Red Wolf: Wanderer
Genre: Action/Superhero
Director: Sterlin Harjo
Writers: Jimmy Ellis & Dwight Gallo
Based on Marvel Comics characters
Cast: Tatanka Means, Jeremy Strong, Kristen Bell, Jessica Matten, Michael Horse, Grace Dove, Irene Bedard, Keith Jardine, Mo Brings Plenty
Plot: A battered and bruised William Talltrees (Tatanka Means) arrives back at the reservation, he is met with pats on the back and cheers, however he has eyes of defiance as he walks through the crowd. He reaches the center where his mother Rebecca (Irene Bedard) and uncle John (Mo Brings Plenty) stand. William asks how John could have tried to sell their sacred land to a man like Cornelius Van Lunt, a man that killed the Chief - his own blood, his own brother. John begs for forgiveness. He points out all his wrong doings not just in this situation but in the past, things William didn’t even know. Rebecca places a hand on her son’s chest, telling him to be at ease, the fight is now over. William looks to his mother with tears in his eyes. He then turns back to his uncle and snubs John's plea for forgiveness. William demands that John leave the reservation and never return. John and Rebecca both object, however William says that John knew they killed his father and he did nothing. Rebecca goes after William, telling him to rethink his decision. He tells his mother his mind is made up. She tells him to stop where he stands, he knows they don’t throw out family. William turns back around and in a cracked voice, saying John threw the family away when he signed away the rights to the land. Rebecca approaches William who begins to really feel the pain of his father’s death, she explains that she knows he is hurting but this isn’t a way to deal with it. She suggests that he go on a spiritual quest down south to Wyoming. She will tend to the reservation while he is gone. She says that before his father made any rash decisions he would travel to the Shaman known as Moonstar, who lives in a cabin upon the peak of a mountain. He tells his mother he will go, but until he gets back John must be gone. She understands.
Talltrees heads back to see Dawn Southwind (Grace Dove). He tells her that he must travel to Wyoming and partake in a vision quest. He feels although he vanquished Van Lunt, that his soul cannot be at rest until he reaches into his vision. He asks that she move back into the heart of the reservation with his mother and help her with things while he is gone. She places a kiss on his forehead telling him to keep safe. With a bow, some arrows and a hunting knife, Talltrees begins his journey with his trusty wolf Lobo at his side.
Siblings Jack (Jeremy Strong) and Sonja Day (Kristen Bell) arrive in a small town in Nebraska. The two step out of their vehicle onto open land. They proceed to walk until they reach a creek nearby. Jack looks upon the horizon smiling at the natural beauty of the land. Sonja kneels down to pick up a purple flower. She takes it to Jack telling him all that they can do with the toxins of the flower. It’s the power they have been looking for all along. Jack wonders why there is only one. Sonja tells him that the reservation uses the toxins to help keep their vegetation and stock alive and healthy. What they don’t know is it can be used for so much more. Jack looks to his sister telling her that they best go get their flowers.
Snow begins to fall lightly as Talltrees walks on his journey. He looks at Lobo, who is visibly tiring. He smiles and calls him over, he asks if the wolf is hungry. Talltrees ventures into the forest, silent. He tells Lobo to get down. Talltrees takes out his bow and arrow and draws back upon seeing a deer. He fires the arrow, leading to the deer running. He and Lobo follow the deer’s tracks, before they come across the dying deer. Talltrees grabs his hunting knife, and speaks to the deer, telling it to rest, he plunges the knife deep into the animal before closing his eyes, apologizing. Talltrees takes the deer and carries it over his shoulders. He determines a nearby cave is empty and ushers Lobo inside, they will rest for the night. Waking up the following morning, Talltrees notices the snow still falling. He walks out of the cave, the landscape is blanketed in white. He whistles for Lobo who comes to his side. Using his hand to block the snow from his eyes he trudges in the snow, toward the location of the great shaman, Moonstar.
Sonja Day excitedly informs her brother Jack that she has figured out how to put the toxins into the water supply of Smyrna. Jack mentions how powerful that will make them. Sonja reminds Jack that she only agreed to extract the toxin from the flowers to make the people happier with their regular lives. Jack smiles at Sonja, insisting the citizens will be happy with his vision for their humble town.
Exhausted after a long struggle through the mountains, Talltrees manages to see a cabin through all of the snow up above him and Lobo. He looks to Lobo telling him that they have found their quest. Suddenly, throughout all the snow a large black bear appears and swipes at Talltrees, sending him flying. He wipes his face of blood as Lobo growls at the bear. Talltrees tries to fire an arrow at the bear but the snow is too much, he can barely see the bear and the wind gusts are too strong anyway. Lobo runs at the bear, biting at its leg. The bear lets out a growl. Lobo retreats back to Talltrees. Talltrees tells Lobo to attack once more, this time Talltrees goes around the other side. Lobo distracts the bear as Talltrees keeps quiet. Talltrees walks to the bear and stabs it with his hunting knife in the heart. The bear strikes back at Talltrees once more he is struck to the ground. The snow begins to ease as Talltrees once more gets to his feet. The bear that was just killed has disappeared, standing in its place is a woman (Jessica Matten), she waves her hand as if a spell before greeting Talltrees by name. “Moonstar?” She tells him to follow her.
Moonstar guides Talltrees into a sweat lodge built into the side of the mountain. There she tells him about the bear, it being her protector, although it feels real to the person, it indeed is a creation of her own. To meet with her, the bear must be defeated. She tells him that only three men have defeated the bear, one being William’s father. Talltrees tells her of the death of his father, she says that she had a feeling he was no longer walking among them. Moonstar assumes that he is here for the same reason her father came so many times - a vision. Talltrees nods. Moonstar leaves the sweat lodge. Steam begins to flow into the lodge leading Talltrees into a vision: Talltrees stands in an open land, tall grass touches his legs. The flat land rises, leading him to a mountain. On the top of the mountain he sees his father Chief Thomas Talltrees (Michael Horse), his father sitting on a rock. He summons William toward him. Thomas asks his son if Rebecca is safe. William smiles at his father, nodding his head. Thomas tells him that William should forgive his uncle. He was trying to save himself, his mother and the reservation. William tries to argue the point but Thomas doesn’t listen; he just looks out upon the great land, smiling. Thomas fades away. William calls out for his father, to no answer. Suddenly William is thrown from the mountain, he continues to fall and hits the ground with a thud. All around him he sees a purple and gold petaled flower. Suddenly he is surrounded by five red wolves. They begin to stalk Talltrees before they all come together into one towering wolf. Owayadata the Wolf God (Voiced by Michael Horse). Owayadata, in an echoing voice, tells Talltrees that his duty has just begun, Cornelius Van Lunt was just the start. Owaydata then swallows Talltrees whole. The purple and gold flower flashes over the faces of William, Thomas, Owayadata and Lobo. Then nothing, Talltrees stands on a rich plain with the purple and gold flower growing.
Talltrees wakes up from his vision on the highest peak of the mountain, next to an ornate coup stick – just like the one Owaydata held in the vision – embedded into the stone. With all his will, Talltrees pulls the stick from the stone and begins hiking down the mountain. On the way down he stops to see Moonstar. She asks if he got what he needed from her. He nods and says he needs to go east and find the purple flower.
Talltrees walks east with Lobo by his side. We flash to different points of the journey with the snow beginning to melt, and the elevation becoming lower. He begins to find the terrain is getting flatter. Finding himself now walking in cornfields instead of rocky mountains. Talltrees, exhausted, sits down on the side of the road next to a sign that says Smyrna, Nebraska - 10 miles. Lobo sits by his master before lying down, head resting on Talltrees’ leg.
A little while later, Talltrees walks into town, past a bar with a group of rowdy bikers. He stops in front of a small electronics store where televisions broadcast an ad for the mayoral campaign of Jack Day. Talltrees’ eyes are taken off the television by a series of large chemical tanker trucks driving through the main street of town, toward a large factory, clearly newer than all the other buildings, Capricorn Chemicals. That night, Talltrees starts a campfire outside of town. As he sleeps next to the fire, he is awoken by Lobo’s growls. He quickly rises and gets into a defensive position with a tomahawk. He then hears revving motorcycle engines and the hollers of the bikers nearby in the darkness. The engines finally move away from his camp into the darkness of the night. Talltrees calms Lobo before going back to sleep.
In the morning, Talltrees follows the sound of running water, eventually reaching a creek – along with the flowers from his vision. He bends over and picks up a flower, smelling it. He then hears the sounds of footsteps. He is soon surrounded by the armed guards of Capricorn Chemicals, who tell him that he is on private property. Talltrees looks around saying from where he stands this looks like native land. They tell him to come with them. Despite his instincts to fight, even handling his knife, Talltrees finds himself willingly following the guards. Talltrees is taken by the guards to Capricorn Chemicals’ factory. Looking around he sees most of the workers are Native Americans. He looks disgusted, even more so when he sees the flowers littered around the place. He ends up being taken into an office, where the presidents of the company, Jack and Sonja Day are seated. The Day siblings question Talltrees, asking him why he is on their land. He stays silent, simply glaring at the two. They urge him to stay away from town. Talltrees is injected with some type of chemical, knocking him unconscious. Jack is furious telling Sonja they should’ve just killed him, but she reminds him that their goal is to help the people here, not simply kill them off.
Talltrees wakes up in a ditch on the side of the road, just outside the town limits. He gathers himself and begins walking back into town with Lobo. They get only a few meters before being accosted by Bulldozer (Keith Jardine) and his gang of bikers – the Wrecking Crew. They circle Talltrees with the bikes, beginning to hit him with chains and clubs. Lobo barks at the men, as Talltrees is knocked from his feet. He continues to get whipped by the chains. He grabs his coup stick, and with speed sticks it into one of the wheels of the bikes. Causing the man riding to go flying, and a pile up behind him. Bulldozer swerves out of the way and tells his gang to get up. Bulldozer rides toward Talltrees who begins to run. Bulldozer is gaining on him and swings his chain, Talltrees jumps for a tree branch, pulling himself up. Talltrees begins pulling off shorter branches and quickly sharpens them. He begins throwing them at the gang from up in the tree. Bulldozer rides back toward him. Talltrees uses his Coup stick and hits Bulldozer flying as he rides under the tree. Knife in hand, Talltrees jumps down and threatens the rest of the men, who run off, back to their bikes. He heads over to an unconscious Bulldozer. He sees a package on the back of Bulldozer’s bike labeled Capricorn Chemicals.
The beat up Talltrees takes Bulldozer’s motorcycle and rides back to Lobo. He tells him to hide out here, he will be back for him soon enough. Talltrees begins riding toward the factory. A few moments in he notices that all the town’s residents are in line to vote for mayor – all clearly inclined to vote for Jack Day. They are all seemingly in a zombie-like trance as a speaker, in a monotonous tone “reminds” everyone to vote for Day. Talltrees finally realizes that the flower must be making everyone compliant to Capricorn Chemicals’ demands.
As Talltrees closes in on the factory, he sees a large chemical tanker truck leaving. He decides to stop the truck. He catches up with it on the highway and tries to yell at the driver to pull over, however, the driver pulls a gun and opens fire at Talltrees. He manages to evade all of the bullets on the motorcycle and throws his trusty tomahawk at the wheel of the truck, causing the truck to flip over, spilling all the chemicals out over the side of the highway. Talltrees interrogates the driver. The driver pleads him away, before telling him what he wants to hear. He discovers that Capricorn Chemicals is set to distribute their chemicals all over the region under the guise of "treating" the local water supplies. Talltrees holds his hand out and demands the man’s gun. The man gives it to him, as well as some ammo. Talltrees stands, reloads the gun, holsters it and gets back on the bike, heading back to the factory.
The Days hear that their truck was stopped. The two of them freak out, with Jack immediately ordering all the other trucks to leave for their destinations. Sonja lets it slip that she disagrees with how Jack is using the chemical to brainwash people for his own means rather than to help people with emotional problems. She reminds him why they started this, to help people. Jack laughs, warning Sonja not to try to stop him.
Talltrees infiltrates the factory. He is almost spotted by a guard, but he manages to slip behind an empty truck before he is seen. He grabs a piece of timber from behind the truck, and carries it in hand. He walks to the guard and hits him over the head with it. He continues looking around, before he comes across some petrol, he takes the petrol and carries it with him. He manages to sneak all the way to the assembly of the chemical in the middle of the factory. He places the timber in the middle of the floor, and pours the petrol on and around it. He sparks a match and throws it on the timber, the whole place begins to light up around him. Guards come running and a couple spot Talltrees, communicating over comms where he is. No truck was able to get out of the factory, they were not yet filled. Two guards close in on Talltrees, guns drawn. He climbs into a truck, and waits in silence. As they close in he jumps out with two knives, and stabs them both dead. Another closes in so he rolls out and throws his Tomahawk in the same motion. He is grabbed from behind, but bites the man’s hand, getting out of his grasp. He headbutts the man, before delivering a few swift punches. He takes the gun out and shoots two others closing in. Talltrees wanders over to the Day’s offices.
The Days are frantic in their office, as they had seen what was on camera, and of course the fire happening in their factory. Talltrees confronts them both – after picking up his weapons again. Jack laughs at Talltrees efforts to stop him and suggests he look outside. He sees that the people of the town have surrounded the factory in order to protect their next mayor. The building continues burning as the fire grows larger. The fire also spreads to the fields next to the factory, burning up all of the flowers. Jack calls for a helicopter to pick him up on the roof of the building before he pulls a gun, shooting Talltrees – only connecting with his leg. He laughs before commenting what a rush it is shooting – he may have a new hobby. Jack begins to go but Sonja tells him they can’t just leave this man. Jack snaps saying they have worked long and hard so they can have people beckon at their every call. Sonja shakes her head as tears well. She says that people deserve to make their own decisions even if they won’t be as happy as the toxin can make them. She grabs a liquor bottle and hits Jack over the head with it. With Jack unconscious, he loses his mind control over the townspeople, who begin working together to put out the massive fire about to engulf the entire town.
Sonja, instead of helping her brother, decides to help Talltrees out of the burning building. She apologizes to Talltrees for her brother, claiming she was blinded by his promises of helping the people of Smyrna. Talltrees tells her that she can still help the town get back on its feet after the fire. Talltrees begins walking away but Sonja stops him, giving him the last remaining flower. He nods at her as he limps out of town, Lobo back by his side, They start walking north – back toward home. Along the way, Talltrees stops and plants the flower in a rural field.
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