MacGyver (1985–1992): Season 6, Episode 20 - Trail of Tears - full transcript

This court is now in session.

Please be seated.

We've heard all the evidence

In the case of the lakota
tribe versus new plains electric.

I'll now call on both
counsels for their summations.

Closing argument, Mr. Samuels.

Mr. Whitecloud wants the court,

you, ladies and gentlemen,

to stop new plains electric

from running high tension
lines across bitter flats.

First, he'd have you believe that
the land was part of the reservation.



But as we've shown,

the treaty states quite clearly

that the boundary
is black stream.

And just as clearly,

the corridor through which
we want to place our lines

is three miles to
the east of there.

This established, Mr. Whitecloud

abandoned his
argument completely,

and conjured up this wild claim

of electromagnetic fields
from high-tension lines

harming the environment.

So, we summoned representatives

of the Phoenix foundation
who are involved

in a comparable
case in California.



Yes, the Phoenix foundation

is notoriously pro-environment.

And, yes, in the
California case,

they were on the
other side of the issue.

Nevertheless,
what could Mr. Willis

And Mr. MacGyver tell us?

- Samuels: Nothing.
- What a sleazeball.

No indication whatsoever
that emfs harm the environment.

And as for the health issue,

the way I read the testimony,

if we ran high-tension lines
through your living room,

there is only inconclusive
studies that only suggest

The possibility of
potential long-term effects.

(Chuckles)

But bitter flats is uninhabited.

Jerk.

Samuels: Ladies and gentlemen,

at 11:00 on Friday morning,

Mr. Everett Johnson,
the president of npe,

is going to be at our
cook power facility

to give the go-ahead

on a massive renovation
that will culminate

In the running of hundreds of
megawatts of power over these new lines.

This start-up has already been
postponed three times due to

Mr. Whitecloud's
frivolous lawsuit.

I urge you,

do not allow
another costly delay.

Let npe get back to the business

of supplying electricity to
good folks of this community

and others like it.

Thank you.

(Man coughs)

(People chattering)

Mr. Whitecloud?

(Sighs)

No conclusive studies.

Terrific.

And what if at some
point in the future

there are conclusive studies?

And they do show a hazard?

Then what?

This is the only
earth we've got.

It's not as if we can pick up

and move to another
planet now, can we?

And what about this treaty
that Mr. Samuels mentioned?

For five centuries we've
been given the choice

of signing treaties,

or being exterminated.

So we signed.

Nearly 400 times.

But even then, ask any Indian,

Not one of those treaties
was ever completely honored.

So, my hat is off to
you, Mr. Samuels.

You have found the one treaty

in all the world,
in all of time,

that someone actually
wants to abide by.

(All chuckling)

Don't you believe it.

There's a swindle
here somewhere.

Unfortunately, in 1891,

none of us had law degrees
to ferret out these scams.

But so it goes
throughout history.

Lying, cheating, stealing,

Slaughtering innocent
women and children.

You bear this in mind,

And you begin to understand
the depth of our grievance.

We're not asking to renegotiate
the sale of Manhattan island.

We know it's impossible
to turn back the clock.

But bitter flats, as, uh,
Mr. Samuels pointed out,

Is uninhabited.

Actually, he means
"uninhabited by whites."

because holy men
from the reservation

have been going there
for a very long time.

It's always been our land,

and that land, ladies
and gentlemen,

is as sacred to Indian culture

As the church is to yours.

How would you like
high-tension wires

Passing through
your place of worship?

Please, think about it.

I'll admonish the jury to
restrict their deliberations

To the issue of
environmental damage.

Nothing more.

We find in favor
of the defendant,

new plains electric.

(People grumbling)

Judge: Thank you,
ladies and gentlemen.

(People chattering)

This court is adjourned.

- Shall we go?
- Yeah, yeah.

Nothing like twisting
our testimony around, pal.

I only restated the facts.

That's my job.

Mr. Johnson.

Shyster.

Uh, Mr. Whitecloud.

Mr. Whitecloud, hold
up a second, will you?

What?

Look, we were
subpoenaed by npe to testify.

We didn't have a choice.

We were used in that courtroom.

So what do you want from me?

Well, you said there might
be a swindle in this treaty.

I also said treaties weren't
worth the paper they're written on.

Yeah, but if we can
find proof of fraud...

Proof is a very
elusive commodity.

We'll use the resources
of the Phoenix foundation.

Access data banks, global intelligence
networks, satellite telemetry...

If it'll make you happy, go
for it. You don't need me.

Hey, wait a minute.

This is your case.

Look, you want me to tell
you everything will be okay

so you can have a
clear conscience?

You got it, pal. Now go home.

Hey!

My conscience is clear, okay?

We just wanna set things right.

Sorry. You're a few
centuries too late.

You know, you don't
strike me as a quitter.

You're right.

I was never a quitter.

I was a joiner.

Marine corps. Nam.

Top law firm in Chicago.

But then I quit,

to become this big
defender of Indian rights,

And a hero at last.

And I'll tell you
what, kemosabe,

I'm ready to be a joiner again.

I guess we've got
a plane to catch.

I'm gonna stick
around for a while.

I can, uh, fax you what
we have on our database.

Uh, treaty, maps,
geological surveys.

Yeah, yeah, all that
stuff, that'd be good.

Come on.

(Sighing)

(Speaking native language)

Hello.

My name is standing wolf.

I am not from around here.

Where are you from?

A place where a warrior
does not waste his time thinking

when he can take action.

Okay.

Take care of yourself, huh?

Bitter flats is a
place of power.

If wires go up,

they will harm the
spirits of the mountain.

Look, standing wolf,

I respect your beliefs.

But personally,
I'm not religious.

The only issue for
me was Indian rights.

Oh, I see.

In that case,

I will have to show you.

You don't understand, I...

I will have to show you.

Well, they were
talking about maps,

treaties, satellite
something or other,

all sorts of high tech stuff.

Do we have anything
to worry about?

If MacGyver stumbles onto a
certain well-kept historical secret,

Bitter flats could revert
back to the Indians.

That our only corridor
south from cook power plant.

Now, if the
construction is stopped,

that could cost hundreds
of millions in revenues

and it could cost me everything.

Tell me what to do.

Accidents happen.

Just remember that I have
that little publicity show-and-tell

At the plant on Friday morning.

I don't want a mess.

I, uh, hate messes,
too, Mr. Johnson.

(Birds chirping)

What are you doing here?

Uh, well, Willis faxed
me some maps and stuff

but I wanted to take a
look at the place myself.

This is a place of power.

High-tension lines cannot go up.

A place of power?

What are you doing?

You have to leave here.

Why?

I had a vision last night.

You wouldn't understand.
Just don't go in there.

Give me a reason not to.

I just did.

(Groans)

- You okay?
- Yeah.

What has gotten into you?

They're gone.

I thought killing MacGyver was
supposed to look like an accident.

Yeah, well it was, before they
blew up our construction yard.

C4.

(Phone speed-dialing)

It's Russell.

Listen, check out
whitecloud's file.

See if he has a connection
for c4 plastic explosive.

Hey, wait a minute. Hold it.

What do you mean, "hold
it"? They were shooting at us.

No kidding!

You just blew up
their construction site.

Yeah, I also dropped my rifle

and they still kept
shooting at both of us.

The guy doing the
shooting was dick Russell,

head of security for npe.
What does that tell you?

What, you think
they followed me?

You're the one that's
been digging into the treaty.

Unless, of course, they're
just nostalgic to kill an Indian.

A friend of mine has a
cabin not far from here.

We can radio for
help from there.

Perfect.

Yeah, I'll keep in touch.

Well,

I think I, uh, know
where they're headed.

So, how do you go from
wanting to join a top law firm to...

- A lakota warrior?
- Yeah.

I told you, I had
a vision last night.

What kind of vision?

It's personal.

Sorry.

Why is it so important to you?

I don't know. Maybe
I just want to learn.

I'll tell you.

A spirit came to me.

First he was a man.

An old Indian
named standing wolf.

He brought me to the flats.

Then he became a wolf.

And I saw the killing
power of the electricity,

red and glowing.

And I saw a dead Indian boy.

A vision of the future, unless
I did something to stop it.

And that's what I'm
gonna do, MacGyver.

I'm gonna stop it.

Wait here.

(Birds chirping)

(Tin cans rattling)

Phil, uh, Phil crow?

Who are you?

Dick Russell.

I'm an old friend of
Larry whitecloud's.

How are you doing?

You don't look like a
friend of whitecloud.

Yeah, we, uh,

we practiced law
together in Chicago.

Yeah, I was supposed to
meet him in town, and he, uh,

he left a note, uh,
saying to come up here.

Yeah, he left his... He
left his rifle behind, too.

You recognize it, don't you?

(Chuckles)

after we use Phil crow's
radio and get you out of here,

I'll just fade back into
the wilderness for a while.

What are you gonna do,
hide for the rest of your life?

Just long enough to come back
at npe with a few more surprises.

Yeah, well, planting
bombs is not the answer.

You're gonna kill somebody.

That'll be on Everett
Johnson and npe's head.

You know, one man's
terrorist is another man's patriot.

Yeah, well, that's absurd.

Terrorism never did any good.

I've spent my entire adult life
functioning within the system.

That doesn't do
any good, either.

Do you really believe that?

Well, I've won a few cases.

Advanced social
justice here and there,

but only in the context of reality
brought over by the white man

500 years ago.

All right, all right,
maybe. I'll Grant you that.

But there's no way I'm
gonna buy into some spirit

telling you to go
off and plant bombs.

You don't have a clue, do you?

(Rattling)

Phil crow's doorbell.

He doesn't like
surprise visitors.

- Nam?
- Yeah.

Big part of his
life is still the war.

If, uh, crow acts
a little strange,

don't take it personally, huh?

I'm getting used to it.

Crow?

Phil crow?

(Knocking on door)

Phil crow?

He's probably out hunting.

I don't think so.

Crow is known to have a temper

when it comes to
mechanical things.

Crow!

He's dead.

Yeah. He's been shot.

Crow specialized in booby traps.

He used to say,
for a split second,

he could hear the
beginning of a man's scream,

as it was drowned
out by the explosion,

The noise.

Up here, he found quiet.

So this is where
you got your c4, huh?

No. Just the detonators.

The c4's hidden.

Hey, wait a minute.

Was crow licensed for c4?

Yeah. He used to do
construction blasting.

Well, maybe he did some
for npe, and it was registered.

I left some c4 in my bag
back at the construction site.

Along with your rifle.

30-30, maybe?

They killed crow.

To frame you.

What are you doing?

Johnson's gonna be at cook
power plant in the morning.

I'm going after him.

Why?

You'll be playing
right into their hands.

Then their hands
are gonna get bloody.

Can't you see the only way to
beat them is to get to the truth?

There's truth in revenge.

Whitecloud.

They're afraid I'm
onto something.

Does it occur to you that they
might be trying to frame you

to get rid of me?

Then why weren't they here to
greet you with my Winchester?

What are they waiting for?

(Rifle cocking)

Fingerprints.

You see, I wanted to
make sure yours were fresh.

(Groans)

There's my victim.

And here's my terrorist.

(Tin cans rattling)

(Yells)

- Which way?
- Over here.

(Groans)

(Birds chirping)

Forget it. He's gone.

Well, it doesn't really matter.

Once the cops find MacGyver's
body, whitecloud's history.

The body's in here.

Hey, that's impossible,
he was right here.

(Rifle cocking)

(Groaning)

(Groaning)

(Panting)

What...

- Anything?
- No sign of him.

You don't think he could have
made it to the road, do you?

Let's check it out.

If he's not there,

We'll brief Johnson at
the plant in the morning.

(Standing wolf chanting)

(Chanting)

(Exclaims)

What happened?

You were shot.

By a gun.

I don't feel anything.

You will, in the morning.

But I don't think you'll die.

Your body gave up the bullet.

From the gun.

Remember?

Yeah.

Who are you?

Standing wolf.

You're standing wolf?

You know me?

What an honor.

Not really.

This is a dream, right?

I don't think so.

Didn't that hurt?

Hey!

Maybe this is a dream!

Well, no matter.

Come.

I will show you
what there is to see.

I do not understand why a white
man would come to this place.

Unless you're the friend
of Larry whitecloud.

I know him.

Ah.

But still, it is
strange, isn't it?

Yes, I think so, too.

This is very strange.

Wait. Wait a minute.

Where are we?

Bitter flats.

How'd we get here?

I took a shortcut.

No. No, I was at bitter flats.

There was no tower.

It was just a construction site.

When?

Today, earlier.

Ah, yes.

But this is later.

Much later.

Wait, wait.

This stream wasn't here, either.

No.

You're wrong about that.

This stream was always here.

Come.

You must be thirsty.

Standing wolf?

(Groaning)

(Groaning)

You're going to be all right.

The boy.

The glow.

Whitecloud had the same vision.

Yes, the same.

But I don't understand.

What I saw was
not about violence.

Violence?

No.

Violence was not the message.

Perhaps whitecloud
only meant to...

To count coup in the
old lakota tradition.

"Count coup"?

Yes.

A warrior shows true greatness

by choosing not
to kill an enemy,

but instead to humiliate him

by touching him with a stick,

And then to come away unharmed.

Counting coup was the way
my people often did battle.

It's too bad we don't do it
like that these days, huh?

Yes.

There are many things your
world could learn from ours.

Mmm.

Now I understand
why you are here.

To help whitecloud
see the truth.

That is good.

Now we must rest.

(Birds chirping)

(Gasps)

(Groans)

MacGyver: The stream.

The stream.

That's it.

(Timer beeps)

MacGyver. You're alive.

(Groans) Yeah.

Yeah.

Come here, take a look at this.

Bitter flats is part
of the reservation.

This map was drawn up

In 1894, according
to the treaty.

Black stream is east
of bitter flats, not west.

Yeah.

Now,

take a look at this map
that Willis faxed to me.

It was drawn up in 1911.

It shows the stream running five
miles west of where it should be.

And that's where it's
been drawn ever since.

The stream was dry,
so no one questioned it.

Bitter flats is Indian land.

That's right.

The land does not belong to npe.

We can stop them, legally.

Yeah.

Try and make that happen.

But you can make that happen.

My vision showed me another way.

Your vision also showed
the stream running

East of bitter flats.

I did see the stream.

How did you know?

After I was shot,

i... i had a dream.

- A dream?
- Yeah.

Everything you described.

Standing wolf,

The red glow, all of it.

And then I found this map.

You just found the map?

Yeah.

And what about
the dead Indian boy?

Did you see him in your dream?

Yes, I did.

Then you should
understand what I have to do.

No, no.

I think it's completely
the opposite.

A warning not to
turn to violence.

Standing wolf told me

That you got the message wrong.

He said that

counting coup was okay.

Counting coup?

No. Johnson's gotta pay
for Phil crow's murder.

Will you let the police
handle Johnson?

The police don't handle
people like Johnson.

Thanks, MacGyver,
for everything.

No, I can't let you do it.

Don't try to stop me. And just
keep away from the power plant.

Why?

You already set the
explosives, didn't you?

Just keep away.

No! I cannot keep away!

Well, I guess you gotta
do what you gotta do.

(Groans)

So do I.

(Gun cocks)

You know, if I were
superstitious, MacGyver,

I would swear you were a ghost.

Only I'm not superstitious.

We'd better get him out of sight
before Mr. Johnson gets here.

Listen, guys,

there's a bomb
somewhere in this plant.

It could go off any minute.

Yeah, right. And the
check's in the mail.

Russell: Move it, MacGyver.

Let's go.

(Speaks in native language)

Grandfather.

I'm telling you,
there's a bomb in there!

Oh, yeah, right, I heard you.

Get in there.

(Machines whirring)

What if he's telling the
truth about the bomb?

It's a bluff.

Stay here.

If he makes a noise,

hurt him.

(Beeps)

I hope you have good news.

MacGyver and the
Indian got away yesterday.

We caught MacGyver
snooping around the plant.

I have a publicity
tour due any minute

and you've got MacGyver here?

He's locked up in the
pump house right now.

He won't be causing
any more trouble.

I pay you to solve
problems, Russell.

When the tour is
over, I want it solved.

No problem.

(Children chattering)

(Whispering) Oh, my god.

(Air hissing)

(Groans)

Okay, everybody,
give it a big smile, here.

(Grunts)

(Grunting)

(Groaning)

And over here is
the control room.

(Children chattering)

Johnson: When we finish
renovations here in three months,

this plant will be
able to produce

(camera clicking)

An extra 800 megawatts

Get out of here, MacGyver.

There are kids in this plant.

I'm going to warn them.

Just defuse the bomb, will you?

No.

What?

There's still time for me to
settle my score with Johnson.

What good will killing him do?

We've already been through that.

Look, the last thing your
cause needs is killing.

Where's the bomb?

Johnson: Now up here are
the generators I told you about.

Okay, everybody, now keep up.

Whitecloud, no.

Get the kids out of here. Now!

Man: Come on, kids.

Johnson, up here. With me.

Move it!

This isn't the way.

No? You saw the vision.

What I saw was a warning
to turn away from violence.

You're wrong!

Whitecloud, where's the bomb?

On top of the generator.

Get out of here, son. Go, now!

Johnson: Let's talk, whitecloud.

We can work something out.

How do I defuse this thing?

You can't. You
need a cotter pin.

MacGyver: Do you have it?

No.

Johnson: Whitecloud,
be reasonable.

We're all going to die!

Whitecloud: Shut up!

(Timer beeps)

(Buzzing)

I did it!

(Gasps)

(Screaming)

Whitecloud, no!

Boy: Whoa!

He counted coup on you.

(Laughs)

(Birds chirping)

Hey, MacGyver.

Thought I might find you up
here. When did you get out?

Yesterday.

They released me
without bail until the trial.

Well, Willis got those
satellite pictures.

Did they confirm the
location of black stream?

Definitely.

I had a chance to
research the forgery.

Seems that a company
called horton mining

Was prospecting
the area back in 1904.

They paid off some government
official to redraw the map.

Then in the '20s, they merged
with an electrical power company.

Npe?

Johnson must have
known all about it.

The da's filed conspiracy
charges against him

In Phil crow's murder.

Well! See? Sometimes the system
works the way it's supposed to.

Yeah.

I'm gonna participate in
my first sun dance next year.

Outsiders are sometimes
allowed to dance, too.

Yeah, well, I don't think
I'm quite up to that yet.

It's a good way to
touch the spirit world.

(Wolf howling)

Well...