PaleyArchive ColorBars TopBanner2

COMANCHE MOON {EPISODE 1} (TV)

Summary

One in this television miniseries about a band of Texas Rangers in the mid-19th century and their adventures across the Texan frontier; a prequel to the television miniseries "Lonesome Dove." The episode begins by showing a massacre of Comanche tribesmen by Texans at a supposedly peaceful gathering early in the 1800’s. The narration describes how the Texas Rangers was formed as a volunteer group to combat the Comanche. The story proper begins in 1858, as Captain Inish Scull and his band of Rangers ride across northern Texas in search of Kicking Wolf, an infamous Comanche horse thief. They pass by the camp of Buffalo Hump, a Comanche tribe leader, but leave it to continue their search. Blue Duck, Buffalo Hump’s son, spies on the Rangers and in the morning tries to ambush them, but they drive him back to the camp. Captain Scull vows to defeat Buffalo Hump and his men, eager for a challenging opponent and saying he will “miss them” once they are defeated. One of the rangers, Augustus McCrae, longs for Clara Forsyth, his sweetheart back in Austin. His fellow ranger, the stoic Woodrow Call, seems to care only for his job. Meanwhile, in Austin, Clara talks with Maggie Tilton, the woman who loves Call. They find a common bond in their loneliness and Clara helps Maggie, who is hard up for money. Jake Spoon, a Ranger who did not accompany Scull and his men, carries on an affair with Inez Scull, Captain Scull’s wife, before she abruptly ends it on a whim. He attempts to pay Maggie for sex, but passes out drunk on her bed before she goes through with it. The Rangers meet with a Kickapoo scout working with them named Famous Shoes. Famous Shoes has discovered Kicking Wolf’s position, but is skeptical that Captain Scull can capture him. Famous Shoes is brought before Buffalo Hump and berated for leading Scull’s men to their land. However, they allow him to leave and he reports to Scull and his men, warning them that Kicking Wolf is following them. They make camp and post watch, but Kicking Wolf manages to steal Hector, Captain Scull’s beloved horse. Furious over the loss of Hector, Captain Scull sets out to find Kicking Wolf accompanied only by Famous Shoes. He appoints Call and McCrae as captains of the remaining men and orders them to go home. There is some initial discontent with the decision, but Call and McCrae make the best of it and work together to try and get their men home. Later, the Rangers come across a wagon ransacked by Comanche raiders, leaving behind a few dead bodies. They quickly surmise that the women in the wagon were captured and track them down, killing the Comanche raiders and rescuing a woman and her two young daughters. The woman, traumatized from being raped by a Comanche, attempts to flee them, but a Ranger named Deets catches up with her and convinces her to return to Austin with them. Meanwhile, Kicking Wolf and his companion Three Birds plan to bring Hector to a Mexican named Ahumado in exchange for women. They suspect that Ahumado may double-cross him, as he has a reputation for cruelty. Captain Scull and Famous Shoes follow their trail; they determine that Kicking Wolf is headed for the Yellow Cliffs, Ahumado’s home, and Scull recounts a battle he had with Ahumado years ago that nearly cost him his life. The Rangers return to Austin. Call and McCrae plan to report to the Governor on their mission and Scull’s desertion. McCrae searches for Clara and encounters her father, who sternly dismisses him. He spots Clara in a buggy with another man and is incensed until Call informs him that the man was merely her uncle. Upon hearing this, McCrae immediately reunites with Clara and they share an embrace. Kicking Wolf heads into the Sierra and Scull intends to follow him. Scull feels that Ahumado will prove to be a worthy opponent. Famous Shoes does not wish to continue and goes his own way. Call and McCrae meet with the Governor, who is outraged at Scull’s behavior but agrees with his decision to make them captains. Mrs. Scull arrives and is furious over her husband’s departure, demanding that he be found. She coerces the Governor to send the Rangers out in a few days to find him. She also invites McCrae to her house for tea, which unnerves him. In Mexico, Captain Scull comes across the bloodied body of Kicking Wolf tied to a walking horse; he frees him and leaves to search for Ahumado. He is ambushed by Ahumado’s men and, after a brief escape attempt, is kept by Ahumado for ransom. He is placed in a wooden cage suspended over the side of a cliff and told that he will have to capture pigeons for food. Scull still believes that he will kill Ahumado and tells him as much. Scull proves to be quite adept at capturing pigeons and Ahumado is impressed with his endurance. While Call dines with Maggie, she announces that she is pregnant with his child. He is unsure of how to respond. Meanwhile, Clara teases McCrae by implying that she’s been seeing Bob Allen, a local horse trader, while he’s been away on his Ranger assignments. McCrae is not pleased at this suggestion and leaves in a huff. Alone with her mother, Clara confesses that McCrae is her one true love, but her mother warns her against marrying him. The next day, McCrae is shooting bottles at a creek when Call comes to inform him the Governor has further orders. McCrae meets with Clara again and they reconcile. The Governor tells McCrae and Call that he has been ordered to send them to retrieve Captain Scull and they prepare to set out. Clara talks to McCrae and tells him she is lonely without him and urges him to settle down. McCrae says that when he returns from his mission, he wants to marry her. Before he leaves, Call gives Maggie a handgun for her own protection. After picking their men, including Jake Spoon, Call and McCrae set out in search of Captain Scull. Buffalo Hump gathers several Comanche tribes together as part of a huge raid against the Texan settlers. He recounts the Comanche massacre from the beginning of the episode, how he was a small child and watched his people slaughtered; he has vowed revenge against all Texans. The episode ends as he leads a vast charge of mounted Comanche, preparing to carve a swath of destruction across Texas. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: January 13, 2008 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:27:55
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:92042
  • GENRE: Drama, western
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western; Indigenous Peoples Collection
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 2008
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Paul Frank … Executive Producer
  • Adam Shulman … Executive Producer
  • Julie Yorn … Executive Producer
  • Diana Ossana … Executive Producer, Writer
  • Larry McMurtry … Executive Producer, Writer, Based on the novel by
  • Dyson Lovell … Producer
  • Karen Mayeda-Vranek … Co-Producer
  • Mary Church … Co-Producer
  • Larry Rapaport … Co-Producer
  • Simon Wincer … Director
  • Lennie Niehaus … Music by
  • Val Kilmer … Cast, Inish Scull
  • Steve Zahn … Cast, Augustus McCrae
  • Karl Urban … Cast, Woodrow Call
  • Linda Cardellini … Cast, Clara Forsyth
  • Elizabeth Banks … Cast, Maggie Tilton
  • Ryan Merriman … Cast, Jake Spoon
  • Raymond McKinnan … Cast, Bill Coleman
  • Keith Robinson … Cast, Joshua Deets
  • Wes Studi … Cast, Buffalo Hump
  • Adam Beach … Cast, Blue Duck
  • James Rebhorn … Cast, Governor Elisha Pease
  • Jake Busey … Cast, Tudwal
  • Melanie Lynskey … Cast, Pearl Coleman
  • Sal Lopez … Cast, Ahumado
  • Floyd Westerman … Cast, First Old Comance
  • Kristine Sutherland … Cast, Elmira Forsyth
  • Rachel Griffiths … Cast, Inez Scull
  • Troy Baker … Cast, Pea Eye Parker
  • David Midthunder … Cast, Famous Shoes
  • Wally Welch … Cast, Ikey Ripple
  • Arron Shiver … Cast, Stove Jones
  • Toby Metcalf … Cast, Lee Hitch
  • Jonathan Joss … Cast, Kicking Wolf
  • Aldred Montoya … Cast, Three Birds
  • Steve Reevis … Cast, Worm
  • Frederick Lopez … Cast, Goyeto
  • Geraldine Keams … Cast, Hema
  • Josh Berry … Cast, Bob Allen
  • Bill Flynn … Cast, Ben Mickelson
  • Savion Rose … Cast, Felice
  • Tatanka Means … Cast, Slipping Weasel
  • Brad Leland … Cast, Militia Man
  • Brady Coleman … Cast, Mr. Forsyth
  • Grover Coulson … Cast, Bingham
  • Anthony Parker … Cast, Quick Antelope
  • Scotty Augare … Cast, Straight Elbow
  • Rod Rondeaux … Cast, Slow Tree
  • Rodney Smith … Cast, Tana
  • Jack Burning … Cast, Second Old Comanche
  • Jessica Robertson … Cast, Maudy Clarke
  • Ramon Frank … Cast, Jimmy Watson