01x09 - The Charles Avery Story

[bunniefuu]

Keep low. Fire in volleys.

We'd been on our way

across the Nebraska Territory
for several weeks,

but we still had some to go
before we hit the Dakotas.

It hadn't seemed likely that we'd
meet up with Indians this far east,

but, as a wagon train scout,

I'd learned that you
never know when or where

trouble's liable to hit.

Hey, Wooster!

When are you gonna grease
that front wheel?

Sure is gettin' squeaky,
ain't it?

Been that way ever since
you left St. Joe.

I'm gonna look after that.

Wait a minute.

What the devil's that?

Sounds like
it's about a mile away.

I'll go take a look.

♪ Whoa ♪

What do you think it is?

We'll soon find out.

Get after 'em, Ted,
but don't go into the hills.

Get the horses, boys.

I'm Flint McCullough.

I scout for a wagon train
about a mile back.

I'm Lieutenant Avery. Howdy.

Major Forbes is
in command here. He...

Anything more we can do for him?

I'm afraid not, sir.

How come you're so far
from the fort, Lieutenant?

The President signed
a treaty with the Lipans.

We're delivering it.

Why's the girl
traveling with you?

She's the chief's daughter.

Black Cloud sent her with
the major to show his good will.

Major spent his whole life
selling peace to the Indians.

Lot of good to the Indians.

Peace doesn't come easy.

They don't know
the meaning of the word.

That's not true, Lieutenant.

My people want peace.

You have no treaty
with the Comanches,

so they still fight.
Is that so wrong?

I won't waste my breath
arguing with you.

Someday this'll be settled
the right way.

Come on, McCullough.

Kind of hard
on the girl, aren't you?

The Major pampers her
enough. I don't intend to.

Seein' as she's
the chief's daughter,

I'd be kind of careful
about the way I treated her.

Too far away for us
to do any good, Flint.

Did you get a good look at 'em?

Yes, I thought
they were Comanches,

but this is a long ways
out for them, ain't it?

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.

You'd better go back
to the train

and tell the Major
it's all right to come on.

All right.

Lieutenant.

Lieutenant, come quickly.

Well, it looks like we'll
never get to that village.

Aw, don't worry about it,
Sumter.

The Lieutenant knows
what he's doing.

He's a glory-grabber.

I ain't gonna get k*lled just
to get him another shiny bar.

I'm for heading
back to the fort.

Anything we can do
for the Major?

Yes. Start digging.

How big a party was it?

Not big. About six.

They've had enough...
For a while.

Major, this is Lieutenant Avery.

Lieutenant, Major Adams.

Howdy.

How many men'd
you lose, Lieutenant?

Three.

Would have been more if
your men hadn't come along.

I'm sorry they didn't
get here sooner.

Lieutenant here is
headed for the Lipan village.

He's got the chief's
daughter and...

a peace treaty
signed by the President.

Mm.

Sounds like it might be
pretty important.

It is.

If we don't get that treaty

and that girl
into Black Cloud's hands,

he'll think our government
deceived him.

Well, I sure wish you luck.

I'll tell you, we could
use a treaty around here.

Hey, Lieutenant.
Can I talk to you a minute?

I guess we'll be
turning back now, huh?

After we finish our mission.

I say we ought to turn back now.

There's only three of us left.

You're out of line.

Now go help Cullen
with that shovel.

We'll be digging our own graves

unless you get some sense
in your head.

Sumter, you're bucking
for a court-martial.

That's better than what
happened to Major Forbes.

I'm telling you for the last
time, now get back to work.

Yes sir, Lieutenant.

But you just remember...

I aim to get to that fort,

one way or another.

And you gotta get there too,

if there's gonna be
a court-martial.

Nice healthy outfit here.

Yeah.

I don't think they'll
make it, Major.

But that's not what worries me.

The raiding party... it wasn't
Comanche. It was Lipan.

What are you talking about?

Why should they make a raid
on a party

that's carrying a treaty,

and the chief's own
daughter besides?

That don't make sense.

I know it doesn't make sense,

but they're Lipans.

Well, I suppose you know
what you're talking about.

I don't want to get
mixed up in this Army business.

You know, I think maybe
you ought to go along with 'em.

You know, Major,
I was hoping you'd say that.

Let's go ask the Lieutenant.

Lieutenant, uh...

I was just talking
to Flint here,

and it's pretty important to me

and the people in my wagon train

that you get through to
Black Cloud with that treaty.

It's important to everybody.

I know, but I was gonna
tell you that McCullough here

is just about the best
Indian scout

this side of the Missouri River.

I think maybe you can use him.

If it's all right with you, I'll let
him come along with your party.

That's very kind of you,
Mr. Adams.

I'll mention you in my report.

Don't bother.

Just see that things are
settled before we get there.

We'll get through.

Flint, I, uh...

I stopped the wagon train
back about a mile.

I'll hold 'em there
a good 12 hours

so you can get a head start.

All right.

But I want you
to deliver that treaty

before we get into that
Territory, you understand?

I understand. You heard
the Lieutenant. We'll get there.

I heard the Lieutenant,
but I'm talking to you.

We'll get there, Major.

All right.

Hey. Yeah?

Your head might get cold.

Hah.

They still have
a long way to go.

Ride ahead.
Report to Running Horse.

Tell him Mokai's alive,

but we have k*lled
three of the soldiers.

Make sure only
Running Horse hears you.

It's wrong
to dress like Comanche.

May the Good Lord
take their souls

into the chosen flock,

and may they rest in peace.

Amen.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

We'd better get going.

I told you to stay in the wagon.

Now stay in it!

What's going on?

I'm in command now.

If you don't like
the way I'm running things,

you better go back
to the wagon train.

I reckon I'll stay.

You know something, Cullen?

She makes a real pretty
girl, for an Indian.

Hah!

Giddyup!

Pretty out here, huh?

I guess so.

I been through here
I don't know how many times,

but I don't remember the
country being so beautiful.

We'd better stop soon,
Lieutenant.

We've been traveling I
figure for about four hours.

Girl must be getting tired.

We'll keep on for a while.

Well, if you don't care
about the girl,

maybe we'd better stop
and rest the horses.

I told you before...

McCloud?

McCullough.

McCullough.

I am in command here.

Maybe you are.

But I wouldn't polish those
little bars too bright, Lieutenant.

They make real good targets.

Making any headway
with the little gal, Cullen?

Aw, we're just talking.

Well, honey, if that boy
there don't keep you happy,

you just let me know.

I want you and me
to be real friends.

I'd leave the girl alone
if I were you.

Well, you ain't,
so quit worrying.

I'm not a soldier, private,

so I don't have to bother
about rules and regulations.

And I'm warning you...
Leave the girl alone.

Is there any word?

Don't worry. She won't return.

Do you think
Black Cloud suspects?

His wits are dimmed by age.

I told him Big Bear and
the others went to hunt.

But you did not tell him it was
his daughter whom they hunt.

After the third moon, when she
does not come back, there will be w*r.

Who will the village follow,

Black Cloud or me?

Boy, it sure feels good
to get off that horse.

Yeah, we should have
stopped sooner.

The horses are nearly worn out.

What about the girl, Lieutenant?

Don't you plan on feeding her?

Sumter, give her some.

With pleasure, Lieutenant.

Why can't she eat with us?

What do you think?

Where are you going?

Where do you think?

When are you gonna learn
to mind your own business?

Right now.

Well, there's no need
getting all excited now.

There's plenty of time left.

I'm sorry,

but I promise you
it won't happen again.

Are your promises like
the Lieutenant's

and the one who just left here?

I was kind of hoping you'd...

feel that you could trust me.

That's what the others said...

so I would tell my father
to sign the treaty.

Now, wait a minute.

You can't judge everybody
by the actions of two soldiers.

Can you?

In Washington,
I met your President.

He said the treaty
would make us brothers.

He was telling you the truth,

but it may take a little time.

Yes.

There in the big city
it was true

because there are
none of us there.

Here where we live, you
still treat us like animals.

Yeah.

Some do.

But more people all the time

are learning to respect
and honor the Indian.

That's what Major Forbes said.

But I see now it's not true.

The paper says peace,

but my heart feels w*r.

Which shall I tell
my father to believe?

Come Come on! Come on! Come Come on! Come on!
Come on! Come on! Haul Come on! Come on! Haul out

Come on! Come on! Haul out of

Come on! Come on!
Haul out of there!

You know, Lieutenant,
it took a lot of nerve

for you to see this thing through
with only a couple of men left.

It's my job.

Seems to me you can make it
a whole lot easier for everybody

if you took it easier
on the girl.

You got something
personal against her, Avery?

No.

She's a squaw.

Let me tell you
something, Lieutenant.

The finest woman I ever met

was a full-blooded Cheyenne.

She lived in a town where
"Indian" was a dirty word.

People were pretty rough
on her at first, but...

after a while they...

they learned to like her.

She didn't wear
any starched petticoats,

but she was as good a woman
as I ever met.

Avery, you're a fool.

And you keep treating this
girl the way you're doing,

and your treaty
won't be worth anything.

Here, Avery.

You'd better k*ll the fire
as soon as you can.

There's no sense
advertising the position.

You and I will eat first, then
we'll take over the guard post.

Right. I'll get the girl.

Lieutenant.

Where is she?

I don't know.

Cullen, have you seen the girl?

Yes, sir, about 10 minutes ago.

Where?

She wanted to take a bath,

so I told her there was a pond
over there by Sumter's post.

I told you not to let her out of
your sight. You stay at your post!

Yes, sir.

Where's the girl, Sumter?

Right there.
What's all the excitement?

You know leaving your post
is a court-martial offense.

I'll take care of you later.

Don't he ever get tired
playing soldier boy?

You know, Sumter...

you talk too much.

Thanks, Avery.

Sumter was right.

He said we'd never
get him back to the fort.

We'd better get out of here.

That shot'll be heard for miles.

You and the girl take the
wagon and head due west.

Cullen and I will bury Sumter
and catch up with you later.

All right?

All right.

I'm sorry.

He got what he deserved.

I'm sorry not for him,
but for you.

It's not easy to k*ll
one of your own people.

Maybe it wouldn't have happened

if you'd have stayed
in the wagon like I told you.

For this I am sorry also.

What does this mean?

It's called a medallion.

It belonged to my father.

Why do you not like me?
Why can we not be friends?

You want to be friends?
All right, we are friends.

Your heart does not agree
with your lips.

It is not easy for me to come
to you and ask for friendship.

Then why bother?

'Cause I must see if the peace
in the treaty is true

before we get to my village.

Now, look...

If there can be no trust
between the few of us,

how can there be peace
between our nations?

A lot of good men have died to
see that this treaty gets through.

Isn't that proof enough?

No. They fought off an attack.
It is the way of a soldier.

What they really believed,
we shall never know.

It's what happened with us
that is important to me.

You are an officer, a
leader of men, like my father.

What you do, what
you think is important.

My job is to get you home.

What I think is my business.

If I could make you feel
like my father feels.

He's interested only in peace.

Since when has Black Cloud
turned into such a tin god,

yelling and screaming for peace?

Why now? Why not years ago?

This territory is soaked with
the blood of innocent people.

I know. I've seen.

My father fought a w*r.

In any w*r, people die.

There are graves
in our villages too.

I'm not asking forgiveness
for what my father has done.

He knows yesterday
cannot return.

He... he thinks now only
of today and tomorrow,

and... and the peace of tomorrow.

When you meet him, you will see.

You will talk to him and learn.

That's something
I'm looking forward to,

meeting your father.

Couple of more miles and
it'll be safe to stop, Avery.

All right, McCullough.

They're getting
closer to the village.

We'll still wait
for Running Horse.

There's still time.

Come on, boy. Come on.

Another moon, and still
Mokai has not come back.

I say she's dead.

The white officer
has betrayed us.

The treaty is a trap.

Black cloud must hear us.

Running Horse
wishes to be heard.

You may speak.

There is no treaty.

There can be no peace.

We believe Mokai is dead.

No.

Where is the great chief
who once led us into battle?

Has Black Cloud forgotten
how our lands were taken away,

our buffalo k*lled,

our women and children died
for want of food?

I live only to see peace
among my people.

Your wisdom has vanished
with your strength.

We shall stay
until Mokai returns.

Go now.

Half the soldiers are dead.

The rest continue
to the village.

And Mokai? She lives.

Big Bear
still follows the wagons.

He waits for you.

He will not wait long.

Wait a minute.

It's too early to stop.

Wooded gully's a good place
to eat, Lieutenant.

Travel all day and not
find another place like it.

We'll stop here and chow down.

Here you are,
sir. Take it to her.

If she gets sick,
it'll hold us up.

We get through the rest
of the day, we'll be all right.

They won't attack at night.

Lot of men have made
that mistake.

They're dead now. Thanks.

I heard the same thing, Flint,

that Indians won't
attack at night.

Some tribes won't.

It's got to do
with their religion.

Comanches will attack at night.

So will the Lipans.

What precautions can we take?

Keep traveling after sundown.

What for?

Well, if we keep going
for an hour after dark,

our position will be
harder to find.

All right.

We'll move out
as soon as we eat.

We'll camp here tonight, Avery.

Put the wagon under
that clump of trees,

back it up against the ravine

so we'll only have to worry
about a frontal attack.

Oh, and there'll be
no fires tonight.

Hah!

Lot of moonlight tonight.

Yeah.

Can't do anything about that.

Cullen!

Get it closer!

Yes, sir!

Heave!

What are you doing out here?

I heard a noise. I-I thought...

You thought what?

Nothing.

It was just an owl.

An owl?

Maybe.

I'll go back to sleep now.

Mokai...

I wouldn't want to think you were
changing your mind about this treaty.

What do you mean?

I mean the owl you heard
was a Lipan brave.

In the attack yesterday,
they were Lipans,

using Comanche arrows.

I did not want to tell
the Lieutenant.

He hate us enough already.

Why do they want to stop you?

There are those who would
take the rule from my father.

They want w*r.

If I do not return, the
whole tribe will follow them.

I want to talk to them, to... to
make them go back to the village.

I'm sorry.

I can't let you
take that chance.

Now, you'd better
get back in the wagon.

Come on.

Oh, and Mokai...

if anyone asks,
all we heard was an owl.

Break out more ammunition.

We'll wait for the next attack.

Don't bother.

That's exactly what they
expect us to do.

We're getting out of here,
Avery, only they won't know it.

Cullen, give me a hand
with the horses.

Right.

I, uh...

I want to thank you.

You have risked
your life for me.

It is the way of friends.

This heat is going
to hold us up.

We ought to make it
before sundown.

You know, Avery, for a man who
hates Indians as much as you claim to,

you're in a big hurry
to get this treaty through.

Maybe I'm bucking for
Captain's bars.

Maybe.

Hold it.

They don't look like
they mean trouble.

What do you make
of it? I don't know yet.

Mokai: It's Running Horse
and Big Bear from my village.

My father must have sent them.

They might be
our friends from last night.

We come in peace.

What do you want?

Black Cloud has sent us.

We come to take you
to our village.

Your father
is worried about you.

Has taken longer
than we thought.

All right. We'll follow you.

What do you think?

I guess it's all right.

You don't sound too sure.

I am...

as long as they ride
ahead of us.

Look. They talk of friendship,

but we are not good enough
so share their food.

I know. It will take time.

You have been poisoned
by their lies,

and your father is old and weak,

or he would never
sign this treaty.

But we, Mokai, you and I,

we are strong.

We could lead the tribe.

No. The treaty will be signed.
You cannot stop it.

We've got to make a run for it.

Cullen: I'll cover
for you, Flint.

As soon as I get to the
horses, I'll draw their fire.

Then you follow!

We were in luck.

I knew Running Horse wouldn't
dare chase us any further.

We had reached our
destination, Black Cloud's camp.

My only worry now
was Lieutenant Avery.

It is my village.
We are safe now.

Wait here. I will take
the horse and ride ahead.

Have a drink, Avery.

Thanks.

What's bothering you?

I've been waiting for
today for a long time.

I know.

How do you know?

I know you've had
a lot better reason

for getting this treaty
to Black Cloud

than you've ever let on to me.

The treaty's never meant
anything to me.

I just wanted to get
to Black Cloud.

"Get to Black Cloud."

That sounds like
you've met him before.

A long time ago.

Fifteen years.

We were all out plowing
in the field

when he and his braves hit us.

I ran and hid in the well.

Nightfall, I-I crawled out.

It was quiet then.

My mother and father k*lled,
our house burned,

all my brothers...

dead.

I'm sorry.

It'll all be over soon.

Avery, you can't ask a man
to forget something like that

when it happens to his family,

but I can tell you
that getting the treaty through

might keep it from happening
to a lot of other people.

Now, what's more important...

Your personal revenge,

or maybe saving the lives
of a lot of folks?

I don't know.

Flint, when I started out,
I thought I knew.

I don't know now.

Well, I know one thing, Avery.

I got a job to do.

If you make one move
toward Black Cloud...

I'll k*ll you.

We'll be moving out pretty soon.

I want to tell you, I...

I'm very grateful for what
you have done for my people.

You're quite a girl, Mokai.

I'm glad I got to know you.

You seen the Lieutenant
anywhere?

He's talking to my father.

Thank you.

Looking for me, Flint?

Yeah.

We'd better get moving, Avery.

The sooner you report back, the
sooner the treaty goes into effect.

Avery! We're ready!

Where are you going now?

Back to Fort Hawkins.

And then?

I don't know.

It is the custom of my people,

when a friend leaves,
to give him...

some gift in the...

hope that he will return.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Mokai.