Hello! John Cameron!
Alexandra, set three more places.
Chingachgook! How are you?
The Master of Life is good, John.
Another year passed.
- How is it with you? - Gettin' along. Yes, I am.
Nathaniel.
Hello, John.
- Cleared another quarter, I see. - Yes, I did.
- Alexandra. - Welcome.
- Jack, how are you? - Hello, Nathaniel.
- How've you been? - Good. Thank you.
Where you boys been trapping?
West of the Continental.
Why is Uncas with you?
He should have settled with a woman, started a family by now.
Hey! Hey! Hey, Uncas, look!
Mohawk field we saw was five mile long on the river.
- Chief Joseph Brandt's field. - You take much fur?
- That we did. The horicane's near trapped-out now. - Lots.
- Where are you tradin' your skins? Castleton? - Schuylerville.
Schuylerville. With the Dutch, for silver.
French and English want to pay with wampum and brandy.
So what is it, Jack? What brings you here?
French and Indian army are headin' south out of Fort Carillon...
to war against the British,
and I'm helpin' raise New York's militia to fill the Crown's levy.
And the people here are gonna join in that fight?
We'll see in the morning. Where're you boys headin'?
We'll trap over the fall. Winter in Can-tuck-ee.
Find a Delaware-speaking woman for Uncas.
She will say, "You are the one!" Bear him many children.
Then you can have a boy like me.
Never. You're too strong.
- Turn me old too fast. - That's what he's doin' to his mama.
John Cameron, thank you for your hospitality.
Mohawk got no quarrel with les Francais.
Traded furs with les Francais.
Now les Francais bring Huron, Ottawa,
Abenaki onto Mohawk land.
Now Mohawk will fight les Francais and Huron.
I speak for the Twin Rivers Mohawk of the Six Nations.
His Majesty, King George II, is very grateful for your support.
- How far up the valley? - Up to Fort William Henry.
That's two nights and a bit from here.
- Should be enough to remind you that France is our enemy. - France is your enemy.
And while we're at your fort, what if the French attack our homes?
- What then, Lieutenant? - For your homes,
for King, for country!
That's why you men ought to join this fight!
You do what you want with your own scalp.
Do not be tellin' us what we ought to do with ours.
You call yourself a patriot? A loyal subject to the Crown?
I do not call myself subject to much at all.
I agree with some of what Nathaniel and John say,
but I believe England's still our sovereign.
I'm stayin'on my farm.
Any man who goes, his family's welcome to fort up with us till he comes back.
Boys, my sense of it is...
we have enough here to fill the county levy,
and it's a fight we ought to make.
But first we gotta get terms from General Webb.
We'll go to Albany.
Attention!
There'll be no conditions attached to service in the British army.
Help my man outside with the baggage.
If they're not allowed leave to defend their families and homes...
if the French attack the settlements,
no colonial militia is going to Fort William Henry.
They will report or be pressed into service.
- Any of the boys worth havin' can disappear. - They will be found.
- Where does that leave you? - Those men will be found.
I cannot imagine His Majesty, in all his benevolence,
would ever object to his loyal American subjects...
defending their hearth and home, their women and children.
Does that mean they will be granted leave...
to defend their homes if the settlements are attacked?
Of course.
You got yourself a colonial militia, General.
Major Duncan Heyward reporting, sir,
en route to Fort William Henry and bearing dispatches.
- Safe journey, I trust? - Yes.
And I didn't experience anything so surprising from Bristol to Albany...
as that that I witnessed here today.
And what was that?
The Crown negotiating the terms of service.
Well, now, one has to reason with these colonials to get them to do anything.
Tiring, isn't it? But that's the lay of the land.
I thought British policy is "Make the world England," sir.
I see you're to serve with the 35th regiment of foot at Fort William Henry...
under Colonel Munro.
I'll be marching the 60th to Fort Edward.
Explain to the Major, he has little to fear...
from this General Marquis de Montcalm in the first place,
and therefore scant need of the colonial militia in the second,
because the French haven't the nature for war.
Their Latinate voluptuousness...
combines with their Gallic laziness,
and the result is, they'd rather eat and make love with their faces than fight.
Might I inquire if General Webb has heard from Colonel Munro's daughters?
I was to rendezvous with them in Albany and escort them to the fort, sir.
You there, uh... What does Munro call you?
The Scotsman has sent you...
one of his Mohawk allies to guide you.
Magua.
The Scotsman's daughters...
are at the Poltroon's house.
A company of the 60th will accompany you...
and Magua will show you the way.
Dawn. At the encampment, 6:00 a. m. Sharp. See to it you're there.
I'll take him for you, sir.
Cora.
Duncan!
- How long have you been in Albany? - For days and days.
- And yourself? - Just arrived.
By God, it's good to see you.
I don't know what to say, Duncan.
Alice and I have depended upon you and respected you...
since we were all children.
I truly wish they did, but my feelings don't...
don't go beyond friendship.
Don't you see?
Respect and friendship...
Isn't that a reasonable basis for a man and a woman to be married?
And all else may grow in time?
- Some say that's the way of it. - Some?
- Cousin Eugenie, my father... - Well, then, Cora.
In my heart I know, once we're joined...
we'll be the most marvelous couple in London.
I'm certain of that.
So why not let those whom you trust, your father,
help settle what's best for you?
In view of your indecision, you should rely on their judgment.
And mine.
Will you consider that?
Please consider that.
Yes.
- Yes, I will. - Duncan!
By God, you've grown up.
- We leave in the morning? - Yes, miss.
I shan't sleep tonight. What an adventure. Have you seen the red man?
A few.
I absolutely cannot wait to return to Portman Square,
having been to the wilderness.
- It's so exciting, Duncan. - It can be dangerous.
Nonsense. Papa wouldn't have sent for us.
- Would you like some tea? - Yes, thank you.
Alice?
- Can we rest soon? - Absolutely.
You there.
Scout, we must stop soon.
- Women are tired. - Not here.
Two leagues. Better water. We stop there.
No, stop in the glade just ahead.
When the ladies are rested we will proceed. Do you understand?
Excuse me. What did you say?
Magua said, understand English very well.
Make ready! Aim!
Ready!
Aim! Flank right!
Aah!
No, Duncan.
In case your aim's any better than your judgment.
Aah!
Your wounded should try walkin' on back to Albany.
They'll never make a passage north.
- Ahh! - Stop it! Stop it!
- We need them to get out! - Why's he loosing the horses?
- Why don't you ask him? - Too easy to track.
They'll be heard for miles.
Find yourself a musket.
We were headed to Fort William Henry.
We'll take you as far as the fort.
We're walkin' out of here fast.
Unless all of you'd rather wait for the next Huron war party to come by.
Scout, I'd like to thank you for your help.
- How much further is it? - Night and a bit.
- Appears we're well away from them. - Maybe.
Maybe they ain't alone. That Huron captain back there...
The guide? He's a Mohawk.
No Mohawk. He's Huron.
What reason did he have to murder the girl?
- What? - The dark-haired one.
Miss Cora Munro? Murder her?
He never set eyes on her before today. She's only been here a week.
Blood vengeance? A reproach or insult?
Of course not!
How is it you were so nearby?
Came across the war party. Tracked 'em.
Then you're assigned to Fort William Henry?
- Nope. - Fort Edward then?
Headin' west to Can-tuck-ee.
There is a war on. How is it you are heading west?
Well, we kind of face to the north, and real sudden-like, turn left.
I thought all our colonial scouts were in the militia.
The militia is fighting the French in the north!
I ain't your scout. And we sure ain't in no damn militia.
Ottawa, two Francais.
What did you say?
Mirrors,
tools, the clothes.
Everything was inside.
They didn't take anything.
They were movin' fast.
A war party.
Let us look after them.
Leave them.
Whoever they are, though they're strangers,
they're at least entitled to a Christian burial.
- They can't be left behind. - Let us go, miss.
I will not! I've seen the face of war before, sir,
but I've not seen war made upon women and children.
Nor most as cruel as your indifference.
Miss Munro,
they're not strangers.
And they stay as they lay.
Why didn't you bury these people?
Anyone looking for our trail would see it as a sign...
we passed that way.
You knew them well?
You were acting for our benefit, and I apologize.
I misunderstood you.
Well, that's to be expected.
- My father warned me about... - Your father?
Chingachgook. He warned me about people like you.
Oh, he did?
No.
Why did they turn back?
Burial ground.
Where is your real family?
They buried my ma and pa and my sisters.
Chingachgook found me with two French trappers, raised me up as his own.
I'm sorry.
I do not remember. I wasn't but one or two.
How did you learn English?
My father sent Uncas and I to Reverend Wheelock's school when I was ten...
so we would know both worlds.
Why were those people living in this defenseless place?
After seven years indentured service in Virginia, they headed out here...
'cause the frontier's the only land available to poor people.
Out here they're beholden to none,
not livin' by another's leave.
Their name was Cameron.
John and Alexandra Cameron.
My father's people say that at the birth of the sun...
and of his brother the moon, their mother died.
So the sun gave to the earth her body,
from which was to spring all life.
And he drew forth from her breast the stars.
The stars he threw into the night sky to remind him of her soul.
So there's the Camerons' monument.
My folks' too, I guess.
You are right, Mr. Poe.
We do not understand what is happening here.
And it's not as I imagined it would be,
thinking of it in Boston and London.
- Sorry to disappoint you. - No, on the contrary.
It is more deeply stirring to my blood...
than any imagining could possibly have been.
Top of the next ridge. The fort's downhill of it.
The men of the regiment will fetch water from the lake,
build fires, and provide every comfort and desire.
I can't wait to see Papa.
Aah!
Fire!
Aah!
Open up.
- I'm Major Duncan Heyward. - Captain Jeffrey Beams.
- Didn't expect you to make it through. - Let's go to Munro.
Hello, boys!
Nathaniel!
Uncas! Thought you and Nathaniel weren't joinin'up.
We didn't.
Papa! Papa!
Alice! Cora! Why are you here?
And where the hell are my reinforcements?
Get Mr. Phelps.
Told you to stay away. Why did you disobey me, girls?
- When? How? L... - My letter.
- There was none. There was no letter. - What?
- I sent three couriers to Webb. - One called Magua arrived.
- He delivered no message. - Does Webb not even know we are besieged?
Sir, Webb has no idea. And he certainly does not know to send reinforcements.
What happened to you?
- On the George Road. Attacked. - We're fine.
Are you all right?
- Yes. - What will happen here, Papa?
- We'll be all right, girl. - This Magua led us into it.
Eighteen killed. These men came to our aid. They guided us here.
Thank you. Do you need anything?
- Help ourselves to a few horns from your powder stores. - Some food.
Indebted to you.
- Miss Cora, how are you? - Hello, Mr. Phelps.
Mrs. McCann will get some dry clothes for you.
Thank you.
Go with your sister, Alice.
It'll be all right, girl.
It'll be all right.
Might I inquire after the situation, sir,
given that I've seen the French engineering from the ridge above?
The situation is, his guns are bigger than mine and he has more of them.
We keep our heads down while his troops dig 30 yards of trench a day.
When those trenches are 200 yards from the fort and within range,
he'll bring in his 15-inch mortars,
lob explosive rounds over our walls and pound us to dust.
They look to be 300 yards out.
If they're digging 30 yards a day, you have three days.
Damn. Damn.
This man here can make a run straight through to Webb.
Three days is not enough time to get to Albany and back with reinforcements.
Webb's not in Albany. He marched the 60th to Fort Edward two days ago.
Webb is at Edward?
- Yes, sir. - That's only 12 miles away.
He could have reinforcements here the day after tomorrow.
You, sir, pick your man. Major Heyward will provide a diversion.
I'll draft out a dispatch. Captain Beams will seek you out and give it to you later.
Somethin'else. Cameron's cabin. Frontier cabin.
Came upon it yesterday. It was burnt out, everyone murdered.
It was Ottawa, allied to the French.
Aye. So?
It was a war party.
That means they're gonna be attackin' up and down the frontier.
Thank you, sir.
People here... Mohawks, settlers... have family out there.
That'll be all, sir!
Things were done. Nobody was spared.
Those considerations are subordinate to the interests of the Crown.
A terrible feature of war here in the Americas, Major Heyward.
Best keep your eye fixed on our duty: To defeat France.
That hangs on a courier to Webb.