The Righteous Gemstones (2019) s04e01 Episode Script
Prelude
1
[TV STATIC DRONES]
[BRIGHT TONE]
This great country of ours
was ordained by the Lord Himself.
There is no other.
The Lord created this country
with a mind set on states' rights,
that each state govern
by the laws they see fit.
States' rights are therefore connected
with the love of Christ Himself.
Loving your rights as a Virginian,
as a Confederate, is
loving the very will of God.
And that will cannot be
manipulated or controlled
by the wants and whims
of the Northerners.
- Amen.
- ALL: Amen.
This war
Has taken its toll on all of us.
We've all sacrificed,
lost loved ones.
Only through our devotion to Christ
and through our prayers
can we bring an end to this war.
Now, as the offering plate comes around,
please put in what you can.
Nothing is too little.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- Blessings to you.
- Minister.
Go with God, sister.
All right, have a pleasant day.
Thank you, Minister.
[HORSE NEIGHS]
We'll see you.
[WOOD CREAKING]
The service is done for today, friend.
Well, I'd think a man of God would
always be open for business.
A man of God still
has to eat and prepare
for the lessons of
virtue he will share next.
[LAUGHS]
I bet you gonna eat
pretty good with that haul
you took in today.
I will not be buying my supper
with the people's offering, sir.
Don't you mind none how I eat.
That's none of your business.
But
taking money from women
whose husbands are off
getting themselves
killed, that well
just don't seem too righteous to me.
I'd appreciate it if
you'd take leave, mister.
Now, if you'd like to
engage in a spirited debate
of God's wantfulness
during times of war,
I'd be more than happy to enlighten you
during a scheduled service.
I'm done for the day.
I'll say you are.
[GUNSHOT]
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
Lookie here.
Hmm.
Gold-plated.
Praise be.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
♪
The minister here?
Yeah, that's me.
Just finished up service for the day.
You gentlemen like to
hear more from the Lord,
reckon you come by tomorrow
for worship service.
That won't be possible.
We'll be marching to Fredericksburg.
Well, Godspeed.
I reckon you'll give
them Yanks a lickin'.
You'll be coming too.
You are assigned to be
chaplain for our division.
- Is that so?
- That is so.
If you want to gather your things,
we could load you into the wagon,
take you to camp.
Oh.
Well, does the position pay?
$50 a month and free meals.
$50?
A lot of money to preach
once a week, ain't it?
[LAUGHS]
Give me a moment.
"This is the body
of a crook
who tried to rob me."
Damn it. I got you.
"His name is
Elijah Gemstone,
and he is dead now.
He was very handsome."
[DRAMATIC FIFE MUSIC]
♪
"But may he forever
rot in hell."
"Signed,
Abel Grieves."
♪
Praise ♪
♪
Praise ♪
[MEN SHOUTING]
[GUNFIRE]
Second unit, forward!
[MEN SHOUTING]
[ULULATING]
Oh, shit!
Ah!
[MEN SCREAMING]
[SCREAMS]
[GASPING]
[WHITEY MORGAN AND THE
78'S "GOIN' DOWN ROCKIN'"]
[SCREAMING]
One foot on the mountain ♪
The other one in the stream ♪
All kinds of trouble ♪
And I'm caught in between ♪
I can't change my way of doing ♪
It's gonna lay like it falls ♪
No ♪
If I can't go down rockin' ♪
I ain't gonna go down at all ♪
♪
If I can't go down rockin' ♪
Ain't gonna go down at all ♪
♪
[RETCHING]
You all right there, Grieves?
Yeah, I'm fine, Captain.
You've seen worse.
No. [COUGHS]
I'm not puking from
this. I just got a bug.
- Sure.
- Of course.
Some of the men said they saw you
drinking with the boys over
in the sixth last night.
Drink? No.
They're mistaken. I lead
service to those men.
I pray with them, but no, I
or perhaps I had a drink of water
because my mouth was
parched, but no spirits.
[LAUGHS]
Unless, of course,
you count the Holy One.
Heard you were gambling with them.
Said you took them on.
You were good, real good.
[SPITS] Gambling?
That's absurd.
I believe that's very odd
behavior for a minister.
Very odd indeed.
Not the kind of behavior I expect
at all from a righteous man.
Upon which word did I stutter?
I told you these rumors are untrue.
Don't allow others to paint a man of God
as a blasphemer, Captain.
You can go to hell for that.
- I can what?
- I know you heard me.
Take a seat, please.
[SCOFFS]
It's in the Bible, Captain Cane.
Have you read it?
Yeah. The whole thing.
Well, going against a
minister serving the Lord,
you go to hell if you do that.
'Cause quite simply, you're
going against God, you see?
Now, I can find it
myself to forgive you.
But it's God you're gonna
have a hard time atoning with
because your slander against
me reflects poorly on Him.
I know you're not trying
to go against God, but, uh,
He may not know that.
I, uh
yeah, no, I mean,
I was not trying to go against
God or the Bible or nothing.
I was just trying to point out
I know what you're doing, and I
don't appreciate it. Just stop it.
Sorry.
My forgive me.
Would you if you're talking to God,
would you tell Him that
I meant nothing by it,
and I'm that I'm sorry?
- Please?
- I'll think about it.
Can you give me some space, please?
Go away.
Of course.
But tell him.
I'd like to have
something to drink as well.
Okay.
I'll be happy to fetch
that for you, Chaplain.
Chaplain, the, uh, young man
who got his leg blowed off,
he is in dire need of prayer.
Of course.
[DRAMATIC FIFE MUSIC]
♪
I'm dying.
Well, I'm not the doctor,
so I'm not gonna argue with you.
Um.
But I still see there's
still life in you.
I see the love of Christ in you.
- You do?
- Mm-hmm.
Yeah. It's burning bright.
He's all around you.
Go go be with Him.
Why don't you be His child
in your death passing?
[RASPING]
Okay, well, I think that's it, I guess.
[SCREAMING]
Just say please say
say a prayer for my soul.
Uh, I did already.
Yeah, it's done.
I've been praying this whole time,
silently in my mind.
Can you say it out loud?
There's no need.
I'm very confident
that the Lord hears it.
Can you say it so I can hear?
- Just 'cause I'm scared.
- Okay, very well.
Okay, just give me a
second so I can just think
about the right words.
Um.
- Please.
- Okay, just now, come on.
- Please.
- Give me a second.
It's coming.
Jesus Christ.
[RASPING]
Soldier?
Soldier, are you still with us?
Oh, I just thought how
to say it, but, uh
well, there's no reason
to say it out loud now.
God hears. [CLEARS THROAT]
[SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC]
♪
[UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC]
♪
- There we go.
- Ah, shit!
[ALL SHOUTING]
How do you win every single time?
I don't understand.
Well, not every time.
No, it's not every time.
You won earlier.
Every single time you handle the deck
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
How long are these supposed to be?
- Do you know?
- I don't know.
A lot of people. Shit.
- Yeah.
- Morning.
[CLEARS THROAT]
[SNIFFS]
Oh, I brought this.
Yeah, little Bible.
Bring a little authenticity
to this whole thing.
Shit. There's a lot of you here.
Our Lord
what can I say?
He's not
he's not a cruel God.
That's true.
He knows that we're not always good.
That's why He died for our sins, right?
To forgive us. Right.
Um.
Yeah, we ain't perfect. [LAUGHS]
Nor should we expect to be.
Almighty's perfect.
And, uh, none of us are Him, so, uh
So quit competing with
God and just do your best.
All right, I'm not gonna take up
the rest of your Sunday morning.
I feel like we've been here for an hour.
Uh. All right. Oh, bless all of you.
Yeah. Bless the Lord.
Bless Jesus Christ.
All His good friends.
[PIANO HYMNAL PLAYING]
Dismissed.
ALL: Amen.
Amen. Yeah.
[UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Aw, man.
Oh, man.
All right.
Dang it!
Oh, Jesus Christ.
Hey, there's no need for that.
It's not His fault you can't play cards.
[LAUGHING]
Who are you?
Well, I'm just somebody who's
gonna sit and pray with you
before you meet the Maker.
Like an angel?
[LAUGHS]
I thought I'd been called it all.
Sure, son.
Just like an angel.
Would you pray with me?
If you want to.
If not, I could just, uh,
pray for you, and you
can just lay there.
You can pray for me.
All right.
Yeah, yeah. I like it
better that way too.
What's your name?
- Winston.
- Winston.
Do you believe in God?
Yes, sir, I do.
Do you think you're
gonna get into heaven?
Probably not.
I killed people out here.
I think that don't get you in.
I heard they changed that.
Who has?
The Lord.
Yeah.
Uh, he knows what a pickle this war is,
and He's letting things go.
Then I'm lucky, I guess.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Why don't we pray together?
Yeah, I think you need it.
Winston.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
That water supposed
to wash your sins away?
Pardon?
Hell, you ain't even a real preacher.
Well, you must be Presbyterian.
[CHUCKLES]
I know you from before the war.
Took me a second.
Huck's Tavern in Harrisonburg.
I'm Rollins, Ned Rollins.
Use to play cards out there.
Roll dice too.
I think you are mistaken, son.
Nah.
I'd know you from anywhere.
The way you shuffle that deck
with one pinky out like a woman.
[LAUGHS] Your name's Gemstone, right?
It's Gemstone.
[GRUNTING]
My name is Abel Grieves.
That's the only name
you need to call me.
Do you understand?
Relax. I'm not saying anything.
Why do you give a shit
what I do, soldier?
I got a business proposal for you.
A chance for us both to
make some serious coin.
[GASPS]
I like coin. Keep talking.
The major's coming to camp tomorrow.
He was asking about putting
together a card game.
You collude with me and cheat,
we could take him for all he's got.
Major?
Major McFall.
Real deep pockets too.
And he loves to play.
[TONY JOE WHITE'S "BOOT MONEY"]
Put a little money in my pocket ♪
The rest down in my boot ♪
I may be a poor man ♪
But I always got some loot ♪
I got boot money ♪
♪
I got boot money ♪
♪
[UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC]
[LAUGHTER]
Well, I'm gonna win my
money back from Rollins here
or get pigeon-eyed drunk,
whichever comes first.
Drink up, sir. He's
been winning all night.
Mm-hmm.
Ned's even taking the chaplain's money.
That's like stealing from Jesus.
- [LAUGHTER]
- That's right.
You gonna burn in
hellfire for that, Ned.
You are, boy.
Rollins is the one who
told me about this game,
so I should have known
he'd been a card sharp.
I ain't no card sharp, Major.
I'm just lucky.
And God loves me more
than the preacher here.
[LAUGHS]
I'm going all in.
- Say what?
- Damn. I fold.
Damn it, I'm out too.
$50? That's madness.
Damn you, Rollins.
Another 50'll wash me out.
You're washed anyway, Major.
May as well throw in, if
you can afford it, sir.
[LAUGHS]
I am drunk, Rollins,
but I am not that drunk.
I fold.
Man has to take risks in life, Major.
Come on now.
Risks have certainly been taken.
Money was taken, too,
tonight, unfortunately.
You have taken the shirt off my back,
as well as my goddamn trousers.
Now, you still have your trousers, sir.
I'm gonna call your 50.
Oh.
- Oh!
- Ooh!
Now, that's only 25 there,
but I'm good for the rest.
I will not be intimidated by a big bet.
Better get him going. Take him downtown.
Okay, okay, okay. Show
your hand then, Preacher.
- Let's see.
- Pair of queens.
Mm.
I had nothing.
[LAUGHTER] Really nothing.
[LAUGHS]
I knew it!
How did you know I was bluffing?
How did you know, you mother
What can I say?
God is on my side.
Oh, my God.
He nailed you to the cross, boy.
Oh, my God, now.
You shifty rogue, you.
You got what you deserve.
Beat by a pair. [LAUGHS]
- Well done, Chaplain.
- Thank you.
Now that's what I call
divine intervention.
[LAUGHTER]
Hoo-whee!
Played him like a fiddle.
Look at this.
Major was watching me like a hawk
but never looked twice at you.
[CHUCKLES] He was sauced to the gills.
We gotta do this again sometime.
We make a
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[GASPING]
[SPLUTTERING]
[BONES CRACK]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Go to sleep, old boy.
I can't take any chances.
[STEADY MUSIC]
♪
[COUGHING]
♪
Oh, God damn.
[PATRIOTIC MUSIC]
♪
Excuse me, Chaplain Grieves.
What can I do for you, son?
I just wanted to ask you something.
You was with Rollins
last night, weren't you?
Yeah, I was.
Did you hear he deserted?
Deserted? No, I did not.
Yeah, must have lit out
some time before sunrise.
Always knew he was yellow.
Well, not all soldiers
have courage, I reckon.
Yeah, Rollins sure don't have any.
Damn coward.
Probably ran into the arms
of the Yanks, knowing him.
Anything to save his own skin.
You know, I tell people all the time,
I ain't afraid of dying
'cause I know Jesus.
I know I'll be called
into the Kingdom of Heaven
when God wants me, and
not a second sooner.
Amen.
I grew up going to church every Sunday,
so I know God has a plan.
Amen. Yes, sir, God has a plan.
I ain't afraid of dying.
You will not find a man
of bigger faith than me.
That's real good.
Besides, I ain't gonna die.
We whupped them Yanks at Manassas,
and we've been whupping them ever since.
That's why I hold my head up high.
- [MEN SHOUTING]
- [GUNFIRE]
Sharpshooters!
They got riflemen posted in them trees!
On the right, on the right.
[MEN SHOUTING]
[HORSE WHINNIES]
[EXPLOSIONS BOOMING]
[SHOUTING AND GUNFIRE]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[SHOUTING FADING]
[WHISPERING] Please, God.
Please, God in Heaven, help me.
[EXPLOSION BOOMS]
[SOLEMN MUSIC]
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Kill these traitors, every last one.
♪
Watch him.
Sir.
[ALL CHEERING]
That one in the middle had this on him.
It's a Bible.
It's real gold.
Indeed it is.
- Bring him here.
- Yes, sir.
[WHISTLES]
[CLEARS THROAT]
You're a chaplain in this
division, is that correct?
Yes, sir.
Name's Abel Grieves out of Leesburg.
We don't put men of the
cloth to death, Minister.
You will be released.
Here's your Bible back.
I'm free to go, sir?
Not yet.
First, we have to execute
the rest of the prisoners.
Yes, sir.
Would you like to have
final consultations
with your Confederates, Minister?
Oh, I don't think so.
Seems like bad timing.
Well, I think maybe you should.
Yes, sir.
Boys, men,
Captain allowed me to have final talks
with all of you.
I told him it was idiocy, but he
What's happening here, Chaplain?
They're gonna hang us?
Not exactly.
They're gonna execute
you, but by firing squad.
- Oh.
- But they're letting you go?
Yes, that is correct, on
account of I'm a chaplain,
which is a rule I didn't
know before, but there you go.
Is there anything I could do
for you fellas to help prepare?
Could you tell him I'm
your assistant chaplain?
I would, pal.
He knows everybody's rank, I think.
Damn. So we're just all gonna die?
I'm afraid so, son.
Well, will you pray with us?
Send us off with a good one, Preach?
Okay.
I can do that.
Everybody lower
your heads, everybody.
Everybody, lower your heads.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Jesus, these are good boys
we're about to send Your way.
Brave boys.
Maybe some of them done bad things,
but they aren't bad boys.
They killed people because they had to.
Now, I know I know
that ain't great, but
but it's better than killing for money
or out of meanness.
Now, I'm about to send 11
souls Your way, Dear Lord.
And I know You'll do with
them what You see fit.
But I give each of them
my highest recommendation
that they get into Heaven.
'Cause there are far
worse fellas down here.
Maybe that's Your whole grand plan.
Maybe
maybe the rest of us
sinners need to stick around
a little bit before we can join them
in Your everlasting glory.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
Amen.
ALL: Amen.
♪
[SIGHS]
[CLICKING]
[GUNFIRE]
[CLICKING]
[GROANING]
[RIFLE CLICKS]
[GUNSHOT]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hell of a fine prayer
you gave, Minister.
Made a difference for those boys.
Godspeed.
Oh, thank you, sir.
Goodbye, sir.
Yah.
[LEE HAZLEWOOD'S "FOR A DAY LIKE TODAY"]
♪
[BIRDS CROWING]
There's a dream I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
Yellow trees, Indian waters ♪
Flowing softly on their way ♪
There's a dove in the treetops ♪
Singing peace on the wind ♪
Again and again and again ♪
It's just a dream I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
There's some hope I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
Love will come ♪
Love will conquer ♪
Every heart beats today ♪
And it may not be perfect ♪
But at least we can try ♪
You and I, you and I, you and I ♪
It's just some hope I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
There's a song I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
And the words tell a story ♪
Of our young men far away ♪
"Bring them home" ♪
Sings the chorus ♪
For they're much too young to die ♪
Must they die, must they die ♪
Must they die? ♪
Just some hope I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
You're the only one alive?
♪
Why'd the Yanks spare your life?
It wasn't the Yanks that did it.
[SIGHS]
It was God who saved me.
[SOLEMN MUSIC]
♪
"In the beginning, God created
the Heaven and the Earth.
And the Earth was without form and void,
and darkness was upon
the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved
upon the face of the waters.
And God said, 'Let there be light,'
and there was light."
Jesus loves ♪
A Gemstone ♪
Jesus loves ♪
A Gemstone ♪
Jesus loves a ♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[BRIGHT TONE]
[TV STATIC DRONES]
[BRIGHT TONE]
This great country of ours
was ordained by the Lord Himself.
There is no other.
The Lord created this country
with a mind set on states' rights,
that each state govern
by the laws they see fit.
States' rights are therefore connected
with the love of Christ Himself.
Loving your rights as a Virginian,
as a Confederate, is
loving the very will of God.
And that will cannot be
manipulated or controlled
by the wants and whims
of the Northerners.
- Amen.
- ALL: Amen.
This war
Has taken its toll on all of us.
We've all sacrificed,
lost loved ones.
Only through our devotion to Christ
and through our prayers
can we bring an end to this war.
Now, as the offering plate comes around,
please put in what you can.
Nothing is too little.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- Blessings to you.
- Minister.
Go with God, sister.
All right, have a pleasant day.
Thank you, Minister.
[HORSE NEIGHS]
We'll see you.
[WOOD CREAKING]
The service is done for today, friend.
Well, I'd think a man of God would
always be open for business.
A man of God still
has to eat and prepare
for the lessons of
virtue he will share next.
[LAUGHS]
I bet you gonna eat
pretty good with that haul
you took in today.
I will not be buying my supper
with the people's offering, sir.
Don't you mind none how I eat.
That's none of your business.
But
taking money from women
whose husbands are off
getting themselves
killed, that well
just don't seem too righteous to me.
I'd appreciate it if
you'd take leave, mister.
Now, if you'd like to
engage in a spirited debate
of God's wantfulness
during times of war,
I'd be more than happy to enlighten you
during a scheduled service.
I'm done for the day.
I'll say you are.
[GUNSHOT]
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
Lookie here.
Hmm.
Gold-plated.
Praise be.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR]
♪
The minister here?
Yeah, that's me.
Just finished up service for the day.
You gentlemen like to
hear more from the Lord,
reckon you come by tomorrow
for worship service.
That won't be possible.
We'll be marching to Fredericksburg.
Well, Godspeed.
I reckon you'll give
them Yanks a lickin'.
You'll be coming too.
You are assigned to be
chaplain for our division.
- Is that so?
- That is so.
If you want to gather your things,
we could load you into the wagon,
take you to camp.
Oh.
Well, does the position pay?
$50 a month and free meals.
$50?
A lot of money to preach
once a week, ain't it?
[LAUGHS]
Give me a moment.
"This is the body
of a crook
who tried to rob me."
Damn it. I got you.
"His name is
Elijah Gemstone,
and he is dead now.
He was very handsome."
[DRAMATIC FIFE MUSIC]
♪
"But may he forever
rot in hell."
"Signed,
Abel Grieves."
♪
Praise ♪
♪
Praise ♪
[MEN SHOUTING]
[GUNFIRE]
Second unit, forward!
[MEN SHOUTING]
[ULULATING]
Oh, shit!
Ah!
[MEN SCREAMING]
[SCREAMS]
[GASPING]
[WHITEY MORGAN AND THE
78'S "GOIN' DOWN ROCKIN'"]
[SCREAMING]
One foot on the mountain ♪
The other one in the stream ♪
All kinds of trouble ♪
And I'm caught in between ♪
I can't change my way of doing ♪
It's gonna lay like it falls ♪
No ♪
If I can't go down rockin' ♪
I ain't gonna go down at all ♪
♪
If I can't go down rockin' ♪
Ain't gonna go down at all ♪
♪
[RETCHING]
You all right there, Grieves?
Yeah, I'm fine, Captain.
You've seen worse.
No. [COUGHS]
I'm not puking from
this. I just got a bug.
- Sure.
- Of course.
Some of the men said they saw you
drinking with the boys over
in the sixth last night.
Drink? No.
They're mistaken. I lead
service to those men.
I pray with them, but no, I
or perhaps I had a drink of water
because my mouth was
parched, but no spirits.
[LAUGHS]
Unless, of course,
you count the Holy One.
Heard you were gambling with them.
Said you took them on.
You were good, real good.
[SPITS] Gambling?
That's absurd.
I believe that's very odd
behavior for a minister.
Very odd indeed.
Not the kind of behavior I expect
at all from a righteous man.
Upon which word did I stutter?
I told you these rumors are untrue.
Don't allow others to paint a man of God
as a blasphemer, Captain.
You can go to hell for that.
- I can what?
- I know you heard me.
Take a seat, please.
[SCOFFS]
It's in the Bible, Captain Cane.
Have you read it?
Yeah. The whole thing.
Well, going against a
minister serving the Lord,
you go to hell if you do that.
'Cause quite simply, you're
going against God, you see?
Now, I can find it
myself to forgive you.
But it's God you're gonna
have a hard time atoning with
because your slander against
me reflects poorly on Him.
I know you're not trying
to go against God, but, uh,
He may not know that.
I, uh
yeah, no, I mean,
I was not trying to go against
God or the Bible or nothing.
I was just trying to point out
I know what you're doing, and I
don't appreciate it. Just stop it.
Sorry.
My forgive me.
Would you if you're talking to God,
would you tell Him that
I meant nothing by it,
and I'm that I'm sorry?
- Please?
- I'll think about it.
Can you give me some space, please?
Go away.
Of course.
But tell him.
I'd like to have
something to drink as well.
Okay.
I'll be happy to fetch
that for you, Chaplain.
Chaplain, the, uh, young man
who got his leg blowed off,
he is in dire need of prayer.
Of course.
[DRAMATIC FIFE MUSIC]
♪
I'm dying.
Well, I'm not the doctor,
so I'm not gonna argue with you.
Um.
But I still see there's
still life in you.
I see the love of Christ in you.
- You do?
- Mm-hmm.
Yeah. It's burning bright.
He's all around you.
Go go be with Him.
Why don't you be His child
in your death passing?
[RASPING]
Okay, well, I think that's it, I guess.
[SCREAMING]
Just say please say
say a prayer for my soul.
Uh, I did already.
Yeah, it's done.
I've been praying this whole time,
silently in my mind.
Can you say it out loud?
There's no need.
I'm very confident
that the Lord hears it.
Can you say it so I can hear?
- Just 'cause I'm scared.
- Okay, very well.
Okay, just give me a
second so I can just think
about the right words.
Um.
- Please.
- Okay, just now, come on.
- Please.
- Give me a second.
It's coming.
Jesus Christ.
[RASPING]
Soldier?
Soldier, are you still with us?
Oh, I just thought how
to say it, but, uh
well, there's no reason
to say it out loud now.
God hears. [CLEARS THROAT]
[SOMBER BLUEGRASS MUSIC]
♪
[UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC]
♪
- There we go.
- Ah, shit!
[ALL SHOUTING]
How do you win every single time?
I don't understand.
Well, not every time.
No, it's not every time.
You won earlier.
Every single time you handle the deck
[CRICKETS CHIRPING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
How long are these supposed to be?
- Do you know?
- I don't know.
A lot of people. Shit.
- Yeah.
- Morning.
[CLEARS THROAT]
[SNIFFS]
Oh, I brought this.
Yeah, little Bible.
Bring a little authenticity
to this whole thing.
Shit. There's a lot of you here.
Our Lord
what can I say?
He's not
he's not a cruel God.
That's true.
He knows that we're not always good.
That's why He died for our sins, right?
To forgive us. Right.
Um.
Yeah, we ain't perfect. [LAUGHS]
Nor should we expect to be.
Almighty's perfect.
And, uh, none of us are Him, so, uh
So quit competing with
God and just do your best.
All right, I'm not gonna take up
the rest of your Sunday morning.
I feel like we've been here for an hour.
Uh. All right. Oh, bless all of you.
Yeah. Bless the Lord.
Bless Jesus Christ.
All His good friends.
[PIANO HYMNAL PLAYING]
Dismissed.
ALL: Amen.
Amen. Yeah.
[UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Aw, man.
Oh, man.
All right.
Dang it!
Oh, Jesus Christ.
Hey, there's no need for that.
It's not His fault you can't play cards.
[LAUGHING]
Who are you?
Well, I'm just somebody who's
gonna sit and pray with you
before you meet the Maker.
Like an angel?
[LAUGHS]
I thought I'd been called it all.
Sure, son.
Just like an angel.
Would you pray with me?
If you want to.
If not, I could just, uh,
pray for you, and you
can just lay there.
You can pray for me.
All right.
Yeah, yeah. I like it
better that way too.
What's your name?
- Winston.
- Winston.
Do you believe in God?
Yes, sir, I do.
Do you think you're
gonna get into heaven?
Probably not.
I killed people out here.
I think that don't get you in.
I heard they changed that.
Who has?
The Lord.
Yeah.
Uh, he knows what a pickle this war is,
and He's letting things go.
Then I'm lucky, I guess.
[BOTH LAUGH]
Why don't we pray together?
Yeah, I think you need it.
Winston.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
That water supposed
to wash your sins away?
Pardon?
Hell, you ain't even a real preacher.
Well, you must be Presbyterian.
[CHUCKLES]
I know you from before the war.
Took me a second.
Huck's Tavern in Harrisonburg.
I'm Rollins, Ned Rollins.
Use to play cards out there.
Roll dice too.
I think you are mistaken, son.
Nah.
I'd know you from anywhere.
The way you shuffle that deck
with one pinky out like a woman.
[LAUGHS] Your name's Gemstone, right?
It's Gemstone.
[GRUNTING]
My name is Abel Grieves.
That's the only name
you need to call me.
Do you understand?
Relax. I'm not saying anything.
Why do you give a shit
what I do, soldier?
I got a business proposal for you.
A chance for us both to
make some serious coin.
[GASPS]
I like coin. Keep talking.
The major's coming to camp tomorrow.
He was asking about putting
together a card game.
You collude with me and cheat,
we could take him for all he's got.
Major?
Major McFall.
Real deep pockets too.
And he loves to play.
[TONY JOE WHITE'S "BOOT MONEY"]
Put a little money in my pocket ♪
The rest down in my boot ♪
I may be a poor man ♪
But I always got some loot ♪
I got boot money ♪
♪
I got boot money ♪
♪
[UPBEAT BLUEGRASS MUSIC]
[LAUGHTER]
Well, I'm gonna win my
money back from Rollins here
or get pigeon-eyed drunk,
whichever comes first.
Drink up, sir. He's
been winning all night.
Mm-hmm.
Ned's even taking the chaplain's money.
That's like stealing from Jesus.
- [LAUGHTER]
- That's right.
You gonna burn in
hellfire for that, Ned.
You are, boy.
Rollins is the one who
told me about this game,
so I should have known
he'd been a card sharp.
I ain't no card sharp, Major.
I'm just lucky.
And God loves me more
than the preacher here.
[LAUGHS]
I'm going all in.
- Say what?
- Damn. I fold.
Damn it, I'm out too.
$50? That's madness.
Damn you, Rollins.
Another 50'll wash me out.
You're washed anyway, Major.
May as well throw in, if
you can afford it, sir.
[LAUGHS]
I am drunk, Rollins,
but I am not that drunk.
I fold.
Man has to take risks in life, Major.
Come on now.
Risks have certainly been taken.
Money was taken, too,
tonight, unfortunately.
You have taken the shirt off my back,
as well as my goddamn trousers.
Now, you still have your trousers, sir.
I'm gonna call your 50.
Oh.
- Oh!
- Ooh!
Now, that's only 25 there,
but I'm good for the rest.
I will not be intimidated by a big bet.
Better get him going. Take him downtown.
Okay, okay, okay. Show
your hand then, Preacher.
- Let's see.
- Pair of queens.
Mm.
I had nothing.
[LAUGHTER] Really nothing.
[LAUGHS]
I knew it!
How did you know I was bluffing?
How did you know, you mother
What can I say?
God is on my side.
Oh, my God.
He nailed you to the cross, boy.
Oh, my God, now.
You shifty rogue, you.
You got what you deserve.
Beat by a pair. [LAUGHS]
- Well done, Chaplain.
- Thank you.
Now that's what I call
divine intervention.
[LAUGHTER]
Hoo-whee!
Played him like a fiddle.
Look at this.
Major was watching me like a hawk
but never looked twice at you.
[CHUCKLES] He was sauced to the gills.
We gotta do this again sometime.
We make a
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[GASPING]
[SPLUTTERING]
[BONES CRACK]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
Go to sleep, old boy.
I can't take any chances.
[STEADY MUSIC]
♪
[COUGHING]
♪
Oh, God damn.
[PATRIOTIC MUSIC]
♪
Excuse me, Chaplain Grieves.
What can I do for you, son?
I just wanted to ask you something.
You was with Rollins
last night, weren't you?
Yeah, I was.
Did you hear he deserted?
Deserted? No, I did not.
Yeah, must have lit out
some time before sunrise.
Always knew he was yellow.
Well, not all soldiers
have courage, I reckon.
Yeah, Rollins sure don't have any.
Damn coward.
Probably ran into the arms
of the Yanks, knowing him.
Anything to save his own skin.
You know, I tell people all the time,
I ain't afraid of dying
'cause I know Jesus.
I know I'll be called
into the Kingdom of Heaven
when God wants me, and
not a second sooner.
Amen.
I grew up going to church every Sunday,
so I know God has a plan.
Amen. Yes, sir, God has a plan.
I ain't afraid of dying.
You will not find a man
of bigger faith than me.
That's real good.
Besides, I ain't gonna die.
We whupped them Yanks at Manassas,
and we've been whupping them ever since.
That's why I hold my head up high.
- [MEN SHOUTING]
- [GUNFIRE]
Sharpshooters!
They got riflemen posted in them trees!
On the right, on the right.
[MEN SHOUTING]
[HORSE WHINNIES]
[EXPLOSIONS BOOMING]
[SHOUTING AND GUNFIRE]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[SHOUTING FADING]
[WHISPERING] Please, God.
Please, God in Heaven, help me.
[EXPLOSION BOOMS]
[SOLEMN MUSIC]
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Kill these traitors, every last one.
♪
Watch him.
Sir.
[ALL CHEERING]
That one in the middle had this on him.
It's a Bible.
It's real gold.
Indeed it is.
- Bring him here.
- Yes, sir.
[WHISTLES]
[CLEARS THROAT]
You're a chaplain in this
division, is that correct?
Yes, sir.
Name's Abel Grieves out of Leesburg.
We don't put men of the
cloth to death, Minister.
You will be released.
Here's your Bible back.
I'm free to go, sir?
Not yet.
First, we have to execute
the rest of the prisoners.
Yes, sir.
Would you like to have
final consultations
with your Confederates, Minister?
Oh, I don't think so.
Seems like bad timing.
Well, I think maybe you should.
Yes, sir.
Boys, men,
Captain allowed me to have final talks
with all of you.
I told him it was idiocy, but he
What's happening here, Chaplain?
They're gonna hang us?
Not exactly.
They're gonna execute
you, but by firing squad.
- Oh.
- But they're letting you go?
Yes, that is correct, on
account of I'm a chaplain,
which is a rule I didn't
know before, but there you go.
Is there anything I could do
for you fellas to help prepare?
Could you tell him I'm
your assistant chaplain?
I would, pal.
He knows everybody's rank, I think.
Damn. So we're just all gonna die?
I'm afraid so, son.
Well, will you pray with us?
Send us off with a good one, Preach?
Okay.
I can do that.
Everybody lower
your heads, everybody.
Everybody, lower your heads.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Jesus, these are good boys
we're about to send Your way.
Brave boys.
Maybe some of them done bad things,
but they aren't bad boys.
They killed people because they had to.
Now, I know I know
that ain't great, but
but it's better than killing for money
or out of meanness.
Now, I'm about to send 11
souls Your way, Dear Lord.
And I know You'll do with
them what You see fit.
But I give each of them
my highest recommendation
that they get into Heaven.
'Cause there are far
worse fellas down here.
Maybe that's Your whole grand plan.
Maybe
maybe the rest of us
sinners need to stick around
a little bit before we can join them
in Your everlasting glory.
[SOMBER MUSIC]
♪
Amen.
ALL: Amen.
♪
[SIGHS]
[CLICKING]
[GUNFIRE]
[CLICKING]
[GROANING]
[RIFLE CLICKS]
[GUNSHOT]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hell of a fine prayer
you gave, Minister.
Made a difference for those boys.
Godspeed.
Oh, thank you, sir.
Goodbye, sir.
Yah.
[LEE HAZLEWOOD'S "FOR A DAY LIKE TODAY"]
♪
[BIRDS CROWING]
There's a dream I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
Yellow trees, Indian waters ♪
Flowing softly on their way ♪
There's a dove in the treetops ♪
Singing peace on the wind ♪
Again and again and again ♪
It's just a dream I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
There's some hope I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
Love will come ♪
Love will conquer ♪
Every heart beats today ♪
And it may not be perfect ♪
But at least we can try ♪
You and I, you and I, you and I ♪
It's just some hope I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
There's a song I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
And the words tell a story ♪
Of our young men far away ♪
"Bring them home" ♪
Sings the chorus ♪
For they're much too young to die ♪
Must they die, must they die ♪
Must they die? ♪
Just some hope I've been saving ♪
For a day like today ♪
You're the only one alive?
♪
Why'd the Yanks spare your life?
It wasn't the Yanks that did it.
[SIGHS]
It was God who saved me.
[SOLEMN MUSIC]
♪
"In the beginning, God created
the Heaven and the Earth.
And the Earth was without form and void,
and darkness was upon
the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved
upon the face of the waters.
And God said, 'Let there be light,'
and there was light."
Jesus loves ♪
A Gemstone ♪
Jesus loves ♪
A Gemstone ♪
Jesus loves a ♪
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
[BRIGHT TONE]