"I want you all to pay very close attention now... because I'm going to tie a bowline knot." "First, you form a loop like that, then you take this end of the rope... through the hole, over the top, and back through." "And you cinch it up real tight and it forms a knot that won't slip." "You can make a loop and tie it with a bowline... and it will hold real tight." "It's good for fires, mountain climbing, and water accidents." " You want to give it a try, Charlie?" " I want to." "Babette." "Dad, rustlers." "They hit us again." "How many head this time?" "Rocky's still counting, but he figures at least a hundred head." "That does it." "Sheriff Bodie here." "It's your nickel." "Hansen, this is J.P." "I lost another hundred head of cattle last night." "I'll come right over, J.P." "We'll find out who's doing this." "I promise." "Listen, I'm tired of promises." "What are you going to do?" "Inasmuch as every side of beef here is earmarked for the military..." "I'll call an old friend in Washington and get some high-powered help down here." "We don't need no outsiders coming in, J.P." " It's our job to catch these rustlers." " You sure could have fooled me." "What's going on, Sheriff?" "Diamond H lost another hundred head of cattle last night." "J.P. Says he's calling Washington for some help." "Wait on." "It's our job to catch them cattle rustlers." "That's what we're getting paid for." "I guess I can't blame J.P." "They keep hitting his herd, and we can't get near them." "I don't like being made a fool of... by J.P. Bringing in some outsiders to do our job." "Can't feel any worse about it than I do." "I think we should go over to the ranch and talk the old man out of doing that." "I've been hoping you'd get down this way so I could introduce my growing family." "Growing family?" "When did you remarry?" "I didn't." "The family consists of my son Jeff plus five war orphans." "We're now represented by the Navajo Nation..." "Harlem, Paris, London, and Shanghai." "I'd love to meet your junior League of Nations, old friend... but I'm afraid this war takes top priority." "Me and my fellow ranchers have government contracts... to produce all the beef we can raise." "Our problem is rustlers." "They're stealing us blind." "Unless the thieves are stopped in a hurry, we won't have any beef to deliver... not to the Army, Navy, Air Corps or Marines." "Signs of the times, I guess." "All that beef winds up on the black market." "With meat rationing in effect, it's big business." "We'll be out of business unless we can get some help here." "What kind of help?" "Manpower, some real good manpower." "Good men are at a premium even here in Washington." "Phil, I ran an awful lot of interference for you on the football field." "How about running some for me now?" "They say an army marches on its stomach." "I guess that puts me directly in the beef business." "I'll send you the man in charge of my intelligence team:" "Maj. Steve Trevor." "That's great." "When can I expect him?" "First thing tomorrow morning." "Much obliged, Phil." "Adiós." "He's sending the very best:" "Maj. Steve Trevor." " The war hero?" " That's right." "Maj. Trevor now heads up Gen. Blankenship's intelligence team." "I better get out there and show those kids how to tie a few more knots." "I know this isn't your average intelligence assignment, Steve..." " but it is important." " Yes, sir, I know." "Food is just as vital to the war effort as bullets." "That makes sense." "My father said that one steak is more morale-boosting... than two Betty Grable movies." " How soon can you leave for Texas?" " Within the hour." "I'll order your plane readied, sir." "With all them cowpokes and rustlers around... you will be careful, won't you, Major?" "He better be." "If J.P. Hadley sent all the way to Washington for our help... you can bet those rustlers are dangerous." "Yes." "Base Operations?" "This is Yeoman Prince speaking." "Would you please have Maj. Trevor's plane readied for immediate takeoff?" "Thank you." "Keep me informed, Steve, and have a good flight." "Yes, sir." "Thank you." "I have some priority dictation to get out." "Yes, sir." "If you should happen to run across any tall, rich, eligible Texan..." "I promise to give him your name, rank, and private phone number." " Etta!" " Yes, sir." "Anything special you want me to do while you're gone?" "Cheer up." "Wipe away that frown." "What's the matter?" "You heard what the General said." "Those rustlers could be dangerous." " You know what your trouble is?" " What?" "Too much work and not nearly enough play." "I order you to take a three-day pass the minute I leave." " Understood?" " Understood." " I'll see you when I get back from Texas." " Yes, sir." "See you in Texas, Major." "I wanted to talk to you, J. P... before you went ahead and called Washington." "It's too late." "I've already done it." "And they're sending a real war hero out here to help." "Maj. Steve Trevor." "We're supposed to catch those cattle rustlers, J.P., not some outsiders." "I know that." "And I wish you were doing a better job." "Excuse me." "I'll wait for you in the car, Sheriff." "You will have to excuse Walt." "I think his pride's in his way." "We're lucky." "We found some dry kindling wood and got the fire started." "But before that, we marked off a circle about ten foot wide... and we scraped it bare inside the circle." "You know why we did that?" "It's really quite simple, sir." "We scrape the area to minimize any possibility of a spark from our fire... igniting dry grass, paper, leaves, etcetera." "Is there anything you don't know, Freddie?" "Doubtful, old boy." "That sounds like a very revolting situation, don't you know?" "You all keep warm and I'll see what's happened to our steaks." "Thanks, Jeff." "Just a minute." "We're one steak short." "I ain't hungry." "What's the matter?" "Don't you feel good?" "I'll be all right." "You'd better get back to your new family." "Hey, Walt, Billy Joe, how you doing?" "What's going on, Emmett?" " Got us over a hundred head last night." " I heard about that." "Good." " Hadley complain again?" " All the way to Washington this time." "He even got a little action, too." "What kind of action?" "They're supposed to send out this hotshot major... and he's supposed to shut us down." " You serious?" " Yeah." " I don't want to tangle with the military." " Neither do I." "What do we do about this Major?" "Maybe it's time to quit." "We can't quit." "We got too many commitments to meet." "Besides, we got this one big delivery left to make." " Cancel." " Wait a minute." "What do you mean, cancel, Emmett?" "What are you talking about?" "You don't cancel the Mob." "Relax." "Take it easy." "We're just buying time." "In 24 hours, we'll be out of business and a whole lot richer... if we can just keep this Maj. Steve Trevor off our backs long enough." "I can do that." " Ready for morning inspection, sir." " Okay, just right." "Excellent." "You're okay, Sen." "But you could all use a little more elbow grease behind the ears next time." "What is elbow grease?" "You know, old boy." "Like so." "That's fine, honey." "How are you this morning, Jeff?" "I asked you how you're feeling." " Fine." " That's not very convincing." "I think you and I should have ourselves a little talk." " About what?" " About whatever's bothering you." " Freddie, it's your turn." " No, it's not." "It's Linc's turn." "It ain't my turn." "Lincoln, there is no such word as "ain't" in English." "That's okay, because all I speak is American... and this American says it ain't my turn to say grace." "All right, stop your bickering." "Linc, are you sure it isn't your turn to say grace?" "Well, maybe it is." "Bless this day." "Bless Mr. Hadley for taking us in... when nobody else wanted us." "Bless this food, and thank you... for making Texas a nicer place than Harlem." "Oh, yeah." "See to it that Maj. Trevor arrives here today safe." "Amen." "Thank you, Linc." " Where's Charlie Brighteagle?" " He go for ride." "Texas Tower, this is Army six-niner-two... five miles east of you." "Request landing instructions." "Over." "Roger, 692." "You are cleared for a straight-in approach." "Landing runway 84." "Winds westerly at ten knots." "Over." "Roger, Texas Tower." "Army 692 out." "Jeep coming." "He took the bait." "Coming up the wrong road, just as nice as you please." "Let's give this eastern dude a real western-type welcome." "Come on." "Good work." "It will take them 24 hours to find him." "If he's lucky." "And if he's not... he's going to be around here a long while." "Anyway, he's out of our hair." "Come on, we got work to do." "I'm Wonder Woman." "I'm looking for my friend, Maj. Trevor." "He's staying here at the ranch." "We are expecting him, but he hasn't arrived yet." " Enter, por favor." " Thank you." "That's very strange, because his plane landed hours ago." "I'm afraid Charlie will not answer you." "He does not speak." "I see." "I'm kind of worried about my friend Maj. Trevor." "Have you seen him?" "You have?" "Where?" "Can you take me to him?" "Thank you very much." " Steve?" " Yeah, down here." " Thanks, Wonder Woman." " You're welcome." "No telling how long I'd be down there if you didn't come." "I just came from the Diamond H... and Charlie there is really the one you have to thank." "Thank you, Charlie." "Since when is Texas your territory?" "Since I found out that rustlers were sabotaging the war effort." "I'm glad to have you here." "I'm glad to be here, Steve." "Mind if I stay around and help?" "Not at all." "I can use all the help I can get." "You're a lucky man, Maj. Trevor, if what J.P. Here is saying is true." "Every word of it is exactly what happened." "Whoever it was deliberately trapped Maj. Trevor." "If it hadn't been for... a Good Samaritan who helped me out, I'd still be there." "Yeah, guess you would at that." "Where did you say this incident took place?" "About a mile south of Twin Forks." " I'll look into it right away." " Good." "Sounds like somebody's out to scare Trevor off." "And I'm out to arrest anybody they may be." "Hold on." "There's no need for you to go." "Billy Joe and me can handle it." "Come on." "Honest, we can." "You've got a wonderful group of children." " Thank you." "I'm very proud of them." " Especially Charlie." "If it hadn't been for him, I'd still be trapped." "Yes." "He's a terrific boy." " Why can't he talk?" " Not can't, won't." "He has sort of become a loner." "Kind of climbed up inside of himself and stayed there." "Why?" "His father was my foreman here at the Diamond H." "Him and Charlie were just as close as could be." "He was killed at Pearl Harbor, and Charlie's been that way ever since." "What about his mother?" "She died during childbirth." "So you're adopting Charlie along with the other war orphans?" "I'm trying to." "The courts are checking to see if he has any relatives with prior claims." "I'm sure he'll make a very fine son." "He certainly will." "We have houseguests." "Would you check and see if their rooms are ready?" "How about your luggage?" "I'm afraid I don't have any luggage." "Wonder Woman travels very light." "I'm sure Maria will have something you can wear okay." "Thank you very much." "Okay, Emmett." "What happened?" "We saw these Bar Six beeves grazing near the creek and decided to give them a lift." "Beeves?" "I'm talking about Steve Trevor." "You said you'd keep him out of the way." "He's caught between a rock and a hard place." "No one will find him for a long time." "I was talking to him at Diamond H, for your information." "Impossible." "I put him in a hole with a rock on top." "You two boys have been drinking too much rot-gut whiskey." " You have been seeing things." " Not true." "We haven't had a drink." "Now, look, Walt, I told you..." "We've got commitments and by golly, we'll fill them." "I don't care if the whole United States Marine Corps... shows up around here." "We started something, we'll finish it." "You got that?" "Yes, my bracelets do have the power to fend off bullets." "But it is only because they're made of a very special metal." "Now does anybody else have any questions to ask?" "What about your Magic Belt, what is its secret?" "If I told you that, it wouldn't be a secret any longer, would it?" "What I can tell you is it is my source of strength... when I'm away from home." "Where's your home?" "On Paradise Island." "With a belt like that, I'd be king of England." "You are all very special, and you are all different." "But I want to be much bigger and stronger, like you." "You can be, Sen." "You can all be what you truly want to be." " How?" " Let me tell you." "If you take really good care of yourselves... and you eat right and get plenty of exercise..." "Speaking of exercise, I do remember Maria saying something about chores." " No." " Of course not." " I'll talk to you all later, okay?" " Bye." "Please sit down, Mr. Hadley." "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important." "No, not at all." "J.P. And I were just discussing the rustlers." "I was telling Steve... that knowing when and where to strike is what has made them so successful." "Sounds like it's an inside job to me." " Exactly." " It's possible, but... we can't find their hideout, much less the informer." "That's what we're here for." "How many ranchers have been hit by the rustlers?" "Every one." "Of course, the Diamond H has been hit the most because we have more cattle." "If we could only get an idea who their leader is, that'd be a start." "We've got a pretty good idea who the leader is." "A fellow by the name of Emmett Dawson." "Proving it is a whole different story." "Of course, even if we could prove it, he is in hiding and a hard man to find." "How much do you know about him?" "Emmett was our local dead-end kid." "Born and raised here, but we're not proud of it." "What caused him to go bad?" "He was an orphan." "Never had any folks to bring him up proper." "Maybe that's why I took on those war orphans... so they wouldn't end up like Emmett." "You're a very generous man." "I'm a very lucky man." "Those youngsters fill a need." "Jeff's mother and I would have had enough kids to form our own baseball team... if she'd lived." "But I guess life's nothing if it's not filled with ifs." "Come on, Charlie." "Hello, Wonder Woman." "Maybe you can help." "Sure." "If I can." "In addition to being antisocial, Charles is also selfish." "He flatly refuses to teach us how to lasso." "Wonder Woman's got a lasso, too." "Yes, but mine happens to be magic." "You see, anyone that's bound with it must tell the truth." "With all due respect, I find that rather hard to believe." " Would you like to try it?" " Most certainly." "All right." "Let me see." "How old are you?" " Eleven." " How old did you say?" "Okay." "Let's see how this fits." "Now, how old are you?" "Ten and a half." "First he was 11, now 10." "How come?" "My Magic Lasso forced him to tell the truth." "But how'd you know he was lying?" "He wasn't actually lying, just stretching the truth a little bit." "Most boys Freddie's age like to add a few months on to their age." "I didn't mean to embarrass you, Freddie." "Just to sort of teach you a lesson." "Looks like someone's calling you." "I'm afraid we forgot to empty the trash." "Excuse us." "Oh, yes." "I got some information for you." "I'm listening." "First, I want to know about that business with Steve Trevor." " What about him?" " You promised no one would get hurt." "Nobody did, did they?" "Come on, give." "What's the information?" "It's the herd." "My dad's having part of it moved down to the North 40 tomorrow morning." "What about security?" "We ain't got none at night anymore." "Three more of our hands got drafted." "Trevor ain't alone, though." "He's got Wonder Woman helping him." "She's the one who sprung him out of the trap." "Don't you worry about that." "We'll take care of her." "All we need is one more big haul and we'll all be a lot richer." "You just keep doing your work, okay, kid?" "That's all." "Yeah, well, don't count on it." "Why?" "What's wrong with you?" "What do you mean?" "Is your conscience bothering you again?" "I hate doing this informing." "Let me tell you... what your daddy is doing to you is a whole lot worse." "Ignoring his own flesh and blood... spending all that time with those other kids." "I mean, they are total strangers." "I don't like to say this, but..." "I don't think your daddy gives a hoot what happens to you." "It's just a good thing that you've got loyal friends like us around." " I guess you're right." " Sure." "The first thing we have to find out is... where does Wonder Woman get all her strength from?" "And that will be up to you." " Up to me?" " You're gonna have to help us find out." "Okay, son." "I'll see your ten and raise you twenty." "Cards to the players." "Sounding good, son." "Howdy, boys." "Got some news for you." "Seems like Wonder Woman helped out Steve Trevor out of the trap y'all sprung." "I told you we had him in a trap." "Okay, so you told the truth." "The main thing is, the man got away." "What's she doing in Texas?" "Seems like she's gonna help Steve Trevor run us out of business... or so she thinks." "Deal me in the next hand." "Here you go, son." "Thank you." "Don't forget your chips, now." "All righty." "After I clean you pigeons out of your money... we can discuss cleaning out the Diamond H... out of their cattle, and cutting all ties with the Mob." "I still say they've got to be getting their information someway from the inside." "Maybe, but from who?" " How long have you known your sheriff?" " Hansen Bodie?" "Just all my life, that's all." "Hansen and I started out in school together." "And I've never known a more honest man... or a better sheriff." "At least not until a couple of years ago." "Hansen doesn't cut it as good as he used to." "He is getting older." "I guess we all are." "That's why he hired on that deputy, Walt Lampkin." "Walt Lampkin?" "What about him?" "We've known him for a year or so, isn't that right, son?" " He came here from Montana." " Highly recommended, too." "He had testimonial letters from the Chief of Police, the Mayor, a lot of VIP's." "What else do you know about the man, personally?" "Well, he's a bachelor." "Claims to be 4-F because of a pierced eardrum." "I guess I really don't know much about him." "Well, he does seem to know his job." "I think I'll run an FBI check on him just to make sure." "Use our phone." "Thanks, J.P., but I'd feel more secure... if I drove out to the air base and used their scrambler system." "Excuse me." "Want to come along?" "I think I'll stay here... and try to make a friend." "Can I help?" "Yes?" "Terrific." "I tried to reach Walt Lampkin, but he's in court and can't be disturbed." " So?" " Just give him a message." "Tell him Trevor's on his way to the air base... and he's gonna run an FBI check on him." " When did Trevor leave for the base?" " About 15 minutes ago, by jeep." "I got to go." "Sorry to hold you up." "I had to take care of something." "That's all right." "Your dad's outside." "Charlie, are you sure you don't want to come with us?" "Okay, let's go." "Getting a little saddle-weary?" "No, but I think the horse is getting a little people-weary." "I think the horses could use a little water." "I think you're right." "Shall we?" "Snake." "There." "Be careful." " Can you move it?" " A little." "I think he just has a sprained ankle." "Are you all right, son?" "I thought it was all over." "Thank you." "I won't forget it." "Think you can ride back to the ranch, son?" "If you're sure you're all right, I'd like to take another look around." "You be careful, okay?" "Take it easy." "Grab her." "Go get her, boy." "Let's go, Wonder Woman." "Y'all lose something?" "Come and get it." "Put her in the car." "Like you said, without her Magic Belt, she's just another woman." "Hello, this is Maj. Steve Trevor calling from Texas." "I'm fine, thanks." "I need an urgent background report on a Walter Lampkin." "You are a regular spitfire." "There you go." "It's a funny thing about ghost towns." "Everything in them goes to pot... except the jail cells." "They always keep working." "See you." "Okay, let's get that dude." "Let's show him some real driving." "Good afternoon, Major." "Begging your pardon." "Do you mind telling us why you didn't stop back there... when you were signaled, sir?" "Instinct." "I got a hunch you know where I've been." "And I've got a hunch that you are right." "You are a phony, Lampkin." "An impostor." "The real Walter Lampkin died a hero's death in the South Pacific." "You must have adopted his identity... stolen his letters of recommendation, and set up shop here." "Probably to run the rustling operation." "Well, what do you know, looks like the war hero has done his homework." "You are a problem, now, Major." "I just don't know what I'm gonna have to do with you... sir." "Come." "Charles, you spoke." "Wonder Woman is our friend." "She needs our help." "Here's where we all must help." "Wonder Woman is locked inside." " What do we do?" " Let's use this." " Kids, what are you doing here?" " Wonder Woman, are you all right?" "Yes, I'm fine, but how did you find me?" " It was Charlie." " Yes, he spoke." "Did you really speak?" "You said we were friends." "And I couldn't leave you here like this." "Thank you so much." "I told you we'd be friends, Charlie." "Let's go." "You mean that Lampkin and Hanks locked you in the cell and just left you there?" "That's right." "If it hadn't been for my friends, I'd probably still be there." "Thanks, kids." "I just can't tell you how proud I am of you." "And I'll bet Maria will be proud of you, too." "She has got a real surprise for you." "Hot apple pie, fresh out of the oven." "Don't let it get cold, now." "Save a piece for me." "I just can't wait till I get my hands on that Walt Lampkin." "You know, what I don't understand is why he tipped his hand... or even how he knew about me being here." "There's something I gotta tell you." "Wonder Woman's saving my life like she did... it got me to thinking." "I just can't keep on with what I am doing." "Lampkin runs the rustling operation... and him and Dawson are partners." "How do you know all this?" "Because I'm in on it." "I'm their informer." "No, Jeff." "Why?" "It had to do with Charlie, Freddie, and the other kids." "Before they came, it was always you and me." "You're jealous?" "You spent so much time with them." "I needed you, too." "Why didn't you say something?" "I mean, tipping those rustlers just to get even with me doesn't make sense." "I didn't do it to get even." "Lampkin... he said you didn't care about me." "But he did care." "He took an interest in me." "He didn't ignore me for a bunch of other kids." "That bunch of other kids, they're war orphans." "They've lost both their parents." "They're frightened children." "They're bewildered, they're vulnerable." "They needed a strong, fine man like your daddy." "But that doesn't mean... that your daddy loves you any less than he ever did." "Son, everything Wonder Woman said is just as true as it could be." "Those children needed help." "They were hurting bad." "Needed a lot of attention." "I thought you understood, but I guess you didn't." "Walt Lampkin saw that, and he used it on you." "What you did was wrong." "But I can understand why it happened... and I'm as much to blame for it as you are." "No, it was me, Dad." "I was really mixed up." "But I'm not anymore." "Son, when you get to feeling better... we'll talk this all out." "And there won't ever be any more misunderstandings between us." "Jeff, did Lampkin know that Steve was on his way to the air base and why?" " We've got to get to them." " We don't know where to look." "Lampkin always knows where you can find Dawson." "Why don't you try their hideout, the old ghost town due east of here?" " J.P., I'll meet you at the ghost town." " Fine." "Okay, soldier." "Get the door, Dawson." "Here we go, big fella." "You want room service, you ring for it." "In the freezer, big fella." "With both of them out of the way, we can concentrate on our final shipment." "Good deal, because this time tomorrow, I'll be plain old-fashioned retired." " Don't worry." " Worry?" "Who's worried?" "Go get him." "Getting loose." "Get his arms." "You take Wonder Woman." "You get the cowboy." "What's going on?" "From the boots up, he looks just like Dawson, our dead-end kid." " You okay?" " I got it." "M35." "I don't have." "I have to leave now." "Linc, take good care of yourself, okay?" " Don't worry about me, Wonder Woman." " And Babette, good-bye." "And Sen, my friend..." "Good-bye, Wonder Woman." " And you, you little rascal." " Cheerio, Wonder Woman." "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance." "And Jeff." "Good luck." "Thank you." " Sen, where's Charlie?" " He's over there." " Good-bye." " See you." "I have to go now." "But we're friends and friends will always be friends." "That's right." "I'll come back and see you as often as I can." "Here, I made this for you so you will always remember me." "Charlie, I'll never forget you." "I promise." "It's beautiful and it fits." "Thank you very much." "Now I have to think of a gift to give to you." "Is there anything you want special?" " There is something." " Name it." "Would you teach me to lasso with a real rope?" "Being a Navajo Indian who can't even rope is embarrassing." "Charlie Brighteagle, you got a deal." " You mean it?" " Sure." " You'll really teach me?" " Yes, I'll really teach you." " Right now, if you like." " I like."