Men Go to Battle (2015) Movie Script
1
(birds chirping)
MAN: Henry. (footsteps
approaching)
(knocking on door)
MAN: Henry!
(birds chirping continues)
What?
Come down here.
(footsteps receding)
(objects clattering)
MAN #2:
Anybody home?
Mr. Mellon?
Howdy.
Hey, how you doin'?
Good.
- Fine-lookin' horse.
- Well, thank you.
- How you been?
- Pretty good. Yourself?
Good.
Take a little walk?
Yeah, sure.
All right.
(men chattering outside)
All right.
Well, Rusty...
So where we walked from...
Mm-hmm.
All the way out from here.
You can't see, but all the way
over to that bluff over there.
Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
And back.
(sniffs)
That's what I'm lookin' to sell.
Now didn't you say this
used to be a hemp farm?
In '54, we had a bad drought.
Mm-hmm.
Kinda got away from us, but...
It's a pretty rough crop to lose.
It's ready to come back.
You can almost hear it,
can't you?
Buy me! (chuckles,
spits) (chuckles)
All right.
How much ya asking for it?
Seventy-five.
Seventy-five.
Don't lose your balance.
(laughs)
I know.
Getting it for free.
So-So what about this prime property
you have right over here on the left?
Well, that's my farm. So I
can't really sell that.
What I'm interested in selling is 50 acres.
It's growed up pretty bad.
The fellow up the road up here, he's
got 300 acres down there, so now...
Does he?
He has.
I'll throw that in too.
You will?
- Yeah. Just don't tell him.
- (laughs)
- Well, listen. Seventy-five an acre.
- Mm-hmm.
Look how badly grown up it is. It's
in pretty rough shape, the land is.
- Well, it's gonna need a little bit of work.
- It's gonna need a lot of work.
(knocking)
I need ya.
Get something in your hands
and come on.
We ain't gonna get through
all this!
(panting) You're just
gonna wear yourself out.
(exhales)
(breathing heavily)
(grunts, spits)
(grunts, breathes heavily)
It's good.
Just a few more days.
(breathing heavily)
(men breathing heavily)
(insects chirping)
HENRY: All right. Put it down.
HENRY: Go on in.
(clicking tongue)
Go on in.
Go on in.
(clicking tongue)
Go on in.
Go on in.
(clicking tongue)
(chickens clucking)
Go on in.
(clicking tongue)
(clucking continues)
Go on in there.
[] (fiddle, faint)
(laughter, shouting, faint)
[] (fiddle, louder)
Boy, get that in there.
(man chattering)
[] (continues)
(no audible dialogue)
I wasn't gonna do it. And that's
what you should have told him.
It wasn't a good price
for the corn.
(man chuckling)
What have you got?
Nothin'.
You got it somewhere.
There she is.
You've always been generous.
Hey, Warren.
Good evening, Henry.
[] (continues)
Well, I'm just gonna give him a minute.
He's with Brady.
(clears throat)
Sure you wanna ask him here?
Where the hell else
are we gonna ask him?
Don't ask him at all.
It's not his business.
MAN: I heard General Buckner's regrouped
his militia down in Bowling Green.
MAN #2: Who told you?
Claude's sister.
Margaret?
Mm-hmm.
Them Union men
took all his property.
You know, they're gonna try
to do the same to us.
- Did she mention anything that wasn't in Harper's?
- Yeah.
She found three of our rebels asleep on
her kitchen floor the other mornin'.
What did she do?
She fed 'em breakfast.
(men chuckle) MAN #3: I
read that we lost seven.
Mm-hmm.
Barbourville.
- Mr. Small.
- Hmm?
Mr. Mellon!
Good to see you, sir.
Well, how do you do?
Just fine. Thank you.
(laughs)
Great night for this.
Oh, it is.
Thanks for having us.
No. Thanks for coming. I was
hoping I could ask you a question.
Um... if you have a moment.
Oh, no. Of course.
(clears throat) Well, as you
know, I've got about 200 acres.
Uh, it's in pretty bad shape.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, it's good land. It's just,
uh, kinda grown up at the moment.
Uh, it's just been hard for Henry and
I to keep it the way we need to.
Mm-hmm. I was thinking, with
the season coming to an end,
you might be in a position to
spare a few of your men for us,
after you're harvested, of course.
Oh.
That way, in the spring, I'll have the opportunity
to get what I need done in the ground,
and then, I was hoping I could give you
20% of what I get from the tobacco.
- I figure with your harvest being over, you could spare...
- Well, no... Uh, Francis...
Yes, sir. Excuse me.
Now, I'm very short on everyone and
everything. Yes, sir, I understand.
If this was five years ago or even
a year ago, well, I'd be happy to.
What if I could do 25? Do you think you know
anybody that might be interested in that?
Hmm. (smacks lips) Actually 30?
Mmm.
(smacks lips)
Well, that's fine.
I just wanted to bring it up.
I'll put my mind to it. You're very
welcome. Thanks so much. Okay.
You say "hey" to Henry for me.
I'll make sure I do.
Good talkin' to you.
Thank you, sir. Bye.
[] (continues)
(chattering)
(woman laughing)
WOMAN:
Whoo!
(dancers exclaiming)
(woman screams, laughs)
(woman exclaims)
[] (stops)
MAN:
Ohh.
(man laughs)
(people chattering)
Howdy, Henry.
Howdy.
You boys doin' all right?
Yes, sir.
Morning, Miss Small.
Henry.
So, how are you?
How's your brother?
Uh, he's fine.
- What are you reading on?
- The Wandering Jew.
Hmm.
So you've read it?
Mm-hmm.
(mumbles)
Have a good day.
(insects chirping)
(mule snorts)
(snorting)
He's pretty well lit, anyways.
When he gets up there, he
pulls the damn thing down.
Pulls the top?
- He goes to put the other one up there.
- Uh-huh.
And the roof was one of them slope
kind, real steep. Right. Oh, gosh.
- Well, sir, he tumbled right off and
broke both damn legs. - (door closes)
- Hoo!
- Hey, Warren.
- Hey, Henry.
- Broke 'em both?
He died too, by God,
just a couple of weeks later.
- From broken legs?
- No, he died of pneumonia.
Uh-huh. But his legs didn't
help him none neither.
Yep.
Where you been, bub?
Out and about.
See the mules?
Yeah, I seen 'em.
Bought 'em today.
- You bought two mules?
- Yep.
What do we need two mules for?
To use 'em. What do you mean?
Help with work.
In the winter?
For spring.
- Why did you get 'em now?
- 'Cause I got a great deal.
That Johnson family
over around Sibley.
They're selling out.
Moving back East.
And so they had these two mules.
And, uh, so, in...
Instead of, uh, one,
I got...
I bought two.
Generally, when you buy mules,
you don't buy 'em in pairs.
They... Rarely do you
get a deal like this.
Instead of buying one...
I... I got both of 'em. Well,
he got... For the price of one.
- No, but I...
- HENRY: How much did you spend on 'em?
Henry!
Henry.
It's all right.
Have a seat.
Just counting to see how much
money you squandered.
Henry.
(door opens)
Lost him.
(rain pattering)
My God.
Well, I don't know
if I should stay or...
No, do stay. It's fine. You don't
want to get wet anyway. No, no, no.
Stay. Stay, stay, stay.
It's fine. Stay the night.
Well.
Sit down!
Nah. It's gettin' late. Come on.
Here, a little bit more.
There's enough for everybody.
Come on.
- Well, just a short one.
- All right.
(clears throat)
Too short?
Yeah. That's... That's good.
That short enough?
I'll have one too. But, yeah.
She said come over tomorrow.
Tomorrow or next day.
HENRY: Think you're so...
And he'll be...
You are stupider than hell to be
buyin' a mule right before winter,
when they can't do nothin'
except for eat and die.
They're standin' out there.
They're fine.
- Probably no good anyway.
- They're in great health.
- You didn't even ask me.
- I don't have to ask ya.
(clicks tongue) Well,
boys, I best be goin'.
It's an early day tomorrow.
FRANCIS: Stick around, Warren.
Well, I'd like to, but
mornin' comes early.
Well, thanks for comin'.
Good to see ya.
Come back, won't ya?
Yeah.
All right.
Well, good night, boys.
(rain pattering)
Good night, Warren.
Night.
(door closes)
Scared him off.
No, I didn't.
He's got to be up early.
(snoring)
Stop.
(snoring continues)
Stop. Stop snoring.
(grunting)
Stop!
Give me some covers.
(snoring resumes)
Hey, girl.
Girlie.
- How you doin'?
- (mule snorts)
Hmm.
Good boy.
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
(gunshots continue)
(hammer cocks)
WARREN:
Got him.
Henry?
Henry?
Henry?
Henry?
(hammer cocks)
Hey, Henry.
You awake?
(laughing)
Oh! (laughs) Cock-a-doodle-doo, Henry.
(grunts)
Whoa! Jesus!
Missed me.
(laughing)
FRANCIS:
Doesn't count.
If you wanna play with some prim
dandy, we can play from here.
But let's play from back here.
(clanking)
It was close. For sure
that doesn't count either.
Francis!
All right.
Easy, boy.
Easy. Easy, easy.
(clicking tongue)
FRANCIS: Okay, let's see
what you have, then.
All right. Easy, boy.
All right. Easy.
Easy, easy, easy.
Easy.
(exclaims)
Jesus Christ.
He'll run off on you.
I know.
(whistling)
(clicking tongue)
(whistling)
Come here, boy.
Come on, boy.
(whistles)
You see him?
No.
(rain pattering)
(snoring)
How in the world are we gonna
eat all these?
Who left them out?
You did.
Damn it.
All right, well, fish 'em out.
I gotta get ready.
(clanking)
(lid thuds on floor)
(water sloshing)
What?
Goddamn it!
Henry! You can't keep a goddamn
empty kettle on the fire.
HENRY: Get it. It's too far
in the fire right now.
You gotta raise it out some.
This is how you do it.
(laughs)
If you have it directly in there, it's
gonna cook all black on the outside,
and then just raw in the middle.
- So where do you want it?
- Just put it in the...
- Put it just above the heat but
not directly in it. - (laughs)
I don't understand.
(grunts)
(sizzles)
Ah!
(chuckles softly)
Why did you touch it?
To see how hot it is.
It was in the fire.
You're not... Now, the problem is
now you're gettin' the bottom...
This is... They're fine. It's gonna be pink
down there, and some other color up top.
Get it up in that smoke.
(sniffs)
Come on, up in the smoke.
Ooh!
- Well, we could use some more smoke.
- Ooh!
- (clanking)
- (Francis laughing)
(both laughing)
We're gonna make a little...
A little thing.
Get it out!
All right. Put this out. Hit it!
On the top.
Now hit it.
No, let me hit it!
I wanna make a little somethin'
over the... fireplace
that has a little... tail,
and then I wanna make my own
little stamp for it,
and I wanna stamp in:
Flibbertigibbet.
[] (Francis singing)
[] (continues)
[] (singing continues)
Francis.
[] (singing continues)
Francis. I don't mind the
weather for the wind won't blow
(hammer cocks)
Francis.
(groans)
(body thuds)
(Francis gasps)
Hey. Francis.
Francis.
Francis?
(laughs)
I thought a rock
climbed in there.
Get off, you bastard!
Fuck!
(groans softly)
(blow landing)
(coughs)
(coughing continues)
(spits)
You all right?
(coughs)
Don't throw that in the fire.
Aaah!
Oh, come on, Henry.
(groans)
I'm hurt pretty good.
Let me see.
Open it up.
All right. All right. Put that hand on it.
Hold it tight.
Okay? Just keep it like that,
all right?
Sit down. Don't sit down!
All right, sit down.
You been tight... Let me see.
All right.
See. Take that hand off.
Take it off!
- Ah!
- All right. Take this hand.
Hold it there and don't let it go.
Okay? Now stand up.
Come on, Henry. Come on.
Stand up!
Can I lay down, Francis? Stand up.
No, don't lay down.
Stand up. Stand up. Come on.
All right. Walk, walk.
Keep walking.
All right?
Keep walking.
(muttering)
Keep walking.
Keep walking.
Take it easy.
(banging on door)
He ain't here now.
[] (fiddle, faint)
(woman laughs)
FRANCIS: You reckon he's at Mr.
Small's?
[] (continues)
(horse whinnies)
(chattering inside)
(knocking)
We're lookin' for Dr....
What's his name?
Dr., uh...
I'll get him.
Thanks. WOMAN: Is he all right?
Taylor.
Yeah, he's fine.
Well, look at him.
He's bleeding.
Yes?
Evening, Mrs. Small.
Uh, Henry's hurt pretty bad. I
wondered if Dr. Taylor was available.
Pardon me.
All right.
Let's go to my office.
Wait right here.
[] (ends)
(laughter, chattering inside)
You all right, Henry?
(Henry mumbles)
[] (piano) MRS.
SMALL: Come inside.
Thank you.
(chattering continues)
(clears throat)
- I'm sorry about this.
- Please, make yourself at home.
Josephine, you will see if Mr.
Mellon would care for anything.
[] (continues)
Miss... Miss, uh, Wright...
Can I grab you anything?
- Tea? There's punch.
- Oh, punch. Thank you.
Okay. I'll be right back.
[] (continues)
(guests chattering)
[] (continues)
(no audible dialogue)
(chattering continues)
(no audible dialogue)
You have such kind eyes.
You remind me of a girl
I used to know.
A girl who was very dear to me.
She died many years ago.
You must miss her dearly.
I've said too much already.
You should go enjoy the party,
Miss Small.
Betsy.
Have you said hello
to Mr. and Mrs. Keach?
Not yet. I'm tryin' to
save your reputation.
Now, go thank them.
Good evening, Mrs. Keach.
Such a lovely pattern, isn't it?
JOSEPHINE: Here you are.
Thank you very much.
This is, uh, a lovely party too.
Thank you. Excuse me.
- S-Sure.
- I'm just talkin' some politics.
Enjoying the party? Can
I get you any... Yes.
(whispering)
Oh, no.
[] (piano tune ends)
(scattered applause)
[] (Josephine singing ballad)
And pour the soothing
balm of song
And while the mournful tale
I tell
In all your weeds
and weeping clad
Ye muses in my bosom dwell
And fire the lay
with sorrow sad
Come, oh, to free
this heart from pain
Your healing notes
of grief prolong
Don't take that rag off.
Let it seal up that cut.
[] (up-tempo fiddle)
Henry.
Hold that tight, now.
(dancers laughing, exclaiming)
- WOMAN: Whoo! Whoo!
- (chuckling)
(woman laughing)
(laughing continues)
WOMAN: Whoo! (laughs)
Evening, Miss Small.
Hello, Henry. (sniffles) Sorry!
Oh, no. No, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no.
It's a nice night out tonight.
Out here.
(sobbing softly)
I suppose.
Warm.
Well, it's not too cold.
(sniffles)
It was cloudy yesterday, so I
thought it would be cold today.
(cries, sniffles)
Yeah, but the thing is
you take last week
when it was sunny and dry,
it was cold.
So it don't make much sense except
maybe clouds keep... keep it warm.
You reckon?
Yes, but it rained before that.
(sniffles)
Well, there was that one day
where it was warm and clear,
and it turned cloudy and warm.
Now that was real strange.
I don't remember that.
Sure it did.
When?
It rained off and on
for two days, right?
[] (indoors, faint)
Well, actually
it was three days.
No, it was cloudy one day.
There weren't any rain though.
I saw rain.
It rained here that day
but just a little.
So maybe it rained a little. I
didn't see it, but I believe it.
Could be it rained one place
and not the other.
I've seen that before.
Just sometimes it's clouds got rain
in 'em and sometimes they don't.
Either way, it was clear and
chilly for two days after that.
And in between
we had a frost and...
What you're not remembering
was there was a warm day
when it was clear and warm, and it
got nice and warm in the afternoon.
Real nice.
We was outside all day
and didn't need a jacket.
(sighs)
I'll have to think about it.
Can you hold these?
Sure.
Oh. What happened to your hand?
Oh, I was...
Got a cut on it.
Goodness, are you all right?
Doctor's gonna
amputate it tomorrow, so...
(whispers)
Oh, goodness.
No, no. It's fine. It
doesn't hurt any. Oh.
That's good.
I got a real big bruise
on my leg the other day.
I wish it would never go away.
You wanna see
what someone gave me?
[] (continues inside, faint)
Here.
You want any?
Sure.
(door opens)
(whispers)
Hold on a minute.
Just a minute.
(footsteps receding)
All right.
Hold real still.
(bottle thuds)
All this at once?
Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
Want any?
I've already had it.
(kisses)
(squeals)
(sobs)
(high-pitched sob)
Betsy.
(sobbing continues)
(protesting squeal)
(sobbing continues)
I didn't want my first kiss
to be with you.
(sniffles, sobs)
(bangs wall)
(sobbing continues)
[] (up-tempo fiddle)
(chattering) WOMAN: Whoo!
[] (continues)
MAN: To the right hand
and to the left...
Dead to all hope in yourself.
You must be stripped
of dependents upon your prayers,
tears, resolutions or desires.
You must lie at the footstool
of sovereign mercy,
throwing your guilty, perishing
soul at the feet of Jesus,
crying, "Lord, save
me, or I perish."
And so, narrow is the way
to the happy country.
Thank you so much, Reverend.
It was beautiful.
Ladies, thank you for gracing
our presence... Reverend.
- So consistently every week.
- WOMAN: We'll see you at the house?
REVEREND: I would not miss it
for anything in the world.
WOMAN:
You're so sweet.
(no audible dialogue)
FRANCIS:
Henry!
Henry!
(blustering)
Henry!
Henry!
What kinda signs
are we looking for?
- Signs?
- Footprints, blood?
Henry!
Broken branches, what?
Now, I don't know.
MAN:
Henry!
Henry!
Henry?
(door opens)
(door closes)
(inhales)
(sniffs)
(yawning)
(objects clattering)
(sniffs)
Hey, Lucas. Hey, Francis.
How you doing?
I'm all right.
WOMAN: I don't think it's
quite right for what we need.
FRANCIS: Howdy. Howdy.
MAN:
What would you like to see?
(chattering)
Take a letter for me. As soon
as I help these young ladies.
All right.
We'll leave that there. Look around
some more. You might find something.
'Cause your daddy brought
some new stuff in. Thank you.
- You ready?
- I'm gonna need a pencil and paper.
Where's that? Right here, son.
Right here.
All right.
Uh...
Land available. Good for hemp.
50 acres. Hart County.
Good land. Write Francis Mellon, care
of Small's Corner General Store.
Have it?
Send it to the paper
in Munfordville, would ya?
(man writing)
(women chattering)
You got it?
Wanna put a price?
Do I need to?
Some people do.
I don't think...
No, I don't need to do that.
All right. Thanks.
You know, we don't
take credit no more.
No, I paid it down last month.
Thanks.
See ya, Lucas.
I think we've made
a wrong turn with the fabric.
Do you think this dress
is too aggressive?
No.
I don't think it's right.
(knocking)
(door opens, closes)
Not bad.
- Okay.
- (inhales sharply)
- (groans softly) - Mighty
appreciate that bow in your hair.
Thank you.
I don't even know
what I'm gonna say to you.
I don't suppose you like, uh,
doin' much outdoors
and nature-like.
Mmm, I don't know much
about that.
Well...
I've always been kind of
an outdoors man myself.
You all like hunting?
No.
Uh...
Do you like traveling any?
Well, yes.
I love to travel.
What all sorts of places
you like traveling to?
Well, New York City's nice,
but I also like
being down South.
New Orleans.
Not in the summertime though.
Do you have relations up North?
Uh...
I've got a second cousin
used to live up there.
We were never close though.
I mean, he came down
and visited some,
and, uh, we never went up
and saw him though.
He's a traveling man.
"Though Madame de la S..."
What is it?
"Sainte-Colombe."
"Well, though Madame
de la Sainte-Colombe
is 60 years old,
it appears that Dumoulin
has matrimonial views on the
large fortune of this woman.
You will do well
to inform Rodin,
so that he may be on his guard against
the dark designs of this rascal."
WOMAN: John says that it
will all be over by spring.
Mm. WOMAN #2: Last time
you said Christmas.
(footsteps receding)
Lucky if they don't
kill you in your sleep.
(clock bells chiming)
Is it 2:00 already?
I must be off.
Still got two hours ahead of us.
Who's that?
Josephine.
(whispers)
Sophie, come here!
(chattering)
(footsteps on stairs)
Boys, we don't have tobacco today,
just like we didn't have it yesterday.
Private Jacobsen got some
from you yesterday.
Then why don't you go buy some
from Private Jacobsen?
What you got right there?
That's a bag of sugar
I'm holding for Mrs. Maloney.
SOLDIER: Mind if we see it?
Look...
Good morning, Enoch.
Howdy, Francis.
Give me 12 pounds of tobacco seed
and a pack of corn seed, please.
Got a 10-pound bag. That work?
That's fine. Thanks.
SOLDIER:
Can't smoke that.
No, I don't have anything
in the back.
(chattering continues) (clears
throat) How's your day going?
Oh, you know, 'bout the same.
That'll be a dollar, 12.
Keep that.
Pay my account off
a little bit. Thank you.
Will do.
When you gonna get some?
I can't tell you.
What about there?
Thank you, Mr. Small.
Francis. Boys, what else do
you want me to tell you?
We don't have any tobacco today, and
we probably won't have any tomorrow.
Where can I get some?
That I can't help you with.
Good luck to you boys.
Just called you "lady."
You want something else,
go ahead.
Captain.
Sons of bitches.
(water flowing)
(carriage approaching)
(horse blusters)
Howdy, Miss Small.
Whoa.
Fine.
How do you do, Francis?
Fine.
Help you down?
Uh... All right.
Easy. There you go.
That's a lot of wood.
Yeah, I reckon it is.
Can I invite you in for a
refreshment or anything at all?
Oh, I can't. I'm supposed
to give you this.
Came in the mail last week, and we
didn't know when you were gonna stop in.
Would you mind
reading it for me?
My eyes are sensitive
this morning.
(paper unfolding)
It's from Henry.
Can't be. Henry can't
spell or read or nothin'.
Says it's from him.
Want me to read it for you?
Please.
"Dear Francis, I now take a
moment to write you a letter
to tell you how I am faring.
I am sorry to take so long.
My friend Ambrose
has helped me write this.
We joined up with the army
in Bardstown.
I like the army all right.
I get as much beef
and salted pork
as I can eat.
Coffee too.
We drill a lot.
Have you heard from the Smalls?
Please write with news.
Your brother, Henry."
Can I see this?
Whew.
Don't see how he could, uh...
I just ca...
(sniffles)
(man grunts)
MAN:
Thank you, Sergeant.
Sam?
Thank you, sir.
Henry.
Got some mail for you.
John?
Thank you, Sergeant.
AMBROSE:
"Dear Henry,
I have taken a moment to sit
and write to you this letter,
with the help of Miss Small."
HENRY:
Hmm. Which one?
Which what?
Which Small?
Miss Small.
Hmm.
"I hope this finds you
as well as yours found me.
I'm glad you are well and alive.
I hope that you will return shortly
after reading this letter.
How is the food you're eating?
It's been nothing but turnips here.
(chuckles)
I will leave it here,
but please take care
and write as soon
as you are able.
Thank you for the letter.
Your brother, Francis."
So, that's... He's good?
He's doing good.
[] (bugle)
Well...
Supper.
[] (bugle)
(clattering)
MAN:
Left face.
You stay still.
Front.
Thump it.
(metal scraping)
MAN: Would you
like a hotel room?
Yes, I'd like
a hotel room
Hotel room
Hotel room
Three-day pass
Three-day pass
Alouette
Alouette
Oh, Alouette
Gentille Alouette
Alouette
Je Te plumerai
Would you like
a squeaky bed?
Yes, I'd like
a squeaky bed
Squeaky bed!
Squeaky bed
Hotel room
Hotel room
Three-day pass
Three-day pass
- Jug of wine
- Jug of wine
Alouette
Alouette
Oh, Alouette
Gentille Alouette
(drumming)
(man shouting, indistinct)
[] (tin whistles)
Sir, you can blink and you
can breathe all you want.
Do not try to keep
your eyes wide open.
Do not try to hold your breath.
Other than that, be very still.
Very still. Do not move.
(man shouts)
Here it comes.
Boy, that's something else.
Have you ever kept your
feet warm with red peppers?
No.
One time my brother told me if you
stick hot red peppers in your boot,
you'd keep your feet warm.
He didn't tell me that you gotta
keep 'em on the outside of the sock.
So I stuck them up
underneath my stocking,
and I was walking around all
day, just thinking to myself,
"This actually works.
Feels like my feet
are on fire."
Then I took my stockings off, and
my feet were all red and blistered.
Couldn't walk on them
for three weeks.
AMBROSE:
"We's marchin' next week,
so make sure to write
to my company, not the camp.
I will tell you all about
our way of getting along."
And... I don't want him
to worry about us,
so, uh,
say "I don't want you
to worry about... me.
We are getting along
first-rate."
(loud clattering)
All right.
Good night.
Poor guy.
(chuckling)
Ha-ha!
Who's got a plate?
See if that one's good.
This real nice farmer
donated those to the cause.
Whoo. You put that one
in the middle.
Oh, shoot. We might have to
eat that one in the morning.
(laughing)
If it's still there.
I seen her in the summertime
I seen her in the fall
Saw her at the chicken coop
and I saw her at the ball
Every time I see her now
she's smiling like the sun
But now she's gone and left me
here to beat on the old jawbone
Angelina Baker
Angelina Baker's gone
She left me here
to weep a tear
And beat on
the old jawbone
The master run, ha-ha
The darkies stay, ho-ho
It must be now this kingdom
coming in the year of Jubilo
Whoo!
Whoo! Hoo!
(gasps)
Back up from the fire.
Hey, Billy.
Hey, Billy Yank.
Yeah. Howdy.
Say, you got any coffee
you could trade
for some tobacco?
Yeah, I got it.
That the coffee?
Where's your tobacco?
Well, toss that here.
Let's toss it at the same time.
On three.
One, two,
three.
(laughs)
I'm bluffin' you.
(packet hits ground)
Hey, you on picket tomorrow?
Could be.
Say, bring me a newspaper.
HENRY:
Dear Henry,
I... (mutters)
"Reviewed"? No. Reviewed?
That's... No, no.
"Received."
"I received your letter
from the 20th
and was glad to hear
you are well.
Things are picking up here
on the farm.
I..."
"Planted."
"I planted a whole field
of..."
"Tobacco."
"Tobacco that's comin' up.
I go into town very day
to get the news.
Your Union soldiers
have kicked the Smalls
out of home.
Please write as soon as you can.
Your brother, Francis."
Whoosh.
That's the news.
(men arguing)
(man coughing)
Hey.
HENRY:
"Dear Francis,
I now take a moment...
[] (singing)
A very old soul was he
to write to you.
I am sorry
for taking
so long
since your last
letter.
I have been sick.
I was in infirmary
for
two weeks.
(men laughing)
It was
worse than being in camp.
There has been
two men shot.
Killed accidentally.
And one for crossing a guard.
This war might last
longer than me.
Forget me... not.
Your brother...
MAN:
Turn out the colors!
Henry."
[] (men singing, indistinct)
[] (drums, tin whistles)
Attention, company.
Shoulder arms!
Forward march!
(explosion in distance)
(gunfire)
- Sir!
- Attention, company!
Forward at the double quick.
March!
(cannon fire)
(man shouts)
Keep it going.
(gunfire)
(explosion in distance)
(footsteps approaching)
(mooing)
WOMAN:
Hey!
Hey!
Stop!
(girl chattering)
(baby fussing)
I'm sorry.
Don't smash it.
- You're smashing yours.
- No, I'm not!
Yeah. I see you.
Tell Dad.
Hey. Hello.
You did that.
Did. No, I didn't. Hello!
Hello.
(woman laughs)
Well, all right.
Come on. Finish up.
Cock-a-doodle-do.
Cock-a-doodle-do.
I saw your mouth move.
Okay. Well, I'm gonna
put these girls to bed.
Aw.
Come on.
Say good night.
GIRLS: Good night.
- (baby fusses)
- Shh, shh, shh.
Come on.
(rubbing hands)
I haven't had a word from him
in over five weeks.
That don't mean nothin'.
(clattering)
(water splashing)
(water splashing continues)
Howdy.
(men whooping, shouting)
(footsteps)
(wind chimes tinkling)
(horse blustering)
- HENRY: Betsy?
- (man whooping)
Down by the swamp with that river boy!
(whooping)
(shouting)
I'm gonna beat the cotton
out of your ass! Whoo!
Yeah, I saw you!
I saw you!
Whoo! You ornery... Whoo!
(breathing unsteadily)
Francis.
[] (fiddle in distance)
Henry?
(laughing)
When'd you get...
How'd you get off?
Here, hold on.
Come here.
I want you to say hello
to my bride. (laughs)
Hello, Henry.
You see all this?
A hundred acres
of tobacco last year.
Army came in this year,
bought a hundred goddamn acres.
A hundred acres.
They definitely got a deal on it, but
they still bought a hundred acres.
Huh?
That's somethin'.
Damn right it's somethin'.
Next year I'm gonna put corn in
over there, over there, over there.
Corn, corn, corn!
(laughing)
Drinks.
Let's have some drinks.
- I'm gonna go fetch some water.
- I can get it.
I got it.
All right.
Oops. Here.
- It's fine.
- That's where I...
I don't want to be a burden on you two.
I'll just sleep outside tonight.
You're not a burden.
You're staying with us.
I'll sleep outside
if I have to, all right?
I can sleep anywhere really.
How 'bout there on that bed she's
making you, next to the fire?
Can I make you
one of these, darlin'?
I don't think I'm gonna
last much longer.
I'm gonna go on up to bed.
Good night, Francis.
Henry.
Good night.
Let me help you up.
You all right?
Let us know if you
need anything, okay?
What do you think about that?
Goin' to bed?
No.
(chuckles)
No.
(liquid pours)
Cheers.
Here's to it.
(cups clang)
How long they let you off for?
Couple days.
That ain't much.
(sighs)
So where you been?
Been marching all around. We was
just down in Decatur, Alabama.
Huntsville.
Bridgeport.
All in between.
Then we had to march
up to Louisville.
- I think I told you about that in a letter.
- Mm-hmm.
Then we was in Perryville.
Was on a train car
for a couple of days.
We stopped in front
of a big field of watermelon.
Boys nearly trampled each other
to get to it.
Ate... half the field.
Just like that...
Half the field's gone.
You sleepin'?
Hmm.
Watermelons?
What happened with that?
Well, we ate damn near
the whole field.
Everybody's pleased as punch,
just waitin' to go.
Then the captain says, "Y'all
have to pay this poor farmer back
for this crop you ate,"
and they was none too happy
to hear that.
Francis.
Francis!
Mm-hmm?
Yeah. Pour us another one.
I'll, uh...
Yeah, get some.
(cup clanks)
(liquid pouring)
(liquid pouring continues)
Are you asleep?
I gotta get in there too.
Thanks, darlin'.
Good night.
(flames crackle)
(birds tweeting outside)
(drawer rumbles)
(door opens)
(door closes)
(footsteps)
(birds chirping)
[] (acoustic guitar)
WOMAN: There once was a
family that lived near hell
And if they're not dead,
they're living there still
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle hi di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devil came down
to the man at the plow
I've come for one
of your family now
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
Oh, please don't take
my eldest son
There's work on the farm
that's gotta be done
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
Take my wife
with all your heart
With luck the two of you
never need part
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devil,
he hoisted her onto his back
No peddler was ever
so proud of his pack
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
And when they got
to the fork of the road
He says, "Oh, woman,
you're a hell of a load"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
And when they got
to the gates of hell
He says, "Stoke the fire
We'll roast her well"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
Then stepped up the devil
with a ball and chain
She upped with her foot
and kicked out his brain
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devils came down
to put her in a sack
She upped with her boot
and broke all their backs
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devils cried out
From up on the walls
"Take her back, Daddy
She'll murder us all"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The old man's creeping
through his crack
When he seen the old devil,
"I'm bringin' her back"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devil said,
"If you would be so kind
Take her back, farmer
I've changed my mind"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
"What will you give me
for taking her in?
I promise no more
than the wages of sin"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
"I've been the devil
most all of my life
I never knew hell
till I met with your wife"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
If you want to be rid
of this spicy old hen
You'll never bedevil
my family again
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devil did cry
The devil did howl
But he never returned
to the man and his plow
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The old man gave
his wife a kiss
For who could get him
a deal like this?
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
This proves that women
are better than men
They can all go to hell
and come back again
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
[] (ends)
(birds chirping)
(birds chirping continues)
(birds chirping)
MAN: Henry. (footsteps
approaching)
(knocking on door)
MAN: Henry!
(birds chirping continues)
What?
Come down here.
(footsteps receding)
(objects clattering)
MAN #2:
Anybody home?
Mr. Mellon?
Howdy.
Hey, how you doin'?
Good.
- Fine-lookin' horse.
- Well, thank you.
- How you been?
- Pretty good. Yourself?
Good.
Take a little walk?
Yeah, sure.
All right.
(men chattering outside)
All right.
Well, Rusty...
So where we walked from...
Mm-hmm.
All the way out from here.
You can't see, but all the way
over to that bluff over there.
Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
And back.
(sniffs)
That's what I'm lookin' to sell.
Now didn't you say this
used to be a hemp farm?
In '54, we had a bad drought.
Mm-hmm.
Kinda got away from us, but...
It's a pretty rough crop to lose.
It's ready to come back.
You can almost hear it,
can't you?
Buy me! (chuckles,
spits) (chuckles)
All right.
How much ya asking for it?
Seventy-five.
Seventy-five.
Don't lose your balance.
(laughs)
I know.
Getting it for free.
So-So what about this prime property
you have right over here on the left?
Well, that's my farm. So I
can't really sell that.
What I'm interested in selling is 50 acres.
It's growed up pretty bad.
The fellow up the road up here, he's
got 300 acres down there, so now...
Does he?
He has.
I'll throw that in too.
You will?
- Yeah. Just don't tell him.
- (laughs)
- Well, listen. Seventy-five an acre.
- Mm-hmm.
Look how badly grown up it is. It's
in pretty rough shape, the land is.
- Well, it's gonna need a little bit of work.
- It's gonna need a lot of work.
(knocking)
I need ya.
Get something in your hands
and come on.
We ain't gonna get through
all this!
(panting) You're just
gonna wear yourself out.
(exhales)
(breathing heavily)
(grunts, spits)
(grunts, breathes heavily)
It's good.
Just a few more days.
(breathing heavily)
(men breathing heavily)
(insects chirping)
HENRY: All right. Put it down.
HENRY: Go on in.
(clicking tongue)
Go on in.
Go on in.
(clicking tongue)
Go on in.
Go on in.
(clicking tongue)
(chickens clucking)
Go on in.
(clicking tongue)
(clucking continues)
Go on in there.
[] (fiddle, faint)
(laughter, shouting, faint)
[] (fiddle, louder)
Boy, get that in there.
(man chattering)
[] (continues)
(no audible dialogue)
I wasn't gonna do it. And that's
what you should have told him.
It wasn't a good price
for the corn.
(man chuckling)
What have you got?
Nothin'.
You got it somewhere.
There she is.
You've always been generous.
Hey, Warren.
Good evening, Henry.
[] (continues)
Well, I'm just gonna give him a minute.
He's with Brady.
(clears throat)
Sure you wanna ask him here?
Where the hell else
are we gonna ask him?
Don't ask him at all.
It's not his business.
MAN: I heard General Buckner's regrouped
his militia down in Bowling Green.
MAN #2: Who told you?
Claude's sister.
Margaret?
Mm-hmm.
Them Union men
took all his property.
You know, they're gonna try
to do the same to us.
- Did she mention anything that wasn't in Harper's?
- Yeah.
She found three of our rebels asleep on
her kitchen floor the other mornin'.
What did she do?
She fed 'em breakfast.
(men chuckle) MAN #3: I
read that we lost seven.
Mm-hmm.
Barbourville.
- Mr. Small.
- Hmm?
Mr. Mellon!
Good to see you, sir.
Well, how do you do?
Just fine. Thank you.
(laughs)
Great night for this.
Oh, it is.
Thanks for having us.
No. Thanks for coming. I was
hoping I could ask you a question.
Um... if you have a moment.
Oh, no. Of course.
(clears throat) Well, as you
know, I've got about 200 acres.
Uh, it's in pretty bad shape.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, it's good land. It's just,
uh, kinda grown up at the moment.
Uh, it's just been hard for Henry and
I to keep it the way we need to.
Mm-hmm. I was thinking, with
the season coming to an end,
you might be in a position to
spare a few of your men for us,
after you're harvested, of course.
Oh.
That way, in the spring, I'll have the opportunity
to get what I need done in the ground,
and then, I was hoping I could give you
20% of what I get from the tobacco.
- I figure with your harvest being over, you could spare...
- Well, no... Uh, Francis...
Yes, sir. Excuse me.
Now, I'm very short on everyone and
everything. Yes, sir, I understand.
If this was five years ago or even
a year ago, well, I'd be happy to.
What if I could do 25? Do you think you know
anybody that might be interested in that?
Hmm. (smacks lips) Actually 30?
Mmm.
(smacks lips)
Well, that's fine.
I just wanted to bring it up.
I'll put my mind to it. You're very
welcome. Thanks so much. Okay.
You say "hey" to Henry for me.
I'll make sure I do.
Good talkin' to you.
Thank you, sir. Bye.
[] (continues)
(chattering)
(woman laughing)
WOMAN:
Whoo!
(dancers exclaiming)
(woman screams, laughs)
(woman exclaims)
[] (stops)
MAN:
Ohh.
(man laughs)
(people chattering)
Howdy, Henry.
Howdy.
You boys doin' all right?
Yes, sir.
Morning, Miss Small.
Henry.
So, how are you?
How's your brother?
Uh, he's fine.
- What are you reading on?
- The Wandering Jew.
Hmm.
So you've read it?
Mm-hmm.
(mumbles)
Have a good day.
(insects chirping)
(mule snorts)
(snorting)
He's pretty well lit, anyways.
When he gets up there, he
pulls the damn thing down.
Pulls the top?
- He goes to put the other one up there.
- Uh-huh.
And the roof was one of them slope
kind, real steep. Right. Oh, gosh.
- Well, sir, he tumbled right off and
broke both damn legs. - (door closes)
- Hoo!
- Hey, Warren.
- Hey, Henry.
- Broke 'em both?
He died too, by God,
just a couple of weeks later.
- From broken legs?
- No, he died of pneumonia.
Uh-huh. But his legs didn't
help him none neither.
Yep.
Where you been, bub?
Out and about.
See the mules?
Yeah, I seen 'em.
Bought 'em today.
- You bought two mules?
- Yep.
What do we need two mules for?
To use 'em. What do you mean?
Help with work.
In the winter?
For spring.
- Why did you get 'em now?
- 'Cause I got a great deal.
That Johnson family
over around Sibley.
They're selling out.
Moving back East.
And so they had these two mules.
And, uh, so, in...
Instead of, uh, one,
I got...
I bought two.
Generally, when you buy mules,
you don't buy 'em in pairs.
They... Rarely do you
get a deal like this.
Instead of buying one...
I... I got both of 'em. Well,
he got... For the price of one.
- No, but I...
- HENRY: How much did you spend on 'em?
Henry!
Henry.
It's all right.
Have a seat.
Just counting to see how much
money you squandered.
Henry.
(door opens)
Lost him.
(rain pattering)
My God.
Well, I don't know
if I should stay or...
No, do stay. It's fine. You don't
want to get wet anyway. No, no, no.
Stay. Stay, stay, stay.
It's fine. Stay the night.
Well.
Sit down!
Nah. It's gettin' late. Come on.
Here, a little bit more.
There's enough for everybody.
Come on.
- Well, just a short one.
- All right.
(clears throat)
Too short?
Yeah. That's... That's good.
That short enough?
I'll have one too. But, yeah.
She said come over tomorrow.
Tomorrow or next day.
HENRY: Think you're so...
And he'll be...
You are stupider than hell to be
buyin' a mule right before winter,
when they can't do nothin'
except for eat and die.
They're standin' out there.
They're fine.
- Probably no good anyway.
- They're in great health.
- You didn't even ask me.
- I don't have to ask ya.
(clicks tongue) Well,
boys, I best be goin'.
It's an early day tomorrow.
FRANCIS: Stick around, Warren.
Well, I'd like to, but
mornin' comes early.
Well, thanks for comin'.
Good to see ya.
Come back, won't ya?
Yeah.
All right.
Well, good night, boys.
(rain pattering)
Good night, Warren.
Night.
(door closes)
Scared him off.
No, I didn't.
He's got to be up early.
(snoring)
Stop.
(snoring continues)
Stop. Stop snoring.
(grunting)
Stop!
Give me some covers.
(snoring resumes)
Hey, girl.
Girlie.
- How you doin'?
- (mule snorts)
Hmm.
Good boy.
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
(gunshots continue)
(hammer cocks)
WARREN:
Got him.
Henry?
Henry?
Henry?
Henry?
(hammer cocks)
Hey, Henry.
You awake?
(laughing)
Oh! (laughs) Cock-a-doodle-doo, Henry.
(grunts)
Whoa! Jesus!
Missed me.
(laughing)
FRANCIS:
Doesn't count.
If you wanna play with some prim
dandy, we can play from here.
But let's play from back here.
(clanking)
It was close. For sure
that doesn't count either.
Francis!
All right.
Easy, boy.
Easy. Easy, easy.
(clicking tongue)
FRANCIS: Okay, let's see
what you have, then.
All right. Easy, boy.
All right. Easy.
Easy, easy, easy.
Easy.
(exclaims)
Jesus Christ.
He'll run off on you.
I know.
(whistling)
(clicking tongue)
(whistling)
Come here, boy.
Come on, boy.
(whistles)
You see him?
No.
(rain pattering)
(snoring)
How in the world are we gonna
eat all these?
Who left them out?
You did.
Damn it.
All right, well, fish 'em out.
I gotta get ready.
(clanking)
(lid thuds on floor)
(water sloshing)
What?
Goddamn it!
Henry! You can't keep a goddamn
empty kettle on the fire.
HENRY: Get it. It's too far
in the fire right now.
You gotta raise it out some.
This is how you do it.
(laughs)
If you have it directly in there, it's
gonna cook all black on the outside,
and then just raw in the middle.
- So where do you want it?
- Just put it in the...
- Put it just above the heat but
not directly in it. - (laughs)
I don't understand.
(grunts)
(sizzles)
Ah!
(chuckles softly)
Why did you touch it?
To see how hot it is.
It was in the fire.
You're not... Now, the problem is
now you're gettin' the bottom...
This is... They're fine. It's gonna be pink
down there, and some other color up top.
Get it up in that smoke.
(sniffs)
Come on, up in the smoke.
Ooh!
- Well, we could use some more smoke.
- Ooh!
- (clanking)
- (Francis laughing)
(both laughing)
We're gonna make a little...
A little thing.
Get it out!
All right. Put this out. Hit it!
On the top.
Now hit it.
No, let me hit it!
I wanna make a little somethin'
over the... fireplace
that has a little... tail,
and then I wanna make my own
little stamp for it,
and I wanna stamp in:
Flibbertigibbet.
[] (Francis singing)
[] (continues)
[] (singing continues)
Francis.
[] (singing continues)
Francis. I don't mind the
weather for the wind won't blow
(hammer cocks)
Francis.
(groans)
(body thuds)
(Francis gasps)
Hey. Francis.
Francis.
Francis?
(laughs)
I thought a rock
climbed in there.
Get off, you bastard!
Fuck!
(groans softly)
(blow landing)
(coughs)
(coughing continues)
(spits)
You all right?
(coughs)
Don't throw that in the fire.
Aaah!
Oh, come on, Henry.
(groans)
I'm hurt pretty good.
Let me see.
Open it up.
All right. All right. Put that hand on it.
Hold it tight.
Okay? Just keep it like that,
all right?
Sit down. Don't sit down!
All right, sit down.
You been tight... Let me see.
All right.
See. Take that hand off.
Take it off!
- Ah!
- All right. Take this hand.
Hold it there and don't let it go.
Okay? Now stand up.
Come on, Henry. Come on.
Stand up!
Can I lay down, Francis? Stand up.
No, don't lay down.
Stand up. Stand up. Come on.
All right. Walk, walk.
Keep walking.
All right?
Keep walking.
(muttering)
Keep walking.
Keep walking.
Take it easy.
(banging on door)
He ain't here now.
[] (fiddle, faint)
(woman laughs)
FRANCIS: You reckon he's at Mr.
Small's?
[] (continues)
(horse whinnies)
(chattering inside)
(knocking)
We're lookin' for Dr....
What's his name?
Dr., uh...
I'll get him.
Thanks. WOMAN: Is he all right?
Taylor.
Yeah, he's fine.
Well, look at him.
He's bleeding.
Yes?
Evening, Mrs. Small.
Uh, Henry's hurt pretty bad. I
wondered if Dr. Taylor was available.
Pardon me.
All right.
Let's go to my office.
Wait right here.
[] (ends)
(laughter, chattering inside)
You all right, Henry?
(Henry mumbles)
[] (piano) MRS.
SMALL: Come inside.
Thank you.
(chattering continues)
(clears throat)
- I'm sorry about this.
- Please, make yourself at home.
Josephine, you will see if Mr.
Mellon would care for anything.
[] (continues)
Miss... Miss, uh, Wright...
Can I grab you anything?
- Tea? There's punch.
- Oh, punch. Thank you.
Okay. I'll be right back.
[] (continues)
(guests chattering)
[] (continues)
(no audible dialogue)
(chattering continues)
(no audible dialogue)
You have such kind eyes.
You remind me of a girl
I used to know.
A girl who was very dear to me.
She died many years ago.
You must miss her dearly.
I've said too much already.
You should go enjoy the party,
Miss Small.
Betsy.
Have you said hello
to Mr. and Mrs. Keach?
Not yet. I'm tryin' to
save your reputation.
Now, go thank them.
Good evening, Mrs. Keach.
Such a lovely pattern, isn't it?
JOSEPHINE: Here you are.
Thank you very much.
This is, uh, a lovely party too.
Thank you. Excuse me.
- S-Sure.
- I'm just talkin' some politics.
Enjoying the party? Can
I get you any... Yes.
(whispering)
Oh, no.
[] (piano tune ends)
(scattered applause)
[] (Josephine singing ballad)
And pour the soothing
balm of song
And while the mournful tale
I tell
In all your weeds
and weeping clad
Ye muses in my bosom dwell
And fire the lay
with sorrow sad
Come, oh, to free
this heart from pain
Your healing notes
of grief prolong
Don't take that rag off.
Let it seal up that cut.
[] (up-tempo fiddle)
Henry.
Hold that tight, now.
(dancers laughing, exclaiming)
- WOMAN: Whoo! Whoo!
- (chuckling)
(woman laughing)
(laughing continues)
WOMAN: Whoo! (laughs)
Evening, Miss Small.
Hello, Henry. (sniffles) Sorry!
Oh, no. No, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no.
It's a nice night out tonight.
Out here.
(sobbing softly)
I suppose.
Warm.
Well, it's not too cold.
(sniffles)
It was cloudy yesterday, so I
thought it would be cold today.
(cries, sniffles)
Yeah, but the thing is
you take last week
when it was sunny and dry,
it was cold.
So it don't make much sense except
maybe clouds keep... keep it warm.
You reckon?
Yes, but it rained before that.
(sniffles)
Well, there was that one day
where it was warm and clear,
and it turned cloudy and warm.
Now that was real strange.
I don't remember that.
Sure it did.
When?
It rained off and on
for two days, right?
[] (indoors, faint)
Well, actually
it was three days.
No, it was cloudy one day.
There weren't any rain though.
I saw rain.
It rained here that day
but just a little.
So maybe it rained a little. I
didn't see it, but I believe it.
Could be it rained one place
and not the other.
I've seen that before.
Just sometimes it's clouds got rain
in 'em and sometimes they don't.
Either way, it was clear and
chilly for two days after that.
And in between
we had a frost and...
What you're not remembering
was there was a warm day
when it was clear and warm, and it
got nice and warm in the afternoon.
Real nice.
We was outside all day
and didn't need a jacket.
(sighs)
I'll have to think about it.
Can you hold these?
Sure.
Oh. What happened to your hand?
Oh, I was...
Got a cut on it.
Goodness, are you all right?
Doctor's gonna
amputate it tomorrow, so...
(whispers)
Oh, goodness.
No, no. It's fine. It
doesn't hurt any. Oh.
That's good.
I got a real big bruise
on my leg the other day.
I wish it would never go away.
You wanna see
what someone gave me?
[] (continues inside, faint)
Here.
You want any?
Sure.
(door opens)
(whispers)
Hold on a minute.
Just a minute.
(footsteps receding)
All right.
Hold real still.
(bottle thuds)
All this at once?
Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
Want any?
I've already had it.
(kisses)
(squeals)
(sobs)
(high-pitched sob)
Betsy.
(sobbing continues)
(protesting squeal)
(sobbing continues)
I didn't want my first kiss
to be with you.
(sniffles, sobs)
(bangs wall)
(sobbing continues)
[] (up-tempo fiddle)
(chattering) WOMAN: Whoo!
[] (continues)
MAN: To the right hand
and to the left...
Dead to all hope in yourself.
You must be stripped
of dependents upon your prayers,
tears, resolutions or desires.
You must lie at the footstool
of sovereign mercy,
throwing your guilty, perishing
soul at the feet of Jesus,
crying, "Lord, save
me, or I perish."
And so, narrow is the way
to the happy country.
Thank you so much, Reverend.
It was beautiful.
Ladies, thank you for gracing
our presence... Reverend.
- So consistently every week.
- WOMAN: We'll see you at the house?
REVEREND: I would not miss it
for anything in the world.
WOMAN:
You're so sweet.
(no audible dialogue)
FRANCIS:
Henry!
Henry!
(blustering)
Henry!
Henry!
What kinda signs
are we looking for?
- Signs?
- Footprints, blood?
Henry!
Broken branches, what?
Now, I don't know.
MAN:
Henry!
Henry!
Henry?
(door opens)
(door closes)
(inhales)
(sniffs)
(yawning)
(objects clattering)
(sniffs)
Hey, Lucas. Hey, Francis.
How you doing?
I'm all right.
WOMAN: I don't think it's
quite right for what we need.
FRANCIS: Howdy. Howdy.
MAN:
What would you like to see?
(chattering)
Take a letter for me. As soon
as I help these young ladies.
All right.
We'll leave that there. Look around
some more. You might find something.
'Cause your daddy brought
some new stuff in. Thank you.
- You ready?
- I'm gonna need a pencil and paper.
Where's that? Right here, son.
Right here.
All right.
Uh...
Land available. Good for hemp.
50 acres. Hart County.
Good land. Write Francis Mellon, care
of Small's Corner General Store.
Have it?
Send it to the paper
in Munfordville, would ya?
(man writing)
(women chattering)
You got it?
Wanna put a price?
Do I need to?
Some people do.
I don't think...
No, I don't need to do that.
All right. Thanks.
You know, we don't
take credit no more.
No, I paid it down last month.
Thanks.
See ya, Lucas.
I think we've made
a wrong turn with the fabric.
Do you think this dress
is too aggressive?
No.
I don't think it's right.
(knocking)
(door opens, closes)
Not bad.
- Okay.
- (inhales sharply)
- (groans softly) - Mighty
appreciate that bow in your hair.
Thank you.
I don't even know
what I'm gonna say to you.
I don't suppose you like, uh,
doin' much outdoors
and nature-like.
Mmm, I don't know much
about that.
Well...
I've always been kind of
an outdoors man myself.
You all like hunting?
No.
Uh...
Do you like traveling any?
Well, yes.
I love to travel.
What all sorts of places
you like traveling to?
Well, New York City's nice,
but I also like
being down South.
New Orleans.
Not in the summertime though.
Do you have relations up North?
Uh...
I've got a second cousin
used to live up there.
We were never close though.
I mean, he came down
and visited some,
and, uh, we never went up
and saw him though.
He's a traveling man.
"Though Madame de la S..."
What is it?
"Sainte-Colombe."
"Well, though Madame
de la Sainte-Colombe
is 60 years old,
it appears that Dumoulin
has matrimonial views on the
large fortune of this woman.
You will do well
to inform Rodin,
so that he may be on his guard against
the dark designs of this rascal."
WOMAN: John says that it
will all be over by spring.
Mm. WOMAN #2: Last time
you said Christmas.
(footsteps receding)
Lucky if they don't
kill you in your sleep.
(clock bells chiming)
Is it 2:00 already?
I must be off.
Still got two hours ahead of us.
Who's that?
Josephine.
(whispers)
Sophie, come here!
(chattering)
(footsteps on stairs)
Boys, we don't have tobacco today,
just like we didn't have it yesterday.
Private Jacobsen got some
from you yesterday.
Then why don't you go buy some
from Private Jacobsen?
What you got right there?
That's a bag of sugar
I'm holding for Mrs. Maloney.
SOLDIER: Mind if we see it?
Look...
Good morning, Enoch.
Howdy, Francis.
Give me 12 pounds of tobacco seed
and a pack of corn seed, please.
Got a 10-pound bag. That work?
That's fine. Thanks.
SOLDIER:
Can't smoke that.
No, I don't have anything
in the back.
(chattering continues) (clears
throat) How's your day going?
Oh, you know, 'bout the same.
That'll be a dollar, 12.
Keep that.
Pay my account off
a little bit. Thank you.
Will do.
When you gonna get some?
I can't tell you.
What about there?
Thank you, Mr. Small.
Francis. Boys, what else do
you want me to tell you?
We don't have any tobacco today, and
we probably won't have any tomorrow.
Where can I get some?
That I can't help you with.
Good luck to you boys.
Just called you "lady."
You want something else,
go ahead.
Captain.
Sons of bitches.
(water flowing)
(carriage approaching)
(horse blusters)
Howdy, Miss Small.
Whoa.
Fine.
How do you do, Francis?
Fine.
Help you down?
Uh... All right.
Easy. There you go.
That's a lot of wood.
Yeah, I reckon it is.
Can I invite you in for a
refreshment or anything at all?
Oh, I can't. I'm supposed
to give you this.
Came in the mail last week, and we
didn't know when you were gonna stop in.
Would you mind
reading it for me?
My eyes are sensitive
this morning.
(paper unfolding)
It's from Henry.
Can't be. Henry can't
spell or read or nothin'.
Says it's from him.
Want me to read it for you?
Please.
"Dear Francis, I now take a
moment to write you a letter
to tell you how I am faring.
I am sorry to take so long.
My friend Ambrose
has helped me write this.
We joined up with the army
in Bardstown.
I like the army all right.
I get as much beef
and salted pork
as I can eat.
Coffee too.
We drill a lot.
Have you heard from the Smalls?
Please write with news.
Your brother, Henry."
Can I see this?
Whew.
Don't see how he could, uh...
I just ca...
(sniffles)
(man grunts)
MAN:
Thank you, Sergeant.
Sam?
Thank you, sir.
Henry.
Got some mail for you.
John?
Thank you, Sergeant.
AMBROSE:
"Dear Henry,
I have taken a moment to sit
and write to you this letter,
with the help of Miss Small."
HENRY:
Hmm. Which one?
Which what?
Which Small?
Miss Small.
Hmm.
"I hope this finds you
as well as yours found me.
I'm glad you are well and alive.
I hope that you will return shortly
after reading this letter.
How is the food you're eating?
It's been nothing but turnips here.
(chuckles)
I will leave it here,
but please take care
and write as soon
as you are able.
Thank you for the letter.
Your brother, Francis."
So, that's... He's good?
He's doing good.
[] (bugle)
Well...
Supper.
[] (bugle)
(clattering)
MAN:
Left face.
You stay still.
Front.
Thump it.
(metal scraping)
MAN: Would you
like a hotel room?
Yes, I'd like
a hotel room
Hotel room
Hotel room
Three-day pass
Three-day pass
Alouette
Alouette
Oh, Alouette
Gentille Alouette
Alouette
Je Te plumerai
Would you like
a squeaky bed?
Yes, I'd like
a squeaky bed
Squeaky bed!
Squeaky bed
Hotel room
Hotel room
Three-day pass
Three-day pass
- Jug of wine
- Jug of wine
Alouette
Alouette
Oh, Alouette
Gentille Alouette
(drumming)
(man shouting, indistinct)
[] (tin whistles)
Sir, you can blink and you
can breathe all you want.
Do not try to keep
your eyes wide open.
Do not try to hold your breath.
Other than that, be very still.
Very still. Do not move.
(man shouts)
Here it comes.
Boy, that's something else.
Have you ever kept your
feet warm with red peppers?
No.
One time my brother told me if you
stick hot red peppers in your boot,
you'd keep your feet warm.
He didn't tell me that you gotta
keep 'em on the outside of the sock.
So I stuck them up
underneath my stocking,
and I was walking around all
day, just thinking to myself,
"This actually works.
Feels like my feet
are on fire."
Then I took my stockings off, and
my feet were all red and blistered.
Couldn't walk on them
for three weeks.
AMBROSE:
"We's marchin' next week,
so make sure to write
to my company, not the camp.
I will tell you all about
our way of getting along."
And... I don't want him
to worry about us,
so, uh,
say "I don't want you
to worry about... me.
We are getting along
first-rate."
(loud clattering)
All right.
Good night.
Poor guy.
(chuckling)
Ha-ha!
Who's got a plate?
See if that one's good.
This real nice farmer
donated those to the cause.
Whoo. You put that one
in the middle.
Oh, shoot. We might have to
eat that one in the morning.
(laughing)
If it's still there.
I seen her in the summertime
I seen her in the fall
Saw her at the chicken coop
and I saw her at the ball
Every time I see her now
she's smiling like the sun
But now she's gone and left me
here to beat on the old jawbone
Angelina Baker
Angelina Baker's gone
She left me here
to weep a tear
And beat on
the old jawbone
The master run, ha-ha
The darkies stay, ho-ho
It must be now this kingdom
coming in the year of Jubilo
Whoo!
Whoo! Hoo!
(gasps)
Back up from the fire.
Hey, Billy.
Hey, Billy Yank.
Yeah. Howdy.
Say, you got any coffee
you could trade
for some tobacco?
Yeah, I got it.
That the coffee?
Where's your tobacco?
Well, toss that here.
Let's toss it at the same time.
On three.
One, two,
three.
(laughs)
I'm bluffin' you.
(packet hits ground)
Hey, you on picket tomorrow?
Could be.
Say, bring me a newspaper.
HENRY:
Dear Henry,
I... (mutters)
"Reviewed"? No. Reviewed?
That's... No, no.
"Received."
"I received your letter
from the 20th
and was glad to hear
you are well.
Things are picking up here
on the farm.
I..."
"Planted."
"I planted a whole field
of..."
"Tobacco."
"Tobacco that's comin' up.
I go into town very day
to get the news.
Your Union soldiers
have kicked the Smalls
out of home.
Please write as soon as you can.
Your brother, Francis."
Whoosh.
That's the news.
(men arguing)
(man coughing)
Hey.
HENRY:
"Dear Francis,
I now take a moment...
[] (singing)
A very old soul was he
to write to you.
I am sorry
for taking
so long
since your last
letter.
I have been sick.
I was in infirmary
for
two weeks.
(men laughing)
It was
worse than being in camp.
There has been
two men shot.
Killed accidentally.
And one for crossing a guard.
This war might last
longer than me.
Forget me... not.
Your brother...
MAN:
Turn out the colors!
Henry."
[] (men singing, indistinct)
[] (drums, tin whistles)
Attention, company.
Shoulder arms!
Forward march!
(explosion in distance)
(gunfire)
- Sir!
- Attention, company!
Forward at the double quick.
March!
(cannon fire)
(man shouts)
Keep it going.
(gunfire)
(explosion in distance)
(footsteps approaching)
(mooing)
WOMAN:
Hey!
Hey!
Stop!
(girl chattering)
(baby fussing)
I'm sorry.
Don't smash it.
- You're smashing yours.
- No, I'm not!
Yeah. I see you.
Tell Dad.
Hey. Hello.
You did that.
Did. No, I didn't. Hello!
Hello.
(woman laughs)
Well, all right.
Come on. Finish up.
Cock-a-doodle-do.
Cock-a-doodle-do.
I saw your mouth move.
Okay. Well, I'm gonna
put these girls to bed.
Aw.
Come on.
Say good night.
GIRLS: Good night.
- (baby fusses)
- Shh, shh, shh.
Come on.
(rubbing hands)
I haven't had a word from him
in over five weeks.
That don't mean nothin'.
(clattering)
(water splashing)
(water splashing continues)
Howdy.
(men whooping, shouting)
(footsteps)
(wind chimes tinkling)
(horse blustering)
- HENRY: Betsy?
- (man whooping)
Down by the swamp with that river boy!
(whooping)
(shouting)
I'm gonna beat the cotton
out of your ass! Whoo!
Yeah, I saw you!
I saw you!
Whoo! You ornery... Whoo!
(breathing unsteadily)
Francis.
[] (fiddle in distance)
Henry?
(laughing)
When'd you get...
How'd you get off?
Here, hold on.
Come here.
I want you to say hello
to my bride. (laughs)
Hello, Henry.
You see all this?
A hundred acres
of tobacco last year.
Army came in this year,
bought a hundred goddamn acres.
A hundred acres.
They definitely got a deal on it, but
they still bought a hundred acres.
Huh?
That's somethin'.
Damn right it's somethin'.
Next year I'm gonna put corn in
over there, over there, over there.
Corn, corn, corn!
(laughing)
Drinks.
Let's have some drinks.
- I'm gonna go fetch some water.
- I can get it.
I got it.
All right.
Oops. Here.
- It's fine.
- That's where I...
I don't want to be a burden on you two.
I'll just sleep outside tonight.
You're not a burden.
You're staying with us.
I'll sleep outside
if I have to, all right?
I can sleep anywhere really.
How 'bout there on that bed she's
making you, next to the fire?
Can I make you
one of these, darlin'?
I don't think I'm gonna
last much longer.
I'm gonna go on up to bed.
Good night, Francis.
Henry.
Good night.
Let me help you up.
You all right?
Let us know if you
need anything, okay?
What do you think about that?
Goin' to bed?
No.
(chuckles)
No.
(liquid pours)
Cheers.
Here's to it.
(cups clang)
How long they let you off for?
Couple days.
That ain't much.
(sighs)
So where you been?
Been marching all around. We was
just down in Decatur, Alabama.
Huntsville.
Bridgeport.
All in between.
Then we had to march
up to Louisville.
- I think I told you about that in a letter.
- Mm-hmm.
Then we was in Perryville.
Was on a train car
for a couple of days.
We stopped in front
of a big field of watermelon.
Boys nearly trampled each other
to get to it.
Ate... half the field.
Just like that...
Half the field's gone.
You sleepin'?
Hmm.
Watermelons?
What happened with that?
Well, we ate damn near
the whole field.
Everybody's pleased as punch,
just waitin' to go.
Then the captain says, "Y'all
have to pay this poor farmer back
for this crop you ate,"
and they was none too happy
to hear that.
Francis.
Francis!
Mm-hmm?
Yeah. Pour us another one.
I'll, uh...
Yeah, get some.
(cup clanks)
(liquid pouring)
(liquid pouring continues)
Are you asleep?
I gotta get in there too.
Thanks, darlin'.
Good night.
(flames crackle)
(birds tweeting outside)
(drawer rumbles)
(door opens)
(door closes)
(footsteps)
(birds chirping)
[] (acoustic guitar)
WOMAN: There once was a
family that lived near hell
And if they're not dead,
they're living there still
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle hi di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devil came down
to the man at the plow
I've come for one
of your family now
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
Oh, please don't take
my eldest son
There's work on the farm
that's gotta be done
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
Take my wife
with all your heart
With luck the two of you
never need part
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devil,
he hoisted her onto his back
No peddler was ever
so proud of his pack
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
And when they got
to the fork of the road
He says, "Oh, woman,
you're a hell of a load"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
And when they got
to the gates of hell
He says, "Stoke the fire
We'll roast her well"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
Then stepped up the devil
with a ball and chain
She upped with her foot
and kicked out his brain
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devils came down
to put her in a sack
She upped with her boot
and broke all their backs
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devils cried out
From up on the walls
"Take her back, Daddy
She'll murder us all"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The old man's creeping
through his crack
When he seen the old devil,
"I'm bringin' her back"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devil said,
"If you would be so kind
Take her back, farmer
I've changed my mind"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
"What will you give me
for taking her in?
I promise no more
than the wages of sin"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
"I've been the devil
most all of my life
I never knew hell
till I met with your wife"
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
If you want to be rid
of this spicy old hen
You'll never bedevil
my family again
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The devil did cry
The devil did howl
But he never returned
to the man and his plow
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
The old man gave
his wife a kiss
For who could get him
a deal like this?
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
This proves that women
are better than men
They can all go to hell
and come back again
Singing hi diddle
ai diddle ai di
Diddle ai diddle ai day
[] (ends)
(birds chirping)
(birds chirping continues)