Hatfields & McCoys (2012) s01e03 Episode Script
Part 3 of 3
1 On Hatfields & McCoys You two don't mend what's wrong between you, hellfire is gonna certain rise up and consume both our families.
I'm Johnse Hatfield.
I know who you are.
He wants to marry me.
You're not my daughter anymore.
You come home with a Hatfield bastard in your belly? Your boy stabbed my brother.
He stabbed him over and over again and then shot him.
I'd like to see my sons.
I don't think so.
You boys understand what's gonna happen here? Harden your hearts.
Same family killed your brothers killed my pap.
Randall McCoy done this.
I'd like you to marry us.
Sooner or later, we're gonna get every damn one.
Not just get 'em; Kill 'em.
We are not infidels like the Hatfields.
We embody the law.
You are talking about starting another civil war.
That's what we already got.
So you tell the governor, he steps in, or I will.
How old was little Sarah Elizabeth? Oh, she was just shy of a year.
Lined with blue velvet.
Yeah.
Yeah, she'd like that.
It'll do, Mr.
Goodpasture.
I'll give you some time.
- She'll rest easy in that.
- Yeah.
Poor little girl.
Oh, I expect your brothers will take care of her.
You'll recognize them.
They done murder.
They might not get there.
We need to go.
It's ransom.
You sent for me? Saddle the horses.
I got me a tip about Three good Christian Hatfields we gonna apprehend.
We go now across the river quick They won't have time to hide.
I'll round up the men posthaste.
You coming? He will be.
Come on! The blood of the lamb Are you fully trust In his grace This hour Are you washed Brother.
That's Tom Chambers.
Get him.
There he is.
Him too.
You can't do this.
Who's the next one? What is this? This is the house of God! Ma'am.
Let's get out of here, boys.
Are you washed in the blood? In the soul Whoa.
Whoa.
Whoa.
What's all the ruckus? Folks are celebrating Mr.
Phillips' success.
He hasn't caught Devil Anse yet.
He's poorly.
He got pleurisy.
Jim.
Ain't you a sorry sight.
Want I should come back later? Speak your mind.
Phillips' gang raided services at the tug fork church, seized Tom Chambers and the Mahon brothers, smacked preacher Garrett for no apparent reason.
Anse, they are shoving it in our face.
Yeah.
Any word from your man John B.
Floyd? Governor Windy ain't doing shit, too busy letting lawyers get in his ear and getting his back up against these New York muckrakers calling us a "Savage Mountain Tribe.
" It's up to us, like always.
What do you propose? Cut off the head of the snake.
Be awful treacherous going after Frank Phillips.
He's got an army around him.
No, he's he's the fangs.
We ought to kill Randall McCoy.
I'm attorney Perry Cline, esquire.
I'll represent you till the court deems it necessary to appoint a public defender.
You think we got a better chance if we keep you on as our lawyer? Well, it's up to you.
I do know the circumstances of the case better than anyone.
Now, these stamped envelopes are to contact your family members to assure them you're being well-treated and to arrange payment of my retainer.
That's $50 cash receivable at my office.
You killed my sons.
Your murdering sons.
Not guilty till proved innocent, men like you who deserved a fair trial.
I pray you hang.
I will supply the lumber for the gallows, and I will tie the knot on your rope.
And when your neck snaps, I will rejoice as you are sent to boil in eternal damnation's hellfire! A Merry Christmas to you, too, sir.
You all right, ma? You hear that? Hear what? Shh.
They'll come from over there.
Who will? Hatfields, they'll come from over there.
Hatfields? Ma, Hatfields are hiding out from bad Frank.
They ain't gonna come across this side of the river.
Let's go inside, huh? No one's coming tonight.
It's not tonight I speak of.
We're hunted like animals by hired trash.
Family and friends kidnapped and murdered.
The law stood by.
The law has done nothing.
Even so, if there was anything anything I had that, by giving it, I could end this bloody struggle, I would give it gladly.
I'd give my life if it would end this.
You would not.
What I will not give is one more drop of this family's blood.
So tonight, this new year's Eve, we end this forever.
I's with you, Mr.
Hatfield.
You ain't coming, Billy.
You ain't ready.
Thank the stars I ain't too late.
Lots of time, Johnse.
We all just waiting for your pa to finish his coughing fit.
We can be there by dawn, make our approach with the sun at our backs.
The time of the morning, the day it is, they won't expect nothing.
We harm no one we don't have to.
Once Randall sees how it is, he'll surrender himself to protect the others from harm.
We take him alive.
Thought we was getting rid of him.
Once Randall McCoy's extradited, as our prisoner of war, we we execute him here in West Virginia, the state where he committed his crimes.
As is proper.
A mite dizzy.
Stepped on a stone or something.
Yeah, I know.
We still got to get you to the doc.
No, there's no time.
You're too sick, pa.
Well, we can do this.
Damn.
Anse.
Be a worthless trip if you start coughing like that and give us all away.
No one but Randall taken and him not harmed.
Him not harmed, or you answer to me.
All right, y'all.
Saddle up.
You're gonna beat it, Anse.
And we'll get Randall.
Randall, wake up.
They're here.
Shh.
What is it, poppy? Get them children down.
Get down.
Go.
May hell be my heaven, I will kill any man who goes back on me if powder will burn.
All right, as planned.
Go on now.
Go on.
You know, pa said just Randall.
We take him back over the tug to West Virginia? You think Randall McCoy's gonna let himself get took alive? We got to try.
Randall McCoy! Your final day has dawned.
Save your family.
Surrender yourself.
You hear me? Your final day has dawned.
Uncle Jim! Jim.
We got all sides covered now, every door, window, and rathole.
Ain't nobody gonna get out without us seeing them.
Who's got the back? Cotton Top.
Johnse's with him.
I'll go check them out.
We got your whole farm surrounded, McCoy.
Might as well come on out.
Do it now, and we spare your family! I seen that Jim Vance.
Cap Hatfield and the others are out of sight taking cover.
How many? 15, probably more.
Come on.
Come on.
Get behind and sit.
You too.
Don't shoot unless they do or someone charges.
I can't get a good shot no ways.
Shh.
Shh.
Sorry.
I got this tune stuck in my head.
Where's Johnse? He said to watch the back is all I know.
Don't let no one out.
Watch the back.
Randall McCoy, come on out and face the day, or else I have to burn your house down.
You want your little ones consumed in fire? We're all right.
Don't worry.
Their wee bodies a-hissing and a-steaming? Randall! Go out the back, and run for the woods.
I got to go out there.
If I can get a showdown with Jim Vance, maybe the others will back down.
Randall, he'll shoot you down like you was nothing.
I'm begging you, husband, slip out the back while you can.
If they know you're gone, they'll leave us be.
Cotton Top, what's that? Hold your fire! Get down! Get down! Hold on! God damn it! I didn't order yet! Hold on! I said, hold your fire! What the hell? Cotton started shooting.
Must have seen McCoy stick his head out.
Go find out.
Hey, my pa's not here! He stayed over in Pikeville last night! I said for him to come out! He's not here! Ain't nobody in here but me, except women and childrens.
Randall! We're all waiting for you.
He's not here! Heavenly father, spare my family, and smite my enemy.
I beg of you, have mercy in our hour of need.
Have mercy, lord Jesus.
He cotton, we said, "Let nobody out the back.
" Nobody out the back! Sorry.
I'm sorry.
Discourtesy is what it is.
You son of a bitch! We got to get the fires out.
We need more water.
Use the buttermilk.
You're burning women and children, you coward! What kind of devil are you, Jim Vance? Alifair! Now, you listen to me.
You get ma and the kids out the back, all right? Mama, come on.
Let's go.
Go on.
Get them out.
Mind the babies, Alifair.
I'll be along.
Ma.
Go, go, go! Don't stop.
Go on.
Go on, Fanny.
You got to go back inside.
- Keep going.
- Get back inside! It ain't allowed.
I let them I let them out the back.
You got one.
That's good enough.
They ain't allowed.
I want Randall McCoy! Well, you got his son! Poppy.
Poppy.
Hey.
Fanny.
Where's your mother? Alifair got hurt.
Hold your fire.
What the hell are you doing? Crazy stupid bitch.
I was having a dream, and Sally said, "They're here.
" I heard Jim Vance yelling, "Randall McCoy, come out and face the day!" And it was me they was after.
Can you lean your head back? I need to look in your eye.
I told Sally, "I got to go out there.
" She said, "You do, they'll kill you.
"Try and get out the back.
Me and the children, we'll be safe when you're gone.
" Safe.
It's gonna be all right.
- I want my Rosie.
- I know, sweetheart.
I lit out and made for the woods.
Then I heard the shooting.
After a while, I seen the smoke.
Then I saw the children.
The children told me Alifair was leading them away from the fire when they shot her.
I took them deeper in the woods.
We knelt, and we prayed.
When I got back, they was gone.
Mr.
Phillips.
You got to see this.
Sally was laying on the ground next to Calvin.
I picked her up, and I held her in my arms for I don't know how long.
And when I next looked up, you was here.
Your son Jim is on his way to get the kids.
You and Miss McCoy will stay at my house.
I prayed to a merciful God who showed us no mercy.
His will, Randall, not ours be done.
This is his will? My children dead, my wife hurt, and my house burned? Where was God? If this is his will, what kind of God is that? What kind of God is that? It's the other McCoy girl.
Looks like she's seen the devil.
Whatever we want now.
Rules are done.
Hey, Charles.
Oh.
What? You know, looking at this family peacefully feeding reminds a body of why we kill McCoys.
Sit down.
Sit down.
It didn't turn out so well.
Tell me.
That goddamn half-wit cotton turd.
Hey.
Oh, this probably ain't fit for the ears of young 'uns.
Go wash.
Take your brothers.
Let's go.
Go.
Shut the door behind you.
Just say it.
Our foray against old Randall was interfered with by family members.
While old Randall was running scared like a jackrabbit, his heir Calvin Come charging us, shooting with deadly intent.
I had no choice but to kill him.
You said "family.
" Ah.
One of old Randall's older daughters, um She got in the way and got killed accidental.
There may have been others.
We tried to burn them out.
And all unforeseen, Anse.
But you know your boy, Cap? He done good now.
And Randall got away.
Yup.
And what of Randall's wife? She run mad, barreled straight at me in her dishabille.
And? And I I laid her in the back of the ear with my rifle butt.
I believe she's done.
What we do now, Jim? Hmm? Kill them all? Reverend.
What is it? Ma'am, I have some terrible news.
Couldn't tell me what you and your butchering family did this time, could you? Could you? God damn it, stop it! Horrible! Horrible! Just horrible! How could any man on God's green earth do something so horrible? It wasn't me! How? God damn it.
Uncle Jim and them was trying to get rid of Randall McCoy so all this fighting gets stopped.
Their intentions was right.
Oh, their intentions.
Like you wasn't a part of it? Even if I was there don't mean I participated in any killing.
Hell, like people said I was in that firing squad that killed Tolbert and Oh, firing squad? Everybody knows! I raised my gun.
I missed on purpose.
Last night was no different.
You were there.
So you helped Jim Vance murder my entire family? Oh, hell no, I didn't.
You know, it made me sick.
Hell, if I knew they was gonna do such, I'd have never gone.
It was that weak-brained Cotton Top shot Alifair.
That Jim Vance is celebrating now.
Oh, hell no, he ain't.
Pa sent him and Cap over Thacker mountain to lay low awhile.
They's a-hunting deer up big Muncey Creek, tryin' to put food on the goddamn table, 'cause our family can't even go to a store without some McCoy bounty hunter ambushing us.
Come on.
Hey, hey.
You know what, let's pack the hell up.
Let's pack the hell up.
Let's let's go west, just get get away from all this grief and misery.
It's tearing us apart.
Go away with me, Nance.
Let's go.
Let's go.
I'll be in Pikeville with a real man.
Me and Frank Phillips, we're getting married.
T.
C.
Crawford fromthe New York world.
I have a few questions about the origin of this feud.
No feud, not from how I see it.
Well, how would you describe it, sir? A many-year campaign of swindling and murdering against my family.
By Anse Hatfield and his clan? Devil Anse Hatfield.
Well, governor Wilson of West Virginia has said the men arrested for your sons' murders were taken illegally.
There was an error of paperwork.
Our courts will adjudicate it.
My house burnin' was no paper error.
No court can resolve my daughter, my son shot dead, my wife so grievously injured, atrocities that a just God would not allow! May we take a photograph, sir? Your weapon.
I want you to hold it, please.
Our readers will really appreciate this.
Just hold the gun up a little bit higher.
It's all right, Randall.
Shows we're serious about justice.
You look righteous, sir.
There's going to be a flash.
Sally, you still getting them headaches? You all right? Hey, mama.
Hey, it's Roseanna.
- Rosie? - Yeah.
Anything you need? She she's all right.
Oh, mama.
I know where you can find Jim Vance.
Yeah? Tell me about it.
Uhhuh.
Don't alter your pace.
Don't look about.
There's men concealed in them trees up ahead of us.
Who is it? Phillips? Most likely.
Should have killed that goddamn fox years ago.
Look here, Cap.
When all this starts, you not being dead, you break downhill.
You understand, son? Yes, sir.
Skedaddle.
Ah! Stay down, Jim! Run, Cap! Run! No sense in both of us eatin' these bastards' bullets! Ah! Jim! God damn it, boy! I said, get! Or else I'll come back from hell and tan your hide! Jim! Give me that damn rifle.
Ah, shit.
Son of a bitch.
Leave him be! He's mine! Oh.
I'm terrible sorry, howls junior.
So sorry.
I do believe this is the end of the line.
I'll be right behind you, boy.
Right behind you.
Don't shoot.
Not yet.
Time to meet your maker.
Which way you gonna go, uncle Jim? Got my damn boots all dusty.
It's Cap! He's hurt! Mr.
Hatfield.
Mr.
Hatfield.
Mr.
Hatfield.
Cap got shot.
Lord Jesus, what happened? Get away from him.
- Posse got uncle Jim.
- All right.
Bad Frank shot him in an ambush.
Killed his dog.
Guy shot me, there ain't no lead in there, mama.
All right.
All right.
I'm all right.
You said they got Jim? Where is he? Where is he, Cap? I'm sorry.
They he's dead, pa.
They took his body.
All right.
All right.
All right.
- I'm sorry.
- Uncle Jim.
I'm sorry.
Where's Johnse at? He at his cabin? Bad Frank is gonna probably hit him next.
I'll get some boys to ride by Johnse, make sure he's all right.
Take him to the stream to wash off that blood and dirt.
I'll get some tincture and bandages.
How'd they know where we was, pa? Huh? Your snoring used to keep me awake.
Now it's the silence.
My mind won't rest.
You thinking about uncle Jim? I always thought someday I'd have to have to kill him myself.
Well It's a miracle Cap wasn't killed too.
Only two people knew where Jim and Cap had gone, where they'd be that day.
Who? Me And Johnse.
How do you know that? Anybody could have said something.
I know.
No, Cap or Jim I know.
I know, 'cause I made sure.
Johnse's no Judas.
No, he's not, but people died, Levicy.
Well, you can't say you didn't have a part in that? And that I'll have to live with, but we both know our boy's not a careful person, especially around women.
What do you intend to do? Get some sleep.
Anderson? You should too.
Good boy.
Hey, daddy.
How long you been standing there? A while.
Where were you the other day? Oh, I was up in Boone county making a delivery, you know.
You, uh You going to work this morning? Thought you and me might go fishing.
Today? When you finish there, saddle my horse.
All right.
What are you doing? Me and Johnse are gonna have a talk.
I have to know what that means.
You think I mean him harm? I need to hear otherwise.
I will hear you say it.
I'm taking him fishing, Levicy.
So long, big brother.
You sure you don't want to fish? I'm going to.
You remember the last time you brought me out to this old fishing hole? I don't recall that.
I do.
I know, 'cause I was in that willow tree over there up in that limb.
You recall what you said to me? I do.
You said if I fell in, I was gonna scare the fish.
And once I was in, chances of you getting me out weren't good on account that you were not partial to cold water.
You recall having said that? Well, I believe I just coaxed a laugh out of you, pa.
God damn, I don't remember the last time I seen that.
It's too bad about you and the McCoy girl.
Which one? The one that ran off with the man that killed your uncle Jim.
You recall pretty good, Johnse.
Anything you want to say to me? I know I shouldn't have trusted her.
I know that for damn sure.
You know, I hate all this.
I always have.
I think all I ever wanted to do was play, just laugh and play.
Yeah, it seems like nobody around here ever laughs anymore, except maybe when a McCoy gets maimed or killed.
You know, that must be a trial for you, daddy, me not being like you.
You are who you are, Johnse.
No, what I mean is, everybody looks up to you, I mean, even your older brothers.
No, there ain't there ain't nobody looking up to me.
Hell, there are those that say Cotton Top's of more use.
I don't know how to be in this family.
I mean, I got I got all the memories, you know? I know all that's happened.
I just I don't have the hate that comes with being a Hatfield.
You know, I look up at that sky, pa, and those clouds going by.
I'm telling you, I know they're headed somewhere different than what we got here.
I seen these pictures and these stories about Oregon.
Man, they got these millions of trees to be logged, I mean, even more than here, wild rivers with fish long as your arm, no McCoys to shoot at or get shot by.
That's heaven on earth.
That's what that is.
That's where I aim to go.
You won't outrun yourself in Oregon, Johnse.
Can I ask you a question? If I would have fell in that day, scared those fish Would you have let me drown? That's a big old bear.
Johnse bagged him when he come up behind us.
I never seen him.
That boy always did have quick reflexes.
He's just Too damn handsome for his own good.
Though, he's a lot like his daddy, except for the handsome part.
Boy's nothing like me.
What brings you out this frosty morn? Well, I got news about our appeal.
Governor Windy's taking it all the way to the United States supreme court.
Now we gonna be in the lawbooks, maybe.
Get our boys out of jail, back in their homes where they belong.
Anybody who knows anything about jurisprudence says there ain't no doubt.
Only one thing gonna resolve this, big brother.
And it ain't miss jurisprudence.
I don't know what you're planning here, Anse, but all this damn bloodshed and killing's got to stop.
Uncle Jim was the last straw.
I'm turning myself in.
You insane? Them blaggard's will shoot you down.
I already sent word to Perry Cline.
Perry Cline.
You think that skunk will keep his word? It's done, Anse.
I'm gonna fight this thing the best way I know how.
I'm gonna fight it in the courtroom.
In a Kentucky courtroom.
But not with a damn gun.
Well, guns never failed me, wall, not like judges and lawyers.
Well, it's gonna be the way it's always been between you and me, little brother.
You gonna handle things your way, and I'm gonna do them my way.
Wall, I never told you about something I said to Ellison.
May be the last thing he remembered, maybe not, but it's haunted me ever since.
So right now, I don't want to Right now, I don't want to say something to you I'm gonna regret.
You ain't got no call to worry about that, Anse.
Hey.
I'll be seeing you right after I meet miss jurisprudence.
Ha! Come on.
Get over here.
My name is justice wall Hatfield.
I've surrendered myself on a Kentucky warrant for due process of the law.
Hatfield, you're under arrest.
I'm turning myself in, Phillips.
You'll collect no bounty on me.
Give me some of that, pretty lady.
I ain't gonna do that.
No, not now.
Hey, hey, you mind if I borrow my boss from you, ma'am? Logan banner.
Says Hatfield's getting ready for war again, buying every hardware store in three states out of guns and ammo.
Hillbilly dirt rag.
Means nothing.
You need a drink.
Mr.
Cline, what's your pleasure? Already got a fine libation.
I understand we're celebrating more than the capture of wall Hatfield.
Meet Miss Frank Phillips.
Congratulations.
Mr.
Phillips? Mr.
Phillips? A mob of Hatfields is forming over at mate creek, Devil Anse himself at the lead.
Looks like they're a-fixing to ride this way.
Hatfield's busting his relatives out of jail.
We got to stop him, Frank.
Round up the deputies.
Enlist every able-bodied man you can.
Yes, sir.
Come on.
Come on.
About time I see Devil Anse.
We got this, Mr.
Cline.
We got this.
Kill them.
Yes, ma'am.
Every single one.
All right, let's go.
Come on.
The law be damned.
Hatfield be damned! God be damned! Damn you all to perdition! Hyah! Hyah! Hatfield! McCoy! Hatfield! Fire! Hatfield! Get your old man back.
He's gonna be the first one killed.
Yeah! You trying to get yourself killed? Leave me be! Kill them all! Kill them all! Go.
Shoo! Go! You all right there, pop? Yeah, go on.
Damn it.
God damn it! Here! He's here! Come back and fight! Ah! Billy.
Find cover, and stay put.
It's a trap! It's a Hey, get back! Get everybody back to the horses! Anse.
We got to get out of here, Anse.
They're flanking us on both sides.
Mama.
Ah, son.
Cap! Cap! What? Pass the word.
We're pulling out.
Move! Joe! Help me here with Billy.
I'm taking him home to his mama.
They're quitting the field.
Let's go.
Back! Oh, call out to him.
When he stands up, I'll blow his head off.
Hold off! We got us a prisoner.
They don't.
I give up! Means we won the day.
Go get him! We won.
I won.
Bless the baby Jesus.
You all right? Come on.
Move! Stand up.
Come on, get! Just a few steps more.
Doctor said it was good for you to walk.
The room is not right.
I know, mama.
It's Perry Cline's house.
That's why it looks different.
Here.
I don't like Perry Cline.
I know, mama.
After I die, I would like my body destroyed by electricity.
Can you remember that, Roseanna? Yes, mama.
I don't like Perry Cline.
I know, mama.
Uncle Randall? Uncle Randall, we're here.
The hell are you doing here? Frank Phillips asked me to take you to Mr.
Cline's house.
You disgust me.
How's your mother, Roseanna? She's, uh She's better in some ways.
She's not right yet.
I hear tell you're sick as well.
We was friends, Nancy.
Why'd you hurt me the way you did? You hurt yourself taking up with Johnse.
Me marrying him just saved you a whole lot of pain.
You love him? I never did.
I hate him, just like all the demon Hatfields.
Me and Johnse was never nothing against you.
It's just plain old revenge.
I swore to killing Hatfields when I was young.
Revenge is all I got inside of me.
Yah.
Good news, judge.
The supreme court has ruled, incorrectly, I believe, that taking you people without West Virginia's consent was illegal.
So we going free? Well, you hear that? We're going free! Selkirk.
A lawyer's smile promises more to come.
Court also ruled properly this time that since you're already in Kentucky, as long as you're legally rearrested, you can be brought to trial.
Mr.
Phillips? Gentlemen, y'all are under arrest.
It's your daughter Roseanna.
I'm coming up behind you.
I'm standing next to you.
You see me, poppy? You hear my voice? I hear you.
Dead children, a dead grandchild, a mad wife.
Anybody'd think you'd embrace a still-living daughter.
When I was a little girl, you once told me I was your favorite.
I lived on that for years.
Just that tiny bit of approval made me believe I could do anything in this world.
'Cause for all your preaching and all your praying In our house, you were God.
Here.
Let me take that for you.
You're looking particularly pale today.
Are you well? Yeah.
Thanks for asking.
Roseanna.
You know my my offer of years ago It still stands.
Oh, Perry.
You don't want me.
I'm all used up.
Don't say that.
I do want you.
I just want to make you happy Yeah.
And take care of you.
I should probably just do these dishes up.
I've always loved you.
Roseanna.
Roseanna! Roseanna! Randall! Doc! Roseanna, she's not she's not moving! She just fell! I don't understand! Randall, get in here! Oh, my God! Roseanna, can you hear me? Oh, my God.
She's bleeding! She's bleeding! What's wrong with her? There, there, mother.
It'll be fine, just fine.
Doc rutherford says there's a hospital in Lexington that can help you.
You must let your heart break.
Only when the most innocent part of you suffers can there be change.
Else nothing remains of you.
Is she able to talk today, Randall? She speaks, but her words carry no meaning.
An improvement on all her wailing and rabbit noises.
You're not sending me away to get better.
You're sending me away so you can go to hell with Perry Cline.
Yah.
Is it true that I murdered her in the first degree? Alifair McCoy, you murdered her.
Did anyone tell you to say this? You said to say that no one did.
You mean no one told you to say anything? Only that I murdered her in the first degree.
I beg the court.
My client's nothing but a poor, simpleminded fool.
Born that way.
Now, he admits his guilt and throws himself on the mercy of the court.
Wall Hatfield, life in prison.
Selkirk McCoy, life in prison.
Alex Messer, life in prison.
"Cotton Top" Ellison Mounts, death by hanging.
That's fine.
'Cause Devil Anse, Cap, and all of them gonna come at midnight all armed and terrible, riding dark horses with lightning hooves that don't never die.
They won't let me hang.
I'm letting him out.
Give me the keys.
I'm letting him out.
The only Hatfield they're hanging is the one that don't deserve it.
It's bad luck to hang a it's bad luck to hang a half-wit.
No, that's an old wives' tale, Randall.
Where is my justice? Where is it? You know, you need to go home and sober up some.
You you get to live While my sons, my daughter rot in their graves.
I might as well let you out too.
Give me the goddamn keys.
Get him out of here.
Was there a point where one of us could have gave way to stop all this nonsense? I guess you can contemplate that.
You still got something left.
What do you want, Randall? Hmm? What do you want out of this life? Just get through it.
If ever two men misunderstood each other, it was us.
So when does it end? When there's no blood left to be spilled.
That way don't work, Randall.
We tried that way.
I figure we go in the dead of night when the fog is thickest.
Get five men blazing away in the north end causing commotion like Pikeville had never seen.
And we charge that jail with everybody else Nobody's busting anybody out of jail.
What? Uncle wall, your big brother, got life for doing nothing.
Wall wouldn't go anyways.
He's fighting it with appeals.
Still thinks he'll get out legal.
What about Cotton Top? We're telling every goddamn newspaper in the country we're coming for him.
When Cotton Top's hanged, it'll take away the McCoy bloodlust.
When he's hanged? So cotton's our Judas goat? Somebody's got to bend to stop it.
Randall can't, so It's got to be me.
Pa, you you done enough.
It's time I take over.
I don't want that for you.
Weren't you listening to me? Cap, you gonna you gonna have children one day, and your children, they're not gonna care about our old grudges and slights from long ago.
And their children Hell, their children won't even know about it.
It's time for us to move on, son.
Oh.
Damn.
Damn it.
Levicy, you all right? I miss Johnse.
I miss our son.
I sometimes wonder how different things might have turned out had I allowed him to marry the first one.
Well, Roseanna was a McCoy.
We had to do what we thought was right.
Let me see.
Let me see.
Ow! Let's get out of here! Got to get this thing over with before we go to war again.
Tell me again, what's so important we had to dress up the girls and bring them all the way here for something you can hardly see? This is history.
Hatfields and McCoys are famous.
Famous for what? Killing each other.
Come here.
Let's gather over here.
Most of you have done some trapping and, on occasion, found a winter fox that's left his leg behind him in the trap.
So it is with us on this difficult day.
Leave our leg behind, or die in the trap.
Got a letter here that we're gonna send to the newspapers.
I wanted you to all hear it first.
"I do not "I do not wish to keep the old feud alive.
" "I suppose everybody, like myself, "is tired of the names 'Hatfield' and 'McCoy' "and border warfare in a time of peace.
"The war spirit in me has abated.
"And I sincerely rejoice at the prospect of peace.
"I've devoted my life to arms, "and we have undergone a fearful loss "of Noble lives and valuable property in this hateful struggle.
" The Hatfields made me do it.
They hornswoggled me with love.
"We, being like Adam, "are not the first transgressors.
And I propose to rest in the spirit of peace.
" - Thank you, ma'am.
- Obliged.
Sheriff, my name is Alexander.
I'm a big fan of yours.
Alexander? Well, thank you, son.
"Bad Frank" there, right there.
Congratulations, Frank.
I read it.
It's Well, I, too, am to be congratulated.
Meet Miss Carolyne Roes, of the Roes of Lexington.
She's my fiancee.
They own half the county and quite a stable of fine racehorses.
You like them young, don't you, Cline? You cradle-robbing snake.
She ain't no drunkard, and this laughable pack of lies ain't nothing but a waste of cheap paper.
You son of a bitch! Come on! Any time! Boss, come on! Get out of here! Boss? Boss? I shall miss him.
Bad Frank could kill Hatfields like no one else! I'm coming after you, Devil Anse! You hear me? You hear me? I'm coming to hell after you! Gather at the river Where bright angel feet Have trod I baptize you in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit.
Amen.
Gather at the river The beautiful The beautiful river Gather we the saints At the river That flows by the throne Of God
I'm Johnse Hatfield.
I know who you are.
He wants to marry me.
You're not my daughter anymore.
You come home with a Hatfield bastard in your belly? Your boy stabbed my brother.
He stabbed him over and over again and then shot him.
I'd like to see my sons.
I don't think so.
You boys understand what's gonna happen here? Harden your hearts.
Same family killed your brothers killed my pap.
Randall McCoy done this.
I'd like you to marry us.
Sooner or later, we're gonna get every damn one.
Not just get 'em; Kill 'em.
We are not infidels like the Hatfields.
We embody the law.
You are talking about starting another civil war.
That's what we already got.
So you tell the governor, he steps in, or I will.
How old was little Sarah Elizabeth? Oh, she was just shy of a year.
Lined with blue velvet.
Yeah.
Yeah, she'd like that.
It'll do, Mr.
Goodpasture.
I'll give you some time.
- She'll rest easy in that.
- Yeah.
Poor little girl.
Oh, I expect your brothers will take care of her.
You'll recognize them.
They done murder.
They might not get there.
We need to go.
It's ransom.
You sent for me? Saddle the horses.
I got me a tip about Three good Christian Hatfields we gonna apprehend.
We go now across the river quick They won't have time to hide.
I'll round up the men posthaste.
You coming? He will be.
Come on! The blood of the lamb Are you fully trust In his grace This hour Are you washed Brother.
That's Tom Chambers.
Get him.
There he is.
Him too.
You can't do this.
Who's the next one? What is this? This is the house of God! Ma'am.
Let's get out of here, boys.
Are you washed in the blood? In the soul Whoa.
Whoa.
Whoa.
What's all the ruckus? Folks are celebrating Mr.
Phillips' success.
He hasn't caught Devil Anse yet.
He's poorly.
He got pleurisy.
Jim.
Ain't you a sorry sight.
Want I should come back later? Speak your mind.
Phillips' gang raided services at the tug fork church, seized Tom Chambers and the Mahon brothers, smacked preacher Garrett for no apparent reason.
Anse, they are shoving it in our face.
Yeah.
Any word from your man John B.
Floyd? Governor Windy ain't doing shit, too busy letting lawyers get in his ear and getting his back up against these New York muckrakers calling us a "Savage Mountain Tribe.
" It's up to us, like always.
What do you propose? Cut off the head of the snake.
Be awful treacherous going after Frank Phillips.
He's got an army around him.
No, he's he's the fangs.
We ought to kill Randall McCoy.
I'm attorney Perry Cline, esquire.
I'll represent you till the court deems it necessary to appoint a public defender.
You think we got a better chance if we keep you on as our lawyer? Well, it's up to you.
I do know the circumstances of the case better than anyone.
Now, these stamped envelopes are to contact your family members to assure them you're being well-treated and to arrange payment of my retainer.
That's $50 cash receivable at my office.
You killed my sons.
Your murdering sons.
Not guilty till proved innocent, men like you who deserved a fair trial.
I pray you hang.
I will supply the lumber for the gallows, and I will tie the knot on your rope.
And when your neck snaps, I will rejoice as you are sent to boil in eternal damnation's hellfire! A Merry Christmas to you, too, sir.
You all right, ma? You hear that? Hear what? Shh.
They'll come from over there.
Who will? Hatfields, they'll come from over there.
Hatfields? Ma, Hatfields are hiding out from bad Frank.
They ain't gonna come across this side of the river.
Let's go inside, huh? No one's coming tonight.
It's not tonight I speak of.
We're hunted like animals by hired trash.
Family and friends kidnapped and murdered.
The law stood by.
The law has done nothing.
Even so, if there was anything anything I had that, by giving it, I could end this bloody struggle, I would give it gladly.
I'd give my life if it would end this.
You would not.
What I will not give is one more drop of this family's blood.
So tonight, this new year's Eve, we end this forever.
I's with you, Mr.
Hatfield.
You ain't coming, Billy.
You ain't ready.
Thank the stars I ain't too late.
Lots of time, Johnse.
We all just waiting for your pa to finish his coughing fit.
We can be there by dawn, make our approach with the sun at our backs.
The time of the morning, the day it is, they won't expect nothing.
We harm no one we don't have to.
Once Randall sees how it is, he'll surrender himself to protect the others from harm.
We take him alive.
Thought we was getting rid of him.
Once Randall McCoy's extradited, as our prisoner of war, we we execute him here in West Virginia, the state where he committed his crimes.
As is proper.
A mite dizzy.
Stepped on a stone or something.
Yeah, I know.
We still got to get you to the doc.
No, there's no time.
You're too sick, pa.
Well, we can do this.
Damn.
Anse.
Be a worthless trip if you start coughing like that and give us all away.
No one but Randall taken and him not harmed.
Him not harmed, or you answer to me.
All right, y'all.
Saddle up.
You're gonna beat it, Anse.
And we'll get Randall.
Randall, wake up.
They're here.
Shh.
What is it, poppy? Get them children down.
Get down.
Go.
May hell be my heaven, I will kill any man who goes back on me if powder will burn.
All right, as planned.
Go on now.
Go on.
You know, pa said just Randall.
We take him back over the tug to West Virginia? You think Randall McCoy's gonna let himself get took alive? We got to try.
Randall McCoy! Your final day has dawned.
Save your family.
Surrender yourself.
You hear me? Your final day has dawned.
Uncle Jim! Jim.
We got all sides covered now, every door, window, and rathole.
Ain't nobody gonna get out without us seeing them.
Who's got the back? Cotton Top.
Johnse's with him.
I'll go check them out.
We got your whole farm surrounded, McCoy.
Might as well come on out.
Do it now, and we spare your family! I seen that Jim Vance.
Cap Hatfield and the others are out of sight taking cover.
How many? 15, probably more.
Come on.
Come on.
Get behind and sit.
You too.
Don't shoot unless they do or someone charges.
I can't get a good shot no ways.
Shh.
Shh.
Sorry.
I got this tune stuck in my head.
Where's Johnse? He said to watch the back is all I know.
Don't let no one out.
Watch the back.
Randall McCoy, come on out and face the day, or else I have to burn your house down.
You want your little ones consumed in fire? We're all right.
Don't worry.
Their wee bodies a-hissing and a-steaming? Randall! Go out the back, and run for the woods.
I got to go out there.
If I can get a showdown with Jim Vance, maybe the others will back down.
Randall, he'll shoot you down like you was nothing.
I'm begging you, husband, slip out the back while you can.
If they know you're gone, they'll leave us be.
Cotton Top, what's that? Hold your fire! Get down! Get down! Hold on! God damn it! I didn't order yet! Hold on! I said, hold your fire! What the hell? Cotton started shooting.
Must have seen McCoy stick his head out.
Go find out.
Hey, my pa's not here! He stayed over in Pikeville last night! I said for him to come out! He's not here! Ain't nobody in here but me, except women and childrens.
Randall! We're all waiting for you.
He's not here! Heavenly father, spare my family, and smite my enemy.
I beg of you, have mercy in our hour of need.
Have mercy, lord Jesus.
He cotton, we said, "Let nobody out the back.
" Nobody out the back! Sorry.
I'm sorry.
Discourtesy is what it is.
You son of a bitch! We got to get the fires out.
We need more water.
Use the buttermilk.
You're burning women and children, you coward! What kind of devil are you, Jim Vance? Alifair! Now, you listen to me.
You get ma and the kids out the back, all right? Mama, come on.
Let's go.
Go on.
Get them out.
Mind the babies, Alifair.
I'll be along.
Ma.
Go, go, go! Don't stop.
Go on.
Go on, Fanny.
You got to go back inside.
- Keep going.
- Get back inside! It ain't allowed.
I let them I let them out the back.
You got one.
That's good enough.
They ain't allowed.
I want Randall McCoy! Well, you got his son! Poppy.
Poppy.
Hey.
Fanny.
Where's your mother? Alifair got hurt.
Hold your fire.
What the hell are you doing? Crazy stupid bitch.
I was having a dream, and Sally said, "They're here.
" I heard Jim Vance yelling, "Randall McCoy, come out and face the day!" And it was me they was after.
Can you lean your head back? I need to look in your eye.
I told Sally, "I got to go out there.
" She said, "You do, they'll kill you.
"Try and get out the back.
Me and the children, we'll be safe when you're gone.
" Safe.
It's gonna be all right.
- I want my Rosie.
- I know, sweetheart.
I lit out and made for the woods.
Then I heard the shooting.
After a while, I seen the smoke.
Then I saw the children.
The children told me Alifair was leading them away from the fire when they shot her.
I took them deeper in the woods.
We knelt, and we prayed.
When I got back, they was gone.
Mr.
Phillips.
You got to see this.
Sally was laying on the ground next to Calvin.
I picked her up, and I held her in my arms for I don't know how long.
And when I next looked up, you was here.
Your son Jim is on his way to get the kids.
You and Miss McCoy will stay at my house.
I prayed to a merciful God who showed us no mercy.
His will, Randall, not ours be done.
This is his will? My children dead, my wife hurt, and my house burned? Where was God? If this is his will, what kind of God is that? What kind of God is that? It's the other McCoy girl.
Looks like she's seen the devil.
Whatever we want now.
Rules are done.
Hey, Charles.
Oh.
What? You know, looking at this family peacefully feeding reminds a body of why we kill McCoys.
Sit down.
Sit down.
It didn't turn out so well.
Tell me.
That goddamn half-wit cotton turd.
Hey.
Oh, this probably ain't fit for the ears of young 'uns.
Go wash.
Take your brothers.
Let's go.
Go.
Shut the door behind you.
Just say it.
Our foray against old Randall was interfered with by family members.
While old Randall was running scared like a jackrabbit, his heir Calvin Come charging us, shooting with deadly intent.
I had no choice but to kill him.
You said "family.
" Ah.
One of old Randall's older daughters, um She got in the way and got killed accidental.
There may have been others.
We tried to burn them out.
And all unforeseen, Anse.
But you know your boy, Cap? He done good now.
And Randall got away.
Yup.
And what of Randall's wife? She run mad, barreled straight at me in her dishabille.
And? And I I laid her in the back of the ear with my rifle butt.
I believe she's done.
What we do now, Jim? Hmm? Kill them all? Reverend.
What is it? Ma'am, I have some terrible news.
Couldn't tell me what you and your butchering family did this time, could you? Could you? God damn it, stop it! Horrible! Horrible! Just horrible! How could any man on God's green earth do something so horrible? It wasn't me! How? God damn it.
Uncle Jim and them was trying to get rid of Randall McCoy so all this fighting gets stopped.
Their intentions was right.
Oh, their intentions.
Like you wasn't a part of it? Even if I was there don't mean I participated in any killing.
Hell, like people said I was in that firing squad that killed Tolbert and Oh, firing squad? Everybody knows! I raised my gun.
I missed on purpose.
Last night was no different.
You were there.
So you helped Jim Vance murder my entire family? Oh, hell no, I didn't.
You know, it made me sick.
Hell, if I knew they was gonna do such, I'd have never gone.
It was that weak-brained Cotton Top shot Alifair.
That Jim Vance is celebrating now.
Oh, hell no, he ain't.
Pa sent him and Cap over Thacker mountain to lay low awhile.
They's a-hunting deer up big Muncey Creek, tryin' to put food on the goddamn table, 'cause our family can't even go to a store without some McCoy bounty hunter ambushing us.
Come on.
Hey, hey.
You know what, let's pack the hell up.
Let's pack the hell up.
Let's let's go west, just get get away from all this grief and misery.
It's tearing us apart.
Go away with me, Nance.
Let's go.
Let's go.
I'll be in Pikeville with a real man.
Me and Frank Phillips, we're getting married.
T.
C.
Crawford fromthe New York world.
I have a few questions about the origin of this feud.
No feud, not from how I see it.
Well, how would you describe it, sir? A many-year campaign of swindling and murdering against my family.
By Anse Hatfield and his clan? Devil Anse Hatfield.
Well, governor Wilson of West Virginia has said the men arrested for your sons' murders were taken illegally.
There was an error of paperwork.
Our courts will adjudicate it.
My house burnin' was no paper error.
No court can resolve my daughter, my son shot dead, my wife so grievously injured, atrocities that a just God would not allow! May we take a photograph, sir? Your weapon.
I want you to hold it, please.
Our readers will really appreciate this.
Just hold the gun up a little bit higher.
It's all right, Randall.
Shows we're serious about justice.
You look righteous, sir.
There's going to be a flash.
Sally, you still getting them headaches? You all right? Hey, mama.
Hey, it's Roseanna.
- Rosie? - Yeah.
Anything you need? She she's all right.
Oh, mama.
I know where you can find Jim Vance.
Yeah? Tell me about it.
Uhhuh.
Don't alter your pace.
Don't look about.
There's men concealed in them trees up ahead of us.
Who is it? Phillips? Most likely.
Should have killed that goddamn fox years ago.
Look here, Cap.
When all this starts, you not being dead, you break downhill.
You understand, son? Yes, sir.
Skedaddle.
Ah! Stay down, Jim! Run, Cap! Run! No sense in both of us eatin' these bastards' bullets! Ah! Jim! God damn it, boy! I said, get! Or else I'll come back from hell and tan your hide! Jim! Give me that damn rifle.
Ah, shit.
Son of a bitch.
Leave him be! He's mine! Oh.
I'm terrible sorry, howls junior.
So sorry.
I do believe this is the end of the line.
I'll be right behind you, boy.
Right behind you.
Don't shoot.
Not yet.
Time to meet your maker.
Which way you gonna go, uncle Jim? Got my damn boots all dusty.
It's Cap! He's hurt! Mr.
Hatfield.
Mr.
Hatfield.
Mr.
Hatfield.
Cap got shot.
Lord Jesus, what happened? Get away from him.
- Posse got uncle Jim.
- All right.
Bad Frank shot him in an ambush.
Killed his dog.
Guy shot me, there ain't no lead in there, mama.
All right.
All right.
I'm all right.
You said they got Jim? Where is he? Where is he, Cap? I'm sorry.
They he's dead, pa.
They took his body.
All right.
All right.
All right.
- I'm sorry.
- Uncle Jim.
I'm sorry.
Where's Johnse at? He at his cabin? Bad Frank is gonna probably hit him next.
I'll get some boys to ride by Johnse, make sure he's all right.
Take him to the stream to wash off that blood and dirt.
I'll get some tincture and bandages.
How'd they know where we was, pa? Huh? Your snoring used to keep me awake.
Now it's the silence.
My mind won't rest.
You thinking about uncle Jim? I always thought someday I'd have to have to kill him myself.
Well It's a miracle Cap wasn't killed too.
Only two people knew where Jim and Cap had gone, where they'd be that day.
Who? Me And Johnse.
How do you know that? Anybody could have said something.
I know.
No, Cap or Jim I know.
I know, 'cause I made sure.
Johnse's no Judas.
No, he's not, but people died, Levicy.
Well, you can't say you didn't have a part in that? And that I'll have to live with, but we both know our boy's not a careful person, especially around women.
What do you intend to do? Get some sleep.
Anderson? You should too.
Good boy.
Hey, daddy.
How long you been standing there? A while.
Where were you the other day? Oh, I was up in Boone county making a delivery, you know.
You, uh You going to work this morning? Thought you and me might go fishing.
Today? When you finish there, saddle my horse.
All right.
What are you doing? Me and Johnse are gonna have a talk.
I have to know what that means.
You think I mean him harm? I need to hear otherwise.
I will hear you say it.
I'm taking him fishing, Levicy.
So long, big brother.
You sure you don't want to fish? I'm going to.
You remember the last time you brought me out to this old fishing hole? I don't recall that.
I do.
I know, 'cause I was in that willow tree over there up in that limb.
You recall what you said to me? I do.
You said if I fell in, I was gonna scare the fish.
And once I was in, chances of you getting me out weren't good on account that you were not partial to cold water.
You recall having said that? Well, I believe I just coaxed a laugh out of you, pa.
God damn, I don't remember the last time I seen that.
It's too bad about you and the McCoy girl.
Which one? The one that ran off with the man that killed your uncle Jim.
You recall pretty good, Johnse.
Anything you want to say to me? I know I shouldn't have trusted her.
I know that for damn sure.
You know, I hate all this.
I always have.
I think all I ever wanted to do was play, just laugh and play.
Yeah, it seems like nobody around here ever laughs anymore, except maybe when a McCoy gets maimed or killed.
You know, that must be a trial for you, daddy, me not being like you.
You are who you are, Johnse.
No, what I mean is, everybody looks up to you, I mean, even your older brothers.
No, there ain't there ain't nobody looking up to me.
Hell, there are those that say Cotton Top's of more use.
I don't know how to be in this family.
I mean, I got I got all the memories, you know? I know all that's happened.
I just I don't have the hate that comes with being a Hatfield.
You know, I look up at that sky, pa, and those clouds going by.
I'm telling you, I know they're headed somewhere different than what we got here.
I seen these pictures and these stories about Oregon.
Man, they got these millions of trees to be logged, I mean, even more than here, wild rivers with fish long as your arm, no McCoys to shoot at or get shot by.
That's heaven on earth.
That's what that is.
That's where I aim to go.
You won't outrun yourself in Oregon, Johnse.
Can I ask you a question? If I would have fell in that day, scared those fish Would you have let me drown? That's a big old bear.
Johnse bagged him when he come up behind us.
I never seen him.
That boy always did have quick reflexes.
He's just Too damn handsome for his own good.
Though, he's a lot like his daddy, except for the handsome part.
Boy's nothing like me.
What brings you out this frosty morn? Well, I got news about our appeal.
Governor Windy's taking it all the way to the United States supreme court.
Now we gonna be in the lawbooks, maybe.
Get our boys out of jail, back in their homes where they belong.
Anybody who knows anything about jurisprudence says there ain't no doubt.
Only one thing gonna resolve this, big brother.
And it ain't miss jurisprudence.
I don't know what you're planning here, Anse, but all this damn bloodshed and killing's got to stop.
Uncle Jim was the last straw.
I'm turning myself in.
You insane? Them blaggard's will shoot you down.
I already sent word to Perry Cline.
Perry Cline.
You think that skunk will keep his word? It's done, Anse.
I'm gonna fight this thing the best way I know how.
I'm gonna fight it in the courtroom.
In a Kentucky courtroom.
But not with a damn gun.
Well, guns never failed me, wall, not like judges and lawyers.
Well, it's gonna be the way it's always been between you and me, little brother.
You gonna handle things your way, and I'm gonna do them my way.
Wall, I never told you about something I said to Ellison.
May be the last thing he remembered, maybe not, but it's haunted me ever since.
So right now, I don't want to Right now, I don't want to say something to you I'm gonna regret.
You ain't got no call to worry about that, Anse.
Hey.
I'll be seeing you right after I meet miss jurisprudence.
Ha! Come on.
Get over here.
My name is justice wall Hatfield.
I've surrendered myself on a Kentucky warrant for due process of the law.
Hatfield, you're under arrest.
I'm turning myself in, Phillips.
You'll collect no bounty on me.
Give me some of that, pretty lady.
I ain't gonna do that.
No, not now.
Hey, hey, you mind if I borrow my boss from you, ma'am? Logan banner.
Says Hatfield's getting ready for war again, buying every hardware store in three states out of guns and ammo.
Hillbilly dirt rag.
Means nothing.
You need a drink.
Mr.
Cline, what's your pleasure? Already got a fine libation.
I understand we're celebrating more than the capture of wall Hatfield.
Meet Miss Frank Phillips.
Congratulations.
Mr.
Phillips? Mr.
Phillips? A mob of Hatfields is forming over at mate creek, Devil Anse himself at the lead.
Looks like they're a-fixing to ride this way.
Hatfield's busting his relatives out of jail.
We got to stop him, Frank.
Round up the deputies.
Enlist every able-bodied man you can.
Yes, sir.
Come on.
Come on.
About time I see Devil Anse.
We got this, Mr.
Cline.
We got this.
Kill them.
Yes, ma'am.
Every single one.
All right, let's go.
Come on.
The law be damned.
Hatfield be damned! God be damned! Damn you all to perdition! Hyah! Hyah! Hatfield! McCoy! Hatfield! Fire! Hatfield! Get your old man back.
He's gonna be the first one killed.
Yeah! You trying to get yourself killed? Leave me be! Kill them all! Kill them all! Go.
Shoo! Go! You all right there, pop? Yeah, go on.
Damn it.
God damn it! Here! He's here! Come back and fight! Ah! Billy.
Find cover, and stay put.
It's a trap! It's a Hey, get back! Get everybody back to the horses! Anse.
We got to get out of here, Anse.
They're flanking us on both sides.
Mama.
Ah, son.
Cap! Cap! What? Pass the word.
We're pulling out.
Move! Joe! Help me here with Billy.
I'm taking him home to his mama.
They're quitting the field.
Let's go.
Back! Oh, call out to him.
When he stands up, I'll blow his head off.
Hold off! We got us a prisoner.
They don't.
I give up! Means we won the day.
Go get him! We won.
I won.
Bless the baby Jesus.
You all right? Come on.
Move! Stand up.
Come on, get! Just a few steps more.
Doctor said it was good for you to walk.
The room is not right.
I know, mama.
It's Perry Cline's house.
That's why it looks different.
Here.
I don't like Perry Cline.
I know, mama.
After I die, I would like my body destroyed by electricity.
Can you remember that, Roseanna? Yes, mama.
I don't like Perry Cline.
I know, mama.
Uncle Randall? Uncle Randall, we're here.
The hell are you doing here? Frank Phillips asked me to take you to Mr.
Cline's house.
You disgust me.
How's your mother, Roseanna? She's, uh She's better in some ways.
She's not right yet.
I hear tell you're sick as well.
We was friends, Nancy.
Why'd you hurt me the way you did? You hurt yourself taking up with Johnse.
Me marrying him just saved you a whole lot of pain.
You love him? I never did.
I hate him, just like all the demon Hatfields.
Me and Johnse was never nothing against you.
It's just plain old revenge.
I swore to killing Hatfields when I was young.
Revenge is all I got inside of me.
Yah.
Good news, judge.
The supreme court has ruled, incorrectly, I believe, that taking you people without West Virginia's consent was illegal.
So we going free? Well, you hear that? We're going free! Selkirk.
A lawyer's smile promises more to come.
Court also ruled properly this time that since you're already in Kentucky, as long as you're legally rearrested, you can be brought to trial.
Mr.
Phillips? Gentlemen, y'all are under arrest.
It's your daughter Roseanna.
I'm coming up behind you.
I'm standing next to you.
You see me, poppy? You hear my voice? I hear you.
Dead children, a dead grandchild, a mad wife.
Anybody'd think you'd embrace a still-living daughter.
When I was a little girl, you once told me I was your favorite.
I lived on that for years.
Just that tiny bit of approval made me believe I could do anything in this world.
'Cause for all your preaching and all your praying In our house, you were God.
Here.
Let me take that for you.
You're looking particularly pale today.
Are you well? Yeah.
Thanks for asking.
Roseanna.
You know my my offer of years ago It still stands.
Oh, Perry.
You don't want me.
I'm all used up.
Don't say that.
I do want you.
I just want to make you happy Yeah.
And take care of you.
I should probably just do these dishes up.
I've always loved you.
Roseanna.
Roseanna! Roseanna! Randall! Doc! Roseanna, she's not she's not moving! She just fell! I don't understand! Randall, get in here! Oh, my God! Roseanna, can you hear me? Oh, my God.
She's bleeding! She's bleeding! What's wrong with her? There, there, mother.
It'll be fine, just fine.
Doc rutherford says there's a hospital in Lexington that can help you.
You must let your heart break.
Only when the most innocent part of you suffers can there be change.
Else nothing remains of you.
Is she able to talk today, Randall? She speaks, but her words carry no meaning.
An improvement on all her wailing and rabbit noises.
You're not sending me away to get better.
You're sending me away so you can go to hell with Perry Cline.
Yah.
Is it true that I murdered her in the first degree? Alifair McCoy, you murdered her.
Did anyone tell you to say this? You said to say that no one did.
You mean no one told you to say anything? Only that I murdered her in the first degree.
I beg the court.
My client's nothing but a poor, simpleminded fool.
Born that way.
Now, he admits his guilt and throws himself on the mercy of the court.
Wall Hatfield, life in prison.
Selkirk McCoy, life in prison.
Alex Messer, life in prison.
"Cotton Top" Ellison Mounts, death by hanging.
That's fine.
'Cause Devil Anse, Cap, and all of them gonna come at midnight all armed and terrible, riding dark horses with lightning hooves that don't never die.
They won't let me hang.
I'm letting him out.
Give me the keys.
I'm letting him out.
The only Hatfield they're hanging is the one that don't deserve it.
It's bad luck to hang a it's bad luck to hang a half-wit.
No, that's an old wives' tale, Randall.
Where is my justice? Where is it? You know, you need to go home and sober up some.
You you get to live While my sons, my daughter rot in their graves.
I might as well let you out too.
Give me the goddamn keys.
Get him out of here.
Was there a point where one of us could have gave way to stop all this nonsense? I guess you can contemplate that.
You still got something left.
What do you want, Randall? Hmm? What do you want out of this life? Just get through it.
If ever two men misunderstood each other, it was us.
So when does it end? When there's no blood left to be spilled.
That way don't work, Randall.
We tried that way.
I figure we go in the dead of night when the fog is thickest.
Get five men blazing away in the north end causing commotion like Pikeville had never seen.
And we charge that jail with everybody else Nobody's busting anybody out of jail.
What? Uncle wall, your big brother, got life for doing nothing.
Wall wouldn't go anyways.
He's fighting it with appeals.
Still thinks he'll get out legal.
What about Cotton Top? We're telling every goddamn newspaper in the country we're coming for him.
When Cotton Top's hanged, it'll take away the McCoy bloodlust.
When he's hanged? So cotton's our Judas goat? Somebody's got to bend to stop it.
Randall can't, so It's got to be me.
Pa, you you done enough.
It's time I take over.
I don't want that for you.
Weren't you listening to me? Cap, you gonna you gonna have children one day, and your children, they're not gonna care about our old grudges and slights from long ago.
And their children Hell, their children won't even know about it.
It's time for us to move on, son.
Oh.
Damn.
Damn it.
Levicy, you all right? I miss Johnse.
I miss our son.
I sometimes wonder how different things might have turned out had I allowed him to marry the first one.
Well, Roseanna was a McCoy.
We had to do what we thought was right.
Let me see.
Let me see.
Ow! Let's get out of here! Got to get this thing over with before we go to war again.
Tell me again, what's so important we had to dress up the girls and bring them all the way here for something you can hardly see? This is history.
Hatfields and McCoys are famous.
Famous for what? Killing each other.
Come here.
Let's gather over here.
Most of you have done some trapping and, on occasion, found a winter fox that's left his leg behind him in the trap.
So it is with us on this difficult day.
Leave our leg behind, or die in the trap.
Got a letter here that we're gonna send to the newspapers.
I wanted you to all hear it first.
"I do not "I do not wish to keep the old feud alive.
" "I suppose everybody, like myself, "is tired of the names 'Hatfield' and 'McCoy' "and border warfare in a time of peace.
"The war spirit in me has abated.
"And I sincerely rejoice at the prospect of peace.
"I've devoted my life to arms, "and we have undergone a fearful loss "of Noble lives and valuable property in this hateful struggle.
" The Hatfields made me do it.
They hornswoggled me with love.
"We, being like Adam, "are not the first transgressors.
And I propose to rest in the spirit of peace.
" - Thank you, ma'am.
- Obliged.
Sheriff, my name is Alexander.
I'm a big fan of yours.
Alexander? Well, thank you, son.
"Bad Frank" there, right there.
Congratulations, Frank.
I read it.
It's Well, I, too, am to be congratulated.
Meet Miss Carolyne Roes, of the Roes of Lexington.
She's my fiancee.
They own half the county and quite a stable of fine racehorses.
You like them young, don't you, Cline? You cradle-robbing snake.
She ain't no drunkard, and this laughable pack of lies ain't nothing but a waste of cheap paper.
You son of a bitch! Come on! Any time! Boss, come on! Get out of here! Boss? Boss? I shall miss him.
Bad Frank could kill Hatfields like no one else! I'm coming after you, Devil Anse! You hear me? You hear me? I'm coming to hell after you! Gather at the river Where bright angel feet Have trod I baptize you in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit.
Amen.
Gather at the river The beautiful The beautiful river Gather we the saints At the river That flows by the throne Of God