Original subtitles

♪ [ trumpet ]

In 1804, all the land west of the Mississippi was unknown.

So, to chart the mysterious country,

President Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark

on a dangerous journey,

the first exploration of the great West.

But this isn't their story. It's the story of their guide,

a 17-year-old girl who held in her hands

not only the fate of the Lewis and Clark expedition,

but the Manifest Destiny of the United States.

They called her Janey,

but her name was Sacagawea...

MAN: You know, Captain Clark,

piloting them canoes wasn't easy,

but it sure beat walking.

Just a matter of opinion, George,

whether you prefer to wear out your arms or your legs.

Them orders from President Jefferson say anything

about how we's supposed to go

clear to the Pacific Ocean without horses?

We'll get horses as soon as we can trade with the Shoshoni.

Right Charbonneau?

Captain Lewis,

I said the Shoshoni had horses, I did not say they would trade.

I think we can make 'em understand.

There is only one thing an Indian understands.

You learn too late, [ cut throat sound ]

When the time comes to trade, we'll handle it our way.

I think we camp here.

Rest, hunt.

No, we haven't time for that.

We need meat. We have not seen game for two days.

It is because we come early to Shoshoni country.

Good hunter.

Deer and rabbit hide from them.

When do you think we'll get there, Janey?

We are there soon.

Time mean nothing to an Indian.

A day, a week, all the same.

You do like I say. Camp here.

We're going on.

Captain Clark, we say before we leave, no?

I come as guide.

Bring squaw, you not interfere.

That's what we agreed, Bill.

All right, let's get moving.

So, we go to Shoshoni.

You see Charbonneau is right.

How long do you think the men can keep this up, Bill?

Long enough to reach the Shoshonis.

Getting those horses is our only chance.

If we get there,

and if we get the horses.

You know, if we don't get down to Columbiabefore snowfall,

we're not going to make it.

And if we don't lose Janey.

What do you mean?

The Shoshonis are her people.

How are we going to find our way to the Columbia

if she decides to stay?

Charbonneau knows he won't get paid

till he gets back to St. Louis.

Our deal was with him, not with her.

He'll stick,

but when she gets back to her own tribe...

How far you figure we come today, Captain?

Three miles, maybe.

Is that all?

Well, look at it this way, George.

We're like a tortoise.

Put him down, head him in the right direction,

and eventually he gets there.

There's just the little matter of the right direction.

I'm not so sure about that.

Why you worried, Captain?

All five months always right, no?

I don't know how she does it.

Because she's an Indian.

They can smell out a trail like an animal.

We'll just have to trust her.

No, Captain.

Never trust an Indian.

But a squaw that is heading back to her tribe,

she go the right way.

Better not let her get too far ahead.

Men? Try to keep up.

JANEY: Captain?

Captain?

We are in my country.

Good girl.

What does it mean?

My people watch us many day.

Watch us now.

All around.

No, you cannot see them.

Have eye of eagle, ear of antelope.

What now?

Be most careful, Captain.

My people fear.

Afraid? Of us?

Afraid of Black Foot. Enemy.

Have many guns.

Trick Shoshoni. Kill.

Walk with care. We go this way.

Hold it.Why are we stopped?

That's why.

Shoshoni?

Of course Shoshoni.

Now listen, according to Janey,

they've been watching us all along.

They're afraid of the Black Foot.

They can see we're not Black Foot all right.

It isn't that.

They're suspicious.

They don't know who we are until we can prove we're friends.

No, we're in danger.

Apparently Janey wants to get closer to their camp.

So be careful. No loud noises and stay together.

Shields, can you make out what they're saying?

Yeah, let's see.

"A long and happy life await you

"if you go back to St. Louis at once."

Boy, if it wasn't so far, I'd go back to St. Louis

if I knew where it was.

I'd like it better if I knew where they was.

Everywhere.

They hide in the grass, the trees. They wait.

Charbonneau knows Indians.

Why don't you shut up?

All you know about Injuns is how to beat up on squaws.

I told you what I know.

Come on, you heard what the Captain said.

You hear what I say.

Janey is my squaw, I bought her.

She is mine.

Come on, let's go.

Look, I come as guide, not as mule.

Let's go.

York, carry my bag.

[ whistle ]

What was that?

[ whistle ]

[ thump ]

You all right York?

Yeah.

[ whistle ]

It's nothing, come on.

Oh Pomp, see?

Home.

Lehigh Valley.

Home of Shoshoni.

Is beautiful?

Home is always beautiful.

When do you think we can meet your people, Janey?

We wait.

Much time pass.

People may not know me.

Afraid of guns.

Shoshoni have no guns.

But they do have horses.

We just have to wait.

All right, make camp.[ grumbles ]

And remember, they're watching.

Charbonneau, look.Set up camp.

Now!

Sir, there's tracks down by the stream.

Janey!

My people, here.

How long ago?

Two hours.

They will be back.

When?

I'll tell you when.

A week, two weeks.

We're boxed in here with no food.

There is food. There is berries.

Come. I show you.

Shields, York, stand watch.

Squaws eat berries. I hunt.

You're not going anywhere.

Charbonneau.

You're staying in this camp.

You make one mistake, Captain Clark, I tell you.

My mistake was bringing you along in the first place.

You need me or you not have squaw.

I tell you anyway.

You think these Indians come out?

Trade? Everybody salute?

We've had no trouble dealing with the Indians so far.

Is now different.

The Shoshoni need guns.

The Black Foot have been raiding them for years,

wiping them out.

You know we have orders not to trade guns.

Trade? Who said trade?

They want guns, they wait.

When they are ready-- they take.

I don't go along with that.

No? Then you find us a way to get out of here.

We have to trade with the chief for horses

so we can keep going to the ocean.

You understand, Janey?

Only Captain talk to chief.

Shields is going with me.

If we're lucky, we get to the chief,

we'll bring him back here.

And the rest of us'll wait.

How long we wait?

Three days.

And then?

Then we'll go on.

Captain, I tell you,

when you go to my people, do not take guns.

Then they will not fear.

When you see Shoshoni,

take blanket.

Then sit. They will know you come in peace.

Do not call in loud voice.

Do not run.

You say to them, "tababon."

"Tababone"?

White tababon.

Then they know you not from Black Foot.

They will take you to their chief.

You will do that?

We'll do that.

For you.

From all of us.

Just a thank you.

I thank you all for most beautiful thing of my life,

and because I am home.

Well, we've got to get an early start in the morning, Janey.

So good night.

Shields?

[ saying goodnight ]

You, come here.

You hear me?

Today is most happy day.

Today I come home.

Today Captain give me beads.

Why he give you beads?

You heard. Because--

No white man give squaw anything unless...

You not good enough to be husband,

not even to a squaw.

CLARK: That's enough!

Get up.

Get up!

This is an order.

Stay away from her.

She is my squaw.

When you are gone, she is still my squaw.

I said it's an order.

Stay as far away from her as you can get,

or I'll kill you.

Get some sleep now.

We need you.

[ baby crying ]

I could swear this is the same place

we passed less than an hour ago.

Nah, just looks like it.

Yeah, but at this rate,

it'll be three days before we even--

Tabobon.

Tabobon.

Tabobon!

I am Captain Lewis.

I speak.

Why do you come here?

I come from chief of white man.

We come to trade for horses.

You trade guns for horses?

No. No guns.

You come to our camp,

bring the horses, we trade there.

It is trick of Black Foot.

No, Chief, it's the truth.

All we want are the horses.

This sure ain't turning out like Janey said it would.

Why didn't you tell them about her?

What good would that do?

They know we have an Indian woman with us.

They also know we have guns,

and if she hadn't made us leave them behind,

we wouldn't be in this spot.

Yeah, you're right, we'd be dead.

My Braves say it's trick.

My Braves say kill.

I say we go to your camp.

If you lead us into trap, all white men die.

You know, I can't hardly remember how it feels

to be on a horse.

One part of you will remember soon enough if we get 'em.

What do you mean "if"?

We'll get 'em.

Well, it's been two days now.

We just can't walk out of here.

It's what Captain Clark aims to do.

Yeah?

You think all them Shoshoni will let us?

We ain't gonna get far anyway without Janey,

horses or not.

Yeah, she'll come with us.

No. Not after what happened.

Why do you think she come in the first place?

'Cause she likes to walk?

No, she want to get back to her tribe.

Well, she's back.

If she's gonna run away, she'd be gone already.

Well, she don't have to.

She's already here.

We're the ones wants going.

When great spirit send no game,

Shoshoni eat berries.

I come here many times.

Here Black Foot take me.

Right here?

They ride through here,

shoot, kill,

I hide but...

When was that?

How long ago?

Five times flower grows in Lehigh Valley.

Five times snow fall on mountain.

I am not here.

Five years. A long time.

It is forever when I am prisoner.

How'd you get away from them?

They sell to Mandans.

Then Mandans sell to Charbonneau.

Always I go far away.

Always prisoner.

One day, I hope,

I say, "Today, I go home.

"Today, Shoshoni Braves come for me."

Then I know I never go home.

But now...

Now you're home.

When Captains find oceans of West, you will go home.

Then you will know how it is to be again

in your own country.

To be no more afraid.

To be--

Free?

Free.

CLARK: Hey, look.

Out there.

It's like he's bringing the whole Indian camp.

Get the boxes out here, York.

I want all the guns out of sight.

What if they...We'll have to gamble on that.

What are we going to do?

I don't know. Just try to remember what Janey's told us.

Chief Cameawait, this is Captain Clark.

Also friend of Shoshoni.

Welcome to our camp.

Sure don't seem very friendly to me.

A gift from white chief.

We come to trade.

Now we trade.

Great. We trade for horses for all our men.

We trade for guns.

No guns.

We take guns.

Chief of Shoshoni, I am Sacagawea, daughter of...

Cameawait. My brother.

Sacagawea.

We have mourned for you.

My brother, chief?

Much has happened since that day.

Black Foot has attacked many times, many battles.

Now I am chief.

And you, we think you dead.

Much has happened to me, too.

My son.

Black Foot take me east to Mandans,

then east again, then the men come.

Then it is true.

I learned well the lessons you taught me long ago,

to follow the river, the flight of birds,

whispers on the wind.

They lead me home.

Our people will learn much from you,

but these men must turn back.

They are good men.

Their guns are for hunting, not for trade.

Give them horses. Let them pass in peace.

If they pass, others will come into the valley.

It is a bad thing for our people if white men come.

What for you?

JANEY: You have horses now.

You may go.

All right, get ready to move out.

Don't worry about Charbonneau. He won't bother you anymore.

Charbonneau will always have his way.

It is always so.

Not anymore. That's a promise.

I want to thank you for everything, Janey.

I don't know how we'll do it without you, but I understand.

May great spirit watch your steps.

This is my home, my valley, my people,

but they are my friends.

[ cheering ]

And westward they went,

following the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean

and all the way back,

a journey of three years.

Janey returned to St. Louis,

and her son was sent to school by Captain Clark.

She lived to a very old age

and died on the Wind River reservation in Wyoming.

This monument in Portland, Oregon

is one of several which make Sacagawea

forever a part of the West.

Next week, another true story from our American past.