All language subtitles for 7 Marie Dorion Enduring Frontier Legend

♪ ♪

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.