Little Big Mouth - The Barbara Stanwyck Show

[music] >> Tonight's Barbara Stanwyck Show was brought to you by your gas company. >> [music] [music] >> This is the Kiowa-Arapaho Indian Reservation, Oklahoma Territory, 1901. They call me America's greatest girl reporter. And I have to think up something new and different every day to satisfy my millions of readers. So, I decided to expose the Indian Reservation scandal. Somebody in Washington said, "They're robbing the Indians blind." Nobody would tell me who or where or how. But before I'm through, I'll uncover and tell the whole United States. That's why I'm here in the wild, wide-open Indian country, alone. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Now, all you've got to do is put the government stamp on our bills and check names and accounts and uh that day's work is all done. All I've got to do is help you take their money before they even lay their hands on Is that right, Mr. Haskell? You'll be helping yourself, too, Doc. The last station, I left quite a bank account. You've got an awful lot to win and nothing to lose. You know, a man's got to be pretty hard up and far down to take a job nursemaiding Indian. Ain't much demand for army castoffs. THAT'S NOT SO. HE'S THE BEST DOCTOR THERE EVER IS. MILDRED. THE fact of the matter is this, you're in no shape to say no to easy money. You see, honey, every 6 months, the Indians get a cash allotment from the government. But between allotment days, they buy things from Mr. Haskell and his friends on credit. And when allotment day rolls around, these gentlemen show up with their claims and expect me to pay for the luxury articles they've sold the Indians. Like the salmon. It's rotten, spoiled, unfit for human consumption. But then, who says Indians are human? It's a federal offense to sell liquor to the Indians, but this is stomach tonic, half water, half raw alcohol. Does that sound right to you, Mildred? No, sir. Look, I want you, Doc. So, you did. You know, the white men who first put the Indians on these reservations at least risked losing their scalps. But not Mr. Haskell. He hides behind the Indian agent. Not behind me, Haskell. I'm not that hard up or far down. And where do you think you're going? Out. To tell the Indians there'll be no allotments paid today to them or to you, or any other day until after I've straightened out those ledgers and filed a full report and gotten an order from Washington. However long that takes. YOU PEOPLE GO ON HOME. NO MONEY TODAY. BUT I WANT YOU TO COME BACK HOME. I'LL LET YOU KNOW. WHAT SHE SAY? SAYS THEY WON'T LEAVE TILL YOU GET THEM their money. Who is she? She's our hereditary midwife, the chief's widow, and my mother. I asked her to take it easy. She says it's none of my affair. You're a member of the tribe, aren't you? They read me out when I went to the white man's college. Even your mother? Especially my mother. Get them STARTED OUT OF HERE. THAT'S AN ORDER. Wait a minute. YOU, COME BACK HERE. Who are you? I'm Nellie Bly, the newspaper reporter. Nellie Bly? Why, you went around the world in In 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes. And on the whole trip, I never saw anything as rotten as this. Rotten as what, Miss Bly? You beat a man into insensibility. You drive the traders off the reservation. You calmly stand there and refuse the pitiful dole these poor people are begging for. Now, who do you think you are, anyhow? According to the Indian Bureau, I'm the acting agent in charge. >> Well, you won't be in charge much longer. When I get through writing what I've seen and heard here today, they'll throw you out of here so fast it will make your head spin. Count on that. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, LADY. He's no good. But you don't scare Judge Jackrabbit. I know where you have the government money hidden. You won't pay? I'll pay. I'm the law here at Long Land. You're under arrest. I got friends. I told them that you're an Indian hater. I told them what you did with the traders, to the Indians. Tell them what you want. I want you wearing this. I'm not a white man, Doctor. To them, I'm not an Indian. I wouldn't be of any use to you. Doctor Mark, can she do what she said? Who? That lady. Get us thrown off the reservation. Uh she gives us any trouble, I'll throw her off. But that will just make her madder. Don't pay any attention to her. But she's going to write bad things about you, and you won't want to leave your patients. Uh afraid after this mess, we won't have any patients. Sure you will. When they find out what a good doctor you are. I'm not a very good father, am I? What? Look at you. Good thing your mother can't see you now. Pigtails, boy's clothes. When did you wash your face last? I guess I didn't. I guess you didn't. I didn't even notice it. I'll wash it right at supper. Don't forget. No, sir. And you won't throw her off, Miss Bly. All right. You wash your face and be a lady, and I'll be a gentleman. Promise? With a kiss, if I can find a clean place. >> [music] >> You, can you help? Now, now, don't be afraid. Nobody will punish you for telling the truth. Oh, you little boy. My name is Johnny Tail Feathers, disappearing over the hill. Oh, but don't laugh. He's very sensitive. They all are to strange white people. That's because of Colonel Chivington. And who is Colonel Chivington? He massacred the Kiowas in 1865. But that was 40 years ago. Indians are very slow to forgive. My name is Chiquita Chanhung. Kiowa, that means come again when you can't stay longer. Who are you? I'm Mildred Kilgore. Doctor Mark is my father. His full name is Doctor Mark Kilgore, MD, Major, US Army Medical Corps, retired. I have an Indian name, too. Chiquita Chanhung. Johnny Tail Feathers gave it to me. Have you lived here long? 3 weeks and 4 days. Well, you're so full of information, I thought you must have been raised in the Indian country. We never saw an Indian till we came out from Missouri. Well, then you're a very fast learner. So is my father. Doctor Mark is very nice when you get to know him. He's just hard to get acquainted with cuz he has so much on his mind. I'm interested in meeting your mother. My mother died last June. Doctor Mark was in the army. Then he came back and we moved to Long Land. Just the two of you? Yes, ma'am. Who takes care of you? I do. The government gave us a very nice cottage. If you care to come over and rest yourself a while, you're very welcome. Well, thank you, Mildred. >> [music] >> Do your feet hurt? Oh, yes. >> [music] >> I've done more walking today than I'm accustomed to. What's good for that is hot water and Epsom salts. I'll fetch you a towel in the kitchen. >> [music] >> What did you say your Indian name is? Chato Chonka. What does it mean? Little Big Mouth. You see, I'm a talker in my family. >> [laughter] >> Little Big Mouth. Oh, I don't mean to laugh, Mildred. I never felt less amused. >> [music] [music] >> Oh. I hope it's hot enough. >> Yes, it's hot enough. Oh, that's plenty, thank you. May I see your book? A phonetic pronouncing glossary of conversational phrases for workers on reservations in the West. Published 1887 by the Society for Promotion of Improved Relations with Conquered Indian Tribes. Where did you get this? Dr. Marks found it. Well. Your other one is studying it. Why doesn't he learn to speak Indian? He's too busy. Besides, it's much easier for children. We're more flexible. Oh. Hm. Wakan tanka aki. Oh, yes, you'd have to be flexible to learn this. Oh, anybody can learn anything if they really try. Dr. Marks says the brain is just a muscle machine, like the heart and the lungs and the belly. I beg your pardon, the stomach. Mildred, why didn't your father leave you in St. Louis? Don't you have any relatives there? The only one that has room for me is Aunt Emily. She's an old maid, you know. Yes, I know. I've been called one myself. OH MY GRACIOUS. THE BISCUITS. I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO organize myself. Oh, oh. An Indian just brought in a horse and buggy. He said some white lady had a runaway. I had the runaway. I'm told there is fixing the wheel to hold together till you get back to civilization. Miss Black can't leave tonight. She might get lost on the prairie. Besides, she promised to stay and visit us a few days. She did? I'll get the army blanket. I'll sleep over in the agency. Our guest can have my room. The biscuits are a little dark again. >> Get the blanket and a clean shirt. I don't suppose it'll do any good to ask you to leave my daughter out of your sob story. I didn't put the sob in the story, doctor. You did. You must be very proud of yourself. A grown man, a doctor, an army officer, and a little girl has to cook and keep house for you, wait on you hand and foot. Mildred, do this, Mildred, do that, translate for you, defend you. When all the time she still should be playing with dolls and believing in Santa Claus. What's going to become of her? What kind of a father are you anyway? Dr. Marks. Is this the right shirt? Yes, Mildred. I got you two blankets. It's going to be cold tonight. Yeah. Thanks. Good night to you. Sweet dreams. Sleep tight. And God bless you. >> [music] >> The Indians are very unhappy. They don't have any friends. That's why Dr. Marks is a sorry figure. I haven't noticed him feeling sorry for anybody. Oh, but he did. He didn't come to Long Ans to be the agent. He came to be the first doctor they ever had. But when he got here, the agent was gone. And Indian Bureau said he had to be an acting agent till they found somebody else. Oh my goodness. I forgot to give it back. I hold it up whenever there was going to be trouble, so it wouldn't get broken. Yes, I see. Dr. Marks doesn't like to show it to people. It's a very private treasure. But as long as you're a friend of the family. You are, aren't you? You wouldn't. Wouldn't work, Mildred. What you said about making a move with John. And now you've got him all worried about me. And he shouldn't be worried about me. And if you make a slip, he'll go someplace by himself. No one can care. Oh, don't cry, baby. Don't. >> [music] >> Mildred. Where are you? Dr. Marks. Johnny Kilfeather. What's the matter? What is it? He rode in on a pony yelling something. Maybe you can understand it. ESTHER GOOD EAGLE SHOUTED. ESTHER GOOD EAGLE SHOUTED. Wasichu kid Long Ans shouted. Johnny, I can't find it. Please talk English. I know you can when you want to. Young very sick. Have baby. Mrs. Two Babies say young die. Baby die, too. Where, Johnny? Wasichu cheeky. Wasichu cheeky. Wasichu cheeky. That's what Johnny means. Way out beyond the hill. Can I go with you? To help, of course. No. I will talk to Johnny. Talk to Wasichu knee. What did you say to him? I told him to ride ahead and tell him we were coming. Isn't it wonderful they sent for you the first time? Who said you were going? He needs me to talk. >> [music] >> Run ahead there and get my medicine bag. It's in the hospital. Hurry. I'm coming. Come and help me get up. Have we got everything? >> [music] >> Do we need anything else, Dr. Marks? No, it's all right, honey. Keep your eye on things around here, Tom. Will do, Marks. >> [music] >> Tom. Do you know where they're going? I know. That's bad business. Why? That's my mother's camp they're going to. She's the doctor herself. She won't let him treat anyone. Well, are you just going to stand there and let them walk into danger? I'm no Indian fighter, lady. I'll pay you. For what? To drive my buggy. Take me to the camp. Unless you're afraid. All right. I'll take you. Except for the last half a mile. >> [music] >> Do you know what day this is? No. It's Sunday. Back home in Missoula, right about now, little girls like you are getting ready to go to church, putting on real clean, starched dresses and pretty hair ribbons. I hate hair ribbons. And then after dinner, there'll be a band concert in the park. Or maybe a picnic out at Oak Falls. Everything pleasant [music] and happy and good. The way it should be. No rattlesnakes or Indians [music] or coyotes. But I like coyotes and rattlesnakes and Indians. Well, then you better start forgetting them because I'm sending you back to your Aunt Emily to learn how to be a lady like your mother was. But I don't want to be a lady. I want to stay with you. You know you shouldn't >> Oh, please, DR. MARKS. PLEASE. YOU know you're just arguing, honey. I've made up my mind. But who will take care of you? I'll hire an Indian lady. >> [music] >> But I want to take care of you. Don't. Don't cry, baby. What are you doing here? You're walking into trouble in that camp, doctor. He says his mother won't let you treat anyone there. [music] I think she will. Wait, I'll go with you. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Is there a sick woman here? Where is the sick woman? Look, Mrs. Two Babies, I'm trying to work with you, not against you. I'm only the acting agent. My real job is to be your doctor. I fixed up a hospital at the agency. You're all entitled to come there for treatment, every man, woman, and child in the tribe. Or to send for me whenever and wherever I'm needed. It won't be charged against your allotment. Now, will you please tell me, is there a sick woman here? E-tha-da, that cockatoo needs a chickadee too. E-THA-DA, E-THA-DA, LET US BE FRIENDS. E-THA-DA, E-THA-DA, LET US BE FRIENDS. I can't find anything that fits. It's not your fault that I can't get through to them. All right, Mrs. Two Babies, you win. Mika Mika. Mika Mika. Hurry hurry. >> [music] [music] [music] >> I think it's the wagon. Got to do a cesarean section. Should have been done hours ago. Woman's young, her first baby. Odds are it's too late to save either one of them. Hurry. Can I help? This isn't a sob story, Miss Bly. >> Well, you could be wrong about me, doctor, as I may have been wrong about you. >> [music] >> Please hurry. Not this time. E-tha-da, E-tha-da, eat. It isn't dog food, is it? Dog? Maybe cow. E-tha-da. >> [crying] >> Tahiho wan tan. TAHIHO WAN TAN. THAT MEANS GOOD MEDICINE. >> [music] [music] >> OH MY GOODNESS, I ALMOST FORGOT. I thought I lost you. From Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders to Major Mark Carroll, US Army Medical Corps, who charged with us up San Juan Hill. Doctor, soldier, [music] officer, gentleman. You don't have to worry about what I'll put in the papers. And you don't have to worry about your father, either. He'll do just fine with the help of Chiquita Chongo. He'll think well >> [music] >> I came to the Indian country looking for a scandal. [music] I found a love story. The true love story of Little Big Man. >> [music] >> Next week, we bring you an unusual mixture of comedy and melodrama entitled Assassin. I am the intended victim. Leon Ames and Peter Falk are the guest stars in a gripping story in which the tables are turned and returned in a most surprising fashion. I hope that you'll be with us and that you enjoyed tonight's show. Good night. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music]