Maggie Tilton
Encyclopedia
Maggie Tilton is a fictional character appearing in two books in the Lonesome Dove series
. She is a prostitute and the lover of Captain Woodrow F. Call
, a Texas Ranger, and is also the mother of his son, Newt Dobbs.
She appears only briefly in the last two books published, and the first two chronologically, Dead Man's Walk
and Comanche Moon
.
, and they begin a relationship. To Call, it is nothing more than a business relationship: she is a whore, he is her customer, and he insists on always paying her. She begins to have feelings for him, hoping that he would reciprocate, but he never even seemed to acknowledge her feelings. He soon leaves to take part in the Texas Santa Fe Expedition
, and when he returns, they resume their relationship.
Maggie is played in the film by Gretchen Mol
.
and Joshua Deets
being led by Captain Inish Scull into the Llano Estacado
in pursuit of the Comanches Buffalo Hump
, Blue Duck
and Kicking Wolf. Kicking Wolf picks up their trail, and decides to steal Scull's horse, Hector, and give him to the Mexican bandit
Ahumado. When Scull discovers that Hector has been stolen, he abandons the Rangers under his command, taking Famous Shoes
as his guide to find Hector. On the spot, he promotes Call and McCrae to Captains, and orders them to return the troop to Austin. In Woodrow's absence, she is sometimes an unwitting customer of Jake Spoon
.
In Austin, Maggie tells Woodrow that she is expecting his child. Call continues to stay with her, and give her money to take care of herself, but will not acknowledge that he is the father. He is soon ordered by Governor Elisha M. Pease
to retrieve Scull. While Call and McCrae are in pursuit of Scull, the rest of the Comanche tribe, led by Buffalo Hump and Blue Duck, launch a raid on Austin. Maggie, remembering what Call told her, hides under a building, and is not attacked by the Indians. Word reaches the Rangers of the Raid, and they abandon their search for Scull to return to Austin. She and Call are briefly reunited then, but soon he has to leave again, this time to round up a herd of cattle from a Captain King in Lonesome Dove
.
When she gives birth to her son, Newt, Call will not acknowledge the child is his, as she has hoped. He insists on believing that Jake could be the father. After she dies, Call and Gus raise Newt, but Call will still not admit he is the father.
In the film of Comanche Moon, Maggie is played by Elizabeth Banks
.
It is interesting to note that while Call does - at some points in both novels - address her as Maggie, Gus accuses him in Lonesome Dove
of never addressing her by name.
Lonesome Dove series
The Lonesome Dove series refers to a series of four western novels written by Larry McMurtry and the four television mini-series based upon them.-Novels:# Lonesome Dove # Streets of Laredo # Dead Man's Walk...
. She is a prostitute and the lover of Captain Woodrow F. Call
Woodrow F. Call
Woodrow F. Call is a fictional, Scottish-born Texas Ranger who appears in all four books of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series. Much of the books revolve around his relationship with his Ranger partner Augustus McCrae...
, a Texas Ranger, and is also the mother of his son, Newt Dobbs.
She appears only briefly in the last two books published, and the first two chronologically, Dead Man's Walk
Dead Man's Walk
Dead Man's Walk is a 1995 novel by Larry McMurtry. It is the third book published in the Lonesome Dove series, but the first installment in terms of chronology. McMurtry wrote a fourth segment to the Lonesome Dove chronicle, Comanche Moon, which describes the events of the central characters' lives...
and Comanche Moon
Comanche Moon
Comanche Moon is a 1997 western novel by Larry McMurtry. It is the fourth and final book published in the Lonesome Dove series, but the second installment in terms the chronology of the narrative.-Plot introduction:...
.
Dead Man's Walk
Maggie makes her first appearance as a whore working in Austin, where she meets returning Texas Ranger Woodrow F. CallWoodrow F. Call
Woodrow F. Call is a fictional, Scottish-born Texas Ranger who appears in all four books of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series. Much of the books revolve around his relationship with his Ranger partner Augustus McCrae...
, and they begin a relationship. To Call, it is nothing more than a business relationship: she is a whore, he is her customer, and he insists on always paying her. She begins to have feelings for him, hoping that he would reciprocate, but he never even seemed to acknowledge her feelings. He soon leaves to take part in the Texas Santa Fe Expedition
Texas Santa Fe Expedition
The Texas Santa Fe Expedition was a commercial and military expedition to secure the Republic of Texas's claims to parts of Northern New Mexico for Texas in 1841. The expedition was unofficially initiated by the then President of Texas, Mirabeau B. Lamar, in an attempt to gain control over the...
, and when he returns, they resume their relationship.
Maggie is played in the film by Gretchen Mol
Gretchen Mol
Gretchen Mol is an American actress and former model. She is known for her roles in films like Rounders, Celebrity, 3:10 to Yuma, The Thirteenth Floor,and The Notorious Bettie Page, where she played the title character...
.
Comanche Moon
She and Woodrow continue their relationship for the next ten years, with Woodrow always returning to Maggie after a mission with the Rangers. This book begins with Woodrow, Gus McCrae, Pea Eye ParkerPea Eye Parker
Pea Eye Parker is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in three books in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series.-Comanche Moon:Pea Eye is played by Troy Baker in the film version of Comanche Moon. In this volume, he, Gus McCrae, Woodrow F...
and Joshua Deets
Joshua Deets
Joshua Deets is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in two novels in the Lonesome Dove series by Larry McMurtry. In the films, he is played by Keith Robinson and Danny Glover.- Comanche Moon :...
being led by Captain Inish Scull into the Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado
Llano Estacado , commonly known as the Staked Plains, is a region in the Southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas, including the South Plains and parts of the Texas Panhandle...
in pursuit of the Comanches Buffalo Hump
Buffalo Hump (Lonesome Dove series)
Buffalo Hump is a Comanche Indian who appears in two books in the Lonesome Dove series. His son, Blue Duck is also a major character.The character Buffalo Hump was likely inspired by the historic Comanche war chief of that name.-Dead Man's Walk:...
, Blue Duck
Blue Duck (Lonesome Dove series)
Blue Duck is a fictional character, a biracial Indian appearing in two books in the Lonesome Dove series. He is the son of Buffalo Hump and a kidnapped Mexican woman. The fictionalized character of Blue Duck was partially based on the life and death of the Kiowa war chief Satanta...
and Kicking Wolf. Kicking Wolf picks up their trail, and decides to steal Scull's horse, Hector, and give him to the Mexican bandit
Ahumado. When Scull discovers that Hector has been stolen, he abandons the Rangers under his command, taking Famous Shoes
Famous Shoes
Famous Shoes is a fictional Kickapoo tracker who appears in two books in the Lonesome Dove series.-Comanche Moon:Famous Shoes makes his second appearance in the series, though his first chronologically, in this book. In the film, he is played by David Midthunder...
as his guide to find Hector. On the spot, he promotes Call and McCrae to Captains, and orders them to return the troop to Austin. In Woodrow's absence, she is sometimes an unwitting customer of Jake Spoon
Jake Spoon
Jake Spoon is a fictional Texas Ranger appearing in two books of the Lonesome Dove series.-Comanche Moon:Jake's first chronological appearance in the books is in Comanche Moon, which was actually the last book published. Though Jake is a member of the Rangers as the book begins, he is not on the...
.
In Austin, Maggie tells Woodrow that she is expecting his child. Call continues to stay with her, and give her money to take care of herself, but will not acknowledge that he is the father. He is soon ordered by Governor Elisha M. Pease
Elisha M. Pease
Elisha Marshall Pease was a U.S. politician from the 1830s through the 1870s. He served as the fifth and 13th Governor of Texas .A native of Enfield, Connecticut, Pease moved to Mexican Texas in 1835...
to retrieve Scull. While Call and McCrae are in pursuit of Scull, the rest of the Comanche tribe, led by Buffalo Hump and Blue Duck, launch a raid on Austin. Maggie, remembering what Call told her, hides under a building, and is not attacked by the Indians. Word reaches the Rangers of the Raid, and they abandon their search for Scull to return to Austin. She and Call are briefly reunited then, but soon he has to leave again, this time to round up a herd of cattle from a Captain King in Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove is a 1985 Pulitzer Prize–winning western novel written by Larry McMurtry. It is the first published book of the Lonesome Dove series, but the third installment in the series chronologically...
.
When she gives birth to her son, Newt, Call will not acknowledge the child is his, as she has hoped. He insists on believing that Jake could be the father. After she dies, Call and Gus raise Newt, but Call will still not admit he is the father.
In the film of Comanche Moon, Maggie is played by Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy...
.
It is interesting to note that while Call does - at some points in both novels - address her as Maggie, Gus accuses him in Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove is a 1985 Pulitzer Prize–winning western novel written by Larry McMurtry. It is the first published book of the Lonesome Dove series, but the third installment in the series chronologically...
of never addressing her by name.