Original subtitles

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: FOLLOWING YEARS OF ADVENTURE IN THE WILDERNESS,

JOE MEEK HAS BECOME ONE OF THE GREATEST OF THE MOUNTAIN MEN.

[WHOOPING]

BUT AFTER STRAYING INTO TERRITORY CONTROLLED

BY THE CROW TRIBE, HE HAS BECOME THEIR CAPTIVE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

HE HAS TRIED TO TRICK HIS CAPTORS INTO ATTACKING

A MUCH LARGER BRIGADE OF TRAPPERS...

BUT THE LEADER OF THE WAR PARTY

HAS SEEN THROUGH MEEK'S DECEPTION.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[GRUNTING]

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

YOU TRIED TO TRICK ME INTO ATTACKING A CAMP SO LARGE.

YOU THINK I'M A FOOL.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

YOU ARE A LIAR, BUT I AM NOT.

I TOLD YOU IF YOU LIED THAT YOU WOULD DIE.

NARRATOR: AND NOW JOE MEEK MAY BE

ABOUT TO TAKE HIS LAST BREATH.

KILL THE WHITE MAN.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AMONG THE FAMOUS FRONTIERSMEN OF HIS TIME,

JOE MEEK IS KNOWN FOR BOTH HIS DAUNTLESS COURAGE

AND HIS STEADY GOOD CHEER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

JOE MEEK EMERGED AS ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS

OF ALL THE MOUNTAIN MEN.

SAMUEL DOLAN: HIS ADVENTURES AND EXPERIENCES IN THE FAR WEST

EMBODY AMERICA'S WESTWARD ADVENTURE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS,

BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF HIS SORT OF ROLLICKING GOOD HUMOR,

HE WAS ONE OF THOSE OUTGOING

CHARACTERS THAT SORT OF

DOMINATED EVERY SCENE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AS JOE MEEK COMES OF AGE,

THE FUR TRADE IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND

AMERICA'S WESTWARD EXPANSION.

THE LATE 1820s IS THE PRIME ERA OF THE FUR TRADE...

COMPANIES LIKE THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FUR COMPANY AND OTHERS.

NARRATOR: AND LIKE SO MANY YOUNG MEN OF HIS GENERATION,

MEEK DECIDES TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE ON THE FRONTIER.

SAMUEL DOLAN: BY ABOUT 1828,

HE'S ALL OF 16 TO 18 YEARS OLD.

HE'S IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI AND THAT BECOMES A REAL

WATERSHED MOMENT IN MEEK'S LIFE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: JOE MEEK PLANS TO FIND HIS WAY WEST BY JOINING

A TRAPPING BRIGADE IN ST. LOUIS AND SEEKS OUT

WILLIAM SUBLETTE,

THEN ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS MEN ON THE FRONTIER.

ANDREW NELSON: WILLIAM SUBLETTE HAD A WANDERLUST

THAT LED HIM TO TURN HIS GAZE

WESTWARD AND SEEK ADVENTURE ON THE AMERICAN FRONTIER,

BUT HE HAD A CERTAIN DEGREE OF BUSINESS ACUMEN,

INCLUDING A SHREWD SENSE OF WHO TO PARTNER WITH.

WILLIAM SUBLETTE: PACK THAT TIGHT, BUCK, IT'S TRADE CLOTH.

CAN'T TAKE DAMP. - MOVE OUTTA THE WAY!

SUBLETTE: TOM, WE SHOULD HAVE A HUNDREDWEIGHT OF NAILS.

NARRATOR: BUT MEEK IS ABOUT TO LEARN THAT EVEN GETTING HIRED

FOR THE FUR TRADE IS A DAUNTING TASK IN ITSELF.

WELL, BOY, WHAT?!

SIR, I'M TOLD YOU'RE HIRING HANDS TO GO TO THE MOUNTAINS.

YOU LOOK FRESH AS A NEW LAID EGG.

WHY SHOULD I TAKE YOU?

SIR, I'VE BEEN HUNTING SINCE THIS RIFLE WAS TALLER THAN ME.

AIN'T GOT NO BOOK LEARNING TO SPEAK OF,

BUT I'M QUICK TO PICK THINGS UP. - EVERY GREENHORN I EVER MET

SAYS THE SAME AND THEY RUN AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE,

SO TELL ME DIFFERENT.

SIR, I JUST WANT TO SEE THE FRONTIER WHILE THERE'S

STILL NEW THINGS TO BE SEEN.

AND WHILE THERE'S PLACES TO GO THAT NO ONE'S BEEN BEFORE.

ROMANCE OF THE WEST, IS THAT IT?

JUST FORGET WHATEVER NONSENSE YOU HEARD,

THIS IS ALL WORK, BOY. HARD LIVING.

AND EVEN HARDER DYING.

SOUNDS FINE, SIR, ALMOST A LARK.

MEEK PROBABLY BRINGS TO THAT INTERVIEW THE RIGHT COMBINATION

OF HUMOR AND, YOU KNOW, GRIM DETERMINATION.

McKAY! WHERE THE DEVIL IS HE?

MCKAY!

ENROLL THIS HERE BOY, UH...

JOSEPH MEEK, SIR!

AND I PROMISE YOU WON'T BE SORRY.

WILLIAM SUBLETTE: I'M SURE I WON'T,

BUT I RECKON YOU MIGHT BE, BOY.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: YOUNG MEEK HAS PASSED HIS FIRST TEST OF MANHOOD.

BUT THE CHALLENGES OF FRONTIER LIFE ARE JUST BEGINNING.

♪ ♪

WILLIAM SUBLETTE IS LEADING A SUPPLY TRAIN

TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AND THE ANNUAL TRAPPER'S RENDEZVOUS.

♪ ♪

AND MEEK IS LEARNING THAT FRONTIER LIFE IS FAR

MORE WORK THAN ADVENTURE.

YOU'LL HELP LOAD THE TRAINS EVERY MORNING...

UNLOAD THE TRAIN EVERY REST...

FEED THE HORSES, HOBBLE THE HORSES,

STAND THE NIGHT WATCH, COOK THE MORNING MEAL

IF YOU GOT A HAND FOR IT.

KEEP WOOD FOR THE FIRES.

NEVER BEEN OUT THERE...

DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TRAPPING...

SO HE'S LEARNING ALL THAT STUFF FROM THE GROUND UP.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: MEEK'S INITIATION INTO MOUNTAIN MAN LIFE CONTINUES

WHEN THEY REACH THE TRAPPER'S RENDEZVOUS.

[AX STRIKING]

[MEN CHEERING]

[FIRES RIFLE]

JIM HARDEE: BEEN APART FOR A YEAR...

THEY'RE TELLING STORIES... THEY'RE BRAGGING...

AND THAT'S WHAT JOE'S EXPOSED TO.

HE GETS THERE AND HE'S GOING...

THIS IS GONNA BE FUN!

♪ ♪

[SIGHS]

♪ ♪

AHHH! - DON'T MEAN NO OFFENSE

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVEN'T

SLEPT UNDER A ROOF IN YEARS!

[BOTH LAUGHING]

NO OFFENSE TAKEN!

IN FACT, I TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT.

NAME IS SYKES.

JOSEPH MEEK.

NARRATOR: AND IT'S AT HIS FIRST RENDEZVOUS THAT MEEK BEGINS

TO LEARN THE INVALUABLE ART OF TELLING TALL TALES.

HEY...

YOU SEEN A LOT OF INDIANS?

LOOK AT THIS SCAR UP HERE.

THAT'S FROM WHEN I WAS A WHISKER AWAY FROM GETTING SCALPED!

IT WAS PAWNEES.

THEY WENT FOR MY HORSE. I PLUMB FELL OFF AND NEARLY

BRAINED MYSELF ON A ROCK.

THIS BIG OL' HAND GRABS MY HAIR AND PULLS IT RIGHT HARD BACK.

IT WAS A PAWNEE WARRIOR STANDING RIGHT OVER ME,

SCALPING KNIFE RIGHT THERE IN HIS HANDS.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

I SHOT A HOLE IN HIS BELLY

WITH MY PISTOL. [CHUCKLES]

THIS HERE SCALPING KNIFE, IT WAS HIS.

JIM HARDEE: JOE MEEK WAS NOT JUST A MOUNTAIN MAN,

HE'S A FUN GUY!

HE'D BE THE KINDA GUY TO WANT TO SIT AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

AND LISTEN TO STORIES FOR HOURS ON END.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT AMID THE CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE OF THE RENDEZVOUS,

MEEK DISCOVERS THAT REAL TENSION IS BREWING.

[CHUCKLES]

LISTEN UP, MEN. THERE'S NEWS.

I STRUCK A DEAL WITH THOSE RASCALS AT HUDSON BAY COMPANY.

YOU'LL BE GLAD TO KNOW THEY WON'T BE DOGGING OUR STEPS

AND UNDERCUTTING OUR PRICES WITH THE INDIANS THIS YEAR.

BUT THE OTHER PART OF THE DEAL IS:

WE'RE CEDING THE COLUMBIA RIVER TO THEM FOR THE SEASON SO THAT

MEANS ALL OREGON COUNTRY IS CLOSED TO US.

MEN: AWW. JOE: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

IT MEANS WE'LL BE FIGHTING FOR OUR FURS THIS SEASON.

YOU'LL BE HEADING TO THREE FORKS AFTER RENDEZVOUS.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

THAT'S RIGHT, BLACKFEET COUNTRY.

NARRATOR: THE NEWS MEANS MEEK'S FIRST EXPEDITION IS HEADED

TO ONE OF THE MOST HOSTILE REGIONS OF THE WESTERN FRONTIER. [WHOOPING SOUNDS]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: EVER SINCE THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION

AND THE UNFORTUNATE SHOOTING OF A BLACKFOOT WARRIOR BY LEWIS,

THE BLACKFEET HAD BEEN THE IMPLACABLE ENEMIES

OF THE TRAPPERS WHO HAD COME INTO THE WEST.

[WHOOPING SOUNDS]

JACK GLADSTONE: OUR BLACKFEET FELT TOWARDS THE AMERICANS

THAT THERE WAS A THREAT TO THE INTEGRITY...

TO THE SANCTITY...

THE SACRED QUALITY OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.

AND WE DID OUR BEST TO THIN 'EM OUT.

WE WERE VERY EFFECTIVE GUERILLA WARRIORS.

I'M NOT TELLING YOU IT WON'T BE DANGEROUS

BECAUSE YOU ALL KNOW IT IS.

SO KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY, MEN.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

DO YOU STILL THINK THIS IS ALL A LARK, BOY?

NARRATOR: UNTIL NOW, MEEK'S FIRST EXPEDITION

HAS BEEN AN ADVENTURE.

BUT IT'S ABOUT TO BECOME A STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE.

♪ ♪

BY THE FALL OF 1829, MEEK HAS WON ENOUGH RESPECT

FROM SUBLETTE TO BECOME A HUNTER FOR THE BRIGADE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: JOE, THE GREENHORN,

IS SURPRISED AND DELIGHTED.

THIS WAS LIKE A BADGE OF HONOR FOR THE KID!

NARRATOR: BUT WHILE MEEK IS OUT ON HIS OWN,

HE GETS HIS FIRST EXPERIENCE OF FRONTIER WARFARE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

[NEARBY WHOOPING SOUNDS, GUNSHOTS]

HE WORKS HIS WAY BACK TO WHERE THE MAIN CAMP IS...

[NEARBY WHOOPING SOUNDS, GUNSHOTS]

AND SUBLETTE'S PARTY IS GETTING ATTACKED BY BLACKFEET.

[WHOOPING SOUNDS, GUNSHOTS]

[WHOOPING SOUNDS, GUNSHOTS]

NARRATOR: MEEK'S FIRST INSTINCT IS TO JOIN HIS

FELLOW TRAPPERS IN BATTLE.

[WHOOPING SOUNDS, GUNSHOTS]

BUT HE REALIZES THE BLACKFEET STAND BETWEEN HIM AND THE CAMP.

TRAPPER: GIVE UP FIRE, BOYS! LET'S FALL BACK!

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

[WHOOPING SOUNDS, GUNSHOTS NEARBY]

COME ON!

SAMUEL DOLAN: CUT OFF AND ALONE,

HE HAS TO MAKE A VERY DIFFICULT CHOICE

THAT "I'M GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A GO OF IT ON MY OWN."

COME ON. [HORSE BLUSTERS LOUDLY]

COME ON!

NARRATOR: HIS FIRST DIFFICULT CHOICE IS LEAVING HIS

MULE WHICH IS MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE TO ESCAPE NOTICE

BY THE BLACKFEET.

I GOTTA MAKE TRACKS.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

FIND YOUR WAY BACK TO CAMP IF YOU CAN, OKAY?

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

NARRATOR: BUT HE SOON FINDS HIMSELF IN

A NEW AND WORSE PREDICAMENT.

JIM HARDEE: HE'S IN THIS BIG, WIDE WEST.

DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HE IS AND HE'S LOOKING

OUT ONTO JUST MILES AND MILES AND MILES OF WILDERNESS.

HE'S SO OVERWHELMED BY THE FEELING OF ALONENESS,

AND THE FEELING OF "AM I GONNA MAKE IT?"

"AM I GONNA GET THROUGH THIS?"

NARRATOR: TO STAY ALIVE, MEEK MUST TRACK

DOWN HIS TRAPPING BRIGADE

BEFORE THE BLACKFEET TRACK DOWN HIM.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

[WHOOPING SOUNDS, GUNSHOTS]

NARRATOR: AFTER BLACKFEET WARRIORS AMBUSH HIS CONVOY,

TRAPPER JOE MEEK FINDS HIMSELF UTTERLY ALONE

IN A FORBIDDING LANDSCAPE.

JIM HARDEE: AND NOW HERE'S THIS YOUNG, 19-YEAR OLD

GREENHORN, STUCK IN THE WILDERNESS BY HIMSELF.

AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HE IS OR HOW TO GET TO ANYWHERE.

[FOOTSTEPS]

NARRATOR: FEARING THE BLACKFEET WARRIORS

HE KNOWS ARE ON THE PROWL,

MEEK CAN ONLY HOPE HE'LL FIND HIS FELLOW TRAPPERS.

[FOOTSTEPS]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

JIM HARDEE: IT'S COLD; ALL HE'S GOT IS THAT ONE LITTLE BLANKET.

HE THINKS THE BLACKFEET STILL MAY BE AROUND

SO HE DOESN'T WANT TO BUILD A FIRE.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO SHOOT HIS GUN.

SO HE GOES TWO OR THREE DAYS WITHOUT EATING.

♪ [MELANCHOLY MUSIC] ♪

NARRATOR: AFTER 3 EXHAUSTING DAYS...

♪ [SUSPENSE MUSIC] ♪

MEEK FINALLY GETS A LITTLE LUCK.

♪ [SUSPENSE MUSIC] ♪

[COCKS RIFLE]

♪ [SUSPENSE MUSIC] ♪

[FIRES RIFLE]

♪ [TRIUMPHANT MUSIC] ♪

BUT MEEK'S INEXPERIENCE SHOWS ITSELF WHEN HE FORGETS

HE MIGHT NOT BE ENTIRELY ALONE ON THE FRONTIER.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

[WHOOPING SOUNDS NEARBY]

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

[LAUGHING]

WELL, LOOKY HERE!

SYKES! - WELL, IF IT AIN'T OL' JOE HIMSELF!

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: JOE OF COURSE IS OVERJOYED.

HIS COMPATRIOTS HAD NOT FORGOTTEN ABOUT HIM.

THEY HAD SENT OUT SEARCH PARTIES

AND IN FACT THEY HAVE FOUND HIM.

AREN'T YOU A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES!

GOOD TO SEE YA. HI! - HOW'S IT GOING?

YOU DONE ALRIGHT BY YOURSELF.

[CHUCKLES] I RECKON SOME OF THAT GREEN

HAS RUBBED OFF... OL' JOE!

[MEN ALL LAUGHING]

SAMUEL DOLAN: FOR MEMBERS OF SUBLETTE'S EXPEDITION,

TO REFER TO MEEK AS "OL' JOE," THAT'S REALLY

A BADGE OF HONOR.

HE'S STILL THE KID. HE STILL HAS A LOT TO LEARN,

BUT HE HAS REALLY PROVED HIS METTLE NOW.

[LAUGHING]

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BY THE SPRING OF 1832,

MEEK IS TRAPPING WITH WILLIAM SUBLETTE'S BROTHER, MILTON,

WHO IS ALSO A PARTNER OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FUR COMPANY.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID. YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID.

WHAT'S THAT ABOUT, SYKES?

JOHN GRAY IS ALL WORKED UP ABOUT SOME FOOLERY OVER HIS DAUGHTER.

HE THINKS MILT HAS DONE HER WRONG SOMEWAYS.

DID HE?

YOU ASK ME, JOHN GRAY IS A SCOUNDREL AND A LIAR.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

[MILT STABBED, MILT GROANS]

NARRATOR: BUT WHEN MILT SUBLETTE IS STABBED

DURING A HEATED ARGUMENT...

MILT! EASY, EASY, EASY.

NARRATOR: MEEK FACES A CHALLENGE

UNLIKE ANY HE HAS SEEN YET.

DON'T MOVE. YOU'RE GONNA TEAR IT UP WORSE.

SYKES, GET ME SOME WATER.

I NEED A CLEAN BANDAGE HERE.

YOU'RE A DEAD MAN, JOHN GRAY!

WHERE ARE THOSE BANDAGES?

HOLD ON, GET SOME PRESSURE THERE.

NARRATOR: THE TRAPPERS MANAGE TO STOP THE BLEEDING,

BUT MILT'S INJURY IS STILL POTENTIALLY FATAL.

IF YOU'RE SEVERELY INJURED ON THE FRONTIER IN THE

EARLY 1830s, YOU'RE A LONG WAY FROM THE CARE OF

ANY PROFESSIONAL PHYSICIAN.

NARRATOR: BY NOW MEEK KNOWS THE HARSH REALITY OF

LIFE AND DEATH ON THE FRONTIER.

♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪

HERE'S YOUR RIFLE, MILT.

♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪

JIM HARDEE: THE TRAPPERS HAVE TO KEEP GOING.

WE CAN'T ALL JUST SIT HERE WHILE MILT DIES.

IT'S REAL BAD PIECE OF LUCK, MILT, I'M SORRY.

JOE!

[PANTING]

I KNOW THE CAMP'S GOTTA MOVE ON BUT...

WOULD YOU STAY ON WITH ME A FEW DAYS?

I'LL EITHER GET WELL ENOUGH TO MARCH,

OR I'LL NEVER MARCH AGAIN.

♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪

NARRATOR: YET THE YOUNG TRAPPER REFUSES TO LET

A FRIEND DIE ALONE DESPITE THE RISK TO HIMSELF.

WHEN JOE FIRST CAME OUT, HE TURNED TO EVERYBODY ELSE TO

LEARN AND NOW HE'S IN A POSITION TO GIVE BACK.

I WILL, MILT.

I'LL TALK TO THE CAPTAIN,

AND I'LL FIX US SOME EXTRA FOOD.

THANKS, JOE.

YOU'RE A GOOD LAD.

JUST SIT TIGHT, OKAY?

NARRATOR: MEEK IS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR TWO LIVES:

HIS OWN AND MILT SUBLETTE'S WITHOUT ANY HOPE OF HELP.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

FOR AN ASTONISHING 40 DAYS, JOE MEEK IS MILT'S COOK,

BODYGUARD, DOCTOR, AND COMPANION.

MEEK WAS PATIENT AND KEPT A STEADY SUPPLY

OF FOOD, CHANGED THE WOUNDS, PROVIDED SECURITY,

OBVIOUSLY ENCOURAGEMENT. [MILT COUGHING]

[WIND HOWLING]

NARRATOR: MEEK'S GOOD NATURE AND GIFT FOR STORYTELLING

HELP MILT SUBLETTE SURVIVE A WOUND THAT WOULD HAVE

KILLED MOST OTHER MEN.

JOE: WELL HAWK AND I STRUNG UP OUR RIFLES AND WE

SWUM THE RIVER TO SEE THE BEAR WE SHOT... A REAL BIG ONE.

I'M TALKIN' OL' MAN GRIZZLY HIMSELF AND HAWK SAYS TO ME,

"JOE, I DON'T THINK THAT BEAR IS DEAD."

[BOTH LAUGHING]

SO RIGHT BACK INTO THE WATER WE GO,

OL' MAN GRIZZLY CHASING AFTER US LIKE IT'S NOAH'S FLOOD

AND WE JUST MISSED THE ARK!

[BOTH LAUGHING]

JOE KEPT SUBLETTE'S SPIRITS UP

WITH HIS GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, AND TALL TALES,

AND ROLLICKING STORIES; THE THINGS THAT MADE JOE MEEK

FAMOUS, THAT MADE HIM SUCH A CHARACTER IN THE MOUNTAINS.

♪ [PEACEFUL MUSIC] ♪

AFTER A MONTH, HIS WOUND HAD HEALED ENOUGH

THAT HE WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO GO REUNITE

WITH THE TRAPPING BRIGADE.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

♪ [DRUMS BEATING] ♪

NARRATOR: BUT WHEN MEEK AND SUBLETTE SET OUT IN SEARCH

OF THEIR COMRADES,

THEY QUICKLY RUN INTO SERIOUS TROUBLE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

THEY COME AROUND THIS BEND AND HERE'S THIS BIG

CAMP OF SHOSHONES.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

YOU RECKON WE CAN MAKE IT PAST THAT VILLAGE

IF WE STAY IN THIS GULLY?

I RECKON WE CAN TRY.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

JIM HARDEE: RIGHT AWAY, THE GUYS THAT ARE OUT WATCHING

THE HORSES SPOT THESE TWO TRAPPERS.

[WHOOPING SOUNDS NEARBY]

AW, HECK!

[WHOOPING SOUNDS]

THERE'S REALLY NOWHERE TO RUN.

THEY'RE OUTNUMBERED.

JIM HARDEE: THEIR BEST BET IS JUST TO RUN

RIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE OF THAT SHOSHONE VILLAGE

AND GO INTO THE BIG TEEPEE IN THE CENTER.

THAT WAS THE MEDICINE LODGE.

[WHOOPING SOUNDS]

RUN FOR THE MEDICINE LODGE!

[WHOOPING SOUNDS]

JACK GLADSTONE: THE MEDICINE LODGE

WOULD BE ROUGHLY ANALOGOUS TO

A CHURCH OR A CHAPEL.

AND THE SACRED NATURE

WOULD PROBABLY DIFFUSE A LOT OF HARD FEELINGS.

[WHOOPING SOUNDS OUTSIDE]

HOLD ON, JOE. DON'T GET ANY FOOL IDEAS.

THIS JUST MIGHT WORK IF WE DON'T START A SCRAP IN HERE.

[WHOOPING SOUNDS OUTSIDE]

[SPEAKING SHOSHONE]

[WHOOPING SOUNDS OUTSIDE]

JIM HARDEE: AND HERE COME ALL THE SHOSHONES

INSIDE THIS TEEPEE,

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW,

"WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK YOU'RE DOING?"

SHOSHONE BRAVES: [SPEAKING SHOSHONE]

AND THE TRAPPERS AREN'T SAYING A WORD.

THEY'RE TRYING THEIR BEST NOT TO SHOW ANY FEAR.

SHOWING THAT BRAVADO.

NARRATOR: BUT EVEN IF THEY SURVIVE THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES,

THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY'LL MAKE IT OUT

OF THE VILLAGE ALIVE.

NARRATOR: AFTER TAKING REFUGE IN A SHOSHONE MEDICINE LODGE,

THE LIVES OF JOE MEEK AND MILT SUBLETTE HANG IN THE BALANCE.

[SHOSHONE YELLING]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: MEEK AND SUBLETTE

REALIZE THAT THE DISCUSSION

THAT'S GOING ON IS REALLY A DISCUSSION

ABOUT LIFE OR DEATH.

SHOSHONE BRAVES: [SPEAKING SHOSHONE]

JIM HARDEE: THEY'RE STARTING TO THINK THAT

IT'S NOT GONNA GO WELL.

EVERYBODY THAT'S IN THAT ROOM IS SAYING

"WE NEED TO TAKE THESE TRAPPERS OUT.

WE'RE GONNA KILL THEM."

NARRATOR: MEEK AND SUBLETTE CAN DO NOTHING BUT WAIT

IN AGONIZING SUSPENSE AS THE DEBATE ABOUT

THEIR LIFE OR DEATH GOES ON.

I SAY WE RUSH THESE GUYS AND TAKE A FEW OF 'EM WITH US.

JOE, JOE, JOE!

HOLD ON, BE STILL.

JUST DON'T SHOW FEAR.

SHOSHONE BRAVES: [SPEAKING SHOSHONE]

SHOSHONE BRAVES: [WAR CRIES]

GOTIA: [SIGN LANGUAGE]

GOTIA: [SIGN LANGUAGE]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: MEEK HAS NEVER FELT MORE HELPLESS

THAN HE DOES NOW.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

HE CAN DO AND THEIR LIVES,

OF COURSE, ARE HANGING IN THE BALANCE.

MAYBE WE MAKE A RUN FOR IT AT DARK? THEY AIN'T STUPID.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT US TO DO.

THE SECOND WE LEAVE THIS LODGE, THEY'LL CHOP US TO BITS.

[SIGHS]

THEY'VE PLACED THEMSELVES IN THIS SITUATION.

IT WAS THEIR ONLY RECOURSE.

BUT NOW, IT LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF IT.

NARRATOR: BUT FORTUNE HAS YET ANOTHER TWIST OF FATE

IN STORE FOR JOE MEEK.

♪ ♪

GOTIA: [SIGN LANGUAGE]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: MUCH TO THE SURPRISE

OF SUBLETTE AND MEEK, THOUGH,

THE ONE THAT THEY FEARED THE MOST

NOW TURNED OUT TO BE THEIR SAVIOR.

GOTIA: [SIGN LANGUAGE]

NARRATOR: FOR REASONS MEEK WILL NEVER KNOW,

THE INTIMIDATING WAR CHIEF GOTIA DECIDES THAT HE

AND MILT SUBLETTE WILL LIVE.

WELL, JOE, YOU CAN THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS FOR THIS ONE.

♪ ♪

FORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF GOTIA,

THEY'RE ABLE TO ESCAPE AND SURVIVE.

THAT EXPERIENCE WILL SHAPE MEEK'S ATTITUDE

FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: JOE MEEK LEARNED THAT HE DIDN'T

WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE HE WAS SO POWERLESS.

HE WAS NEVER GOING TO ALLOW HIMSELF TO BE IN SUCH A

HORRIFIC SITUATION EVER AGAIN.

NARRATOR: AFTER SIX YEARS ON THE FRONTIER,

JOE MEEK HAS GROWN INTO A SEASONED

AND SKILLED MOUNTAIN MAN.

JIM HARDEE: JOE HAS WORKED HIS WAY UP THROUGH THE RANKS

TO BECOME A FREE TRAPPER.

WHICH MEANS THAT NOW HE'S TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIMSELF.

AND HE HOOKED UP WITH JIM BRIDGER

AND HIS BRIGADE OF FREE TRAPPERS.

I HATE TO ASK, JOE,

BUT YOU'RE THE BEST SCOUT IN CAMP.

IF YOU LIKE, I CAN PULL YOU FOR THE SEASON

SO YOU GET REGULAR PAY.

AH, THANK YA, JIM,

BUT I'M A FREE TRAPPER BY CHOICE.

I'LL DO A FAVOR FOR A FRIEND, BUT I WON'T TAKE

NO ORDERS FROM NO BOSS.

WELL, THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU'D BE A PARTNER IN A YEAR OR TWO.

PARTNERS? [LAUGHS]

KEEP THE GREENHORNS ALIVE, CHECK THE CLERK'S BOOKS,

SHARE EVERY PENNY I MAKE WITH THE BANKERS IN ST. LOUIS?

DON'T MEAN NO DISRESPECT, JIM.

LISTEN, IF I WANTED A PARTNER, YOU'D BE MY CHOICE.

BUT AS LONG AS THERE'S A HORIZON I AIN'T CROSSED YET,

I'LL BE BEHOLDEN TO NONE.

BRIDGER: STAY THREE OR FOUR DAYS AHEAD OF US AND TURN

AROUND RIGHT QUICK YOU SEE ANY INDIANS WHO'D RATHER

FIGHT THAN TRADE.

COUNT ON ME, OLD FRIEND.

COME ON.

NARRATOR: RIDING INTO COUNTRY CONTROLLED BY

THE FEARSOME CROW TRIBE, MEEK BEGINS

THE MOST HARROWING ORDEAL OF HIS LIFE.

TWO DAYS RIDE FROM BRIDGER'S CAMP, HE ENCOUNTERS SCOUTS

FOR A CROW WAR PARTY.

JIM HARDEE: THE CROW HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY

UNPREDICTABLE VIRTUALLY FROM

THE TIME AMERICANS CAME INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

MOST OF THE TIME THEY WERE FRIENDLY.

COME ON, GIRL.

COME ON.

THEY TENDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SITUATIONS.

YOU FIND A LONE GUY OUT THERE, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT

ONE LONE GUY, AND NOBODY HAS TO KNOW IT WAS US.

AW, HECK, COME ON!

LET'S GO!

COME ON!

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: SUDDENLY, JOE MEEK IS RACING FOR HIS LIFE.

♪ ♪

[CROWS YELLING]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE CROWS MOVE IN ALL AROUND JOE.

THEY GOT HIM HEMMED IN.

[CROWS YELLING]

THE BOLD: GIVE US YOUR GUN, THEN WE WON'T KILL YOU.

NARRATOR: MEEK HAS ALREADY ENDURED A TERRIFYING

EXPERIENCE AS A CAPTIVE OF NATIVE WARRIORS,

AND VOWED NEVER TO REPEAT IT.

IT'S A STANDOFF.

WHO'S GONNA FIRE FIRST?

CROW WARRIOR: [SPEAKING CROW]

[CROW YELL]

NARRATOR: BUT ALTHOUGH HE LETS HIMSELF BE CAPTURED,

JOE MEEK IS ALREADY PLANNING HIS ESCAPE.

CROW WARRIOR: [SPEAKING CROW]

NARRATOR: AFTER BEING CHASED DOWN

BY A PARTY OF CROW WARRIORS,

FAMED FRONTIERSMAN JOE MEEK FACES A STARK CHOICE:

SURRENDER OR DIE ON THE SPOT.

♪ ♪

[SPEAKING CROW]

JIM HARDEE: AS MEEK HAS GONE THROUGH HIS TRAPPING CAREER,

HE'S LEARNED YOU NEVER SAY "GIVE UP".

THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE A WAY, AND THAT'S WHAT

HE STARTED TO LOOK FOR.

HE'S THINKIN', "WHERE'S MY WAY?

HOW AM I GETTIN' OUT OF THIS?"

♪ ♪

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE CROW CHIEF IS CALLED THE BOLD.

AND THE BOLD OFFERS A DEAL TO JOE.

I HAVE KNOWN THE WHITES FOR A LONG TIME,

AND I KNOW THEM TO BE GREAT LIARS, DESERVING OF DEATH.

BUT IF YOU TELL THE TRUTH, YOU WILL LIVE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THEY WON'T KILL HIM IF HE TELLS THEM

WHERE THE OTHER TRAPPERS ARE AND HOW MANY OF THEM THERE ARE.

WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR CAPTAIN?

MY CAPTAIN IS THE BLANKET CHIEF, JIM BRIDGER.

BRIDGER.

CROW WARRIORS: [LAUGH]

WE KNOW THE BLANKET CHIEF.

HOW MANY MEN DOES HE COMMAND?

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE BOLD WANTS MEEK, ESSENTIALLY,

TO BETRAY HIS OWN PEOPLE AND WORK WITH THE CROWS

TO KILL THE MOUNTAIN MEN.

BUT IF HE DOESN'T, HIS LIFE WILL BE FORFEIT.

DO NOT FEAR.

TELL THE TRUTH.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: MEEK BEGINS KIND OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL

GAMBIT TO OUTSMART THE CROW CHIEF

AND SAVE HIS OWN LIFE.

HE HAS 40 MEN.

40 MEN.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BUT OF COURSE, HE'S TELLING

A HUGE LIE.

BRIDGER'S GOT 240 MEN.

HE'S GOT THE CROWS WAY OUTNUMBERED.

SO PERHAPS, IF THEY CAN GET TO THE TRAPPER CAMP,

MEEK CAN BE SAVED YET AGAIN.

WE WILL MAKE THEM POOR.

YOU WILL LIVE,

BUT THEY SHALL DIE.

[GROANS, CROW YELL]

NARRATOR: MEEK HOPES HE'S TRICKED THE CROW

INTO ATTACKING BRIDGER'S CAMP, BUT HE KNOWS HE'LL SUFFER

A PAINFUL DEATH IF HIS LIE IS DISCOVERED BEFORE HE ESCAPES.

AT THE END OF THE THIRD DAY OF TRAVEL,

JOE MEEK RUNS OUT OF TIME.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE PARTY FINALLY

COMES OVER A RISE,

AND DOWN BELOW IS THE TRAPPER ENCAMPMENT.

NARRATOR: AS SOON AS THE BOLD SEES THE TRUE SIZE

OF BRIDGER'S CAMP, HE KNOWS THAT JOE MEEK

HAS BEEN LYING TO HIM FOR DAYS.

JIM HARDEE: THERE'S OVER 200 MEN DOWN THERE.

AND NOW HE KNOWS HE-

HE CAN'T TAKE ON 200 MEN.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF

THE CAMP, HIS OWN PEOPLE

ARE NOW IN GRAVE DANGER.

THE BOLD IS ENRAGED, OF COURSE.

YOU TRIED TO TRICK ME INTO ATTACKING A CAMP SO LARGE.

YOU THINK I'M A FOOL.

YOU ARE A LIAR, BUT I AM NOT.

I TOLD YOU IF YOU LIED, THAT YOU WOULD DIE.

NARRATOR: MEEK HAS ONLY MOMENTS TO LIVE.

THE BOLD: LET IT BE SO.

KILL THE WHITE MAN.

NARRATOR: AND IF HE CAN'T TURN THE TABLES AGAIN,

HIS NEXT BREATH WILL BE HIS LAST.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: HAVING BEEN CAPTURED BY THE CROW TRIBE,

AND NOW CAUGHT IN A LIE ABOUT THE SIZE

OF JIM BRIDGER'S BRIGADE.

KILL THE WHITE MAN.

NARRATOR: JOE MEEK'S DEATH IS ALL BUT ASSURED.

BUT AT THE VERY LAST MOMENT, FATE DEALS JOE MEEK

A LUCKY BREAK YET AGAIN.

PETE, PETE!

HEY! HEY!

JIM HARDEE: ABOUT THAT TIME, THE GUYS THAT ARE WATCHIN'

THE HERD OF HORSES THAT BELONG TO THE TRAPPING BRIGADE,

THEY SEE WHAT'S GOIN' ON.

PETE!

GET OFF ME!

LOOK, LOOK!

MY FRIENDS HAVE SEEN ME AS YOUR PRISONER.

IF YOU KILL ME, THE BLANKET CHIEF WON'T STOP UNTIL

ALL OF YOU ARE DEAD!

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE BOLD IS FURIOUS THAT MEEK HAD LIED TO HIM.

THIS ISN'T A CAMP THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON,

AND HE'S NOW HAD THE TABLES COMPLETELY TURNED AND HE'S

IN A DESPERATE SITUATION.

NARRATOR: BUT THE BOLD ISN'T GOING TO LET A VALUABLE

HOSTAGE JUST WALK AWAY SCOT FREE.

GO SPEAK WITH YOUR FRIEND.

TELL HIM THAT I WILL SPEAK WITH THE BLANKET CHIEF.

NARRATOR: INSTEAD, HE'LL TRY TO RANSOM MEEK FOR THE HORSES,

GUNS, AND POWDER THAT BRIDGER'S CAMP HOLDS IN ABUNDANCE.

♪ [SUSPENSE] ♪

HEY, PETE!

IT'S OLD JOE!

DON'T COME UP HERE, JUST GET THE CAPTAIN AND TELL HIM TO

COME UP HERE AND SEE HOW ALL THIS LIES!

BE QUICK ABOUT IT!

JIM HARDEE: THE HORSE GUARD SEES THEM.

AND JOE IS ABLE TO SAY,

"GET BRIDGER OUT HERE, WE GOTTA FIGURE THIS OUT."

THE BLANKET CHIEF WILL COME.

I HOPE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOIN'.

JIM HARDEE: AT THIS POINT JIM BRIDGER HAS

A PRETTY HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT

HIS GUYS ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO

WITHSTAND THE ONSLAUGHT

OF THIS FORCE THAT'S HALF THEIR SIZE.

BUT HE DOESN'T WANT JOE TO GET HURT EITHER,

SO HE'S GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

YOU ALL RIGHT, OLD JOE?

I MET SOME NEW FRIENDS.

CARE TO MEET 'EM?

MAYBE NOT JUST NOW.

I SURE WOULD LIKE TO GET YOU OUT OF WHATEVER MESS THIS IS.

JIM HARDEE: IT BECOMES A CHESS MATCH.

THEY'RE TRYIN' TO FIGURE OUT, HOW DO WE WORK THIS OUT?

I GOT AN IDEA.

WHAT SAY YOU SMOKE WITH ONE OF THESE CHIEFS?

I'LL BRING HIM RIGHT THERE,

DOWN NEAR THAT HOLLOW.

AND THINKIN' THERE'S GONNA BE A WAY.

THERE'S GONNA BE A DOOR THAT OPENS.

THEY COME UP WITH THIS IDEA OF A PARLEY.

THAT'LL DO.

TELL THE OLD MAN I'LL PARLEY IF HE SENDS DOWN A CHIEF.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: JOE MEEK TRUSTED THE CLEVERNESS

OF JIM BRIDGER, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN

THAT COULD LEAD TO HIS RESCUE.

WELL, THE BOLD REALIZES THAT HE'S GONNA HAVE TO NEGOTIATE.

BUT BRIDGER SAYS THAT HE'S NOT GONNA JUST NEGOTIATE WITH ANYONE.

HE NEEDS TO NEGOTIATE WITH A CHIEF.

NARRATOR: AFTER CAREFUL THOUGHT, THE BOLD CHOOSES

A DARING CHIEF CALLED LITTLE GUN AS HIS EMISSARY.

[SHOSHONE SHOUTING]

JIM HARDEE: JOE'S STILL WONDERING

"NOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?"

YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IT'S OUT OF HIS HANDS NOW.

SO HE JUST HAS TO KIND OF WATCH.

LITTLE GUN, THE CROW SUB CHIEF,

ADVANCES TOWARD THE AMERICANS.

BUT HE'S UNAWARE THAT BRIDGER HAS SENT SEVERAL OF HIS

MEN TO ENCIRCLE THE AREA WHERE THE MEETING IS TO TAKE PLACE.

♪ [SUSPENSE] ♪

GRAB HIM, BOYS!

TRAPPER: HOLD IT, HOLD IT!

- CALM DOWN, NOW! - EASY!

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: AND BEFORE HE KNOWS IT,

HE'S UNDER THEIR GUNS

AND HE'S CAPTURED.

NARRATOR: MEEK, WITH BRIDGER'S HELP,

HAS SUDDENLY EVENED THE ODDS.

BUT HE'S STILL NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

WE MAKE A TRADE!

YOUR MAN, FOR OURS!

WHAT YOU SAY?

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE BOLD REALIZES THAT HE'S BEEN HAD.

AND NOW HE REALLY HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO ENGAGE

IN SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS.

ALL RIGHT, BOYS.

GET READY.

NARRATOR: JOE MEEK MAY FINALLY BE ON THE VERGE OF RESCUE.

UNLESS THE RAGE OF HIS CAPTORS EXPLODES INTO A BLOODY

CLOSE-QUARTERS BATTLE.

NARRATOR: AFTER THREE HARROWING DAYS AS A CAPTIVE OF

A CROW WAR PARTY,

FRONTIERSMAN JOE MEEK IS FINALLY ON THE VERGE OF FREEDOM...

UNLESS THE SIMMERING TENSION BOILS OVER INTO BLOODSHED.

♪ ♪

[SCREAMS]

I CANNOT LOSE A GREAT CHIEF

FOR THE SCALP OF A WHITE DOG.

♪ ♪

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: LIKE ONE OF THOSE COLD WAR MOMENTS

WHERE SPIES ARE EXCHANGED ON A BRIDGE

IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S PLAYING OUT HERE IN

THIS MOUNTAIN SETTING.

NARRATOR: MEEK IS MOMENTS AWAY FROM SAFETY,

UNLESS A TRIGGER-HAPPY TRAPPER OR WARRIOR OPENS FIRE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

BUT AT LAST, THE PRISONERS ARE EXCHANGED WITHOUT VIOLENCE.

MIGHTY FINE TO SEE YOU, CHIEF.

GO IN PEACE.

[IN CROW] SHIAM-SAPSUSA, HAKO.

JEFF HENGESBAUGH: IN THE END, JOE

OUTSMARTED THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUTSMARTING HIM.

AND THAT'S THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THAT WHOLE DEAL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK, OLD JOE.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK. MEN: [LAUGH]

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO BACK TO CAMP.

COME ON.

JIM, I KNEW YOU'D COME THROUGH.

[LAUGHS]

WHAT WAS THAT HE CALLED YOU?

I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE.

AH, IT WAS "SHOSHINA- SHOSAINA."

I THINK IT MEANS, "BETTER LIAR THAN THE CROW."

[LAUGHS]

HOW'D YOU GET INTO THIS MESS, OLD JOE?

GO ON, YOU KNOW I LIKE A GOOD TALE.

AH, JIM, IT'S ONE HECK OF A STORY.

NARRATOR: FEW OTHER MOUNTAIN MEN WOULD EVER LIVE

AS ADVENTUROUS A LIFE AS JOE MEEK.

JOE MEEK MAY HAVE HAD

A FEW SHORTCOMINGS WHEN IT CAME TO

A FORMAL EDUCATION, BUT HE EARNED HIS

DEGREE IN THE LIFE OF BEING A MOUNTAIN MAN IN THE FAR WEST

IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

I THINK THE GREATEST BLESSING OF ALL

IS HE HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR. - [LAUGHING]

THAT EVEN IN THE THICK THINGS, YOU COULD LAUGH.

HE HAS LEFT A TRAIL OF SUCCESS

THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, "STICK WITH ME,

WE'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT."

SAMUEL K. DOLAN: HE'S LOOKED UPON AS THIS REALLY BELOVED

FIGURE WHO SORT OF REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE

OF AMERICANS IN THE FAR WEST.

♪ ♪