Broken Arrow Page #4

Synopsis: By 1870, there has been 10 years of cruel war between settlers and Cochise's Apaches. Ex-soldier Tom Jeffords saves the life of an Apache boy and starts to wonder if Indians are human, after all; soon, he determines to use this chance to make himself an ambassador. Against all odds, his solitary mission into Cochise's stronghold opens a dialogue. Opportunely, the president sends General Howard with orders to conclude peace. But even with Jeffords's luck, the deep grievance and hatred on both sides make tragic failure all too likely.
Director(s): Delmer Daves
Production: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
  Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.2
Rotten Tomatoes:
89%
APPROVED
Year:
1950
93 min
562 Views


String him up!

What are we waiting for?

Release that man.

Release that man.

- I'm grateful to you, General.

- I don't want your gratitude.

I won't scout Indians for

you or anybody else.

- I don't want you to.

- What then?

I want you to take me to see Cochise.

If anybody can do it, you can.

I know you have reason to be angry.

But please hear me out.

You don't like

Army officers apparently.

Does this also prejudice

you against me?

That depends on how you read it.

The Bible I read preaches brotherhood.

Suppose their skins aren't white.

Are they still God's children?

My Bible says nothing about

the pigmentation of the skin.

There was a General

served under Grant...

...the Christian General.

Yes, also Bible-Reading-Howard.

Why do you want to see Cochise?

To make a peace treaty with him.

Who sent you here?

The President of the U.S.

- With what power?

- Full power to make a fair treaty.

To be changed later.

My treaty will stand.

I have the President's word.

I'll do nothing, General,

to betray Cochise.

Why all this change of

heart in Washington?

President Grant is eager for a

fair peace with the Apaches.

- What is a fair peace?

- Suppose you tell me.

Equality.

The Apaches are a free people.

They have a right to stay free...

- ...on their own land.

- The whole southwest?

No.

No, even Cochise wouldn't ask

for that now. He's a realist.

But a clear territory

that's Apache...

...ruled by Apaches

that's what I mean.

No soldiers on it.

Yes, I'll agree to that. What else?

You can talk the rest

over the Cochise.

- You'll take me to him alone?

- Without soldiers?

- Is that the best way?

- That's the only way.

I'll go alone.

I'll see Cochise.

I'll get in touch with you.

Read your Bible for me too.

I like the way you read it.

Welcome.

Your signals were seen and they

have been told to Cochise.

He is in the other stronghold.

He asks you to wait

and be comfortable.

He will return.

I will wait.

My feet are tired from trying

to find you by accident.

Waiting for you, I...

...I have washed my hair twice

and my clothes three times.

How is this soap made?

It comes from yucca root.

We grind it up.

Sonseeahray...

...there's something I need to know.

I've been away almost a moon.

Has anything changed with you?

No.

When you went away I...

...I became frightened.

I thought...

...he won't come back...

...and if he does, when he returns

from his own people...

...he will look at me with cool eyes.

But then I...

...I stopped being afraid...

...in here.

You're trembling.

You're not frightened of me?

No.

Only you put such new

feelings in my heart.

I am trembling inside too.

Should I hide it?

No.

Tom!

Here they come and

he rides before them.

It will be told at our campfires...

...how the Chiracahuas fought.

How the great Cochise led us.

A great wagon train destroyed.

Their wagons and horses taken.

Corn for the whole winter...

...blankets, guns!

In a battle there are losses.

Some of our men have gone to

live with their fathers.

They were brave.

They died honorably.

Now for the last time,

listen to their names.

They will be angry if their names

are ever mentioned again.

Ponce.

Victorio.

Pionsenay and his son Machogee.

Naratena.

Big Chee.

No, thank you.

If I make a peace with

this General...

...can other bigger break it?

No, he speaks for the Chief.

There's no one bigger.

- Can I trust them?

- Will they trust you?

My word is my life.

I do not break it.

I know that. They do not.

There can be no peace

without good will.

Try it.

All Americans are not

like that lieutenant.

You trust me, Cochise.

There are Americans that I trust.

There are Indians that

I would not trust.

Me too.

After eating, wipe the

hands on the arms.

The grease is good for them.

Among white men we wash it off.

What a waste.

My friend, all evening your eyes

have gone to that same maiden.

You must understand...

...any man may be friendly with a

woman whose husband is dead...

...but not with a maiden

like Sonseeahray.

Cochise, I...

This girl has been asked for already.

I think she will be married soon.

You have been chosen.

It will be an insult not to go.

We should not be seen together, Tom.

If that is true, why did you

choose me to dance with?

I could not help it.

With me it's the same.

I'll speak to your parents tonight.

No, Tom. It will cause deep trouble.

- You must not.

- It causes trouble already.

You have not acted like my brother.

I told you that she is a maiden,

and yet you came here.

I want her for my wife.

I will do all the things expected

of a husband here.

I refused Nahilzay once.

I will again.

I am glad it is the right way...

...but it will not be easy for you.

You are an American.

Where will you live? Here?

Apaches who have suffered from

white men will hate you.

Tucson, maybe?

Won't the whites hate your wife for

of the color of her skin?

You will go far away maybe...

...in new places...

...but your eyes will see nothing.

Always they will be

turned backwards...

...toward home.

And you, Sonseeahray...

...they will look at you as

at a strange animal...

...and make jokes.

Hear me, Tall One...

...I ask you to think on it.

Your way will be filled

with bitterness.

Think...

...is it not better to

live with your own?

Though you are my friend, Cochise,

nothing can change it.

I will marry Sonseeahray.

What he says does not have to be.

You are young. You do not know.

With him I do not tremble...

...even before you.

I cannot say more against it.

But it won't be easy.

Her parents. You will need

a strong go-between.

Will you be my go-between?

No other can do it.

I will speak for you tonight,

otherwise it will be worse.

Already everyone knows of this.

Your secret was as quiet

as the thunder.

Also I will speak to Nahilzay.

He has bad luck. It has happened

before to other men.

You wait in your wickiup maybe.

Walk up and down.

It is good for people in love.

Well?

You have no luck with women.

They refused.

I'll take her away from here!

She'll go with me too.

They did not refuse.

I make a joke.

It is always a good joke.

It is all arranged. Three horses

and saddles to the parents.

I'll get them in Tucson.

No. You will let me

give them for you.

- No.

- No, I want to.

They're almost yours anyway.

They come from your people.

I want to do this for you.

You marry next full moon.

Why the delay?

Her mother decided. It is her right.

Listen now.

Go to Tucson.

Look into the heart of this general.

Bring him back if you believe him.

I will send out runners, Apaches

from all tribes will come here.

To talk of peace is a big thing.

I cannot decide it alone.

My people may not want it.

I make no promises.

That is not expected.

Good sleep, my brother.

Remember, no promises.

I heard noise.

It is not your knife.

It is an Apache knife.

To attack someone who has been

given safety here is forbidden.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes

Albert Maltz

Albert Maltz was an American playwright, fiction writer and screenwriter. He was one of the Hollywood Ten who were jailed in 1950 for their 1947 refusal to testify before the US Congress about their involvement with the Communist Party USA. more…

All Albert Maltz scripts | Albert Maltz Scripts

1 fan

Submitted on August 05, 2018

Discuss this script with the community:

0 Comments

    Translation

    Translate and read this script in other languages:

    Select another language:

    • - Select -
    • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
    • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
    • Español (Spanish)
    • Esperanto (Esperanto)
    • 日本語 (Japanese)
    • Português (Portuguese)
    • Deutsch (German)
    • العربية (Arabic)
    • Français (French)
    • Русский (Russian)
    • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
    • 한국어 (Korean)
    • עברית (Hebrew)
    • Gaeilge (Irish)
    • Українська (Ukrainian)
    • اردو (Urdu)
    • Magyar (Hungarian)
    • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
    • Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Italiano (Italian)
    • தமிழ் (Tamil)
    • Türkçe (Turkish)
    • తెలుగు (Telugu)
    • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
    • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
    • Čeština (Czech)
    • Polski (Polish)
    • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
    • Românește (Romanian)
    • Nederlands (Dutch)
    • Ελληνικά (Greek)
    • Latinum (Latin)
    • Svenska (Swedish)
    • Dansk (Danish)
    • Suomi (Finnish)
    • فارسی (Persian)
    • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
    • հայերեն (Armenian)
    • Norsk (Norwegian)
    • English (English)

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this screenplay to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Broken Arrow" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/broken_arrow_4719>.

    We need you!

    Help us build the largest writers community and scripts collection on the web!

    Watch the movie trailer

    Broken Arrow

    The Studio:

    ScreenWriting Tool

    Write your screenplay and focus on the story with many helpful features.


    Quiz

    Are you a screenwriting master?

    »
    What is "subtext" in screenwriting?
    A The underlying meaning behind the dialogue
    B The background music
    C The visual elements of the scene
    D The literal meaning of the dialogue