Geronimo: An American Legend Page #5

They will stay there

until Geronimo is captured or killed.

That's a harsh penalty

that he's drawn on his own people.

I hear you and Geronimo were friendly.

Any relationship I've had has never

compromised my effectiveness in the field.

I need you to speak freely with me.

Can you find Geronimo, talk to him?

I thought so once.

There's no way to be sure now.

The signs are that he's starving,

or close to it.

Living on cactus and rabbits.

I know this because I've got

observation points...

...and 5,000 troops

stretched from here to Sonora...

...searching for--

Thirty-five Apache, sir.

That's what I believe he'll be down to

in a month's time.

Thirty-five starving Apache.

Begging the General's pardon, sir,

but why not leave him to the Mexicans?

He can't continue to keep raiding

across the border.

He can't afford to lose any more warriors,

can't replace them.

The present political situation

demands results.

I want you to find Geronimo

and make him this proposal.

I have the authority to hunt him

all the way to South America if I have to...

...but I want this nonsense to end.

Now, I'm willing to give you

all the scouts you need...

...hundred-man detail, regular cavalry,

mule pack team.

A hundred men won't do.

How many do you want?

Three.

I'd like to pick them myself.

Whatever happens, Lieutenant...

...this conversation that you and I

are having never took place.

Any negotiations with Geronimo

are to be strictly confidential.

Is that understood?

Two years in Florida.

Two years in Florida, with their families.

And when they return to reservation land

here in Arizona territory...

...every warrior gets 40 acres of land...

...two mules.

I don't think you or the government

intend to keep this promise.

You just offer it.

None of the rest is your concern.

Do you know your scripture, sir?

'What does it profit a man

to gain the whole world...

'...and lose his soul?'

Lieutenant.

You have your orders.

Lieutenant Gatewood chose the Apache

scout, Chato, to accompany him...

...as well as myself and AI Sieber,

who became bored with his retirement.

After four weeks of tracking Geronimo

through the mountains of Sonora...

...we came across a burning Indian village.

What we found there was unspeakable.

There's two dead women there.

Two little kids.

Scalped them all, all four of them.

Bounty hunters.

Government down here pays

200 pesos a head for the men.

100 for the women...

...and 50 for those kids.

Kill any Indian, then claim they're Apache.

I don't see how any man can sink that low.

Must be Texans,

lowest form of white man there is.

Who are these people?

They are Yaqui, not Apache.

The dying Yaqui told me

five White-Eye and a Comanche...

They attacked before dawn.

Most of the men got away.

They go up into the hills...

...and come back one day, maybe two.

And come back for their families.

And build big fire and burn the bodies.

And they go join up

with other Yaqui tribe...

...maybe find new wives.

They go off that way into the hills.

After they hunt Yaqui men

they go to Soyapos...

...get their money.

You and Sieber, I want you to track

the bounty hunters that did this.

Geronimo is here.

You want me to ride? I'm ready--

You need more rest...

The women have gathered medicine.

Do we leave at dawn?

Don't worry.

We will not fight tomorrow.

Sleep.

I have just seen my power.

An iron horse comes over the desert.

I have seen a vision.

An iron horse for the Apache.

Been down here...

...almost 20 years.

I was in the war.

Confederate officer.

After the hostilities ended...

...I went to Texas.

Got into a little scrape with the law.

Come down here, got a new name.

New start.

Wife.

Family.

But in my heart...

...well, hell...

...I'm still a Tennessee man.

My wife and her sisters...

...they trade with Apache women.

They come down from the mountains.

They've done it for years.

Few days back,

some Chiricahua showed up near here.

Where?

Straight up Montana Avarripe.

I didn't expect to see

many Americans down here.

-Where you fellows from?

-Texas.

I keep a house in Brewster county.

Awful far from home, ain't you?

Well, we just came down here

to try to make ourselves a living.

And what about you, friend?

It seems like you've got

a real curious nature.

-You the law?

-Me? Hell, no.

I'm just hunting

that son of a b*tch Geronimo.

Thought you might've come across

something to help me out.

I'm sorry, amigo.

We ain't seen nothing.

Apache!

Why don't you sit down there,

while we have us a drink.

We'll take real good care of you.

Cover my back.

Anything happens, fire.

And keep firing.

Sir.

That Apache is with us.

Don't look like it to me.

He's a Sergeant of Scouts...

...in the United States Army.

Who the hell are you?

Charles Gatewood.

Lieutenant, Sixth Cavalry.

You boys are out of uniform.

Maybe he ought to wear one.

Somebody down here

take that scalp of his...

...make themselves a little money.

Ten days ago,

we came across a Yaqui village.

All the Indians slaughtered.

We come across

the same type of thing a while back.

I tell you, this is a crazy country.

$100...

...buys that scalp back.

Nice doing business with you,

Mr. Gatewood.

But...

...I changed my mind.

You rotten son of a b*tch.

Amigo.

Move it, Dixie boy.

Goddamn.

I never thought I'd get killed

trying to help save an Apache.

We got them, Mr. Sieber.

We got them all.

I've been gun-shot, arrow-shot 17 times.

Twenty years chasing old Geronimo.

I'd love nothing better

than being there to...

...finish.

You don't have to

account yourself to me, Al.

You're a brave man.

I never did have no kind of luck.

Never did.

I'm going to catch me

a little sleep here for...

...a minute or two.

Rotten sons of b*tches.

Gatewood!

No more burro!

Can't go higher!

Chato and l...

...are going on here alone.

You stay with the supplies.

Sir.

Are you giving me a choice?

That's an order, Lieutenant.

I know it's hard to come this far then stop,

and I'm sorry.

But somebody's got to go back

and tell the truth.

Britton...

...you're a fine officer.

Stay noble.

We're trying to make a country here.

It's hard.

Why did you bring him?

He is an enemy to his people!

He thinks you are.

He is a brave man to come here.

Enough Chiricahua are dead.

They are dead

because the White-Eye killed them.

Have they taught you to lie, Gatewood?

I don't lie.

But the truth is, General Miles

will hunt you for 50 years.

He's already sent your families to Florida,

which is far, far away.

Look around.

See how few warriors you have left.

If I kill White-Eyes forever...

...I am still Geronimo, an Apache.

Who are you, Gatewood?

Just a man like you.

And I want to go home.

I want to see my family.

My God....

My God is a God of peace.

A God of life, not death.

What does your God say?

Yosin is not here with us on the mountain.

Tell me, what is in your heart?

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