Hold it! Whoa! Hold it, hold it, boy. Easy. Smoke signals on the ridge. Apaches. I gotta warn Dallas and the others. I gotta go back. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
On the ridge and on the mesa, smoke our Shirakawa fires. Raise the fires to hold my nation. Strike the white man's flying wagon. Raise my kinsmen. Raise Apaches. Chieftains. Horsemen. Lances. Rifles. Stagecoach on the Lordsburg Trail. Bust the signals on the Mesa. Bless the writing in the sky. Thus my fierce Apache horsemen. Follow on the Lordsburg Trail.
The Pioneers of Outlaw Country
Cowboys, Lawmen and Outlaws… to the businessmen and women who all helped shape Wyoming.
Here are their stories.
Welcome to a special edition of Pioneers of Outlaw Country. Today you are in for a treat. Grab your popcorn as we dive into an old-time radio show.
As I was researching the stage routes of Wyoming, my internet searches kept directing me to the movie, Stagecoach. I admit I was a bit annoyed after awhile but then my curiosity got the best of me and I listened to the radio dramatization of the movie. Since I enjoyed it, I figured that many of you would, too.
This is the radio adaptation of STAGECOACH, and was originally broadcast on January 9, 1949. The show stars John Wayne and Claire Trevor, reprising their film roles from the 1939 movie.
John Wayne as the Ringo Kid, Claire Trevor as Dallas and Ward Bond as Doc Boone.
In 1885, the stagecoach was the only means of travel on the American frontier and in those days no name struck more dread into the hearts of travelers than Geronimo leader of the warlike Apache’s. Stagecoach is the story of a party of people who travelled from Tonto, Arizona to Lordsburgh, New Mexico by stagecoach. The passengers on the coach include the drunken Doc Boone, good-hearted prostitute Dallas, Lucy Mallory a pregnant woman, Hayward, a bank manager who has taken off with his client's money, and of course the famous Ringo Kid.
The NBC Theatre Presents. Screen Actors Guild assignment. Production. Stagecoach. Director John Ford. Stars. John Wayne. Claire. Trevor Ward. Bond.
This is the Screen Directors Guild production of the United Artists motion picture classic Stagecoach, starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor and Ward Bond, and introducing the director of the film, John Ford.
Before we begin our story, here are a few words about the entertainment you will hear tonight and in future weeks at this time. The NBC Theatre is proud to welcome the president of the Screen Directors Guild and the eminent director of such films as “Variety Girl”, “The Perils of Pauline” and “Tap Roots”, Mr. George Marshall.
Thank you, and good evening.
This is the first performance of a series of Screen Directors Guild productions, in which the directors will personally bring you their favorite film assignments, along with the stars who created the original roles.
Tonight your director is John Ford. John, if you remember, is the winner of five Academy Awards. The guiding hand behind such great pictures as “The Informer”, “How Green Was My Valley”, and of course, “Stagecoach”. You're on the set, John.
Thank you. John.
And good luck on our first production. Stagecoach is ready to roll. The last time I made that crack was about ten years ago.
I first had the opportunity of putting on film as romance to the West for the cast, the picture offers an array of colorful character types ripe for the actor's talents. Now the story and the cast are united again. Here is “Stagecoach”, with John Wayne as the Ringo Kid, Claire Trevor as Dallas, and Ward Bond as Doc Boone.
Oh, carry me back to the prairie where the coyotes howl and the wind blows free.
In 1885, the stagecoach was the only means of travel on the American frontier, and in those days, no names struck more dread into the hearts of travelers than Geronimo, the leader of the warlike Apaches.
This, folks, is a story of a party of people who traveled from Tonto to Lordsburg by stagecoach in 1885. It's a story still told by the Indians.
In the land of Arizona, land of the Apache Indian, where the roaming Chiricahua fought, the mighty white invader stood the white man's city.
Tonto, where the flying wagon met the white man called a stagecoach stop to take men to the westward where Geronimo was leader, chief of the Apache Indian nation.
Well, that's how it is, folks. Geronimo's Apache is on the warpath up ahead, burning every ranch in sight.
Then the question before the party is assembled in this stagecoach is shall we continue?
I say, yes, continue.
But, Mrs. Mallory, should you be traveling in your condition?
My husband is in Apache Wells with his troops. I want to be with him when our baby arrives.
Madam, I am a gambler and I admire and respect a bold gamble. But aren't you gambling with a with a life beside your own.
Oh, I forgot to tell you, Mr. Hatfield. We're getting a cavalry escort for Apache Wells.
That settles it. I'm going on.
Count me in. Of course, Buck.
All right. I'll go find my shotgun guard. You don't have to go no further, Buck. What? Curly. Well, don't go now. How are you, Sheriff?
Fine, thanks. And I'll be riding shotgun up next to you. This chip. Buck. You.
What for?
The Ringo Kid escaped from prison. I'm looking for him.
The feller who shot Jed Michael dead.
I hear he's heading for Lordsburg to shoot it out with the three Plummer boys. So I'll be right up there next to you, Buck. All the way to Lordsburg.
Hey, there she comes. Top of the hill. Now there comes the stagecoach.
Better stand back a bit, doc. Yeah. Stand! Stand out of the road there, Dallas, girl.
Thanks, doc.
Hail the stage. Brush. Chariot.
Doc! Doc! Why do I have to leave town? Because. Because all these women here say I have to. I don't want to go to Lordsburg.
No more, do I? But you are a lady somewhat too hospitable to gentlemen. And I am a doctor. Somewhat too hospitable to spirits. We girl are the dregs of Tonto and they send us from their midst. Come, Dallas, be a glorified drink like me.
Oh! Oh! Ah! I am back. You have acquired two more eager passengers.
The injuns are rising, doc.
I thank them for that mark of respect. Tell them they may be seated now. Enter Dallas.
Thanks, doc.
Take your place beside the other lady. Then forward unto To Lordsburg.
Aren't you driving through this canyon, Buck?
No. I aim to be hard to shoot at in case Geronimo's Apaches are in these hills.
I'm with you, Buck. The law.
That don't make me bulletproof. Down kingdom high. Here she comes. Apache.
Keep your shirt on and stop the coach. It ain't Apaches. Something up ahead. Blocking the road with a rifle. Oh ho ho! Here he comes, whoever he is.
What? It’s the Ringo kid?
That's right. Buck. Hiya, curly.
Ringo.
Didn't expect to find the sheriff riding shotgun.
I was heading for Lordsburg. Same as you, Ringo.
Well, my horse went lame. So you got room for another passenger?
I'll take that rifle first. Ringo.
That's so. Sheriff.
You're under arrest for the murder of Jed McCall.
Sorry, Curley, but this Winchester here says different.
Sorry, Ringo, but if you'll look back up the road a piece, you'll see our escort of United States Cavalry coming up.
Oh.
I'll take that rifle now, Ringo.
Sure, Sheriff, but you better hold on to it. You may need it before we get to Lordsburg.
Thanks. You can get into the coach now.
Much obliged. Sheriff.
Get going. Buck.
Yep. Susie. Yep, yep. Hiya.
So you're the famous Ringo kid, huh?
My friends call me Ringo. Right name's Henry.
Hey, Henry. I remember you. Say, I fixed your arm when you was just a little sprout, no higher than a quart of bourbon.
Well, that was my kid brother broke his arm. You did a good job too, doc, even if you was drunk.
Well, thank you, son. How's your brother now?
He was murdered.
Oh, no.
Him and my dad. By the three Plummer boys.
Well, good luck when you get to Lordsburg, son.
Thanks, doc.
Mrs. Mallory, you're tired. Would you like to rest your head on my shoulder?
No. Thank you. Mr. Hatfield, would you mind if I sat over on your side of the coach?
Not at all, ma'am.
Excuse me.
Yes. Of course.
Right here, Mrs. Mallory. Thank you, Mr. Hatfield.
Mm. I must have the plague. Huh, Dallas?
You. Oh, no, it's not you.
Have a drink, Hatfield?
No. Thank you. No, thank you, he says. Have a drink, doc? Yes. Thank you.
You're not going to move away from me, are you?
No, Ringo.
Well, I guess I can't expect to break out of prison and into society in the same week.
Shh. She'll hear you. Yeah.
I guess I'm pretty dumb for sitting down beside a lady like you Dallas
Lady?
Thanks for not moving.
Oh, don't. Don't. Please. Why are you looking at me like that?
Ain't I seen you someplace before?
No, no, no you haven't.
I wish I had, though.
I know you. I mean, I know who you are.
I used to be a good cowhand. A few years back, things happened.
Yes. Things happen.
Well drink up, doc.
Doc's getting a snootful.
Things happen. And now they'll take you back to prison.
Not till I finish the job. Lordsburg.
Ringo. I. I wish you wouldn't.
Wish I wouldn't what?
Oh, nothing. Nothing.
Well, in a bottle and pound.
Confound that driver! Why doesn’t he drive more carefully.
He's playing it smart, Hatfield. He took to the mountains. Apaches don't like snow.
Well, he might have some consideration for Mrs. Mallory and her condition.
Oh, I'll be all right, Mr. Hatfield. Thank you.
Well. Hello, Apache. Well, just ahead, Apache Wells.
Mr. Hatfield, why didn't my husband and his troops meet us here?
The wrangler tells me that Captain Mallory has been sent ahead to Lordsburg.
Lordsburg?
Well, we'd better turn around and follow the cavalry escort to Tonto.
We can't do that!
With the Apaches on the warpath it ain't safe to go through Apache country without escort. I say we ought to turn back.
There's only one way to find out. Take a vote.
What do you say, Mrs. Mallory? On to Lordsburg or back to Tonto.
I want my husband with me when our baby's born.
Doc, ain't you forgot this lady?
You mean Dallas?
Oh, I say go. I have nothing to go back to.
Doc!
Lordsburg. Pass the bottle. Pass the bottle.
Ringo.
Ringo is my prisoner. I'm voting his proxy. I say Lordsburg, Hatfield.
I am at the service of Mrs. Mallory.
Thank you. Buck.
Well, Lordsburg it is. Well, step inside and get some grub. Look, spry.
You better take my arm up these steps, Mrs. Mallory.
No. Thank you. Really, I'm quite, uh. I'm quite….
Oh, Mrs. Mallory, I've got it. Doctor Bowen. Mrs. Mallory needs your help.
Oh. What?
Oh, it's no use. He's drunk. Ringo. Yeah. I don't know for sure, but I think you'd better go inside and start heating some water.
All you want and then some. And then some.
Carry her inside. Mr. Hatfield. Oh!
Allow me. Allow me.
I'll carry her myself. You sot!
Thank you sir.
You drunken swine! Thank you. Now, if you'll open the door for me. Dallas.
Yes.
Drunken swine of a doctor.
Doc! Honest. Ain't you ashamed?
Did I understand that swine to call me a drunken swine?
Oh, I wish I could do something.
There is something you can do, Buck.
Yeah, but what can you do in your condition?
I can drink all of the hot black coffee you can make. I, sir, am a doctor.
Now get busy. Get busy.
The NBC Theatre is presenting the Screen Directors Guild production of Stagecoach, starring Claire Trevor, John Wayne and Ward bond with screen director John Ford.
Carry me back to the old prairie. Where the coyotes are and the wind blows free!
Apache Wells. The white man calls it here. The white squaw had her child while the flying wagon waited. Waited while my tribesmen gathered.
On the hills and on the desert gathered the Apache warriors while the white squaw had her child and the flying wagon waited.
Oh, it makes me nervous being held up like this in Apache country. You just know they're mad at us again.
Quiet, Buck.
Huh?
Someone's coming.
Look. It's a little girl.
A girl.
Let me see it. Well, I'll be doggone.
That's real fine, ain't it, Dallas?
Real fine.
Oh, yes. Curly, it's fine.
A baby. How? I mean?
I'll explain it to you sometime, Buck.
Listen, boys. Doc Boone. Three cheers for Doc Boone.
Never mind the three cheers. Just pour me four fingers instead. I'm thirsty.
Coyote howls.
Oh! Dallas.
Oh, it's me, Ringo. Oh, you oughtn't to be outside here at night alone. Apaches like to pick off strays.
Well, you're here now.
Oh, yeah. I watched you with that baby today. You looked. You look. Well, nice.
I just wanted to hold it a minute.
Are you visiting in Lordsburg?
Uh, I have friends there.
Oh, good.
Ringo, why don't you escape?
I aim to in Lordsburg.
Why not now? Why not go over the border now?
My father and brother were shot down by the Plummer boys. I guess you don't know how it feels to lose your folks that way.
My folks were killed by Indians when I was a kid.
Oh.
That's tough. It's a hard country. Especially for a girl.
You have to live no matter what.
That's it. Look, Miss Dallas, you got no folks, neither have I. Maybe I'm crazy to ask you, but. Well, I still got a ranch down across the border, and I. Well, I guess I'm crazy being close to you like this. But.
Ringo. Ringo, you don't know me. You don't know who I am or…
I know I want to marry you, Dallas.
Ringo.
That ain't an answer. Dallas. Oh.
Ringo. You can't go to Lordsburg. Not now. The Plummer boys will be 3 to 1 against you. You'll get killed.
Can't tell.
You can't win.
Can't run away from it either.
How can you talk about our life together when you want to throw your life away?
Well, what do you want me to do?
Get away! I'll follow you.
You mean that, Dallas?
I just can't leave Mrs. Mallory and her baby now. But. But listen. There's a horse all saddled and ready for you in the corral.
What?
Yeah, there's a rifle in the saddle. Boot. Now get going. I'll come.
After you. I'm counting on that. Dallas. With my life.
Goodbye, Ringo. Watch out for Apaches.
I got a rifle now, and I got you. Don't worry, Dallas. I'll be waiting.
Hold it! Whoa! Hold it, hold it, boy. Easy.
Smoke signals on the ridge. Apaches. I gotta warn Dallas and the others. I gotta go back.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
On the ridge and on the mesa, smoke our Shirakawa fires. Raise the fires to hold my nation. Strike the white man's flying wagon. Raise my kinsmen. Raise Apaches. Chieftains. Horsemen. Lances. Rifles. Stagecoach on the Lordsburg Trail. Bust the signals on the Mesa. Bless the writing in the sky. Thus my fierce Apache horsemen. Follow on the Lordsburg Trail.
Ah, we're making good time. I say we're out of danger now, thanks to Ringo here. Very decent of you to come back, Ringo.
I wouldn't be too sure we're out of danger yet, Hadfield.
We'll be in Lordsburg soon, then.
Very soon.
How's the baby?
Sleeping.
Doc told me what you did for me. Thank you very much, Dallas.
You know danger whet's my appetite? Indeed it does. Let me see. There must be a bottle of something left in this bag.
Oh!
A bullet. It just missed your head, doc!
On the floor, Miss Mallory. Dallas, you and Miss Mallory, get down!
Apaches. Hundreds of them.
Hey! Hey, Ringo!
Curly, he's calling you from the driver's seat.
Ringo, here's your Winchester! Use it!
Hey, that's my rifle!
Ringo! Look out! An Apache on that painted pony!
See that injun on the Mustang coming alongside?
Don't talk. Shoot!
Well, now you see him. And now you don't.
You ladies all right?
We're all right.
Now you see him, and now you don't.
Baby all right?
Yes, baby’s all right.
You gentlemen be good enough to shoot Indians instead of..
I’m hit, I’m hit!
Get that Apache. I'll help Hatfield!
Got him!
Faster, Drive faster! Fire! Fire! Can't you see they're all around us now?
Mrs. Mallory, you'll get hurt. Easy, easy.
I could use some more help up here.
Give me your pistol, doc.
Take it.
Thanks. Look at all those Injuns.
Apaches all have big families.
Don't talk. Shoot!
I can't. Out of ammunition.
Why have I stopped firing outside?
Buck's hit. Curly's empty too. This looks like it.
No, no. I have only three bullets left.
That's enough. Indians won't get you or Mrs. Mallory. Or the baby.
No. No. They won't.
Listen.
Get out!
No! Listen. It's a bugle. Listen.
It’s the cavalry from Lordsburg.
The Apaches are breaking. They're running away.
Glory, glory!
How's that feel?
Death. Glory, glory, glory.
Well good night, Ringo.
This is. Is this where you live in Lordsburg?
I told you, I warned you. I told you you didn't know me. This part of town is no place for a nice girl. But. But it's all right for me. I say goodbye, Ringo. Say goodbye.
I asked you to marry me, didn't I?
I'll never forget you asked me.
Go on back and wait for me in the stagecoach.
Where are you going?
Business for the Plummer boys. I'll just take a slow walk down Main Street and see what happened.
Dear Lord. This stagecoach don't pass much for a church. But. But I'm praying to you here. Please, Lord. It's 3 to 1 against Ringo out there. And the Plummer boys are dead shots. Awful dead shots. Lord, like I was saying, Lord, it's 2 to 1. Lord, he's all I got and all I ever want. So please, dear Lord, please let me have him back. Please, please, please.
Oh, Carry me back to the lone prairie.
Who? Who's that out there? Ringo?!
Yeah. Are you hurt? No.
I prayed for you. I prayed.
You did good.
Let's get out of here, then escape!
Don't have to anymore. Before he cashed in, Luke Plummer confessed he killed Jed Michael.
You're free?
Yeah.
And they didn't even hurt you. Dead shots like the Plummer boys?
Dead as dead shots you ever saw.
Oh, Ringo. Ringo.
Dallas. What are you crying for? Nothing's happened.
Thus the story of those brave men, riders of the flying wagon in the land of Arizona, where Geronimo was chief. In the great land in the desert where the flying wagon galloped, that the white men called the stagecoach, bringing brave men to the west.
Our stars will return in just a moment. The NBC Theatre has presented the Screen Director's Guild production of Stagecoach, starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor and Ward bond and introduced by John Ford. In the weeks to come, the Screen Directors Guild will bring you Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, James Mason and Irene Dunne. And next week, the NBC theater presents screen director Richard Wallace introducing the current film comedy Let's Live a Little, starring Robert Cummings. Now, here again is our special guest, the president of the Screen Directors Guild, Mr. George Marshall.
The premiere production of the screen director's entry into radio has now joined the stagecoach itself, in that great fund of memories known as the past. And speaking for the Guild, I'd like to express our gratitude to the National Broadcasting Company for the opportunity to better acquaint the public with the work and role of the screen director. Take it away, John Ford.
Well, how do you hardy frontiersmen like pioneering in an NBC studio instead of the badlands of Arizona?
Very much. You know, just the memory of that dust is enough to send me running home to wash my hair.
This is wonderful.
Wonderful? What do you mean?
No getting up early in the morning and arguing with a horse.
You know, I think it's wonderful that the screen director is being honored like this. He's the fellow who really makes the movie. As for us actors and actresses, well.
Where would we be without you, Pappy, and others like you?
That's right.
You taught us our business. That's all I can say.
Thanks.
They talking about wonderful things. It's a wonder that Pappy here hasn't yet displayed his fine, tyrannical hand.
How do you do? So what? John. Now, look, as long as we're speaking about fine, tyrannical hands. Look, are we going to do this again? Because if so, I'd like to take you folks.
Yeah, I thought so. You'd have something to say about it. We had that same trouble ten years ago.
Now, look, John, don't you remember? This is radio. There are no retakes. Good night everybody.
Our thanks to our stars John Wayne, Claire Trevor and Ward Bond. And to screen directors George Marshall and John Ford. Also heard were Barbara Fuller, Peter Leeds, Horace Murphy, Norman Field, Dan Rice, Ken Carson, and Eddie Fields. Tonight's story was adapted by Milton Geiger and original music was composed and conducted by Henry Russell. Production was under the supervision of Howard Wiley. Your announcer, Frank Barton.
John Wayne can soon be seen in John Ford's Three Godfathers, and Claire Trevor appears in the soon to be released Amusement Enterprises picture The Lucky Stiff. Ward Bond is currently appearing in the Victor Fleming production Joan of Arc.
Listen again next week when the NBC Theatre presents: Screen Directors Guild Assignment production let's live a little. Director Richard Wallace star Robert Cummings.
Don't miss an hour now of America's favorite music, old tunes and new hits over most of these stations. This is NBC, the National Broadcasting Company.
