Nez Perce - Season 1
Nez Perce - Pilot
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Writer's Commentary
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Ray McKinnon .... General William T. Sherman
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Julia Jones …. Springtime
Forrest Goodluck …. Wahlitits
Amber Midthunder …. Little Bird
Tatanka Means …. Red Grizzly
Jay Tavares …. Eagle Robe
Grace Dove …. Fairland
Zach Gilford …. Lt. James Bradley
Plot: The year is 1877. Lt. James Bradley (Zach Gilford), US infantry cavalry scout rides on a horse in the vast, empty plains of northern Montana. He checks his compass, then continues charging ahead on horseback. He spots something in the distance and heads toward it. There is a dead body in the grass up ahead, flayed with arrow, lying in a pool of dried blood. The body wears a Union uniform just like Bradley's. Bradley hops off his horse and turns the body over. The body is mutilated. Eyes gouged. Throat cut. Head scalped. Bradley gets back on his horse and continues ahead toward a clearing where he finds hundreds of bodies strewn across the landscape. The ground is soaked red with blood. An entire cavalry unit has been slaughtered, the bodies desecrated beyond recognition. Genitals have been ripped from one corpse and down the throat of another. Heads are severed and placed on pikes. Overwhelmed, Bradley doubles over and vomits. Suddenly he hears something. He looks up to see a white horse on the other side of the battle field. It is covered in blood and impaled with arrows, but it is still alive. Bradley rides over to the horse and strokes its mane, looking into the haunted animal's eyes.
A mighty elk trots through a mountain forest as the smoke of the Union Pacific Railroad rises off the far horizon. Something stirs in the forest. The elk, sensing danger, takes off, fleeing deep into the woods - but it's too late. Arrows come flying from every direction. The elk crashes to the ground - dead. Twenty warriors of the Nez Perce tribe emerge from the trees. Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) and his father Eagle Robe (Jay Tavares) stare down at the giant animal. Eagle Robe congratulates Wahlitits on a successful first hunt. Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) chastises Wahlitits for his noisiness nearly costing them the elk and Eagle Robe for his arrows all missing the elk. Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) steps forward with his brother Joseph (Adam Beach), the chief of the Nez Perce. Ollokot kneels down and offers a prayer for the animal. During the prayer, Joseph's eyes move away from the elk and toward the whistle of a distant train.
The warriors return to the Nez Perce village, comprised of a hundred tipis scattered along a hillside. Joseph sits with his wife Springtime (Julia Jones), while Ollokot goes to embrace his wife Fairland (Grace Dove). Eagle Robe and Wahlitits sit down by a fire. Eagle Robe looks over at his son and finds Wahlitits is fixated on a beautiful young woman named Little Bird (Amber Midthunder) sitting a few fires down. She suddenly looks his way. Nervous, Wahlitits quickly averts his gaze. Eagle Robe shakes his head with a slight smile.
The young men of the tribe assemble to play stickball as the sun begins to set. They divide into two teams and are about to begin when Toohoolhoolzote comes onto the playing field. The audience that has gathered around the field laugh at the thought of an older man playing a young man's game. The game begins - and boy is it brutal. Bodies collide and collapse onto the earth. The women and children cheer on the athletes. Wahlitits begins to advance the ball down the field and is about to score, but Ollokot intercepts his shot. He then hurls the ball to Toohoolhoolzote, who charges down the field and scores a goal. Everyone cheers. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means), a fierce warrior, rides into the village, putting an end to the stickball game. Wahlitits watches as Red Grizzly dismounts the appaloosa horse he rode in on. Red Grizzly seems agitated. Wahlitits quickly becomes distracted by the sight of Little Bird walking in the distance and walks off toward her.
Joseph walks through the village with Springtime when he notices a commotion surrounding Red Grizzly. He gives Springtime a concerned look before approaching the group. Red Grizzly announces that Yellow Hair has been killed by Sitting Bull. Toohoolhoolzote doesn't believe it, but Red Grizzly tells him that he spoke with a Lakota warrior who saw the whole thing. Sitting Bull's warriors attacked Yellow Hair's village and killed every last man. Joseph asks Red Grizzly to keep the news to himself and not tell the villagers. Red Grizzly thinks people should know. Ollokot interrupts, telling Red Grizzly to do what he is told. Red Grizzly bites his tongue and leaves.
Little Bird sits at the edge of the forest, staring up at the starry sky. Wahlitits sneaks up behind her. She jumps, realizes it's him and smiles. He takes her in his arms and tries to kiss her. She leans back, resisting. She tells him that if she's gone too long her mother will come looking for her. Wahlitits tells her to wait for her mother to fall asleep and meet him in one hour. She tries to get up, but he won't let her go. She looks deep into his eyes. They're clearly in love. She agrees to come back in one hour. Before she goes, Wahlitits puts a beautiful hand-crafted necklace in her hand. Little Bird smiles and heads back to the village.
Joseph enters his tipi to find Springtime climbing into bed. She asks him what the commotion was about. He tells her not to worry about it, Red Grizzly's just agitated with wild stories. Joseph and Springtime talks about packing up the village in the morning to leave the area for the winter.
Little Bird is wide awake listening to her mother snore. She finally gets the courage to stand up and leave. Her mother's snoring suddenly stops, and she asks where Little Bird is going. Little Bird says she thinks she heard something, but her mother tells her to go to sleep.
Wahlitits, after waiting for well more than an hour realizes Little Bird will not be returning that evening. As he starts walking back toward the village he hears voices ahead. Red Grizzly is talking to some of the other warriors, calling Joseph an idiot for not wanting to fight. Wahlitits steps on a branch, once again making his presence known. Red Grizzly offers Wahlitits a drink of whiskey from a bottle a white man gave him.
The next day, the Nez Perce tribe is on the move, heading home. 800 men, women and children comprise a convoy, stretching for miles, with broken-down tipis, horses, mules, and other livestock. Joseph and Ollokot are in the lead. Springtime and Fairland ride together and talk. Wahlitits glances back at Little Bird. She's wearing the necklace he gave her. He smiles. The tribe comes over a hill, revealing a distant ridge that marks their homeland. Toohoolhoolzote is the first to announce that they've made it home to Wallowa. The tribe cheers. Warriors begin to ride ahead, but they stop when they reach the ridge. Joseph can tell something is wrong, so he and Ollokot ride to catch up. When they reach the ridge they stare down at the valley below, their faces tightening with concern. They cautiously lead the tribe into the valley. Wallowa is overrun with white settlers and miners. While the Nez Perce tribe was away, an entire community sprang up in their absence.
General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys), a one-armed Civil War veteran stares out the window of a horse-drawn carriage that whisks him down the streets of Washington, D.C. Newspaper stands nearby show papers with giant bold headlines that read: MASSACRE AT LITTLE BIG HORN.
Howard is brought into the office of General William T. Sherman (Ray McKinnon). Sherman asks Howard what he knows about the Nez Perce Indians. Howard says they're not hostile, they're the ones that kept Lewis and Clark from starving to death on their expedition to the Pacific. Sherman motions to a file and tells him about the Whitman massacre - men, women and children brutally murdered with pipe tomahawks. Howard says that incident was over thirty years ago. Sherman replies by asking how long ago Lewis and Clark ran into their trouble...
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Writer's Commentary
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Ray McKinnon .... General William T. Sherman
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Julia Jones …. Springtime
Forrest Goodluck …. Wahlitits
Amber Midthunder …. Little Bird
Tatanka Means …. Red Grizzly
Jay Tavares …. Eagle Robe
Grace Dove …. Fairland
Zach Gilford …. Lt. James Bradley
Plot: The year is 1877. Lt. James Bradley (Zach Gilford), US infantry cavalry scout rides on a horse in the vast, empty plains of northern Montana. He checks his compass, then continues charging ahead on horseback. He spots something in the distance and heads toward it. There is a dead body in the grass up ahead, flayed with arrow, lying in a pool of dried blood. The body wears a Union uniform just like Bradley's. Bradley hops off his horse and turns the body over. The body is mutilated. Eyes gouged. Throat cut. Head scalped. Bradley gets back on his horse and continues ahead toward a clearing where he finds hundreds of bodies strewn across the landscape. The ground is soaked red with blood. An entire cavalry unit has been slaughtered, the bodies desecrated beyond recognition. Genitals have been ripped from one corpse and down the throat of another. Heads are severed and placed on pikes. Overwhelmed, Bradley doubles over and vomits. Suddenly he hears something. He looks up to see a white horse on the other side of the battle field. It is covered in blood and impaled with arrows, but it is still alive. Bradley rides over to the horse and strokes its mane, looking into the haunted animal's eyes.
A mighty elk trots through a mountain forest as the smoke of the Union Pacific Railroad rises off the far horizon. Something stirs in the forest. The elk, sensing danger, takes off, fleeing deep into the woods - but it's too late. Arrows come flying from every direction. The elk crashes to the ground - dead. Twenty warriors of the Nez Perce tribe emerge from the trees. Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) and his father Eagle Robe (Jay Tavares) stare down at the giant animal. Eagle Robe congratulates Wahlitits on a successful first hunt. Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) chastises Wahlitits for his noisiness nearly costing them the elk and Eagle Robe for his arrows all missing the elk. Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) steps forward with his brother Joseph (Adam Beach), the chief of the Nez Perce. Ollokot kneels down and offers a prayer for the animal. During the prayer, Joseph's eyes move away from the elk and toward the whistle of a distant train.
The warriors return to the Nez Perce village, comprised of a hundred tipis scattered along a hillside. Joseph sits with his wife Springtime (Julia Jones), while Ollokot goes to embrace his wife Fairland (Grace Dove). Eagle Robe and Wahlitits sit down by a fire. Eagle Robe looks over at his son and finds Wahlitits is fixated on a beautiful young woman named Little Bird (Amber Midthunder) sitting a few fires down. She suddenly looks his way. Nervous, Wahlitits quickly averts his gaze. Eagle Robe shakes his head with a slight smile.
The young men of the tribe assemble to play stickball as the sun begins to set. They divide into two teams and are about to begin when Toohoolhoolzote comes onto the playing field. The audience that has gathered around the field laugh at the thought of an older man playing a young man's game. The game begins - and boy is it brutal. Bodies collide and collapse onto the earth. The women and children cheer on the athletes. Wahlitits begins to advance the ball down the field and is about to score, but Ollokot intercepts his shot. He then hurls the ball to Toohoolhoolzote, who charges down the field and scores a goal. Everyone cheers. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means), a fierce warrior, rides into the village, putting an end to the stickball game. Wahlitits watches as Red Grizzly dismounts the appaloosa horse he rode in on. Red Grizzly seems agitated. Wahlitits quickly becomes distracted by the sight of Little Bird walking in the distance and walks off toward her.
Joseph walks through the village with Springtime when he notices a commotion surrounding Red Grizzly. He gives Springtime a concerned look before approaching the group. Red Grizzly announces that Yellow Hair has been killed by Sitting Bull. Toohoolhoolzote doesn't believe it, but Red Grizzly tells him that he spoke with a Lakota warrior who saw the whole thing. Sitting Bull's warriors attacked Yellow Hair's village and killed every last man. Joseph asks Red Grizzly to keep the news to himself and not tell the villagers. Red Grizzly thinks people should know. Ollokot interrupts, telling Red Grizzly to do what he is told. Red Grizzly bites his tongue and leaves.
Little Bird sits at the edge of the forest, staring up at the starry sky. Wahlitits sneaks up behind her. She jumps, realizes it's him and smiles. He takes her in his arms and tries to kiss her. She leans back, resisting. She tells him that if she's gone too long her mother will come looking for her. Wahlitits tells her to wait for her mother to fall asleep and meet him in one hour. She tries to get up, but he won't let her go. She looks deep into his eyes. They're clearly in love. She agrees to come back in one hour. Before she goes, Wahlitits puts a beautiful hand-crafted necklace in her hand. Little Bird smiles and heads back to the village.
Joseph enters his tipi to find Springtime climbing into bed. She asks him what the commotion was about. He tells her not to worry about it, Red Grizzly's just agitated with wild stories. Joseph and Springtime talks about packing up the village in the morning to leave the area for the winter.
Little Bird is wide awake listening to her mother snore. She finally gets the courage to stand up and leave. Her mother's snoring suddenly stops, and she asks where Little Bird is going. Little Bird says she thinks she heard something, but her mother tells her to go to sleep.
Wahlitits, after waiting for well more than an hour realizes Little Bird will not be returning that evening. As he starts walking back toward the village he hears voices ahead. Red Grizzly is talking to some of the other warriors, calling Joseph an idiot for not wanting to fight. Wahlitits steps on a branch, once again making his presence known. Red Grizzly offers Wahlitits a drink of whiskey from a bottle a white man gave him.
The next day, the Nez Perce tribe is on the move, heading home. 800 men, women and children comprise a convoy, stretching for miles, with broken-down tipis, horses, mules, and other livestock. Joseph and Ollokot are in the lead. Springtime and Fairland ride together and talk. Wahlitits glances back at Little Bird. She's wearing the necklace he gave her. He smiles. The tribe comes over a hill, revealing a distant ridge that marks their homeland. Toohoolhoolzote is the first to announce that they've made it home to Wallowa. The tribe cheers. Warriors begin to ride ahead, but they stop when they reach the ridge. Joseph can tell something is wrong, so he and Ollokot ride to catch up. When they reach the ridge they stare down at the valley below, their faces tightening with concern. They cautiously lead the tribe into the valley. Wallowa is overrun with white settlers and miners. While the Nez Perce tribe was away, an entire community sprang up in their absence.
General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys), a one-armed Civil War veteran stares out the window of a horse-drawn carriage that whisks him down the streets of Washington, D.C. Newspaper stands nearby show papers with giant bold headlines that read: MASSACRE AT LITTLE BIG HORN.
Howard is brought into the office of General William T. Sherman (Ray McKinnon). Sherman asks Howard what he knows about the Nez Perce Indians. Howard says they're not hostile, they're the ones that kept Lewis and Clark from starving to death on their expedition to the Pacific. Sherman motions to a file and tells him about the Whitman massacre - men, women and children brutally murdered with pipe tomahawks. Howard says that incident was over thirty years ago. Sherman replies by asking how long ago Lewis and Clark ran into their trouble...
Nez Perce - Discovery
Genre: Historical
Executive Producer: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Ray McKinnon .... General William T. Sherman
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Forrest Goodluck …. Wahlitits
Jay Tavares …. Eagle Robe
Damon Herriman …. Col. Nelson A. Miles
Kevin McKidd …. William Clark
Gabriel Mann …. Meriwether Lewis
Michael Horse …. Chief Twisted Hair
Michaela McManus …. Rebecca Fuller
Duncan Ollerenshaw …. Agent Robert Montieth
Tanaya Beatty …. Winter Moon
Plot:
1805. William Clark (Kevin McKidd) and Meriwether Lewis (Gabriel Mann) and their Corps of Discovery are frozen and starving in the Bitterroot Mountains during their journey to the Pacific. Almost completely out of food, Clark takes six hunters and hurries ahead of the group to hunt. Young Nez Perce boys notice Clark and his hunters. They are frightened and hide in the tall prairie grass. Clark spots the grass moving and quietly walks toward them. When he discovers that they are children, he offers them each a ribbon as a friendly gesture. Clark and the hunters follow the boys to a Nez Perce village. They are then taken to meet Chief Twisted Hair (Michael Horse), one of the Nez Perce chiefs, who invites Clark and his men to stay for a meal. Clark sends one of the men back to grin Lewis and the rest of the part to set up camp near the village.
1877. General Sherman (Ray McKinnon) stands in front of the Wallowa Valley to show General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys). Sherman tells Howard that in 1863, a Nez Perce chief sold the entire Wallowa Valley to the U.S. government, but that now there is a contention among certain Indian groups regarding the legality of the sale. A compromise was reached and the valley was divided in half, with the western half opened for settlement while the eastern half went back to the non-treaty Nez Perce who refused to assimilate into civilized society. In that time roughly half of the Nez Perce Nation has adopted white man's ways. They got to school and church. They look to the future, while the other half, the non-treaty Indians, led by Chief Joseph, have clung on to the past. Sherman tells Howard that four years ago, President Grant reaffirmed that half of the Wallowa Valley is to be reserved specifically for the non-treaty Nez Perce, but that the order was officially overturned - this morning. Sherman sits back down and gives Howard his orders: to proceed directly to the Wallowa Valley and rendevous with a Captain David Perry, then escort the Nez Perce tribe onto the neighboring reservation at Lapwai. Howard asks what to do if they refuse to be moved, and Sherman tells him to move them by force, by any means necessary. Howard asks if this is about Custer and Little Big Horn, or if it's actually about the gold that was discovered in the valley last winter.
On the streets of Washington, D.C., Howard buys a newspaper. Everyone on the crowded street is reading about the massacre at Little Big Horn. Howard runs into an old friend, Col. Nelson A. Miles (Damon Herriman), who offers to buy him a drink. At a tavern, Miles orders a shot of whiskey while Howard orders a cup of black coffee. They toast and drink. They talk about their time at West Point together. Howard tells Miles that he's being sent out to Wallowa to move the Nez Perce. Miles says the writing is on the wall. Little Big Horn has changed everything. Now the U.S. is going to hit the Indians full force.
Joseph (Adam Beach) watches as dozens of Nez Perce children, dressed in white man's clothing, pour out a school building in Lapwai, a town inhabited by miners and missionaries and Nez Perce Indians who have converted to Christianity and adopted white man's ways. The teacher, Rebecca Fuller (Michaela McManus), helps a Nez Perce student with his homework, when the doors opens. Joseph stands in the doorway, reluctant to approach. Rebecca sends the student home and looks at Joseph. Before she can say anything, Agent Robert Montieth (Duncan Ollerenshaw) bursts into the school house, announcing that Chief Joseph has been spotted in town. Rebecca motions to the side of the doorway, where Joseph stands. Montieth looks at Joseph, shocked. Joseph tells them that he means them no harm and that he will not stay long. Montieth is shocked that Joseph speaks English, albeit broken. Rebecca tells Montieth that she and Joseph attended school together in Lapwai, many years ago. Rebecca tells Montieth that she will be fine and that he can leave. Once Montieth has left, Rebecca gives Joseph a tender hug.
In the Nez Perce village, Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) comes out of his tipi, walking at a brisk pace. His father Eagle Robe (Jay Tavares) stops him in his tracks, asking him who is going to see. Wahlitits says nobody, but Eagle Robe knows he is going off to see Little Bird. Eagle Robe urges his son to be careful as Little Bird has promised to another man, but that he won't stop his son from being with the woman he loves. Wahlitits smiles and quickly leaves. Eagle Robe watches him disappear into the woods, then get back to work.
Joseph and Rebecca sit in the school house. He tells her that the white men have come before, but never this many. And there are soldiers too. All of them over the land granted to them by the great chief in Washington. He asks here why they are here. She hesitates, then takes something out of her desk drawer and sets it on the table with a soft thud. Joseph looks down at a small gold nugget. He picks it up and asks if it is the same rock they found in the back hills. Rebecca slowly nods. Joseph asks if what Red Grizzly says about Yellow Hair is true. Rebecca says it is. Joseph asks her if the white men know the difference between Lakota and Nez Perce. She tells him that some do, but many don't, and urges Joseph to be careful.
1805. By the time Lewis and the rest of the Corps of Discovery make it to the Nez Perce village, Clark has already made friends with Twisted Hair and has started to gather maps and geographic information from the Indians about the route further west. Twisted Hair introduces Clark to his daughter Winter Moon (Tanaya Beatty). She takes Clark by the hand and leads him into a tipi where the two have sex. With the Corps of Discovery's horse all in poor health, Lewis makes a deal with the Nez Perce for younger, healthier horses, giving the tribe guns and tobacco in return. Over the next couple of days, the Corps live among the Nez Perce, resting and building five dugout canoes to use once they reach the Columbia River, their gateway to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark thank Twisted Hair and the Nez Perce tribe for their hospitality and bid them fareful, hoping to cross their paths again on their return trip.
Genre: Historical
Executive Producer: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Ray McKinnon .... General William T. Sherman
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Forrest Goodluck …. Wahlitits
Jay Tavares …. Eagle Robe
Damon Herriman …. Col. Nelson A. Miles
Kevin McKidd …. William Clark
Gabriel Mann …. Meriwether Lewis
Michael Horse …. Chief Twisted Hair
Michaela McManus …. Rebecca Fuller
Duncan Ollerenshaw …. Agent Robert Montieth
Tanaya Beatty …. Winter Moon
Plot:
1805. William Clark (Kevin McKidd) and Meriwether Lewis (Gabriel Mann) and their Corps of Discovery are frozen and starving in the Bitterroot Mountains during their journey to the Pacific. Almost completely out of food, Clark takes six hunters and hurries ahead of the group to hunt. Young Nez Perce boys notice Clark and his hunters. They are frightened and hide in the tall prairie grass. Clark spots the grass moving and quietly walks toward them. When he discovers that they are children, he offers them each a ribbon as a friendly gesture. Clark and the hunters follow the boys to a Nez Perce village. They are then taken to meet Chief Twisted Hair (Michael Horse), one of the Nez Perce chiefs, who invites Clark and his men to stay for a meal. Clark sends one of the men back to grin Lewis and the rest of the part to set up camp near the village.
1877. General Sherman (Ray McKinnon) stands in front of the Wallowa Valley to show General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys). Sherman tells Howard that in 1863, a Nez Perce chief sold the entire Wallowa Valley to the U.S. government, but that now there is a contention among certain Indian groups regarding the legality of the sale. A compromise was reached and the valley was divided in half, with the western half opened for settlement while the eastern half went back to the non-treaty Nez Perce who refused to assimilate into civilized society. In that time roughly half of the Nez Perce Nation has adopted white man's ways. They got to school and church. They look to the future, while the other half, the non-treaty Indians, led by Chief Joseph, have clung on to the past. Sherman tells Howard that four years ago, President Grant reaffirmed that half of the Wallowa Valley is to be reserved specifically for the non-treaty Nez Perce, but that the order was officially overturned - this morning. Sherman sits back down and gives Howard his orders: to proceed directly to the Wallowa Valley and rendevous with a Captain David Perry, then escort the Nez Perce tribe onto the neighboring reservation at Lapwai. Howard asks what to do if they refuse to be moved, and Sherman tells him to move them by force, by any means necessary. Howard asks if this is about Custer and Little Big Horn, or if it's actually about the gold that was discovered in the valley last winter.
On the streets of Washington, D.C., Howard buys a newspaper. Everyone on the crowded street is reading about the massacre at Little Big Horn. Howard runs into an old friend, Col. Nelson A. Miles (Damon Herriman), who offers to buy him a drink. At a tavern, Miles orders a shot of whiskey while Howard orders a cup of black coffee. They toast and drink. They talk about their time at West Point together. Howard tells Miles that he's being sent out to Wallowa to move the Nez Perce. Miles says the writing is on the wall. Little Big Horn has changed everything. Now the U.S. is going to hit the Indians full force.
Joseph (Adam Beach) watches as dozens of Nez Perce children, dressed in white man's clothing, pour out a school building in Lapwai, a town inhabited by miners and missionaries and Nez Perce Indians who have converted to Christianity and adopted white man's ways. The teacher, Rebecca Fuller (Michaela McManus), helps a Nez Perce student with his homework, when the doors opens. Joseph stands in the doorway, reluctant to approach. Rebecca sends the student home and looks at Joseph. Before she can say anything, Agent Robert Montieth (Duncan Ollerenshaw) bursts into the school house, announcing that Chief Joseph has been spotted in town. Rebecca motions to the side of the doorway, where Joseph stands. Montieth looks at Joseph, shocked. Joseph tells them that he means them no harm and that he will not stay long. Montieth is shocked that Joseph speaks English, albeit broken. Rebecca tells Montieth that she and Joseph attended school together in Lapwai, many years ago. Rebecca tells Montieth that she will be fine and that he can leave. Once Montieth has left, Rebecca gives Joseph a tender hug.
In the Nez Perce village, Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) comes out of his tipi, walking at a brisk pace. His father Eagle Robe (Jay Tavares) stops him in his tracks, asking him who is going to see. Wahlitits says nobody, but Eagle Robe knows he is going off to see Little Bird. Eagle Robe urges his son to be careful as Little Bird has promised to another man, but that he won't stop his son from being with the woman he loves. Wahlitits smiles and quickly leaves. Eagle Robe watches him disappear into the woods, then get back to work.
Joseph and Rebecca sit in the school house. He tells her that the white men have come before, but never this many. And there are soldiers too. All of them over the land granted to them by the great chief in Washington. He asks here why they are here. She hesitates, then takes something out of her desk drawer and sets it on the table with a soft thud. Joseph looks down at a small gold nugget. He picks it up and asks if it is the same rock they found in the back hills. Rebecca slowly nods. Joseph asks if what Red Grizzly says about Yellow Hair is true. Rebecca says it is. Joseph asks her if the white men know the difference between Lakota and Nez Perce. She tells him that some do, but many don't, and urges Joseph to be careful.
1805. By the time Lewis and the rest of the Corps of Discovery make it to the Nez Perce village, Clark has already made friends with Twisted Hair and has started to gather maps and geographic information from the Indians about the route further west. Twisted Hair introduces Clark to his daughter Winter Moon (Tanaya Beatty). She takes Clark by the hand and leads him into a tipi where the two have sex. With the Corps of Discovery's horse all in poor health, Lewis makes a deal with the Nez Perce for younger, healthier horses, giving the tribe guns and tobacco in return. Over the next couple of days, the Corps live among the Nez Perce, resting and building five dugout canoes to use once they reach the Columbia River, their gateway to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark thank Twisted Hair and the Nez Perce tribe for their hospitality and bid them fareful, hoping to cross their paths again on their return trip.
Nez Perce - Sorrow
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Julia Jones …. Springtime
Forrest Goodluck …. Wahlitits
Amber Midthunder …. Little Bird
Tatanka Means …. Red Grizzly
Jay Tavares …. Eagle Robe
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Wes Studi .... Joseph the Elder
Mark Boone Junior .... Larry Ott
Raoul Max Trujillo .... Chief Lawyer
Rory Cochrane .... Governor Isaac Stevens
1855. Joseph the Elder (Wes Studi) looks around at the areas surrounding the Wallowa Valley and sees more white settlers in the distance than he had not too long before. The settlers are encroaching more and more on the traditional Nez Perce lands, appropriating their sacred land for their own farming and lifestock grazing needs. Joseph the Elder, expresses his wariness to another tribal leader, Chief Lawyer (Raoul Max Trujillo), decide to ride out to Olympia to meet with the governor of the Territory of Washington, Isaac Stevens (Rory Cochrane). At first Stevens refuses to meet with them, but Joseph the Elder and Lawyer refuse to leave the area. Wishing for them to simply go away, Stevens offers to have them present for an official council to decide land rights. Joseph the Elder turns down the offer, believing it to be a trick to get them to sell their sacred lands to the white man.
Governor Stevens leads the Walla Walla Council, along with the leaders of the Yakima, Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse tribes. The meeting culminates with lands being designated to the tribes. Chief Lawyer decides to sign the treaty on behalf of the entire Nez Perce Nation, believing the nation's reservations to be the best way to go about adapting to the ever-changing world around them. When word of the treaty spreads through the Nez Perce community, it causes a rift between those who support the treaty and those against the treaty. The pro-treaty Nez Perce move within the new reservation's boundaries along with Lawyer, while the non-treaty Nez Perce remain on their ancestral lands led by Joseph the Elder. Joseph the Elder and his men begin marking the boundaries of their with a series of poles.
1877. Eagle Robe (Jay Tavares) is busy gathering firewood, but he stops when he hears a rustling sound nearby. He makes his way through the thick trees towards a clearing up ahead, where discovers a horse grazing peacefully in the meadow. Eagle Robe approaches the horse, gently stroking the animal's mane. He is approached from behind by a local miner, Larry Ott (Mark Boone Junior), with his gun raised. Ott accuses Eagle Robe of trying to steal his horse. Eagle Rock doesn't understand English, but the gun and the tone let him know he's not welcome. Eagle Rock tries to explain that the horse is hungry and that the town does not have good grazing, so the horse came there to eat. Ott points to a brand on the horse, indicating his ownership over the horse. Eagle Robe slowly nods and begins stepping away from the angry miner. Ott fires a shot past Eagle Robe's head. Eagle Robe drops to his knees, terrified. Ott slams the butt of his rifle into Eagle Robe's face. Eagle Robe crumples to the ground. Ott kicks him, cracking his ribs. Ott howls with laughter. Eagle Robe grabs Ott's foot and twists his ankle, dropping Ott to the ground. Eagle Robe his Ott again, and again. Eagle Robe fires his gun. The bullet rips into Eagle Robe's torso. He hits the ground, still alive, and tries to crawl away. Ott gets to his feet. He walks over to Eagle Robe and takes aim at the wounded warrior and fires again. Eagle Robe's still body lies on the ground, a pool of blood around his head. Ott begins walking back toward his horse. Eagle Robe's fingers are twitching. He's still alive, barely.
Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) rides into the village on horseback and discovers the tribe in panic. Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) breaks away from the elders and runs up to Joseph. Eagle Robe is on his death bed, surrounded by his friends. His face is a mesh of blood and pulp. Joseph enters the tipi with Ollokot and looks down in horror. He sits down next to Eagle Robe and leans in close. Eagle Robe struggles to speak, but asks Joseph to tell his son to not seek revenge as it will only make people suffer. Joseph slowly nodes as Eagle Robe's breathing grows weaker.
Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) and Little Bird (Amber Midthunder) come into the village having spent the day together. They're happy and laughing, until Wahlitits sees the large gathering outside his father's tipi. He heads inside to find Eagle Robe dead. Everyone in the room is quiet, nobody quite knowing what to say. Joseph unfastens the beaded necklace around Eagle Robe's neck. He looks at it for a long, sad moment. Wahlitits is being restrained by Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) and Ollokot. Joseph walks over to him and gives Wahlitits his father's necklace. Wahlitits screams in anguish.
A train pulls into a station and General Howard (Matthew Rhys) steps out onto the platform. Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) is waiting for him. They ride on horseback toward the Wallowa mountains. Perry explains that most of the natives have never seen a train up close, that they see distant plumes of smoke and think it's some great iron monster. Perry laughs, then gets on with business. He tells Howard that they have four divisions of cavalry stationed nearby, but wanted to keep the troop presence in the valley to a minimum in the hopes of maintaining peace and order. They make their way into Lapwai and stop at the hotel. Howard notices that the courthouse lights are on and asks Perry what's going on. Perry tells him that a murder trial is underway. The courtroom is packed and segregated. The Nez Perce are stuffed in the back, while the whites and Christian Indians sit in the pews. Larry Ott sits at the defendants' table. Howard and Perry step inside to observe. The all white jury returns to the courtroom after deliberating. Howard looks over at the Nez Perce. Joseph is among them. Joseph looks right at Howard. Howard asks Perry who he is, and Perry says that is Chief Joseph. Howard and Joseph size each other up from across the room as the jury announces a verdict of not guilty. The white applaud Ott and give him congratulatory pats on the back. Joseph turns and leaves the courtroom peacefully. The rest of the Nez Perce follow his example, even Wahlitits.
Howard unpacks his things in his hotel room. He hangs up a fresh uniform in the closet. He places a copy of The Holy Bible on his bedside table. He looks out the window and notices distant fires lighting up the night. The fires are from Eagle Robe's funeral. Warriors dance around fires as tribe members join in a mournful wail. Toohoolhoolzote, Ollokot, Springtime (Julia Jones), Joseph, almost everyone participates. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) lurks in the shadows, watching. Wahlitits sits by himself, staring at the earth that marks his father's grave. Little Bird approaches and puts her arms around him. Wahlitits collapses into her embrace.
1863. Gold has been found in the mountains surrounding the Wallowa Valley, overruning the area with miners and squatters. Chief Lawyer, representing himself as the "head chief" of Nez Perce Nation, uses this information to sell much of the tribal lands off the government. Joseph the Elder tries to argue that this was never approved by his people and that Lawyer does not represent him or his people. Feeling hurt and deceived, Joseph the Elder condemns the United States, shreds his Bible, and announces that his people will not leave the Wallowa Valley or sign anything that would make the new reservation boundaries agreed upon by Lawyer legitimate.
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Julia Jones …. Springtime
Forrest Goodluck …. Wahlitits
Amber Midthunder …. Little Bird
Tatanka Means …. Red Grizzly
Jay Tavares …. Eagle Robe
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Wes Studi .... Joseph the Elder
Mark Boone Junior .... Larry Ott
Raoul Max Trujillo .... Chief Lawyer
Rory Cochrane .... Governor Isaac Stevens
1855. Joseph the Elder (Wes Studi) looks around at the areas surrounding the Wallowa Valley and sees more white settlers in the distance than he had not too long before. The settlers are encroaching more and more on the traditional Nez Perce lands, appropriating their sacred land for their own farming and lifestock grazing needs. Joseph the Elder, expresses his wariness to another tribal leader, Chief Lawyer (Raoul Max Trujillo), decide to ride out to Olympia to meet with the governor of the Territory of Washington, Isaac Stevens (Rory Cochrane). At first Stevens refuses to meet with them, but Joseph the Elder and Lawyer refuse to leave the area. Wishing for them to simply go away, Stevens offers to have them present for an official council to decide land rights. Joseph the Elder turns down the offer, believing it to be a trick to get them to sell their sacred lands to the white man.
Governor Stevens leads the Walla Walla Council, along with the leaders of the Yakima, Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse tribes. The meeting culminates with lands being designated to the tribes. Chief Lawyer decides to sign the treaty on behalf of the entire Nez Perce Nation, believing the nation's reservations to be the best way to go about adapting to the ever-changing world around them. When word of the treaty spreads through the Nez Perce community, it causes a rift between those who support the treaty and those against the treaty. The pro-treaty Nez Perce move within the new reservation's boundaries along with Lawyer, while the non-treaty Nez Perce remain on their ancestral lands led by Joseph the Elder. Joseph the Elder and his men begin marking the boundaries of their with a series of poles.
1877. Eagle Robe (Jay Tavares) is busy gathering firewood, but he stops when he hears a rustling sound nearby. He makes his way through the thick trees towards a clearing up ahead, where discovers a horse grazing peacefully in the meadow. Eagle Robe approaches the horse, gently stroking the animal's mane. He is approached from behind by a local miner, Larry Ott (Mark Boone Junior), with his gun raised. Ott accuses Eagle Robe of trying to steal his horse. Eagle Rock doesn't understand English, but the gun and the tone let him know he's not welcome. Eagle Rock tries to explain that the horse is hungry and that the town does not have good grazing, so the horse came there to eat. Ott points to a brand on the horse, indicating his ownership over the horse. Eagle Robe slowly nods and begins stepping away from the angry miner. Ott fires a shot past Eagle Robe's head. Eagle Robe drops to his knees, terrified. Ott slams the butt of his rifle into Eagle Robe's face. Eagle Robe crumples to the ground. Ott kicks him, cracking his ribs. Ott howls with laughter. Eagle Robe grabs Ott's foot and twists his ankle, dropping Ott to the ground. Eagle Robe his Ott again, and again. Eagle Robe fires his gun. The bullet rips into Eagle Robe's torso. He hits the ground, still alive, and tries to crawl away. Ott gets to his feet. He walks over to Eagle Robe and takes aim at the wounded warrior and fires again. Eagle Robe's still body lies on the ground, a pool of blood around his head. Ott begins walking back toward his horse. Eagle Robe's fingers are twitching. He's still alive, barely.
Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) rides into the village on horseback and discovers the tribe in panic. Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) breaks away from the elders and runs up to Joseph. Eagle Robe is on his death bed, surrounded by his friends. His face is a mesh of blood and pulp. Joseph enters the tipi with Ollokot and looks down in horror. He sits down next to Eagle Robe and leans in close. Eagle Robe struggles to speak, but asks Joseph to tell his son to not seek revenge as it will only make people suffer. Joseph slowly nodes as Eagle Robe's breathing grows weaker.
Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) and Little Bird (Amber Midthunder) come into the village having spent the day together. They're happy and laughing, until Wahlitits sees the large gathering outside his father's tipi. He heads inside to find Eagle Robe dead. Everyone in the room is quiet, nobody quite knowing what to say. Joseph unfastens the beaded necklace around Eagle Robe's neck. He looks at it for a long, sad moment. Wahlitits is being restrained by Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) and Ollokot. Joseph walks over to him and gives Wahlitits his father's necklace. Wahlitits screams in anguish.
A train pulls into a station and General Howard (Matthew Rhys) steps out onto the platform. Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) is waiting for him. They ride on horseback toward the Wallowa mountains. Perry explains that most of the natives have never seen a train up close, that they see distant plumes of smoke and think it's some great iron monster. Perry laughs, then gets on with business. He tells Howard that they have four divisions of cavalry stationed nearby, but wanted to keep the troop presence in the valley to a minimum in the hopes of maintaining peace and order. They make their way into Lapwai and stop at the hotel. Howard notices that the courthouse lights are on and asks Perry what's going on. Perry tells him that a murder trial is underway. The courtroom is packed and segregated. The Nez Perce are stuffed in the back, while the whites and Christian Indians sit in the pews. Larry Ott sits at the defendants' table. Howard and Perry step inside to observe. The all white jury returns to the courtroom after deliberating. Howard looks over at the Nez Perce. Joseph is among them. Joseph looks right at Howard. Howard asks Perry who he is, and Perry says that is Chief Joseph. Howard and Joseph size each other up from across the room as the jury announces a verdict of not guilty. The white applaud Ott and give him congratulatory pats on the back. Joseph turns and leaves the courtroom peacefully. The rest of the Nez Perce follow his example, even Wahlitits.
Howard unpacks his things in his hotel room. He hangs up a fresh uniform in the closet. He places a copy of The Holy Bible on his bedside table. He looks out the window and notices distant fires lighting up the night. The fires are from Eagle Robe's funeral. Warriors dance around fires as tribe members join in a mournful wail. Toohoolhoolzote, Ollokot, Springtime (Julia Jones), Joseph, almost everyone participates. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) lurks in the shadows, watching. Wahlitits sits by himself, staring at the earth that marks his father's grave. Little Bird approaches and puts her arms around him. Wahlitits collapses into her embrace.
1863. Gold has been found in the mountains surrounding the Wallowa Valley, overruning the area with miners and squatters. Chief Lawyer, representing himself as the "head chief" of Nez Perce Nation, uses this information to sell much of the tribal lands off the government. Joseph the Elder tries to argue that this was never approved by his people and that Lawyer does not represent him or his people. Feeling hurt and deceived, Joseph the Elder condemns the United States, shreds his Bible, and announces that his people will not leave the Wallowa Valley or sign anything that would make the new reservation boundaries agreed upon by Lawyer legitimate.
Nez Perce - Confrontation
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Forrest Goodluck …. Wahlitits
Tatanka Means …. Red Grizzly
Zach McClarnon .... Looking Glass
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Mark Boone Junior .... Larry Ott
Plot:1877. Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) stands beside his brother Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) and Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) in the grey light of early morning. They look tired, but focused. They watch as Looking Glass (Zahn McClarnon) rides up to them on horseback. He is chief of a Nez Perce settlement along the nearby Clearwater River. Looking Glass tells them that the news of Eagle Robe's death has filled his heart with sadness. He asks how Wahlitits is doing. Joseph says that his burden is heavy, but that Wahlitits has promised to honor his father's wishes and has sworn no acts of vengeance will follow. Toohoolhoolzote asks Looking Glass if there are white men along the Clearwater River. Looking Glass says there are not any yet.
Joseph, Ollokot, Toohoolhoolzote, and Looking Glass ride up upon the Lapwai Garrison with hundreds of warriors, all with faces painted red and in full battle dress. Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) and the soldiers of the garrison look nervous. The Nez Perce warriors circle the perimeter of the garrison. Joseph dismounts, then raises his hand. With that signal, every warrior disarms. Rifles, bows, knives, arrows are thrown to the ground. Even Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) reluctantly disarms.
In the garrison, General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) sits at a table. Perry stands nearby at attention. The Nez Perce sit on the ground, Joseph front and center. Joseph tells Howard that they will not sell their land. The land is their mother, and you do not sell your mother, so they will not sell the land. Howard tells Joseph that it is his understanding that the land was already sold to the U.S. by a Nez Perce Chief in 1863. Joseph tells Howard that it was not Chief Lawyer's land to sell, that he did not speak for the entire Nez Perce nation. Joseph tells him that their people have inhabited this land since the beginning of time, and that the white man arrived less than seventy winters ago. He knows this because his own father was there when the Nez Perce kept Lewis and Clark from starving. Joseph approaches Howard's table, and says that all the Nez Perce want to do is live in the land of their ancestors. They don't care about gold, they have not made war like the Lakota or the Crow, when some of their people chose to adopt the white man's ways they let them go and live their lives how they saw fit. Joseph says that even his own father converted to the white man's religion and named him Joseph. The Nez Perce just want peace for all. Howard asks for time to explain because it is a complicated situation. Joseph tells Howard that lies are complicated, truth is simple. Howard tells Joseph that the Nez Perce have not had any legal claim to the land since they sold it in 1863, and that he stands here at the request of the President and on his authority. His orders are simple and will be executed. Howard orders Joseph and his people to leave this valley and go to the reservation at Lapwai. Howard says he's not here to buy Joseph's land, he's here to throw Joseph of of America's land. Joseph asks what if they refuse. Howard says he'll use force if need be. Toohoolhoolzote can take no more. He stands and approaches. He demands to know what man dares to tell another where he can go and how he can live. Howard looks right at Toohoolhoolzote and tells him that he is that man. Toohoolhoolzote swings at Howard. Howard ducks, grabs Toohoolhoolzote's arm, twists it behind his back, and slams Toohoolhoolzote down on the table. Howard orders his men to stand guard. The nearby soldiers take aim on the unarmed Nez Perce warriors. Howard tells them to not underestimate him. He may be missing an arm, but he will have all of them put down. He then orders nearby guards to lock up Toohoolhoolzote in the jail. The guards take Toohoolhoolzote away. Joseph tells Howard that they do not desire war. Howard looks at Joseph long and hard, then walks away.
Later in the Nez Perce village, a roaring fire blazes, illuminating the bodies of Nez Perce warriors and elders. Joseph and Ollokot stand before the tribe. Looking Glass is present as well. Red Grizzly demands to know what action Joseph plans to take. Joseph tells him they must try to keep the peace. Red Grizzly argues that there is no peace to be had. Eagle Robe is dead. Toohoolhoolzote is in jail. The whites are all over the land. He feels they are already at war, whether Joseph likes it or not. Joseph asks Red Grizzly if he is really so eager to on the warpath. Red Grizzly says that the white man can be beaten, that Sitting Bull beat them, so they can beat them too. War is the answer. Joseph insists that war is never the answer.
Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) lurks in the shadows of the forest. He hears the sounds of drunken laughter. There is a cabin in a clearing up ahead. Larry Ott (Mark Boone Junior) sits on the porch with his buddies, drinking whiskey. Wahlitits raises his rifle, taking aim. His finger tightens around the trigger. His breathing grows heavy. His arms begin to shake. He lowers the gun and drops to his knees. He can't do it.
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Forrest Goodluck …. Wahlitits
Tatanka Means …. Red Grizzly
Zach McClarnon .... Looking Glass
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Mark Boone Junior .... Larry Ott
Plot:1877. Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) stands beside his brother Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) and Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) in the grey light of early morning. They look tired, but focused. They watch as Looking Glass (Zahn McClarnon) rides up to them on horseback. He is chief of a Nez Perce settlement along the nearby Clearwater River. Looking Glass tells them that the news of Eagle Robe's death has filled his heart with sadness. He asks how Wahlitits is doing. Joseph says that his burden is heavy, but that Wahlitits has promised to honor his father's wishes and has sworn no acts of vengeance will follow. Toohoolhoolzote asks Looking Glass if there are white men along the Clearwater River. Looking Glass says there are not any yet.
Joseph, Ollokot, Toohoolhoolzote, and Looking Glass ride up upon the Lapwai Garrison with hundreds of warriors, all with faces painted red and in full battle dress. Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) and the soldiers of the garrison look nervous. The Nez Perce warriors circle the perimeter of the garrison. Joseph dismounts, then raises his hand. With that signal, every warrior disarms. Rifles, bows, knives, arrows are thrown to the ground. Even Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) reluctantly disarms.
In the garrison, General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) sits at a table. Perry stands nearby at attention. The Nez Perce sit on the ground, Joseph front and center. Joseph tells Howard that they will not sell their land. The land is their mother, and you do not sell your mother, so they will not sell the land. Howard tells Joseph that it is his understanding that the land was already sold to the U.S. by a Nez Perce Chief in 1863. Joseph tells Howard that it was not Chief Lawyer's land to sell, that he did not speak for the entire Nez Perce nation. Joseph tells him that their people have inhabited this land since the beginning of time, and that the white man arrived less than seventy winters ago. He knows this because his own father was there when the Nez Perce kept Lewis and Clark from starving. Joseph approaches Howard's table, and says that all the Nez Perce want to do is live in the land of their ancestors. They don't care about gold, they have not made war like the Lakota or the Crow, when some of their people chose to adopt the white man's ways they let them go and live their lives how they saw fit. Joseph says that even his own father converted to the white man's religion and named him Joseph. The Nez Perce just want peace for all. Howard asks for time to explain because it is a complicated situation. Joseph tells Howard that lies are complicated, truth is simple. Howard tells Joseph that the Nez Perce have not had any legal claim to the land since they sold it in 1863, and that he stands here at the request of the President and on his authority. His orders are simple and will be executed. Howard orders Joseph and his people to leave this valley and go to the reservation at Lapwai. Howard says he's not here to buy Joseph's land, he's here to throw Joseph of of America's land. Joseph asks what if they refuse. Howard says he'll use force if need be. Toohoolhoolzote can take no more. He stands and approaches. He demands to know what man dares to tell another where he can go and how he can live. Howard looks right at Toohoolhoolzote and tells him that he is that man. Toohoolhoolzote swings at Howard. Howard ducks, grabs Toohoolhoolzote's arm, twists it behind his back, and slams Toohoolhoolzote down on the table. Howard orders his men to stand guard. The nearby soldiers take aim on the unarmed Nez Perce warriors. Howard tells them to not underestimate him. He may be missing an arm, but he will have all of them put down. He then orders nearby guards to lock up Toohoolhoolzote in the jail. The guards take Toohoolhoolzote away. Joseph tells Howard that they do not desire war. Howard looks at Joseph long and hard, then walks away.
Later in the Nez Perce village, a roaring fire blazes, illuminating the bodies of Nez Perce warriors and elders. Joseph and Ollokot stand before the tribe. Looking Glass is present as well. Red Grizzly demands to know what action Joseph plans to take. Joseph tells him they must try to keep the peace. Red Grizzly argues that there is no peace to be had. Eagle Robe is dead. Toohoolhoolzote is in jail. The whites are all over the land. He feels they are already at war, whether Joseph likes it or not. Joseph asks Red Grizzly if he is really so eager to on the warpath. Red Grizzly says that the white man can be beaten, that Sitting Bull beat them, so they can beat them too. War is the answer. Joseph insists that war is never the answer.
Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) lurks in the shadows of the forest. He hears the sounds of drunken laughter. There is a cabin in a clearing up ahead. Larry Ott (Mark Boone Junior) sits on the porch with his buddies, drinking whiskey. Wahlitits raises his rifle, taking aim. His finger tightens around the trigger. His breathing grows heavy. His arms begin to shake. He lowers the gun and drops to his knees. He can't do it.
Nez Perce - Reservation
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Julia Jones .... Springtime
Grace Dove .... Fairland
Zach McClarnon .... Looking Glass
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Wes Studi .... Joseph the Elder
Plot:1871. Chief Joseph the Elder (Wes Studi) is on his death bed in his tipi. His eldest son, Joseph (Adam Beach), kneels beside him. Joseph the Elder asks his son to bury him where the rivers meet as that earth is sacred. Joseph promises he will. With his last words, Joseph the Elder says that his country holds your father's body, never sell the bones of your father and your mother. Joseph holds back his tears and goes to get his younger brother Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier). Together they ride out with their father's body and bury him in a clearing where the Lostine and Wallowa Rivers meet.
1877. Chief Joseph and his brother Ollokot ride onto the Lapwai Reservation with General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) and his guards. The land is barren and empty. Joseph and Ollokot take a cautious look around. Howard asks them what they think. They don't answer. Howard says it's a decent piece of land. No white men anywhere in sight. They would be able to come and go and live their lives any way they please, just like they want. Joseph and Ollokot ride between a pair of empty houses. Joseph slowly turns his horse around to face Howard, and asks how long they will have to move if they accept the proposal. Howard says he can give them thirty days. Joseph glances back at the empty reservation. Howard asks Joseph his real name, his Indian name. Joseph tells him he would find it hard to pronounce, but it is Hinmuutu-Yalatlat. Howard laughs, saying he's right, that he would find that difficult to pronounce. Joseph smiles, faintly. Joseph tells Howard that he let him take Toohoolhoolzote to jail yesterday so that they could not be blamed had Howard been harmed. The same reason Joseph's father turned away from the white man's church and customs, because the white man says one thing and does another. The white man offers treaties and then breaks them. Howard tells Joseph that Larry Ott is a murderer, that he bets Joseph blames the white man for his freedom, but that he would have easily been convicted had just one of the Nez Perce testified. Howard asks Joseph if laying his hand upon the holy book is really that offensive to him. Joseph says yes, because the Nez Perce can tell the truth without having to raise their hands. Joseph rides past Howard, away from the reservation back toward Wallowa. Ollokot follows. Howard yells after them that they have thirty days to leave the valley or he will send the entire American army after them.
Joseph and Ollotkot come to a clearing at the fork of the Lostine and Wallowa Rivers. The area seems sacred. They dismount and kneel before their father's grave. Joseph wonders aloud what their father would do if he were still alive. Ollokot reminds Joseph that their father begged them to never sell the land. Joseph says he could never forget their father's last words. He does not wish to sell their country, he does not wish to sell the bones of their father and mother, but he does not want war. He does not want bloodshed. He does not want his people killed. He doesn't want any people killed. Ollokot asks Joseph if he would give up their father's grave. Joseph tells Ollokot that he would give up everything rather than have the blood of the whites upon the hands of their people. Not wishing to argue, Ollokot stands and leaves. Joseph stays behind, staring at his father's grave. He asks his father to not watch them now.
A soldier stands guard at the Lapwai jail. General Howard approaches on horseback. He orders the guard to release the prisoner, Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham). The soldier disappears inside the jail. Moments later Toohoolhoolzote comes outside, rubbing his wrists. He looks down the street and sees Howard talking to Joseph. The two men shake hands. Toohoolhoolzote can't believe his eyes.
Joseph and Ollokot stand before the tribe. Joseph addresses them, telling them that they all must leave the land of their ancestors. The tribe becomes agitated. They protest that his father never would have let this happen, and that they cannot leave their land and hand it over to the white man. Fairland (Grace Dove) and Springtime (Julia Jones) stay silent, their faces sad. Joseph looks devastated. Nearby, Looking Glass (Zahn McClarnon) watches.
General Howard and Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) walks towards the hotel in Lapwai. Howard tells Perry that he will be be leaving for Washington the next day and will trust Perry to make sure the Indians have relocated to reservation in no less than thirty days time. Perry gives Howard congratulations. Howard asks Perry congratulated him. Perry says for resolving the situation peacefully, for bringing balance and justice to the valley. Howard tells Perry goodnight.
Joseph and Looking Glass walk along the edge of the Nez Perce village. Looking Glass tells Joseph that he knew his father well. He did not live in such complicated times, but that he knows that Joseph the Elder would have done what is best for his people. Joseph asks Looking Glass what he plans to do. Looking Glass tells Joseph that he and his tribe will continue to live in peace and pray that gold is never found along the Clearwater River. Joseph smiles, and the two men clasp hands. They wish each other well. Looking Glass climbs onto his horse and gallops away.
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Julia Jones .... Springtime
Grace Dove .... Fairland
Zach McClarnon .... Looking Glass
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Wes Studi .... Joseph the Elder
Plot:1871. Chief Joseph the Elder (Wes Studi) is on his death bed in his tipi. His eldest son, Joseph (Adam Beach), kneels beside him. Joseph the Elder asks his son to bury him where the rivers meet as that earth is sacred. Joseph promises he will. With his last words, Joseph the Elder says that his country holds your father's body, never sell the bones of your father and your mother. Joseph holds back his tears and goes to get his younger brother Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier). Together they ride out with their father's body and bury him in a clearing where the Lostine and Wallowa Rivers meet.
1877. Chief Joseph and his brother Ollokot ride onto the Lapwai Reservation with General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) and his guards. The land is barren and empty. Joseph and Ollokot take a cautious look around. Howard asks them what they think. They don't answer. Howard says it's a decent piece of land. No white men anywhere in sight. They would be able to come and go and live their lives any way they please, just like they want. Joseph and Ollokot ride between a pair of empty houses. Joseph slowly turns his horse around to face Howard, and asks how long they will have to move if they accept the proposal. Howard says he can give them thirty days. Joseph glances back at the empty reservation. Howard asks Joseph his real name, his Indian name. Joseph tells him he would find it hard to pronounce, but it is Hinmuutu-Yalatlat. Howard laughs, saying he's right, that he would find that difficult to pronounce. Joseph smiles, faintly. Joseph tells Howard that he let him take Toohoolhoolzote to jail yesterday so that they could not be blamed had Howard been harmed. The same reason Joseph's father turned away from the white man's church and customs, because the white man says one thing and does another. The white man offers treaties and then breaks them. Howard tells Joseph that Larry Ott is a murderer, that he bets Joseph blames the white man for his freedom, but that he would have easily been convicted had just one of the Nez Perce testified. Howard asks Joseph if laying his hand upon the holy book is really that offensive to him. Joseph says yes, because the Nez Perce can tell the truth without having to raise their hands. Joseph rides past Howard, away from the reservation back toward Wallowa. Ollokot follows. Howard yells after them that they have thirty days to leave the valley or he will send the entire American army after them.
Joseph and Ollotkot come to a clearing at the fork of the Lostine and Wallowa Rivers. The area seems sacred. They dismount and kneel before their father's grave. Joseph wonders aloud what their father would do if he were still alive. Ollokot reminds Joseph that their father begged them to never sell the land. Joseph says he could never forget their father's last words. He does not wish to sell their country, he does not wish to sell the bones of their father and mother, but he does not want war. He does not want bloodshed. He does not want his people killed. He doesn't want any people killed. Ollokot asks Joseph if he would give up their father's grave. Joseph tells Ollokot that he would give up everything rather than have the blood of the whites upon the hands of their people. Not wishing to argue, Ollokot stands and leaves. Joseph stays behind, staring at his father's grave. He asks his father to not watch them now.
A soldier stands guard at the Lapwai jail. General Howard approaches on horseback. He orders the guard to release the prisoner, Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham). The soldier disappears inside the jail. Moments later Toohoolhoolzote comes outside, rubbing his wrists. He looks down the street and sees Howard talking to Joseph. The two men shake hands. Toohoolhoolzote can't believe his eyes.
Joseph and Ollokot stand before the tribe. Joseph addresses them, telling them that they all must leave the land of their ancestors. The tribe becomes agitated. They protest that his father never would have let this happen, and that they cannot leave their land and hand it over to the white man. Fairland (Grace Dove) and Springtime (Julia Jones) stay silent, their faces sad. Joseph looks devastated. Nearby, Looking Glass (Zahn McClarnon) watches.
General Howard and Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) walks towards the hotel in Lapwai. Howard tells Perry that he will be be leaving for Washington the next day and will trust Perry to make sure the Indians have relocated to reservation in no less than thirty days time. Perry gives Howard congratulations. Howard asks Perry congratulated him. Perry says for resolving the situation peacefully, for bringing balance and justice to the valley. Howard tells Perry goodnight.
Joseph and Looking Glass walk along the edge of the Nez Perce village. Looking Glass tells Joseph that he knew his father well. He did not live in such complicated times, but that he knows that Joseph the Elder would have done what is best for his people. Joseph asks Looking Glass what he plans to do. Looking Glass tells Joseph that he and his tribe will continue to live in peace and pray that gold is never found along the Clearwater River. Joseph smiles, and the two men clasp hands. They wish each other well. Looking Glass climbs onto his horse and gallops away.
Nez Perce - Blood
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Julia Jones .... Springtime
Forrest Goodluck .... Wahlitits
Amber Midthunder .... Little Bird
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Irene Bedard .... Little Bird's Mother
David Sullivan .... Mr. Norton
Stacey Oristano .... Mrs. Norton
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Plot:1877. Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) sits in his tipi with Little Bird (Amber Midthunder). Wahlitits tells her that he had his father's murderer in his sights, but he couldn't pull the trigger. He feels that he is a coward. Little Bird tells him that he is brave, and asks him what is more important to him, his own anger or the final wishes of his father. Little Bird pulls him close and tries to comfort him. Little Bird's Mother (Irene Bedard) storms into the tipi and drags Little Bird out by the arm. Wahlitits follows them out. Little Bird's Mother yells at her daughter, saying she has no business being in there with Wahlitits. She then turns to Wahlitits and orders him to stay away from her daughter. Little Bird begs her mother to stop, telling her that she and Wahlitits are married. Her mother stops. Heads turn in the village. Little Bird breaks free and goes to Wahlitits. He puts her arm around her. Little Bird's Mother slowly approaches and asks if it is true. Little Bird nods, telling her that Wahlitits is her husband. Little Bird's Mother reminds her that she is supposed to be the wife of another, but Little Bird tells her mother that she is in love with Wahlitits. Little Bird's Mother slaps her daughter hard. Little Bird begins sobbing. Her mother asks what kind of coward weds in secret. She then turns to Wahlitits, and says it must be the same coward who lets the man who killed his father walk free without lifting so much as a finger. She spits at Wahlitits' feet and storms off. Little Bird is devastated. Wahlitits looks shell shocked. He then turns and runs away. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) watches, sensing an opportunity.
Red Grizzly and his gang of warriors find Wahlitits sulking in the shadows of the forest. They surround him. Wahlitits looks up. Red Grizzly says that the old hag has a point, and asks why Wahlitits has done nothing to respond to his father's murder. Red Grizzly says that Eagle Robe deserves vengeance. Wahlitits tells Red Grizzly that he made a promise. Red Grizzly says that the white man promised justice, so since that promise was broken Wahlitits should not be held to his. Wahlitits says that the thought of his father's murderer still alive makes him sick. Red Grizzly tells Wahlitits that he should do something about it then. Red Grizzly offers Wahlitits a bottle of whiskey. Wahlitits hesitates, then starts drinking. Red Grizzly smiles.
Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) sits in his tipi watching his infant son sleep. Springtime (Julia Jones) crosses the room and puts her arms around him. She tells him that they could use some more meat. Joseph tells her that he will slaughter a calf tomorrow. He says they need to start thinking about making preparations to leave. Springtime does not respond for a long time. She then slowly lets go of her husband and goes to bed without saying a word.
Larry Ott's cabin sits peacefully in the still night. But then Wahlitits, Red Grizzly and a dozen young warriors emerge from the woods. Their faces red with war paint. They approach the cabin with quickening speed. The warriors kick down the door and charge into the house, guns raised. They find it empty. It appears that Larry Ott has packed and left town. The warriors come outside, not sure what to do. Red Grizzly sees a light in the far distance. A cabin, and the owners are obviously home. Red Grizzly nods to the warriors and heads toward the cabin. The warriors follow.
The Norton family has just finished dinner. Mr. Norton (David Sullivan) plays cards with their son, while Mrs. Norton (Stacey Oristano) does the dishes. Mr. Norton sees the warriors approaching the house and tells his wife to kill the lights and get down. Mrs. Norton blows out the lanterns. The house goes dark. She grabs their son and takes cover. Mr. Norton grabs his gun and rushes outside. He takes cover and sets his sights on the warriors. Red Grizzly holds up his hand, and the warriors stop. Mr. Norton asks what they want. Red Grizzly yells the name of Larry Ott. Mr. Norton says he isn't there, and he doesn't know where he is either. He must have left town since he had a feeling Indians would be coming after him sooner or later. The warriors have no idea what Mr. Norton is saying. Wahlitits turns to Red Grizzly, saying they should leave. Red Grizzly orders him to be quiet, but Wahlitits says that these people have done nothing wrong. Red Grizzly gives Wahlitits a look, shutting Wahlitits down. Mr. Norton tries to shift his position, knocking over a stack of firewood in the process. The warriors go for their weapons. Mr. Norton fires his gun, missing the warriors. All hell breaks loose. Twenty rifles erupt at close range. Bullets smash windows and pierce the walls of the Norton house. Mrs. Norton throws her body around her son as a shield. The warriors quickly overwhelm Mr. Norton. When the smoke clears, Mr. Norton lay dead on the ground. The warriors catch their breath, realizing they are all alive and without injury. Red Grizzly takes in the victory. He then sees Mrs. Norton on the porch with a shotgun. She pulls the trigger, but the gun misfires. Red Grizzly hurls his tomahawk at her. It slams into the door, and she stumbles into the house. She grabs a knife from the kitchen. Red Grizzly follows her into the house and knocks the knife loose from her hand, then hits her again and again until she stops resisting. Then he starts to rape her. Wahlitits enters the house, horrified by what he sees. He grabs Red Grizzly and tries to pull him away. The other warriors come in and drag Wahlitits back outside. He fights and struggles the entire way. Red Grizzly finishes his brutal assault and tosses Mrs. Norton to the ground like a rag doll. She slowly gets up and turns around. Red Grizzly stands at the doorway with his bow and arrow pointed her way. He fires. The arrow slams into Mrs. Norton's chest. She hits the floor with a thud. Satisfied, Red Grizzly turns and leaves. Hiding under the bed, Mrs. Norton's young son stares at his mother's lifeless body as blood begins to pool on the floor. The warriors light torches and set the house on fire. Wahlitits watches, deeply conflicted, as the flames engulf the house. The warriors turn and leave, one at a time. The last warriors heaves a final torch at the house. It flies through the window and lands next to Mrs. Norton, who is still alive. Her eyes flutter open, coughing up blood, gasping for air. She breaks the arrow sticking out of her chest. She then picks up her son and charges out the door as flames spread all around them. She avoids looking at her husband's body outside. Carrying her son, she limps away from the fire, towards the woods.
Dawn is fast approaching, as the Nez Perce village is still sleeping. Red Grizzly and the warriors return, shouting, screaming, firing their guns into the air, yelling that the war has begun. Their shouting continues as the village awakens. Hundreds of people scatter. As the news spreads, panic grows. Many warriors seem excited. But the elderly, the women, and the children all seem frightened by what is happening. Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) asks Wahlitits what he has done, but Wahlitits simply asks if he has seen Little Bird. Yellow Wolf shakes his head. Wahlitits goes to look for her. Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) holds down a calf so Joseph can slit its throat. Yellow Wolf suddenly appears, galloping toward them full speed. He brings his horse to an abrupt stop, and tells Ollokot and Joseph that there have been killings.
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Julia Jones .... Springtime
Forrest Goodluck .... Wahlitits
Amber Midthunder .... Little Bird
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Irene Bedard .... Little Bird's Mother
David Sullivan .... Mr. Norton
Stacey Oristano .... Mrs. Norton
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Plot:1877. Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) sits in his tipi with Little Bird (Amber Midthunder). Wahlitits tells her that he had his father's murderer in his sights, but he couldn't pull the trigger. He feels that he is a coward. Little Bird tells him that he is brave, and asks him what is more important to him, his own anger or the final wishes of his father. Little Bird pulls him close and tries to comfort him. Little Bird's Mother (Irene Bedard) storms into the tipi and drags Little Bird out by the arm. Wahlitits follows them out. Little Bird's Mother yells at her daughter, saying she has no business being in there with Wahlitits. She then turns to Wahlitits and orders him to stay away from her daughter. Little Bird begs her mother to stop, telling her that she and Wahlitits are married. Her mother stops. Heads turn in the village. Little Bird breaks free and goes to Wahlitits. He puts her arm around her. Little Bird's Mother slowly approaches and asks if it is true. Little Bird nods, telling her that Wahlitits is her husband. Little Bird's Mother reminds her that she is supposed to be the wife of another, but Little Bird tells her mother that she is in love with Wahlitits. Little Bird's Mother slaps her daughter hard. Little Bird begins sobbing. Her mother asks what kind of coward weds in secret. She then turns to Wahlitits, and says it must be the same coward who lets the man who killed his father walk free without lifting so much as a finger. She spits at Wahlitits' feet and storms off. Little Bird is devastated. Wahlitits looks shell shocked. He then turns and runs away. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) watches, sensing an opportunity.
Red Grizzly and his gang of warriors find Wahlitits sulking in the shadows of the forest. They surround him. Wahlitits looks up. Red Grizzly says that the old hag has a point, and asks why Wahlitits has done nothing to respond to his father's murder. Red Grizzly says that Eagle Robe deserves vengeance. Wahlitits tells Red Grizzly that he made a promise. Red Grizzly says that the white man promised justice, so since that promise was broken Wahlitits should not be held to his. Wahlitits says that the thought of his father's murderer still alive makes him sick. Red Grizzly tells Wahlitits that he should do something about it then. Red Grizzly offers Wahlitits a bottle of whiskey. Wahlitits hesitates, then starts drinking. Red Grizzly smiles.
Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) sits in his tipi watching his infant son sleep. Springtime (Julia Jones) crosses the room and puts her arms around him. She tells him that they could use some more meat. Joseph tells her that he will slaughter a calf tomorrow. He says they need to start thinking about making preparations to leave. Springtime does not respond for a long time. She then slowly lets go of her husband and goes to bed without saying a word.
Larry Ott's cabin sits peacefully in the still night. But then Wahlitits, Red Grizzly and a dozen young warriors emerge from the woods. Their faces red with war paint. They approach the cabin with quickening speed. The warriors kick down the door and charge into the house, guns raised. They find it empty. It appears that Larry Ott has packed and left town. The warriors come outside, not sure what to do. Red Grizzly sees a light in the far distance. A cabin, and the owners are obviously home. Red Grizzly nods to the warriors and heads toward the cabin. The warriors follow.
The Norton family has just finished dinner. Mr. Norton (David Sullivan) plays cards with their son, while Mrs. Norton (Stacey Oristano) does the dishes. Mr. Norton sees the warriors approaching the house and tells his wife to kill the lights and get down. Mrs. Norton blows out the lanterns. The house goes dark. She grabs their son and takes cover. Mr. Norton grabs his gun and rushes outside. He takes cover and sets his sights on the warriors. Red Grizzly holds up his hand, and the warriors stop. Mr. Norton asks what they want. Red Grizzly yells the name of Larry Ott. Mr. Norton says he isn't there, and he doesn't know where he is either. He must have left town since he had a feeling Indians would be coming after him sooner or later. The warriors have no idea what Mr. Norton is saying. Wahlitits turns to Red Grizzly, saying they should leave. Red Grizzly orders him to be quiet, but Wahlitits says that these people have done nothing wrong. Red Grizzly gives Wahlitits a look, shutting Wahlitits down. Mr. Norton tries to shift his position, knocking over a stack of firewood in the process. The warriors go for their weapons. Mr. Norton fires his gun, missing the warriors. All hell breaks loose. Twenty rifles erupt at close range. Bullets smash windows and pierce the walls of the Norton house. Mrs. Norton throws her body around her son as a shield. The warriors quickly overwhelm Mr. Norton. When the smoke clears, Mr. Norton lay dead on the ground. The warriors catch their breath, realizing they are all alive and without injury. Red Grizzly takes in the victory. He then sees Mrs. Norton on the porch with a shotgun. She pulls the trigger, but the gun misfires. Red Grizzly hurls his tomahawk at her. It slams into the door, and she stumbles into the house. She grabs a knife from the kitchen. Red Grizzly follows her into the house and knocks the knife loose from her hand, then hits her again and again until she stops resisting. Then he starts to rape her. Wahlitits enters the house, horrified by what he sees. He grabs Red Grizzly and tries to pull him away. The other warriors come in and drag Wahlitits back outside. He fights and struggles the entire way. Red Grizzly finishes his brutal assault and tosses Mrs. Norton to the ground like a rag doll. She slowly gets up and turns around. Red Grizzly stands at the doorway with his bow and arrow pointed her way. He fires. The arrow slams into Mrs. Norton's chest. She hits the floor with a thud. Satisfied, Red Grizzly turns and leaves. Hiding under the bed, Mrs. Norton's young son stares at his mother's lifeless body as blood begins to pool on the floor. The warriors light torches and set the house on fire. Wahlitits watches, deeply conflicted, as the flames engulf the house. The warriors turn and leave, one at a time. The last warriors heaves a final torch at the house. It flies through the window and lands next to Mrs. Norton, who is still alive. Her eyes flutter open, coughing up blood, gasping for air. She breaks the arrow sticking out of her chest. She then picks up her son and charges out the door as flames spread all around them. She avoids looking at her husband's body outside. Carrying her son, she limps away from the fire, towards the woods.
Dawn is fast approaching, as the Nez Perce village is still sleeping. Red Grizzly and the warriors return, shouting, screaming, firing their guns into the air, yelling that the war has begun. Their shouting continues as the village awakens. Hundreds of people scatter. As the news spreads, panic grows. Many warriors seem excited. But the elderly, the women, and the children all seem frightened by what is happening. Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) asks Wahlitits what he has done, but Wahlitits simply asks if he has seen Little Bird. Yellow Wolf shakes his head. Wahlitits goes to look for her. Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) holds down a calf so Joseph can slit its throat. Yellow Wolf suddenly appears, galloping toward them full speed. He brings his horse to an abrupt stop, and tells Ollokot and Joseph that there have been killings.
Nez Perce - Flight
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Julia Jones .... Springtime
Forrest Goodluck .... Wahlitits
Amber Midthunder .... Little Bird
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Stacey Oristano .... Mrs. Norton
Michaela McManus .... Rebecca Fuller
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Lily Gladstone .... Oyema
Plot:1877. Mrs. Norton (Stacey Oristano) stumbles out of the timber and into a meadow. Her clothes are drenched in blood, arrow stub sticking from her chest, holding her boy under her arm. She limps towards a nearby settlement. Men working in the field see her coming and run towards her to help her. She passes out once they reach her.
Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) and Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) arrive in the heart of the Nez Perce village to find it in panic. Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) is arming for war. Many others are preparing to leave. Joseph sees his wife Springtime (Julia Jones) up ahead. He fights his way through the crowd, finally reaching her. She asks him what they are going to do. Joseph tells her to prepare to leave now. Ollokot charges through the village, looking for someone. Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) is searching for Little Bird. He turns around just in time for Ollokot to slap his face. Wahlitits falls to the ground. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) swings at Ollokot. Ollojot flips Red Grizzly over his back and onto the ground. Nearby warriors restrain the other war party indians from intervening. Red Grizzly calls them all fools for trying to avoid war. It's begun whether they like it or not. Ollokot grabs Red Grizzly by the throat, and tells him that he is the fool, that he has stuck a knife into all of their backs. Joseph rides over and looks down at Red Grizzly and his warriors. He tells them that the white man is going to hang them for this, and he's going to let them. Joseph then turns to Wahlitits and says so much for promises made to a dying father. The words hit Wahlitits hard. He sees Little Bird (Amber Midthunder) staring at him from a distane and hands his head in shame. Gunshots suddenly rip through the village. Vigilantes are shooting from the trees. Warriors return fire, driving them back as women and children take cover. Joseph turns to Ollokot, telling him to strike all the tipis. They must be gone before the sun enters the sky.
General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) sits on a bench at the train station waiting for his train. The station manager gives Howard a message. He looks down at the paper, unable to believe. The message reads: WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN INDIAN WAR. Howard stands and leaves the station.
Joseph and Ollokot supervise as the Nez Perce tribe leaves their homeland. Wahlitits, Red Grizzly, and the other War Party Indians have their arms tied behind their backs and are escorted as prisoners. Most of the Indians are on foot. They run, fast and strong away from their home. High on the distant bluffs and well out of range, white vigilantes continue to fire at the fleeing tribe.
In Lapwai, people stand in the street, listening to the far away gunshots. Rebecca Fuller (Michaela McManus) comes out of the school house. She walks down the street, staring towards the distant mountains, afraid for her friend Joseph.
That night, the Nez Perce try to sleep in a dark patch of woods, but most eyes are wide open. Little Bird approaches Wahlitits. A warrior standing guard blocks her path, but she pleads with him to let her see Wahlitits, and he steps aside. Little Bird sits down beside Wahlitits and asks if he is alright. Wahlitits nods, trying to be brave. She looks into his eyes and asks if the story of the white woman is true. Wahlitits tells her that he tried to stop it. Little Bird looks away, heartbroken. She removes the necklace he gave her and sets it down in the dirt. She then stands and walks away. Wahlitits watches her go. Nearby, Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) has watched the entire exchange. He stares at Wahlitits with horror and sympathy.
That night, Yellow Wolf's wife Oyema (Lily Gladstone) is awakened by the sound of a snapping branch. She opens her eyes, but doesn't move a muscle. She can hear hushed whispers and crunching footsteps coming closer. Lanterns and torches are suddenly visible through the trees. A vigilante army approaches. Paralyzed by fear, the Nez Perce stay absolutely still. Oyema glances down at her sleeping baby. The torches come closer and begin to pass the tribe. Another loud snapping branch, and Oyema's baby begins to cry. Just for a second, then it stops. Everyone looks out at the torches, worried that they may have heard the cry. They keep moving. Relieved, everyone looks back at Oyema. She is covering her baby's face with her hand, smothering him in a desperate attempt to save the tribe. The last few torches pass and disappear into the woods. Oyema waits for the sound of footsteps to grow faint. She lifts her hand, but it's too late. Her baby is dead. Yellow Wolf comes over and kneels beside her. Oyema cannot bring herself to look at him.
At dawn the tribe gets up and starts moving. Oyema is frozen in the same position. She can't move, can't breath. Yellow Wolf sits nearby, somber and grief-stricken. The tribe moves past them. Finally, Yellow Wolf tries to take the dead infant from Oyema. She tightens her grip, then finally lets go. Yellow Wolf stands and walks into the forest to bury his child. Oyema remains still as the tribe continues to shuffle past her.
General Howard arrives on horseback to find the meadow surround the Norton ranch crowded with soldiers, neighbors and volunteers. He sees Mrs. Norton wrapped in a blanket, surrounded by friends. He dismounts and approaches. He greets Mrs. Norton, but she doesn't respond. Howard turns to a nearby doctor and asks if she's going to be alright. Howard asks for the ranking officer on site, and asks where Captain Perry is. A soldier tells Howard that Perry dispatched with two divisions early in the morning. Howard asks if his cavalry has been ordered to assemble yet, and the soldier assures him they have and are standing by awaiting orders. Howard tells the soldier to let his cavalry know that they need to move out immediately. Rebecca Fuller arrives at the site to see for herself if the rumors are true. Howard mounts his horse. Mrs. Norton tells him to kill them all.
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Julia Jones .... Springtime
Forrest Goodluck .... Wahlitits
Amber Midthunder .... Little Bird
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Stacey Oristano .... Mrs. Norton
Michaela McManus .... Rebecca Fuller
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Lily Gladstone .... Oyema
Plot:1877. Mrs. Norton (Stacey Oristano) stumbles out of the timber and into a meadow. Her clothes are drenched in blood, arrow stub sticking from her chest, holding her boy under her arm. She limps towards a nearby settlement. Men working in the field see her coming and run towards her to help her. She passes out once they reach her.
Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) and Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) arrive in the heart of the Nez Perce village to find it in panic. Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) is arming for war. Many others are preparing to leave. Joseph sees his wife Springtime (Julia Jones) up ahead. He fights his way through the crowd, finally reaching her. She asks him what they are going to do. Joseph tells her to prepare to leave now. Ollokot charges through the village, looking for someone. Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) is searching for Little Bird. He turns around just in time for Ollokot to slap his face. Wahlitits falls to the ground. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) swings at Ollokot. Ollojot flips Red Grizzly over his back and onto the ground. Nearby warriors restrain the other war party indians from intervening. Red Grizzly calls them all fools for trying to avoid war. It's begun whether they like it or not. Ollokot grabs Red Grizzly by the throat, and tells him that he is the fool, that he has stuck a knife into all of their backs. Joseph rides over and looks down at Red Grizzly and his warriors. He tells them that the white man is going to hang them for this, and he's going to let them. Joseph then turns to Wahlitits and says so much for promises made to a dying father. The words hit Wahlitits hard. He sees Little Bird (Amber Midthunder) staring at him from a distane and hands his head in shame. Gunshots suddenly rip through the village. Vigilantes are shooting from the trees. Warriors return fire, driving them back as women and children take cover. Joseph turns to Ollokot, telling him to strike all the tipis. They must be gone before the sun enters the sky.
General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) sits on a bench at the train station waiting for his train. The station manager gives Howard a message. He looks down at the paper, unable to believe. The message reads: WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN INDIAN WAR. Howard stands and leaves the station.
Joseph and Ollokot supervise as the Nez Perce tribe leaves their homeland. Wahlitits, Red Grizzly, and the other War Party Indians have their arms tied behind their backs and are escorted as prisoners. Most of the Indians are on foot. They run, fast and strong away from their home. High on the distant bluffs and well out of range, white vigilantes continue to fire at the fleeing tribe.
In Lapwai, people stand in the street, listening to the far away gunshots. Rebecca Fuller (Michaela McManus) comes out of the school house. She walks down the street, staring towards the distant mountains, afraid for her friend Joseph.
That night, the Nez Perce try to sleep in a dark patch of woods, but most eyes are wide open. Little Bird approaches Wahlitits. A warrior standing guard blocks her path, but she pleads with him to let her see Wahlitits, and he steps aside. Little Bird sits down beside Wahlitits and asks if he is alright. Wahlitits nods, trying to be brave. She looks into his eyes and asks if the story of the white woman is true. Wahlitits tells her that he tried to stop it. Little Bird looks away, heartbroken. She removes the necklace he gave her and sets it down in the dirt. She then stands and walks away. Wahlitits watches her go. Nearby, Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) has watched the entire exchange. He stares at Wahlitits with horror and sympathy.
That night, Yellow Wolf's wife Oyema (Lily Gladstone) is awakened by the sound of a snapping branch. She opens her eyes, but doesn't move a muscle. She can hear hushed whispers and crunching footsteps coming closer. Lanterns and torches are suddenly visible through the trees. A vigilante army approaches. Paralyzed by fear, the Nez Perce stay absolutely still. Oyema glances down at her sleeping baby. The torches come closer and begin to pass the tribe. Another loud snapping branch, and Oyema's baby begins to cry. Just for a second, then it stops. Everyone looks out at the torches, worried that they may have heard the cry. They keep moving. Relieved, everyone looks back at Oyema. She is covering her baby's face with her hand, smothering him in a desperate attempt to save the tribe. The last few torches pass and disappear into the woods. Oyema waits for the sound of footsteps to grow faint. She lifts her hand, but it's too late. Her baby is dead. Yellow Wolf comes over and kneels beside her. Oyema cannot bring herself to look at him.
At dawn the tribe gets up and starts moving. Oyema is frozen in the same position. She can't move, can't breath. Yellow Wolf sits nearby, somber and grief-stricken. The tribe moves past them. Finally, Yellow Wolf tries to take the dead infant from Oyema. She tightens her grip, then finally lets go. Yellow Wolf stands and walks into the forest to bury his child. Oyema remains still as the tribe continues to shuffle past her.
General Howard arrives on horseback to find the meadow surround the Norton ranch crowded with soldiers, neighbors and volunteers. He sees Mrs. Norton wrapped in a blanket, surrounded by friends. He dismounts and approaches. He greets Mrs. Norton, but she doesn't respond. Howard turns to a nearby doctor and asks if she's going to be alright. Howard asks for the ranking officer on site, and asks where Captain Perry is. A soldier tells Howard that Perry dispatched with two divisions early in the morning. Howard asks if his cavalry has been ordered to assemble yet, and the soldier assures him they have and are standing by awaiting orders. Howard tells the soldier to let his cavalry know that they need to move out immediately. Rebecca Fuller arrives at the site to see for herself if the rumors are true. Howard mounts his horse. Mrs. Norton tells him to kill them all.
Nez Perce - Wounds
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Forrest Goodluck .... Wahlitits
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Grace Dove .... Fairland
Robert Knepper .... General George B. McClellan
William Gregory Lee .... Captain Philip Kearny
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Lily Gladstone .... Oyema
Plot:1862. With his commanding officer wounded, Gen. Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys), who still has both arms, is forced to take control of his unit during the Civil War Battle of Fair Oaks in Virginia. Following a day of brutal battlefield action, Howard has to get his men to the rendezvous point where they can receive further orders from General McClellan. Howard and his men wait for nightfall to start moving again to avoid detection by the Confederate forces in the area.
Just before dawn, Howard and his men finally reach the rendezvous point where General George B. McClellan (Robert Knepper) asks what took them so long. Howard asks if there is time for him and his men to rest as they have been on the move all night, but McClellan says there is not as he needs Howard to lead a group of scouts to scout ahead to see where the Confederates are camped out.
Howard and Captain Philip Kearny (William Gregory Lee) lead a small group of soldiers through the previous day's battlefield, staying low to avoid detection. They make their way through the rotting bodies of men on both sides of the war. The smell causes Howard to throw up, but Kearny reminds him that they need to move quickly to the other side of the battlefield where there is cover. When they get to the other side of the battlefield, they find themselves in an ambush. Confederate soldiers emerge from the trees and open fire. Howard, Kearny and their men retreat. The men are all hit. Kearny takes a bullet to the skull, and he falls dead at Howard's feet. Howard is then hit in the arm by a Minie ball, shattering his arm. He lay on the ground in agony, surrounded by the bodies of his men, when General McClellan and his battalion charge across the field, scaring off the Confederate soldiers who took out Howard's group. Howard is taken back to camp, where it is determined that his arm needs to be amputated immediately. Howard bites down on a leather strap as medics saw his arm off. Howard then passes out.
1877. Nez Perce warriors line a ridge overlooking the majestic White Bird Canyon. Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) comes over and takes position next to Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) and tells him that they are ready. Joseph asks about Toohoolhoolzote, and Ollokot nods down into the canyon where Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) leads a team of twenty warriors. They spread out across the canyon floor and crouch down, disappearing into the tall grass. Warriors on horses take position behind thick trees. Joseph and Ollokot continue to watch and wait. Joseph says they don't have much time.
The women and children are stationed away from the canyon. Oyema (Lily Gladstone) sits alone, still grieving. Fairland (Grace Dove) comes over and kneels beside her. Oyema collapses into tears. Fairland comforts her as best she can. Nearby, Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) loads his rifle. Yellow Wolf tells Oyema that he promises to be careful and come back to her. He turns to go. Oyema grabs his arm, telling him that he's all she has. Yellow Wolf kisses her on the cheek, then leaves to join the warriors. Oyema watches him go, afraid.
Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means), Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) and the other war party Indians are escorted to the ridge and forced to sit down. Yellow Wolf follows close behind, taking position along the ridge not far away from Joseph and Ollokot.
The wind blows, bringing with it the sound of an approaching army. Warriors raise their rifles, taking aim. Hundreds of soldiers come into view on the far side of the canyon. The Nez Perce tribe may be eight hundred strong, but most are women and children. The warriors are outnumbered more than two to one. A warrior raises a large, white flag into the air. It unfurls and flaps in the breeze, easily visible for miles.
From the far side of the canyon, Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) stares through binoculars at the billowing white flag. He's flanked by several corporals. One of his corporals is surprised they caught the Indians, but Perry tells him that the Nez Perce are trapped between the canyon and the river with nowhere to go, of course surrender is their only option.
Joseph, Ollokot, and four other warriors mount their horses. The prisoners are led over the ridge. Wahlitits glances at Yellow Wolf as he's being led away. Joseph rides over to Yellow Wolf and the other warriors lining the ridge. He tells them that if fighting begins to shoot the soldier with the horn first. Yellow Wolf asks why, but Joseph just tells him to do it, and after that they may fire at men with guns. Joseph turns and descends the canyon.
Perry watches as Joseph leads six warriors and the train of prisoners towards the center of the canyon floor. Perry spurs his horse forward along with six soldiers of his own, going out to meet Joseph half way. Nearby, American soldiers stand ready, bracing for the worst. Joseph and his warriors reach the middle ground first. The white flag continues to flap in the wind. The war party prisoners stand silent. Perry and his men come riding into view. They stop just a few yards from Joseph. Perry looks at Joseph and tells him he is listening. Joseph tells Perry that the prisoners are the men who did the killing, that they acts on their own with no authority. Joseph offers them to Perry so that he may judge them as he will. Perry asks about the rest of the Nez Perce, and Joseph says that they will go to the reservation as General Howard had said.
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Forrest Goodluck .... Wahlitits
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Grace Dove .... Fairland
Robert Knepper .... General George B. McClellan
William Gregory Lee .... Captain Philip Kearny
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Lily Gladstone .... Oyema
Plot:1862. With his commanding officer wounded, Gen. Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys), who still has both arms, is forced to take control of his unit during the Civil War Battle of Fair Oaks in Virginia. Following a day of brutal battlefield action, Howard has to get his men to the rendezvous point where they can receive further orders from General McClellan. Howard and his men wait for nightfall to start moving again to avoid detection by the Confederate forces in the area.
Just before dawn, Howard and his men finally reach the rendezvous point where General George B. McClellan (Robert Knepper) asks what took them so long. Howard asks if there is time for him and his men to rest as they have been on the move all night, but McClellan says there is not as he needs Howard to lead a group of scouts to scout ahead to see where the Confederates are camped out.
Howard and Captain Philip Kearny (William Gregory Lee) lead a small group of soldiers through the previous day's battlefield, staying low to avoid detection. They make their way through the rotting bodies of men on both sides of the war. The smell causes Howard to throw up, but Kearny reminds him that they need to move quickly to the other side of the battlefield where there is cover. When they get to the other side of the battlefield, they find themselves in an ambush. Confederate soldiers emerge from the trees and open fire. Howard, Kearny and their men retreat. The men are all hit. Kearny takes a bullet to the skull, and he falls dead at Howard's feet. Howard is then hit in the arm by a Minie ball, shattering his arm. He lay on the ground in agony, surrounded by the bodies of his men, when General McClellan and his battalion charge across the field, scaring off the Confederate soldiers who took out Howard's group. Howard is taken back to camp, where it is determined that his arm needs to be amputated immediately. Howard bites down on a leather strap as medics saw his arm off. Howard then passes out.
1877. Nez Perce warriors line a ridge overlooking the majestic White Bird Canyon. Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) comes over and takes position next to Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) and tells him that they are ready. Joseph asks about Toohoolhoolzote, and Ollokot nods down into the canyon where Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) leads a team of twenty warriors. They spread out across the canyon floor and crouch down, disappearing into the tall grass. Warriors on horses take position behind thick trees. Joseph and Ollokot continue to watch and wait. Joseph says they don't have much time.
The women and children are stationed away from the canyon. Oyema (Lily Gladstone) sits alone, still grieving. Fairland (Grace Dove) comes over and kneels beside her. Oyema collapses into tears. Fairland comforts her as best she can. Nearby, Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) loads his rifle. Yellow Wolf tells Oyema that he promises to be careful and come back to her. He turns to go. Oyema grabs his arm, telling him that he's all she has. Yellow Wolf kisses her on the cheek, then leaves to join the warriors. Oyema watches him go, afraid.
Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means), Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) and the other war party Indians are escorted to the ridge and forced to sit down. Yellow Wolf follows close behind, taking position along the ridge not far away from Joseph and Ollokot.
The wind blows, bringing with it the sound of an approaching army. Warriors raise their rifles, taking aim. Hundreds of soldiers come into view on the far side of the canyon. The Nez Perce tribe may be eight hundred strong, but most are women and children. The warriors are outnumbered more than two to one. A warrior raises a large, white flag into the air. It unfurls and flaps in the breeze, easily visible for miles.
From the far side of the canyon, Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) stares through binoculars at the billowing white flag. He's flanked by several corporals. One of his corporals is surprised they caught the Indians, but Perry tells him that the Nez Perce are trapped between the canyon and the river with nowhere to go, of course surrender is their only option.
Joseph, Ollokot, and four other warriors mount their horses. The prisoners are led over the ridge. Wahlitits glances at Yellow Wolf as he's being led away. Joseph rides over to Yellow Wolf and the other warriors lining the ridge. He tells them that if fighting begins to shoot the soldier with the horn first. Yellow Wolf asks why, but Joseph just tells him to do it, and after that they may fire at men with guns. Joseph turns and descends the canyon.
Perry watches as Joseph leads six warriors and the train of prisoners towards the center of the canyon floor. Perry spurs his horse forward along with six soldiers of his own, going out to meet Joseph half way. Nearby, American soldiers stand ready, bracing for the worst. Joseph and his warriors reach the middle ground first. The white flag continues to flap in the wind. The war party prisoners stand silent. Perry and his men come riding into view. They stop just a few yards from Joseph. Perry looks at Joseph and tells him he is listening. Joseph tells Perry that the prisoners are the men who did the killing, that they acts on their own with no authority. Joseph offers them to Perry so that he may judge them as he will. Perry asks about the rest of the Nez Perce, and Joseph says that they will go to the reservation as General Howard had said.
Nez Perce - Snake
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Julia Jones .... Springtime
Forrest Goodluck .... Wahlitits
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Grace Dove .... Fairland
Zahn McClarnon .... Looking Glass
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Lily Gladstone .... Oyema
Jesse Luken .... Henry Fitzgerald
Leon Rippy .... Ferry Owner
Plot:1877. U.S. Troops take aim at Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) and the six warriors accompanying him in the middle of the White Bird Canyon grounds. Among these soldiers is Henry Fitzgerald (Jesse Luken). Fitzgerald has his finger on the trigger of his rifle, standing ready. Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) nudges his closer to the surrendering Joseph. Perry tells Joseph that he will need the Nez Perce to surrender their weapons and to proceed back to Lapwai immediately. There's a snake on the ground, slithering between the horses. Perry tells Joseph that they'll make sure the women and children are well fed as he knows they've had a long journey. Joseph thanks Perry. Perry nods and the war party prisoners are taken into American custody. The deal is just about closed when suddenly the snake on the ground spooks one of the Nez Perce horses. It rears up. The warrior's arms flail. Fitzgerald sees the spooked horse and fires his gun. The crack of the rifle is heard and then the bullet explodes into the shoulder of the warrior holding the white flag.
The battle begins. An American bugler blows his horn. Six bullets rip his body apart before he's completed the first bar. The American army is thrown into disarray. Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) and the other warriors watch the army scatter. They open fire on the other soldiers. The Nez Perce outflank the Americans on every side. Fire rains down from the hills above. American soldiers are shocked to see riderless horses charging their way, until they realize that Nez Perce warriors are clinging to the sides of their horses, hidden from view, and firing rifles underneath their horses' necks.
Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) pops out of hiding and leads a group of warriors in a charge towards the Americans, killing soldiers in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Seeing the battle is lost, Captain Perry retreats, as does every other soldier on a horse. After just a few grueling, bloody moments, the battle is over. The bodies of so many dead American soldiers litter the beautiful canyon. The rest retreat, running for their lives. Not a single Nez Perce warrior has been killed. Joseph and Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) take in the sobering sight. Toohoolhoolzote and Yellow Wolf, covered in blood, unleash screams of victory, raising their rifles high in the air. Oyema (Lily Gladstone), Springtime (Julia Jones) and Fairland (Grace Dove) stare down at the screaming warriors as cries of victory erupt around them.
Ollokot takes out a knife and stands before Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means). For a moment it appears as though Ollokot is going to kill him, but instead, he cuts Red Grizzly's restraints. The other prisoners are set free as well. Ollokot storms off, angry and frustrated. Red Grizzly basks in his reprieve. Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) rubs his wrists.
The Nez Perce keep moving. They come to a steep decline, and start making their way carefully down from a plateau towards the Snake River over a thousand feet below. Joseph and Ollokot approach a ferry crossing on horseback. The ferry owner (Leon Rippy) comes out of his house armed with a rifle. Joseph tells the man that they need to use the ferry. The man says no, orders them off of his land, raises his gun and takes aim. Behind Joseph and Ollokot, 800 Nez Perce come into view. Overwhelmed by the sight, the ferry owner lowers his gun. He warns them that the river is flooding and they'll never get across. The Nez Perce dive into the raging Snake River waters and swim more than 130 feet to the other side. Heads strain to stay above water. Horses kick and swim with all their might. They use the ferry to transport children and elderly. The ferry owner watches with absolute disbelief.
Back at White Bird Canyon, General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) walks through the tall grass while American soldiers bury the dead. In Howard's eyes, there is an anger not seen before, focused and intense. Captain Perry approaches from behind. Howard tells Perry he has a lot of explaining to do. Howard tells him that when General Sherman gave him his orders he said no more Little Big Horns. Perry says it shouldn't have happened, they had superior numbers, higher ground. He doesn't understand how they could have beat them since they are ignorant savages. Howard interrupts him. Howard points out that the warriors fired from the south ridge, drawing the soldiers further into the canyon, then swept around from the rear. Howard says that they call that a flanking maneuver at West Point, something he's sure Perry knows little about. Howard says the worst thing you can do in warfare is underestimate your enemy. Disgusted, Howard turns and walks away.
Looking Glass' village sits along the beautiful Clearwater River. Looking Glass (Zahn McClarnon) comes out of his tipi, when suddenly he hears screaming. Looking Glass turns and sees an approaching army. Women and children run for their lives. Warriors brace for attack. Gunshots rip through the village.
General Howard watches as the mighty current of the Snake River overturns a raft filled with his men, sweeping them down river. Frustrated, Howard turns to the ferry owner and asks how the Indians got across. The ferry owner tells him that they just dove in and swam to the other side. Howard stares at the river, dumbfounded. Then he realizes that they must have known where the current breaks. Howard asks the ferry owner where the next place to cross is. The ferry owner tells him it's half a day's ride south. Howard stares at the river and shakes his head.
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Julia Jones .... Springtime
Forrest Goodluck .... Wahlitits
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Grace Dove .... Fairland
Zahn McClarnon .... Looking Glass
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Lily Gladstone .... Oyema
Jesse Luken .... Henry Fitzgerald
Leon Rippy .... Ferry Owner
Plot:1877. U.S. Troops take aim at Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) and the six warriors accompanying him in the middle of the White Bird Canyon grounds. Among these soldiers is Henry Fitzgerald (Jesse Luken). Fitzgerald has his finger on the trigger of his rifle, standing ready. Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) nudges his closer to the surrendering Joseph. Perry tells Joseph that he will need the Nez Perce to surrender their weapons and to proceed back to Lapwai immediately. There's a snake on the ground, slithering between the horses. Perry tells Joseph that they'll make sure the women and children are well fed as he knows they've had a long journey. Joseph thanks Perry. Perry nods and the war party prisoners are taken into American custody. The deal is just about closed when suddenly the snake on the ground spooks one of the Nez Perce horses. It rears up. The warrior's arms flail. Fitzgerald sees the spooked horse and fires his gun. The crack of the rifle is heard and then the bullet explodes into the shoulder of the warrior holding the white flag.
The battle begins. An American bugler blows his horn. Six bullets rip his body apart before he's completed the first bar. The American army is thrown into disarray. Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) and the other warriors watch the army scatter. They open fire on the other soldiers. The Nez Perce outflank the Americans on every side. Fire rains down from the hills above. American soldiers are shocked to see riderless horses charging their way, until they realize that Nez Perce warriors are clinging to the sides of their horses, hidden from view, and firing rifles underneath their horses' necks.
Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) pops out of hiding and leads a group of warriors in a charge towards the Americans, killing soldiers in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Seeing the battle is lost, Captain Perry retreats, as does every other soldier on a horse. After just a few grueling, bloody moments, the battle is over. The bodies of so many dead American soldiers litter the beautiful canyon. The rest retreat, running for their lives. Not a single Nez Perce warrior has been killed. Joseph and Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) take in the sobering sight. Toohoolhoolzote and Yellow Wolf, covered in blood, unleash screams of victory, raising their rifles high in the air. Oyema (Lily Gladstone), Springtime (Julia Jones) and Fairland (Grace Dove) stare down at the screaming warriors as cries of victory erupt around them.
Ollokot takes out a knife and stands before Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means). For a moment it appears as though Ollokot is going to kill him, but instead, he cuts Red Grizzly's restraints. The other prisoners are set free as well. Ollokot storms off, angry and frustrated. Red Grizzly basks in his reprieve. Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) rubs his wrists.
The Nez Perce keep moving. They come to a steep decline, and start making their way carefully down from a plateau towards the Snake River over a thousand feet below. Joseph and Ollokot approach a ferry crossing on horseback. The ferry owner (Leon Rippy) comes out of his house armed with a rifle. Joseph tells the man that they need to use the ferry. The man says no, orders them off of his land, raises his gun and takes aim. Behind Joseph and Ollokot, 800 Nez Perce come into view. Overwhelmed by the sight, the ferry owner lowers his gun. He warns them that the river is flooding and they'll never get across. The Nez Perce dive into the raging Snake River waters and swim more than 130 feet to the other side. Heads strain to stay above water. Horses kick and swim with all their might. They use the ferry to transport children and elderly. The ferry owner watches with absolute disbelief.
Back at White Bird Canyon, General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) walks through the tall grass while American soldiers bury the dead. In Howard's eyes, there is an anger not seen before, focused and intense. Captain Perry approaches from behind. Howard tells Perry he has a lot of explaining to do. Howard tells him that when General Sherman gave him his orders he said no more Little Big Horns. Perry says it shouldn't have happened, they had superior numbers, higher ground. He doesn't understand how they could have beat them since they are ignorant savages. Howard interrupts him. Howard points out that the warriors fired from the south ridge, drawing the soldiers further into the canyon, then swept around from the rear. Howard says that they call that a flanking maneuver at West Point, something he's sure Perry knows little about. Howard says the worst thing you can do in warfare is underestimate your enemy. Disgusted, Howard turns and walks away.
Looking Glass' village sits along the beautiful Clearwater River. Looking Glass (Zahn McClarnon) comes out of his tipi, when suddenly he hears screaming. Looking Glass turns and sees an approaching army. Women and children run for their lives. Warriors brace for attack. Gunshots rip through the village.
General Howard watches as the mighty current of the Snake River overturns a raft filled with his men, sweeping them down river. Frustrated, Howard turns to the ferry owner and asks how the Indians got across. The ferry owner tells him that they just dove in and swam to the other side. Howard stares at the river, dumbfounded. Then he realizes that they must have known where the current breaks. Howard asks the ferry owner where the next place to cross is. The ferry owner tells him it's half a day's ride south. Howard stares at the river and shakes his head.
Nez Perce - Decisions
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Ray McKinnon .... General William T. Sherman
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Zahn McClarnon .... Looking Glass
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Plot:1877. The Nez Perce continues its long exodus. Curving over a hill, stretching for miles, they walk towards the horizon. Chief Joseph (Adam Beach), Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier), and Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) sit on their horses and stare solemnly at the Wallowa Mountains. Distant shouting gets their attention. They turn to see Looking Glass (Zahn McClarnon) approaching from the south, leading the battle weary survivors of his village. Looking Glass waits for his people to absorb into the tribe, then rides over to join Joseph, Ollokot, and Toohoolhoolzote. The four men look at one another, then stare, once again, at the mountains off in the distance. Already more than two hundred miles away, the four Nez Perce leaders take a final, lingering look back towards their home lands, realizing perhaps, that they will never see it again. They then turn and join their people eastward bound.
General William T. Sherman (Ray McKinnon) leans against his desk in his office in Washington D.C., facing a team of advisors. Sherman asks what he's supposed to tell the President. How is he supposed to explain things to those who were promised there would be no more Little Big Horns? He shouts that the events of White Bird Canyon are unacceptable. One of the advisors tells Sherman that they currently have five divisions closing in on the Nez Perce as they speak: Col. Wallace is marching with his troops from Ft. Camus, Captain Whipple is coming from the south, General Stephenson from the East, Col. Monroe from the Southeast, and of course, General Howard is continuing his pursuit from the West. While the advisor speaks, Sherman has been reading a message. He tells the advisors that the Nez Perce have crossed the Snake River. The advisors are shocked. Sherman adds that they crossed it two days ago, which means they've outmaneuvered the entire army. Sherman tells the advisors that the problem with their calculations are that they were assuming that they were walking toward their destination. He tells them that white men walk. Indians run. One of the advisors suggests they relieve General Howard of his command for the defeat at White Bird Canyon, but Sherman says that was Perry's debacle. Sherman's eyes go towards a map on the wall. He says that Howard stays, and tells the advisors to inform the commanders of the other four divisions that once they converge, they are to turn over their command to Howard.
The Nez Perce make their way through Weippe Prairie in Idaho Territory. They travel through a beautiful ocean of flowers in full bloom. Beyond the prairie lies the Lolo Trail and the Bitterroot Mountains. Joseph signals the tribe to stop. He turns to face them. He tells them that this is the very spot that their fathers met the white chiefs Lewis and Clark and made the fateful choice to help them. He asks his people to help him make a decision. He says they cannot go North as Flatheads hold that land and would not be welcoming. To the South, there is nothing but desert and white men. Looking Glass says they could go East. Ollokot doesn't like the sound of that as it would make them risk dealing with the Crow. Looking Glass mentions that the Crow hate the white man. Joseph corrects him, saying that the Crow don't hate the white man, they fear him and would betray them to win the white man's favor. Toohoolhoolzote says they should stand and fight since they have beaten the white soldiers once, so they can do it again. Joseph says there are too many, and they will keep coming, and then winter will arrive and they will all starve. He says the tribe is mostly women and children, that they cannot fight a war. Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) says they could fight a war if they were greater in number. If they can unite the tribes, the white man would fear them. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) rides forward. He tells them that not only is the white man weak and lazy, but he is also tired of fighting. He tells them a tale of the a great war in the east a few winters ago where more soldiers were killed than there are stars in the sky. Ollokot rejects what Red Grizzly has to say, that if the tribe was not desperate for warriors he would shoot Red Grizzly himself for what he has brought upon their people. Joseph glances at his brother, concerned. Looking Glass says they should head East and join with the Crow. Ollokot asks what they should do if that fails. Looking Glass says they should then go North to Canada. Everyone looks up. Joseph says that Sitting Bull is in Canada. Looking Glass says that so are Sitting Bull's five thousand warriors. Ollokot says it would take over a hundred moons to travel there, that it would be winter by the time they arrived, that they would freeze to death if the soldiers don't kill them first. Looking Glass insists they can make it, and that with the strength of Sitting Bull's numbers, they could come back and reclaim Wallowa. Joseph turns and looks out at his people, their faces seem focused and alert, clearly captivated by the idea.
General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) sits at his desk in his tent writing some correspondence. Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) enters the tent and tells Howard that the other forces have arrived. Howard goes outside to find that his numbers have now tripled in size. Howard addresses a group of soldiers, telling them to find some Indians in the region that can act as scouts. After that group leaves, Howard addresses the rest of his command. He tells them to rest up today, because they will be heading out in full force the next day.
Genre: Historical
Director: Scott Cooper
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Cast:
Adam Beach .... Joseph
Matthew Rhys .... General Oliver O. Howard
Martin Sensmaier …. Ollokot
Gil Birmingham .... Toohoolhoolzote
Ray McKinnon .... General William T. Sherman
Tatanka Means .... Red Grizzly
Zahn McClarnon .... Looking Glass
William Belleau .... Yellow Wolf
Ben Schnetzer .... Captain David Perry
Plot:1877. The Nez Perce continues its long exodus. Curving over a hill, stretching for miles, they walk towards the horizon. Chief Joseph (Adam Beach), Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier), and Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) sit on their horses and stare solemnly at the Wallowa Mountains. Distant shouting gets their attention. They turn to see Looking Glass (Zahn McClarnon) approaching from the south, leading the battle weary survivors of his village. Looking Glass waits for his people to absorb into the tribe, then rides over to join Joseph, Ollokot, and Toohoolhoolzote. The four men look at one another, then stare, once again, at the mountains off in the distance. Already more than two hundred miles away, the four Nez Perce leaders take a final, lingering look back towards their home lands, realizing perhaps, that they will never see it again. They then turn and join their people eastward bound.
General William T. Sherman (Ray McKinnon) leans against his desk in his office in Washington D.C., facing a team of advisors. Sherman asks what he's supposed to tell the President. How is he supposed to explain things to those who were promised there would be no more Little Big Horns? He shouts that the events of White Bird Canyon are unacceptable. One of the advisors tells Sherman that they currently have five divisions closing in on the Nez Perce as they speak: Col. Wallace is marching with his troops from Ft. Camus, Captain Whipple is coming from the south, General Stephenson from the East, Col. Monroe from the Southeast, and of course, General Howard is continuing his pursuit from the West. While the advisor speaks, Sherman has been reading a message. He tells the advisors that the Nez Perce have crossed the Snake River. The advisors are shocked. Sherman adds that they crossed it two days ago, which means they've outmaneuvered the entire army. Sherman tells the advisors that the problem with their calculations are that they were assuming that they were walking toward their destination. He tells them that white men walk. Indians run. One of the advisors suggests they relieve General Howard of his command for the defeat at White Bird Canyon, but Sherman says that was Perry's debacle. Sherman's eyes go towards a map on the wall. He says that Howard stays, and tells the advisors to inform the commanders of the other four divisions that once they converge, they are to turn over their command to Howard.
The Nez Perce make their way through Weippe Prairie in Idaho Territory. They travel through a beautiful ocean of flowers in full bloom. Beyond the prairie lies the Lolo Trail and the Bitterroot Mountains. Joseph signals the tribe to stop. He turns to face them. He tells them that this is the very spot that their fathers met the white chiefs Lewis and Clark and made the fateful choice to help them. He asks his people to help him make a decision. He says they cannot go North as Flatheads hold that land and would not be welcoming. To the South, there is nothing but desert and white men. Looking Glass says they could go East. Ollokot doesn't like the sound of that as it would make them risk dealing with the Crow. Looking Glass mentions that the Crow hate the white man. Joseph corrects him, saying that the Crow don't hate the white man, they fear him and would betray them to win the white man's favor. Toohoolhoolzote says they should stand and fight since they have beaten the white soldiers once, so they can do it again. Joseph says there are too many, and they will keep coming, and then winter will arrive and they will all starve. He says the tribe is mostly women and children, that they cannot fight a war. Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) says they could fight a war if they were greater in number. If they can unite the tribes, the white man would fear them. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) rides forward. He tells them that not only is the white man weak and lazy, but he is also tired of fighting. He tells them a tale of the a great war in the east a few winters ago where more soldiers were killed than there are stars in the sky. Ollokot rejects what Red Grizzly has to say, that if the tribe was not desperate for warriors he would shoot Red Grizzly himself for what he has brought upon their people. Joseph glances at his brother, concerned. Looking Glass says they should head East and join with the Crow. Ollokot asks what they should do if that fails. Looking Glass says they should then go North to Canada. Everyone looks up. Joseph says that Sitting Bull is in Canada. Looking Glass says that so are Sitting Bull's five thousand warriors. Ollokot says it would take over a hundred moons to travel there, that it would be winter by the time they arrived, that they would freeze to death if the soldiers don't kill them first. Looking Glass insists they can make it, and that with the strength of Sitting Bull's numbers, they could come back and reclaim Wallowa. Joseph turns and looks out at his people, their faces seem focused and alert, clearly captivated by the idea.
General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) sits at his desk in his tent writing some correspondence. Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) enters the tent and tells Howard that the other forces have arrived. Howard goes outside to find that his numbers have now tripled in size. Howard addresses a group of soldiers, telling them to find some Indians in the region that can act as scouts. After that group leaves, Howard addresses the rest of his command. He tells them to rest up today, because they will be heading out in full force the next day.