"This is John Jakes." "Before the Civil War... northerner George Hazard and southerner Orry Main... met as cadets at West Point." "They and their families became lifelong friends... but they made an enemy of the evil and sadistic Elkanah Bent." "Bent also came to hate Orry's young cousin..." "Charles Main, who served under him." "George married Constance Flynn... while Orry fell in love with and married Madeline Fabray." "The two families remained close until the Civil War divided them." "Fire!" "George and Orry fought on opposite sides, both rising to the rank of General... while secretly maintaining their friendship." "Maybe it's up to us... to start healing the wounds of this nation." "Charles Main served the Confederacy as a scout behind enemy lines." "Elkanah Bent spent the war... smuggling black-market food and arms into the South... while having an affair with Orry's cunning sister, Ashton." "She was jealous of her brother and hated his wife, Madeline." "Toward the war's end..." "Orry and Charles destroyed all of Bent and Ashton's evil plans... and Bent was killed." "Now the war is over... and Mont Royal has been burned to the ground by renegades." "Orry and Madeline have lost everything... and they're staying at a wealthy friend's home in Richmond... while trying to find food for the hungry all across the defeated South." "Now Ashton and Bent, alive through some bitter quirk of fate... come to seek Orry out..." "Stop, right here." "...each with a different plan in mind." "Look at what we have here." "My good old friend, Orry Main." "I've waited a long time for this." "Now you be careful." "Remember the plan, El." "I couldn't bargain money out of Orry, him being angry at me and all... but I'm sure that you could do such a nice job of it." "Don't you worry your pretty little feet about that." "It's going to be business, pure and simple." "Your brother wants to feed the South." "Since Yankee conquerors can't be bothered with such trivialities... I'm the man he has to deal with." "He thinks I have what he needs." "I will prevail." "I know where you're going to be and I will meet you there... however, I'd like to have a few words with Madeline first." "So you go on and do the best that you can." "That's just what I'm going to do." "Move!" "Ashton?" "Miss Ashton to you, Jane." "l'll get Madeline." "Uppity." "Far too uppity." "I could scarcely believe it when Jane told me." "Why, yes, of course." "Those Negroes do tell strange tales, don't they?" "What are you doing here?" "Laying claim, I believe they call it." "Mr. Main never did show me proper respect." "He ruined my reputation with lies and slander." "I'll see him in hell before I deal with him." "Mr." "Bent, Miss Ashton" "Shut your mouth!" "Stop." "Right here." "Get out of here." "Yes, sir." "Get out!" "Orry Main!" "Your life is over, Main." "I paid you back for your arrogance." "Now I'm going to take care of your good friend, George Hazard... and your precious cousin, Charlie Main." "Charlie ever tell you what he did to me down in Texas Way?" "And you crippled me... just like yourself." "You thought you burned me all up... but you just got a piece of me." "You want to see what you did to me?" "Here." "I intend to take back everything that you and Orry have taken from me." "We've done no such" "Your home... the land, Mont Royal, all of it back." "Ashton, you can't do that." "l can't?" "But of course I can, and I will." "And I will use your little secret as the key to it all." "I'll bring you both down so hard... you'll think the great horned God of Hades has descended upon you." "Ashton, please." "So, my dear Madeline, my advice to you is:" "Enjoy what you have while you still have it." "My Lord." "Don't tell me you're going to act the grieving sister now." "What in God's name have you done, you fool?" "I've righted a grievous wrong." "Where's the money?" "It was supposed to just be about the money." "Money?" "What the hell is money?" "I never intended to do business with your brother." "And he never would have dealt with me with his antiquated sense of honor." "And now he's dead." "What about me?" "You?" "I don't need you to do what I'm going to do." "I never needed you." "Lord." "George, you know dwelling on dark memories creates a darkened heart." "I guess Orry's death has brought back some memories too recent to bury." "I had to search for this." "That old half-dollar that you and Orry split so many years ago." "We each kept a half and pledged to mend it together someday." "And now that day will never come." "Darling, I know you miss him terribly." "I can't believe he's gone." "My God, Constance, he survived it all, the wars, the wounds." "Only to have some coward knife him dead." "Where's the sense in that?" "Poor Madeline and the baby must be suffering so." "Yes." "Things are so grim in the South right now... and she's all alone now." "I know." "Have you thought about going there?" "Yes, I have, but...." "l'm sure it would be a great comfort to her, George." "And perhaps it would help ease the pain that you're suffering." "The foundries and the ironworks do well under Mr. Ouinlan." "We're more than comfortable." "I don't know, Constance." "George, I know you." "I trust you and your love." "Go to Mont Royal." "Help ease the pain and suffering there." "Orry would've done the same for you." "St. Louis." "Next stop, two hours." "Porter, some help, please?" "May I be of assistance, ma'am?" "Charles Main." "Gallant." "Captain?" "Lieutenant?" "Private." "New to the cavalry." "Truly?" "I do not have a mind for uniforms... but your manner is most deceptively genteel." "I'm a southerner, ma'am." "Manners count a great deal down there." "lf you'll allow me...." "Yes." "You know Trump's playhouse?" "Yes." "Take the lady there." "Yes, sir." "If you please." "You're an actress?" "l am, indeed." "You know the theater?" "No. I've seen Edwin Booth." "That's about it." "You will hear of Willa Parker, and perhaps come to watch." "Driver." "Squad, on my command you'll mount and move into formation." "Squad, prepare to mount." "Squad, mount!" "Cpl. Main." "Squad, rest." "I see progress with the recruits, Corporal." "Not much, but progress." "Give these horses a rest before they get confused and go wild." "Yes, sir." "Right away." "Main." "Squad, dismissed!" "Major Shagrue, I know that corporal, Major." "He was at West Point, sir." "Graduates of the Point who fought for the South... should be excluded from the amnesty." "Perhaps, Captain." "But he's in my unit now, and Cpl. May" "His name is Main, sir." "Charles Main." "He was an underclassman at the Point." "I had to put him on report many times for actions bordering on insubordination." "As far as I'm concerned..." "Cpl. Charles May is one of the best damn horse trainers I've ever seen... including me, and I'm pretty good." "You leave him be, Captain." "Do I make myself clear?" "Yes, sir." ""Be the attorney of my love to her:" ""Plead what I will be, not what I have been" ""Not my deserts, but what I will deserve:"" "Damn!" ""Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?"" "And is this Elizabeth come to torment Richard?" "Yes. I'm Willa Parker, Mr. Trump." "Eddie Booth wrote to you on my behalf." "Booth?" "Yes." "Yes, I've heard of him." "He thinks he's great, but he's really quite second-rate." "His brother was quite a marksman, though, particularly at close range." "I've never heard of you, my dear." "l've played Portia and Beatrice" "Can you do arithmetic?" "Arithmetic?" "l don't need an actress." "I need someone to manage the books before I go bankrupt." "I also need someone to keep me sober till after the performances." "But I'm an actress." "Of course, and I'm sober as a church warden sometimes." "Mr. Booth told me that if I arrived" "Blast Mr. Booth." "He says you have talent, that you are bright and clever." "Then you can use me." "As I said before, I need a caretaker." "I'm the star." "I'm the person people pay money to see." "Take care of me, and I'll try to fit you into some rather minor roles in time." "No." "No." "What do you want, child?" "I will keep your books for you... and tuck you into bed when you fall into your cups." "But I want good roles." "By God, everyone thinks they can act." "Very well." "We'll give you a try." "Off." "I am not a servant." "I will, however, see you one hour before curtain... sober." "By God." "Madeline, somebody's coming." "Lord." "It's Cooper." "Your brother-in-law." "Welcome to the new Mont Royal, Cooper." "This is your nephew, Orry." "What brings you here?" "Passing by." "Thought I'd pay my respects." "And survey my home." "I do hold the mortgage, you know." "You look thirsty." "Come and have some water." "I'm returning from Columbia." "I had to sign a damnable loyalty oath to the Yankees." ""To the victor goes the honor and the spoils."" "A loyalty oath." "How can I be loyal to the people who destroyed all that I love?" "But you signed it." "I didn't have much choice." "But then, we all have to survive, don't we?" "You've been busy." "Clever." "We've worked the garden... and the vegetable crop has been very good to us." "And how do you plan to pay the Negroes?" "With shares from the harvest." "Have you lost your mind?" "Not in the least." "If Mont Royal is to thrive again, that is going to take new thinking." "For your sake, or little Orry's sake... I do hope this works." "But mark it well, you miss one payment on that mortgage, and you'll be out... lock, stock, and barrel, and on the road with your Negroes." "Orry wouldn't have wanted that." "That's why he gave you the paper regarding the land." "Orry is gone." "Believe me, I do hope you succeed." "I want that for the sake of the family." "I do hope you understand the depths of my sincerity, Madeline." "I never misdoubted it." "Good day, my dear, and good luck to you." "That man don't much like the change that's going on around here." "Change comes harder for some people, Jane." "One ticket." "Front row center, please." "Hello." "Private." "lt's corporal." "Excuse me." "Anything else?" "Dinner with you this evening after the show." "I'd love to." "Mr. Gettys." "The illustrious Mr. Main." "I've come apiece. I could use a drink." "Sir, you must have come by Mont Royal." "Your sister-in-law couldn't give you a drink?" "Water's one thing." "Sir, do step right in." "You know, there's some fancy doings up at Mont Royal." "Nothing fancy about a few fields of crops." "No, I'm talking about the school." "The Negro school." "Madeline Main been borrowing all over the country for lumber and hardware." "Yeah." "She's gonna educate her colored folk, so they can be as good as you and me." "Ain't that something?" "You can't be serious." "But I am." "There's word of it all over the country." "This is nice, isn't it?" "Yeah." "Now, those creatures, they have grand ideas, poor things." "It was the Yankees." "The Yankees made them believe that they could be... good as or better than us." "But then you and me, we know that never can be." "Of course, Miss Madeline Main would have other thoughts on the matter." "You ever heard of a word "kuklos "?" "It's a Greek word. lt means "circle."" "I heard of the Klan." "We have ourselves a branch right here." "You ought to come around once in a while." "We could use a man of breeding like yourself." "Not interested." "You might be, and right soon, Mr. Cooper Main." "The war may be lost... but the cause ain't." "Niggers and leaguers" "Get out of the way" "We're born of the night" "And vanish by day" "No nations have we" "But the flesh of a man" "And love niggers best" "The Ku Klux Klan ...but for the Bureau of Education... I never dreamed we'd be so blessed... to find a teacher this quickly, Miss Chaffee." "I must warn you, Mrs. Main, I was an abolitionist before the war." "Does that disturb you?" "Before the war, it might have." "It wouldn't disturb Jane in the least, then or now." "Would it, Jane?" "No." "Never would." "Now, don't go thinking Madeline Main is wrong-minded, either." "During the war, she spent herself... feeding, clothing, and sheltering hundreds of us." "Worked herself to the bone." "The men who are building it... they were once slaves at Mont Royal." "Now they have their own parcels of land, and they will share in the crops." "Isaac Kano supervises." "A fine man." "You'll be seeing him frequently if Jane has anything to say about it." "I shall require a platform for my table at that end." "And I want windows large as possible... so the students may enjoy the full use of good light." "Agreed?" "Agreed." "Then you accept?" "With enthusiasm." "You sent for me, missis?" "Yes, Isaac, I did." "Try this on." "No" "Please." "This belonged to my late husband, Isaac." "And now I want you to have it." "No, ma'am. l" "No, please." "You can wear it on your wedding day." "You're still planning on having a wedding, aren't you?" "We're not hopping over some broomstick like in the old days." "Yes, ma'am." "We're having us one fine wedding with a real preacher, and everything." "And we want you to be there with us, ma'am." "Isaac, will you stop calling me "ma'am" and "missis"?" "Those days are long gone." "Yes...." "Madeline." "You make me feel so fine and proud..." "Madeline." "We can't thank you nearly enough." "You don't have to." "You already have." "Good to see you." "Mrs. Main." "You are no longer welcome in this Christian house of worship." "Not anymore." "I beg your pardon, Reverend?" "Coloreds can't worship in God's house no more." "I'm talking about you, Mrs. Dark." "Excuse me?" "I seen the daguerreotype photograph of your grandma... and it may be long gone, but I seen it." "So have the others." "Cooper Main knows it, too, ain't that right, Cooper?" "Shut your mouth, Gettys." "Shut your damn mouth." "Boy, don't you go damning me on Sunday." "Now, it is a fact that Mrs. Main is one-eighth Negro." "So go on, Mrs. Dark." "Get on out of here." "I will return for you after the service is over, Prudence." "No, you won't." "There is no Christian God blessing this house of abomination." "You are filth, Gettys." "You shame me." "Boy, you better get a grip on yourself... because there ain't no place for honor in a world gone mad with defeat." "There is only death and destruction... and the hope that we can get things right again for ourselves." "And I know you feel just like we do, don't you, now?" "Now... I ain't about to fight you." "But I will offer you my hand in friendship on behalf of the brethren here." "You see?" "There ain't no chivalry left in the South." "Cooper." "Come with us." "I do hope we'll be welcome here, Mrs. Main." "Every rung goes higher, higher" "Every rung goes higher, higher" "Every rung goes higher" "Look." "Lord, have mercy." "What is the matter?" "Miss Madeline, come on in here." "Come on, now." "You all move on down, now." "Come and sit here." "Now, watch your step." "Praise the Lord." "We are climbing Jacob's ladder" "We are climbing Jacob's ladder" "We are climbing Jacob's ladder" "Soldiers of the Cross" "How do you do, sir?" "Afternoon, sir." "Madeline." "George." "Look at you!" "You're more lovely than ever." "l'm awfully dirty." "Even so, all the more beautiful." "Where's Constance?" "She's at home in Lehigh Station with the children." "I cabled I was coming." "Didn't you get it?" "Cabled?" "It's probably still in Charleston waiting delivery." "Only bad news travels swiftly, I'm afraid." "Madeline, I can't...." "l can't tell you how sorry I am about Orry's death." "Murder." "Orry was murdered, George." "But life at Mont Royal goes on, and there is so much to do." "It eases the pain." "Let's get you a drink. lt's good to see you." "I know I wouldn't be alive today... if Orry and Charlie hadn't broken me out of that confederate prison." "How is Charlie?" "Have you heard from him?" "Not in some time." "He headed West, that's all I know." "His son Gus, he's with some good people in Chicago." "And Orry's killer, what do you know about him?" "What law remains in the South, George, is in the form of... troops of occupation and night-riding vigilance committees." "No one knows the identity of Orry's killer." "No one." "How long has this man been here?" "Weeks." "He was fished out of the river ranting and raving, so we keep him restrained." "He's developed some sort of brain fever." "Sir, how do you feel today?" "Captain." "I've achieved the rank of captain." "Captain what?" "I don't remember my name." "I remember... the once great and sovereign state of Georgia." "I remember West Point... where my superiors compared my tactical maneuvers to Napoleon's." "Captain" "Jefferson Davis." "If Jefferson Davis had not failed to recognize my abilities... the South would not be suffering this humiliation at the hands of the North!" "I wish to be released from this institution, sir." "I have an honorable history of service with the South." "Seems quite lucid to me." "But, sir" "Release him immediately." "Leave the bed space for truly sick men." "One by four equals four." "Now pay attention." "One by seven equals...." "Seven." "Now repeat after me." "One by seven equals seven." "Good." "Now we'll go right on to the threes." "Three by two equals six." "Good." "Three by three equals nine." "Good." "Everything was built right here." "The wood was salvaged from the old house... then it was cut by hand and finished much the same way." "The schoolhouse, as well." "They did a fine job." "But surely it would have been cheaper to have the lumber cut by a local mill." "There is no such thing, George." "Sherman's troops laid waste to everything they got their hands on." "Isaac Kano and the other men from the plantation did the work." "Forgive me for asking, but how much did it cost?" "Mr. Hazard, how very rude of you." "Miss Chaffee, Orry Main was my best friend." "I come down here, and I find his widow... laboring in the fields like a common farmhand." "I see her table is spread with an absence of meat or poultry... and I see her hands are rubbed raw." "Forgive me, ladies." "Would you indulge us with a few moments of privacy?" "You go to Jane, honey." "That's a sweetheart." "I don't intend to be rude, Madeline, but I do speak directly." "How much are you in debt?" "There is no debt, George." "We live quite simply off the land." "And though meat is rare... I think the food is quite good, as your empty plate attests." "Madeline, I can help." "Please, accept it... for the sake of our friendship and what's gone between our families." "I know you mean well with your offer." "But if Mont Royal is to survive, it must do so under my hand." "Charity will just tarnish that effort." "Don't you see?" "I want to speak to Cooper." "Cooper?" "He hates northerners." "I'm afraid the war has taken its toll on his pride." "He won't see you." "But he's a businessman now." "He'll see me." "I know how you feel about charity, but I've got a better idea." "A partnership." "Partnership?" "I want to build a sawmill, right here in Mont Royal, for you to manage." "Imagine it." "The only mill for miles around... right here, where the logs can be floated down the river." "The South needs rebuilding, and you can aid that, as well as yourself." "Madeline, what do you say?" "I have nothing to offer in return." "Do you know what this is?" "Yes." "Orry told me. I have the other half." "Then let's make it whole and start mending our lives." "This will be our contract." "Mr. Hazard, sir... I do believe we have ourselves a deal." "What was the war like?" "The war left me very cold." "You're not cold." "You're warm and alive." "So it would seem, wouldn't it?" "Can I ask you another question?" "I imagine you're going to ask it anyway, so why don't you just go ahead?" "Why stay in the Army?" "There's nothing left for me in the South anymore." "Out West there's a whole country to be found." "There's a need for soldiers with experience." "Fighting Indians." "No, I don't want to fight anyone unless they pick a fight with me. lt's what I do." "I think there's better in you, Charlie." "So have others, and times have proved them wrong." "Times change." "You don't give up easy, do you?" "No." "Charlie?" "Not here." "Not for my first time with you." "You ever been in love?" "This sounds like one of those questions that leads into a long discussion." "No." "Answer me." "Yes, I have been." "Who was she?" "That was a long time ago." "I think I could love you, Charles Main." "Not today." "Be back soon. I expect this to be done." "All right." "Here you go." "l got the other one out back." "All right." "This is not charity, Madeline." "It's the same deal I was going to offer Cooper, but we can do it without him." "In a year you'll own all the machinery." "We'll split the profits 60 to you, 0 to me." "0-0." "Deal, but with one condition." "Hazard lron builds a steam engine?" "Business and industry, Madeline." "I paid for fun, lady." "You ain't it." "Could have had better from a dead cow." "If you want fun, take a bath next time." "If I have to bathe, I'd rather do it to myself." "Then do it!" "I told you to take a bath!" "Excuse me. I paid for the whole night." "Why, hello." "Aren't you ambitious?" "But I don't really require the usual." "I don't do the unusual." "Unless, of course, you pay me, not Rosa." "Then it's double." "That's fine." "I'll get some clean sheets." "See, I sell pianos." "l'm not in the market." "I sell Hochstein pianos to church elders." "I'm one tuckered man." "I just need a little company and a good night's sleep." "People call me Fen." "I don't much favor the rest." "As long as you don't bring the piano to bed... you can have as much sleep and cuddling as you'd like." "Madame Rosa says you're a lady of quality." "Why, yes." "Yes, I am." "I'm sorry you've fallen on hard times." "And you, my dear sir, sell pianos." "We all take money however we can get it." "Yes, of course." "Ouite." "is that your home?" "Yes. lt's the most beautiful place on earth." "And some day soon I'm going to return and claim it for my own." "Perhaps I can be of service in that endeavor." "Maybe you can." "However, I should tell you that the last person who tried to help me... died a most unfortunate death." "Let me help you with this." "Will that be all?" "Yes." "I have seen so much injustice... and it only gets worse." "That's why I feel so strongly about the Negroes and the Indians." "You've seen city life, but read about injustice... and there's a world of difference." "I don't understand." "How can you save one and fight all the rest?" "I don't want to fight anyone, but I'm a soldier." "That's what I do." "But why do you have to fight?" "See, the Cheyenne and the Comanche, they have a reason." "They're fighting to protect their way of life." "How would you feel if someone was trying to destroy your way of life?" "It already was, and I didn't much care for it." "When will you be back?" "Excuse me, gentlemen." "lt depends." "Will I see you again?" "Yes." "Beg your pardon, ma'am... but I mean no insult to you or your beauty." "Not so for you, Johnny Reb." "Go away, Venable." "Capt. Venable to you." "Only on the parade ground." "Go away, Venable." "The man who promoted you to sergeant may have forgotten the war... but I haven't." "I have power over you, and always will, in this man's army." "If you want to speak about power, let's go outside right now." "You'll pay, Sergeant." "May I take your order?" "No, that'll be all." "If you don't mind, I believe I've lost my appetite." "Charlie." "I have to go." "Reveille isn't until :00." "Come back to bed." "I have to take my horse to the post." "I'm going to Chicago." "Chicago?" "I have a son. I haven't seen him in a while." "Tomorrow's his birthday." "Friends of mine, a brigadier and his wife, take care of him for me up North." "I didn't know how to explain it to you." "What else haven't you told me?" "Am I just your kept woman?" "Does your wife know..." "about your actress whore?" "l don't have a wife." "Willa, you once asked me if I was ever in love." "And her name was Augusta." "We were going to be married during the war... but she was killed in Virginia." "She left me a son." "How old is he?" "Five." "What's his name?" "Gus." "I swore I'd never let myself feel this way again." "Do you?" "I don't know." "Will you come back?" "I don't know." "What do you have to say now, Main?" "Looks like you got me outnumbered... but then again, that'd be your way, wouldn't it, Venable?" "Boys." "Better odds than most raped and murdered women had in Kentucky." "I wouldn't know. I've never raped and murdered anybody myself." "Your army guerrillas killed my mother, then raped and murdered my sister." "Display of Southern chivalry, no doubt." "Take the son of a bitch." "Look here, my boy, you stay here." "He'll be all right." "But, Uncle Dolph" "Be quiet." "We'll have some fun." "Okay." "You stay." "Pick him up." "Hold it." "All right, Lieutenant." "Drop that pick in your hand before I put a hole in you, Captain." "I don't know what this is about, save four-to-one don't seem fair." "So you better get." "Go on, get!" "A kick in the head feels right poorly, Captain." "You aim to make that discovery?" "No?" "Crawl out of here like the lizard you are on all fours." "Go on." "Sergeant?" "Soldier boy." "What will it be, friend?" "Whiskey?" "Yeah." "And this one." "How much for this one?" "She's the best one we got." "$2.00, and I'll tell you this, you'll have a good time." "Excuse me, Luis... but you seem to have forgotten that I'm spoken for." "I'm Willard Fenway's girl now." "I don't see Fenway here now." "Do you, Rosa?" "She said she's Fenway's girl." "No, Rosa !" "Upstairs." "Damn it, Luis!" "Can you make a piano?" ""Hello, Fen" might be nice." "Make a piano?" "I'm a drummer when it comes to timbre, tone, and action... but I know men who can." "We're going to make Fenway pianos." "We'll sell them to every sporting house and saloon this side of Chicago." "I'm through with trying to get Mont Royal back from...." "The position I've been in lately." "It's going to take capital." "It's here, under Rosa's desk." "Every other day she takes money to the bank... and she brings back gold and she puts it... in a hole underneath her desk." "That's one crazy notion." "lt'll take a pair of us." "We're gonna have to move that desk and get that gold out." "But we are going to do it." "I'll need some horses and a gun." "I don't have a gun." "Then get one." "All aboard!" "Excuse me." "I'm trying to locate a Gen. George Hazard." "I'm promised a position at the ironworks foundry." "The General's away now, and the foundry's not hiring." "George and I got to know each other at the Point." "We were good friends, and he promised to hire me after the war." "He swore to me." "If the General promised... when he returns, no doubt he'll see you employed." "He always keeps his word." "As do I." "A fine quality." "Meanwhile, if you don't mind swamping out the station... running messages for the telegrapher, you can work here..." "until Gen. Hazard comes back." "That'd be all right." "You can even bunk down here in the baggage room." "And your name is?" "Ben." "Ben Ellis." "Uncle Dolph, he woke up." "No. I wouldn't do that right now." "You took a hell of a beating." "You got more purple than a side of bad beef." "How long l been out?" "Four days." "What's your name, soldier?" "Charles Main." "l'm Adolphus O. Jackson." "Where are we?" "A way west into Missouri." "We're heading wester." "There we go." "What the hell is that?" "It's just a little herbs and buffalo brains." "It's a good salve, brings down the swelling." "Put it on yourself where it hurts." "You know, the fellas that was beating on you... they was determined to finish you, but I run them off." "l guess I owe you for that." "What was it about?" "It's an old grudge." "Must be." "They charged you with desertion the next day... so I pulled you out of there." "If you go back now, they'll jail you or shoot you." "If the Army don't, your soldier friends will finish that job." "So you can stick with us if you like." "We're the Jackson Trading Company." "This is my brother's boy Jim." "Hi." "He's a little touched in the head, but he's a good lad." "Well, hell." "I'm going to level with you." "I pulled you out of that fight... because I need a man to cover my back that can shoot." "Now, Jim here... he tries, but he's the one that needs caring for." "We trade with the Arapaho and the Cheyenne." "There's considerable profit in it, too." "I'll give you 20... and if you prove out, I'll make you a full partner." "Presuming you need a partner... do you mind me asking what happened to your last one?" "I ain't gonna lie to you." "I lost old Dean on the last trip." "He grabbed a Cheyenne woman who had a husband... and they carved him up." "It's sweet country out there." "They got plenty of the fairest maidens you ever seen that ain't married." "I get along with the Cheyenne... because I admire them, and I respect them." "What do you say?" "Under the circumstances, it looks like you've got yourself a partner." "All right, Sergeant." "Can you shake?" "I got lucky, ran into a wagon train on the overland road... and I traded some skins for these other horses." "Got the boy working." "That's good." "I never thought he'd listen to anyone but me." "How'd you do that?" "It wasn't hard. I have a boy myself." "It just takes patience." "Speaking of that, let's load up and move out." "Want to catch the Cheyenne before they go into hiding... for the season of making war." "Going to learn you the Cheyenne, Charlie." "Learn you well so you can keep your hair." "That's it, Jim." "You're doing good." "Thanks." "Let's roll it tight." "Come on." "Here." "Here we go." "Yeah." "Sam?" "Sam, I'm back." "And you return loudly as a tempest." "Find what's-his-name?" "No." "There is no shortage of prodigals in this world, my dear... nor is there a shortage of eager young men." "You're drunk." "Happily so." "l've been gone for only one day." "Didn't take that long to get drunk, roaring drunk." "Where are the receipts?" "l don't know." "Did you give a performance?" "l can't quite recall." "Now, now, now." "We'll find you another soldier boy... if you wish." "Mrs." "Duncan?" "Yes." "I'm Willa Parker. I wrote to you." "It's Maureen, dear." "Please come in." "The Army calls him a deserter, but he just received a promotion." "All he said in his letter was that the Army wasn't working out... and he was heading West." "Do you know about his son?" "Charlie writes to him, and he told Gus about you in his letter." "We also received letters, but he didn't say much more than you know already." "Something must have gone terribly wrong in Charlie's life." "He's not a deserter." "He was a fine soldier." "He wrote about me?" "And was very flattering, but after meeting you... he clearly was not flattering enough." "I'm in love with him." "Charlie is easy to love and difficult to hold on to." "But he is forever loyal to his commitments once they are made." "This charge of desertion is very disturbing." "My husband, Brig. Duncan, had put in for a transfer to St. Louis... so that Charlie could be near his child." "Hello, sweetheart." "This is Charlie's son Gus." "Hello, Gus. I'm Willa." "You know my papa?" "Yes." "He sent this to me." "He did?" "Are you the beautiful lady that makes my papa happy?" "Yes." "That's sweet of you to say that." "I do hope so." "All right, now." "Take him home." "All right." "We did it, Madeline!" "lt worked. it really worked." "l never doubted it would." "Now all we need is some business." "Don't worry." "Once the word gets around, business will come, believe me." "Come, sit with me awhile." "I got a letter from Constance today." "She said that my letter to her revealed a delight... that she hadn't seen in me since the war... or since Gettysburg, to be exact." "I fought so long and hard to destroy this place." "Isn't it funny that I should feel some peace here at last?" "It's time I went home, Madeline." "You can come back." "Bring Constance and the children." "Yes." "I love her very much, Madeline." "I know." "Come on. I'll help you start packing." "Wire just came in for Mrs. Hazard." "Gen. Hazard is on the Washington train tomorrow night." "Now, run along and bring his missis the good news." "It's under here." "Help me move the desk this way." "My God, the horses can't carry all this." "Then we'll stash it and come back." "We couldn't spend all this in a lifetime." "But of course, we can." "Greed is a true sin." "Have you lost your mind?" "lt's better than losing your life." "Grab a little, and let's get out of here." "Hurry up." "Stop." "Thief!" "There be your Cheyenne, Running Wolf's band." "They're peaceable, as Cheyenne go." "Running Wolf's a real kick if he ain't too liquored up." "You know him, then." "I've had some good trades." "He likes me better than most whites." "Yeah, Running Wolf, he's peaceful for the most part... but watch your step with his women." "Adolphus, who the hell is that?" "Hell." "Dog soldiers." "Don't do nothing foolish, Charlie." "Just listen to me." "When I tell you to do something, for God's sake, do it quick." "I gather this is not Running Wolf." "You gather that up right." "This is Man-ready-for-war." "I call him Scar. I reckon you can see why." "That son of a bitch." "He's always messing up my business dealings." "Does this happen often?" "lt does." "They're funny." "Says he's going to lift our hair." "And now what?" "We're going to get down and walk around like we own the place." "Just listen to me, Charlie, and take good care of Jim." "Listen, Charles, grab Jim's hand." "Can you run?" "Run?" "Yeah. I can run." "Jimmy can't run much, so you'll have to drag him." "Where am I dragging him to?" "Just follow me." "Are you ready?" "No." "Ready or not, here goes." "Come on now!" "We're safe." "Won't need weapons here." "This is just fun." "Running in here." "That's real good." "Haven't you figured they know how to get in" "See, it's like the old days in Europe." "When a thief was running from the law, he could go into a church..." "and they gave him sanctuary." "This isn't exactly a church." "Of course it is." "This is a medicine lodge." "Same as a church to the Cheyenne." "Of course, once we walk out that door, they'll skin us alive and feed us to the fish." "He says that Chief Running Wolf will come here tomorrow." "We're safe till then, and he'll give his verdict." "He also says that I shouldn't have grabbed Scar's breechclout and humiliated him." "Tell him good advice always comes late, doesn't it?" "At least I bought us some time, didn't I?" "You saved us from Man-ready-for-war and I thank you." "Dog soldiers, go." "Man-ready-for-war, go." "Hunt buffalo." "I truly thank you, Running Wolf." "Go, Jackson." "Go fast." "All right." "Charlie, watch my back." "And who's going to watch mine?" "Just trust in the Lord, my boy, and the goodness of Running Wolf." "We were about to give up on you... but you made it just in time." "Captain, this here is one of our quality folk." "Mr. Cooper Main." "Capt. Jolly comes all the way to us under direct orders... from Nathan Bedford Forrest." "You come to join our happy band of brethren, Mr. Main?" "Let's say I'm interested." "All the way from Charleston?" "I'd say that's more than interest." "Please dismount, sir." "I don't much fancy speaking up to a man who's merely interested." "Cooper's a good man, Captain." "Are you a good man, Mr. Cooper?" "You have to prove that to me." "l'm not in the habit of proving myself." "Get the habit." "You got a mess of difficulties here in Carolina." "You got a nigger school underway... and the uppity ones are having a convention." "They're conspiring how to take over your businesses and your private lives." "Soon they'll marry your sons and daughters." "Never happen." "It's happening in Virginia and Maryland... and all over the North." "Try that on for size, Mr. Main." "I don't have to hide my face to show my feelings." "No, Cooper, it ain't about hiding." "Of course not." "See, they superstitious." "They superstitious." "And we just going to scare them a bit." "Mr. Main, since you are the newcomer... you are going to have the honor of lighting the fire." "Take it." "This way, sir." "Go on, Mr. Main." "Light it." "Let's ride, boys." "Let's do it." "I don't even know when the work's going to be done, honey." "Do we have to wait to get married?" "I reckon not." "Titus is willing to stand as witness before God for me." "Madeline will do the same for me." "Miss Madeline?" "Madeline." "You still think the old way, Isaac." "She's my friend." "Yeah, but she white." "Sort of." "And you worked alongside Gen. George Hazard." "And you shook his hand and hugged... and you liked it." "That was different." "Old George...." "Isaac, a fire." "That ain't no fire." "You go get Miss Madeline and the teacher." "Don't you let nobody see you." "That ain't no fire." "That's the devil coming down the road." "Now you go on." "Go on." "Git!" ""And you wonder if--"" "Madeline!" "My God!" "Blow out the lamps!" "Look!" "Come on out, missy!" "We know you're in there." "Either you close down that nigger school... or we're going to close it down by fire." "Tonight." "Stay down." "Gettys, that hood doesn't hide your voice, and, Cooper... who wouldn't know that horse of yours?" "Close the school, Madeline, please." "We'll leave you in peace." "You want to burn me down, then go ahead." "May the curse of Jesus be on all your heads." "All of you." "You can't talk with no niggers." "Let's do it!" "Come on, brethren." "Let's move!" "This way." "Come on." "Let's move it." "Y'all get ready for the devil." "Knock them boys out the way." "Knock them down!" "Let's go now." "Isaac!" "All around, boys, through the windows, through the doors." "Burn it down!" "Come on, Gettys." "Do something." "You're part of this gang, ain't you?" "Let's go." "Let's get out of here." "My God." "All my books." "Edwin, tell Mr. Hazard I'll be waiting up for him." "Yes, ma'am." "Not a sound, or I'll cut you." "You don't know me, do you?" "Maybe the name's familiar." "Elkanah Bent?" "I'm an old friend of your husband's and Orry Main's." "We were up at West Point together." "Those boys used to have a pet name for me." "Butcher." "Butcher Bent." "I'm sure it was something foolish from youth." "Now you listen here, little cow." "Your husband and his friends... injured me." "They ruined my reputation at West Point." "They conspired to rob me of a military career." "Now you will answer all my questions... or your husband, who is on his way home... will die as soon as he steps his foot through the front door." "Where are your children?" "They're not here." "They're at boarding school." "Good." "What about Charlie Main?" "Where's Charlie?" "He's out West somewhere." "We only hear of him through a Brig. Duncan." "I don't know." "He got a wife?" "Charlie got a wife?" "He got something." "A child?" "He got a child?" "Children... they present such interesting possibilities." "Don't you think?" "Your husband's home." "No." "Say good night, Mrs. Hazard." "Constance?" "Please, please." "Bent." "I thought you were dead." "You bastard." "I'll kill you." "By God, I'll kill you." "English"