Nez Perce 1.7 - Flight

Nez Perce : Blood
Genre : Historical
Showrunner: Scott Cooper
Writer : Dwight Gallo
Cast: Adam Beach, Matthew Rhys, Martin Sensmeier, Gil Birmingham, Julia Jones, Forrest Goodluck, Amber Midthunder, Tatanka Means, Stacey Oristano, Michaela McManus, William Bellleau and Lily Gladstone

Plot:1877. Mrs. Norton (Stacey Oristano) stumbles out of the timber and into a meadow. Her clothes are drenched in blood, arrow stub sticking from her chest, holding her boy under her arm. She limps towards a nearby settlement. Men working in the field see her coming and run towards her to help her. She passes out once they reach her.

Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) and Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) arrive in the heart of the Nez Perce village to find it in panic. Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) is arming for war. Many others are preparing to leave. Joseph sees his wife Springtime (Julia Jones) up ahead. He fights his way through the crowd, finally reaching her. She asks him what they are going to do. Joseph tells her to prepare to leave now. Ollokot charges through the village, looking for someone. Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) is searching for Little Bird. He turns around just in time for Ollokot to slap his face. Wahlitits falls to the ground. Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means) swings at Ollokot. Ollojot flips Red Grizzly over his back and onto the ground. Nearby warriors restrain the other war party indians from intervening. Red Grizzly calls them all fools for trying to avoid war. It's begun whether they like it or not. Ollokot grabs Red Grizzly by the throat, and tells him that he is the fool, that he has stuck a knife into all of their backs. Joseph rides over and looks down at Red Grizzly and his warriors. He tells them that the white man is going to hang them for this, and he's going to let them. Joseph then turns to Wahlitits and says so much for promises made to a dying father. The words hit Wahlitits hard. He sees Little Bird (Amber Midthunder) staring at him from a distane and hands his head in shame. Gunshots suddenly rip through the village. Vigilantes are shooting from the trees. Warriors return fire, driving them back as women and children take cover. Joseph turns to Ollokot, telling him to strike all the tipis. They must be gone before the sun enters the sky.

General Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys) sits on a bench at the train station waiting for his train. The station manager gives Howard a message. He looks down at the paper, unable to believe. The message reads: WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN INDIAN WAR. Howard stands and leaves the station.

Joseph and Ollokot supervise as the Nez Perce tribe leaves their homeland. Wahlitits, Red Grizzly, and the other War Party Indians have their arms tied behind their backs and are escorted as prisoners. Most of the Indians are on foot. They run, fast and strong away from their home. High on the distant bluffs and well out of range, white vigilantes continue to fire at the fleeing tribe.

In Lapwai, people stand in the street, listening to the far away gunshots. Rebecca Fuller (Michaela McManus) comes out of the school house. She walks down the street, staring towards the distant mountains, afraid for her friend Joseph.

That night, the Nez Perce try to sleep in a dark patch of woods, but most eyes are wide open. Little Bird approaches Wahlitits. A warrior standing guard blocks her path, but she pleads with him to let her see Wahlitits, and he steps aside. Little Bird sits down beside Wahlitits and asks if he is alright. Wahlitits nods, trying to be brave. She looks into his eyes and asks if the story of the white woman is true. Wahlitits tells her that he tried to stop it. Little Bird looks away, heartbroken. She removes the necklace he gave her and sets it down in the dirt. She then stands and walks away. Wahlitits watches her go. Nearby, Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) has watched the entire exchange. He stares at Wahlitits with horror and sympathy.

That night, Yellow Wolf's wife Oyema (Lily Gladstone) is awakened by the sound of a snapping branch. She opens her eyes, but doesn't move a muscle. She can hear hushed whispers and crunching footsteps coming closer. Lanterns and torches are suddenly visible through the trees. A vigilante army approaches. Paralyzed by fear, the Nez Perce stay absolutely still. Oyema glances down at her sleeping baby. The torches come closer and begin to pass the tribe. Another loud snapping branch, and Oyema's baby begins to cry. Just for a second, then it stops. Everyone looks out at the torches, worried that they may have heard the cry. They keep moving. Relieved, everyone looks back at Oyema. She is covering her baby's face with her hand, smothering him in a desperate attempt to save the tribe. The last few torches pass and disappear into the woods. Oyema waits for the sound of footsteps to grow faint. She lifts her hand, but it's too late. Her baby is dead. Yellow Wolf comes over and kneels beside her. Oyema cannot bring herself to look at him.

At dawn the tribe gets up and starts moving. Oyema is frozen in the same position. She can't move, can't breath. Yellow Wolf sits nearby, somber and grief-stricken. The tribe moves past them. Finally, Yellow Wolf tries to take the dead infant from Oyema. She tightens her grip, then finally lets go. Yellow Wolf stands and walks into the forest to bury his child. Oyema remains still as the tribe continues to shuffle past her.

General Howard arrives on horseback to find the meadow surround the Norton ranch crowded with soldiers, neighbors and volunteers. He sees Mrs. Norton wrapped in a blanket, surrounded by friends. He dismounts and approaches. He greets Mrs. Norton, but she doesn't respond. Howard turns to a nearby doctor and asks if she's going to be alright. Howard asks for the ranking officer on site, and asks where Captain Perry is. A soldier tells Howard that Perry dispatched with two divisions early in the morning. Howard asks if his cavalry has been ordered to assemble yet, and the soldier assures him they have and are standing by awaiting orders. Howard tells the soldier to let his cavalry know that they need to move out immediately. Rebecca Fuller arrives at the site to see for herself if the rumors are true. Howard mounts his horse. Mrs. Norton tells him to kill them all.