Original subtitles

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: MARIE DORION HAS SURVIVED AN EPIC JOURNEY

FROM THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN

WITH HER TWO YOUNG SONS BESIDE HER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

BUT THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS YET TO COME.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

HOLD IT. HOLD IT.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

NARRATOR: AFTER HOSTILE BANNOCK WARRIORS RAID HER

HUSBAND PIERRE'S REMOTE TRAPPING CAMP,

MARIE DESPERATELY TRIES TO FIND HIM AND REUNITE HER FAMILY.

WHERE'S PIERRE?

♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪

NARRATOR: IN A RUGGED WILDERNESS TEEMING WITH DANGERS,

MARIE DORION NOW FACES A BRUTAL FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL.

[MARIE SOBS] PIERRE.

PIERRE!

NARRATOR: AND SHE MUST FACE IT UTTERLY ALONE.

[SOBS] PIERRE.

[SCREAMS]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: TALES OF THE MOUNTAIN MEN HAVE GONE DOWN

IN HISTORY AND LEGEND.

BUT FEW OF THEIR STORIES CAN MATCH THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

OF ONE REMARKABLE WOMAN... MARIE DORION.

MARIE DORION IS ONE OF THE WOMEN IN OUR WESTERN HISTORY

THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ABOUT, BUT WHO

REALLY TRULY HELPED SHAPE

THE FACE OF THE AMERICAN WEST.

HER STORY IS THE AMERICAN STORY OF WOMEN.

IT'S A STORY OF ONE PERSON'S HOPE FOR HER FAMILY,

AND HER OWN HEROICISM.

THE MARIE DORION STORY IS

IN ONE WORD: INCREDIBLE.

WHAT SHE DOES IS SOMETHING THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE,

REGARDLESS OF GENDER, COULD HAVE MANAGED AND IT'S

A STORY THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THOUGH HER FATHER IS FRENCH-CANADIAN,

MARIE IS RAISED BY HER MOTHER'S IOWA TRIBE.

KRIS SWANSON: THEY WERE BUFFALO HIDE TRADERS,

SO MARIE GREW UP LEARNING FROM HER MOM AND HER AUNTS AND HER

GRANDMOTHER THE SKILLS THAT SHE NEEDED TO SURVIVE.

NARRATOR: AT AGE SIXTEEN, SHE MARRIES PIERRE DORION,

A TRAPPER AND TRANSLATOR WHOSE SKILLS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND.

[SPEAKING SIOUX]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: PIERRE DORION SPOKE FRENCH,

HE SPOKE SIOUX AND HE WAS A

MASTER OF INDIAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

AND HE SPOKE ENGLISH SO

HE'S WORTH HIS WEIGHT IN GOLD.

[SPEAKING SIOUX]

WE MUST TURN BACK.

THEY TOOK A SCOUT OF THE PAWNEE WHO ARE VENGEFUL

AND WILL SEEK US OUT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT MARIE'S SKILLS AS AN INTERPRETER ARE

JUST AS VALUABLE IF NOT AS WELL-RECOGNIZED.

KRIS SWANSON: MARIE STOOD ALONGSIDE HIM

AND HELPED WITH TRANSLATION.

SHE SIGNALED TO A LOT OF TRIBES THAT THEY

WERE THERE FOR PEACEFUL REASONS BECAUSE HAVING

A WOMAN ALONG MEANT THAT YOU WERE NOT THERE FOR WAR.

♪ ♪

HE ASKED FOR TOO MUCH.

NOW WE GIVE HIM THE RED FEATHER, NOTHING MORE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: MARIE AND PIERRE MAKE A FORMIDABLE TEAM,

BUT THEIR LIFE AS HUSBAND AND WIFE IS FAR FROM PERFECT.

OH!

[TRAPPERS LAUGHING]

DO NOT SCORN ME, MECHANTE VIELLE FEMME!

I'M YOUR MASTER, NO?

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: LIKE MANY WOMEN IN ABUSIVE,

ALCOHOLIC MARRIAGES, MARIE HAD A HUGE PROBLEM ON HER HANDS.

PIERRE WAS RARELY SOBER AND SHE BLAMES OTHERS OF COURSE

FOR THIS... MANUEL LISA IN PARTICULAR.

MANUEL LISA WAS THE LORD OF THE MISSOURI FUR TRADE.

HIS COMPANY, THE MISSOURI FUR COMPANY,

DOMINATED THE TRADE UP ON THE MISSOURI RIVER.

NARRATOR: THIS TITAN OF THE BURGEONING FUR INDUSTRY

IS PIERRE'S EMPLOYER, AND ALSO HIS ENABLER.

WILL YOU PAY ME WHAT YOU OWE?

YES, YOU SPANISH VOLEUR.

THIS SEASON, I'LL BRING YOU MORE PELTS THAN YOU CAN COUNT.

THEN LET US AGREE.

YOU MAY HAVE ANOTHER KEG ON CREDIT.

IN FACT, I HAVE ONE RIGHT HERE.

KRIS SWANSON: MANUEL LISA KNEW THAT HE NEEDED TO DO

SOMETHING TO KEEP PIERRE BECAUSE PIERRE WAS A GOOD EMPLOYEE.

AND SO HE DID THAT BY PLYING PIERRE WITH HIS

NUMBER ONE VICE WHICH WAS ALCOHOL.

NARRATOR: TO THE CONNIVING MANUEL LISA,

PIERRE'S WEAKNESS FOR ALCOHOL IS JUST ANOTHER BUSINESS TACTIC.

PIERRE, DO YOU NOT SEE THAT LISA IS PLAYING YOU THE FOOL?

EVERY SINGLE DRINK YOU TAKE DEEPENS YOUR DEBT TO HIM!

MY BUSINESS IS MY OWN!

LEAVE ME BE!

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

NARRATOR: BUT A MEETING WITH A STRANGER WILL GIVE MARIE

AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE HER FORTUNES.

I HOPE THAT IS NOT PIERRE DORION.

MY HUSBAND...

YES.

HE IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.

APOLOGIES, I AM WILSON PRICE HUNT, A PARTNER AT

THE AMERICAN FUR TRADING COMPANY.

I'M A FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE OF JOHN JACOB ASTOR.

PIERRE!

♪ ♪

JOHN JACOB ASTOR IS PERHAPS THE WEALTHIEST MAN IN AMERICA.

HE WANTS TO ESTABLISH A FORT

AT THE MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER.

HIS GRAND SCHEME CALLS FOR HIM

TO SEND A SHIP TO THE OREGON COAST AND BUILD THIS POST

WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HE'S GOING TO SEND

SOME 70 MEN OVER LAND

UNDER ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES, WILSON PRICE HUNT,

TO ESTABLISH A FUR TRADING EMPIRE

IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

♪ ♪

WE PLAN TO CROSS THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS BEFORE WINTER,

AND ARRIVE AT FORT ASTORIA IN THE SPRING.

[CLEARS THROAT] NOW IN DOING SO,

WE WILL MAKE HISTORY MR. DORION.

AND YOU WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART AS MY TRANSLATOR.

NARRATOR: THIS EXPEDITION COULD BE THE SALVATION

THAT MARIE HAS BEEN HOPING FOR.

BUT ONLY IF HUNT WILL MEET HER TERMS.

YOU WILL FOLLOW THE WAY OF THE CAPTAINS LEWIS AND CLARK?

IF PRACTICAL... PERHAPS.

I WILL DISCUSS THAT WITH YOUR HUSBAND.

WE OFFER A CONTRACT OF $300.

I CAN ADVANCE 25 NOW.

OF COURSE! YES!

I WILL BE COMING AS WELL, MONSIEUR HUNT.

AND SO WILL MY CHILDREN.

PIERRE: ARE YOU SENSELESS?

I WILL BE NOT LEFT ALONE HERE, PIERRE.

AND ESPECIALLY NOT BOUND

BY YOUR MULTIPLE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.

ARE YOU CONSTRAINED BY YOUR DEBTS, MR. DORION?

OH, THERE ARE...

THERE ARE NONE, MONSIEUR HUNT.

BUT UH, NOW I DO AGREE.

MARIE AND MY SONS MUST COME WITH ME.

KRIS SWANSON: HUNT WASN'T VERY HAPPY BECAUSE THE

IDEA FOR HIM OF BRINGING A WOMAN ALONG MEANT BRINGING ALONG

SOMEONE WHO WAS WEAKER.

THIS IS NO JOURNEY FOR A WOMAN.

I SPEAK AS MANY LANGUAGES AS PIERRE, MONSIEUR.

I AM HARDY, AND SO ARE MY CHILDREN.

AND I WILL DO ANY TASK THAT IS SET BEFORE ME.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: MARIE WAS A WOMAN WAY AHEAD OF HER TIME.

AS A TRUE WESTERN WOMAN, SHE ASSERTS HERSELF.

SHE IS GOING TO PROVE HER VALUE OVER AND OVER

AS THIS EXPEDITION PROGRESSES.

WELL, I HAVE NO USE FOR WOMEN OR CHILDREN ON THIS ENTERPRISE.

THEY WILL BE A BURDEN.

BUT...I MUST HAVE YOU WITH US, MR. DORION.

SO IF THESE ARE YOUR TERMS, I RELUCTANTLY ACCEPT.

NARRATOR: MARIE'S BOLD GAMBIT HAS CREATED

A FRESH START FOR HER FAMILY.

BUT THEIR OLD BOSS ISN'T LETTING THEM GO WITHOUT A FIGHT.

WORD OF THE HUNT EXPEDITION HAS REACHED THE EARS OF MANUEL LISA,

AND HE IS FURIOUS WITH PIERRE DORION.

WORD IS OUT THAT LISA PLANS TO ARREST DORION FOR DEBT

AND KEEP HIM FROM GOING WITH HUNT AND HIS PARTY TO THE WEST.

PIERRE, WHERE ARE YOU?

♪ ♪

WELL, PIERRE IMMEDIATELY OF COURSE GETS DRUNK.

DRUNK AGAIN!

PIERRE, HAVE YOU NOT HEARD...

THAT MANUEL LISA SEEKS YOUR ARREST IN ST. CHARLES?

LET THAT SPANIARD GO TO THE DEVIL!

PIERRE, NO!

NO, WE USE OUR ADVANCE FROM MONSIEUR HUNT

TO PAY FOR PART OF THE DEBT.

MAYBE MONSIEUR HUNT CAN INTERVENE ON OUR PART.

OUR ADVANCE?!

IT WAS MINE!

I DID WITH IT AS I WISHED.

[SAYS SOFTLY] YOU SPENT IT?

[SAYS LOUDLY] YOU SPENT IT?!

[SPITS]

YOU...

ARE A FOOL.

[SPITS]

YOU ARE WEAK!

AND YOU ARE STUPID AND YOU HAVE RUINED US!

[PIERRE SCREAMS]

AH, GET BACK HERE!

[STRIKING PIERRE]

NARRATOR: PIERRE HAS FINALLY PUSHED MARIE TOO FAR.

BUT IN HER RAGE, SHE MAY HAVE KILLED HER HUSBAND,

AND RUINED ANY CHANCE AT A NEW LIFE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

YOU... ARE A FOOL.

NARRATOR: MARIE DORION'S PLAN TO CHANGE HER FAMILY'S FORTUNE-

[STRIKING PIERRE]

IS SPIRALING INTO CHAOS.

PIERRE?

PIERRE?!

[PIERRE GRUNTS]

[MARIE SIGHS WITH RELIEF]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

IT'S OKAY, BOYS.

HE'S JUST ASLEEP.

NARRATOR: DETERMINED NOT TO LOSE THEIR PLACE

ON HUNT'S EXPEDITION, MARIE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO RETURN

TO CAMP AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

♪ ♪

BUT THE NEXT MORNING, SHE FINDS HER HUSBAND IN THE

EXPEDITION CAMP AND ON THE VERGE OF BEING FIRED BY WILSON HUNT.

WILSON PRICE HUNT: DRUNK AGAIN, DORION?

AND NOW FIGHTING WITH YOUR OWN FAMILY?!

WE HAVE AN ARDUOUS JOURNEY AHEAD.

I NEED THE SERVICES OF A RELIABLE TRANSLATOR

AND YOU SIR ARE ANYTHING BUT RELIABLE!

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

MONSIEUR HUNT...

I PROMISE YOU PIERRE WILL NEVER AGAIN DRINK A DROP OF LIQUOR,

OR I WILL LEAVE THIS EXPEDITION.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

I DO PROMISE. NEVER AGAIN.

SHE'LL KEEP PIERRE OFF THE BOTTLE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT,

AND PIERRE DOESN'T WANT TO GO WITHOUT HIS FAMILY.

HUNT'S BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO SAY

"GET IN THE BOAT AND LET'S GET UP THE RIVER

BEFORE WE HAVE ANY MORE TROUBLE."

NARRATOR: BY SHEER FORCE OF WILL,

MARIE DORION HAS ENSURED HER PLACE ON THE EXPEDITION,

AND WILL SHARE WHATEVER PERILS LIE AHEAD.

THE EXPEDITION TRAVELS UP THE MISSOURI RIVER,

FOLLOWING THE ROUTE FIRST TAKEN BY LEWIS AND CLARK.

BUT AN UNWISE DECISION BY THE EXPEDITION'S LEADER

WILL SOON CHANGE THAT.

WILSON PRICE HUNT: OUR RIVER PROGRESS HAS NOT BEEN

AS FAST AS I WOULD LIKE.

AND THE BLACKFEET... THEY GROW MORE WARLIKE EVERY MONTH.

THEREFORE WE SHALL ABANDON THE DANGEROUS AND OVERLONG

MISSOURI ROUTE FOLLOWED BY THE CORPS OF DISCOVERY.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: HUNT REALLY HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE'S DOING,

BUT DECIDED THAT HE'S NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THE TRAIL OF

LEWIS AND CLARK UP THE RIVER ALL THE WAY BECAUSE HE'S

WORRIED ABOUT INDIAN HOSTILITY.

NARRATOR: THE EXPEDITION'S CLERK,

EXPERIENCED MOUNTAIN MAN JOHN REED,

QUICKLY REALIZES THE DANGERS OF HUNT'S PROPOSAL.

JOHN REED: CAPTAIN, THE ROUTE OF LEWIS AND CLARK

IS THE ONLY ONE KNOWN.

IT DID TAKE LONG, BUT THEY MADE IT.

AND THEY MADE FRIENDS OF THE SHOSHONE.

LEWIS AND CLARK FAILED TO DISCOVER

A WATER ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC, AND UPON THEIR RETURN

THEY FOUGHT WITH THE BLACKFEET WHO HAVE SINCE KILLED

EVERY WHITE MAN THEY FIND.

WE SHALL TRAVEL FAR TO THE SOUTH OF BLACKFEET COUNTRY,

AND REACH THE MOUNTAINS IN A SPOT

WHERE I EXPECT TO FIND THE RIVER OF THE WEST

OF WHICH SO MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN.

WHEN HUNT DECIDED TO LEAVE THE RIVER ROUTES

AND TO GO OVERLAND, THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST

DISASTROUS DECISIONS THAT HE COULD MAKE.

IS THIS WISE?

WE HAVE NO HORSES.

WE CAN GET HORSES FROM THE ARIKARA.

NO, IT'S TOO LATE IN THE YEAR TO FALL TO GO BY LAND.

PIERRE, YOU KNOW THIS. WE KNOW THIS EVEN IF HE DOES NOT.

YOU MUST SPEAK UP.

DO YOU WISH TO SAY SOMETHING, MR. DORION?

WE UH, WE HAVE THE CONCERN OF-

WE ARE ALL SPEAKING ENGLISH HERE, MR. DORION.

WHEN I NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF THE TRANSLATOR,

I WILL LET YOU KNOW.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

NARRATOR: DESPITE THE PROTESTS OF MARIE

AND THE SEASONED MEN ON HIS CREW,

HUNT PRESSES ON WITH HIS PLAN.

BY EARLY SUMMER OF 1811, HUNT LEADS THE EXPEDITION TO

THE VILLAGES OF THE ARIKARA TRIBE WHERE

HE PLANS TO BARTER FOR HORSES

AND BEGIN HIS OVERLAND ROUTE.

ARIKARA CHIEF: [SPEAKING ARIKARA]

SO MONSIEUR HUNT WILL SOON HAVE ENOUGH HORSES TO

TRAVEL FOR THE MOUNTAINS.

YOU WOULD HAVE DONE BETTER TO

ADVISE AGAINST THIS FOOLISH COURSE.

NARRATOR: BUT THE TRADING IS CUT SHORT BY THE

ARRIVAL OF AN UNWANTED GUEST.

[MANUEL LISA LAUGHING]

THERE IS THE GREAT MAN HIMSELF!

UP THE RIVER COMES MANUEL LISA,

AND HE IS STILL FUMING.

HE WANTS HIS POUND OF FLESH FROM PIERRE DORIAN.

HOW DO YOU FARE?

PERHAPS THE JOURNEY HAS MADE YOU THIRSTY?

[PUSHES AWAY]

NO?

THAT WOULD BE FOR THE BEST.

JANE KIRKPATRICK: LISA HAD BEEN PLANNING THIS AS SOON AS HE

LEARNED THAT PIERRE WAS GOING TO GO ON WITH HUNT.

LISA SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AND GET NEW

ALLIANCES BEFORE THE HUNT PARTY COULD

SEAL THEM UP AS THEY WERE HEADING WEST.

I THINK YOU FORGET YOUR DEBT TO ME.

IS THAT WHY YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO FLEE WITH THIS

FEMME STUPIDE, THIS IDIOT WILSON HUNT?

WHAT KIND OF MAN DRAGS THROUGH SUCH PERIL

HIS WOMAN, AND CHILDREN?

MARIE: PIERRE, NO! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP!

FETCH ME MY SCALPING KNIFE!

NO, NO, NO. YOU SHOOT THIS SPANISH DOG,

AND YOU'LL HANG.

NO MATTER HOW HE SPARKS YOU ON.

HEY, CAPITAN HUNT...

YOUR SERVANTS HAVE INSULTED ME.

I WILL DEFEND MY HONOR EVEN IF YOU HAVE NONE.

[SPITS]

I WILL SEE YOU ON THE FIELD, SIR!

NARRATOR: THEIR HONOR INSULTED, WILSON HUNT AND MANUEL LISA

PREPARE TO SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES

ON THE DUELING GROUND.

BUT MARIE'S FATE IS ABOUT TO TAKE A NEW UNEXPECTED TURN.

♪ ♪

DO I KNOW YOU?

NO.

♪ ♪

I AM SACAGAWEA,

AND I MUST SPEAK TO YOU...

ALONE.

NARRATOR: IN A STUNNING HISTORICAL COINCIDENCE,

MARIE HAS MET A LIVING LEGEND OF THE FRONTIER.

SACAGAWEA IS THE ONLY WOMAN ON EARTH WHO BOTH FULLY UNDERSTANDS

MARIE'S PLIGHT AND CAN HELP HER SURVIVE

THE ORDEAL THAT LIES AHEAD.

[OVERLAPPING ANGRY VOICES]

NARRATOR: A DISPUTE OVER MARIE DORION'S HUSBAND PIERRE

HAS STARTED A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN HIS

CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYERS.

BUT AS THE MEN TRADE INSULTS AND THREATS,

MARIE HAS AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE MOST FAMOUS WOMAN

ON THE FRONTIER.

COMING UP THE RIVER WITH MANUEL LISA

WAS HIS INTERPRETER, CHARBONNEAU AND

THE INTERPRETER'S WIFE, SACAGAWEA.

I AM TOLD HUNT'S EXPEDITION

TRADES FOR HORSES WITH THE ARIKARA

TO TRAVEL FOR THE MOUNTAINS.

AGAINST MY ADVICE, BUT YES.

THESE ARE TWO WOMEN THAT HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON;

BOTH CULTURAL INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN THESE WHITE MEN...

THESE INVADERS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE LAND OF THE NATIVES

AND ARE CHANGING EVERYTHING.

NARRATOR: AND LIKE MARIE, SACAGAWEA PLAINLY SEES THE

MISTAKES THAT THE EXPEDITION'S LEADER IS MAKING.

NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU THINK THIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN,

IT IS WORSE AHEAD.

WHY WILL HUNT NOT FOLLOW THE CAPTAINS LEWIS AND CLARK?

BECAUSE HE IS A FOOL SURROUNDED BY FOOLS.

THERE WILL BE NO GAME TO HUNT IN THE WINTER,

NO MATTER WHAT THE TRAPPERS THINK.

YOU MUST THINK ALWAYS OF FOOD.

YOU MUST BE READY WHEN YOUR BABY COMES.

NARRATOR: SACAGAWEA IS PERCEPTIVE ENOUGH TO SEE

THE SECRET THAT MARIE HAS BEEN KEEPING FROM HER HUSBAND.

MARIE IS EXPECTING AND IS FAIRLY FAR ALONG

AND THERE WILL SOON BE A THIRD LITTLE DORION

TO ADD TO THE PARTY.

IT WILL COME IN THE WINTER IN THE MOUNTAINS.

YOU WILL BE ALONE.

DID THE WOMEN OF YOUR FAMILY TELL YOU HOW TO

DO THIS ON YOUR OWN?

THEN I HAVE NO MORE TO SAY.

BUT I WILL GIVE YOU THIS.

♪ ♪

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: SACAGAWEA GAVE HER A KNIFE AS A GIFT,

AND IT BECAME A VERY IMPORTANT SYMBOL OF THE BOND

BETWEEN THESE TWO NATIVE WOMEN WHO PLAYED SUCH

AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN OPENING UP THE AMERICAN WEST.

TRUST NO ONE.

WHEN THE HUNGER COMES,

THESE MEN WILL SHOW YOU WHO THEY REALLY ARE.

♪ ♪

[SNIFFLES]

MARIE: MR. REED...

WHAT HAPPENED?

IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF BIG TALKING AND BOASTING,

AND NOW THEY'RE BEST FRIENDS AGAIN.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AND ALTHOUGH HUNT AND MANUEL LISA END THEIR QUARREL,

MARIE NOW KNOWS THAT THE TRUE TEST OF COURAGE

STILL LIES AHEAD.

♪ ♪

AFTER WEEKS OF ARDUOUS TRAVEL INTO THE MOUNTAINS,

WILSON PRICE HUNT MAKES YET ANOTHER CATASTROPHIC CHOICE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THEY COME UPON THE FIRST MOUNTAIN BARRIERS

AND HUNT SUDDENLY DECIDES,

"WE DON'T NEED THE HORSES.

WE'LL TAKE THE RIVER, I BET THIS RIVER'S GONNA TAKE US

RIGHT TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN."

NOBODY'S BEEN ON THIS RIVER BEFORE.

NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE GONNA RUN INTO.

NARRATOR: HUNT'S IMPULSIVE DECISION LEADS THE EXPEDITION

ONTO A TREACHEROUS RIVER THAT SCATTERS HIS MEN AND SUPPLIES,

AND LEADS TO THE FIRST FATALITY OF THE JOURNEY.

WHERE'S CLAPPINE?

- SEARCH DOWN THE RIVER! REED: CLAPPINE!

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: VETERAN BOATMAN, ANTOINE CLAPPINE,

DROWNS AFTER HIS CANOE WAS OVERTURNED IN THE RAPIDS.

AND HIS SENSELESS DEATH SPURS THE EXPEDITION'S HAPLESS

LEADER INTO CHANGING COURSE, YET AGAIN.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

MEN, WE MUST ABANDON THIS MAD RIVER.

I NO LONGER BELIEVE IT WILL LEAD US

TO THE COLUMBIA.

WE'LL CACHE WHAT SUPPLIES WE CANNOT CARRY AND PROCEED ON FOOT

UNTIL WE CAN TRADE FOR HORSES.

UNLOAD THE CANOES, I WILL SELECT A SITE TO BURY THEM.

CAPTAIN, THE LAST VILLAGE IS JUST A WEEK BACK.

WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO GET THERE.

AND WHAT IF THEY HAVE MOVED?!

OR IF THEY ATTACK US IN OUR WEAKENED STATE?

NO ONE IS COMING TO RESCUE US.

WE ARE ALONE.

MR. REED, IF YOU WISH TO STAY AND STARVE, DO SO!

BUT I WILL REACH THE OCEAN WITH ANYONE BRAVE ENOUGH TO FOLLOW.

NARRATOR: THANKS TO HUNT'S POOR PLANNING, MARIE NOW FACES

A MERCILESS MARCH THROUGH SOME OF THE TOUGHEST

TERRAIN ON THE CONTINENT.

ALTHOUGH HUNT MANAGES TO ACQUIRE HORSES FROM

A SHOSHONE VILLAGE, THE EXPEDITION STILL

STRUGGLES TO MAKE PROGRESS;

LEAVING THEM FAR FROM HELP WHEN MARIE DORION'S STRENGTH

IS TESTED IN A WAY NO MAN'S COULD EVER BE.

AH!

OH.

IT'S TIME.

UH- BOYS!

BOYS, LET'S GO IN THE TENT.

BOY 1: IS MAMA OKAY? PIERRE: SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY.

I-I WILL TELL THEM THEY MUST WAIT.

MARIE: NO, PIERRE, TELL THEM TO GO.

PLEASE.

NARRATOR: YET EVEN IN THIS HOUR OF EXTREME SUFFERING,

SHE REFUSES TO PUT ANYONE ELSE AT RISK

BY DELAYING THEIR JOURNEY.

MONSIEUR HUNT!

THE BABY IS ARRIVING.

WE WILL STAY HERE AND FIND YOU TOMORROW.

KRIS SWANSON: THIS IS THE WAY THAT UH MARIE WANTED IT.

SHE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO GOING AND GIVING BIRTH ON HER OWN.

DECIMA LUGO: THIS IS HER THIRD BIRTH, WHICH MEANS THAT

SHE KNEW HOW TO CARE FOR HERSELF.

SHE WAS STRONG.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AFTER CROSSING THOUSANDS OF MILES,

MARIE MUST MAKE THE MOST DIFFICULT STEPS OF

THE ENTIRE JOURNEY UTTERLY ALONE.

AND AS HER ANCESTORS HAVE ALWAYS DONE, SHE STANDS ON HER OWN

TWO FEET AS SHE TRIES TO BRING A NEW LIFE INTO THE WORLD.

[SCREAMING]

[SCREAMING]

NARRATOR: DURING A BRUTAL JOURNEY ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS,

PIONEER WOMAN MARIE DORION IS ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH

WHILE COMPLETELY ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS.

[GROANS, PANTING]

[SCREAMING]

[PANTING]

[BABY CRIES]

STAY HERE.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

NARRATOR: YET BY SUMMONING HER REMARKABLE STRENGTH

AND RESOLVE, MARIE BRINGS A NEW LIFE INTO THE WORLD.

THE NAME AND THE GENDER OF THE BABY WAS NEVER RECORDED,

SO WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF IT WAS A BOY OR A GIRL.

SHE KIND OF LOOKS LIKE YOU.

[LAUGHS]

NARRATOR: IT'S A MOMENT OF JOY FOR MARIE AND PIERRE,

SOON FOLLOWED BY THE REALIZATION THAT THEY NEED TO CATCH UP

TO THE EXPEDITION.

BUT EXPEDITION LEADER, WILSON PRICE HUNT IS LEARNING THAT

HE NEEDS THE DORIONS JUST AS BADLY.

TEN. I NEED TEN BUSHELS.

FOOD.

LECLERC: MR. HUNT, THERE THEY ARE!

♪ ♪

KRIS SWANSON: HUNT'S RECOLLECTIONS ARE THAT

HE COULDN'T EVEN TELL THAT SHE'D HAD A BABY.

SHE JUST SEEMED JUST AS CALM

AND AS FINE AS COULD BE.

I CONFESS, I DIDN'T HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MARIE.

BUT, I AM GLAD.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BY THIS TIME, THE MEN HAD TAKEN

A GREAT INTEREST IN THIS HEROIC INDIAN WOMAN, AND UH REALLY

CARED ABOUT HER, CARED ABOUT THE BOYS,

CARED ABOUT HER NEW BABY.

HUNT: PIERRE!

NARRATOR: BUT THE JOY OF THE REUNION IS SHORT LIVED.

TELL THEM WE NEED TEN BAGS OF GRAIN.

ANYTHING.

NARRATOR: THE EXPEDITION IS STARVING.

AND THE SHOSHONE AT THE CAMP HAVE NO GOOD NEWS TO SHARE.

THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO FOOD TO TRADE.

THEY ARE HUNGRY THEMSELVES.

BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING OUT INTO AN AREA

WHERE THERE WERE LESS ANIMALS, THERE WAS LESS WATER,

SOME OF THE VILLAGES THEY ENCOUNTERED WERE SO POOR

THAT THEY HAD NOTHING TO TRADE.

WE MUST PERSEVERE.

PROVIDENCE WILL SOON LEAD US TO FOOD.

OF- OF THIS, I AM CERTAIN.

UH, IT'S JUST A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

SO, HUNT HAS REALLY GOTTEN HIMSELF INTO TROUBLE.

NARRATOR: STRUGGLING AGAINST STARVATION AS THEY PRESS

ONWARDS, THE EXPEDITION BEGINS EATING ITS HORSES

UNTIL ONLY ONE REMAINS.

JIM HARDEE: WHEN THEY GOT DOWN TO WHETHER THEY WOULD

KILL THIS LAST HORSE, BECAUSE THEY WERE

THAT DESPERATE FOR FOOD, UH THEY ALL SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

BECAUSE WE RESPECT MARIE SO MUCH,

WE WILL BYPASS FOOD SO THAT MARIE CAN RIDE."

NARRATOR: THE MEN MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WITHOUT FOOD,

BUT THE EXPEDITION'S NEWEST MEMBER CANNOT.

[SOBBING]

♪ [SOMBER MUSIC] ♪

WITHIN NINE DAYS, THE BABY DIED BECAUSE

THERE JUST WASN'T SUFFICIENT

NUTRITION TO FEED THE BABY.

[SOBBING]

KRIS SWANSON: THAT NIGHT, AFTER DARK,

SHE SAT IN HER TENT AND WAILED,

AND CRIED, AND MOURNED THAT BABY.

AND AFTER THAT, THEY NEVER HEARD HER MAKE MUCH OF A SOUND,

OTHER THAN TALKING.

NARRATOR: DRIVEN BY WILL ALONE, MARIE AND THE EXPEDITION FINALLY

REACH THEIR DESTINATION: FORT ASTORIA IN MODERN DAY OREGON.

LECLERC: PIERRE.

I WILL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

MARIE. - LECLERC.

I'LL MISS YOU, BUT I'LL BE BACK.

NARRATOR: MARIE SURVIVED THE HARROWING JOURNEY

ACROSS THE CONTINENT...

I'LL BE GLAD NOT TO SEE OUR CAPITAN FOR A WHILE.

[ALL LAUGH]

NARRATOR: LEAVING HER THIRD CHILD BURIED ON THE WAY.

BUT EVEN THAT ORDEAL WILL SOON BE ECLIPSED BY ONE FAR WORSE.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: HAVING COMPLETED HIS CONTRACT WITH WILSON HUNT,

PIERRE IS FREE TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE AS A TRAPPER

WITH MARIE AT HIS SIDE.

KRIS SWANSON: SHE COOKED, SHE CLEANED, SHE MENDED, SHE

PREPARED MOST OF THE PELTS THAT WERE BEING BROUGHT IN BY THE-

THE HUNTERS AND THE TRAPPERS.

JIM HARDEE: THEY BUILD A BASE CAMP, AND PIERRE IS LIKE

FIVE DAYS UP THE RIVER, AND UH MARIE AND THE BOYS ARE

THERE BY THEMSELVES.

NARRATOR: A WOMAN AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS

ARE EASY PREY FOR PREDATORS, BOTH ANIMAL AND HUMAN.

BOYS!

♪ [SUSPENSE] ♪

NARRATOR: LUCKILY, THE INTRUDERS ARE FRIENDLY SHOSHONE,

BUT THEY BRING A DIRE WARNING.

MARIE: [SIGNS]

SHOSHONE MAN: [SIGN LANGUAGE]

♪ ♪

MARIE GETS WORD THAT THE BANNOCK INDIANS ARE ON THE WARPATH.

KRIS SWANSON: THEY WANTED TO DRIVE

THESE MEN OUT OF THEIR TERRITORY.

AND THE TRAPPING PARTY WITH HER HUSBAND

IS IN GRAVE DANGER.

BOYS!

COME ON, GET THE TENT!

KRIS SWANSON: SO, SHE TOOK HER CHILDREN, AND JUMPED

ON THE HORSE, AND HEADED OUT TO WARN THEM.

NARRATOR: WITH NO REAL IDEA OF WHERE PIERRE HAS BEEN TRAPPING,

IT TAKES MARIE THREE DAYS TO LOCATE SIGNS OF HIS CAMP.

♪ ♪

HOLD, HOLD IT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT WHAT SHE FINDS CONFIRMS HER WORST NIGHTMARE.

THE CAMP HAS BEEN ATTACKED.

JIM HARDEE: IT'S SMOLDERING AND,

SURE ENOUGH, EVERYBODY'S DEAD. WELL, GILES LECLERC

IS STILL ALIVE, AND HE MANAGES TO TELL MARIE

ALL THAT HAS GONE ON.

LECLERC, WHERE'S PIERRE?

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: SINCE DEPARTING ST. LOUIS, MARIE DORION

HAS ENDURED FORCED MARCHES, STARVATION,

AND THE DEATH OF AN INFANT CHILD.

[SOBS]

PIERRE. PIERRE!

NARRATOR: NOW SHE'S UTTERLY ALONE IN A TRACKLESS

WILDERNESS TEEMING WITH ENEMIES.

[SOBS] PIERRE.

[SCREAMS]

NARRATOR: AFTER A HARROWING TREK ACROSS THE CONTINENT,

MARIE DORION HAS SUFFERED YET ANOTHER HEART WRENCHING LOSS...

[SCREAMS]

NARRATOR: THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND, PIERRE.

BUT THERE IS NO TIME TO GRIEVE.

THE BANNOCK INDIANS WHO KILLED PIERRE ARE STILL ON THE WARPATH.

♪ ♪

WHERE IS PAPA?

PAPA IS NO LONGER WITH US.

I WILL TELL YOU OF HIS BRAVERY ONE DAY.

SHE'S WORRIED THAT THE INDIANS ARE STILL AROUND

AND MIGHT ATTACK AT ANY MOMENT.

SHE'S GOTTA GET THE BOYS OUT OF THERE.

BUT NOW,

VOUS DEVEZ ETRE COURAGEUX LES DEUX.

OUI?

NARRATOR: MARIE NOW FACES A DESPERATE DECISION.

EITHER TRY TO GET BACK TO FORT ASTORIA, OR HEAD

DEEPER INTO THE MOUNTAINS IN SEARCH OF HELP.

JANE KIRKPATRICK: SHE REMEMBERS WHEN THE HUNT PARTY HAD

ENCOUNTERED FRIENDLY INDIANS, AND SHE HOPES

SHE CAN REPEAT THAT TRIP AND FIND THOSE INDIANS.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BUT FINDING A FRIENDLY TRIBE IS A DIFFICULT TASK.

AND AS BRUTAL WINTER WEATHER DESCENDS ON THE MOUNTAINS,

IT MAY PROVE IMPOSSIBLE.

KRIS SWANSON: THEY TRAVEL FOR ABOUT NINE DAYS.

AS THEY GET UP INTO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS,

THE SNOW BECOMES THICKER, IT BECOMES HEAVIER.

JANE KIRKPATRICK: SHE MAKES IT THROUGH THAT SAME AREA

WHERE HER CHILD HAD DIED, AND

SHE FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE TO STOP.

KRIS SWANSON: SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO SURVIVE

THE WINTER, AND SO SHE FINDS A RAVINE WHERE

IT'S FAIRLY SHELTERED.

NARRATOR: REALIZING HER WORST FEAR HAS COME TRUE,

MARIE BEGINS PREPARING FOR SURVIVAL.

KRIS SWANSON: SHE PROCEEDS TO BUILD A SMALL WICKIUP.

A WICKIUP IS BASICALLY A WOODEN STRUCTURE MADE OF LOGS AND

STICKS THAT ARE LEANED UP ALMOST IN A CONICAL FORM.

YOU'RE BUILDING A STRUCTURE THAT CAN JUST HOLD SOME WARMTH.

AND IT MIGHT SEEM, LIKE, VERY UNINVITING TO CRAWL IN THERE,

BUT IT CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIVING AND DYING.

NARRATOR: THOUGH THEY HAVE SHELTER, MARIE'S MEAGER

SUPPLY OF FOOD QUICKLY RUNS OUT.

STEVEN: AS ANY PARENT KNOWS, YOU'RE NOT JUST LIVING WITH

FEAR OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, BUT YOU'RE LIVING WITH

A FEAR THAT'S WORSE THAN THAT,

IS WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THESE INNOCENT, HELPLESS PEOPLE.

NARRATOR: MARIE HAS ALREADY LOST ONE CHILD TO HUNGER,

AND SHE REFUSES TO LOSE ANOTHER.

MARIE HAS ONLY ONE SOURCE OF FOOD TO GET HER CHILDREN AND

HERSELF THROUGH THE WINTER.

BUT USING IT, MEANS SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO TRAVEL UNTIL

THE WEATHER FINALLY BREAKS.

MARK BROWN: STARVING TO DEATH IS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY, AND

SO, TO STAVE THAT OFF, I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY ANYTHING

THAT YOU WOULD FALL SHORT FROM TRYING TO DO.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

SHE SMOKES THAT HORSE MEAT

SO THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO SURVIVE.

AND THEY STAY THERE FOR 57 DAYS.

NARRATOR: AFTER NEARLY TWO MONTHS, THE HORSE MEAT

IS NEARLY GONE, AND MARIE FACES YET ANOTHER

GUT-WRENCHING DECISION.

KRIS SWANSON: SHE KNEW THAT THEY HAD TO START MOVING AGAIN

OR THEY WERE GONNA RUN OUTTA FOOD AND IT WAS GONNA BE

ANOTHER DESPERATE SITUATION.

NARRATOR: BUT MARIE KNOWS THE BOYS WILL NOT SURVIVE

A MARCH IN THE FROZEN WILDERNESS.

MY BRAVE BOYS.

PROMISE ME THAT YOU WILL STAY HERE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: FINALLY, SHE DECIDES, "WE'RE GONNA

STARVE UNLESS I CAN GET HELP."

SHE LEAVES THE BOYS, AND THIS JUST MUST HAVE

BEEN SO DIFFICULT.

NARRATOR: NOT KNOWING IF SHE'LL EVER SEE HER CHILDREN

ALIVE AGAIN, MARIE SETS OFF ON WHAT MAY BE

THE FINAL STEPS OF HER JOURNEY.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AFTER FIFTY-SEVEN BRUTAL DAYS OF STARVATION,

ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS,

MARIE DORION HAS SET OUT ON FOOT HOPING AGAINST ALL HOPE

TO FIND HELP FOR HER TWO YOUNG SONS.

SHE SETS THOSE TWO LITTLE BOYS IN THERE,

AND SHE TELLS THEM, "DO NOT LEAVE, STAY HERE."

THEN, SHE PROCEEDS TO GO DOWN THE MOUNTAIN

IN ORDER TO FIND HELP.

NARRATOR: AND IN THE HOWLING WINDS AND BLINDING SNOW,

SHE FINALLY REACHES THE LIMIT OF HER ENDURANCE.

♪ ♪

AFTER COLLAPSING IN THE SNOW, MARIE FINDS HERSELF IN

AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE WITH NO IDEA OF HOW LONG SHE'S BEEN ASLEEP.

MY SONS.

[IN SHOSHONE] MY SONS, MY SONS, MY SONS!

[SIGN LANGUAGE]

KRIS SWANSON: SHE FINALLY RUNS INTO A WALLA WALLA TRIBE.

THE WALLA WALLA WERE THE INDIANS SHE WAS LOOKING FOR BECAUSE

SHE HAD SPENT TIME WITH THEM IN THE PAST

AND SHE KNEW THAT SHE WOULD BE SAFE.

JIM HARDEE: SHE TELLS SOME WALLA WALLA INDIANS WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY SEND MEN BACK FOR THE BOYS.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE WALLA WALLA HELP MARIE RECOVER FROM HER ORDEAL,

BUT HER OWN SAFETY MEANS NOTHING TO HER UNLESS HER

CHILDREN SURVIVE AS WELL.

SOMEHOW, AGAINST ALL THE ODDS, MARIE DORION HAS SURVIVED...

[IN SHOSHONE] MY SONS!

NARRATOR: ...AND SO HAVE HER SONS.

[CRYING IN JOY]

KRIS SWANSON: BOTH LITTLE BOYS SURVIVED,

MARIE SURVIVED.

THEY ALL GREW HEALTHY AGAIN

AND WERE ABLE TO MOVE PAST THIS EXPERIENCE.

♪ ♪

AND IT'S JUST ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE STORIES

OF PERSEVERANCE AND ENDURANCE IN ALL OF WESTERN HISTORY.

THAT WOMAN SHOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED WHAT

SHE SURVIVED, BUT SHE DID.

AND SHE GOES ON TO HAVE THIS WONDERFUL LIFE AFTER THAT.

JANE KIRKPATRICK: SHE REMAINED IN THE OREGON COUNTRY

AS A REVERED WOMAN.

SHE SET THE EXAMPLE FOR HOW TO LIVE A FULL LIFE AND TO TAKE

CARE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

SHE IS AN AMAZING, AMAZING WOMAN.