Original subtitles

No. I am not going.

There's no time for arguing, Jess.

We gotta leave now, before they notice.

I do not want to leave, especially not now,

when I am to take part in my first rites of manhood,

in my first war dance.

I know, and that's why.

But I do not understand.

You gotta trust me, boy.

I'm your father, remember?

Whatever you ask, my father, I cannot refuse.

This I ask.

But I want to know why.

It's the end, boy.

I've seen it comin' for a long time.

If we don't get out now,

we'll be caught right in the middle.

The middle of what?

If they touch that wagon train, it's war...

and the end for the Arapaho.

But it is not the end for me, but the beginning.

At last, I can fight,

I can count coup, become a warrior.

No, I cannot give that up.

Father, these are your people, these are my people.

I cannot leave them.

I say leave... or die with them.

I'm your father, and I say you leave.

Now, come on.

FLINT: It was late one afternoon, almost camping time,

when I saw the smoke of their fires.

I thought they were just two ordinary Sioux or Crow,

out hunting.

And then I recognized one of them.

Gabe Carswell...

A man who was almost a legend on the frontier.

Trapper, frontiersman,

and, for 30 years, an adopted Arapaho Indian.

How.

Howdy.

Gabe?

Do you know me?

You're Gabe Carswell, aren't you?

I haven't answered to that handle in quite a spell.

That's me. Who be you?

I'm Flint McCullough.

You wouldn't remember. I was just a punk kid,

but I met you the summer of 1850 at Fort Bridger.

'50?

My family was traveling the Salt Lake

from Virginia.

We stopped there for some supplies.

I had bright red hair. Does that help you?

You wouldn't be the carrot top

that Jim Bridges took under his wing?

That's me.

I'm glad to see you're still kicking, McCullough.

I'm glad to see you are, too.

I manage to get by.

I'd like you to meet my son...

Jess.

That is not my name.

He kind of likes to go by his Arapaho handle...

Little Elk.

All right, Little Elk...

glad to know you.

You're pretty far south for Arapaho, aren't you?

The tribe is traveling far,

hunting.

These are evil times, McCullough.

Not hide nor hair of buffalo nowhere.

The tribe's starving.

That's not good.

No.

What are you doin' out here?

Scoutin' for a wagon train,

headed by Major Seth Adams.

I heard of him. Good man?

As a wagon master, they don't come any better.

What are you doing here?

My boy seems to have taken quite a shine

to your shootin' iron.

Don't reckon I've ever seen one quite like it, either.

Quite a rifle.

A new Henry center-fire.

Shoots 15 shots.

Yeah, I've heard of these.

Supposed to be better than the Spencer or Lee.

Say, a man could shoot a dozen men

without reloading.

A fella with a muzzle-loader

wouldn't stand much chance against it, would he?

This could be the finish.

Unless the Indians get it, too.

How does it look up ahead?

Why do you think the boy and me was...

waitin' for you here?

You can't go through, McCullough.

Why not? They're dancin'.

It's war.

I see.

Well, maybe we'd better get back to the Major, then.

Talk it over, huh? All right.

Come on, boy.

Wooster, when are you gonna put some meat

in one of these stews of yours?

Dig deeper, Major. You'll find it.

Well, howdy, Flint. Howdy, Major.

I want you to meet an old friend of mine.

Ran into him a couple of miles out on the trail.

Major Adams, this is Gabe Carswell.

Howdy.

I've heard of you before, Carswell.

Pleased to meet you, Major.

I want you to meet my boy Jess.

I reckon you'd better call him Little Elk.

Howdy, Little Elk.

Gabe here thinks we ought to keep south

of the Arapaho hunting grounds.

'Cause if we don't...

maybe they'll attack the train.

Why?

I've never had trouble with the Arapaho.

It's different this year, Major.

They're hungry and they're riled. No buffalo.

Well, attacking the train

won't bring back their buffalo for 'em.

No, but when a man's hungry,

he don't reckon very well.

Anyways, it's war.

Revenge now.

Would it do any good if we went out and talked to 'em?

Past time for talking.

Only thing... swing around them.

Steer clear of them.

That means we'd have to take the southern trail.

We'd lose six weeks we can't afford to lose.

The snow will be flying in the Sierra by then.

No, no. This wagon train's goin' through.

If we have to fight, we'll fight. You tell 'em that.

I can't tell 'em. I ain't goin' back.

Me and the boy, we'd like to ride along with you.

You could use a couple more guns.

You want to come with us to California?

Well, I ain't never seen it.

How come? From what I hear,

you've been around here 20, 30 years.

No, no, that's not the reason.

What is it?

It's the boy.

He's got to get out now.

If he don't...

if he tastes his first blood

and counts his first coup,

he'll be in it to the end.

And it will be the end for the Arapaho,

and for him, too.

They ain't got a chance.

But maybe...

Maybe with me, he can make a life in California.

Do you think the boy understands that? Or wants it?

I don't know.

But I know what's best for him.

Well, can we sign up?

We'll earn our keep scoutin' and huntin'.

Well, sure. Glad to have you.

Come on, sit down and get some eats.

Wooster, feed 'em up.

Right, Major.

Well, what do you think?

I think it's serious.

If it wasn't, Gabe wouldn't tell us to turn south.

But I don't agree on one thing.

I don't think it's gonna hurt if I go talk to the Chief.

It's a long chance.

But I'm not goin' around. Haven't got that much time.

Thank you.

Better keep an eye on that dog of yours.

GIRL: Why?

Don't you know? These Indians like dog meat.

I reckon you've never been real good and hungry, friend.

I ain't never been hungry enough to eat like an animal.

But I guess among you Arapahos,

that's good manners.

You shut up!

You not laugh at him. He is a great man.

Calm yourself, son. Sit down.

Sit down, sit down.

Come along, Elmira. You, too, Dodie.

This ain't a fittin' place for young girls,

with him near-naked.

Lady... clothes don't make a man decent.

My boy's as good as anybody.

Your boy?

Well!

Come along, girls. Come on.

What kind of a woman is that?

She must've had a pickle some time... soured her on life.

Jess...

My father, you cannot mean to remain here.

Listen to me, Jess.

There's a lot of things I don't like about this here.

But it's the best thing to do, believe me.

I do not like them, and they do not like me.

They are not friends, but enemies.

You gotta give 'em a chance, boy.

Give 'em a chance.

No. I wish to go back to our people.

These are my people.

They could be yours, too.

Are you my father?

The great one who is a legend

in the tents of the Arapaho?

Who brought good medicine to the people?

Are you to betray them now? To desert them?

Listen to me, Jess.

No.

Long have I loved you.

Long have I been proud to be called the son of Elk Killer.

Oh, but if you do this thing...

I can no longer be proud of you.

Well, I'd rather have you alive

than proud of me.

And I'm still your father,

and I say go.

I have never disobeyed your wishes.

But I beg you...

Please let us go back.

No. We're going with these people.

It's the only thing to do.

You'll feel different in the morning, Jess.

Get some sleep.

Over here! Over here!

Easy. That's a boy.

Oh, it's not so bad.

Charlie, take care of him, will you?

Come on, I'll clean you up.

Seems to me you're taking this mighty lightly, Major.

Some of us might've been killed.

I suppose you'll bring the whole tribe down on us.

That boy had every right to leave here,

as long as he didn't take anything of ours with him.

He did. What?

My new rifle.

There you are! Like all Indians, a thieving...

You watch your tongue, mister!

Who are you threatening?

You're no better than that thief you call your son.

Flint! Flint!

Come on, Carswell!

Cut it out! You hear me?

What are you gonna do about him? We won't stand...

You won't stand for any more than I tell you to stand for!

You leave this to me, Wilkes!

Maybe you won't be so anxious to call people names after this.

Go on, get back to your wagons.

Go on, all of you! Get out of here!

Maybe it's better this way, Carswell.

The boy didn't want to go to California anyhow.

It's probably better that he lives

the way you taught him to live.

I'm sorry about your gun.

We don't look on stealin' the way you do.

To him, it was war, and all is fair.

I know.

What are you gonna do now?

Only one thing to do... Go after him.

Then we'll ride together.

You still want to talk to Yellow Bear?

Maybe that's not so smart,

now that the boy's there ahead of you.

It's a chance we've got to take.

We'll meet you before you get to Cache Creek.

And if we're not there,

you'd better oil off your guns.

That's it. Yellow Bear's camp.

What do you think?

Might as well go on in.

They know we're here.

My brother Yellow Bear.

My brother Elk Killer.

I am happy to see that what was told

was not true.

What was told?

That my brother would not come back to his people.

That he would go with the thunder wagons

of the white eyes

to the land beyond the western mountains.

It's true.

I had not seen the land beyond the mountains,

and I wanted to.

But you bring back one of the hated white eyes.

One of those of the thunder wagons,

that drive our buffalo from the hunting grounds.

It is not our wagon that has driven away the buffalo.

It does not matter what train drove them away.

As long as the thunder wagons come,

our buffalo will not return.

That is not true. I say it is.

And I say there will be no more thunder wagons.

Yellow Bear, if you attack the train,

the squaws of many Arapaho braves will weep.

It is not we who will weep.

Yes.

More of your people than mine.

The young brave Little Elk can show you.

Tell him to point the rifle at the sky

and press the trigger,

and then cock it and pull it again...

15 times.

We have seen the gun of many bullets before.

But this is a new and better one.

You will know I speak the truth

when you count your dead.

But I have it now.

You have only one...

which you stole from me.

I want it back.

No.

GABE: Give it to him.

It is mine now.

You cannot make me do it. You are not my father any longer.

My brother...

can a son disobey his father?

Can a son, who is not yet a warrior...

tell a man who has achieved many honors

that he will not do as he is bidden?

Can one who is not yet a man

say that he is no longer his father's son?

It is not good.

Give him the gun.

Why have you come here?

To have a council.

To make you an offer.

If you will let the wagon train go through in peace...

I will pay 20 sacks of flour...

ten sacks of sugar...

and five sacks of salt.

Warm blankets,

many sacks of beads,

tobacco.

Strong knives.

We can be bought no more.

It is too late for that.

And if we will not turn back?

You have seen our young braves.

You have seen the faces of the starving women

and children.

You could not stop them if you tried.

Unless...

Unless what?

Unless there is buffalo.

Bring us buffalo, and you can go through.

There ain't no buffalo runnin' there.

Not if our scouts can't find them.

It will take two days for your wagon train

to reach our camp.

You have that time to find them.

Yellow Bear, your medicine man asks that of me

which he knows cannot be done.

That is our offer. Do you take it?

Do you agree not to attack the train

until the sun is high in the sky on the third day?

Agreed.

My brother.

How our people would be sad

to lose the good medicine of Elk Killer.

Maybe I'm not good medicine anymore.

Your people believe that you are.

They were unhappy when it was learned

you would not come back.

Yellow Bear is my brother.

That cannot change, even though we are apart.

You have lived with us...

through the suns of many summers.

Why do you wish to leave your brothers?

I reckon maybe I won't be going with you, McCullough.

Yellow Bear, you gave me two days to find buffalo,

and I agreed.

But I need Elk Killer's help. Why?

He knows the country better than I.

If anyone is to find buffalo,

it is him, not me.

And either he comes with me, and his son...

or there is no longer any choice.

You are a brave man.

You are alone here.

And I came in peace.

And so did he.

He came of his own choice.

Go, if you must.

And you will take three of our best hunters to help you.

Thanks. We'll need all the help we can get.

It would be a sad thing, my brother,

if we were to become enemies now.

I never figured it this way.

I thought as soon as we left the village,

we could head right for the train.

I know. And I want to thank you

for trying to get me out... me and the boy.

That turned out to be pretty easy.

What worries me is how to get word back to the Major.

GABE: He's gonna have to turn aside now.

You don't know Adams.

I don't think he'll turn.

He means to fight?

At least we got a couple of days we can stall 'em.

Yeah. Just go through the motions...

even though we know it's hopeless.

Just so we keep close enough...

so that I can get loose and warn the train.

Oh, and, Gabe...

I wouldn't mention anything to the boy.

Leastways not just yet.

All right.

Come on, Little Elk.

Let's see how good a hunter you are.

He ain't likely to show up yet.

That all depends.

He'll be all right, as long as he's with Carswell.

I'm not so sure.

Besides, he's not all I'm worried about.

I think I'll double the guards till I know.

You want some oil for your rifle?

No, I already done mine.

Better than bear grease.

Only thing is, it leaks in my saddlebag.

I gotta keep it wrapped up in a newspaper.

Newspaper? Yeah.

Can I see it?

Sure.

"Great Buffalo Horn". What's that?

That's a horse car.

Carries people through the streets of St. Louis.

That's St. Louis? That's it.

Jehosaphat, that building must be seven, eight stories high.

They got 'em taller than that.

They got machines that do most everything...

Run ships and trains.

They even got a wire they send messages through.

Yeah, we heard about the talkin' wire.

I wonder what they'll think of next.

I sure would like to see them things. Wouldn't you, boy?

No.

But all those things!

Those things are not good.

They frighten away the buffalo.

And men starve.

Not our people.

'Cause we know how to raise our own meat supply.

We're never hungry,

and we always have plenty.

And the Arapaho could learn to do the same thing.

Then they'd have a better life.

No, it is not a better life.

This way is the best.

It was a good life.

Never none better.

It was.

Buffalo as far as the eye could see.

Never no end to 'em.

Never no end to 'em,

'cause the Indian only killed what he needed.

Not like... the civilized hunters...

Slaughter whole herds just for the hides,

then let the meat to rot in the sun...

send a stench across the plain.

The Indian used everything.

The hide, the meat, the bone and the hoof.

The sinew. Everything.

The buffalo gave him all he needed.

And they thanked him and called him brother.

It was a good life.

A good life.

There was hard things, sure.

Enough to make a man keen and strong,

enough to make the days exciting and full.

I brought 'em the first gun they ever seen.

That was good medicine for 'em then.

I put feathers in my hair,

and had many horses and lodge of 15 skins.

And I had a good wife.

A good wife.

She was a real woman.

She could broil a buffalo tongue,

cure a deerskin, or tame a horse.

And make a man happy.

And she gave me a son.

Things ain't the same, Jess.

Beauty dies.

Pretty soon, there won't be no buffalo no more,

and the Indian will starve and die.

Unless he changes, he's finished.

No, he is not finished.

It's true, boy.

I hate it as much as you do,

but I know it's true.

There ain't nothin' left for me.

But you can save yourself and make a life.

No, I want this life.

I am an Indian.

You're some of both.

That's hard, I reckon.

Yeah, it's not easy.

JESS: I want none of those things of the white eyes.

You want this rifle.

Only because it will help drive them

from the plains.

But it won't.

Because no matter how many you get,

there'll always be more.

He's right, Jess.

He's right.

How many times in my childhood

I sat in the lodges

and heard the telling of Elk Killer...

The great hunter,

the noble warrior.

As brave as the eagle,

and as strong as the buffalo.

And how I thought that I...

Little Elk... was weak and afraid.

How I thought that I could never be a true son.

But now... now it is Elk Killer

who is weak and afraid.

And it is I, Little Elk, who must take his place.

You aim right at what you want to shoot at,

even if it's distant. You see the rocks?

Go ahead.

See?

You get us some supper?

No, we're just practicing.

Maybe your boy and I can go rustle something up.

You wan to camp here?

Well, this is Cache Creek.

The crossing's a couple of miles down there.

The wagon train ought to reach there

about noon tomorrow.

That's when we'll make the move.

You think you can talk the Major into turning aside?

No. The Major's a military man.

He's not afraid of fightin'.

Neither is Yellow Bear.

Well, it's gonna be quite a fight.

The Major's got more than 100 men,

most of them with repeating rifles.

I know.

Wokanda, Great Brother...

Hear me.

Lead us to the pastures where you graze.

Your people hunger and grow thin.

Soon they will die.

Come to their aid, Great Brother,

so that they may live again.

I reckon you think I'm tetched,

prayin' to a buffalo skull.

No, I don't, not if you believe it.

I've lived doin' it for almost 30 years,

and I reckon it's the only way I know.

I don't see the difference.

Some men make gods out of buffalo.

Others choose to make their gods out of men.

It's all the same.

I guess when a man's afraid,

he has a need to reach out.

Talk to somebody, even though it's himself.

Well, I reckon I had a need.

That's odd. What?

The wind... it's warm.

Yeah, it feels good, don't it?

Yeah. But I don't ever remember a warm wind

blowin' from the north, do you?

It's probably a prairie fire.

It's been a warm, dry summer.

Must be a long way away. I don't smell any smoke.

It's probably way up north.

I'm gonna get me something to eat and then turn in.

Jess.

Shh.

Jess, we're leaving now...

The three of us, while they're sleeping.

Quiet.

Wait.

Father, you do not mean to do this thing again.

To go with the white eyes?

It's the only way, Jess, believe me.

The only way.

You knew this all the time. What?

You never meant to find buffalo. Shh!

You never meant to go back.

You lied to me.

Shut up, Jess!

And you!

You are taking my father from me.

Jess, this is for your own...

No. Do not touch me.

Why don't you listen to your father?

You might learn there's such a thing as a life of peace.

There is no peace

between the Indian and the white eyes.

There never will be. And there is no peace between you and me.

Jess...

you win.

We stay.

But McCullough goes.

I reckon I made up my mind a long time ago, McCullough.

They're his people, but they're my people, too.

And he's all I got.

I hope I run into you again, Carswell.

Sure, sure.

Uhh!

That's Cache Creek ahead. Do we stop?

No, we gotta keep on goin'.

I only wish I knew where that McCullough was.

You know what it is?

Yeah, I know.

The rawhide stretch.

When the hide dries, it shrinks.

You are lucky today.

The sun is hot.

So it will be quick.

Why don't you kill me and be done with it?

No.

You will suffer, as you have made us suffer.

And I wanted to be your friend.

You can never be my friend.

I am Arapaho.

Always only that.

I'd die to be Indian.

Then believe me...

you'll die.

But you will die also.

And that much I have done.

Running Deer! Where's Little Elk?

Jess, listen to me.

Don't do this.

Don't ride in this party.

Why not?

I don't want you to fight my people.

And they're your...

Your people, too, son.

They are not my people. They are my enemies!

If the great Elk Killer wishes to remain behind

in the tents of the women, he can do so.

But I will not.

What is this?

What have you done?

This man did no harm to you or your people.

He acted only as a friend.

What have you done?

Is he dead?

No, he's... Not yet.

What?

Tell me.

Tell me!

I staked him down!

You've taken only the worst from the Arapaho...

and none of the good.

You were right.

You're not my son.

I don't like it.

That many scouts around,

they're bound to be cookin' up something.

I wish that Flint would hurry up.

That's enough.

Thanks, Gabe.

I'm sorry.

You can do whatever you want with me.

Not your fault.

It's my fault.

It's gotta be. It can't be his.

He was our only child.

And she died so soon.

I wasn't no fit father for him.

Maybe this wasn't no fit life, I don't know.

Nobody's to blame when a man does what he has to do.

How do you feel?

If I can just get the blood going again.

I gotta get back to the train.

Yeah. The tribe was just about ready to go

when I left camp.

Did the boy take my horse?

Yeah.

I brought it back.

You know, lyin' here...

I thought about you last night...

prayin' to a buffalo.

I prayed for rain,

but all I got was thunder.

Thunder?

Sure.

Can't you hear it?

There couldn't be any thunder, McCullough.

There's not a cloud in the sky.

There it goes again.

Gabe, listen.

Buffalo.

Buffalo.

Come on.

McCullough!

Look at 'em, Gabe. Just look at 'em.

I'm looking.

Remember that warm wind?

That's what did it.

The prairie fire brought 'em down from the north.

Maybe so.

Or maybe your prayin' did it.

We gotta tell Yellow Bear.

If it's not too late.

If they haven't already left the camp.

I'll ride for the train.

You head for Yellow Bear's camp.

And, Gabe, let's ride like we never rode before.

There he comes, Major.

Where you been, McCullough?

Never mind. Circle up.

Are they comin'?

That's their dust, but don't fire the first shot.

I think I can stop 'em.

Are you out of your head?

You can't stop a war all by yourself.

Maybe I can. Hyah!

McCullough!

That boy's gone loco. Come on, circle up!

Bill, pass the word! Circle up!

Hurry up!

Yellow Bear, two days ago,

you agreed that if I could bring food to your people,

you would not attack the wagon train.

I can keep my word.

There is food to the northwest, by the river.

Food?

Buffalo.

A great herd of many thousands.

Your hunters can make meat for the whole year.

I sent Elk Killer to your camp,

but he did not reach there in time.

You lie.

Yellow Bear, you can take my life

if what I say is not so.

Go ahead and see for yourself.

At least send a scout to the hill

and let him look.

By golly, Flint did it!

It's good the buffalo are north of the trail.

The wagons will not disturb them.

You've got my rifle again.

You will have to take it from me.

Would you kill me to keep it?

Yes.

Or die.

It doesn't mean that much to me.

I wouldn't die for it.

Or kill for it.

If you want it that badly,

keep it.

But it's not gonna bring you what you want, boy.

Not happiness, nor victory.

You can't fight a river with a repeating rifle.

And that's what that wagon train is...

Part of a river of people.

And there's gonna be a whole flood of them,

and you can't stop it,

and you can't stand like a rock in front of it.

You've got to learn to move with it,

become a part of the tide, one way or another,

or it's gonna sweep you away.

And I'm not sayin' it's right,

and I'm not sayin' that it's fair

and that a lot of good things might have to go with it.

But that's the way it is,

and you've got to accept it.

No, I want no part of it.

I hate the white eyes!

Do you hate your father? Yes!

All my life...

I believed him great.

All my life, I wanted to be like him.

But now...

Now I know I can never be like him.

And I do not want to be.

For I am not of his people.

You're not Indian, either.

And that can be good,

because you can take what's best from both people.

Yes, that is good...

because I can choose which I will be.

And I choose to be Indian.

Why?

Why?

Because the Indian accept me.

Can you swear that your people will do that?

No.

So, I will be more Indian

than any other Indian.

I will fight more fiercely.

I will kill and torture and mutilate...

until we drive you from the plains!

Go, before I kill you.

I'd hoped we could've been friends,

you and I.

There wasn't nothin' else to do.

He'd have gone on.

I don't know why he...

He was so filled with hate.

It must've been my fault.

No, it's not your fault.

A man's gotta do what he thinks is right.

I'll bury him. No.

No, I want to bury him the Indian way.

So's he'll be safe from the wolves.

You'll be comin' along with the train now?

No, I reckon...

I reckon I'll stay right here.

Don't matter much where I am now.