01x10 - The Secessionist

[bunniefuu]

[thwacking]

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a bold adventurin' man ♪

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ Battled for right with a powerful hand ♪

♪ His blade was tempered and so was he ♪

♪ Indestructible steel was he

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin' man ♪

♪ He roamed the wilderness unafraid ♪

♪ From Natchez to Rio Grande

♪ With all the might of his gleaming blade ♪

♪ He fought for the rights of man ♪

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin' man ♪

[light folksy music]

[crashing]

- Stop.

He's not Major Jordan.

- He is Jim Bowie.

- Bowie?

Jim Bowie? [vocalizing]

[horse hoofs clog]

- But there is nothing I can do about it mademoiselle.

I understand your problem--

- No, you don't understand.

- Oh, monsieur.

- Hi Jacques.

I'm supposed to meet a Major Jordan here.

Has he arrived yet?

- No monsieur Bowie.

- [Bowie] Oh, well, when he does, let me know, will you?

- [Jacques] oui monsieur.

- Thanks.

- Pardon me, are you Mr. Jim Bowie?

- Why, yes I am, miss.

- I'm Madeline Perrois, my papa

owns the plantation on the Delta.

I'm just visiting my uncle Henry up here

and one of my cousins came down with the mumps.

I think she did it just to tease me.

She's always been jealous.

Anyway, I wasn't able to leave as soon as I planned

and I'm in trouble, terrible trouble.

- Well, dog my cat.

- I probably shouldn't ask you Mr. Bowie,

but papa wouldn't mind

and I've heard enough about you to know

you're a brave southern gentleman--

- Well, thank you.

- Who wouldn't turn his back on a lady in distress.

So I will ask you.

Mr. Bowie, I absolutely must be in New Orleans

by 8 o'clock on the day after tomorrow.

- Well, I'm afraid that's not possible, miss.

You see, there's been trouble on the road for weeks.

Even the stage is not runnin'.

- But if you'd act as my escort,

I'm sure you could get my carriage through safely.

- Now if you'll excuse me,

I've got a pressing appointment of my own

that's also a matter of life and death.

The appointment's with a great big beef steak

and the life it will save will be my own.

- But Mr. Bowie, those outlaws won't hurt you.

You're so brave and famous.

- Uh, I'm not that brave and famous, miss.

- Jim Bowie, are you actually running from a pretty girl?

- Not running, Major, stampeding.

[laughing]

- Jim, I want you to meet my son, Pat.

- Howdy Pat. - Good to know you, sir.

- See about a room for us, son.

- Right.

- Mr. Bowie sir, you are not a true Southern gentleman.

- Miss, you may have decided that I am not a gentleman,

but remember, you're a lady.

Major.

[vocalizing]

Well Major, you haven't told me yet,

what brings you to Louisiana?

- President Jackson has sent me down here

to stop a secessionist movement.

- Secessionist movement?

- Whoever they are, they want to take Louisiana

out of the union.

To do it, they're planting fear and suspicion

in the minds of the Cajuns,

telling them that the United States government

plans to confiscate their property and deport them.

- They won't believe that.

They're not that simple.

- Well, that's what our reports say.

- Louisiana's been American for 25 years.

Been a state for, well, since 1812.

- They were deported once before, you know,

from Canada.

- Well, there's something strange about this.

Who are the leaders?

- You don't have to get involved, you know Jim.

- I'm already involved.

I live here.

- I can use your help.

One of the leaders is Paul Bouchard,

a former Army officer.

When the President first heard of the trouble,

he thought the French might listen

to one of their own people,

so he picked a man named Bouchard, Captain Bouchard.

- Maybe he thought the French would make him a general?

Where is he?

- In New Iberia.

- Well?

- We get one man, but we don't stop the movement.

Our first job is to reassure the Cajuns.

Well, the Cajuns are like most other people,

once they get stirred up, it's hard to quiet them down.

- I'm carrying a letter to them from President Jackson.

In it, he gives his personal promise

to protect their rights and property.

- Well, let's deliver it.

- I'd hope you'd say that.

All right, come on.

[g*n fires]

[vocalizing]

- Major?

Major?

- Take the letter.

- Dad?

[light vocalizing]

- Ready to go, Pat?

I'm gonna try to carry out your father's mission.

I got two scores to settle with Bouchard.

Your father was my friend,

and Louisiana's my home.

Did you find the letter?

We're gonna deliver this to the Cajuns.

We're gonna deliver it as Major Jordan and his son, Pat.

Maybe it better be Major Jordan and his brother Pat.

- How can you impersonate my father?

They know he's dead.

- Only Bouchard and company know that.

And they can't expose us without

implicating themselves, do you see?

But they are ready for an open break now

and they'll be afraid of this letter.

Maybe that's why k*lled your father.

I'm gonna make Bouchard help me show this to the Cajuns.

Have I got everything on all right?

- I think so.

- Only thing that worries me is how can I make my knife

look like part of a major's uniform?

Come on, let's go.

[light music] [horse hooves clog]

There's a friend of mine who works here.

I want to see him.

[vocalizing]

Hey Joseph. - Mr. Bowie.

I'm glad to see you, sir. - How are you?

- Fine. - Good.

Look, I haven't got time to explain right now,

but for the moment, I'm Major Jordan.

- If you say so Mr. Bowie.

- Major-- - Major Jordan.

- Yeah, and this is my brother Pat Jordan.

- Hello there.

- We're trying to locate a man named Bouchard.

Ever heard of him?

- Heard of him, why he's my boss.

He owns this livery stable and just about

everything else in this town.

He's a powerful rich man.

Least ways, he was.

- How do you mean, was?

- Well, he's a gamblin' man, Mr. Bo--

Major. - Yeah.

- A big gamblin' man.

His luck turned down on him.

I know one of his servants.

- Where's he live?

- Oh, just south of town.

It's a big white house.

You can't miss it.

- Thank you Joseph.

Hey Pat, you go on over to the hotel

and book us a room.

I'll be there in a little while.

- But I want to talk to Bouchard, too.

- Your time will come, don't worry.

- My father was--

- Your father knew how to obey orders.

Now, go on.

[vocalizing]

Good seeing you Joseph.

[vocalizing]

Captain Bouchard?

- Yes.

- Oh, it's monsieur Bouchard now.

I retired from the Army several years ago.

- Oh.

Allow me to compliment you, sir, on your beautiful home.

If I could afford a place like this,

I'd retire, too.

- I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, sir.

- I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself.

My name is Jordan.

- Who?

- Major Owen Jordan, United States Army.

- Ah, I'm honored Major.

Won't you be seated?

- Thank you monsieur, but I'm in a hurry.

- What can I do for you?

- President Jackson has told me that you are familiar

with the secessionist movement in this area.

- Familiar with it?

- Didn't you investigate it for him?

He said that you did.

- Oh, of course.

But I found out it was only a tempest in a teapot.

- Oh, you may be right monsieur,

but I've been sent her to make sure.

- Then, tell me in what way I can be of service.

- I have the honor of bearing a personal message

from the President to the Cajun people of New Iberia.

And since you are a former Army officer,

and a leader of the community,

he hoped that you would help me

arrange a meeting with them so I could talk to them.

- I'd be glad to do that Major,

but you know, the Cajuns live back in the bayous

and it takes time to get them together.

- Then I will wait to hear from you monsieur.

The President has told me that he has a high regard for you

and that I can depend on you.

- Oh, thank you.

- Good day, sir.

- Major?

As you see, I am having a party tonight

and I would be honored if you would come.

- Well that would be my honor, sir.

Thank you.

Until tonight then.

[vocalizing]

- Andre, Michel.

[vocalizing]

I just had a visitor, Major Owen Jordan.

- Jordan?

- oui.

- It's not possible.

- No, no.

- It was someone impersonating him.

- Does he have the letter?

- He said so.

- So what shall we do?

If he shows it to the Cajuns--

- We'll expose him.

He's forgotten one important detail,

he's in territory I control.

I can make many mistakes, but he can make only one.

[vocalizing]

I see you and your brother have met most charming friends.

- We surely appreciate their company, Mr. Bouchard.

- Did the Major tell you that he is a personal aide

to President Jackson.

- You're too modest.

- Well ma'am, I'm not actually a Presidential aide,

I'm on assignment to the Secretary of w*r.

- Then you must work with the new Chief of Staff.

General, General...

- Yes, yes.

- Who is the Chief of Staff, Major?

- General Scott and my Brother are very good friends.

- Tell me more about Mrs. Jackson, Major.

We've heard so much about her.

- Well, I'm sure that not everything you heard

is true, ma'am.

- But there are some very uncomplimentary stories about her.

- Are they true?

- Well, I don't know what you heard ma'am,

but this much I do know,

the President loves her, she makes him a good wife,

and a beautiful First Lady.

Well now, look at this.

- I just won't know a single soul here uncle Henry.

I just don't know how I'm gonna get my program filled.

Oh, Eloise.

- Well ladies, if you'll excuse us,

we've had a hard ride today and we have to be going.

- Oh, must you go so soon?

The party's just beginning.

- Goodnight ladies.

- Good night. - Mr. Bouchard.

- Excuse us, please.

- Uncle, I want you to meet my good friend Eloise,

and her brother from New Jersey.

- Excuse me.

- What's she doing now?

Is she still there?

- Yes, she's not looking though.

- Now's our chance.

You get the horses ready. - Right.

- Mademoiselle, I want you to meet my honored guest.

- But I know Mr. Bowie.

- Bowie?

But this is Major Jordan.

- No it isn't, it's Mr. Jim Bowie.

Surely you must have heard of him.

- Miss, I think you're making a mistake.

- What happened to the real Major Jordan, monsieur?

- Why, he's dead.

He was m*rder*d in Natchez.

- The situation is clear.

This man is an imposter and probably a m*rder*r.

Seize him.

Search him, Andre.

- Ladies and gentlemen, listen to me.

Don't let him have that letter.

- Take him away.

- Please now, listen to me.

This man, Bouchard, is responsible

for the death of Major Jordan.

- Take him away. - Take him away!

- Don't believe him, you people.

[vocalizing]

- Oh no, not you again.

Miss, you've caused me enough trouble.

Will you go away, please? - Shh.

I came to apologize.

Pat told me what I did.

I'm awful sorry.

I'm not always so stupid.

- Huh?

- Pat said to tell you the town's full of Cajuns.

They're gonna hold a meeting tonight.

He said Bouchard wants to get started right away

before news of Pat's father gets back to President.

So Pat would like you to escape from jail.

- Did he have any suggestions on how to do that?

- Well, I brought something that might help you.

- You did?

- But you have to turn around.

- Miss, I'm in no mood to play games.

- Would you please turn around.

Shh.

I hope papa doesn't hear about this.

Ladies shouldn't carry weapons in their stockings.

- Oh, I promise not to tell him.

- Pat should have brought this,

but the guards would have searched him

and I wouldn't stand for it.

[exhaling] Now, do you forgive me?

- Forgive you?

Why miss, I could kiss you.

- Oh no, you mustn't.

Papa would never understand if he heard about me

being alone in a room with a man

and lettin' him kiss me.

- He wouldn't?

- But, in this case, how's papa gonna know?

- I promise not to tell him.

- Well, I better be going so you can start escaping.

- Yeah, you make it very simple.

Now Madeline, do you know how to faint?

- Good gracious, no I'm not the fainting type.

- Well, couldn't you just do a little faint?

See, if I can get the guard away from those keys...

- Well I would like you to take me

to the Governor's Ball.

- That's another promise.

Uh, guard?

[moaning]

- Something wrong missy?

- I think I'm gonna faint.

- Oh, that's too bad.

- Guard, don't you think you better--

- I'm gonna fall.

- Yeah, looks like

the young lady's gonna faint. [moaning]

[yelling] [clunking]

[screaming]

[struggling]

[crashing] [screaming]

[vocalizing]

[mumbling]

- Can't stop Bouchard now.

We'd better get the army.

- If we can get a m*rder confession out of him,

we can stop him.

Shall we get it?

- Let's get it.

- Wait a minute.

The odds are better for us out here.

Now listen.

[mumbling]

- What are you doing here?

Talk!

- He's here with me.

And you're the one that's gonna do some talkin'.

- Monsieur.

- Quiet. [groaning]

- Monsieurs, I'm most gratified by your support.

You contributions have been most generous.

But what is more important is this proof

of you love of France.

Napoleon betrayed our beloved country

when he sold Louisiana.

Time has come at last when we can get it back.

Our committee in Paris is ready.

All it lacks is funds.

And those you will get.

Go back now to your people and spread the word.

Get their contributions and bring them to me.

- Come on.

- And remember monsieurs, if we fail,

we will deserve the fate the Americans plan for us.

- We still have no proof the Americans will throw us out.

- Would you wait until their bayonets are at our throats?

I told President Jackson in Washington

of the fears of our people.

I begged him to reassure us,

to tell us that our lives and homes would be safe.

His silence proves his intentions.

If the President does not plan to drive us out,

why doesn't he say so?

He promised me, he would send a letter of assurance.

Where is it?

- You know where it is.

Gentleman, President Jackson does not plan

to take your land and this man knows it.

- Don't listen to him.

He's an imposter.

- First one who moves gets this.

Now you tell them who k*lled Major Jordan and why.

- He was bringing a letter from President Jackson.

Bouchard did not want it to arrive.

- He's forcing him to tell those lies

at the point of a knife.

If there is such a letter, show it to us.

- Tell him why I can't.

Go on.

- Bouchard burned it.

- Gentlemen, you've been hoodwinked.

There's no committee in Paris.

There's no secessionist movement.

There's no plan to deport anybody.

About all there is, is our friend Bouchard's little scheme

to recoup his gambling losses.

[grumbling]

He's not going anywhere.

[vocalizing]

Now, you all know Andy Jackson.

He doesn't want to fight you.

Neither do I.

My name's Bowie, Jim Bowie.

Louisiana's my home as well as yours.

I see no reason why we can't live here peacefully together.

We're Americans, all of us.

[vocalizing]

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin' man ♪