Original subtitles

- That darn leg of yours wasn't fit for fighting.

They shouldn't have asked you to go.

You know, I don't think there's one young man left alive

in this entire country.

And now they want the old ones, too?

I know your pride wouldn't let you stay,

but nothing could be worth this.

Grandpa?

Grandpa!

Grandpa!

Grandpa, listen to my song and come home to me.

Grandpa.

Come home to me.

Who's there?

I have a pistol! Stand back now!

All right.

All right. I'm stepping back.

I heard you singing, ma'am. I don't mean you any harm.

- You're a Yankee.

- Yes, ma'am.

- You're hurt?

- And cold.

And hungry.

- If they find you out here, they'll hang you.

Well...

It is Christmas Eve.

Season of love.

- Yeah.

- You best come on in.

Good Lord.

- Jingle bells.

- An old friend gave it to me a long time ago.

You know, if you would've slept outside,

with no fire and no shelter,

you would've died.

Grandpa can't be cross with me for doing my Christian duty.

Even if you are a Yankee.

I just hope I don't fix you all on up,

only to have him kill you right away.

Rebel or Yankee, we're all the Lord's children.

Sorry.

My grandpa taught me that before the war and

I suppose nothing will change that.

Sorry.

All right. All done.

Go get some rest now.

Always have.

- You're awake!

What did you say? I couldn't quite hear you.

- It's not important.

- Well, at any rate, when's the last time you ate?

You must be half starving by now.

Well, I don't have any flour for bread,

but I do have some vegetables still.

And I shot a hare today, so I hope stew's okay.

You sure I haven't died and gone to heaven?

- When you've been stuffed inside these four walls

for as long as I have,

never knowing what dangers are outside,

never knowing when your loved ones are gonna come home,

well, that doesn't sound like heaven to me at all.

How many men have you killed, mister...

- Beam.

You know, they never quite felt like the enemy.

I met a few.

Talked to 'em over the picket line at night.

Fought in the morning.

- How many?

- I don't know.

I have hit a few. I know that.

Can't say if they lived or died.

Other times, I stood in a line with my company and fired.

Men on the other side dropped.

I can't say if it was from my bullet.

- Your bayonet has blood on it.

- Yes, ma'am.

Well, I suppose you didn't have a choice.

- No.

- Is that when you were wounded?

- He shot me in the shoulder.

Did he die?

- Yes.

Slowly. But he wasn't a bad man.

- Neither are you.

He was doing his duty and you did yours.

Still, it is sad.

Come. Let's say a prayer together.

One more, before we eat?

- Dear Heavenly Father, deliver thou servant from all evil,

and free him from every bond.

Grant him entrance into the land of peace

in fellowship with our saints.

May he rest in peace.

In Jesus' name, we pray.

Amen.

- Amen.

You'll have to tell me how it is.

My mother taught me how to cook with spices,

but I haven't had any in months.

- It is absolutely delicious.

You know, it reminds me of home.

When food was easy to come by and I was never cold.

- Is your family Irish as well?

- English. Born and bred.

And Protestant, to boot.

- Yeah. I heard your prayer.

Hope you won't hold it against me.

- You're a Yankee dog, aren't you?

I didn't hold that against you.

Irish Catholic?

- Aye. Just like me daddy and me great granddaddy before me.

- Hey, what was that?

What?

- That noise, up on the housetop. It sounded like steps.

- Steps?

Up on the housetop?

- Oh, my goodness.

Would you like more stew?

- Oh, no, I couldn't.

I wouldn't want to eat you out of house and home.

- Oh, you must. I insist.

You must have at least three bowls before you leave.

Well, then I shall eat slowly.

- I must admit.

This Christmas hasn't been so cheery.

Well...

With my mother gone and I never met my father,

and Grandpa off at war...

Well, I did get Mother's Christmas decorations all out,

but I just couldn't bring myself to put them up.

But now I think I will.

- Thank you

See?

Much better.

It's beautiful.

- Well, I have to thank you Mr. Beam.

You have cheered me up.

- Well, no! It is I who should be thanking you.

Wait.

These decorations are not complete, yet.

I think I saw a saw outside.

Would you like a cup of coffee, Mr. Beam?

- That would be nice. Thank you.

- Oh, how I long for the happy Christmases of my youth.

My whole family used to be here.

- I remember them well.

With my own family, of course.

Do you happen to remember when you were young,

waiting for Santa Claus?

Oh. yes. I was bursting with excitement.

I'd rush down to the fireplace

to see what old St. Nick had left in my stocking.

- Ladies, and gentlemen.

"A Visit From St. Nicholas", by Clement C. Moore.

"'Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the house,

not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter.

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window, I flew like a flash.

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

gave a luster of midday to objects below.

When what to my wondering eye should appear

but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment, it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles, his coursers, they came,

and he whistled and shouted, and called them by name.

'Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer!

Now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid!

On, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch. To the top of the wall.

Now, dash away. Dash away.

Dash away, all.'

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the housetop, the coursers, they flew,

with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

the prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head and was turning around,

down the chimney, St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes.

How they twinkled.

His dimples, how merry.

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

and the beard on his chin

was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth,

and the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly

that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, went straight to his work,

filled up the stockings and then turned with a jerk.

Then laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod,

up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, and to his team gave a whistle,

and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight.

'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.'"

You know, I think your clock is broken.

- I know. It was my mother's.

My mother, she always used to put

two little figurines under the Christmas tree,

like they were getting married on Christmas Day

- Like we could.

Maybe this time next year?

- Don't tease me, Mr. Beam.

Oh, no, I wouldn't tease about that.

I think you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.

- Thank you.

I truly have had a magical time.

But my heart belongs to another.

A boy I knew long ago.

He'll return for me, one day.

I know he will.

- He's a very lucky man.

- Well, Mr. Beam, you have been fed,

I have cleaned your wounds,

and my grandfather is probably on the long road home by now.

Lord knows what he'd do if he found a Yankee in his house.

- Aura-Lee, there is something that I need to-

- No.

Please, Mr. Beam.

For your own safety, you have to go.

But you will always be in my prayers.

- Just one more song.

Please? A quiet one.

For me to remember in the days and the months ahead.

- Is something troubling you, Mr. Beam?

- Yes.

- What is it?

You can tell me.

- Aura-Lee?

Your grandfather is not coming home tonight.

- Sure he is!

I received a message not only a week ago.

He and his company received a pass for Christmas Day.

- Aura-Lee, your grandfather...

Your grandfather died on the road, today.

- What?

- No.

No, how could you know? - He was wounded badly and...

I did what I could to comfort him.

I built him a fire to lay next to.

- No.

- I gave him my jacket as a pillow.

I did everything I could, but his wounds were just too...

- I don't believe it.

- We spoke for hours.

He asked me for a pencil and a paper and he wrote this poem.

Making his peace with God.

Lord God, I've never spoken to you,

but now I want to say, "How do you do?"

You see, God, they told me you didn't exist,

and like a fool, I believed all of this.

Last night from a shell hole, I saw your sky.

I figured right then they were telling me a lie.

Had I taken time to see the things you made,

I'd have known they weren't calling a spade a spade.

I wonder, God, if you'll take my hand.

Somehow, I feel that you'll understand.

Funny how I had to come to this hellish place

before I had time to see your face.

Well, I guess there isn't much more to say,

but I'm sure glad, God, I met you today.

I guess the zero hour will soon be here,

but I'm not afraid, since I know you're near.

Well, God, I have to go.

I like you lots. This I want you to know.

Look, now this will be a horrible fight.

Who knows? I may come to your house tonight.

Though I wasn't friendly to you before,

I wonder, God, if you'd wait at your door.

Look, I'm crying. Me, shedding tears.

I wish I had known you these many years.

Well, I have to go now, God. Goodbye.

Strange now, since I met you,

I'm not afraid to die.

- He always was a poet.

You won't be coming home tonight, Grandpa.

Not ever again.

Thank you for taking care of him in his final hours.

Please, sir.

Before the night is over.

Please tell me a little more.

- You don't need to hear the gory details, ma'am.

- I'm begging you.

- He was stabbed in the stomach, with a bayonet.

That kind of wound, you don't recover,

and you don't die quickly.

His last words were of you.

He longed to see you stride down a wedding aisle,

wearing your mother's dress.

The one your grandmother made?

- He had picked out the perfect roses

to string across my wedding path.

You know the ones that look like your cheeks blush?

He even picked out the perfect song, too.

What was it?

- You probably don't know it.

Then sing it to me

Grandpa Charlie always loved the forest,

and he was terrified of the doctor.

I'm at least glad he got to die outside,

under God's big sky.

- I buried him under a big ol' oak tree.

It was a beautiful place.

Even amongst all this...

Ugliness.

I sang a song and said a prayer over his grave,

before traveling on.

- Thank you, Mr. Beam.

Thank you for being so kind to him in his final hours.

I...

I wonder if you'll sing that song for me?

The one that you sang to my grandpa.

It'll make me feel like I was almost there.

- Thank you.

Now, could you help me with this bench?

Where are you from, Mr. Beam?

- Here. West Virginia, same as you.

- So many men from West Virginia.

Seems like half are fighting for the South

and the others for the North.

Kinda just seems like we're fighting each other.

Yes.

Yes, it does.

- Why did you put on the Yankee uniform?

I mean, I never thought to ask Grandpa

why he was fighting for the Confederacy.

I just asked him to come home safe.

- West Virginia's brand new.

It's barely even a state.

Most of us consider ourselves residents

of where we came from.

- Grandpa joined the Virginia volunteers.

He grew up not even 10 miles south of here.

- My family has always fought slavery.

- But how do you operate your farm?

- We pay our workers.

In turn, they rent their lodgings from us

and pay us for the food we provide.

That doesn't seem any different.

No. I suppose not.

But they're free to come and go, as they please,

and no one will ever be whipped.

- I did see a whipping, once.

I was on a trip, deep in the South.

It was awful.

I'm sure it was.

- We had a family of Negroes when I was younger.

I mean, Grandpa told me to always treat them well,

and be nice to them, but to remember that they are property.

I'm sure he meant well by that.

But I don't really think that that's-

- You Yankees just think he's an awful person.

- No!

No.

I think he grew up in a different time and

at a different place.

- And all this is worth it to you?

All the killing?

All the fighting?

- Well, it is most regrettable.

- Nobody would fight for us. We're just poor Irish.

- I would.

- Well, you're a good man, Mr. Beam.

Do you really think they'd be happier working for you,

than working as slaves on a plantation?

- They have their freedom now.

They can learn to read and write.

They are free to better themselves,

and choose their own destiny.

Same as almost any other man.

- Not the same as any woman.

- Well, now you're just being silly.

- Forgive me, sir, for I'm only a woman.

Would you mind if I sing another song?

It was my mother's favorite Christmas song.

My grandpa loved to listen to her sing it.

- Please do.

You may sleep on the floor by the fire tonight, Mr. Beam.

I wish you safe travels in the morning.

- You sing as beautifully as your mother.

Aura-Lee, there is more that I need to tell you.

In the battle, I became separated from my company.

I wandered the woods for some time,

and then I came upon the trail to your cabin.

It's like an angel was guiding me,

and for the first time in my life, I was on the right path.

And then I felt it.

Pain in my shoulder that you cannot imagine.

The bullet went straight through.

I turned. The man who shot me was busy reloading.

So, I charged him and I...

I stabbed him with my bayonet.

What are you saying to me?

- I had no choice.

- Douglas?

Douglas.

I'm sorry. - It's okay.

- No! - It's okay.

- I can't move.

- You killed my grandfather?

- I never wanted this, Aura-Lee. It's this war.

- You monster.

No. No, he was doing his duty.

I was doing mine. You said so, yourself!

- I fed you!

I cleaned your wound!

I sat here and I sang Christmas songs with you!

Aura-Lee, I'm sorry!

- I should've shot you, the moment you knocked on my door!

Leave! Get out!

- I'm so sorry. - Get out this instant!

- I never wanted to hurt him!

I never would've wanted to hurt Charlie!

I loved that man like I loved my own grandpa!

- How could you love a Rebel you've never even met?

- Aura-Lee, my name is Douglas Beam!

I have always loved you, and when my family moved north,

I swore that I would return for you one day!

No, no.

You are not the boy I loved.

- I'm sorry I hurt Charlie.

It was too late before we recognized who we were.

I never wanted to hurt Charlie.

- No. Grandpa kept a diary.

You went trifling through his pockets

and you learned about Douglas' name,

so you could come here and trick me!

- No. - And then he was...

He was delirious and he was dying.

- No! I chased you when you were six and I was 11!

I chased you with frogs around the pond. Do you remember?

- No.

- Yeah.

Yes.

And then years later, we tied bells around Charlie's mule,

and we sang jingle bells while he ran, and...

You kept one, and you gave one to me.

Yours is still tied around your neck.

- It can't be you.

When you turned 12, I kissed you by the lake.

It was your first kiss.

- My only kiss.

- I still love you, Aura-Lee.

- No.

I could never forgive you for what you've done.

- Charlie wrote one more letter, before he passed.

Please.

Please.

Just...

Just read it.

And then, then I will go.

My dearest granddaughter.

I'm leaving this letter with

a good friend of ours,

Douglas Beam.

He has grown into a strong, honorable man.

One of us had to die today, so that one may live,

and I'm glad how it turned out.

I'm an old man.

We all have our times that come.

Well, Douglas has his whole life in front of him.

He has been very kind to me in my final hours,

and has always good boy.

I ask you do not hold a grudge against him,

because I do not.

I wish for you to know that I have always loved you.

But you're grown now and you don't need your old granddad.

Douglas, he has professed his love for you to me,

and I believe him.

So, if your love for him still exists,

and his for you,

then know that you have my permission.

My blessing.

I will soon be going off to join your grandmother.

So, please, think of this as a happy Christmas for me.

Love always.

Grandpa

Charlie.

- Douglas.

It really is you.

- Yes.

Just do one more thing for me, okay?

And then I'll go.

The inside pocket of my jacket is sewn shut.

Reach inside, rip it open and see what you find there.

- You kept it.

After all these years.

Right next to my heart.

- You really do love me.

- I always have.

- My grandpa's wish for me was to be happy,

and he was right.

We must always think of today

as the happiest of Christmases.

For it's the day that the angels

have brought us together again.

I do believe you are right.

The angels brought us together, all those years ago,

and they have brought us together again, on this Christmas.

So we must remember this as a very, very happy Christmas.

Aura-Lee, will you marry me?

- Yes!

Yes! A thousand times, yes!

Come with me!