Unconquered Page #5

which side would you be on?

I've killed men

for less than that.

For much less.

Captain Holden, I suggest

that you control yourself

and leave Mr. Garth

to control the Indians.

Control?

No one can control

the Indians, once they've sent

around the red belt of war.

But if you close

the Ohio to settlement,

the war belt will

never be passed.

It has been passed.

What?

When?

That's hard to believe.

How do you know?

John Fraser took this off

an Ottawa near Venango.

Crossed tomahawks.

The war belt.

A war belt!

That otter there

is Pontiac's sign.

On its way to Guyasuta.

Mr. Garth's blood brother.

Colonel Bouquet,

that belt makes it

a matter for the army.

I have no army.

What? Why?

The Black Watch is

just in from the Caribbean,

fever among the men.

Do you expect miracles?

We cannot be ready

for four months.

Four months?

There won't be a live settler

west of the mountains.

Then pull your settlers back.

Or stop the war

before it breaks.

How?

By sending peace belts

to all the chiefs.

Peace belts?

Yes.

Why not, Sir William?

Calling a council.

It's worked before.

Pontiac'd make buzzard bait

out of the man

hat carried them.

No.

No, I believe the peace belts

could get through

if they were carried

by an expert woodsman

such as Captain Holden.

Holden?

It'd be murder, Chris.

Why?

He knows the Indians,

he knows the trails,

and he's a dead shot.

What do you say,

Captain Holden?

I'll take them, Sir William.

That was a brave thing

you just said, Captain.

I'll provide the scouts,

Captain.

I guess I'll provide

my own scouts, Mr. Garth.

Where'll you be?

Wolf Creek with Guyasuta

and Pontiac.

Get back in the wagon.

How soon can you start?

Tonight,

if John Fraser gets me

buckskins and a rifle.

The peace belts

will not be ready

for three days.

How will you go?

By Nemacolin's Path.

I'll take charge

of the pathfinding.

You're not going, John.

Now, Chris,

there's no reason...

Your wife would skin me alive.

You're going to drive

my gear to Pittsburgh.

Captain, your mission

is confidential.

If you run into trouble,

you cannot tell the military

or we'll have this war

on our hands

before we can fight it.

Colonel Bouquet is right.

Action by the military

is the one thing

that would instantly unite

all the tribes behind Pontiac.

You'll be playing

a lone hand, Chris.

You might have use

for this compass.

It's not Boston Common

you'll be crossing.

Indeed, it's not.

Headstones

are the only milestones

on Nemacolin's Path.

I haven't seen a bird

or a wild critter in an hour.

Me, neither.

It don't smell right.

Joe.

Clean through the heart.

He's dead.

I've got the belts.

Come on. Save your scalp.

Dan, grab that branch.

This dang tree

needs pruning.

My powder horn.

My powder horn,

he's seen it.

Well, that's one good Injun.

Ottawa.

What's Ottawas doing

in Seneca country?

Ask Garth.

No time for souvenirs,

come on.

I reckon we shook them off.

You can't ever

shake off an Indian.

I left my wind

about six miles back.

I ought to have

my brain dusted.

With that skull ax?

A few days ago, this tomahawk

was on a ship with Garth.

He didn't waste much time

passing them around.

Garth knew these belts were

going through and he knew

we were carrying them.

That's why Joe Lavat's

back there with

an arrow through him.

You still delivering

peace belts?

We've got another job

to do first, Dan.

Killing Garth, I guess.

I guess.

That's my job, Dan.

We'll split up

and if I don't get

through to Pittsburgh,

the job is yours.

Let's get going.

I'm traveling over

Chestnut Ridge.

I'll cross Turkey Foot

to the Old Braddock Road.

Nothing ever travels

that but ghosts.

Be sure you ain't

one of them.

Thanks.

I'll meet you on Coal Hill

above Fort Pitt before noon.

Before noon.

You want this compass?

No.

I'd get lost.

Well, so long, Captain.

So long, Fur-face.

Dan McCoy

with a compass.

Hang onto your

powder horn this time.

What're you drinking?

Rum.

So am I.

Hey.

Well, don't swallow the cup.

I won't.

Five fingers of rum to drink

to the King's birthday.

Go on and be nice to them.

None of that that trade slop

you feed the savages.

Hey, get that

jug of rum over here.

Ale.

Hey, you're pretty.

Ain't been here long,

have you?

You've been here too long.

What's your name, dearie?

Corn whiskey.

Come here, Corn Whiskey.

Oh, don't. No, please.

I ain't gonna hurt you.

I just want...

Better you spilled blood.

Scrub it up before Bone beats

the daylights out of you.

Come on. Come on or Bone'll

charge you for a bath.

Hey, what about my liquor?

Lap it up

off the floor, Jim.

Jake,

you owe me one for this.

There's plenty more

at the bar.

Why you no run away?

Run away, Hannah? Where?

Where he no find you.

Garth?

He come here tonight

for you.

Spilling that grog will

add a year onto your time.

But I didn't...

Get out there.

Here's your bottle.

Keep out of sight.

Them Indians won't trade

for nothing but gunpowder.

Give it to them.

It's breaking the law.

Give it to them.

And so, gentlemen,

you see a mink skin.

But observe.

The mink skin is

no longer a mink skin.

It has become a silver button.

What's the ruckus?

Well, this aborigine here

claims there were

five little minks.

See for yourself

there are only four.

One, two, three, four.

Why, you worthless,

lard-bellied, thieving...

Trying to start a massacre?

We've got enough trouble.

Some more just

came in the door.

Keep scrubbing.

Get along.

Looking for somebody?

Garth trade here?

Some.

Where is he?

How do I know?

This Ottawa knows.

No, he just come in

from up north.

Northeast,

maybe from Chestnut Ridge.

What of it?

He's a friendly Indian.

He is? Then, why is he wearing

a dead man's powder horn?

He ain't.

Powder horns are easy to get.

Not this one.

Get Mr. Bone a drink.

From over there.

This Indian killed Dan McCoy

to get a leather pouch.

Where is it?

I don't know.

But if you came here looking

for trouble, you've found it.

Keep both hands

on that drink, Mr. Bone.

Where's the pouch?

Is this what

you're looking for?

Shut your...

Bone.

Yes, that's it.

You've certainly come down

in the world.

So has my opinion of you.

Is this Mr. Garth's

hospitality?

You're not going anywhere.

Keep your hands

flat on the bar.

I figured you'd do better

with your freedom.

What freedom?

Freedom to be beaten

with a whip,

to serve and to scrub

and milk, from sunup

to midnight?

Then crawl into

a cornhusk bed too tired

to sleep or even cry?

Why don't you quit?

A slave can't quit.

Slave?

But I set you free.

You never set her free.

No. He bought me and tonight

he's selling me to Garth.

Shut up, you.

Keep both hands

on that drink, Mr. Bone.

Tonight, huh?

Get your things, Abby.

I haven't any things.

You have two feet,

get up on them

and bring the pouch.

I'll break your arms if...

No, you won't.

I bought her and if

she's not free, she's mine.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes