All language subtitles for Band.of.Angels.1957

♪ I was alone

♪ praying for someone to love ♪

♪ Thinking the moon
was a stranger ♪

♪ The stars were unfriendly ♪

♪ And love was a shrine ♪

♪ Not meant to be mine ♪

♪ I was alone

♪ praying to heaven above ♪

♪ When all at once I imagined ♪

♪ A band of angels up there ♪

♪ In the heavens

♪ they seemed to be singing ♪

♪ A great heavenly love song ♪

♪ And then,
when they were done ♪

♪ I looked around

♪ and there I found you ♪

♪ Now I'm not alone

♪ thanks to the heavens above ♪

♪ Thanks to my band of angels ♪

♪ For answering
all of my prayers ♪

♪ With your love

[barking]

Put your hands up!

Get down.

Where were you running off to?

He was going to Cincinnati.

He was scared to go by hisself.

He done made me go with him.

You lying scamp.

A good flogging will take
the running out of them.

No flogging.

They're new here,

or they wouldn't have run away.

Take them to the cemetery

and have them pull the weeds.

Get up.

Move.

Long as I've been at Starrwood,

he's never whipped a slave.

Never sold one neither.

Sure got funny ideas
up here in Kentucky.

Manty, darling.

Father, why isn't she
buried over yonder

with our other folks?

Manty, I told you.

I wanted your mother
near the house

where she's closer
to me and to you.

Oh, shad.

Ya, massa Aaron.

Manty, you go along with shad.

Tell old Sukie to bake us

a nice big Berry pie for supper.

Doesn't that sound good?

Now, now, sweetheart.

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice, I guess.

And everything nice.

You run along, now.

I catched you

giving my berries away.

You put her up to them tricks,

you no-good shaddy.

That baby gal's got to eat big

to grow big like me.

Mm-hmm.
She growing up--

blooming out pretty all over.

Afore you know it,

someday she going
to be owning
Starrwood.

Her, own Starrwood?

Yes, her,
and that's
enough from you.

But she couldn't.

Shut your mouth!

I want to hear about it.

Shad?

If massa Aaron finds out...

Massa Aaron?

Him?

Them muckety-mucks
ain't nothing.

Pull off their fancy clothes,

and there ain't
nothing different.

And Manty--what's she?

She ain't nothing.

Ain't no better than nothing.

You get yourself
out of my kitchen.

Out of my kitchen right now

before I hit you upside your...

No better than nothing?

What did he mean?

He just crazy, that's all.

I'll ask father.

Manty.

Manty!

That man from danville...

Took shaddy.

You sold him.

You sold him away.

I had to.

Certain things have to be done.

Nobody can change them.

Now, listen, honey.

Here's some good news.

You've sort of
outgrown Starrwood

and miss Tottenham,
your governess.

You've learned
most everything
she can teach you,

and, well, you're
going away to school.

First you send shad away

and now me.

I won't leave you.

I won't leave Starrwood.

I don't want you
to leave me, Manty,

but this is just a little place

in a great big world.

Someday you'll
come back to it--

miss Amantha Starr,

a great lady with
a head full of learning.

It won't be too far away.

I'll see you often.

Try to get some sleep
now, honey.

Sweet little Manty.

What are little girls made of?

[Sniffle]

I don't know, father.

I don't know.

Dear Sukie,

you know I would
write you more often,

but father comes to Cincinnati

so frequently.

"And each time
I have sent
my love to you.

"I am now a graduate student

"at the conservatory,

"not as homesick as I used to be

"because I have
some fine friends,

"especially
the reverend
Seth Parton.

"He's a young divinity student

"who conducts chapel for us

"at the conservatory.

He is so splendid
and strong
and earnest."

That child's sick.

No. I'd say she's
busting with health.

"As you know,

"father will be
in Cincinnati
this weekend,

"and I am taking Seth

"to meet him at a tea

"which miss Idell,
my French teacher,

"is giving for me
and some girls
from my dormitory.

"She's quite fascinating,

and father seems
to think so, too."

[Playing camptown races]

Doesn't she play divinely?

If you like arias
of unbridled passion.

I'm sorry, Mr. Parton.

Perhaps a sonata
would have been
more fitting.

Possibly so, miss Idell.

Some music lifts the soul.

Some expresses
the baser instincts.

Please forgive my ignorance.

To comprendre
c'est to pardonner.

There is the unsullied
happiness of virtue
and good works

and the sanctified
happiness of marriage.

Aside from these conditions,

man's only true joy
is self-denial.

I always thought a woman was

until I met Seth.

You should have heard
his last sermon--

"plowing under the wicked."

Well, today, Amantha,

I'm troubled
by a graver subject,

more than anything you
heard in that sermon.

Slavery, Mr. Starr.

I declare to you, sir,
my burning belief

in the natural equality
of all humans.

I'm not prepared for debate,

but I believe you'd agree

that my slaves
are treated kindly.

That's just it, sir.

Kindness can be
the mask for evil,

the kindness of deluded persons

ensnared in works of wickedness,

for indulgence
rivets the shackle.

Kindness seduces the...

The...

I'm listening, Mr. Parton.

That is all, sir.

Truth gives pain sometimes,

but that doesn't mean
I lack regard

for the one who might be hurt.

You don't hurt anybody, Seth.

You know how preachers

give them tarnation
in the sermon

and then shake hands
when church is out.

My hand, sir.

It's been pleasant.

Good afternoon, all.

Good day, sir.

Come along, girls.

Seth has to work
on his new sermon.

I'm sure nobody
would go to sleep

when you preach, young man.

Good day,

Amantha.

Isn't he wonderful, father?

If you say so,
miss sugar-and-spice.

Big, aren't you?

Strong as a bull, I imagine.

My strength
is of the spirit,
miss Idell.

Maybe so, Seth,

but if your muscles

ever get to wrestling
with your spirit,

I'll buy a ticket
to the contest.

Good day.

I'll tell Sukie
how well you look.

She's asking about you
all the time.

I'll write her
another letter
next week.

I'll tell her, honey.

Now, don't you worry.

I'll see you soon.

I have to come up here
next month on business.

Thank you so much
for the nice party.

Goodbye, Manty dear.

Bye, father.

Goodbye, dear.

Only graduates are allowed
to wear their hair up.

Six years of this.
How did she ever...

Miss Amantha,

are you ever
going to leave
the conservatory?

[Seth]
Amantha.

Does that answer your question?

I'll probably be married

and have quite a family

before you all graduate.

Young ladies.

My dear Amantha,

I've been entrusted
with a great crusade.

It'll take me
all over two counties.

What is it?

I volunteered to speak

in the presidential campaign
of Mr. Lincoln.

I've been chosen.

Seth, what an honor.

Tonight I make
my opening address
at Clinton county.

I shall carry the fight
to every village
and crossroads.

Oh, I'm so proud of you.

Oh. I must be off,

or I'll miss my train.

Good luck, Seth.

My apologies.

I'm on my way
to strike a blow
against slavery.

Splendid.

A letter for you, Amantha.

Mail's arrived.

Mildred.
Jenny.

What is it?

It's my father.

He's terribly ill.

I'm going to have to leave.

I'm sorry, Amantha.

The floods are making
river travel difficult.

Some of the packet boats

haven't left for three days.

You'll tell Seth?

As soon as possible.

♪ Oh, swing low

♪ sweet chariot

♪ comin' for to carry me home ♪

♪ oh, swing low...

My baby!

Oh, my baby!

My baby!

♪ Comin' for
to carry me home... ♪

That's Amantha Starr.

Thanks, sheriff.

Too bad.

They waited.

They thought
you never
was coming.

Father.

No.

No! That's the wrong place.

He should be over there,

over by my mother.

[Sobbing]

Manty.

Manty, child.

Sorry I got to do this, folks.

All these slaves there,

get your belongings together.

A judgment's been given
against the estate.

You heard the sheriff,

and I'm warning you--

I aim to sell you all,
every last one.

Nobody's going
to sell them
away from here.

You'll find out
about that, ma'am.

Who are you, if I may ask?

Mr. Calloway's
a slave dealer
from Danville.

He's got the court judgment
against Starrwood.

Where's the overseer?

I'm right here.

What do you want?

Mr. Starr must have thought

he was running a charity farm.

They ain't worth their freight.

Here. Them that's marked
on this invoice,

you deliver to Franklin landing

where they'll be shipped south.

The rest of them,
drop them off
at robard's market.

You'll do nothing of the kind.

There's some kind of mistake.

You do as I say.

There's been no mistake.

Mr. Aaron Starr
was the fine gentleman

that borrowed money from me

to go a-sportin' in Cincinnati.

Don't you talk
about my father
that way,

you...White trash!

I can't say I like
what I got to do,

but I call you all to witness.

Do you state and affirm

you go by the name
of Amantha Starr?

Certainly.
That's my name.

Amantha,

it is sworn and affirmed

that you are the issue

of the body of a slave
called Louisa,

a chattel of
Aaron Pendleton Starr,
deceased,

and as her issue,

you are declared by the law
of this commonwealth

to be a chattel of Starrwood,

subject to any claims
against the estate.

My mother?

She was a Negress.

You're the same stripe as
the rest of them slaves.

That's not true.

You're lying.

You liar!

I know who's got it.

Overseer told me
that massa Aaron

give her all his bank money.

Got the plantation house, too.

Miss Idell.

Miss Idell.

Miss Idell.

Put this nigger in the rig.

She's real money.

You can't!
I'm Amantha Starr.

Go on! Do like I tell you.

Please, Mr. Calloway.
She ain't no negro.

A nigger's what you can sell,

and I aim to sell her

quicker than she can
swallow her own spit.

My baby's going to be
sold into slavery!

Put her baggage in here.

All right. Take off.

Sukie!

Sukie!

Somebody help me!

Help me!

Sukie!

Now, you wait here.

I'll get us a cabin.

[Steam whistle blows]

Oh, no, you don't.

You're going all the way.

Let me through here!

Now, you settle down

and stop a-skitterin' around.

You'll find I ain't
such a bad fella

to get along with.

I got us fixed up real homelike.

Come on!

Sam, get them in the pen.

All right.
Move on in here.

Let's go.

Come on here.

Let's get in here.

Here we are.

There.

[Ship's bells clang]

You don't have to be scared.

I ain't no hurrying man.

You lucky there ain't
some crazy young rooster

sharing this Coop with you.

Put my bags in there.

I brung you a present--

some of old doc Calloway's
soothing syrup.

Guaranteed to give you
the "don't care" look.

If you feel like it,
help yourself.

Hey, you sure are
put together real nice,
ain't you?

Soft and white.

You going to bring
a right pretty price

in New Orleans.

I'm kind of glad

this is going to be a long trip.

They'll never own me.

And you won't either.

Now don't you get uppity.

You ain't thinking
you're too good for me,

are you?

Nah, you ain't.

You just never had man fun.

Is that it?

Have you ever had a fella?

Yes.

And he'll find me,

and he'll kill you.

Ha ha ha ha!

He don't know it,

but he'll be killing

one of the happiest men
he ever seen.

Ow!

Why, you ornery
little she-cat.

You done broke my hide.

[Chuckling]

But you know something?

I kind of like that in a wench.

I used to be pretty proud
of marks like that

when I was a young'un.

You didn't really
mean it, did you?

Dr. Calloway!

Dr. Calloway!

Dr. Calloway!

Big bucks fighting like devils.

Keep an eye on her
till I get back.

You better hurry,
Mr. Calloway.

They're going
to knife themselves up.

I'll cool you off.

So you want to cut
each other up, huh?

I'll learn you how.

Hold on there, now.
None of that.

You'll scar them up worse.

Now clean them up.

If them cuts don't heal,

use boot blacking
to cover them over.

I still say they need
a good whipping.

I couldn't even get $40

for a rambunctious
fighting buck.

I'd be losing money.

Calloway.

Yeah.

What price you asking

for that pretty little white one

you got up there?

She's kind of personal,
Mr. Simpson,

that is, until we get
to New Orleans.

Open the door!

Open the door!

Massa Calloway!

Massa Calloway!

Massa Calloway!

Yeah, yeah.
What now?

She done locked me out.

She done lock you out.

Unlock that door in there.

You open up that door,

or I'll whup you.

[Pounding on door]

Aah!

Help me over here!

Get over there.

You got to...

Put her down here.

Take this off.

Give me that whiskey.

That'll bring her around.

Here.

Gol-dang you.

I buy you, and you try
to cheat me.

You scut, you let her die,

and I'll buck-batter you.

[Gasping]

Ah. Now you lookee here.

You done tried it once,

but you're not going
to try it again.

I ain't going to bother you.

I get you a nice cabin,
treat you like a lady,

but you don't appreciate it.

But any more shenanigans,

and I'll chain you with them
hot-natured blacks.

I won't care
what happens to you,

just so they don't
bruise you too bad.

I know. I got money
tied up in you,

but I'd rather let them

wear a couple hundred
dollars off you

than to get a lot of worriment.

Give me that bag.

And I'll see you at--

hey. I'm going to bust

them biggety notions
of your'n wide open.

Get them tea-party duds
off her

and dress her
like the rest of them.

That'll learn you
you ain't so fancy.

Might as well get used to it.

Ain't nothing going
to change nothing.

I'll change it.

Yeah?

Just who do you
think you are, gal?

Amantha Starr,

and nobody's
going to keep me
from being free.

You think you're white,
don't you?

Whiter than me.

Well, you ain't.

You stay away from me.

Some fella buy you...

And what he do?

What he then do?

Maybe it won't be so bad.

Maybe you get something
you like out of it.

One of them
frenchie fellas
in New Orleans,

maybe he buy you.

You know what he'll do?

He'll...

[Laughing]

Then you get old,

and it don't matter--

don't matter what you done had.

They sure can't take it away.

[Laughing]

Who'll say 75?

75.

Now who'll say 100?

100. 100.

Do I hear 100?

Going, gentlemen.

Sold for $75.

Next.

Come on, boy.
Stand up there.

200 pounds of fine specimen.

What am I offered?

What am I bid?

$75.

$75? This boy here's
built like a bull.

Show him what you're made of.

Watch him run up and down.

Look at him go.

He'll run like a rabbit.

Look at that boy.

Look at those shoulders.

Now, what am I bid?

100.

100. Do I hear 125?

Get up here, boy.

125.

Do I hear 150?

150.

150 is bid.

Do I hear 175?

175.

175 is bid.

Do I hear 200?

Going, going, gone.
Sold for $200.

Next. Get up here.

You ruin my sale,

I'll break you down
to $5.00 worth.

Ah, ladies and gentlemen,

a flower of Kentucky
in the bloom of youth.

Why go into details

about something fit
to ornament a drawing room?

You ladies and gentlemen
have eyes,

especially you gentlemen.

I don't misrepresent
the fact that she has
colored blood,

but it couldn't be more
than a miser's dram,

if, indeed, ladies and
gentlemen, that much.

Just a moment.

All the same,
I'm going to
examine her.

Why, certainly, sir.

Anybody's free to look
before bidding.

You'll see perfection.

Note the make of the leg
and the splendid conformation.

I bid $5,000.

[Murmuring]

Did I hear 5,000?

You did.

You mean you want
to start the bi--

oh, it's you, sir!

According to what you say,

she's a bargain at 5,000,
isn't she?

Oh, why, sure enough.

Who's game to bid
against this gentleman?

You all know him,
and it's an honor--

un moment.

I still intend to
have a look at her.

Turn around.
This way.

Perhaps you better tell him
the rules of the auction.

Yes, sir.

No inspection permitted
after the first bid, sir.

You expect me to bid
sight unseen?

No. I don't expect you
to bid at all.

You got into
the Rue Royale by mistake

while looking for
Gallatin Street,

where things are free and easy.

Mostly free.

Are you calling me
a cheap-Jack?

I must be. I don't see
any others around here.

Then I demand satisfaction.

I have seen
brave-talking
cowards like you.

Hamish bond.
Why didn't you
tell me?

I've been trying to.

You get his dander up,
you'll find yourself
in a pine box.

You wouldn't be the first.

Sorry.

Please proceed.

Thank you, sir.

I have 5,000.

5,000.

Mr. Hamish bond offered 5,000.

He invites you
to bid against him.

I have 5, 5, 5.

I have 5,000.

Is Mr. bond's bid
a little too steep for you?

Well, it usually is,

but that's no disgrace
to mortal man.

Sold for $5,000
to Mr. Hamish bond!

Charge to my account,

and send her papers to my house.

What do they call you?

Manty.

Come on, Manty.

All right, get up there, boy.

Look at this specimen,
ladies and gentlemen.

Look at this boy--
6'2", 225 pounds.

Look at the arms on that boy.

Bonjour, monsieur.

[Speaking French]

[Speaking French]

You needn't put me
in the center room.

Just put me with
the rest of the slaves.

Follow Michele.

Hot water will be sent
up to you for your bath,

and also your supper.

Like a prisoner in a cell.

I think he's horrible

with his iron bars
and his iron gate.

I think it's the outside
he wants to keep out.

He doesn't give much thought

to the inside of this house.

Oh, yes? He's thinking
about his $5,000.

He has many thousands
of dollars.

And he thinks that's all
it takes to own a woman.

Well, he can buy her, all right,

but he can never own her,

her feelings.

And her heart?

You think monsieur wouldn't
be receiving full value
without that?

Many ladies
have worn their hearts
on their sleeves for him.

Free women,

of quality.

Free.

That word.

One hears it
so often these days,

especially from the north.

I have friends up there.

Maybe you could help me
get in touch with them.

There's nothing I can do.

He need never know,
if you're afraid of him.

I afraid of monsieur Hamish?

You're a slave, aren't you?

Don't you ever think of escape?

Oh, I see.

Oh, at night,

do not forget to
arrange the netting

against the mosquitoes.

The season is upon us.

What are you doing?

It is not
a prison cell,
as you said.

No. It's worse.

What am I going to do?

You will live, ma petite.

Michele, would you
care to sit down?

Monsieur is kind,
but it is not necessary.

[Footsteps]

[Door opens]

[Door closes]

Well, I declare.

What are you looking for?

Looks like somebody needs
my grigri loving potion.

Pour it in coffee,
pour it in rum.

Make master Hamish
crawl like a hound dog.

Make him moan for his new gal.

What's the matter,
don't you love nobody?

Then you better try my grigri.

Then you'll love somebody.

Make him sit up and purr
like a little pussy kitten.

Dolly, get to work.

Well, seems I was right.

You still live.

Like any other captive.

Monsieur Hamish
sends you an invitation

to dine with him downstairs

any evening you wish.

No, thank you.

Tell him if I ever come down,

it'll be to go
to the slave quarters.

Ah, that was smart!

Tease him like a catfish
swimming around a worm.

And wait till he gets itchy,

and then he'll get a little bite

and grab so hard,
he'll break his pole!

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

What were we saying?

Nothing, monsieur.

Nothing for quite a while.

I believe I was about to mention

I like that gown you're wearing.

You paid for it...

Just as you did for me.

Now, don't use that
as a weapon against me.

I know better than most men

that money is no cure-all.

I used to think it was.

I thought it would
open the door
to friendship

and other essentials
more important
than power.

I believed it was everything--

a drug for loneliness,

a painkiller
for certain memories,

the whole apothecary shop

for every problem of life.

What would you know
about problems?

I learned about yours
from your papers--

Kentucky, your father.

And my mother?

My pedigree?

There's quality in it.

More than in some
thoroughbreds I've seen.

Rau-Ru, good to see you.

I've placed
the bills of sale
for the cotton

on your desk, monsieur.

The price goes high
on the English markets

since Louisiana
and the others seceded.

President Lincoln
makes no move
to blockade the ports.

He's a wise man.

He says he can't control events,

that events control him.

They're building up, rau-Ru,

like a bonfire
waiting for the torch.

The world is full of fools.

Of all colors, monsieur.

The cry for freedom
is in the air

like a rising wind.

Slaves have
already gone wild
on many plantations.

But not at pointe du loup.

No.

It is serene.

People don't usually
try to kill kindness.

I better go up there

as soon as I get
the rate of exchange
confirmed at the bank.

You know,
the cotton market
is bound to rise.

Stay in New Orleans
and watch it.

Keep everything
in the storehouse

until we get our price,

then ship it out quick.

Oh, this is rau-Ru.

Perhaps you've heard of him.

I've heard
all about her,
monsieur.

Michele told me.

Monsieur would probably rather

discuss this business
in the morning.

Good night, rau-Ru.

He's a high-stepper, isn't he?

That's why they call him
big bond's high-stepper.

He gets off the sidewalk
for nobody.

No constable
or paddy roll
ever stopped him.

No steamboat captain
ever asked to see
his pass

because he's
big bond's boss negro.

And what am I?

All your others
know their duties.

What am I?

I'm sorry if I made you
uncomfortable.

Why did you buy me?

Because you were
on the slave block.

Somebody was bound
to bid you in.

I saw a fellow with lace cuffs

putting his hands on you.

I hate lace cuffs.

I wouldn't recommend
the streets of
New Orleans at night,

not for a girl with your looks.

Hey, that is a pretty gown.

And you set it off, too.

Oh, that reminds me.

I told Michele
to take you shopping
when she goes.

You'll put some
beauty and fashion
in this old house.

Oh, so you can smile.

I didn't think you could.

I caught you red-handed at it.

You done seen
the big k'la rau-Ru.

He's just another slave.

He ain't gonna be
a slave for long.

Soon he be the high
muckety-muck.

Soon he be the massa,

and Hamish bond
gonna be toting for him.

You're crazy.

Won't be long now
till nobody say come

and nobody say go.

No, lord!

Gonna be parlor time!

Gonna be rocking chair time.

Sit in the parlor, rock and fan.

Feather fan, this lord's child.

[Giggling]

Soldiers coming down soon
from the north,

soldiers toting freedom,

dripping freedom
like sweat on a hot day.

Then rau-Ru, he gonna be
king of pointe du loup.

You purr pretty for him,
honey gal.

Maybe you get to be his queen.

I'm white!

Get out of this room!

Get out!

[Speaking French]

It is nice.

It's been a long time since I...

I do like it.

Michele!

[Speaking French]

And here is another one.

I am sure mademoiselle
would adore it.

Who is she?

Her father is a planter,

a friend of monsieur bond.

It is easy to see
she's a lady of quality.

From Paris, Manty.

And it's just your size.

But I've already selected two.

But three is lucky, so they say.

All right.

And place this along
with the other purchases.

Perhaps lucky for both of us.

Ravissante.

You're a grand lady.

Nobody could ever doubt it.

If you'll excuse me
for a little while,
ma petite,

here.

Take this money.

Buy whatever your heart desires.

You really do love him,
don't you?

Come along, boy.
I'll miss my boat.

I'll give you a dollar
if you hurry.

Oh, rau-Ru.

Mademoiselle.

[Boat horn blows]

That boy is so plumb lazy,

I'll never get home.

Run along, run along.

Well, don't
fiddle around
like that other boy.

Come along.

At your service, mademoiselle.

[Bell rings]

So you had to set
your spies on me.

Why didn't you
just lock me up
and be done with it?

That Manty's?

Take it to her room.

You know, that's
a very becoming frock.

We are putting some style
in this old house.

Don't talk
about this house!
I hate it!

And I hate you.

I thought you had some decency,

but you haven't,

setting that pet
overseer of yours
to watch me.

I like the chapeau, too.

I bought it
to run away in,
you hear?

I was about to
get on a steamboat,

if it hadn't been
for that rau-Ru.

This slave won't
do you any good, massa.

I'm getting out of here
come hell and brimstone,

and you'll never see
hide nor hair of me
again.

And you better tell that man

to give you back your $5,000.

[Door opens]

[Door slams]

[Thunder]

[Bell rings]

Open the hatch!

Let down the plank,

you son of a seagoing rascal,

or I'll ram your craw with eels!

[Hamish]
Let him in.

[Thunder]

You get back to the ship,
if you can find the way.

Ha ha! Jimmee!

I've come aboard.

Well, Orson Canavan.

I'll be thanking you
to call me captain,

which is me true station now.

I'm master of
that old black coffin
the argosy.

[Thunder]

So, all dressed up
you are nowadays.

You're softer
than a toad's belly.

Oh? Well, grab the capstan,
and brace yourself.

Oh, so that's what it is, is it?

Ha ha ha!

Hey! Stop it, man!

Stop it!

Holy rattlesnakes!

You're breaking me bottle arm.

Jimmee, this fat,
pudgy old porpoise
needs building up.

Cook him a Turkey,
and stuff it with rabbit.

Aye! And a few steaks
smothered with chops.

We'll drink to the old days

and the finest rum
of the islands.

[Thunder]

[Belches]

Ahh! 'Tis a sweet belch
that rum gives you.

What days they were.

In a thousand ports

all across the blinking world.

I remember well the
first day you ever came

to this gaudy, wicked city.

Correct me
if I'm falsifying you.

You were carrying your sea bags

and stopping every now and then

for whiskey
and fighting
in dives and emporiums.

Steady as you, go, boatswain.

Then we staggered our way

up to the portals of a bank.

It was 4:00 in the afternoon

and the hatches was battened.

So we locked arms
and stepped off
a few paces.

Then we charged
like pampas bulls,

and we kept on charging

till we cracked
the blockheads
of the portals

of the great sultan
of the house.

[Thunder]

Do you remember
what you said to him?

You said...

"Me name's hashish,

"and I'm a captain
from the ocean seas,

"and I wish to deposit
in your fort

the modest sum of $2 million."

Those two bags
that you'd been carrying

through the dives
of Sodom and Gomorrah

for two nights and a day--

you opened them up

and twirled like
a whirling dervish

till you buried him
up to his starting
eyeballs

in gold notes!

[Thunder]

Rau-Ru, come here!

Boatswain.

It's good to see you, monsieur.

You've grown a foot
since I saw you last.

Do you remember the old days,

the darling old sailing days?

I'll never forget them.

You won't?

Then sing us a chantey, lad.

[Wind blowing]

♪ Oh, blow the man down

♪ oh, just knock him
right down ♪

♪ way

♪ blow the man down

♪ oh, blow the man down

♪ oh, just knock him
right down ♪

♪ give me some time
to blow the man down ♪

♪ now, as I was a-walkin'
down paradise street ♪

♪ way

♪ blow the man down

♪ a brass-bound policeman
I chanced for to meet ♪

♪ give me some time
to blow the man down ♪

♪ give me some time
to blow the man down ♪

[Thunder]

Good night!

Good night, rau-Ru,
good night!

Good night!

Ha ha ha!

There's a wee breeze.

A wee, wee, trifling breeze.

But it might turn into a wind,

so I best be getting back

and look to the moor--
ha ha ha!

Mooring of my ship.

[Thunder]

If you ever need
the old boatswain,

ask any seaman
bound for the islands.

They're all me friends.

The whole wide world's
me friend.

Bye, captain.

Oh, you devil!

You darn near crippled that one!

Take this!

'Tis closer to me heart.

Ha ha ha!

Steady as you go, captain!

Goodbye!

Sounds like the gales
we used to get
off Rio Pongo.

I've seen them all--

Cape Verde, cape Saint Maria,

Sierra Leone,
and the bight of Benin.

You...You sailed
to all those places?

Yes, and a thousand more.

[Thunder]

Maybe it wasn't me at all.

Maybe it was
that other fellow
I used to be.

He wasn't a bad sort--
young, hungry--

until he got his first ship.

And then more ships,
until he had a whole fleet.

First, I was just a mate.

The skipper
tried to beat me once.

Just once.

I took his ship
and his name--
Hamish bond.

That old sea dog
brought it all back to me

like it was yesterday.

Who are you, then?

Never mind what my name was.

You talk about freedom.

You think I've got freedom?

I've got a past
I'd like to forget.

But I can't run away from it,

no more than
you can run away
from what you are.

[Thunder]

Ma petite, we must pack.

We're going to
the upriver plantation,
Pointe du Loup.

You'll like it up there,
away from the city.

We used to go there
more often than now.

You mean...You and...

But I was of no importance.

No real importance.

No woman ever was.

What is it like
at Pointe du Loup?

Oh, it's beautiful up there.

But he sees no beauty.

Nothing but some secret trouble

which is always with him.

The golden fleece
leaves at noon.

See that the others are ready.

Have Dollie help Manty
with her packing.

Very well, monsieur.

Now, as I said, Manty,

I don't think we can
run away from ourselves,

but everybody deserves
a chance to try.

I guess I'm the only one

who can give you your chance.

When I get off the boat
at Pointe du Loup,

you'll continue upriver
to Cincinnati.

You mean I'll be free?

As free as anyone can be...

If you can make it to the north

before the south
starts a shooting war.

Them darn fools, they can't win.

Or maybe they can.

I guess in my heart,

I'll always be what I was--

just a damn Yankee skipper.

All aboard!

Goin' to the land of honey.

Cotton-pickin' bucks
up there baying at the moon

waiting for Dollie gal.

[Howls]

♪ Hallelujah, lord

♪ and hallelujah

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ been down into the sea

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ and hallelujah

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ been down into the sea

♪ fish from the sea
with your head held high ♪

♪ been down into the sea

♪ I been to the sea
with my head held high ♪

♪ been down into the sea

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ and hallelujah

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ been down into the sea... ♪

There they are--

all massa bond's people.

♪ Just watch my face
while I cross the reef ♪

♪ I been down into the sea

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ and hallelujah

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ I been down into the sea

♪ now you see that sister
dressed so fine ♪

♪ I been down into the sea

♪ well, she ain't got
religion on her mind ♪

♪ I been down into the sea

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ and hallelujah

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ I been down into the sea

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ and hallelujah

♪ hallelujah, lord

♪ I been down into the sea

♪ I been down into the sea

♪ been down...

Well, this is the plantation.

Here's where I leave you.

All arrangements
have been made for you.

Captain Simmons will take you

to my business
representative
in Cincinnati.

He'll see that you have
comfortable accommodations

and ample funds.

Goodbye, Manty.

Listen...

Forget everything...

Everything that's happened.

Forget me.

Hamish!

Well, Manty.

Well, I'll be durned.

Jimmee! Bring her baggage!

Lord, there's going
to be trouble to come.

I done seen it in a teacup.

I dreamed up big trouble,

all stirred up
by a half-white gal

high-juiced and sweet-smellin'.

♪ Sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ oh, preacher for your Bible ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ oh, preacher for your Bible ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ oh, the last soul's
converted ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ oh, the last soul's
converted ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ blow your trumpet, Gabriel ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ blow your trumpet, Gabriel ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ lord, how loud
shall I blow it? ♪

♪ Fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ blow it quiet, calm,
and easy ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ he'll not lie to my people ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ tell them
lord comes in judgment ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ sing that praise
in the morning ♪

♪ fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ can you see
them coffins bustin'? ♪

♪ Fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

♪ can you see folks is rising? ♪

♪ Fare thee well,
fare thee well ♪

I'm glad you came
to Pointe du Loup.

Come on.

I'll show you
around the old place.

[Hamish]
That's all
Pointe du Loup...

All the way to the river...

5 miles of fields
and meadows to the north...

And 3,000 acres of cane

and cotton to the south.

Oh, it's a grand place,

and just as beautiful
as Michele told me.

[Singing spiritual]

They're having a juba-pat.

Gives them a good excuse
when I come home.

Home? They say you
have other plantations.

A bunch of cotton camps.

Lint stations, I call them,

but here at Pointe du Loup,

built in 1789,

it's special, sort of peaceful.

Far from memories.

They're never far away.

I didn't mean yours.
I meant mine--

my father, Starrwood.

Did they ever exist, I wonder?

[Footsteps]

I think you better
go inside now.

I'm expecting a visit
from a neighbor of mine.

Oh, I see.

It would be difficult

to present
miss Manty,
wouldn't it?

Oh, wait, Manty.

Manty.

You got it backwards.

I don't think Charles de marigny

is good enough
to present to you.

Who is he?

He's a blue blood, all right,

but I always figured
it was better

to be a man than a gentleman.

[Speaking French]

My tread is as light
as thistledown.

I get quite an intimate view
of life that way.

Hmm. I heard about you
in New Orleans.

One usually suffers
a disillusionment

on facing the reality,
but not this time.

It was a poverty of words

which tried to describe you.

Monsieur seems to be using

a lot of words
to discuss nothing.

Excusez-moi, s'il vous plait.

Always lucky, aren't you?

If I'd been there,
I'd have outbid you.

Get on with it, Charles.

What brings you here?

We've kicked the Yankees

out of fort sumter.

The war is on.

The north will
try to bleed us
to ruination.

At my plantation,
I'm already
threatened

with the loss of everything,

what, with all
this freedom fever.

The runaways plundered my stores

and run off my livestock.

Well, you used the whip
too much.

Please.
This is no time

to be smug about
your own well-being.

I want you to use
your influence
with my negroes.

They'll listen to you.

No. I'd have
to give them my own word,

and I can't trust you
to keep it.

I resent that.

I could call you
to account for it.

Oh, yes. I know your ability
with a dueling pistol,

but don't bank on it with me.

I believe I'd rather beat you

at something
that would
really hurt you...

Your vanity.

Your pride and power.

Do you forbid me
to see her, Hamish?

No.

I consider her free,

a guest in this house.

You treat her any other way

at your own risk.

Good day, Hamish.

Michele...

Pack a few things for me.

I'm going
to Belle Helene
plantation.

Very well, monsieur.

Rau-Ru, it's good to see you.

We hear
there's trouble
in New Orleans.

Their days are numbered.

Farragut's gunboats
are hammering them,

and they're burning the cotton

to keep the Yankees
from getting it.

It's the beginning
of the end for them.

Where's Hamish?

He's been away
for quite a while,

buying the old
Belle Helene
plantation,

planning to make it
a grand place again.

They're living
in a fool's paradise
around here.

With the northerners
at the gates,

he still wants
to live in grand style.

A palace
for our little Princess.

Isn't Pointe du Loup
good enough for her?

I believe she's
enjoying it here.

According to that
snooping Dollie,

Charles de marigny
has been teaching
her the minuet.

Charles de marigny?

French poetry...

A gift, no doubt,

from monsieur Charles...

That performed peacock.

You deluded little coquette,

don't you know his reputation?

Every slave he owns

is scarred by the whip.

People of our blood--

of your blood.

I don't want to hear about it.

Gives you a sense of
power, doesn't it?

White men dancing attendance.

But it still isn't freedom.

Freedom's a white word,

and the fact is you and I,

aside from being
male and female,

are exactly alike--

no identity beyond the confines

of monsieur Hamish's protection.

I chose his protection,

and I'm content with it.

You're ungrateful.

He's raised you like a son.

Even broke the law
to educate you,

and you hate him.

I hate him...

For his kindness.

That's worse than the rawhide.

When a man uses a whip,

you know what there is
to fight against,

but this kindness, it's a trap

that can hold you
in bondage forever.

It isn't bondage!

It's the worst kind!

You keep trying
to cross the white line.

You keep building
your hopes for marriage

with monsieur Hamish or Charles,

and you'll find
that your place
is with your own people.

Get out!

Close the door.

Well, Manty,
what's the word
from Hamish?

There's been no word lately.

I'm surprised to see you.

I supposed by now

you'd be in
the gallant uniform
of the confederacy.

Cotton is
my contribution, Manty.

Our president Jeff Davis

says us planters
must double our crops.

Cotton is money for the south.

Here. Have a Brandy with me.

No, thank you.

My dear Manty,

this reserve
of yours will
accomplish nothing.

What has to be will be.

Indeed,
it's been too long
delayed already.

Listen, you know
what I say is true,
Manty.

Time has come.

Now, we'll take a little ride

and stop by my plantation house.

I'll call rau-Ru.

What good will that do?

If he touched a white man,

he'd be killed,

and so will Hamish bond

if he challenges me.

You're wasting
your life away
with him.

You've never
really known what
life can be like.

Don't you want to know?

Unless, of course,

you've been behind his back

with that fancy
black fellow of his.

Uhh!

Now, now.

Aah!

Look here.
In just a second,

I'll take my hand
off your mouth,

and you won't scream

because you don't
really want to scream.

That's not what you want.

Aah!

Aah!

Stop it! Stop!

He'll be all right.

I'll get word to Hamish.

If I see him, I'll kill him.

You wouldn't.

Yes, I would.

He did this to me.

He created it.

He made me believe
I was a person

with pride and dignity.
Now it's destroyed me.

But I'll live
to kill him for that.

Go quick, rau-Ru,

before he gets word
to the sheriff.

[Hounds barking]

Nothing
but swamps out there
for 30 miles.

Well, that's a fittin'
place for him to die.

Come on.
Let's go. Come on.

Hamish.

Yes, I know. I heard.

The doctor says Charles
will be all right
after some rest.

He's been sleeping.

When he wakes up, let me know.

I'm quite awake, Hamish.

I put the sheriff
and his hounds
onto that rau-Ru.

I want to see your face

when they bring him in.

They'll never bring him in,

but take a good look
at my face anyhow.

Stand over there, Manty.

No, don't.

Stand over there!

You're a fool, Hamish.

I could
outshoot you
on any terms.

Yes, you probably could,

in New Orleans
with the seconds watching

and the referee counting.

You'd cut
a dashing figure there.

You make a picture in your mind

of how grand you'd look
killing a man,

but here it's different--

just the three of us alone,

and your face
mussed up by a negro,

the woman you wanted,
watching you fight scared.

Give me a pistol.

Let's not hurry things.

I've known you a long time.

A man doesn't kill
an old friend fast.

It's taken me 15 years.

I guess I can wait
a minute longer

and watch you sweat

while I tell you just how
I'm going to kill you.

Give me that pistol!

You know I'm not fast,
but I'm sure.

Oh, you'll hit me,

but I'll still
be taking my time.

You'll try to finish me
quick between the eyes

or in the heart,
and you'll miss.

And then I'll nail you.
You know that.

You know when I set my head
on doing a thing, I do it.

Yep. All the time,

I'll be aiming
right at your guts,

a nice big target,
and I'll need it

because I'm not
as expert as you.

But I don't have to be...

Because the deepest thing
in you is a coward,

and you can see yourself now
lying on the floor,

bleeding like a stuck hog.

How does it feel

to know just what's going
to happen to you?

Give me the pistol!

Look at your hand.
It's twitching.

Not much, but enough.

So now I guess we'll start.

Pick it up.

I'll wait for you.

You just take your shot
anytime you can.

All the time,

I'll be aiming at your insides.

You can cock it
while I count to three...

Slow.

1...

Suppose I--suppose
I refuse to shoot.

You won't refuse. You're
not that kind of a coward.

You'd be afraid not to shoot

because you're a strutter
and a braggart,

and Manty's watching you.

2...

No, Hamish! No!

Oh. So you want to save him.

No, it's not that.
I loathe him.

Well, it's up to him.

If he wants,
he can walk
out that door

and never come back.

That is...

If he's coward enough,

and I think he is.

I did a bad thing to you, Manty.

I guess I knew
all the time, way back,

it would turn out
like this, and...

I just let it happen.

No, worse than that,
I brought it on.

You know what I'm talking about.

I let him
hang around you because...

Because I wanted
to prove something.

I wanted to prove
that I could still hold on

to somebody I love,

and I guess I had to know
just what you'd do.

Do you hate me for it, Manty?

Oh, Hamish.

Hamish.

Sir.

Captain Parton, I commend you

on the progress
of your negro
recruiting.

You're managing
a difficult job
extremely well.

Thank you, sir.

It's long been a task
dear to my heart

to further equality
among the brethren
of all mankind.

A laudable idea, captain.

And now see that they're pressed

into the thick of battle,

with equal burial rights.

Good day.

Fall in line here.

How many did you bring?

40.

All right.
What's your name?

Rau-Ru.

Got a last name?

Pont de Leon.

I'm getting word
to all the planters
in the parish--

union troops
are heading this way.

We're going
to burn our fields
and storehouses tonight.

We won't leave
a solitary cane stalk

or cotton bale
for those Yankee thieves.

I'm not setting fire to mine.

Maybe you had a point there.

Damn Yankee general Butler's
handed down an order--

anybody destroys property
will hang.

Butler?

That's right.

The one that's been
rawhiding New Orleans.

I'll help you burn your fields,

and you can help me burn mine.

I knew you'd never take
an order from any man.

He just burned out
his whole life.

You've been hurt...

Badly.

Nah. That's an old scar.

Everything's
going to be
all right, Manty.

We'll find it somewhere.

But you'll never marry me...

Will you, Hamish?

I wonder if you'd marry me.

You know, that's
like the night we
took the village.

What village?

Oh, I don't remember the name...

If I ever knew it.

But it was burning,

bodies around...

Sometimes they'd
split open a head
and run a hand in,

the man still trying to crawl.

Where?

Africa...

Up in the Rio pongo.

I was in the nigger business.

I was in it in a large way,

if I may say so
without pompous
boasting.

You mean the slave trade?

Yeah.

They called me
"captain strike down."

There was a time when I was
right proud of that name.

Well, a man has to be
proud of something.

But don't get the idea
that it was all
white man's wickedness.

My chief partner was old Geezo,

a black king who drank rum
out of gold-mounted skulls

while the buzzards sat around,

waiting for him
to start the slaughter.

Yeah. Old Geezo and his tribe

left nothing alive
once they raided a village--

well, nothing, that is,
but the good ones,

which I had to pay
hard cash for.

And when the unfits were
culled out for the buzzards,

we'd truss the captives to poles

and march them through
the jungle to the coast.

The ones that couldn't
stand the march...

Geezo and his cutthroats

would feed to the sharks
behind the reef.

The rest were put in barricades

until I could haul them
out to my ship.

And what went on
in that prison--

1,000 locked up that way...

They sounded like dogs,

moon-howling and moaning.

You?

I can't believe it.

Not you.

But that was nothing
to what went on
in the ship.

I can still hear them,

the puking
and the screaming
and the praying...

Packed into slave shelves

with hardly any turning room,

like, uh, like herring
in a barrel of salt.

I ran the British blockade
with a price on my head

and smuggled them
into the west indies.

You know, uh...

Slaving wasn't legal
in those days.

It wasn't what you might say
Christian, neither, was it?

But I didn't make this world.

I didn't even make myself.

And if the creator
didn't like it,

he should've
done the world a favor

and sunk those hellish ships
under the sea

along with the whole
black coast.

Kindness...

Michele,

rau-Ru...

They all believed you were kind.

Well, I tried to be.

I tried to make up for it.

You still know how
to torture, don't you?

Why did you have to
tell me this?

Because you wondered
why I wouldn't marry you.

I would, Manty,

if you could've taken
the truth about me.

You know, I had plans for us--

leave all this behind.

Step out to the indies
where I still have
some holdings.

But that wouldn't work now.

That drop of blood
you've got in you

would never stop despising me.

You'd always hate me...

Like rau-Ru.

You said he wanted to kill me.

Nope.

There's no place for you here--

or anywhere--

with me.

♪ God's a-gonna trouble

♪ the water

♪ see that man
all dressed in red ♪

♪ god's a-gonna trouble

♪ the water

♪ well, it looks to be
the band that Moses led ♪

♪ god's a-gonna trouble

♪ the water

♪ oh, Wade

♪ in the water...

That's gold.

Not a lot because
I put nigh all I had
into confederate.

This paper
shows you're
a freed woman,

keep you from
getting picked up
by the Yankees.

Hamish--

wherever you go,
I don't want
to know.

I don't ever
want to know
where you are.

You know,

I always liked that hat on you.

Mr. Hamish,

sending her away
was not from
your heart.

Why did you do it?

To give her a chance.

Maybe she'll find it
in the white world.

Soldiers, they're coming,

wearing blue!

Pretty soldiers marching.

Time for darkies
to sing and dance,

bust out the barrel,

lay on the ground
and roll for sweetness.

Hallelujah!

Stretch the mouth...

And pour rum till it
comes out of your ears.

Praise the lord!

Lay on the ground
and roll for freedom!

Yeah!
Yeah!

Freedom.

If they only knew.

You know, Butler's
confiscating slaves,
not liberating them.

He's relocating them
on carpetbagging
plantations

where the Yankees
will use the whip
and pay no wages.

If we could live
another 100 years,

we'd probably see
white justice
for the blacks.

Men don't make history,
but are shaped by history.

History takes its time...

So get my slaves out of here

before Butler's buzzards come.

Take provisions.
You'll find horses
and wagons in the barn.

Oh...

If you see rau-Ru,
tell him this place
is his.

I put it
in the records
years ago.

Make way for general Butler.

Make way, folks.

Well, what a pretty
little confederate.

You Yankee pig.

[Spits]

General order number 28--

it is hereby ordered

that if any female
of New Orleans,

by word, movement, or gesture,

should insult or show contempt

for any officer or soldier
of the United States...

"She shall be regarded
as a woman of the town,
plying her avocation.

By command
of major general Butler."

Ha.

Well...

Hey...

Lookee.

She's doing very well
with her lessons.

I'll be back next Thursday.

Ma's home cooking
was never like that.

Real Southern-fried chicken.

Watch this.

So you're afraid
a Yankee might brush
against you, huh?

Well, that's an insult.

You bear my witness.

Right, corporal.
We seen it.

You could learn
some decent manners.

Heh heh.

Why, you're no better
than a hooker.

You're no better than
those slat-busters

following general hooker's army.

Why--

corporal, attention!

Sir, I was
acting under
general order 28.

It doesn't authorize you

to commit mayhem on ladies.

She insulted me.

I was trying to arrest her.

You'll probably
get a chance to explain
at a court-martial.

You saw her show contempt for me

like the order says, didn't you?

That's right, sir.

She insulted corporal daggett.

Besides that,
she slapped
his mouth.

Corporal daggett?

You're in my regiment,
aren't you?

Yes, sir.

You and these two
privates will report
to me this evening.

Yes, sir.

You may be asked
to make a statement.

I don't want to make
any trouble,
lieutenant.

It'll just be routine.

I think
I'd better escort you
wherever you're going.

I was on my way home.

Permit me.

Where are the others?

Company "c" has some, sir.

There's no trace of Hamish bond.

His plantation is deserted.

They'll get him

now that general
Butler's offered
bounty money.

Well, get on with this job.

Monsieur Hamish.

Jimmee...

Huh.

So you joined
that band of angels.

Yes, monsieur,

but to me you are
still the master
of the land.

I knew you'd be heading this way

for your old Belle
Helene plantation.

You were right, Jimmee.

I put everything
there for you
that you need.

I stole it from the Yankees.

You got Manty away safely?

She's all right.

Thanks, Jimmee.

Seen anything of that
reb that's burned out
half of Louisiana?

I heard some noises
going through over there,

and I kept praying
that it wasn't
Hamish bond.

Come on.

The little bouquets
were just as nice,
Ethan.

Everything's been nice.

These last few weeks
have been my happiest
since I left home.

Does there happen
to be a lonely girl
back there?

You underestimate me.
There were several...

But I can honestly say

that absence did not make
the heart grow fonder.

Fickle Yankee.

I'll see
that you don't
break my heart.

Amantha, you're
the heartbreaker.

Oh, yes, you are.

With you I could forget
I'm in the army,

that I'm even a Yankee.

Indeed, I almost forgot
what brought me here
this afternoon--

dreary bit of rules
and regulations.

You need to sign
this complaint
against those soldiers.

Must I?

There's nothing to it.

I've taken the Liberty
of answering
the questions for you.

"Amantha Starr,

"23-a St. Louis street,

"music teacher.

Age..."

You once referred
to me as a gentleman,

so I followed
my own inclinations
on that question.

Now, let's see, "sex--female,

color--white..."

I believe that's all.

Anything wrong, Amantha?

No.

No.

Do I have to sign it, Ethan?

Well, otherwise corporal daggett

will stay in the guardhouse.

I put him there
and preferred
the charges personally.

Is there any
happiness in this
world, I wonder...

For anybody?

The way I'm looking
at the future,
there will be.

Our future.

Us, Amantha.

There's colonel Morton's
party at the St. Charles
tonight.

Had you forgotten
I'm your escort?

No, I haven't forgotten.

And a proud night
for lieutenant sears.

They can have all those
gold epaulettes
on their shoulders.

I'll have Amantha on my arm.

I'll call for you at 8:00.

Good evening, Ethan.

Don't you ever rest, captain?

There aren't
sufficient hours
in the day

to add one's humble effort

toward the ends
of human justice.

Seems you're taking
your ease in large
doses lately.

A somewhat troubled ease, Seth.

As one friend to another,
I don't mind saying
that I'm--

well, I'm in love,
with a certain
charming young lady.

I sympathize with you,

especially tonight.

Colonel Morton has requested

that you escort
Mrs. Morton
to the dance.

What?

But I've already
made arrangements with--

with the lady I mentioned.

The colonel's in Baton Rouge.

You know Mrs. Morton--

she'd have us all
shot at sunrise

if she missed one dreary waltz.

Then you take her.

Please.

Unfortunately,
I'm not a candidate
for the honor.

I have a theological right leg

and a most dogmatic left leg,

both unschooled in frivolities.

Please, be a good friend.

I'm sorry, Ethan.

You are smitten, aren't you?

Who is this light of love?

You'll find out
by reading
that document,

captain Parton.

The corporal daggett case, sir.

Amantha Starr.

What did you say?

I was about to say...

I'd see Mrs. Morton
to the dance for you.

Seth!

Thanks.

Mrs. Morton,

may I present
miss Amantha Starr.

Miss Starr.

Well, congratulations, Ethan.

She's perfectly lovely.

My goodness,
I don't think
any gentleman

has ever
flattered me so much
as you have tonight.

How, Mrs. Morton?

By requesting
your friend, the captain,

to save practically
all of my dances for you.

Did--did you--

I mean, did I, Mrs. Morton?

With pleasure, dear Ethan.

There seems to be some mistake.

Amantha, meet my friend,

my most true and faithful...

Captain Seth Parton.

[Waltz plays]

Ethan?

Seth.

Seth!

Amantha--

please, miss Amantha--

she's indisposed, gentlemen.

For months I've been
looking for you.

Long ago I came
across information

that you were in New Orleans.

I used to hope
you'd try to find me.

Has it all been...
Unhappy, Amantha?

No, not quite all.

Of course,
when I lost father,
everything changed.

Once I went north
to try to find you,
Seth.

Something changed that, too.

And you're
still fighting
for your beliefs?

In my humble way.

You still believe
in the equality
of all peoples,

regardless of color?

My beliefs remain firm, Amantha,

although tempered
somewhat with a larger
knowledge of life.

You're still the same.

A little more worldly, perhaps,

but you're still Seth Parton.

Oh, Seth!

You were too frugal
with the wine.

Please give that punch
some real authority.

We must talk soon--

and alone--

away from this.

Perhaps tonight.

Who is it?

Seth, Amantha.

I had to see you, Amantha.

It's awfully late, Seth.

Yes. It seems I'm always late.

My arrival
in New Orleans,
for instance.

Will you excuse me for a moment?

My dress.

That's right.

I wouldn't wish Ethan
to think I made
an untimely intrusion.

I think he hopes
to marry you, Amantha.

Oh? Did he tell you that?

Oh, I was a fool.

That nonsense I used to spout--

self-denial,
man's only true joy--

for which I received
the usual reward
of all noble idiots--

i lost you.

I lost you to others.

Now you really are
being foolish, Seth.

I lost you because I was a fool.

I lost you to a man
named Hamish bond.

I've hunted his hiding place,

questioned slaves he held.

Amantha,

you were his mistress.

Listen, Manty,

did you expect to deceive Ethan

by falsifying that document,

by the lie that you're white?

I know him well,

his family...

What they'd fight for
and what they'd take
into their home

are two different matters.

What if he knew that...

You're a Negress?

But he need never know, Manty.

I'll tell him nothing,

nothing at all...

If--

oh!

Seth, stop it, Seth. Don't!

Oh!

You hypocrite!

Manty!

Manty!

Forgive me, Manty.

Please forgive me.

I bid $5,000.

Mr. Hamish bond offered 5,000.

He invites you
to bid against him.

I have 5, 5, 5...

5,000...

Sold for $5,000
to Mr. Hamish bond.

Charge my account,
and send her papers
to my house.

What do they call you?

Manty.

Come on, Manty.

Come in.

Sit down.

That's
your old place
over there...

When Hamish bond
gave his orders
from this chair.

I hope you didn't
expect to find him
here, mademoiselle.

Things have changed.

I see.

You in the master's place.

Everything has changed.

I hear you've been
doing very well

on the white side of the line.

Now you come crawling back here.

You detest me, don't you,

because I was the cause

of their putting
the hounds on you
at Pointe du Loup.

I don't hold that against you.

It's the lie
you've been living
that I despise.

Pick up that light.

I said pick it up!

Hold it close and
look right into it.

Why?
What do you want?

Nothing...

Except just to look at you.

How does it feel

with the light on your face,

not seeing anything
but the light

and the darkness beyond you,

knowing I'm here
but you can't
see me,

knowing I'm looking
at you all the time,

a woman who denied
her own people,

a woman
who cast her lot
with Hamish bond,

the man who bought her?

He was good to you.

That was the worst--

the soft talk,

the confidences.

Yeah.

If I am ever lucky enough

to deliver him to the hangman,

it'll be you
who helped
put him there.

Why didn't you go
on your way north?

Why did you
jump the boat
at Pointe du Loup?

Why did you stay on

as Hamish bond's woman,

denying freedom
to be the mistress
of a slave holder?

If you hadn't,
much might be
different now.

Maybe he'd have
a friend somewheres

who'd be helping him to live

rather than wanting
to see him die.

But I guess
all the fires
of retribution

are not in the hereafter.

You've suffered.

And so has he.

And I always will,

with him or without him.

There always will be the...

Fires, the memories...

Because I love him.

He's the only man
I ever loved...

Or ever will.

And I'll keep on living
a white life

from now on.

[Man]
Rau-Ru?

Rau-Ru!

Sergeant, general Butler,
he thinks he knows

where old Hamish is a-hiding.

Where?

Belle helene.

Somebody seen a spooky
light in the window.

Likely place.
Right by the Gulf.

The bayous
overran that land
long ago.

Yeah. Nothing there
but snakes and owls.

Them soldiers--
maybe they'll
get lost in the swamps

looking for that haunted place.

They're on their way?

Yeah, more than an hour ago.

I'll get him.
I'll get him.

Give it to him again.

Aye!

There it is.

Ha ha ha ha!

Old Alec hincks,
the blockade runner.

Oh, but I always thought
his name was Hamish bond.

Aye, so it is now, me old bucko.

Our soldier's
a fine landlubber
of a gentleman

he wanted to be,

and he's requiring
an army
of vast proportions

to send him back to sea again.

Pull up the anchor!

Give me some sail!

We'll drop our cargo
in New Orleans

and come back here
to pick him up.

Hey, break out two kegs of rum.

We'll be needing them.

I'm aiming
at your back,
monsieur.

Put it down.

Turn around.

Well, my k'la.

That is what
I used to be called.

This is a new day.

Maybe for you, but not for me.

Sit down.

[Cocks gun]

I told you to sit down.

Now, go ahead
and tell me
about it, rau-Ru.

Monsieur's living in the past.

Yes. You know
I never got out
of the old days.

Always in the Rio Pongo,
living it over again.

You won't be bothered
by those memories
much longer.

No? And who's going
to wipe them out,

you?

Excuse me, rau-Ru,
if I don't shy
too easy.

It's pretty hard for me
to get the shakes

over the likes of you...

Because I've known you

since you were no bigger
than a shucked oyster.

A man can't be afraid
of something
he's proud of,

and believe me, rau-Ru,

I'm real vainglorious about you.

You learned a lot from me
beside book knowledge.

Yep.

Right now you're
thinking of that bounty

that general Butler's
offered for my pelt.

I'll give it to my platoon.

White soldiers
are on their way
to get you now,

but I want
the satisfaction
of taking you in.

Put those on.

Sure. Sure.

You'll get $1,000 for me.

That's a pretty fair
price for a beginner.

Not much the way
I used to sell them--
in bulk.

I remember that night in Africa,

the night we burned the village.

I guess that was
the biggest grab
I ever made,

but I stood in the middle

and watched
the unfit nigras
get massacred

by my partner Geezo
and his blacks.

Flames leaping
to the top of the jungle,

a million bats
squeaking in the sky.

I mean, she was
a woman I used to know.

I took her aboard my ship once,

but she got home fever,

so I sent her back
to her jungle,

but there she was now, dying,

sprawled out on the ground,

trying to protect
something
underneath her--

a 2-months-old bawling brat.

That's got nothing
to do with now.

One of Geezo's men
took a spear swipe
at the young'un.

I jumped in the middle
and got his spear
clean through my leg,

but I let him have it
with my ship's knife,

right through
his crocodile belly.

I--I guess that was
the other fellow in me,

not Hamish bond.

That started me
slashing at Geezo's men

like they were the enemy.

I guess I wanted
some blood, too.

Old Geezo thought
it was a good joke--

me all mixed up,
fighting
on the other side.

And then he reached down
and picked up the kid

and handed it to me.

I suppose he thought I
wanted to eat the brat.

You're not talking
your way out of this.

So there I was
with a messed-up leg

and a whimpering pup on my hands

for the rest of my useful days.

But I grew to be proud of him.

I brought him up
like my own son,

hired the best
teachers for him--

denied him nothing.

He called himself my k'la.

That is, until he grew up
to know the value

of 30 pieces of silver.

Go.

Go wherever you were going.

Cypress cove.

You remember boatswain Canavan.

I have the prisoner, sir.

Where'd you come from, sergeant?

Across the bayou
in a skiff, sir.

Short way, huh?

Well, bond,
I've hunted game
in my day,

and if it's
any compliment
to you,

you're the toughest
old grizzly
I ever caught.

That's no compliment
from a blue belly.

And you, I wish I'd
let you burn in Africa.

I'm sorry that spear
went through my leg
instead of your guts.

The abuses
one must suffer
to gain freedom.

But nothing worthwhile
is easily bought.

The agonies,
the torments,
the humiliations--

all these
are the natural elements

from which the key is forged.

The key that opens
the vistas of new worlds

and new lives.

The key to freedom.

You're quite
a philosopher,
sergeant.

Where'd you get
all the fancy talk?

He got it from me.

With your permission,
lieutenant,

I'll now take him
to the general's
headquarters.

Wait a minute, sergeant.

I'll have a couple of my men

deliver him
to general Butler
personally.

Corporal, order
the rest of my men

to search the premises.

Any wagons, plows, harrows--

confiscate them.

Look in
the storehouse
and the barn.

Well, I see he left
some valuables at least.

Pour us a drink, sergeant.

Ahh.

You know,

I like you, sergeant.

I like the way
you handled
Hamish bond.

I'm going to recommend you
for an advancement.

That's very kind of you, sir.

Well, it might lead
to, uh, something

a lot more important
than that bounty,

which I presume
you're going to claim.

Yes, sir.

I took monsieur bond prisoner.

Yes, of course.

Ahem.

But I was thinking that perhaps

a white officer's influence

might be worth
some money to you.

Not unless I could
change my color,
sir.

I see what you mean,

and, uh, under
such circumstances,

uh, well, let's
look at it this way.

You take the money, sergeant,

and allow me
to take the, uh,
military credit.

A white man's bargain, sir?

I'd have to think of it.

Certainly.

Certainly, sergeant.

I know you're a man of honor,

and you're only
thinking of my good.

I've decided...

To let you have
whatever glory
and bounty

that's due this occasion.

You will?

Yes, sir.

I guess
it's my sense
of inferiority, sir.

Well, well.

I do like you, sergeant.

I really do.

A nig--I--I mean
a, uh, negro
such as you--

ahem--

I don't, uh, mind shaking hands.

Whoa.

Can't take you
no further, missy.

Belle Helene’s
across there somewhere,

but the wilderness
has done swallowed up
the old road.

I'll find it.

You're going to get lost.

Monsieur Hamish!

[Hamish]
Manty, you did forgive
everything.

Rau-Ru.

I guess he felt
he couldn't be free
unless I was--

you, all of us.

He still is the k'la.

He's even more than that.