Grayeagle (1977) - full transcript

[WOMAN HUMMING]

[DOGS BARKING]

[CONTINUES HUMMING]

[GROWLING]

[WIND WHISTLING]

[HORSE NEIGHING]

Well, you'd better set
another plate.

Standing Bear's back.

Looks like he has
fresh meat, too.

One shot, Standing Bear?

[LAUGHS]



We're thankful for the meat.

He's got a whitetail deer.

Run across any other
hunting parties out there?

Young Cheyenne
already moved south

to hunt the spring herd
of elk and buffalo.

Well, we've been worried
about you.

You've been out three days.

What's the matter?
You losing your touch?

Whitetail is still fast,
and smart as always.

So is the beaver and mink.

But it could be you and I

might be getting
a little older, too.

I'll help skin the deer.

I'll let you take
the arrow out, too.



But she's a damn good cook.

Like her mother, though,
she never had much stomach

for skinning
and trapping game.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

He must have followed you.

No one followed me.

Is he Cheyenne?

Too far.

Could be Shoshone or Crow.

Fetch my gun from the cabin.

He dresses for battle.

I know.
That's what's bothering me.

Whoever he is,
he's up to no good.

Come on down!

Come on down!

Looks like a Cheyenne to me.

No reason for him
to be this far north.

He knows
he's out of gun range.

Put the horses in the corral.

It's getting dark fast,
and I got a feeling

that's what he's waiting on.

[NEIGHING, HUFFING]

Sometime before morning,

he's liable to try
and take them horses.

STANDING BEAR: It has
to be Cheyenne.

Could mean a small war party.

What do you suppose they want?

If it's horses,
we'll know soon.

If it's scalps,

we'll know
with the morning light.

Standing Bear,
go feed the horses.

I just don't understand it.

I ain't seen
a Cheyenne this far north

in more than two years.

Well, let's go to work.

Standing Bear!

Get Colter.

[INDISTINCT]

It will be light soon.

I just can't figure him out.

You sleep awhile, I'll watch.

No, I'll be all right.

But I don't intend to spend

another sleepless night
over that Indian.

If he don't show himself
by morning,

I figure I'll find him
one way or the other.

Standing Bear, I figure
you'd better work your way

along the western edge
of that rise in front
of the cabin.

I'm going on
over the top of that ridge

and get in that ravine.

Do you think he will show
when sun sets again?

I don't know,

but I'm through
trying to outguess him.

If I can just get
close enough to him today...

I don't guess we ever will
know what was on his mind.

You stay inside.

If you need it, use it.
And bolt the door.

[GASPS]

[SCREAMING]

[BETH CONTINUES SCREAMING]

Take the back, Standing Bear.

Beth!

Beth!

Colter!

He took her.

He's smart,
and this ain't gonna be easy.

It will soon be dark.

We cannot track
Cheyenne after dark.

Maybe not, but we are
gonna try now, ain't we?

We'll split up.

I'll head north
along the river.

If I don't pick up his track

or catch him
before I get to the fort,

I'll wait for you there.

[BETH CRYING]
No, please!

No!

[SOBBING]
Please let me go!

Please.
Please let me go!

Please let me go!

Please let me go!

Please.

Please let me go.

I'll give you $4, a jug
of whiskey and two of them...

I mean, one of them
sacks of flour over there.

Two jugs of whiskey
and three sacks of flour.

What do you mean,
two jugs of whiskey?

Why, them three
sacks of flour are worth

all them mangy hides
you brought in here
last winter.

Hmm.

-Hi, Abe.
-Hi, John.

What the hell
are you doing here
so early in the morning?

You must've rode all night.

Well, I needed
to get here by daylight.

I'm running late now.
You seen Standing Bear?

No. Am I supposed
to have seen him?

I figured he'd beat me here.

There's
something wrong, ain't it?

I'm gonna be needing
a fresh horse, Abe.

Now that ain't
what I asked you.

You didn't come in here
this early for supplies.

Yeah, there's something
dead wrong, Abe.

A young Cheyenne come
in the back door of my cabin
and got Beth.

They got her?
Well, there ain't no
Cheyenne around here,

especially this time
of the year.

Well, that's what
me and Standing Bear

have been telling one another,

but one took her.

Any of you fellas seen
any young Cheyenne around?

All the young ones went south
to the Yellowstone to hunt.

What part of the Yellowstone?

ABE: Where the Madison
meets the Missouri,

about 50 miles south.

That's deep
in that basin country.

Thanks.

Now you two get them furs
and take them around

and put them in that storeroom
'fore I change my mind.

Tom, get that saddle
and put it on my horse
and bring him around here.

Right away, Abe.

Hi, Lum.

-Hey.
-Where do you keep
the gunpowder?

Over there.

Blamed Injuns are getting
harder to trade with
every year.

They just asked me
for two jugs of my
best whiskey.

Give me some
of that coffee, Lum.

How far upriver
before I come to
Trapper Willis's place?

He's about 35 miles
on up the river.

You seen him lately?

No, he don't come
around here much anymore.

Well, I'll bring
your horse back in a few days.

Aw, don't worry
about the horse.

I wish I could close up
and go with you.

I hope you find that
gal of yourn all right.

Just put this on my bill.

When Standing Bear gets here,

you tell him I couldn't wait,

went on upriver
to Trapper Willis's place.

You tell him when he gets
here now to catch up.

All right, John.

No Cheyenne around.

Shoshone camp on river.
Devil's Elbow.

How many?

Maybe eight, maybe 10.

Thanks.

Ain't thirsty.

[BUGLE SOUNDS]

Help!

Help me!

Help me, please.

Please help me.

Morning, ma'am.
Morning.

[LAUGHS]

Please!
Please help me!

Help me!

One who blows bugle
is touched by Great Spirit.

You speak English.

You speak English!

Why haven't you
answered me before now?

Reason to answer.

You ask me what I cannot say.

Well, you could tell me
where I'm going.

You could tell me why
you took me from the cabin.

You could tell me something!

We go.

Well, I'm not going!

I'm not going.
I'm not going.

I'm not getting on the horse!

I won't!
I'm not getting on!

Let me go.

Cheyenne give up
hunting buffalo and elk
to take white woman.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Grayeagle ask Shoshone
for lodging only.

Do the white man
follow for girl?

One of our kind
is tracking half-day back.

Let it be said,

the Shoshone gave
his brother, the Cheyenne,

food and lodging.

[YELLS IN SHOSHONE]

[MEN LAUGHING]

Two...

Two best ponies for girl.

Trade two

fast ponies

for girl.

Girl not for trade.

These two ponies,

young,

have many hunts left in them.

Girl not for trade!

[QUIETLY]
You've got to
get me out of here.

You've got to get me home
before it's too late.

My father's coming to get me,
I know he is...

Quiet! Eat.

Next time,
maybe I take ponies.

[MEN CHANTING, DRUMMING]

So your name's Grayeagle.

And you're
a Cheyenne too, aren't you?

Why'd you take me, Grayeagle?

You don't have to do that.

By the looks
of the scalps in here,

I ain't going anywhere.

You don't mean me
any harm, do you?

For some reason,

I don't believe
you mean me any harm.

If you take me back,

I promise you

that I won't let anybody
hurt you for taking me.

And that white man
that we passed today...

Well, he knows
that I'm your captive,

and the only
reason he didn't stop

is because he was afraid to.

The one who is touched
by Great Spirit

will say nothing,

for he has lived here
many years as a Shoshone.

[CHUCKLING]

I made the whole day good.

Yeah.

I hope it don't rain, thunder.

Ol' Bugler take sick,
won't be able
to blow the bugle.

[LAUGHING]

Who's out there?

Who's there?

Who's out there?

Easy does it.

I don't mean you no harm.

You scared ol' Bugler.

How long have you
been camped here?

Since dark.

You wouldn't mind if I have
some of them beans?

Ol' Bugler cooks 'em up good.

[LAUGHING]

Where are you from?

From?

I live upcreek
with the Shoshone.

Do they say you're touched
by the Great Spirit?

That's it.
Touched by the Great Spirit.

You seen a Cheyenne buck
with a white girl today?

You heard me, didn't ya?

I asked you
about a white girl.

The girl, where'd you see her?

I ain't even seen
a crow in the sky all day,

not even a crow.

You hear me,
and you hear me good.

Now one more time,

have you seen a Cheyenne buck
with a white girl today?

Upcreek, about midday.

Was she all right?

How close did you get?

Not close.
Ol' Bugler scared.

She was
with a Cheyenne, wasn't she?

Which way was they heading?

Upcreek, heading north.

[WOLF HOWLING]

If he harms
one hair on her head,

I'll hang a Cheyenne
scalp in my cabin

for every year she's lived.

[HOOTING, SHOUTING]

[SHOUTING STOPS]

[YELLING]
Grayeagle!

Grayeagle!

I have three ponies,

fine ponies

and strong!

[SHOUTS]

Grayeagle!

Grayeagle!

Scar come to trade.

[ALL SHOUT]

Grayeagle,

like the coward
the Cheyenne is,

has taken the girl and fled.

[ALL SHOUTING]

[SHOUTING STOPS]

Like the coyote,

at night he sneaks away.

No trade.

I will track Grayeagle down

before the sun sets this day.

I will hang his scalp

in the wigwam
of the white woman.

[ALL SHOUTING]

Where the hell
have you been, Standing Bear?

Been close to them now
for two days.

-Well, why in the hell
haven't you...
-Explain later.

Just over that rise,
there's a camp of Shoshones.

Beth was taken in
at sunset yesterday.

Yeah, I know about
the Shoshone camp.

-How many of them are there?
-About 10.

One rode out
early this morning alone.

May have been Cheyenne
who took Beth.

Are you sure he was alone?

Beth was not with him.

Stay close.
We're going in...

No, wait. We go in after dark.
Too many.

Now you listen to me.
I've come this far

and I ain't taking
no chances on losing her now.

Now how far
over that rise are they?

About a length
of a good horse-run.

Come on, Standing Bear.
We're going in after her.

[ALL SHOUTING]

[FIRING GUN]

Hold it.

Don't make me
blow a hole in you.

Standing Bear,
check the rest of them lodges.

Get down here or I'll blow you
in two, you...

Beth! Beth!

Did you find her?

She is gone.

-Well?
-Nothing.

Where is she?

He knows what I'm saying.

Now one last...

[SPEAKING SHOSHONE]

What the hell's he saying?

Beth was taken out at sunup.

Ask him if he knows
the Cheyenne that got her.

[SPEAKING SHOSHONE]

He's called Grayeagle.

Ask him if he knows
where he's taking her.

[SPEAKING SHOSHONE]

He says he doesn't know.

He's lying.

You tell him I'll tear him
in two with this pistol.

I believe he speak truth.

Found lodge
where Beth and he stayed.

Rocks cold.

They've been gone
for many hours.

Ask him if she's been harmed.

[SPEAKING SHOSHONE]

She was taken care of.

At least that's something.

Let's ride.

Do not fear.

How much further
do we have to go?

Two days we reach camp
of Running Wolf.

Running Wolf? I don't...

I don't understand.

When time comes you will know,

for you are in the dream
of Running Wolf.

Dream?

It is not for me to say more.

When light comes, we ride.

Now sleep.

Sleep.

[SCREAMS]

[LAUGHING]

Scar.

He challenges me
to fight for you.

[YELLING]

[YELLING]

[LAUGHS]

[LAUGHING]

[SPLASHING]

You have shown great strength.

Strength?

I have very little
strength left.

I can't go on.

In two days, it will be done.

We go, now.

I wish I had your troubles.

I guess you know
if them Shoshone

hadn't given you to me,

you'd have probably
got starved by 'em,

or eaten.

[LAUGHING LOUDLY]

I figured that'd
get your attention.

Well, come on now,
before that sun bakes you.

[BARKING]

Damn!

Damn!

Where's my damn gun?
Shit!

Go on, attack!

Damn it, dog,
they're charging us head on.

Go on, run!
Hide, you coward! Run!

Take cover, you damn dog,
take cover.

-[DOG WHINES]
-That's it, run.

Run, you coward!
Run and hide!

Damn it, Willis,
hold your fire!

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

Damn it, Willis,
I'm gonna kill ya!

Damn! Wrong size.

Willis, stop.

It's Standing Bear
and John Colter.

Well, Indian,
what we got here

is a simple case
of mistaken identity.

I told you once,
I told you twice.

You're supposed
to be watching,

you ain't supposed
to be sleeping.

You pretty near killed us
with that damn cannon.

Next time you want
to approach my place,

you send that damn Indian in
with a white rag.

Willis, I got
some bad news.

A Cheyenne came in
the back door of my cabin

and took my daughter, Beth.

I've been tracking him.

He come through
a Shoshone camp yesterday.

They'd stayed there
the night before.

They called him...

Grayeagle.

I just wonder if you've
seen him or heard of him.

Yeah, I heard
of him all right.

Most of the trappers
in these parts heard of him.

He's the Cheyenne
high warrior.

Well, where do you figure
he might be taking her?

Well, if it really is
Grayeagle that's got her,

there's only one place
he'd be headed.

Well, let's have it.

This here tobacco pouch
was given to me

more than four years ago
by an old Cheyenne chief.

I hear
he's camped out now

at the head waters
of the Missouri.

They call him Running Wolf.

Now, if my figuring's right,

that's where he'd be
taking your girl.

Standing Bear, have you
heard of Running Wolf?

Don't know any Cheyenne
called Running Wolf.

JOHN: Could you take us
to their camp?

WILLIS: No, sir.
They leave me alone,

I don't figure
to go bothering them.

[SPEAKS CHEYENNE]

[REPEATS]

[REPEATS]

[SPEAKING CHEYENNE]

Who is he, Standing Bear?

The one in the bonnet
is called Running Wolf.

Well, Standing Bear,
I figure in a couple of days

we'll be meeting us
a Cheyenne chief

called Running Wolf.

Whoa.

Standing Bear, I don't think
you ever have lied to me,

and I don't want you
to start now.

So I'm asking you
one more time,

have you ever heard
of Running Wolf?

Running Wolf?

No.

Now, you two,
you don't just go

marching in on the Cheyenne.

Well, I ain't going,
and that's final.

Well, I reckon only you
can make that decision.

It's been four years
since I've seen Running Wolf.

Besides, I don't figure
he's my friendliest neighbor.

You're gonna get
yourselves killed.

Last I heard, the whole
Cheyenne nation was up there!

Go on, dog, tell 'em
how you lost your leg.

-[DOG BARKING]
-Damn fools.

Never understand why
some folks do what they do.

Colter, it's Trapper Willis!

Well, come on.

I can change my mind
if I want to.

[LAUGHING, HOOTING]

Yahoo!

[MEN HOOTING]

[BLOWING BUGLE]

Here's Scar.

The Cheyenne didn't do this.

The work of the whites.

Kill!

-[MEN HOOTING]
-Kill!

Willis?

Willis?

[PLAYING BUGLE]

[GUN FIRES]

Willis!

Dog, we're your friends.

We ain't gonna hurt ya.

[ALL YELLING]

If I don't clean this cut,

then it'll get infected.

Do you understand?
Infected.

Now we ride.
When light comes,

you will see Running Wolf.

Then will I be free
to go home?

Only Running Wolf can say.

My wound will heal.

You must think of yourself.

I can't do anything
to help myself.

Only you can help me.

Please,

I'm asking you one more time,

don't take me
into the encampment

in the morning.

Take me home, please.

The dream of Running Wolf

is not a dream of death.

Do not fear.

For I too have had a dream.

Soon you will go home.

I guess when you get done
licking on that plate,

you're gonna eat it, too?

Since this may be
my last meal,

if you don't mind, I'll eat it
any damn way I please.

Figure Running Wolf
will deal with you?

If he don't, I'm gonna be
in a hell of a lot of trouble

when I ride in there.

Me and Standing Bear will
flank for you on either side.

You and Standing Bear
ain't going in with me.

I'm going in alone first

to see
what the hell's going on.

How long will it be till
we reach Running Wolf's camp?

Well, I figure we should
be in about sundown

if we get an early start.

Standing Bear,

I didn't know you were back.

The sky is darkening.

It tell us
that fall is coming

and Colter will return soon
from his hunt.

I will be glad
when my husband comes home.

It's been
very lonely without him.

[SHOUTING]

[LAUGHING]

I brought you your dog.

He tried to bite me.
[LAUGHING]

You know
what's happening, don't ya?

I sure as hell do.

I figure
they got Standing Bear

along about daylight.

You ain't wrong.
We're gonna play coup.

[YELLING]

Get him!

[YELLING]

By God, Otis, get him!

You've only got
two to go.

Get him, Otis!

Get one and you're a free man.

Miss him
and I've got to bury you.

Now the rope.
Trip him.

Now get him.

Now get him.

Come on, come at me.

[YELLING]

Ask 'em if I can have my dog.

Give him his dog.

[ALL YELLING]

You done won your freedom.

It ain't my law.

It's the law of the Shoshone.

Now you head back.

Your day is coming.

You'll blow that bugle

for them to open
the gates of hell for you.

He never had much, Lord,

exceptin' his old dog.

And somehow that just
don't seem right.

Willis!

Willis!

Willis!

BUGLER: Willis!

Willis!

You have done well, Grayeagle.

You have brought me the face

I have seen painted
in the afternoon sky.

[SPEAKS CHEYENNE]

[CHANTING, RATTLING]

Your hair is as smooth

as a young deer

rolling in the sun.

I shall soon be

with the Great Spirit.

Grayeagle

will return you to your home.

It is the way of the Cheyenne

that when a child
is born to a chief,

that his eyes
must look upon that child

before his death,

or his spirit will wander

in the skies forever.

For this that you have done,

I will reward you
with many gifts.

Now go, my daughter.

The time is near

for me to stand

and account for my deeds

before the Great Spirit.

I don't understand.

We must go.

Soon you will understand.

Can we leave today?

We will leave soon.

Can I have my clothes back?

You came here as Cheyenne.

You will leave as Cheyenne.

Are you telling me

that that old dying chief
in there is my father?

He was a great chief.

His heart reasoned with all.

His people love him.

If you had known him,

you would be proud.

Yes.

I tell you he is your father.

Oh, thank God.
It's Standing Bear.

Standing Bear!
Standing Bear!

Standing Bear!

Beth! Beth!

[GIGGLING]

BUGLER: I got
something fine, bears.

Come get your dinner.

I got you this.

[STRAINING]

Come get your dinner, bears.

Where are you, bears?

Bugler!

Blow that bugle
so they can open

the gates of hell for you,

'cause you're coming in.

You wouldn't shoot
ol' Bugler, would you?

Would you?

A man like...like you
wouldn't shoot
ol' Bugler in the back.

No sooner
than I would a rattler.

[COCKS GUN]

-[TRAP SNAPPING]
-[SCREAMING]

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

Oh, Standing Bear,

you frightened me.

When the sun rises
and clears the mountains,

the Cheyenne will honor
your coming home.

Do you think Father
and Trapper Willis

will get here in the morning?

Oh, Standing Bear,
how will you tell him?

I will say
what has been hidden

deep within me for many years.

I could not say it till now.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[CHEYENNE CHANTING]

[ALL CONTINUE CHANTING]

[CHEYENNE HOOTING,
SHOUTING]

[RATTLING]

[MEN SINGING]

♪

He did it!

[CHEERING]

[CHANTING]

It is a good day to die,

for now he has seen you

and his spirit joins
the Great Spirit forever.

[GROANS]

Where am I?

You're over at my place.

That's the first sound
I heard out of you

in more than a day.

Yesterday, I was measuring you
for the ground.

Ow.

How'd I get here?

We went out and got you.

You'd have been
a goner for sure

if my old mare hadn't have
found her way to the house.

The last thing I recollect

before riding out

was putting a bullet
in that damn Bugler.

Yeah, we found him too,

tangled up good
in one of his own traps.

That's good.

Hold on. Lay down now.

You just
take it easy right there.

Well, I can't just lay here

knowing Beth's
still out there.

Yeah, you can't help
that girl a bit if you's dead.

The way that thing looks,

you ain't gonna get 10 feet
'fore you keel over.

Besides that,
it's getting late.

Well, I'd best be
getting back to my place

and pick up
some fresh horses

and some extra supplies.

I've got to find her

and get her home before fall.

You'd better go over
to Fort Harris
and get you some help.

No, it's too late for that.

If a soldier got
within 20 miles of that camp,

they'd kill her.

Yeah.

If they haven't already.

Standing Bear, do you think

Father went back
with Trapper Willis
to his cabin?

If we don't see them
at the next pass,

we will head
for Trapper Willis's.

I've had
the strangest feeling

that we are
being followed.

Grayeagle followed
all first day.

But I haven't seen him
all morning.

Let's get out of here.

[MEN HOOTING, SHOUTING]

It's Grayeagle.

He's giving us
our chance. Let's ride.

[GUN FIRING]

We've got to do something,
or he hasn't got a chance!

He did it
that you might live.

We must go.

Come on!

[MEN HOOTING]

[GUN FIRING]

BETH: Pa!

Colter! Colter!

We're back.

I'm home.
I'm home.

I'm home.

You're the only father
I've ever had,

and I'm thankful
that I'm home.

This country can be
mighty hard on a man.

It can give him
a lot of things,

but it can take 'em away...

Just the way it took
your mother when you was born.

And I know you understand

that it can especially
be hard on a woman.

I'm just thankful that I had
her for a short while.

Standing Bear also told me

that Grayeagle gave his life

so you could be brought home.

[SOBBING]

Come. He's on the hill.