Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

In the early days of the Old West,

it wasn'’t uncommon for Indians to carry off white children

to raise as their own.

Perhaps the most famous of these captures

was that of nine-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker,

taken by Comanches in 1839.

But equally fascinating is the story of her younger brother, John Parker,

who was captured with her.

Later in John'’s life, he lived a dangerous adventure

that climaxed itself in a story called...

Can we not go faster, Uncle?

The burro and I can only go so fast, Yolanda.

Be patient. I will get you to the meeting place in time.

What if the wagon train leaves?

[ sighs ] It will not.

But if it does, how will I get home?

When I come to to kill Franko later,

Estella will have no trouble getting on.

Look, my legs are not strong enough

to take you from Texas to Mexico.

But if you miss the wagon train, there will be others.

Not for a month, Uncle Fernando.

This you know, so hurry.

Oh, burro, come.

Hyah.

Comanches, Yolanda. Get behind the cart.

Aah!

Be still.

Take him to the cart.

Clean blood from his face.

No!

Obey, or you die now.

He has a fever.

Wrap his head.

Your friend-- he is awake.

You can ride?

[ grunts ]

What have you done to him?

I have done nothing. He has the pox.

You lie.I have had the pox. I know.

INDIAN: You die with pox.

My people are strong, not like the Indians.

The pox does not always kill us.

Look close, Indian.

By tomorrow, the marks will cover him.

He has pox. We go.

Wait.

We go. If we stay, pox kill us all.

Washaki, leave my horse.

You will not need it again, my brother.

In battle they would give their lives for me.

The pox makes them run like children.

A white man would not leave a friend to die.

The Comanche are no better than wild dogs!

Oh, I know the white man.

He murders and robs the Comanches,

and he says he does it because we'’re savages.

I am Comanche!

Be what you want.

I have no time to stay and argue.

Comanche...

if I go, you die.

I'’ve seen many men die.

I'’m not afraid of death.

I will bargain with you.

I go to meet a wagon train that travels to my home.

You help me find it, I will leave you with food and water.

Why would you do this for me?

Because

if the wagon train is gone,

I will need you more.

I will then take care of you.

If you live, then you will repay me.

How?

You will guide me to my home. Impossible.

You know what the white man does to the Comanche?

Death is less painful here.

I have given my word.

The word of a white woman is worth nothing.

When you are safe, you will tell your friends to hang me.

Comanche, I am gonna take you with me.

If I need you for a guide, you will help me,

or I will kill you.

That is more like it, white woman.

Comanche. Comanche.

Comanche, your friends.

Comanche, your friends-- they follow us.

You'’re worth a lot of money.

You told Washaki you could not get the pox.

So he waits.

When I am dead...

he will come for you.

They will have to kill me.

I will not be a Comanche slave.

Move, burro, move!

The wagon train is gone, Comanche.

It did not wait for me.

Tomorrow we'’ll look for a place to camp.

When you are better, you will take me home.

You must eat.

Let me die in peace.

You will not die.

You are a white man, not an Indian.

The pox does not always kill white men.

We make a bargain. You will take me home.

We made no bargain.

My family will reward you for saving me.

[ chuckling ]

You cannot die!

I do not know the desert!

Without you, I will never get home!

[ animal howling ]

Comanche! Comanche, he'’s still alive!

Burro, I am tired too,

but if we do not find water soon,

we will die.

You will die. The fever is burning you up.

Cynthia...

[ speaks Spanish ]

You must'’ve been a boy when they took you.

What is your name?

I'’m John.

I'’m your brother, John Parker.

[ gasps ]

Oh, you'’re not Cynthia!

No!

Shh, shh, shh.

Shh, shh, shh.

We are safe now.

[ coughing ]

You will not die.

My family will be happy you bring me home.

It will be a fiesta, wine...

Burro, he will not die.

You look better today.

When your hair is cut, you will be very handsome.

Don'’t be afraid, John Parker.

Who are you?

I am Yolanda.

Your Comanche friends left you to die of the pox.

But you are a white man.

You will take me home and start a new life.

I am a Comanche.

And my friends left me because they had to.

And I would do the same.

The pox can kill a whole village.

How can you wanna be Comanche?

It is the white man who live on.

Then I will die.

But not at the end of a white man'’s rope.

I have kept you alive.

You owe me your life.

You will pay that debt.

What are you doing?I am gonna greet your friends.

Put the gun away. Did you hear me?

I have only one shot left,

and it is for your friends.

Put that gun away. I know them.

Yolanda.

Trust me.

Welcome, Grey Wolf.

This is your camp?

You'’re welcome to water your horses and rest.

Your people move north.

Why are you here?

I'’ve been sick.

When I can travel, I will join them.

Yolanda.

Bring the meat.

She is yours?

She is mine.

[ chuckles ]

You have a prize.

She will bring a good price.

It took me the morning to get the rabbit.

Why did you give it to him?

He is a friend,

and he would give me food in his camp.

I do not trust them. When will they leave?

They will leave when their horses are rested.

Your man is sick. He will die.

We ride off. You come with us.

Why?

We cannot leave you.

You are worth much.

[ speaks Comanche ]

Grey Wolf!

I am here because I have the pox.

Hyah!

Comanche honor! Pooh!

Burro, it might be Comanches!

Burro, they are white men!

Señores! Señores!

Over here!

I am here!

Now, lookie here.

All alone and 50 miles from nowhere.

[ chuckling ]

Look at that hair, Pete.

Couldn'’t hardly tell her from a Comanche.

I-- I have a sick white man with me.

The Comanches left him to die.

A white man? Well, he may be a renegade.

No, no, no. He live with the Comanches, but he is not a renegade.

Bounty on a renegade scalp'’s still a hundred dollars, Pete.

You are going to kill him?

We might.

And then again, we might kill you if you don'’t tell us where he is.

Now, where is he?

He'’s two miles that way,

near the shallow creek.

All right, little lady. You just stay right here.

We'’ll be back for you.

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

Scalp hunters!

I sent them the wrong way, but they will be back.

Come. We must hide.

My poor John. We did not get far, but maybe--

maybe they will not find the camp.

How did they find you?

You'’re a white man.

I thought they would help.

It'’s not your fault.

[ hoofbeats approaching ]

They are here.

My scalp is worth money.

They'’ll just keep looking until they find us.

No. They will not find you.

I will draw them away.

It came from up there.

You cover me. I'’ll get her.

[ footsteps approaching ]

[ cocks gun ]Drop it.

Drop your gun!

Yolanda, get their horses.

You ain'’t gonna leave us out here without any horses, are you?

What kind of a white man are you anyway?

Not your kind of white man.

We'’ll leave you the burro and the cart.

We'’ll go now, Yolanda.

You will go back to the Comanches?

No.

You'’ve taught me who I am,

where I belong.

Come, my Yolanda.

We'’ll go home.

That understanding was the end of John Parker'’s life as an Indian.

He married his Mexican girl,

fought with a Mexican division in our Civil War,

and returned to Mexico where he became a prosperous rancher.

Be with us next week for another true story

from the history of the Old West.