Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Where Western history comes alive.

Stories of the old West,

stories of hardships

and adventure,

of dreams and of courage,

stories of the American pioneer,

are all a part of our past,

of our heritage.

This is the story of travelers

who meet in the New Mexico desert

in the winter of 1852.

They were a French-born priest,

a young teacher,

a merchant,

and a proud and hostile Indian.

Each was different from the other,

yet they shared a common goal--

survival.

Survival against man in the desert.

The priest was Jean-Baptiste Lamy,

the Bishop of Santa Fe,

who knew how desperately his party needed...

I'’m very pleased with you, Severa.

You'’ve done much for the children.

You are the great teacher, Padre.

Padre-- it grows later.

All right, Naranjo, I'’m just saying my good-bye.

For too long, Padre.

It is serious.

I have told the Comanche'’s on war path.

It'’s true, Padre.

They burn a mission in Cristo Valley.

We worry that you go now.

I must. I have a meeting with my parish in Santa Fe.

Blue Feather cares not for that.

He is an enemy to all people, Padre.

But, why?

Blue Feather has one sister,

Maria.

SEVERA: He love her very much.

She becomes a convert to our religion.

And this is why?

No. She wishes to be a nun,

and they send her off, far off, to study.

Oh, but surely--

Blue Feather says they have stolen her.

I feel sorry for him.

I would like to tell him that.

He would not listen, Padre.

Padre, delay no longer,

I must keep you safe.

We are ready, Naranjo,

and I'’m sure that between you and the Lord,

we will be saved.

Good-bye, Severa.

The Lord'’s hand is so apparent here.

Everything is so untouched,

so unspoiled.

Even Severa and people like her.

Are you-- are you happy with my work

with her at the school, sir?

Oh, yes, Tom.

The reading method you'’ve taught her

worked well with the children.

Thank you, sir.

You'’ve adapted yourself well, too.

You love this land, these people--

Ah, that I do.

And I must say, making these frequent trips

with a friend is far more pleasant.

As you can see,

Naranjo treats me as not too bright a charge.

Oh, he'’s very fond of you, sir.

Perhaps so.

One never knows what he'’s really thinking.

I forget how cold the desert is at night.

We must travel faster.

Whoa, ho.

MAN: You saw something?

Blue Feather has been here.

He comes with others.

The wagon-- they are alone.

No. Blue Feather has gone,

but he will meet us in another place.

The Padre must be told.

He will be told,

but he will not believe the danger.

What is it, Naranjo?

Blue Feather is with us, Padre.

We see his tracks and those of his men.

All men leave tracks, my son.

Perhaps it is not the Comanche.

But, in any event, we shall hasten our pace.

Have you ever seen this Blue Feather, sir?

No, but one day I hope to meet him.

Perhaps then I can explain a few things

he doesn'’t understand.

Bishop, you never fail to astonish me.

Come on, h-yah!

H-yah, h-yah!

The less wait, the better.

If you can walk, so can I, sir.

I know,

but we'’re doing the best we can.

The mules are trying, too, but they'’re not elephants.

[ sighs ]

Well, that was a climb.

Perhaps now we can refresh ourselves

and water the mules.

Padre,

It is better to be thirsty

and alive.

Oh, I agree,

but it'’s also possible to be alive without being parched.

You know, this is going to sound foolish, sir,

but I almost wish we'’d come face to face with Blue Feather,

get it over with.

Why, Tom?

To see how good a talker I am?

You might yet have the opportunity,

though I am certain there are no hopes otherwise.

Smoke,

from a campfire.

Smoke we are to see.

Padre,

smoke.

I see it.

Perhaps it is a hunter'’s campfire

or a party in need of help.

We are to think that, Padre.

Blue Feather is wise, like a fox.

Oh, nonsense.

If a man means harm he would attack.

We are out in the open without protection.

He needs no smoke, Naranjo.

Padre, please!

I do not know his reasons.

I am to keep you safe.

Someone else will keep us safe, my son.

He would want us to answer a call for help.

We will ride ahead.

[ spurs horses ]

[ speaks in foreign language ]

Stay away, Padre,

[ speaking in foreign language ]

You know the language better than I.

What is he saying?

"Laranga" means a plague, a pestilence of some kind.

The Indians warn each other by stone markers.

Such foolishness.

First the footprints,

then the smoke, now this.

It was nothing.

No danger and still you warn us.

The stones say,

to go in there is to die.

Stones say nothing to me, Naranjo.

Padre,

if you go in there, we will not stay.

We will not guide you.

I told you before,

we have someone else to guide us.

I'’ll come with you, Father.

Naranjo!

Come back!

Should I ride after them, Father?

No, you could not stop them.

It'’s God's will.

Levi Spiegelberg.

[ muttering ]

[ speaks in foreign language ]

[ panting ]

[ muttering ] No. N-- No.

G-- Go away. Don'’t touch me.

Go. go away.

My wagon train left me here to die.

There'’s a reason, Bishop.

Good reason.

BISHOP JEAN-BAPTISTE LAMY: No, no. There is no reason, no good reason

for man'’s inhumanityto man.

No, we will not leave you.

[ panting ] No.

It'’s cholera.

Then we must not leave you.

We will take you with us.

Tom...

Tom, you will help me get him into the wagon?

Of course, sir.

Oh, Bishop,

you shouldn'’t be--

No. Rest, Levi.

You'’re safe now.

The Lord will take care of us.

It'’s-- it's Levi'’s.

I-- I thought we'’d better have more than just mine.

I-- I'’m sorry, sir,

I should have volunteered right off to take him with us.

I'’m ashamed of myself.

Well, don'’t be, Tom.

If each of us were perfect,

there would be little in life for me to do.

[ Levi groaning ]

I'’m on my way from St. Louis.

Merchandise store.

Tom, the Spiegelberg brother'’s own the emporium in Santa Fe.

They put me out of my own wagon.

Cholera-- go away--

You could get cholera [ muttering ]

You-- you could die.

We better move on. He needs help badly.

Come on. Come on. [ spurs horses ]

Tom.Yes, Bishop?

I fear for him and the motion is making him worse.

You'’d better stop at the next water hole

so he can rest.

He'’s burning with fever, Tom.

We will lose him

if the compresses don'’t bring it down.

Well, I'’ll light the fire, Father,

and you call me if you need me.

You'’re exhausted, Father.

Let me take over a while.

There'’s been little change.

I'’ll relieve you before morning.

Is he all right, sir?

We have done all we can, Tom.

It'’s up to God to spare him.

Can I-- can I get you some coffee?

LEVI: Please...

water.

Levi,

you'’re all right.

I guess-- I guess I'’m too tough a man to kill.

Thank God.

Can I have some water?

Easy, easy, just a little at a time, my friend.

Easy.[ gasps ]

[ coughs ]

It tastes good.

You did not have cholera.

I shall say a mass and thank God for that blessing.

And then breakfast.

[ chuckles ] Amen to that, Bishop.

[ muttering ]

[ continuing ]

[ yelling, gunfire ]

[ gunfire ]

Well, we got our wish,Father.

It'’s Blue Feather.

There'’s no time to talk.

God has not deserted us.

He is still above.

That shot came from above.

However, I suspect it came from the wagon.

Levi, hold your fire.

But, Bishop--

Put your gun down, please.

Tom...

Bishop, come back!

Don'’t shoot.

We meet, you and I, and we shall talk.

You will not understand my words,

but we, the church and I, are not your enemies.

We did not take your sister.

She came to us in peace

to be a nun in God'’s service.

Now I come to you in peace.

I know white man words. They mean nothing!

Well then, let my deeds show the Comanche

that all white men are not alike.

I give you your horse. You'’re free to go.

Why would you do that?

I came here to kill you.

Because that is what your sister would want me to do.

You speak again about my sister.

Is she known to you?

No.

No, I do not know her.

But I know what she would want,

what would make her proud--

to see us like this now.

Go. Go, my son.

You know, I wouldn'’t have believed it

if we both hadn'’t seen it.

Now, Tom, if you will help me,

we'’ll continue the mass.

[ man clearing throat ]

I was 800 miles away.

Have you been coughing long?

Well, not as long as sometimes.

All right, Tom,

what did I forget today?

Nothing, sir, I just wanted to announce

a visitor.

Hello, Bishop.

Levi, how are you?

Oh, I'’m fine, thank you.

I see you have fully recovered.

Yes, thanks to you.

I'’ve intended writing your brothers

to thank them for the books they'’ve sent us.

Oh, there'’s no need.

We'’re all grateful for your courage,

and Tom'’s.

I'’ve brought you a present, Bishop.

Oh, thank you, Levi.

It'’s a mezuzah.

I know.

It contains the five scrolls of Moses,

of a revered symbol in Hebrew faith.

It is attached to a door post,

to consecrate the entire household

to God.

Am I right, Levi?

Yes,

and I'’m surprised that you know so much about our faith.

Did you think I knew nothing

of any religion except my own?

I have a gift for you, too.

I thought it would be appropriate

since St. Christopher is the patron saint in travelers.

Yes.

Thank you, Bishop.

Yes, it'’s most appropriate.

Especially when you'’re not around.

Pardon me, Bishop, but you have a class

in five minutes.

Oh, well, I'’ll be going along.

Again, thank you for my medal

and my life.

Thank you, Tom. Good-bye.

Levi...

Shalom.

Shalom.

Bishop Lamy became an Arch Bishop

in 1875.

Half a century later,

he was the central figure in a celebrated book

by Willa Cather--

Death Comes for the Archbishop.

Be with us again, next week

for another true adventure of our American past.