Original subtitles

♪ [ trumpet ]

The rendezvous at Green River was a yearly highlight

for the trappers, traders, and Indians

along the Wyoming frontier.

It was a rough and rowdy affair

where furs were traded and whiskey flowed.

It was also a place of violence in the spring of 1835.

That year, Christopher Carson, the man called "Kit,"

followed a trail that led him to the strangest duel

ever fought in the West.

It happened at the...

Yeehaw!

You got him with one shot, Kit.

I better, Billy. That's all this here gun fires.

You gonna fetch him?

Sure, I ain't much of a guide, but I'm real good at fetching.

Look at that. Shot through cleaner than a willow-whistle.

What are you doing?

Picking the feathers out of it, that's what.

Sona, will you get to gathering firewood?

'cause we got goose for dinner.

Not tonight. We ain't stopping here.

What's your hurry?

No hurry. Just want to be at that rendezvous before dark.

You got some special reason

for getting down there, ain't you?

Just trading.

Well, now that's funny.

Why?

Well, the way you've been mooing around lately,

me and the woman figured

you had somebody waiting down there.

[ scoffs ] Like who?

Well, like that little Arapaho gal you took to last summer.

I'm going to Green River to trade. That's all.

Then trade yourself a squaw.

You ain't no good alone, Kit.

What do I need a wife for?

I can take care of myself.

Oh, not any wife.

A mountain man needs an Indian woman.

A wife that can pack a horse or a mule

or make moccasin or cook a stew

or ride all day if she has to.

You ain't mentioned one thing I can't do for myself, Billy.

[ baby cries ]

[ baby cries ]

Dang you, Billy Mitchell.

That's the first argument I ever lost to a Papoose.

Well, it won't be the last.

Hey, get a move on, woman.

Kit Carson here is going down to Green River

and get himself a squaw.

Dang if he ain't.

Yeehaw!

[ excited yelling ]

Ho.

Ho.

There it is down there.

[ yelling, laughing ]

Sounds like we ain't the first ones here.

You better get on down there

before somebody steals your gal.

[ cheerful yelling ]

My God!

you best-looking squaw in whole lake.

What name you go by, Indian?

She is Waa-Nibe, "singing grass,"

from the lodge of the Arapaho.

I am her father.

She speaks to those I say.

[ speaking foreign language]

[ continues speaking ]

[ speaks foreign language]

Understand that?

I'll beat any Indian.

I'll beat any Frenchman.

I'm an American.

Well, for Americans, mi petite bonemi,

I'll cut a stick

and switch him like small boys.

If you're coming after me, you better cut a big stick.

MAN: That's enough, Captain.

I'm Major Andrew S. Drips.

Agent for the American Fur Company.

I apologize for my man.

We want no trouble here.

Captain, you may go.

You, um...

You know Kit Carson, I believe.

A Frenchman wasn't with you last year, Major.

Who is he?

Captain Shunar.

A renegade from Canada.

A most objectionable man when drunk,

which is most of the time.

What were them words you told him, Kit?

I said he was going to start a massacre.

There are 200 Arapaho Braves in the lodges by the river.

Will they fight?

Oh, yes.

They'll fight.

The small man comes back, does he not, my daughter?

Maybe he comes only to trade furs, my father.

He does not bring furs now.

Waa-Nibe, you... you waited?

I'm not married.

You waited.

If I have, it is because my father asks much for me.

A man must bring many horses and blankets

to the lodge of my father.

I know a fella who'd give all his horses for you, Waa-Nibe.

Uh, how many does he ask?

My father asks three, uh,

no, four horses and five warm blankets.

That's not such a tall order.

No, many Braves will bring these to my father

after the rendezvous.

We'll see about that.

No, Waa-Nibe, don't go now.

Tomorrow I will see you.

Tomorrow we dance for the white men.

Will you dance with me?

I will see.

♪ [ tribal drums ]

[ men laughing ]

Hey, Kit, you already got four new blankets,

what are you going to do with five?

Try guessing, Billy.

You getting them for them three new horses?

You're getting warm.

For one each, that takes three,

and you got two left over.

That's for them cold and lonely nights on the trail, right?

How come you never told me you could count?

Ah.

Maybe going to be squaw man?

Let's watch her dancing, Kit.

You reckon she can pack a mule, Kit?

I know I can pack one.

Looks like she's coming for you, Kit.

Ready?

I'm ready.

Hold it, Kit. This can break wide open.

[ groans ]

Smart girl there.

What about him?

I'll attend to Shunar, you get out of here, Kit.

Go after your girl.

Let this cool off.

Find her, Kit.

Idiot!

Waa-Nibe, you all right?

I was frightened for you.

In a moment, the knives would flash.

Shunar is a fool.

He could've got everybody killed.

You go back now.

I am well.

You're sure, Waa-Nibe?

Yes.

It is better I be at my father's lodge when he comes.

But--Later.

I will be here.

You will come?

I will come.

Waa-Nibe?

These are for you.

I will wear them now.

[ leaves rustling ]

Kit?

You are there?

[ rustling ]

Do not hide from me.

I'm Arapaho.

[ rustling ]

I find you.

Kit?

Come out, Kit.

You are here?

It is you?

It is.

You throw the soup in Shunar's face, huh?

Please. I go now.

So they can laugh again? No.

No laugh.

Shunar is big man.

A bien, ma petite.

You show Shunar you are sorry

for hurting him with the hot soup.

No, no, no.

Stop fighting me more, my little one.

Shunar is too strong,

and you are too pretty.

That is better, my pretty one.

Now,

you give Shunar a big kiss to say you are sorry, huh?

Huh?

[ screams ]

Well, looks like the groom is all set

to call on the bride's pa.

Are you sure you want to give him Apache here?

Well, he asked for four, and I told her I knew a fella

who'd give all his horses.

Well, good luck, Kit.

Come on.

You are not wise to come, small man.

I have come for Waa-Nibe.

She does not go.

I brought horses, blankets.

Is this not enough?

You go.

Die with others.

Die with big one.

He bring evil to Waa-Nibe.

Shunar?

What's he done?

Has he hurt Waa-Nibe?

He would, but he does not.

For this, he must pay, small man.

He will pay.

All right, you skunk cowards,

now you see how big and strong is Shunar!

Now I say,

which of you want to fight Shunar next, huh?

I'll be the next one, Shunar.

Well...

the little man

going to kill the big man, huh?

Shunar is going to like this.

A runt like you going to fight a big man like me?

I'm going to like this.

By God, I'm going to like this.

Wait a minute!

You'll do as I say or you'll do nothing.

You'll get your rifles,

on horseback at 200 paces.

The way the Indians do.

I hear tell he's a crack shot, Kit.

He better be.

You only got one shot, Kit.

So does he.

My father says you will need the best horse.

One as brave as you.

He sends back Apache.

Thank you, Waa-Nibe.

Ready?

Ready?

I ain't that bad a shot, Shunar.

I could have killed you.

It is done, my son.

It's done,

and he's yours.

No, he is Waa-Nibe's.

I ask for three. These you have given me.

She said four.

Waa-Nibe is wise with reasons.

She waits for you.

Go.

What are you up to, Waa-Nibe?

Mountain man needs a squaw.

More so, he who would give all his horses to an Arapaho.

Why, you...

Then Arapaho take all horses,

and squaw must walk hills with foolish husband.

Well, I'll be danged.

This I learn from my people.

You...

You Arapaho!

And so they were married.

Kit and Waa-Nibe were happy together,

but their marriage was destined to last only a few years.

She died shortly after

the birth of their only child, a daughter.

Kit Carson married again,

but the memory of the Indian maiden

and the Spring Rendezvous would be with him

the rest of his life.

Be with us next week

for another true drama from our American past.