Original subtitles

Thank you.

Karen left it, I think. She'll be coming back to nest.

Then she'll be disappointed.

It is now.

I'm sorry, Rat.

You're right.

You found it. You put it back.

If I can't have it, nobody can.

You stop it now.

I say stop it here.

Come along.

You're wanted to the big house.

Mr. R is just about to go.

Come along now, little ladies. It's time to say goodbye to your big brother.

You made sure you saw to mr. Orry's truck. Oh, yes, ma'am. My lumber time

put it on the steamer You

see

gonna get started as I am proud I'm gonna miss all of you so

much Remember to keep warm. You won't be used to the cold up north and come back

to us

Expect you'll do well, Ori.

Now, Tilly, tell him what you told me.

Son, I know we've had our disagreements in the past.

Sometimes your behavior's been a little less restrained than I might have wished

for. Your father's forgotten how he was at your age.

Perhaps I have.

I want you to know I'm very proud of you.

It's no small thing for a man to have a son at West Point.

Thank you, sir.

I'll do my best for you.

I know you will.

Cory!

Cory!

Well, what in the world happened to you two?

Brett fell down, and I had to help her up.

I picked this for you.

Well, thank you, Brett.

That was sweet. I found you a present, too.

The rat wouldn't let me keep it.

Well, I'll tell you what.

This will be from you both to remind me how much I love you.

And Mount Royal.

Who's that?

you

Thank you.

Praise the Lord somebody heard us.

Please don't move.

Snake's gotten in the carriage.

Don't speak, Jesus.

Please be very still, no matter what happens.

You are very brave. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.

It was my pleasure.

Would you help Mom Sally first, please? Miss Madeleine, I can wait. Mom Sally,

if we argue, we'll both catch cold.

Careful. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.

We

can

never repay you, sir.

I don't even know your name.

It's Ari.

Ari Main. I'm from Mont Royal, just up the river.

My name is Madeleine Fabre.

I'm delighted to meet you.

My father.

And I have only recently come from New Orleans to Charleston.

I'm afraid our driver isn't used to South Carolina roads yet. The horse

is... slipped and boated.

Must have been terrifying.

Mom, Sally and I are traveling to meet my father. He has business at a

plantation near here.

I'd be happy to escort you there.

But I haven't told you where it is yet.

Perhaps it's out of your way.

Well, I'm headed for Charleston.

Why actually much further than that? I'm on my way to West Point. The military

academy?

Yes.

I won't be back this way for two more years.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

That we haven't had more time to talk. You know, it's customary in this part of

the country for a lady to give a gentleman a token if she wishes to thank

him properly.

I see you collect them.

May I?

Tokens?

Oh.

This is from a lady who stole my heart six years ago.

When she was born.

My little sister, Brad.

Miss Madeleine, Mr. Wilfrance tell me we got trouble.

Oh, how is he, Mom Sally?

He got a bump on the head, that's all.

But he told me we will never reach Resolute before dark now.

The Lamont place, that's where you're going?

Yes, you know it?

They're neighbors of ours.

Let me take you there.

I mean, we could send back horses and men for the carriage.

But how?

Do you ride?

Yes, of course, but... Then it's settled.

Miss Madeleine, you hardly know this gentleman.

Oh, I'll be safe, Monsire.

Oh, you boy.

I feel I can trust him.

I don't know why, but I do. You'll all be safe and resolute long before dark, I

promise.

You see?

How much further?

Resley's just around the next bend.

Oh, I've dropped something.

That was very clumsy of me.

Yes it was.

Thank you.

No, Sally would say that wasn't ladylike.

That I should have given you this instead.

I've never met anybody like you, Miss Faberet.

I'd be honored if you'd write to me at the military academy.

I'd like that.

Well, I suppose we should be going.

Resolute is quite impressive, Justin. You ought to be congratulated.

Yes, well, I certainly hope your daughter shares your opinion, Nicholas.

Well, I confess I'm a bit worried.

Should have arrived long before this.

Well, they've probably got a late start.

We've got plenty of time before dark.

Why don't we have a jeweler while we wait? Very well.

Madeline! Oh, Papa!

There's been the most terrible accident.

What happened, Maine?

Their carriage horses slipped a bolt. Our carriage, Papa, was thrown in the

river. Monsieur Maine, he risked his life to rescue us.

And then he told me that he was a neighbor of Monsieur Lamotte's.

I am most grateful, Monsieur.

Oh, please, sir, anybody would have done the same.

What about Mme Sally and Villefranche?

Well, they're still with the carriage, Papa, but they're fine.

I told them you'd send fresh horses.

I'll do better than that.

Nathaniel, come over here, boy.

I want you to organize a rescue party. I'd like to stay and help, but I'm

afraid I have a steamer to catch. What a shame.

But once again, monsieur, my thanks.

And mine.

Now remember you promised to write.

you must be exhausted oh i am papa i am i have not properly introduced you to

monsieur lamotte yet

Whoa Stations over there as far as I go

Well, ladies, goodbye.

And I'll see you in two years.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Boy, you'll be needing help getting that to the station.

Oh, no, thank you. I can manage.

Will you listen to that?

Where you all from, country boy?

I'm from South Carolina.

I'm going to West Point, or I don't know one when I see one.

Yes, that's where I'm headed, so, uh... If you could get your foot off my trunk,

I got a train to catch.

Thank you.

Now listen here, soldier boy.

Me and my friends, they'll get that on the train.

Or you'll go on without it.

How much to load it?

Two dollars.

It's worth maybe 25 cents.

Who do you think you're talking to?

There ain't no part of your slave labor.

No, sir?

No, you're not.

So if you'll just stand aside, I'll handle myself.

We'll load it, or you'll load it. Price is the same.

Two dollars.

Don't put your hands on me again, sir.

Or you'll what?

Thanks, how are you, mate?

George Hathard.

Glad to know you. Not as glad as I am to know you.

Pennsylvania. Where's your high station?

South Carolina.

On my way to West Point.

So am I.

I had no idea this trip would be so eventful.

You're probably the first real Southerner I've ever met.

You're my first damn Yankee.

You know,

I used to think that all Yankees ever did was peddle jackknives ten-way and

try to beat their neighbors in court.

Well, we got something like that.

And I guess there are probably some Southerners who eat pork and collards,

sleep all day and beat their slaves all night.

Some of us do think slavery's outdated, you know. We favor more modern methods

in spite of what some folks believe.

Oh, I know that.

My family owns an ironworks.

We've got labor problems, too.

Hazardine? That's your family?

Yes.

I hope you don't consider that peddling jackknives.

No, no, not at all.

You make farm machinery.

Yeah.

I believe that mechanization is the key to the South's future.

Not like you want to be a farmer, not a soldier.

I do.

Then why are you going to the point?

I want to learn something, John.

The military academy is the best all-around education a man can get in

this country.

I want to improve Mont Royal.

Maybe even build a cotton mill.

Well, I've wanted to be a soldier all my life.

Thank God I've got an older brother who can take care of the ironworks, or I

couldn't do this.

I think you'd be a good one. I hope so.

Well, both have to be pretty tough to make it through West Point, though.

No leave for two years.

They say the hazing is hell.

I've never been too great at book learning.

I just wonder if I'll make it through it.

Oh, you'll make it through?

I'll bet money on it.

You will?

What are you doing? It's a $10 note.

That's right. And when you graduate from West Point, you give that half back to

me, plus another $10.

What if I don't graduate?

Then I'll give you mine, but that's not going to happen.

This is one bet I'm going to win.

I trust the wine is to your taste, Nicholas.

Fine vintage, Justin.

Fine.

From France, of course.

And quite costly.

I have it shipped up by an importer on the Gulf.

If there is a war with Mexico, it's going to play havoc with my wine cellar.

You expect President Tyler to fight over Texas?

He must, sir.

It's a point of honor.

Mexico repudiating?

It's treaty guaranteeing Texas its independence.

Some say Mexico intends to sell Texas to Britain.

Aren't those fears being exaggerated by those who want Texas to enter the Union

as a slave state?

Where did you hear that, my dear?

I encourage my daughter to read and question, sir. She has an excellent

mind.

A mind?

Hardly seems necessary, Nicholas, when one has the face of an angel.

Once again, gentlemen, we shall charge ahead.

Move, those gentlemen.

Are you joking?

We'll be experts in no time.

Well, so far we hadn't even been able to find our barracks.

He looks helpful.

Excuse me, sir.

Uh, my friends and I are plebes. No, sir!

You are not!

Sir? You are things, sir.

To become plebes, you must first survive the entrance examination.

Until then, you are lower than plebes. You are the lowest of the low. You are

things, sir.

Remember that.

Didn't wish I'd never seen this trunk.

I guess these belong to you two.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm Ned Fisk. George Hazzard.

Or me.

Thank you.

I come from Ohio.

Lehigh Station, Pennsylvania.

I know, you never heard of it.

I'm from a place called Mount Royal, South Carolina.

It's near Charleston.

You're a planter, are you?

My father is. We grow cotton.

A slave laborer.

You can sleep someplace else.

I may have to be here with your kind, but I don't have to like it.

And just what's my kind, friend?

Slave owners.

My pa's got a small tobacco farm.

He can't get decent prices because of southern competition.

I had to wait two years to get here because there was no money for the trip.

Well, that's unfortunate, but it is hardly my fault. The hell it isn't.

It's yours and every slave owner's in this country.

Well, there's nothing anybody can do about it here.

So we'll just have to live and let live, right?

has been distressing the brief, Miss February.

Or may I call you Madeline?

Yes, it has been a short visit.

And I'm not sure that we know each other well enough of first names yet.

Perhaps we should get to know each other then.

Morning.

Good morning.

Well, you two seem to be enjoying yourselves.

It was a wonderful ride.

Well, it's a pity we have to leave this afternoon.

You see, my dear, it's the opinion of the majority.

And the majority rules.

Well, a well-brought-up young lady is ruled by her father.

Isn't that right, Nicholas?

Alas, I am ruled by my business appointments in Charleston. But, Justin,

your hospitality has been beyond compare.

We are most grateful.

I promised Mme Sally I would supervise Villefranche.

She is afraid.

His injury has made him forget how to load a carriage.

Shall I help, Papa?

No, no, no. Enjoy your breakfast. I shan't be too long.

Father is very indulgent with his slaves.

Mom Sally is our freed servant. And my father is kind to everyone, no matter

who they are.

Don't distress yourself, Nancy. I have to change anyway.

If you'll excuse me. Of course.

Whatever happens again, read off quickly.

My name is Bent.

Cadet Bent.

I, sirs, am your drill master.

Elkana Bent, sirs, of the great and sovereign state of Georgia.

And you, sir...

are from Ohio.

Yes, sir.

I can't hear you, sir.

Yes, sir.

Most of us from the southern states, the word Ohio means one thing.

Oberlin College, where white and black students defy convention by studying

together as equals.

You consider yourself the equal of a nigger? Sir!

No, sir!

I mean, yes, sir.

What is your comment on that, sir?

Or do you have one?

No, I don't.

You will reply, no, I don't, sir!

No, I don't, sir!

Thank you, sir.

I know how difficult that must have been, sir.

Because you gentlemen from South Carolina consider yourself superior to

the gentlemen from Georgia, do you not, sir?

No, we don't, sir.

Good, sir!

I'm pleased you agree with me.

Surprised, but pleased nonetheless.

And you, sir!

How do you feel about the South as compared with your section of the

country, sir?

The East, I believe.

Which do you think superior, sir?

Why, the East, sir!

What did you say I said the East sir nothing about dirt farmers down south

Present company accepted sir as always

Mr.

Hazard

the pot maker from Pennsylvania, you will step forward, sir!

I shall use you to demonstrate a fundamental principle of marching, sir.

And Mr. Maine, our hothouse lily from South Carolina,

you seem amused.

You will step forward too, sir!

Now, sirs, you will raise these buckets to your sides and keep them at a 90

-degree angle to your bodies at all times.

Now, sirs.

The principle of which I spoke is commonly called the goose step, sirs. On

command, you will stand on one leg, thus your right leg, sirs. On the command

front, you will fling the raised leg forward, thus, sirs.

Now, sirs, begin.

Stand.

is to be spilt, sirs, not one.

Keep your arm up, sir.

You have not yet mastered the principle.

Cadet Bent.

These two men have been drilled sufficiently.

You will return them to rank, sir, and dismiss the squad.

Yes, sir!

for you boys. You stood up to him. Called his bluff.

Call that a bluff?

By the way, Hazard, we haven't really met. My name is George.

So is mine.

That makes three of us. I'm George McClellan.

And I'm George Pickett from Virginia.

So am I.

From Virginia, that is.

Tom Jackson.

Are you all right, Mr. Maine?

Fine, Tom. The name's Ari.

That cadet Bent.

He's a little tetched, I think.

Thank God for that upperclassman, whoever he was.

Well, his name is Ulysses, but they call him Sam, Sam Grant.

The mails, one for you and one for Miss Medley. Thank you, sir.

I have something for you, child.

Sally, why didn't you tell me there was a man for me this morning? Because I

only just arrived.

Now, who or what could be so important?

Oh.

Oh, he says he's always thinking of me and that he can't wait to see me again.

Even though the training at the academy is sometimes... merciless.

The thought that... The thought that I'll be here when he gets

home helps him through it.

He says a whole lot for such a short acquaintance.

What else he got to say?

You're mighty taken with that Mr. Maine, aren't you?

Madeleine, dear, may I speak with you?

Yes, papa.

Justin Lermont has written to say he will be here in Charleston on business

the first of the month. He asks permission to call on us.

Well, that's fine.

I'll have something special prepared for dinner that night.

Ah.

I hope you will be as pleased to see Justin as I will.

Of course, papa.

He's your friend.

Mr. Fisk, sir.

You hold your saber like a hose, sir.

You parry as though you were scaring crows, Mr. Fisk.

Now, you are nothing more than a miserable, clumsy little farmer.

And I'm supposed to make a soldier out of you.

On guard.

Sit yourself down.

Bend your elbow.

Straighten your knees.

I said bend your elbow, sir.

You're a joke, Mr. Fisk.

On the battlefield, you'd be cut to ribbons.

And rightly so.

You, sir, are the sorriest excuse for a soldier I have ever seen.

All right, sirs.

Who shall we have next?

Let's have you, Mr. Maine.

At your service, sir.

My pleasure.

so so

Yes.

Drummer, sound mask on.

Squad!

Dismissed! Where did you learn how to handle a sword like that?

Father thought it was something every southern gentleman should know, so he

gave me lessons.

Well, you sure gave Ben a lesson.

Look, child.

These were the cuttings Mr.

Lamotte sent from Resloot last fall.

They're very pretty.

You look so sad.

Still thinking about our remain?

I can't seem to do anything else, Aunt Sally.

Oh, his letters were so wonderful.

I think they were part of the reason that I fell in love with him.

But he doesn't write any more.

You've got to forget about him.

Young men always making promises they never go and keep.

That's what Papa says.

Soldiers have wandering hearts.

He tells me I should forgive him, but I can't. I can't, no matter what I do.

Madeline, it seems our guest has arrived early.

He says he could not deny himself the pleasure of our company any longer.

Monsieur Lamotte, how nice to see you again.

You are more lovely than ever, Miss Vibray.

But I do wish you'd call me Justin.

I think it is proper, my dear, after all this time.

As you wish.

Justin.

Splendid.

I will tell Uncle Jean to have an extra place set for dinner, sir.

Thank you, Ma'am Sally.

Justin, I have been saving a very interesting brandy for you. If you'll

excuse me, I will have it brought up from the wine cellar.

You are too kind.

I took the liberty of bringing you this.

I hope you'll accept.

Oh, that was very thoughtful of you, Justin.

I really shouldn't accept it, but I love surprises.

Oh.

It's beautiful.

Thank you.

Not half so beautiful. as you.

I'll never make it, George.

Mahan is going to eat me alive in that class.

I just wasn't cut out for West Point.

Don't say that. You ride a horse better than any man here.

You're a good marksman.

Lord knows you're handy with a saber.

That won't do me any good if I can't remember what's in these books.

I'll get you through it.

We'll drill it till you know it backwards.

None of it seems any use right now.

I don't even want to be a soldier.

But you want to improve Mount Royal, don't you?

Maybe I should find another way.

I think there's something else that's bothering you.

And I don't think it has anything to do with military history.

How long has it been since you heard from Madeline?

Fisk?

Ned?

I thought you'd gotten used to us, Fisk.

I haven't heard you talk about moving to another barracks for... I'm not moving

to another barracks.

I have to resign from the academy.

My pa took a fall from the hayloft.

Laid him up real bad.

They need me to run the farm, because there's nobody else.

I'm sorry, Fist.

Stop running.

If there's anything we can do...

You could help, Mr. Planner, son.

But you won't.

You're going to keep on working your slaves and undercutting prices so that

folks like us will always live hand to mouth.

Well, you can save your sympathy.

Put it in the bank with all your money.

Come on.

What do you say to a trip to Penny Havens?

This hour? You need a bracer, don't you?

We already have more demerits than any other two men in our class.

Over 150 each.

And whose fault is that?

All right, so those demerits came from Ben's.

Just the same.

Over 200 skins in one year and we're out.

And if we're caught at Benny's after tattooing... We won't get caught.

Who'd be crazy enough to go out on a night as cold as this? Come on.

Hey, careful.

That ice is soft.

George, you're right.

We'd be crazy enough to go out on a night like this.

Now, remember what I said?

Don't face one another, and that'll take care of your boys' honor code.

So if an officer was to ask you if you'd seen one another drinking, why, you

could swear on an oath that you hadn't seen nothing.

Thank you, Betty.

To your health.

George, listen.

I've been thinking.

We could make things right for Fisk.

How's that?

Well, we both get allowances.

We could give him the money to hire somebody to run his farm. Then he could

stay at the point.

Mm-mm.

If Fisk was too proud, he wouldn't accept charity like that.

Yes, he will.

If we make it alone, we just give him a long time to pay it back.

Might leave us a little short of cash, though.

But it would sure be worth it.

You're right.

It would.

Let's do it.

Now, don't you feel better?

Yes. A little.

But I just keep thinking... No, no.

About Madeline?

I just don't understand why she doesn't answer my letters.

Could be a hundred reasons.

You hardly know her.

I know her well enough to believe that she... What is it?

Oh, nobody.

Just a civilian from the village.

Did you do that to her?

You took ten years off my life.

You boys best get moving. Just seen a corporal go around on the back door.

Go,

go, go, go, go!

Stop, you man! Stop!

Pass it, man!

Wait! George, George, George, George! Help!

Help! Wait!

He's following through.

Good, that ought to slow him down. George, we can't leave him there. He

might drown.

I was afraid you'd say that.

Hey, help me!

Careful, George.

It's cracked. Lie down.

Hold on, Ben.

We'll get you.

Take my hand.

You can't stay here.

Bench, you gotta get back to your backs. You're getting pneumonia.

I know.

I know.

I can make it without any help.

From either of you two.

That gracious thank you made it all worthwhile.

At least he can't put us on report.

We saved his life.

Don't let that get around the barracks or we're in trouble.

You sound awful, Laurie.

You really should report to the medical officer.

No, I'm fine, George.

Hazard, Main, you have both been placed on report, sirs.

did report us.

After saving his life, can you beat that?

Come in.

What do you want, man?

Request permission to report to the informer, sir.

Why? You look healthy enough to me.

I think I'm very ill, sir.

Well, I think you're a malingerer, Maine.

I think you just want to avoid your assigned duties.

Cobra Ben, I swear.

Permission to report to the infirmary denied.

And I will show you what happens to shirkers, Mr. Maine.

As of right now, you start ten hours of extra guard duty.

You are dismissed.

Sir.

What are you doing out here in this weather?

Working off demerits, sir.

You're sick, man. You should be in the hospital.

No, sir.

Thank you, sir.

I'm all right.

Shall I ask a tactical officer to have you relieved?

No, sir.

I have to work off these demerits, sir.

You'll make a good soldier, Mr. Mann.

If Corporal Bent doesn't kill you first.

If a tactical officer sends someone to relieve you, why, you might have frozen

to death.

We should have let Ben freeze.

Well, you're the one who insisted we go back.

Anyhow, it's better that it turned out this way.

Grant and his friends are keeping their eyes on Bent.

That'll make him ease up on us.

Don't you think that somehow in Bent's twisted mind, he'll see it as our fault

and come down even harder?

No.

He's too much of a coward to go up against Grant.

He'd rather bully underclassmen.

I never met anybody like him before.

I believe the word is bent.

There's another reason why I'm glad you didn't freeze.

What's that?

I wanted to thank you for loaning me the money to stay here.

I guess I might have been wrong about Southerners.

Maybe some of them will remember Vince from Georgia.

Vince.

George, would you mail that for me? Sure.

Still wooing Madeline?

If she doesn't write me soon, I'm... I'm sure she will.

But even if she doesn't...

I've still got a sister who's not married.

We've got to go.

Goodbye.

Hello, Mr. McCullough.

Our foundry's down here, and there's the new library building.

This is your house? Hi, George!

Hello!

Hello, George! George, hello!

Come on!

At last!

Hello, Mother!

Welcome home, son!

Doesn't he look grand?

I thought we'd never get here.

It's been the longest two years of my life.

Good to have you here, George.

Thank you, sir.

I want you to meet my parents. This is Maude and William Hazard. How do you do?

Pleasure to know you, Ori. Welcome to Belvedere. Thank you. George, I've

written so much about you.

It's kind of you to have me here. And these are my brothers, Stanley.

Stanley. And this is Billy.

Billy.

Are those real sabers? Sure. Here, take a look.

Don't touch that, Billy. It's dangerous.

My brother obviously forgot to introduce me, Mr. May. Of course not.

I'm Virgilia Hazard.

Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Hazard.

I've heard so much about you.

George tells us you're a southerner.

Yes, from South Carolina.

Do you keep slaves?

My family does, yes.

Are you evil, Mr. May?

Oh, no, Virgil. Not again.

Virgilia!

Great men like Mr. Garrison keep trying to show Southerners the evil they're

doing, and it's our duty to take... Virgilia, I thought I asked you to stop

reading that abolitionist nonsense.

It's not nonsense, Father.

It's God's truth.

I'm afraid her causes are Virgilia's way of making up for not being born a man.

Don't you patronize me, Stanley Hazard.

That will be enough for Julia.

Now, I think we should all go indoors.

Yes, by all means.

I hear congratulations are in order for you.

Mother Roten said you were engaged, but she didn't tell me who the lucky girl

was. My fiancée is Miss Isabel Truscott from one of the best families in

Pennsylvania.

I've no doubt.

George wrote that you might be interested in seeing the foundry.

Yes, sir. I want to know all there is to know about Hazard Island.

Busiest operation of its kind in the country. Our boiler plates wind up in

everything from ships to fire engines. Anything that uses a steam generator.

Like a cotton mill?

Like, uh, ten or twelve of them.

I take it you found that impressive?

More than that, sir, your foundry is a revelation.

Now, I'm sure it's a good idea to build a cotton mill in South Carolina.

Just hope I can make my father see that.

Surely he must be aware that the economy of the South would be much stronger if,

uh, more cotton were processed there.

Yes, sir, but, uh...

He has a very strong bias against any form of industry.

Well, now, that's a shame.

Father, I think this requires your attention.

Would you excuse me for just a moment, please? Yes.

Who lives there?

Our workers.

Immigrants, mostly.

Irish, German, Welsh.

A lot more than when I left.

I know. They're not much better in your slave quarters, are they? They're worse.

Well, at least our workers have a choice. We don't own them. We don't

force them to work here. They can leave whenever they want.

Well, an empty belly is a pretty good reason to stay.

Are you saying that you don't like the way that we run the foundry?

Well, I don't have to like everything about...

What you do anymore, you have to like everything we do.

I guess you're right.

I guess there's probably room for improvement on both sides.

I know there is. That's why I wanted to visit and learn from you Yankees.

You're really serious about this cotton mill, aren't you?

After the Army, I'm dead serious if I can talk my father into it. And if

Hazard iron supplies the parts, you won't get a better deal.

I plan on using that argument on my father.

Soup, Mr. Stanley.

Wait again, Billy.

Sorry, sir.

Now don't forget to put your napkin on your lap, Billy.

Salt and pepper, Mr. Maine.

Uh, thank you, Miss Truscott.

You're welcome, Mr. Maine.

I'm sorry you have to leave so soon.

Yes, well, there's a...

Friend I have to see in Charleston before I head home.

A friend, Mr. Maine?

I think it must be a lady.

And how do your instructors feel about your president?

Well, sir, they like him, even when they don't agree with him. But I have enjoyed

my stay here very much.

Well, you've read something of Mr. Polk's views.

Well, I think that Polk will annex Texas if he's elected president.

After all, he's a committed expansionist.

But it's wrong.

Texas belongs to Mexico.

And if he does, there'll be war.

I just hope that Ori and I don't graduate too late to fight it.

They say we'll see action with General Zachary Taylor.

Wouldn't that be something?

Mr. Polk believes in manifest destiny, all right.

And if this country's to stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific, there'll be

plenty of action.

We know that.

Unless God strikes him dead first, which he deserves.

Well, can't any of you see?

Expansionism is just another name for perpetuating the foul institution of

slavery.

Virgilio, be quiet.

No, Mother, not this time.

I can't just sit by and listen to my own brother and a slave owner tell us how

eager they are to fight when everyone knows that this is the devil's war.

George. To annex Texas is a slave state. I see you're still reading your

abolitionists, Virgilia.

I'm doing more than reading, George.

I've joined their cause, and my allowance goes to support it.

Virgilia. I have a right, Father.

I'm a grown woman, and I must decide for myself now.

And I will fight the ungodly evil that lives in the South.

Miss Hazard.

Perhaps if you knew more about our southern way of life, you wouldn't be so

quick to condemn.

Mr. Maine, I know all I need to know.

And I will not sit down at a table with a man who chooses to keep his fellow

human beings in bondage.

Ori, I'm afraid I have to apologize for my sister.

She, uh, sometimes lets her emotions run away with her.

Why don't you tell us some more about your plans for the cotton mill, Ori?

Yes.

Sweet berries out on your front feet. Fresh berries!

This ain't nobody home, sir.

This is February house.

Yes, sir, but they's all gone now.

Gone where?

Me can't rightly say, sir, but that house there been closed up for nearly a

week now.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Are you feeling all right, sir?

I'm just tired, son.

I am worried about the cotton crop.

We didn't get enough rain after the spring planting.

They're gating by hands, keeping the slaves away from their other work. Crops

still liable to be small.

We could still make a profit in spite of that if we milled our own cotton.

Son, we've argued this point before.

Father, you should have been with me at Hazard Island. I saw a hundred ways to

improve Mount Royal.

You seem very anxious to change your home.

We can't ignore progress, sir. We'll be left behind.

That's what the Hazard said, and that's... I'm sure, I'm very sure your

friends know a great deal about running their foundry, but a cotton plantation

is entirely different.

Every year, the South counts for less on a national level because we cling to

manual labor. That's enough, son!

I said I don't wish to discuss it.

Daddy, if you just...

Now, you just got home.

Go join your mother in the parlor.

I'll be along directly.

He does too.

Does not.

Does too.

Does not. He does. Not.

All right.

Now, who does or doesn't do what?

Brett says Prime doesn't deserve to get whipped, and I say he does.

Whipped? We don't punish our slaves that way.

We have. ever since Salem Jones got here.

The new Overseer father wrote me about?

Yes, and Prime doesn't do anything bad.

But Salem Jones whips him anyhow.

Because Prime's uppity, like his sister.

What's Semiramis got to do with this?

Oh, ever since Salem Jones has been sleeping with Semiramis, Prime's been

acting strange and getting whipped a lot.

You two go upstairs and be nice.

Mr. Mane, Mr. Jones.

Mr. Mane, sir.

I was coming up to meet you, sir, just as soon as I finished with this. This is

why I'm here.

What's Prime done? Why are you beating him?

No crime, exactly.

It's his attitude, sir.

Prime don't show the proper respect.

A good overseer knows how to get a man's respect without beating him. And we

don't whip slaves at Mont Royal.

So you let Prime go.

Your father told me to handle these slaves any way I see fit. Well, I don't

see fit to let you whip him.

Especially because it appears you enjoy it.

Now you do what I tell you, and you let him go.

Now!

Come here!

Caesar!

you'll be two more at the academy, then another four in the army.

You're not running Mount Royal yet, and you'll not interfere with those who do.

Salem Jones gets more work out of the Negroes than anyone ever has.

That doesn't make him right.

Cruelty like what I saw yesterday makes both of you wrong. Oh, does it? Well,

Salem Jones knows a thing or two.

What about that slave, Nat Turner, murdering 55 white people in cold blood?

That was over ten years ago and in Virginia.

You think it couldn't happen here?

Those abolitionists stirring up the slaves against us?

Tilly, Ori, please.

We've got such a short time together while Ori's home on leave. Let's not

spoil it.

I'm sorry, Mona.

We're invited to a wedding this afternoon. Wouldn't do for us to be

fussing. A wedding? Who? Just in the mud, I wrote you about it.

No, so you didn't. Who's he marrying?

Oh, Ori, she's the most beautiful girl you ever saw.

A Creole from New Orleans.

Her name is Madeline Fabry.

Do you, Justin, take Madeline Eugenie for your lawful wedded wife, promising

to love, honor, and cherish her, forsaking all others as long as you both

shall live?

I do.

And do you, Madeline Eugenie, take Justin for your lawful wedded husband,

promising to love, honor, and obey him, forsaking all others as long as you both

shall live?

I do.

Then in the sight of God and this company, I pronounce you man and wife.

We should pay our respects.

How nice.

My very best wishes, Mrs. Lamont.

You are very kind, sir.

How nice of you to come.

Monsieur Mayne.

Well, I am so glad your family could come today.

It gives me the chance to thank you again for your courtesy to Amadora.

Was she planning to marry Justin even then?

No, she wasn't.

I had it in mind from the day I met him.

I knew he would be a perfect match for Madeline.

An older husband, wiser, more settled.

I see.

Well, tell me, how is life treating you in the military?

As well as could be expected, sir, thank you.

Good day.

Cuffee!

Saddle my horse for me.

Yes, sir.

Ori.

Please don't go.

I have to ask you something.

What could possibly matter now?

Why did you stop answering my letters?

What?

I didn't. You stopped answering mine.

I did.

It was Papa. He destroyed your letters.

What?

He wanted me to marry Justin.

But until now, I never knew how much.

Now it's too late.

Every day that I was away from you, I kept thinking about the day I'd make you

my bride.

You'd better have this bag now.

Don't you think I dreamed of you too?

You'd better leave. Can they remain?

Well, see you again when you finish military school.

Come, my dear.

Our other guests are waiting.

Justin.

I didn't expect you so soon.

Been up here half an hour, my dear.

I thought you'd be ready for me by now.

You're so beautiful.

So beautiful.

What's the matter with you?

You're always so distant But not tonight

I'll

show you what it means to be Maui

Thank you.