Original subtitles

* I long for Missouri *

* and I'ma goin' *

* back there yonder again someday *

* come along *

* I'ma goin' *

* come along *

* I'm a goin' *

* to roam again home again *

* I...Come from Missouri *

* and I'm a goin' *

* to Missouri again someday *

Hello, Ninny Nat. Any news?

Yep, a bushel of it.

No, there ain't gonna be no play party.

Reckon folks is just too ornery

ever to get dancin' or laughin' again.

I don't know why I keep on practicin' on this dang fiddle.

What's the news?

Where's your pa?

Is it about my brother, Ben?

Come to think of it, got news of Ben, too.

Ben, he's alive. He's coming home.

Hold on there! Hold on there!

Hold on there!

Pa, it's about Ben!

Ben's alive! Ben's coming home from the war!

Pa!

Ben.

Ben!

I knew they couldn't kill my boy.

Ma! Ma!

Can't you answer!

I said Ben's come home from the war!

Aaahhh!

Ben's alive! He's coming home from the war!

Ben's coming!

Lissy! Lissy! Where is he? Where's Ben?

Doggone that female woman anyhow.

He's coming home!

Where's Ben?

I told ya them Yankees could never kill that boy!

Hey, hey!

Doggone women. Mouths always running off with your feet.

I'll tan his hide the color of buffalo skin when he finally homes hisself.

All this work to be done on the farm,

and him a Larkin' over the country side.

Are you gonna allow me to speak my piece, or ain't ya?

It's time you learned not to conclusion people afore they're outspoke.

Now I'll tell you the news.

All them that's fought for the south

are gettin' together afore sundown today

to put an end to this here barn burning.

A meeting's been called at Cal Baggett's store.

What's the meeting got to do with Ben?

Nary a thing.

But you said you had news of him acomin' home.

Never did. You asked me was there news about Ben.

And I said, "come to think of it, I did have some."

And I have.

Appears about a week ago,

Ad Buchanan homed himself from a hospital in Memphis.

Everyone thinkin' ad killed.

And nothing worse wrong with him than the bottom of his leg shot off.

I heard as how ad fought in just about every bit of fighting there was.

And if that's true, I reckoned he must have seen that boy of yours somewhere.

That's all the news there is.

And if Lissy Anne here hadn'ta jumped right down my throat,

I'da said just that right off and nothing more.

Come on, Beulah.

When he said he had news of Ben so cheerful-like, I--

I'm sorry, ma.

It ain't your fault.

Ben ain'ta comin' home, Lissy Anne.

I knowed it right along from the minute he left 2 year ago.

Giddyup.

Whoa. Fetch my gun.

Gill.

Now don't go getting all uneasy-like.

We'll be back afore dark.

Gill, don't go accountin' on what Ninny Nat said about Ben.

I wish you wouldn't be in such a hurry to bury that boy.

The war's only been over 4 months.

You didn't think I was coming home neither.

And the same with ad Buchanan, but he's home, too.

I tell you, I know nothing's happened to Ben.

Giddyup!

We been waiting on you, Gill.

Everybody's here.

Ad, Jim, reckon we're about ready to start.

Come along.

Bill, you and Clancy just keep right on aworkin'.

What are you gonna do?

Just mosey around a bit, pa.

See that you keep yourself outta trouble.

Oh. Fishing's been right good down the creek lately.

Too bad you ain't brought your line.

Ain't never without it, Mr. Baggett.

Ha ha ha.

Well, glad you're here. We been waiting for you.

Now that Gill's here, let's get it going.

Well, first off, let's do a bit of checking.

Now, renny, your barn's been burned down.

And you, bill.

No need to count 'em.

Barn for barn, drive 'em out.

Pay 'em in kind for burning down Cal Baggett's mill and grainery.

Yeah!

My granary's down, but I want it understood straight-- I'm neutral.

My wife give me five fine gals.

Four of 'em married right good men.

Two of 'em here fought in the war with you.

The other two out there rebuilding the granary, fought for the north.

For us, the war's over, and I don't want it to start again

in this house where we all gotta live.

Being neutral don't stop barns from being burnt.

No, it doesn't.

That's the truth, but we don't know who's doing the burning.

We do know there ain't been no northern barns burned.

That speaks right loud to me.

Burn their barns! Hang 'em! Run 'em out of these hills!

Kill 'em!

Won't get peace that way.

Let's hear what Gill has to say.

I've been listening, trying to think.

But I see it this way.

When I home myself, there's my family sick and hungry.

The land is 3 years back in taxes and interest

and I hadda start rubbing hard right off.

It's a good growing spring,

and I've got the biggest crop growing I ever did plant.

Enough to square me off.

But there ain't no hands to work the crops and none to harvest them.

There's only one way I know.

We that fought the war together, we've gotta work together now.

Start trading labor.

Oh, it can't be done.

That's when they burn you out,

when you're off of your place and over the hill somewhere.

Neighbors can trade labor.

Gill, you live right next to the yearys.

The yearys.

I said them that's fought together.

I'd rather see the crops rot in the ground

than neighbor up with a northerner.

Gill's right. There's only one way.

Run the northerners out afore they run us out.

Hold on! I didn't say that!

Now hold on, now hold on.

We can't go dividing ourselves on opposite sides.

If you all think you can get your crops in first and tend to barn burning later,

go ahead and try.

Maybe when they burn some more of you out,

you'll change your minds and we'll all be together on this.

Now, come on, Badge.

I've had enough of this here...

Hey, hey. Hey, ad.

Ad!

I hear you might have some news of my boy, Ben.

Ain't heard a word from nowhere about him.

Never seed him, Gill, nowhere.

Reckon I musta left before he did.

I reckon you did.

Somebody said they heard you mighta run into him somewhere.

Never seed him.

I didn't reckon you had.

Andrew!

Andrew!

You hear me!

Dang it, boy! You gone deaf?

I've been shouting for 10 minutes.

Pa!

Huh?

Appears like the biggest trout I ever did hook onto.

Here, boy, better give that to me afore you lose him.

Easy.

Easy now, boy.

Ha ha ha!

What'd I tell ya?!

Well, I swore.

He didn't say Ben weren't comin' home, did he?

He don't know nothin' about him.

Pa?

Hmm?

Ben was the best shot in the whole world.

And if you're the best, nobody can be better, can they?

Nope.

Well, then it'd be as Ben's done all the killing

and he'll be acomin' home.

Pa, look!

That smoke's down our holler!

Hold tight, Sonny! Giddy on now!

Go!

Think we can still save the walls.

Stinkin' snakes! Why didn't ya shoot 'em?

It's alright, pa, the fire's out.

It's out.

The livestock's roasted, I reckon.

No, the fire hurried the cows freshenin'.

She dropped her calf real sudden-like.

Tom Yeary saved it. It's a right nice heifer.

Tom yeary?!

I'll be right pleasured when you take them blue britches off of my land.

Pa said you'd stubborn up like a male mule.

First fire a man's barn and then throw a bucket of water on it, huh?

I reckon you better get on to your side of the fence.

Your pa's over there waiting for you now.

I didn't come over to help you none.

But Ben was my friend, even if we did fight on different sides.

And if he ever homes hisself alive from the war,

I don't aim to have him thinkin' me unneighborly

and a grudgin' agin me.

Thank you, Tom Yeary.

Thank you both.

If it hadn't been for Tom and his wife,

the walls woulda burned, too.

I'd rather have a heap of ashes

than neighbor up with Yankees again.

But the war is over, pa.

Over? Does barn burning look like it's over?

They're burning every rebel barn in the hills!

Well, John Dessark was right.

We'll pay 'em out, barn for barn!

Workin' crops needs hands, not hate.

I fought agin 'em for worse than 2 years.

They took my brother. Maybe they took my boy. Now they take my barn.

And if I don't get help with my crops this year, they'll take my land!

They take everything that a man spends his life abuildin'!

All I got left is my hate!

Now you're trying to take that away, too.

That ain't all you got left, Gill.

By jackees, we'll build that barn again afore hayin' time.

We'll work through the nights!

In the dark?

We'll pull a rope around the mower

and snap it to that oak tree out there.

Now--

what about some eatin' food, ma?

My hunger is powerful enough to lift the lid off the pot.

I reckon I can scare up something.

I got something.

Ha! I got something, too.

Hey, hey!

I caught him, and pa, he landed him.

You ain't told me what ad Buchanan said.

There weren't nothing to tell,

'ceptin' Cal says it's the law when a body's killed in war,

the government notices you with a letter saying they're sorry.

Just a little itchin'.

Prickly weed, most likely.

Stop arubbin' it.

* if your mouth twitches or if your nose itches *

* a body's acomin' with holes in his britches *

Ben! That's what it means!

Old witch's tale. Get along with your food, Andrew.

How can the government notice you, if there ain't no more state's government?

That's why I know he's gonna finally home hisself.

Because if he was killed,

it was afore the war was over

when there was still a state's government.

So we'da had our letter.

Rub it and it'll spread all over.

But it tickles right insistent, ma.

Set on your hands.

I just had to, ma.

* if your mouth twitches or if your nose itches *

* a body's a comin'--*

somebody is acomin'.

I told you so, I told you so!

Quiet.

Settle down.

It's Ben--playing on his mouth organ!

Ben's acomin' home. I told you so!

Can't hardly be.

That ain't Ben. Hounds don't howl for one of their own.

Hold back the hounds.

There he is.

I knew it weren't Ben.

What are the color of his britches?

Can't tell.

Just a minute, stranger.

Howdy.

That's a likely kind of noise you been amakin', stranger.

Noise? Why, dang it, I been thinking all along it was music.

Music ain't nothing but noise that's pretty.

Looks like a powerful noisemaker you've got there.

Didn't figure on welcoming me with that, did ya?

There's people a skulkin' around here that got worst intention than you have--

maybe.

Never did hear tell of skulkers aplayin' tunes as they skulk.

No, sir, never did.

A sneaking coward that'll burn a man's barn when he ain't home--

he's liable to try anything once.

Move outta there!

For goodness sake, Gill, it's only Lissy and me.

I didn't hear you coming.

I'm just asking this fella a few questions.

It ain't healthy for a stranger to be alone

in these parts after nightfall. Where you bound for?

Bound for nowhere in particular.

Just awanderin' through and playing tunes to keep myself company.

Where you bound from?

The last stop was belleville. Left there at sunup.

Without wearing shoes?

Oh, I'm saving them for work.

Or fun, when I find it.

Won't catch me wasting shoe leather on plain walking.

Belleville's worst than 20 miles away.

You don't look tuckered out none.

Ain't a bit tuckered.

Could play this mouth organ

or dance all night at a play party if there was one--

if I first had some supper.

Where's your manners? That man's hungry.

It's that dang moonlight.

It's too dark to see the color of his britches.

Then we'll be standing around here till sunup

'cause it ain't gonna get no lighter tonight.

Had supper, stranger?

Thanks. I was getting afraid you were never gonna ask me.

Now just one thing about supper, Mr.?--

MacBean.

My name's Henry Carson.

Now about supper.

Of course I won't offer you any money

'cause I know you'd be offended.

And I couldn't anyway on account of I haven't any,

paper or coin. But I'll haul your water, chop your wood,

cut your hay, grind your grain,

shuck your corn, fire a still, or...

If folks are real fond of music,

I'll play as many tunes as'll make you forget your troubles.

Which will it be?

The songs! The water barrel! Cuttin' the hay.

Well, reckon the food's cold by now.

Seems like we been standing here all night.

Lissy, look. If your nose itches--

More, more!

Well, I don't reckon them dishes are gonna dance their way

over to the wash pitch. Do you, Lissy?

It's getting late.

Yes, it is.

You'll be wanting to be on your way to find a place to sleep, I reckon.

Another song, Andrew?

Do you know any with words?

You can't sing and play the mouth organ at the same time.

Suppose you sing 'em.

Uh-uh.

I know. Come on.

For lands sake, Gill, ain't you gonna bed the man down?

Not till he declares his side.

Can you play it? Ben could, a bit.

Used to play some.

I said it's getting late.

Past time for ussuns to bed down.

Late as that?

Reckon he'll want to stay the night, pa, if it's that late.

Of course, he will.

I was getting afraid no one was gonna ask me.

So was I.

Of course, we were,

exceptin' that the barn burned down and I ain't figured where to bed ya.

Nothing to figure. Henry can have Ben's place up in the loft.

In this light you can't tell if those britches is gray or blue.

I like a man to show his colors.

Gill, a man has a right to his own way of thinking.

There's only one right way of thinking!

Yes, sir. But it all depends on how you look at it.

Now to me, right is...

Well, right is lots of things.

Like planting your fields and having warm rain

and hot sun pouring down on 'em.

And having a bumper harvest

with all the neighbors in to help.

And you ahelpin' on theirs.

Storin' wood away for the winter

and lots of good things to eat.

And having songs to sing when your heart is light...

And to warm you all through when it's--heavy.

Did you ever hear this tune?

* when I am far from my darlin' *

* far from you in the spring *

* when I am lonely I will love only *

* a sunbeam *

* a dewdrop *

* a blossom *

* a bird on the wing *

* when you are far from your darlin' *

* far from me in the spring *

* if others would kiss you *

* just turn your head and... *

* sing liddy-o-Ry, laddy-o-Ry *

* lo-Ry liddy-o-Ry, laddy-o-Ry *

* when I... *

* am far away *

oh, a body could perish happy to a tune like that.

Sure would confound a whippoorwill.

That's the mournfulest music I ever did hear.

How about something dancey?

Uh-uh. It's way past your bedtime.

But--

now, don't worry about it.

We've got plenty of time for music.

When?

Why tomorrow and the day after.

And the day after that.

While we're rebuilding the barn and working the crops.

Goodnight, Gill, Sairy...

Lissy Anne.

Lead the way, captain.

See you in the morning, Henry.

Goodnight, Andrew.

That stranger up yet?

Better than a half hour ago.

I knew he'd be gone afore I could get a look at his britches in daylight.

He ain't gone. He's down ahelpin' ma tote water from the creek.

Doing women's work, eh?

He's a foreigner, alright.

Ben used to help ma with the water.

He had a soft speak in 'em, that boy.

What were the color of his britches?

Never thought to notice.

Well, we'll find out right quick.

Heard me coming, huh?

No, I didn't.

I didn't mean you. I'm talking about the stranger.

I don't reckon he heard you any more than I did.

Why?

He knew dang well those britches

wouldn't stand the test of daylight.

What color were they, Sairy?

Never thought to notice.

Sure is strange how a man's smile color blinds the womenfolks.

Well, anyway, I'm glad he's gone afore there's any ructions.

He ain't gone, Gill.

He ain't?

Where is he?

He reckoned there was time enough

to cut a couple of rafters for the roof afore breakfast.

With him ahelpin', it won't be long afore you have a barn again, Gill.

Watch out there!

Mornin', Gill.

About 6 of these'll do for the rafters.

I got a tree spotted over yonder

that'll spurn the fine shakes for roofin'.

Breakfast ready?

I got something that I want--

tell Sairy I'll be in in less than 5 minutes.

One more rafter, my appetite'll be just about sharp enough.

You know, Lissy Anne,

I knew right off there was something different about him.

About his music and his polite ways.

Don't sound like no preacher.

Oh, he used to be a schoolteacher before the war.

That counts for him speaking so pretty.

And don't think a man can't be smart

just 'cause he's educated.

And it don't mean that all his muscles are in his head neither.

He carries water like those buckets were full of feathers.

That stranger has two sets of britches.

The ones he wore last night must be up in the loft.

And afore we go any further,

we're gonna find out about him.

No yankee's gonna move hisself onto this place.

Henry ain't gone, is he?

Come on! Come down outta there.

He has some fine ideas on rebuilding the barn.

Of course, with two men aworkin' on it,

it'll take less than half the time.

He seems right anxious to help in whatever way he can.

He's been talking about helping with the hay

and cultivating corn.

And with help so scarce around here,

seems like we're right lucky.

Henry has an idea of how to get water out from the creek

without atotin' it.

Remember once Ben talked about the same thing.

Never got around to it, though.

Well--it wouldn't be decent snooping into a man's bundle.

That's just as bad as going through his pockets when he's asleep.

Andrew--yell for that stranger to come in here

and get his food afore it's cold.

I can't figure it out.

Got no money to pay him for his work...

Wait'll he learns that.

He knows it.

Then what's he leechin' on us for?

Oh, no.

No, by jackees. No!

* oh, do you remember sweet Betsy from spike *

* she crossed the wild mountains with her lover, Ike *

* with two yolk of oxen and one yellow dog *

* and a tall Shanghai rooster and one spotted hog *

* ol de dang ol de Dy do ol de dang ol de day *

* when they reach the desert sweet Betsy give out *

* and down in the sand she lay rollin' about *

* while Ike he gazed at her with sobs and with sighs *

* told Ike get up Betsy, you'll get sand in your eyes *

* ol de dang ol de Dy do ol de dang ol de day *

* the Shanghai ran off and the cattle all died *

* and the last piece of bacon that morning was fried *

* well, Ike got discouraged and Betsy got mad *

* and the dog wagged his tail and looked wonderfully sad *

* old de dang ol de Dy do ol de dang ol de day *

I reckon Lissy Anne could do with a little help.

That Henry has wire Springs in his back.

Maybe so.

Never did see a man who could work

so fast and easy-like in all my born days.

Well--not since you were his age, dear.

I don't like it.

You don't like what?

I don't like nothing I don't understand.

What don't you understand today, Gill?

I don't understand-- wh--

well, I don't understand where he gets all the wind to keep singing.

Ha ha ha ha!

Ma's laughing.

Henry?

What?

Do you ever feel yourself kinda separated--

I mean as if you were in more than one piece?

Oh, sure. You do?

Lotsa times.

Like when you're laughing and crying at the same time.

That's what I mean, Henry.

Right now one part of me is here raking oats

and the other's dancing all over the fields.

Know what I could do?

What?

Kiss you.

Just once...

From now right through Christmas...

Without stopping.

Not right in front of the folks the first time.

Ha ha ha ha!

Why, Andrew!

Some things I do understand, I don't like even more.

I'm gonna smoke him out.

And I've got a way of doing it, too.

If a man has any honor, there are some questions

he just right near has to answer.

I always say what I hate worse than anything

is anyone who goes ameddlin' and apryin' into another man's business.

You know what I mean?

Not exactly.

Well now--

suppose you were a Yankee.

That's your business.

I've got no right to go apryin' into it...

Just because I hate Yankees worse than poison.

That is, once I know a man is a Yankee.

In the two years I fought,

I never did meet a Yankee who wouldn't run and show his tail

unless he outnumbered us 5 to 1.

I wish you coulda seen that miserable critter

I captured when I took his rifle.

There weren't no battle left in him.

But I guess it weren't no different with that common soldier

than with the generals that were running, too.

And that goes for that there president in Washington.

And the congress, and that dang constitution

and all the amendments they hang on to it.

Well--there's one thing I swear...

And I'll hold to it till the last bone rots outta my back.

I ain't gonna have no Yankee grandchildren.

And my gun stays loaded for anyone who ever claims different.

Strange things happen in this world, Gill.

Like what?

Well, I'd say that Lissy Anne is gettin'

on to wife-size all over.

Wouldn't surprise me none if someone came along right soon

and hitched onto her.

Oughta start hoeing hay, Gill.

There's gonna be rain afore the day's over.

Ain't gonna rain.

Feels like rain to me.

Ha! You hear that? Feels like rain to him.

Yep. In about two hours.

After we get the hay in,

let's take a walk up the trail, Lissy.

In the rain?

Sure. We'll let it pour down on us, cool and sweet.

Tastes better than a sarsaparilla.

I tell you it ain't gonna rain

and we ain't gonna haul the hay in.

I say that weather staying clear

and we can cut clean to the hull.

By jackees, I been in this country nigh onto 30 years

and there's some things I know.

Hellooo! And it...

Didn't you tell him we'd pay him what we owed him

when the harvest is in?

I told him if the harvest is in.

It's a right big sum of money, Gill.

Howdy, Gill, Sairy.

Ah. Phew!

Warm enough for ya?

The way you were pumping, Cal,

I'd wanna reckon you was haulin' a buggy instead of a mule.

Worry eats most folks skinny.

Doggone, it works just the other way around with me.

Aren't you gonna ask us about the money we owe ya?

Andrew!

This here is Henry Carson. Come to help out for a spell.

Meet Cal baggett.

Howdy.

He runs the store and mill down in creek corners.

Fine crop of hay.

Well, harvest the hay, you can't cultivate the corn.

Work corn, you don't get the hay cut.

Why don't we talk about the money?

Andrew--

I reckon the youngin's right.

That's what I come to talk about.

If I don't do some collecting somehow,

I won't be able to buy no goods for the store at all.

I can't get a lick of credit.

Why don't you pay up, Gill?

You're rich enough.

There it is, finest crop of corn I ever saw planted.

Now why don't you just figure out how much corn

it'll take to pay off the debt,

and bring your boys in here to harvest as soon as its ripe?

That's the trouble all over.

Crops enough in the field to make a man rich.

Nobody to harvest it.

Land ain't worth nothing without people working it.

The people are here.

Trouble is they're barn-burning, hate-burning

instead of trading labor like they used to.

I been talking about the same thing for months.

Talking never yet shucked an ear of corn.

Trouble is nobody's doing nothing about it.

There's nothing no one can do about it.

Folks is just sotting their minds. It's hopeless.

Why don't you folks just give up and head for the territories?

Now look here...

Don't go wordin' people's mouths.

Maybe you know a way out of it.

No. But I sure wouldn't give up without trying.

Trying what?

Of course I'm just a school teacher

and don't know much about business like you do.

I'd figure there was nothing left to lose.

Well, I'd--I'd just go plumb foolish.

I'd invite the whole dang countryside to a play party!

You mean you'd bring both color britches to the play party?

Well, there's no law against it.

Nobody'd come! Neither side!

Some folks from both sides'd come.

And that'd be a start. I'd come.

Well--deep down folks care more about

getting crops in than hating each other.

It's been five years now since some neighbors

have spoke a word to each other...

Even blood neighbors.

I reckon they'd be right glad for an excuse to visit again.

Of course there'd be some folks

who'd stubborn up like Gill here and not come.

I tell ya, if you mixed britches nobody'd come!

And if they did it would only be to start trouble.

Now you may be able to teach a youngin' spelling

or swoon itchy gals with foreign music,

but you can't learn me anything about these hills!

I've been here nigh under 30 years

and there's some things I know! And...

Get the mules, Gill.

I'm borrowing your man, Mr. baggett!

Get that hay in afore it's ruined!

Giddyap!

We'll never get it all in!

You'll never know till you're through trying!

You alright?!

If you was so dang sure it was gonna rain,

why didn't ya argue with me?

Come on, Lissy.

Never saw anything like this before.

My brother Ben loved this place better than any in the world.

Afore the war we used to come up here every chance we'd get.

First time I ever got wet all over at once was right up here.

Ha ha.

Let's go in.

Henry Carson.

Why not?

Oh, I mean clothes and all.

We'll dry off in the wind afterwards. Come on.

Oh!

Whose place is that?

Ain't nobody's now.

Night riders burnt the smiths out afore you got here.

They just gave up and moved out to the territories.

And nobody's taken it?

Don't appear so.

Let's look at it.

Used to be covered with vines so you could hardly see the cabin.

Look here, footprints.

Plenty of 'em.

Horses been around here regularly since Mr. Smith moved out.

I told pa I hear horses whinnying at night.

All the way from your cabin?

Well, ma says I can hear an acorn drop from an oak tree

a mile off when the wind's right.

My earsight's that sharp.

So's your heartsight, Lissy.

Well, for just about the nicest place I ever did see,

I thank you, Mr. Smith.

And Mrs. Smith, too.

You going to stay?

Now, where they been tethering the horses,

that's the place for the main room right there.

Main room? Mm-hmm.

How many rooms you gonna have?

Oh--3 or 4, maybe.

Depends on lots of things.

But you told pa you wouldn't stay in these hills

for all the money in the world.

Of course not.

First place, nobody's gonna give me

all the money in the world.

Second place, that was before I saw this farm.

Ain't no third place, don't suppose.

Certainly is.

Cal baggett's play party.

Cal baggett's play party.

Mm-hmm.

I don't see what--

he ain't even said he'd give one.

Not in words. But his eyes...

Shining like gold pieces just outta the mint.

I still don't know what that has to do with it.

Well--if folks get together,

that means a good harvest.

And that means enough money to pay for a school teacher.

And this place is just about the right size

for a man to work, early mornings.

In the summer, when school's out,

this could be a right fine place for living...

This could.

But when all's said and done,

I reckon everything depends on what happens in the fourth place.

Hello Thar!

Thinking of taking over the place, you two?

Reckon you folks don't know Henry Carson here.

John and Jenny Willhart.

Howdy. Howdy.

Set that down, Jenny, and rest awhile.

I reckon we met up afore.

Have we? Sure.

You're the one come down the road

tootin' on the mouth organ round about dark.

Asked me where the MacBean place was.

Oh, it isn't-- oh, you're wrong, Mr. Willhart.

Henry weren't lookin' for us.

Weren't he now? And mighty particular you were, too.

Not any old MacBean'd do. No, sir.

Had to be Gill MacBean's place or none.

Now ain't that the truth?

Well, I met a number of people on the road that night.

But Henry, you said...

Appears like you let a litter of kittens out a bag

were meant for drownin' in the creek.

Well, I hope ya'll get your house built soon.

We're scarce of neighbors up in these parts.

Ah, that'll ride easy.

Goodbye.

Look at that.

The way he walks ahead a whittlin'

and lets her tote all that weight.

Henry, that first night you came, you said...

You know, in the old days,

folks couldn't travel half a mile along these trails

without meeting up with Indians or bears, maybe.

So the menfolks'd walk in front.

And with their squirrel rifles cocked, ready to shoot.

And the women would walk behind for protection,

carry the stores.

Of course, there's been no Indians or bears around these parts

for--nigh under 30 years.

The menfolks just never did think of changing the custom,

'cept to whittle now instead of totin' guns.

Reckon we'd better start on down.

Henry, you were looking for us.

And all the time saying you were just walking through was a lie.

It wasn't the way Willhart said, Lissy.

There's something wrong, Henry, that you ain't tellin'.

Now hold on.

It was getting dark,

and I had to have food and a barn to sleep in.

I didn't know a soul and I figured if I had to stay with strangers,

I'd like to stay where I'd be--

well, here's exactly what I said to willhart.

I said where does the prettiest girl live in these parts,

afore it's too dark to see her?

And he answered, right off,

over to Gill MacBean's.

And that's when I said

I didn't want the house of any other MacBean but Gill.

Going from one place to another like you go,

guess you ask that question most every night.

And always left the next morning, too...

Till I came here.

And now I'm talking about a house with as much as three rooms.

What do you think that means, Lissy?

Well, why don't you go ahead and say what it means?

Aw, Lissy.

I been saying nothing else since that first night.

"Play party and dance at Cal Baggett's

"Saturday night, July 20th 1865, come one, come all.

Food and fun for old and young."

You've gone in for some mighty big foolishment

in your day, Cal Baggett,

and I put up with it year after year--

what with five growing girls to raise, I had to.

Many is the time it's took all my weaks

to keep you from starving us out. But the time come--

this happens to be business, mighty farseeing business.

Wouldn't expect you to understand.

There just ain't gonna be no play party.

Don't expect me to do all the cooking,

baking the pies and the cakes.

Where's the food coming from?

Just the way with a man.

Gets an idea, gives an order.

Figures his wife's done.

Well, you just go ahead and hang that sign.

Come Saturday night, there won't be a smidgen of food.

Then what'll you say to folks?

Remember what I said, Cal, nary a bit of help

you'lla get from me or the girls.

And you just get on with the chores and keep out of this.

We've hardly enough meat smoked away to last to hog's calling time.

Feed to the folks now, we'll all be living on wings.

Remember that, Cal Baggett.

Stop putting on airs about being a farseeing businessman.

The only reason your two feet's on the ground

is because you got too much weight above 'em

to allow 'em to lift off.

Now I'm warning all of ya.

If you don't want to starve this winter,

you gotta keep your pa from running Wilder than a stuck hog.

His good sense is disappearing faster than rain down a gopher hole.

Inviting both sides, eh?

If ever there was a waste of time and money--

I say it's a good investment.

Some tasty meat pies, some good liquor and some dancing.

Afore the night's over, folks'll be neighborin' up again.

Can't see no harm in trying.

It's sure surprising the way pa shows good sense now and again.

Now I don't want Emily to think we're overriding her unfair-like,

so we'll be real Democratic and put it to a vote.

All those in favor of the idea, say aye.

Aye!

Agin'? Nay.

The aye's have it.

Here, bill, take this down

and hang it on the tree near the corners.

Before this is over, you'll wish you'd never thought of it.

* prettiest gal I ever seen in my life *

* seen in my life, seen in my life *

* if you ask me that's my wife *

* and she is fair to view *

* oh, buffalo gal won't you come out tonight? *

* won't you come out tonight, won't you come out tonight? *

* oh, buffalo gal won't you come out tonight *

* and dance by the light of the moon? *

Gill! Sairy!

Lissy Anne! I've got news!

There's gonna be a play party!

Gill! Sairy! Lissy Anne! There's gonna be a play party!

A play party, Ninny Nat! Where's it gonna be?

At Cal Baggett's, Saturday night.

Cake and pork pies!

Oh, a real play party!

Sure glad I kept on practicing on this dang fiddle.

Ma, a play party.

A play party?

Over at Cal Baggett's.

No.

Ninny Nat!

Did Cal Baggett say both sides is to come?

He didn't say they ain't.

Just spoke to the yearys over yonder,

and they were right pleased.

I'm right pleased to say Cal Baggett has less sense than a hoot owl.

There'll be trouble. And it'll be of your makin'.

You spelled that slab of pork fat into giving this party,

same as a snake charms a bird.

And you've got the womenfolk dizzy,

like you was a play actor on a riverboat.

But you won't brung me or mine to that party,

not with a team of mules.

Now don't start to argufy with me.

I don't intend to.

But pa...

Talking from now till doomsday

wouldn't change my mind.

We ain't agoin'.

Well, if you're so sot in your mind,

why are you so afeared of a bit of argufyin'?

Ain't feared of nothing.

My mind's made up tighter than a rain barrel.

I don't why you blame me for all this.

I wouldn't try to argue you into anything you didn't want to do.

I'll see that you don't.

I wouldn't try for anything in the world.

No, sir. Not even knowing as I do

that Sairy and Lissy Anne here wanna go so bad

it'll just about break their hearts.

Now there you go. And I said--!

And I'm agreeing with ya.

'Course I know it'll be kind of sorrowful for them to miss it,

knowing how they work and what little pleasure they get.

But that's not important.

'Cause they'll live through it right as rain.

Important thing is whether you'll get over it or not.

Yeah, that's what counts most.

Me get over it? Mm-hmm.

I'm plumb over it long before it ever happens.

'Course you are afore it happens,

but what about after?

I said I didn't want to argue.

You started it.

All I'm trying to say is

that when folks get together Saturday night,

everybody is gonna ask, "where's Gill MacBean?" And nobody'll know.

And then somebody'll say, "I reckon he was afraid to show his face."

And with nobody there to stand up for ya

and explain your real reasons,

folks are just gonna figure you were a'scared.

'Cause if you hate them Yankees so much,

why don't you stand up in front of everyone and say so.

Look here.

Look here.

I been around these hills nigh under 30 years,

and no one yet has ever said Gill MacBean was feared of nothing.

Until next Saturday night.

I'll be the first one there and the last one to leave!

We're going! We're going!

Oh, pa, thanks!

You just have to argue, don't ya?

How's for you and me kinda practicing a song or two?

Sure.

We're really going to the play party. I can hardly believe it.

I know. I thought for a minute there,

pa was gonna hit him on the head.

I did, too. But he just went off to the barn agroanin' in his whiskers.

Listen.

* Ezekiel was a Fiddler, he fiddled so mighty fine *

* he made those little potato bugs dance right off of the vi-ine *

* right off of the vine *

* oh, Ezekiel played that fiddle *

* oh, play that fiddle, Zeke *

* tickle that fiddle across the middle *

* and make your fiddle speak *

* duck for the oyster, dig for the clam *

* pass right through to the promised land *

* he fiddled in the fields one day and sure as you were born *

* up hopped the barley and out popped the co-Rn *

* as sure as you're born *

* oh, Zeke'll play that fiddle *

* oh, play that fiddle, Zeke *

* tickle that fiddle across the middle *

* and make your fiddle speak *

* greet your partner with an elbow swing *

* and promenade around the ring *

* dead to the center and back to the bar *

* ladies go in and form a star *

let's get your party dress.

Ma. What?

I just know Henry's a regular dancing man.

Suppose I can't?

Can't what?

Dance.

It's so long ago.

If ever I forgot and we got out on the floor and I couldn't--

well, I declare, my daughter?

As likely to forget how to dance as you are how to breath.

Let's see if either of us remembers.

Here, help me with the table.

Now you stand over there.

Now wait.

Come ahead.

Uh--dosey do.

Now the match.

That's right.

That's fine.

Now dosey do again.

Now.

Now let's see if we can find your dress.

Must be here somewhere, ma.

Of course it is. Now don't get jittery.

Maybe it's in the bottom drawer.

Oh.

Here it is.

Is the color all faded out, ma?

Of course not.

Made the color myself out of hickory bark and indigo.

Go try it on.

By jackees, that's the dancingest music I ever did here!

It'll have folks wear their feet down to the ankle bones!

Well, goodbye. Goodbye.

See ya at the play party.

Ma?

Shucks, ma. Dressing pretty ain't everything.

That's a lot of woman

refusing to fit into that dress, Lissy Anne.

I tell ya what.

You wear the dress I was married in.

Oh, no, ma. I got nothing left for when I get--

he ain't gone and asked you, has he?

Almost, ma.

That dang fool Baggett's done gone sent out an invite

to everybody in the holler to a play party.

Says he figures on putting a few patches on folks' troubles.

What for?

Guess he must be worried about the harvest.

We'll see to it that they stay away in round numbers.

That's just what we won't do.

It'd be like fusin' a powder keg.

The best way for people to find they got nothing in common

is to get together and find out.

I'm ruined, I tell ya, I'm ruined.

All that food and nobody eating it.

All that music and nobody dancing. I'm ruined worse than--

evening's young, Cal.

And the older it gets, the worser.

Guess I'd better mosey along.

Cal?

This is gonna be the sorriest night of your life.

You'll remember it as long as you live.

At least as long as you live, Emily.

Here tell that all this were outta your thinking, stranger.

Well, you got us into it. Reckon you better get us out of it

before the shootin' starts.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

I warned ya. Get yourself and the other ones over to the wagon.

There's gonna be trouble.

That ain't what we come for.

No, but it's what we're gonna take home.

No.

No we ain't, Gill.

Sairy!

Eight year ago down at the country fair,

you won first prize for dancing everybody off their feet.

Reckon you remember that.

Reckon I do.

Maybe you remember who you was dancing with for a partner.

Reckon I do.

Music's just as dancey here as it were there.

And you and I are just as spry today as we was then.

So I'm asking ya, Dan yeary, to dance,

if that's what you come here for.

Didn't come here for nothing else.

By jackees, come on!

Start sawing away on that Thar fiddle, you Ninny Nat!

Come on there, Henry!

Sairy.

* e... *

* ...Beneezer brown, take a look around *

* pig in the parlor won't come out *

* 'cause he got a snout in your jug *

* drinkin' your whiskey, poor pig *

* poor pig *

* everybody circle, make the circle big *

* pig in the parlor, oink, oink, chase that pig *

* e...Beneezer brown, take a look around *

* cow in the cabin won't give milk *

* 'cause she got her mug in your jug *

* drinkin' your whiskey, poor cow *

* poor cow *

* everybody dosey do round about now *

* cow in the cabin, woo, shoo that cow *

* e...Beneezer brown, take a look around *

* goose in the garden found your still *

* and he got his bill in your jug *

* drinkin' your whiskey, poor goose *

* poor goose *

* swing your partner, turn her loose *

* goose in the garden, honk honk, get that goose *

* e....Beneezer brown, take a look around *

* pig in the parlor, cow in the cabin, *

* goose in the garden, horse in the hayloft *

* mule in the courthouse, judge in the jail *

* fast asleep and startin' to snore *

* there's no more left of your whiskey *

* poor, poor *

Excuse me, but this one's called for.

Thought I'd seen the last of you for the night.

Music playin' keeps you that busy.

About as busy as those dancing men have been keeping you.

Oh, Henry, it's all worked out so good.

Your mother's quite a woman, Lissy.

Now that everybody's gotten together,

we can start building that old Smith place.

I mean, that is-- I think, I--

the same as I think, Lissy?

Ain't seen you dancing, Gill.

You weren't likely, too, neither.

Mighty fine evening, ain't it, John?

Yeah, yeah.

From the looks of things, pa,

it looks like you sorta-- figured wrong.

Can't even wait till the liquor's down,

heatin' up a man's blood, can you?

What you gonna do now, pa?

You young folks are so all-fired impatient.

Big crops everywhere. Trouble's gonna be harvesting!

We'll harvest, now that there won't be any more barn burning.

Let's have a quilting bee soon as harvest's in.

Best fry cakes I ever ate, Emily.

Right nice evening, Emily...

What with the moon and all.

I'd ask you to dance, 'ceptin' the floor's so crowded.

You know, Emily, that's just the way I saw it.

Farseeing, some folks calls it.

This is the best gamble I ever made in all my born days.

Folks all around are talking about nothing else

except getting their crops into the mill and storing them into my granary.

Now don't go glummin' up, Emily.

Wipe the vinegar off your face.

Hey, Henry! Come on!

More! Come on!

Come on, let's have more!

Stop that Yankee music!

I'm saying stop it!

What's the matter? Why, red?

I'm aclaimin' that there is a union army song,

and it ain't got no place here.

Listen, if you don't like the music, get on home!

Go ahead and play, Ninny Nat.

This is still a free country,

and this man's got a right to speak his piece.

If he don't like the music he can say so.

And them that wants it played is trouble-making.

We won the war and we'll play whatever music pleases us.

Go ahead, Ninny Nat.

Wait a minute, Zack, we ain't anxious to start no fight.

You go ahead and play that song.

Too good to last. I knew it.

Now don't get excited.

There ain't no call for trouble.

We ain'ta starting no trouble, but ain't that song called the picnic?

There ain't nothing to get riled about.

The way I got it figured, there seems to be two opinions about the tune,

whether it oughta be fiddled or not.

Now the only way to settle that's by vote.

Alright, a vote it's gonna be, fair and square.

All the men who want the band to play the picnic line up over there.

Them again' over there.

Just in case your memory's gone and you don't know where we belong.

Well, I reckon we're ready for the count.

The sooner we get it over with the quicker

we'll get back to eatin' and dancin'.

Now stand out clean, folks. We don't want no one miss countin'.

23 votes for not playing the picnic.

I reckon I can calculate accurately.

23.

23 here.

Are you sure? It's a tie.

Chairman votes to break the tie.

Not yet it ain't a tie.

There's a vote that ain't been counted.

How about you up there on that music table?

Now the color of his pants'll come out true.

Yeah, the color of your britches don't tell nothing.

I reckon you better walk to one side or the other.

The war is over.

And all over the country most folks are glad of it.

They're trying to pick up where they left off.

But there are some, instead of looking for friends, they're looking for trouble.

I reckon they'll find it.

Which way you gonna vote?!

Now about that song, the picnic.

Always was a right fine tune.

No matter who plays it or who dances to it.

We always called it the village quick step...

When I was in the union army.

We'll play whatever we want to!

Go ahead and play it!

Come on, play it, Ninny Nat!

Now, folks, the vote's been taken fair and square.

Get on with the dancin'.

Hey, you, Ninny Nat!

We'd better get going.

The moon is high, and it's a long way home.

It ain't no use, Cal.

Oh, please, folks. Please don't go, please.

It's late, Cal.

Lissy Anne.

I knew how your pa was gonna feel when he found out.

I been hoping he'd change,

so I could tell him other things, as well.

There's nothing I wanted more

than to help him through the winter.

I just had to.

Get in there, Lissy.

When I signed up for the union army,

it wasn't for 6 months or a year

or even 10.

I said I'd stick till we won,

and there was peace

and this country was a good, free place for everyone to live in.

We fought because we believed it didn't make any difference

in this country what color a man's skin was.

Here we are and it's 6 months later

we're battling over what color his pants are.

If you don't put a stop to it, afore long,

you'll be akillin' over how long your neighbor's nose is.

That's what I signed up for.

And that's what I'm still fighting for.

Get up in that wagon.

If you're smart, you'll move out of these hills tonight.

I'm figurin' on throwing a roof on the schoolhouse

before the leaves turn brown.

I warn ya, if your feet ever carry you out to my land,

it won't be your feet that'll carry you away.

Giddyap.

Wait a minute! Wait a minute!

I wish you'd tell me why you keep working

on this schoolhouse, Henry.

'Tain't never gonna open.

Folks lining up on both sides the way they are,

it's gonna be bloodier than the battle of p Ridge.

I said school opens next Monday and it's agoin' to.

But nobody'll come, I tell ya!

Ain't no reason to it, Henry,

but feelings runnin' high about you.

I can't figure out why you ever come here in the first place.

There was a reason, wasn't there?

Ninny's been out announcing the school opening.

How many? Nary a one.

They won't say yes and they won't say no.

They'll come.

I'm warning you, Henry, afore it's too late.

Head yourself for the territories.

Lotta grudging being worked up against you, Henry.

Folks are starting to blame you for everything

on akinda what happened at the play party.

Why don't we start out for the territories

afiddlin' and astrummin'?

If it's because of the gal, you never have to do more than whistle

and she'd come with skirts aflyin'!

What makes you say that?

Announcing school opening, I stopped at the MacBean's.

Old Gill was over the hill somewhere

trying to get help with the crops

and Sairy was out in corn fields.

So I told Andrew to ask his pa

could he come to get some learnin'.

And then in comes Lissy Anne,

scrawny and peaked like she ain't ate in a week.

Right then I could tell

it wasn't food in her stomach that gal needed.

She was ahungerin' all over for you.

Hello, Andrew.

Hello, Henry.

I guess your ma gave you the 30 cents for learnin' fee

that Ninny Nat spoke of.

Ma's down the holler.

Oh, then your pa musta given it to you.

No. He left before sunup.

And Lissy Anne, she weren't around.

I reckon we'd better start for home before it gets too dark.

I ain't going home.

Ma said I was to learn word writin'.

Where are all the others?

School hasn't opened.

After me walking all that way?

That darn Ninny Nat said Monday.

Next Monday.

I'll sit right here and save me acomin' back.

Oh no, you won't. Come on.

Ma?

Ma. What?

Andrew's home, at the end of the Lane.

Well, for land's sake, what's so exciting about that?

Well, you said you were worrying.

Where you been all day?

To school. Only word writin' don't start till next Monday.

Well, scrub yourself and we'll get some food into you.

Come on.

I'm here, ma.

Oh.

It's so hot inside tonight, ma.

Stiflin' like.

If you go,Lissy Anne, there's no turning back.

You know how your pa feels.

How about you, ma?

I reckon I better scare up some warm food for the youngin.

It's been mighty lonesome without the MacBeans, Lissy.

House's been empty-like without you, Henry.

Does your ma know you've come to talk?

What'd she say?

Can we walk up the trail, Henry,

to the falls and the old Smith farm?

Sure.

Should we go into the main room now

or should we wait outside and watch the moon for awhile?

Henry.

You remember what you said once about building this house again?

Everything depends on what happens in the fourth place?

Sit down, Lissy.

All the way up the trail, you--

what's bothering you?

The barn burnin'.

Henry, one more and they'll be fighting each other.

It means--you just can't stay here.

I said school opens next week, Lissy.

It can't.

Not--

all night I've been trying to find a way I could say it.

Say what?

When I left ma she said once pa comes home

and I ain't there,

there's no sense in me ever coming back.

I was hoping you'd go away from here,

with me.

I know it's shameful being so bold.

But I've been waiting all this time

for you to ask me first.

Don't you want to?

Of course I want to.

Having you would be everything.

There'd be nothing more to want.

But we can't leave now, Lissy.

I've gotta talk to your pa first.

I've done too much to him already.

What have you done him except good?

You've done nothing but try to help him, always.

What is it, Henry?

Something to do with your coming to our house.

Pa was right.

You did come a'purpose, for a reason.

Yes.

Why didn't you tell us right off?

I wanted to, Lissy, ever since that first night,

but I couldn't.

I just couldn't.

Well then, don't tell. I don't care what it is.

Just so we go. We can't stay here!

Yes, we can. We are staying here, Lissy.

All those nights away from the farm,

I dreamed of nothing but being up here,

place all fixed up and you waiting for me as I came up the trail.

It's ours, Lissy.

Nothing's gonna keep us from having it now.

Right late, Gill.

Gonna be morning in a couple of hours.

Are Hal Willis and his boy coming over?

No, they're afeared of barn burning.

Won't leave the farm for half a minute.

The same with Ned-- all expecting trouble.

Where's Lissy Anne?

What's gonna happen to crops?

Rot in the field like I knew they would.

Where's Lissy?

Did you visit my folks?

Reckon my pa'd be right glad to help.

I spoke to your pa. He's raring to run every Yankee out of these..

Hills.

I said where's that girl?

When did it happen?

Soon after dark.

Come on, boy, come on! Come on.

Come on, get, get.

Lissy Anne!

Lissy Anne!

Lissy Anne!

Lissy Anne!

Answer him, Lissy.

Pa!

Pa.

This has been a wicked night.

Your Yankee friends have burned another barn and that means war.

A Yankee has taken my daughter.

And you'll find I'm strong enough to do punishment.

There's five rounds in this gun,

all of 'em meant for you.

No, no! Don't stand there! You're gonna be shot!

Now keep quiet.

Come on out from behind that chimney

and show that face of yours.

Drop that gun and bring up your hands in mercy.

You'd better get down from them horses

and come this way with your hands up.

Henry!

If I'd knowed you didn't have a gun,

I'da saved myself a bit of running.

Might as well give yourself up sociable like

so you can go to the gallows all of a piece.

You're gonna be right a pretty sight

swinging from an oak limb. I warned you about that!

Old man Dessark figured by stirring up hate so folks'd start killing,

some'd get scared and move out.

Then he'd pick up their land for taxes

and sell to foreigners.

'Tweren't britches color that were burning barns,

it were thievery!

Well, how can that be proved?

Been proved! Henry kept Badge Dessark alive to tell the story.

He didn't even tell it with these two ears.

I'd like to hear it with these two ears.

Where is Badge Dessark?

With his pa.

You can't miss seeing 'em side by side

on the lower limb of that big oak tree

just this way from the baggetts.

And the trial was legal, judge and jury.

Why don't you come down to the school?

There's a play party for book buyin'.

Reckon Henry'll be glad to tell you all about it.

Ride in with us if you care to.

Well, giddyap.

I reckon there ain't no harm in going to the schoolhouse now, do you, Gill?

No, by jackees, no. I don't care how many whackers he's killed

or if they pin a ribbon on him like a prized bull at a county fair.

We ain'ta going to him.

I said no! He came here a'purpose.

Told you that hisself, didn't he?

Lying about wandering through the hills

and all the time he's looking for this house and no other.

What for? Can you answer me that?

If he's got any truth to him he'll come right here to this house

and tell us what for!

That's why I've come, Gill.

Alright for me to come in?

If you're ready to speak out the truth,

I reckon it is.

But I warn you, no slick talk to argue me into things.

I wanna know straight and simple.

You came here for a purpose.

Well, what was it?

I made a promise.

I promised--Ben.

I couldn't tell you when I first came here

with you feeling the way you did about northerners.

Maybe you won't even believe me now.

I hope you will.

I'd been teaching school over at lawn widow crossing,

about 50 miles north and west of here.

To join up I had to cross the hills

where agony creek spills down from black mountain.

I hadn't met a soul all day.

I was singing as I always did, to keep myself company.

* I come from Missouri *

* and I'm a goin' *

* back there yonder again some day *

* come along *

* come along *

* I'ma goin' *

* I'ma goin' *

* come along *

* come along *

* I'ma goin' *

* to roam again, home again *

* I....Come from Missouri *

* and I'ma goin' *

* to Missouri again some day *

you make right pretty music, stranger.

Why, thank you, stranger.

Which way you heading for?

Where the fightin's thickest, I reckon.

Looks like we're going the same way.

Be glad to have your company.

Well, don't mind.

Uh--ain't them awearin' shoes?

Best wearin' shoes I ever did have.

That's why I'm not wasting 'em on walking.

Suppose the army don't give out any shoes.

What then?

Well, that's right smart thinking.

* on top of old smokey *

* all covered with snow *

* I lost my true lover *

* 'cause I courted too slow *

ha ha ha. How about some food?

Aw, I ain't hungry.

Left home in kind of a hurry, didn't ya?

Don't know what you mean.

Oh, nothing. 'Cept when people leave home in a hurry, suddenlike,

they're liable not to think much about food.

I musta expected to meet up with someone like you

'cause I've got enough food in this bundle for six.

Yeah? Yeah.

Well now, that's right smart thinking.

It sure is a pretty night.

Good for corn growing.

About now you're ma's gonna be awonderin'.

Well, it was just that I...

Well, saying goodbye, ma and Lissy Anne would sure start crying.

And I just as soon as not see that for the last thing.

I'll get someone to write ma a letter for me.

Oh, I can do that.

Say, meeting up with you didn't harm me a might.

Eatin' food and letter writin'.

Never been to school?

Oh, there ain't none in our hills.

Sound like you got right good learnin'.

Well, enough to teach school.

That's what I do.

A schoolmaster?

Yeah.

Well, you ain't got no right going to war.

Why not?

Well, of course you have.

A man's got a right to do what he thinks best but...

But what?

You know, ma, she says the most important thing

in this world is school learnin'.

Shucks, I reckon if it was the most important

it's more important than fighting.

Now that's what ma says and--and ma's right smart...

Even though she can't read none herself.

Henry--

well--would it wear you thin learnin' me word writing?

Not--not much, just enough words for one letter?

Ma sure would be surprised to get a letter from me myself.

I'll teach you, Ben.

Oh, will ya? Sure.

I'll sure try to find some way to favor you for it. I sure will.

I tell you what...

You can teach me how to play that mouth organ.

Why, sure. Here.

All you gotta do is just--blow in it.

* Dee Dee da da da da da da da *

* da Dee Dee Dee da da da da da *

* dooo...Welcome and resin a bow *

ha ha.

You sure learned fast.

Say, around the bend aways there's a fork.

I'll foot race you to it.

You gonna teach me foot racing, too?

Well, sure. Ready?

Alright.

Go!

There's the fork! Turn on the speed!

Nobody won that time.

I reckon not.

We're going the same way, aren't we, Ben?

Don't know.

You've come this far.

Just to here?

Reckon you can talk for five minutes.

I've got five minutes.

It wasn't five minutes.

We talked a long time.

And from that day on, we were closer than any brothers.

We ate out of the same tins.

Shared dry clothes and blankets when it was cold.

It was just two days before the end that...

The trees were greening up.

The earth was warm.

We knew it was just a question of hours

before the war would be over.

And Ben could think only of getting home

and plowing the earth for the corn and oats...

And seeing you.

That's when it happened.

He never thought of himself for one minute, right up to the end.

It was all you.

Worrying about the two years without planting...

How you'd be needing his help.

That's when he asked me.

And that's when I promised to come back

and help with the work for the first harvest.

We both wanted the same thing.

To get the war over with...

To put a stop to killing...

To make this country a free place for folks--

all folks, to live in.

Did he learn writin'?

He wrote you this letter.

Was he a good soldier?

The best in the regiment.

Reckon I'd better get on down to the school.

Better freshen up, Lissy Anne.

You can't go lookin' that way.

Might be needing the team.

I'll hitch 'em for ya.

Oh, I can do that.

* I...Come from Missouri *

* and I'ma goin' *

* back there *

* sometime again *

* some day... **