Man in the Wilderness

In 1820, Captain Filmore Henry leads the expedition after two years of fur trapping in the Northwest Territory. They aim to reach the Missouri River before winter so they can sail south and trade their goods. The voyage hints at harsh survival ahead as they push into unexplored lands.

Zachary Bass is mauled by a brown bear while pursuing a deer. Henry's men eventually kill the bear to save him, a brutal reminder of the hazards on the frontier. Bass's survival hangs in the balance as the group contends with the wound.

Dr. Ferris believes Zachary's wounds are unlikely to heal on the journey. Captain Henry orders Lowrie and Fogarty to bury Zachary if he is not dead by morning and to deliver a eulogy. The camp falls quiet as the decision sets the tone for the team's isolation.

By the next morning, Lowrie and Fogarty leave Zachary, still conscious, for dead as Arikara natives approach. The expedition moves on, leaving Zachary behind with the sounds of the wilderness. He drifts in and out of consciousness, recalling his student days and Grace, who urged him to believe in God.

Lowrie and Fogarty report to Henry that Zachary was left for dead. Henry decides not to turn back, believing Zachary would want the expedition to continue. The choice underscores the lethal pragmatism that governs frontier exploration.

Zachary scavenges for food, eating berries and raw bison meat to survive. He builds a crude leg crutch and salvages wire, a knife, and a spear to keep moving. His strength slowly returns as he begins to trust himself again.

He traps a rabbit and uses its fur as an armpit cushion for warmth. He soon traps and skins a cougar for its coat, a sign of his growing survival skills. The long, cold days cement his resolve to endure.

As winter nears, Zachary hides when a native couple approaches, watching the woman give birth. The moment rekindles memories of Grace, who died in childbirth while his world trembled. He clings to faith and memory as the elements close in.

On the night watch, Fogarty believes he sees Zachary and shoots. It is revealed that he has killed Lowrie instead, a devastating consequence of the confusion. The incident intensifies the peril surrounding the expedition.

The group arrives at a frozen river and is forced to carry the boat for the duration of their voyage. The brutal cold tests their endurance and mutes their hopes of a swift journey. The crew presses on despite the toll.

Natives head toward Henry's expedition and a gunfight erupts. Zachary pushes forward to help his companions, driven by loyalty and survival. The fighting halts when the native chief recognizes him and steps in.

The native chief blesses Zachary and returns his spear, signaling a rare moment of respect amid the conflict. The act marks a turning point as violence recedes and uneasy peace lingers. Zachary's resolve deepens in the wake of the encounter.

Zachary approaches Henry, who fears he might be shot, but Zachary declines violence. He decides to return to his newborn son, choosing family over ongoing pursuit. The expedition follows after him, continuing their trek toward the unknown.