Traded

The story of the

American frontier

is a tale of conquest

but also one of survival,

persistence and the

grit of the people.

It's 20 years after

a bloody Civil War.

Despite Abraham Lincoln's

Emancipation Proclamation,

slavery is alive and

well in the Wild West,

in the form of prostitution,

the world's oldest profession.

In Kansas and most of

the western territories,

women are bought, sold

and traded like property.

TRADED:

Come on Pa, show me how!

All right, all right,

now I'm gonna do this

one time, all right?

Now the idea is when

the tyin's bein' done,

you wanna flex your muscles.

Blow your chest

up like a rooster.

What's a rooster do?

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

That's right, now you see,

when the tyin's done,

you relax your muscles,

blow all the air

outta your chest...

And now look,

the rope gives ya

just enough room

so you can get yourself free.

Show me how Pa, show me how!

Maybe after supper.

And your studies.

The capital of

Kansas is Topeka,

and the President

of the United States

is Chester Alvin Arthur.

Chester Alan Arthur.

Chester Alan Arthur.

Can we ask him now, Ma?

Before the day's activities

sour his disposition?

What do you care about

some stupid old dance anyway?

You hush up!

Do my eyes deceive

me? Is that a...

Apple pie.

I picked, peeled and

sliced all the apples,

and then spiced

them with cinnamon.

Clay, Lily was

invited to a tie dance,

over at the Tigman Ranch.

You know apple

pie is my favorite.

Spiced with cinnamon.

The dance is the girls

wear a calico dress

and they bring a matching

tie for the boys to choose.

Now I am familiar

with the procedure

of a tie dance, young lady.

In fact, there was a time...

It wasn't so long ago,

as a matter of fact...

Flies in the buttermilk?

Yuck!

Well Pa, can I go?

I'm sorry Darlin'.

Maybe next year.

But Pa!

You know what this pie needs?

My teeth?

Some honey.

I'll fetch some.

Well last summer you let

me work at the Mercantile.

Nellie Wilcott is 16 and

she's been proposed to.

Darlin'...

Nellie Wilcott is not my

beautiful little girl.

It's just a tie dance Pa.

Besides, if I ever do find

a beau, once he meets you,

he'll be too scared to

ever call on me again.

Darlin', I'm sorry.

Now this matter is settled.

I wanna have my dinner in peace.

How long does it take that

boy to fetch some honey?

I'll get him.

They're gonna

come callin' Clay.

And we both know that extra

year is for you, not her.

Amelia you's the

one what told me

what your dancin' days led to.

I was dancin' at the

Broken Spoke Saloon,

not the Tigman's front parlor.

And I didn't have

two loving parents.

That's my little girl.

If I ain't gonna protect her,

who's gonna?

Ma! Pa!

Lily?

My god!

Jake?

Jake!

What happened?

Come here.

Watch out, watch out!

You can take

comfort, Mr. Travis,

in knowing that Jake is

in a much better place.

All due respect Reverend,

I'd rather have my boy

standing right here beside me.

I am sorry for your loss.

For the life of me,

I just can't remember

the sound of his voice.

I'd give anything to hear

his voice one more time.

He was my little boy.

He's an angel.

Blame me.

Just say it.

I'm the one who

asked for the honey.

Blame me.

-Amelia.

-Blame me!

Come on!

Blame me!

Blame me!

Blame me!

Blame me, blame me, blame me!

I need you to!

Please blame me!

Please?

We're nearly outta firewood.

I'll go chop some.

Mama.

I love you, it's gonna be okay.

Where are you off to?

Going to the lake.

I...

Need you to stay here and

help me with the canning.

But Ma, you never asked

me to help you before.

I thought you said

canning's the one job

you like to do all by yourself.

This time I want you helpin' me.

I done all my chores,

all my bookwork,

I was really lookin' forward

to going to the lake.

There's no tellin'

who's out there.

Last time I was out there,

it was just old man Hill.

That was nearly

a year ago and...

Just had to help

him bait his hook.

I also want your daddy

checkin' that boat for leaks.

But Ma, the boat is fine.

You're stayin' here and

helpin' me can these tomatoes!

Why are you bein' silly?

Don't you dare call me names.

Amelia.

Isn't that just like you?

Takin' her side.

Lily, Darlin',

I want you to stay here and

help your Mama with the canning.

Just for today, this one time.

Sweetie, I'm gonna go down

and check that boat for leaks.

Okay?

Be a good girl.

Don't be doin'

me any favors Clay.

Lily get up, you've

slept long enough!

Lily!

Lily!

Lily, your Mama

is callin' you.

Probably just in the

privy or the barn.

Not possible.

I was awake before dawn.

Lily's horse is missing, I'm

going over to Jane Thompson's.

Can't find Lily nowhere.

Took her horse and left in

the middle of the night.

Jane Thompson.

You tell Mrs. Travis what

her daughter confided in you.

Or that matchin' blue bonnet

goes right back to Abilene!

Woah.

She's gone to Newton to

catch a stage to Wichita.

She read an advertisement

about becoming a Harvey girl,

waitress like Jane's sister.

Thank you.

I'd like a ticket

to Wichita please.

Just one?

Yes sir.

That'll be 50 cents.

Visitin' family, are ya?

No, my family lives

'round these parts.

Employment?

Why yes,

I'm hopin' to get a

position as a Harvey girl.

I've heard a lot of

good things about that

outstandin' company.

Coach leaves in 10 minutes.

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