American Primeval (2025) s01e03 Episode Script

1
[gasps]
[breathing heavily]
No! No!
Please, no.
[Abish panting]
[speaking Shoshone]
[metallic clattering]
You going to grind my nerves
till I lose my mind, too?
I'm just reminding
God we're still here.
Brother Pratt.
He knows.
Why hasn't He brought
my Abish back to me?
We will continue
searching for your wife,
but you must also begin
to search inside yourself
for the acceptance
of what may be.
My Abish is alive.
I've seen her.
I held her in my
arms last night.
I looked into her eyes.
[man] Brother Wolsey!
Someone here for you.
[Virgil] Good day, gentlemen.
Saw your camp.
Figured we'd stop by.
We're chasing a bounty. I hoped
you might have a tip to steer us.
A woman and her boy left out
of Bridger about a week ago.
We spotted them
just north of here.
How far off?
Oh, a few miles.
Near Taylor's Draw.
Run!
I'm afraid we haven't
seen her, friend.
That's disappointing. Uh
Not unexpected, I reckon.
Oh.
Yeah.
I remember you.
I saw you getting ready to set
out back at Bridger not long ago.
Wow.
You look to have been
through the gauntlet since.
[James] He survived
an Indian attack.
Just barely, it'd seem.
Well, now, the woman we're after
is the same who joined up
with you back at Bridger
after her guide got
hisself murdered.
She was killed with the others.
When was that?
Close to a week.
A week?
Well, then she has
been reinvigorated.
Yeah, we spotted them
not three days ago.
Very much alive. Her, the
boy, and another female.
Another woman?
Was it my wife?
Oh, I couldn't say. I don't
recall your wife's appearance.
Well
She was not found with the dead,
and this woman you're pursuing
survived the same attack,
maybe they are
traveling together.
This pursuit, I wonder if you might allow
brothers Cook and Pratt to accompany you.
No stake in the
bounty, of course.
This woman might have
information regarding his wife.
Did she tell you where she was
trying to get with her boy?
Yes.
Two hundred dollars.
Brothers Pratt, Brother
Cook to join you.
Two hundred dollars.
[scoffs] Well, fine,
we'll make it a party.
Where are we headed?
Crooks Springs.
[Virgil] That's a tough
ride. You certain?
Things we'll do for love.
[sighs]
You find this
woman and this boy,
you make sure they're dead.
Don't know what they saw.
It doesn't matter what they saw.
The risk is too great now.
We gotta close this up, brother.
You understand?
Yes.
I love you.
Go on.
[wind blowing]
Mr. Reed.
Would you please
We need to make the fire bigger.
The children are freezing.
- We
- Can't risk the smoke.
We can risk it, and we
need to do it right now.
We're freezing.
Mr. Reed.
Mr. Reed, please.
Boy, get up. Follow me.
We gotta get rocks.
Smoother the better.
Keep them small.
Smaller.
Can I ask you a question?
- What do those mean?
- What?
[Devin] On your hands.
Is that how many men you killed?
No.
Where'd you learn
to fight like that?
Shoshone.
Are you scared to die?
No.
As long as it's the right way.
We're gonna heat these up.
Then bury them.
Then lay on them.
And that should keep you warm.
And then you can
stop complaining.
These are mine. Get your own.
Get enough for your
mother and the girl.
Now.
- Go.
- Yes, sir.
I'll come with you.
[Devin] We gotta get rocks.
The smoother the better.
Not too big.
What is that?
Medicine.
Medicine for what?
Boy's father doesn't
even know you're coming.
You even sure he's
at Crooks Springs?
Yes.
In fact, he's been
very successful.
He has a gold claim
just outside town.
A gold claim?
Yes.
One he never asked you to join.
We were very young when he
left. Devin was just a baby.
I think if he sees
When he sees what a fine
son Devin has become,
he will welcome him.
[Isaac] Hmm.
A mother's hope.
At this point, hope
is all I have left.
If you had a child of your
own you would understand.
Look at the little
flame right there.
Yeah.
[birds chirping]
[woman speaking Shoshone]
[in English] My
locket. It's mine.
I said give me my locket back!
[grunts]
[speaking Shoshone]
[Abish grunts]
[in English] I want my locket!
It doesn't belong to you!
Give it!
[speaking Shoshone]
[Abish panting]
How long has he been limping?
[Sara] I'm not sure. It was
rocky and he stumbled a bit.
He's got a stone
embedded in his hoof.
I want you off the horse.
We'll try the boy, see if
he can carry his weight.
Devin, we're ready to go.
Now!
You and I are trading
horses for a while.
[Devin] Why?
- Because we have to.
- But why?
Devin?
- What is that?
- Nothing.
- Are you hurt?
- No, it's nothing.
- [Sara] What are you doing?
- Stay here.
Two Moons, keep him here. Here.
Let me handle this.
Are you lost?
Hi.
What's your name?
You hurt?
It's okay. We want to help you.
It's okay.
[speaks French]
[Sara in English]
You're safe now.
Papa!
Papa's here. Let's go find Papa.
Okay?
This is not where we need to go.
What? What does that mean?
Whatever you find down there
won't be good for anyone.
What about her?
What about her?
She just said her
family was down there
If her family was down there, they'd
be screaming through the trees.
Isaac, we have to at
least see for ourselves.
Leave her.
No.
[Devin] Who is this?
Does she have a name?
Mama, who is that?
This is our new friend.
[Devin] Is she coming with us?
We're going to help
her find her family.
This is Two Moons.
I think she'll ride
on a horse with me.
- [Devin] Is she coming with us?
- No. Hey.
This is not a good idea.
Let me understand. If you were here
alone, you would just abandon her?
Yes.
I can see what the
medicine's for.
[horse whinnies]
Whoa.
[speaking French]
[in English] We found her.
We found her alone.
[speaking French]
Stay on the horse.
Ma'am.
Ma'am. Is she your daughter?
[speaking French]
[in English] Sir?
This is your daughter?
We thought we had
lost her, and I
No. Well, we found her.
Sara, get on the horse.
- She was alone.
- How can I thank you?
- We just wanted to make sure she was safe.
- [man] No, you must stay.
Madame, we don't have
much. Eat some soup.
- Share with us.
- No.
- It's not necessary. We must be going.
- Some soup. Please
[Devin] Mr. Reed!
Stay where you are.
Hey.
Easy, big boy.
[speaks French]
- [Devin] Mama!
- [old woman laughing]
[in English] Toss
the rifle down.
Hey, climb down.
Do it or I shoot the boy.
Stop. Drop the gun, please.
- Shoot the boy.
- No, no!
[old woman laughing]
Rifle down. Now. Slowly.
Slowly.
Ah.
[speaks French]
[in English] Throw your
pistol on the ground.
Slow.
Now.
Very good. Climb down
and get on your stomach.
Slow.
Good. Yeah, nice.
Easy. Easy.
Stomach.
On the ground.
- On the ground.
- I'm sorry.
That's good. Slow.
All the way. Kiss the
dirt. All the way.
Ah.
Good.
[cackling]
How does that feel? Hmm?
[speaks Shoshone]
- [in English] Hey, woah!
- [grunts]
[gunshot]
[Devin screams]
Devin!
[Devin] Mama! [sobbing]
[pigs oinking]
You gonna give me half
off them puny ones?
Hogs are hogs, Jim.
Not entirely sure that one in
the corner is not a possum.
Jim.
I want a scale, Winky,
before we close this deal.
Mr. Wild Bill Hickman.
Didn't expect to see
you back so soon.
With a fair share of
the congregation, I see.
Bridger.
And you brung in the big guns.
Well, Brother Hickman reported
your conversation to me.
I thought it might be
helpful to stop by myself.
Yeah, hope you didn't go too
far out of your way, Governor.
Shame to waste a ride.
You were conveniently
along my path.
If you're waiting for somebody
to prop the step beneath you,
I'm afraid we don't do
such things out here.
Not even for the women.
Just getting a lay of the land.
Glorious.
Mostly flat.
And of high value.
I'm certain.
This is the place.
I'm limited on space, so a few
rooms gotta double their purpose.
I keep telling my
boy, Cottrell
since we're sharing walls, I
should've been clear enough
to put my office
in a whorehouse.
We don't allow brothels
in Salt Lake City.
Well, I see why you would.
What was the last headcount I heard
on your wives, Governor? Twenty-two?
It's actually twenty, but the
press likes to distort my details.
To inflame those who
wish our people to fall.
You know, a lot of my
wives are elderly women
whom I regard more as
mothers than wives.
That puts a whole
tilted spin on things
I'm not certain even the best
girls here could keep up with.
Word was relayed to me that your earlier
negotiations with Brother Hickman
had unfortunately
become strained.
Your boy, Bill, carries a tone
that I'm not entirely fond of.
Makes it seem as if your people are
ready to take what's not offered.
Oh, I apologize if that's the
impression you took away, Mr. Bridger.
I can assure you that
is not my intent.
What is your intent, Governor?
I want your fort.
Oh, I'm sure you do.
And if the Army gets their hands
on it, it's the end of you Mormons.
What brought you here
to this place, Mr. Bridger?
Mmm
Thirst.
I was on the run from two
grizzlies and a band of Blackfoot
for the better part of a week.
Ran out of water
after my second day.
By the time I lost them all, well, I
wasn't holding a drop left to piss.
That's when I stumbled
upon this spot here.
River flowing all around.
As soon as I drank my fill, I took
it as a sign to finally settle.
I suspect it was thirst that brought
me to these lands as well, Mr. Bridger,
with only $50 in my pocket.
A thirst to draw
myself closer to God.
And here we both sit.
In a dusty storage hold three
doors down from a whorehouse.
Quenched, but each
still wondering,
how's the best way to keep
drinking from that river out back?
I've got some more church business to
attend to over the next three days.
We should continue this
conversation once it's complete.
I'll be here.
For better or worse.
Well, until then,
why don't you come up
with what might be a
fair price of purchase?
A number we can both
be comfortable with.
Yeah.
I've grown mighty
partial to this location.
And I've also grown way
too old and beat down
to find another this
late in the day.
So, I'd imagine a price that
would make me comfortable
is one that would put a real
painful burn up your ass, Governor.
I've never been afraid
of pain, Mr. Bridger.
As you will.
Good day.
You be careful out there.
I heard marauding's at an
all-time high, Governor.
The Lord is watching over me,
Mr. Bridger. We'll be fine.
Sammy?
I believe we'd better get a
drink while we still fucking can.
[Sammy] Mmm-hmm.
[girl speaking French]
[in English] Why are you
You have everything of
ours. Just let us go.
Not everything.
Good morning, big boy.
[speaks French]
[in English] Leave him alone.
Let us go!
[Isaac shushing]
The less attention we give, the
more time we have to get loose.
What are they gonna do to us?
[wind howling]
You wanted to talk, Captain?
What do you know about
the Meadows attack?
What I know about
the Meadows attack
is that some of our
people were slaughtered.
Not by Indians.
We had a survivor in our
camp that say different.
Now, he claims it's
the Wolf Clan that did it.
Was that survivor Jacob Pratt?
It was.
I have some questions for Mr. Pratt
about what actually went on that night.
Sorry to disappoint, but
I'm afraid he's gone off
in search of his abducted
wife, Sister Abish.
Well, we heard that whites
were involved in the attack.
And y'all are real white.
So, I'm hoping Mr. Pratt's head clears up
enough that he can offer us some details.
Mmm-hmm.
Well, I'm afraid he's
going the other direction,
unfortunately, but if
you'd like to test it,
they were headed out
towards Cedar Falls.
Now, word is, that's where
the Wolf Clan is hiding out.
And being that Red Feather
murdered all them folks,
figured it was a
good place to start.
And if you were really interested
in protecting your people,
you'd be over there
doing something about it.
But here you are, trying to pick
a fight with me and my troops.
You're not a military
organization, Mr. Wolsey.
You're a Mormon mob.
When I find proof of your
involvement in these attacks,
the United States government will
test your so-called army's resolve.
Good day to you.
Let's go, boys.
[men urging horses]
They could be telling the
truth about Red Feather.
Yeah, send some
scouts to Cedar Falls.
See if they can locate
this Mr. Red Feather.
[indistinct chatter]
And what is your name?
Have we met before?
Hey, big boy.
What is her name?
[speaking French]
[in English] What's
your mama's name?
Untie us.
Money, food, what do you want?
What is your mother's name?
[Sara] Sara.
[Isaac] We'll give
you whatever you want.
What do you want?
You'd do that for us, Sara?
Give us whatever we want?
Yes.
- Mother.
- What do you want?
Tell me what you want.
[Devin] Mother. Mother!
I don't think so.
- Mother!
- [Isaac] Let her go.
[Devin] Mother! Mother! No!
- No!
- [Isaac] Let her go!
- Don't touch him!
- Mother, no!
No!
Let her go!
[man] Get her!
- [Sara] No!
- [cackling]
[speaks French]
[Sara in English] Please!
[Sara screaming] No!
[Sara continues screaming]
[Sara sobbing]
[Sara screaming]
Over the hill? Over
the second hill?
Red Feather.
Let's let the sun
get a little lower.
[arrows whizzing]
- [gunshots]
- [grunts]
[old woman cackling]
[cackling continues]
[woman speaks indistinctly]
Did he wake up?
No.
[men hooting]
[speaking Shoshone]
- Abish.
- [in English] What's happening?
[speaking Shoshone]
[Jacob] Hosanna to
such days to come ♪
The Savior's second coming ♪
When all the earth
in glorious bloom ♪
Affords the Saints
a holy home ♪
You need to do something
about your Mormon friend.
He's been injured.
He's isn't well.
Well, neither am I at this rate.
For Christ's sake, he's
been singing that same shit
without a breath
since joining up.
And worship ♪
Enough of that, God damn it!
I'm just letting Abish
know I'm on my way to her.
That's thoughtful of you, but
for Christ's sakes, Pratt,
take some mercy
on the rest of us.
They don't have an ear for hymns
is all. I liked it, Mr. Pratt.
If the Wolf Clan has her, she ain't
ever hearing nothing ever again, no way.
He don't need to be told that.
[Tilly] I'm just saying.
I heard of Red Feather raping and
torturing white women for days.
Over and over and over like
that fucking song of his.
Now, that you shut up, Pratt,
probably hear your
pretty wife screaming.
[imitates wolf howling]
[speaking French]
Mama. Mama.
[shushing]
My head hurts.
I want you to think about
getting your hands loose.
I don't know if I can.
What'd you like to do back home
before you came out here?
You like to fish?
- [Devin] Haven't really done it.
- No?
Why?
Wasn't anywhere to do
it around our house.
[indistinct chatter]
I promise you we're
going to get out of this.
And I'm going to teach you how to fish,
but you've gotta promise me one thing.
That you stay strong.
Like your mother.
Mama! Mama!
- Leave her alone!
- Hey!
Put your mind somewhere else.
Oliver Twist.
Mama! Let her go!
Mother! Get off of her!
[grunting]
"Oliver Twist's ninth birthday
found him a pale, thin child
- somewhat diminutive in stature."
- [grunts]
"Oliver Twist's ninth birthday
found him a pale, thin child,
somewhat diminutive in stature."
"Oliver Twist's ninth birthday
found him a pale thin child,
somewhat diminutive in stature."
Stupid slut!
[speaking French]
[gun clicks]
[old woman sobbing]
- I just wanted to tell you
- No.
I appreciate the thought,
Mr. Reed, but I don't require pity.
That would make me as weak
as those men thought I was.
And we saw what
happened to them.
It was my fault. We shouldn't have
tried to help that girl. I was wrong.
You know, everything I'm doing
and everything I've done,
it's been to protect him.
And today, I just forgot.
I forgot. I forgot the
only thing that mattered.
[sobbing]
- [Sara continues sobbing]
- [shushing]
[shushing]
[men hooting]
[boy speaking Shoshone]
[in Shoshone] Your face
is painted for war.
Forever.
Look around.
I see no war here.
[Red Feather] Because
you choose to be blind.
And you will die blind.
What do you want
here, Red Feather?
A place to stay
for a short time.
Because you are hunted.
So now your enemies
will hunt us too.
My enemies are your enemies.
Your enemies are
every face you see
and too many for us.
I will bring no war onto my son.
[in English] Captain. Turner's
back. He's in the infirmary.
Alone?
He said all the men he
was riding with are dead.
You know what happened?
Wolf Clan. Most
likely Red Feather.
[Turner groans in pain]
- Shit.
- [Turner] Get it out!
[grunting]
[muffled scream]
What happened?
What happened?
Wolf Clan. They was on
us before we knew it.
Saw a bunch go by later.
Who'd you see? Who'd you see?
Red Feather. Among them.
What direction was he headed?
Southwest. Towards
the low hills.
Okay, good. You did good.
Take care of him, Doc.
Winter Bird's
camp's up that way.
I want you to take some
scouts to the Shoshone camp.
You see if Red Feather's there. All right?
And you stay hid. Don't let him see you.
Yes, sir.
[Edmund] The more time I spend here
trying to make sense of this place,
the more I lose
myself within it.
I feel myself slipping further and further
away from anything I can understand.
Peace and innocence are losing
a battle to hatred and fear.
Peace is now the
great shrinking minority.
So very few in this
land possess compassion.
And basic tenderness
has hardened
and is now, and I fear,
forever, greatly diminished.
I am overcome at this time
by deep pain from a tremendous
and always present lack of love.
So few left in these
lands know of grace.
There is only brutality here.
[Tilly] You fiddle with that cloth like
Lucas does his little fucking pecker.
[Frank] He said it
belonged to his wife.
Oh, shit. That right?
Pratt, maybe you let me
clutch it a bit? Huh?
Use my imagination.
Don't mind him, Mr. Pratt. He's
never had nobody to care for.
What's that?
You're a loveless man.
Tilly.
What are you gonna do about it?
Huh?
- Tilly. None of that.
- What're you do about it?
Fucking pussy.
Let's get loaded up.
[watch ticking]
[Virgil] You ain't
calling the shots, Mormon.
[Frank] It's past time
we get on the trail.
[Virgil] It's past time,
but it ain't your trail.
Never find this woman,
we don't get moving.
Tilly.
Let's go.
We'll find her.
You're a good man, Pratt.