Smith! Page #6

whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

- so help you God?

- [speaking in Native American dialect]

Uh-huh.

- He say OK.

- [crowd laughing]

[gavel pounding]

Now, Antoine...

You do understand

why you're here today, don't you?

[speaking in Native American dialect]

He say, "I speak for all Indian people."

Yes, of course.

You talk to the Indian people,

but you will also talk to His Honor

and to these gentlemen

on the jury, Antoine.

[speaking in Native American dialect]

Good. Now, Antoine...

Take your time

and please tell this court

all that you know about what happened

on the night of August the 14th.

[speaking in Native American dialect]

[speaking in Native American dialect]

He say he's going to speak

of the time when he was a young man

with Chief Joseph and they fought

the white savage in Montana.

- [crowd laughing]

- [gavel pounding]

Your Honor, I don't see how

an anecdote that goes back 9O years

to the battles of an Indian chief,

however famous, is relevant here.

Mr. Maxwell... see if your witness

can be more responsive to the question.

I'll try, Your Honor.

Antoine...

I'm sure that these people are

interested in hearing about Chief Joseph

- and white savages...

- [crowd laughing]

[gavel pounding]

But we're concerned, today,

with the trial of Gabriel Jimmyboy.

Now, he's accused of murder.

Antoine, could you please,

in your own way,

tell this court about what

you know on August the 14th?

[speaking in Native American dialect]

Well, what'd he say there,

Mr. Walter Charlie?

He... [clearing throat] He said...

He remembered the time Chief Joseph

spoke to him. He remembered very well.

Why don't you speak up?

Just speak up! We can't hear you.

He said he remembered the time

Chief Joseph spoke to him, and...

[crowd laughing]

[gavel pounding]

- Hey, Vince?

- Yeah?

Why don't you give

the old man a break?

Yeah.

When does he start his war dance?

- You think that's funny, huh?

- Sure it is.

The old man's out of his mind!

Let's you and I step outside right now.

Corporal, corporal,

bring that man to the bench.

[grunting]

All right. All right...

Why don't you do your job?

- Who's this cowboy, corporal?

- He's a rancher, Your Honor...

Just a minute. That's right,

I'm a rancher. My name is Smith,

and I'm a friend

of this gentleman here.

[sighing] He has a right

to say his piece.

Say "Your Honor" when

you're addressing the court.

You aware it's a serious offense to

interrupt the business of this court?

Yes, I'm very much aware.

But I don't see why these people keep

laughing at him, laughing and laughing!

- Why...

- Any more laughter,

I'll clear the court, Mr. Smith.

Go on back to your seat now.

- Thank you.

- [Antoine] Smith?

[speaking in Native American dialect]

He wants to speak to me, Your Honor.

Well, Mr. Maxwell, it's your witness.

- I have no objection, Your Honor.

- All right?

[mouthing silently]

[speaking in Native American dialect]

- He wants Smith to interpret for him!

- [indistinct chatter]

Well, what else did he say?

He said... Smith is like his own son.

He speaks his heart.

I'll do my best.

Smith friend to Indian people.

He interpret for OI' Antoine.

[all cheering]

- We want Smith!

- Sit down...

Mr. Maxwell, you may ask

for a recess, if you wish.

If it please the court, we'll, uh,

we'll accept Mr. Smith as interpreter.

Mr. Edwards, this, uh,

agreeable with the prosecution?

Well, we will agree, Your Honor,

if the first interpreter remains

in the courtroom for verification.

Mr. Walter Charlie,

remain and listen to the testimony.

Swear in Mr. Smith as the interpreter.

Do you swear you'll make a true

interpretation in the language

the witness understands and interpret

his answers correctly in English?

[Smith] I do.

Mr. Maxwell, may I make a suggestion?

Why don't you let the old gentleman

tell his story in his own way,

and I'll stop him

if there's anything improper?

[sighing] Yes, sir.

I'd like nothing better.

Now, Antoine... you must tell us

all that you know about this case.

This is the law, Antoine.

[speaking in Native American dialect]

...law.

He says the law is a very hard thing.

The law is a very cold thing.

We cannot understand the law.

Antoine...

...you must tell us all that

you know about Gabriel Jimmyboy.

[speaking in Native American dialect]

...Jimmyboy.

[speaking in Native American dialect]

"I remember that day very well."

Yeah...

[speaking in Native American dialect]

"Yes, I remember that day very well."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

[Smith] "I was in Bearpaw country,

in that place, Montana.

All around us in the

snow hills are the white soldiers."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

[Smith] "We came to that place

to hear Chief Joseph.

He waits for us on saddlehorse."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

"Hear me, my chiefs!"

"Once again the white savage

has broken his promise to us.

He has driven us from the valley

that was said to be ours."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

[Smith] "We have marched

a thousand miles...

The chiefs, the braves,

the women and the children."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

"We have fought the soldiers

four times our number.

A thousand miles of killing

lays behind us."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

"I am tired of fighting.

All the old men have

been killed by the white savages.

The chief who led the young men is dead.

Tuhutset is dead.

Looking Glass is dead."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

[Smith] "We can fight no more.

Our people are cold

and there's no blankets.

Our people are hungry

and there is no meat."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

[Smith] "I want to ride off

into the snow hills...

...to look for my children."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

[Smith] "Maybe I will find them dead."

[speaking in Native American dialect]

"Hear me, my chiefs. I am tired.

My heart is sick and sad.

From where the sun now stands,

we will fight no more, forever."

An... [clears his throat] Antoine...

Thank you for coming here,

and thank you for talking

for your friend, Gabriel Jimmyboy.

No cross-examination, Your Honor.

Antoine, you may go now.

You old fool.

He ought to be put away.

What did you say?

How long did it take you

to figure out that routine, huh?

You and Chief Joseph...

[imitating Native American accent] How.

We ain't no more gonna fight nobody.

- [grunting]

- [crowd murmurs]

[grunting, coughing]

[gavel pounding]

Sergeant, clear the court!

All right, clear the court!

- Clear the court!

- [indistinct chatter]

Corporal, bring Mr. Smith

to my chambers.

- All right, move along!

- Albie!

Albie, you stay with McDonald, there.

Come on, move along!

McDonald, what are

they gonna do to Smith?

I don't know.

We'll wait a little bit outside.

Somebody tell us.

Ma's gonna blow her top

when she hears about this one.

Mr. Smith, for contempt of court,

you are fined $50,

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