Aho!
Young and old warriors!
You little ones out there, you girthy ones,
you tall ones, you short ones,
you full-blood ones, you disenrolled ones,
you pretend ones,
the ones that were never enrolled in the first place
but you can still prove your descendancy,
good to see you.
Welcome to the spirit world.
As you may know...
my name... William Knifeman.
I'm here to continue the story, a story as old as time.
A story as fresh as mountain dew.
A story that happened yesterday.
Or maybe it happened last week.
Or maybe it has yet to even happen.
Oh, fuck.
So, let's get to it.
Go, you little shit. Come on.
People are watching.
Last time we saw those little Rez Dog shits,
they were all happy.
Just frolicking in the ocean.
It made me cry little spirit tears to see them like that.
- Love you, bitch. - Their car was stolen.
- That was literally all... - They had no money.
- We're not going back. - And the young brave warrior
named Bear decided he wasn't going to go home.
And why should you care? I mean,
it's not like some of your ancestors stole this land
and then forced us to live on reservations, right?
And so, the story continues.
Are we watching our little Baby Bear Cub
become a man before our eyes?
Did he go see his dad? He did.
Yeah.
Sure you didn't just dial the wrong number?
I told you, I called the number I had saved on my phone.
He just... must have changed it or something.
Fuck, if he doesn't answer, let's go find White Jesus, bro.
He's gonna answer.
Hold the fuck on, goddamn.
Fuck?
Hey, I said be careful.
What?
- Hi. - Hi.
Um, I'm-I'm looking for Punkin.
- Punkin? - Mm-hmm.
Haven't seen him in about a week.
Took off with his so-called manager on tour up in Oakland.
Piece of shit hasn't called once.
Why?
Um, no reason. I was just looking for him.
He said that I can c... I-I c-can come by
and record a song.
So, yeah, um...
But if he's not here, it's-it's all good.
Thanks.
Sorry about that. Yeah.
Eh, it was kind of uneventful.
But more on that later.
I bet you're wondering what happened
after that fateful moment,
'cause like any beautiful,
long-haired, wonderful-looking Indigenous storyteller,
I'm gonna drop you right in the middle of the action.
Aho!
Listen, I don't do too well in the back of cars.
- I get carsick. - Hey, you about to be sick?
Hey, for real, don't puke in my car. I got a date later.
You're riding the brake.
- Stop doing that. - You ever driven in L.A.?
If you don't ride the brake, you might die.
Oh, my God.
Hey, do I need to pull over?
No, just drive.
- Can you turn that down? - You don't like my music?
I have an audition later, it helps gets me in the headspace.
I have a phone call.
Got it.
- Did you get them yet? - Uh, no, almost there.
You tell Bear he is grounded for a year.
- I will. - He can do whatever he wants
when he gets out of my house, but until then,
he will obey my rules.
All right, Rita, I got to go. I'm getting carsick.
Brethren, sistren,
do not fret.
You'll always have a home in my manger.
Surprisingly, it was comfortable.
Ah, it's anointed, my son.
Man, I can't spend another night in a manger.
- Aww. - For real.
There she is.
Ew.
Oh, they must've drugged her.
Auntie.
Fuck, they got her, man.
Ride the wave.
Auntie, you okay?
See, kids,
this is why we don't do drugs.
You never know what's in them.
I'm not on drugs. His driving made me sick.
Ah, L.A. drivers. Mm.
Who are you?
- Who is this? - Our friend.
- White Jesus. - A street person.
At thou service.
- You kids okay? - At thou service.
What the hell are you doing in L.A.?
We just came to...
We came to say goodbye to Daniel.
It was his wish was to come
- to California. - Then we got jacked.
So you just leave without telling anyone?
I told my grandma.
I'm excited to go home.
I've never flown before.
Yeah, we flying in the sky.
I'm-a order all the peanuts and all the pretzels.
Gonna stash some, take some home.
- Peanuts? - Mm-hmm.
Airplane? Fuck, we're not flying.
You know how much that'll be for all those tickets?
Well, what, then, we renting a car?
No. Bus.
Yes.
The best way to travel.
You really get to see so-called America like that.
Why are you here?
I am merely a guide for the young ones.
Guiding them to safety.
Speaking of which, can I have a couple of bucks?
Let's go.
White Jesus, man,
don't make me cry.
- Cry not. - I hate goodbyes.
Fear not, young one.
Ah, Beartholemu,
remember to lead with your heart.
Elora Danan.
Drink it in. Yes.
You'll be an adult soon.
Here you go. Here.
Blessings.
Thanks for watching out for them.
I will eat two hot dogs in your honor today.
And in honor of your journey.
- Thank you, White Jesus. - Bye, White Jesus.
- Later. - Travel well. - Get me to a shower.
- He was nice. - Yeah, he was a nice guy.
- Ugh. Take us home. - It's cool.
We should write a book about him.
Ooh. Hookah.
Oh. Oh, hey, there.
Hey, I know, I know, I know, I threw a lot at you
in that first three minutes, right?
Yeah. But you have to trust me.
I'm an Indigenous storyteller, to the bone.
I'm like a, I'm like a Greek chorus,
but with a loincloth. Yeah.
But back to our young ones.
The little rez rats. Where are they now?
Taking that long journey home, that long road east.
In that sacred way, leaving behind some of their pains.
But maybe carrying some difficulties with them
into the future.
Bro. I want that.
Okay.
I didn't know you could draw like that.
Well, I've been practicing, um...
My grandma goes to bed around 8:00,
so a lot of time...
Fuck, you're deadly.
Do you ever think about Bear and Elora leaving?
What you mean?
Well, I mean, I think about all of you leaving.
I mean, I'm younger than everyone and...
Plus, Grandma won't be around forever.
Fuck it, I'm not going anywhere.
Yeah, L.A. was cool, but...
...it just made me appreciate home more.
You think Bear and Elora will go?
Yeah.
Probably.
I won't leave you in the dust.
Ladies and gentlemen,
this is the Amarillo station.
If you're going to Dallas, stay on the bus.
Everyone else, exit for your transfer, please.
How long till our next bus?
In, like, an hour?
Oh, check it out. Snacks.
- Let's go. - Get me a water.
Do you want anything, Bear?
Just get me, like, a granola bar or something.
Cheap. Let's go, bro.
Time to hunt for the village.
You know, I think in this case, we're just gatherers.
Excuse me. Uh, um,
y'all want some free donuts?
There's this place across the street throws them out at night,
but they're still pretty good.
Yeah, no, thank you.
Totally free.
Cool, cool, cool. No worries.
I, for real, almost took one.
Stupid.
You good?
Yeah. Just tired.
So why are you so sad panties, then?
- Your dad? - No.
I mean, yeah, I...
I don't know, man.
I just had to do it.
You know? And...
it felt good, it felt right, but...
but what now?
I mean, Daniel's still not here.
I think we're meant to live how he would've wanted to live.
Yeah.
Hey. Yeah, I-I know.
Yeah, I told you I was sick. I...
It's pretty bad.
We got the goods.
- Mvto. - Ooh. Oh. Thank you.
- I'm gonna go hit the O. - All right.
Yes.
Cheese.
- What? - It was free.
Carry on.
Oh. Fuck.
Attention.
Bus 1491 to Tulsa
is departing in 15 minutes.
I'll find Teenie.
- All right. - Thank you.
Where's mine? Fuck.
Sorry.
- Here. - Mvto.
Everything good?
Yeah.
Just, uh...
probably lost my job.
Shit. For real?
Yeah.
Sorry.
It's okay.
Just feel like it was time to move on.
It is the longest I've had one job for, though.
Almost eight years.
What do you do?
I work at a company out of Phoenix
that makes all those pamphlets
all over the IHS, you know, "Diabetes is not our way,"
or "Keep the circle sacred, get tested for syphilis."
- Hmm. - Oh, it's not that bad.
I like my life in Phoenix.
I do miss home, though.
- Aho! Hoka. Hoka. - Ugh...
Gosh, man, can you close that?
Huh?
Oh, sorry.
I can't. Spirit fingers.
Yeah, they go right through the door.
Hey, did you know, back in the day,
we used to hold it for each other when we peed?
What? Oh... What?
Hey, you shouldn't get on that bus.
Why? Wait...
What do you mean? Like, something bad's gonna happen?
Oh, no. No, no, no. Nothing like that.
What I mean is that you shouldn't get on that bus.
Yeah.
Your path leads elsewhere, young buck.
What are you talking about, man?
Uh, fuck that. I-I don't even know why you're here, bro.
I did everything you asked.
I-I got a job, I went to the ocean.
Isn't that enough? Like...
Ugh.
It's, uh, it's, uh, um,
- it's, uh, it-it's a play. - Hmm.
Yeah. I'm just, I'm just, uh, studying lines for a play.
Fuck, uh, fuck, uh, Shakespeare.
- Ah. All the world's a stage, huh? - Right.
I'm gonna go back to the audience now.
Have at it, Brando.
Yeah.
Look at that. Got me looking crazy.
I'll tell you a secret, Elora.
Adults are fucked up.
More fucked up than you youngins.
Doubt it.
Well, think about yourself when you were 11.
What were you doing?
I was running around with Bear and Daniel,
kicking their ass at football.
Getting in trouble by Grandma.
But, like, how did you feel? You remember your thoughts?
Felt kind of the same as it does now?
Exactly. It's the same.
I feel the same as I did when I was your age.
There's no miraculous change.
You're the same person you were when you first opened your eyes.
Except, when you're an adult, you have baggage,
and the baggage gets heavier.
And that's what changes people.
So you got to deal with your shit,
get rid of it or you just keep carrying it.
And some kids have more baggage than others.
We can't imagine what it's like.
Daniel, your mom.
You never know what they were carrying.
Oi. The bus is about to leave.
Oh, shit.
Wait, where... where's Bear and Cheese?
Oh, fuck.
Oh, they're right there.
His mom would kill me.
- You got your tickets? - Yeah.
- I think. - Yeah.
Okay.
Look, I kn.
It's fucked up, right?
Two valuable, sacred spiritual lessons
to learn in this right now.
One is always use a buddy system when you're traveling the world.
It really protects our relatives in a good, sacred way.
And two...
Fuck, I forgot whatever two was.
Well, anyways, let's get back to the story, okay?
They're on the bus now, going that way.
And our young warrior Bear, well...
...you'll see the journey he's on.
Hoka.
Oh, no.
No. Come on, man.
Oh. Uh...
Fuck!
Fuck, man.
- Now, let me get this straight. - Okay. Yep.
You were busy practicing a play in the bathroom...
- Mm-hmm. - ...you missed your bus...
- Mm-hmm. - ...and now you want me
to ask them to turn the bus around?
- Exactly. Yes. - Hey. It's true.
- I heard him. - Mm, okay.
Well, that's not gonna happen.
You would have to purchase a new ticket
for the next bus, which...
leaves tomorrow.
Fuck. I-I don't have any money, though.
- Is that, like, we could... - Next.
Really? Like, are we... Man.
Fuck.
Fuck, man.
You know dachshunds aren't indigenous
to the Americas?
I said, "He would know."
Fuck off, man, you made me miss my bus.
Ah, you know, when I was young, my mom, she told me,
"Take your time.
"Don't live too fast."
I ain't got time for your stories right now.
Remember, there's a Creator always up above.
You have a greater purpose, Bear.
Now, I know I told you you got to handle your shit,
and you've been doing a really good job, Nephew/Grandson.
But this time between us? It ain't over.
What you did at your dad's, that was a big step for you.
The path to healing for a man
is often found in the opportunities to help others.
And here's your chance to take such a journey there,
Grandson/Nephew.
Oh, man, I-I don't have nowhere to go, dude.
- Uh... - Exactly.
You have nowhere to go but somewhere.
Oh, gosh, man.
Knowledge bomb drop. Hoka, hoka, ha.
Uh, anyways, I think you should start walking that way.
Yeah.
Go on.
That way.
Boy, don't you worry, you'll find yourself.
Follow your heart and nothing else.
Fuck off.
You want some?
Uh, thanks.
These aren't, like, laced
with marijuana oil or anything, are they?
Nah, little man. These are straight.
Cool.
Thanks.
Hey, uh, you Native?
Hell yeah!
Man, I'm Comanche and Ponca.
Weebelhai, whoop, whoop.
Nomono, whoop, whoop.
These your homies?
Yeah.
More like relatives.
Is that them in the pictures you're drawing?
Yeah. There's my grandma.
- And there's me on horseback. - Uh-huh.
Although I've never ridden a horse before.
And this is trebuchet.
One time I got robbed at gunpoint,
and I called the police.
Didn't matter.
They came down and they arrested me for some shit I did,
like, ten years ago I totally forgot about.
I...
I-I'm not sure how that's connected, but...
It's all connected.
Whoop, whoop.
Hey, you can crash at my place if you want to.
There's lots of room.
Okay. I mean, I-I...
I might have to head right back, but we'll see.
You know you look just like her.
Yeah, I heard.
But sometimes you do those facial gestures,
just reminds me of your dad.
My dad?
Yes, your dad.
What, you thought you grew inside your mom like baby Jesus?
Obviously, I know I have a dad, but...
I thought maybe he was the one driving the bike.
I swear, that's why I love being gone from Okern,
no one talks about shit.
How do you go your whole life and not ask about your dad?
I did, but my Grandma Mabel wouldn't say shit.
She said she wouldn't speak about the dead.
I'm friends with him on Facebook.
What? For real?
I mean, he's around, if you wanted to meet him.
You know, you could...
reach out, if you wanted.
What was he like?
White.
My dad's white?
You didn't know?
No, I mean, I...
like, I knew I was part white, but...
- he's full white? - Uh, yeah.
I mean, as far as I know.
He was always good to me.
I'm so done, man.
Um, I'm-I'm looking for Punkin.
Took off with his so-called manager on tour up in Oakland.
Piece of shit hasn't called once.
Sorry about that.
- Hey. - Hey.
Uh, sorry, I forgot to give him something.
Is it possible if I can leave it with you?
Do you have, like, a-a bag I can put it in?
Like, a piece of paper
- that I can write a note on? - Sure.
Bear, what are you doing?
Thanks. Turn around, please. Hold this.
I know. I know.
Cool. Listen, um...
sorry for wasting your time.
Thank you so much.
- Yep. - Hey, little man. How are you...
Sorry. Hope you have a nice...
White Jesus it is.
Piece of shit.
Hey!
The Rez Dog Bandits have returned!
You are so grounded.
Mvto.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
Honey, look at you. You didn't starve.
Gonna go to Rob and Cleo's.
Look at you.
Where's Bear?
What the fuck?
Are you fucking kidding me?
Where the fuck is Bear?
What the fuck, Teenie?
Ah, snap.
Man down.
Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org