The Far Horizons

In 1803, Congress approves the Louisiana Purchase, opening the door to western exploration. President Thomas Jefferson summons Meriwether Lewis to the White House and asks him to lead an expedition to explore beyond the new territory. Lewis agrees, requesting his friend William Clark join as an equal captain, but returns to Virginia to inform Julia Hancock and finds Clark has proposed to her, causing tension between the two men.

At Wood River, Lewis and Clark recruit Sergeant Gass and the volunteers before departing in a keelboat. Clark learns he has not been officially promoted to captain as promised, while Lewis insists that he is. The disagreement foreshadows the rivalries that will complicate the journey.

The expedition travels north along the Missouri River and encounters the Minnataree tribe. They negotiate a peace offer and work to establish trust with the Native group despite tensions.

Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman kidnapped by the Minnataree, volunteers to join the expedition and help guide the party back toward her people. Charbonneau, her husband, joins as translator but secretly plots with the Minnataree to betray the explorers for payment. The plan sows early danger for the expedition.

Learning of the planned attack, Sacagawea escapes on horseback to warn Lewis and Clark. The captains are impressed by her courage and invite her to remain with the expedition, expanding the team.

At a fork in the river, the expedition splits into groups to reunite upstream. Sacagawea travels with Clark's team and saves his journal from slipping into the water. After helping Clark recover from a fever, they grow closer and Clark renames her Janey.

The expedition reunites with Sacagawea's brother Cameahwait; Lewis fears Clark's feelings for Sacagawea threaten the mission and insists she must leave, against Clark's wishes. She chases the expedition along the river and is eventually rejoined with Clark.

Upset over Sacagawea's return to the expedition, Lewis plans to have Clark court-martialed when they return home. The tension between the two leaders grows as the journey continues.

After the deaths of several crewmen, Gass informs the captains that the crew is aware of the rift and that they have already ventured far beyond the Louisiana Purchase. The men propose turning back, but they decide to push forward to reach the Pacific.

The expedition finally reaches the Pacific Ocean. Clark tells Lewis that he will take Sacagawea with him to Washington. Lewis retaliates by revealing that he has logged Clark's insubordination in his journal for Jefferson.

In 1807, Lewis and Clark return to the White House to be congratulated by Jefferson. Clark introduces Sacagawea to the president, who thanks her for her contributions to the expedition.

Sacagawea departs with the knowledge that her feelings for Clark are not acknowledged publicly, and she leaves a goodbye letter for him. Julia Hancock and Sacagawea share a moment as they learn of each other's feelings.