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.

The year was 1882,

Ill feeling towards the Indian nation

was at it'’s height,

and diehard renegades roamed the West.

Few Indians would admit that their future lay in competition

rather than war with the white man.

One such competition took place in Montana

and on it'’s outcome depended...

Jackson,

I don'’t like this.

What'’s that?

You'’re encouraging these savages

to compete against my freight line.

I have no choice, Manning, and you know that.

The first of the two low bidders,

who delivers gets the contract,

fair and square.

If they win, you'’re puttin' this town in the hands

of an Injun freight line.

Well, if this town survives your rates,

it can survive anything.

Have it your way,

but I'’m gonna be the first one to Sheridan,

one way or another.

Be sure you do it legal.

Buck! Come on down here.

What do you want?

The contract.

You are tired, my husband.

No, I'’m sick.

Sick for my pony,

sick for the hunt.

I lift like a mule,

and I drive a wagon like a woman.

There'’s little left to hunt,

even if it was allowed.

[ scoffs ] Allowed.

You promised.

You have my word.

Red Eagle? Little Fawn?

I see you'’re about ready for the big race

tomorrow morning.

Do you ask as Indian agent or as a friend?

A friend, Little Fawn, as a friend.

No good will come of this.

I feel hate in the air.

Well, I can'’t deny that,

but you know how important winning this contract can be

to you and your people.

I know.

Well, he'’s right.

There'’s nothing in this contract

that says an Indian can'’t compete.

Nothing at all.

We haven'’t lost a contract yet.

We'’ll get this one, for sure.

Maybe, but a little insurance wouldn'’t hurt.

It wouldn'’t hurt a bit.

A white man'’s work,

a white man'’s home.

Even his tongue.

We'’re Arapaho, we'’re not white.

I know, and I'’m proud of it,

but we must learn change.

Change.

This was my father'’s.

Now it'’s mine.

I belong with my tribe.

No. No one will help us

if we don'’t help ourselves.

Our people belong here,

starting a new life as we'’re doing.

[ knocking ]

What do you want?

Is Red Eagle here?

Why are you here?

I have a proposition to make.

What is this proposition?

Come on outside and I'’ll show you.

All right, look '’em over, Red Eagle.

you won'’t find better horse flesh

within 200 miles.

Why did you bring them here?

To sell '’em.

I can'’t afford to buy your horses.

Well, these horses you can because I'’m giving them to you,

and 200 in cash, besides.

And what must I give you?

Your rigs and equipment.

You keep the livestock.

You'’ll be the richest Indian in your whole tribe,

bar none.

I gave my word.

Take your horses and your money.

Well, look, if it'’s not enough, I'll--

No amount is enough.

I don'’t get it.

We offered him twice what his whole outfit'’s worth.

Well, there'’s more than one way to drive a bargain

and maybe cheaper.

What do you mean?

We'’re gonna win that government contract,

fair and square.

How?

Hold on, Jackson.

Now, what is it this time?

It'’s late, sir, get on with it.

We just--I'’ll handle this, Buck.

It'’s against the law for Indian'’s to have liquor,

isn'’t it?

You know it is.

Well, you better come with us.

Well, there they are.

You know what you have to do.

Don'’t tell me my job.

Hey, that'’s evidence you'’re tossin' around.

That'’s all right, Buck, the law'’s clear.

He knows he has to lock '’em up.

You don'’t think Red Eagle can take that wagon through

on time by himself, do you?

Do you?

My opinion doesn'’t matter.

I know you'’re not fool enough to leave traces.

No hard feelings, Jackson.

You just bet on the wrong freight line.

[ laughs ]

[ knocking ]

Mr. Jackson.

Red Eagle, Little Fawn,

I have bad news.

I had to lock up your two men for being drunk.

Drunk?

Who gave them the liquor?

I don'’t know.

Well, I know.

They said they found it in your barn.

Thank you for telling us.

You won'’t be entering the race, then?

Oh, I'’ll be there.

You'’ll get help?

There isn'’t anyone.

All my people are with the tribe.

Well, I'’ll find someone you can hire.

No.

Be reasonable, Red Eagle, you--

You say I must win this contract

to prove that the white man and the red man

can live and work side by side.

That'’s right.

Let one white man help, just one,

it becomes his victory.

Can'’t you see that?

Yes, I understand.

So, again, thank you.

If this fails, they'’ll try something else.

I'’ll join you at the starting line

after I see Jackson.

All right.

Where'’s your Indian friend, Jackson?

He'’s got five minutes, yet.

Why don'’t you call it off?

You know the country between here and Fort Sheridan.

One man would be lucky to get through alone.

You'’re not worried, are you?

Worried?

I spent five years building my business.

I'’m not about to lose it to a savage.

Is that why you got his men drunk?

Prove it.

I must go.

Be careful, my husband.

You'’re going through with it?

One thing I must ask, my friend.

Name it.

Go to Little Fawn when I'’m gone.

Well, I will, but why isn'’t she here?

Start the race, go to Little Fawn.

Come on, Jackson, let'’s go!

We gonna be here all day?

You all know what the race is for.

The winner, the first who delivers

and unloads his supplies at Fort Sheridan,

gets the quartermaster supply contract.

Come on, get on with it!

At the count of three.

One,

two,

three!

Ho!What'’s going on?

What are you doing?

We have a contract to win, Mr. Jackson.

But the race has already started, Red Ea--

Those crates.

The supplies.

The other wagon is loaded with empty crates.

But, why?

Red Eagle rides into a trap.

Manning and party will never allow him

to reach the fort.

So he'’s a decoy, while you'’ll take the supplies through.

Little Fawn, give it up.

You can'’t possibly take that rig

over a hundred miles of rough country.

I am Arapaho

and I am the wife of Red Eagle.

You are a witness, I did not leave

before the start of the race.

I'’ll go with you.

It must be done by Arapaho,

or it will be all for nothing.

Don'’t fear for me.

Even if you get there first, you have to unload.

It will take you hours, even if you can do it at all.

I must go now.

This is where that wagon poked out of town.

Why not?He can'’t gallop all the way.

I don'’t like it. Hold up.

What for? We got two hours of daylight, yet.

Do as I say!

Whoa!

What'’s stickin' in your crawl, Hank?

You act as though we'’re losin'.

You act like we'’re at the Fort side of the contract.

Well, remember, they-- the army put the contract out for bid

'’cause you raised the rates.

I don'’t recall you arguing about it at the time.

What are you gonna do?

I'’m buying us some insurance.

Giddyap, now. Giddyap, giddyap.

Don'’t turn around.

Easy. Rifle.

Rifle.

All right, let'’s go.

We got a wagon to catch.

Move.

I don'’t like it.

They should have been back long ago.

As long as Red Eagle stays behind us,

we'’ve got nothing to worry about.

I guess not.

Ah, relax.

This time tomorrow we'’ll be on the Fort side

of the contract.

[ laughs ]

Whoa.

We have a long way to travel and little time to do it.

Single rider approaching.

Notify the Colonel.

Pat Jackson, what brings you to Fort Sheridan?

How are you, Colonel? It'’s been a long time.

It was business then. It'’s business now.

Am I right?

Quartermaster contract.

I knew it.

What does that have to do with you?

Aren'’t you still the Indian agent?

I am.

One of the competitors is Arapaho.

You can'’t be serious.

You are serious.

[ scoffs ] It'’s out of the question.

Why?

Because he'’s an Indian, that'’s why.

That'’s no reason and you know it.

Now, let'’s not talk about it, Pat.

If I know my Indians, your man is halfway to Mexico by now.

I ought to hold you responsible for those supplies.

You wouldn'’t want to place a small wager on that?

How small?

Oh, say, 10 dollars,

against your approval of the contract

if my man wins the race.

Done.

Colonel, wagons approaching.

A wagon, eh? Well, Pat,

your man, or mine?

Begging the Colonel'’s pardon, but it'’s two wagons.

Oh, two, is it?

Well, looks like we have a horserace, Pat.

Hey! What'’s she doin' way out here?

Shut up and drive this thing!

[ spurs horses ]

[ spurs horses ]

Hooray!

By George, we have a tie.

So far we have.

Oh, yeah, it'’s one of those unloading clauses.

Well, that'’s why we have '’em.

Come on. Let'’s see who has the strongest back.

By the saints, that'’s some woman!

More woman than I'’ve ever known, Colonel.

I told you I could do it, Mr. Jackson.

Little Fawn, I want to present, Colonel McVey.

I can'’t believe you drove this rig

over all that distance.

It'’s amazing.

You should know the full story.

Little Fawn, I'’m sorry it didn'’t work out.

What do you mean?

It'’s a tie!

The unloading clause, remember?

Oh, yes.

You will accept the shipment though, won'’t you, Colonel?

Why, of course, my dear.

Sergeant, verify this manifest.Yes, sir.

I can see that money now.

Well, this is one time you'’re not countin' it

before we make it.

What'’s he up to, Hank?

Well, I don'’t know,

but I sure aim to find out.

Now, you understand, we'’ll pay you for this shipment,

but I'’m afraid this will be your last.

Colonel, what are you up to?

Up to? What are you talkin'’ about?

Well, what'’s that blue-belly doin'’ up on the squaw's wagon?

We won the contract, we don'’t want any tricks.

You haven'’t won anything

until you'’ve finished unloading.

I suggest you get to it.

Everything is accounted for, sir,

Oh, thank you, Sergeant.

Then you'’ll sign the manifest, Colonel?

May I?

There you are.Thank you.

Now, I have work to do.

What'’s she up to?

I have no idea, Colonel.

Whoa.

There you are, Colonel.

Your consignment is delivered and unloaded.

The Red Eagle freight company has won.

Now, how do you figure you'’ve won?

Look at the manifest you'’ve signed.

The wagon is listed on it.

A gift from us to you.

Now your property is separated from ours,

which means your property is unloaded.

[ laughs ]

Well, I think she'’s got you there, Colonel.

Hey, Hank. Look there.

That'’s Red Eagle.

He'’s got the boys.

What are we gonna do?

Now, let'’s get out of here.

Those are Manning'’s men.

They must have tried to bushwhack Red Eagle.

Not much success, by the looks of it.

Colonel, stop them!

PAT JACKSON: Stop those men!

Now, we'’re looking forward to your service, Red Eagle.

You come back and visit us too, you hear?

I will and thank you, Colonel.

Thank you.

I'’d rather than those coyotes in my stockade

than on my supply wagons.

We couldn'’t have done it without your help, Mr. Jackson.

Oh, you'’d have found a way, Red Eagle.

In July 1885,

members of Congress formed a committee

to determine whether the Indians

could adapt the changing nation

and live in peace.

The exploits of Red Eagle and Little Fawn

were read in the Congressional Record

as proof that given the opportunity they could,

and had.

Be with us again next week,

for another true story from our American past.