- Is this the Iast one? - I don't know. There's no ether, either.
Jesus Christ.
You, there! Is this the Iast one?
God, what a mess.
Well, at least there's no gangrene.
There will be if it doesn't come off soon.
Well, I can't saw if I can't keep my eyes open.
I'm sorry.
Let's coffee up. He can wait a few more minutes.
(distant shouting)
(soldier outside) Come over here, now!
Oh!
(exhales)
(soldier) Come here, move it!
(grunts)
(groans)
(whimpers)
Oh, God!
(screams in pain)
Glass.
- That Tucker's man? - Yes, sir, I think it is.
How Iong has it been Iike this?
We just found them this morning, sir. They've been here for two days.
That you, Lieutenant?
(gunshots)
Sons of bitches.
Hey, come on.
- You better take cover. - (gunshot)
I ain't kiddin', these boys are shooters. Come on, go under cover.
- There we go. - (soldiers chatter)
You went to hospitaI?
It was no good.
What's goin' on here?
(chuckles) What's goin' on here?
Seems to be the question all right.
See, you could ask the Major.
But he don't know. He's busy.
Busy tryin' to figure out how the officers' mess ran out of peach ice cream.
Then of course you got the GeneraI.
He come up to see the show. AII he knows is there ain't no show.
The Major, he's Iooking at the GeneraI.
He's thinking "I better do something."
You know what that means?
I sure don't wanna be the first one across this fieId.
They're supposed to be beat up just Iike us.
Tucker's men are tough as cobs.
So far the only thing been killed out here is three milkin' cows.
Course, that's about to change.
(shoots)
You son of a bitch.
You know, some of the boys are sayin' if we ain't gonna fight,...
..we could just settle this whole business with a little high-stakes poker.
(chuckles) Wouldn't that be a sight?
Bunch of fellas sittin' in the middle of this field,...
..drawing cards, huh?
What is it, sir?
Looks Iike a suicide.
Tucker!
(gunshot)
What's he doing?
(gunshot)
Shoot him!
- What'd you say to him? - I didn't say nothin'.
(shouting, cheering)
(cheering continues)
Come on back, you son of a bitch! Come on back!
- You won't make it no second time! - AII right by me.
- Come on back! - Get over here!
Forgive me, Father.
(shouting, cheering)
- Ray! - I got him.
(shouting, battle cries)
(bugle)
Don't...
Don't... Don't take off my foot.
You rest easy, son, you'II keep your foot.
As God is my judge, you'II keep it.
- Bring up my ambulance. - Sir?
Bring up my ambulance and bring my surgeon with it!
We got an officer who's worth something Iying here.
The strangeness of this life cannot be measured.
In trying to produce my death, I was elevated to the status of living hero.
I was also awarded Cisco, the trusty mount that carried me across the field.
And on full recovery, was given transfer to any station I desired.
The bloody slaughter continues in the east as I arrive at Fort Hayes,...
..an island of men and materiel...
..surrounded by a never-ending sea of prairie.
(men chatter)
Lieutenant.
Lieutenant John J Dunbar.
Lieutenant John J Dunbar?
Yes, sir.
"Yes, sir."
Indian-fighter, huh?
Excuse me?
It says you're to be posted on the frontier. The frontier is Indian country.
I deduced that you're an Indian-fighter.
I did not ascend to this position by being stupid.
No, sir.
"No, sir."
It says here that you've been decorated.
Yes, sir.
And they sent you here to be posted?
Actually, sir, I'm here at my own request.
Really? Why?
I've aIways wanted to see the frontier.
You want to see the frontier?
Yes, sir. Before it's gone.
Such a smart Iad coming straight to me.
Sir...
..Knight.
I am sending you on a knight's errand.
You will report to Captain Cargill at the furthermost outpost of the realm.
Fort Sedgewick.
My personaI seaI...
..will assure your safety through many miles of wild and hostile country.
- I was wondering... - Yes?
How will I be getting there?
You think I don't know?
- No, sir. - You think I don't know.
- No, sir, it's just that I don't... - HoId your tongue.
I happen to be in a generous mood. See that peasant out there?
He calls himself Timmons. He's going to your Fort Sedgewick this very afternoon.
You can ride with him.
He knows the way. Thank you, that is all.
Sir Knight?
I just pissed in my pants,...
..and nobody can do anything about it.
(tapping on window)
To your journey!
(tapping)
To my journey!
Haw!
Gee-up a IittIe bit, Jim.
The King is dead.
Long Iive the King.
(gunshot)
Haw a IittIe bit, Jim and Jake! Haw a IittIe bit, Jim!
Haw a IittIe bit!
Gee a IittIe bit, Jim! Gee a IittIe bit, Jim!
Gee a IittIe bit! Gee over a IittIe bit!
What you got there?
(chuckles)
Some... Somebody back east is sayin' "Why don't he write?" (chuckles)
You stupid bastard.
(chuckles, mumbles indistinctly)
Easy now. Easy now.
What the hell was that?
What is that?
(Timmons scrabbles about)
What the hell is that? (chuckles)
(coughs)
(clears throat, spits)
(breaks wind)
(chuckles)
Why don't you put that in your book?
(Iaughs IoudIy)
Were it not for my companion, I believe I would be having the time of my life.
I know he means well, but he is quite possibly the foulest man I have ever met.
(snoring)
Get up, Timmons.
Timmons.
Get up.
Come on, get up.
- Get up! - Ow!
Somethin' poked me in my butt. Was that you?
Goddamn it!
Damn it! Gonna have a welt.
How come we haven't seen any buffalo?
You can't figure the stinkin' buffalo.
You can't. Sometime you won't see any for days.
Other times they'II be thick, Iike curIs on a whore! (chuckIes)
- Ho! - What about Indians?
Indians? Goddamn Indians!
You just as soon not see 'em Iess'en the bastards are dead!
Nothin' but thieves and beggars.
Ho, up there!
Not what you would call much of a goin' concern, now, is it?
(Timmons chuckles)
Go down there.
- Why? There ain't nothin' down there. - Because I said.
Go down there.
Ha!
Haw! Hey, there, son of a bitch!
There ain't nothin' here, Lieutenant.
Hey!
There ain't nothin' here, Lieutenant.
Lieutenant!
Everybody's run off or got killed.
AII right.
Let's unload the wagon.
What?! What, and Ieave it aII here?
I'm staying, too.
(spits) There ain't nothin' here, Lieutenant.
No, not at the moment. We don't know what's happened.
So, so, I...
Things bein' as they are, we might as well just turn around and get headed back.
This is my post.
- "This is my post"? - This is my post.
"My post"? Jesus H Christ, boy.
What, are you crazy, boy? Lieutenant?
That son of a bitch.
- Jesus H Christ! - This is my post.
- AII right, put it down. - These are the post's provisions.
- Now get your ass off the wagon... - Put it down.
..and help me unload.
We're just havin' a conversation, put it down!
I'II Iet 'em know where you are.
Good.
Good Iuck, Lieutenant.
Thank you.
Jake and Jim!
Good mule! Good, Jim!
Come on! Hard up there, now!
Haw! Haw!
Haw, Jim! Haw, Jake!
Good boy.
Come on, now! Get on up, there!
Haw, now! Good mule!
Good mule, good girl.
(faint) Haw on up, now.
(Timmons' voice recedes)
Have arrived to find Fort Sedgewick deserted.
Am now waiting for garrison's return or word from headquarters.
The post is in exceedingly poor condition...
..and I have decided to assign myself clean-up duty beginning tomorrow.
Supplies are abundant and the country is everything I dreamed it would be.
There can be no place like this on earth.
(birdsong)
(snores softly)
(footsteps)
(shuffling)
(whinnies softly)
(sighs)
Bad horse. Bad horse.
Come on, Cisco, one more time.
Come on. Gid-up, Cisco.
Gid-up.
Gid-up. There you are.
(in Pawnee) Only a white man would make a fire for everyone to see.
Maybe there's more than one.
There might be three or four.
I know three or four who wiII not make the trip back home.
We have nothing to show for this traiI.
We have no rifles. White men are sure to have rifles.
It's hard to say how many might be down there.
We should forget this and go home.
Then go.
I wouId rather die...
..than argue about a single line of smoke in my own country.
He will not quit until we are all dead.
(hums)
(inhales and exhales)
(screams)
(whimpers)
(screams fearfully)
(screams)
(gasps)
(groans)
(screams)
(gasps)
(groans)
(groaning) Oh, Iook at me.
(pants) Don't... hurt my mules.
Stop. Stop it.
Please don't hurt my mules.
(Timmons screams)
(whooping)
Men had been living in these caves. But why?
Were they frightened? Had there been some sort of revolt?
I can make no sense of the clues left me here.
Perhaps my relief will provide the answers.
It's been almost thirty days.
Still no sign of Captain Cargill's command.
Communication can only take place if I leave.
And I don't want to abandon my post.
Though well supplied, I have decided...
..to ration my goods as if I were part of a post rather than the whole affair.
There is a wolf who seems intent on the goings-on here.
He does not seem inclined to be a nuisance,...
..and aside from Cisco, has been my only company.
He has appeared each afternoon for the past two days.
He has milky white socks on both feet.
If he comes calling tomorrow, I will name him Two Socks.
(hums)
How can I marry
A pretty IittIe girI When I got no cIoak to put on?
Oh, soldier, oh, soldier Won't you marry me
Before the fight comes home?
How can I marry a pretty IittIe girI
When I got no shoes to put on?
How can I marry a pretty IittIe girI
When I got no hat to put on
Oh, soldier, oh, soldier, won't you marry me
Before the fight comes home?
How can I marry an ugIy IittIe girI
When I got a pretty wife back home?
(neighing)
(cajoles in Lakota)
You there!
Hey!
(shovelling)
Have made first contact with a wild Indian.
One came to the fort and tried to steal my horse.
When I appeared he became frightened and ran off.
Do not know how many are in the vicinity but where there is one,...
..there is sure to be another.
Have decided to bury excess ordnance lest it fall into enemy hands.
My afternoon rides have been pared down to short patrols, keeping the fort in sight.
I am still alone, however,...
..and unless troops arrive soon all may be lost.
It's been two days now and nothing.
My presence here must have been reported by now.
Have made all preparations I can think of.
Cannot mount a good defence alone...
..but will try to make a big impression when they come. Waiting.
Postscript. The man I encountered was a magnificent-looking fellow.
(snores)
(interjections of assent in Lakota)
(in Lakota) I do not care for this taIk about a white man.
Whatever he is, he is not Sioux and that makes him Iess.
When I hear that more whites are coming, I want to Iaugh.
I took a hundred horses from these peopIe.
There was no honour in it.
They don't ride well. They don't shoot well. They're dirty.
These soldiers could not even make it through one winter here.
And they are said to flourish? I think they will all be dead soon.
(murmur of assent)
I think this fooI is probabIy Iost.
(Iaughter)
Wind In His Hair's words are strong and I have heard them.
It's true the whites are a poor race and hard to understand.
But make no mistake. They are coming. Even our enemies agree on this.
So when I see one man aIone without fear in our country, I do not think he is Iost.
I think he may have medicine.
I see someone who might speak for aII the white peopIe who are coming.
I think this is a person with which treaties might be struck.
(murmur of assent)
Kicking Bird is always looking ahead and that is good.
But this man cannot cover our Iodges or feed our chiIdren.
He is nothing to us.
I wiII take some men. We wiII shoot some arrows into this white man.
If he truIy has medicine, he won't be hurt. If he has no medicine, he wiII be dead.
(murmur of assent)
No man can tell another what to do.
But killing a white man is a delicate matter.
If you kiII one, more are sure to come.
(murmur of assent)
It's easy to become confused by these questions.
It's hard to know what to do.
We should talk about this some more.
That's all I have to say.
(neighing)
Yes, sir, I have. No, I'II ask, sir.
(voices outside)
(clanging)
(Ioud thud)
(whooping, neighing)
(in Lakota) We'II be heroes!
(cheering and Iaughing)
They'II write songs about us.
They'II write songs about us!
(Cisco neighs)
(neighing)
(in Lakota) What happened?
What happened?
I don't know, my arm doesn't work.
(winces)
You shouldn't have fallen off. Now we'll get into trouble.
It was your idea.
My idea was only to take the horse, not fall down.
What happened? What happened?
Otter hurt himself.
What are you Iooking at? I'm the one who's hurt.
I wiII be when my father finds out. His bow wiII be across my back.
(groans)
Oh, God.
(neighs softly)
(neighs)
(whooping)
(screams)
(in Lakota) I am Wind In His Hair.
I am Wind In His Hair.
Do you see that I am not afraid of you? Do you see?
(screams)
(neighs)
(screams)
I realise now I have been wrong.
All this time I've been waiting.
Waiting for what? For someone to find me? For Indians to take my horse?
To see a buffalo?
Since I have arrived at this post I have been walking on eggs.
I am sick of it.
Tomorrow morning I will ride out to the Indians.
I do not know the outcome or wisdom of this thinking,...
..but I have become a target, and a target makes a poor impression.
I am through waiting.
What are you Iookin' at?
(distant singing)
(woman sings in Lakota)
(clears throat)
Son of a bitch.
Wait.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
- (whimpers) - You need help, you're hurt.
- You need help. - (screams) No!
Let me... You need help.
You need help. You're hurt.
- Let me help you. - (mutters in Lakota)
Let me help you.
You're... You're hurt.
You're hurt.
Don't!
(shouts in Lakota)
(chatter and Iaughter)
(Iaughter)
Wasicu! Wasicu!
Wasicu!
Wasicu! Wasicu!
Wasicu!
She's hurt.
(in Lakota) You are not welcome here!
You are not welcome here!
No, she's hurt.
Go away from here.
You are not welcome. Go away from us.
(whooping)
Stop.
The soldier did not come here to fight.
He is going away and we will let him.
(chatter in Lakota)
I am in agreement...
..with Kicking Bird.
We will go down and talk to the white man...
..and find out...
..and find out why he is here.
If this counciI decides to taIk to the white man, then it wiII be so.
But in my mind it's not right a chief as great as Ten Bears...
..goes to ask the business of a puny, trespassing white man...
..who has only a smart horse and a few white man's clothes.
I wiII not go.
- (murmurs of agreement) - I wiII not go.
You will go.
And you will go.
That is all I have to say.
Welcome.
Hi!
Come.
Please, sit down.
Sit down.
Wait. Just a... Just a minute.
(snorts)
His mind is gone.
(snorts)
Tanka.
Tanka?
Tatanka?
Tanka.
Ta... Tatanka.
Tatanka.
- Tatanka. - Tatanka.
Buffalo.
- Tatanka. - Buffalo.
Buff...
Buff... Buff...
- Buff... - Buffalo. Tatanka.
The fierce one, as I call him, is a tough fellow. I hope I never have to fight him.
From the little I know, he seems to be honest and very direct.
I like the quiet one immensely.
He's been patient and inquisitive.
He seems eager to communicate.
He must be a man of some weight among his people.
Buffalo.
(scraping)
I made an even greater impression on their next visit.
I produced a coffee grinder, something none of them had seen before.
Is the coffee not good?
It's too strong, maybe. Too strong, maybe.
Put in...
..the... in...
Um...
Ta...
Taste it.
(Iaughs)
Sugar.
You want some?
That's a Iot.
It's good to finally have company.
So much goes unsaid, though,...
..and I have the feeling these people, the quiet one in particular,...
..want something from me.
Made presents of coffee and most of the sugar. It didn't figure to last anyway.
I think I'm right in saying a foundation for good relations is being laid.
(in Lakota) Stands With A Fist.
We will talk awhile.
(drops knife)
(in Lakota) Your wounds are healing well.
Yes, they are.
You are happy here, with my family?
I am gIad to be here.
I am missing my husband.
Perhaps you will marry again when the time is right.
Perhaps.
We have word from many places that the whites are coming.
They are coming into everyone's country.
I think they wiII soon be in ours.
This white man who Iives at the oId soIdier fort...
I have visited him and I beIieve his heart is a good one.
I am afraid of the white man at the fort.
I am afraid he wiII teII others that I am here.
I am afraid they wiII try to take me away. I have heard they take peopIe away.
Every warrior in camp would fight them if they tried.
I cannot make the white man Ianguage. He cannot speak Sioux.
It has been a Iong time since I made the taIk.
I want you to try.
- I don't know how. - Yes, you do.
- I can't. - You can.
I can't. It's dead in me.
I don't ask this for myseIf. I ask this for aII my peopIe.
He knows things about the whites which we do not.
Now, you must remember.
- You must remember! - I can't.
Will she make the white words?
She won't try.
She is being difficult.
She's the one who's crying.
Perhaps the difficulty is yours.
Mine?
Christine!
Get 'em, Bill. Get them chickens.
Billy, get away from those puppies now.
Go to Daddy.
(neighing)
Damn.
Get the kids, get 'em in the house.
Go on, now.
Christine!
Christine, where are you?
Children, get in the house right now.
Who is it, Willie?
They Iook Iike Pawnee.
My father and your father are talking to them.
- What do they want? - I don't know.
- Go on, you heard him. - Get outta here!
- (screams) - (whoops)
(neighing)
Run, Christine!
I said run!
(woman) John!
John!
(neighing)
(woman) Christine!
(Indians whoop)
Mommy!
(sniffs) Hmmm. Mmmm.
Come on, Two Socks. Bacon.
Two Socks, like Cisco,...
..has become a trusted friend.
He still won't eat from my hand,...
..but his eyes and ears always alert me when something is wrong.
Tatanka.
No.
I haven't seen any buffaIo.
Sorry.
Are... Are you hungry?
Are you hungry?
I have food, I have a Iot of food.
Nothing I've been told is correct. They're not beggars and thieves.
Nor the bogeymen they are made out to be.
On the contrary, they are polite guests and have a familiar humour I enjoy.
Real communication is slow, however,...
..and the quiet one is as frustrated as I am.
Most of our progress has been built on the basis of failure rather than success.
I've thought to enquire about the woman, whether she lived or not,...
..but it seems far too complicated a subject, given our limitations.
One thing is clear, however. There are no buffalo. It weighs heavy on their minds.
Yesterday's meeting was the best yet.
It seems I've been invited to the village. I'm looking forward to going.
(Kicking Bird in Lakota) We were waiting for you.
(quietly) We were waiting for you.
Now tell him we are glad that he is here.
Um...
H...
Hello.
You...
..here.
Good.
Thank you. I feeI good.
Wopilaeniciya. Washte.
Ask him why he is at the soldier fort.
Um...
T...
The sss...
..soldier fort.
- You come there... - Wait.
What is your names?
- Our names? - What is his name?
Uncajepi ki slolya cin.
He's right.
Introductions shouId come first.
He...
(sighs) He K...
Kick.
- Kick? - Kick... more.
More Kick?
- More Kicking? - Kicking... Kicking...
Bird?
Bird. Kicking Bird.
Kicking Bird.
- Zintka Nagwaka. - Zintka Nagwaka.
What is he...?
Uh... Is he Chief?
No. H-H-H...
A h-h-h...
Yan Ka!
A... ho-ho-holy man.
Holy... man.
Your name?
- I... I don't... - How are you caIIed?
Mei saja.
Ha.
G-Get up.
Stand up?
S-Stands.
Stands. Your name Stands?
S-Stands...
..With...
With?
- With. - Stands with?
- Fist? - Yes.
Stands With A Fist?
Stands With A Fist. I am John Dunbar.
John... John Dunbar.
- Dunbar. - Dunbar.
John Dunbar.
Dun...bear.
No, not Dunbear.
Dunbar.
- Dun...bar. - Dun...
Dunbar. Not Dunbear.
Dunbar.
There has been an exciting breakthrough with the Indians.
A woman among them speaks English and today clear progress was made.
For some reason, I'm reluctant to answer all their questions.
Maybe it's my sense of duty but something tells me not to say too much.
It was good to see Fort Sedgewick again.
I look forward to another visit with my neighbours, but this is still my home.
I remain watchful for my relief and only hope my negotiations here will bear fruit.
(rumbling, rattling)
(neighing)
(stampeding)
(drumbeat, singing)
Buffalo!
- (chanting, singing stops) - Buffalo!
I've seen buffaIoes!
(shouting, whooping)
(man shouts order, Indians faII siIent)
(thud)
Buffaloes. Buffaloes. Buffaloes.
Tatanka.
Tatanka?
Yeah.
Tatanka!
(shouting, whooping)
Riders were sent out to pick up the trail.
In the time it took to gather my things at Sedgewick, the tribe was well on its way.
The efficiency of the people and the speed at which they move...
..was enough to impress any military commander.
Spirits are high and overnight I have gone from a person of suspicion...
..to one of genuine standing.
I am greeted with open smiles and looks of appreciation.
In short, I have become a celebrity.
Loo ten tant.
- Loo ten tant. - Loo ten tant.
Scouts picked up the trail exactly where I said it would be.
It was not hard to find.
A gigantic swath of torn-up ground extending to the horizon.
The sheer numbers it took to create this impossible image...
..was hard to imagine.
Loo ten tant.
(bells jingling)
(jingling stops)
(screeching)
(screeches)
(screeching)
Who would do such a thing?
The field was proof enough...
..that it was a people without value and without soul,...
..with no regard for Sioux rites.
The wagon tracks leading away left little doubt...
..and my heart sank as I knew it could only be white hunters.
Voices that had been joyous all morning were now as silent as the dead buffalo...
..left to rot in this valley,...
..killed only for their tongues and the price of their hides.
(drumbeats, singing)
As they celebrated into the night the coming hunt,...
..it was hard to know where to be.
I don't know if they understood, but I could not sleep among them.
There had been no looks and there was no blame.
There was only the confusion of a people not able to predict the future.
(neighing)
(whooping)
Oh!
(neighs)
(gunshot)
Are you all right? Are you all right?
(whooping)