Original subtitles

(dramatic music)

- [Catherine] The sun shines differently

through these windows.

I can see my life colored by all that's gone before:

dreams, hopes, (laughs)

and the orneriest, pig-headed dreamer of a boy,

my brother John Sager.

Most folks said he didn't have the sense

God gave a pump handle.

But John knew one thing about life, that's for sure.

He knew that a heart without a dream

could be as dark and as lonely as a house without windows.

♪ Hear the mountain ♪

♪ I hear it call you ♪

♪ How young and small you and I must seem ♪

♪ But the mountain ♪

♪ Was made for climbing ♪

♪ Let's get the climbing done ♪

♪ We've only begun our dream ♪

♪ Every sunset ♪

♪ We'll leave behind us ♪

♪ I know we'll find us ♪

♪ Closer to the day ♪

♪ That's waiting somewhere ♪

♪ Our home is a dream ♪

♪ Our home is a dream ♪

(rooster crowing)

(hoe clanking)

(chickens clucking)

- Here chick, chick, chick, chick, chick.

Here chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, chick.

Here chick, chick, chick, chick, chick, chick.

Here chick, chick, chick.

Here chick, chick, chick.

- Now careful, it's hot.

- [Matilda] All right, Mama.

- Come on, girls.

- It's going on seven.

- [Francis] Here chick, chick, chick, chick.

Here chick, chick, chick.

- Catherine?

You've been in that bed long enough.

Oh, I wonder where your brother is, Matilda.

Should be here with the milk by now.

You tell him to hurry, and he dawdles.

John Sager?

(cow lowing) (bucket clanking)

Oh, no!

(screaming)

What in heaven's name?

Girls?

What's the matter?

(girls crying)

John Sager!

You come back here this minute, do you hear me?

(belt snapping)

Here, let me help you.

(belt snapping) (John screaming)

(cow lowing)

- You got a lot of good in you, John Sager.

But sometimes I wonder if I'm going to live long enough

to see it showing.

Now, I want you to get on that horse

and push the cows up the grass.

Do you understand me?

- Can I go with you, John?

- Only if you keep your mouth shut.

- Now, I don't want you boys fooling around

and wasting time!

We've got plenty more right here for you to do!

Now, go on!

- Nobody around here can take a joke.

Alls they think about is chores and more chores.

Well, I'm sick of it.

I have a mind to run away.

- You don't do much anyway.

Nobody'd miss you.

- Didn't I tell you to keep your mouth shut?

There's a lot of guys my age out scouting and trapping.

Boy, wouldn't that be the life?

Nothing to do but scalp Indians and shoot at buffalo.

I bet you.

(dramatic music)

Look at that, Francis!

Look at all those wagons, all of 'em headed West!

- [Francis] Boy, if Papa could see that!

- Get off, I'm gonna go tell him.

Pap told you to drive these cows.

- I'll go back.

- Get off!

- You big bully!

I'm gonna lick you good some day!

- Papa, Papa!

Wagon train is coming, and they're all headed west!

- It's the Marcus Whitman company, Naomi.

They're right on time, just like they said they'd be.

And to think, we could've been going with them.

- Oh, Henry, not again, please.

- There's no need talking about it.

After all these years you opposing me,

I don't expect you to understand me now.

- Let me ride behind you, Johnny.

- [Matilda] Me too.

- There ain't no room.

- I know something on you.

- What?

- That hard cider you snuck of Papa's.

(wagons creaking)

- Why, that's Billy Shaw with Dr. Whitman.

- How can you ever think of traipsing

across 2000 miles of wilderness with this family, Henry?

We've worked and sacrificed so hard for this place.

- I can't help it, Naomi.

Every man has his dream.

- Mama, Mama, look!

- Oh, John Sager.

- Matilda, would you like to ride with Uncle Billy?

Huh?

Come on, here we go, hep!

- Hello Uncle Billy! - Hi darling.

- Hello Uncle Billy.

- Howdy, Billy!

- Hi!

- Howdy. - Doctor, welcome, welcome!

- Good to see you again.

- [Mother] One more stunt like that, John Sager!

- Billy, don't tell me that you and Sally are going to--

- Now hold on, hold on.

You don't think we'd leave

without taking our good neighbors along.

- How are you? - Hi, Dr. Whitman.

- I'm just riding a little way with Dr. Whitman.

No, we're going next year.

- Naomi, did you hear that?

The Polks, and the Argyles, and the Mitchells,

and the Shaws,

they're all going next year.

- You know, Mrs. Sager, it's not really as dangerous a trip

as most people think.

Why, more women and children are going every year.

- The way Dr. Whitman tells about Oregon Country

and the Willamette Valley, it's hard for any man to resist.

Can you imagine, Henry, black soil

hundreds of feet deep and thousands of acres of it?

Oh, and flowers the whole year round.

That's right, I swear.

- I'd love to go out West.

- Me too.

- Doc Whitman, is it true you know Kit Carson?

- Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, Fremont, know 'em all.

- You see, Dr. Whitman and his wife

run on a mission near the end of the Oregon Trail.

Everybody going west stops over there one time or another.

- Maybe we'll be seeing you folks next year.

You know, if we Americans don't get that Oregon Country,

the British will.

Well, so long folks.

Bye-bye, doctor. - Bye-bye, doctor

- Bye, folks. - Billy!

- [Naomi] Give my best to Mrs. Whitman.

(dramatic music

- Gee, Kit Carson.

- You know a man can make a place for himself

out there in Oregon.

Why, he could plow enough acreage

so that he to become part of America forever.

- Come on, girls.

- Papa, ain't there no way we can talk Mom into going?

- Sometimes I think only the voice of the Lord

could change that woman's mind. (chuckles)

And then sometimes I wonder if even that'd do it.

- The way you keep polishing that glass,

Naomi, morning and night.

You know, someday you're going to wear it out.

- That's what makes it so pretty, Papa.

- I love Mama's windows.

They're my most favorite thing in our whole house.

- (sighs) When I think about all the gloomy days

these windows have brought me sunshine and happiness.

Do you know, I remember this very

same pane in my grandmother's parlor and her polishing it.

And then it was my mother's.

And now it's mine.

- And we've packed them to every house we've ever lived in.

You know, sometimes, Naomi, I wonder

what you'd pick if you had to choose

between that window and me.

(lips smacking)

- I love you too, Henry.

- [Girl] We're done, Mama.

- All right, girls, off to bed.

- But ain't we gonna read the Bible?

- Are my ears hearing me correct?

Is that you, John Sager?

- That's a mighty sudden change for a boy

who's never been too interested in the Bible.

- Johnny wants to read the Bible?

- Be quiet or I'll knock your head off.

- All right, boys.

Girls, sit down and listen to your brother

before he changes his mind.

(sighing)

- Can I read now?

- Whatever you say, Johnny.

All right, girls, now be quiet, listen.

- Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands,

for the husbands are the head of the wives, even the bosses.

And the wives should do what the husbands tell them to,

wheresoever they desireth them to go.

- That's enough, John Sager.

I know what you're trying to do.

And you're twisting the scriptures.

It's not going to work.

- Don't look at me, Naomi.

I, I didn't put him up to it.

- All right, listen, once and for all, I'm not going West,

and that's final.

(dramatic, adventurous music

I hate leaving it all behind not knowing for what.

- Don't you worry, honey.

When we get to Oregon, I'm going to build you

the biggest house you ever saw.

There'll be a parlor window for your pretty glass,

lilac tree in the front yard, nice fence.

- Sure ain't nothing like I expected it to be.

I bet you old Jim Bridger and Kit Carson never had

to eat trail dust like this.

If I had any sense, I'd run away and become a scout

or a trapper.

(thunder roaring)

- Yah, get up there!

Come on, get up!

Come on!

- Come on!

Come on!

- Get up there!

Get up, come on!

Come on! - Come on!

Come on!

- Get up there! - Come on!

- Come on! - Come on!

(horses whinnying)

- Catherine?

- Yes, Daddy.

- I want you to go back, drive the herd,

and send John up here to help me.

- Yes, Daddy.

- There you are, honey.

Here, put this around you.

There you go.

- John Sager, whatever are you doing?

- It's none of your business.

- Papa wants you.

He said for me to drive the herd.

- You'll have to go find them.

They're back by that clump of tress.

You better drive 'em up near our wagon.

- But I can't 'em out the herd.

You'll have to help me.

John!

- You better not tell Papa I've been playing cards, either.

- I will if you don't help me.

- You do, and I'll knock your head off.

- You hateful, lazy thing.

- Whoa, whoa.

Whoa.

- All right, John, get on that wheel

and give it all you got.

- Naomi!

- [Naomi] Yes?

- You got a good, tight hold on them horses?

- [Naomi] Don't worry about me.

You just keep pushing.

I'll handle the team.

- All right!

- Papa, Papa!

- What's wrong?

- [Catherine] I can't find our cows!

- What?

- The big herd's gone.

Billy Pimrose is tied up in those trees.

And he said the other boys have been playing

cards under an old wagon.

- Henry!

Henry, please!

Give the boy a chance to have his say.

- He's had more than his share of chances.

(splashing)

(laughing)

- I'm gonna send you to running if you don't shut up!

- That's enough of that!

We've got to get this wagon out of here!

John, you and Catherine get by that front wheel.

The rest of you, get behind and push.

- Oh, goodie!

- What good are those little kids gonna do?

- You tend to your business, John Sager.

And push when I tell you!

- Get ready, children!

Okay, steady boys, steady.

Push, yah!

Ha ha!

(dramatic music)

Ha ha!

Push, yah!

- [Catherine] Mama!

- Whoa, whoa, whoa.

(sobbing)

- My leg!

My leg!

- Mama, Mama, it's Catherine!

- Mama, Mama! - I'm coming!

- My leg, my leg. (sobs)

- Catherine?

Catherine, what's happened?

- My leg! (sobs)

- John, you go get Dr. Dutch right quick!

- That stupid boy, if not for him, none of this

would have happened,

all the cows gone, and this poor child with a broken leg.

- Now, Dr. Dutch, you can't blame John for the broken leg.

And I'm sure he's sorry about the cows.

- Sorry?

(speaking in foreign language)

He does not even know the meaning of the word.

Wait till Henry gets back.

He'll be standing to eat, that boy will.

- Are you feeling better now, Catherine?

- Much better, Mama.

- That's good, darling.

- Now, remember, child, you must lie still.

You must not try to stand up

or you will be crippled all your life.

(horse hooves clomping)

Henry.

- Hello, Papa.

- What's happened to Catherine?

- The wagon wheel ran over her leg.

Dr. Dutch says it snapped clean in two.

Did you find the cows?

- Yeah, we found them.

- But it cost me $10 to get them back.

- [Naomi] $10? Henry, why?

- It was a band of Indians that had them hidden

about five miles from here.

Billy and the others are bringing them back now.

- Well, I better go to heat up supper then.

Come on, Dr. Dutch.

- Remember, child, lie still.

- Yeah, that Dr. Dutch is a quack.

And I've heard that from more than one person.

(thunder roaring)

- For a boy who's about to get a licking,

you'd do well to speak of your elders with more respect.

- Ain't you going to let me explain?

- You've done all you could to earn a licking

ever since we left home.

You've been lazy.

You've been disobedient.

You've played all kinds of pranks on the other wagons.

And now this business about the cattle.

You come outside, boy.

And I want you to drop your britches.

(tense music)

(slap cracking)

- Hey, you, you dirty redskin!

(man shouting)

Hey, mister!

Don't shoot.

(laughing)

Ain't nothing funny.

- Well, where's your clothes at?

- [John] Dirty Indian stole 'em.

- What are you doing out here alone?

- I had trouble with my Pa.

I run away from our wagon.

- You pulled a snake, did you?

Well, you're big enough in size.

But I'll bet your mind ain't more than five years old.

Imagine being out here as long as you have

and not having sense enough to stay with your outfit.

- Pa licked me, and I'm too old to be licked.

Well, if I was your Pa, I'd lick the whey out of you

from morning till night

till you got some sense in your head.

Now, you come over here and I'll take you back.

Is that your wagon down there?

- [John] Yeah, I guess they're waiting for me.

- Now, unless you want to lose your scalp,

you better hang on.

- [John] Indians, there's Indians coming!

Indians.

(dramatic music)

- Hurry up, children!

(speaking in foreign language)

- Hey, mister, don't you know better than to get separated

from your main outfit?

- I know, but my wife--

- No time to explain, we've got

to get out there to meet them.

They'll want to parlay first.

- All right.

John, get in the wagon.

Throw me my rifle, quick.

Dr. Dutch, get ready to drive like the devil, just in case.

- Me, drive?

- Drive.

- Once a doctor, now a drover.

(baby babbling)

- New baby sister, John.

- Looks like they're sending their leader out

to do the bargaining.

- [Henry] That's the Indian I paid the $10 to last night

to get my cows back.

- Are you willing to give up any more?

- Well, we don't have any food to spare.

And I ain't about to give up my only saddle horse.

- Well, you just stay here and let me handle it.

(tense music)

(men shouting)

- What do they want?

- [Kit] Trouble, let's go!

- [Henry] Hee-yah!

(men shouting)

Move that wagon out of here!

- Ha!

(shouting)

(children screaming)

(men shouting)

(gun firing)

(gun firing)

Ha!

(screaming)

- Shoot, John, shoot!

- It's jammed!

(gun firing)

(screaming)

(thudding)

(grunting)

(men shouting)

(grunting)

(guns firing)

- Papa.

- Let me take a look, Henry.

- That sure was a brave thing you did there, Mr. Sager.

- [Billy] Everybody here all right?

- Thanks to this stranger we are.

- Well, don't thank me, thank the boy.

If I hadn't of run into him,

I'd have gone on to the main outfit.

We're still mighty obliged to you, mister uh?

- Carson, Kit Carson.

- You're Kit Carson?

- Well, now, ain't this something.

I heard you've been traveling this trail a lot.

- Well, where you folks headed?

- [Billy] The Willamette Valley in Oregon.

- If you're going that way, we'd sure like to have

you travel along with us.

- Well, I sure do thank you for the invitation,

but I'm on important government business.

And I'll see you folks further on up the trail.

- All right.

- So long.

- Just remember what I told you, John.

You listen to your Pa.

He's one of the bravest men I've ever seen.

- Who is that man?

Who is this Kit Carson?

- (laughs) I think maybe you better keep

to your medicine, Dr. Dutch.

Come on, let's help Henry back to his wagon.

- Yes, quickly.

(horse whinnying)

(dramatic music)

- John Sager?

What are you doing?

- Nothing, Papa, nothing.

Everything's all right.

- John?

(sighs)

I don't know about you, boy.

You're lazy, and you're good for nothing.

All right, go on and do your job.

Go on.

- Terrible boy, look what you cause your father!

Henry, you must let me drive for you.

- I'll be all right.

- Then let Naomi watch the team

while I look at your shoulder.

Get in the wagon.

- That old quack doctor has got it in for me,

snooping around, getting me in trouble with Papa.

- Serves you right.

- Well, I ain't letting him get away with it.

(tense music)

(horse whinnying)

(laughing)

(peaceful music)

- I wish every.

After I go, ha.

- [Catherine] Dr. Dutch?

- Yeah?

- Do I have to stay in this wagon?

Can't I go sit out by the fire?

- What?

And take a chance to break that bone again?

You stay put, my child.

She must not be moved under any circumstances.

And how is the little mama and the little baby?

- Strong as can be, doctor.

- Gitchy-goo!

Gitchy-gitchy-gitchy- gitchy-gitchy-goo!

Beautiful baby.

You Henry,

is that shoulder of yours giving you any trouble?

- It's worse than it was yesterday, doctor.

Are you sure you didn't leave something in it?

- Well, let's take a look.

(grunting)

That terrible boy of yours, he's trying to kill me.

(grunting)

- All right, you children,

isn't there something that you should be doing

before going to bed?

- Henry, with all your troubles, I think maybe you should

go back from where you came.

- Nothing will ever turn Henry back, Doctor.

- Well, let me see now.

(groaning)

- How does it look, Doctor?

- I don't know.

For one week old, it should not be so red.

You should not use it so much, Henry.

You should let me drive.

- No, Papa, we don't need him, I can drive.

- What?

A boy who falls asleep at the reins?

Ha!

- He wants to be a great scout like Kit Carson.

- Him, a scout?

(laughs) Even the horses laugh!

Him, who runs away, who loses the cows,

and falls asleep at the reins.

Why, you could not even scout your own backyard, ha!

Well, I must tend to the other sick.

And remember, Henry, if you want me I'm ready to help.

- Papa, how can you let him talk about me like that

and not say nothing?

- Well now, let me see.

If I rightly remember, you did run away,

and you did fall asleep.

What exactly did you want me to say?

Come here, son.

John, I know sometimes you think I'm awful hard on you.

But, son, I'm only doing it for your own good

because this is a tough country, boy,

and it's going to take tough men to make it great.

And you're the kind that one day's going to do it.

But you gotta learn right now while you're young

what it means to be responsible and trustworthy.

That's the biggest part of growing up and being a man.

Do you understand?

All right, go on and do your chores.

(dramatic music)

(upbeat, adventurous music)

(tense music)

- What is it with your good man, Naomi?

- Ever since supper, he's been getting worse.

Doctor, please, you've got to do something.

- Billy, help me get him in the tent.

Be seeing you boys.

(dog barking)

- It's pretty bad, Hansen.

- We can only wait.

If it is blood poisoning, there is nothing I can do.

- Goodnight, Henry.

You just get a good nights rest, you'll feel fine.

- Thank you for all your help Billy, good night.

- Good night.

(sighing)

(dramatic music)

- You're a good, good woman, Naomi.

Leaving so much behind to come out here.

- Shh, you mustn't talk.

- When I think about all that beautiful Oregon country

out there just waiting for us, I...

And that house I was gonna build you,

that beautiful house.

- No.

You will.

- John?

John?

Your, your father is.

- Don't give in, Henry.

You've got to fight.

- What's to become of you and the children?

- Don't think about that.

Just put your mind to getting well.

- John needs a father to guide him.

He's got good stuff.

But he needs discipline.

- Papa!

- Remember what I told you, son,

about responsibility and becoming a man.

Your mother's gonna need you more than ever now.

You've got to help her.

- You can make it.

I know you can.

- It's just like Kit Carson said.

You're the bravest and the greatest man.

Papa!

(light sobbing)

Papa.

(sobbing)

As long as I can remember,

Papa wanted to plow that black soil

out on the Willamette.

But now he'll never do it.

You know something, Francis?

I'd sure give a lot if I had been a better son

to Papa these last few months.

- In thee, dear Lord, do I put my trust.

For thou art my rock, my fortress.

And to thine hands, I commit my spirit.

(dramatic, adventurous music)

Come on now!

Easy boys, get up!

Ha!

(tense music)

(cowboys whistling) (cowboys shouting)

(snake rattling)

(horses whinnying)

- [Child] It's snakes, the horses!

- Come on, get back here, stop it, horses!

Get back, whoa whoa!

(whinnying)

(children screaming)

- John!

John!

- Dr. Dutch, get everybody out of the way!

Hurry!

(speaking in foreign language)

What are you doing?

I told you to get everybody out!

Hurry, Mama!

- [Naomi] Come on, John, hurry, hurry!

(horses whinnying)

- What the blazes?

John, get those horses unhooked!

Dr. Dutch!

Dr. Dutch, pay attention!

- Why, what is?

- Get up to the Polk wagon quick.

Emily's ready to deliver.

And there are more folks down with that blasted dysentery.

I'll get a team up here and help you out of this fix, John.

(peaceful music)

- There, that should do it.

We'll have you out of there in no time, Catherine.

- Oh, John, darest I?

- Of course, come on.

Francis, help me get her on her feet.

- But Dr. Dutch said--

- The devil with Dr. Dutch.

- Now get used to 'em for a minute,

then we'll go show Mama.

- She's doing it, Johnny!

She's doing it!

- Billy?

- Yeah?

- We must hold up a couple of days

until this epidemic is over.

- We're behind schedule already.

- With dysentery, we have no schedule.

I must tell you, Billy, there's a hardly a wagon

in this whole company that is not infected.

- Well, I guess we got no other choice.

I'll go tell the others.

- Mama, Mama, look!

- Catherine!

- Carry her back or she will be crippled for life!

- Let her be.

She'd rather be lame than staying

in that old wagon all the time.

Wouldn't you, Catherine?

- Yes, I would.

- Oh, now Catherine, I think the doctor knows best.

- He don't know beans.

Anybody knows a broken bone heals up sooner than this.

Anyway, if Dr. Dutch would have taken better care of Papa,

he'd still be alive today.

- What, you dumkopf, you!

- Take your hands off me.

I'm head of our home now.

And another thing, ain't a bit of use

for you to try to marry my mom, 'cause I won't let you!

- I'm sorry, Doctor.

- [Naomi] John.

- I know what you want me to go do.

You want me to go tell him I'm sorry.

Well, I ain't gonna, 'cause what I said was true.

- John, let's suppose that Francis came to you

and said that you were bossy and used bad grammar.

What would you say?

- I'd knock his head off.

- But it's true.

- I don't care.

I wouldn't let a kid like that say such things to me.

- That's exactly how Dr. Dutch feels.

- John, go sit down.

I want to talk to you.

(somber music)

Haven't seen you hold little Anna.

Don't you like her?

- Yeah, but there's always so many others fussing over her.

- There's no one here now.

(baby crying)

John, I'm going to give little Anna to you

for your very own.

- What?

- Now that your father's gone, she needs a man to take care

of her while she's growing up.

(baby crying)

And you're the man of the family now.

- Yeah, but I don't know how to take care of a baby.

- She just needs lots of love.

She's your special baby.

And I know that you'll take care of her,

just as I know that you'll always

keep the children together.

I can trust you to do that.

- Yes, Mama.

(dramatic music)

- [Catherine] Mama was slipping away.

I think John must have known that.

But us kids, we just thought she was tired.

Mama died of pneumonia on the darkest night I can remember.

And on that night, for the first time in our lives,

we were alone.

(crowd chattering)

(fire crackling)

- Now all of you stop your fretting.

They're not going to divide us up.

I promised Mama I'd keep the family together,

and that's just what I'm going to do.

- Johnny?

Do you think we'll all be together with Mama and Papa again?

- Of course we will.

If God put us in the same family down here,

it's a cinch he wants us together up in heaven.

(crowd chattering)

- Well, you're a hard-nosed boy to deal with, John Sager.

I guess we're gonna have to give into you this time.

Think you can handle this brood of yours

all the way to Fort Hall?

- I know I can.

- Well, that's fine for everybody but this little baby.

(baby crying)

- Give it to me, Catherine.

- No, she's mine.

Mama gave her to me.

- Please, John.

I'm not gonna keep her.

- All right, but just remember she's mine.

- Now, your mother left enough money

to send you back to Missouri.

We'll make all the arrangements in Fort Hall

for you to stay there during the winter.

- Come on, Matilda.

You can stay with Aunt Sally, too.

- Now that I'm boss of this family,

I can lick any one if you don't do what I say,

and you know it.

- I ain't gonna be bullied.

If you're fair, I'll let you be boss.

If you ain't, you'll have to scalp me before I mind.

- Keep quiet, let's hear what he wants.

- Now, the first thing is I want to write down

about Mama in the Bible.

And while I'm at it, I want to change the baby's name.

I want to call her Henrietta Naomi, after Papa and Mama.

(somber music)

- I'll get the Bible.

(crowd chattering)

- Folks!

Folks, would you come over here, please?

Folks, come on, over here!

I wanna talk to you.

Folks, over here!

Now, if you want my advice, it's too late in the year

to try to go on to Oregon.

Of course, if you want to die of lung fever,

or freeze and starve to death

in the Blue Mountains, well go ahead.

But if you have an ounce of sense,

you'll decide in favor of California.

(crowd chattering angrily)

- Well, if it ain't young John Sager.

- Mr. Carson.

- I was hoping our paths would cross again.

- Well, am I glad to see you.

- Well, how's your Ma and Pa and the rest

of that family of yours?

- Mama and Papa died, Mr. Carson.

- I'm sure sorry, I hadn't heard.

Well, what are your plans now?

- Well, Mama planned to stay till spring,

and then take us back to St. Louis with some traders.

But now the Shaws want to keep the baby and Matilda,

and I ain't gonna let 'em.

- Well, that don't hardly seem fair.

- The last thing my Mama told me was

to keep the family together.

So now we're gonna go on to Oregon.

We're going to take up that homestead

just like Papa planned.

- You know, John, that's a job

for at least two full grown men.

And this late in the year with the snow coming,

the wagon just won't make it through.

I wouldn't take a wagon.

I'd use a pack train just like Uncle Billy and the others.

All's I got to do is convince Uncle Billy

to let us go along.

Could you help us, Mr. Carson?

You could talk him into it.

- You sure got a lot of spunk and determination.

You wait right here.

I'll be back.

- Now, I don't know about the rest of you,

but I started out for the Willamette Valley,

and that's where I'm going.

You can count me in, Shaw.

- Good, good.

(crowd chattering)

- Billy Shaw?

I have a matter to take up with you.

- Why, Mr. Carson?

- It's about that young fellow by the name of John Sager.

Heard of him?

- (laughs) Yes.

- Young Sager, I suppose you know that all

has been arranged for you to remain at the fort this winter.

- I don't need no quack doctor telling me nothing

'cause I'm taking my family on to Oregon.

- Have you lost your mind?

What does a dumb kid like you know about this country?

- Ah.

- Disrespectful young cub!

(crowd chattering)

- I'm sorry, John, but he's convinced he's doing

what your mama wanted him to do.

And you want my advice, I think you're best off

doing what he says.

- I've been hoping and praying I'd find you

'cause I knew you'd help me do what my Pa wanted.

But you're just like the rest of 'em!

- Hey, wait a minute.

You think I don't want to help you?

I tell you, I would if I only knew how.

- I don't need nobody's help.

I can do it on my own.

- You got to be a plumb loco to take off

out there by yourself.

- Maybe so, but I got to do it anyhow.

- I've never met anybody like you, John Sager.

- You're more stubborn than five mules in a bath tub.

Now, you come along with me.

You and I got a lot of thinking to do.

(cheerful music)

- [Francis] What if Mr. Carson changes his mind?

- [John] He said he'd come, and he will.

Now, you better be getting the girls up.

Tell 'em to be quiet.

- Is everything ready?

- [John] Sure thing, Mr. Carson.

Boy, you sure got two fine mules.

- I got a good price for your wagon and team.

And you should have enough supplies

and pemmican to last you.

- What's pemmican?

- Oh, that's a tasty little dish the Indians make.

Sure tastes good, if you can overlook the hair.

Is this everything you want loaded?

- [John] Everything we got room for.

- John, you almost forget these.

- We're not taking 'em, Louisa.

There's not room.

- You can't leave Mama's windows.

- Mr. Carson, can't we take them?

- What windows are you talking about?

That would be a fine thing, a house without windows.

I think we can find a place for 'em on old Silas.

Don't you two have another job to do?

- Matilda, wake up.

- What's wrong, Francis?

- We got to hide.

There's Indians, hurry.

- Here, take this.

(snoring)

(horse whinnying)

(coughing)

- Billy?

- Hmm?

- Turn over.

You're waking up the whole camp.

(coyote howling)

- Now, remember, there's Indians, so don't make a sound.

- Is Aunt Sally hiding?

- [John] Hurry.

- Now, John, don't you let that Shaw come

to get ahead of you more than a day or two

or you're gonna to be in a lot of trouble.

By the time you catch up with them,

you're going to be far enough down the trail

they're not going to want to send you back.

Another thing, you tell old Shaw if he's got any sense,

he'll hold up for the winter at Whitman's Mission.

- Well, how far before we get there?

- Not till you get over the Blue Mountains,

the last leg of the journey.

You tell Mrs. Whitman that Kit Carson sent you.

She'll take real good care of you, especially that baby.

- Thanks, Mr. Carson, for all you've done.

I sure wish you was going with us.

- Well, when I get through that Army business,

I might just come over to the Willamette

and see how you're doing.

- We'd be mighty pleased if you do that.

- Well, I plan on it.

And when I get there, I'd like to see that house

with all them pretty windows, you hear?

(fire crackling)

- Ew, I hate this pemmican stew.

- Eat it or I'll knock your--

- I know, I know.

You'll knock my head off.

- Say, isn't today Sunday?

- Yes, it is.

- I remember Aunt Sally said

they always read the prayer book and sang hymns on Sunday.

- This being Sunday, we're going to hold services

right here ourselves.

Francis, go get the bible and give it to me.

- You're not our father and mother

and they're the only one in the family that I

would let read the bible to me.

- Go get the bible or I'm going to give you a beating.

- I'm not going to.

- Stop it!

- [Francis] All right, I'll get it.

- Can I read it, John?

- I said I was gonna read it.

(somber music)

Here.

- Blessed is he who's merciful to little children,

and leadeth them with love, and kindness, and understanding.

(horse hooves clomping)

- It's them, they're coming!

- It's Uncle Billy!

- I want Aunt Sally.

- Shh!

Not so loud.

We're dreaming we're watching 'em.

We'll let them get a day or so ahead of us,

then we'll follow 'em.

- Hey, look at this, John.

- I wonder who it belonged to.

- It don't matter, it's ours now.

Go on, Francis.

Let's go get Silas hooked up to it.

(tense music)

- What are we gonna do now, Johnny?

- Yeah, what are we?

We're gonna camp here for a while

'cause we're going to build a raft.

That's what we're going to do.

Let's get busy.

Francis, you take care of the stock.

(dramatic music)

(axe clanking)

- Sure it'll float, Johnny?

- The only way to find out is to try it.

- Where's Louisa?

- She was here just a minute ago.

- There she is!

What's wrong with her?

- She's scared of the water, that's what.

- [Catherine] Ever since she fell

in that old swimming hole back home, remember?

- Well, we don't have time for foolishness like this.

Come on, Louisa, stop acting like a baby.

- No!

- Stop it.

Either you come out of there or I'll give you

a licking you'll never forget.

- [Catherine] You bully.

You can't force a person not to be scared.

- Since you think you know it all, smarty, you do it.

- Come on, Louisa.

I won't let John spank you, I promise.

And you don't have to get on that raft

till you're good and ready.

- I'm not going on that raft!

- Look, Louisa, there's nothing to be scared of.

I'll hold on to you real tight,

and you can close your eyes if you like.

We have to get across that old river.

- No!

- All right then, I guess Mama will never have that house

she wanted out in Oregon.

Poor Mama.

I bet she's looking down from heaven right now

and feeling real sad, and Papa too.

- Catherine, wait.

(somber music)

- Do you really think that Mama and Papa

are looking down from heaven?

- Of course they are.

They've been watching over us ever since they died.

Isn't that right, Johnny?

- Yeah, we're their children, ain't we?

- Then I guess I won't be scared anymore.

- Come on.

(dramatic music

(horse whinnying)

(cow lowing)

Now, don't let go of her for nothing, Catherine.

Now if you all be quiet and trust me,

nothing's going to happen.

Keep 'em coming, Francis.

- I'm trying.

(tense music)

(horse whinnying)

(grunting)

(grunting

Hold on to those horses, Francis!

- I'm trying.

(water burbling)

I can't hold them anymore!

- [John] Hold on there, Francis!

- Mama's windows!

- Hey, watch out!

(bear growling)

- I'm sorry, John, but I just couldn't hold on any longer.

- That's okay, old trapper.

You did the best you could and that's what counts.

Come on, let's go find them.

Now, you girls stay here and get ready to go.

- They were watching over us, weren't they?

- Who was?

- Mama and Papa.

(dramatic music)

- John, we've got to stop and rest.

I can't go on any further.

- We would've caught up with Uncle Billy

if it wouldn't have been for you always

wanting to stop and rest.

- Well, if your leg hurt like mine, you'd wanna rest too.

- I'm hungry.

- John, can't we stop and rest?

- Next one that opens his mouth, I'm gonna

knock his head off.

(baby crying)

- [Catherine] I think she's sick, John.

Old Betsy's must not be right for her anymore.

- John, look!

(tense, dramatic music)

- What are we gonna do?

- Let's just hope they're friendly.

We're just passing through here.

You haven't by any chance seen any of our people, have you?

They might have gone by here a couple days ago.

Be mighty obliged if you tell us.

(baby crying)

No no, you're not getting this.

Keep her quiet, Catherine.

- She's hungry.

No, no!

- I think she wants to feed her.

- We can't let a squaw feed her, can we?

- I don't know nothing about that.

She don't take to Betsy's milk,

and they seem pretty friendly.

Don't worry, I won't let them steal her.

She ain't gonna hurt her.

Let's go set up camp.

- This is such a lovely place.

I wish we could stay here for a whole week.

- With John pushing us, we're lucky to stay

here for a whole minute.

- Henrietta going to be a papoose, Johnny?

- Stop your fretting, Matilda.

You'd think I'd give my own little baby

to a bunch of Indians?

- Wish they'd quit staring.

It makes me nervous.

- If they were going to give her back,

wouldn't they have done it by now?

- I don't want Henrietta to be a papoose.

- Maybe they already took her off.

- Probably won't see her again.

- Would you girls be quiet?

I think someone's coming.

(metal clattering)

Thank you, ma'am, much obliged to you.

(somber music)

(tense music)

Hey, come and look!

Everybody's gone!

They robbed us.

They took Papa's horse.

I knew we shouldn't have trusted them.

Everything's gone except some baby things and some blankets.

- Well, at least we got our scalps.

- They didn't take Mama's windows 'cause I've

been sleeping with them.

- John, what are we going to have for breakfast?

- Willow leaves, why ask me?

- 'Cause you're always telling us who's boss.

So you should be in charge of getting us some food.

- Look, smarty, you want a licking?

- You can't hit Catherine.

She's the only mother we've got.

- Come on, Francis.

Let's go see what we can find. (sighs)

The rest of you, get ready to move out.

If we don't catch up with Uncle Billy now,

we're really in trouble.

(dramatic music)

(gun firing)

- [Francis] It's them, it's them!

- It's Aunt Sally!

- It's Uncle Billy!

- Wait, Aunt Sally.

(peaceful music)

- Great goshes, it's John Sager and his brood.

What in blazes, boy?

- We've been trying to catch up to you since Fort Hall.

- You poor children.

You look starved.

- We haven't eaten for two days.

- Emily, get them something to eat.

- John, how, let me have that little thing.

How is she?

- She cries a lot, Mrs. Polk.

She acts like she's sick.

- Maybe some warmer clothes will help.

I'll give her some of our little Myra's.

She, uh, come on, children.

- Little Myra drowned in the last river crossing.

That's what decided us to come this way.

- This way?

- Don't you know where you are, boy?

This is the California trail.

- California?

But where's Billy Shaw?

- Still bent for the Willamette.

We left him and Dr. Dutch back on the Oregon Trail

20 miles or so.

You must've been careless at the forks.

- Thanks, Mrs. Polk.

Sure obliged for the food.

Nothing ever tasted so good in my whole life.

- We've been talking things over, John, trying to come

to some sensible decision.

- Adam, we're taking them with us, surely.

Little Henrietta.

- Ain't none of us going with you, not even the baby.

We're going on to Oregon.

- Don't be foolish, son.

You're talking about 20 miles of backtracking.

You'll never catch up with the Shaws.

- I want to stay with Mrs. Polk.

- Me too.

- Don't you kids want to take up that homestead for Papa?

Some Indians stole our supplies.

If you could sell us a few, I'd give you my Pa's watch.

- Well, like I said, we,

we ain't got much to spare.

But we'll let you have what we can.

You can keep your Pa's watch.

- [Emily] Adam, you're not going to just let him

go off by themselves like that.

- Give him the baby, Emily.

- Well, we won't hold you folks up any longer.

Come on, kids, we got a lot of backtracking to do.

- White man trail take too long.

Indian trail take you fast.

- You know a shorter way to the Oregon trail?

- Over mountain.

(dramatic music)

- [Catherine] John and that Indian figured

they knew what they were doing.

But to me, leaving the Polks was a foolish a thing

as anyone could ever do.

And if you'd have asked me then what our chances were

of ever running into the Shaws, I'd have told you

all our chances put together wouldn't have filled a thimble.

- Johnny?

I think Henrietta's getting worse.

(baby crying)

- If we're not careful, we're going to lose White Elk.

Look how far ahead he is.

- Hey, you crazy Indian!

Stop!

(horse whinnying)

Hey, we got a sick papoose back there.

Can't you slow down?

- White children slow like turtle.

We'll never catch Billy Shaw!

- We've got to.

You've got a fast pony.

You ride ahead and tell Uncle Billy to wait for us.

- First, you give me father's watch.

- No, the deal was for you to get us to the Shaws.

All right, here.

But you better stick to your bargain and not run off.

All right, hurry up.

(dramatic music

- It's Uncle Billy and Aunt Sally, John.

I just know it is.

- Well, White Elk should have come back.

- I want Aunt Sally, Johnny.

- Wait a minute.

I think something's wrong.

- John Sager?

- Don't come in.

You will get this awful dysentery for sure.

- The baby's awful sick, Aunt Sally.

We thought maybe you could help.

- We know, John.

White Elk was here.

He's gone on to the Whitman Mission to bring back help.

- That's Cayuse country.

He told me he'd never go that far.

He said they'd scalp a Ute Indian for sure.

- All I know is he said Mrs. Whitman

could help your sick baby, and for you to wait here.

- Don't feed 'em too fast, Catherine,

it'll make him worse.

- Where'd you get the meat, John?

- One of our mules was killed by wolves.

There's enough soup here to last you for a week,

plenty of wood.

- You girls got everything ready?

- We don't want to go, Johnny.

We want to stay here with Aunt Sally.

- Please, Johnny, please?

- I don't want to hear any more talk like that.

We got to go.

- But White Elk said we should stay here

till he brings help.

- The baby'd be dead by then!

Look at her!

(baby crying)

If I can keep her alive till we get to Mrs. Whitman,

she might have a chance.

But if we stay, she'll die.

And I promised Mom.

- You're right, John.

That baby needs to be under shelter,

in a house with a woman's care.

By going on to meet the rescue party,

you'll be that much closer.

- We'll make sure you get help as soon as possible.

- Thank you, John.

(speaking in foreign language

(dramatic music)

- [Catherine] We didn't know it then,

but John's worst fear was staring him

dead in the eye, winter.

The colder it got, the harder he pushed us.

- Look, there's White Elk's tracks again.

- Francis, you turn Betsy and Silas lose to graze.

I'm going to go gather some wood and make a fire

that'll melt the snow off this whole mountain.

- You mean we get to rest?

- I reckon.

- It'll be easy for Dr. Whitman to find us here.

- What makes you think he'll find us here?

(intense, dramatic music)

- White Elk!

- I'm going to sleep all day in the warm sunshine.

Then maybe I'll never be cold again.

- I wish we had something different to eat.

I'm tired of eating poor old Hiram.

- Look, Henrietta's smiling!

(baby babbling)

- [Catherine] Johnny, Henrietta smiled!

John, you look sad.

- [John] We're not staying here.

We're moving on.

- But Johnny!

- Shut up, all of you!

You dare say another word, I'll whip the lot of you!

Now, Francis, get that stuff loaded back up on Silas.

- I ain't going to.

- You ain't what?

- I'm staying here till morning.

We've been traveling half the night and all day,

and I'm too tired to move on.

And another thing, I'm sick and tired

of you bossing me around.

- Get going or I'm gonna knock your head off.

- You'll have to knock my head off, too,

'cause I ain't going either.

- [Elizabeth] That goes for me.

- [Louisa] Me too!

- Okay.

Then I'm going on without you.

(dramatic music)

- Johnny, don't leave us!

- Okay, then let's get going.

(wind whistling)

(intense dramatic music)

Crying won't bring him back to life, come on.

Straighten up, all of you!

We've either got to go on or freeze to death.

- You've got to quit driving us so hard, John.

- I kept it from you,

but I found White Elk dead and scalped.

He never made it to the Whitman's.

The only way we're ever going to see them

is to keep on going for as long as I tell you to.

Henrietta hasn't moved since the last place we stopped.

- What things do we leave behind?

(dramatic music)

- Come on, Louisa, we got to keep going.

- No, I'm too tired.

- Francis, stop!

Come on. - No.

- Just a little father.

- [Louisa] No.

- Come on.

We got to keep on going, please.

- [Louisa] No.

- We gotta keep on going.

- No, I'm too tired!

- [John] We're going to freeze.

- No.

- Francis!

Elizabeth!

Catherine!

Come back here!

(somber music)

(crying)

Don't worry, everything's going to be all right.

You're in charge now, old trapper.

(dark, dramatic music)

Please, dear Lord, help me.

(horse whinnying)

(dramatic music)

I just knew that if I could get her to you, you'd save her.

Please, Mr. Whitman, don't let her die.

(baby babbling)

- [Mrs. Whitman] She's gonna make it, John.

(John groaning)

- Well, if it ain't Rip Van Winkle.

How you feeling, boy?

- Much better.

How's Henrietta?

- Come see for yourself, John.

- Thanks, Mrs. Whitman, for all you've done.

- John, isn't this a lovely place?

- [Catherine] Look what I found to read.

- Mrs. Whitman says that we could stay as long as we want.

- Now all of you quit pushing me.

Have you forgot Papa's dreams?

As soon as spring comes, we're going to go out there,

and we're going to take up that homestead for him.

- These little ones need a home and a mother.

- [Kit] She's right, John.

- [Mrs. Whitman] What if Mr. Carson makes arrangements

with the government to hold land for you?

- Can you do that?

- Sure I can.

You know, I've got just the spot in mind.

It's beautiful.

You've never seen land like it,

green as far as the eyes can see, hundreds of acres.

You know, your Pa would be mighty proud of you

if you'd set up a homestead there.

- [John] Is there a meadow there, Mr. Carson?

- [Kit] Well, what'd you have in mind, boy?

- [John] Just a place to build that house

that Mama always wanted.

- [Catherine] John's promise was this valley,

sheltered by tall trees,

covered with sweet green grass.

It was as beautiful as the dream that lived in our hearts,

and in the hearts we left behind.

(dramatic music)

♪ Hear the mountain ♪

♪ I hear it call you ♪

♪ How young and small you and I must seem ♪

♪ But the mountain ♪

♪ Was made for climbing ♪

♪ Let's get the climbing done ♪

♪ We've only begun our dream ♪

♪ Every sunset ♪

♪ We'll leave behind us ♪

♪ I know we'll find us ♪

♪ Closer to the day ♪

♪ When we'll find the home ♪

♪ That's waiting somewhere ♪

♪ Our home is a dream ♪

♪ But only a dream away ♪