Nez Perce 1.8 - Wounds

Nez Perce : Wounds
Genre : Historical
Showrunner: Scott Cooper
Writer : Dwight Gallo
Cast: Adam Beach, Matthew Rhys, Martin Sensmeier, Gil Birmingham, Forrest Goodluck, Tatanka Means, Ben Schnetzer, Grace Dove, Robert Knepper, William Gregory Lee, William Belleau and Lily Gladstone

Plot:1862. With his commanding officer wounded, Gen. Oliver O. Howard (Matthew Rhys), who still has both arms, is forced to take control of his unit during the Civil War Battle of Fair Oaks in Virginia. Following a day of brutal battlefield action, Howard has to get his men to the rendezvous point where they can receive further orders from General McClellan. Howard and his men wait for nightfall to start moving again to avoid detection by the Confederate forces in the area.

Just before dawn, Howard and his men finally reach the rendezvous point where General George B. McClellan (Robert Knepper) asks what took them so long. Howard asks if there is time for him and his men to rest as they have been on the move all night, but McClellan says there is not as he needs Howard to lead a group of scouts to scout ahead to see where the Confederates are camped out.

Howard and Captain Philip Kearny (William Gregory Lee) lead a small group of soldiers through the previous day's battlefield, staying low to avoid detection. They make their way through the rotting bodies of men on both sides of the war. The smell causes Howard to throw up, but Kearny reminds him that they need to move quickly to the other side of the battlefield where there is cover. When they get to the other side of the battlefield, they find themselves in an ambush. Confederate soldiers emerge from the trees and open fire. Howard, Kearny and their men retreat. The men are all hit. Kearny takes a bullet to the skull, and he falls dead at Howard's feet. Howard is then hit in the arm by a Minie ball, shattering his arm. He lay on the ground in agony, surrounded by the bodies of his men, when General McClellan and his battalion charge across the field, scaring off the Confederate soldiers who took out Howard's group. Howard is taken back to camp, where it is determined that his arm needs to be amputated immediately. Howard bites down on a leather strap as medics saw his arm off. Howard then passes out.

1877. Nez Perce warriors line a ridge overlooking the majestic White Bird Canyon. Ollokot (Martin Sensmeier) comes over and takes position next to Chief Joseph (Adam Beach) and tells him that they are ready. Joseph asks about Toohoolhoolzote, and Ollokot nods down into the canyon where Toohoolhoolzote (Gil Birmingham) leads a team of twenty warriors. They spread out across the canyon floor and crouch down, disappearing into the tall grass. Warriors on horses take position behind thick trees. Joseph and Ollokot continue to watch and wait. Joseph says they don't have much time.

The women and children are stationed away from the canyon. Oyema (Lily Gladstone) sits alone, still grieving. Fairland (Grace Dove) comes over and kneels beside her. Oyema collapses into tears. Fairland comforts her as best she can. Nearby, Yellow Wolf (William Belleau) loads his rifle. Yellow Wolf tells Oyema that he promises to be careful and come back to her. He turns to go. Oyema grabs his arm, telling him that he's all she has. Yellow Wolf kisses her on the cheek, then leaves to join the warriors. Oyema watches him go, afraid.

Red Grizzly (Tatanka Means), Wahlitits (Forrest Goodluck) and the other war party Indians are escorted to the ridge and forced to sit down. Yellow Wolf follows close behind, taking position along the ridge not far away from Joseph and Ollokot.

The wind blows, bringing with it the sound of an approaching army. Warriors raise their rifles, taking aim. Hundreds of soldiers come into view on the far side of the canyon. The Nez Perce tribe may be eight hundred strong, but most are women and children. The warriors are outnumbered more than two to one. A warrior raises a large, white flag into the air. It unfurls and flaps in the breeze, easily visible for miles.

From the far side of the canyon, Captain David Perry (Ben Schnetzer) stares through binoculars at the billowing white flag. He's flanked by several corporals. One of his corporals is surprised they caught the Indians, but Perry tells him that the Nez Perce are trapped between the canyon and the river with nowhere to go, of course surrender is their only option.

Joseph, Ollokot, and four other warriors mount their horses. The prisoners are led over the ridge. Wahlitits glances at Yellow Wolf as he's being led away. Joseph rides over to Yellow Wolf and the other warriors lining the ridge. He tells them that if fighting begins to shoot the soldier with the horn first. Yellow Wolf asks why, but Joseph just tells him to do it, and after that they may fire at men with guns. Joseph turns and descends the canyon.

Perry watches as Joseph leads six warriors and the train of prisoners towards the center of the canyon floor. Perry spurs his horse forward along with six soldiers of his own, going out to meet Joseph half way. Nearby, American soldiers stand ready, bracing for the worst. Joseph and his warriors reach the middle ground first. The white flag continues to flap in the wind. The war party prisoners stand silent. Perry and his men come riding into view. They stop just a few yards from Joseph. Perry looks at Joseph and tells him he is listening. Joseph tells Perry that the prisoners are the men who did the killing, that they acts on their own with no authority. Joseph offers them to Perry so that he may judge them as he will. Perry asks about the rest of the Nez Perce, and Joseph says that they will go to the reservation as General Howard had said.