Original subtitles

[greetings in native language]...

This is Luke Smithson. He's on a journey.

A journey? - Yes.

I wanted to see the country and meet people.

[They laugh].

I've only just moved out here from the East.

Come. You must be hungry. - I'll get the horses.

How do you like my partner? - Partner?

Well...'lover' if you like.

Your lover?

...but I didn't know.

He didn't say.

I...

Come on...

Smells good.

Mmm, that looks good.

Hope you don't mind if I tell you that you look like someone I used to know.

Ephraim?

He was on a journey, too.

He was trouble like you are.

He had corn-colored hair and...

...blue eyes, just like you.

Tell him.

Hmm?

Tell him. Tell him about Ephraim.

He was on a journey, too.

One day, he just came out of the blue.

We loved each other... for a long, long time.

Sometimes he knew where he was going, but... most of the time he didn't.

He paddled up the river looking for something.

He was searching for peace of mind, only he didn't know that until later.

He only knew that whatever it was he had to find, it was important to him.

He met Singing Heron, in much the same way as you met Puma tonight.

The old man from Astoria, the one called Acoma, did he give you something?

You ARE my brother.

We'll eat now, then go to the lake.

It's an Indian brew, for peace and friendship.

To... friendship.

How did you meet Acoma?

He... he saved my life.

I had a friend back East...

We came out here together...

...and then he met this 'Calvin' in Astoria.

Calvin's a strange man.

And then one night he disappeared...

...and I...

I saw him again... and then we...

Your friend... was he your partner?

Partner?

Ohhh... I see what you mean.

He was, in a way.

But I try not to think of him anymore. He's gone for good.

I hope.

Anyway, there was a fight...

...an ambush...

Calvin arranged it.

Acoma saved me and sent me to see some medicine man...

Bear-who-dreams. - He is wise.

Tell me, was your friend... was your friend in love with you?

I don't know.

In his own way, I think.

He was... dishonest...

...mixed up...

Whenever he wanted to sleep with me, he'd get drunk and say I forced him into it.

I would show you happiness.

I'm sorry.

No... it's my fault.

I didn't expect...

I should trust you.

Montgomery. - Montgomery? Was that his name?

Let us not speak of him. Come with me.

Acoma told me that the medicine man who dreams... will be able to help me.

He can see your soul and make it known to you...

...and perhaps if you are alone, he will bring you a partner...

...but it seldom happens that we are alone with him.

And, do you have a partner?

Yes, I do.

He has gone to Vancouver, and will return soon.

He's a White Man... a trapper.

Ephraim, you suffer from a White Man's disease.

It's called jealousy, or sometimes selfishness.

If I know one man, can't I know another at the same time?

If I'm with you, doesn't mean I want him less.

I don't want to own a man as I would an animal.

I... I still don't understand.

It doesn't seem right.

You will, in time.

Calvin was the only man who ever tried to own me.

He wanted me to hate myself and my body...

...just as he hated himself and his body.

That's his missionary way.

What does that mean?

When someone is planning a journey, he throws many of these sticks...

...into the river before he starts.

Those downstream will know he is on his way.

It's an Indian from the Eagle camp I think, on a play journey.

'Play journey'?

You'll understand.

[loon call from off-screen]...

...[answering loon call]...

...[they exchange greetings in a native language].

This is John. He has many Indian names.

And you are Ephraim MacIver.

[laughs] Everyone seems to know my name.

You are... beautiful.

[Ephraim chuckles].

Words of a child... Come. You must be hungry.

[talk in native language]...

...[native language], MacIver.

There's a man downstream I must visit.

I hear HE is very handsome.

Three days ago I met someone... [they laugh] an older man.

Perhaps with so many stops, John, you won't have time to see your friend.

Oh no. I will let him know where I am.

He will be there.

Those are words of a braggart.

How could that be, if I am so full of love?

[they laugh].

If you weren't so busy, I'd show you.

Get away, you little rabbit. I have no time for you.

[all laugh].

I— I was told to be very careful along the streams in the Siuslaw.

Why is that?

Mr. Calvin... is searching for someone.

There's a man with him.

Montgomery.

I thought Calvin would be alone. - You know these men?

The man with Calvin once traveled with Ephraim.

He hides behind an ugly mask.

What do you mean?

How do you know what is under a mask?

How can you tell when a man is wearing a mask at all?

Riddles.

You have much to learn.

That may be true...

...but you remember when my cousin and I took that trip to the fort?

There were many people there...

...mostly strangers.

My cousin told me to remain quiet and observe.

At one of the council meetings...

...a young brave attracted my attention.

He was boasting, and making jokes about the Loon society.

He said said that we stole warriors' souls...

...by witchcraft, and made them unfit for battle.

Well...

...one night, I was awakened by a stranger.

His hand was on my mouth. I couldn't call out.

When he let go...

I saw it was the boaster.

He said, 'I want you to do such and such to me, and I will pay you for it.'

'No,' I told him, 'I do not make love for money.'

To me, that would be worse than slavery.

He said it would... only take a few minutes...

...but I— I said, 'It would lower me and make me a thing less than a man.'

Then I ran away.

I found my cousin and I told him what had happened.

Suddenly, I was seized and bound by a band of men.

I was taken before the tribal council.

The boaster was there. He accused me of sorcery.

'What was the nature of this sorcery,' they asked.

And he told them a fantastic tale of how I make.

God's Eyes to make him lose his senses...

...and had assumed the form of a sleeping witch.

Finally, the chiefs turned to me and asked for my story.

I thought... before I replied.

'I follow the Way of the Loon,' I said. 'That is true.'

but that everything else he says is false.

I told them that, among my people...

...we don't— we do not make God's Eyes.

We do not need sorcery to find happiness, or turn ourselves into witches.

or dress as maidens as he accuses.

We were born men.

We never pretend to be otherwise.

And then I said, 'You... who are sitting here...

...cannot judge my spirit, but only my body.'

'Am I not a true man?'.

They decided that I had spoken the truth.

And the chief told the boaster that he had indeed had a bad dream—...

...that the witch was inside HIS soul.

He was told to seek the truth and purify himself,

for he was in great danger.

The boaster covered his head in fear.

I have not seen him since I was set free.

You were wise in not telling them what really happened.

The man might have tried to kill you.

If he had any sense, he would go to his medicine man for purification., ,

and then to Bear-who-dreams.

What does he look like?

He was very handsome... and very strong...

...and he had a scar, here. - How do you know?

He was... naked when he came to me...

...and there was enough light. [all laugh].

I still think about him.

Well, I hope you no longer think of me as 'The Little Rabbit'. [they laugh].

I cannot keep my friends waiting.

Good-bye, my brother.

[talking in native language].

You know, Cal... you're a funny man.

In fact, you're really odd.

You're going to a hell of a lot of trouble to find Ephraim,

and I bet you don't even know why.

I'm not a betting man.

I know what I'm doing.

All you've done so far is try to kill him.

'Kill'? You idiot...

I just wanted to run him out of town.

You ran him out of town?

Hell. We've been on this river damn near 3 weeks.

We are never going to find him.

He's not more than 20 miles from here.

It's an Indian sign. It means 'danger'.

I picked it out of the water about an hour ago...

I'm trying warn Ephraim.

Alright. What do we do now?

We stay on the river till we find him.

Until YOU find him, Cal.

If it weren't for your drunken loudmouth, we wouldn't be here now.

Don't you preach to me.

You preach to those pretty little boys you're watching all the time.

Damn you.

Ephraim couldn't make up his mind about himself...

...any more than Calvin or Montgomery could.

The 3 of them had been in a brawl in Astoria...

...and Ephraim had nearly been killed.

Indian had rescued him and told him to...

...go see Bear-who-dreams who could help him.

Ephraim had enough sense to see that he needed help...

...and so, while he was searching for Bear-who-dreams, he met me...

...or maybe it was me who met him.

[rifle shot].

Look, friend...

...if I was going to harm you, I'd have had your rifle.

Name's Wheelwright.

Cyrus Wheelwright.

It was quite a meeting.

We didn't feel easy with each other, but then...

...he was a city boy.

Get around the other side and help me with the gear.

Was into Vancouver, supplies, quite a town.

You ever been there?

No.

I'm more or less new out here.

Didn't tell me your name.

It's Ephraim MacIver, right?

It had been many days since he'd bathed. My God, how he smelled.

A skunk would have smelled sweeter.

You might want to clean up... and get a few more things to do here.

Come on. I'll join you. - You mind if I use some of that soap?

Thanks. You don't know how good this feels.

Hey, Cyrus. Watch this.

The day after we met, I had to take a horse to an Indian friend of mine.

I'd brought it all the way from Vancouver as a present.

Are you sure your Indian friend will be waiting?

He's probably been there for days.

An Indian'll wait all winter for a horse.

Let's go. We should be back by nightfall.

It became a journey I'll remember for the rest of my life.

I don't like city boys, but Ephraim was different.

Don't know why. He knew nothing...

...nothing about the wilds... nothing about animals...

...trees... birds... fish... anything.

nothing about Indians...

...nothing about how to survive...

Green? Huh.

But he wanted to learn, and I wanted to teach him.

I wanted to get those city ways out of him and teach him the good things...

...the things the Lord meant us all to know.

I wanted to boil him in them, like... like he was in a pot...

...so he'd never want to leave...

...but country seemed to overpower him...

He could never treat it as just being there.

Somehow it seemed to make him need me more, so I enjoyed it.

And here I am THE Ephraim MacIver.

See if you can keep up with 'THE Ephraim MacIver'.

Haha-hah.

Yunopo, Masono. - Yunopo, Cyrus.

This is my friend Running Buffalo.

Yunopo. - Hello.

Give him your reins.

Yunopo. Yunopo.

What does 'yunopo' mean? - [chuckles] 'friend'.

Come on. Let's go.

But I was curious about him, too.

How come he'd been running around with that guy, Montgomery?

...and Calvin, too.

Two real unhappy men, they were.

Why are they after you?

What really happened in Astoria?

Montgomery met Calvin there, and they became close friends.

Before we parted ways, Montgomery told me...

...a wild story about Calvin and some Indian boys.

I know about that.

Well, they thought I was spreading the story around town.

Calvin made a trap for me in a hotel and they almost beat me to death.

I know it sounds funny...

...but I still think about Montgomery.

Funny...

...he never wanted to take his clothes off, unless he was drunk and...

...uh...

...wanted to...

Damn it, you're beautiful.

You know how to use one of these?

No.

Well, you should learn.

It's a mistake to rely on a rifle out here.

A bow and arrow is very quiet.

Well, let's see what we can do.

We'd better be getting out of here.

Why, what's the matter?

That's the second danger stick I've seen in the past half hour. Over there, see it?

Danger, from what?

Calvin and Montgomery.

Can we hide the canoe over there?

Cover your tracks, and let's get up to the rise.

[gunshot].

I got him.

Good shot, huh?

Calvin...

Why don't we make camp here.

Then we won't have to pack the whole carcass.

No.

It's 3 hours till nightfall.

We'll just take the hindquarters.

And leave the rest here?

Can't eat it all before it's spoiled.

You still think you're going to find him, don't you?

They're gone.

Are you sorry?

What do you mean?

Ohhh...

Montgomery.

That's over.

All over.

Come on. We should warn our friends downstream.

Right here.

Yeah, but...

That Calvin sure is peculiar lookin'.

Did you notice how he did all the work while Montgomery just played around?

If I know Montgomery, he doesn't give a damn about this search.

Or for Calvin, either.

Those two belong together.

Let's go.

[crickets chirping].

Do you drink?

Sometimes.

This country's so beautiful.

I think it's the first time I've... ever really been happy.

Would you... be able to spend the rest of your life, here?

Maybe.

That depends.

I don't understand.

You... and Singing Heron...

...and this...

...this 'free love'.

What 'free love' means to... to us, you and me...

It's different to these people.

It's more of a... spiritual nature.

For instance... if I love someone...

...that doesn't mean I... can't be with someone else.

But...

But what about Singing—.

You have to forget your fears and jealousies.

I don't see how that's possible.

Would it make any sense...

...if I said...

...that I'm in love with you?

Promise?

Why is he called Bear-who-dreams?

Well, the Indians use really powerful medicines.

Bear-who-dreams uses all of them...

Don't misunderstand me. You do what he says.

He's very wise.

Cyrus?

I guess I won't be seeing you again. It's a long trip.

I'll get a message to you in September.

Good-bye.

It's important. We have to build a cabin before it snows.

That is.... unless you change your mind.

September.

I think... sending him away was the hardest thing I've ever done.

I didn't want him to go. That's for sure.

He needed Bear-who-dreams to sort him out,

but I knew I only had to say the word and he would have stayed, gladly.

He wanted to know how Bear-who-dreams could help him...

...but I wouldn't tell him. I let him find that out for himself.

but I wish I could have saved him from all the experiences I knew he would have...

...when Bear-who-dreams gave him the golden mushrooms...

...and sent him out on his medicine dream.

That's when he would have to face himself as he really was.

It takes a strong man to survive that.

Acoma. It's good to see you. - Hello, my son.

I never expected to find you here.

You never expected to find me in a doorway in Astoria...

...did you?

Has your journey gone well, my son?

Almost too well.

Come. He is waiting for you.

Where? I don't see any cave.

It is carefully hidden. Follow me.

Ephraim MacIver...

...your journey has ended.

I hope so, my father.

I'm troubled.

I sense...

...that you already have in your soul...

...the gentleness out of which all love is born...

...both the love of all men and of all creatures.

Do you feel this?

I.. I don't know.

I hate no-one.

but...

I'm afraid.

Is it the companion of Mr. Calvin?

Are you certain that you don't hate him?

No, I'm not.

I'm not sure of anything.

Fear walks with the weak man and the stupid.

Let this man keep the part of your soul that he possesses.

You gave it... freely... generously...

Give... Forget the past.

Hatred and vengeance are poisonous.

I can't forget.

I was nearly killed.

If you allow anger to remain in your heart...

...he will have succeeded in breaking your soul...

...just as surely as if he was still by your side.

It seems as if you have already attracted many people.

Do you feel love for all of them?

I think so.

But isn't it wrong to love more than one person at a time?

No...

...but I will not tell you why.

You must find that out for yourself.

Your choice will become clear in your medicine dream.

You may go.

Acoma...

...what's going to happen?

He will think of you this afternoon and make prayers for you.

I will prepare you for your spirit quest.

I am telling the Earth to send you forth into the world.

[chanting] Namiahori ingekio.

Eat this.

You must wear no clothing on your journey, but take this with you.

Go, my son.

[chanting] Namiahori ingekio.

Namiahori ingekio.

Namiahori ingekio.

Namiahori ingekio.

Namiahori ingekio.

Namiahori ingekio.

[trancelike distant voice] Ephraim.

[echoing] Ephraim. Ephraim. Ephraim.

Ephraim. Ephraim.

Ephraim.

[mocking laughter]...

...[more laughing].

No.

You... What do you want.?

You. I'm going to kill you, you damn queer.

You can't be real.

You think not?

[arrow whooshes into him]...

...[crying].

And I suddenly realized that, Cyrus...

...the tree had killed him.

When I turned around, I saw a patch of red flowers...

...where Montgomery had fallen.

You have had a true vision.

You have seen many things the White Man would see only in the Indian way.

Red is the color of death...

...and Montgomery is dead...

...for you.

Now, let us feast.

I have to get a message to Cyrus about some plans we made.

Will you take them with you when you go back to Astoria?

Of course.

You have found your peace, but you must keep the eye of the needle.

What does your heart tell you, Ephraim?

Be my father?

I am...

...pleased...

...that you wish to...

...but remember...

I am not what you would call me...

...nor are you what I would call...

Do we have to have names for everything?

Ephraim.

Names often lead us astray.

Some things should not be spoken.

Your peace is mine.

Our souls have touched.

That is enough.

Thank-you.

Thank-you, my father.

Go.

Now walk in beauty and happiness.

[Ephraim grunts as he digs].

Need any help there, partner?

[laughing].

What are you doing?

Here. Give it to me.

[laughing].

Hell, we'll finish our cabin in... about 3 weeks.

We should build a corral or a stable for the mules.

And we're going to do some haying this fall.

See that big pine tree over there?

That was you in my medicine dream.

What about Montgeomery, now?

As far as I'm concerned, he's dead.

What if you meet him again?

You want some more?

I think we'll go into Astoria in a few days for supplies.

We'll be back in plenty of time to finish the cabin.

Cal and Montgomery are in there, you know.

Don't worry.

His medicine trip had made a different man of him...

...stronger, more sure of himself.

He was freer now...

...freer than he'd ever been...

...but he didn't have to meet Montgomery again, after all.

I had ordered a present for Ephraim,

and I wanted to go into town alone to pick it up, so it'd be a surprise.

I left Ephraim building a corral...

...or trying to build one, anyway.

It didn't matter to me whether I met Calvin and Montgomery or not...

...but in a small town like Astoria, I thought it was pretty likely that I would.

[slams bottle].

Come on, have another one. You gotta catch up on about 30 years of drinking.

There's gonna be no... No more.

Now, you drink that, you son of a bitch, or I'll kick your ass right out of here.

Go on... Go on.

Tell them why you're getting drunk...

...you yellow-bellied...

Gentlemen...

Gentlemen.

I've been asked to tell you why...

I'm getting drunk for the first time in my life...

...why I AM drunk for the first time in my life.

Are you listening?

'Cause I want you to get it straight.

I don't want no more lies told about me.

It's because...

...for the first time in my life...

I'm falling in love.

Perhaps not the first time, but it's the first time.

I ever admitted it to myself.

Yes, gentlemen...

...it's a wonderful thing to be in love.

Sometimes...

...a terrible thing.

And do you want to know who it is I love?

Do ya?

I'm in love with this son of a bitch right here...

...and he's afraid...

...ashamed maybe, to admit that he loves me.

He's lying.

Can't you see that he's lying.

Now that I've destroyed myself, I can still say that I love you...

...but you, you bastard...

...you'll never have any guts...

...if you're honest.

You're a liar. You're a goddamn liar.

♪ Takes all that I got Just to keep me alive, ♪...

...♪ Takes all I got Just to roll my own way. ♪...

...♪ I'll stay while I can, but I'm gone much too soon, ♪...

...♪ Follow the Way of the Loon. ♪...

...♪ ♪...

...♪ A spirit must scramble down the only road it knows, ♪...

...♪ To live and die and take the sunsets as they go. ♪...

...♪ I'll stay while I can But I'm gone much too soon, ♪...

...♪ Follow the Way of the Loon. ♪...

...♪ ♪...

...♪ I'll take the roads there are to follow, ♪...

...♪ Keeping high to the settin' sky. ♪...

...♪ I'll do the things that my timing will allow, ♪...

...♪ For all too soon, Well, I will die. ♪...

...♪ ♪...

...♪ Takes all I got Just for me to stay alive, ♪...

...♪ Takes all I got Just to roll my own way. ♪...

...♪ I'll stay while I can, But I'm gone much too soon, ♪...

...♪ Follow the Way of the Loon, ♪

♪ Follow the Way of the Loon. ♪.