01x12 - Man of God

[bunniefuu]

You're not alone,
my son.

They're all dead,
father.

The whole patrol.

There's nothing
we can do for them now,

they're--
they're at peace.

Peace?

You call that peace?

No, my son, I call it hell

but they are
no longer part of it

nor aid of them.

Henry r*fles, repeaters,
the Sioux had them...

we didn't.

Go to Laramie,
tell Colonel Carlington.

[ dishes clanking ]

How any fool horse can get it
bent this much out of shape?

With all my might
I could knock it

this far out of kilter--

Now see what you made me
go and do.

Jonesy.

I oughta tan you good.

I was just playing.Well, you nearly scared
the daylights out of me,

what kind of playing
is that?

Indian.
I was playing Indian.Well, play like a white boy.

Water the horses,
make yourself useful.

And you better
get out of that rig

before Slim catches you.

It's only a turkey feather
and bow and arrow

Little Claude gave me.

Boy, it's no time to be
playing like a Red Stick.

People are
skittish these days.

Oh, Andy,
I might have k*lled you.

Why is everyone
so skittish about the Sioux?

You've heard the talk, Andy,

nobody wants
their hair lifted.

I don't understand,
Jonesy,

the only Sioux I know
are Little Claude and his pa.

And I ain't
really feared of them.

You mean you aren't?

Well, I ain't.

All right, aren't,
but I'm not scared of them.

Are you, Jonesy?

Of course not,
but Little Claude

and Chattez,
they're friendly like

but there are others around,
Andy.

They're raiding
and k*lling and burning out.

Why, the whole Wyoming
territory is on edge.

Is that why the Cheyenne stage
is 2 days late?

I don't know.
Nobody rightly knows.

That why there are
cavalry troopers in Laramie?

Who told you that?

Well, the rider that
came through yesterday.

Watered his horse here.
He said it.

Well, maybe he knows
and maybe he doesn't.

Now, Andy,
I don't want you to go

believing everything you hear.

See, there's a lot of
half-truths and gossip

just itching to be told.

You wouldn't be talking
that way, Jonesy,

unless there are
lot more to it than

you're telling me.

Andy, I don't want you
afraid of talk

and as far as we know
right here,

that's all there
is to this m*ssacre scare.

It's just talk.

As soon as
it's more than that,

we'll let you know
and we'll do something about it.

Understand?

I want to, Slim, but--

You got to, Andy,
you let fear get a hold of you.

Like what's outside
in the dark.

And what's
on the other side of the hill

or what might happen.

And you'll be
ducking and dodging

for the rest of your life.

We're getting
little low on kindling, Andy.

Why don't you run outside
and get us some?

Go on.

But it's dark out there,
Slim.

We just settled that.
You're not afraid of the dark.

Now go on.

Slim!

Jess!

Something big and black,

I've never seen
anything like it.

Forgive me, my son.

Please forgive me.

I'm sorry
I frightened the boy.

I know I make a pretty fierce
sight in the dark.

But there's no need of those.

If I gather up the kindling
your young friend dropped,

would it earn me a place
at your table?

Welcome
to Sherman Ranch, father,

come on inside.

I can usually spot
the look of a nonbeliever.

Oh...
how is that?

Your look says
something different.

You doubt the man
not the cloth, is that it?

At supper you said
you came from Fort Rice,

Dakota Territory.

I made that trip.
That's a rough trail riding.

It's even rougher walking
and trailing a mule.

Yeah, it would be.

Did you stay at army post
mostly on the way out?

And Indian agencies.

Fort Yates, I suppose.

Night of the first night out.

Took me 2 days
from there to the
Grand River agency.

Still good time.

What about Camp Hancock?
Make it the fourth day?

Good for you.
A skeptic but not truly devious.

No, my friend,
I didn't make Camp Hancock

the fourth day or the fifth day
or any day for that matter.

You don't really
want me to tell you

that Camp Hancock
is north of Fort Davis

and not on the trail here
at all, do you?

No, I guess I don't.

I'm curious,
if you could approve

that I had misled you,

what would you do?

Probably nothing...

but I'd know
I couldn't trust you.

In these days
a man's got to know

who he can trust.

These days and any days.

[ door opens ]

Andy's sleeping
all right now.

I waited till
he quieted down some.

Good.

I gave the boy a fright,
I'm sorry.

Oh, he had the fright
before you came, father.

Territory is full of it.

It's got people jumping away
from their own shadows.

And Indians.

I know.

Oh,
they're not here yet,

but you do hear talk.

I've seen not only heard

but seen the work
of the renegade Indians,

not a day's travel
beyond the ridge.

Where?

Lodgepole Creek
relay station burned out.

Half a dozen troopers
slaughtered.

Well, that's what holding up
the stages.

No wonder Crown Point
caved in on us.

I understand there's
a Colonel Carlington in Laramie.

Yeah, with the
detachment of troops.

That's not sitting easy
with folks either.

You're on your way
to see the colonel?

'Cause I promised a lieutenant
at Lodgepole

I would and I'll be
going into Laramie tomorrow.

Well, you're welcome
to one of our beds, father.

Oh, thank you.

I think my bed roll
will fit fine right here.

You wear the look
of the skeptic again.

Padre, are we to understand
you came all the way

from Fort Rice
to see Colonel Carlington?

No, I did know he existed
until the lieutenant

told me at Lodgepole.

Laramie has never been
my destination.

I'm on my way to the Yellowstone
to meet with Sitting Bull.

Look out, mister!

He ought to know
better than that.

I guess he never met anyone
quite like you before.

Mm-hmm. A perfectly
honest reaction for a goat.

Now how could
any self-respecting billy goat

resist a broad expanse
of a target like this?

Well, you did kind of look
like a tent from the rear.

Yes, I usually do.

I guess you got
to wear that dress.

Yeah, I guess I do.

Only if you and I
are going to be friends,

do you think you could
call it a "robe"?

Oh, sure.
If it makes you feel any better.

A little truce on us.

Andy, you better tie
Sam up for a while,

then feed the rest
of your animals.

You're saying you want
to talk to him alone, are you?

I'm saying,
I'm gonna twist your tail

if you get any smarter.

You'll have
to catch me first.

It's a lot of work there,
father, I'm much obliged.

Roof over my head
for the night,

I'm the one
who owes thanks.

Did we get you
right last night, padre,

about you wanting
to pow wow
with Sitting Bull?

Upon the Yellowstone,
mm-hmm,

only it's more than
just wanting,

it's something
that must be done.

It's a tall order, isn't it?

So is the problem.

I'm hoping I might be
able to whittle it down some.

That's Sioux country
most of the way.

Yes, I know, I know.

I've never been
there but,

Jess, somehow I get the
feeling that you have.

Not recently.

I can understand that.

I'm told no white man dares
venture there anymore.

I know the cost of the
river plat fairly well.

Jess,
will you draw me a map,

show me the best route
to the Yellowstone?

That's an awful big play,
padre,

there's a chance
you might not make it.

I might not but I expect to.

I or someone like me
must get to 'em.

They've talked peace
to Sitting Bull before,

made peace treaties till it was
coming out of everybody's ears.

And betrayed them,
now understand me,

word has been given
and broken by both sides.

I've seen the slaughter
by the renegade Indians

and there are
renegade whites as well.

The gold hunters moving
into the black hills

against treaty restrictions,

the g*n sellers
and whiskey traders.

Sure,
there's wrong on both sides,

but you're talking
with Sitting Bull,

that can't wipe it out.

Well, let me tell you
how I think it might,

my son, not wipe out the past
but settle issues

for now and the future.

So far, Sitting Bull
has always been

approached as a great chief,

I've heard
he denies being a chief.

There are some who call him
a "medicine man,"

I think that
too small a word.

I shall approach him
for what I believe him to be,

a spiritual leader
of the Sioux,

indeed of all Indians.

I'd like to believe
that you'll make it.

It hasn't been
tried this way before.

I can only try.

And get a w*r lance in your
throat for your trouble.

I can still
only try, Jess.

Now look, about the
route to the Yellowstone?

Well, the best trail
starts east of here,

along the foot hills
of the Laramie range.

Are you Father Elliot
out of Fort Rice?I am.

Colonel Carlington's
compliments, sir,

we're to escort
you into Laramie.

It's a very pleasant surprise.

How did the colonel
know I was here?

I'm sure he'll tell you
all about it, sir.

Trooper, bring up
the father's mount.

Thank you, captain.

Goodbye, my friends.

Bless you, the ranch
and your billy goat, my son.

Detail, forward.

You know, Jess,
I think he's in trouble.

Yeah, well, trouble's not too
hard to be in with the army.

You know, Slim,
I've been thinking,

you said you wanted to check
the stage lines in Laramie.

Now might be
a good time.

It's funny I was
thinking the same thing.

Come on.

Now a pebble could
start this w*r, father.

A pebble.

And a man trailing up
the Yellowstone

to Sitting Bull's encampment,

I guarantee you
that could set it off.

I don't believe it.

I hardly expected you would.

Martyrs seldom
care about anyone else's

funeral but their own.

In the name of
all that's holy, man,

if that were true,
I wouldn't go!
Surely you know that.

All I know is if you put
one foot in Sioux territory,

the peace will be broken.

Peace?

Is that what I saw
at the Lodgepole Creek

relay station?

The fear in the eyes,

in the hearts
of everyone I meet,

you call that peace,
colonel?

If, as you say,
a pebble could start a w*r,

and a man of God can endanger
the whole of the west

by going into the camp
of an Indian leader,

there is no peace, colonel.

Armies are not fighting.
This is a military peace.

And your heart
and your hopes,

are they in this
military peace, colonel?

I have orders
to perform a duty.

My hopes, heart have
nothing to do with it.

In that case
I don't envy you.

My duty has everything
to do with the hope

that is in my heart
and the spirit of peace

that I believe to be
in the hearts of all men.

Then you're a fool.

Possibly...

but no lesser one than
an army commander

who proclaims peace
while the whites go on

selling repeating r*fles
to the Indians.

All in good time, father.

You know, it'd be much easier
if the army just had

one enemy to fight
and no meddlers to contend with.

Wouldn't it be still easier

if the army had
no enemy to fight

and then there would be
no meddlers?

Get out of here, priest.

We have nothing more to say.

I suppose
it was foolish of me

to expect
the army's blessing.

In a way, I can almost
understand how they feel.

And now that you know,
you're still gonna

try to make it
to the Yellowstone?

Oh, yes, yes,
now more than ever.

Don't you see, Slim?

The army's position
only crystallizes

the need for a mission
such as mine.

Oh, yes, I must go on now,

of course,
I'll need a good guide.

You'll need more than that,
you'll need the best.

I am quite content
with my present company,

I should think,
with two fine guides.

Although, as much as
I'd like to ride
your way, father, I can't.

I've to go into Cheyenne

to the home office
of the stage line.

I couldn't get any
satisfaction here

and, well,
if the Sherman Ranch

isn't going to be
a relay station anymore,
I want to know about it.

Of course, I understand
and there's Andy to think of

and Jonesy.

When, when will you be leaving?

Right away, today.

I don't like the odds, padre,
and you shouldn't either,

but a thousand
to one I'd say.

You don't even believe
they're that good, do you?

I don't think you've got

any more chance
than a snowball in...

Hades?

Yeah, Hades.

I understand.

I wish you well
and Godspeed.

The best to you too,
father.

Thank you, Slim.

Good luck, father.

Bye, Jess.

No one here knows
the trail to the Yellowstone?

Most of us
know it, father,

but you're asking
for a guide to take you there.

And I wouldn't be caught dead
on that trail these days.

One thing for sure,
if you are caught there,

you are dead.

I wish I had
more time to spend here,

your faith doesn't seem
quite as strong as it might be.

There's all kinds of ways
of looking at it, father.

Most of the folks in town
know why you're here,

what you want,

but I'm afraid you're not
likely to get much help.

Thank you for your advice,

I'll just have to try
and do the best I can.

Father.

Yes.

You might try the saloon
across the street.

They get all kinds in there.

Thank you.
Might not be a bad idea.

There's fellows in there
that don't care how they die.

He isn't getting any help.

Now don't stir
things up, father,

times are hard enough
the way they are.

Is that what you think
I'm trying to do,
stir things up?

Well, that's the way
they're gonna work out

whether you're
trying to or not.

Everything I see,
everything I hear

makes me know that I must do
what I've set out to do.

Sitting Bull is just
waiting up there

for an excuse to ride
through the whole Wyoming.

Your mixing
into it is all they need

to start 'em
on the w*r path.

Father, he didn't mean
to say it in just that way,

but we have our homes
and our children to think of.

I am thinking of
your children and homes

where they may be brought up
in something other than fear.

Then build us a church,
we could use that,

but leave the fighting
and treaty-making to them

that knoweth.

The troopers
are getting paid for it.

Listen to me a moment.

Do you think
I'm the first white man

ever to enter
Sioux territory?

Well, do you?

The white trade is going
there all the time.

They sell repeating r*fles
to the Indians.

r*fles far better than
anything our own army has.

Do you stop those
white traders from going in?

Are you judging me
and not them?

At least when I go in
I go in peace.

Going into a saloon

and you say
you're a man of God.

Yes, I call myself
a man of God

and I'll take my help
wherever I can find it.

You're up early.

Where's the padre?

Other side of town,
waiting at the corral.

Remember what I told you
whatever happens to him

is got to look like
the Sioux did it.

Does that include accidents?

I'm sure there aren't
any aid here

a couple of days
out of town.

I'm not paying to have this
wind up on our doorstep.

No sweat.

Adios.

Jess, my young friend,
it's good to see you.

Same here, padre.

Jess, meet Charlie Root.
Jess Harper.

Howdy.
Hi.

Well, we're on our way.

Charlie and I are
going to the Yellowstone.

Well, you finally
had some luck, huh?Mm-hmm.

Charlie tells me he's just
about the best guide around.

Is that so?

Know the north trail
like the back of my hand.

I figure we'll stay south
of Laramie range.

FATHER: That's your route,
isn't it, Jess?

No, longer some, but sure.

What do you think
of your chances?

Just fair.

The padre knows.

And that's all
right with you?

I'm used to moving.

It's been a long time
since I cared where.

Slim is in Cheyenne
I understand.

He's on his way.

Andy and Jonesy

are spelling me
out in the range.

I'm riding out there now.

Give them my blessing.

Tell them I'll see them
again one day.

I'll do that, padre.

Goodbye, Jess.

Goodbye.

Good luck.

How far have we
come would you say?

Oh, far enough
feels like.

You know, I've been
thinking, padre,

you're taking a big chance,
aren't you?

I mean knocking around
this country without a g*n.

Each man chooses
his own weapons, Charlie.

You don't think I'd travel
without mine, do you?

Oh?

See, Charlie?

I'm armed.

So you are, padre,
so you are.

Did you get
the herd tucked in?

Oh, yeah, they were
bedding down when I left.Good.

Where's Andy?Where he's been this time
the last three evenings

fast asleep.Well, he's doing a man's
job with Slim gone.

Yeah, I'm a right fair
trail myself these days.

You're looking younger
everyday, Jonesy,

hard work
must agree with you.

The work agrees with me,
but I don't agree with it.

Evening, Jess.Evening, sheriff.

That priest fellow,
you laid eyes on him recently?

Yeah, about mid-morning.
Why?

Was he alone?No he had a guide with him,
call him Charlie Root, I think.

That's the one.

Which way were they going?

Well, they headed north.
Why do you want to know?

Well, if it was Charlie Root,
he's a hired g*n...

wanted for k*lling 6 times.

That's just great.

You bet it's great.
Now that we've
run out of daylight,

because tomorrow'll be
too late to catch up with them.

Well, what are you
gonna do about it?

Not much we can do

except maybe light
a couple of candles for him.

So long.

Better get some hot food
in your belly before you go.

I ain't going anywhere.

Slim might even be
back tomorrow.

Now you know he won't.

Well, if you can't follow
a trail in the dark.

Jonesy, why are you
goading me into leaving?

Maybe because
I think you want to go

and maybe because
I would've gone 20 years ago.

Well, I owe it
to Slim to stay here,

to you and Andy too.

If those Indians were raiding
and you were here,

the most you could do
beat or die for that boy.

Well, I could do that much
and would if need be.

I know you would, Jonesy,

and that padre's
plum crazy trailing out there.

You just George yourself
out of a hot supper.

You're taking
hardtack and coffee,

and lucky to get it.

It's a fine looking g*n,
Charlie.

Mind my asking
where you got it?

Down Texas way,
nothing special about it,

just a plain 44.



Reborn to use the new army
high-powered cartridges.

You turning into be a expert
on side arms, padre?

No, only the kind
you are carrying

and you'd be
a lot less noticeable

wearing something else.

What are you getting at?

You're not a guide,
Charlie.
No?

And that g*n
didn't come from Texas.

I suppose next you'll be saying

you were standing right
behind me when I bought it.

No, but I happened
to be in Fort Rice

a short time back when
part of a shipment of those

new 44-40s
was reported missing.

You do get around, don't you?

See, those g*ns
are brand new,

the first they sh**t
in the west,

which means that either
you had something to do

with the theft of them or...

or Texas is a lot
closer to Wyoming

than it appears
to be on the map.

Maybe you're a little too
savvy for your own good...

'cause if what you're
saying is true...

I'm just liable
to pull this trigger.

Oh, I've thought about
that too, Charlie, and...

I don't think
you'll pull that trigger.

If you were going to,
you would have before now.

Got it all figured it out,
haven't you?

Oh, most of it,
this much anyway.

That g*n is going to bring you

a lot more trouble
than it will me.

I wouldn't count on it.

You see, Charlie,
I've known from about

the first day
we were on the trail

that you intended to k*ll me.

Now that's a mighty
foolish thing to say.

Why would I want to do
a thing like that?

For money,
Charlie.

I'm not saying you're right,
but if you are,

how come you're still alive?

The first day out we were
too close to Laramie,

it was too early.

Today it's too late.

Any special reason why?

Mm-hmm.

Yes, we are deep in Sioux
country now, Charlie,

and one shot from that g*n
whether you hit me or not

you'd never leave
here alive.

Sioux would be down on you
before you get a mile away.

And I've heard
about the Sioux, Charlie,

it's not a very
pleasant way to die.

Padre, this mountain air
is making you lightheaded.

Of course, I realize you're
a very resourceful man

and you couldn't
resort to other ways

to accomplish your purpose

with a rock perhaps,
or even a knife

or a good shove
at the proper time.

You got quite an imagination.

All them worries
liable to keep you awake.

They will.

There'll be no sleep
for me tonight.

Suit yourself.

Stay awake and pray
all night if you want.

Me?
I'm getting some sleep.

Go on ahead, padre.

You first, Charlie.

You all right?

Yeah.
I'm all right.

There's a flat up ahead.

We can rest
when we get there.

[ horse approaching ]

Stay put, padre,
I'll show you an easy way up.

Oh, I can make it all right.

Is something wrong,
Charlie?

No, no, nothing I just
dropped my compass, I...

had to backtrack to find it.

Oh.

How much further
on is it up to the flat?

Just up ahead.

Come on, I'll show you.

What are you stopping for?

Suppose you tell me, Charlie.

Move.

Hmm?

Move!

[ vultures screaming ]

It's Jess, padre.

Jess Harper.

I've confessed my sins,
I've prayed for the repose
of Charlie's soul.

I can no longer look back.

You can do better
than that, padre.

Oh, on what wages?

Better than look back,
you can go back.

You're not seriously asking
me to give up, are you?

I'm not asking anything

except maybe
for you to look at things

the way they
really are for once.

A hired g*n was supposed
to k*ll you and you got by.

Then you blame
near wandered off
that ledge over yonder.

Did you see
how far that drop was?

Indeed I did.

Then don't you think you
pressed your luck far enough?

I'm not much
of a believer in luck, Jess.

Fine.

Well, you name it,
to me it's luck.

All right,
I'll name it.

To me it's a sign.

I've escaped death twice.

I truly believe my life
has been spared for a reason.

God means me to fulfill
this mission, Jess.

You know signal fires
when you see 'em, padre?

Yes.

They're behind us, why?

Telling us we haven't

got a chance of
getting out of here.

And letting the Sioux ahead
know we're on our way.

You didn't really think
you could slip in here
unnoticed, did you, padre?

But if they're all around us,
why haven't they attacked?

It's something
you'll have to ask them

and maybe
you'll get the chance.

Jess, I want
you to go back now.

I can make it alone.

If you leave now
you can be spared.

You're right sure of that?

I can't ask you to sacrifice
any more than you have.

I'm not a man
to sacrifice myself, padre.

And I'm not a man to ride back
into signal fires either.

We'll move on ahead.

Look yonder, padre.

FATHER:
I'd bless that sight.

Our destination.

How about this sight, padre,
do you bless it too?

White traders.

A good bet is those boxes
are loaded with g*ns

and ammunition
for Sitting Bull.

No, no, I can't have
come this far in vain,

I must get to Sitting Bull
before they do.

Well, it'll be dark
in less than a half an hour.

They can't cross that river
at night and neither can we.

We might not be
able to beat 'em, padre,

but we can try and stop 'em.

No.

No, not this way, Jess.

You got a better way?

No.

We better make camp.

Padre?

[ g*nshots ]

The robed one.

It was him who fired
the ammunition.

For this he must die,

if not by their hands
then by ours.

Wait.

k*ll him and much
that is good may die with him.

He's a white man.

All are the same.

Then why did he risk death

knowing I have only
to lift a finger to k*ll him.

No, he is not
an ordinary man.

I will speak with him.

Are you all right, padre?

Thank you.

Thank you, my son.

Jess, we've come
so far together,

won't you take these
last few steps with me?

No.
I'll feel better covering
you from here, padre.

Very well.

He has courage,
the robed one.

He carries the sign
of the Great Spirit.

I will go down to meet him.

Alone.

Perhaps he is the one
we have been waiting for...

a white man
who can be trusted.