your brother is very fond of me.

Didn't you notice he never let me out of his sight for very long.

He always likes to be around, just in case.

In case of what?

Oh, in case my horse stumbles and I break my neck.

In case a rattler gets a lucky bite. Even a sunstroke would satisfy him.

Why should he want that?

What do you think?

Jonas can not change what I feel for you.

That's is what goes against his sensitive Apache soul.

Or maybe it's just as long as I'm leaving.

I'm going with you.

What did you say?

I shall be with you.

- I travel with Miss Crown to Fort Yuma. - Are you crazy? Jonas is going with me.

- You got to stay here. - I can not stay without you.