Across the Wide Missouri (1951)

[bunniefuu]

This is my country,

This is where I was born.

The first 9 years of life

I spent in this Indian village

with many of my mother's people,

but most important with my father.

This man is my father.

This is like I knew him best.

My Dad wasn't just

one man named,

Flint Mitchell,

he was a breed of men,

mountain man who lived

and died in America.

He use to tell me about these

men he knew

Men who walked the Indian trails

and blaze new one's

for no men been ever before.

Man who found lakes,

rivers and meadows,

Man who found paths to the West

and the western seas.

Who roamed Prairies and mountains

and plateaus that are now states,

Man who search for beaver


and found glory

Man who died un named

and found immortality.

My father always began story by

telling me about meeting place

of the mountaineers,

This is where

they met every July

after year of caraping

in the Rockies.

Here they cashed in their furries


caught up on their drinking,

In the fighting, in the gambling

in the fun. And the girls.

They lived hard

and they played hard

Winner is the man who gets

the most shoots on his mark in a minute.

Ready fire.

sh**ting competetion


was not for marksmanship

The competetion was for speed.

Speed of reloading,

which was not easy thing

in those days

Powder and ball cap

and ramp rod.

A man's life of a mountain

man's life didn't

always dependes on his


hitting the target,

depended on how fast he could

get ready for the next shot.

If by accident he miss

the first time,

He have to be sure

he had a second chance.

Mr. Chennault, this gathering,

is a unique in my experience.

Where they all come from?

Captain Lyon, they come


from beyond the maps.

One of the strangers took my

My father's friends was Captain Lyon,

He was a Scottish man,

a veteran of Waterloo.

He came to the Rockies with a double

barrel g*n a whole suit of armor,

and a man who would paint

pictures of all that he saw

So that the captain would ever


had a record of his adventures.

Yes, with pleasure.

But put him on now.

"Outside? Too bad".

Mr. Chennault.

No, no you does not drink.

Please Mr. Chennault.

No.

You owe me money.

Do you have money to pay me?

He knows I have nothing.

Of course.

Sorry. Forget it.

I am trader, I do charity.

What a unkind.

Among French...

All I ask is a cup,

what it costs?

I'll pay you next week.

I need...

When the 7 stars arealigned

with the mountain peak

she will be in the willows.

Gowie, Gowie. yes sir!

7 stars willows remind me.

Are you sure its done here?

Don't be silly, ladies

choice mandatory.

Very well sir.

I think they speak red Indians?

Yes, all:

Pie Black, Nez Perce...

Do you work for the company?

Oh no Sir, I am free.

On his own.

He owes me $ 600 of me.

Yeah i'll pay you back someday maybe.

Do not forget, Mr. Chennault,

That once i was a rich

and influential man.

You might use him, Captain.

I could show you

some good sh**ting.

Thank you, sir.

What's your name?

Pierre Alphonse Marie

Joseph Victorof Promusenne,

the Framboise.but you

may call me Pierre

Have a drink, Pierre.

Oh, Captain.

This perticular summer my father was

buying horses and recruiting

The best men to go with him

to the Blackfoot territory

A new and rich country

my father have to explore.

It was a lot of Beavers

to be hang

And lots of beavers

meant lots of money.

Have you see any better

horses place Captain?

I find these very happy

This lady's name was Kamiah,

She was a Full Blooded

Black foot Indian.

She was proud, strong

and beautiful.

She's not a snake girl.

These Nez Perce bring her up

mighty strict.

Oh well,

its only a small investment.

Hi... Hi...

Compliments of the season

Oh no, no,

no this some mistake

Seven stars, willow...

I told you Captain.

I am So, sorry, I beg

your pardon I had no idea.

She wants to know, are you

buying horses to trade for a wife.

No!...

Do you have a wife already.

No!...

She says it is foolish for a man who

can buy so many horses not to have a wife.

Tell her about, a pony of her's

She says pony

goes where she goes.

Go now.

Look, Recain.

We missed you.

Recain was a Scotch man who was

the old trading partner of my father.

But Recain was now living

with the Blackfoot indians.

He was tired of the hunting

and k*lling

and he liked the Indians

the way they lived.

Recain was a man

with the strong heart

and strong convictions.

Captain, this's an old friend

of mine, the Recain.

Recain? How Argyll?

No, of McGregor.

I've some whiskey i think you'll like.

"Mr. Chennault?"

Want to join us?

You too, Pierre.

Me? Yes, thank you.

You don't like do that.

No, I never did.

Gowie, do you think I can learn

to blow this thing?

No, that's not learning,

its the gift.

There's nothing like the pipes

for w*r. I remember Waterloo.

I been looking for another

moment like it ever since.

Maybe in this Blackfoot country.

Maybe.

I've a notion this adventure of yours

will take all the money you have got.

I hate to see you lose everthing

you saved. I've saved for this.

I wish you take the money

and live the life where

you born too in Kentucky.

Oh, I am not rich that yet.

I am going to the Nez Perce.

Have a good whiskey, Captain.

What does he wants

from Nez Perce?

He's making a trade with looking

glass for girl's on pony.

Recain?

He's going to marry

her? No, no, no, no, no...

He's going to take her back

to her own people.

What you say! Black Is a Foot!

What I tell you.

But listen...

No way.

Wait a minute,

wait a minute...

I beg you pardon, i was explaining

to him She is not Black

foot, she can not be,

she is the old looking glass daughter.

No, no, no looking

glass steal her

from the as Black Foot when

she was a little girl.

It's that simple.

You sure that?

Her grandfather is Bear Ghost,

black foot medicine cheif.

He all the time wants,

to get his granddaughter,

back he ask Recain,

to come down and buy her.

Ghost Bear"?

And he's the big medicine man

of the Blackfeet tribe".

Yes, and this Iron he's just

a young w*r chief. Huh, yes.

And Ghost Bear is the big man,

in that beaver country, huh.

Yes sir.

Go and Tell d*ck to get

everything out we got to trade.

Flint you can't do that.

Can't just go and buy the girl.

Why can't I?

There's one thing for Recain

take her back to her own people.

But looking glass

won't trade her to you.

No, he will expect

you to marries her.

I would've except, to my seft.

She can't do to me any harm.

And she might do me lot of good.

Tell looking glass.

Looking glass's hut is

on the ground.

He loves his black Foot Daughter

he would be very sad without her.

How much more is that going to cost?

You make him steepy bribe. Hmm.

She's a sun and moon,

to him.

Hmm, well tell him that my

heart is on the ground

Because I can not give him

the sun and the moon,

to take the place of his

black Foot Daughter.

But as much as Recain

his offered I've offered more.

But trade is a trade.

His heart is bleeding.

Recain is his friend.

The mountain is his friend,

he can not give his daughter to both.

Well make up

his mind between this thing.

It is not like the chief

of the Nez Perce that will have,

to sun go down on thinking

what the matter is this.

Recain says that if looking

glass will returns,

his daughter to our black

foot grandfather,

he Recain will try

to make peace betweenm

the blackfeet and Nez Peirce

good thing for both.

Well tell looking glass

if Recain is a man of his word.

He must do what he says.

Looking glass think that peace,

is very good thing,

but he's an old man

and very poor

and he have many

greedy relatives.

Hmm!...

Go get it.

Tell him King George's Captain

brought this warrior's

medicine, all the way from

the land of his fathers,

Its very old and very strong.

It is not affraid of arrows

and it is good against relatives.

He will speak to his daughtr.

He can not give it to you

unless she say yes.

If she says that she will marry to you,

then they may ready.

When you enter,

she will be a there as your wife.

He will send for his daughter

and let her choose.

You're both to go

and wait for word.

Flies in the butter

milk two by two,

flies in the butter milk two by two,

get them little, my darling.

Mr. Mitchell? Mr. Mitchell?

Mr. Mitchell she say yes!

Hein!...

Go tell Chennault that

serve some barrels.

Let's put it upside down.

Go!...

Yes, my Sir.

You know I came down to take

her back to her own people.

I'll take her back my self.

They want a make trade

for her, i'll trade.

She won't do you any good.

You never get

in that country again.

No...

doesn't it anything

matter to you?

Yes. Trafic

The four couples

forward and back...

Say hello to the girls

before you go.

Make it spin.

Ahead, across and back.

Repeat and return

to the previous position.

Back to you, the prettiest.

Repeat the same step and a walk.

Make her turn with pace

and swing,

make her turn and returns

to the circle.

Eight hands up and round.

Still round and round

never let go.

Leave your old lady

to make her a trade.

Take the new

and tries to kiss her...

Come on, at you dancing.

into the trap beavers

look at you dancing.

The groom in the center.

Takes a glass of Mountain Dew.

Shake hands with this beauty.

Find your companion

and come back to the ring.

Beg your pardon sir,

is this a private fight?

No, help your self.

Thank you, sir.

Long live France!

Come on!

Hey!...

Huu!...

Come in, attack.

What did he say?

Come, fear nothing.

Entrez, to attack.

To attack?

Come in, attack.

Lord! Enough!

What she said?

She said?

You're drunk.

And by God you're drunk.

Ah!...

Hey hell you're sclaping me.

Yes

Huu, oh!...

It's cold. Yes.

Yes.

What's that?

Perfume.

You put that stuff on me?

No, no, no, my Lord, I drink it.

Ah, Mr. Flint, you know

all about the mountain,

but you know nothing

about the women. Not yet.

But you will learn...

maybe.

What's the matter?

"TRAPPERS: HAVE AN APPOINTMENT

HERE THE 4TH JULY NEXT YEAR"

"RUN FOR THE VOICE.

CHENNAUKT: MOUNTAINS"

That was called the brigade.

this thin brow line

of 30 people and 75 of animals.

They were spare horses

and pack mules loaded,

with traps, food,

clothing ammunition.

Regular cargo included courage.

These thin trees were the 1st boundry

of the Blackfoot tcountry.

Explorers went forward

to look and learn and die.

Let's get out of here.

What about Luke?

10 minute no good for luke.

This young Blackfoot Prince

was named Iron Shirt.

They him trappers like

my father were intruders,

and enemies to be

hunted and k*lled.

Iron Shirt have the idea

that this was his country,

and he wanted it kept that way.

We will have a good big fight

you know? No.

Clear We.

This Iron Shirt he

will jump us sure.

Ah, I know you long time.

This is first time you stop and think

why do you fight Blackfeet.

Your women maybe she

make back for you.

Shut up, doubles

the guard tonight.

I'll make up my mind What I am

going to do, I'll tell you.

Yes.

Pierre.

Pierre?

Hmm, hmm, my Sir.

Ask Kamiah if she knows another

path into the Blackfoot country.

Not the big North w*r road,

but a quick way,

that a small group can use.

When the Nez Perce stolen her,

from her people they bring

her over mountain very fast.

Does she think,

she can take us over.

If you want to go

she will take you.

We want to go.

Let's go tell Du Nord.

I'm staying here.

No, come on. Ah!...

Dad use to tell me that

he was all for glad.

That he only have to make

that trip over the mountains once.

They were forced day marches

through trackers timber.

Hot, dry days

and bitter cold nights.

Montana had not been

named yet. No Idaho

These men had only the faith

that this wilderness would end,

But the next mountain would be

the last one to be cross,

and then the green pleasant

valleys would appeared at last.

But always there seems

to be another range to cross,

and another...

And ever higher and colder.

What is that mule carried?

Two sets of traps.

Ah yes valence!...

These stars.

I could reach up

and touch them with my hand.

It was a snow drift,

but the heart beat no one knew.

If the horses get through?

No one knew.

They going forward seem doubtful,

but going backward seemed impossible.

Woah!... Woah!...

Her people call it

"In light of the mountain".

She say: "Here I was born,

this is my country".

The sun that gave it to my people.

Gave them the earth, sky and water.

I never saw anything like it.

The best beaver country

in the world.

Some day I'll

lot pull you good.

Their arms were strong, and their axes

were sharp and timber abundant.

Soon they built a stockade

strong, tall and white.

They lived trapped.

Here the skins were stretched,

dried and packaged.

So you've made

the picture going?

Yes sir, but the meaning

is unkown to me.

Blue Grass.

It's I was born there.

Who, which it to be a sort of family

history, it begins with a coat of arms.

Your husband's bear.

Blue Grass. Huh.

And yours, bear.

There.

The bear, the bear is

her grandfather.

Ask her if she remember

her grandfather?

Pierre. Hmm, hmm!...

Ask Kamiah if she

remembers her grandfather.

They call him Bear Ghost

because old man grizzly

gave him much power,

made him very wise

Ask if her if she knows

where is he now.

In this time of era he go,

to hotsprings in three hills.

She wants to know does your

grandfather go to hot springs,

this time of era in Blue Grass?

My grandfather?

No.

The indians k*lled

him in Virginia.

Well, I must be getting

my beauty sleep.

Come on Gowie.

Tell Kamiah that I'll to go up

in the morning.

We're gone

for two nights may be.

Eh!...

Here is your elk's teeth.

You can play with these

while I'm gone.

Oh no, you will stay right here

and keep your shirt ont.

Check!...

For next few days,

my father hunted for

beavers with Du Nord one

of our best tracker.

Dad was busy, tracking beavers,

but at the same.

Time he kept looking around

for any signs,

to see if the Indians

were looking for him,

in a same way as he was

looking for beavers.

What's scared you little fellows?

Trees lie over they fall.

And men were buried

where they died.

Du Nord, fathr's companion,

was buried with arrows still in his back.

"Run?

No, I can't run".

Saying run for your life

had a meaning in those days.

If you get out ran Blackfeet

than you did have your the life.

But that's all you had to face

the mountains, and wolves.

Iron Shirt had every reason

to believe that the forest,

or wolves had k*lled my father.

And so he decided to strike

at the fort.

The first step was to steal as many

of the horses that he could get away with.

Hadn't I fool

didn't even got a shot.

It was Iron Shirt.

Yes.

Horses gone!

Blackfoot. Black fit.

Mother got mad, Indian mad.

She's gone to tell her grandfather

to get the horses.

Now I've got to tell the boss.

Oh, daller, daller!...

My father was not only escaped

the Indians, but he escaped the wolves.

When he came home

he heard the news.

The loss of horses

bothered him,

but my mother running out

really broke the axe.

I'm going in.

You'll need these, sir.

Come on.

What he say?

What he say?

He can see that you are her husband.

No doubt.

My father told me that for the first

time he saw these Indians

as he has never seen them before,

as people with homes,

traditions and ways

of their own.

Suddenly they were

no longer savages.

They were people who laughed,

loved and dreamed.

He said the last Star

has k*lled a buffalo.

It invites us to a feast.

He says that Iron Shirt has bringing

new horses in tomorrow morning.

Tell Bear Ghost

that I am obliged to him.

When Bear Ghost was young

he thought only,

in the w*r k*lling your

enemies taking your horses.

Their sons were born

they became strong young men.

They pleased his eyes.

But they all k*lled in w*r.

Hey, one bye one.

And longed to see his granddaughter

before his eyes close, on earth and sky.

His people have a say

"Not found his happiness

without women".

Iron Shirt have three good

reasons for being mad.

1: Flint Mitchel

was still alive.

2: He was a guest

of Bear Ghost, the chief.

3: And may be

the most important:

iron shirt was going to have

to get back those horses.

What did he say?

There is blood

on the ground between you.

Tell him he talks like

a crazy dog, soldier.

If he would shake my hand

it is out to him. If not...

He will go back now.

Tell Bear ghost he has made

my heart warm,

but my tp will not be warm untill

he is come to visit us.

When Recain returns from

his hunt, Bear Ghost

will ride with Recain to visit

his granddaughter and her husband.

He says may you go safe

while travelling far.

May you both live long

and love each other,

we will all meet

and happy again.

Pierre?

Yes, my Sir.

What is Mika Kah?

Pierre?

Met like me.

Where were you born?

In kentucky...

I was born in kentucky,

In the Blue Grass.

In the country

where the grass is blue.

Blue Grass?

Blue Grass.

Blue Grass.

Blue Grass. That's it.

Well i've to go now.

Should dell...

Come here.

You want the teeth

Pidgeons there are

not enough riffels

and traps to get you all

the trinkets you want.

Oh good morning madam.

Oh!...

Would you mind testing

my stew?

Oh.. I see.

You cook, I paint.

Blue grass...

Blue grass...

Blue grass...

My words?

You speak english?

Teacher?

They helping hunt for Elk

Dad took with him Roy Du Nord,

Who was brother of Baptiste

who had been k*lled few days before.

Roy wanted to see where,

his brother have been buried.

Having seen the grave he made

his own private promise of revenge.

You made a best shot to pay

on that Elk i ever saw

Thanks!...

Do you mind

if I keep the teeth.

For the women?

But everything is fine!...

Winner is comming.

Snow soon.

Hmm, plenty of snow.

We will have to move winter

quarters pretty quick.

Your grandfather have

told me of a good place.

May be we could talk him

and spending winter with us.

"North? No, no, no...

They aren't going north

they're going south".

Oh, when they go North again?

What?

A boy, a son?

Hear hear, put that down,

let's somebody else do that.

Oh well, that's the way you feell,

its your work, its your work.

Flint Mitchell?

Mr. flynt Bear Ghost

sending us signals.

What does he say?

He will meet you when the sun

is highest in the sky.

Oh fine, Tell him

we have great news.

Yes, sir.

Get out my red coat,

d*ck.

Yes sir. We won't do any more

trapping today to North.

We will put on a parade.

Let me have all

the men spare from camp.

I'll give this Bear Ghost

to myself.

Tell Bear Ghost

my heart is warm because he,

is come to visit his grandaugher

and her husband.

I meet him with a gift.

Take him back to the fort.

Just a few months before,

my father was worried only about.

What this might have meant

and terms of Beavers skins.

But now there was something more.

He was looking at the man

who was died. But if...

And this man

had been his friend.

There's anything I can do?

Not now.

You know Iron Shirt

is Chief now.

I know...

We will spend the winter here.

Iron Shirt is their cheif now.

That means trouble.

Snow is comming pretty soon,

That will keep him quiet

but don't count on it.

Don't go out alone,

we'll have the parties.

We're going to get

that spring Beaver.

And when Iron Shirt shows up

we will be ready for it.

Richardson.

You take over place

of Du nard. "Yes, sir".

My father often told

me that that December 25.

Was the first time it ever been aware

of Christmas, and what it really meant.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Hurray for the summer session.

And the Rum!

Pack him up.

Let the Birgade

fight order today.

Sign a big w*r party,

across the fort at center.

Let's pack, guys.

You're full of magic...

the one woman

in the world for me.

I love you pigeon.

Maybe I didn't know when

I found you, but I know it now.

You can't understand

what I'm trying to tell you.

And I don't understand

very much you say.

Someday, may be.

And now the brigade

was on the way back.

Back to assembly point.

And now pack mules

with heavy with furs.

It was my first

trip to roundtabo,

but I was hardly old enough

to aware of it.

Indians.

Indians.

Its all right little chip.

All right.

"KAMIAH 1830 WIFE

OF MITCHELL FLINT"

You push on with us now.

The old looking glass will have

a woman to look after the young.

She wanted to be

with her own people.

Here, Sir.

Some sugar for a little boy.

Very good food.

I go with you.

No, not this time, Pierre.

And so we went away from

that place where my mother left,

just my father and I.

He belonged to the Indian country

now with heart and soul.

Now he helped open the West,

for new trappers,

For the men who loved,

the country as he did,

New outposts and civilization

new understanding.

He wanted me to with him,

but as grew up

he began to bother

his consiousness.

I was not getting into schooling.

He wanted me to have

He didn't notice, as I do now,

that no body instruction

and charactor could eaqual those early years,

with him in wilderness.

He taught me things that you,

don't learned in school.

And yet he felt that

I should be going back to east.

To prepare my self for some sort

of what he called a respectable life.

A sound of that door closing.

Was like a door closing

on my life.

My pony was fast

and I knew how to ride it.

Dad looked at me and smiled.

He agreed that my practice

could wait until next year.

Each year before year I was able

to talk him out of it.

And those years were

the happiest of my life,

because I was old enough to then,

to know my father, to understand it.

And have him tell me

what I have told you.

His story,

is more than a story.

It is the story

of the mountain man,

of the giants who walked the West

and became part of out history.

"THE END"