Original subtitles

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ON HIS AMBITIOUS FIRST EXPEDITION

INTO AMERICA'S UNCHARTED WILDERNESS,

PIONEERING TRAPPER ANDREW HENRY HAS LED HIS MEN

DEEP INTO TERRITORY CONTROLLED BY THE BLACKFEET TRIBE.

♪ ♪

AND ALTHOUGH REPEATED AMBUSHES HAVE DECIMATED HIS MEN

AND LEFT HIS VENTURE IN PERIL,

HENRY HAS GIVEN HIS WORD THAT HE'LL COMPLETE HIS MISSION.

A VOW HE INTENDS TO KEEP...

NO MATER WHAT THE COST.

SHH.

[SOFT FOOTSTEPS]

WEIR: WHAT IS IT? HENRY: SHH.

♪ ♪

BLACKFEET WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

HENRY: BLACKFEET!

TAKE COVER!

[GUNFIRE]

NARRATOR: BUT NOW, HENRY'S PRIDE HAS LED HIM INTO

WHAT COULD BE HIS FINAL BATTLE.

AND HE MAY SOON PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE.

WATCH YOUR FLANK!

[GUNFIRE]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: ANDREW HENRY IS AN UNSUNG HERO OF THE FRONTIER ERA.

A PIONEERING LEADER AND EXPLORER,

AND A MAN WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISES...

NO MATTER THE COST.

JIM HARDEE: ANDREW HENRY WAS A MAN OF HIGH INTEGRITY.

IF HE HAD UH A JOB TO DO, HE WAS GONNA GET IT DONE.

MARK WILLIAM KELLEY: PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS A MAN OF HIS WORD.

AND HE IS NOT GONNA BACK DOWN.

AND HE DID EVERYTHING HE SAID HE WOULD DO

TO THE VERY BEST OF HIS ABILITY.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: IN 1809, ANDREW HENRY IS A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN

ON AMERICA'S WESTERN FRONTIER, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

RON ANGLIN: HENRY'S INVOLVED IN THE LEAD MINING BUSINESS.

BUT HE'S ALSO A LEADER OF MEN.

AND HONESTY AND HIS INTEGRITY WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.

NARRATOR: THESE QUALITIES WILL BE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO

THE DARING VENTURE IN WHICH HE'S BECOME AN INVESTOR AND PARTNER.

A MAJOR TRAPPING EXPEDITION THAT WILL SOON DEPART

FOR THE LITTLE-KNOWN HEADWATERS OF THE MISSOURI RIVER.

♪ ♪

HA!

MR. MENARD!

A PLEASURE, AS ALWAYS.

MR. HENRY!

AUSPICIOUS DAY, NO?

INDEED IT IS.

YOU SEEM TO HAVE EVERYTHING WELL IN HAND HERE.

IT IS NOT WITHOUT DIFFICULTY.

TO GET AN HONEST DAY'S WORK FROM THESE-

GUTTER RATS OF ST. LOUIS.

MENARD: BUT BE ASSURED, MONSIEUR HENRY,

YOUR INVESTMENT IS IN EXCELLENT HANDS.

NARRATOR: HENRY'S NEW PARTNERS ARE TWO OF THE MOST

INFLUENTIAL MEN ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER.

MANUEL LISA IS AN ESTABLISHED BRIGADE LEADER

WITH A REPUTATION FOR BEING HOT-TEMPERED.

IF YOU TALKED ABOUT ANYBODY THAT HAD MORE POWER

AND MORE KNOWLEDGE, I DON'T THINK YOU COULD FIND

ANYONE FINER THAN MANUEL LISA.

NARRATOR: THEIR OTHER PARTNER IS PIERRE MENARD,

A WELL-CONNECTED BUSINESSMAN AND POLITICIAN

IN THE ILLINOIS TERRITORY.

YOU KNOW, I HOPE TO BE OF USE

FOR MORE THAN JUST MY POCKETBOOK.

AS A MAN OF HONOR,

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE OF VALUE IN VENTURES SUCH AS THIS.

IMBECILE!

MIND WHERE YOU'RE GOING!

♪ ♪

WOULDN'T THE LOADING GO FASTER IF ALL THE MEN HELPED?

THE VOYAGEURS?

OH, NO, SIR.

THESE ARE SKILLED RIVER-MEN OF CANADA.

NARRATOR: THE CREW INCLUDES BOTH INEXPERIENCED AMERICANS

AND VETERAN CANADIAN BOATMEN KNOWN AS VOYAGEURS,

INCLUDING A GENUINE FRONTIER CELEBRITY.

GEORGE DROUILLARD

VOYAGED WITH LEWIS & CLARK TO THE FARTHEST WEST.

A GREAT MAN OF THE FRONTIER.

THEN I'M HAPPY TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

MES OUI.

THESE NOUVEAUX ARRIVANTS

NEED MEN OF EXPERIENCE TO GUIDE THEM.

ANDRE!

SO GOOD TO SEE YOU!

MANUEL LISA, FRANCOIS VALLE.

PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

ENCHANTE.

NARRATOR: ALSO JOINING THE EXPEDITION IS FRANCOIS VALLE,

A CLOSE FRIEND OF HENRY'S,

WHO HAS NO FRONTIER EXPERIENCE AT ALL.

FRANCOIS VALLE AGREES THAT, YEAH, HE'D LIKE TO GO

BECAUSE IF HE CONTRIBUTES A LITTLE MONEY,

THEN HE STANDS TO INCREASE HIS INCOME.

A BIT OVERDRESSED FOR THE FRONTIER, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?

WELL, I- I'M SURE I'LL BE WEARING MOUNTAIN HIDES

LIKE A MOUNTAIN MAN SOON ENOUGH.

MAY AS WELL ENJOY THE FINER THINGS WHILE I STILL CAN.

MR. HENRY.

WE MUST DISCUSS THE EXPENSES INCURRED THUS FAR.

PLEASE.

ADD A CASE OF CHAMPAGNE, WILL YOU?

[LAUGHS]

NARRATOR: FOR BOTH HENRY AND HIS FRIEND FRANCOIS VALLE,

THE EXPEDITION WILL BE A JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN.

BUT DESPITE THEIR CAREFUL PREPARATIONS AND HIGH HOPES,

NEITHER HAS ANY IDEA OF THE ORDEAL THAT LIES AHEAD.

♪ ♪

THE EXPEDITION ANDREW HENRY JOINS WILL TRAVEL

2000 MILES INTO LARGELY UNKNOWN TERRITORY,

SEEKING THE MOST VALUABLE COMMODITY ON THE FRONTIER:

BEAVER FUR.

BUT JUST A FEW WEEKS INTO THE JOURNEY

AND STILL HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM THEIR DESTINATION,

THE AMERICAN CREW IS STARTING TO FEEL THE STRAIN.

THE AMERICANS ARE NO MATCH FOR THE FRENCH VOYAGEURS ON THE RIVER.

AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING QUITE THE SAME QUALITY OF FOOD

THAT THESE FRENCH VOYAGEURS ARE GETTING.

BOILED CORN AGAIN!

NOT EVEN A PINCH OF SALT?

I'LL WARRANT THE PARTNERS GET SALT.

YOU MANGEURS DE LARD WOULD NOT HAVE LASTED A DAY

WITH THE CAPITAINES LEWIS AND CLARK.

WHAT'D YOU CALL ME?

A MANGEUR DE LARD.

A PORK EATER.

IT IS TO SAY, "A USELESS MAN."

YOU ARE A GREENHORN WHO HASN'T EVEN TASTED THE BUFFALO YET.

WE AIN'T HAD PORK IN NIGH ON TWO MONTHS.

THERE'S BARRELS O' SALT PORK SITTIN' RIGHT OVER HERE!

MATTER OF FACT, I SAY WE TAKE SOME RIGHT NOW, BOYS.

JAMES CHEEK WAS A TOUGH GUY.

HE WANTED TO FIGHT EVERYBODY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE

HE WAS BEING TREATED FAIR AND SQUARE.

WHAT THE DEVIL IS THIS? HUH?

WE'VE BEEN PULLIN' YOUR BOAT UP RIVER ALL WEEK,

AND WE'RE STARVIN'! I AIM TO REMEDY THAT.

YOU UNGRATEFUL WRETCH.

YOU WILL SIT DOWN AND YOU WILL EAT WHAT YOU ARE GIVEN.

I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO THAT WAY BY ANY BLASTED SPANIARD!

WHOA, ENOUGH! ENOUGH!

NARRATOR: HENRY'S FIRST JOURNEY INTO THE WEST

IS SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL,

FORCING HIM TO PERSONALLY PREVENT A VIOLENT CLASH.

LISA, THE MEN ARE HUNGRY.

THEY WILL BE HUNGRIER STILL! MEN: [YELLING]

FOR NOW WE CAN SHOW THE EXAMPLE OF DISCIPLINE.

MENARD, FETCH ME MY WHIP.

NO! NO! THERE'LL BE NO SUCH PUNISHMENTS HERE.

SUCH WEAKNESS NOW WILL BRING MORE MISCHIEF NEXT TIME.

DEAL WITH THIS AS YOU WISH.

MEN: [CHEER]

SHUT UP, YOU BUFFOONS!

THERE WILL BE NO MORE INSUBORDINATION.

NOW THE PORK WILL BE SHARED OUT TWICE A WEEK,

STARTING TONIGHT.

BUT NOT FOR YOU. IT'S BREAD AND WATER FOR YOU.

AND KEEP YOUR FOOLISH IDEAS TO YOURSELF.

NARRATOR: THE DISCORD IS A TROUBLING SIGN OF THINGS TO COME,

ESPECIALLY SINCE THE TRUE PERILS OF THE TREK STILL LIE AHEAD.

♪ ♪

1500 MILES UPRIVER FROM ST. LOUIS, HENRY AND HIS MEN

REACH THE VILLAGES OF THE GROS VENTRE TRIBE

AND HAVE A CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A LIVING LEGEND OF THE FRONTIER.

JOHN COLTER!

[LAUGHTER]

I THOUGHT WE'D NOT SEE YOU AGAIN.

YEAH, I WAS HOPIN' FOR THE SAME THING.

NARRATOR: LIKE DROUILLARD, JOHN COLTER IS A VETERAN

OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK CORPS OF DISCOVERY,

AND HE'S WORKED FOR MANUEL LISA BEFORE.

COLTER'S THERE BY HIMSELF AT THE GROS VENTRE,

AND HE'S ON HIS WAY DOWNRIVER.

NONE OF 'EM KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT COLTER

WHEN THAT EXPEDITION COMES UP RIVER.

THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT HE WAS DEAD.

NARRATOR: COLTER'S ENDURED A TERRIFYING ORDEAL SINCE

THE LAST TIME HE SAW MANUEL LISA AND GEORGE DROUILLARD.

BUT FOR NOW, HE KEEPS THE TALE TO HIMSELF.

COLTER: WHAT ARE YOU BOYS DOING UP HERE?

WE ARE TRAVELING TO THE THREE FORKS

TO MAKE A TRADE WITH THE BLACKFEET.

BLACKFEET'LL KILL YOU BEFORE THEY TRADE YOU A SINGLE PELT.

EVERY MAN HAS HIS PRICE. EVEN THE BLACKFEET.

COLTER: YEAH, THEY GOT A PRICE, ALL RIGHT.

AND IT'LL BE YOUR HEAD.

NARRATOR: COLTER'S DIRE WARNING LEAVES HENRY TROUBLED

ABOUT WHAT AWAITS THEM AT THEIR ULTIMATE DESTINATION...

LET'S FIND US SOME SUPPER.

NARRATOR: THE DISTANT REGION KNOWN AS THREE FORKS.

♪ ♪

THREE FORKS WAS THE PLACE WHERE THE JEFFERSON, THE MADISON,

AND THE GALLATIN RIVERS COME TOGETHER TO FORM THE MISSOURI.

BUT ALSO IT'S THE HOME TO THE BLACKFEET,

THE BLACKFEET CONSIDER IT THEIR PROPERTY.

AND THE BLACKFEET WERE NOT GONNA ALLOW THE AMERICANS IN THERE.

NARRATOR: BUT AS THEY PREPARE TO DEPART FOR THIS DANGEROUS LAND,

A MORE IMMEDIATE CRISIS ARRIVES.

RECKON I BETTER WIN THIS.

CAN'T MAKE MONEY ANY OTHER WAY.

I'M AFRAID THERE'S NO MONEY TO BE MADE THIS WAY EITHER.

NARRATOR: NOT ONLY HAVE THE AMERICANS BEEN MISTREATED,

THEY THINK THEY'RE BEING CHEATED

OUT OF THEIR CHANCE TO ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY.

HOW THE HECK ARE WE GONNA GET PAID, MR. HENRY?

YOU SEEN THEM TRAPS LISA LEFT US?

RUSTED OLD PILES O' JUNK!

THEM TRAPS WOULDN'T CATCH A BEAVER UNLESS

THE CRITTER DIED FROM LAUGHIN' AT IT.

THE PARTNERS ARE LIARS AND CHEATS.

HEY, YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT. SAME AS ME.

CHEEK: AND WHERE IS LISA'S HONOR?

I TELL YOU, I CATCH HIM ALONE, I'LL SHOOT HIM.

I SWEAR I WOULD.

DO YOU SWEAR IT, MR. CHEEK?

I DO. MARK MY WORDS.

YOU WILL NEVER RETURN FROM THREE FORKS ALIVE.

NARRATOR: WITH OPEN THREATS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST HIS PARTNERS,

HENRY NOW FACES NOT JUST THE PROSPECT OF MUTINY...

MR. HENRY, MEET ME BY THE RIVER LANDING IN ONE HOUR.

NARRATOR: BUT THE END OF HIS FIRST EXPEDITION INTO THE WEST.

♪ ♪

MARK MY WORDS.

YOU WILL NEVER RETURN FROM THREE FORKS ALIVE.

NARRATOR: JAMES CHEEK, A TRAPPER UNDER ANDREW HENRY'S

COMMAND HAS THREATENED TO KILL EXPEDITION LEADER MANUEL LISA...

MR. HENRY, MEET ME BY THE RIVER LANDING IN ONE HOUR.

NARRATOR: AND NOW, HENRY COULD LOSE HIS POSITION

AS A PARTNER ON THE EXPEDITION.

BUT HENRY ISN'T PREPARED FOR WHAT

MANUEL LISA HAS TO TELL HIM.

MR. HENRY. MONSIEUR VALLE.

I MUST INFORM YOU THAT I AM RETURNING TO ST. LOUIS.

SURE YOU'RE NOT LEAVING ON ACCOUNT OF CHEEK

AND HIS FOOLISH THREATS?

YOUR AMERICANS ARE LIKE DOGS.

A DOG BARKS, WHAT IS IT TO ME?

AND IF IT BITES, WE SHOOT IT DOWN.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

PERHAPS YOU SHOULD LEAVE, WHILE YOU STILL CAN.

MANUEL, WHO THEN WILL LEAD THE EXPEDITION TO THREE FORKS?

AS YOU BOTH ARE PARTNERS YOU WILL SHARE IN THE COMMAND.

♪ ♪

MENARD CAN ATTEND TO OUR ROUTE AND SUPPLY.

I WILL COMMAND THE MEN.

YOUR WEAKNESS IN THE WAY OF DISCIPLINE SUGGESTS YOU CANNOT.

YOU FAVOR THE VOYAGEURS OVER THE AMERICANS.

AND THEY RESENT IT.

THESE ARE MEN OF GOOD CHARACTER.

BUT THEY WILL NOT TAKE ORDERS FROM THOSE WHO LACK IT.

IS IT YOUR INTENTION TO INSULT ME?

IT'S JUST A FACT.

I'LL TAKE EVERY MAN WHO'S WILLIN' TO THREE FORKS.

AND I'LL BUILD OUR FORT AND BRING BACK OUR FURS.

YOU HAVE MY WORD ON THAT.

♪ ♪

ANDREW HENRY HAS NEVER BEEN ON THE MISSOURI RIVER.

HE'S NEVER BEEN A FUR TRAPPER OR A TRADER.

BUT HE CAME UP THERE TO DO A JOB AND THAT WAS

TO GO TO THREE FORKS AND TRAP BEAVER FOR THE COMPANY.

HE'S MADE A COMMITMENT.

HE WANTS TO FULFILL HIS COMMITMENT.

THEN WE WILL SEE IF YOUR WORD

IS WORTH AS MUCH TO ME AS YOUR MONEY.

NARRATOR: BUT THIS NEW BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY

ISN'T JUST ABOUT FINANCIAL SUCCESS.

IT ALSO COULD MEAN LIFE OR DEATH TO THE MEN HE LEADS.

♪ ♪

IN OCTOBER 1809, THE EXPEDITION MARCHES FOR THREE FORKS,

AND HENRY TURNS TO THE ONLY PERSON HE CAN

FOR HELP WITH THE ORDEAL THAT LIES AHEAD.

♪ ♪

JOHN...

I'M GONNA NEED A GUIDE.

I BELIEVE FORTUNE HAS PLACED YOU IN MY PATH.

I'M SORRY.

BUT I VOWED NEVER TO GO BACK THERE AGAIN.

ARE THE BLACKFEET TRULY THAT TERRIFYING?

COLTER'S HAD TWO NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES AT THREE FORKS.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T WANNA GO INTO DARKNESS,

AND HE WENT INTO DARKNESS A COUPLE OF TIMES.

IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE I'VE SLEPT IN A BED

BENEATH A SOLID ROOF.

I'VE SEEN THINGS THAT NO WHITE MAN HAS EVER SEEN BEFORE.

AND I'VE NEVER REGRETTED COMIN' TO THESE MOUNTAINS.

EXCEPT ONCE.

WHEN I WENT TO THREE FORKS.

[REMEMBERING WAR CRIES]

THEY ARE TERRIFYIN'.

♪ ♪

WELL, I GAVE MY WORD.

SO I'M HEADED TO THREE FORKS DESPITE THE DANGER.

YOU'D HAVE MY GRATITUDE IF YOU CAN TAKE US THERE.

♪ ♪

COLTER HAS ALREADY HAD MAJOR DISTURBANCES WITH THE BLACKFOOT.

[REMEMBERING WAR CRIES]

HE'S PROBABLY LUCKY TO STILL BE ALIVE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, HE KNOWS HOW TO GET THERE.

♪ ♪

I'LL TAKE YOU, ANDREW.

IF YOU TRULY MUST GO.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AS WINTER TURNS TO SPRING,

COLTER LEADS ANDREW HENRY'S BRIGADE DEEPER INTO A WILDERNESS

WHERE FEW AMERICANS HAVE EVER TREKKED.

BUT WITH EVERY PASSING MILE, COLTER'S DREAD ABOUT

WHAT AWAITS THEM AT THREE FORKS BECOMES MORE APPARENT.

THEY WAS ALL JUST LIKE HER.

THEY COULD ALL EAT A EAR O' CORN THROUGH A PICKET FENCE.

MEN: [LAUGH]

DROUILLARD: COLTER, IF YOU WANT SOME OF THIS MEAT,

YOU BEST CLAIM IT RIGHT A- COLTER: SHH!

BE QUIET.

WE SHOULD DOUBLE UP WATCH.

FOR WHAT?

I'VE NEVER BEEN AFRAID O' NO INDIAN ANYHOW.

LET 'EM COME.

MEN: [LAUGH]

YEAH, MY FRIEND

JOHN POTTS,

HE SAID THE SAME THING.

JOHN,

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU OUT HERE?

POTTS AND I DECIDED TO TRAP AT THREE FORKS.

AND WE KNEW IT WAS BLACKFOOT TERRITORY,

BUT WE ALSO KNEW THERE WAS MORE BEAVER HERE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

WE TRAPPED AT NIGHT, TRIED TO STAY HIDDEN,

BUT THEY FOUND US.

THERE WAS TOO MANY OF 'EM, SO I LET 'EM HAVE ME.

BUT POTTS, HE WAS BRAVE.

[GUNSHOT]

[ARROWS FLYING] [WAR CRIES]

THEY STRIPPED ME DOWN NAKED AND MADE ME RUN. [REMEMBERING WAR CRIES]

I KNEW IF THEY CAUGHT ME THEY WOULD JUST TORTURE ME TO DEATH.

I OUTPACED ALL OF THEM EXCEPT ONE.

♪ ♪

HE TRIED TO TAKE MY LIFE...

SO I TOOK HIS INSTEAD.

I WALKED FOR ELEVEN DAYS,

NAKED AND ALONE.

AND I KNEW WHAT THEY'D DO TO ME IF THEY CAUGHT ME.

NO DEATH WOULD BE WORSE.

♪ ♪

SO YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT AFRAID.

YOU'RE A FOOL.

FEAR WILL KEEP YOU ALIVE.

♪ ♪

MR. HENRY.

ARE YOU SURE WE SHOULD BE HERE?

HENRY WAS NOT FULLY AWARE OF WHAT HE'S COME INTO

THERE AT THE THREE FORKS.

HE KNOWS NOW, THANKS TO COLTER.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS HE WAS DESIGNATED AS THE INDIVIDUAL

TO TAKE THESE PEOPLE UP TO THREE FORKS.

SO WHAT DOES HE DO?

HE SAYS, "I GAVE MY WORD AND I'M GONNA STAY."

I WON'T FORCE ANYONE TO CONTINUE.

BUT I GAVE MY WORD I'D PUSH ON TO THREE FORKS.

ANY MAN WHO WANTS TO RETURN CAN DO SO AT FIRST LIGHT.

THE REST, I'LL LEAD INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

NARRATOR: AS A MAN OF UNSHAKEABLE INTEGRITY,

ANDREW HENRY MUST KEEP THE VOW HE MADE

TO LEAD THE BRIGADE TO THREE FORKS.

BUT HE KNOWS THAT DOING SO MAY COST THEM THEIR LIVES,

AS WELL AS HIS OWN.

HENRY AND HIS TRAPPING BRIGADE

ARRIVE AT THREE FORKS AND THE HEART OF BLACKFEET TERRITORY.

THEY GET TO THE JEFFERSON RIVER, TWO MILES UP

FROM THE CONFLUENCE OF THE JEFFERSON AND THE MADISON,

AND THEY PROCEED TO BUILD A FORT.

NARRATOR: AND DESPITE A PALPABLE SENSE OF DANGER

IN THE SURROUNDING WOODS, HENRY'S MEN

ARE DETERMINED TO START TRAPPING AT LAST.

♪ ♪

JUST DAYS AFTER COMPLETING THE FORT,

A TRAPPING PARTY LED BY COLTER TRAVELS SEVERAL DAYS

INTO THE WILDS OF THREE FORKS.

BUT WITH COLTER'S TALE OF TERROR AT THE HANDS OF THE BLACKFEET

STILL FRESH IN THEIR MINDS, EVEN JAMES CHEEK IS ON EDGE.

UH CHEEK, YOU'RE IN CHARGE.

BE BACK HERE TOMORROW AT DAWN.

NARRATOR: THE TRAPPERS' FEARS ARE BASED PARTLY

ON THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE BEAVER

IS A SACRED ANIMAL TO THE BLACKFEET.

THE BEAVER WAS AT THE CENTER OF THE COSMOS OF CREATION BECAUSE

THE BEAVER WAS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ANIMAL IN

OUR TERRESTRIAL COSMOLOGY.

♪ ♪

WHERE ARE THOSE SPARE FLINTS?

COLTER HAS THEM.

HE DISAPPEARED.

I'D SAY IT'S TIME TO MAKE SOME MONEY, BOYS.

GATHER YOUR KITS.

RON ANGLIN: CHEEK APPARENTLY WAS A VERY BRAVE MAN,

BUT AFTER COLTER TOLD HIM ABOUT HIS RUN FOR LIFE,

HE BECOMES TERRIFIED AND A LOT OF THE OTHER MEN

THAT WERE THERE BECAME TERRIFIED TOO.

THEY REALIZED THAT THIS IS A PRETTY DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

[RUSTLING SOUND]

DO YOU HEAR THAT?

[RUSTLING SOUND]

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

MAYBE WE'RE ALL TAKEN ABACK A LITTLE BY COLTER'S TALES.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

I FEAR I CAME UP THIS RIVER ONLY TO FIND MY GRAVE.

JACK GLADSTONE: THERE WAS AN INFECTION

UPON THE LANDSCAPE CALLED THE AMERICAN FUR TRADING SYSTEM.

AYERS, HAND ME THAT ROPE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

[ARROW STRIKES] BLACKFEET WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

JACK GLADSTONE: AND WE WANTED TO DEAL IT A DEATH BLOW.

[GUNSHOTS, ARROWS]

THE BLACKFEET! CHEEK, WE MUST RUN!

THE THING WITH CHEEK IS WHEN PUSH CAME TO SHOVE

THERE WAS NO FEAR AT THAT MOMENT.

RON ANGLIN: AND HE SAYS "I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE;

I'M GONNA STAY HERE AND MEET MY FATE.

IF I CAN KILL A COUPLE, I'LL KILL A COUPLE

AND THEN I'LL DIE."

MY TIME HAS COME AND I WILL KILL AT LEAST TWO OF THEM.

[GUNSHOTS, WHOOPING]

DO IT THEN!

[GUNSHOTS]

[GROANS, THUDS]

BLACKFEET WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

NARRATOR: CERTAIN THAT DEATH IS ON HIS HEELS,

FRANCOIS VALLE RUNS DOZENS OF MILES BACK TO THE FORT

ALMOST WITHOUT A PAUSE.

[WAR CRIES]

OPEN THE GATES! LET ME IN!

LET ME IN!

OPEN THE GATES! LET ME IN!

OPEN THE GATE, IT'S VALLE!

LET ME IN!

[PANTING HEAVILY]

YOU OKAY? FRANCOIS, WHERE'S CHEEK AND COLTER?

- THEY'RE DEAD. - DID YOU SEE IT, FRANCOIS?

THEY SPRUNG FROM THE WOODS

KILLED EVERYONE THEY FOUND.

STAND AT ARMS.

CHECK HIM FOR INJURIES.

BE READY André, THEY'RE COMING.

FRANCOIS WAS JUST ADAMANT THAT THE BLACKFOOT

ARE HARD ON HIS HEELS.

THAT EVERYBODY THAT WAS UP THERE OTHER THAN HIM

ARE PROBABLY ALREADY DEAD.

AND HE INSTILLS IN THEM THE FEAR THAT THEY ARE

COMING TO ATTACK US HERE.

[WAR CRIES]

NARRATOR: CONFRONTED AT LAST WITH THE AWFUL REALITY

OF COLTER'S WARNING, HENRY NOW KNOWS HIS OUTPOST

IS UNDER SIEGE AND A VIOLENT

ASSAULT COULD COME AT ANY TIME.

[WAR CRIES IN DISTANCE]

DO IT THEN!

[GUNSHOTS] [GROANS]

NARRATOR: JUST DAYS AFTER ARRIVING AT THREE FORKS,

ANDREW HENRY'S TRAPPING BRIGADE IS AMBUSHED BY THE BLACKFEET.

AND KNOWING AN ATTACK ON HIS TINY OUTPOST

COULD COME AT ANY TIME, HENRY PREPARES FOR BATTLE.

FALL IN.

I WANT EVERY MAN UNDER ARMS

AT ALL TIMES WATCHING FOR APPROACH.

NO ONE LEAVES THIS FORT WITHOUT MY PERMISSION,

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

THE BLACKFEET WON'T DARE ATTACK THE FORT-

MR. HENRY, SOMEBODY'S COMING.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

HENRY: BE BRAVE, LADS.

STAND AT ARMS!

- AYE! - AYE!

RON ANGLIN: THE CALVARY IS NOT GONNA RUN IN THERE

AND SAVE YOU; YOU HAVE NOWHERE TO GO;

IT'S JUST YOU AND YOUR FELLOW PERSON THERE

GETTING READY TO DEFEND YOUR LIFE.

[COCKS RIFLE]

WASTE NO POWDER, MEN.

BE SURE OF YOUR SHOTS.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

[COCKS RIFLE]

[COCKS RIFLE]

HEY, DON'T SHOOT! IT'S JUST COLTER.

- HOLD! HOLD! - AYE!

[FOOTSTEPS, PANTING]

- GET THAT GATE CLOSED! - HURRY UP! GET HIM IN THERE!

THROUGH THE GATE!

JOHN, TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.

I WAS WITH MONROE.

WE HEARD SHOTS SO WE RUSHED ON BACK TO CAMP.

THE BLACKFEET, THEY WERE BETWEEN US.

[SNIFFS]

SO THEY CHASED AFTER US AND THEY KILLED MONROE.

AND THE CAMP?

CHEEK AND AYERS.

THEY WERE JUST SLASHED AND JUST CUT TO PIECES.

♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪

EXACTLY WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS GONNA HAPPEN

THERE AT THREE FORKS IS COMING TRUE.

HE PROBABLY SAT THERE AND ASKED HIMSELF "WHAT IN THE WORLD

DID I COME BACK HERE FOR?

WHY DID I PUT MYSELF IN THIS DANGER AGAIN?"

NARRATOR: RESPECTED AS THE MOST EXPERIENCED FRONTIERSMAN

IN THE BRIGADE, COLTER'S FEAR HITS HARD.

LET'S GO FIND CHEEK AND AYERS.

NARRATOR: BUT WHAT HE SAYS NEXT IS EVEN WORSE.

HENRY, I CAN'T DO THIS NO MORE.

I'M HEADIN' ON BACK TO ST. LOUIS.

IF GOD WILL ONLY FORGIVE ME THIS ONE LAST TIME,

I SWEAR I'M NEVER COMING BACK TO THIS COUNTRY AGAIN.

HERE'S LIKE THE BIGGEST, BADDEST TOUGHEST GUY

IN CAMP AND HE SAYS "I'M OUT."

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT THE SITUATION YOU'RE IN?

NARRATOR: UNDER SIEGE AND WITH NO HOPE OF SUPPORT

FROM ANY QUARTER, HENRY NOW FACES THE ULTIMATE TEST

OF HIS RESOLVE AND COURAGE.

♪ ♪

FOR SEVERAL TENSE WEEKS, HENRY KEEPS HIS MEN INSIDE

THE CRAMPED FORT WAITING FOR THE ATTACK HE IS SURE IS COMING.

THOSE ARE DARK TIMES; DEPRESSING TIMES.

AND THE FEAR OF ATTACK WAS VERY REAL.

[WAR CRIES NEARBY]

NARRATOR: BUT THE IDLE TRAPPERS SOON SHOW SIGNS OF DISCONTENT.

AND WORSE... BEGIN TO QUESTION HENRY'S LEADERSHIP.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

MONSIEUR HENRY, WE MUST SPEAK.

WE HAVE SEEN NO SIGN OF THE BLACKFEET FOR WEEKS.

DON'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE...

LYING IN WAIT.

THAT MAY BE. BUT WE'LL NOT STAY INSIDE FOREVER!

WE CAME HERE TO MAKE OUR FORTUNE OFF OF THE BEAVER, HAVE WE NOT?

DROUILLARD, HE'S IN DEBT, AS ARE PROBABLY MANY OF THESE PEOPLE.

THEY FELT "I GOTTA DO SOMETHING, I'M HERE NOW

AND I'M A TOUGH GUY, LET'S JUST DO IT."

HENRY, CAN WE SPEAK EN PRIVE ?

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

YOU'VE ALREADY BURIED TWO MEN.

MORE WILL DIE IF THEY LEAVE THE FORT.

HENRY: THEY CAME OF THEIR OWN ACCORD.

AND YET YOU'RE THE ONE THERE IN COMMAND.

YOU COULD LEAD US ALL TO SAFETY RIGHT NOW TODAY IF YOU WANTED.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

HENRY: MANUEL LISA TOLD ME TO PROVE MY WORD

WAS WORTH MORE THAN MY MONEY.

A FOOLISH BOAST BY A SCOUNDREL!

BUT NOT WITHOUT TRUTH.

I'LL NEVER RECOUP MY MONEY HERE...

BUT I DON'T CARE.

I CANNOT RETURN FROM THIS A MAN WHOSE WORD CAN'T BE TRUSTED.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND, FRANCOIS, THIS IS ALL I HAVE LEFT.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

I DO NOT ENVY YOU NOW, André.

NARRATOR: HENRY HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO ALLOW

HIS MEN TO TRAP KNOWING FULL WELL THAT SOME OF THEM

MAY NOT RETURN ALIVE.

DROUILLARD...

TAKE A PARTY OF VOLUNTEERS, AND BE WELL-ARMED.

THE BLACKFEET WILL ATTACK.

THAT IS WHAT THEY DO.

BUT WHAT I DO IS TRAP.

MERCI, MONSIEUR HENRY!

BOYS... OUR FORTUNE AWAITS!

MEN: ALRIGHT, YEAH! [MEN EXCLAIMING]

NARRATOR: AND DESPITE HENRY'S GRAVE MISGIVINGS,

DROUILLARD REFUSES TO TAKE MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF

MEN WITH HIM TO TRAP.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY HE WAS OVERCONFIDENT,

BUT WHEN THINGS WERE VERY RISKY,

HE MADE THINGS EVEN MORE RISKY

BY NOT GOING OUT WITH A LARGE ENOUGH GROUP.

[BIRD CAWS]

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

RON ANGLIN: HE PROBABLY THINKS "I'VE SPENT MY WHOLE

LIFE DEALING WITH INDIANS,

I'M A LOT SMARTER THAN YOU GUYS.

I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF."

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

DROUILLARD: WE'LL STOP HERE FOR A MINUTE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

BLACKFEET WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

BLACKFEET!

[GUNSHOT]

[ARROW STRIKES, GUNSHOTS]

NARRATOR: AND WHEN THE ATTACK FINALLY COMES,

IT IS BOTH SWIFT AND BRUTAL.

BLACKFEET WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

GEORGE DROUILLARD, THE VETERAN COMPANION OF LEWIS AND CLARK,

HAS DEFIED DEATH COUNTLESS TIMES ON THE FRONTIER.

[WAR CRIES, GRUNTING]

BUT CORNERED AT LAST BY VENGEFUL BLACKFEET,

THE END FINALLY COMES FOR THIS

LEGENDARY MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS.

BLACKFEET WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

AH!

[WAR CRIES]

NARRATOR: SEVERAL DAYS AFTER GEORGE DROUILLARD

VANISHES IN THE WOODS, FRANCOIS VALLE LEARNS THE

AWFUL TRUTH ABOUT HIS FATE.

I THINK THIS IS DROUILLARD.

HE ULTIMATELY WAS BEHEADED,

SO HE COULD NOT ENJOY AN

AFTERLIFE QUITE AS WELL AS HE WOULD OTHERWISE.

WE MUST GO!

[WAR CRIES NEARBY]

NARRATOR: NEWS OF THE LATEST MASSACRE LEAVES

HENRY'S MEN TERRIFIED AND DOUBTFUL

HE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM ALIVE.

IT'S A NIGHTMARE.

THEY HAD COME UP THERE FOR WEALTH.

THEY COULDN'T GET CLOSE TO THE WEALTH

WITHOUT GETTING KILLED.

JACK GLADSTONE: IS IT REALLY WORTH GIVING MY BLOOD...

GIVING MY LIFE...

FOR THIS PURSUIT OF MONEY IN THIS DISTANT LAND?

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

THESE BLACKFEET WILL PICK US OFF ONE BY ONE

UNTIL ALL OF US ARE DEAD.

WE CANNOT REMAIN HERE.

AT LAST, MENARD, SOMETHING ON WHICH WE AGREE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

GATHER THE MEN WHO WISH TO RETURN.

YOU DEPART AT DAWN.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

I'LL LEAD THE MEN WHO CHOOSE TO CONTINUE.

TU QUOI?

CONTINUEZ?

André, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

I'M HEADED ACROSS THE DIVIDE BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS.

ONLY DEATH AWAITS OVER THE MOUNTAINS.

THIS IS MADNESS!

HENRY: TO A MAN LIKE YOU, PERHAPS IT IS,

BUT THIS IS WHAT I MUST DO.

ANDRE, PLEASE. YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT A MAN COULD DO.

AND I STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED THE JOB!

I SAID I WOULD RETURN WITH THE PELTRY WE SET OUT TO FIND,

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I INTEND TO DO.

MENARD: GO WEST IF YOU WILL,

BUT I WILL NOT FOLLOW.

THE MAJORITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS

REMAINING AFTER THE DEATH OF DROUILLARD,

THEY SAY "WE CAN'T DO THIS."

BUT ANDREW HENRY WAS NOT GOING

TO ACCOMPANY THEM DOWNRIVER.

HIS WILLINGNESS TO STAY UNTIL THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT

OBVIOUSLY IS A BADGE OF HONOR.

[FLAMES CRACKLING]

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

NARRATOR: THE DEPARTURE OF PIERRE MENARD ROBS HENRY

OF A TRUSTED PARTNER WHO SHARED THE BURDEN OF COMMAND.

FRANCOIS...

YOU'RE NOT LEAVING.

NARRATOR: BUT TO HENRY'S SHOCK AND DISMAY,

HIS GOOD FRIEND FRANCOIS VALLE HAS HAD

ALL HE COULD STAND AS WELL.

I KNOW YOU'RE FRIGHTENED.

AND ARE YOU NOT?

OF COURSE I AM.

VALLE: THEN COME HOME TO ST. LOUIS, André.

FIND A WIFE, START A NEW TRADE.

THIS IS NOT THE LIFE FOR YOU.

HENRY: YOUR FAMILY WILL BE GLAD FOR YOUR SAFE RETURN.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

♪ [MELANCHOLY MUSIC] ♪

GOODBYE, André.

I HAVE NEVER HAD A TRUE FRIEND.

♪ [MELANCHOLY MUSIC] ♪

RON ANGLIN: WHEN FRANCOIS DECIDES TO LEAVE,

I THINK THAT HE WAS NOW ALONE.

AND I THINK THE WEIGHT WAS PROBABLY

VERY HEAVY ON HIS SHOULDERS.

AND HENRY TRULY BELIEVED HE MIGHT NOT

EVER GET OUT OF THERE ALIVE.

♪ ♪

[FOOTSTEPS]

NARRATOR: IN JUNE 1810, HENRY IS HUNTING FOR PROVISIONS

FOR THE JOURNEY WHEN THE BLACKFEET FINALLY

DISCOVER THEIR FOES IN THE OPEN.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

SHH!

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

HENRY, WHAT IS IT?

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

BLACKFEET WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

BLACKFEET! TAKE COVER! [GUNSHOTS]

NARRATOR: NOW JUST LIKE JAMES CHEEK AND GEORGE DROUILLARD,

ANDREW HENRY AND HIS REMAINING MEN FACE AGONIZING DEATHS

AT THE HANDS OF THE VENGEFUL BLACKFEET.

WATCH YOUR FLANK!

[GUNSHOT, WAR CRIES]

[SCREAMS]

WATCH YOUR FLANK! [WAR CRIES, GUNSHOT]

NARRATOR: ANDREW HENRY HAS DECIDED TO LEAVE THREE FORKS ,

BUT NOW THE LARGEST BLACKFEET ATTACK YET MAY KEEP HIM

FROM EVER LEAVING ALIVE.

[GUNSHOTS, WAR CRIES]

HENRY!

[GUNSHOT, SCREAM]

THERE'S TOO MANY! WE GOTTA GO!

[GUNSHOTS, WAR CRIES]

FALL BACK TO THE FORT!

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: HENRY MAKES IT BACK TO THE FORT HAVING

LOST ONLY ONE MAN.

BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT IF HE DOESN'T LEAVE THREE FORKS NOW,

HE'LL LOSE HIS ENTIRE BRIGADE.

[FOOTSTEPS]

WILLIAM, LEAD ON.

♪ ♪

ANDREW HENRY WENT UP AND OVER

THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND BECOMES A GHOST.

NARRATOR: HENRY AND HIS REMAINING MEN VANISH INTO

A VAST AND UNCHARTED WILDERNESS.

♪ ♪

AND AS WEEKS OF SILENCE TURN INTO MONTHS,

WITH NO WORD OF HENRY'S FATE,

MANUEL LISA CAN ONLY ASSUME THE WORST.

IF MR. HENRY IS ALIVE, HE WILL BE HERE.

THAT WILL TAKE US INTO BLACKFEET TERRITORY,

SO WE MUST BE PREPARED TO FIGHT.

EVERYBODY REALIZED THAT ANDREW HENRY IS UP THERE WITH MEN SO IT

WAS ACTUALLY A RACE TO GET UP THERE TO GET SUPPLIES TO HENRY.

PAR LA GRACE DE DIEU.

IT'S HIM!

NARRATOR: AGAINST OVERWHELMING ODDS,

ANDREW HENRY HAS SURVIVED HIS HARROWING ORDEAL,

AND RETURNED TO TELL HIS TALE.

MR. HENRY? ES UN MILAGRO!

WE HAVE NOT HAD WORD IN MONTHS!

I HAVE YOUR PELTS, MANUEL.

NARRATOR: AND DESPITE RELENTLESS BLACKFEET ATTACKS,

AND A BRUTAL WINTER IN THE WILDERNESS,

HE'S KEPT HIS WORD AND COMPLETED HIS MISSION.

JAMES CHEEK TRAPPED THESE BEFORE HE DIED.

AND GEORGE DROUILLARD TRAPPED THESE BEFORE

HE WAS BEHEADED BY BLACKFEET.

AYERS AND MONROE DIED AT THREE FORKS;

ONE OTHER DIED AT MY SIDE IN BATTLE WITH THE BLACKFEET.

AND I ONLY SURVIVED THAT BECAUSE WILLIAM WEIR SAVED MY LIFE.

NINE MEN LEFT THEIR BONES ON THOSE MOUNTAINS

FOR THESE PELTS, MANUEL.

AND I'M SORRY TO SAY, YOU WILL NOT MAKE A PROFIT

IN THIS VENTURE.

BUT YOU HAVE SURVIVED ANDREW,

AND FOR THAT, I AM GRATEFUL.

DON'T BE...

BE GRATEFUL YOU DO NOT SHARE IN MY BURDEN.

THOSE NINE MEN...

MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON ME, MANUEL, FOR WHAT I'VE DONE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: IT WILL BE OVER TEN YEARS BEFORE TRAPPERS

VENTURE BACK INTO THREE FORKS...

AND BEFORE HENRY HIMSELF RETURNS TO THE WEST.

AND HE WILL BE FOREVER HAUNTED BY AN ORDEAL THAT SOON

BECOMES THE STUFF OF MOUNTAIN MAN LEGEND AND LORE.

♪ ♪

ANDREW HENRY IS UNIQUE IN THAT

HE MADE UP HIS MIND THAT HE WAS GONNA SIGN ON THIS VENTURE,

AND REGARDLESS OF THE MAJORITY OF MEN LEAVING,

HE HAD GIVEN HIS WORD, HE WAS NOT GOING TO WAVER.

THEY'RE COMING!

STAND AT ARMS!

JIM HARDEE: HIS LEGACY IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

HE'S THE FIRST GUY TO GO INTO IDAHO AND

BUILD A TRADING ESTABLISHMENT.

BUT HE'S NEVER REALLY GIVEN THE HONOR THAT HE'S DUE.

HENRY IS A HERO.

IF HE HAD BEEN IN VIETNAM

AND SUSTAINED WHAT HE DID

HOLDING HIS POSITION

AGAINST ALL ODDS, HE WOULD HAVE

GOT A MEDAL OF HONOR.

♪ ♪