Original subtitles

- [BREATHING HEAVILY]

[DOGS BARKING IN BACKGROUND]

[MEN YELLING INDISTINCTLY]

- SOMETHING'S GONE THROUGH HERE!

- HE'S HEADED FOR THE CREEK!

- LET'S GET HIM!

[MEN YELLING]

- RICK'S GOT SOMETHIN' IN HIS MOUTH!

- HEAD LEFT HERE!

[MEN YELLING INDISTINCTLY]

- ALL RIGHT! COME ON, BOYS! LET'S GET HIM!

- SAMUEL PINKNEY WAS ACCUSED OF KILLING

A WHITE PLANTATION OWNER.

SOME OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT THE AMERICAN

SOUTH BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR IS TRUE, SOME IS NOT.

SAM WAS CONDEMNED WITHOUT A TRIAL AND KILLED FOR CRIMES

THAT MY RESEARCH SUGGESTS HE DID NOT COMMIT.

HE HAD LIVED PEACEABLY ON A PLANTATION IN CULPEPPER,

VIRGINIA, OWNED BY ONE SARAH McCULLOUGH.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE MAY NEVER KNOW THE WHOLE STORY REGARDING

SAMUEL PINKNEY AND THIS IS BOTH A SAD FACT OF HISTORY

AND, FOR ME, A PERSONAL TRAGEDY BECAUSE...

SAMUEL PINKNEY WAS MY DISTANT GRANDFATHER.

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

I DO WISH WE HAD A COMPLETE PICTURE SO THAT SAMUEL PINKNEY

WOULD FINALLY BE FREE.

THANK YOU.

- PROFESSOR HAWKINS?

- YES?

- JESSICA FLETCHER.

- OH, THE WRITER?

- YES.

- HA! I'VE READ SEVERAL OF YOUR BOOKS.

I ENJOY THEM THOROUGHLY.

- OH, THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, I WAS MOST INTRIGUED BY YOUR LECTURE.

YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT WE MAY SHARE A COMMON HERITAGE.

- WE DO?

- WELL, I BELIEVE THAT SARAH McCULLOUGH,

THE WOMAN YOU SAY OWNED SAMUEL PINKNEY WAS

A VERY DISTANT AUNT OF MINE.

- REALLY?

- WELL, I'VE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT THAT

SIDE OF MY FAMILY WHO CAME OVER FROM IRELAND AND SETTLED

IN VIRGINIA, OH, AROUND THE TURN OF THE 18th CENTURY.

IN FACT, THAT IS THE REASON I CAME DOWN HERE.

I WANTED TO COME TO CULPEPPER AND TRY TO MAKE THE CONNECTION.

- WELL, CONSIDER YOURSELF CONNECTED.

- I HAVE TO SAY THOUGH IT'S A LITTLE DISCONCERTING TO LEARN

THAT MY DISTANT AUNT WAS A SLAVE OWNER.

- WELL, SADLY, THE SKELETON OF SLAVERY

RESIDES IN A LOT OF FAMILY CLOSETS DOWN HERE.

- WELL, NEVERTHELESS, I DO HAVE

A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND A NEED TO APOLOGIZE.

- OHH.

THE ONLY RESPONSIBILITY YOU HAVE WE ALL HAVE, AND THAT'S

FOR THE LIVING.

- WELL, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

HOW ARE YOU SO SURE THAT SAMUEL WAS OWNED

BY SARAH McCULLOUGH?

- WELL, THIS...

READ THE INSCRIPTION.

- "TO SAMUEL PINKNEY FROM S. McCULLOUGH"?

- MY COUSIN GAVE THIS TO ME SEVERAL MONTHS AGO

AND IT PROMPTED ME TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THINGS.

MAYBE YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP ME

FILL IN SOME OF THE BLANKS.

- I REALLY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MY AUNT,

BUT I AM CURIOUS.

YOU SAID IN YOUR LECTURE THAT YOU BELIEVED THAT SAMUEL

WAS WRONGLY ACCUSED OF MURDER.

TELL ME, WHAT FACTS LEAD YOU TO THAT CONCLUSION?

- THERE'S A CEMETERY, NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE,

WHERE I HAVE FOUND SAMUEL PINKNEY'S SECOND GRAVE.

- HIS SECOND GRAVE?

- MISS FLETCHER, SAMUEL PINKNEY IS BURIED IN 2 PLACES.

- "SAMUEL PINKNEY, BORN AUGUST 4, 1832. DIED JUNE 25, 1860."

- YES, THOSE ARE THE DATES ON THIS MARKER,

BUT THIS IS FROM A HEADSTONE IN A CEMETERY IN PENNSYLVANIA.

- "SAMUEL PINKNEY, BORN AUGUST 4, 1832, CULPEPPER, VIRGINIA,

DIED NOVEMBER 6, 1894."

THIS IS THE SAME MAN?

- YOU TELL ME.

ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS FROM THAT PERIOD,

SAMUEL PINKNEY WAS KILLED HERE IN VIRGINIA AND THE DATES

ON THIS MARKER CORRESPOND WITH THAT.

BUT THIS IS FROM A HEADSTONE THAT I HAD FOUND IN PENNSYLVANIA

IN A COUNTY WHERE MY PEOPLE SETTLED.

NOW, BOTH MEN HAVE THE SAME NAME, SAME DATE OF BIRTH,

SAME TOWN OF ORIGIN.

- BUT THIS DEATH DATE IS 30 YEARS LATER.

- EXACTLY.

AND THERE'S SOME OTHER FACTS THAT I FOUND AT THE LOCAL

HISTORICAL SOCIETY THAT DON'T LINE UP EITHER.

- I'D BE VERY INTERESTED TO SEE THOSE.

- THE WHITE PLANTATION OWNER WHO WAS MURDERED WAS NAMED

ROBERT MERCER AND HERE'S A PHOTOGRAPH.

- YOU KNOW, JUDGING FROM THESE GLOWING REPORTS, YOU WONDER

WHY ANYBODY WOULD HAVE WANTED TO MURDER HIM.

HE LOOKS LIKE A VERY DECENT SORT OF PERSON.

- ONE OF OUR MORE NOTEWORTHY VIRGINIA SONS,

LOST BEFORE HIS TIME AND MURDERED ON HIS WEDDING NIGHT.

I'M STANFORD THORNTON.

I'M A LONGTIME STUDENT OF THE SOUTH

AND WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.

I ASSUME YOU WERE DISCUSSING THE PINKNEY CASE.

- YES, DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

- I KNOW IT WAS A TRAGEDY.

THE ARTICLES SAY HE WAS GOING TO RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL.

IT WAS JUST A SHAME THAT HE CHOSE TO RUN.

- WELL, GIVEN THE CLIMATE OF THE DAY,

YOU WONDER IF PINKNEY FELT THAT THE VERDICT WAS ALREADY

IN BEFORE THE TRIAL STARTED.

- I KNOW THERE WERE ABUSES IN THE ANTEBELLUM SOUTH,

BUT NOT IN OUR COUNTY.

- THAT IS, OF COURSE, IF YOU DON'T CONSIDER

SLAVERY ITSELF AN ABUSE.

- OH, WE ALL AGREE. SLAVERY WAS WRONG.

BUT I FIND THAT PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES, SHALL I SAY,

OVEREAGER TO PAINT EVERY SOUTHERNER WITH THE BRUSH

OF RACIAL BIGOTRY.

OUR FINER SOUTHERN INSTITUTIONS ARE OFTEN MISREPRESENTED.

I'M TOUCHING ON THAT VERY TOPIC IN MY LECTURE ACROSS

THE WAY IN THE PARK.

- HMM. CASSANDRA IS LECTURING HERE, TOO.

- I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR NAME.

MS...

- HAWKINS. DR. CASSANDRA HAWKINS.

- WHAT IS YOUR INTEREST IN THE PINKNEY CASE?

- SAMUEL PINKNEY WAS MY DISTANT GRANDFATHER.

- REALLY? I SEE.

I TRUST THERE'S NO AGENDA IN YOUR PURSUIT.

- AGENDA?

- I BELIEVE THAT PERSONAL PILGRIMAGES CAN SOMETIMES LEAD

PEOPLE TO MAKE HISTORICAL EVENTS WHAT THEY WANT

THEM TO BE RATHER THAN WHAT THEY ARE.

- I AGREE.

- IF YOU LADIES WILL EXCUSE ME.

OH, DEAR. I MUST GET TO MY LECTURE.

- IF ANYONE EVER HAD AN AGENDA.

- THAT MAN'S AGENDA'S MORE OBVIOUS THAN A POLITICIAN

TRYING TO GET VOTES.

- YOU KNOW HIM?

- OH, HE'S FOREVER TRYING

TO INFLUENCE HOW WE PRESENT HISTORY HERE AT THE MUSEUM,

AS IF HE'S THE SELF-APPOINTED PROTECTOR

OF ALL THINGS SOUTHERN.

WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO PUT ON THESE GLOVES?

THE LETTERS ARE QUITE FRAGILE.

NOW I HAVE SOME DOCUMENTS THAT I THINK MIGHT BE OF SOME HELP

AND SOME PERSONAL EFFECTS FROM THE McCULLOUGH ESTATE.

- YOU HAVE SOME DOCUMENTS FROM MY AUNT SARAH?

- OH, YES, SOME WERE PRESERVED.

- MOST, UNFORTUNATELY, WERE LOST.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN SO THERE WAS NOBODY

LEFT TO MAINTAIN HER LEGACY.

- THESE ARE HER LETTERS?

- MM-HMM.

- UH-HUH, I SEE.

1846, 1852.

- I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO READ THIS ONE.

IT SHOULD BE DATED JUNE 20, 1860.

IT'S ABOUT THE MURDER.

- NOW THAT IS JUST BEFORE SAMUEL DIED.

- NOW THAT WAS WRITTEN TO A FRIEND, ABIGAIL PENNINGTON,

IN CHARLOTTESVILLE.

- "DEAR ABIGAIL, YOU PROBABLY READ IN THE PAPERS

"ABOUT THE ACCUSATIONS LEVELED AGAINST MY FRIEND AND FAITHFUL

"SERVANT, SAMUEL PINKNEY,

"REGARDING THAT DREADFUL MURDER.

"BUT I SENSED THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT AT THE RECEPTION

THE OTHER DAY AFTER THE MERCER WEDDING."

[CHATTER]

[HORSES NEIGHING]

- JUDGE MARTIN! WELL! WHAT A PLEASURE!

- GREAT TO SEE YOU!

- WHY, THANK YOU.

VERY NICE TO SEE YOU.

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

[HORSES NEIGHING]

- OH, THANK YOU. PLEASE ENJOY YOURSELF.

- HELLO, PEOPLE. Y'ALL COME ON IN NOW.

COME ON IN.

- OOH, MARY.

YOU LOOKED SIMPLY REGAL COMING DOWN THAT AISLE.

TELL ME WHO MADE YOUR DRESS.

- I HAD IT SENT FROM ATLANTA.

- OH, I BELIEVE YOU'RE SPOILING THIS

DAUGHTER OF YOURS, MR. HART.

- WELL, NOTHING'S TOO GOOD FOR MY MARY.

- I SHOULD SAY SO, SIR.

MY, LOOK AT THAT PICTURE.

CULPEPPER'S MOST BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY HAS STOLEN

THE HEART OF ITS MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR.

I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL HOME UP THERE

ON THAT BIG OLD SPREAD OF HIS.

- MY PRINCESS HAS FINALLY GOT HER KINGDOM.

- MISS ASHLAND, GENERAL.

MY LADY, YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

- I DID NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH A PIECE OF PROPERTY,

JED BUCKNELL, I FELL IN LOVE WITH A MAN, A MAN WHO ISN'T

CARRIED OFF BY THE FIRST BREEZE THAT COMES

IN FLUTTERING HER EYELASHES.

- WELL, MRS. MERCER, UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE

HERE, I'VE BEEN TRAINING TO FIGHT

FOR OUR BELOVED SOUTH.

OF COURSE, I NEVER DREAMT I'D HAVE TO COME BACK AND FIGHT

FOR MY GIRL, TOO.

- WHAT YOU CONSIDER A BATTLE, I BELIEVE MARY WOULD

CHARACTERIZE AS A WILLING SURRENDER.

- SWEET ARE THE SPOILS OF WAR.

[HORSE NEIGHING]

- MARY, WOULD YOU JUST LOOK AT YOU.

YOUR MOTHER, GOD REST HER SOUL, SHE WOULD HAVE

BEEN SO PROUD.

MY GOODNESS ME, THIS IS SO EXCITING.

- MISS SARAH. - CHARLES.

- I BROUGHT THE EXTRA SILVERWARE.

WHERE SHALL WE PUT IT?

- JUST HAVE SAM DRIVE IT AROUND BACK TO THE KITCHEN.

JIM AND MARY BELL ARE THERE, THEY'LL ATTEND TO IT.

- CHARLES, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T GET THESE TO YOU YESTERDAY,

BUT WE'VE BEEN QUITE BUSY WITH PLANS

FOR THE WEDDING AND ALL,

AND I GUESS THAT SAM JUST PLUM FORGOT.

- THEY'RE JUST LIKE CHILDREN, AREN'T THEY?

ALWAYS FORGETTING EVERYTHING, EXCEPT WHAT TIME SUPPER IS.

PARDON ME.

WELL, I SEE HE DIDN'T FORGET

TO WEAR HIS SUNDAY BEST NOW, DID HE?

IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER, I'D SAY YOU WERE TRYING TO

UPSTAGE THE LUCKY GROOM HIMSELF.

- I WAS JUST TRYING TO HONOR MISS MARY

ON HER SPECIAL DAY, SIR. SPEND MY OWN MONEY.

- YOUR OWN MONEY? IS THAT A FACT?

- YES, SIR.

- MISS McCULLOUGH.

YOU'RE NOT PAYING THIS SLAVE WAGES, ARE YOU?

- HE EARNS IT.

IT'S NOT MUCH, BUT IT'S AN INCENTIVE TO DO GOOD WORK.

- YOU DO YOURSELF ONE BETTER, MA'AM,

IF YOU GET A HOLD OF A GOOD OVERSEER.

HIS WHIP WOULD GIVE SAM PLENTY OF INCENTIVE

TO DO A GOOD JOB. AIN'T THAT RIGHT, SAM?

WON'T IT, SAM?

WHY, THAT IS A MIGHTY FINE VEST YOU'RE WEARING THERE, SAM.

DON'T GET ALL TOUCHY WITH ME, BOY.

I'M JUST LOOKING AT YOUR FANCY BUTTON NOW.

NOW YOU SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME GO AND DO?

SLAVES SHOULDN'T BE WEARING SUCH THINGS ANYWAY,

SHOULD THEY?

- AH!

THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR.

- WHAT'S UNCALLED FOR, MISS McCULLOUGH, IS YOU PAYING

THIS SLAVE WAGES.

- HERE NOW!

WHY DON'T Y'ALL JUST MAKE YOUR WAY RIGHT ON

INTO THE HOUSE? I KNOW MARY BELL'S GOT SOME TREATS

AND SPICE PUNCH FOR EVERYBODY.

I THINK WE COULD ALL STAND TO COOL DOWN A LITTLE BIT HERE.

JEB!

- SAM?

I'LL BE SEEING YOU, BOY.

YES, SIR, MR. HOBBS.

- I WILL THANK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT TODAY

IS MARY'S WEDDING DAY AND JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.

- NOW WE DON'T WANT TO RUIN HER SPECIAL DAY,

NOW WOULD I, SIR?

MA'AM.

- SARAH, MY PROFOUND APOLOGIES.

- THANK YOU, CHARLES.

IT'S A GOOD THING THAT SOMEONE STILL RECOGNIZES

A VIOLATION OF HUMAN DIGNITY.

[DOG BARKING]

- GET.

- I AM SORRY, SAM.

- THAT'S ALL RIGHT, MISS SARAH.

I'D BEST BE GETTING THIS CHINA AROUND TO THE KITCHEN.

THIS HERE OLD DOG DON'T LIKE ME BEING HERE EITHER.

[DOG BARKING]

GO ON.

- YES, THIS IS A VERY HAPPY DAY FOR ME, THANK YOU.

- WELL, QUITE A PARTY, ROBERT.

- IT'S AWFUL GENEROUS OF MR. HOBBS

TO PUT ON SUCH AN AFFAIR.

- WELL, HE DOES INDULGE THAT GIRL.

BUT NOW YOU GOTTA.

YOU BETTER HANG ONTO YOUR PURSE.

- I'LL DO MY BEST TO PROVIDE FOR HER.

- I'M SURE YOU WILL, SIR.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD IMPROVE YOUR FINANCIAL

POSITION BY SIMPLY SELLING ME THAT 120 ACRES

YOU'VE GOT NEXT TO MY LAND.

- AS I SAID BEFORE, WHEN I'M READY TO SELL IT...

- I KNOW. I'LL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW.

- YES, SIR.

- HA HA HA. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND

IS WHY YOU DON'T PUT SOME CROPS

IN THERE... TOBACCO, KEEPING A GRASSLAND

CAN'T BE THE MOST PROFITABLE.

- OH, THAT'S QUITE AN UNDERTAKING.

- SURE.

- I CAN HANDLE A FEW CATTLE AND SHEEP, AND, OF COURSE,

I HAVE MY LEATHER GOODS BUSINESS.

- NOW I KNOW A MAN IN LAUDEN COUNTY,

HE'S ABOUT TO SELL SOME REAL GOOD FIELD HANDS.

WHY, WITH THE WORK THEY'D OFFER, YOU COULD RECOUP YOUR

INVESTMENT RATHER QUICKLY.

- I DON'T RECKON I'M READY FOR ALL THAT.

- WELL... HA HA... LOOK, ROBERT,

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT PARTIAL TO OWNING SLAVES.

SO, YOU JUST GET YOURSELF A FEW.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK THE POOR CREATURES TO DEATH.

I MEAN, YOU'LL BE DOING THEM A FAVOR...

YOU PROVIDE THEM A HOME AND MEALS.

IT'S BETTER THAN THEY COULD DO ON THEIR OWN OUT THERE.

- WILL I HAVE TO DANCE ALL AFTERNOON

AND NEVER ONCE WITH MY HUSBAND?

- IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, MR. ASHLAND.

- CERTAINLY, SIR. MA'AM.

- SO I NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH LIVESTOCK AND HOW MANY HANDS

YOU WANT TO SELL. SO, YOU GET BACK TO ME.

- POWDER FLASK AND BULLET HOLDER.

AND BEST OF ALL, GENTLEMEN,

IT FIRES 6 SHOTS BEFORE HAVING TO RELOAD.

YES, SIR.

I GET 6 YANKEES WITHIN 50 YARDS...

I'LL SHOW THEM JUST HOW HOT OLD DIXIELAND CAN BE.

- WELL, LET'S JUST HOPE THIS WHOLE THING

CAN BE RESOLVED WITHOUT BLOODSHED.

- WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MR. HOBBS,

THOSE YANKEES HAVE PROVEN THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO UPHOLD

OUR RIGHTS HERE IN THE SOUTH.

SO, WHY, I'M AFRAID, SIR,

WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO ASSERT OURSELF

BY A SHOW OF ARMS.

- WELL, I'VE CERTAINLY TAKEN

THAT POSITION IN MY NEWSPAPER

AND I'VE ONLY HAD A HANDFUL

OF NAYSAYERS ATTACK MY EDITORIALS.

- MR. ASHLAND, YOU ARE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR HERE

WITH THAT RAG, SIR.

WHY, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM

KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.

DON'T WE, GENTLEMEN?

- WE START A WAR WITH THE YANKEES, AND FOR EVERY GUN

OF OURS, THEY'RE GOT FACTORIES UP NORTH CAN MAKE 100.

- MR. MERCER, ARE YOU SAYING THEY'RE BETTER THAN US?

- NO, NOT BETTER, BIGGER.

IF THERE'S A WAR, THEY'LL JUST KEEP COMING AND COMING.

- I RECKON IF YOU'RE NOT VESTED IN THE SOUTH,

THEN YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN PRESERVING HER.

- YOUR IMPLICATION, MR. BUCKNELL?

- MY IMPLICATION, MR. MERCER?

WELL, LET'S SEE,

YOU'RE ALWAYS OFF DOING BUSINESS WITH THE NORTHERNERS.

WHY, I EVEN HEAR YOU'RE A PROPONENT OF FREE COTTON.

NOW, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT FREE COTTON TO ME WHEN YOU

HAVE TO PAY A SLAVE TO PICK IT?

- THE IDEA HAS MERIT, THAT'S ALL.

- IT BETTER BE ALL, MR. MERCER.

IT BETTER BE.

♪ OH, I WISH I WAS IN THE LAND OF COTTON ♪

♪ OLD TIMES THERE... ♪

MR. HOBBS, SIR!

- YES, SIR.

- DO YOU MIND, SIR, IF I KEEP THIS IN YOUR GUN CASE

FOR SAFEKEEPING?

- NOT AT ALL.

- SARAH.

- EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT, CHARLES?

- FINE, FINE.

WE JUST RAN OUT OF ICE,

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL ARE COMFORTABLE.

- WELL, I THINK THAT UNCOMFORTABLE

IS THE PROPER WORD.

WE'RE ALL OVERSTUFFED AS HOUSECATS AROUND HERE.

NOW, LOOK, I COULD HAVE SAM RUN OVER TO MY ICE HOUSE

AND GET SOME.

- OH, NOW, SAM DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OUT RUNNING AROUND.

- IS THERE A PROBLEM?

- EXCUSE ME, SIR.

MR. HOBBS, THE GUESTS ARE WONDERING WHEN YOU'RE FIXING

TO CUT THE CAKE.

- THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE BRIDE AND GROOM.

- HAVE YOU SEE THEM? - YES, I HAVE.

- WELL, I'VE SEEN ROBERT. ROBERT'S OUT BACK WITH SAM.

- WELL, HOW ABOUT I GO FETCH HIM?

- WOULD YOU DO THAT?

AND HAVE HIM MEET US IN THE BALLROOM.

- I CERTAINLY WILL.

SAM?

- MISS SARAH.

- ROBERT, EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT? SAM?

- OH, YES, MA'AM.

THE WAGON WAS SOUNDING A LITTLE FUNNY.

PROBABLY JUST A SPLIT RIM.

- YEAH. ROBERT, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR YOU.

THEY'RE GETTING READY TO CUT THE CAKE.

- I BETTER BE GETTING BACK INSIDE.

- CHARLES SAID THEY RUN OUT OF ICE.

SAM, COULD Y'ALL RUN OVER TO OUR PLACE AND GET SOME?

- OH, YES, MA'AM.

- SAM, WHY DON'T YOU FETCH SOME OVER AT MY PLACE?

IT'S CLOSER.

- SURE ENOUGH, MR. MERCER.

- HERE.

YOU'LL NEED THESE.

- THANK YOU.

- DON'T BE TOO LONG, SAM.

- I APPRECIATE YOUR TRUST IN SAM.

- WELL, HOW'S THAT?

- WITH YOUR KEYS?

MOST PEOPLE AROUND THESE PARTS WOULDN'T DO THAT.

- WHO'S NOT GOING TO TRUST SAM?

- [CRYING] JEB, THIS ISN'T THE TIME OR THE PLACE.

- MARY?

THERE YOU ARE.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE WANTING TO CUT THE CAKE.

- WELL, YES, OF COURSE.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE LOVELY BRIDE.

SO PURE AND ALTOGETHER INNOCENT.

I GUESS OUR LITTLE PRINCESS JUST CAN'T HANDLE ALL

THE EMOTIONS OF HER NEWFOUND BLISS.

- I WANT YOU TO SAY IT.

- SAY WHAT?

- CALL ME BY MY NAME.

- MRS. ROBERT MERCER.

- MMM.

[MOANING]

[2 THUMPS]

- I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMETHING.

- IT'S JUST THE BEATING OF MY HEART.

[CHUCKLING]

- MMM!

[CRASH]

[HORSE NEIGHING]

- WHAT IS IT?

- I DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE.

I BETTER CHECK.

- OH, ROBERT, COME NOW.

- IT'LL ONLY BE A MINUTE.

I THINK SOMEONE'S DOWN AT THE HARNESS SHOP.

- CAN YOU SEE ANYTHING?

- NO, I CAN'T.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

- I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

[DOOR CREAKING]

[CREAKING]

[MAN BREATHING]

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

[GUNSHOTS]

- ROBERT!

- HYAH!

[HORSE NEIGHING]

- ROBERT.

MARY, I PROMISE YOU, THIS TRAGEDY

WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED.

I CAN ASSURE YOU I WILL USE EVERY RESOURCE AT MY DISPOSAL

TO BRING WHOEVER DID THIS TO JUSTICE.

- MARY, YOU SAY YOU SAW A MAN ON HORSEBACK.

- YES.

- WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?

- I DIDN'T SEE HIS FACE.

- WAS IT A SLAVE?

- NO.

WOULD YOU PLEASE STOP ASKING ME ALL THESE QUESTIONS?

- CORNELIUS, JEB, PLEASE!

- WHO'D DO SUCH A THING?

- I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

- CHARLES.

- WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE, MR. ASHLAND?

- IT'S A BUTTON, A BRASS BUTTON.

- LET ME SEE THAT.

- THAT'S SARAH'S SLAVE'S BUTTON.

- ARE YOU SURE?

- POSITIVE. SAW THE SAME BUTTON ON THAT VEST OF HIS.

- LET'S GO.

- NOW REMEMBER, BOYS, WE DON'T WANT TO SCARE THIS SLAVE OFF

OR HURT MISS SARAH.

Y'ALL TAKE IT SLOW AND EASY UNTIL WE GET TO THE BARN.

[NICKERING]

- COME ON OUT, SAM!

WE KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!

- THERE'S A LIGHT ON IN THE BARN, GENTLEMEN.

I THINK HE'S HOME.

- COME ON OUT, SAM!

- YEAH, SAM, COME ON OUT!

- SAM!

WHERE ARE YOU, BOY? WE KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE.

COME ON, BOY! COME ON, BOY!

WHERE ARE YOU, SAM?

WHERE ARE YOU?

- CHECK IN THE STALLS.

- BE CAREFUL, BOYS. HE COULD HAVE A WEAPON.

- HOLD ON, Y'ALL. I GOT HIM.

[ALL YELLING AT ONCE]

- I'M GOING TO HURT YOU, SAM.

- THROW THAT!

- [GRUNTING]

- [GROANING]

- BRING IT DOWN!

- AAH!

- COME ON! GET HIM UP!

- GET HIM UP! GET HIM UP!

- THERE YOU GO! - HOLD IT! HOLD IT!

- I'VE GOT IT.

- WHAT DID ROBERT MERCER EVER DO TO YOU TO DESERVE WHAT YOU

DONE TO HIM, BOY?

- I AIN'T DONE NOTHING.

- DON'T LIE TO ME! - AAH!

- HOLD UP! WE'LL TIE HIM!

- WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?

- STAY OUT OF THIS, MISS McCULLOUGH.

IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, MA'AM.

- FOR NO REASON?

YOU'RE ABOUT TO HANG A MAN I'VE KNOWN SINCE HE WAS A BOY?

IT'S GOT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ME.

- SARAH, POOR ROBERT MERCER WAS MURDERED TONIGHT.

- MURDERED?

- YEAH, WE FOUND THIS HERE BUTTON

NO MORE THAN 3 FEET FROM WHERE SOMEBODY SHOT HIM.

NOW YOU TELL ME THAT ISN'T SAM'S.

- OFF OF SAM'S FANCY VEST HE'S WEARING.

- MR. BUCKNELL TORE THAT BUTTON OFF.

- SHUT UP. - WELL, HE'S RIGHT.

- ANYBODY COULD HAVE PICKED IT UP.

- THEY NEVER DID FIND THAT BUTTON.

- YOU ACCUSING ONE OF US, BOY? HUH? UH!

- AAH!

- LOOKEE HERE. WHAT HAVE WE GOT?

LOOK WHAT HE STOLE.

NOT ONLY IS HE A LYING MURDERER, HE IS ALSO A THIEF.

- THAT'S HIS WATCH.

- "TO SAMUEL PINKNEY FROM S. McCULLOUGH."

- HE DIDN'T STEAL IT. I GAVE IT TO HIM.

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING, SARAH?

PANDERING TO YOUR SLAVE?

- HE DOES DELIVERIES FOR ME.

I WANT HIM TO BE ON TIME.

IT'S... IT'S JUST GOOD BUSINESS.

NOW, Y'ALL LISTEN TO ME.

I'M AS DESTROYED AS EVERYONE ELSE ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED

TO ROBERT HERE, BUT TO HANG A MAN

OVER A BUTTON IS SHEER LUNACY.

NOW DESPITE WHAT Y'ALL MAY THINK ABOUT MY TREATMENT

OF HIM, HE IS MY LEGAL PROPERTY AND YOU ARE NOT DOING

ANYTHING TO HIM UNTIL THE SHERIFF BECOMES INVOLVED

AND WE HAVE A PROPER INVESTIGATION.

NOW YOU ALL GET HOME AND COOL YOUR HEELS.

- WELL, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE SHERIFF OVER HERE.

YOU CAN'T PROTECT HIM.

- YOU BETTER STAY PUT BECAUSE IF YOU RUN, I SWEAR TO GOD,

I WILL PERSONALLY HUNT YOU DOWN AND SHOOT YOU LIKE A DOG.

- LET'S TAKE CARE OF THAT POOR FACE.

- I DIDN'T KILL MR. MERCER.

- I BELIEVE YOU.

BUT WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU DOING IN THIS BARN

AT THIS HOUR OF NIGHT?

- I WAS OUT.

- WHERE?

LOOK, SAM, I WANT TO BELIEVE YOU.

BUT, DOGGONE IT, I CAN'T IF YOU'RE NOT FORTHCOMING.

- PLEASE, MA'AM, IF YOU WANT TO TURN ME OVER

TO THOSE MEN, GO AHEAD.

THEY ALREADY THINK I'M GUILTY,

SO YOU CAN JUST PASS YOUR JUDGMENT

AND JOIN RIGHT UP WITH THEM.

BUT I AIN'T TELLING YOU WHERE I WAS.

- "I DON'T BELIEVE SAM DID IT

"AND I INTEND TO FIND OUT WHO DID

"AND WHAT I CAN DO HELP THIS POOR MAN,

"WHO I CONSIDER MY DEAR FRIEND.

AFFECTIONATELY, SARAH McCULLOUGH."

- AND THAT'S ALL WE KNOW ABOUT THE WHOLE AFFAIR,

OTHER THAN WHAT'S IN THE NEWSPAPER.

HER ENDEAVOR TO PROVE PINKNEY'S INNOCENCE STOPPED

WITH THAT LETTER.

- WELL, HER EFFORTS DIDN'T NECESSARILY

STOP, I MEAN, JUST WHAT WE KNOW OF THEM.

- TRUE.

- DO YOU KNOW ANY OTHER FACTS ABOUT SARAH?

- WELL, BY THIS TIME, SHE WAS A WIDOW.

HER HUSBAND HAD DIED SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER.

THE LAND RECORDS INDICATE

THAT THE ESTATE WAS PASSED ONTO HER.

SHE SOLD MOST OF IT OFF,

EXCEPT FOR THE HOUSE AND A SMALL PARCEL TO SUSTAIN HERSELF.

- ANOTHER THING I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IS SARAH'S JOURNAL.

NOW IT IS ALLUDED TO IN HER LETTERS.

IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD GET OUR HANDS ON THAT?

- IT'S ANYBODY'S GUESS WHERE THAT MIGHT BE,

IF IT STILL EXISTS AT ALL.

- WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ABIGAIL PENNINGTON,

THE WOMAN THAT SARAH WAS WRITING TO?

- ONE OF HER RELATIVES PASSED ON A FEW YEARS AGO.

THEY AUCTIONED OFF HER THINGS.

A WOMAN OVER IN SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOUGHT THE ITEMS,

BUT I DON'T KNOW BELIEVE THEY WERE OF ANY HISTORICAL VALUE.

- I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU COULD REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE WOMAN

WHO BOUGHT THEM?

- MISS LAURA LEE CUSTER.

SHE LIVES OVER IN FREDERICKSBURG.

- AH!

OK.

- OH, MY.

HE FINALLY GOT HIS AUDIENCE.

- [SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

- I'D LIKE TO TALK TO HIM.

- WHY?

YOU DIDN'T GET ENOUGH OF HIS RHETORIC ALREADY?

- WELL, I CERTAINLY DON'T APPRECIATE HIS POSITIONS.

BUT HE CLAIMS TO HAVE REVIEWED SOME OF THE OLD DOCUMENTS

AND HE MIGHT BE JUST THE PERSON TO HELP US

TO FIND SARAH'S JOURNAL AND SOME OTHER CLUES.

I'D LIKE TO LAY DOWN A CHALLENGE.

- A CHALLENGE? JESSICA.

- MEET THESE CHALLENGES HEAD ON FOR THE SAKE

OF FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND THAT IS WHY, MY FRIENDS,

IT IS SO IMPORTANT... TO PRESERVE THE CULTURE,

WE MUST PRESERVE THE PAST.

THANK YOU.

- UH, MR. THORNTON.

- AH. LADIES.

I AM SORRY YOU MISSED MY SPEECH.

I ADDRESSED SOME OF THE ISSUES WE DISCUSSED EARLIER

IN MORE DETAIL.

I FIND THAT WHEN YOU THOROUGHLY EXAMINE THE FACTS,

IT HELPS US ALL UNDERSTAND HISTORY A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

- OH, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

WELL, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, DON'T YOU FIND IT CURIOUS

THE MENTION OF A JOURNAL IN SARAH McCULLOUGH'S LEDGER?

YOU DID READ IT, OF COURSE.

- I READ THE LEDGER.

YES, I DON'T RECALL MENTIONING THE JOURNAL.

- YES, BUT IF THERE WAS ONE AND IT

TURNED UP, YOU'D WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT?

- WELL, MOST ASSUREDLY.

- ATTENTION!

COLONEL THORNTON, PRIVATE WEBER REPORTING

FOR DUTY, SIR.

- PRIVATE WEBER AND I ARE INVOLVED

IN A CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT.

- OH.

- THESE LADIES HERE ARE REVIEWING

THEIR OWN LITTLE PIECE OF HISTORY.

THEY ARE RESEARCHING THE PINKNEY CASE.

- THEY'RE NOT PART OF THE NORTHERN AGGRESSION, ARE THEY?

I HOPE THEY DON'T WANT TO CHANGE HISTORY.

- DON'T TELL BILLY.

HE DOESN'T KNOW THE WAR'S OVER.

- IT'S JUST THAT I FIND THAT COLONEL THORNTON'S DESIRE

TO UPHOLD THE UNIQUE CHARACTER AND BEAUTY OF OUR PEOPLE

ALWAYS SEEMS TO COME UNDER ATTACK.

PRESERVE THE PAST, RIGHT, SIR?

- WELL, NO ONE IS DENYING THE UNIQUE BEAUTY OF THE SOUTH.

IT'S JUST THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT TO PAINT A PICTURE THAT

IS INACCURATE OF ITS HISTORY.

- THIS COUNTRY STILL HAS A LOT OF DISUNION.

I THINK THAT MEN LIKE COLONEL THORNTON SERVE US WELL

BY TRYING TO SOLIDIFY OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE.

- CULTURAL HERITAGE?

OR DO YOU MEAN RACIAL DIVISION?

- WELL, YOU CAN CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL.

BUT WHEN A NATION AFFIRMS ITS UNIFYING TRADITIONS, THERE'S

ALWAYS A LOT LESS DISAGREEMENT AND A LOT MORE UNITY.

- WELL, WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO FIGHT ANY WARS AGAIN.

- GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES.

- MY HUSBAND PUT MOST OF THE PENNINGTON ANTIQUES

UP HERE IN THE ATTIC.

YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO GO THROUGH THIS,

ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHERE ANYTHING IS.

OH, I'M KIND OF A PACK RAT.

I LIKE THE ANTIQUES,

BUT, WELL, I LIKE THE MODERN JUNK AS WELL.

- WELL, THANK YOU. WE'LL JUST START DIGGING.

- ALL RIGHT. HA HA.

- WELL, I'M JUST SO SORRY.

I WOULD HAVE SWORN I KEPT THAT STUFF UP HERE SOMEWHERE.

- HA. YOU DID CHECK THOSE 3 BOXES.

IT SAYS PENNINGTON ON THIS ONE HERE.

- YES, I'VE ALREADY LOOKED THERE.

THERE'S JUST OLD CHINA AND CRYSTAL, MOSTLY.

- WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT'S THIS?

- JESSICA?

- JUST AS I SUSPECTED.

- 1872.

- THIS BOX MUST HAVE BEEN PACKED

RIGHT AFTER THE END OF THE WAR.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I KEPT CHINA AND GLASS, I ALWAYS PUT A WAD

OF PAPER BETWEEN THE PIECES SO THEY DON'T GET BROKEN,

JUST LIKE THESE.

- THERE'S DOZENS OF THEM IN HERE.

- 1868, 1866.

- WAIT, LOOK, LOOK, HERE'S ONE. JUNE 22, 1860.

WELL, THAT'S JUST 2 DAYS AFTER THE LAST LETTER.

- IT'S FROM SARAH.

[LAUGHS]

"DEAR ABIGAIL, MUCH HAS HAPPENED

"SINCE I WROTE TO YOU LAST.

"IN SAM'S DEFENSE, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO LOOK INTO THIS

"DREADFUL MATTER REGARDING ROBERT MERCER'S MURDER.

"I WENT TO THE SCENE OF THIS HEINOUS CRIME, NOT HAVING

"THE SLIGHTEST NOTION OF WHAT I MIGHT FIND.

"I NOTICED SEVERAL PECULIAR THINGS ABOUT THE HARNESS SHOP

WHERE ROBERT WAS KILLED."

"PACKAGES ARRIVED AND WERE SENT ON SAFELY.

LEVI STILLMAN." HMM.

- WE FIGURE SAM WAS LAYING FOR HIM.

ROBERT COME THROUGH THAT DOOR AND BANG.

- I FOUND THIS IN THE WALL.

- HMM.

WELL, MARY SAID SHE HEARD 2 SHOTS.

THIS ONE MUST HAVE MISSED.

- WELL, NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE GUNS THAT

CAN FIRE MORE THAN ONE SHOT.

I KNOW THERE ARE NONE AT MY PLACE.

- WELL, SAM MIGHT HAVE FOUND ONE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WHY, JEB BUCKNELL WAS SHOWING US HIS COLT WALKER PISTOL

AT THE RECEPTION. HE CAN FIRE 6 SHOTS.

- AND DOES IT TAKE BULLETS THAT ARE CONICAL LIKE THIS?

- IS THAT WHY YOU COME UP HERE?

JUST TO STIR UP SOME IMPLAUSIBLE SCENARIO?

- NO. JUST TRYING TO FIND THE TRUTH.

THERE. THERE'S A GOOD BOY.

- MORNING, MISS SARAH.

- HEH. SHERIFF UNDERWOOD.

I FIGURED YOU'D BE OUT HERE SOONER OR LATER.

- YOU SEEN SAM TODAY?

- OH, I'M SURE HE'S AROUND.

- I'M NOT GOING TO ARREST HIM,

AT LEAST NOT UNTIL I GET ALL THE EVIDENCE IN.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROMISE ME

YOU'LL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON HIM FOR ME.

- SO THEY CAN MAKE IT LEGAL TO HANG ME?

- SAM, IT'S NOT GOING TO DO YOU ANY GOOD TO GET ANTAGONISTIC.

I HAVE TO GATHER ALL THESE FACTS SO THAT WHEN THE CIRCUIT

MAGISTRATE COMES THROUGH HERE, HE CAN RENDER A DECISION.

- YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER THIS IN YOUR INVESTIGATION.

I FOUND IT IN ROBERT MERCER'S HARNESS SHOP.

- WELL, THAT LOOKS LIKE LEAD FROM A COLT REVOLVER.

- I UNDERSTAND THAT JEB BUCKNELL HAS ONE OF THOSE.

- IS THAT A FACT?

- YEAH, HE WAS SHOWING IT

OFF AT THE RECEPTION.

- HEH. WELL, I'LL BE GOING OUT THERE THIS AFTERNOON.

I THINK I'LL JUST HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH HIM ABOUT IT.

- WELL, I'LL BE VERY INTERESTED TO HEAR

WHAT HE HAS TO SAY. MAY I JOIN YOU LATER?

- SUIT YOURSELF.

- HE DIDN'T COME OUT HERE TO REASSURE ME

THAT I'D BE TREATED FAIRLY.

HE CAME OUT HERE TO CHECK UP ON ME.

- NO. HE MIGHT BE AN ADVOCATE, SAM.

- MISS SARAH, THE DAY THE LAW STANDS UP FOR A SLAVE BE

THE DAY THAT THEM BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS FALL FLAT.

- YEAH, BUT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP

BELIEVING THAT WE CAN CONVINCE THEM OF THE TRUTH.

- BELIEVE. I TELL YOU WHAT I BELIEVE.

I BELIEVE THAT WE'S ALL CALLED ON TO BEAR SOMETHING.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELVES,

IF YOU STAND UP FOR THE TRUTH,

YOU'RE GOING TO RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS.

YOU'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE SOME PAIN

FROM THOSE WHO DON'T WANT THE TRUTH.

- I RESENT YOU EVEN SUGGESTING

THAT MY PISTOL KILLED ROBERT MERCER, SHERIFF.

- NOW, DON'T GET YOURSELF ALL IN AN UPROAR, JEB.

WE JUST WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

- WELL, IT COULDN'T BE JEB'S GUN, SHERIFF.

I GOT THAT RIGHT HERE IN MY GUN CABINET.

- AND EVERY MAN WHO ATTENDED THE RECEPTION KNEW IT.

- AHA, YOU SEE?

HERE IT IS, RIGHT THERE, THE WAY I LEFT IT.

- CHARLES?

- NOW WE ALL SAW MR. HOBBS PUT THAT PISTOL IN THAT CASE

AT THE RECEPTION.

[CLOCK CHIMING]

- WELL, IT LOOKS TO BE THE SAME CALIBER.

AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE, THE MARKINGS ON THIS MOLD

MATCH PERFECTLY WITH THE BULLET MISS SARAH FOUND.

- THAT SLAVE OF YOURS.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

HE COME HERE AND HE STOLE MY PISTOL OUT OF THAT BOX.

- THE LAST TIME ANYONE SAW THAT PISTOL WAS RIGHT HERE

WHEN CHARLES PUT IT AWAY THAT EVENING.

NOW, SAM WASN'T IN THE HOUSE AFTER THAT.

IN FACT, SHORTLY AFTERWARDS I SENT HIM OUT TO GET ICE.

- ARE YOU SAYING THAT SOMEBODY AT MY DAUGHTER'S RECEPTION

STOLE THAT WEAPON AND USED IT TO MURDER ROBERT?

- SAM GOT ANOTHER SLAVE TO HELP HIM.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

THERE'S MORE THAN ONE SLAVE INVOLVED IN THIS, SHERIFF.

- YEAH, BUT WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE?

GENTLEMEN, PLEASE.

I MEAN, THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALL

OVERLOOKING IS WHAT REASON WOULD SAM HAVE

FOR KILLING ROBERT?

- AND SOMEBODY HERE DID?

- WELL, YOU TELL ME.

- DADDY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

- IT'S NOTHING, SWEETHEART.

YOU GO ON.

- JEB, WHERE'S YOUR PISTOL?

- IT'S BEEN MISPLACED, DARLING.

BUT IT'LL TURN UP.

- IT'S YOUR GUN.

IT'S YOUR GUN THAT KILLED ROBERT.

- NOW YOU JUST SETTLE YOURSELF DOWN.

I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

- YOU SURE ENOUGH WANTED HIM DEAD.

- NOW, MARY, YOU HUSH THAT KIND OF TALK.

- MARY, I WAS ASLEEP IN THIS HOUSE

WHEN ROBERT MERCER WAS KILLED.

- HE'S RIGHT, MARY. RIGHT HERE UNDER OUR OWN ROOF.

- YOU'VE GOT TO BELIEVE ME.

I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH ON THIS.

- DID YOU HATE HIM THAT MUCH?

HAT BUCKNELL'S PISTOL WAS USED

STILL DOESN'T ELIMINATE SAM AS A SUSPECT.

- YOU TELL ME, HOW DID HE GET THE GUN OUT OF THE HOUSE?

- I DON'T KNOW. BUT THE CIRCUIT MAGISTRATE

WILL BE THROUGH HERE IN A FEW DAYS

AND IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL BY THEN,

I'M AFRAID I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ARREST HIM.

GOOD DAY, MISS SARAH.

- GOOD DAY, SHERIFF.

- OH, FOR GOD'S SAKES, MARY,

WILL YOU PLEASE LISTEN TO ME?

- I WILL NOT DISCUSS THIS FURTHER, JEB.

I WILL HEAR NO MORE OF YOUR FEEBLE EXPLANATIONS.

- AS YOU WISH, MARY.

- TSK, TSK, TSK, TSK.

- I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE PISTOL.

- THAT'S ALL SO DISTURBING, SO VERY DISTURBING.

- TELL ME, THAT DAY AT THE RECEPTION WHEN I

FOUND YOU TWO...

- I DID LOVE JEB, BUT I DON'T LOVE HIM ANYMORE.

- AND YOU TOLD HIM THAT AT THE RECEPTION?

- YES. I MEAN, I TOLD HIM THAT MONTHS AGO.

- MONTHS?

- I TOLD HIM IT WAS OVER.

- AND THERE WASN'T ANY REASON FOR HIM

TO BELIEVE THAT IT WASN'T TRUE?

- ABSOLUTELY NONE.

MISS SARAH, I-I LOVED ROBERT.

WILL YOU EXCUSE ME?

- SAM, SO YOU DIDN'T GO

INTO THE HOUSE DURING THE RECEPTION AT ALL?

- I DIDN'T GO IN THAT HOUSE THAT WHOLE DAY.

MISS SARAH, I WAS JUST OUT BACK LISTENING TO THE GOOD

TIME THAT Y'ALL WAS HAVING.

- NOW IS THERE ANYONE WHO COULD VOUCH FOR YOU?

- MARY BELL, JIM, YOU.

YOU SAW ME WITH MR. MERCER.

BUT HE AIN'T HERE TO TELL, NOW IS HE?

IN FACT, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO USE THAT AGAINST ME.

WE WASN'T DOING ANYTHING BUT LOOKING AT A SPLIT RIM.

- AND THAT'S ALL YOU WERE DOING?

- YES, MA'AM, THAT'S ALL WE WAS DOING.

MISS SARAH, I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS, BUT IT AIN'T

GOING TO MAKE A BIT OF DIFFERENCE.

A SLAVE IS ALWAYS GUILTY.

- WELL, WE ALWAYS HAVE HOPES, SAM.

I MEAN, THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US.

- HOPE.

YOU TELL ME WHAT THAT WORD MEAN?

- WELL, I DON'T PRETEND TO FULLY

UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I CERTAINLY DO KNOW

THAT WE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT.

- SOMETIMES IT'S AWFUL HARD LIVING WITH IT.

I AIN'T SO SURE I BELIEVE IN BELIEVIN' NO MORE.

- THE POOR SOUL.

- THIS LETTER ONLY RAISES MORE QUESTIONS THAN IT ANSWERS.

- BUT THEY'RE GOOD QUESTIONS.

WHO STOLE THE PISTOL?

WHO WAS TO GET THE FOOD THAT SARAH FOUND?

AND THE LETTER TELLS US WHERE TO LOOK NEXT.

LIKE THAT LEVI STILLMAN... THE FELLOW THAT MERCER

WAS SENDING THE PACKAGES TO.

CASSANDRA?

- AS A SCHOLAR, YOU TAKE A RATHER COLD LOOK AT HISTORY,

BUT THIS IS ISN'T LIKE LOOKING AT SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE,

THIS IS PART OF MY OWN.

- [SIGHS]

IT'S AS IF SAMUEL IS CRYING OUT TO YOU, BUT THERE'S

NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

- EXACTLY.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN LIKE.

THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT HIM, WHAT HE WENT THROUGH,

THE INJUSTICE, IT CONSUMES ME.

AND THERE'S NO RELEASE BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE HAVE GONE ON.

AND HERE WE ARE, LEFT WITH THIS SENSE THAT A WRONG HAS

BEEN COMMITTED AND...

AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

- WELL, I'VE DONE SOME SEARCHING INTO MY OWN PAST.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS, THESE DISCOVERIES, EVEN WHAT I'M

FINDING OUT NOW ABOUT SARAH, THEY SHOW US MORE ABOUT THOSE

PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY ENDURED.

BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY DO REAFFIRM WHO WE ARE.

- PERHAPS.

BUT IT DOESN'T HURT ANY LESS.

I DON'T THINK I SHOULD CONTINUE.

- OH, BUT, CASSANDRA, YOU CAN'T QUIT NOW.

YOU MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE TO FINALLY CLEAR HIS NAME.

I MEAN, WOULDN'T YOU JUST LOVE TO GIVE HIM THAT GIFT?

TO RIGHT THAT WRONG?

- [SIGHS] LET'S SEE.

MAYBE THIS... FAMILY REGISTRY COULD HELP.

HERE'S A LEVI STILLMAN, LIVED IN WARRENTON,

FAMILY WERE QUAKERS, PACIFISTS.

- OH, YEAH, THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS

OF FOLKS AROUND THESE PART GOT QUAKER ROOTS.

- WELL, DO YOU RECOGNIZE ANY OF HIS DESCENDANTS, LAURA LEE?

- WELL, I'M NO HISTORIAN, BUT I'LL BE

HAPPY TO LOOK AND SEE IF I KNOW ANY OF THE NAMES.

OH. WELL, I'LL BE.

I DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD STILLMAN BLOOD IN HER.

- WHO?

- WELL, ELIZA HOOPS.

OH, SHE'S QUITE A CHARACTER.

I GUESS SHE'D BE LEVI STILLMAN'S GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER.

- IS SHE STILL ALIVE?

- WELL, THERE'S NO DATE OF DEATH IN THE REGISTRY.

I KNOW SHE LIVES UP AROUND WARRENTON.

HER FAMILY'S HAD A HOME UP THERE FOR 200 YEARS.

MY GOODNESS, SHE HAS TO BE OVER 100 BY NOW.

- OH, HELLO.

YOU SAY YOU'RE FROM ENGLAND?

- NO, MA'AM. NEW ENGLAND.

- OH. DID YOU BRING LOBSTER?

- UH, NOT THIS TRIP.

- JUST AS WELL.

I DON'T LIKE EATING ANYTHING

THAT CAN PINCH HARDER THAN I CAN.

UH... YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT MY GRANDFATHER?

- ACTUALLY, IT WOULD BE YOUR GREAT GRANDFATHER.

- LEVI.

- YOU KNEW HIM?

- IS HE HERE?

- NO, MA'AM, HE'S NOT, BUT DO YOU

REMEMBER WHEN HE WAS?

DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT A FRIEND

OF HIS NAMED ROBERT MERCER?

- OH, I HAD A CAT NAMED MERCER ONCE.

- I DON'T THINK SHE'S GOING TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TELEGRAMS

AND PACKAGES SENT NORTH.

- GREAT GRANDPA SENT PACKAGES ALL THE TIME.

- GREAT GRANDPA LEVI SENT PACKAGES?

- YES, ON THE TRAIN.

- THE TRAIN?

- YES.

CAME RIGHT THROUGH HERE, IT DID.

- NO, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A DEPOT NEARBY.

- NOT NEARBY.

RIGHT THROUGH HERE.

WE RODE IT ALL THE TIME AND IT HAD A MAGIC COMPARTMENT.

- MAGIC COMPARTMENTS?

- YES, MY COUSINS AND I RODE IT ALL THE TIME.

CAME RIGHT THROUGH THIS ROOM.

SHH!

DON'T DISTURB THE PASSENGERS.

ALL ABOARD!

TRAIN'S LEAVING!

HURRY UP, YOU'LL MISS THE TRAIN!

- I THINK YOU SHOULD SIT DOWN.

YOU COULD HURT YOURSELF.

- NO, NO, NO. ALL ABOARD!

RIDE IN THE MAGIC COMPARTMENT.

[CLICKING]

ALL ABOARD!

YOU WANT A RIDE?

GRANDPA SAID LOTS OF FOLKS DID.

LOTS OF BLACK FOLKS.

- IT'S NOT A REAL TRAIN.

IT'S THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

- YEP.

ALL THE WAY TO PHILADELPHIA.

- THE PACKAGES ROBERT WERE SENDING TO THE NORTH

WERE RUNAWAY SLAVES.

- LADIES, LADIES, I APPRECIATE

ALL THESE THEORIES Y'ALL ARE COMING UP WITH.

- NO, BUT THESE ARE MORE THAN JUST THEORIES.

I MEAN, THERE IS CONSIDERABLE EVIDENCE

TO SUGGEST THAT ROBERT MERCER WAS WORKING

ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

- SAMUEL PINKNEY AND OTHER SLAVES

IN THE COUNTY PROBABLY KNEW ABOUT IT.

WELL, DON'T YOU SEE, HE WOULDN'T HAVE MURDERED

ROBERT MERCER IF THIS MAN WAS HELPING HIS PEOPLE TO FREEDOM.

- MA'AM, JUST BECAUSE A MERCHANT SENT A PACKAGE

DOESN'T MEAN THAT PACKAGE WAS A SLAVE.

YOU WOMEN ARE COMING UP WITH THESE MEANINGLESS THINGS

AND USING THEM TO SPIN FAIRY TALES ABOUT HOW YOU WISH

THINGS HAPPENED RATHER THAN THE WAY THEY REALLY WERE.

- AND YOU'RE NOT?

- I WRITE BOOKS THAT SPELL OUT FACTS AND I USE THESE WORDS

TO INFORM, NOT TO INFLUENCE.

NOW IF YOU WILL EXCUSE ME,

I HAVE A REAL PIECE OF HISTORY TO RECREATE.

- EXCUSE ME.

LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MY CAR!

OHH.

- THOSE ARE YOUR WORDS, MR. THORNTON.

DO YOU STILL THINK YOU HAVE NO INFLUENCE?

- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

- IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY NOW.

IT'S WHAT YOU HAVE SAID IN THE PAST.

- I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

- YOU MAY NOT CARRY A RIFLE,

BUT YOUR WORDS ARE CERTAINLY WEAPONS.

IT'S THOSE VERY SENTIMENTS

THAT CAN FUEL THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR.

SURELY, AS AN HISTORIAN, YOU HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE

THOSE IN THIS WORLD WHO HATE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T LIKE THEM.

NOW DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GIVE

THEM MORE REASONS TO JUSTIFY THAT HATRED?

- I'VE ALWAYS FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE TRADITIONS

OF THE SOUTH, BUT IT WAS AN INTELLECTUAL DEBATE.

I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO PRESERVE...

- PRESERVE WHAT, MR. THORNTON, YOUR NOBLE PAST?

AND JUST WHAT ABOUT THAT PAST ARE YOU WANTING TO KEEP ALIVE?

BECAUSE IN SPITE OF THIS TOWN'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS,

THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE ONE MAN COULD OWN ANOTHER,

WHERE CHILDREN COULD BE RIPPED

FROM THEIR PARENTS' ARMS AND NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN.

A PLACE WHERE A HUMAN BEING WITH PASSIONS AND DESIRES HAD

TO DENY THE VERY SPARK THAT MAKES HIM HUMAN... HIS OWN WILL.

MEANWHILE, THE GOOD TOWNSPEOPLE JUST WENT

ON ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.

THEY SAW NO SHAME IN IT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE?

NOT JUST PREJUDICE, BUT THE RIGHT NOT TO NOTICE WHEN

SOMETHING IS HAPPENING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU?

- I HAVE ALWAYS SOUGHT THE TRUTH.

THAT WAS MY SOLE MOTIVATION.

- OH, THE TRUTH!

THAT IS THE MOST ELUSIVE OF ALL MYSTERIES.

- ALL RIGHT, MEN!

- YOU KNOW THE INSIDIOUS THING ABOUT A LIE IS THAT THE BEST

ONES ARE CLOSEST TO THE TRUTH.

- BUT IF YOU FIND ONE MORE BIT OF EVIDENCE...

IT ALL BECOMES CLEAR.

WE'RE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE.

- WHAT?

- AUNT SARAH'S JOURNAL, IT'S NOT HERE IN CULPEPPER.

HOW'D I MISS THAT?

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN, IT'S NOT HERE?

THIS IS WHERE SHE LIVED.

- YES, BUT IT'S NOT WHERE SHE DIED.

LOOK, SHE DIED IN A FIELD HOSPITAL IN MANASSAS.

THE MEN IN UNIFORM TRIGGERED IT.

- SO?

- WELL, SHE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE JOURNAL WITH HER, RIGHT?

- HAVING NO LIVING RELATIVES HERE, HER POSSESSIONS WOULD BE

WITH HER IN THE PLACE WHERE SHE DIED.

SO CHANCES ARE, IF THE JOURNAL DOES EXIST, IT'S IN MANASSAS.

- I BELIEVE YOU'RE CORRECT.

- WHAT YOU LADIES NEED IS SOMEONE TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH

THE BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

- SOMEONE WHO HAS STUDIED IT IN DETAIL, PERHAPS?

- YES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SOMEONE

WHO WANTS TO HELP FIND THE TRUTH IN ALL THIS.

- HMM, THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH.

WAIT A MINUTE.

IF SHE DIDN'T DIE FROM WOUNDS, HOW WOULD SHE...

- PERHAPS SHE SUCCUMBED TO SOME DISEASE OR OTHER.

- DISEASE?

WHERE?

- WELL, THERE WERE PLACES OTHER THAN

THE FIELD HOSPITALS.

THERE WERE INFIRMARIES WHERE PEOPLE WERE QUARANTINED

IF THEY FELL ILL AFTER THE BATTLE.

- IN MANASSAS?

- IN MANASSAS, I BELIEVE THERE WAS A CHURCH.

[BELL TOLLING]

- IS YOUR HOME...

- THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

THERE MIGHT BE SOME PAPERS.

- NO, THAT'S IT.

NO PAPERS.

- YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND.

- THE JOURNAL OF SARAH McCULLOUGH, 1858 THROUGH...

WELL, SHE NEVER FINISHED.

WELL, OF COURSE, SHE NEVER FINISHED.

SHE DIED.

- GO AHEAD, READ IT.

- "JUNE, 1860, TODAY I DECIDED TO PRESS ON WITH MY INQUIRY.

"THERE WAS A PECULIAR SENSE OF DUPLICITY IN THE AIR.

"EVERYONE ACQUAINTED WITH THE MURDER SEEMED STRANGELY GUARDED.

I WONDERED WHAT THEY WERE HIDING."

- CHARLES, THE ONE QUESTION THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE

ASKING IS WHY.

I MEAN, WHAT ON EARTH WOULD BE

THE MOTIVE FOR SAM?

HE AND ROBERT WERE THE BEST OF FRIENDS.

- FRIENDS?

OH, COME, COME, SARAH.

A SLAVE CAN NEVER TRULY BE A FRIEND TO A WHITE.

OH, THEY'LL PRETEND TO BE YOUR FRIEND, BUT NO,

NO, THEY'LL TURN ON YOU.

- IS THAT WHAT YOU HEARD THE DAY OF THE RECEPTION

OUT BACK OF YOUR BARN?

- WELL, PINKNEY HAD WORKED HIMSELF INTO A DITHER.

- ARE YOU SAYING THAT ROBERT HAD WORDS WITH SAMUEL?

- WELL, I CERTAINLY WASN'T PRIVY

TO THEIR DISPUTE, BUT, YES, THAT SLAVE OF YOURS AND ROBERT

HAD AN ALTERCATION.

- WELL, IF ROBERT WAS UPSET WITH SAM,

HOW COME HE TURNED RIGHT AROUND AND ENTRUSTED HIM

TO GET ICE FROM HIS HOUSE?

- WELL, HONEY, HOW IN THE WORLD WOULD I KNOW?

LOOK, ROBERT NEVER DID KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE SLAVES.

YOU CAN SEE HOW IT FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH HIM.

I'M TELLING YOU, SARAH, YOU CANNOT TRUST THEM.

- HE TRUSTED SAM ENOUGH TO GIVE HIM THE KEYS

TO HIS PLACE.

- HE GAVE HIM HIS KEYS?

WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT, DON'T YOU SEE?

IT'S THOSE VERY KEYS THAT GAVE SAM ACCESS

TO THE HARNESS SHOP.

- WELL, THAT'S INTERESTING THAT A MAN

WITH A KEY WOULD FIND IT NECESSARY

TO BREAK OPEN THE LOCK.

- WHAT?

- I WAS OVER AT THE HARNESS SHOP.

WHOEVER KILLED ROBERT DIDN'T HAVE ANY KEY,

THEY FORCED THEIR WAY IN THAT NIGHT.

- NOW YOU LOOK HERE, SARAH, YOU'RE UPSET, BUT YOU BE

CAREFUL OR YOU MAY GET MORE THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR.

- DADDY, WE'RE GOING OUT.

- OH, YOU AND JEB?

- YES, I NEED TO GET MY MIND OFF OF ALL THESE ILL FEELINGS.

- WELL, HONEY, I KNOW JEB'S BEEN A GREAT COMFORT TO YOU.

- MY EFFORTS IN REGARDS TO MARY ARE MOST CERTAINLY QUITE

CONTRARY TO WHAT MISS McCULLOUGH'S BEEN INSINUATING.

- I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO KILLED YOUR HUSBAND.

- WHY, YOU'RE INTERESTED IN FREEING

YOUR SLAVE WHO DID IT.

- SO YOU'RE NOT CONVINCED THAT IT WAS SAM?

- I SAW SAM THAT NIGHT.

I SAW HIM FLEEING ROBERT'S WORKSHOP.

I'M QUITE TIRED OF ALL THE TALK TO THE CONTRARY.

NOW IF YOU'LL EXCUSE US, JEB AND I ARE GOING RIDING.

- WELL, I THINK THAT'S A SPLENDID IDEA.

I THINK THE FRESH AIR WILL DO YOU GOOD.

- OH, DADDY, I SEEM TO HAVE

MISPLACED MY RIDING CROP, MAY I BORROW YOURS?

- OF COURSE, DARLING, IT'S IN THE TACK ROOM.

Y'ALL RUN ALONG NOW AND ENJOY YOURSELF.

- THANK YOU, MR. HOBBS.

MISS McCULLOUGH.

[HORSE NEIGHING]

- THERE, THERE, NOW.

WHAT ON EARTH!

- HELP.

- WHO ARE YOU?

- NAME'S BESS.

PLEASE DON'T HURT ME, MA'AM.

YOU AIN'T GOING TO HURT ME, IS YA?

I DON'T MEAN NO HARM.

- WELL, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

- BESS, WAIT. - SAM!

- MISS SARAH, THIS IS ALL MY DOING.

DON'T LET HER SCARE YOU. I BROUGHT HER HERE.

- IN THIS, THIS...

- THAT'S A FALSE BOTTOM, MA'AM.

I MADE IT.

IT'S FOR HIDING SLAVES, MA'AM.

RUNAWAY SLAVES.

- YOU, SAM?

- YES, MA'AM.

WHEN I'M OUT DELIVERING EGGS, I PICK THEM UP.

- AND WHERE DO YOU TAKE THEM?

NOW YOU COME OUT WITH THIS, SAM, OR SO HELP ME...

- I TOOK THEM TO MR. MERCER'S HOUSE.

THAT IS, UNTIL HE GOT KILLED.

YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO KNOW NONE OF THIS, MA'AM.

I DIDN'T WANT THIS TO BE YOUR TROUBLE.

- WELL, IT'S MY TROUBLE NOW.

- MR. MERCER, HE SENT THEM ON NORTH ON THE RAILROAD.

HE SENT THEM TO FREEDOM.

- AND THIS WOMAN HERE?

- THIS HERE BESS.

SHE MY WIFE.

- YOUR WIFE?

- YES, MA'AM.

SHE FROM MR. LA TROBE'S PLACE.

WE GOT MARRIED IN SECRET LAST FALL.

- WELL, Y'ALL COULD HAVE TOLD ME.

- WE WAS AFRAID TO TELL ANYBODY, MA'AM.

MR. LA TROBE, HE A HARD MAN.

HE MIGHT HAVE SOLD BESS, SENT HER WAY ON DOWN SOUTH.

I NEVER WOULD HAVE SEEN HER AGAIN.

I'M SORRY, MA'AM.

I AIN'T NEVER MEANT TO LIE TO YOU. I...

I WAS WITH BESS THE NIGHT MR. MERCER GOT KILLED,

HAD GONE OVER TO SEE HER.

- WELL, THERE'S YOUR ALIBI.

BESS HERE CAN VOUCH FOR YOUR WHEREABOUTS THAT EVENING.

- NO, NO, MA'AM.

AIN'T NOBODY GOING TO BELIEVE THAT.

THEY DON'T KNOW WE'S MARRIED.

THEY JUST GOING TO THINK WE MADE ALL THAT UP

AND THEY GONNA SEND BESS AWAY FOR SURE.

THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT HER HERE.

I NEED TO GET HER ON UP NORTH.

- YOU AIN'T GONNA TELL IT, IS YOU, MA'AM?

PLEASE?

- HYAH! HYAH! COME ON! LET'S GO!

- LOOK OUT THERE! LOOK OUT! WHOA! WHOA!

MARY, SAM, GET OVER HERE.

- DADDY, WHAT'S WRONG?

- MR. HOBBS, WHAT IS IT?

- YOU KNOW THAT CREEK BETWEEN HERE AND RAWLOR'S HOUSE?

- YES, SIR.

- WELL, I'M CHECKING OUT THE WEST PASTURE

AND I SEE SOMETHING GLEAMING IN THE MUD RIGHT DOWN

IN THAT CREEK BOTTOM.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS?

- THAT'S MY REVOLVER.

- SO IT IS YOUR PISTOL.

- HOW DID IT GET THERE?

- WELL, THAT ROAD IS THE MOST DIRECT

ROUTE BETWEEN HERE AND SARAH McCULLOUGH'S HOUSE.

YOU TELL ME.

- I SHALL KILL HIM, MR. HOBBS.

I WILL SHOOT THAT MURDERER WHERE HE STANDS.

- NOW YOU HOLD ON, JEB.

DON'T YOU GO RUNNING OFF BY YOURSELF.

IT MIGHT BE TOO DANGEROUS FOR ONE MAN TO HANDLE.

YOU LET ME GO GET ASHLAND AND THE OTHERS.

- YES, SIR.

- MARY, YOU GET IN THE HOUSE AND LOCK UP.

- JIM, SADDLE MY HORSE! - STAND ASIDE, JEB.

- HYAH! HYAH! HYAH!

- MISS SARAH, I DIDN'T TELL YOU

BECAUSE I WANTED TO PROTECT YOU.

I WANTED IT TO BE ME THAT TOOK THE RISK, NOT YOU.

- BUT WHETHER YOU TOLD ME OR NOT,

IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT YOU DID.

- YES, MA'AM, I KNOW, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO SEE...

- YOU'RE NOT HEARING ME, SAM.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU DON'T NEED TO APOLOGIZE.

WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS A GOOD THING

AND I DON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU.

I RECKON I SHOULD,

BEING A RIGHT PROPER SOUTHERNER THAT I AM.

I SHOULD BE ENRAGED.

STEALING OTHER MEN'S PROPERTY.

- MA'AM, FROM WHAT SAM TELLS ME, YOU'RE

THE KIND OF RIGHT PROPER SOUTHERNER

THAT WOULD BE OUTRAGED

ABOUT MAKING A MAN BE SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY.

- [SIGHS] SAM, I ALWAYS KNEW YOU'D MARRY

SOMEONE WHO'D SPEAK HER MIND.

- YES, MA'AM.

- THEN I RECKON YOU WON'T GET OFFENDED WHEN WE TELL YOU

ABOUT OUR OTHER SURPRISE.

- SAM?

- COME ON, JEREMIAH.

THERE AIN'T NO USE HIDING NOTHING NOW.

- GOOD HEAVENS!

WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU GOT STASHED IN MY BARN?

- THAT'S IT, I SWEAR.

THIS HERE IS JEREMIAH JESSUP.

- OH, I KNOW,

HE'S FROM THE HALSTEAD ESTATE.

I RECOGNIZE HIM.

HOW DID HE GET HERE?

- I GOT HIM THE DAY OF THE WEDDING.

HE WAS ACTUALLY HIDING DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BUCKBOARD

WHILE WE WAS DRIVING OVER TO MR. HOBBS' RECEPTION.

- WELL, NO WONDER THAT DOG WAS HAVING SUCH A FIT.

- THAT OLD DOG ABOUT GAVE ME AND MR. MERCER AWAY.

- MY GOODNESS.

DO YOU SUPPOSE ANYONE SAW JEREMIAH AT THE RECEPTION?

- I DON'T THINK SO.

I MEAN, I DON'T RIGHTLY KNOW.

- IF THEY DID, THAT WOULD EXPLAIN...

- EXPLAIN WHAT?

- SAM! SAM, THEY COMING.

- SLOW DOWN, JIM. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

- MR. HOBBS AND JEB.

THEY GOING TO GET ALL THE WHITE FOLKS.

THEY FOUND JEB'S PISTOL IN THE CREEK.

SAYS YOU THREW IT IN THERE AFTER KILLING MR. MERCER.

THEY GOING TO LYNCH YOU, SAM.

- NO!

- THANK YOU.

LOOK, YOU BEST BE GETTING ON BACK.

THEY AIN'T GOING TO TAKE TOO KINDLY TO YOU BEING HERE.

CUT ACROSS THE MEADOW BECAUSE THEY GONNA BE COMING

DOWN THE ROAD.

WE GOTS TO GET YOU AND JEREMIAH OUT OF HERE.

- AND YOU AS WELL, SAM.

IT'S TIME YOU TOOK THAT TRIP ON THE RAILROAD.

- I AIN'T DO WHAT THEY SAID.

I DIDN'T DITCH NO GUN.

- I KNOW YOU DIDN'T...

AND I THINK I HAVE A GOOD IDEA WHO DID,

BUT THERE'S NO TIME NOW.

NOW YOU'VE ALL GOT TO GET GOING.

NOW I WILL PICK UP SOME SUPPLIES

AND MEET Y'ALL DOWN AT KANE BRIDGE LATER.

GO ON, SAM.

NOW I WON'T TAKE NO.

GO ON!

- THANK YOU.

- HYAH! HYAH!

- HYAH! COME ON, BOYS!

COME ON! WHOO!

[MEN YELLING]

- WHERE'S THAT MURDERING SLAVE OF YOURS?

- WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

- WE FOUND JEB'S PISTOL.

- JUST WHERE YOUR SAM THREW IT.

- MM-HMM. - NOW WHERE IS HE?

- OR HAS HE ALREADY RUN OFF?

- WELL, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT SAM HAS NOT RUN OFF.

BUT IN YOUR PRESENT STATE OF MIND,

I'M LOATHE TO TELL YOU HIS WHEREABOUTS.

NOW I'M GOING TO GO AND FIND SHERIFF UNDERWOOD.

- YOU HOLD ON THERE.

YOU AIN'T GOING NOWHERE, SARAH.

THE TIME FOR PROTECTING THAT MAN IS DONE GONE.

YOU'RE GOING TO TELL US WHERE HE IS.

- SO YOU CAN LYNCH HIM?

- NOW LISTEN HERE, SARAH, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND...

- GENTLEMEN, HE'S DOWN SOUTH AT MORGAN'S PLACE.

- YOU GIVE ME THAT.

- UH-UH-UH. IT SAYS RIGHT HERE...

MONDAY, MILK AND CHEESE RUN.

- NOW YOU HAVE NO RIGHT.

- THAT'S WHERE HE IS, ISN'T IT?

- COME ON, SARAH, OUT WITH IT!

- SHE'S NOT GOING TO TELL YOU, MR. ASHLAND,

BUT IT'S ALL OVER HER FACE.

THAT'S WHERE HER SLAVE IS.

- LET'S GET HIM.

- COME ON!

[MEN YELLING]

- HYAH!

- TSK, TSK, TSK. GET ON THERE, NED.

HURRY UP, NED!

- HYAH! HYAH!

- HYAH!

- HEY, MORGAN, WHAT YOU DOING OUT HERE?

- I'VE JUST BEEN HUNTING.

- SARAH McCULLOUGH'S SLAVE BEEN TO SEE YOU TODAY?

- NO, SIR, I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

- SHE TRICKED US, GENTLEMEN.

I'M SURE HE'S ON THE RUN NOW.

IT'S GETTING DARK SOON.

HE'S GOING TO BE HARD TO TRACK.

- MEN, LET'S GO GET THE DOGS,

THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO HER PLACE AND PICK UP THE SCENT.

- HYAH! HYAH!

[DOGS BARKING THROUGHOUT]

[MEN YELLING]

- LET'S GO, PICK UP THE SCENT OVER THERE.

- NO.

- WHAT YOU HEAR, SAM? - SHH!

[MEN YELLING]

- GO ON UP THAT WAY. GO ON. KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.

- NO, SAM.

- WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THAT BRIDGE, MEET MISS SARAH.

- NO, THEY MIGHT HAVE FOLLOWED HER THERE.

WE GONNA SPLIT UP.

YOU TAKE BESS, TRAVEL EAST,

WORK YOUR WAY DOWN THE EMBANKMENT TO THE RAVINE,

HIDE OUT IN THE WOODS DOWN THERE.

IF EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT ALL RIGHT OVER HERE,

I'LL GET THE PROVISIONS FROM MISS SARAH

AND I'LL MEET YOU OVER THERE.

- GO ON. - COME ON.

- GO ON!

[MEN YELLING]

- RIGHT OVER HERE!

- SEE ANYTHING UP THERE?

- NO. GET THOSE DOGS THROUGH.

- CHECK DOWN THERE IN THEM BUSHES.

[MEN YELLING]

- SAM!

SAM, ARE YOU THERE?

- AH!

AH!

- OH, SAM!

OHH.

SAM! OH, SAM! [CRIES]

- [GROANING]

- WE GOTTA MAKE IT TO THE WOODS. COME ON!

- OH!

- Y'ALL GET ON UP HERE. GO!

- HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

COME OVER THERE.

EASY, EASY.

- IS IT CLEAN THROUGH?

- YEAH. YEAH, IT WENT CLEAN THROUGH.

- SWEET JESUS.

[DOGS BARKING]

- WHERE IS HE?

THERE'S 3 OF THEM.

- 3?

- 3, AS I SAID, MR. ASHLAND, 3.

ANOTHER BUCK AND A FEMALE.

THEY WENT IN THAT THICKET RIGHT DOWN YONDER.

BUT I WING PICKED HIM PRETTY GOOD.

- ALL RIGHT.

- THAT BOY AIN'T GOING TO BE TO MOVE TOO FAST AT ALL.

YA'LL GET THEM DOGS DOWN ON THAT BLOOD TRAIL.

- NOW HOLD ON! HOLD ON!

WE CAN'T GO DOWN IN THIS EMBANKMENT WITH THE DOGS.

- KANE BRIDGE IS JUST YONDER.

WE'RE GOING TO CROSS OVER THERE, WE'LL PICK UP THEIR TRAIL

AND THEN WE'LL CIRCLE ON BACK.

- LET'S GO!

Y'ALL GET ON! GET ON!

- GO! - COME ON!

- FAST!

- OH, GOD IN HEAVEN!

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?

- ONCE HE RESTS A SPELL, I'LL CARRY HIM.

- COME ON, SAM, WE GOTTA KEEP GOING.

- I AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

- COME ON, SAM, YOU'VE GOT TO.

- BESS, NO.

YOU GO.

YOU AND JEREMIAH GO.

I'D JUST SLOW YOU UP.

I WOULDN'T BE FOR NO GOOD ANYHOW.

- NO, I'M STAYING WITH YOU.

- LISTEN TO ME, WOMAN.

FREEDOM.

FREEDOM IS STILL THERE FOR YOU.

YOU AND THE LITTLE ONE.

- SAM.

SAM?

- THERE'S ANOTHER PINKNEY COMING, MISS SARAH.

IT WAS GOING TO BE MY JOY.

- OH.

- BUT YOU'VE GOT TO GO, BESS.

THAT'S MY ONLY CHANCE AT FREEDOM.

YOU AND THAT CHILD.

JEREMIAH, PROMISE ME YOU GONNA TAKE CARE OF HER.

- I'LL PROTECT HER WITH MY OWN LIFE, I WILL.

- ALL RIGHT.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

THEY GOING TO BE COMING OVER THAT BRIDGE UP THERE.

Y'ALL GOING DOWN THIS WAY A LITTLE BIT.

THERE'S A RIVER.

FLOAT DOWNSTREAM AS LONG AS YOU CAN.

MAKE YOUR WAY TO WARRENTON.

YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT LITTLE HOUSE

THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

MR. LEVI STILLMAN, THAT'S THE MAN'S NAME.

HE'S A FRIEND OF MR. MERCER'S ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

HE'S GOING TO HELP YOU ON FROM THERE.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

- YEAH.

- [CRYING]

HUSH.

- LISTEN, NO, THIS HERE FOR YOU, BESS.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING IN THIS WORLD THAT OWN

THAT I HOLD DEAR.

NOW... YOU GIVE THAT TO THE LITTLE ONE, YOU UNDERSTAND?

AND YOU TELL HIM...

YOU TELL HIM THE MAN'S NAME ON THAT WATCH.

NOW... GO HOME.

- NO.

- GO ON, WOMAN.

- NO.

- GO!

- NO.

- JEREMIAH, GET HER.

- [SOBBING]

- SORRY, MA'AM.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO BRING YOU INTO ALL OF THIS.

- OH, NO, DON'T, SAM.

- I DIDN'T MEAN TO TARNISH YOUR NAME, AND YOU KNOW THAT'S

WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

YOU'RE VERY DECENT, MA'AM.

- NO, SAM, YOU'RE THE DECENT ONE IN ALL THIS.

I MEAN, YOU COULD HAVE GONE UP NORTH ON THAT TRAIN ANY TIME

AND YOU CHOSE TO STAY BEHIND AND HELP THE OTHERS TO FREEDOM.

ANY ASSOCIATION THEY WANT TO MAKE BETWEEN YOU AND ME

I WOULD CONSIDER IT AN HONOR.

- YOU KNOW... I LOOKED UP AT THAT STAR MANY TIMES AND SENT

OTHERS ON, GUIDED BY IT, TOLD THEM THAT WAS GOING TO BE

THEIR PROMISE TO A BETTER LIFE.

SOME OF THEM, THEY SEEN THAT LIFE,

WHEN ALL I GOT WAS THE PROMISE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I SAID I DON'T BELIEVE IN BELIEVING NO MORE?

THAT AIN'T TRUE.

HAVING THAT PROMISE AND BELIEVING EVEN

WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE...

THAT DO KEEP YOU.

THAT...

- SAM.

[DOGS BARKING]

- COME ON! - GET BACK!

- HERE NOW!

I TOLD Y'ALL I WINGED HIM, DIDN'T I?

- WHAT YOU WAS HELL BENT ON FROM THE BEGINNING,

YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED.

- THERE'S STILL 2 MORE OF THEM, GENTLEMEN.

- GET ON IT! - GO ON, BOYS!

- GET THEM WHILE THE DOGS STILL HAVE A SCENT!

- IT'S A SHAME HE BROUGHT IT TO THIS.

- HE? YOU'RE THE ONES WITH INNOCENT BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS.

- NOW, SARAH, WE'RE GOING TO TRY

AND FIND A WAY TO LOOK PAST THE FACT

THAT YOU HELPED THIS MAN ESCAPE FROM THE LAW.

- SENDING US DOWN ON THAT WILD GOOSE CHASE DOWN AT MORGAN

SPENCER'S PLACE...

- NOW THAT WAS YOUR DEDUCTION, AND IT PROVED AS WRONG AS YOUR

ASSUMPTION ABOUT THIS MAN'S GUILT, DIDN'T IT?

- DON'T YOU BE POINTING AN ACCUSATORY FINGER AT US!

ROBERT MERCER'S BLOOD IS CRYING FROM THE GRAVE.

- DON'T EVEN PRESUME TO KNOW THE CONSCIENCE OF ROBERT

MERCER BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT HIS MOTIVES

ARE FAR REMOVED FROM YOUR OWN.

- NOW THIS WHOLE THING'S BEEN A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY, SARAH,

BUT IT'S OVER NOW.

NOW WE NEED TO BE GETTING ON BACK.

- IT'S NOT OVER.

THERE'S STILL A FEW THINGS MISSING.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, CHARLES.

- NOW, SARAH, WE'RE NOT ALL GOING TO

STAND HERE AND LISTEN TO YOU WHILE YOU RANT.

- HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR RIDING CROP?

JEB, DID IT EVER TURN UP

WHEN YOU AND MARY WENT OUT FOR YOUR RIDE?

- NO, MA'AM, BUT WHAT'S THAT GOT TO DO WITH ALL THIS?

- OF COURSE, YOU NEVER LOCATED IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN YOUR

TACK ROOM LIKE YOU SAID, WAS IT, CHARLES?

- SARAH, WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH A LOT HERE TONIGHT.

- IT WASN'T THERE BECAUSE I WENT BACK AND I FOUND IT.

RIGHT THERE IN ROBERT MERCER'S HARNESS SHOP, WHERE YOU LEFT

IT THE NIGHT YOU MURDERED HIM.

- WHY, THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS!

- IS IT?

NO ONE SAW IT THE NEXT DAY.

BLENDED RIGHT IN... IT BEING A LEATHER SHOP AND ALL.

AND, SUDDENLY, I REMEMBERED

NOTICING IT WHEN I WAS OVER THERE.

PROBABLY TRIGGERED YOUR MEMORY AS WELL.

BUT WHEN YOU WENT BACK TO FIND IT, I HAD ALREADY BEEN THERE

TO GET IT MYSELF.

NOW, WAS IT AT THAT POINT YOU CONCOCTED THE STORY

ABOUT PINKNEY THROWING THE PISTOL IN THIS CREEK?

YOU KNEW EXACTLY WHERE IN THE CREEK IT WAS BECAUSE YOU THREW

IT THERE THE NIGHT OF YOUR DAUGHTER'S WEDDING, THE NIGHT

THAT YOUR SUSPICIONS WERE CONFIRMED

THAT YOUR NEW SON-IN-LAW, ROBERT MERCER,

WAS RUNNING SLAVES ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

YOU SAW SAM HIM HELPING HIM, TOO, AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT

TO DO WITH YOURSELF.

YOU COULDN'T FATHOM YOUR OWN DAUGHTER BEING MARRIED

TO ROBERT... A MAN WHO NEVER KNEW HOW TO HANDLE A SLAVE.

SO YOU CAME UP WITH A PLAN.

YOU'D MURDER ROBERT.

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

- YOU TAKE THE BUTTON THAT POPPED OFF OF SAM'S VEST

AND PLANT IT RIGHT THERE AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME,

THEN YOU COULD GET SAM AS WELL.

OH, IT WAS A GOOD PLAN.

GET RID OF BOTH OF THE MEN IN ONE STROKE.

THE ONLY CRIME BEING SETTING THE SLAVES IN THE COUNTY FREE.

YOU COULDN'T BEAR HAVING THIS BE YOUR

GRANDCHILDREN'S LEGACY.

- [LAUGHING]

THAT IS... THAT IS QUITE A STORY, SARAH.

- IT'S TRUE, ISN'T IT?

- YES, YES, IT IS.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT ONE THING, SARAH.

IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

THE HOBBS NAME WOULD NEVER BE SULLIED.

GENTLEMEN, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THIS NEEDS TO BE REVEALED.

Y'ALL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

IF THE SLAVES EVER GET WIND OF THIS, YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING

TO SIT STILL? WITH A WAR BREWING?

THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE THIRSTY CATTLE

AND SMELL WATER AND STAMPEDE.

THERE'LL BE NO STOPPING THEM.

THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

HOW ABOUT YOU, CORNELIUS?

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

NO. I SEE.

BUT I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU DO WANT.

THAT LAND OF MERCER'S.

THAT'S LEGALLY MARY'S PROPERTY NOW.

I'M SURE SHE CAN BE INDUCED TO SELL IT TO YOU.

AND YOU, JEB, I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT AS

WELL... MARY HERSELF.

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW SHE NEVER HAS REALLY GOTTEN OVER YOU.

I'M SURE THOSE AFFECTIONS CAN BE REKINDLED...

WITH HER DADDY'S BLESSING.

- SHE WILL KNOW THE TRUTH.

- OH, FROM YOU?

OH, YOU CAN CONJURE UP YOUR VERSION OF IT,

BUT MARY'S ALREADY CONVINCED IT WAS SAM THAT DID IT.

AND I DON'T THINK SHE'S GONNA COTTON TO THE IDEA THAT HER

HUSBAND WAS HELPING RUNAWAY SLAVES.

- YOU CAN'T HIDE THIS FROM EVERYONE.

- PEOPLE GOING TO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR.

AND I'M SURE CORNELIUS HERE WILL PRINT THE PROPER

INTERPRETATION OF THE FACTS IN HIS NEWSPAPER.

AM I RIGHT, CORNELIUS?

- I THINK WE ALL AGREE WHAT HAPPENED.

- SO... YOU CAN SQUAWK ALL YOU WANT, MISS SARAH, BUT IT WILL

ONLY CONFIRM WHAT EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTY ALREADY SUSPECTS

ABOUT YOU... THAT YOU'RE PARTIAL TO THE SLAVES

AND YOUR ATTITUDE'S ONLY SERVED TO UNDERMINE OUR WAY OF LIFE.

- YOU'RE RIGHT.

PEOPLE CAN THINK WHAT THEY WANT ABOUT ME.

BUT THE BLOOD OF ROBERT MERCER AND NOW SAMUEL PINKNEY CRIES

FOR JUSTICE AND THAT VOICE WILL BE HEARD.

- GENTLEMEN... FOLLOW ME.

- "THEREFORE, I SHALL EXERT ALL MEANS AT MY DISPOSAL

"TO EXONERATE SAMUEL AND ROBERT, DESPITE THE INSIDIOUS

MACHINATIONS OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE CALLED NEIGHBOR."

- SHE SAID NOTHING MORE?

- NO, SHE... SHE MENTIONS THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR.

AND... WELL, NOW SHE DOES SAY THAT SHE WAS CONFRONTED BY

A NEIGHBOR TO STOP RUMORS ABOUT MERCER'S MURDER.

SHE OBVIOUSLY TRIED TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

- YEAH.

AND THEN SHE WENT OFF TO HELP ON THE FRONT LINES.

HER LAST ENTRY WAS AUGUST 6, 1861.

SHE MENTIONS HER ILLNESS THERE.

- THAT'S ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THE FIRST BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

- BUT THIS STILL DOESN'T TELL US ANYTHING

ABOUT JEREMIAH AND BESS.

- OH, ON THE CONTRARY.

I THINK IT TELLS US EVERYTHING.

THEY GOT THE WATCH

AND THE WATCH WOUND UP IN PENNSYLVANIA.

AND I THINK WE CAN ASSUME THAT THEY MADE IT TO FREEDOM.

- AND ONCE THEY GOT THERE,

JEREMIAH JESSUP PROBABLY WANTED TO CHANGE HIS IDENTITY.

- BUT, CERTAINLY, BESS DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE HER NAME.

SHE WANTED THAT LITTLE BABY TO HAVE HER DADDY'S NAME.

- JEREMIAH JESSUP ASSUMED SAMUEL PINKNEY'S NAME.

HIS DATE OF BIRTH, HIS COMPLETE IDENTITY.

- AND THAT'S WHY THERE ARE 2 GRAVES

WITH THE SAME NAME ON THEM.

- AND THE HISTORICAL RECORD CONFIRMS THAT MARY HOBBS SOLD

THE LAND TO CORNELIUS ASHLAND AND THEN MARRIED JEB BUCKNELL.

- WELL, MARY AND BUCKNELL WEREN'T INVOLVED

IN THE MURDER, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY DESERVED EACH OTHER.

- HEH. ASHLAND WASN'T INVOLVED EITHER,

BUT HE GOT WHAT HE WANTED.

HOBBS PLAN WORKED.

- HISTORY WAS ALTERED.

- NOT IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

- QUITE A LEGACY SAMUEL LEFT, ISN'T IT?

- OH, YES.

WITHOUT HIS ORDEAL, I NEVER WOULD HAVE COME TO KNOW

SO MUCH ABOUT MY OWN ROOTS.

- I'LL SAY.

ALL THAT SPUNK AND DETERMINATION HAS TO BE PASSED

DOWN THROUGH THE GENES.

SAMUEL, BESS MADE IT ONTO PENNSYLVANIA.

YES, SHE DID.

AND THAT CHILD OF YOURS WAS BORN.

A LITTLE GIRL.

AND SHE GREW UP AND HAD A SON,

WHO HAD A SON, WHO HAD A DAUGHTER,

WHO HAD A SON... WHO HAD ME.

- I KNOW WHY SAM SENT THAT WATCH ON.

HE WANTED IT TO KEEP TIME UNTIL HE GOT HIS OWN JUSTICE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO MARK TIME ANY MORE.

SAMUEL PINKNEY... YOU'RE FINALLY FREE.