THE FORLORN HOPE

In the winter of 1846, a party of emigrants held an

election between their very souls and the lives promised
to them by the Great American West. The results of that
vote would live on as myth and legend, though they were
entirely fact.
EXT. FOREST - DAY

Slam to: a frosted tree line bordered by an equally powdered

clearing. The ambience is unsettling.

In the distance, a rising tempo of "snapping branches" can be

heard, with each "snap" growing louder than the last...

snap

Snap

SNAP SNAP! SNAP!!!

An INDIGENOUS MAN bursts through the snow-dusted pines before

us, shouting in his native tongue (Central Sierra Miwok),
arms gesturing wildly.

We follow as he enters his village, frantically running up to

members of his tribe at various fire pits and tanning racks.
The commotion draws more out of their shelters.

The man's urgency does not seem to register with his kin.
Instead, his people stare with concern - as if he's gone mad.

After a final frustrated plea, the panicked man takes off

toward the opposite tree line and disappears into it.

We stay with his tribe who look unsure of what to make of the
behaviour. One tribeswoman turns to inspect the tree line the
man burst from for answers - the squint in her eyes widen to
horror and trigger cries that begin to mimic the crazed man.

The rest of the tribe turn to seek the object of her terror,
and soon enter a similar frenzy.

Grabbing only children in their arms, the villagers flee

toward the distant tree line.

CUT TO:

Tracking behind: SEVEN SKELETAL SILHOUETTES as they emerge

from the pines into the clearing and approach the village.

The haunting figures are draped in loose, tattered leather,

hobbling in boots without lace. Their skin is grey and black
and matted in blood.

The monsters limp through the now almost entirely deserted

Miwok village, advancing towards its largest dwelling. In
front of the dwelling's entrance is a remaining tribeswoman,
 2.

pleading in tears and splaying herself across its entry.

As the ghoulish figures encroach, her fear turns to

confusion. She gasps, then ducks into the lodge.

INT. MIWOK VILLAGE ELDER'S LODGE - CONTINUOUS

The tribeswoman splits a pair of buckskin flaps, entering a

deceivingly large, rounded communal room - bathed in the
orange glow of its central fire.

Reverse to: the ELDER (woman, age unknown), seated across the
flames, flows with careful deliberant movements. She sees the
breathless tribeswoman in the doorway, takes a moment to
study her face, then nods in understanding and affirmation.

INT. MIWOK VILLAGE ELDER'S LODGE - NIGHT

Close on: a limp grey wrist stained in dirt and blood -

revealed by flickering firelight. Nearby a splash is heard
and a cloth enters frame to wipe the wrist clean.

Widen to reveal: the body of an extremely malnourished

pioneer, MR. FOSTER (30, bearded) unable to keep his eyes
open. A tribeswoman dips the cloth in her basin again and
wipes Mr. Foster's face - also matted in dirt and blood.

Around the lodge lie all SEVEN RESCUED PIONEERS - five women
and two men - first thought to be of the soulless undead by
those who are now treating them.

The youngest guest, MRS. PIKE (18) motions wearily to her

mouth, to which a woman places a piece of ACORN BREAD inside.

MR. EDDY (28) is the only member of those rescued who has the
strength to keep his eyes open, but even so, they seem frozen
in trauma, staring into nothing, unreactive as he is cleaned.

VOICE
What ya reckon they're sayin Mr. Eddy?

The voice is of MISS GRAVES (19, another pioneer). She's been

placed near Mr. Eddy, who snaps from his gaze to watch a
tribeswoman receive whispers from the Elder, then scurry off.

MR. EDDY
Hard to say.

MISS GRAVES
You can talk to them no?
(no response)
 3.

I mean you can right? That's how you

told our Indians about...

Miss Graves goes quiet.

MR. EDDY
I know some, yes, but the words, they
tend to sound different tribe to
tribe.

MISS GRAVES
Oh... do these ones sound different?

MR. EDDY
They do Miss Graves.

MISS GRAVES
Do you think they would understand the
words you know?

MR. EDDY
That I'm not sure.

Mr. Eddy gestures to the women cleaning him, then the Elder.

MR. EDDY
(coarsely spoken)
Ój-as-yk?

The tribeswoman seems to understand and responds - Mr. Eddy

translates along for Miss Graves what he can.

MR. EDDY
(to Miss Graves)
We- they... are of the Sierra Miwok...
lead by... "onoc-ok"- the elder
woman... a thousand uh moons? Her name
is "Thousand Moons?" No...
(to tribeswoman in Miwok)
Hó-poe-pi?

The tribeswoman appears to clarify.

MR. EDDY
She- the elder... is the seer of a
thousand moons- she's seen a thousand
moons.

MISS GRAVES
How many years is that? You think a
hundred? More?
 4.

MR. EDDY
I'm not s-

Mr. Eddy is cut off by a question from the tribeswoman.

MISS GRAVES
What she say Mr. Eddy?

MR. EDDY
She asked "what happened?"

EXT. PRAIRIES - MIDDAY (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: West of Fort Laramie - JUNE 27th, 1846

A trail of conestoga wagons recedes into the horizon.

In the carriage of one wagon is a woman, ELEANOR EDDY (25,

wife of Mr. Eddy) cradling her daughter, MARGARET (1), while
her son, JAMES (3) stares at wagons passing by. Eleanor's
sight is on Mr. Eddy, who is in conversation with a man on
horseback. The man hands Mr. Eddy a letter and rides off.

Mr. Eddy returns to the wagon.

ELEANOR EDDY
What was that to do with?

MR. EDDY
(presents letter)
They've found a new and better route-
or uh, this man- Mr. Hastings has.

ELEANOR EDDY
A new route?

MR. EDDY
It's- he's sent riders out for
gathering enough wagons to meet in Ft.
Bridger, say they need least 40 for
safety, what with the natives and
all... word is this "Hastings Cutoff"
saves 400-some miles off the journey.

ELEANOR EDDY
We won't be going to Ft. Hall then?

Mr. Eddy takes a moment to survey his family.

MR. EDDY
No my dear, I do not believe we will.
 5.

EXT. WASATCH MOUNTAINS - DAY (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: Wasatch Mountains - AUGUST 11th, 1846

Title Sub-Card: One Week into Hastings Cutoff

In front of the wagon train, every able bodied man works to

hack away brush and move boulders from the trail so the
wagons may pass.

MR. EDDY (O.S.)

(catching breath)
Water please dear.

Mr. Eddy leans into the back of his wagon.

ELEANOR EDDY
(hands canteen)
Everything alright?

Mr. Eddy drinks, then wipes his brow.

MR. EDDY
Provin' a little more troublesome than
Mr. Hastings' letter led to believe.
But shouldn't take more than a few
days 'fore we clear the mountains.

EXT. GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT - DAY (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: Great Salt Lake Desert - AUGUST 30th, 1846

Title Sub-Card: Four Weeks into Hastings Cutoff

Mr. Eddy looks out across the great waste. His oxen drink and
graze at a spring behind him. Another emigrant, Mr. Foster
(healthy and w/o beard) passes and pats Mr. Eddy's shoulder.

MR. FOSTER
Don't let it worry you too much. Mr.
Hastings claimed it only to be a 2 day
crossing. Should have plenty of water
to make it.

EXT. GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT - DAY (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: Great Salt Lake Desert - SEPTEMBER 8th, 1846

Title Sub-Card: Five Weeks into Hastings Cutoff

Quick Hit - a horse, rotting in the sun

 6.

Quick Hit - a wagon, sunk into ground up to its hubs,

abandoned

Quick Hit - an oxen near death, still yoked to it's wagon,

both abandoned

Cut to: a doleful Mr. Eddy looks back at the great waste. Mr.
Foster passes and they exchange an exhausted, disappointed
silence.

Mr. Eddy is joined by Eleanor holding baby Margaret, little

James at her side. She rubs Mr. Eddy's shoulder.

ELEANOR EDDY
They're saying there should be water
ahead.

Mr. Eddy picks up James and they head toward the train of
remaining wagons, their journey now by foot.

EXT. TRUCKEE LAKE - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: Truckee Lake - OCTOBER 31st, 1846

Title Sub-Card: One Month Behind Standard Route

Around the lake are cabins, likely built by previous pioneers

of the route. Families have already begun to claim them.

Mr. Eddy, a short distance away, stares into the night sky.

Reverse to: a nearly full moon streaked in thin wisps of

cloud, surrounded by an odd shimmering halo.

MR. FOSTER (O.C.)

That's a storm is what that means.

Mr. Foster has joined Mr. Eddy.

MR. FOSTER
If we don't beat it over the pass,
then we're not going to until
spring... if we make it to spring.

Return to: the moon and its halo, slightly more shrouded.

EXT. TRUCKEE PASS - NOON (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: Truckee Pass - NOVEMBER 1st, 1846

Mr. Eddy and Eleanor Eddy, both with screaming children in

 7.

arm, struggle through snowdrifts of over 5 feet, the blizzard

raging around them. Others nearby are in equal struggle.

Mr. Eddy, shielding the wind with his free arm, spots a
figure doubling back in the storm. It's Mr. Foster. He is
shaking his head, baring apologetic, gritted teeth.

INT. MIWOK VILLAGE ELDER'S LODGE - NIGHT

Mr. Eddy wakes to the sound of retching. Mrs. Pike, in tears,

is doubled over, unable to stomach the acorn bread after so
many days of starvation, vomiting a puddle beside herself.

The only other still awake is the Elder, who makes her way
across the lodge, planting herself beside Mrs. Pike. She
tries to sooth the whimpering girl with soft hums and gentle
rubs to Mrs. Pike's back and soon enough the cries decay.

EXT. TRUCKEE LAKE - DAY (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: Truckee Lake - DECEMBER 16th, 1846

Mr. Eddy and Eleanor Eddy press their faces together in the
doorway of a cabin. They both look emaciated, with cheek
bones nearly sharp enough to slice skin. Mr. Eddy's boots are
strapped into crudely made snowshoes.

ELEANOR EDDY
Please don't leave us- there's still
some hide we can boil, might even be
enough to make it til' the deer come
back round these parts.

MR. EDDY
Eleanor, if-

ELEANOR EDDY
I don't want us to die here without
you.

MR. EDDY
We'll come back. I promise, If we can
make it over the pass, Sutter's Fort
won't be much further. They'll have
help and provisions. They can send
rescue.

ELEANOR EDDY
We promise to pray for you...

Mr. Eddy leaves Eleanor's side and joins a group of 16 OTHER

 8.

PIONEERS, also snowshoed, heading toward the pass.

EXT. TRUCKEE PASS - DAY (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: Truckee Pass - DECEMBER 23rd, 1846

Title Sub-Card: Two Days Without Rations

Several who first set off on the expedition are now missing
from the group. We see Mr. Eddy is being watched as he speaks
with the party's TWO NATIVE MEMBERS. Their gestures suggest
they are also unsure of which way to go.

As Mr. Eddy returns to camp, he is approached by Mr. Foster.

MR. FOSTER
Mr. Eddy... join me for a moment?
(speaking softer)
Look, now it's become clear to the
group that the redskins are no longer
really of value and uh... well we've
decided they will be the first when
the time comes and I'm... I'm truly
sorry, I know you are fond of them.

Mr. Foster staggers away from a horrified Mr. Eddy.

INT. TRUCKEE PASS SHELTER - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: Truckee Pass - DECEMBER 24th, 1846

The remainder of the expedition party (11 now) shelter from

the blizzard screaming outside. They circle a fire, sitting
close enough to feel its warmth through their frostbite,
burnt skin be damned. The two native men are not present.
PATRICK DOLAN (35) is the first of the group to speak.

PATRICK DOLAN
We all know what we have to do...

MR. FOSTER
(muttering)
Not if we decided yesterday...
(toward Mr. Eddy)
...before them redskins ran off.

PATRICK DOLAN
Unless someone wants to volunteer...

Silence.
 9.

Patrick Dolan retrieves a POUCH from his jacket, pulls two

scraps of paper from it, and discards them into the fire.

The pouch is passed around the group, each person drawing a

slip and breathing relief as their's is revealed to be blank.

Mr. Eddy is the last to draw...

Aware of what it means, he reveals his scrap to the group,

which results in confusion.

The paper is blank.

MISS GRAVES
Jesus Patrick you damned idiot! To
"draw lots" you gotta mark one of-

PATRICK DOLAN
(shaking)
I did... I- I just haven't drawn yet
Miss Graves.

MISS GRAVES
Oh...

Patrick retrieves the pouch's last scrap - marked with a

large red dot.

PATRICK DOLAN
Well I suppose that's that...

Silence.

MR. EDDY
We uh, still need somebody to actually
do- y'know, the deed. Are there any
volunteers?

No one moves. No one speaks. They just stare into the fire.

MR. EDDY
(emotional)
Well um, it seems to me, if there's no
one willing to do it, then it can't be
done... am I right?

There are nods of agreement.

MR. EDDY
It seems to me that maybe our best
option might just be... to wait.
 10.

There are nods of agreement.

MR. EDDY
Okay then. We wait.

INT. MIWOK VILLAGE ELDER'S LODGE - DAY

Mr. Eddy wakes up to the rustling of the lodge's buckskin

flaps. The same tribeswomen who was whispered to the previous
night, maneuvers over to the Elder, clutching a woven basket.

The Elder looks inside, rakes her fingers through its

contents and nods.

The tribeswoman takes the basket and begins pouring its

contents into small basins beside each of the pioneers. The
contents appear to be FRESH SEEDS AND GRASSES.

INT. TRUCKEE PASS SHELTER - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

Title Card: Truckee Pass - DECEMBER 26th, 1846

Title Sub-Card: Five Days Without Rations

Mr. Eddy and Mr. Foster place the body of Lemuel Murphy (12)
on a pile of three others: Franklin Graves (57), Jay Fosdick
(23) and Patrick Dolan - likely all taken by starvation.

Mr. Eddy and Mr. Foster return to the other survivors by the
fire. They total seven now: Mrs. Pike, Miss Graves, Mrs.
Fosdick (21), Mrs. McCutchen (23), Mrs. Foster (19), Mr.
Foster and Mr. Eddy.

Outside, the storm continues unrelentingly.

MRS. PIKE
There's no going back if we do it is
there?

MISS GRAVES
Seems that way.

MRS. PIKE
How would we live with ourselves?

MR. FOSTER
We would at least be living.

MRS. FOSDICK
My husband's in that pile Mr. Foster.
 11.

MR. FOSTER
So is Miss Graves' father! But they're
not really in that pile now are they-

MR. EDDY
Mr. Foster...

MR. FOSTER
That's not them! That's just meat!
They're gone, they are dead!

MR. EDDY
Mr. Foster, please-

MR. FOSTER
Mr. Eddy! Your family is dying! Mrs.
Pike! Your family is still dying! But
they're not "dead!" And everyone, the
way I see it, is we either ________
elect to
live tonight or we ____________
____ elect to die and
only one of those options might help
them folks we left behind.
(beat)
Now who would like to live?

Mr. Foster raises his hand.

Mrs. Foster slowly raises her own.

Mrs. Fosdick's hands stay at her side.

Miss Graves' stay at her side.

Mrs. McCutchen raises her hand.

Mrs. Pike keeps her's at her side.

Only Mr. Eddy's vote remains.

INT. MIWOK VILLAGE ELDER'S LODGE - DAY

Mr. Eddy sways over his bowl of grass and seed, trying to
pace his hunger, so as not to upset his stomach with gorging.
Miss Graves begins murmuring next to him.

MISS GRAVES
Mr. Eddy?

MR. EDDY
Yes Miss Graves?
 12.

MISS GRAVES
Do you... do you think they'll forgive
us?

Mr. Eddy stops swaying and sits with himself for a moment.

INT. TRUCKEE PASS SHELTER - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

We return to the vote. Mr. Eddy is fixated on the fire.

MR. FOSTER (O.C.)

Mr. Eddy... do you elect to live?

Mr. Eddy looks up from the flames.

SLAM TO:

EXT. MIWOK VILLAGE ELDER'S LODGE - DAY

Mr. Eddy hobbles away from the Elder's lodge toward the tree
line. He is alone.

The Elder emerges from the lodge, joined by two of the

tribe's males. She whispers instructions that they nod in
affirmation to. Both head back into the lodge and reemerge
moments later with weaved baskets.

The Elder utters more instruction and they take off in the
direction of Mr. Eddy's heading.

Cut to aerial on: Mr. Eddy limping toward Sutter's Fort in

the Sacramento Valley.

Title Card: Sierra Miwok Village - JANUARY 13th, 1847

Title Sub-Card: Five Days Walk To Nearest Settlement

FADE TO BLACK:

Title Card: Mr. Eddy would arrive at the Johnson Family Farm
on January 18th, 1847 thanks to the help of the Sierra Miwok

Title Card: Soon after, one of the largest rescue operations

of its time launched to save the families at Truckee Lake

Title Card: Of the 87 who were originally stranded at Truckee

Lake, 48 would be saved

Title Card: The 17 who departed Truckee Lake on December

16th, 1846 would later be known as "The Forlorn Hope"