01x06 - On The Hunt

[bunniefuu]

ANNOUNCER: Previously

on Elkhorn

ARTHUR: We reprinted that

obituary from the Times.

To lose one’s wife and

mother on the same day.

DOCTOR: We’ve done everything

we can Mr. Roosevelt.

Your wife’s body is failing.

Then get another doctor.

SEWALL: One day or another,

you won’t feel as you do now.

ROOSEVELT: I’m here Alice.

No, Alice, please.

Alice stay with me.

The past is the past,

and to dwell on it would be

weak.

[g*nsh*t]

[ANIMAL GROWLING]

Easy.

He’s coming down,

he’s coming down.

Another cartridge

in there quick.

[FUMBLING WITH CARTRIDGE]

[ANIMAL GROWLING]

Take the shot.

[FUMBLING WITH CARTRIDGE]

[BEAR GROWLING]

Take the shot.

[g*nsh*t]

[THEME MUSIC] ♪

[THEME MUSIC] ♪

[THEME MUSIC] ♪

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

[FOOTSTEPS]

[FOOTSTEPS]

SEWALL: Bit late for a

stroll, isn’t Mr. Roosevelt.

Walking moves the mind, Bill.

And no better time

than now, than when

the world is at it’s quietest.

We having a meeting?

No, Wilmot.

Go back to bed.

You needn’t be

concerned with me.

Now if you don’t mind,

I have work that

needs to be done.

SEWALL: Wearin’ holes in the

floor is what you’re doing.

Ah.

[HAMMERING]

[HAMMERING]

Oh!

Ooh! Thunderation!

Ooh!

- You alright?

Yeah, Yeah. Just

getting clumsy, I guess.

Yeah. Well I’m off to get

more lumber for the coop.

Alright.

Well Uncle, you are gonna have

a hard time chopping that wood.

Unless of course, you are planning

on digging up that whole tree.

[LAUGHTER]

Oh

now I think we might

be owed a proper nap.

Yes sir.

MERRIFIELD: Morning fellas.

What the heck happened to y’all?

[DOW YAWNS] sh**t, if I

didn’t know any better,

looks like you just rode

the entire Oregon Trail.

DOW: Oh, it’s Mr. Roosevelt.

For three night in a row

he’s been stomping

back and forth

ever since he got

- SEWELL: Hey

coop ain’t gonna build itself.

Gimme that axe.

Yes sir.

MERRIFIELD: Something

I ought to know?

[SEWALL SIGHS]

Not for us to say.

[KNOCKING ON THE DOOR]

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[CLEARING THROAT]

Mr. Roosevelt.

No, afraid the sun’s

a bit too hot for me.

If there’s business, please

be quick with it. I’m

under something of a deadline.

MERRIFIELD: What’s all this?

It, uh, for your hunting book?

What?

Oh

no, no.

My departed wife’s family,

well they’re printing a

collection to honor her, and

I’ve been asked to

write a proper eulogy.

That’s no easy thing.

Oh well. You needn’t

be concerned with me.

I’ve written plenty of things

in my day. I just need to

find the right words.

I’d, uh,

I’d like to propose something.

Ah, finally

business then.

MERRIFIELD: Nope. Not business.

I’d like to propose a hunt.

The hunt. You

know the one that

you’ve been wanting to

undertake ever since

you and I met.

You mean,

Wyoming?

The big horns?

MERRIFIELD: That’s right.

Mr. Roosevelt

I think it’s about

time you got yourself

a big trophy of your own.

Wow Bill, That

sounds delightful.

But I couldn’t possibly leave

before finishing up here.

Remember what you told me, uh,

about a grand hunt like that?

How it uh

Makes a man hardy?

Resolute.

Strengthens muscles.

Fills out the lungs.

MERRIFIELD: Clears the head.

Now

if it’s words you’re

looking for

I think a head clearing

might just do the trick.

What do you say?

You up for it?

How soon can we depart?

MERRIFIELD: Whoa.

Yeah.

May not look like much but

he is the best teamster

in the territory.

[GRUNTING] [FIGHTING]

[GRUNTING] [FIGHTING]

Should we intervene?

[GRUNTING] [FIGHTING]

MERRIFIELD: For which side?

[GRUNTING] [FIGHTING]

BRAWLER: Ah! Get off of me!

[g*nsh*t]

Ah! [PUNCH]

[KICK]

[BODY FALLS TO THE GROUND]

LEBO: You got some nerve Merry,

spoiling in on another

man’s negotiations.

MERRIFIELD: Yeah.

Real sorry about that Lebo.

LEBO: What about you mister?

Fancy some furs?

My beaver pelts are the

softest south of Winnipeg.

MERRIFIELD: This here is

Mr. Theodore Roosevelt.

Mr. Roosevelt.

Norma Lebo.

Mr., uh, Lebo.

We would like to inquire

about your services as a guide

for a hunting expedition

to the Big Horn Mountains.

LEBO: Well

seein’ as how I’m

down a customer

can’t discuss nothing until

a pelt’s been purchased.

Ah

[SNIFFING]

Big Horns, huh?

MERRIFIELD: That’s right.

No quick trip that.

We’re up for it.

LEBO: And that mountain pass,

that’s Cheyenne land, you know.

Cheyenne? You mean?

LEBO: The ones

that got Custer,

yeah.

[WATER SPLASHING]

[YELLING]

You’re crazy Lebo.

LEBO: Crazy would be

accepting such an insulting

offer for my wares!

Cheyenne, plus

river, rain, bandits.

You sure you’re up for it?

You know I’ve often

been misjudged,

and those who do

often regret it.

LEBO: Haha, well lucky for you,

I’m a man who regrets nothing.

MRS. LEBO: Oh no! He’s

not goin’ anywhere!

LEBO: Oh for the-will you

just leave us in peace, woman?

MRS. LEBO: You don’t want

this one leading you.

He’ll run right off.

Last time he went hunting,

said he’d be back

just three weeks.

He wasn’t back for three year.

LEBO: Wasn’t long enough.

Seems to me ma’am,

that you could use a guarantee.

MRS. LEBO: What’s that there?

It is

your guarantee.

If your husband fails to return,

you’ll be compensated

for up to three years.

Is this amount suitable?

MRS. LEBO: Yeah.

I reckon it’ll do.

Still,

I’d prefer he come back.

ROOSEVELT: "All the

past we leave behind."

What’s that now?

Whitman.

"All the past we leave behind,

we debouch upon a

newer, mightier world,

varied world,

fresh and strong

the world we seize,

the world of labor

and the march,

pioneers!

"O pioneers!"

LEBO: Spirited sort, ain’t he?

You have no idea.

LEBO: Hey. Go on, get.

[HORSE BLUSTERS]

Bull elk, huh?

Far as weaponry,

what’ve you brung?

Well, we got shotguns,

repeaters, Winchester 73s.

LEBO: Well that won’t do.

Good for goat sure. But

when a bull starts charging

you, you’re gonna be

wishing for a little

more stopping power.

I know a feller. Uh,

a bit of a detour,

but he’ll have what you need.

Come on get.

[KICKING DOOR]

Open up, Gerry!

Let me do the dealin’.

This one ain’t a sweet

heart like myself.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

You in there, you ol’ mutt?

[DOOR OPENS] [c*ck r*fle]

Took you long enough.

What do you want, Lebo?

What do you think?

Looking to buy.

After you, Mr. Roosevelt.

Get you boys a drink?

No. Thank you.

Best get what we need

then be on our way.

Gerry, you got anything

a little bigger caliber?

PADDOCK: Mostly use

it for buffalo, but

there ain’t a livin’ thing

this can’t bring down.

As I’m sure you can attest.

PADDOCK: Oh, come on now.

Ain’t no reason we

can’t be professional.

Well, I’m less inclined when

your profession is violence.

PADDOCK: My profession

is whatever pays me,

and whoever pays me.

Nothing more.

LEBO: This thing

feels like a cannon.

PADDOCK: That’s the

Remington rolling block.

What’s the caliber?

PADDOCK: Forty-five government.

LEBO: Whoo.

That’s some stopping power.

PADDOCK: That’ll bring down

a thousand pound buffalo

from 500 yards.

How much?

PADDOCK: Fifty.

Appreciate your patronage.

Happy hunting, Mr. Rooz-velt.

LEBO: Boy

I tell you what.

If I had my way,

no two nights ever see

me in the same bed.

No sir [LEBO CHUCKLES]

Course, my wife see it a

bit different. [CHUCKLING]

It must be nice

having a wife doesn’t

mind you’re away.

That ain’t none of your concern.

I mean no harm by it.

Just saw the ring;

couldn’t help but wonder.

MERRIFIELD: Lebo,

I swear if you don’t

shut your trap-

A man can’t ask a simple

question? ROOSEVELT: Perhaps,

we just have a bit of silence.

[CLEARS HIS THROAT]

[THUNDER ROLLS]

[GIGGLING]

[RAIN FALLING]

BEVERLY: Ma’am.

I can take that from you sir.

ROOSEVELT: Thank you Beverly.

Come now Teddy. Your

family is waiting for us.

They can wait just

a moment longer.

What are you up to?

What do you mean?

Well the last time

you stole me away

from a party was

on Harvard Yard.

You got down on one knee.

That wasn’t my finest moment.

ALICE: Oh, I

remember it fondly.

Fondly? You refused

my proposal.

ALICE: I didn’t refuse, I

simply said you should

ask another time.

And besides

how would you ever

learn perseverance?

But the past few months

have been wonderful,

and your family has been

ever so gracious.

Now

what is it you

wanted to show me?

I hope this is the right time.

Alice,

would you make me the

happiest man on Earth,

and marry me?

Mm hmm.

MITTIE: There you are Teedie,

Come now. Everybody

is waiting.

Yes, of course mother.

MITTIE: Come now, Alice.

Join the family.

I can’t wait to.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

Merrifield.

Morning, Mr. Roosevelt.

What is it?

Well, I thought I’d inform

you that our guide is missing.

Missing?

I was up early this

morning and saw

that his bed roll was gone.

I assumed he’d be

back by now, but

well, clearly he hasn’t.

Lebo where are ya?

His wife warned us

good didn’t she?

Now it looks like that flea

bag has up and left us.

I don’t suppose, if

it comes down to it,

you know the way back?

I’d be lying if I said I did.

Lebo! MERRIFIELD: Lebo!

ROOSEVELT: Lebo!

Lebo!

Maybe we go searching.

Couldn’t have gotten far.

Didn’t take a horse.

MERRIFIELD: Yeah,

but which way?

I’m sorry Mr. Roosevelt,

this is all my fault.

I thought for sure he’d stick with us.

- Wait.

Did you hear that?

Mm mm.

Ah.

Ah, that coffee

sure smells good.

MERRIFIELD: Lebo,

what the heck you

doing under the wagon?

I always sleep under the wagon.

[CHUCKLING]

Still got a ways

’til the mountains.

Someone’s coming.

LEBO: Ah, here

comes the cavalry.

WALLOP: You headed into town?

MERRIFIELD: More

passing through.

WALLOP: You’re uh

[CHUCKLING] Yes

Theodore Roosevelt.

I heard you were setting

up shop in the Badlands.

My name’s Colonel

Francis Wallop.

I’m the commander

of the uh, well,

what’s left of this regiment.

ROOSEVELT: It’s an honor

to meet you, Colonel.

WALLOP: What brings

you to Wyoming?

ROOSEVELT: Thrill of the hunt.

WALLOP: I tell you what, I’m heading

back to my camp few miles south.

Why not join me?

I could have my men restock

your provisions and uh,

you could dine with the

officers as my guest.

We’d be delighted.

WALLOP: Well uh,

as gentleman of Congress,

we do require formal attire.

Not to worry, sir,

I never forget my dinner jacket.

LEBO: You know, never

would have thought to

bring a dinner jacket to a hunt.

Have to start doing

that just in case.

Lebo,

you ain’t gonna

have another case.

LEBO: Y’know, I’ve

guided my share of these

silk-stocking type dudes.

They ain’t like us.

I never cared for

Army chow anyhow.

My guide says that there are

Cheyenne in the territory,

are they dangerous?

Sometimes, they can be fearsome

when they wanna be,

but the w*r is over.

To the valiant foe.

[SCOFFS]

Not what they used to be.

[SIGH]

World’s changing.

Heck we’re not going

to be here much longer.

They keep pulling us back

East,

slowly but surely.

So,

Mr. Roosevelt,

what manner of game

is worth such a trip?

We’re after the mighty bull elk.

Well, there’s not very many

left, big horns I’m afraid.

What do you mean?

WALLOP: Too many settlers.

Too many hunters, trappers.

World’s changing.

When Alexander saw the

breadth of his domain,

he wept.

ROOSEVELT: For there were

no more worlds to conquer.

WALLOP: You know, there

might be something, um,

more deserving of your sights

than a bull elk.

Please go on.

WALLOP: About a week ago,

corporal went missing

over at, uh, Crazy Woman Creek.

We sent out a search party.

What happened to him?

Perhaps you should

see for yourself.

He was barely breathing

when they found him.

A few more hours, who knows.

What did this?

Old Ephraim.

A grizzly, Mr. Roosevelt.

A man-eater.

Predator by nature.

Now, now that its

prey is being hunted

to near-extinction-

it’s looking for food

anywhere it can find it.

Then what choice is there?

It must be dealt with.

Let’s make camp here.

[HAMMERING]

[HAMMERING]

[g*nsh*t]

MERRIFIELD: Ambush!

[g*nf*re]

[g*nf*re]

Where the devil are they?

Bill can you see anything?

LEBO: This ain’t no ambush.

Come on.

[g*nf*re]

What?

What do you mean?!

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t]

LEBO: Yep.

Cheyenne.

[g*nshots]

[g*nshots]

[g*nsh*t] I believe

we’ve been spotted.

LEBO: It’s fine, it’s fine.

[SPEAKING CHEYENNE]

MERRIFIELD: You speak Cheyenne?

LEBO: I’d be some poor

guide if I didn’t.

[SPEAKING CHEYENNE]

[SPEAKING CHEYENNE]

KOPEHE: Not soldiers?

No, hunters.

KOPEHE: More of you?

MERRIFIELD: Not here,

but the army camp will

be expecting us back.

KOPEHE: You do not

look like a hunter.

How do you sh**t like that?

How about I show you.

A competition,

three shots each.

MERRIFIELD: Well,

we wanna keep it

friendly, Mr. Roosevelt.

Exactly,

friendly competition.

What do you say?

[g*nsh*t]

[c*ck r*fle]

[g*nsh*t]

[LAUGHTER]

[g*nsh*t]

[CHUCKLING]

[g*nsh*t]

[CHUCKLING]

ROOSEVELT: Hmm

Two and two,

why don’t we make this last one

a little more interesting.

Mm hmm.

Accurate up to 500 yards.

I believe it’s your shot.

[g*nsh*t]

Ooh

[LAUGHTER]

Close,

but now I believe it’s my turn.

[g*nsh*t]

[CHEERING]

[LAUGHTER]

My goodness that was fun.

Wasn’t it?

You, sir, are an excellent shot.

[SPEAKING CHEYENNE]

The great bear.

You have his spirit.

It’s an honor.

MERRIFIELD: Yeah this

looks as good as any place.

What do you say we set

up camp here tonight?

Yeah, that’s a big bear.

ROOSEVELT: Yes.

Yes it is.

Well then.

That’s as far as I go.

MERRIFIELD: What

are you saying?

I’m saying my wagon will be

waiting for you when you get back.

Lebo, you pigeon-hearted fool.

Lebo,

that wasn’t our agreement.

Our agreement didn’t

include no grizzlies.

You’re talking 900 pounds.

Ten feet standing.

Beast like that’ll tear out

your gullet in one swipe.

Start feeding on you while

you still drawing breath.

Y’all wanna take on Ol’ Ephraim,

be my guest.

I ain’t going one step further.

Well

he may be pigeon-hearted,

but he may be right.

What do you want to do?

Must be dealt with.

How close do you think we are?

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

We may be real close.

Yeah, it’s fresh.

Couple hours at the most.

We are in his domain

now, Mr. Roosevelt.

We need to keep down wind

and keep our eyes peeled,

most important

keep quiet.

Let’s go.

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

ALICE: Teddy, did

you sleep at all?

Politics don’t sleep.

So why should I?

I see.

Well then as your constituent,

I have a request.

I shall grant it.

Anything.

Could you please order my

husband to get some sleep?

I’m afraid that’s not up to me.

But once this bill

gets to the floor.

He will have more time.

I promise.

This is the life I’ve chosen,

the life we’ve chosen.

ALICE: And I wouldn’t

change it for the world,

but things are going to change.

I’m afraid that’s not up to me.

[LAUGHTER]

You have to be careful with me,

with us.

This is amazing.

Alice, I-I

I’m going to be a father.

Things really are

going to change.

MERRIFIELD: Bad dream?

Yes

it was.

You know [CLEARING THROAT]

it’s funny.

I can write 500 pages

on the w*r of 1812,

but I can’t seem to write

a single page for her.

I would know.

Lost my wife too, you know,

a few years back.

Bill.

Sickness took her quick.

Why did you never tell me?

Ain’t often in the mood.

As you can imagine.

Yes.

Of course.

MERRIFIELD: I still

think about her though.

Every day.

Sometimes,

I just can’t help smiling.

May I ask,

how do you do that?

Do what?

Remember someone with joy,

instead of sorrow?

It ain’t like that.

And it sure ain’t something

you ever get past.

You learn.

You learn to take the joy

with the sorrow.

You learn to take ’em together.

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

[BEAR CHUFFING]

[c*ck r*fle]

We went looking for him.

[BEAR CHUFFING]

Seems he found us.

[BEAR CHUFFING]

MERRIFIELD: I reckon

he smelled our cooking.

Leaving us the

ones being hunted.

[g*nsh*t]

[BEAR GROWLING]

MERRIFIELD: He’s coming down.

He’s coming down.

Put another cartridge

in there quick.

[BEAR GROWLING]

[FUMBLING WITH CARTRIDGE]

[BEAR GROWLING]

Take the shot.

[BEAR GROWLING]

Take the shot. Take the shot!

[g*nsh*t]

[PANTING]

Whoo.

Whoo.

[LAUGHTER]

That’ll get your blood pumping.

I don’t know about

you, Mr. Roosevelt, but

my heart was pounding there.

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

What’s wrong, Mr. Roosevelt?

You just bagged the biggest

grizzly I’ve ever seen.

It had to be dealt with.

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

I’m sorry, Bill, I just-

I thought this hunt

would change things but-

it hasn’t changed a thing.

Well,

I know one thing has changed.

This here grizzly won’t

ever hurt another soul.

MERRIFIELD: Lebo! You

should’ve been there.

Biggest grizzly I’ve ever seen.

Come charging right at us.

Mr. Roosevelt took him

down with one shot.

Is that a fact?

MERRIFIELD: Go

ahead, tell him sir.

We were in his

domain, after all.