Original subtitles

Little Thunder says he is much better.

I can't find any signs of congestion at all.

Would you ask him to breathe more deeply?

What's that odor? It smells like garlic.

Cloud Dancing gives it with his tea and your medicine.

Really? Garlic for the lungs?

Mm -hmm.

He says he is strong like a bear.

Please, thank Little Thunder for a fine demonstration.

He

says

you must listen to cloud dancing.

You know the fancy medicine of the whites, but he is wise in the old ways.

I will do that.

Thank you so much.

Little Thunder?

Dr.

Mike.

His name is No Harm Comes to Him.

When the soldiers destroyed our village at Sand Creek, his mother covered him

with her body.

No Harm Comes to Him is a big name for such a small boy.

My people call me No Harm.

I am not so small, only tired.

Well, perhaps we can find out why.

Cloud dancing.

I have practiced.

Let us hear what you have learned.

It's a very beautiful song.

Cloud dancing teaches me.

He's quite a boy. And very special to my husband.

Morris has walked on clouds. He is special to all our people.

You can tell us what is wrong?

I can see what is wrong. She will not hear it from me.

No harm.

It's the same symptoms that I've seen in many of your people.

Dry skin.

Exhaustion.

Atrophied muscles.

Speak plain. He is starving.

He's just not getting enough of the proper food.

Sully's at Fort Lyon trying to retrieve government supplies. He should be back

any day.

Until then, perhaps no harm could come home with me.

I could nurse him back, if that would be all right with your tribe.

Would you like that?

I have a little boy at home. He's about the same age as you. I know he'd love to

have a new friend.

Come. I'm going to get your bundle.

Cloud down. And if anyone can bring back those provisions, I know Thully can.

What makes you think this time will be different?

Because I need to have hope.

Do you have a moment?

I tanned it and used the rope just as you suggested.

Made it much softer.

You have done your work well.

Sully will be pleased. I hope so.

First time I've made a wedding present for a husband.

I found the stones I promised.

The hot claws will give him courage to face the unknown.

You mean marriage to me?

Thank you.

You must go now.

Still allow them here?

After everything they've done, they killed your son.

When I killed my son, I will not judge all by the actions of one.

But it's wrong.

They're all stealing from innocent ranchers.

They are feeding my people.

Forgive him. My husband is ashamed.

He feels responsible.

Go to Sully.

No, Bert, surely you don't approve of the dog soldiers' race?

I have never found killing to be a true path to peace.

Nor has cloud dancing.

I can't find any peas outside.

Go to here somewhere.

All I got left in cans.

All right, I'll take five.

Hello, Myra.

I thought Samantha's crying had calmed down. Well, she started up again.

Maybe she started teething.

If you come by later, I'll give you something to put on the gums.

Thank you, Dr. Mackey.

Oh, Lauren, can I have two pounds, please?

Your total is going to be seven dollars.

Ah, here it is.

Palmer Homestead, east of Colorado Springs, was attacked Thursday morning

Cheyenne war party of dogs. I knew it. The hostiles are starting up all over

again. Was anybody hurt?

It says two of his best steers were stolen, along with half a ton of grass.

and his barn was burned clean to the ground.

Palmer hid in his cellar throughout the savage attack.

Thank the good Lord my women and girls was in Denver, Palmer said. Them

bloodthirsty Indians was looking to scalp us all.

They asked me like they were looking for food.

By torturing the barn?

They were just striking out in frustration.

They wouldn't be raiding farms if the government kept their promises to

Michaela, you're the last person that I would expect to defend dog soldiers.

I'm not defending them. I'm merely suggesting there's more to that story.

That paper presents a very limited point of view.

Chief Black Kettle and most of the Cheyenne people... Oh, excuse me.

I'm sorry, I wasn't watching.

What a beautiful baby.

Dr. Quinn, how lovely it is to see you again.

I see no need for false pleasantries, Mr.

Carter. Well, perhaps this wild territory is in more need of civility

even thought.

Any chance of getting some eggs, Mr. Gray?

I could have four dozen over your camp before nightfall. Well, that's fine.

Can't be making soufflés without eggs.

Now, Ken, you just come to me if you need anything at all, General.

Goes for me, too.

I'll do that, gentlemen.

Ma 'am.

And a good day to you, Dr. Quinn.

What brings you back to Colorado?

Well, I suppose you should ask General Sheridan that, since it was he who

requested my return.

That custom was court -martialed. Lucky for us, they changed their mind. That

wasn't anything anyway.

We had his own men shot without seeing so much as a trial. They was traitors,

cowards. Maybe they had good reason.

There you go again, trying to change everything all around.

Looks like the government's finally going to do something about them

I'm sorry, stupid branch.

You cannot help it. You are not Cheyenne.

Being Cheyenne got to do it.

Being silent does everything to us. If we laugh and the buffalo run off, we

cannot eat.

If we cry and the enemy hears, our village could be attacked.

Cheyenne babies are taught never to cry.

A baby that never cries?

Go on.

When the blue goats killed my mother, I made myself very small, and she hid me

under her.

And when she died, I made no sound.

I did not cry, so I lived.

My real mom died, too.

But I cried.

A lot.

Brian, we can be Nahil.

What's Nahil?

We will hunt together, share things, and fight for each other in battle.

Sort of like being best friends.

Yes. Here.

My flute.

My knife.

I think it looks crooked.

Do you think it looks crooked?

Fine. I want it to fit right.

Sally's going to love it just because you made it.

He already knows you're not so good at sewing.

You're going to put these claws on his shoulders, and these stones go over the

heart. The law of dancing says it gives you a long life. It could last forever.

Hey, Brian.

Everybody. Welcome back.

No, I didn't expect to see you here.

Brian is my nahio.

We're going to watch after each other.

That's good. That's real good.

I missed you. Me too.

What are you reading?

A book.

Where'd you trip?

You didn't get the supplier?

There weren't any.

And they ain't coming either.

The army wants all the tribes moving south to new Indian territory.

But this is their home now.

I'm afraid I have some bad news, too.

The dog soldiers raided another ranch.

And Custer's back.

You're joking. I wish I were.

He's supposed to be kicked out.

There has to be a way to stop these dog soldiers from the attack.

Black Hill can't even stop them. We must try something.

I ain't gonna change nothing.

Lauren, why aren't you coping?

Well, the last thing we ought to be doing is feeding them.

Nevity Club is taking money for all this.

Well, that's business.

It's good business for us to keep our promises to our Cheyenne neighbors.

We did. Perhaps all this fighting will stop.

Warrens, all them heathens know it's what they live for.

On more than one occasion, those heathens have come to this town's

Tried to burn it, too.

Those were dog soldiers, and you know it. I'm engine, and engine, and engine,

McKaylin. There ain't gonna be no peace around here until all of them's dead.

Got enough money for a couple more sacks of meal.

No harm, is he, Walt?

He's getting stronger every day. And beating Brian at checkers. Please tell

he has missed.

We will.

We have beans and cornmeal and dried beef.

There are no government markings on this.

These did not come from the army.

And how long do you think you can feed all my people?

The government's shipping supplies to Port Cobb now.

They want you all moving south.

Cloud Dancy, I know we can find a way.

And what way is that?

He was hunting by bear troop. The soldiers shot him.

Custer. The long hair is back?

Little Thunder is dead.

It is done.

Where are you going?

I will help my people in my own way now.

If I join in the dog soldiers, this ain't the way.

Listen to me. You're just playing into their hands. You're giving the army a

reason to fight back.

Your Custer's tried to kill me twice. He will not get another chance.

Red scarves glistening in the sun were a sight to behold.

There were 1 ,800 of us, all on horseback.

When the Reds saw us coming, their cannons quaked the earth like it would

wide open.

So what happened?

Othello learns quickly what he must do if the cause is just.

Thank you, ma 'am.

We could see that the horses were skittish under the roar.

So I turned to my musicians and ordered them to strike up Yankee Doodle.

And then we charged.

I'll bet old Virginia regretted the day she ever saw the seven.

Well, that she did, Mr. Bray, I can assure you. Excuse me, General.

Are you finished already, Mr. General? Well, I thought you'd like to look it

over before I did the printing.

It is fine work like this that is helping to build a great America.

This... Oh, this is nothing. I'm afraid you're wrong, madam.

It is no active chance that God has chosen us to settle this land.

Always remember that.

Gentlemen.

Let me see that.

In compliments of Major General George Armstrong Custer, Commander, 7th

United States Army, the honor of your company and escort is requested at a

dinner.

You can tell him I declined.

Why would you do that?

Well, surely you're not going to accept.

I most certainly am.

He's invited the council and all the important people in town.

Michaela, General Custer came here to do a job. He deserves our support.

And what job is that?

Protecting all the communities and the railroad.

Protecting? Yesterday, his men shot a Cheyenne in the back.

He must have been doing something.

He was an old, frail man trying to hunt. He was no threat.

How do you know that? Did you see it happen?

Michaela, if you're not going, you're going to have to tell the general

yourself.

Now, maybe it's time you make up your mind whose side you're really on.

Who are

you writing?

The president, the war department, and now General Sherman.

They won't listen. You've already tried.

I believe opinions can be changed.

Everyone at school thinks Custer is a hero.

It just seems like you're all alone in this.

Standing alone doesn't make the fight less important, Colleen. You just have

try harder.

And you're not alone.

Cheyenne have been friends to all of us. Dog soldiers aren't our friends.

No, they're not.

But I have to understand their desperation.

Seeing their people killed, their land stolen.

Watching the railroad needlessly slaughter the buffalo.

Black Hill.

Pauline, Matthew, I want you to watch the boys.

No harm.

I want you to stay inside.

I want to see my chief.

It's dangerous for Black Hill to be off the reservation.

You'll see him soon, I promise.

He worries about Cloud Dancing.

He asks if they see him.

He says he knows Cloud

Dancing rides with dog soldiers, but he hoped to find him here.

His sons no longer listen to him.

He doesn't know how to call Cloud Danson back.

That's about no harm.

He's fine.

He and my youngest son are not young.

Amen. Come on. He says we are of different nations, of one people.

I wish it was always like this.

He says

I

live in hopes.

Hopes.

Amen.

Fell asleep on the floor.

Just leave him there.

Stay warm by the fire.

You warm enough?

It isn't cold.

Good.

It's so hard to imagine Claudette riding with dark soldiers.

It'd be like seeing you carry a rifle.

Robert must be so worried.

Do you think he'll come back?

Not with Custer around.

I figure Sheridan brought him back because he knows Custer's like a loaded

The question isn't if they're going to use him. It's when.

Of course, if somebody persuasive was to talk to him, maybe bend his mind around

a little bit.

Do you think I should go to his dinner?

You might think about it.

He's asked everybody who's got influence over the town.

Custer's not just here to kill Indians.

He's here to make sure folks think it's the right thing to do.

I could never sit there eating government beefsteak, not while the

going hungry over the hill.

Choke.

You're right.

Custer never listened to me.

I'm delighted you've changed your mind, Dr. Quinn.

Actually, I was hoping you might do the same tonight.

I've changed my mind?

I am intrigued.

Oh, Crickle is just lovely, General.

Well, thank you.

I try to maintain a little oasis of civilization even out here in the

wilderness.

No, thank you.

Well, I see we finally have something in common, Dr. Quinn.

You saying you don't drink?

I am, sir.

Unlike many of my fellow officers... I believe liquor and war do not mix.

Is that what we're at, General?

War? Michaela, can't we just enjoy our dinner? It's all right, Mrs. Jennings.

I'm quite used to barring with olive branches in Washington.

I can assure you, debating with a lovely lady is far more appealing.

You haven't answered my question, General.

The United States does not wage war on the Indians.

But if they refuse to abide by our treaties, they must suffer the

I haven't had turtle soup since my days in the seminary.

They do suffer the consequences of our treaties, General.

Your dogs eat better than the Cheyenne people.

Please try to understand, Dr. Quinn.

The United States has every intention to feed Indians who want peace south of

the Arkansas River at Fort Cobb.

But Black Kettle wants peace.

They promised that he could stay north. That treaty of medicine laws makes no

such promise.

It was given to him verbally.

I was there.

Heard it.

It seems to me if a promise is made, it shouldn't matter if it was written.

For someone who was abducted by Cheyenne renegades, your attitude is quite

surprising. I happen to believe hurting innocent people is wrong.

No matter who the offender.

Sorry to interrupt, sir, but the lady doctor is needed.

What happened?

River workers got attacked north of town. They're bringing wounded in now.

attacked, corporal? Any more parties, sir.

Cheyenne. Perhaps powder and lead will be the best food for them now.

Look at that boy we was eating.

Mom, most of us ain't even got guns.

I know it hurts, but I'm almost done. Had me a rifle, I'd have killed them

Sinking devils.

The morphine will help ease the pain. Now try the lysoderm.

It's like an old bird in hell.

When you finish over here, I need to help you remove the bullet.

I've got a wife in Soda Springs.

She's going to be worried.

You'll be all right. I'm a doctor. Please put him over there.

Her name is Michelle.

Michelle Haley.

Can you get word to her? I'll make sure she knows you're safe.

Now, exactly how did they attack?

A bunch of us set fire to the trestle. We chased them off.

The rest was right in the crow's tent.

How many were in the war party?

It was hard to say. There was women hoovering all over the air.

Everybody here has taken this.

Railroad's bringing the kind of progress we all want.

Them Indians know that.

When they attack the railroads, they attack the very heart of this town.

What we need is action.

And the man to do the job is right here.

People of Colorado Springs, I give you General George Armstrong Custer.

I like the feel of this.

You can't blame people. What if you stop that war party from even running the

town? I don't think it's going to happen, Myra. But they've done it

My good people, the Cheyenne, all Indians.

Our enemies to our civilization.

We must not allow them to carry out this barbarous warfare under any pretext

they choose to allege. Dr. Mike, we've got to stop this.

I agree.

And I can assure you, I will use all of my power to prevent them from doing so.

Kettle One's Peace has already signed a treaty.

What the army knows, Doctor, is the seven wounded men lying in your clinic,

attacked by your peaceful Cheyenne.

You know some of these people.

You know they don't want to fight. They just want to live on their land.

They may have a point.

They don't all cause trouble.

I gotta say, I met some good Indians.

And I agree with my commanding officer, Mr. Bray.

The only good Indian is a dead Indian.

You have risked much to come here. We have to talk.

I have been thinking of my son when he joined the dog soldiers.

I think now he was right.

And your father?

Is he wrong?

They have come about the train.

They're not going to be able to stop it.

And these attacks are only making things worse.

When I was a boy, I could ride for many days, meet only my people.

I could hunt when I wanted.

The buffalo were as many as the stones in this creek.

They would fill a valley as far as you could see.

Now, they tell me where I must put my lodge, where I can hunt, what I can eat.

And if I do not do as they say, they want to kill me.

Understand me.

I do not wish for this fight.

I do understand you, Cloud Danson.

And I know what your people have lost.

I can't figure what you think this is going to accomplish.

In the north, Red Cloud and the Ogallala, they fight.

They've driven the soldiers off. Only because the settlers aren't moving

Once a white man wants to powder river country, Red Cloud doesn't stand any

of a chance than you do.

Is that a reason not to fight?

Because it isn't possible.

Is that what you would do?

My brother, is there nothing you would not fight for?

And when war breaks out, what happens to the women and the children and the old

ones? My people have been promised protection at Fort Cobb.

Tonight, Blackhead will move them south so they will be safe.

Who is that woman,

Blackhead?

His wife.

Medicine woman, Vader.

When Blackheadle gave you your name, you did not understand how it was special.

You have been my good friend, medicine woman.

You have stood with me through many sorrows.

You've been a good friend to me also.

For your union with Sully, Liz brought many happy sons over my lodge with cloud

dancing.

Slowly, thank you.

One day, perhaps many seasons from now, my people and your people will come

to understand one another and no longer be afraid.

I know this truth because I know you.

I will be you, Tom.

is almost gone. It is time.

This is right to do. You will be safe with Black Kettle.

You have nothing to say.

You're a foolish man.

You have always been a foolish man.

I do not know why I have slept with you for so long.

Do not worry. I go.

But I do not have to be happy about it.

Supposed to be a surprise.

It's your wedding present.

It's so beautiful.

It will be when it's finished.

I figured I'm going to need a bed.

May I watch your work?

Sure.

Here.

It's been nothing.

I've been thinking how lucky we are to have this house.

I can't imagine having to suddenly...

Pack up and leave everything.

They've been gone a week, and I feel like they've been gone a year now.

I miss them, too.

You think they'll be all right?

They should be safe at Fort Cobb by now.

Once Custer's got his fellow chiefs and dog soldiers, we'll move on and maybe

they'll be back.

Sometimes I can't help it.

I wonder if you wish you could have gone along with them.

I mean, they've been your family for so long now.

Cheyenne are my family. They always will be.

So are you.

What are you going to understand?

My heart's yours now.

I've got to get back to work or I'll never have a bed.

You're so beautiful.

I always believed I could be this happy.

I love you so much.

I love you.

Horace.

Dr. Mance got the medicine coming in?

Hold up, just a minute. Important telegram for the army.

Myra, we're going to go shop him now.

Horse.

Medicine. Oh, uh, under the counter. Go ahead.

Are

you

certain?

I read it twice.

It said the Custer was ordered to take the 7th Cavalry south of the Arkansas

River. Back in Indian territory.

The Custer's up to something?

Blackhead will have Sanctuary Fort Carl. They won't be in any danger.

You're getting pretty good, Brian.

Now it's good to know him.

He's been practicing much longer.

I'm sure he'll be impressed next time you see him.

Think he'll be back in time for your wedding?

I don't know, Brian.

I hope so.

Why don't you go tell Colleen it's not this one?

God damn it.

Sully, is he here?

Well, we're just about to eat. Will you join us? There is no time.

I've come for your help.

What's wrong?

Black Kettle has been turned away from the fort.

What? The agent said he did not have the power to make peace with the Cheyenne.

He said Black Kettle must make peace with the big war chief, Sheridan.

Sheridan ordered Custer south of the Arkansas.

Are you sure of this?

I saw a telegram.

Army's not sending Custer in to talk peace.

Where's Black Kettle now?

They made camp along the Washita.

We've got to warn them.

I'm going with you.

They're my friends, too. They met with me.

Don't worry about us. I'll sleep in here. I feel better if you ask Robert,

and Grace to spend the night with you. And if they can't, stay with me.

We're going to be riding for days. Are you sure about that?

This won't taste like much.

I'm afraid when most little girls were in the kitchen with their mothers, I was

off with my father, helping him set broken bone.

Your father, he wanted you to become a doctor?

It was a mutual decision.

My father passed his medicine on to me also.

I never heard you speak of your father.

He was once a great warrior and won many scouts from the enemy.

After the Fort Laramie Treaty, he put aside his weapons and earned medicine.

What made him decide to change?

The treaty brought many great nations together, but some were old enemies.

On the way, a Cheyenne war party killed a snake man, so a council was called.

My people smoked the pipe with the snake, and our chiefs called on the

to stop fighting. Gifts were passed.

The last gift given was to the grieving family of the snake man.

I still remember how the grandfather embraced the warrior who had killed his

grandson.

That warrior was my father.

What became of your father?

He died of whooping cough.

I did not know the medicine for this white man's sickness.

You must dress now.

We have a long ride to the river.

I don't hear nothing.

I do smell smoke.

We may be closer than I believe.

We have put our lodges here in the spring.

The grass is tall and the river is swole.