Lawman

Based on True Events. 1875, Indian Territory: Bass Reeves, is the first African-American to be deputized by the U.S. Marshal service as a federal peace officer. Before his first mission his wife, Nellie Reeves, tries to persuade him not to leave for his own safety, but Bass argues that it’s the best job he can get to keep a roof over his family’s head. When Bass charges into the desert, he gets into a gunfight with two outlaws, killing one and arresting the other, Glen Huddleston, also African-American, whom he orders to carry the dead man’s body across the desert. Dragging a body through the territory slows their progress to the point where conversation between the two men becomes inevitable. Glen argues that they should just bury the body, but Bass wants to bring them both in for the money he’s owed for their bounties. They make camp for the night and during a fireside conversation realize that they have more in common than they might have realized. The next morning, Bass makes the decision to bury Glen’s cohort instead of bringing him in. While digging the grave, Glen takes advantage of a distracted Bass, hitting over the head with a rock, and steals his horse, riding off into the distance. When Bass comes to, he staggers to his rifle and though woozy from the blow to the head, takes aim at the figure of Glen riding off in the distance. The end of the film finds Bass back at home with his wife, clearly effected by the events of the day, finally realizing that this is more than just a job. That life, death and the higher concepts of justice and righteousness hang in the balance. The post titles explain that Bass Reeves continued to serve as a deputy U.S. Marshal for thirty two years, bringing over three thousand men to justice during that time.