Original subtitles

Something has happened to [music] me

which I do not understand. All I know

for certain is I am alive. How I got

here, who I am, I do not know. But I

must have seen [music] or done

something, something terrible, to be

buried alive, to be left for dead. I can

remember nothing of my life, my friends

or my enemies. But the key to my

identity lies somewhere out there. And I

will search until I find the man I was

and hope to be again.

>> [groaning]

>> I had been trapped by my desire to know.

My need to act on the little I do know.

How could they believe I killed Lincoln?

If I believe that, I would command my

own execution.

>> That war was four long, bloody years of

hell for all others. Now they say it's

over. They put the slaves in charge of

everything and the white man's lost it

all.

>> Last time I looked at [laughter]

>> Well, it ain't over. And it ain't going

to be over till I get mine back.

>> I lost two brothers in the war.

>> They burned down my house and my

business.

But I got to look ahead.

>> Rebuild.

Nothing else to do.

>> Don't you read the papers? It's official

now. The United States Congress passed

an amendment to the Constitution.

Now that there's no more slavery,

everyone's equal. Whites, planters,

yman, Jews, negroes, Italians, even a

lowly Irish mix such as me. Equal.

>> Here's my amendment to the Constitution.

This says I'm equal. Anybody says

otherwise can take it up with my

congressman here, Mr. Coat.

>> Serve food here.

>> Well, we got stew and it's free if you

guess what's in it.

>> Fine. In the beer.

You should all be sorry they shot

Lincoln.

>> Sorry. What are you saying?

>> Yeah, they shot him because he wasn't

hard enough on the South.

>> John Wils Booth was a hero.

>> He's the greatest American they ever

loved. Booth just pulled the trigger.

The conspiracy put him up to it.

>> Conspiracy?

>> You saying they hung the wrong people?

>> I'm saying they hung the man who held

Booth's horse and people like that. They

didn't get none of the big wigs. People

who planned it or made it possible.

Booth couldn't have acted on his own. I

mean, how'd he get past the president's

security?

His bodyguards were all in on it.

>> You had your orders. In subordination,

there can be no graver crime.

[screaming]

[groaning]

>> Don't know the man of good society.

I guess I know to turn you into an altar

to contract.

>> He shot the

>> You are no longer the president's guard.

Do you understand?

>> Booth was an actor, a drunken idiot, a

fool. They just used the man.

>> Oh, he was a hero to me. Blaspheing

jackass.

>> Sit down.

>> Put your gun away. Next one. you.

Heat.

Heat. Heat.

He says I got to work when he tells me

to work and I got to take the wages he

said. Well shucks. I ain't no slave

anymore. I'm a free man. Same as him.

>> My land, my money. He wants to get paid.

He works on my terms.

>> Well, he's right, Mr. Dunn. This is a

new soft now. Free man has a right to

say what he's willing to work for. And

it's my job to see that you bargain

fairly with each worker.

>> No, it's your job to punish me and every

other white man down here because we

lost the war.

>> If you won't bargain honestly, Mr. Dunn,

I have the power from the United States

government to take your land away. Oh,

by God, Robinson, you try that and I'll

have your head blown off.

Guards,

>> escort Mr. Dunn out, please.

>> Get your hands off me.

>> Paddyy, need to put up my horse.

>> That' be two bits a night with grain.

>> Come back from my gear.

>> Sir, are there any government people

here in town?

>> Which government?

>> I thought we only had one now. Some

white folks around here don't accept

that. There's the Free Men's Bureau down

around that corner down the street.

>> Free Men's Bureau.

>> Sort of the law now. Reconstruction law.

Mr. Robertson's the boss man.

>> What kind of fell is he? Can he be

trusted

>> much as anybody these days?

>> He's a good man. He got me this job.

>> Good. Thanks.

>> You don't plan on killing him, do you?

No,

>> son. I don't plan on killing him.

All right. All right. Step right up

here. Only 5 cents. Shoot the president.

Come on now. Step right up here. You

chance to shoot the president of the

United States. Only 5 cents. Give me

that coin there, son. Thank you so much.

Take that shotgun. Put it up. Come on,

folks. Get on. Let's see what he can do

over here. Come on now. Here he goes.

He's going to shoot the president. Only

a nickel, you know. Come on. Come on.

Let's see what you can do, boy.

There we go.

>> Civilized people would call that bad

taste. But these are not civilized

times, are they?

>> You are new to our fair city, sir.

>> Yes, ma'am.

>> Come up and do it. Come out now. Let's

watch.

>> Please don't judge us too harshly.

>> Come on and see what you can do.

>> Business runs deep.

>> War sickness, I'd say.

>> The same as he's going to do now. Hey.

Hey. Who do you think you're doing? Who

do you think

here?

What are you doing?

>> Come on.

>> Have to see Mr. Robinson. and skirt your

business. I can't wait.

>> Get in line.

>> Stand in line like the rest of them.

Huh?

>> Good morning, gentlemen.

>> There she is.

>> Who's that woman?

>> She's friends with Mr. Robinson. Y'all

hide potentate around here.

>> She work for the government. No, she

sets up schemes with Mr. Robinson and

rents rooms to all you Yankee carpet

baggers that come down here to rob us.

>> Carpet baggers.

>> Liar, you look like a man set upon by

wolves.

>> That is a pretty fair description of

this job of mine. The negroes want me to

act like Caesar, and the white folks

think I'm Satan himself.

Making this piece is a bit of business,

Miss Bower. And I think you are a savior

and peace will come with prosperity.

>> Speaking of prosperity, I think I have a

plan for the Jones farm across the

river. I think that farm would make a

perfect factory site.

>> Some men were here from Boston 2 weeks

ago,

>> and they have real money to invest if we

can supply the land. Oh, and I heard

more rumors about the railroad coming.

You should check on that in Washington.

>> I think I will.

Good morning.

>> Morning.

>> I trust you had a good sleep, Mr.

Lazarus.

>> Yes, ma'am. [ __ ] smells good.

>> Good. Have a seat.

>> Well, I judge you to be a capitalist,

Mr. Lazarus.

We get a lot through here lately.

You know, most people look at this part

of the country and they see nothing but

bitterness and chaos since the war. But

if you look carefully, this is a land of

opportunity.

>> Well, I must not have been looking

carefully enough. All I've seen so far

is resentment and anger.

>> Yes,

that is the legacy of war and poverty.

But you know, some of us are trying to

change all that.

I am what they call a booster, Mr.

Lazarus,

when I'm not being called worse things.

But like I said,

this is a land of opportunity.

>> Yes. Well, I

I'm just not used to doing business

quite so far from home.

>> Well, it's simple if you know the right

people.

>> I understand that Mr. Robinson runs

things around here.

>> That's right.

>> You know him.

>> Oh, yes. Very well.

>> Do you think you could get me a meeting

with him?

>> Yeah, I think I could do that.

But you um haven't come here to kill

him, have you?

>> No.

>> No, of course not.

>> Mr. Lazarus, I'd like for you to meet

Mr. Robinson, the most important man in

this town.

>> You expected a white man, Mr. Lazarus.

>> I must confess I did.

I'm sorry you were treated roughly the

first time you tried to see me. My

guards have to be careful. This is a

world turned upside down since Apple

Madox.

>> You're not from the south?

>> No. New York City. I went to college in

Ohio. I was a law clerk in Washington

and I fought for the union. They said

I've fought bravely, so I've been

rewarded with this impossible job.

>> He's the best thing that could have

happened to this county. He's honest and

he's fair.

>> Miss Bower is the one white person in

the town who supported what I've tried

to do and we appreciate it. So, Mr.

Lazarus, what is it that you wanted to

talk to us about?

>> Mr. Bower didn't mind. I would very much

like to speak to you alone.

>> Oh, well,

certainly.

I'll just um wait outside.

>> And thank you again.

Well, Mr. Robinson, uh, as I don't know

you, I realize I'm leaping into the dark

here.

And as you don't know me, what I'm about

to confide will

will shock you.

Well, sir,

I find that I may know the men

responsible for the assassination of

President Lincoln.

I was there. You were there?

>> Where, Mr. Lazarus?

>> With the president when he was shot.

I saw it with my own eyes.

This is the sixth attempt on my life,

Mr. Lazarus.

Lucky you were trained to act so quickly

in emergencies.

Too bad for all of us that you weren't

standing next to Mr. Lincoln that night

at Forest Theater.

>> I I know I only have

fragments of memory to support I was the

president's bodyguard

>> and that I was drawn away. No, I was

ordered away from my post that night.

>> There have been millions of rumors about

a great conspiracy. Booth is dead. Who

gave his orders?

>> I may have the

answer to that question in my mind,

but I need some help to decipher these

images in my head.

>> What can I do to help?

>> Contact someone for me in Washington.

Someone who can be trusted.

I received my job from the assistant to

the cabinet officer. Someone whom I

trust. We fought in the war together.

>> But who can I trust? And if I'm killed,

there may be no one to reveal the truth.

No, I need someone to come here to help

me piece this puzzle together.

>> I won't have to warn you about the

danger that you're taking reaching out

this way.

>> I'll encode the telegraph, but my

running, sir, is done. It is time for me

to act.

Now that you are Mr. Robinson's hero, he

will give us any help we need to do some

business here. You don't mind me

including myself, do you? Since I made

the introduction.

>> I don't mind.

>> You do realize you are no hero to the

rest of the town that wants Robinson

dead. Of course, they hate me, too.

>> Why?

>> The scallwag, sir. Greater for dealing

with a Yankee carpet beggar like you.

And what exactly is it we want?

>> What are your primary investments at the

moment?

>> Well, at the moment, I'm just looking.

>> Well, here is a map of the county.

Let me give you some orientation.

Besides cheap labor, both black and

white, we have a river that runs right

through here for both water and power.

It's in the middle of the most beautiful

valley you have ever seen.

Since Miss Bower has pegged me for a big

investor, I play along. It helps me

while away the time waiting for a

response to Mr. Robinson's telegraph to

Washington. What comes may rescue me

from my infernal fog, and I hope save

the nation from more bloody disaster.

Okay.

>> Would you hate me if I asked you what

you and Mr. Robinson were meeting about

so secretively? I mean, if I am to help,

>> Charlotte, I can't imagine hating you

for anything.

>> But you won't answer my question.

>> Well, I need some help with some people

in Washington. Uh, small business

problem. He He's doing me a favor,

[snorts]

>> Jen.

Three games in a row. [laughter]

>> Charlotte, you are not only beautiful,

you are unbeatable. I yield.

>> Maybe it's time that we both put our

cards on the table.

>> Please do.

>> I may seem desperate to you, but we all

are. There has been a flood of

opportunists through here since our

defeat, looking for bargains, things to

steal. But the little time I've spent

with you, I can tell that you are an

honest man.

>> Not just another car, but beggar.

>> Honest.

>> Well, Charlotte,

>> I don't need to know your secrets. But

if you need somebody to trust, trust me.

I don't care if they hate me, if they

misunderstand me. I

I just want to help this town.

Everyone seems so full of pain.

Yes.

Everyone

go ahead

kiss me.

>> [music]

>> No.

Uh, are you leaving, Mr. Lazarus?

>> I've been thinking.

>> I believe I should not involve you with

my business.

>> Not involve me? I don't understand.

Are you going away?

>> No, not yet.

>> I introduced you to Robinson. I took you

into my confidence.

I might say I

opened my heart.

>> And I truly appreciate it.

There's some things I have to do alone

and I can't explain to anyone.

>> Try.

There's too much at stake.

Things more important than you or me.

I'm sorry, Charlotte.

>> Come in.

>> A man from Washington to see you, sir.

>> Oh, send him in.

>> Well, well, well. Hello, Ela. Jack

Rollins, I didn't expect to see you

here. Sit down.

>> That was an intriguing message you sent.

This could be an important discovery for

you.

>> Well, if it is, will I be rewarded with

a post in the hell this time? It'll be a

step up from this job.

>> Well, if your man is authentic, I'll

make sure the attorney general buys your

house on Fifth Avenue. [laughter]

>> Now, are you still convinced he's got

real secrets?

>> He's convincing, Jack. from what he can

remember. He needs somebody to help him

put the puzzle together. I think he's

been through hell with this.

>> I'm here to take him out of the flames.

Where do we meet?

>> He's renting a room down the street,

Miss Bower's house. But she said he

checked out. We'll find him, though.

>> I trust you haven't told anybody else

about this.

>> No, sir. Miss Bowers assumes that he's a

businessman. I'll rent a room down

there. You might want to pass yourself

off as a carpet bagger, too.

>> All right. Well, why don't you tell me

everything he told you? Well, let's do

it over a spot of Frontier Whiskey.

>> Now you're talking. [laughter]

>> Well, there is a lot of potential here

if you have the money to invest.

Last month, some railroad men were here

and they were mapping and surveying. You

know, things will boom when the railroad

comes. Ah, well, I look forward to

exploring the area with you if you'll

show me around.

>> But now I have other business.

>> Mr. Run.

>> Yes.

>> There'd be a problem with your horse.

Best you come take a look.

>> Problem?

>> Yes, sir. You must have rode her hard.

>> Mr. Lazarus, I presume. My name is

Rollins. Steven, go outside. Guard the

door. Don't let anyone in.

>> I came alone. May I turn around?

>> Slowly.

>> Get him in there.

>> I would say it's a pleasure to meet you,

but for that cannon in my face.

>> I have documents to identify me. Eliasa

said you would be cautious.

I'm from the Attorney General's office.

>> I'm unarmed.

>> Don't you trust Mr. Robinson?

>> Seems like a good man.

But right now, I trust no one. Well,

>> that's very wise. I expect you'd be dead

if you did.

But you and I, we have to begin

somewhere, don't we?

Your silence insults me, sir.

It was also my president who got the

bullet to his brain, and you cannot have

loved him more than I did. I hate to be

indelicate, but for all I know, for all

both of us know, it could possibly have

been your dereliction of duty that

allowed that tragedy to occur.

That thought haunts me all the time.

I may have a faulty memory, sir, but I'm

certain of one thing.

I never could have been part of that

conspiracy.

>> Well, I've been traveling without much

rest and I'm hungry, so perhaps I could

loosen your tongue with a drink or two.

Shall we?

ass.

>> I thought I had the sure handis.

>> May I [clears throat] keep this?

>> Please.

>> I just wish I had a picture of myself

like that.

>> How did you get it? I mean, how did you

know?

>> Lincoln had few close bodyguards. Many

had chosen himself. The others are all

accounted for. You were the one he

trusted most.

>> One question.

>> Who am I?

>> What's my name?

>> Larson.

James Larson.

>> Ring a bell.

>> I don't know.

Why don't you tell me everything you

remember?

>> Well, it's

in pieces, mostly fragments.

>> Then describe the pieces. Faces, voices,

anything.

>> That would take quite a while. No,

>> I don't know.

>> Not sure this is [music] the place.

Pardon me if this isn't the place. Then

tell me where and when and I'll be there

with Belleon.

>> If you tell me what you know, I can

check the slightest bit of evidence with

me. Sources. We have to get started.

>> Who was [music] the man in charge of the

president's bodyguard that night?

>> I don't know. I'll find out.

>> He's the one who pulled me off my post.

>> I've come halfway across the country to

interview you, Lazarus.

The rear end is still asleep.

Now, let me explain. Here's how it

works. I ask the questions, you provide

the answers.

Do you follow that? You haven't

impressed me yet, Rollins.

For all I know, you could be one of

those who tortured me and buried me

alive, or you could be their agent. I

will tell you this, though. I can

positively identify the man who pulled

me off my post so Booth could do his

dirty work.

And I will pull him out of the shadow

someday and hang him by his heels. And I

will talk to you when you give me his

name.

>> Our man from Washington just arrived. I

want to introduce you to him. He's a man

I know you can trust.

>> We've met.

>> I just want you to know that I would

gladly give my life to rip the mask off

of Mr. Lincoln's killers.

>> I'd like to ask another favor.

>> What is it?

>> Is there someone else in Washington you

can trust to check a name for us?

>> What's her name?

>> James Larson. One of President Lincoln's

personal bodyguards.

>> Your real name?

>> So says Mr. Rollins. I'd like to verify

that.

>> I'll look into it.

Who is it?

>> Charlie,

>> may I come in?

Yes, please.

>> I'm sorry I can't much in the way of

hospitality.

I know that

one kiss between us does not give me the

right to question you.

But I realize you're not a businessman.

I've seen you talking to Mr. Rollins. I

do not think he's a businessman either.

>> I want you to stay out of this.

Stay away from me. It could be

dangerous. You could be hurt.

>> After 4 years of war, there's not much

that scares me. I have few friends here.

I was sure you would be one.

I would be

under other circumstances.

I'm strong.

I wish you would let me help you.

He's one of them.

>> What?

>> He's the man who allowed the murder of

President Lincoln.

>> I had to see him for myself to make sure

there was no mistake. We've been in

pursuit of him for months. This

whole story of his about losing his

memory. It was a very clever rules. It

covered him well.

>> But why would he contact me or or talk

to you? Is he crazy?

>> These people are fanatics.

We've got his co-conspirators, some of

them. But he is a key man. Perhaps the

key man. I think I think his plan is to

impress me. So, I'll take him to

Washington where he assumes he'll be

interviewed by my boss. Hopefully,

President Johnson himself. He'll have a

daringer in his pocket. He'll yank it

out and he'll kill himself. Another

president.

>> Jack,

he saved my life.

>> Do you know who it was that put a shot

through this window? He could have had

it done for a couple of dollars. It made

you trust him, didn't it?

Fanatics.

[music]

>> Hey

Now get out and stay the hell away. This

man is to be kept in total isolation.

No one speaks to him. He speaks to no

one.

>> I'll be back, Mr. Lazarus. Don't you

worry at all. I'll be back. And you and

I,

we'll talk.

What do you mean he's a traitor?

>> The man conspired to kill Lincoln. He is

a traitor and an assassin.

>> I refuse to believe that.

>> Miss Bower, he is a fanatic. And I'm so

glad we captured him, and you should be,

too. Rollins said the government has

been after him for months.

>> I don't know who Lazarus really is, but

I know he is good. I can feel it. And

good men don't kill presidents.

Huh? Well, then

Who? Mr. Lazarus.

Who else?

Sit up now. There you are.

Who have you talked to?

What do you really remember?

>> I was not sent here to dance with you,

sir. I will get me answers.

Another booth conspirator dead. That's

what it'll say in the papers. And I

think the irony is quite nice, don't

you?

I'll try to explain it to Miss Bower,

but she'll be very disappointed in you.

>> [sighs]

>> letter from Washington, sir.

>> Thank you, brother.

>> I'll be right back, private.

He's not talking yet, but he will.

>> You gave Lazarus a name? James Larson.

You said it was his name, Jack. This

says that no such man exists.

>> You think I would tell that traitor the

truth about anything?

>> I think you better leave him alone until

I figure this out.

>> Yes, boss. Yes, whatever you say.

>> [bell]

>> I keep a proper distance from my

borders, sir.

Usually that is.

>> Well, why make an exception for me then?

>> Oh, I don't know. Perhaps it's your

Irish charm.

>> You know what I think it is? I think you

want to know my business.

You're a very ambitious woman, Miss

Bower, and a little forward. I like

that.

>> I fear I'm a bit awkward at dancing this

close.

>> Well, I just want to show you how

they're doing it in the big city these

days.

>> You haven't said what big city it is you

are from.

>> Well, I'm from New York,

Washington. I get around.

>> And Mr. Lazarus, you knew him from back

east. Let's just say we were rivals in a

couple of deals. [snorts]

>> I'm a bit concerned about him. I

understand he's gotten into trouble of

some kind.

>> Well, I would forget about him. He

doesn't deserve your interest.

>> And you are not a businessman.

>> Oh, no.

>> No.

>> Then what am I?

>> And I think you are the kind of

scoundrel who would accuse an innocent

man of killing the president. And I want

you to leave my boarding house now.

All right.

[music]

>> Come out.

>> [music]

[music]

>> How did you get in here. [clears throat]

>> Tie some chickens in your yard. They do

a lot better than those dumb guards

you've got. I'm leaving. Lazarus doesn't

want to talk. I'm taking him to

Washington with me.

>> I'm afraid he won't get to Washington.

>> This is way over your head, Robinson.

Just get out of me way.

>> You traitorous son of a [ __ ]

You helped kill your own president.

No, you're the one who's leaving town.

And iron.

There is a man in custody in the jail.

His name is Lazarus.

>> Some of you may have noticed him around

town of late.

>> We seen him.

>> We seen you, too. Escorting him around,

playing up to him, making a room,

>> threatening him your bed. No doubt.

>> His name is Lazarus.

>> And they say he was a key man in the

conspiracy that killed Lincoln.

>> Do you hear that? Let's go get him.

>> Come on, you guys.

Leave

it.

>> Go around back direct.

>> We find ourselves at the moment of

truth, sir. So, up you go.

>> Got to turn blue

over there.

Here

we go.

That's right.

[cheering]

[cheering]

Yeah. You

>> zero.

[cheering]

Give me that horse.

>> No, sir. You You got to take the one you

came with, mister.

>> I think we'll have this one. Come on.

Back. [laughter] Back. Back.

All right.

Steven, lock the door. Then go spread

the word the man from jail escaped and I

chased after him. Go on.

>> [screaming]

[screaming]

>> Get up.

[clears throat]

>> [laughter]

>> Now it's my turn. [panting]

Now you tell me who sent you.

>> You know who sent me.

>> I want a name.

>> I'd rather burn in hell.

>> Get up.

>> No, I don't hurt a man till he begs to

be dead. I learned that lesson from the

best. Now you tell me who I am.

>> A name. Give me a name.

>> James L.

>> You tell me who I am.

I had in my hands all I need to know

[music] about Mr. Lincoln and the threat

to the nation that still exists

>> and the answer to who I am. Once again,

all lost to a gunshot.

>> Knife and Robinson. If you gentlemen

could read the papers, you'd know he

didn't kill Mr. Robinson. He didn't even

kill that man from Washington who was

stalking him. It was a woman who shot

him. Charlotte Bower. She's the heroine

of Writesville now. She killed the man

who was trying to kill the conspirator.

>> What's the man's name?

>> Oh, I heard his name was James Larson.

>> Yeah. If he helped take Lincoln down,

he's a hero to me. Just like John Wils

Booth. It is impossible to reclaim the

past. Not only because it deserts us,

remains beyond [music] our reach, but

also because it is so rapidly distorted

by every witness, gossip, and historian

who would add his dim perception to the

picture. No matter, my quest is real, my

enem is relentless.

I must ride on.

>> [music]