Ride with the Devil (1999) Movie Script

A little late, Dutchy.
Ain't it so? Sener.
Buddy.
Mornin'.
Wow. Looks great.
Hi, Mr. Roedel.
Giver of all spiritual grace...
the author of everlasting
life, send thy blessings...
upon these, thy servants -
this man and this woman
whom we bless in thy name -
that as Isaac and Rebekah
lived faithfully together...
so these persons may
surely perform and keep...
the vow and covenant
between them made.
Dearly beloved, we
are gathered here -
What's ticklin' you?
Do you smell somethin' funny?
Fool. It's the cologne my ma
slapped on me this mornin'.
...signifying unto us
the mystical union
What brings you so late
to Sister's funer -
I mean wedding. My
pa had me workin'.
Huh. Son.
Let him speak now or else
forever hold his peace.
Do you believe all those
men are necessary, Horton?
We can take no further
chances, Asa.
You and I both know it'll soon be war
between us and the Yankee aggressors.
With that black republican Abe
Lincoln in the White House...
Missouri's no longer safe
from the depredations
of Jennison and his
Kansas Jayhawkers.
They've yet to strike this
deep into Missouri, Horton.
Lawrence, Kansas, and its abolitionists
are a long way from here.
There are Union men even
here amongst us, Asa.
Schmitz and his Germans form
a militia at Independence...
and his Lawrence cohorts have
eyes and ears amongst us.
Even here.
If you refer to us Bowdens,
Lee, you are sorely mistaken.
We may be Union men, yes.
But we are Southerners too.
Now, you know very well we'll
have no hand in jayhawking
or abolitionist provocations.
I did not imply it, sir.
I believe, sir, you did.
Now, gentlemen, my home is no place, and
this is no time for political quarrels.
We are all old friends here.
Asa Chiles, you have spoken truly.
My apologies, Horton.
Well said, sir.
Horton. Horton.
Bye. Take care now.
I've been thinking, Jack Bull.
A wedding is a peculiar thing.
It's no more peculiar, Jake, than slavery.
That's certain.
That's why I've often wondered
for what cause those Northerners
are so anxious to change
our Southern institutions.
Hmm. From both North and South
men are every day enslaved at the altar,
regardless of their state or color.
Well, there's a type of subjugation.
We shall avoid it, Jake.
Happily my poverty ensures
my freedom from such a fate.
Oh, no. Not if my
mother can help it.
I heard her singin' your praises
earlier to the sister of the groom.
Good day, Mrs. Chiles.
Sir. Father.
Please give our regards to your father, Jake.
You know he's always invited.
He's more comfortable workin'.
You must at the least bring
Mr. Roedel some of the cake.
I will, ma'am. Thank you.
Guten Abend.
Guten Abend, Herr Meyer.
Guten Abend, Ja.
Guten Abend. Guten Abend.
Father, Mrs. Chiles sends her regards.
A piece of the cake.
You are to see
tomorrow Mrs. Kreuzer.
The war it is sure to come
now, with the secession.
Mrs. Kreuzer's husband will
take you in Saint Louis.
Pa, I told you. I'm not gonna huddle with all the
other Lincoln-lovin' Germans in Saint Louis.
It is safer. For us,
this is no war.
Pa, you may have borne me in
Germany, but I was raised here.
These are my people. And if it gets hot
- Your people?
No, Jacob, this they are not.
You will always be a
Deutschman, a German to them
no matter with who
you are friends.
Promise me you'll
go to Mrs. Kreuzer.
All right, come on!
Get 'em all out!
Where is he? Where is he?
I got him! I got him!
Oh, no!
Where's your boy, Asa?
My son's gone.
Where's your boy?
Jake. Jack Bull.
He told me to run, Jake.
He told me.
Did you see who they are?
Jayhawkers, Jake. Lawrence men.
Father!
Come on! Don't you die here too.
Find the boy. Let's
go look in the mill.
You men find the boy!
Asa!
Oh, my God!
Ted? Riders.
Gentlemen. Captain
Henderson, Company D.
You boys have rid a
bit far from home.
Hell, spent two nights trackin'
this bushwhacking bastard...
and his Confederate friends
through the Sni-A-Bar.
What are you boys doin'
this far into Missouri?
Just rootin' out rebels and
conscriptin' chickens.
Been through all Cass
and Lafayette Counties.
Killed our share.
Not much action in Lafayette.
We got four Sunday last.
Stretched their necks.
They're still hanging.
Hey, George. Fetch that
busthead out there.
So you men were in on Lafayette?
Yes, sir.
But we're tirin' of chasin'
these rebs into the bush.
Can't trust none of these locals.
They're all hidin' 'em.
I wish we had a
real army to fight.
Not these sneakin' bastards.
Battles and armies -
it's all back East.
Down here in Missouri, you just
have the people to fight ya.
Ted.
Ted!
So you were in on
Lafayette, huh?
Bushwhackers!
Doin' business with the
Yankee invaders, huh?
No. They forced me.
He's dead.
You killed him.
Shoot me too, please.
We don't hurt women, ma'am.
We took her man. We should
leave her the store.
Come on, Jake. It's
gettin' hot in here.
Enough of this, boys.
Let's load up!
Black John.
George Clyde.
Yep.
Well met, my man. Well met.
Hey, boy. Watch that man.
He's a cheat.
Jack Bull.
You boys will love riding
with George Clyde.
Makes Yankee killin' as entertaining
a pastime as greasin' ganders.
Who's guns are those?
Even Holt over there.
You'll get used to him.
That's Holt.
That's George
Clyde's pet nigger.
Don't call him that in front of George though.
George don't like that.
He carries those? Yep.
He's a damn fine scout. George tosses
him a gun a good Yankee kill or two.
You know, him and Clyde
growed up together.
When Jim Lane's boys come for Clyde,
Holt there sent three of them to heaven.
So he rides with us now.
'Cause them Yankees want
to kill him real bad.
Yeah. Well, a nigger with guns
is still a nervous thing to me.
We're lookin' for the
Dorr's place, ma'am.
It's just up the road.
Who are you?
Why, we are Southern
men, and hungry.
You don't look
like Southern men.
How do I know?
Woman, my name is Crawford. One
of the Six Point Creek Crawfords.
Do you know me?
I knew the father.
Well, come on. Eat
as what we have.
Ma'am.
You alone here? Yes.
Well, no. My man's at
Arkansas with Shelby.
My son's in the barn.
Is he grown?
He was.
Gave up a leg at Wilson's Creek.
I keep him hid away. Union
Jayhawkers would kill him.
He should ride with us.
Oh, no. He won't fight.
He's done with that.
Hello inside.
Show yourself, Clark.
We're friends.
Bushwhackers. I could
have killed you both.
But it ain't even loaded.
Not no need of that.
We're friends.
Oh, you suppose so, do you?
I don't.
You were at Wilson's Creek.
Who with?
Why, with General Price.
The fat glory-hound
rebel himself.
Didn't see that one comin', huh?
Oh, I saw it comin'.
I saw it rollin' past the little piles of
meat and bone which I once called my friends.
I watched it roll
right up to me.
If you saw it comin',
couldn't you have dodged it?
Well, nature bore me smart.
That changes things.
I wanted my foot broke
so's I could head home.
Damn little cannonball was rollin'
slower than a fevered rabbit.
You are a fool. Cannonball
will rip your leg -
Well, General Price
is a good man.
Why don't you have us fetch
you something to eat.
I have a mother for that.
I don't eat anyway. Tryin'
something different.
You'll be killed anyways.
Jayhawkers or militias - someone or
the other stop here and kill you.
Oh, they already been here.
Burned the barn.
I wouldn't even move to put it out.
Ma done it.
Likely you boys
will kill me now.
I don't much care.
You wanna die?
Perhaps you choose to die now.
I have some experience in the killing line, Clark.
I could do you a fair job of it this minute.
No.
No, Ma has her heart
set on me livin'.
You sure of that? I'm
here now loaded.
I don't believe so.
Your mother's a
fine enough woman.
You could help her out
some, don't you think?
Get yourself a stick to
lean on, walk around a bit.
That could be next.
That could be the
very next thing.
You're an interestin'
foreigner, Jake.
Why is that?
I hear your pa's a Dutchman.
But you're loyal to here, not the North.
It's uncommon.
Nah, Jake may have
been born a Dutchman
but my ma and pa
practically raised him.
He's as Southern as they come.
Where's the other
one, you devil?
Speak up now, and
maybe you'll live.
I'm alone.
That's my daddy's horse. He was
shot off it three days back.
He's lyin'. Let's parole him
to Jesus, and right now.
Jake, get in here!
I'm gettin' the horses!
Damn! They took my pinky!
You boys, cover outside!
Holt!
Damn! Go on over there!
Go over there!
Holt!
Ah! Turner, cover the women!
Please, ma'am. Ma'am,
get over there!
Ow! Damn! Don't fret
about that now!
Cease fire!
Cease fire! Hold
your fire, boys!
I said, cease fire, goddamn it!
Control your fire!
Do you kill women?
There's women in here!
You know we don't kill women!
Send 'em out now, and
they'll be safe passaged!
Please, ma'am, you and
your daughter got to go.
Come on. Come on.
We are goin', son.
You best believe it. There
ain't no way we're not goin'.
You'll have to come out! Fire!
Ray!
You gotta trust me. We
can't hold 'em from here!
Get back, Lewis!
We'll kill them yet!
We'll just have to take
our chances running!
They'll riddle us down! There ain't so
much as a stump out there for cover!
Whoo! Come on, men!
Let's go to it!
Let's go.
Holt.
Go! Go!
Go, Ray!
Come on! Let's go!
Come on! I'll get Ray! Come on!
Hold your fire!
Hold your fire!
Split up, boys!
Head for the woods!
Split up! We'll
meet at the place!
Where's my brother? Don't know.
Did you see my brother? Black John.
With him alive.
With Black John? Alive?
Whoo! That was sure enough hot! They
left us hurtin', that's certain.
This way, boys.
Come on.
Turner.
Jake. Well, Jack Bull.
Taylor. You're alive.
Jake Roedel.
Well, Alf Bowden. You
sure are in a fix.
Seems so. Surely does seem so.
Do you know this man? Certainly.
His daddy's place is just
downriver from the Chiles'.
Hemp growers.
Jack Bull. Alf Bowden.
News of home? No, no, no.
It all just goes on.
Some may have died, not most.
What of my mother?
Well, now
- Well, she is watched.
All the secesh are watched.
And my father?
He comes and goes.
He's a Union man.
He ain't bothered by no one.
You must know that.
You must know the whole town talks about
you boys out here black-flaggin' it.
Some friendliness may
be lost for your kin.
You been fed?
Not so as you'd notice.
I'll look into it.
Roedel.
Now, take this down. It is for
the Lexington Union News.
So do it fine, the way you do.
Gladly.
"Dear Citizens:"
"Mistakes are most common these
days and deadly for it."
"The Federals are to hang William
Lloyd and James Curtain"
"two fine sons of Missouri."
"But by a provident
cut of the cards"
"four Federals have
been dealt to me."
"And it is their hope that Lloyd
and Curtain are not hanged"
"as they would provide the
sequel to these murders."
"However, if our
boys are released"
"I will, as a gentlemen"
"release these unfortunates."
"The choice is yours,
citizens, so make it wisely."
"Signed, John Ambrose
and George Clyde"
"Command of First Irregulars."
That's good. Put a
note on it that says:
"Where you think we ain't, we are.
Remember it."
Who will deliver it? There are
Federals all over Lexington.
We could slip a man in there.
We done it before.
Oh, I reckon a citizen could be pressed
into service, if one could be found.
That might be a job, for citizens
are cautious hereabouts.
You got some better
idea, Dutchy?
Maybe you should
volunteer yourself.
Well, there is a way we could
prove more things than one.
If we send a prisoner, it would
prove we have prisoners.
And also he can attest
to our intentions.
It seems to me he could get
more quickly into town as well.
And time is short.
Lloyd and Curtain will be hanged
right quick, I would think.
It is a good idea. There are
some fine touches to it.
You know, you should
speak up more, Roedel.
You're not near so
dumb as you let on.
Now go put one of them Federals
on a horse with that letter.
Convince them to see
this deal through, Alf.
We're only askin' to be treated
like the soldiers that we are.
We shall do the same for
your companions here.
Do your best.
What are you lookin' at?
What is it, Jake?
I hear you ruminatin' louder
than a cow chewin' in my ear...
and it's keepin'
me from my sleep.
Do you think Alf Bowden's made
it back to Lexington as yet?
There was a minute there
when I saw him ridin' off -
I thought maybe you and
me could join him.
That we could all
ride home together.
Just ride back home.
What have you left at home you're
so anxious to ride back to?
Nothin'.
Just a passel of memories.
Mostly memories of you and me.
Of your father, old Asa Chiles.
We'll stick together, Jack Bull.
We'll get all of it back.
Then you're a black magician who
can raise the dead, are ya?
No. My father's under
the dirt to stay.
Like that's gone to stay too.
My finger?
Well, so it is.
And it makes me
notable by the loss.
You sound pleased, as if that finger
had been pesterin' you for rings.
No. It was a fine finger, and
I'd rather have it still.
But it was took from me, and it's
been et by chickens for sure.
And I say, what is the good
side to this amputation?
And there is one. Name it, Jake.
Well, you say one
day some Federals
catch up to me and
kill me in a thicket.
Well, they would
riddle me and hang me,
and no Southern man would
find me for weeks or months.
And when they did, I'd be bad meat,
pretty well rotted to a glob.
You're scientifically
accurate, I'm afraid.
I've seen it. I'd be a
mysterious gob of rot.
People would say,
"who was that?"
And surely someone
would look up and say:
"Why, it's nubbin-fingered
Jake Roedel."
And then you could go and tell my
father I was clearly murdered,
and he wouldn't be tortured
by uncertain wonders.
And that's the good of it?
Yes, sir, that's the good.
Go to sleep, Jake Roedel.
Get over there!
They hanged and quartered
Lloyd and Curtain last night.
Seems those bushwhackers
are not real soldiers.
Had it with you, boy!
Not fit for trading anyhow.
Hey, Jake, what are you knowing?
I feel I'm knowin' too much.
Ah. Well, forget it.
Throw it down.
We could've merely shot them. Well,
that was not the plan, Jake.
Might be no rhyme to it, but that
was just plain old not the plan.
Jake.
Black John says you're lettered.
It's Union mail.
Wants you to look it over, tell
him if there's anything to learn.
All right.
Well, it's just stuff from up north.
There's no military intelligence in here.
Yeah. Well, maybe you could
read it to us just the same.
Read us this letter, Dutchy.
That's someone else's letter.
Was. I wanna hear you read it.
I don't think I care to.
Oh, is that so?
Well, I think that if you think
a little bit more, Dutchy...
you'll think you do
wanna read it me.
Right now too.
How do we know there
might be secrets in it?
Read it at us.
Yeah, come on, Dutchy.
All right.
This here is from Mrs. Mary
Williams of Bear Lake, Wisconsin.
"Dear Sons, No word
of you in so long"
"right past first frost
of the year last."
"Your father is better, but
his feet are still bloatin'."
"He won't walk right on them."
That's thicked-up blood does that.
Thicked-up blood bloats the feet.
"Fire hit the old church.
Burned down."
"The new one was just ready, so
no great trouble was had of it."
"Margaret is married since the
frost of this year last."
"You wouldn't know it, for how could you?
Her husband is Walter Maddox."
"He is out of the war, with one
arm busted at New Madrid."
"But it works fine enough."
"The dirt was turned over, and the
smell and deepness gave me heart."
"It is just black rich. You
boys know how that is."
My daddy was up there.
He was up there way
before they hung him.
He said the dirt was so rich you
could've ate it like porridge.
They have very good
dirt up there.
Short grow season.
Yeah, sounds like
real good dirt to me.
"That girl Dave got sweet for is in
town and still single and about."
"She asks of you, but I have no news
since first frost of the year last."
"Without news, I
cannot answer her."
"You are both missed here.
Your mother."
Sounds like my mother -
that old woman does.
One mother's very
much like another.
Remember one thing. Her boys
will kill you if they can.
It is time for our
winter hibernation.
I have gathered the names of loyal
Southerners who shall provide for us.
We'll group in fours.
I'll send word the beginnin' of
spring for where to rendezvous.
We shall to the
Evans farm, boys.
Their place is about half a
mile from the Willards'...
where there resides a
certain Miss Juanita...
to whom, if I do not
flatter myself...
my attentions are not
unfavorably regarded.
You mean to say we're to spend
the winter in Lafayette...
solely on account that you're
sweet on Juanita Willard?
Ach, it's as good a
reason as any, Dutchy.
Nolan's brought some
news from home.
Hank Pattison is murdered.
Our old neighbor Jantzen got
him with his gang of militia.
That is sad. He was a good Southern man.
What of Thomas?
Oh, he is murdered too.
And Sally Burgess married
a Federal from Michigan.
Her whole family
hides their faces.
And -
Well, Dutchy...
that Federal Alf Bowden -
he rode straight from here
and killed your father.
He shot him in the neck
down by the river...
then booted him along
Main Street till he died.
I spared Alf Bowden.
You all know it.
You taught him mercy, but
he forgot the lesson.
My father -
My father was a Unionist
like all the Germans.
An unconditional Unionist.
Well, yeah.
But he was mainly known
as your father, Dutchy.
You got a reputation now.
Hello there, boys.
Good day, sir.
Gabel Evans. George Clyde.
Sorry we can't all be of proper
hospitality, but with the Federal patrols -
We're much obliged. May
I ask after Mrs. Evans?
My wife. Well, she's as
well as can be expected.
Our other Mrs. Evans
- that's Sue Lee -
Well, she was a Mrs. Evans
for but three weeks...
until my son joined our
Confederate forces.
He was killed in the
fightin' at Independence.
We're sorry to hear of it.
Yes. Well, you boys lay low.
We'll come by from time to time
with provisions such as there are.
We're much obliged.
It's been a while since we done work.
Somethin' soothin' to it.
Yeah, well, work has never
been my main ambition.
Ah, we've done much work. I think
I've spied an easier way to riches.
Spell out this miracle.
You just ride on up and take it.
Ah, good old rule.
A simple plan.
It's a workable method.
That is proven.
Now, George...
you got mud in your eye.
Rider comin'. Oh, let's
go see our visitor.
Just me! Don't shoot or
some dumb thing like that.
Whoa. Well, how do?
You must be Mrs. Evans. I
brung you some supper.
I'm, uh, pleased to
meet you, Mr. Chiles.
Mr. Jack Bull Chiles.
This is Jake Roedel.
And - George Clyde, Mrs. Evans.
Mrs. Evans wishes me to apologize for
not havin' sent you food sooner.
The Federals have
been on the move.
And don't you call me Mrs. Evans.
My name is Sue Lee Shelley.
It's a good one, and
I am a widow now.
Reckon I'll go back
to it and use it.
Please pardon me.
Won't you come in? It's
not much to gaze upon...
but I reckon we could
assay some hospitality.
George. After me, ma'am.
Right this way, ma'am.
Excuse me.
Thank you.
Damn.
What are you smilin' at?
I'll see to that mule.
Wait a second. What did you say?
I say I'll look to him.
You better go on in there. Let
that woman see your face.
Damnation, Holt.
I think I know best how to
handle my personal affairs.
Now, you see that lady's mule while
I check on what she brung to eat.
Excuse the mud. We'll just
- There you go, ma'am.
My!
Well, aren't you
bushwhackers the gentlemen.
We try to make the effort
when possible, ma'am.
Do you think manners should be
dropped in times like these?
No. But I don't think horse
sense oughta be dropped either.
It's cold.
You're so kind to
think of us, ma'am.
You men think of us more.
You do the good work.
I know it's dirty
and it's dangerous.
Those are good words
to hear, ma'am.
It's It's not always
we hear them.
Well, I really should be goin'.
Mrs. Evans will
worry if I don't.
Uh, ma'am?
We're awful sorry about Evans Jr.
Gettin' killed.
Well, we all suffer.
But he suffers no more.
He was a good husband to me.
For three weeks he was a good
husband, but he didn't last.
What's he doin' here, inside?
Oh, ma'am, this this nigger's with me.
His name is Holt.
Well, wouldn't he be more
useful off in a field plowin'?
Oh, no, I reckon not.
No, ma'am. That's, uh, one nigger I
wouldn't try to hitch behind a plow.
No, I wouldn't try that.
Well, now.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Mr. Evans asked that you come to the
house tomorrow evenin' after dark.
He's up on the latest Federal movements,
and he could post you on 'em.
Why, we'd be honored.
Um, I'm not sure about him.
Mr. Evans -
You ain't got nothin' to
worry about on that score.
You needn't worry about Holt.
I'll be takin' Holt with me
to the Willards' tomorrow.
We won't be comin'
to your dinner.
Mr. Clyde, honestly...
I didn't mean to speak
ill of your nigger.
He's not my nigger.
He's just a nigger who I trust with my
life every day and night, that's all.
That's very high praise.
Yes, ma'am, it is.
I see.
Well, gentlemen, I really
must take my leave.
I hope the food'll please you.
It looks wonderful.
Why, thank you. Now
good night, all.
Good night. Good night, ma'am.
Holt, the lady said
good night to all.
Now touch your hat
and say good night.
Chiles, you don't tell him nothin'.
He's bein' rude.
Gentlemen, please. He don't
need no tellin', Chiles!
It's all right, George.
Good night, missy.
Good night, Holt.
I'll see the lady to her mule.
Holt. It weren't no
hardship, George.
Well, let's eat.
This smells good.
Be careful. Good evening.
Holt, you want my bacon?
I could eat more.
Go on then.
Appreciate it.
Roedel
you want my bacon?
Yes, I could eat it.
Well, I'll shit it out by the
oak tree in the mornin'.
You can just go and
help yourself.
And why, if you do
not mind my askin',
did you not join
the regular army?
Army? Well, we thought of it.
I suppose we decided this fight's got
to be made in our own country,
not where some general
tells us it should happen.
It soon will be everywhere.
My family and I, we will be
quittin' this house in the spring.
As soon as the roads are clear,
we're gonna be tryin' for Texas.
About half of Missouri
has went to Texas.
Well, the whole state's
thick with invaders.
We cannot drive them away.
We have different thoughts.
I still wanna fight.
Reckon I'll always
want to fight them.
Always.
Have you ever been to
Lawrence, Kansas, young man?
No, I reckon not, Mr. Evans.
I don't believe I'd be
too welcome in Lawrence.
I didn't think so.
Before this war began, my
business took me there often.
As I saw those Northerners
build that town,
I witnessed the seeds of our
destruction being sown.
The foundin' of that town was truly
the beginnin' of the Yankee invasion.
I'm not speakin' of numbers,
nor even abolitionist
trouble-makin'.
It was the schoolhouse.
Before they built their church
even, they built that schoolhouse.
And they lettered every tailor's son and
every farmer's daughter in that country.
Oh, spellin' won't help you
hold a plow any firmer.
Or a gun either.
No, it won't, Mr. Chiles.
But my point is merely that they rounded
every pup up into that schoolhouse...
because they fancied that
everyone should think...
and talk the same
free-thinkin' way they do,
with no regard to station, custom...
propriety.
And that is why they will win.
Because they believe everyone should
live and think just like them.
And we shall lose because we don't
care one way or another how they live.
We just worry about ourselves.
Are you sayin', sir, that
we fight for nothin'?
Far from it, Mr. Chiles.
You fight for everything
that we ever had.
As did my son.
It's just that we don't
have it anymore.
Mr. Evans, when you get
back from Texas...
it'll all be here
waitin' for you.
Jack Bull and me,
we'll see to it.
Well, yes.
Thank you, son.
Well, enough of this war talk.
Let's have the ladies join us
and think nobler thoughts.
Lydia! Fine idea.
Some company would be splendid.
Jack Bull, we should be
thinkin' about gettin' back.
Federals could pass by anytime.
Sue Lee! Oh, put a gown on, Jake.
It's too cold.
They'll all be in front of the
fire examinin' their plunder, huh?
I, um, have it in me to sing.
Shall we have a sing-along?
Oh, yes. I like those the best.
My voice is not what it
should be these days,
but it was once rumored
that I could carry a tune.
And you, Mr. Roedel?
I believe I won't sing.
Young ears are present.
Well, I bet you sing lovely.
You would lose that bet. He
really does sing very poorly.
But he imitates the
turkey first-rate.
I'd best do my
gobblin' out of doors.
You folks go ahead and sing along.
I'll keep my eye on the road.
Do you really think that
- Good man, Jake. I'll relieve you soon.
Clyde back?
I believe he's, uh, fixin' to pass a
few more hours with Miss Juanita.
Jack Bull? In the company
of Mrs. Sue Lee Evans.
You mean Sue Lee Shelley?
Roedel. Yeah, Holt.
What's that?
I've been keeping 'em.
Nobody ever learned me letters.
When you were readin'
the mails out loud,
it was somethin' the likes
of which I'd never heard.
Got me thinkin' you might
sometime try it again.
So you packed those and
kept 'em all this time?
Well, it might not
be too amusin'.
It might just be a bunch of borin'
thoughts from one stranger to another.
That one you read from the mother was fine.
You recall it?
Yeah.
Mmm. She say things
I enjoy to hear.
All right. Here it goes.
"Dear Brother, I must
write this right quick"
"'cause I say good-bye to Massachusetts
and our home in one hour."
"Yes, Danny, I've
joined the fight"
"and a difficulter decision
never before was made"
"as I've been just about the only
eligible bachelor to dance with"
"at Parlan's this past year."
"Without my favorite
brother, it is not the same"
"although the beer
has been free"
"as I've been drinkin' it with
one of the Parlans' daughters."
"Which one, I will not tell."
"Here's to you, Danny, and keep
your head low out there. Bill."
It could come to where you
could maybe like that man.
Yeah.
In other times he
would not be so bad.
I think though I like the
one from the mama best.
Holt
where is your mother?
Uh, Kansas or Kingdom.
I don't know.
I know she was sold into Texas.
I reckon she in Texas.
How was that? Was that
George that sold her?
No, sir.
George and me, we
growed up neighbors.
It was George what bought me out
when Master Henry passed, but...
he didn't have no means
for my mama or my sister.
So Clyde owns you? No, sir.
Not in greenbacks
and coppers nohow.
No, he don't own me that way.
Nope.
He made of that a gift.
It's me.
Hey, Jake.
Your aim is wild. You
splattered poor Holt.
Well, it surely is. Oh, no.
Whoa, mule! Settle down there!
Mule? "Whoa, mule"?
Just calm down.
Well, do I look muley to you?
Why, no.
Well, does that look
like a mule to you?
Does that look like the rear end of
an animal that hee-haws in the night?
Looks like it might could be.
Jack Bull Chiles!
Just 'cause I'm a widow don't mean that
you can get that familiar with me.
Pardon me, ma'am, but I believe it was
you that shoved your rump into my face.
That was only just
to make a point.
You made it. I'll always know
your rump from a mule's now.
Several differences. Don't
know how I missed 'em before.
Well, don't be mean.
I can't tolerate meanness.
Is that too mean? No.
It's really not too mean at all.
Oh, for cryin' out loud! We're sittin' right here.
Show us some mercy.
He really is quite right.
Mmm, I better get
back to the house.
Cover your tracks in the snow too. You'll
be leadin' curious Federals right onto us.
Don't be rude. You have
no reason to be rude.
There happens to be
a war goin' on...
everywhere but between your
two ears, you dumb ox.
Dumb ox, am I?
Sorry, Jake. My leg just
did that on its own.
No thought behind it.
I hear you. I hear you.
But Holt and me ain't dyin'
just so you could be kissed.
Leave Holt out of this. Holt ain't even here.
Holt ain't nowhere near here.
I don't think anybody's
about to die from my kiss.
In fact, she seems to be
doin' tolerably well.
Well enough to get goin' too.
Good day.
You reckon George Clyde'll
ever join up with us again?
Or do you think Juanita Willard will be
his only cause and comfort from here on?
Ah, George is efficient
when it comes to comfort.
This thing with Sue Lee and you
- Will it go on?
I would reckon.
Well, that's good for you.
Yep.
I believe I'll marry her.
I believe you should.
Sue Lee'll be by this evening.
Oh, good. It's been near a
week since I've seen her.
Yeah, all this warmth has the Federals
out for jaunts. It's kept her home.
It won't be long before
we join them out there.
No, it won't.
That's why I want to ask
somethin' of you and Holt.
Name it.
Well, there, future best man, I'd
like to ask you for some privacy.
Oh, you would, would you?
It's not much to ask.
And what are Holt and me to do?
Anything you'd like.
Throw walnuts at squirrels.
Play mumblety-peg.
I reckon we could come up with a better
use of our time than that, eh, Holt?
It's possible.
Howdy.
I, um, brung you two somethin'.
Try this bread, boys.
Why, thank you. Did you make it?
No. Mrs. Evans's
sister lives in town.
She's a Federal, but a sister still.
She gave us two loaves.
Well, that's kind of her. You
thank her for us, won't you?
I don't suppose I'll tell her where it went.
That might not do.
Well, this good weather
has me and Holt...
wantin' to fling walnuts
at mumblety-peg players...
or something along those lines.
All right. Now have fun.
Jake. One hour, please.
"Dearest Ruth Ann"
"I trust this letter will
reach you before winter."
"'Here it is always a sort of
winter, as folks are so cold now."
"Rebels are out of the
city as far as armies go"
"but there are copperheads
around performing misdeeds."
"So much cruelty goes on."
"Gratiot Prison is full of rebels, and
they are left to waste away so pitifully."
"They are traitors,
but also human."
"If you looked in on them, you
would not believe that they were,"
"for they so resemble
scarecrows now."
"Father believes the
war will go on and on"
"but is ever more committed to the...
struggle."
"He manages to send ever greater
numbers of slaves up north"
"to freedom and away from the
grasping hands of their masters"
"who even in the midst of all
attempt to lay claim to them."
"The Confederates claim that we
strike at their liberty and rights"
"but what kind of liberty is it that
takes away the liberty of others?"
"The war will end."
Has it been an hour yet?
No. Ain't no hour passed yet.
Roedel.
You know my name?
It's Holt.
No, my whole name.
My whole name is Daniel Holt.
Daniel. Like that lion's den man.
You know his story?
Of course I do.
They throwed Daniel
to the lions,
but he won't never ate.
Daniel.
That's what my mama named me.
Is it an hour now? Nigh on to -
That's the Evans' place.
Got to be.
Jake.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
Gunshots at the Evans'.
I heard 'em.
Holt!
Jake. Sue Lee, you stay put.
There's gonna be a fight.
Holt! Does Clyde have his guns?
What do you need? Bring her in!
Bring her in!
Jack Bull, let's go!
Boys, they killed him!
How many were there?
They killed him! He's dead!
He's dead! What will I do?
Heard the fracas all the
way from the Willards'.
Thought you boys might be in a spot.
How many?
I don't know! A dozen or less.
Well, shit, then let's get 'em!
Come on!
Hyah! Roedel!
Run, you bastards!
Ow! Damn!
Jake! Jack Bull, hit 'em!
Get them, Holt!
Jake!
Oh, shit.
He'll be all right.
He'll be okay.
Come on.
That fire's got to go out.
We're heatin' water!
Heat it quick. They'll come back
with more men if they got 'em.
We can't have 'em
smellin' that fire.
That arm's gonna
have to come off.
He's gonna need it.
We can heal it.
Dutchy, we got no medicines or doctor
sense amongst the whole group of us.
And I can't go shanghai
a sawbones neither.
Federals will likely
be on us by sunup.
I'll mend him.
I can I can nurse him with Jake.
As you say. But you watch out green
rot don't get started on him.
'Cause once it does, it's over.
That look none too good, Roedel.
Goddamn it! Don't
nobody say that again!
We're gonna burn
the wound closed.
No! No.
Holt. No.
There's men on the road.
How many? More than a few.
But they ain't comin'
into the woods.
Keep the watch.
I want to fight away from
here if we got to fight.
What came of
Mrs. Evans and Mary?
The Willards took them up.
They all headed out of here.
Willards too? Said they was
goin' south, clear roads or no.
Maybe I should try to
find us a doctor tonight.
Where from?
There's one in Kingsville.
You can't make it there
and back in one night.
I know that, Dutchy.
I can lay up near there and try
and drag one back the next night.
If I can't find a doc,
I'll head on to
Captain Perdee's.
Holt'll look after
you and the widow.
I wish you luck.
That arm done for.
Oh, I know it.
I hoped it wouldn't be.
It's done for.
Well, maybe George will bring the doctor.
He may see something we don't.
You know good as I, George Clyde done
rode straight to Captain Perdee's.
It's just us now, Roedel.
And it's time. The longer you wait,
the harder it gets on the man.
Oh, hellfire! Will you shut up on that, Holt?
Please, just give me peace for a while.
Jake.
Jack Bull.
You look sad.
We're taking care of you.
You'll be mended.
We're fixin' it.
I always knew we'd be killed.
One or both of us.
You recall the pies
on Mother's sill?
Of course I do. Those
were good eatin' times.
That they were.
I always thought
it'd be you, Jake.
I'm dyin'.
I was certain I'd
have to bury you.
I wish you were.
Me too.
Sue Lee.
I'm right here.
Good.
That's good.
Them veins is blackenin' all
the way up to his armpit.
We've got to do it now.
Can you do it?
If he screams too
loud, we may all die.
Put that stick in his mouth.
Don't let him scream too loud.
Keep his jaw clamped
down on that stick.
Holt, you hold him down
whenever he starts to flop.
No!
We should be gettin'
to Captain Perdee's.
We gotta head south first.
Sue Lee, you'll need a place.
We'll go to the Browns' farm.
Those are Cave Wyatt's people.
They're far away from all this.
You're not to worry, young man.
She'll be just fine.
Just give us time.
Jake.
The war hasn't come
down here yet.
I'm I'm sorry.
I'm sorry too.
Holt and me -
Well, George Clyde
should be missin' us.
You don't have to go back, Jake.
Mr. Brown says you boys are more than
welcome to stay here and work the farm.
He could use you.
You'll do all right here.
Holt and me will come by again just
as soon as we can and see to it.
Who goes there?
Who the hell do
you think we are?
You smell like a couple of
piles of fine Southern shit.
Welcome back to hell, boys.
While you boys were sunnin'
yourselves down at the border...
things have turned
rather interesting here.
Federals everywhere.
Welch and his boys got
caught down in Pattonsburg.
Heads cut off.
Some of us still ride
- Anderson, Pitt, Todd.
Scalpin' every nigger
they can find.
Except, of course, our own.
But there's still riches
to be had, right, boys?
That the man we were
supposed to kill?
Somebody must have
got him recent.
I'll look up here.
Holt, we ever been in
this house before?
We've been everywhere before.
Mmm. I smell bacon.
You know, we were
here with Jack Bull.
Man danced a jig right there.
You writin' a letter?
Who I got to write to?
What about that Sue Lee gal?
Write to her. Let her know
what we've been doin'.
It ain't worth writin'
about, is it?
That ol' king crow
He was a blackened thief, I know
And he never says nothin' but
Jenny, fetch your hoecake
Boy, don't bother me
Jenny, fetch your hoecake
Said it ain't done
Jenny, fetch your hoecake
Boy, don't bother me
Fetch another hoecake
when we're done
Best to stay clear of
Black John right now.
You know, when that women's jail
collapsed in Kansas City...
his womenfolk were in it.
Three of 'em done
in by the Federals.
He's been acting kind of itchy,
if you know what I mean.
Word is Black John called for Quantrill
and his boys to come join us.
Quantrill?
There's some crazy
talk in the air.
Quantrill's plannin' to ride
into Kansas, is what I hear.
Maybe that.
A raid into Kansas?
We might get over there, sure, but
gettin' back would be suicide...
once the Kansas Fifth
gets on our tail.
You got that, Roedel.
But why not?
It's suicide sittin' in these woods waitin'
for them Federals to pick us off anyhow.
I am short on cash.
Will these do?
That's two nigger scalps?
I'll see you with
one Dutch scalp.
I'm out on this one.
I just got money.
Don't worry, Turner.
We'll take your money.
Get him, Jim. Good job, buddy.
Come on! Get out of my way!
Get out of my way!
Come on! Get him!
Holt.
Come on over and
share some whiskey.
I got work back here to finish.
Well, when you're
finished up then.
Well, lookee here.
You two sure got to be
pals, now, didn't you?
I mean, ever since you boys come back,
you been clappin' your gums together.
Regular as crones.
George.
My boys, today I am a sad man.
I am sad because I mourn
for our sisters and mothers,
who slept in that
Kansas City jail.
Who slept until the walls fell
down around them and they died.
I am sad, boys.
And I am tired.
The best of us are dead.
And now we're just dogs
chased into the woods.
I am sad, boys,
but I am vengeful.
And I shall not sleep.
I shall not sleep again until
I stand upon Mount Oread,
and I look down upon the
abolitionists of Lawrence.
Yeah, kill those thieving Jayhawkers!
Kill them Red Legs!
I shall ride through Kansas
to get there, boys,
and meet any Yankee
army put in my way,
because I will fight them
myself if I have to.
But I shall reach Lawrence.
That's right.
I will fight them all myself.
Unless there be any men among you-
who would ride with me.
I'll ride with you.
So I'm asking:
Are there any men here
who would ride with me?
Then, hell, boys!
Ride with me to Lawrence!
To Lawrence!
Let's ride to Lawrence!
Down to Lawrence! All right!
Yeah!
To Lawrence!
The battle's at least two miles ahead, sir.
Well done, Colonel.
All clear! Mount up!
Come on, boys! Get
on your horses, men.
Let's move.
All right, boys. Join up and
get back in this column.
You men, fall in line.
Fools. Those farmers and puffs wouldn't
be able to fight a herd of cattle,
let alone the Kansas Fifth.
No more fools than
you and me, Roedel.
Come on, men. I wanna
see you awake!
Wake up! We'll make it before
sunup if we ride now hard!
Move it! Come on!
Pick it up now!
Sweet dreams, Dutchy?
Go back to sleep.
You just may wake up
in Lawrence tomorrow.
Let's ride, men. Come on now.
You and the boys take the
river north and east.
Mackeson, I want you
scoutin' up toward the west.
Make God's work of it, boys. We'll
wait for first fire. Head out.
I want your boys to be settin'
up a post on Mount Oread.
Watch the road from Fort Leavenworth.
Any dirt kicks up,
I want word sent
down straightaway.
Here's the death list.
We shall cross off every name.
Jackets off, boys.
Let 'em see who we are.
What's all that noise? It's
a little early for that.
Sorry?
It's a little early
for that, huh?
Let's move.
A little early for
maneuvers, huh, Sarge?
Kill!
Kill, boys!
Make no mistakes!
The Bushwackers are comin'!
Get inside!
Get inside!
No! No! No!
No! Let him go! Let him go!
Let him go!
Red Legs, we got us a jayhawker!
From the top!
Find George Carpenter.
Bring him back here.
No!
Was I right? Who was
I not to know...
this town is full to brim
of Northern abolitionaries?
I am sickened, yes, but
- But now real Southern men is coming...
and I say "Hooray," as I
am Southern man at heart.
Perhaps you-you
join for whiskey.
I have here in office.
Whiskey?
Yes.
Come on! Come on!
Come on, peckerwood!
I'll give you something
to write about.
Goddamn lyin' bastard.
Stay there, boy.
Put this in your newspaper.
Old man! Old man!
Where's your army?
Who are we to fight?
Who are we to fight?
You are cowards, all!
Send him to hell!
Tear it down!
I'll blow your head
off right here!
Oh! You killed him!
Oh, let me keep his picture! No!
Sure, that Jim Lane -
he steal the slaves.
But he just sell them
again another day.
Me, yes, I always do what
I can for the cause.
It's just me and Granny Esther.
All right, Rocky.
Young reports Lane...
We had thought this
would be a real fight.
It's just bad-luck citizens finding
out just how bad luck can be.
They ought not to
murder the young ones.
Pups make hounds.
If it was your pup, you'd
feel different, son.
Holt?
Let's get us some eggs.
Yeah, Roedel. Let's get
us all the eggs they got.
And some ham.
Hey, boy -
Hey! Hey! This man's
with us, you fool!
Huh? That's George Clyde's
nigger, you fool!
See that pipe there on the end?
And some tobacco.
And this one.
You were makin' breakfast there?
Yes.
What were you makin'? Potatoes.
And coffee? Yes.
Let's have us some
breakfast then.
Mister, shut up.
Thank you, ma'am. More coffee,
if you please, ma'am.
Jake Roedel.
Pitt.
Bring those two outside.
I wanna show 'em somethin'.
We'll see to them once
we've had our vittles.
Why, you little Dutch son of a bitch, you
do what I tell you, or I'll kill you.
And when you figure to do this
mean thing to me, Mackeson?
Is this very moment convenient for you?
It is for me.
Let's just take him out.
Nope. That won't work.
The hell with it.
There's plenty more of them
Jayhawkers to kill anyhow.
I'll see you back in Missouri,
you tiny sack of shit.
You know where to find me.
That's Pitt Mackeson, ain't it?
I hear he'd soon as kill
a man as mash a tick.
My, what a scary fella he is.
I like you, son,
but that bastard will have your
scalp if you ain't careful.
Thank you, mister. Thank you. There
ain't enough thanks in the world -
Oh, you go to hell!
Now, now, boys! Federals comin'!
Eight miles out. Let's go!
Mount up! Let's go!
Come on! Get on your horses!
Thank you, ma'am.
Have a good day.
Get those horses and mount up! We
got a Federal army approaching!
So long, little man.
You are a Southern hero.
I will always, uh, remember
our Southern friends, eh?
Good friends, huh?
Yes. Thank you.
Good morning.
What?
We're too slow, men! Drop
that damn piano! Let's go!
Jake Roedel.
I heard disappointing
words on you, Roedel.
Is that so? Are you
a traitor, Roedel?
You know I'm not.
Well, you spared, boy. I
told you not to spare.
Don't think you are a good man.
That thought will spoil you.
Federal troops, sir.
Closing from behind.
This is it, boys! This
is our last stand!
I'll do what I can for you.
Remember your families! We
shall avenge their deaths!
They're right behind!
Goddamn it!
Mount up!
Battalion, halt! Halt!
Run into line!
Fall back! Fall back now!
Let's go! Fall back!
Regroup!
Stand firm, boys!
They'll be coming!
Ride on through! Ride on through!
Pass 'em through, boys!
Fall in and form a line. Give
the signal to the right flank!
Secure your horses and form a line!
Let's cover the left.
Secure your horses and
form a second line!
Form a line!
Stand strong, men! Hold your
fire till we feel their hooves!
Hold your fire!
Stay with me, boys!
Come on now! Take aim!
By company! Fire!
Dismount! All
soldiers to the rear!
All soldiers to the rear!
Form a line! Form a line!
All soldiers to the rear!
Reload your weapons!
Fall back! Fall into the circle!
Come on! Come on!
Aim for their belt buckles!
Holt!
Wait! Wait!
Fire!
Holt! Holt! Come on, I got you!
George. George.
Oh Oh, George.
Hold on now, George! Hold on!
Come on, George! Come on, George!
Holt!
George! Jake!
Hold on! Holt, we gotta go.
Come on, Holt. Holt, come on!
Holt! Come on! He's dead!
Pull back! Pull back!
George!
Goin' back with Anderson
to the front line!
George!
Pull back!
Let's go, Holt!
I'm gonna kill you!
We'll make for the Brown farm.
Are you gonna make it?
Yeah, you're gonna make it.
I'll set you boys up
in the parlor here.
Much obliged, Ort.
Ort, who is that?
Well, take a look. I'll
just be stayin' the night.
Is that my little Cave?
Aunt Wilma.
Aunt Wilma.
Oh, it's good to see you, Cave.
You look just like your father.
Are you hurt again?
Well, yeah.
But I didn't do it to myself, you know.
Holt and me, we been shot.
Well, you should
have expected it.
I hear you sayin' it.
Whose is that?
Well, it seems -
Well -
What do you think of her?
Ort, you'd best explain
it to Cave here. Come on.
Come on, Cave.
Let's go out back.
Her name's Grace.
Grace Shelley Chiles, as
far as I'm concerned.
Okay.
Looks all right to me.
Here, I'll change her.
Oh, Grace.
There you go, sweetie.
Come on now.
Let me take a look at
your bad spot, Jake.
I wanna make sure it's clean. Oh, yeah.
It's clean enough.
No, Jake. Clean enough ain't good enough.
You should know that.
And you too, Holt.
Let me take a look.
Remember, when you're fixed up, you can
come down, join the Regulars with me.
Maybe that.
Uh, Ort tells me when you
brung that girl here...
she was already pregnant.
You better marry her, boy.
It ain't right not to.
Me?
Yeah.
No, no. Not me. I don't
gotta marry nobody.
Is that right?
You're that kind of man, Dutchy?
Well, I will take
care of her, Cave.
It'll be took care of
somehow when it can be.
That's all I ask. 'Cause everybody
likes her real good, you know.
Ort and Wilma there they already think
of her as somethin' of a daughter.
Well, that's good to hear.
How's your rib?
None too good.
How's your leg?
Same.
I have a thing or two
to say to you, Jake.
Well, speak up.
I think I'll take a walk.
What's this trash I hear
about you bein' my fiance?
Well, so you've heard that. Well,
that was sprung on me by Cave.
You see, they all seem to think you
was carrying my kid, 'cause, uh -
Well, after Jack Bull,
I brought you here.
So, do you figure I
ought to be married?
Yeah, if you want to keep fingers
from waggin' in your face.
That doesn't bother me.
Well, it's also another
thing, Sue Lee.
See, they got a name for kids without daddies.
You know, it ain't a good one.
I know that.
So, do you want to marry me?
No, not too bad.
Good. That's good news...
'cause I wouldn't marry you for
a wagon load full of gold.
I bet you wouldn't.
I wouldn't marry you even if you
weren't some runty little Dutchman...
with nubbin for a finger.
Fine. That's damn fine.
I wouldn't want a wife that didn't
know how to keep her place.
Anyhow, it's a proven thing that being
your man is just plain bad luck...
and I don't need to
marry any of that.
Well, it's true.
Guess it's true.
You're not bad luck. You
just had bad luck, is all.
I need convincin' you mean that.
I need convincin'
that you were right.
Thank you, ma'am.
You're welcome.
I believe I'll catch some air.
Well, breathe some for me.
Perhaps you boys can watch after this
little one while I'm at my chores.
Yeah, maybe it's best you talk to him
about that particular line of work.
Who, me? That's right.
About time we have
some help around here.
Be back around noontime.
Sue Lee, wait a second.
Oh. Come on.
Oh, come on.
I knew that nubbin would
be good for somethin'.
Where you been? She's
been screamin' for hours.
Sweet thing wants some
sup, but Mama's been busy.
Here. I'll feed her.
No, you won't.
I just got this thing
taken care of.
She needs to be suckled, Jake.
Well, hell.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Yes
They're all busted up.
Quantrill? Headed to Kentucky.
Anderson? Dead, I've heard tell.
Thrailkill, Clement,
most of 'em dead.
Pitt Mackeson.
He's got himself
something of a gang.
But these days, they spend most of
their time robbin' for plunder.
And they don't care whether they take
it from Southern folks or Federals.
Anyone gets in their way,
off comes their scalp.
Anyhow, they don't ride much in
Jackson or Cass Counties anymore.
Word has it they're
headin' south.
Probably make you a visit.
Word is, they're makin'
a plan of it, Jake.
Can't sleep? No.
These quilts are too heavy.
They make me sweat.
Mine too.
You know, Holt,
I probably got one
more fight in me.
I'm gonna kill Pitt Mackeson,
either when he comes here, or when
I can get up to find him out.
You know that, Holt?
Yeah, I know it.
What you gonna do after you kill Pitt?
You gonna join up with them Regulars?
Fight for the cause.
What about you?
You really askin' me?
What cause you think
I got, Roedel?
When them Yankees come
and kill George daddy,
and his brothers and all his
people, I stood with George Clyde.
Yeah, he was as good a friend
to you as Jack Bull was to me.
Yeah.
And they's both good
and dead now, Roedel.
Just as dead as they can be.
Where does that leave
you and me, huh?
Where does that leave me?
Right here, Holt.
Yeah, I knowed we
was right here.
This ain't nowhere for me.
I reckon I just don't
understand it.
That day George Clyde died,
it changed me.
I felt something that
day I ain't never felt.
You felt that loss.
That hollow feeling.
No.
What I felt was
free.
I thought that's what George
gave you when he bought you out.
That weren't really his
to give, now, was it?
And, George Clyde
- I believe I loved him.
But bein' that man's friend
wasn't no different
than bein' his nigger.
And, Roedel,
I ain't never again gonna
be nobody's nigger.
How you feelin', Dutchy?
Oh, not so bad.
You look like you feel right good.
You feel good?
I don't feel too bad.
Ah, you seem about
all healed up to me.
Ah, it still hurts
some, my leg does.
I gotta go to Hartwell today.
Be back by night though.
You want me to come along?
No, you go on. Finish healin'.
I'll take Holt with me though. He's a
handy man with a gun, I hear tell.
That's right.
You always gonna
stare like that?
Long as I can.
Well, you're pretty near well,
so won't be much longer.
Reckon you and Holt will be off to get shot
by some different fellas here pretty soon.
Maybe I won't.
What'll you do then?
Oh, I don't know.
Maybe trek me on over
to California...
and catch me a sailboat
to somewhere sunny.
Is that right?
What grand spot have
you got in mind, Jake?
Sparta.
In Sparta, they have olives.
I got that out of a book.
I could eat me some olives.
Olives. What are olives like?
I don't know firsthand.
I never had one yet.
But I've had a
bushel of walnuts...
and nothin' could be more
trouble to eat than them.
I wonder about me.
I ain't goin' sailin'
nowhere, and I know it.
You'll do all right.
A chicken, Wilma? It ain't Sunday even.
What's with the special favors?
Well, nothin'. I know Orton will be mighty
tired tonight when he gets back from his ride.
I intend to feed him well.
That the man?
That's him. Dutchy Roedel.
What is this?
This here is the
Reverend Horace Wright.
You're gettin' married
today, Dutchy.
You're gettin' married
or you're gettin' out.
I'm what?
You heard me. You're
all healed up.
I just wanted to make sure you didn't
die slow on me before I did it.
I can't have it in my house
the way it is. It's time.
Holt, saddle my horse.
We're gettin' out of here.
No. You should do right, Roedel.
What on earth does that mean?
Let's talk.
Come on.
I do believe that is a
roastin' chicken I smell.
Are you goin' to or not?
It's bein' shoved
down my throat.
If a thing has got to be shoved,
I like to do the shovin'.
Okay.
Then get in there
and shove, Jake.
I thought you said you
wouldn't want me...
for a wagonload of gold 'cause I'm a
nubbin-fingered runt of a Dutchman.
I remember you sayin' that.
Well, I guess I lied.
Are you lyin' again now?
No. I wouldn't lie to you, Jake.
You just told me you
lied to me before.
Well, that's different.
That was romance.
And now's what?
The truth.
This here now is the truth.
So you, Jacob
Friedrich Roedel...
bein' the man, take you, Sue Lee
Shelley Evans, bein' the woman.
So, by the power vested in me,
the two of you is right married.
Ain't it so.
Well, that was sure
a fast ceremony.
Well, I reckon that man would
marry stones to stones...
if there was a chicken
at the end of it.
Ah, that's neither here
nor somewheres else.
He just done made
you legal, boy.
Good night, boys.
Good night, Ort.
So you a family man now.
How you feel?
I feel the same, Holt.
Hell, it's only words.
No, that's an oath. Those
words you gotta back up.
Yeah, I know that.
I reckon we'll be haulin' her
and the kid with us now.
Where to?
I don't know. What do you
think of California?
Boy, what is you doin'?
What am I doin'? Have you gone blind?
I'm goin' to sleep, Holt.
I'm fixin' to get me some sleep.
Roedel, I gotta tell you this?
Tell me what?
You're supposed to sleep
with the wife, Roedel.
Great day in the morning,
you got to know that much.
You're supposed
to share her bed.
That way, if some other man
do that, you shoot him.
Yeah, I know all that.
You bet I know that.
But, hell, this ain't some
regular marriage situation.
What, you don't like her? You gonna sit
up there and tell me you don't like her?
I like her. She's pretty
enough and all that.
It's just this marriage thing has swept
up on me kind of all of the sudden.
Yeah, well, it is
over you, Roedel.
I mean to say, you
done the milkin'.
You might as well
have the cream.
Jake.
Hey, take your clothes off.
You don't come to bed
in dirty duds, Jake.
That's a rule.
Just how many rules is
it you got for me, girl?
Don't get mad.
Here. I'll help you.
Are you a virgin?
I've sinned plenty.
But have you ever
bedded a woman before?
Girl, I've killed 15 men.
Come here.
Holt.
Roedel, I do a lot for
you, you know that?
You know I do. It's equal.
Yeah Don't say it. I
got a thing to say.
All right.
Uh Look, now I'll travel with
you and yours till we get past
them Pin Indians and riffraff in the Nation,
and then I got to go off somewhere.
Where is that, Holt?
Well, I ain't decided that to a
definite aim, but I'm goin'.
I'm goin' to find my mama.
I believe she was sold to Texas, so
that's where I'll commence to lookin'.
If she was sold there...
I'll go there and pay
to buy her freedom.
Holt, you done already paid
more than enough to buy -
Yeah, I hear you sayin' it.
- I wish you well.
- Well, it ain't yet.
I ain't leavin' you till your
little narrow Dutch ass
is past Pitt Mackeson
and them Pin Indians.
Didn't I just through tellin' you that?
Yeah, you did.
All right.
Good-bye, Bushwhacker curls.
There you are, Dutchy.
You look 21 again.
I'm just now 19, Ort.
That so?
Well, you'll never
look that young.
I said I wouldn't cut my hair
till I was finished with the war.
And you didn't, Roedel.
You didn't.
Militia find those, you're not likely to
get further than the nearest hangin' tree.
Ah, hell. Good luck, y'all.
Giddap!
Yes, sir!
Yes, sir.
Why, Dutchy, I didn't
expect to see you no more.
Howdy, Pitt. Turner.
Howdy.
Water's boilin'.
Want some chicory?
I think I will.
I think I'd like some
chicory, Dutchy.
How are you, Holt?
Fairly well.
You two alone?
Just us now. We've
been on the run.
How's Black John?
That's a big question, Dutchy,
'cause the man is dead.
Black John is dead.
Hell, who ain't?
They got him at Dover.
Put his head on a pole.
Paraded him right
down the street.
Put a picture of
it in their paper.
Quantrill too.
Over the river.
It's been rough times for
them who stuck it out.
Yeah, the war is lost.
No shit, Dutchy.
Who the gal and kid belong to?
That's my wife.
Well, if that don't beat all.
You got a wife, Dutchy.
Where you headed? Newport.
Hell, man. There's 200
Federals in Newport.
We just rode through 'em.
You can't go on in there.
Wrong, Dutchy. I
am goin' in there.
I'm for certain sure
goin' in there.
I want a drink, and they
have drinks in Newport.
They'll kill you. You best
stay clear out of there.
I don't think so, Dutchy.
I don't reckon I'll clear
out of where I was born.
You see, that there
was my hometown.
And I reckon I'll go on in
and have me a drink there.
Turner, you too?
They'll kill you sure.
What a horrible fate. Oh,
what a horrible fate.
Oh, boy. You got me now, Dutchy.
Oh, boy. You got me now.
Jake.
Come on, Turner.
You gonna shoot him?
So long, boys. We'll raise our
glasses to you in Newport.
All right.
It ain't right, and
it ain't wrong.
It just is.
It's now?
Are you certain you wanna
ride with your gun like that?
Let me wake 'em, Holt.
No, Roedel. You let them sleep.
I ain't too much for good-byes.
But, uh, maybe I'll
just tip my hat.
All right.
Daniel Holt.
Jacob Roedel.
Turn to me with frozen lips
Your hands are icy cold
Your eyes burn bright
against the frost-lit sky
You never seemed more
lovely than you do
Tonight
Pale on the horizon
Like leaves frozen in the snow
Our two shadows
merge inseparably
Will time stand still if
it's pierced with cold
The more I live
The more I know
What's simple is true
I love
You
There's a warmth in my heart
It haunts me when you're gone
Mend me to your side
and never let go
Say, Time knows nothing
We'll never grow cold
The more I live
The more I know
What's simple is true
I love
You
Twilight descends
on our silhouette
How soon spring comes
How soon spring forgets
I wanna hold time Say
it'll never begin
Old Man Winter, be our friend
The more I live
The more I know
What's simple is true
I love
You