All language subtitles for April Morning 1988

[horse galloping]

Halt!

[man] Have you a name, gillie?

Aye, sir,
and a fine one.

Solomon,
Solomon Chandler,
of Lincoln town.

And what is
your occupation,
Solomon Chandler?

I sell necessaries
to the ladies of
Lexington and Concord,

and Bedford
on to Salem.

Ladies, indeed.

There are no ladies
in these colonies.

There are only
gillie women.
Get down.

I suppose you have
a ready explanation

for having His Majesty's
musket in your possession?

Aye. I found it.

Found it where some poor,
drunk devil of a British
soldier dropped it.

Did you, now?

Hmm. And the barrel
of powder
and the box of shot,

I suppose you
found them, too, hmm?

Aye, that, too, sir.

You disappoint me,
Solomon Chandler.

A good thief must
first of all be a good liar.

No. Let him live to talk.

We want his Whig friends
to know that their days
of stealing from us

and smuggling His Majesty's
munitions out of Boston
are at an end.

[indistinct chatter]

[girl] Look at that man!

[boy 1] What's
the matter with him?

[boy 2] He's bleeding.

[horse neighing]

[door opens]

What happened?
What happened, man?

The Redcoats happened,
that's what.

Our cousins from over
the seas who occupy us

in order to protect us
from enemies we haven't got.

Sit here, Solomon.
I'll get a clean rag
and a pan of water.

Tell us.

It was a patrol
of some sort they were,
on the Menotomy Road.

-How many?
-Five.

Two in uniform,
three without.

Same five who rode
through here earlier today.
I saw them from the fields.

Aye. They searched
my wagon, they did.

Found my delivery
for Concord.

[Moses] The delivery
for Concord?

Powder and shot,
friend Cooper.

What have the Concord lads
been pleading for
these last months?

Except the Tories
in their midst.

There ain't a man
between 16 and 60 there

who wouldn't rather
have powder and shot

than a guarantee of
salvation signed and sealed
by Jehovah Himself!

Solomon, you didn't
tell them, did you,

that the powder and shot
was destined for Concord?

They didn't ask.
Why should they?

We're all peasants
to them, all gillies.

What the Redcoats think
of us is not important,
Solomon.

What we think of ourselves
is what determines our lives,

and we only want
to be left in peace.

Peace?

What is peace without dignity?
What is peace without honor?

Peace, indeed.
The King's peace is slavery!

[scoffs]

Slaves live in a kind of
peace without honor as men.

You are beginning
the same speech you
have been preaching

up and down our
Massachusetts colony since
grown men can remember.

We've heard it
a thousand times.

We have no need
to hear it again.

You don't, do you?

It hurts your ears
to hear the truth, eh?

You preach revolution,
Solomon, and you
call it truth.

Moses Cooper, it is our
duty to throw off that
which demeans us as men.

What do you know
of duty, Solomon?

Sadly enough, you have
always been a lone eagle.

An eagle with pride.
You give me that?

Oh, yes, I will
give you that.

A lonely,
prideful eagle.

With no wife,
no children, no loved ones,

no one to cherish him
while he's here.

And none to miss him
when he's gone.

Your whole life,
Solomon Chandler,

has been a history
of bloodshed.

Well, you see,
I've never had a master.

No man has assumed
authority over me

without suffering
great regret
for having done so.

Oh, yes! We know you
well for what you are,
Solomon.

If you hadn't a grievance,
you'd sit awake at night
inventing one.

I'm calling a committee
meeting for tonight.

What need is there to call
a special meeting, John?

Because before last month
there was rarely a Redcoat
or an agent

to be seen on a road
this side of Cambridge.

And now every week
there's one patrol or two.

I see no reason to call
a special committee meeting
without a specific reason.

Good day.

We have one.
Solomon's blood.

Solomon's blood?

Oh, yes.

He could lose a gallon
of it and never miss
an ounce.

Everybody knows
Solomon's history.

He fought with
the British army
against the French,

and he fought
with the French
against the Indians,

and he fought with
the Indians against
the Indians.

I am not what you
might call happy,

with the blood of such a man
determining my future.

Moses is right.

You got what
you might expect.

You stole from them
and you were caught.

I think you're fortunate
you weren't shot.

If you think the Redcoats
are up to something,

it is right that
the committee be warned,

but I will tell you this,
John, with no shame,

when we first formed
our militia and picked
up our guns to drill,

I was apprehensive.

I am no longer apprehensive.

I'm frightened.

[girl]
Your mother told me
I'd find you working.

You're not working at all.
You're dreaming.

Spring fever.

In the old days,
men with spring fever
went to the stocks

because their wives
and children were
going hungry.

Why are you looking
at me like that?

Like what?

You know.

Do you think I should
be put in the stocks?

For your thoughts,
you should perhaps
be hanged.

[chuckles]

Tell me something,
Ruth Simmons.

Why is it that girls
always pretend

they don't have the same
thoughts as boys?

I could never have
the same thoughts
as you do.

Well, if you don't
have the same
thoughts that I do,

then how do you know
what mine are?

Oh. Mr. Cooper.

-Ruth.
-I was just leaving.

Finished, Adam?

Yes, sir.

Not quite, I see.
Missed the corners.

Any job worth doing
is worth doing well, Son.

You understand that,
don't you?

Yes, sir.

Well?

Well, I guess I don't
really think it's
worth doing, Father.

Not every day.

You don't?

No. I don't see what's
so important about
that old stall.

It's not the stall so much
as your attitude towards life
that concerns me, Adam.

I thought we were
talking about the stall.

If it were just the stall,
I'd clean it myself
and say nothing to you.

Am I boring you?

No, sir.

You look as if
I'm boring you.

Your mother
will be needing
evening water now.

Holy ghost
and holy hell,

get thee out
of the mossy well.

You're a good boy, Adam.

You may be the only one
who thinks so, Mother.

You've had words
with your father
again, haven't you?

Well, whatever
it is between
you and your father

will remain between
you and your father.

I refuse to be one
of those women

who allow her
children to pit her
against her husband.

I'm not a child,
Mother.

And I wasn't thinking
of doing anything
of the sort.

I've spun sufficiently.

Help me up, Adam.
I want to get
a little breath of fresh air.

I'll tell you
one thing, boy.

This is the time of day
when an old lady wishes
she drank hard spirits.

Well, why don't
you start, then?

Because bad habits
should begin early in life

if they're going
to have any gossip value.

What's wrong?

You know, you're the only
person I can talk
to around here, Granny.

'Cause you're so old you
don't care what you say.

[chuckles] Is that supposed
to be a compliment?

Why, you admit yourself
you're old.

A woman can admit
any truth about herself until
it's pointed out by another,

and then it becomes
an insult.

Now why don't you just
forget about my age

and condition and get on
with what's bothering you.

[chickens clucking]

[sighs]

Why does Father consider
that everything I do
is either wrong or sinful?

I wasn't aware
that he does.

My entire life,
he has never told me
that I'm right,

or maybe right,
about anything.

I'm always wrong.

According to him,
you mean?

Yes.

[Sarah] Adam, supper's on.
Help Granny to the table.

Adam, don't you know
your father by this time?

It isn't just you
he considers wrong.

According to him,
he's the only
right-thinking man on Earth!

He's my son,
your father is,

and his father
was just the same.

My pleasure has
been doubly dubious.

We thank thee, Lord,
for the food we eat.

We thank thee for it,
even though it was
we who planted the seed,

even though it was
our hands who
guided the plow,

and even though it was
our backs bent in toil
under your hellish sun.

[sighs]

The ground is as dry
as dust and I will
take the liberty

of asking for a little rain.

We know thou givest
with one hand

and takest away
with the other,

but sometimes it seems

to go beyond
the bounds of reason.

Amen.

If I was the Lord,
I'd walk away from a speech
like that, Moses Cooper,

and then strike you
down with the first
handy bolt of lightning.

The Lord understands
straight talk, Mother,

Granny was only suggesting
a little respect, Moses.

What greater respect
can a man show to God,

or to his fellow man,
than honesty?

How big are you,
Adam?

Tall?

What is your height?

Um, I stand
somewhere between
16 and 17 hands, Father.

Tall as a man.

Whatever it is, Moses,
it can wait until
the meal is over,

Adam won't be any taller
than he is now.

Tall as a man, Adam?

Some men.

Tall as a man.
Strong as a man.

One would think
that a man's mind would
go along with all that.

-Don't you think so?
-Eat your dinner, Moses.

All this is going
to interfere with
your digestion.

I don't know what
you're so angry about,
Father, I really don't.

I'm not angry.
I am disappointed.

I am disappointed
that I have a son
as big as you

who insists on repeating
a superstitious oath when
he draws water from a well.

You know what
I'm talking about,
don't you?

-Yes. But what does that...
-[knocking on door]

Good evening, everyone.

Joseph, come in.
Sit down.
Have a bite to eat.

Oh, no, thank you.
I just finished
my own supper.

I couldn't eat
another morsel.

Oh, you're
having donkers.

Well, maybe one or two,

'cause no one
makes them as good
as you do, Sarah.

I've come to walk
you to the committee meeting,
Moses.

You are coming,
aren't you?

Of course, I'm coming.

Have you finished
the statement?

Not quite.

What statement?

The committee has appointed
Joseph to compose a statement
on the rights of man.

We're all going
to sign it and it'll
be posted in Boston.

-Why in Boston?
-Why?

So the British
will know where
we stand, that's why.

Do any of you think
the British give a fig
where you stand?

Let's get on
to the meeting, Joseph.

I have a long day
in the fields tomorrow.

Father?

I want to go with
you to the meeting.

Well, I know
the committee made
a rule about a man

having to be 16
before he joins.

But...

Are you a man now?

Well, you admit
yourself that I'm
tall and strong.

And I'm only a few months
away from my 16th birthday.

Talk to me when
your mind catches up
to your age and size, Adam.

Adam...

Why does he hate me so?

Hate you?
You're his son,
he loves you!

-Does he?
-Of course, he does!

Then why doesn't
he ever show it?

[hooting and chirping]

[whispering]
Let's be off. God speed.

[Reverend] We humbly
ask God to have
mercy on this gathering.

We ask it in the name
of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

-Amen.
-[all] Amen.

Is there a man here
who doesn't know

Solomon Chandler
from Lincoln town?

There are many men here
who wish they didn't.

[all laughing]

He was accosted by
a British patrol on the
Menotomy Road this afternoon.

They beat him,
they confiscated his wagon,
his team, and his goods.

Stolen powder and shot.

[John] No matter.

Whether we personally
approve of him or not,

it behooves every man here
to remember that
Solomon Chandler is one of us.

And if it weren't
for men like him,

there would be precious
little powder and shot
for men like you,

if and when you need it.

What happened to Solomon
this afternoon

occasions this
meeting here tonight.

Our militia, which is
to say this committee,

can lay claim to seven
close-bore guns
with rifled barrels,

60 smooth-bore guns,
ten of which are fire locks,

five dragoon pistols,
which are probably worthless,

and we have 14
British army guns.

Should the need arise,
our village has 116
assorted pieces,

all told.

John,

is it not true that
King George has
5,000 soldiers

now quartered in Boston?

Yes, that is the number
of Redcoats that has
been passed on to us.

Is it also not true that
the British army is the
very best army in the world?

The British army does
have that reputation, yes.

Then we do not need
our 116 pieces.

The British will
fall down laughing at us.

That's all I have to say.

I think you are
forgetting, Joseph,
that we aren't alone.

There are hundreds,
and perhaps thousands

of committees like
ours, from Maine
to the Carolinas.

What Joseph means is
that he's a blacksmith.

I'm a farmer.
Most of us here are farmers.

All of our meetings,
all of our drillings,
won't make us soldiers.

Nobody claims to be a--

I doubt there is a man
present here who has ever
shot and killed another man!

I personally do not
relish the thought.

No decent man does
relish the thought
of killing others, Moses.

But we must consider
that we may one day

be presented
with no choice.

What will you do then?

I don't know
what I will do.

And no man here does.

Well, David slew
Goliath, didn't he?

Would you care
to speak to that,
Reverend?

David did indeed
slay Goliath,

for the holy book
tells us so.

Unfortunately,
British soldiers can't read.

[laughing]

[dog barking]
thoughtful tonight.

I'm just thinking
about you and me.

Does your mother
or father ever ask you
anything about us?

No.

What would they ask?

You know.

I really don't
know what you're
talking about.

[sighs]

What I mean
is we could do anything
we wanted to,

and it would
just be between us.
Wouldn't it?

Not really.

Why not?

Because...

Because nothing's ever
just between two people.

Yes, but we're
here all alone.

There's no one else
in these woods.

It's just you and me.

God is here
with us, Adam.

God's watching us.

And if He thought
we didn't believe that,

He'd be
very disappointed in us.

Ruth, why did you have
to bring God into this?

There's a big question
about you and me that's
begging for an answer.

That's what I'm trying
to tell you, if you would
just leave God out of it.

Adam, listen to me.

When two people walk out
at night and hold hands,
like you and I do,

well, it means they like
each other more than
commonly so, doesn't it?

Yeah--

And if two people
like each other more
than commonly so,

then it must mean
they have something
uncommon in common.

I love you.

My mother told me that's
far easier for a man to say
than for a woman to accept.

She told me there are men
who use the word love for
their own selfish purposes.

Ruth, your mother
talks too much.

My mother's a good mother
because she trusts me.

If she didn't trust me,
you'd never be allowed

to come tap-tap-tapping
on my door,

and you and I would
never be alone together
in these dark woods

unless we were
lowly skulkers.

[howling]

I didn't intend
to hurt your feelings.

I haven't, have I?

Adam?

Ruth, when I tell you
that I love you,
I mean that.

You're the first person
I've ever told that to.

I want you to believe me.

I do believe you.

And I have
a special feeling
for you, too.

It's a feeling that
makes my heart beat
faster and faster.

Makes my breath
come short.

So I guess it's love.

I think you better
walk me home now.

Now? You want
to go home now?

I didn't say
I wanted to.

Just that I'd better.

Because...
Just because I better.

All right.

[door unlocking]

Why did the meeting
last so long tonight?

Because the deeper
one sinks into quicksand,

the more difficult it
becomes to escape it.

What do you mean
by "quicksand"?

Seems to be
a rule of life.

The things we hate the most
are often the most necessary
for survival.

I'm talking about guns.

But you've owned
a gun for as long
as I've known you.

Yes, and I've respected it,
but I have never loved it.

Why are you still awake?

Couldn't sleep.

Not till you and I have
talked about something.

Moses, Adam seems
to have gotten the idea
that you hate him.

[Moses] Hate him?

[Sarah] He truly thinks
you don't like him.

[Moses] Where would
he get an idea like that?

[Sarah] Maybe you
gave it to him.

Sarah, I don't know how
a man could love a son
more than I love that boy.

Have you told him?

Told him?

No.

Fathers tell their
daughters they love them.

They don't tell
their sons that.

That would embarrass
me and him.

Knowing he's loved
and cared about means
as much to a boy

as it does
to a girl, Moses.

You think I should
tell him I love him?

It would be a start.

But I think showing love
means more than saying it.

[sighs]

Maybe I've been
too hard on him.

But you know what
that boy means to me.

[Sarah] I know.

But it's more important
that Adam know it.

[horse galloping]

The regulars are out!
Sound the alarm!

The regulars are out!
Hundreds of 'em!

They're headed for
the stores in Concord!

The regulars are
on the road tonight!

[horse approaching]

[Revere] The regulars are out!

Sound the alarm!
The regulars are out!

Hundreds of 'em!

They're headed for
the stores in Concord!

The regulars are
on the road tonight!

Summon the militia!

The lobsterbacks
are heading for Concord!

They're already
on the road!

Sound the alarm!

[man] What's all
that shouting?
Get off that horse.

-[shouting continues]
-Father, wake up.

-What?
-Something's happening.

There's a rider down
at Buckland shouting
loud enough

to wake everybody up.

[Revere] Grenadiers
and light infantry,
most likely.

[John] Are you sure?

[Revere] We didn't
wait around to see,

but there's no doubt
about it at all.

They'd crossed
the Charles River
and formed up

on the Menotomy Road
when we lit out.

There was four of us.

One took off for Bedford,
one for Brookline,

then another one went
down to Watertown.

But no matter which road
those lobsterbacks take,

you can be sure they're
headed for the stores of
powder and shot in Concord.

How many soldiers
are there?

We have to know.

Let go of my bridle, mister,
I have to get on.

We want to know
how many soldiers
there are.

A thousand, at least.

They had a line
of boats stretching
across the Charles.

And every boat was
packed full of Redcoats.

Now get out of my way.

You're not the only one
who's got to be
waked up this night.

[urging horse]

I don't believe it!

Anybody who knows
the British army knows
they don't march at night.

Why should they?

If they're truly marching
this way at this hour,

it's to take us by
surprise at Concord.

Well, what kind
of surprise,

when it's going
to be dawn before
they get halfway there?

Well, the man who just
rode through here wasn't
drunk, far as I could tell.

And he has no reason
to ride out here
in the middle of the night

just to tell us a lie.

I'm going to call out
the militia to sign
the muster book, Reverend.

-Do we get the bell?
-Now wait just a minute.

Let's suppose there's
an army of 1000 men
headed this way.

The muster roll
of our militia only
adds up to 79 men.

What's your point?

What are you going to do
with 79 men facing 1000,
is my point.

[Moses] We don't know
how many there are.

We don't know for certain
that there are any,

but if there were
only one of us

the principle
would be the same.

What do you say,
Reverend?

Do we get the bell?

Toll the bell.
Summon the militia.

[bell tolling]

[men chattering]

[John] You are now
under orders
and in discipline

in this committee of defense
and correspondence.

Go home, get your gun,
powder and shot,

as well as a pound of bread
and a bottle of water.

Muster on the green
at the sound of the drum.

-Name?
-Uh...

You know my name.

You have to state it,
for the record.

Ah, Samuel Hadley.

You are now under
orders and in discipline

in this committee of
defense and correspondence.

Go home, get your gun,
powder and shot,

as well as a pound of bread
and a bottle of water.

Muster on the green
at the sound of the drum.

Name?

Joash Smith, by God.

Just sign your own name,
Smith, and let the Good Lord
take care of his own.

You are now under
orders and in discipline

in this committee of
defense and correspondence.

Go home, get your gun,
powder and shot,

as well as a pound of bread
and a bottle of water.

Muster on the green
at the sound of the drum.

Went to sleep a boy,
woke up a man, eh, Adam?

I truly hope so, sir.

With Father up there,
I don't know

if I'll be signing
the muster book or not.

What if he won't let you?

I guess I'll just
sink right through
this floor.

-[Moses] Name?
-Simon Casper.

[John] You are now under
orders and in discipline

in this committee of defense
and correspondence.

Go home, get your gun,
powder and shot,

a pound of bread
and a bottle of water.

Muster on the green at
the sound of the drum.

It's your turn,
Mr. Simmons.

No, why don't you
go ahead, Adam.

[Moses] Name?

Adam Cooper.

Thank you, sir.

[Ruth] Did you sign?

Yes. [chuckles] I...

I signed.

Mr. Parker handed
me the pen, and...

And I signed.

He handed me the pen
and my father
watched me sign.

And I signed my name.

Adam Cooper, citizen.

What do you do now?

Well, I go home,
and I get my gun,
and I, uh,

[exhales]

I join the rest of the men
on the green,
and we wait for the Redcoats.

Ruth, this is gonna be
the greatest day of my life.

Permitting your son,
your 15-year-old son,

to sign the militia
muster book, is that
your way of loving him?

Sarah, if I'd refused him
in front of the whole village
I would've lost him forever.

If the British army
is truly coming, you may
just lose him forever!

What was I to do?
I looked up and there he was.
He didn't say anything.

Standing there
and looking at me.

[sighs] I tell you, his face
said more than all the words
that ever passed between us.

He's only a boy.

Yesterday he was a boy.

Tonight he's not.

I don't understand
that kind of talk.

A boy doesn't turn
into a man overnight.

It takes learning
and growing and hurting.

-And most of all
it takes time.
-Yeah.

Moses, sit down, please.
Just for a moment, please.

Listen to me.
We're plain people.

We live quietly.

We try to raise our children
properly, with a decent
respect for God and man.

[sighs]

We don't kill.
We don't cheat,
we don't steal.

We don't even have
a jail in our town.

And now you're telling me
that ordinary village people,

men and boys we've
known all of our lives,

are going to try
and stop an army.

And that our 15-year-old
son is one of those boys?

We're not even certain
the army's coming.

But if they do come
and see us standing firm,
they'll respect us.

Will they?

Firmness is not the way
to have bloodshed,
it is the way to avoid it.

Then avoid it without Adam.

I cannot do that.

We can't shelter
him now, Sarah.

We cannot shield him.
There comes a time.

This is that time.

[sighing]

Wrap a rag
around the flint.

There's moisture
in the night air.

Yes, sir.
I thought to do so.

Is it loaded?

No, sir, not yet.

Load it, then.

I'll watch you.

That's not enough.

-That's a hunting measure.
-You're not hunting.

Well, how many, then?

Three times.

It'll kick like a mule.

You can live with
a bruised shoulder

better than you
can live with
a British bayonet.

-How many pellets?
-Twenty.

-You count pellets?
-Yes, sir, I count them.

You'll stop tomorrow
to count pellets,
is that it?

No, sir.
I wasn't thinking.

Then think! Think!

Use your head
to save your life.

Put your hand in
that shot pouch
and pull out a handful.

Now feel it
in your hand.

Now count 'em.

It's 27. It's a large load.
It could break the breech.

-Is your breech rusty?
-No, sir.

Then it won't break.

Now load them
and remember
what it feels like.

Don't stop to count.

Yes, sir.

[drum beating]

I want you to close
the shutters,

just as you would
for a storm.

I want you to stay inside
until Adam and I are back.

And I want you
to remember that

they don't want
bloodshed any more
than we do.

The soldiers may be trash,
but their officers
are gentlemen,

-and we're all
the same people.
-Not quite.

We're all the same
people, Mother.
We're all Englishmen.

Sarah?

Sarah, I...

Goodbye, Moses.

Well, there's no need
to say goodbye.

We're only going
over to the green.

Goodbye, Moses.

Don't worry, Mother.

[sobbing]

Mother, please,
there's--

You get out on out of here
now if you're gonna go,
and you leave your mother be.

Go. Go. Go.

[sobbing]

Your mother crying?

Yes, sir, she was.

Well, don't let her tears
fool you into thinking
she's weak, Son.

Your mother's not weak.

I don't like to admit it,
but women are
stronger than we are.

I've always wondered
about that.

[laughs]

Your mother doesn't
think we understand
one another, Son.

She thinks I should
tell you I love you.

I told her that's not
the kind of thing men
say to one another,

'cause love,
they both know it.

You do know about
the feeling I have
for you, Son?

I think so, sir.
Down deep.

It's down deep,
where it counts,

'cause that's where
the roots are.

And if I've been
hard on you, boy,

it's because I want
those roots strong.

There's another
thing, too.

I don't think much of
anything's gonna
happen here this morning,

but something could.

You might have
a heavy burden.

[drumming continues]

You know, my heart
isn't fully in this.

Don't worry about us.

Well...

Well, I just wish
this would all go away.

Go to the green now
because you must.

And stand with Jehovah
because you always have.

We pray for you, Father.
Truly we do.

[man] What time
is it, Reverend?

Ten minutes until 4:00.

What's the word, John?

We've had further word.

There's no question now.

The lobsterbacks are
coming sure enough.

And a great many of them.

I think we should decide
who will do the talking
when they get here.

You're the only one
without a gun, Reverend.

Maybe you'd better
talk for us.

There are some in this
world who won't listen
to a man without a gun.

If there's any talking
to be done, perhaps
you'd better do it.

Since we have
no store of arms,
powder and shot,

it's plain enough they're
interested in Concord.

Suppose they see us standing
here and decide to ignore us

and go on past,
up the road.
What then?

By God, then we stop them.

Use the brains
God gave you, Simon!

The plain truth of the matter
is we cannot stop them!

Do you want a bloodbath?

Moses is right.

My feeling is that we take
up our positions here

and we hold them with
dignity and courage.

If they propose
to march on past us,

why then,
they march on past.

Of all the damn things...

What if they don't stop?

What if they march on
through and pay us no mind?

They won't march on through,
and they won't ignore us.

They have too much
false pride for that.

They don't see us
as free men, with rights.

If you're gonna fight,
you'd better make up
your mind about it.

Just keep your fingers
off your triggers.
Remember.

Now, all fall in.

Two ranks facing
Menotomy Road.

Boys 17 years
and under, second rank.

Two lines only.

Regular parade order.
Spread out!

Further along.
Leave a space.

That's right. Good.

Music should be
in the first rank,
Mr. Parker.

How old are you,
Jonathan?

Well, sixteen, sir.
I should be up front.

The better to see you,
is that it?

Yes, sir. Oh, and the better
to hear me, too.

All right.
First rank.

[John] Good.

Hold the positions.

Very good.

What could you play
to ease our waiting,
Jonathan?

Anything you'd
like, sir.

Would you render
Old Hundredth
for us, please?

Oh, yes, sir.

[playing "Old Hundredth"]

Show to Jehovah,
all the earth.

♪ Show to Jehovah
all the earth ♪

[Reverend] Serve ye
Jehovah with gladness.

♪ Serve ye Jehovah
with gladness ♪

Before Him come
with singing mirth.

♪ Before Him come
with singing mirth ♪

Know that Jehovah,
He God is.

♪ Know that Jehovah,
He God is ♪

Show to Jehovah
all the earth.

♪ Show to Jehovah
all the earth ♪

Serve ye Jehovah
with gladness.

♪ Serve ye
Jehovah with gladness ♪

Before Him come
with singing mirth.

♪ Before Him come
with singing mirth ♪

Know that Jehovah,
He God is.

♪ Know that Jehovah ♪

♪ He God is ♪

[rhythmic drumming
in distance]

Make sure your flints
are not on cock.

We don't want
any accidents.

[playing revolutionary tune]

[rhythmic drum beating]

[sergeant shouting
indistinctly]

[sergeant] Company, halt!

Company, halt!

Halt.

[sergeant shouting orders]

They present
no obstacle, sir.

Shall we pass them by?

We will not.

Hold your fire.

Keep ranks.

-Captain Parson.
Fall front.
-[Parson] Sir!

[indistinct shouting]

March.

[marching drumbeat]

[sergeant shouting orders]

[Parson] Company...

Halt!

[orders continue]

[Parson] Halt.

Halt!

Hold steady.

Hold steady.

Do not fire.

Do nothing without
they begin it first.

[Parson] Halt!

[marching drumbeats stop]

[Pitcairn] Prepare
to fix bayonets.

Fix your... Bayonets.

Shoulder your firearms.

Lay down your arms.

Disperse.

Get off the King's green.

-We are here to talk.
-Talk of what?

This is our green.

Lay down your arms
and there will
be no trouble.

Disperse at once
in the King's name!

We are gathered
here peacefully.

[horse snorting]

Hold your fire.

Charge your bayonets!

[all] Hurrah!

[Pitcairn] Advance
and disarm them.

Oh, no, lads.
You must stand!

Stand fast!

Battalion will advance.

Slow march!

[drums beating]

Disperse, men.
Don't fire!

Stand fast, damn it!

Militia, retire!
Get off the green!

-[shots firing]
-[indistinct shouting]

[grunts]

Ahhh!

[shots continue]

[screaming]

Ahhh!

[straining and grunting]

[sobbing]

-[indistinct shouting]
-[drums beating]

[sobbing continues]

Cease fire!
Cease fire!

Get back into ranks.

Cease fire.

Get back into ranks.

Hold your fire.

[drums stop]

God's blood, Major!
What's happening here?

It didn't have
to happen like this, sir.

It shouldn't
have happened.

Your men fired
in direct violation
of my orders!

But we were
fired upon, sir.

-Are you certain?
-I heard the first
gunshot, sir.

It was theirs.

Well, no matter.
We've wasted
enough time here.

Form the men up
for Concord.

Sir!

[whistle blows]

-[officer shouting orders]
-[sobbing]

[Parson] Ten men
to stay behind
and search the town!

Detain anyone
you find.

[Parson] Quick march!

[drums beating]

[Sarah] [wailing]
Oh, no.

[gasping]

Moses, no!

Oh, no! [sobbing]

Oh, God,
no, please.

[Ruth] Adam?

Adam, where are you?

I know you're here
somewhere, please answer.

[whispering] Adam?

[sergeant]
Search every building.
Don't let them get away.

My father's dead.

I know. I know he is.

They just shot him,
like he was nothing.

They just shot him down
for no reason.

He was laying there
with his...

With his chest
blown away.

Big hole in his chest.

And I just ran.
I just ran
and left him there.

My own father.

I think your father
would've wanted
you to run.

Would've wanted you
to save yourself.

He wouldn't... Wouldn't
want me to be a coward.

You're not a coward.

You mustn't believe
that about yourself.

If you were a coward,
I couldn't love you
the way I do.

I do love you, Adam.
Truly I do.

I just couldn't
say it last night.

But I'm telling you now.

[soldier 1] Did you
find anything?

[soldier 2] No,
they must be halfway
to Buckland by now.

Look, you can't stay here.
They're searching everywhere.

[soldier 3] Did you
look in here?

Many have run
to hide in the woods.

You should go, too.

What are you
doing in here?

Hiding. Just hiding.

[soldier] Well...
Women and children
have nothing to fear.

But, are you alone?

What right do you have
to come in our village
like this as if you own it?

What right do you have?

I'm a soldier,
a soldier has
to obey orders.

Like a dog, you mean.
Sit up. Roll over. Beg.

No, I'm a soldier and...

And you've found
an enemy, so take
me prisoner.

Take me back
to the green.

Well?

You there!
Halt in the King's name!

Halt, you!

[screaming]

-Easy. Easy lad!
-Let go of me!

-Let go of me!
-Easy, lad, easy.

Let go of me.

I'm Solomon Chandler,
from Lincoln town.

I mean you no harm.

Let go! Let go of me!
Let go of me!

Aye, for certain
I will, lad.

I just don't want you
exploding that bird gun
in my face, that's all.

-[panting]
-All right?

Let's take a peek.

Them lobsterbacks
won't be coming across
the meadow after you, lad.

All they're trained
to do is stand in a row

face to face with
fools like themselves
and blast away.

What's your name?
Where's your home?

Adam Cooper.

Lexington.

Cooper.

Moses Cooper wouldn't
be your father, would he?

He was, but he's dead.

-Dead, you say?
-They killed him.

They shot him down
on the green earlier.

He was a good man.

Moses Cooper, your father,
was a good man.

-You knew my father?
-Aye, I did.

I knew him well, I did.

You see?

I told you they wouldn't
come across the meadow.

[sighs]

Twelve minutes
after 9:00.

-Let's you and me
walk for a spell.
-Where to?

All in good time, laddie.

It's a long day.

What's started
ain't easily finished.

You witnessed
a mighty terrible
thing today.

It's painful now,
but give it time.

Father's dead.
Talking like that
won't bring him back.

That it won't, Adam.

Nothing will
bring him back.

Your father had
a sense of his duty.
So must we, laddie.

We've got a little
more to do today,

and we'll do it
the best we know how.

[marching drumbeat]

[Solomon] Get a good,
long look at them.

It's a healthy thing
to regard what you fear.

Study them.

Realize their stupidity
and ignorance.

They do what
they're told to do,
that's all they know.

Believe me, lad,
it'll be easier for them
to go to Concord

then it'll be for
them to come back.

-You recognize them?
-[Adam] No, I don't
believe so, sir.

They're from Bedford.

And you'll be
seeing more, lad,

from every village
and farm.

Look.

The men from Lincoln.

-Everyone must have heard
what happened to us.
-Aye.

Those who haven't, will.

This day's news
travels on the wings
of lightning.

Your friends
and neighbors?

Yes, sir.

Go, go to them, lad.
Stay with them.

Jehovah be praised!

Adam! Adam.

For thy everlasting mercy,
Almighty God, be thanked.

They killed my father.
They shot him down.

I know, Adam.
I know they did.

Who started it,
Mr. Simmons?

-I couldn't see
who started it.
-We don't know.

We've talked about it,

but we don't know where
the shot came from
or who fired it.

But we know it wasn't
one of our militiamen.

We were cowards,
weren't we?

We ran like cowards.

Listen to me, we weren't
on the green this morning

with the intention
of fighting.

-Why did we have our guns?
-To show them
we had them.

And that we would
fight if need be.

But there wasn't
a man there

fool enough to think
he could stand up

against the British
army face to face.

-But we ran.
-Aye, we ran.

We ran like rabbits,

and if we hadn't,
a lot of us wouldn't
be here now.

But we are here.

And what we are
going to do today

is stack Redcoats up
like cordwood.

You understand me?

-You mean we're
going to kill them?
-Aye.

We're going to try.

[man] [shouting] Solomon!

Hello, boy.

[Solomon] Aye, lad,
what's the news?

The Redcoats
reached Concord

but they didn't find
anything but some
hogsheads and flour.

How many hurt?
How many dead?

There was fighting
at North Bridge,
but I don't know.

Well, tell us
what you do know!

What's the shooting
back there?

Well, they've left
Concord, and they're
coming back.

Headed this way.

Say, I'm dry as a bone.
Is there water?

Do you have the nerve
to ride back?

Mister, if it
has to be,

I'll ride through
the whole Redcoat army.

No need for such tricks.
Just go back and watch 'em.

When they're halfway
between Lexington
and Concord,

come riding back down
the road yelling.
We'll be set for them.

Yeah, well, don't shoot
at me by mistake.

I've got a wife
and seven kids.

Ah, go on with you.

-[Solomon] You'll have more!
-[urging horse]

Well, neighbors,

the Redcoats danced.

And now they'll
have to pay the piper.

It wouldn't be proper
for them to go home
with exacting payment.

What do we do?

At least half that road
that they're marching on

is bordered
by stone wall,

another part by trees.

We take our cover
like Indians,
behind what we can.

We wait for 'em,
we give 'em no comfort,

we'll sting 'em
all the way to Boston!

[all laughing]

Reverend, sir,
your blessing.

Jehovah,
watch over us all
and be with us.

-Amen.
-[all] Amen.

Now scatter yourselves.
Don't waste your shots.

Take care to watch
your rear.

The lobsterbacks have
patrols out everywhere.

God be with you!

[bird squawking]

[footsteps approaching]

Don't fire
till you smell
the King's breath.

Think of them
as rabbits, Adam.
Rabbits in our garden.

[gunshot]

[gasping]

[breathing heavily]

[Adam panting]

It's all right.
I understand.

[birds chirping]

[leaves rustling]

Hurting another like this
is a sickening business.

There comes a time
when it's necessary
to do it.

But there's never
a time to enjoy it.

I just wish this day
had never come.

I want to go home.
I want to go home now.

So do we all.

But we can't.

The British are coming
back and we must be
ready for them.

Adam!

I wish my father
were here.

He is, Adam.

He is.

[distant gunfire]

Keep down
after we shoot.

And then run.

It would be death
to remain here
of British regulars.

[distant gunfire]

How long to wait,
Joseph?

I hear the shooting plainer.

Plainer, I think.

-Are you all right?
-I think so, sir.

[rider] Hee-hah!

Hee-hah!

They're a-coming!

By God, they're a-coming.
They are!

Get ready!
They're a-coming,
get ready!

Hee-hah!

[gunfire continues]

[horse neighing]

[groaning]

[thud]

[breathing heavily]

-Fire!
-[shots firing]

Ahhh!

[Joseph] Down!

Run!

[firing continues]

[shouting orders]

Get in ranks!
Get in ranks!

Form ranks!
Get in ranks!

[distant gunfire]

What do we do now?

We'll go towards
Lexington.

Find new positions.

We have to slow up
the head of the column.

[breathing heavily]
Mister Simmons...

I know, Adam.
I know.

You shot a Redcoat
who had no business
being here.

-I don't like the feeling.
-I don't, either.

I doubt there are
many of us who do.

We're not killers.

This is the war, then.

Aye.

I have heard talk
about war as long
as I can remember.

This is it, isn't it?

Aye, lad,
this is the war.

[panting]

When will it end?

When we've driven them
back to their ships.

When they sail away
from here.

When they leave us in
peace in our own land.

But we're all British.

Aye, we were.
Until today.

Could take years,
couldn't it?

Aye.

If we stay here
talking like this,

it could take
a good long while.

Come now.

[man 1] Ahhh!

[man 2] Ahhh!

[shots firing]

God forgive us.

One.

Two.

-[shots firing]
-[groans]

[Joseph] Go!

[gunfire continues]

Hey! Oh-ho!

[Solomon] Hey, laddie boy!

I just got me
a lobsterback officer.

Three hundred paces,
if it was an inch.

And I plucked him off
neat as a feather.

Of course, it was
the hand of Jehovah

that reached down
and smote him.

Adam. Praise be,
you're all right.

-How are you keeping, Son?
-I'm all right, sir.

I'm looking for
Mister Simmons.
We were separated.

What a glorious day,
praise be.

How can he feel
that way?

Killing and enjoying it.

An eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth

and no mercy is the way
he sees it, Adam.

He's been looking
forward to this
for a good long while.

-Your name
Solomon Chandler?
-Aye.

-You in charge?
-I'm captain of militia.

We ain't got
a general here.

We've got 53 men
from Watertown.

More of them joined us
from Lincoln, Bedford,
and Menotomy.

-Where do we go?
-Go?

Well, you go to where
you see Redcoats.

You fire,
you keep moving.
Fire, keep moving.

We'll leapfrog
'em all the way
back to Boston.

[man] Solomon!

There's a British
relief force coming,
fresh out of Boston,

and now a mile
the other side
of Lexington.

How many?

We hear 1,500.

Well, they'll come
together in Lexington then,

with what's left
of these.

-Well, what do we do?
-The same as we've
already done.

We'll let them
march to where
they're going,

and we'll get 'em
when they're comin'.

Well, yes,
but what if they take
a different road?

Friend, there ain't a road
in Massachusetts today

that don't lead
to British graves.

You, soldier, fall in!

Keep ranks!

Major,
we must surrender.

Surrender?
Surrender to whom,
you bloody fool.

They have no leader!

[Pitcairn] Keep moving.
Keep moving, back there.

[distant gunfire]

Keep moving.

Watch your flanks!

Ahhh!

[neighing]

Get...

You! You!
Outflank them!

Take them from the rear!

Move it, double!
Get that little cur.

[gunfire continues]

Look!

Isn't that Adam?

Adam!

Adam! On your guard!

Ahhh!

[screaming]

Ahhh!

[groaning]

I've been plucking
against the tide
all me life, laddie,

thinking I was alone.

But today I'm in
the company of brothers.

Americans.

I... I can't
do anymore.

I can't do
any more today, sir.

If I go on,
I'm gonna die.
I know I will.

Can we please
just go home?

Please, Mister Simmons,
I just want to go home.

Please.

Let's go home.

It isn't the same
anymore is it?

[sighs] Like the seasons,
things change.

Change is life.

Life is good.

Oh!

It must have been
terrible for you today.

I was just
really confused.

No one seemed
to know much about
what to do

except shoot
at the Redcoats.

Did you?

A few times. Yes.

Did you kill anyone?

I don't know. I tried.

-Did you want to?
-No. No.

I don't hate anyone
enough to want
to kill them.

I'm glad you
feel that way.

It isn't the same
anymore.

We aren't the same.

This morning,
when we lined up
on the green,

no one intended
to fight.

Now we know
that we have to.

But you won't go,
will you?

Go where?

Every man and every boy
old enough to bear arms

is being called to
surround the British
in Boston.

I know you will.
I don't want you to.

But I know you will.

[whispering] Adam.

Adam, do you love me?

I love you, Adam.

I don't change easily.

Even if this war
lasts a whole lifetime,

it won't change
my feelings about you.

Lifetime's a long while.

[thunder rumbling]

[door opening]

I'm home now, Mother.

I'm home.

[sighs]

[sobbing]

It's all right.
It's all right, Mother.
I'm home.

Please, don't cry.

Don't cry.

You're so dirty.

I've never seen
you so dirty.

I knew you were
gonna say that.

It's the first time
in my life

I ever looked forward
to hearing you say that.

Your coat.
You've ripped
your new coat.

[chuckles]
I knew you were
gonna say that, too.

Oh, Adam. Oh...

Oh!

I want you to go
upstairs now, Son.

Your father lies there.

[thunder rumbling]

[thunder rumbling]

[rain pattering]

Our Father,
who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,

thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done

on earth as it is
in heaven.

Give us this day
our daily bread

and forgive us
our trespasses,

as we... Forgive those
who trespassed against us.

But that's not so.

Today we didn't forgive
the trespassers.

I guess there'll
be no forgiving
or forgetting

for some time
to come, Lord.

But if we must kill
to live free

and in your light,

we don't ask thee
to bless our killings.

We don't ask
for thy protection.

Only for the right
to protect ourselves.

My father used to say,
"Don't ask the Almighty
to take sides.

Bear your grief and
trust to reason."

It's been a long day, Lord.

Thank you for the rain.

Amen.