American Primeval (2025) s01e05 Episode Script

1
[Edmund] General Stafford,
I'm writing in a moment
of critical urgency,
both tactical and moral.
Ten days ago, September 7th,
in the southern Utah Territory,
200 settlers from Arkansas were ambushed
and murdered on the Old Spanish Trail.
After investigating and interviewing
survivors, there's no doubt
that this attack was
organized and carried out
- by members of the Mormon Church
- [Bill] "the Mormon Church,
[whip lashes]
with the knowledge and approval
of Governor Brigham Young."
[man grunts]
"Therefore,
I request 500 additional troops be
sent to Fort Bridger immediately
to assist in eliminating the Mormon forces
before they grow in strength and numbers."
- "Sincerely, Captain Edmund Dellinger."
- [groans]
Brother Wolsey's
careless mistakes
have put our entire
cause in jeopardy,
our people's very
survival at risk.
[groans]
[breathing heavily]
For 40 years, our brothers and sisters
have been driven from their homes
And He will forgive you
- beaten
- and He'll cleanse
burned, raped, and murdered by
those who fear what we believe!
[man] Yeah, that's right.
And make no mistake,
they'll continue their assault
until no hint of our people remain!
But we cannot allow
that to happen.
We will not allow
that to happen.
We are the chosen!
Not them!
And our days of
persecution are no more!
And He will change our
- Captain.
- Lieutenant.
- Any problems?
- No, sir.
Ran into a company of
Johnson's men at Fort Bridger.
They're on their way to Gilbert.
They'll deliver the letter to
Johnson themselves upon arrival.
You stressed the
importance of time?
They assured me there would
be no stops along the way.
Well, we'll allow a few more days
for additional troops to arrive.
Any more than that, we have
to move out on our own.
We don't have the
numbers for that.
Which is why we're
waiting at all.
Where's the Pratt woman?
She's gone.
Gone where?
West.
I imagine back to the
people she rode in with.
[man hooting]
[Abish] The Mormons
who attacked my people.
I saw them.
They saw me.
The soldiers told me my
husband was still alive.
That he was looking for me.
And still you returned here.
I'm not ready to be found.
[flies buzzing]
[wind howling]
- [Sara] Did you see anyone?
- No.
But they're coming.
A matter of time.
He still has a fever.
We need to move.
We're not moving
when he's like this.
I got some more of the medicine.
[Isaac] It's worse.
We have to make a decision.
A decision about what?
No, we're not doing that.
- If the infection spreads
- We're not taking his leg.
- If the infection spreads
- No!
[man] They've come a
long way to get here.
[man 2] Friendly
riders approaching!
And here he comes.
All smiles and Jesus.
Hoping I won't notice the concurrent
twist he's trying to give my balls.
Likely has a discussion in
mind over that pig business.
I imagine so.
Seeing as God's most probably
whispering in his ear
that all pigs in the territory
have been bestowed as Mormon pork.
What's your feelings on Father,
Son, Holy Ghost and such, Sammy?
Well, never gave much
thought to be honest.
Not since I was a kid, anyway.
Left behind with leprechauns
and pots of gold.
Welcome back, Governor.
[Young] Mr. Bridger.
I wonder if you might have a moment for
us to continue that previous conversation.
I don't see why not.
Just let me first get my hands on
a tin bowl to slip down my pants.
Protect my privates.
[Young] So, I hear there was
a bit of a misunderstanding
with some of my men
regarding your swine.
I believe your men
understood me fairly well.
Especially Brother Wild Bill.
How's his foot doing?
That is exactly the type of
thing I'm trying to avoid.
I would prefer things not to
become contentious between us.
So, to hopefully come
to a common ground,
here is my offer of purchase
for your establishment.
And I believe you will
find it more than fair.
A lot of blisters I got
from this fort here.
It started out as nothing
but a blacksmith and corral.
Now a regular stop for most every
immigrant on their way to paradise.
So, I don't know that
I'd necessarily agree
that your offer is more
than fair, Governor.
So then what exactly is
your price, Mr. Bridger?
I'd have to see where
leaving this place puts me.
Would I need to start
up all over again?
You understand that my purchase
includes your not establishing a fort
anywhere in this area.
Well, even more of a
burden I'd be under.
I will be on my way in
the morning, Mr. Bridger.
My hope is that you will provide
me with an answer before I depart.
It sounds as though
your mention of hope
should have an "or else"
tacked on to the end.
I do look forward to hearing
from you by morning.
[Edmund] The only thing more concerning
than Brigham Young's cunning intellect
is his sense of righteousness
towards his so-called Promised Land.
[inaudible]
His desire to
control Fort Bridger
is reflective of his desire to
control the entire Utah Territory.
As goes Fort Bridger, goes Utah.
As goes Utah, goes the
entire Mormon religion.
If he is allowed to win, this lawless land
will descend into even greater darkness.
I fear this darkness, as
no man, woman or child
shall be safe from its wrath.
[wind howling]
[Devin groaning]
[continues groaning]
I didn't mean to fall asleep.
It's worse.
[coughs]
There has to be
something else we can do.
There has to be
something else we can do.
[coughing]
What?
What? Wait
[wheezing, coughing]
[continues groaning]
Stop! I said no! Stop!
Two Moons, stop!
- What's happening, Mama?
- Stop!
What's happening?
- [Sara] Stop
- I'm not taking his leg!
[Devin] Do it.
It's just pain.
It's just pain.
- [flesh sizzling]
- [Devin screaming]
[Edmund] Yesterday, I watched a grizzly
swim across the Kane River at sunrise.
I witnessed the sun igniting the
golden fur behind his ears
[thunder rumbles]
a golden halo surrounding
his mighty head.
I felt humbled and awestruck
at the power and grace of
this majestic creature,
consumed by the feeling
that there are forces
greater than we can ever know
controlling this Earth.
Got both of you beat.
- You got it.
- My pot.
Yeah, seems like it's been your
pot all night, O'Malley. I'm out.
- I am still in.
- You boys got any loose paper?
Could just take your
cards, Lieutenant.
They're mostly shit anyways.
[Edmund] There are
answers to questions that,
for now, remain just
beyond our sight.
[thunder crashes]
[guns firing in distance]
- [bullet whizzes]
- [screams]
[guns firing]
- [gunshots continue]
- [men screaming]
[men shouting]
[screaming]
[Edmund] I am hopeful
that there are peaceful
and beautiful
possibilities for us all.
I am hopeful that the beauty
which I see in these lands
has a power greater
than the darkness.
I tried to tell you,
Captain. I truly did.
[Edmund] I am hopeful that, in our
darkest and most trying of days,
this love will serve
as a safe haven
to guide us all out
of the inferno of fear
driving men to these black and
brutal, lonely corners of hell.
I am hopeful that the great
spirit of love will save us all.
[gunfire continues]
[Sara] He looks better.
[Isaac] Yeah.
I suppose that means
we're leaving soon.
Yeah.
To Crooks Springs?
[Isaac] Mmm-hmm.
The closer we get, the less
faith I have in Crooks Springs.
Would you take us to California?
I heard the ocean
is beautiful there.
- Would you take us to the ocean?
- I don't have business in California.
Especially with a woman
and a crippled boy.
- That's not what I meant.
- Crooks Springs it is, then.
Now, his father, he's a
decent enough man. He's
Well
I've known worse.
I just need him to
see Devin and smile.
After what that
boy's been through,
I doubt a stern look from his
father will be all that bad.
- Maybe you could
- I gotta check on the horses.
Do you have something
against California?
No.
[Sara] You can't swim?
I can swim.
[door opens]
[door closes]
Virgil, I can't see nothing!
Well Nowhere for
them to go but up.
[man screaming in pain]
[gunshot]
As you made clear in
our first conversation,
there's no future
in military service.
Not a healthy one anyway.
[coins clinking]
- [man screaming]
- [gunshot]
She's not here.
- The Pratt woman. She's not here.
- [Bill] What do you mean?
Look, we tore this place
apart. She is not here.
She left. The captain
said she went west.
She got pretty comfortable
with the Shoshone.
So, a loose end still remains.
I seen their village.
- Ain't nothing but women and children.
- Red Feather.
That's who she rode in with.
That's most definitely
not a woman or child.
We got more than enough
guns to deal with him.
Now let me finish this.
Once and for all.
That's for Brother
Young to decide.
Not for you, not for me.
Good luck with your future
endeavors, Sergeant.
Tonight is about who
we are as a people.
What we stand for.
You know, we're all
gonna burn in hell for
The Lord will help those that
help themselves to do right.
Mr. Bridger.
Governor.
Perhaps I forgot to tell you that
I was on my way back to Salt Lake.
No, you were clear on that.
And that I owed you a number that
I considered to be a fair price.
As it turns out, I don't
believe I've got one.
So I'm afraid I'm gonna keep my name
on this fort a little while longer.
And I truly hoped we could come
to an agreeable arrangement.
There's that mention
of hope again.
Very well.
I have a warrant from
Judge Leonidas Shaver
for your arrest.
Read, Brother.
"For the unlawful aiding
and abetting of Indians
and supplying them with
alcohol, arms, and ammunition
for the purpose of
committing depredation upon
and making war on the
citizens of the United States,
this warrant is hereby issued for
the arrest of James Felix Bridger."
That judge of yours
uses a lot of words.
And to be honest I sort
of lost my way at "arrest."
Well, in short, it states
that selling guns to Indians is
an act of treason, Mr. Bridger.
And as Governor
of this territory,
I have the authority to bring
you to justice for such acts.
Well, it's possible, there's been a few
Indians through here that snuck a drink.
Maybe even got lucky with
cards and won a pistola,
but whatever they partook in
has been without my knowledge.
That's for the law to decide.
Law has a way to decide things
different out here, Governor.
[sizzling]
These Natives here?
They watch their people get wiped off
the face of the earth by us white folks.
So they've got their
own set of laws.
The mountain men, they're watching
others come in and take claims
they worked for years, so
they've got their particular set.
And me?
I'm just trying to keep my head
down and tend to my own business.
Hopefully a man of a
peaceful God such as yourself
can appreciate others just
making do the best they can.
My land stretches about
12 miles down the river.
There's some nice open
ground just beyond that,
make for a profitable post.
Well, I suppose I
should go take a look.
Let me know if you'd like
any help putting it up.
Good day, Mr. Bridger.
Think that ends that?
Not by a long shot, Sammy.
- [birds cawing]
- [flies buzzing]
[man humming]
[continues humming]
They came looking for me.
The Mormons will
kill all of you.
For me.
[in Shoshone] Kill.
[in English] You.
Your son.
They will kill him for me.
All the Shoshone.
[in Shoshone] Kill.
[wind howling]
I don't know what I was
thinking bringing him here.
You didn't have much of
a choice now, did you?
I did have a choice. I could have
found some other city back east,
someplace they wouldn't find us.
No. They would have found
you no matter where you went.
Worth too much money.
We do what we have to do.
Don't we?
At least you still
have the boy with you.
You lost yours.
I'm sorry.
You tell me his name?
[door opens]
[in Shoshone] What did you see?
Wolves.
[in English] What is it?
[wolves howling]
[Jacob humming]
[hooves thundering]
[continues humming]
[wolves howling]
[screaming]
[Sara] Isaac.
What is it?
[Isaac] Wolves.
If they get bold enough,
they'll take the horses.
- Devin's fever's still down.
- Good.
We have to move.
He'll ride with me.
- We'll leave now?
- As soon as we can.
How much further
west have you been?
Salt Lake Valley.
We scouted for new
land for the Shoshone,
but Winter Bird didn't want
to move her village again.
Is that why you left
with your family?
So I moved my family.
For a better chance of survival.
But there's no such thing
as "safe" in this world,
and no God or Creator to ask for help
or to answer to when you need it most.
Do you really believe that?
I know it.
So you turn your
back on the world?
So you never have to worry
about losing anyone else
you might ever care about again?
That was the plan.
[men ululating]
[in Shoshone] They
killed the soldiers.
They will come for us.
We have done nothing wrong.
They will come to
find and kill her.
To kill all of us.
[in English] How many will come?
Too many.
[in Shoshone] I will
not let more die.
We can move west
As Kinii Da-Dawon told us.
You cannot run forever.
The whites will always find you.
I will go to them. Give myself.
No. You are with us now.
If they want to
fight, we'll fight.
[all ululating]
You up for a ride? Get
out of the snow and cold?
Yes, sir.
Leave in the morning?
No. Tonight.
We've been here too long.
Do you need more?
I know where it is.
Here.
[door opens, closes]
I guess I'm gonna be
even more crippled now.
Ain't nothing
crippled about you.
Never was.
[wind howling]
[horses snort]
[wolves howling]
- [man clicks tongue]
- [gasps]
- How long before the weather's warmer?
- Soon.
Once we hit lower ground.
- How long will it be until we hit lower
- Shh!
[guns firing]
- Get down!
- [glass breaking]
[man] Keep going!
[Isaac] You hurt?
[in Shoshone] Are you hurt?
- [in English] Where's my mother?
- Shh.
They're out.
[man] They're coming out!
- Shoot that son of a bitch!
- [man 2] Look out!
Get him!
- [gun clicks]
- Fuck!
[Devin] Mr. Reed! Mr. Reed!
Mr. Reed!
[man] I'll kill 'em both!
I swear to God, I'll kill 'em!
Start yelling out, so
I know where you are!
I'll kill 'em
both, I swear to
[Devin] Where is my mom?
Where is she?!
Where is my mom?!
Mom! Mom!
Where's my mom?!
Where is she? Where is she?
Tell me!
Fucking tell me! Where is she?!
They took her.