Traded

The story of the American frontier

is a tale of conquest but also one of survival,

persistence and the grit of the people.

It's 20 years after a bloody Civil War.

Despite Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation,

slavery is alive and well in the Wild West,

in the form of prostitution, the world's oldest profession.

In Kansas and most of the western territories,

women are bought, sold and traded like property.

Come on Pa, show me how!

All right, all right,

now I'm gonna do this one time, all right?

Now the idea is when the tyin's bein' done,

you wanna flex your muscles.

Blow your chest up like a rooster.

What's a rooster do?

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

That's right, now you see,

when the tyin's done, you relax your muscles,

blow all the air outta your chest...

And now look,

the rope gives ya just enough room

so you can get yourself free.

Show me how Pa, show me how!

Maybe after supper.

And your studies.

The capital of Kansas is Topeka,

and the President of the United States

is Chester Alvin Arthur.

Chester Alan Arthur.

Can we ask him now, Ma?

Before the day's activities sour his disposition?

What do you care about some stupid old dance anyway?

Oh you hush up!

Do my eyes deceive me? Is that a...

Apple pie.

I picked, peeled and sliced all the apples,

and then spiced them with cinnamon.

Clay, Lily was invited to a tie dance,

over at the Tigman Ranch.

You know apple pie is my favorite.

Spiced with cinnamon.

Mm-hmm.

The dance is the girls wear a calico dress

and they bring a matching tie for the boys to choose.

Now I am familiar with the procedure

of a tie dance, young lady.

In fact, there was a time...

It wasn't so long ago, as a matter of fact...

Flies in the buttermilk?

Yuck!

Well Pa, can I go?

I'm sorry Darlin'.

Maybe next year.

But Pa!

You know what this pie needs?

My teeth?

Some honey.

I'll fetch some.

Well last summer you let me work at the Mercantile.

Nellie Wilcott is 16 and she's been proposed to.

Darlin'...

Nellie Wilcott is not my beautiful little girl.

It's just a tie dance Pa.

Besides, if I ever do find a beau, once he meets you,

he'll be too scared to ever call on me again.

Darlin', I'm sorry.

Now this matter is settled.

I wanna have my dinner in peace.

How long does it take that boy to fetch some honey?

I'll get him.

They're gonna come callin' Clay.

And we both know that extra year is for you, not her.

Amelia you's the one what told me

what your dancin' days led to.

I was dancin' at the Broken Spoke Saloon,

not the Tigman's front parlor.

And I didn't have two loving parents.

That's my little girl.

If I ain't gonna protect her,

who's gonna?

Ma! Pa!

Lily?

Oh my god!

Jake?

Jake!

What happened?

Come here.

Watch out, watch out!

You can take comfort, Mr. Travis,

in knowing that Jake is in a much better place.

All due respect Reverend,

I'd rather have my boy standing right here beside me.

I am sorry for your loss.

For the life of me,

I just can't remember the sound of his voice.

I'd give anything to hear his voice one more time.

He was my little boy.

He's an angel.

Blame me.

Just say it.

I'm the one who asked for the honey.

Blame me.

- Amelia. - Blame me!

Come on!

Blame me!

Blame me!

Blame me, blame me, blame me!

I need you to!

Please blame me!

Please?

We're nearly outta firewood.

I'll go chop some.

Mama.

I love you, it's gonna be okay.

Where are you off to?

Going to the lake.

I uh...

Need you to stay here and help me with the canning.

But Ma, you never asked me to help you before.

I thought you said canning's the one job

you like to do all by yourself.

This time I want you helpin' me.

I done all my chores, all my bookwork,

I was really lookin' forward to going to the lake.

There's no tellin' who's out there.

Last time I was out there, it was just old man Hill.

That was nearly a year ago and...

Just had to help him bait his hook.

I also want your daddy checkin' that boat for leaks.

But Ma, the boat is fine.

You're stayin' here and helpin' me can these tomatoes!

Why are you bein' silly?

Don't you dare call me names.

Amelia.

Isn't that just like you?

Takin' her side.

Lily, Darlin',

I want you to stay here and help your Mama with the canning.

Just for today, this one time.

Sweetie, I'm gonna go down and check that boat for leaks.

Okay?

Be a good girl.

Don't be doin' me any favors Clay.

Lily get up, you've slept long enough!

Lily!

Lily!

Lily, your Mama is callin' you.

Probably just in the privy or the barn.

Not possible.

I was awake before dawn.

Lily's horse is missing, I'm going over to Jane Thompson's.

Can't find Lily nowhere.

Took her horse and left in the middle of the night.

Jane Thompson.

You tell Mrs. Travis what her daughter confided in you.

Or that matchin' blue bonnet goes right back to Abilene!

Woah.

She's gone to Newton to catch a stage to Wichita.

She read an advertisement about becoming a Harvey girl,

waitress like Jane's sister.

Thank you.

I'd like a ticket to Wichita please.

Just one?

Yes sir.

That'll be 50 cents.

Visitin' family, are ya?

Oh, no, my family lives 'round these parts.

Employment?

Why yes,

I'm hopin' to get a position as a Harvey girl.

Ah.

I've heard a lot of good things about that

outstandin' company.

Coach leaves in 10 minutes.

Thank you.

Good luck with your...

Job huntin'.

How do you do ma'am?

I'm well.

Name's Rig Marlowe.

Lily Travis.

Well, Lily like a flower.

Pleased to meet you.

Has anyone told you that you look

like sunshine in the morning?

You think you're gonna need that?

Lily's horse, all cooled down.

Limber and well-fed.

You won't find a finer animal in town.

Where's the owner?

You're lookin' at him.