Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

[ rumbling ]

It isn't what you expected, is it, boy?

Never seen such empty lookin' eyes.

What have they got to look at?

They sure lost themselves a war, didn't they?

We didn't beat them.

We didn't?

We burned the world out from under them.

Burned it for ourselves, too.

We're gonna miss it someday.

I've been ridin' for quite a ways

and I haven't seen any ashes.

They're there.

You'll see them someday.

Let's move. We got cattle to sell.

Oh. Starr, you made good time.

Hi, Weatherby.Sit down.

This is Randy Benton.

He'll be leading the drive.

I brought him along to show him the route.

That's quite a responsibility for a young fella.

Your first drive?

Yes, sir. I've never been a trail boss before.

Hmm. You had dinner yet?

Yes, we ate on the trail. Thank you.

Good. Then we can get right down to business.

I've got the contract all ready.

Fine.

Here you are.

Only 500 head?

That's all we could afford.

The government guarantees them a cow a man.

Head for head.

You've got 3,000 Ogallala here.

Starr, you know as well as I do

the difference between what Congress is supposed to appropriate

and what actually gets here.

It's not as great as the difference

between what actually gets here

and what you spend on the Indians.

What makes you the champion of the downtrodden?

Don't put a tag on me, Weatherby.

I came here to sell 3,000 head, not 500.

Starr, no one's twisting your arm.

Now, I couldn't care less.

I'm a very busy man. Either you want to sign, or you don't.

We'll camp by the creek and leave in the morning.

You'd better sleep in a stockade,

or those Indians will rob you blind.

I don't have anything they want.

Suit yourself.

I'll inform the Indian police.

Sleep well.Thanks.

Well, well.

What have we got here?

Good work, Bowers.

He gave himself up.

First time one of 'em ever did that.

Oh? Did he say why?

He said he'd seen the light.

A great spirit gave him the word.

What do you think?

Why do you think he came back?

I've been askin' him that for four days--

sometimes hard and sometimes soft.

You know as much about it as I do.

It's just like Ghost Dance all over again.

Some old fool comes up with a dream or a prophecy,

and it gives him the will to resist again.

They're tired and old.

I want 'em to stay that way.

You tie him to the post.

No food, no water.

And we'll ask him tomorrow why he came back.

[ chuckles ]

We'll ask him every day

until he tells us.

All right. Give me my bounty.

Huh? Oh, yeah.

$5. Don't spend it all tonight, now.

At least I work for mine.

Oh. Don't let him talk to anyone--

especially Two Hawks.

He might be planning something.

Hold it, Indian.

You the cattle man from up in Medicine Bow?

Yeah.

What'd he do?

Runnin' off.

I heard he gave himself up.

Yeah.

First time one of 'em ever did that.

It's kind of hard to figure.

Get back there! Get back there!

You old fool.

You get back over there where you belong!

Hold it.

That old fool has led more good men into battle

than you could clean up after.

How did Bowers ever get that way?

His father was a comanchero.

He was killed trading guns and whiskey to the hostiles.

I suppose that's part of it.

Did you know him?

Heh. Everybody knew him.

Why don't they fight back?

Weatherby would only hold back

on the food and blankets.

The women and kids would be the first ones to suffer.

But don't sell Bowers short.

He knows his business. He's real good at it.

I am Tonka.

This is Two Hawks, my father.

You're welcome in my camp.

Are you hungry?

No. Thank you.

My father wants me to ask a favor of you.

Yeah? A favor?

He wants to speak with High Sun--

the one tied to the post.

It is very important.

I came here to sell cattle.

Nothing else is any of my business.

It was before.

That was different. That was between Bowers and me.

What you're asking is between Two Hawks and Weatherby.

Will you ask Mr. Weatherby on our behalf?

That's all we ask.

Just to let two old friends talk.

What I think...

and what I have a right to do about it...

are two different things.

You're a lucky man.Lucky?

To have rights.

Even little ones.

Thank you anyway.

They're in for it, ain't they?

They fought a war and lost.

What do you expect?

I thought you said they didn't lose.

They lost sure enough.

But what I said was that we didn't beat them.

Boy, don't bite on me if something's going on you don't like.

Just fix it yourself.

I don't know how.

I guess we could walk on over there.

Sort of see what happens.

[ speaking in native language ]

Shut up!

My father is going to talk to High Sun.

Weatherby said no.

Weatherby has made a mistake.

Trouble, Bowers?

[ chuckles ] You new friend here

forgot his place for a minute.

And you get paid to remind him, don't you?

Go ahead.

I'll watch.

I just may learn something.

What's goin' on here, Bowers?

Them Indians are tryin' to talk and stir up trouble.

Okay, let 'em talk.

That ain't smart.

I don't like this any more than you do.

They're serious about this, but I don't know why.

I do know I don't want to make any trouble I can't handle

until the Indian police get here.

You get them Indian police down here,

and you're gonna have more trouble than you know what to do with.

[ speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

[ all cheering ]

What are they talkin' about?

All in all...

he said the buffalo are returning.

What do you say, Tonka?

What do you say?

I say nothing. I'm an eldest son of an honored chief.

I speak his words.

[ speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

He says he will go to where the buffalo are.

There he will talk to the Great Spirit.

He will come back and lead his people.

You tell him I say he's not goin' anywhere.

You tell him the Great Spirit is right here!

I hope you decide more reasonably.

I truly hope so.

I'll wire the Indian police. They'll be here by morning.

You're makin' a mistake. You shouldn't have done that.

No? Heh heh. What would you suggest I do, huh?

I assume you've had some experience in these matters.

Haven't you?

Look, no one's ever asked to see my credentials.

How much did it cost you, Weatherby?

Plenty! Look, let's stick to the point.

We got trouble here!

We ain't got half as much trouble.

If them Indian police come down here,

you're gonna see some real trouble.

Well, they're already on their way.

You go tighten up the guard.

You won't need this.

We'll have to wait this out.

[ knock on door ]

Who is it?

Morgan Starr.

What do you want?

I came to tell you

I heard that the Indian police

have been called out.

I just thought you should know.

I thought it was none of your business.

Well...

I remember the plains the way your father does,

and I'd almost forgotten what it was like.

If there is a buffalo herd...

it belongs to him.

It's right that he should...

live to enjoy the view again.

We're going, whether they let us or not.

You'll be killed.

Your father knows that.

He's my father, and I'm his eldest son.

I must obey him.

It isn't even certain there is a buffalo herd.

Bowers didn't see it.

And he's a trained woodsman.

High Sun didn't want him to see it.

Have you told your father he can't win?

You don't understand.

I've never killed an enemy in battle.

I never will, most likely.

The old days will never come back.

The war is over.

And the old men don't have enough pride left

to face the future.

But their sons must follow them anyway

because that's the way it is.

To him, I will never be a whole man

if I never kill an enemy.

And Jesuit school or no Jesuit school,

I still need my father's respect.

Does that mean that you'll follow him?

I must.

It'll be the waste of a good man.

Maybe it'll be the waste of a better one

if I don't.

I told my father that I don't believe

this path will lead us to God.

And he told me...

if it is true that God is peace within,

and our path gives us inner peace,

then...we will have found God.

Ask him what he'll do

if there is no herd.

[ speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

He says if there is no herd,

we will be proved a forsaken people.

Hope will be dead.

He will seek an honorable death then,

rather than this living one.

This...is hell.

I've always been taught that hell's in your heart...

if you make it that way.

We believe that a man's heart is in his house.

This one doesn't even feel the wind.

Did you ever see...

a big herd of buffalo?

Nope, never did.

I once rode three days

without seeing the end of the herd.

And they were moving the other way.

We figured there must've been around a million animals.

We came over a rise, looked down to the plain.

It seemed like the earth itself.

There was just so many of 'em.

And they were packed so tight

that they just didn't seem to move.

Except for the edge of the herd-- it would spread out,

and then tighten up as the stragglers came home.

They blacked out the world the way...

passenger pigeons black out the sky.

It was truly a sight.

It'd sure be nice to see another herd of buffalo again.

What do you think those Indian police will do?

To Two Hawks, I mean.

It was Indian police that killed Sitting Bull.

You think they'd stick together.

Heh.

An Indian said that to me once.

I was telling him about Gettysburg.

There's nothing new about brother against brother.

Better get some rest, boy.

We'll be heading out at first light.

Wake up.

Eh, wake up.

Near sunup.

You go look after the horses, will you?

Hey! Wake up!

You sure are gruff in the morning.

[ both speaking in native language ]

You over there!

[ speaking in native language ]

More police come soon.

Go back now.

Take off war charms.

Or big trouble come.

You're betraying your blood.

It is you who betray.

You bring trouble to your people.

It is you who are the trouble.

My father wishes to see the buffalo

once more before he dies.

You followed him once.

You owe him this.No!

He start new Ghost Dance.

Bring more soldiers.

Kill many women, many children.

You go back.

I obey him.

Put up your hands.

We don't want to hurt you. We need horses.

Please stand back.

I had that saddle going on 15 years.

I hope they make it.

There's your receipt.

Your Indian friends fixed you good.

No worse than what you're charging us for two horses.

They're good ones.

They better be.

I lost them in the creek bed.

I'll have to track 'em north tomorrow.

I've decided to make an example of them.

$100 each, dead or alive.

Do I hear you right?

Now, they don't have that coming.

He'd bring back scalps.

You know that.

I need an example.

You'll get one.

You just committed murder.

Look, I'm tired, Starr.

Are we goin' home now?

I'm kind of fond of that saddle.

We'll be taking the long way home, boy.

Yes, sir.

Ain't got much stock left.

What can I do for you?

We need some provisions.

Sold the last of my provisions a couple of days ago.

They're doin' a right brisk rate.

Oh?Yeah.

All these huntin' parties.

Been talk of buffalo to the north.

Nah. There's no buffalo.

Maybe so. But there sure are a heap of people

talkin' about Miniconjou Glade.

Did you see a fella named Bowers

come through here?

Bounty hunter? After two Injuns? Yeah.

Told him the same thing I told you.

He was here yesterday.

Well...

is there any place up the line we could stock up?

A couple of farms maybe.

I can serve some lunch, if you're hungry.

Much obliged. How much?

$10. Each.

Heh. It's a seller's market.

In that case, I'll just have a glass of milk.

A dollar a glass.

A dollar a glass?

A dollar for a glass of milk?

How much is the kerosene?$20 a can.

And how much are matches?A dollar a box.

What's he got, a gold cow?

Uh, what do you want with kerosene and matches?

I mean, way out here and all.

There's an old cure for deafness my mother taught me.

You don't seem deaf to me.

You seem to hear right well.

Well, when you told me the price of lunch,

I couldn't hear at all.

All right.

Here is your $41.

I figure it'll take about two cans.

Uh...

lunch is down to 50 cents.

And the milk?

Goes with the lunch.

Pretty powerful cure.

Didn't even have to take the tops off.

Put it away!

Drop that gun belt!

Get down!

I said get down there, boy!

Why are you followin' me?

Why are you walkin' in front of us?

My horse went lame. I had to shoot him.

Get back there. Get back!

Hyah![ neighs ]

You think you're gonna get the reward?

Well, I got my claim on that.

You got a claim to fire and brimstone, is what you got.

I spent my whole life

chasin' after them moth-eatin' savages.

Herd 'em back into that government compound

at $5 a head.

But I got a chance at something worthwhile--

$200, $300.

And I find you two doggin' my heels.

What was you gonna do?

Sneak up behind me in the middle of the night,

take my scalps off of me?

Scalps?

I'm gonna take your horse.

And if you don't stay out of my way,

I'm gonna kill you.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Uh, we're hoping that you'd sell us some provisions.

Maybe a horse?

You buffalo hunters, too?

I think he's lookin' for a lost saddle, ma'am.

Was there an Indian on it?

How did you know that?

A fella named Bowers was askin' me about...

a dressed-up Dakota on a fancy Mexican saddle.

I'll tell you what I told him.

I may be a weather-beaten old widow

who's forgotten how to talk to people,

but I got my peace of mind, and this shotgun's gonna help me keep it.

Just in case you're gettin' any ideas.

My name's Margaret McKinley.

I'm Morgan Starr.

This is Randy Benton.

Are you bounty hunters?

No. We just keep losin' our horses.

[ laughs ] I guess that was your horse

Mr. Bowers was riding?

We were hoping that we could buy one from you

and some provisions, too.

I'll feed you.

If you don't mind getting talked to death.

No, ma'am. I always say that if a man

don't love the sound of a woman's voice for its own sake,

he ain't worth talkin' to... or feedin'.

Now, listen, young man.

I've forgotten how charming a handsome, young fella can be.

Don't go reminding me

and makin' it any more lonely out here than it already is.

It won't get you any more than beans,

and that's just about all I got.

That's more than fine, ma'am. We're obliged to you.

The well's over there. Wash up good.

Do like she says.

She wasn't fooling.

Thank you.

The blizzard back in '81.

Cruel year.Yeah.

Michael was late. The boys went out lookin' for him.

They died not 300 feet from this house.

Never knew where they were.

Why did you stay on?

Well, we took this place to be our home.

This land didn't come easy. We died for it.

I ain't about to give it up so fast.

Six months, a year--

it'd all be grown over, not a trace.

Not a memory.

That's an awful lot to give up.

A lot of love and a lot of cryin'.

All for nothin', if I give it back to the land.

I'm sorry I don't have no fancy dessert for you.

No. That dinner almost made me forget

what it was we came here for.

What did you come for?

It wasn't no saddle.

[ chuckles ]

The saddle will do for now.

The worst that can happen is,

the boy will see his first herd of buffalo.

Or his last herd, you figure?

Yeah, I figure.

That's too bad.

Took so long to make 'em.

So little time to kill 'em.

[ speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

MARGARET: "And whose belly thou fillest with thy treasure,

"who hath children in plenty,

"and who leave their abundance to their babes.

"As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness,

"and I shall be satisfied

"when I awake

with thy likeness."

When this herd is gone--

like my children--

where will his likeness be then, Mr. Starr?

I don't know, ma'am.

Read some more. That sounds nice.

Oh. I can't ready, Randy.

Michael used to read to me.

I remember some of the parts.

"A woman of valor, who can find?

"For her price is far above rubies.

"The heart of her husband

doth safely trust in her."

How long doth the heart of a husband

safely trust, Mr. Starr?

I don't know.

I never asked that question before.

Not even to myself.

I didn't mean to upset you.

No, no, you didn't.

You've lost people, too. I reminded you.

You won't find them looking out there.

When Mike and the boys died,

I left this place. I hated it.

I went home to stay with my folks for a whole year.

Then I came back.

Why?

I cried that whole year. Never stopped crying...

until I got back right to where I'm standing now.

The only thing that makes me sad is...

thinking it might all end with me.

The land doesn't end.

Only the people on it.

People may poison it or burn it.

Or make holes in it.

But they can't make it stop being.

You aren't the first one to lose folks to this land.

And you won't be the last.

Some people bury the folks they lose.

Other people let their dead bury them.

♪♪

♪ Rivers flow

♪ Birds fly away

♪ Sometimes I wonder

♪ Why I stay

♪ That dusty road

♪ Just seems to say

♪ I'll be movin' on someday ♪

Well...

thank you for the loan of the horse...

and the rifle.

Good luck.

So long.

RANDY: Wow.

STARR: There they are, boy.

That many wouldn't have filled the shadow of one side

of the herds I used to see.

[ gunshots ]

Is that a fight?

[ gunshots continue ]

Sharps .50.

Buffalo gun.

[ gunshots continue ]

We want to parallel the line of migration.

That'll take us out of Miniconjou Glade.

Should have the place to ourselves.

The hunters will be farther up the line.

What happens when we get there?

We look for my saddle.

[ gunshots continue ]

[ speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

[ gunshots continue ]

[ gunshots continue ]

The shooting's stopped.

Yeah.

How much further?

Miniconjou Glade is up ahead.

It sure sounds quiet after all that noise.

Seems like the end of the world.

[ speaking in native language ]

Hmm?

[ speaking in native language ]

[ screams ]

[ speaks in native language ]

They're gonna attack.

We didn't kill the animal.

We can run. We're not their enemy.

It's deeper than that.

[ gunshots ]

[ gunshot ]

We could've run away. It would've been all right.

It's like a bad dream.

Can't believe it happened.

It's too late for running.

No, we could've run away.

I didn't want to hurt either one of these men.

Is this what you brought me here for?

He was gonna kill you, boy.

Don't try to understand it yet. Just try to believe it,

because it's true.

He was going to kill you.

What's he doin' that for?

He's mourning his son...

by shedding his own blood.

It's his way of saying that there is more to come.

[ speaking in native language ]

What'd he say?

I guess he...

warned you that he's gonna kill you.

Grab his legs.

Easy, boy.

Maggie?

The bullet only grazed him.

These cuts in his arms--

mourning wounds. Give me your knife.

What happened?

There was one animal left.

And the bounty hunter got it.

The Indians went berserk.

And I killed his son.

There's some witch hazel out in the shed.

I'll need it.

I'll go get it.

Does he know that this old man

has to kill him or die trying?

He knows.

Did you get what you went for?

Nobody did.

I knew that'd happen before you went.

I tried to tell you. I didn't know how.

I guess smarter women than me have tried, too.

Well...

it's been a long time since I've seen a Dakota

all dressed up like this.

Must've been a very special occasion.

It was.

What are we gonna do with him?

What do you want to do with him?

I'd like to set him free.

No. We can't do that, boy.

Why not?

One of you will only wind up killing the other.

He won't live long in any case.

He has nothing to live for.

You didn't want to take him back before now.

What if Bowers gets him?

He'll just take a scalp back for the reward.

What if Bowers found Tonka?

Bowers make be closer than I thought.

I'll take a look.

He's out there.

I don't even care.

You can come with us, if you like.

Can you understand me?

Well, I got a feelin' you can.

I'm sorry what happened to Tonka.

Mr. Starr and me didn't figure on that.

You understand?

Now, Mr. Starr says we gotta take you back.

Because if we don't,

you'll try to kill me.

But I don't believe that.

And I don't want to have to take you back.

So I'm gonna let you go.

And we gotta get out of here before Starr gets back.

Do you understand?

Now, Bowers is out there.

And he's gonna try to kill you.

You take my horse.

It's got enough food in the pack

to last you three days.

You can get to Canada, and nobody will bother you there.

You young fool.

I never saw a man so strong.

You never saw a man with more reason to be strong.

You turned him loose, didn't you?

Don't you do that again, boy.

Did you hear me?!

I was tryin' to show him it didn't have to be this way,

that the world was still here, and it's still his.

It isn't! Can't you see that?

No, sir, I don't. Buffalo or no buffalo,

he's still alive, and that's something.

Maybe you respect his right to kill himself, but I don't.

All right. Let me say it again.

If you want to let him kill you,

that's okay with me. But you just make sure

that you don't take anybody with you.

Do you understand that?

Yeah. I understand.

That fool kid.

You're the fool, Morgan.

Making him feel like it's a crime to feel civilized.

That's a lie.

Then tell him you understand.

Is it gonna help him live with himself?

He has to do that alone.

No, don't do that, Randy. You want to keep warm.

Get inside before I take a broom to you.

Maybe you'd better come in, too.

Oh, Randy, I've lived alone here for so many years.

I know every branch and stone

and every sight and sound.

There's nothin' around here I'm afraid of.

Well, maybe that's not so good.

Leave me alone, Randy. I'm all talked out.

I'm sorry.

I'll be inside in a minute.

Thanks for worrying. It feels good.

[ gasps ]

I don't want to hurt you, so be still.

Did you see Maggie out there?

I got the woman!

You hurt her, Bowers, and I'll tear you up!

You ain't gonna do nothin'.

You're gonna listen to me right now,

that's what you're gonna do.

And don't go sneakin' around outside that house!

I hear one sound, I'll shoot this woman! You hear me?

Answer me!

All right, Bowers.

That Indian's mine, Starr!

It's my duty to bring him back!

Them other Indians will laugh me blue if I don't.

And you ain't gonna do that to me.

You listen to me! And listen to me good!

We're goin' to trade!

The Indian for the woman!

You bring the Indian, I'll bring the woman.

And I want that Indian bound proper!

You got that?

Yeah, I got it.

Take him out.

He won't have a chance.

Come on.

Is he tied up?

Yes, he's tied!

You got my word.

He'd better be.

Doesn't mean he's gonna stay tied.

This is all I can do for you, Two Hawks.

I'm sorry.

All right, lady. Go...slow.

Come on, Indian.

As far as Two Hawks is concerned,

nothing's changed.

It can't. You--

It doesn't matter.

I remember you once sayin'

that the only difference between the winner and the loser

was how he feels about it afterwards.

Right?

Boy, you've got problems.

Which one did you find?

Bowers.

He had a fresh scalp in his belt.

Yeah, I figured it'd be something like that.

Well, will Two Hawks make it?

For the sake of his son's spirit?

He'll say all the right words.

I guess funerals are for the living, anyway.

You know, it turned out just like I wanted it to.

Now I'm scared. I surely am.

You'll be leaving now.

You can still leave here.

I got nothin' to go to.

And I can't let go of what I've got.

If there's something I could say to change your mind,

I'd sure say it.

Well...good-bye, Randy.

Good-bye, Maggie.

Well, I'm not one to tell folks

how to lead their lives, Maggie.

But that boy thinks a lot of you.

So do I.

Whatever it is that we feel for you, Maggie,

we want you to live.

Your dead ones wanted you to live.

Don't betray them by dying, Maggie.

Hmm?

Move on, Maggie.

Well, it's like it'll never be over.

Not as long as he's back there

and that poor old man's alive with his misery.

Not as long as I'm as scared as I am right now.

If it happens...

you have to kill him.

Have you learned that yet?

I hope I never have to learn it.

What should I do, Mr. Starr?

Nothing.

He's thinking it over.

Why doesn't he make up his mind?

He has.

I wanted to live.

Now I gotta bury him.

Why'd he make me be the one?

He had no place to go, boy.

He's been dead a long time.

He knew it better than any of us.

No, he sinned the greatest sins

the Dakota can know.

To lose a son in battle,

to return from battle alone,

his comrades killed.

Those are unbearable sins for him, boy.

This is the first peace he has known in...

longer than you've been alive.

[ theme music playing ]