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00:00 ♪ [music] ♪
00:08 From the archives of the United States Cavalry, the true stories of Colonel
00:12 Randall McKenzie and the cavalrymen he led, McKenzie's Raiders.
00:17 His secret orders from the President of the United States, "Clean up the Southwest.
00:22 Make it a fit place for Americans to live. Wipe out the renegades, outlaws,
00:26 and murderers. If necessary, cross the Rio Grande. Knowing capture means hanging
00:31 by the enemy. Discovery, court-martial by the United States Army."
00:36 ♪ [music] ♪
00:52 The Rio Grande, critical boundary between Mexico and the United States.
00:57 The morning of September 7th, 1873, Emiliano Lopez, personal representative
01:03 of the Mexican President, bound for Washington. His mission of the utmost
01:08 importance.
01:09 [gunshot]
01:10 [gunshot]
01:19 - Take care of Lopez's escort. - Cross.
01:22 - Don't kill him! - Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Lopez.
01:31 - That doesn't concern you. - I know someone who does concern.
01:37 Get the horses. You'll be staying with us for some time.
01:40 ♪ [music] ♪
01:46 Despite every precaution, the emissary's route had been revealed.
01:49 And for Colonel Randall McKenzie, who waited to escort the emissary to San
01:53 Antonio, this treachery was to have far-reaching consequences.
01:59 Having waited long beyond the appointed time, McKenzie finally crossed
02:02 into Mexico. His purpose, find Emiliano Lopez. His orders, secret.
02:09 The risk, court-martial or death.
02:12 ♪ [music] ♪
02:18 - They're dead. Any sign of Lopez? - No sign.
02:22 - I hope it's not who I'm thinking. - Ben Pierce? I hope it is.
02:27 Then Lopez will still be alive.
02:39 They didn't waste any time crossing back to the States.
02:42 Those poor devils. I guess their own patrols will pick them up.
02:53 - Now they're under your jurisdiction. - Ben Pierce has been under my
03:01 jurisdiction for some time.
03:04 ♪ [music] ♪
03:17 - Here. - What is this here?
03:19 - It's a spangle. The kind a Mexican official might wear on his saddle.
03:31 - There's tracks in both directions. Which way did they go?
03:34 - Look there. One of those horses was unshod. Mexicans don't shoe their horses.
03:40 That's Lopez's trail. - Let's go.
03:43 ♪ [music] ♪
03:50 [horse hooves clopping]
03:54 ♪ [music] ♪
04:08 - See the spangles on that white horse? - I count seven horses.
04:11 That means he's got five men. What do we do?
04:14 - Pierce has got Lopez all right, but I've got Pierce's brother Jed.
04:20 He's going to be hung tomorrow.
04:23 Pierce will have to come to me today. Let's get back to the fort.
04:28 - All right.
04:30 - We don't want you to die, Your Excellency.
04:50 - Do you think he'll change McKenzie's mind, Mr. Pierce?
04:54 - Don't always look for it, Elaine. He's a very important man to McKenzie and the
04:58 United States.
05:00 - Very few people in Mexico are our country near of your journey.
05:05 I bought a very important official. - Bought, senor?
05:09 - Bought. The route you traveled cost me several hundred dollars.
05:11 Well worth it. - You must realize you are getting
05:13 involved in an international situation. - It's the other way around.
05:16 You've got yourself involved in a local mess with me and a tough colonel.
05:20 - Your dealing with Colonel McKenzie means nothing to me.
05:23 My mission is vital. - That's just what I'm betting on.
05:26 That your mission puts enough pressure on McKenzie's shoulders to save my brother
05:30 from a rope. - You offend law and order, senor.
05:34 - Is my behavior so different than the overthrow of Maximilian?
05:37 - Maximilian was a dictator. - My brother and I ran this country
05:42 until McKenzie moved in. McKenzie and I can't exist together.
05:47 - How soon will you know? - Sometime today.
05:51 - Do you realize any delay may be disastrous for Mexico?
05:54 - I'm sorry, senor. That's your problem.
05:56 For the time being, you're working for me. Take good care of him while I'm gone.
06:00 If I'm not back by sundown, kill him.
06:03 My apologies, senor.
06:05 [dramatic music]
06:08 ♪
06:29 - The orders are explicit, sir.
06:31 Lopez is to be transported secretly and safely at all costs.
06:35 - And he must be in San Antonio not later than 8 o'clock on Thursday.
06:38 That means he's got to leave here not later than sunrise tomorrow.
06:42 Trooper Allen. - Good morning, sir.
06:46 - Will it be ready on time? - Yes, sir.
06:50 - This your first execution, son? - Yes, sir.
06:58 - And I don't like it. - None of us do.
07:02 - Carry on, Allen. - Yes, sir.
07:07 - Come in.
07:13 - Pardon me, sir. Ben Pierce is here. He wishes to speak to the colonel.
07:19 - Show him in.
07:22 I'll see him alone.
07:26 - All right, Mr. Pierce, you can come in.
07:29 - Good afternoon, colonel.
07:32 I hope you're not thinking of putting a rope around my neck.
07:39 Lopez will be dead if I'm not back before sundown.
07:41 - Oh, it's a nice-looking gallows you're building.
07:43 - It's too bad you won't be able to use it.
07:46 I give you credit, colonel. You gave it a good try.
07:49 You even had the Southerners believing in you.
07:53 - You've come to the point, Mr. Pierce. - I thought you knew the point.
07:57 - My brother Jed's riding out with me. - Oh?
08:01 - And Señor Lopez? - You can trust me. He'll be free.
08:04 - The only thing I can trust you to do is to continue your stranglehold on the Southerners,
08:08 to continue murdering anyone who steps in your way.
08:10 - That's your fault, colonel. There was no trouble until you came along.
08:14 You gave me everything I wanted, gladly.
08:17 - The fact remains I'm holding your brother.
08:21 - He's no more in jail than you are.
08:23 I raised Jed from a kid like a son.
08:26 You think I let him end up this way?
08:28 - You raised him to be a murderer. This is the way murderers end.
08:31 - Not Jed, colonel. You see, I know how important Lopez is.
08:35 - All right, Mr. Pierce.
08:44 I'll turn over your brother when you turn over Lopez.
08:48 - You know I won't do that. - If that's what you're asking me to do.
08:51 - You have no choice. I'm dealing the cards.
08:54 - Then you'll deal them off the top of the deck or there'll be no game.
08:57 - You haven't the guts to allow Lopez to be killed.
09:01 You'd lose that bird on your shoulder.
09:03 - Nevertheless, as it stands now, your brother Jed will be hung in the morning.
09:07 - As it stands now, if my brother hangs, so does Lopez.
09:11 - I told you in exchange of prisoners is the only way to get out of this mess.
09:17 - Exchange of prisoners is the only thing I'll consider.
09:19 - Good day, Mr. Pierce.
09:21 - What kind of exchange?
09:24 - You're to escort Lopez. Come alone, unarmed.
09:30 - Who'll be with Jed? - Just me. Also unarmed.
09:34 - Where?
09:36 - Outside Brackettville. Sunset.
09:38 - No, it's too close to this place.
09:40 Sunset's fine. Let's meet at Twin Forks.
09:43 It's closer for me.
09:46 - All right.
09:48 - Just one thing.
09:51 How can I be sure it's Lopez that you'll turn over to me?
09:54 - A man has to have some faith, Colonel.
09:57 - Lieutenant. - Yes, sir.
10:04 - Close the door.
10:08 There'll be an exchange of prisoners at Sunset, just outside Twin Forks.
10:12 - It's a four-hour ride, sir. - That's right.
10:15 I've got to get there before he does to protect myself.
10:18 My orders are explicit.
10:21 Senor Lopez has got to be given safe conduct to San Antonio. I've got no choice.
10:26 - You're also obliged to capture and execute Jed Pierce and his brother, sir.
10:30 - I'm aware of that, Lieutenant. - But how do you know you can trust Jed Pierce?
10:34 - I've given my word. - But he's constantly broken his in the past.
10:39 - Yes.
10:44 Yes.
10:46 Benedict.
10:50 - Yes, sir. - You're to ride armed escort.
10:53 Get Jed Pierce ready to ride immediately.
10:55 Then meet me two miles this side of Twin Forks at Sunset.
10:58 - Yes, sir.
11:00 - Lieutenant.
11:05 Lieutenant, who's the best marksman on the post?
11:08 - Corporal Dixon has the best record, sir.
11:10 - Is he familiar with the telescopic sight? - Yes, sir.
11:12 - I'd like to see Corporal Dixon immediately.
11:14 - The men are on the rifle range, sir. - Immediately, Lieutenant.
11:17 - Yes, sir.
11:19 - McKenzie now faced his first great dilemma at Fort Clark.
11:40 His orders were to bring peace to the area
11:43 and at the same time deliver the Mexican emissary to Austin the following night.
11:47 In order to fulfill these conflicting orders,
11:51 McKenzie realized that time was his key factor.
11:54 Time to beat Ben Pierce to the exchange spot.
11:58 In order to do it, he had to perform the impossible.
12:03 - Corporal Dixon's waiting outside, sir.
12:06 This is his latest handiwork.
12:08 - Let me see.
12:10 Yeah.
12:12 He'll have to be at least this accurate.
12:14 - Benedict left with Jed Pierce five minutes ago, sir.
12:17 - Have Dixon come in.
12:19 - Corporal Dixon? - Yes, sir.
12:21 - Corporal Dixon reporting, sir.
12:24 - Be with you in a minute, Corporal.
12:26 Lieutenant, have two of our fastest horses prepared.
12:29 - Yes, sir.
12:31 - Oh, uh...
12:34 Stand easy, Corporal.
12:37 - You ever witnessed an exchange of prisoners?
12:39 - Yes, sir.
12:41 - Think you understand the procedure?
12:43 - I think so, sir. The one I saw went according to the book.
12:46 - Well, I'm gonna ask you to join me in one that may not go according to the book.
12:49 Give me a hand with these boots. - Yes, sir.
12:52 - I understand you're my best marksman.
12:56 - Thank you, sir.
12:58 - You familiar with the telescopic sight?
13:00 - Yes, sir.
13:02 - I'm exchanging a prisoner for a Mexican official at Twin Fork at sunset.
13:06 - Yes, sir.
13:08 - Now, it may all go according to the book,
13:10 in which case your orders are specifically to do nothing.
13:13 You understand that now, Corporal?
13:15 If it goes according to the book, you're to do nothing.
13:17 - Yes, sir. - However, there may be some treachery.
13:20 In that case, your job is to protect that Mexican official at all costs.
13:24 That Mexican official must be unharmed.
13:26 There's no way to change that order. You understand?
13:28 - I understand, sir.
13:30 - Now, it may be that you'll see a pistol at Señor Lopez's head,
13:33 in which case that pistol is to be your target.
13:36 - The pistol, sir? - Exactly.
13:39 If you shoot at the man holding the pistol, it might possibly go off.
13:42 Señor Lopez is to be protected at all costs.
13:45 - I understand, sir.
13:47 - You've got to be at least as accurate as this.
13:52 You think you can do it?
13:54 - Yes, sir.
13:59 - Good boy.
14:02 All right. We leave immediately.
14:04 No extra gear. No sabers. No weight.
14:07 We travel as light as possible. Wear moccasins.
14:10 Corporal, you're going to ride as you've never ridden before in your life.
14:13 It's imperative that we get there before anybody else.
14:15 - Yes, sir. - That's all.
14:17 - Lieutenant! - Yes, sir.
14:23 - Horses ready? - Yes, sir.
14:26 - Dixon already has his orders.
14:28 It's going to be a forced ride the whole way.
14:30 - Yes, sir.
14:32 - September 7th, 1873. Early afternoon.
14:37 Colonel McKenzie and Corporal Dixon rode against a deadline.
14:41 Their destination, Twin Forks.
14:44 Their purpose, to arrive before sunset to guard against possible treachery by Ben Pierce during the prisoner exchange.
14:52 [HORSE GALLOPING]
14:55 - What's wrong? - He's gone lame, sir.
15:13 - All right. Mount up with me. - What about the horse, sir?
15:16 He'll find his way back to the fort.
15:19 [HORSE GALLOPING]
15:22 - We'll never get there in time, sir.
15:47 - We'll get a fresh horse at Becker's.
15:50 - Where's Jed? - We'll get him.
16:15 We're going to exchange him for Jed at Twin Forks.
16:18 - When? - Sunset.
16:20 McKenzie and I agreed to meet there alone and without arms.
16:23 - Well, how can you trust McKenzie? - If Colonel McKenzie says he'll be there, he'll be there.
16:28 Anyway, he had a hard ride to look forward to. Didn't get much time for thinking.
16:32 - You mean you plan to go alone? - I wouldn't say that. He'll be there.
16:36 - So, you're going to kill him?
16:39 - I never for a moment thought otherwise.
16:43 What about me, senor? Do I go free?
16:46 I must reach Washington.
16:49 My government will pay you for my release.
16:52 - I want my brother.
16:54 You're only important to me as a way of getting him back.
16:57 - You know, senor, we have a man in Mexico just like you.
17:01 You're all the same no matter where you live.
17:04 - Filth!
17:06 I don't see any difference. You're willing to do business with me when your life is at stake.
17:12 - Out of necessity only, senor.
17:15 If I had the chance, I would open your throat.
17:19 - But you haven't the chance, senor.
17:22 Not McKenzie either. Not now.
17:25 (wind blowing)
17:43 - Mr. Becker.
17:45 - Hi, Colonel. You sure look mighty beat up. What's up?
17:47 - I haven't got time to explain. We need a new horse.
17:49 - You want to borrow my horse so you can run him like you run him, eh?
17:53 I ain't that rich, Colonel.
17:55 - We'll give you good money for him. - Yeah? Let me see.
17:57 - I'm not carrying any money with me. You'll have to take my word for it.
18:00 - I'm afraid you'll have to look someplace else, Colonel.
18:03 I don't know you long enough to cut into that sort of deal.
18:06 - Corporal, saddle that horse. - Yes, sir.
18:09 - Now look here. - I'm sorry, Mr. Becker.
18:11 You'll have to take my word for it. You've got no choice.
18:14 (hooves clopping)
18:18 (hooves clopping)
18:41 - Come on, Corporal. We've got to make up that time.
18:44 - This old horse is doing the best he can, Colonel.
18:46 - Not quite. Let's travel 40 pounds lighter.
18:49 Get rid of that saddle.
18:51 - Oh.
18:53 (hooves clopping)
19:02 (fire crackling)
19:11 - Oh. Oh.
19:13 (hooves clopping)
19:32 - We made it, Colonel. - Yeah.
19:34 - We beat 'em here.
19:36 - Now remember your orders, Corporal.
19:38 The Mexican official is your responsibility.
19:41 No harm is to come to him. If there's a gun on him, that gun's to be your target.
19:44 - Yes, sir.
19:46 - Oh.
19:48 I'll leave this with you.
19:50 - Colonel, are you sure?
19:53 - Just you be sure.
20:09 (gun clicking)
20:12 (hooves clopping)
20:31 - Looks awful quiet up there, Mr. Pierce.
20:34 - Yeah, I got the car stacked on my side this time.
20:36 - Come up undercover after Jed and Mackenzie get there.
20:39 - Sunset. Time of the prisoner exchange.
20:53 Following his prearranged plan, Mackenzie met Jed Pierce and his guard
20:58 two miles outside Twin Forks.
21:00 - Any trouble, Benedict? - No, sir.
21:02 - Where did you come from, Mackenzie?
21:05 - You're not the only business I have to attend to, Mr. Pierce.
21:09 My coat.
21:11 - What's that get-up for?
21:16 - Giving exchange according to regulations.
21:19 That's the regular uniform.
21:32 - After you, Mr. Pierce.
21:34 - Just take it nice and quiet.
22:00 (footsteps)
22:02 - So you decide to play it straight, huh, Colonel?
22:06 - I told you I'd be here, Mr. Pierce. Unarmed?
22:09 Yo soy Coronel Mackenzie.
22:13 (speaking Spanish)
22:16 - Si, Coronel. Mi nombre es Emiliano Lopez.
22:19 (speaking Spanish)
22:21 - All right, Mr. Pierce, I'm satisfied.
22:23 - Turn Jed over, Mackenzie.
22:26 - Follow me, Senor Lopez. - Lane!
22:29 - Lopez is a very valuable foe for me.
22:36 Now I can get you out of my hair once and for all.
22:39 (gunshots)
22:49 - Kill him, Lane.
22:53 - At least let Lopez go. - I can't afford to.
22:56 I can't afford to have anyone live and tell about this.
22:59 (gunshot)
23:02 - Get his pistol, Lopez! Ha, ha, ha!
23:07 (gunshot)
23:22 (dramatic music)
23:25 (tires screeching)
23:28 (grunts)
23:30 - You can have another strike, Corporal.
23:43 - Thank you, sir. I just pulled the trigger and prayed.
23:46 - You prayed well.
23:48 (dramatic music)
23:52 (dramatic music)
23:55 - Sir? - Yes, Lieutenant.
23:57 - A couple of settlers are waiting outside the gate.
24:00 Pierce killed their kin.
24:01 They've requested permission to witness the execution.
24:04 - Request denied.
24:05 - This is the first victory for peace in the area.
24:07 They felt they had a right to share it with you.
24:10 - They can share in the benefits.
24:12 - Yes, sir.
24:14 - Now, Lieutenant, if you would accompany Senor Lopez.
24:18 - If I may, sir.
24:19 - Yes? - Why did you want to wear your dress uniform
24:22 at the exchange yesterday?
24:24 - Because, Lieutenant, the only way I could honorably take Jed and Ben Pierce
24:27 was by provoking them into treachery.
24:29 The best way to do that was by making them think
24:32 Mackenzie was a tin soldier.
24:34 - You a tin so...
24:36 Excuse me, sir.
24:39 - Senor Lopez, vaya con Dios.
24:42 - Muchas gracias, Colonel.
24:47 ♪ [music] ♪
24:53 ♪ [music] ♪
24:59 - Mackenzie's Raiders rode again and again,
25:02 carrying out the secret orders of the President of the United States.
25:06 Do whatever necessary to clean up the Southwest.
25:09 Make it a decent place for people to live.
25:12 Ride with Mackenzie's Raiders as they relive the blazing pages of history in the making.
25:18 ♪ [music] ♪
25:25 ♪ [music] ♪
25:31 ♪ [music] ♪
25:37 ♪ [music] ♪
25:43 ♪ [music] ♪
25:49 ♪ [music] ♪
25:55 ♪ [music] ♪
26:01 ♪ [music] ♪
26:07 (metal clanging)