Geronimo Page #2

---

- That girl out there with the book.

- Teela. Do you like her?

- Is she a good cook?

- I wouldn't know. Why don't you ask her?

What do you think, Natchez?

Does it matter?

Boys should learn to be warriors,

not schoolteachers.

Huh, Mangus?

The big white cat runs and plays.

- Cat.

- Cat.

- C...

- C.

...A...

- A.

...T.

Class is dismissed. Go on.

- Except for you, Giantah.

- C-A-T, cat.

Not that. You come and help me

get this arrow out of the book.

- When do you leave?

- Tonight or tomorrow. The first chance.

Will you change your mind?

But if I can help in any way.

Please come

and get your arrow out of my book.

- What?

- Your arrow.

You're right. It's a good arrow.

It shouldn't be wasted.

You'll get us all in trouble.

It's still good.

- Maybe it's time you learned to read.

- I know about cats and dogs.

- That isn't what the book's about.

- No?

To learn how to read and to read

are not the same.

- My father didn't read.

- Maybe if he did they'd respect you more.

I want respect for what I am,

not for what they want me to be.

But what you are

isn't good enough for them.

When you can read, when you can write,

when you don't smell

of fish and horseflesh,

then maybe you will be.

- Who taught you that?

- Nobody taught me.

I looked around and I saw

and I'm improving myself.

- Are you ashamed of what you are?

- No.

- Of course not.

- Then act like it.

- Geronimo.

- Porica.

I'm having trouble finding her a husband.

- I wouldn't doubt it.

- For you, a special price. Nothing.

I'll think about it.

- Well?

- I didn't think it could be done.

Not in this desert.

If Mr Burns is agreeable,

I think we can do business.

- Fine. He's waiting for us now.

- Good.

Mr Kincaide is the owner

of the Arizona Land Investment Company.

That's a prosperous company. I've heard

about you. Your company, that is.

- Thank you.

- Mr Kincaide has a business proposal.

Oh?

You've turned wasteland

into top-grade pasture.

I want a place to run prime cattle

for the western beef market.

If you make the land available,

it'll be worth your while.

As I've already explained,

that is government land.

That's right, Mr Kincaide. We have

I thought you could move them anywhere

on the reservation. On your option.

I could, yes, I could.

But I would need an authorisation

for a major decision.

- Is this a major decision, Mr Burns?

- That would also be my option.

How long will it take

to get an authorisation?

Six, maybe seven months.

- You know Washington.

- Excuse me.

They don't pay much attention

to what's out here.

We're just

a forgotten little corner of the world.

The government's happy as long as

we keep the Apaches from causing trouble.

What's the problem, then?

Dollar an acre? 50,000 acres?

The normal land guarantees.

On the other hand,

even though they are savages,

there... is a moral obligation.

Of course, there are ways

of easing moral obligations, Mr Kincaide.

How much?

I'm sure the Lord recognises the devotion

of this reservation beyond what we're paid.

I'd say two dollars an acre.

In writing.

Done.

- Huera?

- Yes?

- Where's Mangus?

- There he is, in the field.

- You know.

- Yes.

It's a rumour. I don't believe it.

They wouldn't take away the land.

They wouldn't watch us break our backs

to make it work, then take it.

- What other promise have they kept?

- It's more than the land, Geronimo.

It was my way of finding

some peaceful answer.

It's better to find the truth.

What are you doing here? Get out of here.

We've come to find out the truth.

- What truth?

- About our land.

I don't know what you're talking about.

- Get out of here.

- Not until we find the truth.

There's only one truth, brother.

The truth of the Lord.

His sword is swift.

It smites down those who disbelieve.

I disbelieve.

You're a heathen, Geronimo.

Maybe the Lord will forgive you.

I heard you signed a new paper

that takes away the land.

Washington decides that, brother, not me.

- You've got to talk to Washington.

- He's not here. You are.

- Is that the paper?

- No... Ah... yes.

- And you signed it?

- It was a mistake. I promise I'll tear it up.

Which hand signed the paper?

Which hand?

Pick it up.

Pick it up!

Tie her up.

Savages! Animals!

Apaches!

This'll hold you till the doctor gets here.

Captain. They've cut the lines.

We can't get through.

Ride to Bowie. Tell Crook

I'll prevent them crossing the border.

Yes, sir.

Tell them every horse counts.

Only warriors go.

If they have women, they ride double.

Porica, out.

- Get dressed. I'm going back to Mexico.

- I thought you would.

I've decided I need a woman.

I can teach you.

You need someone to teach you

how to be more than an animal.

- They're taking away the land.

- I know.

But it doesn't mean your way is right.

It's hopeless to fight any more.

Don't you understand?

You don't understand, but I'll change that.

Are you coming?

I asked you a question.

Is that all there is to your question?

Just that you need a woman?

Get up.

No.

- C Company ready for pursuit, sir.

- Very well.

There was a rumour

Burns was going to sell the land.

Yeah, I heard.

- Can I go?

- Sorry, Porica.

Take me with you, Geronimo. I can fight.

There's your horse.

- Let's go.

- Everybody, quick!

Wait here.

A Mexican border patrol.

I'll draw them off. Meet me at Vista Diablo.

Vmonos!

Right back where they were

a few days ago.

They learned a lot in those few days,

didn't they, Captain?

Be careful, Johnny.

One Apache. It's not worth it.

Get these guns cleaned and ready to use.

- Geronimo.

- We're going to fight them.

- Yes, I see.

- No, you don't see at all.

This time we don't fight just to stay alive,

like before.

This time, we declare war.

against the whole United States?

- What kind of a war is that?

- Don't laugh at me.

I'm not laughing.

I'm crying because you're crazy.

Geronimo, we have no chance.

We can't win.

And we'll probably all die.

Even I know that.

No, Mangus.

We can win.

We can win because we have no chance

and yet we fight.

But we've got to fight long enough.

Long enough so the people

of the United States begin to wonder

why such a small handful of men

go on fighting a war

against such a big country as theirs.

Long enough until they ask themselves,

"Why do the Apaches starve and die

instead of surrender?"

That's when they'll begin to understand.

And when they do,

maybe their leader, Mr Washington himself,

will come right here,

and he'll have a new treaty.

A treaty that says how important it is

for all men to be proud and strong.

And believe in what they are.

I love you.

Of course, you have no sense.

You have a soul but no sense.

You think Mr Washington himself

will leave his house and come right here?

- I don't know.

- Well, who knows?

Maybe.

Company, halt!

- In the gully, sir.

- Forward, ho!

At San Carlos

I was waiting for an opportunity

to put a bullet through Geronimo.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes