TRAIL OF TEARS
Episode 6-20 [124]
29 April 1991
A land dispute pits Barry Whitecloud, a Native American advocate willing to use explosive measures, against New Plains Electric representatives willing to kill. Bitter Flats is judged not part of Indian land, but the map was drawn incorrectly in 1904, showing the stream, the dividing line, misplaced. Johnson, head of N.P.E., knows this and is worried that the truth will come out. Whitecloud sets explosives at the construction site and pulls MacGyver away from the building just in time. Gunshots pepper the ground, and he tells MacGyver that Johnson's security followed him to the site. The two flee into the woods, taking shelter at Crow's cabin. Crow is murdered, and MacGyver is later shot and runs from the cabin into the woods. He collapses and has a vision that he is cared for by Standing Wolf, who shows him the waters and a glowing child lying in the stream. He recovers somewhat and returns to tell Whitecloud that the map was drawn in error. Whitecloud still plans another explosion, however, weary of waiting for justice. A young Indian schoolboy touring the construction site with his classmates stops Whitecloud from killing Johnson, and MacGyver uses a quill to defuse the bomb in time. Whitecloud's anger melts away, and he becomes attuned to the peace and harmony of nature.
Whitecloud: I'm going to participate in my first sundance this year. Outsiders are sometimes allowed to dance.
MacGyver: Well, I don't think I'm up to that yet.
Whitecloud: It's a good way to touch the spirit world.
