Original subtitles

All's I can say is her walking just seemed a tiny bit off.

You're sure she's not just trying to get out of riding in the rain? She looks

fine to me.

Could you check her right leg again?

I'll be darned, there might be a speck of an abscess there.

Is it serious?

Could rightly and seriously affect my business if folks knew you showed me up.

I guess I know her so well, because... She's all I got.

Well, I reckon we'd better fix her up.

Leave her for a while, and I'll soak her leg in turpentine and wintergreen.

She'll be just fine.

You hear that, girl?

You'll be fine.

Sounds like she's going to have company.

What do I owe you?

Well, you don't show me up in front of this next customer.

By golly, we'll call it even.

Oh, that's Jimmy's horse.

I found Jimmy's corpse. What's going on?

Thunder spooked them and they busted out the corral.

I think we got them all. Let's get them into the barn.

Colt is missing.

We better get back out there and find her.

Is this your coat?

Yes, it is.

Use his hair.

Come on, boy.

Come on, let's go see mama.

Come on, boys, clear out and let your mother feed him.

Let him be. Come on.

Rope topped up fence.

Ike, go on.

Well, we're much obliged.

Whatever you're doing here, I could use a couple of days' work.

Well, we can't pay you.

We won't even feed you.

You can stay in the tack room with me.

I'll take it.

What's your name?

Ulysses.

Well, I think we've paid enough homage to this weather. Why don't we all get

some sleep, huh?

Come on, boys. Time for bed.

Where'd you come from on a night like this, huh?

What's a colored man doing out here?

What do you mean?

Back in Virginia, we're just not used to seeing him out.

Out of their place?

I don't mean that.

You're a long ways from Virginia, kid.

As long as he keeps doing my share of the work, he can stay as long as he

wants. Your share?

Shoot, Cody, I'd take that any day.

Come on, Jimmy.

We got a corral to fix.

You're gonna need your jaw fixed for waking up like that again. I'm scared.

Hey, Jimmy.

Come out here and take a look at this.

We ought to keep him around for now, don't you think, Jimmy?

Like the job we did on the corral?

Just do as good a job fixing the bunkhouse.

Should have let us know you were going to tell that guy to do it. Could have

gotten five more minutes sleep.

I didn't tell him nothing.

As miraculous as it may seem to you gentlemen, some people can manage to do

the right thing without getting a kick in the pants.

Remember that, Jimmy.

Wake up, kid.

Get everybody to Doc Wheelers.

Get the kid out of there. What's going on? His parson's in there.

Oh, come on, Lord.

Kid! Get in!

I got more plans coming, Doc.

Forget it, Sam.

I moved the hay in out of the rain. A spark caught it. Now that smoke's full

of minerals I store in the barn.

What's he got on his back?

Those are whip marks.

That man was a slave.

Some of his property.

You are addressing a representative from the state court of Missouri.

And you will keep a civil tongue or I will withdraw the mercies I have just

shown your husband.

Mercies?

Mercies? We give a man shelter for one night and you beat my husband near to

death? Under the Fugitive Slave Bill of the U.S. Congress, the penalty for

harboring a runaway is six months in jail plus a fine of $1,000.

That would entitle us to confiscate your entire herd.

I know what I'd confiscate.

Instead, my men will now help bring your husband into the house, which I trust

you will no longer share with the fugitives.

Don't you touch him!

Are you from these parts?

Not exactly.

There's some color to him.

Some sass, too.

Have you seen this man?

He was here three nights ago.

I'm Colonel Savage of the Missouri Militia.

Where are you from?

Near Sweetwater.

I should be there presently.

If you spot this man while riding, I expect to hear about it.

Now you tell them the shovels and the bicarbonate will be paid for out of the

town funds, and you meet me in my office. Okay. Is Doc gonna lose his

place? Nah, just the barn.

We got it under control.

We're gonna put a trench around it with some bicarb. If Doc needs a place to

keep any animals, I got room in my stable. Thanks.

But there's only one horse in there, and those kids managed to get her out.

We didn't do nothing. It was Ulysses.

Hey, fella.

It's the man.

What you got there?

I'm talking to these boys.

I'm Marshal Kane. You talk to me.

I'm Colonel Homer Savage of the Missouri Militia. We got a warrant for this here

slave. This who you were talking about?

What are the charges?

Murder, insurrection.

He cut his master's throat. We're taking him back to St. Louis for trial.

Your warrant may mean something in a slave state, but this is a free

territory, and Sweetwater's a free town.

Sir, I don't believe you understand we're in the pursuit of an escaped

slave, and you and your townspeople are duty-bound to assist us.

under the penalty of federal law.

You understand something, I make the law here.

And you take another step sideways and I'll show you how I back it up.

Marshal, my men and I can be back here in less than a day.

And I prefer to come back peacefully.

But no one will stand between me and my sworn duty.

And no one tells me how to run my town.

Sam, you just can't run these people out of town.

It's gonna bring problems. We gotta talk about this.

You be here when we come back.

That's what they pay me for.

Town folk standing with Sam?

Nope. And if I were him, I would not be looking forward to this town meeting

they're having tomorrow.

I can't say I blame them for being scared.

After what I saw of that militia, they're serious and crazy.

Even if they are crazy, it don't mean our friend ain't cut a throat.

Or two.

Maybe he is a killer.

I don't know what he is, but he stuck his neck out for Katie.

Maybe he just needs a place and is trying to prove he belongs here.

One thing's for sure, he belongs to somebody.

Yeah.

I know where you come from, slavery's the way of life, but there's still some

thinking you could do on that.

If we don't have much money, we'll work long hours, but at least all of us are

free. Being somebody's property is the lowest life there is.

Being somebody's property.

Can you imagine?

I could drive a man to murder.

So, you ready to turn him in just because there's a law that says he's

somebody's personal property?

Putting words in my mouth, Teaspoon.

I'm just saying the way it is.

Belong to Mr.

Spoon.

I'm fixing it for Ulysses.

What little he was wearing got tore up at Doc Wheeler's.

All's I can say is if the town folk catch any trouble over him, we're all

gonna be held responsible.

What is it?

Nothing.

Look.

Whoever he is, he's only going to be with us a short while.

So let's not worry ourselves about him.

I ain't worried, because I ain't taking my eyes off him.

What's wrong, Buck? Get up. It's Emma.

Mom.

What are you doing?

I just come to get this coat before I leave.

Why are you sneaking out in the middle of the night?

Oh, Jimmy.

Trouble's coming.

My master was a drunk.

I'm a card player.

I used to gamble with the slaves.

I heard my mama was going to be sold, so I begged him not to separate us.

But he beat me with a cane until I passed out.

When I come to, my mama had been crying so much that she'd taken sick.

I figured this was a blessing, because you can't sell a sick slave.

The monster, he got mad.

So he had her brought up to the house so he could whip all the sickness out of

her.

By the time I got up there, he was still whipping her.

But she wasn't moving.

So he decided to turn the whip on me.

And I ain't. standing for no more whippings.

So I cut him with a knife.

Mama was dead on the floor.

That's what they call murder.

Why'd you run?

Why didn't you tell the sheriff your story?

Slaves ain't got no right to testify.

To the state of Missouri, I'm the leader of an uprising.

They fancies me as the next Nat Turner.

They ain't gonna stop until they bring me back.

That's why I got to leave.

That's why you gotta stay.

You can't run forever.

You people have already done enough.

We ain't done nothing. You worked for everything you got.

My people may not have scars on their back, but they know injustice.

They don't run from it.

Where I come from, the slaves were just there. I never had occasion to give them

any thought.

All I can say is you're one heck of a man, and I'm ready to stand behind you.

You'd be risking your life if you challenged that Missouri militia.

I don't know. It could be risky for them.

No offense, but there ain't no way they're gonna... Let the lot of you

stand up to them.

What about the whole town of Sweetwater?

What do you mean?

There's a town meeting tomorrow.

Why don't you come with me?

Town folk are tough.

They're fair.

If we talk right, you just might see your point.

You'd be risking a town full of enemies.

I can't ask you to do that.

You don't have to ask.

Ike says we were never that popular in town to begin with.

Speak for yourself, Ike.

How'd

you

know what to do for the fire?

That I was hired out to it.

Steamboat caught fire outside of knowledge.

I was trapped in the cargo deck for about 12 hours Don't suppose to let you

see much of it right here in New Orleans some kind of city Hell they can't stop a

man from looking They got so many millionaires Houses 50

feet high Women they wear well-born courses

Cause, uh, given my druthers, I'd rather be here with y'all.

So would I. Yeah, you wouldn't look too good in a corset anyway.

You watch.

Townspeople are gonna come through for you, too.

Well, we'll see.

I'm betting on it.

That's one of them Pony Express riders that knows Ulysses.

Ha! They call themselves lawmen.

And then they did this to him.

I don't see why she made you ride out here. Because he's our marshal.

She didn't make me, Earl. Easy.

I wanted to see how you work. Come on, sit down.

There.

How many men they have?

There was 12 of them.

And they had long barrel colts, hunting rifles, and plenty of shot.

You gonna be able to do something, Sam?

I'd know what I'd do if it was up to me.

But the town folk called a meeting.

Town meeting?

Today?

Yeah, we're headed there now.

And so am I.

Now hold on, Earl.

You're in no shape to ride into town.

Hell, I ain't.

I may not be up to more than flapping my jaw, but nothing's going to keep me from

saying my piece.

Twelve armed men can pretty much do as they please.

What are you going to tell the town folk?

As much of the truth as they're willing to hear.

What do you think?

Glad to see you haven't lost your touch.

There's no one on the schedule, but there's someone coming awful fast.

It's Lou!

Lest the devil himself got in your way, you're doing Sunset Creek in two

minutes. I've got a posse in Missouri State Militia headed this way.

Get six fresh horses ready now.

Come on. You get to that meeting in Sweetwater.

We ain't leaving you here. It'll buy time to warn the town.

Then you stick with them and you listen.

I don't want to start a war right here. Go on, get out!

Wherever you are, you'll submit to a lawful search of your house and grounds

under the authority of the Fugitive Slave Act.

Well, mercy me.

That sounds pretty official.

Of course, I'll have to ask for some documentation, please.

Where the damn are my spectacles?

How you doing?

Sure wish I knew how to read.

My Aunt Sarah tried to teach me once, but she had rheumatism.

Her clothes, they all smelled of liniment. I couldn't concentrate.

Well, that's kind of nice.

Stand aside, you old fool.

Search the premises

Open

it

you ain't listening. There's nothing in there for you to see remove him Stand

back. Sonny, you're gonna get hold from that thing here.

Have you any idea

the price of chicken feed these days?

I have a mind to whip you for obstructing justice.

We got first strikes heading straight for town.

All in and mount up.

Ulysses Jones has a knife.

to the throat of every white family in the South.

By God, I'll find it.

That's a damn shame.

The shame is we end up protecting ignorant white trash like yourself.

If I wasn't a representative from the state of Missouri, you'd answer for that

remark.

I'd answer at that.

Hey, man, let's move out!

is being hunted like a dog when all he ever did was defend himself against

a lifetime of abuse.

Look at his wrists.

Look at him.

I say, whoever did this is the one that ought to be hunted.

Now are we going to stand by and let him be dragged back and hung?

Lady, what you were saying ain't exactly news to us. This kind of thing's been

going on for a long time. Now, personally, I ain't got nothing against

slavery, especially when it means taking on the whole state militia.

Yeah, and what's the militia?

Hired guns in uniform.

Whatever they are, why should we take them on?

Because it's the decent thing to do.

We are decent to one another, but this boy belongs to someone else.

You don't belong to us.

These men are demons.

Here's the proof.

Look.

Look.

And all I did was give that man a sip of water and a place in my barn.

And if he needed it again, I'd do it tomorrow.

And damn all of them to hell!

You had something to say.

You best say it now.

My grandmama was born a slave.

My mama was born a slave.

Slavery is the only life I ever knew.

When they killed my mama, I did what any son would have done.

I ain't never asked nobody to fight my battles for me.

All I ask is you understand this.

They take me back to Missouri.

They war hang me to teach all the other slaves a lesson.

And I'd rather die first.

I don't talk too good.

But my wife speaks for me, so let's have some quiet.

Thank you, Eli.

Now, we are God-fearing people.

We came from a free state to make this a free territory.

But even in this church, every Sunday, we hear it's better to keep South and

North together than it is to oppose the abomination of slavery.

Why, these malicious savages are a judgment upon us.

Look, nobody's in favor with what they did to you.

And if you boys like this here, Negra, that's good enough for me.

But we stand up to this militia, no telling what'll happen.

And he ain't worth risking our whole town.

They're gonna lick Missouri's spit every single one.

Now, hang on.

If we don't stand up for what's right, we might as well help that posse tear it

all down.

Because it's not going to be worth the dust it's built on.

Emma, I don't like slavery, but I got a family, and I got to think of them

first. Now, let me tell you all something.

Now, I don't give a damn whether this boy is white or black or even purple.

This boy made his own bed to lie in.

We know he killed somebody to get out.

But that's what he wanted to do.

That's what he done.

But that's his problem.

But now he's made it our problem.

We don't need no outsiders coming in here and trying to tell us how to do it

at the point of a gun.

I say we call in the army.

Army's at least two days away.

I guess you were wrong.

Can't count on these people to do squat.

They're just trying to protect what's theirs, Jimmy. I guess it's tough on

them. Then we'll handle this ourselves.

Jimmy, you take Billy, Lou, and I, go to my office and get some rifles.

Get up high somewhere.

Buck, you take the lookout.

You and Emma.

You're going to lead Ulysses past the militia.

Past the militia where?

Back to Emma's where they've already searched and he can get a fresh horse.

I'll try and get him to the other side of town.

There's 12 of them, Sam.

I'll talk to them real nice now.

Hey, you just get your guns ready and pray you don't have to use them.

Cool.

We can't force these folks to make up their minds.

You're going to have to take your chances with us.

I've been taking chances all my life.

Virginia boy.

You want chances with me?

You know, for a slave, you sure talk a lot.

Shoot, there's only ten of them.

The rest must be watching the road.

Hope we pull this off.

This won't be a gunfight, it'll be a massacre.

Just tell them they'll never be the same.

Sam ain't gonna sweet-talk those boys.

That warrant was issued by the Superior Court of the State of Missouri for the

arrest and return of the murdering slave known as Ulysses Jones.

And I'm authorized to use reasonable support in executing it.

Look here.

If they see us, you back off and you let me handle this.

I already told you you talk too much. I am serious.

You may have a warrant, but I have a town to protect.

Then I suggest you remand him to my custody immediately.

I agree with you.

He's in the doc's office at the south end of town.

Show me.

I'm gonna go

back, come on. No.

It's blind time. We'd only get in the way.

It's where we hid him.

You're a damn liar.

Fan out to the other side of town. That nigger's still here.

Yes, sir.

Sit

tight.

We got company.

Don't stop unless they force you. They got no right to search us.

Pull up there.

I got horses waiting for water and hay. You want to talk, you got to ride

alongside. You ready?

I said hold it. Get your hands off our mules.

Jimmy, look.

I'll show this town what the law means to the likes of him These

two

for that slave

Are you sure he's worth that?

Ain't no need of nobody else dying.

Throw your guns down here!

Stand aside.

I dropped them guns.

Now, if anything happens to those two people, I don't think any of you are

going to get out of town alive.

And I don't think that crazy colonel is worth it.

Now drop them.

Now just keep right on riding as long as God puts ground under your feet. Pay no

attention to him. You got us, Colonel. Hold that slave down for a proper

whipping.

That's an order.

Damn it, I said that's an order.

Think of your women and kids back in Missouri.

Stand your ground.

You're not going to let this digital killer get away with it, are you?

administer justice to this devil.

It's food and clothes, mostly.

Just so as you understand, we're not trying to get rid of you. You don't have

to go.

You're safe here.

For now.

The price on me just went up.

There's gonna be a lot of folk around here looking for that reward.

Won't be as tough as the last bunch.

It's a lot warmer here than this in Canada.

Yes, it is.

But there's something called the Underground Railroad.

They brought a lot of folk like me and helped me get started out with new

lives.

I want to do my share.

But it is a shame to leave this place behind.

I'm third generation born in America.

Even though we ain't free in our own country.

Won't always be that way.

Yeah, that's what I try to tell myself.

But it's going to take a lot of hard times to get there.

I just hope one day you and I can sit down together and not worry about who

belongs where.

That's what we all hope.

The way I best be using that head start I got.

Thank you.

Boys, might as well get back to work.