Jeremiah Johnson

His name was Jeremiah Johnson.

They say he wanted to be a mountain man.

The story goes that he was a man of proper wit and adventurous spirit...

suited to the mountains.

Nobody knows where he came from, and it don't seem to matter much.

He was a young man...

and ghosty stories about the tall hills didn't scare him none.

He was looking for e Hewkin gun, 50 caliber or better.

He settled for e 30, but damn, it was e genuine Hewkin.

You couldn't do no better.

Bought a horse, traps and other truck that went with being a mountain man.

And said goodbye to whatever life was down below.

Where is it I could find bear, beaver, other critters worth cash skinned?

Ride due west as the sun sets. Turn left at the Rocky Mountains.

This here 's his story.

"I, Hatchet Jack..."

being of sound mind and broken legs...

do hereby leaveth my bear rifle...

to whatever finds it.

Lord hope it be a white man.

It is a good rifle...

and killed the bear that killed me.

Anyway, I am dead.

"Yours truly, Hatchet Jack."

Ha, ha!

A 50 caliber Hawkin!

Come on, you.

That'll be far enough, pilgrim!

Where are you?

You're a fine target, pilgrim!

Empty your hand.

I ain't seen no live man in 2 months.

I am Bear Claw Chris Lapp.

Blood kin to the grizzly that bit Jim Bridger's ass!

You are molesting my hunt!

- I am... - I know who you are!

You're the same dumb pilgrim I've been hearing for 20 days...

and smelling for 3!

How come you ain't been scalped?

Ain't been too lucky?

- No. - This place has been trapped out since '25.

Why are you here?

I hunt griz.

- Griz? - Grizzly bears, pilgrim. I collect the claws.

I had one in that thicket.

Ready to shake hands, until you came!

I'm sorry, then.

You look it!

Hungry too?

Come on.

You know how to skin griz?

I can skin most anything.

You sure are cocky for a starving pilgrim.

There she be. Go in, get warm, eat something.

I've got a chore to finish.

My boy!

Are you sure that you can skin griz?

Just as fast as you can find them.

Jesus!

Skin that one, pilgrim, and I'll get you another!

Must have missed another war down there.

Didn't miss nothing.

If I head due west tomorrow, will I find places to trap?

If you head due west or any place tomorrow, you'll be starving in a week.

You ain't likely to meet someone like me.

Mountain's got its own ways.

What?

Use that skin pad, pilgrim, before you lose all your fingers.

What you learned down in the flat will serve you no good up here.

You got some work to do.

Utes and Flatheads...

are generally peaceful critters.

Crows, they are fearful.

Mighty warriors too.

In my opinion, the Crows are the handsomest Indians there is.

And proud too.

There ain't a man alive can match them on a horse.

I've seen them ride with one foot on the horse's rump...

one wrist through a loop in the mane...

shooting arrows and guns under the horse's neck!

But they are an adulterous people.

Adulterous.

Here you are, pilgrim. Sharp enough to scale a fish with.

Ever get lonesome?

For what?

Woman?

Full-time night woman?

I never could find no tracks in a woman's heart.

I packed a Squaw for 10 years, pilgrim.

Cheyenne, she was.

And the meanest bitch that ever balled for beads!

I lodgepoled her at Dead Wolf Creek and traded her for a Hawkin gun!

Don't get me wrong, I love the women, I surely do!

But I swear...

a woman's breast is the hardest rock...

the Almighty ever made on Earth...

and I can find no sign on it.

Now these coals here will simmer until sunrise.

You better go do likewise.

Didn't put enough dirt down.

Saw it right off.

You track well, pilgrim.

- Kind of like it, don't you? - Maybe.

Figures. A human man...

likes tracking and killing.

An Injun, he figures it's natural.

Wind's right.

But he'll just run, soon as we step out of these trees.

Trick to it. Walk out on this side of your horse.

What if he sees our feet?

Elk don't know how many feet a horse has.

No, you damn fool! Slide it up over the saddle!

You got him, pilgrim! You nailed him clean.

We got us an elk to skin!

Can't figure people there eating hog when they could feed on elk.

Didn't like it down there?

- Ought to have been different. - Is that so?

Many a child journeys this high to be different.

To get from here what their natures couldn't get them below.

It comes to nothing.

Can't cheat the mountain, pilgrim. Mountain got it...

Probably Crow. They'll steal our horses unless we bribe them.

Why?

It's their territory. They figure we're trespassing.

Yep, Crow.

Paints-His-Shirt-Red. That's his sign. Just stand still.

You two know each other?

I saw him once.

He says you fish poorly.

You understand their language?

Paints-His-Shirt speaks English, he just does this to aggravate me.

Says he's got enough bear claws.

Hold that.

What's your name?

Johnson.

Your Christian name?

Jeremiah.

You've learned well, pilgrim. You'll go far.

Providing you ain't burnt alive or scalped.

I will do my best.

You can out wood and leave it up on the Judith.

Riverboat captains will leave you gold if you put out a pouch.

Good thing to know...

if times get hard.

Watch your topknot.

Yes. Watch yours.

I told you not to go play outside. You got yourself all dirty...

and also, young lady...

without your shoes.

And you, Josh...

dirty!

Look at you! There, now!

Mary Lou, you knew better than to go out in the sun...

Have I told you not to go out...

without a bonnet on your head?

You better stop there.

Woman, I am your friend.

We have graves to dig.

You were borne on the wind today.

Josh was being a bad boy. I must tell your father.

Time to start the garden.

If the wind would stop.

We will now sing.

Shall we gather at the river

Where bright angel feet have trod

With its crystal tide forever

Flowing by the throne of God

Yes, we'll gather at the river

The beautiful, the beautiful river

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God

Boy, did you see all this?

Better get one of these biscuits, boy.

I make damn good biscuits.

Here's food.

I could not find your husband anywhere, ma'am.

So, maybe he will come back here.

The Indians will not bother you now, on account of...

you are touched.

They will be afraid.

What about the boy?

Maybe you and the boy best come with me now.

I will take you down to the Judith. Put you on a ferry.

Take him.

- What? - Take him!

Ma'am, I wouldn't know how to tend after...

You got a name, boy?

Huh?

I will call you Caleb.

It is a name I have always admired.

You like that? Caleb?

Do what you like. I was much the same myself.

Damn!

Are you all right?

Sure, I got a fine horse under me!

Got one of them feathers in my nose.

Keep sneezing, it'll come out all right.

Haven't seen anyone pass by recently, have you?

Nobody's gone in front of me.

Can't say what's happened behind me though.