Sample
Sales Coverage (Cont'd):
Fall
Creek / Page 3
SYNOPSIS (Second Page)
The trial begins, with the Indians in
the courtroom observing the proceedings.
Caleb appears with Lute, who confesses to the judge
that he was one of the killers.
The other prisoners are removed and Lute takes the
stand and states that he thinks Clasby lied to him about
Indians stealing his horses.
The two of them lead Red Deer and Tall Tree off to
look for the missing horses, turned on them, and shot them
dead. Lute shot
Red Deer and finished him with a knife at Red Deer’s
request. Stuart
cross-examines, offering the idea that Lute was too drunk to
clearly recall the incident.
After a recess, Johnny takes the stand, admitting that
he killed a half-breed squaw, and his erratic behavior
reveals that he is mentally disturbed.
Old Wood proudly testifies that he and the defendants
murdered the Indians, with his part being that of killing a
woman and a child. Stuart
states that the defendants were only following the tradition
of killing Indians to protect themselves.
When Caleb is with a group of neighbors
at his place, one of them attacks Black Antler when he
appears. Caleb
steps up to protect Black Antler and he is attacked by the
group. Fort
rides up and jumps into the foray, but he, Caleb, and Black
Antler are beaten badly.
Hannah fires a rifle and breaks up the fight.
Hannah goes off with Fort and they consummate their
growing attraction with some physical affection, all along
being spied upon by Clasby.
The trial proceeds with Benson
testifying that, as a young boy, he witnessed his
grandfather’s vicious demise at the hands of Indians.
Stuart uses the testimony to sway the jury.
Fort cross-examines, pointing out that Benson killed
four Indians, a woman and three children.
Fort surprisingly calls Ben to the stand who was at
the massacre and says he witnessed Benson lead the shooting
and viciously murder Folded Feather.
Stuart dramatically chooses not to cross-examine Ben,
disparaging his testimony by stating that he is only a child.
Fort produces the bloodstained leggings of Folded
Leaf.
In a conversation with Johnston, the
judge states that no court has ever handed down a judgment
against a white for killing Indians.
Clasby spies on the jail in the town.
The judge adjourns the court and the jury begins its
deliberation. Caleb
points out the campfires of the Indian warriors who are
perched on a hill above the town.
The jurymen argue, conflicted about sentencing their
neighbors to death, but knowing that such an act will spare
their settlement from the wrath of the Indians. The jury reaches a unanimous decision and Lute, Old Wood,
Johnny, and Benson are found guilty of first-degree murder. The judge sentences all four men to die by hanging.
Caleb visits the prisoners at the jail,
telling Lute that his wife gave birth to a baby boy.
Lute implores Caleb to help him escape in order to go
to Ora and be with her and his new baby, promising Caleb that
he will return. Caleb
overcomes the guard and Lute escapes as an alarm is sounded.
Johnston reprimands Caleb, citing that, once the
Indians hear of Lute’s escape, they will attack. Caleb offers to let the court hang him, taking the place of
Lute if he does not return.
Lute makes his way through a blizzard
towards home as a posse rides off after him.
Lute manages to elude the posse and it gives up the
search. Fort
rides to Lute’s place and informs his family that Lute is
headed there. A
wolf attacks and mauls a weakened Lute who fights it off as
he huddles in a cave. Clasby
surreptitiously tells Benson through a jail wall that he will
ride in during the hanging and rescue him.
While Ora and the baby are asleep, Fort and Hannah
make love. With
his feet in tatters, Lute crawls for his life and is nearly
done in by the wolf when Lone Pawn and another Indian, BENT
ARROW, appear, with Bent Arrow killing the wolf with an
arrow. Lone Pawn
puts his own moccasins on the mutilated feet of Lute and the
two Indians return him to the jail, where is given opium.
Lone Pawn and Bent Arrow carry Ora and her baby into
town. She visits Lute in jail and introduces him to his new son.
They make love. As the Indians watch the town from above, Caleb sits with the
two Woods as Old Wood states that he accepts his sentence,
being that he has cheated the Indians.
The next morning, the hanging ceremony proceeds.
Lute, even with useless feet, proudly jumps out of a
chair before he is hanged.
Old Wood, resigned to his fate, is hanged.
Benson yells out, expecting Clasby to appear and
rescue him, but instead, a horse carrying Clasby’s
tortured, naked body gallops up to the gallows, along with
another horse, the spectacle being brought about previously
by Black Antler and his warriors.
Benson curses everybody before he is hanged.
Hannah runs onto the gallows and sticks her hand in a
pot of burning coals, imploring the Indians on the ridge to
spare Johnny. Chief
Lone Pawn signals to the settlers below that he is honoring
Sarah’s wish. Lone
Pawn leads the Indians away as the Judge takes full
responsibility for Johnny and the boy is released.
Caleb leads Johnny away as the rest of the settlers
disperse, leaving Black Antler observing the disappearing
throng.
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