May 1926
After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, five friends headed to the north coast to celebrate. They would not return. Mendocino.
When California was explored by the Americans and Europeans, they left behind destruction and blood.
The native populations were eliminated.
In one region of California, the natives fought back successfully and came to an understanding with the Californians.
The Americans were not to hunt ot use the land within the region of Big River, or the truce would be nullified, and the war would continue.
Mendocino.
Big River (the Mendocino War).
on the hill films presents… [black]
[sound of boots in & out of water]
When California was explored by pioneers in the 19th century, the Americans left behind destruction and blood.
[black / water sound]
The native populations were effectively eliminated.
[black / water sound]
In one region of California however, the native tribe successfully fought back.
[ black / water sound]
The tribe reached and agreement with the pioneers.
[black / water sound]
If Californians trespassed along the Big River, the treaty wold be nullified, and the war would continue.
[black / water sound]
In May 1926, five friends graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and went to celebrate along the north coast.
[black / water sound]
They would not return.
[black / water sound]
[Camera peels back to show a man walking thigh-high in a river, he has a fishing pole. There is a valley of trees on both sides of the river. a shot is fired, the man is hit on the shoulder, falls into the water.]
[From behind, the entrance of the water is deafening. When he comes up the noise of chaos, friends hollering, birds flying, animals scurrying.]
[The man gets shot again, in the upper chest, he falls back into the water. From behind, the fall into the water is deafening, no sound. When man comes up for air, the sound of chaos, water splashing, men yelling, animals.]
[The man gets shot again in the throat, when he falls in the water, silence deafening, blood, the screengoes black.]
Mendocino. –> credits
New Scene.
Cala (?), river, immediate gunshot, view from other angle, a friend’s point of view, He looks for shooter, high in the hills overlooking river, then he takes off running. Through the woods, pushing away branches, jumping over logs. He is running towards the campground, to get his gun. The sound of two more gunshots, his friends screaming and yelling. He is running for his life.
Cut back to scene in the river, another friend grabs his shotgun, was on the shore, on a rock, looks up towards hill, where shooter apparently is, man killed in background, other friends frantic, blood in the river, friends do not know to help or get out.
The friend picks up his gun, starts shooting return fire. Two shots.
—
Cut back to man in woods running, he gets to the campsite, can see it from above on overhead shot, then stops suddenly. The look of freight in his eyes/face, death is upon him.
A quick flash of an image, an image of a native, filled with revenge, painted, adorned, ready to kill, knife in hand. The sound of knife thrown, the face of friend, he gets killed. Silence.
Cut back to river scene, man shooting gun – twice more, the other two friends go ashore, looking for items, the attack seems to be over, they don’t know it. The friend with the shotgun comes ashore, they make their way to camp. End of scene.