Original subtitles

♪♪ [Trumpet]

Lieutenant Pratt. Something on your mind, Sergeant?

Yes, sir.

I just found out that I got to help you herd them Indian prisoners

to a new stockade. That's correct.

Well, if it's all the same to you, sir, I'd--

I'd like out of this duty.

[Sighs] Let's get something clear, Sergeant Wilks.

I know you hate Indians.

I didn't ask for you, but you and five troopers

are all the Major can spare-- is that clear?

Yes, sir.

Now this is going to be a rough journey.

Rougher still because I promised those prisoners

they wouldn't have to war chains.

But the orders of the day are different:

"The prisoners shall be manacled until they arrive at the stockade."

A bunch of the toughest Kiowa, Cheyenne and Comanche.

Chains.

I'd like out of this duty myself, Sergeant,

because these prisoners are going to try to escape.

And we're gonna have to stop them.

But Lieutenant, I-- get the prisoners ready, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

All right, bring 'em out.

Let's go, let's go. Keep moving. Get.

Wait a minute.

This one's called Yellow Bear, a Comanche.

Led a raid on a settler's wagon.

Probably got his name letting the other braves do his fighting.

Right, Indian?

Ah, get inside.

Why-- Sergeant!

If I ever--

I need no help from a white man.

We will be back, do you hear?

We will make war again.

War!

All right. Get 'em inside.

All right. Let's go.

We'll be back to kill all of you!

There'll be war! War!

You should have let me slug him, Lieutenant.

That wouldn't solve anything, Sergeant.

Besides, they deserve better than this.

You like Indians, Lieutenant?

I respect them. And if I catch you mistreating them again,

you might just ride inside with 'em.

Now let's move out of here.

A whole mess of murderin' savages, and we got to get an Indian lover.

Now listen to me. Listen to me.

We alone are the hope of our people.

We will escape, and we will kill those who chain us.

We will drive the whites before us, and blood will flow.

The wars are over. Let them die in peace.

The war is not over, until the last fight is fought.

Until all of us are dead.

Wolf speaks like a woman.

Anyone who speaks of peace is a coward and a traitor to his people.

Yellow Bear's head is as empty as his woods.

I would hear Wolf speak!

Most are tired of war. Speak!

We have fought long, hard, and with pride.

It is known that I, Wolf,

am brave in battle.

I have led many victories.

Then listen to my words!

The Whites are strong because they know much the Indian does not.

We have fought, and we have lost.

But we will not die trying to escape.

This will only bring failure, death, and more suffering

to our children.

The old way is gone.

We must learn new paths to follow.

The talk of a whining coyote.

We will live!

And we will learn.

We must try to understand the ways of the whites.

And learn for our children.

We will not raise crops.

We are warriors! We will fight, you coward!

[Cries out]

[Yelling in native language]

[Whooping] Whoa! Whoa!

Lieutenant! Lieutenant!

[War whoops]

All right, Sergeant. Let 'em out.

[Whooping continues]

All right, Sergeant. Break it up.

Let 'em kill each other, Lieutenant. Two less trouble-makers.

Yellow Bear is Great Chief. Why does he fight?

I do not speak with white man!

But a Cheyenne dog. Go! Live with your white brothers!

Get him inside!

Sergeant, I want to talk to Wolf. Make camp.

- Yes, sir. - We will kill! We will kill all of you!

- All of you! - Get inside.

What do you reckon the Lieutenant's saying to that injun, Sarge?

How'd I know? Maybe he like Indian company better than ours.

Ah, just shut up.

Does Wolf think that I would poison him?

I cannot drink while the others go without.

Sergeant. Coffee for the prisoners.

But Lieutenant, if we start-- Sergeant!

That's an order!

Bring the coffee.

I know you to be a brave warrior.

Fierce in battle. I fought against you, Wolf.

I also know you.

We fought at the Battle of Three Trees.

I led my warriors to a great victory that day.

Yes, we lost many men.

Why are we chained like animals...

When we had your word? I gave my word.

But I'm a soldier, I must follow orders.

I follow my Chief, just as your warriors follow you as Chief.

Hear me, Wolf.

Listen, I have fought the Indian.

And I know him well. I know him to be a man.

Not an animal to be chained.

Where we are going, I will be Chief.

And I promise you that these chains will be thrown away.

That's a promise.

Back at the fort.

Why did you not let the Sergeant strike Yellow Bear?

Because Yellow Bear is a man.

- He is an Indian! - Yellow Bear is a man.

A man, with many hurts.

You know the Indian.

And you understand him well.

Know also that men who are taken from their families

will always try to escape.

I would do the same thing in their place.

But you must understand: If they try to escape,

I will have to stop them.

And there will be more blood.

And the children will be without fathers to teach the new ways

we need.

It is the children who pay.

There's no place for them in your white man's world.

The Indian will die out.

What-what if I reunited the prisoners with their families?

What if I could teach them, and teach their children?

Would there be peace then?

You... would do this?

Yes. I will build a school,

to teach the Indian everything that he wants to learn.

You go back. Tell the others.

Tell the others that I promise.

I promise them a school for their children.

Perhaps one day

our children will walk together...

As brothers.

Come on, come on. I ain't got all day.

Hand that cup back.

Why you-- [Rifle shot]

Lieutenant? Yes, Sergeant?

I been in the army for fifteen years.

I've seen all kinds of Indians.

I never saw one you could trust.

And? Wolf.

That Indian had a rifle on you back there.

Why didn't he shoot?

You got a real hate for Indians, don't you, Sergeant?

I seen enough of their murderin' and butcherin' to hate 'em.

I was a prisoner of the Comanche's once, Lieutenant.

For a year, I wished I were dead.

They're our prisoners, now, Sergeant. Their wars are over.

That's why Wolf didn't shoot.

You see, he knows that the old days are going.

Maybe. But I'll still keep my rifle handy.

You scratch an injun deep enough, and he'll cut your throat.

Sergeant, you scratch any man, red or white,

and they still bleed the same color.

You think on that.

Bear to the right up ahead at this abandoned stone hut.

There's water there. We'll make night camp.

Give the prisoners some exercise.

Soldiers make camp at Bitter Creek.

We will be taken out to walk.

There's a stone hut there. We will escape when they take us from the wagon.

Everyone will turn on the guards.

No matter how many of us die, the rest will escape.

Perhaps the words of Wolf are true.

The officer soldier Pratt promises much for our people.

We have had promises before.

Treaties. Words.

Warriors do not farm, do not raise crops.

The Comanche, the Kiowa, the Cheyenne, we will fight as one.

Then they will die as one.

And bring more suffering to their families.

Their squaws will sing their death-songs.

Their children-- we have heard enough from squaws!

Their children will die of ignorance!

The Lieutenant speaks the truth. They are lies!

Tie him up!

We have decided. I will lead.

We will escape.

All right, Sergeant, we'll exercise them for half an hour,

feed 'em and then bed 'em down.

Lieutenant, ain't we taking chances, letting 'em out of there?

Well, it's better to do it now than wait for nightfall.

All right, you men. Remember: Be sure you keep 'em in line.

Understand?

All right, Sergeant. Open the door.

If it was up to me, Lieutenant--

Sergeant, open it!

All right, everybody out. Let's go.

All right, come on! Form a line!

Get 'em all out.

Now!

All right, men! Fall back to the rock!

[Gunshot] [Screams]

How do you like injuns now?

Cease fire!

Yellow Bear!

You don't have a chance, Yellow Bear!

Your bullets are almost gone!

There is no use. They will pick us off one by one.

You are a fool!

Stone cabin. Follow me.

Right over there is the Great Chief who trapped us.

We are sheep, who should have listened to the words of Wolf.

Do not listen to him!

Kill! Fight! Kill!

[Shooting restarts]

Are you sure you still want to talk to them?

He called you traitor.

There is no other way.

They must listen to me now. They know they are trapped.

All right. Tell them my promises are the same.

Also tell them...

If they make any escape,

they destroy my chance to keep those promises.

You understand?

[Rifle fire]

It is Wolf who speaks!

I am coming inside!

Come!

That Wolf's got plenty of courage.

Watch it, Sergeant, you're almost acting human.

Aw, maybe some of 'em ain't so bad.

[Gunshot]

Officer!

I have shot the traitor.

The next bullet is for you.

Hear me, Yellow Bear.

I do not speak to you. I speak to the others.

Wolf told the truth!

I will help you, and your children.

If your words are true, you will enter here without your guns.

[Taking off holster]

Lieutenant, Yellow Bear's crazy. He'll kill you!

If it happens that way, Sergeant, starve them out.

And remember, they're men, not animals.

I'm coming in! Without my gun!

We have their officer. We will escape to fight again.

Yellow Bear speaks falsely.

You kill me, and my men will take you.

There will be no escape from here.

You will lose all the things I promised.

I've listened to your words. And they are lies.

I speak the truth.

Now listen to me.

What happens to you is not important.

But what happens to your children, and their children, is.

It is time they lived in peace.

I would give them a school.

Lies! We will fight to the death!

[Gunshot]

You went without weapon. With courage and truth to shield you.

We of Cheyenne believe you.

We believe you.

Sergeant Wilks!

Sergeant Wilks!

A little help, Sergeant.

Take it easy. Let me help you.

Lieutenant Pratt did keep his promise,

and reunited the prisoners with their families.

Eventually, giving them weapons to guard themselves,

with no recorded violations.

On November 1, 1879,

captain Pratt's dream for Indian education

was fulfilled with the opening of his Carlisle school for Indians.

In a short time, the school was filled to capacity,

and an observer's enthusiastic report of the Indian's progress

in agriculture, arts and trades

prompted the government to model all Indian schools

after Carlisle.

Without a doubt, the dedication of General Richard H. Pratt

helped bring peace to the west

and the dawn of a new day for the Indian.