The Abduction

'The Abduction is an episode from the second season of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. The two part episode first aired on April 4, 1994 and served as the CBS show's 40th and 41st installments. It was written by Josef Anderson and directed by Jerome R. London.

Plot

The episode begins as Dr. Mike leads some of General Custer's troops to the Indian reservation where Cloud Dancing and his family resides. Although the troops are supposed to merely be bringing supplies for the Indians, things quickly turn violent when the soldiers realize that the village is housing renegade dog soldiers (Native Americans who fought against the mistreatment of the army towards their people and sought to reclaim their land). Before the soldiers have a chance to strike, the dog soldiers kill them. Dr. Mike, shocked and appalled by what has happened, is blamed by the dog soldiers and many of the villagers for the incident, as she was supposed to bring the troops to the reservation the next day when the dog soldiers would have been evacuated. Though Dr. Mike feels the need to tell the army what has happened, she is convinced by Cloud Dancing and Sully to lie. She does exactly this when General Custer and his men ask her about the events that occurred. However, Mike begins to feel an increasing sense of guilt over the incident and her part in covering it up. After telling the secret to her friend Dorothy, Dr. Mike finally decides to tell the truth when approached again by General Custer. This revelation escalates to an all-out war between the Indians and Custer's men. The renegade soldiers begin to attack members of the town who venture out into the countryside. One of their victims include the Reverend, who angrily denounces the Indians and wishes that they be damned. The dog soldiers eventually invade the town and cause substantial damage to it, burning down buildings. After this, General Custer demands that all the townsfolk be sequestered in the town itself and not go into the surrounding countryside. Contrary to Sully's advice, Michaela ventures beyond the village to care for one of her patients, who is disabled and in danger of attack. Though Sully accompanies Michaela, they are attacked and Michaela is abducted by the soldiers who are still angry at her "betrayal." Sully takes brief refuge in town and informs the townsfolk and General Custer of Dr. Mike's abduction. After General Custer's troops decide it is too risky to look for Michaela, Sully takes it upon himself to rescue her.

Meanwhile, during all of the aforementioned events, Dr. Mike's adopted son Brian's birthday is nearing. After developing a bond with Hank's new horse, Brian decides he wants it. Hank abuses the horse, much to Brian's dismay, and the horse escapes. When Matthew and Brian find the horse, they hide it and try to heal it, lying to Hank about their possession of the horse. After Colleen examines the horse's injuries, she convinces Brian to take the horse to Robert E. so he can help treat it. Matthew convinces Hank to enter into a contract with Brian where he can earn the horse by doing chores in Hank's saloon. Brian's bond with the horse helps him through the trauma of his mother's abduction, and he continues working to earn her despite everything. When the horse finally heals, Hank betrays his agreement with Brian and sells the horse so he can make a profit. Feeling sympathetic, Loren tries to blackmail Hank into honoring his contract with Brian.

Sully continues to pursue the dog soldiers in order to save Mike. After Dr. Mike helps save an injured renegade's life, Cloud Dancing's son (who, despite his father's objections, decides to become a renegade) lets Mike escape. He is killed by another Indian and Dr. Mike is soon captured again. After being aided by Indians, Sully locates the soldiers. Dr. Mike, sensing that Sully is near, tells the man that killed Cloud Dancing's son that she has to use the bathroom. He accompanies her, and when he tries to rape her, Sully attacks him. She and Sully flee and inevitably have to jump off a high cliff into a body of water to escape the soldiers. Before they take the plunge, not knowing whether they will live or die, they confess their love for each other. Surviving the escape, Mike and Sully trek back to the village.

Upon capturing Cloud Dancing's tribe, General Custer vows to hang them if Dr. Mike is not returned alive. He has the army begin constructing the gallows. Despite the objections and sympathies of the townsfolk (including Coleen, Brian and the Reverend, who admits that his denunciation of the Indians was premature), he continues with the hangings. However, before they can take place, Sully and Dr. Mike return, saving the lives of Cloud Dancing and his people.

After returning to their homestead, Dr. Mike and her family are celebrating Brian's birthday when Hank shows up. Swayed by Loren, he gives Brian the horse to honor their agreement.