Taza, Son of Cochise

1

In 1872,

the long bitter war fought

between the United States cavalry

and the Apache bands

led by Cochise came to an end.

The peace treaty signed

by Cochise and General Howard

brought peace to the Arizona territory.

But three years later,

the mighty leader

of the Chiricahua Apaches grew ill

and came to the end of his days.

My sons.

Hear the words of Cochise

for the last time.

Taza, mi first son,

lead the Chiricahuas

as I have led them.

Honor the peace

we have made with the White Eyes.

Think only and always for our people.

Naiche, my second son,

follow your brother and defend him

so long as he defends

the ways of Cochise.

One last wish.

Let no White Eyes find the ground

where Cochise makes the big sleep.

It is done.

My father's spirit joins the Sun.

No White Eyes will ever see this grave.

Now Cochise begins his big sleep.

News of the death of Cochise

reached the lone Apache Chieftain

who continued to ride the paths of war.

His name was Geronimo.

Where is Geronimo?

Geronimo.

- The soldier coats are coming?

- No.

I bring the word of Grey Eagle.

Cochise has died.

- When did you leave?

- Two days and two nights ago.

They're taking him to the top

so that no White Eyes

could find his grave.

Good. Geronimo will again lead

a strong Apache nation.

For peace will die with Cochise

on the Chiricahua Mountain.

Stay here, Chato!

Naiche!

The ceremony is over, brother.

- It is time to laugh.

- Find someone else.

I have found her. Her name is Oona.

- She is beautiful.

- And she hates Naiche.

Her words mean nothing.

Her father favors me.

'Cause I don't speak

the ways of women, of cowards.

'Cause I want to live like a warrior

by the lance, the arrow and the knife.

Go back to the village.

Our father fought for 11 years

to win our peace with honor.

- Now you speaking of breaking it.

- I wait only for Geronimo.

- When he returns, I'll join him.

- You never will.

No while I lead the Chiricahuas.

Taza!

Why don't you kill him?

Kill him! Kill him!

- He is my brother.

- But he bears evil for us.

And for our people.

Take him back to the village

and put him under the guard.

- Why did you leave the other women?

- I knew you were sad.

I wanted to be near you.

I must come back to the village.

My father would be worried.

Soon you will be my worry,

not Grey Eagle's.

You forget Naiche.

I will not forget him.

But now I can think only of you.

Kocha, get your rifle.

Watch him well.

My father.

Jeb, Aaron.

- What's wrong, Mary?

- Something scared the horses.

- Maybe Indians.

- Indians?

Don't start fretting.

This is Chiricahua country.

Only peaceful Redskins live here.

And Cochise...

Kocha, did you hear something?

Naiche, throw down your gun.

Troops!

Halt!

Halt!

- Lieutenant Willis.

- Yes, sir.

Water your horses.

Keep the men out of the village.

You better tell your man

not to dismount and not to relax.

What's wrong, Hegan?

I don't reckon

we'll get to talk to Cochise.

The chief's feather is being worn

by Cochise's eldest son, Taza.

What's he like?

He's got it in him to be

a greater chief than Cochise

or a worse devil than Geronimo.

- Alert your men.

- Yes, sir.

- It's good to see you.

- Thank you, Taza. Thank you.

Captain Burnett, the new Soldier Chief

of the San Carlos reservation.

The Captain came to talk to Cochise.

Is about the killing

of the three White Eyes?

Yes, they're killed near your village.

Tell me, has Geronimo been around here?

We figured it was

some of his dirty work.

It was not Geronimo.

Some of my people are to blame.

Walk with me.

These are the evil ones.

But that's your brother Naiche.

I'll have to take

these six Chiricahuas to Fort Apache.

- These men must be punished.

- Look again, Captain.

They are being punished.

Captain,

Taza is giving it to you straight.

Facing a firing squad,

that's an honorable thing,

but being punished like this

makes them lose face.

There's nothing worse for an Apache.

- You've broken the treaty.

- Some of my men have.

I've punished them.

I'm sorry, Taza. I have my orders.

Forward!

As I understand the treaty,

if any Chiricahua kills a white man,

the tribe must surrender their arms

and move to the reservation.

This is up to General Crook.

He's due back to Fort Apache tomorrow.

You can appeal to him if you wish.

I had a wish for peace.

Lieutenant Willis.

Yes, sir.

We're taking this men.

Sergeant Hamma and four men, over here.

May I have your knife, Hegan?

I remember when the Apaches

were proud and brave.

You spoke those words to my father.

Sergeant.

- Taza!

- Dismount!

Dismount!

- Lieutenant Willis.

- Yeah.

- He tried to take my sword.

- How? He was half dead.

Taza, I regret this very much.

This was the very thing

I tried to avoid.

The last thing I wanted to happen.

I'm sorry.

Hurry it up, men!

Sergeant, prepare to move out.

Troop! To mount!

Even Cochise

wouldn't let this go unpunished.

I'll do what must be done.

Company, left wheel!

Forward, march!

This is the place

the White Eyes call Fort Apache.

Three sentries have been posted.

Alright. Tank you. Good night.

Good night, sir.

If I were you

I would sleep my boots on.

We have sentries posted.

I'd feel better if we had

Taza behind bars.

- Better still in front of a firing squad.

- Good night.

Good night, Captain.

General Crook and his soldiers.

Open the gates for them.

Where were your sentries, asleep?

They're on duty, General.

They didn't know what hit them.

General Crook, this is Taza,

Chief of the Chiricahuas.

- Is Cochise dead?

- He died five days ago.

- I knew peace would die with your father.

- I did not want it so.

- I warned the Captain.

- You ordered me to capture the Apaches.

- I did.

- You did right.

We'll not talk of right or wrong.

- We'll talk of peace.

- Peace?

He means it, General.

Your soldier coats are my prisoners.

I'll release them

if you fulfill my demands.

What are they?

San Carlos is an empty land.

It's wrong to send us there.

It's according to the treaty.

Cochise signed it and you broke it.

Why should my people be punished

for the evil done by six Chiricahuas?

If you want peace,

you must agree to this.

Let White Eyes punish White Eyes.

- And Apaches punish Apaches.

- Impossible.

Light the torches!

- He punished the six Apaches.

- That's so.

If I hasn't seen it

I wouldn't believe it.

The authority for punishing crimes

rests with the United States government.

Set fire to the fort!

Do we talk peace

or do I ride with Geronimo?

- Hear him out.

- What are your demands?

I have no wish to break my father's word.

We will move to the reservation.

We must have tools

to work the land, seed and sheep.

- Enough food 'til we grow our own.

- Alright.

- Agreed?

- Agreed.

One more thing.

No soldier coats in the reservation.

- You must be policed.

- We'll police ourselves.

That's the army's function.

I'll never agree to that.

Let's Taza form

a Reservation Police Force.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes