CLOUD
DANCING
GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Cheyenne Medicine Man. (#0101)
Cures Dr. Mike of influenza in by placing her in a "medicine wheel"
and dosing her with purple coneflowers. (#0101)
Captured by Custer and beaten. Custer wants information abut the renegade
Dog Soldiers. Sully, dressed like an Indian, and Mike save Cloud Dancing
- they help him escape. They get away by pony on the West edge of
town. (#0103)
Cloud Dancing is grief-stricken and prays to the Cheyenne Gods for
answers when he accepts typhus-infected blankets from the Army for
the Cheyenne and many of them die. (#0206)
Helps the town (along with the other reservation Indians) when it's
afflicted by drought. He and the others do this by bringing tradition
Indian fare into town for the annual Thanksgiving dinner. (#0211)
Cloud Dancing's heart-broken when his son, Walks-on-Cloud, joins the
renegade Dog Soldiers. (#0219)
Cloud Dancing's almost hung; saved by Mike in the nick of time when
she returns to Colorado Springs -- Custer was planning to hang Cloud
Dancing and his village in retaliation for Mike's abduction. (#0220)
Cloud Dancing goes on a vision quest to address his grief about his
son, Walks-On-Cloud's death. (#0225)
Having made peace with his son's death, Cloud Dancing returns from
his vision quest. (#0301)
Cloud Dancing intervenes for Loren (at the bequest of Sully) when
Dog Soldiers, in retaliation for the desecration of their burial grounds
by a visiting paleontologist, take Loren Bray's deceased wife Maude's
bones. Eventually, an exchange of bones is made and Loren gets Maude
back. (#0306)
Brian asks Cloud Dancing to help he, Matthew and Colleen make a surprise
Thanksgiving supper for Mike and Sully, who're away in Denver, and
he agrees to help. Turns out, the dinner gets stretched to feed Kid
Cole and Sister Ruth, now married, as well -- Mike and Sully met them
in Denver and invited them home for the holiday. (#0313)
Cloud Dancing, enraged that bluecoats have killed Little Thunder,
a harmless old Indian man innocently hunting, joins the Dog Soldiers,
vowing, "Custer has already tried to kill me once. He will not have
another chance." (#0322)
Cloud Dancing's father passed his "medicine man" abilities onto Cloud
Dancing. (Cloud Dancing's fathers' history is detailed in script #0322,
pg. 47). Cloud Dancing's father died of whooping cough. (revealed
in #0322, pg. 48)
Cloud Dancing rejoins the Dog Soldiers at Washita. Cloud Dancing has
"seen his shadow," (usually a harbinger of death, though not always)
after Washita. (#0323)
Cloud Dancing tells Sully his father has appeared to him in a dream
and told him to teach Mike his medicine man secrets. Sully persuades
Mike to learn the ways of this Cheyenne Medicine Man. (This will be
a psyche healing factor for both Cloud Dancing and Mike.) (#0323)
Cloud Dancing goes away, at the end of episode #0323, taking the sole
survivor of the Washita massacre, the infant "Live In Hopes," with
him. Cloud Dancing intends to take the infant to a band of Cheyenne
in the north, who refuse to live on a reservation. "They hunt the
land you call the Yellowstone." He himself is not sure of his destination.
(#0323)
Custer puts a reward on Cloud Dancing's head; "$500.00 dollars, dead
or alive." (#0326/0327)
Cloud Dancing acts as Sully's best man (though he's almost thwarted
by Custer, who puts bounty on his head). (#0326/0327)
Sully cuts a deal for Cloud Dancing that, if he turns himself in to
live on the new Palmer Creek Reservation, the $500.00 bounty will
be taken off his head. When Cloud Dancing arrives at Palmer Creek,
he's saddened to learn that, for now, anyway, he's the lone Cheyenne
on the reservation, though he resolves to make the best of it. (#0401)
Cloud Dancing is accepted by the town of Colorado Springs, at least
momentarily, when he comes in as a last-minute replacement player
for the Colorado Springers (our townsfolk) against the visiting professional
team, the All-Stars. (#0402)
Cloud Dancing's "Thanksgiving Indian Ceremony Plans" at the reservation
are disturbed when he can't get to the General Store before Loren
leaves town for the holidays. (He wants to buy tobacco for the ceremonies.)
The reason he can't get there is because he stopped to minister to
a drunk, ungrateful Jake Slicker's bleeding forehead -- bleeding because
Jake stupidly thought Cloud Dancing, whom he met in the woods while
on a drunken binge, was trying to steal his horse. (He was not.) Fortunately,
Jake is decent enough to break into the General Store and bring the
tobacco out to Cloud Dancing, thereby allowing the ceremonies do go
on as planned. (#0411)
Cloud Dancing (with Sully's help) strikes a deal with Loren to sell
corn to Loren for 45 cents a bushel, though Loren is initially reluctant
to trust the Indians. (#0416)
The Reservation's new school causes much distress to Cloud Dancing,
who feels he's watching his people die again (spirtually) as the well-meaning
but misguided Reverend teaches Christianity and other white man's
ways to his reservation's children. Eventually, the problem is solved
when Mike and Sully introduce the idea of multi-culturalism (a mutual
exchange of ideas/philosophies, etc.) to the classroom. Not only will
the Reverend (who teaches at the school) learn some Indian ways, the
cross-polination of ideas will help the Indians themselves, since
they've all been rounded up from different tribes, regions, etc.,
and are divided themselves. (#0421)
Cloud Dancing is stabbed by a new-to-the-reservation Pawnee named
Two Spears. Cloud Dancing is severly wounded, but Sully gives him
a blood transfusion, and Cloud Dancing lives. Cloud Dancing is disappointed
in Sully when Sully sends Two Spears to another reservation -- he'd
counseled understanding for Two Spears, but Sully, in a dilemma because
he'd wanted to trust Two Spears and Two Spears got into another fight,
made the decision to send Two Spears away. (#0424)
(This goes under "Cloud Dancing"/"Catalyst" and "Sully"): When Plenty
Horses accidentally shoots young Private Reilly in a reservation scuffle,
(Reilly's gun goes off as the two men struggle for it and he dies
of gunshot wounds, even when Mike operates to remove the bullet) no
one owns up to the crime and tensions mount. Before violence can escalate
against the Indians, however, Cloud Dancing steps forward to take
the blame, especially since the overzealous commander, Sergeant O'Conner,
is doing little to defuse existing tensions. Sully and Mike, knowing
their friend Cloud Dancing as they do, are puzzled that Cloud Dancing
won't come clean re: who really killed Private Reilly and what really
happened, but Cloud Dancing has an ulterior motive behind his confession
-- that is, he wants to unify his people by showing them through his
actions that they should all act as people -- brothers -- whether
they are Pawnee, Arapahoe or Cheyenne. Cloud Dancing's noble sacrifice
does instill a sense of unity between the Indians, and after Sully
cleverly defends Cloud Dancing (see "Byron Sully: General Biographical
Information #0426") we see the Indians Elders altogether, welcoming
Cloud Dancing to the reservation after he's been released. (#0426)
Cloud Dancing has a pow-wow with several reservation chiefs which
results in him asking Sully to help the Indians sell Pawnee necklaces
at the train Depot. In same episode, the overzealous Army commander
at the Reservation, Sergeant Bryan O'Conner, wires General Wooden
that he wants the Indians separated. Sully, the Indian Agent, takes
steps to invervene, but not before Cloud Dancing has been taken away
in handcuffs with some Arapahoe... However, it is Cloud Dancing who
comes, under cover of darkness, to lead Mike to Sully, who's been
injured in the Indians' escape from Sergeant O'Conner which Sully
helped engineer and in which he is injured. (#0427)
Cloud Dancing is apprehended by the Army when he leads Mike to the
injured Sully. At end of episode, we learn that Cloud Dancing has
definitely been moved to a different reservation; we also learn that
Sully has been fired as Indian Agent. (#0428)
MEDICAL:
"Ran into a rifle-butt" (actually beaten by Custer's men) and dislocated
his shoulder. (#0103)
Rope burns around his neck when Custer almost hangs him? (#0220)
Cloud Dancing is shot in the arm when two men, seeking the $500.00
bounty Custer placed on his head, hunt him down. (Sully rescues Cloud
Dancing, and Mike treats him.) (#0401)
Cloud Dancing is stabbed between the ribs by Two Spears; an angry
Pawnee Indian new to the reservation; Sully gives Cloud Dancing a
blood transfusion which saves his life. (#0424)
SNOW
BIRD
GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Cloud Dancing's wife. Gives Dr. Mike her horse, "Flash in the Sky,"
aka "Flash." A fast little pinto mare, Flash wins the Colorado Sweepstakes
in which Mike, dressed as a man, rides her. (#0201)
Snow Bird freaks out when she thinks Cloud Dancing's going to take
another bride. She refuses to be a "second wife", even at the risk
of being shunned by the tribe, and moves into her own teepee. Fortunately,
another groom, White Crow, is found for Grey Eyes, Cloud Dancing's
dead brother's widow and the maiden in question, and Cloud Dancing's
and Snow Bird's marriage is saved. (#0203)
Snow Bird is killed on banks of Washita. (#0323)
Snow Bird presents Mike with an Indian "good-luck" house-warming charm
made of feathers and quills. (#0322)
MEDICAL HISTORY:
Snow Bird becomes pregnant but loses the baby to miscarriage due to
malnutrition. (#0307)
Snow Bird is killed on banks of Washita. (#0323)
BLACK KETTLE
GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
High-cheeked Indian, wearing chief's feathers woven through black
braids. (Pilot)
Thinks Dr. Mike is crazy white woman, since only men doctors among
the whites. (Pilot)
Army is negotiating with Indians for land north of Sand Creek. (Pilot)
Gives Dr. Mike her Cheyenne name - "Medicine Woman" after she removes
a bullet from his neck, performing a tracheotomy. (Pilot)
Lincoln gave him an American flag. Cloud Dancing thinks the president
is his friend. Black Kettle mediates/officiates when Jake's fate hangs
in the balance. (Jake accidentally shot an Indian, Little Eagle, in
ep. #0205.) The truth is sorted out and he eventually makes restitution
to Little Eagle surviving family). (#0205)
Black Kettle trusts the Army; accepts blankets infected with typhus;
lives to regret the decision. (#0206)
Black Kettle dies on bank of the Washita river, killed by Cavalry
Soldiers in a mass Indian execution. (#0323)
Before the Washita Massacre, Black Kettle tells Mike and Sully, "I
live in hopes;" as such, Mike and Sully name the Indian baby they
find at the slaughter "Live In Hopes" in honor of Black Kettle. (#0322/23)
We learn that Black Kettle's wife's name is "Medicine Woman Later,"
implying that the name "Medicine Woman" given to Mike is a very special
name indeed. Unfortunately, Medicine Woman Later meets her maker at
the Washita, along with Black Kettle and the rest of the tribe. (#322/23)
MEDICAL:
Sand Creek Massacre - Colonel Chivington responsible. He is shot -
bullet lodged in neck - Mike saves him. (Pilot)
Black Kettle dies on bank of the Washita river, killed by Cavalry
Soldiers in a mass Indian execution. (#0323)
WALKS ON CLOUD
GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Snow Bird's and Cloud Dancing's son. It is established that he has
a fiance. (#0113)
Walks on Cloud's fianceé, Little Moon, dies when she becomes
infected with typhus from blankets with which the Army "gifted" the
Indians. (#0206)
Walks On Cloud, frustrated with the treatment of his people, joins
the renegade Dog Soldiers against his father Cloud Dancing's wishes.
Later, he's killed by them for helping Mike escape when she's been
abducted by them. (#0219/0220)
MEDICAL HISTORY:
Walks On Cloud dies at hands of hostile Dog Soldier "One Eye" for
helping Mike escape. (#0220)
INGRID
GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Lovely Swedish girl with whom Matthew's smitten.
Father dies in epidemic. (#0101)
Lives in immigrant camp/shantytown. Hurdy-Gurdy dancer. Upset when
no one dances with her on the opening night of the Hurdy-Gurdy - runs
off crying, until Matthew confesses he bought all her tickets but
he can't dance. (#0103)
Ingrid and Matthew engaged; Matthew gives Ingrid Mike's engagement
ring (she was engaged to David). (#0112)
Sister Ruth, a faith healer, treats Ingrid for her asthma, much to
Mike's dismay, as she has a relapse. (#0202)
Ingrid runs a laundry. Mike's one of her customers. Ingrid breaks
up with Matthew when he becomes a gambler. (#0217)
Catches Myra's wedding bouquet. (#0226)
Ingrid agrees to marry Matthew quickly (neither she nor he want to
die virgins) when she thinks a meteor is going to end the world. Fortunately,
the Reverend refuses to perform the ceremony. (#0316)
Ingrid is cast as Lady Montague in Dorothy's production of "Romeo
and Juliet." She gives Matthew some red boots to wear for his role
as Romeo. He first refuses, then agrees to wear them. (#0320)
Ingrid makes a big mistake when she goes behind Matthew's back to
accept a loan from Preston, the new banker, in order to enlarge the
homestead. (#0401)
Ingrid's bitten by Pup, who has rabies, and dies. (#0404)
Ingrid had one brother, JON, and two little sisters, BECKA and ANNA,
who appear for the last time. (#0404)
MEDICAL:
Ingrid suffers from malnutrition; Mike diagnoses when Matthew brings
her home for supper. (#0105)
Ingrid is treated by Mike and Colleen for asthma. (#0112)
Ingrid has a relapse of her asthma when she stops taking Mike's medicine;
preferring Sister Ruth's brand of faith-healing instead. (#0202)
Ingrid's little sister comes down with typhus when Matthew gives her
a blanket which the Army intended for the Indians. (#0206)
Ingrid is bitten by Brian's wolf, Pup, who has rabies, and dies. (#0404)
JON
GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Ingrid's older brother. He's arrested and almost hung when he steals
(with Matthew) a steer to feed his family. (#0107)
Jon gets trapped in the mine with Matthew during the cave-in, but
he's rescued before Matthew is. (#0212)
Jon makes his last appearance is when his sister Ingrid dies of rabies.
Jon's little sisters ANNA and BECKA make their first and last appearances.
(#0404)
Mention is made of Jon when Matthew tells Sully that he's given
his cattle to him in the aftermath of Ingrid's death. Jon takes
the cattle and goes with the rest of his family to Montana.
(#0405)
