Hostiles (2017) - full transcript

An adverb modifies a verb

by telling us

how something's done,

where something's done,

- or when something's done.

- When something's done.

Lucy.

The music played quietly.

And the adverb is?

- Quietly.

- Quietly.

Sylvie.

The dog runs

through the house.

Is right because...

It's explaining

where the dog ran.

Is correct, but if you wanted

to say how the dog ran...

- Quickly?

- Quickly. Very good, girls.

Rosalie! Girls!

- They're coming.

- Oh, dear God!

Mommy,

what's happening?

There are people coming

for our horses, sweetie.

Lucy, grab Jacob.

Remember our plan.

Sylvie, get away

from the door!

Grab Jacob's bear.

I'll meet you

at the top of the ridge.

- Wesley, come with us.

- If I don't,

they're gonna take

it all or burn it down.

Let them. Please come.

- Daddy, please come.

- Run for the door, girls.

Run for the door.

- Please come.

- Rosalie, run.

- Go. Run, girls, run! Go!

- Let's go, girls.

- Go!

- Run, girls.

- Run!

- Run!

Lucy, give me Jacob.

- Daddy!

- Come on, girls.

- Wesley. No.

- Daddy!

No!

Run. Run, girls.

Lucy! No!

I got it.

Hold her.

- I got him. Got him.

- Come on, redskin.

Give up. Come on!

Come on now.

Come on, red.

Get up, boy.

Come on now.

- Get up.

- Come on, red. Get up.

- Get him up.

- Move now.

- I said move!

- Get up.

- Hyah!

- Come on.

Come on.

Looks like you got it, Joe.

Yeah.

How far did they get?

Diablo Canyon.

- Apaches, huh?

- Uh-huh.

Get up!

It's gotta be about

the end of them, eh?

We think, but, like ants,

they just keep coming.

Y'all escape,

this is what happens.

Next time, we ain't bothering

bringing you back.

It ought not to be

this way, Joe.

Is there

a better way, Tolan?

Getting tired, Joe.

I think I've reached

the end of my sojourn.

They say I'm not fit.

Sort of have the...

The melancholia.

Mmm-hmm.

Well, there's no such thing.

Twenty years

I gave this Union.

They took my guns, Joe.

You're out anyway.

Hmm.

What'd you give?

Twenty? Twenty-five?

I stopped counting.

You remember that, uh...

That time when Kiowa put

his war-lance in your belly?

Yeah.

You remember you were sitting

there in the water...

just trying to hold

your guts in there.

Hmm.

And I came by

and you looked at me,

and you had

that look on your face.

You looked so young.

Like somebody had taken

something from you.

Like they had taken

a Christmas present from you.

They took

your fucking horse, yeah?

And we beated

the hell out of it.

And you say...

"I see his face

and I'm gonna kill him

one day."

And you did.

You did.

You ride him up

in that blind path...

and you took

that knife of yours

and you cut him

from end to end.

Yes, I did.

Those were good days.

Yes, they were.

Those were...

Those were good days.

They were the best, Metz.

Morning, sir.

Corporal Molinor here.

The colonel

would like to see you.

I'll get that.

- Yes?

- Captain Blocker's here, sir.

- Morning, Captain.

- Colonel.

You know Jeremiah Wilks here,

of Harper's Weekly.

Sit down, Joe.

I understand you finally

run that escaped Apache bunch

to ground.

- Sir. Mmm.

- Well done.

Today, gentlemen, I don't know

what we are going to do

with this...

these wretched savages.

I have a suggestion.

Why don't you

let them all go?

I mean, that would be

the humane thing to do.

Wouldn't it?

I see the captain disagrees.

Not my place to disagree.

Bet if you had your way,

you'd keep them in chains.

That right, Blocker?

Don't matter to me

what you do with them.

Now that

I'm in your esteemed company,

Captain, I must ask,

it true you took more scalps

than Sitting Bull himself?

That's what I hear, anyway.

- I don't care what you hear.

- Gentlemen.

I think that'll do.

Captain, you do know

Chief Yellow Hawk?

You know I know him.

The chief and his family

have been prisoners

for nearly seven years.

I'd say that's

punishment enough,

wouldn't you?

There ain't enough punishment

for his kind.

- Is that right?

- Damn right, it's right.

Let me ask you, Colonel.

You remember Billy Dixon?

Probably not.

Billy was a very

good friend of mine.

I knew him very well,

as I do all the men here.

And I watched Yellow Hawk

take a knife

and cut Billy

from stem to stern.

And then he turned

to my good friend

- Tully McClain...

- Yes, well, Captain...

You're no angel

your own self.

Hmm.

You know he's eat up

with the cancer.

Mmm.

Well, the chief

has asked for his release.

Wants to go home to Montana.

Some place called

the Valley of the Bears.

- You know it?

- I do.

Sacred Cheyenne territory.

After due deliberation

and communication

with Washington, I've decided

to honor that request.

Allow him and his people

to go.

His release, it has

become something of a...

What you might call

a cause célèbre.

Back East.

The Department of the Army

wants to be certain

that the chief gets there

safely, without incident.

Why are you telling me this?

You speak as good

a native dialect as anyone.

Know the trails between here

and Montana as well as anyone.

- Do you not?

- I've been over them some.

I'm assigning a detail

to accompany the chief

and his people.

And, quite frankly,

you're the only one

I can count on to get

the job done right.

So, you will lead

the party to Montana.

See the chief back

to his homeland.

Arrange the others

back on the reservation.

And from there

you will cut off East

to Fort Mason

for your mustering out.

With respect, sir,

I'm not leading that cutthroat

and his brood of bastards

and bitches anywhere.

I'm afraid it's an order.

I'm afraid

I ain't obeying it. Sir.

You're retiring,

are you not?

I'm sure

you don't want to tarnish

your record

at this late date

with a court-martial.

To tell you the truth,

I don't give a damn.

Well, you do give a damn about

your pension, don't you?

Let me

tell you something, Captain.

Aside from losing

one's mind,

there is very little to do

for an old captain

besides sit

and whittle and whistle

and wait for the postman

to bring him

his pension check.

It would just be a damn shame

for a man such as yourself

who's put in the time

to come up short in the end.

You have any idea

who that son-of-a-bitch is

and what he's done?

I know he was considered

a very tough adversary

in his day.

And now

he is a dying old man.

No, he's a butcher.

Then the two of you

ought to get along just fine.

Shut the hell up,

you fucking pasty-faced...

You have never seen

a lick of war.

- You have no idea...

- No.

No idea

what it does to a man.

I've killed savages.

I've killed plenty of them.

'Cause

that's my fucking job.

And from what

I hear, Captain,

there was never a man happier

in his work.

Look.

- Hmm.

- I saw what happened

to the 4th when Yellow Hawk

and his dog soldiers

got done with them.

And there wasn't a...

Don't you dare laugh.

There wasn't enough left

of those poor men

to fill a slop pail.

Understand...

When we lay our heads down

out here,

we're all prisoners.

I hate them.

I got a war bag of reasons

to hate them.

Skinny Figler, Edwin Tate...

Captain,

I just don't give a damn

how you personally feel

about Yellow Hawk.

I don't.

What I care about is this,

a direct order

signed by President Harrison.

So, you've got

just over 24 hours

to pick and provision

your detail.

Should you decide

to disobey this order,

you'll consider yourself

confined to barracks

pending a court-martial.

Stop!

This will be done.

And it will be done by you.

Now you're dismissed.

I'll see to that, Captain.

The rest is in my trunk.

You can take that Apache

war bow if you want it.

Morning, doctor.

Morning, Captain.

Morning, Sergeant.

Corporal.

- Ready for the journey, sir.

- As you were.

- Lieutenant.

- Captain.

- West Point, hmm?

- Yes, sir.

I want to say

what an honor it is

to be chosen by you, sir.

I'll give you everything

I'm made of.

- You can sleep on it.

- That's why you're here.

We don't get too many

of you West Point types

out this far.

We'll see what

they taught you.

- Provisions?

- Yes, sir.

A month's worth of meat,

raisins, sugar, and pickles.

- Lead?

- Enough to defend Fort Apache

if required, sir.

We'll need it.

- Private.

- Pardon, monsieur.

Captain, I have a question

before we depart

on our journey.

Hmm?

As a new arrival

to Fort Berringer,

and, quite frankly,

as someone

with less than

ideal experience...

I don't... I'm just...

I'm curious why you chose me.

I didn't choose you.

He did.

You've got a good day

ahead of you, Captain.

Lord willing,

the weather will hold

and you'll avoid

the monsoons. Chief.

I shined them up for you

real nice.

They're good as new.

I know

this isn't the best duty

you've ever pulled,

but, uh, well, then again,

you are getting out

of this hellhole early.

When the president asks,

a man's got to do it.

Anyone gives you any trouble,

just show them these.

They'll guarantee you

safe passage.

- So long, Colonel.

- Good-bye, Blocker.

Joe...

You were a good soldier.

I still am.

Colonel.

Detail! Forward march.

The fucking parade's over.

- Woodsen.

- Yes, sir?

Take this shit off them

and put them in chains.

Yes, sir.

And take the braids

out of the bitch's hair.

Guide me

O Thou great Jehovah

Pilgrim through

this barren land

Guide me

I am weak

But Thou art strong

Hold me

with Thy powerful hand

Break them here.

- Kidder.

- Yes, sir?

- DeJardin.

- Yes, sir?

- Set up camp.

- Right away, sir.

We'll be back directly.

And mind them Reds.

Comanche.

Captain.

They're sleeping.

Ma'am.

Can we get you

and your babies to safety?

Get you...

Get you warm and...

Boys.

Her babies are sleeping.

Just try not to wake them.

Ma'am.

Let's get you warm.

Get you some water.

I'm not going to hurt you.

I promise.

Will you come with me?

All right.

Be gentle with them, please.

God almighty.

DeJardin!

Captain, what the...

Captain, what happened?

- Comanche.

- This far west?

I thought they were settled

on reservations.

Some of them

ain't ever settled.

- Lieutenant.

- Have you seen them, sir?

No, but they ain't far.

Well, start digging up

on top of the ridge.

Yes, sir.

DeJardin. Grab them shovels

over yonder, and them picks.

Ma'am.

- Yes, sir.

- May I help you down?

- Mmm?

- May I help you down?

All right. All right.

All right,

let's get a fresh blanket

and some water for the...

Just get a goddamn blanket.

No, they ain't gonna harm you.

They ain't gonna harm you.

Come, look this way.

Look this way.

They ain't gonna harm you.

Come on.

Ma'am, we got a...

Got a clean blanket here.

Hello, ma'am.

No! You will not touch

this baby.

- You hear me?

- All right, step away.

Yes, ma'am.

I don't need that.

- Drop those shovels!

- Drop them!

I will bury my family.

- You hear me?

- Yes, ma'am.

I will bury my family.

Shovel, please.

...for He will conceal me

in the shelter of his tent

and set me high upon a rock.

Even now

my head is held high

above my enemies

on every side,

and I will offer in his tent

sacrifices with

shouts of happiness.

I will sing and chant praises

to the Lord.

Amen.

Promise me that when I die,

I'll be buried

in this field.

Promise me.

Don't you take

another fucking step.

- Kidder.

- Sir?

Take the dress to the lady.

She wants you

to have this, ma'am.

Mmm.

You go ahead

and take my tent.

Are you sure you wouldn't like

something to eat?

No.

I'll bring my saddle up here

and be right outside.

You need anything,

you just holler.

I'll leave you in peace.

She's broken, Joe.

Yeah.

What do you plan

on doing with her?

Take her to Winslow.

Keep an eye on her

in case...

She ain't right.

Captain.

Everything all right, sir?

Everything's fine.

As soon as she's awake,

we'll move out.

Of course, sir.

Heading out soon.

You ready, ma'am?

I am.

Thank you.

Rally!

Get out of here!

- Kidder?

- Yes, sir?

Unchain them.

- Sir?

- You heard me.

If they put a foot wrong,

you put a bullet in them.

Yes, sir.

You believe

in the Lord, Joseph?

Yes, I do, Mrs. Quaid.

But...

He's been blind to what's...

going on out here

for a long time.

I see that.

But I have to believe

that it's times like these

that strengthen

our bond with Him.

If I did not have faith,

what would I have?

By knowledge

shall the chambers be filled

with all precious

and pleasant riches.

A wise man is strong...

I will seek it yet again.

Be not thou envious

against evil men

and neither desire

to be with them.

For their heart

studieth destruction,

and their lips talk

of mischief.

You can take your leave.

Yes, sir.

I ain't never killed a man

before, Sergeant.

That was my first.

Is that so?

How do you feel?

Strange.

And not in a good way.

To just...

take another man's life

like that.

How'd you feel

when you killed your first?

It was so long ago.

How old were you?

I was 14.

I was fighting

for the Grays.

You know, if you sign up

to be a soldier...

it's your job.

But if you don't do your job,

then you're lying

in a heap like DeJardin.

And you remember that.

You know,

I've killed everything

that's walked or crawled.

Men.

Women. Children.

All colors.

If you do it enough...

you get used to it.

It doesn't mean a thing.

That's what I'm afraid of.

What you don't get

used to is...

Is losing men.

I've lost a lot of men.

Is that them?

Yep.

And they ain't gonna bother us

no more, either.

Come on!

Tommy.

I do not like being humiliated

and I'll tell you right now,

you ever fall asleep

on watch again,

and it'll be you

hanging from a tree.

You fucking

hear me, Sergeant?

Everyone deserves

their kill, Joe.

Even them.

Let's go to Winslow.

Well, I'll be

a son of a bitch.

Hello, Ross.

How the hell are you, Joe?

- I've been better.

- You never looked it.

He's barely hanging on.

Need to get him

to the infirmary.

Corporal.

You're all right, Henry.

- Look after this man.

- Thank you, Corporal.

You run into

some trouble, huh?

Trouble's been trailing us

since we left Fort Berringer.

Kidder,

you see to DeJardin's body.

- Yes, sir.

- Ross,

this is Mrs. Rosalie Quaid.

- Colonel McCowan.

- Ma'am.

Mrs. Quaid lost her kit.

Is the sutler's store open?

Mmm-hmm. I'll have Minnie

look after her.

All right, I have no idea

what a dress costs...

- Hey, keep your money.

- If you need...

Thank you, Ross.

I'll go check on them.

Can I help you down, ma'am?

Those folks

in the Indian Bureau

ought to come out here

and spend a few weeks

at Fort Winslow

or on a reservation.

The sickness,

the starvation,

the conditions

those poor souls

have to live under

is nothing short of inhumane.

Come out here,

they'd understand.

I'm afraid my wife has become

a champion of the oppressed.

Don't pretend you don't

agree, Ross McCowan.

Don't let him fool you.

It just riles me the way

the government treats them,

that's all.

They're human beings.

They deserve to be

treated as such.

And need I mention

they were here first?

- That'll do...

- That they're dispossessed

at our hand.

- And have received nothing.

- That's enough!

I will...

You suppose that, um...

You could put up Mrs. Quaid?

Until the... until the stage

comes through?

I'd love to, but the stage

stopped running

six months ago.

Stopped?

They couldn't make

a go of it.

Hmm.

There's the supply train,

but it won't be here

until Christmas.

Well, Mrs. Quaid,

I'm sure that you...

Would be comfortable

until then.

Until Christmas.

Christmas?

Mmm.

I suppose so.

I...

I suppose I have no choice.

You're more than welcome

to stay.

I'm sure we'll find plenty

to keep you occupied.

Thank you, Minnie.

Cigar?

I want to ask

a favor of you.

I've got a prisoner who needs

escorted to Fort Pierce.

I didn't want

to say over supper,

but now that you're headed

in that direction,

I was wondering

if maybe you could

veer off a little bit

and deposit him for me.

Why all the way to Pierce?

That's where

he deserted from.

Going back

to face the courts.

- For what?

- Murder.

Chopped up a whole

hostile family with an ax.

They say it was

a hell of a sight.

I'll take him for you.

- You're sure?

- Mmm.

Listen, I'll understand

if you don't want to carry

that kind of burden.

Ross, I've been carrying

that kind of burden

for some time now.

Morning, Captain.

Morning.

How you holding up?

All right.

Well, if I don't breathe.

Well then, don't breathe.

Could be worse.

Could have ended up

like Frenchie.

As you well know...

death rides on every hand.

In this case,

a kind provenance

is watching over you.

It don't feel right.

It don't feel right

not helping you

finish what we started.

Feels like

I let you down, Joe.

You never

let me down, Henry.

You never let me down.

Not one time.

You're always...

Centered. Focused.

Without you on my flank,

likely would have met my fate

a long time ago.

That's the truth.

I hate to do this,

but might be

the last time I see you.

It's been a real honor, Joe.

Serving under you.

Ain't many a man

that would have taken me in.

I won't soon forget it.

You're a good man, Joe.

I'd take you in

a hundred times over, Henry.

There's no finer soldier.

And I'm telling you,

your daddy would have been

proud of you.

All right.

Any luck,

we'll meet down the road.

Henry?

Take care of yourself.

Yes, sir.

You've been truly generous.

I can't thank you enough

for your hospitality.

It's been

our absolute pleasure, dear.

And please, you take very

good care of yourself,

will you?

I'll try.

Captain.

I know I'm an inconvenience,

but I would rather

be with you

than just about anybody

right now.

- Kidder.

- Yes, sir?

Saddle up a horse

for Mrs. Quaid.

Right away, sir.

Good morning, Joe.

- Morning, Ross.

- I trust you slept well?

Never better.

- Sergeant Malloy.

- Captain.

- Sergeant.

- One of our finest.

He'll be taking your prisoner

to Fort Pierce.

Thank you for these.

It was very thoughtful of you.

You honor...

By wearing.

Elk Woman.

- And this is Narcos.

- Where's Thomas?

Collecting Wills, sir.

- Colonel.

- Corporal.

Captain Blocker.

It's an honor

to meet you, sir.

Godspeed.

When I seen it was you who was

to escort me,

I said, "Goddamn, Phil,

"your luck's

finally turned."

It has turned,

hasn't it, Joe?

You remember Wounded Knee,

don't you?

When we slaughtered

them Reds something good?

Yeah, I remember.

I thought you would.

I mean,

how could you forget?

We was on your flank

all day long.

I carried a dispatch to you

from Colonel Reno.

Mmm.

To tell you the truth,

I didn't think

we were gonna get out alive.

But watching you work

them Lakota

and the other belligerents,

it was a sight to behold.

Must have been

how Custer had done it.

No.

Custer didn't do it.

He met his end,

as you well know.

Yeah, but still...

That old chief over there,

he was...

He was there that day, too.

Funny you're toting

them savages up north.

It goes to show

things have changed...

Before long, we'll be giving

them their land back.

What got into you?

I ain't never laid a hand

on anybody

who didn't deserve it.

I don't know how you done it

all these years, Captain.

Seeing all the things

you've seen.

Doing all the things

you've done.

Makes you feel inhuman

after a while.

You just

gotta take your dues.

Suppose I will.

But if it's just

you and me talking,

we both know

it could just as easily

be you sitting here

in these chains.

But I was just doing my job.

What's going

to happen to him?

They'll hang him.

- I'm gonna help them wash up.

- They can handle it.

And so can I.

Oh, how shall a sparrow fly

Or have the heart to sing

If all she can do is cry

About her broken wings

If all she can do is cry

About her broken wings

Thomas, you stay with Wills.

Kidder, watch the camp.

- Get up.

- What?

Get your fucking ass up.

I heard something.

You making all the noise

out here?

Huh? Waking us the fuck up?

It's nothing.

Metz.

Malloy.

Malloy's dead.

Reckon they're lucky

it was no Comanche

raping them.

They'd cut them

stem to stern.

I once knew a woman

down in Texas

whose nose was burnt

clean to the bone.

Flesh gone.

Nostrils wide open.

Then they cut

her beau's sack off, too,

and stuffed his testicles

in his mouth

while he was

squirming around.

That's enough, Wills.

Just telling the truth.

A man that's done

what you done,

telling the truth

won't help.

How's that, Lieutenant?

You know what he means.

You and that yellow-eyed chief

over there done worse than me.

Hell of a lot worse

and you know it.

I've seen you butcher

women and children.

It ain't right, judging me.

None of you.

I'm a honest

and decent man,

and more than handy.

If you need me to watch

them demons for you,

I sure as hell will.

I fought alongside you.

We're all guilty of something.

I'm just asking for mercy.

Mercy.

Who've you become, Joe?

Letting me die

by the gallows,

and saving this savage.

I mean...

You ain't who

I thought you was.

I would've died for you.

And my brothers-in-arms

did die for you.

What did you do?

You sent them to their deaths.

You owe them.

You owe them your life.

Spitting on your men's graves

saving this savage.

And if

you don't avenge them,

then what did they die for?

Kidder, put him back

on the tree.

Yes, sir.

Get up.

Come on.

You ain't who I thought

you was.

Morning.

I'm afraid

that we're gonna have

to break camp and, um...

I was wondering if you think

you might be able

to ride or...

I can get a travois

ready for you.

I can ride.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm gonna drown

out here, Captain!

Shut up, Wills.

We're all wet.

Treating me worse

than your goddamn animals!

Kidder, get him coffee

when it lets up.

Yes, sir.

Mrs. Quaid?

You, uh... You okay in here?

Need anything?

A blanket or something?

I don't need anything.

Thank you.

Where are you sleeping?

I'll have one of the boys

fix me up a place here.

That's nonsense.

Get in here

and out of the rain.

You sure?

- Of course I'm sure.

- Joe?

What're you doing, Tommy?

I gotta move on.

What're you talking about?

You get back inside your tent.

You're gonna freeze.

I don't feel anything.

You've been

a good friend, Joe.

Here.

Captain don't want

you freezing to death.

Hey.

You all right?

Hold on.

Hold on.

Put your head back.

Oh, jeez, don't... don't shoot!

Oh, God.

Captain!

Captain!

Son of a bitch!

Ah, Jesus.

Kidder!

That bastard!

He jumped him.

I'll get the horses.

No, no, no, no.

I got him.

He'll bleed out

inside a day.

I can't risk any more

men's lives

for that son of a bitch.

Tommy!

Get back here, Tommy!

Tommy!

Oh, Jesus, Captain.

He got him, sir.

He got him good.

Bury him?

Give me a moment.

And, Thomas,

we set camp here tonight.

Yes, sir.

Sometimes I envy

the finality of death.

The certainty.

And I have to drive

those thoughts away

when I'm weak.

We'll never get used

to the Lord's

rough ways, Joseph.

Thank you for kindness.

Your spirit...

You... Within me.

Me... Within you.

Thank you.

Montana?

Yeah.

Will he make it?

He's taking

his last breaths.

Billy Dixon.

Tully McClain.

Edwin Tate.

Thomas.

Name's Cyrus Lounde.

These are my boys.

This here's my land

and I want you

the hell off it.

I seen you traipsing through

my fields with that sorry Red.

And I don't like it one bit.

Mr. Lounde.

This land here

is his rightful burial place.

Where we come from,

Natives ain't got no rights.

President's orders.

There ain't no writing

on no paper,

president or not,

can tell me what I can

and can't do on my property.

Hey. I ain't telling you

one more time.

Get your shit,

your dead Cheyenne,

and get the hell out of here.

This is my land!

Now, goddammit!

You just ain't hearing me.

You just ain't hearing me.

We ain't telling you

one more time.

That savage stays here,

you better make room

for several more

right next to him.

Well, he ain't moving.

Something tells me

you ain't got the nerve

to fire that, woman.

4:30 outbound for Chicago.

4:30. Last call. Chicago.

All aboard.

Well...

I suppose this is it.

Came sooner than I thought.

You're a fine man,

Joe Blocker.

We can't thank you enough.

Whatever may come,

I want the best for you.

I...

Come on.

Thank you.