02x24 - Court Martial

[bunniefuu]

Whoa.

Ciego, Mr. Alderson
isn't here yet, is he?

No, senorita, Señor Jarrod
only left a few moments ago
to pick him up at the station.

-Thank you.
-Si, senorita.

Not a sound, amigo.

Not one peep.

No, señor.

Put him in the tack room
and tie him up.

Mother, the candelabra's
are lovely.

Give Silas the credit.

He's been cleaning them
all morning.

Silas, they're beautiful.

Thank you, Mrs. Audra.

Did you get everything?

Well, they were out
of Redolian brandy,

but they said
this would be just as good.

Is this all right,
Mrs. Barkley?

Perfect,
just perfect, Silas.

Thank you.

Now let's see,
did we forget anything?

Flowers would be nice.

I'll cut some
fresh from the garden.

Thank you.

Put him with the other one.

Is there anything else
I can do for you, mother?

No, but you better
get yourself dressed.

Who are you?

Easy, ma'am.

What do you want?

I have the regretful duty,
ma'am, to inform you...

that we're here to execute
a sentence of death.

♪♪ [theme]

That's part of our stock
right over there.

Ah, yes. Well, now...

that's the way fine animals
were meant to be seen--

Running free...

nothing touching them
except the sun

and God's own clean air.

Magnificent.

I trust the army realizes
we expect a magnificent price
for them, General.

[chuckles]
Well, if they're all like that,
we'll be doing business.

But it isn't General anymore.
Just a civilian now, you know.

Just a civilian, working for
the army purchasing department.

I stand corrected.

Oh, you see that
lead stallion there?

Mm-hmm.

Now, that one
is really gonna cost you.

Nick raised him.

Oh.

Nick still loves horses, huh?

That he does.

I remember, just before
the Battle of Shiloh,

I had called a staff meeting.

Everybody got there on time
except my aide.

You know where that
brother of yours was?

Doctoring a sick horse.

When I called him
on the carpet
about it later,

he said, "General,
you're the one who'll be
ordering me into trouble,

but it's the horse I'm riding
that'll get me out of it."

[laughs]
That's Nick, all right.

Well, it's too bad he's away.

I know he'll be sorry
he missed seeing you.

Oh, well, I'd probably
just be boring him
with an old man's memories.

The w*r years
are best forgotten anyway.

I suppose so...

but it's good to remember
that we won something important.

We lost something important,
too, though.

The south was part of us,
you know.

When we k*lled their men,
burnt their fields,
gutted their homes,

we destroyed part of ourselves
as well.

Well, we should be home soon.

Did you get our horses
out of sight?

Yeah, I hid them in the grove.

Good.

Barkley and Alderson
will be here soon.

As soon as you
get rid of this rig,

get up the road
and keep a look out.

Right.

[door opens]

No one upstairs.
I guess we got'em all.

Take a look out back.

Don't you think it's
about time you explained
what you're doing here?

Let me know
as soon as you see them.

Ladies, I'm afraid
I'm gonna have to put you
someplace for safe keeping.

Safe keeping from what?

What about the attic?

Should be all right.

Come on, ladies.

Mother, don't go with him.

I have no intention
of going any place,

not until I've had
an explanation.

Oh, please don't make it
difficult for yourself.

I'll try not
to inconvenience you
any more than necessary.

The reason for all this
will become apparent
in good time.

Sorry.

Mrs. Barkley,
my patience is not unlimited.

Neither is mine.

[chuckles]

Well, I'm afraid the
two of you Barkley women

is a little bit too much
for even me to handle.

So I guess I'll have
to make it easy on myself.

Ladies, if you don't mind...

Curtis, come with me.
I want you to stay with them.

I'm sorry to be
so uninformative,

but if you were to know
too much at this point,

you'd only be
needlessly worried.

Needless? You said
you were here to k*ll someone!

Oh, no, I did not say "k*ll."

my exact words were
"to execute a sentence
of death."

an execution
many years overdue.

Who passed
this sentence?

We did.

You won't get away with it.

We employ a lot
of men on this ranch.

They're all away
on a trail drive.

Friends drop by.

That would be
their bad luck.

Well, very comfortable indeed.

You want me to tie'em up?

Oh, I don't think
that'll be necessary.

My brother Jarrod
will be home soon.

That, my dear,
is what we're counting on.

[door closes]

They're here.

All right, get ready.

This is what
we've been waiting for.

Get Tanner.

Whoa.

Ciego?

Ciego!

Where the devil could he be?

Well, General, shall we
go inside and meet the family?

Hello?

Mother? Audra?

Where is everybody?

Huh, that's funny.
We were expected.

Well, suppose I start you
on a nice, tall bourbon

while I find out
where everybody is.

Good.

Good afternoon,
Mr. Barkley.

Good afternoon.

You'll forgive me, gentlemen,

but I don't believe
I've had the pleasure.

Uh, no, you haven't.

Well, at the risk
of sounding inhospitable,

may I ask
what it is you're doing here?

Where's my family?

The ladies are, um...

in another part of the house.

Where in the house?

In the attic...

with a man.

A man with a g*n.

A g*n that may go off
unless you do exactly
as you're told.

What do you want here?

Your g*n. Tanner.

What is this, boys? A robbery?

No, it's not.

Then why are you victimizing
this man's family?

Victimizing?

Oh, that's an interesting word.

Sound familiar to any of you?

Don't you recognize me?

Should I?

Yes.

We've met before?

We've met.

Where?

He wants to know where.

Tell him where we've met,
Boreau.

In the bleedin' ruin
you made of a whole town--
Mayville.

You were in my command?

Your command?!
You filthy Yankee!

We was your victims!

Oh, no.

You come ridin' in
with your soldiers,

hollerin' crazy drunk,
burnin' homes,
shootin' anything that moved!

And what moved,
you Yankee trash?

Civilians!
Women and old men!

And us here
let out of the army for wounds!

Now do you remember?
Now do you know
what we come here for?

Your hanging!

It's eight years overdue.

Donnelly, go outside
and pick out a good,
strong tree.

Macklin!

[laughing]

It's the other two sons.

They're all supposed to be
away on a cattle drive.

They're alone.

[laughing]

Come on, sport.

[continues laughing]

Will you tell me
what's so dad-blame funny?

You've been snickerin'
and carryin' on
all the way home.

Sally Anne.
[laughs]

Sally Anne what?

Oh, she's gonna be
awfully disappointed.

Well, so far it's hilarious.
You wanna tell me more?

Look at all the stuff
she gave me here. Look.
Look at this muffler.

Oh, and look at this.

"Stillman's Snake Repellent--
The cattle drover's
best friend."

[both laugh]

Old Sally Anne must expect me
to be fightin' off snakes
with my left hand,

fightin' off a grizzly bear
with my right,

and snow up to my eyeballs
in the middle of
a cattle stampede!

Well, you could go back out on
the trail and suffer a little
bit for Sally Anne's sake!

Oh, now wait a minute.
Is it my fault that cattle buyer

came 100 miles down that trail
to take the herd off our hands.

Well, you could've
turned him down,

told him you were
all prepared to go
the 100 miles or bust!

[both laugh]

[continue laughing]

Oh.

[continues laughing]

I just got an idea.

Heath, come here.

Supposin' that we don't
tell her that the herd
was bought out from under us?

And that way,
we get to stay away
a few more days.

[both laugh]

What are you gonna do with
your snake bite repellent?

Well, now,
I just might drink it.
It smells pretty good.

Here, try it.

[sniffs]
Ugh!

Nick, is that supposed
to repel a snake or charm it?

[both laugh]

Ciego? Ciego?!

Where in tarnation is he?

Ciego!

[grunting]

Oh, that's funny.
It's locked.

Well, isn't that a fine thing?

When you come back from
a bone-crushing trail drive,

you'd expect
there'd be somebody here
to put away your horses!

Ciego! Ciego!

Nick, you're gonna
start an earthquake.

Maybe he's up by the house.
Come on, I'm starved.

[laughs]

[grunting]

[laughing]

[laughing]

Welcome home, gentlemen.

Inside.
Join the party.

How much longer
are you going to keep us here?

Ma'am?

I asked you how much longer--

You know, I bet this old guitar
still has a lot of music
left in it.

May I ask...
who played it?

I did.

Oh?

Did it give you
a lot of enjoyment, miss?

♪♪

[chuckles]

Yeah, you see?
It's still got a lot
of music left in it.

If I had one more string,
I could play you
a right nice tune.

Are you a musician?

No, but sometimes I'd like
to earn a livin' makin' music.

You do have a feeling for it,

and that's rather strange--
Having such sensitivity...

and yet being able
to commit coldblooded m*rder.

Nobody said anything
about m*rder.

Yes, that's right.
That's right.

Let me see,
what was the word you used?

Uh, "execution."
that's the word. Execution.

Now, that's a word
the military might use.

The w*r.
General Alderson.

Does this have something to do--

You'll know soon enough
what we came here to do.

Miss...

maybe you'd like to try coaxin'
some music out of this.

No, thank you.
I don't really play very well.

Besides,
it's awfully warm in here.

Would you mind opening
a window, please?

Yes, ma'am.

Now please, miss!
I'd hate to have to hurt you!

Audra! Let go!
Let go!

[panting]

I'm sorry.

Now if you'll both
please sit down.

And I would be obliged, miss,
if you wouldn't do that again.

We're here,
and here we're gonna stay...

till the job's done.

That's insane!

I was in his command!
The general did not order
that attack!

Sure, he wasn't even there.
We imagined it all.

It happened,
but not the way you think!

Give me a hand!
We'll drag him out!

Why don't you let the man talk?

There's nothing to say.

He did what he did.
Now he'll die for it.

What do you lose
by letting him talk?
A few minutes?

Isn't a man's life
worth a few minutes?

He isn't a man.
He's a snake.

Now, we swore we'd bring him
to justice. Now let's do it!

Justice?!
You call this justice?!

You keep out of it!

I say he's innocent!

And if all the proof
you've got is your word
that you were there,

then my proof
is just as good as yours!

And I say he's innocent!

Uh, explain that.

I told you!
I was in his command!

Well, more than that.
I was an aide to him
in Mayville.

His aide...

now isn't that interesting?

A lot of civilians
were k*lled that night.
I know.

It was awful.
I know that, too.

And I also know that
if we lived to be


we'd never forget that night!

And he did everything
he could to stop it!

Nick, they're not interested
in the truth.

Is that right?

Well, mister,
that's just what you've got.

The truth.

We have to talk.

We won't be long.

Boreau.

Nick.

Eight years.

Fine reunion.

Why don't you sit down,
General?

Jarrod, why didn't you
tell me he was comin' here?

All I knew was that the army
was sending somebody out
to buy our horses, Nick.

I didn't know it was
your ex-commanding general
until he go there.

Well, anyway,
when all this is over,

we'll show you
a real proper welcome, huh?

I've thought about you often,
Nick, with the very best
of good feelings, I may say.

It's a shame
sometimes it takes a w*r
to draw men together.

They share a deep experience
and then they drift apart.

I've looked forward
to seeing you again very much.

Very much.

I'm sure
all this will be all right.

Of course it will.

[door opens]

Now that you're through with
your talk, you gonna let him go
and clear out of here?

Mr. Barkley,
we're not wanton K*llers.

We're not the men
you would make us out.
We are compelled by duty.

Boreau here
is a horse breeder.

Mm-hmm.

Tanner and Donnelly
are farmers.

I'm a school teacher.

These are occupations
we know we can never return to
after today.

Occupations we love,
but are willing to abandon

if that's the price
we have to pay

in order to avenge the lives
of 16 innocent human beings!

You, uh...

you said before
that you served under him.

Yes.

That night at Mayville,
you were there?

I was.

What rank did you--

Lieutenant.

Lieutenant.
Ah, well, then you had
command responsibility.

I did.

And after the sh**ting started
and he arrived in town--

I arrived with him.

Well?

Well, I guess
we just need another rope.

Nick:
Now you're out of your mind.

You're gonna
have to k*ll us all.
You know that, don't you?

Don't try to stop us.
That'd be foolish.

This man and your brother
k*lled 16 innocent men,
women, and children.

We k*lled no one!

Facts are facts!

And your facts could be wrong.
That is possible, isn't it?

-We were there, mister!
-So were they.

You say that all you're
interested in is justice.

Then why not let a court of law
decide whether these men
are telling the truth or not?

Oh, no, no, we can't risk that.

But if they're guilty,
they'll be punished by law.

In a Yankee court?

Now let me tell you
something about Yankee courts.

There was rumors
against this man
back when it first happened.

There was an investigation.
Do you know what happened?

Nothin'! Nothin'!

They'd do it again!
They'd let him go!

There ain't gonna be no trial!

Are you afraid of letting them
tell their side of the story?

All right then.

Since you've taken
the law into your own hands,

why not be the judge
and jury, too?

But hear them out!

A trial...

with us as judge and jury?

You'd have nothing to lose.

All right, Mr. Barkley,
a trial it shall be.

We the jury find the defendants
guilty of m*rder.

As judge,
I sentence them to be hanged!

[chuckles]

Well, I guess that's just about
what I would expect from men
that aren't K*llers,

men who really want justice.

A trial would be a waste
of time! They're guilty as sin!

Prove it!

Macklin, he's tryin'
to stall us.

Now wait a minute,
wait a minute,
wait a minute.

Macklin...

You say you want
a trial, huh?

All right,
we'll give them a trial.

We'll find them just as guilty
and have the added pleasure
of seeing them sweat.

Counselor,
you have 30 minutes

to consult with your clients.

In view
of the proposed sentence,

I suggest you make
the most of the time allotted.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

How big a town was Mayville?

Couple hundred people.

How many men?

Hardly a one, except you,
me, Tanner, Donnelly--

Mustered out of the army
for bad wounds.

All the growed, able men
were off with Beauregard
down to Charlottesville.

So the town posed no threat?

It had neither w*r materials,
crops, strategic roads,

not even a potentially dangerous
manpower reserve to justify
an enemy raid.

All we had was land...

and all we had to put
into the land was our dead--

Fine southern dead, that is,
not back-shootin' Yankees!

All right, Mr. Barkley.

Sit down, Mr. Boreau.
I have a few questions
I'd like to ask.

What's he mean?
I already told ya.

Mr. Barkley
wants to cross-examine.

I agreed that he might.

Sit down.

Now we're not gonna discuss
the tragedy that happened
that night.

We're merely going to try
and determine once and for all
who was responsible for it.

Now, you say
it was General Alderson.

He commanded the division.
It was his men.

How many men?

What? In a division?

Were sent into town that night.
A full division? A half?
A quarter? How many?

Well, I don't know exactly,
but there was enough
to do what they planned!

But not a full division.

I ain't sure.

-Make sure!
-It wouldn't make no difference!

Then you shouldn't mind
answering the question!

All right, it was only some!
Now what does that get ya?!

A great deal...

if he planned
to destroy the town.

That's all, Mr. Boreau.

Nick, come on over here
and sit down.

I'll answer
whatever you gotta ask
right from here.

Nick!

Oh, for...

[sighs]

This is all a bad joke.

Now, you were a lieutenant
in General Alderson's division.

Yes.

-You were his aide.
-I was.

-And you were with him
in Mayville.
-I was.

Did you have any
unusual duties that night?

I was duty officer.

The duties of a duty officer
are to post sentries
and answer messages.

Acting commander for the night.

You was right in on it
with him, weren't you, boy?

A duty officer
has nothing to do
with planning strategy.

He merely takes charge
of unit security for the night.

Nick: That's right.

Then what is your point?

Just this--

That in any ordinary bivouac,
the duty officer takes charge

from sundown until sunup.

And during that time, he's given
an hour-by-hour report

of everything
that happens in that unit.

So better than anyone,
Lieutenant Barkley

was in a position to know
what was or was not ordered.

Go on.

Now, Nick, as duty officer,

you made
your rounds that night.

That's right.

You were there when
the men left for town.

I was.

How many men were there?

Platoon-size scouting detail--


Isn't a scouting detail
usually squad strength


Alderson sent 26 more men
than were needed. Why?

This wasn't
a regular scouting detail.

Obviously.

Tell them why, Nick.

Well, we were deep
in the heart of the south.

Most of the outfit was made up
of pretty green troops.

Besides, we had sn*pers
takin' pot shots at us
all while we were there.

So it was for the defense
of the men themselves
that so large a detail was sent.

For no other reason.

And you're prepared to swear

that there was no attack
ordered that night?

I am.

Why shouldn't he?
He'll hang if he don't.

Macklin...

We agreed, Boreau.
They're to be given a chance.

Let him talk.

A chance?!
I didn't agree to that!

I agreed to let'em sweat!

Any of you hear anything
said about a chance?

Was nothing
said about a chance!

Then why go on with this at all?

Now you're
gettin' the idea, boy.

Look, we're just wasting time.
We came here to do a k*lling.
Let's get on with it!

Are you gonna listen
to your bloodthirsty friend...

or do we continue
with this trial?

We continue with the trial.

[inaudible whispers]

Ladies, I'm afraid
I'm needed downstairs...

which means, unfortunately,
we're gonna have to tie you up.

I know
it really isn't necessary,

but it's more for your benefit
than it is ours.

Otherwise you might be tempted
to try something foolish.

Not too tight, Tanner.

I hope this won't be
too uncomfortable,

but I shouldn't be too long.

What is your occupation,
Mr. Curtis?

I'm a photographer.

And that night,
after it was all over,

you took a number
of pictures, didn't you?

Pictures of some of the victims
who lay dead or wounded?

That's right.

Did you bring
those pictures with you?

Yes, I did.

I wanted to show them
to the general...

before we put
the noose around him.

Well, you can show him now.

Deny these.

I don't think this is necessary.

We're not arguing the fact
that innocent people were k*lled
that night.

I thought I made that clear.

But we are arguing
whether or not

General Alderson
was responsible.

All right,
let's take that point up.

Mr. Curtis, you were a member
of the home guard that night,
weren't you?

That's right.

And whether
it was a division

or half a division
of Yankee soldiers,

you saw what they did,
and what they did was m*rder.

That's right, too, isn't it?

That's what it was--
m*rder.

They m*rder*d my mother
and two sisters.

Did you see General Alderson
there that night?

Yes, I did...

Killin' and butcherin'
with the rest of his men.

-You couldn't have
mistaken him?
-No.

No, I'd never forget his face.

Are there any questions
you'd like to ask, counselor?

Yes, but not right now.

Thank you.

Audra...

I'm going to try something.

[grunting]

[groans]

General, it's been
all too well established

that personnel of your command
were in the town of Mayville
on the night in question...

and that those soldiers
committed the killings.

Is that correct?

The question was, General--


they were m*rder*d
by your soldiers--
Yes or no?

I wouldn't exactly say m*rder*d.

Sixteen innocent people were
slaughtered by your soldiers.
Yes or no?

Yes.

General, did you,
directly or indirectly,

cause or order that to happen?

No, I did not.

I want you to know, sir,
that I believe you.

And if it's humanly possible,
we'll make them believe you,
too.

How?

By placing the blame
where it properly belongs--

With the reckless, terrified,
drunken misfits of that patrol!

Yes.

Now, were you able to identify
the guilty that night?

Not without difficulty.

Small pockets of trouble
broke out...

by the stables,
the town hall.

Then they became a mob.

But later they were identified?

And what happened to them?

They were court-martialed.

Then the guilty were punished?

They were court-martialed.

And there you have the simple,
uncluttered truth.

The guilty were identified
and punished!

What more do you want?

You haven't asked
General Alderson
how they were punished.

Will you answer that?

Were they hanged?

Were they sent to prison
for 30 years?

Were they treated in a manner
to correspond with the severity
of their crime?

That was out of my hands.

The investigation revealed
that there were indeed

Confederate sympathizers
in the area--

In itself
not an astounding conclusion

in that Mayville is a town
in the heart of the south.

And anyone from
a suckling babe of two months

to a wrinkled grandmother of 90
would fit that description.

But because of these
sympathizers,

however, the federal troops
were understandably nervous.

So that when they
k*lled the civilians,

they did so believing it
an execution of duty
against armed resistance.

After the trial,
they were let go!

Mother!

It's all right, Audra.
It's all right.

[screams]

[sighs]

Mother, you're hurting yourself!

Oh!

Help!

Alderson
gave a sworn deposition

saying the mistake
might legitimately be due
to the unfamiliar locale

and the relative inexperience
of the men.

Without that,
the court would've convicted.

Oh, but there's more,
still more--

One piece that binds
the whole ugly package together.

It's true the detail
preceded you into town,

but you followed soon after,
didn't you?

To take part,
to enjoy the k*lling!

-That's not so!
-You mean you weren't there?

-I was there!
I tried to stop it!
-Stop it? How?

I ordered them
to break off immediately
and return to bivouac.

-Did they?
-No.

They were like animals...

drunken, green,
frightened troops.

They thought
they were under attack.

But they weren't,
General, were they?

No, they were not.

In fact, there were
no Confederate soldiers
in the area.

-No.
-So then why were they firing?

I told you why.

You told us lies!

You ordered it!
You planned it!

You rode hell for leather
when you heard it had started

so that you could be there
to enjoy it!

And your aide over there,
he came screaming
right in there with you!

-No!
-Admit it, you swine!

You were seen firing!
We saw you!

But not at civilians!

Not at civilians?
But there was
no enemy to oppose!

-I know.
-k*ll him! k*ll him now!

Who were you firing at,
if not civilians?

At soldiers...

at my own soldiers.

It was the only way.
They wouldn't stop.

I had to fire at my own men.

Help! Somebody, help!

And I say you're a liar,
Alderson! A dirty, filthy liar!

-Hear me out!
-Lies! Lies!

I can prove it!
Give me a chance
to tell you the rest!

I didn't hate those people!

Do you know why
I delayed outside Mayville?
Do you?!

Boreau, Donnelly, after him!

You, get over there!

Tanner, get some rope.
I want these two tied.

As for you, counselor,
I hope you won't be
as foolish as your brother.

I'm a very good shot.

All right, let's proceed.

Lucky thing
I smelled smoke down there.

I suppose
we should thank you.

It's not necessary.
It's our fault you're here.

Let's check
the other side of the house.

Mr. Barkley,
your brother won't get far.

As soon as we catch him,
we'll proceed with justice.

[footsteps approaching]

Don't reach for the g*ns,
gentlemen,

unless you want me
to prove a man can get
just as dead shot as hung.

JARROD: Drop it, Macklin,
and get over there.

Come on, Jarrod, untie me.

As soon as I get untied,
Mr. Macklin, I'm gonna show you
a little justice--

Barkley style!

Everything
all right down there?

I thought I heard
a g*nsh*t outside.

Heath!

Stay where you are, lady!

Well, it might've been
a pleasure, Mr. Barkley.

But as it is, I think
we better get back to business.

The g*n, please.

Give it to him, Heath.

Nick...

Do it!

Nick, he's gonna hang you!

Thank you. Thank you.

That was a very wise decision.

Mr. Curtis, you can take
the ladies back up now.

I trust you're seeing
to their comfort.

All right, let's go.

We didn't have
any choice, Heath.

He jumped us from the roof,
took us by surprise.

It was a nice try,
Mr. Barkley,

but it's the last chance
you're going to get.

Tanner,
if they so much as scratch,
you know what to do.

-It's time.
-Listen to me...

Can't you even die like a man,
or do we have to carry you?

I tell you,
you're making a mistake!

Sure! Now, are you walking,
or do we carry you?!

You don't know
what you're doing!

Donnelly! Boreau! Take him!

No! I tell you,
you don't know
what you're doing!

No! No! No! No! No!

Wait! No, I tell you! No! No!

You can follow
his example
if you wish...

or walk out like a man.

Macklin,
you go through with this,
and you're a dead man.

I swear it.

Move!

You'll be able
to watch, Barkley.

We're gonna hang
your general first.

I tell you,
I was on your side.

You're confused,
General.

That was a blue uniform
you did your k*lling in.

At the start of the w*r,
I and hundreds like me,

officers in the federal army,
offered our swords to the south!

Sure, and then you all
went back to the Yankee army
as spies, huh?

Not all, but some,
and I was one of them!

Tell me, Yankee,
the people you m*rder*d
that night in Mayville,

before they died,
did they make up
wild tales like this, too?

You're making a mistake!
Believe me!

Believe what?!

If it was true,
you would've told

the southern people
you say you fought for

and cleared the stink
off your name!

I couldn't!

I'm gonna do this myself!

The north won!
I would've been shot for a spy!

Lyin' Yankee!
Let's get this over with!

No, no, no! Wait a minute!

Macklin, you don't believe him,
do you?!

-It's true!
-What's true?

That a Confederate
ordered the slaughter
of one of his own towns?!

Don't you understand?
I was a Confederate spy in
the uniform of a Union general!

We're wasting time
listening to these lies.

It's true,
and the w*r was lost.

We realized that,
but out of that defeat,

we could
still have our victory!

We're talking about
the m*rder of a town!

There can be no excuse for that!

There can be and there was!

Hang him!

No! I tell you,
I was on your side!

I tell you,
there was much more at stake
than the lives of those people!

I gave...
I gave the order
for the slaughter at Mayville.

No!

But for a reason!
A reason!

You couldn't have done that!

I was there! I was your aide!
I would've known!

You couldn't have done it!

I gave the order
to Colonel Brandt.

He was k*lled in the action.

I ordered that attack
because I had to appear
a dedicated Union General.

The slaughter at Mayville
was to conceal the work
I was doing for your side!

For our side!

Because even then,
we were planning

the assassination
of Abraham Lincoln.

I can prove that.
March 16th--
No, 17th--

It was a tavern--
I forget the name--
Just outside Macon, Tennessee.

You can check it!
You can check it!

I was with Booth
when he plotted

the assassination
of Abraham Lincoln!

My brother Jonas was with me!
He can tell you!

Ask him! He'll tell you!

[crying]
Ask him!

Is that what you
wanted to hear?

Yes, that's it.

And I'm sorry.

I'm truly sorry.

But it had to be this way.

These men are federal officers.

They were never gonna
hang you, Alderson.

All we wanted
was your confession.

We?

Yes, I was part of it.

I'm sorry, Nick.

You're sorry?

Believe me, Nick...

I know
what you've been through.

But there was no other way.

I couldn't tell you.

A trick...

all this a trick!

Yes, an elaborate trick...

but it worked.

May heaven forgive me.

It worked.

Get the prisoner ready
to return to Washington.

If you knew
how many times I wanted
to call the whole thing off,

despite the orders
from Washington...

We understand, Jarrod.

That's the last time
I'll come home two days early.

I don't know whether
I should slap you or kiss you.

Well, I would prefer a kiss.

I'll bet you would!

[sighs]

It'll take Nick a little while,
but he'll cool down.

Nick, maybe I haven't
explained to you enough
how really vital this all was.

Well, now maybe you can explain
to my why you put the family
through a night of--

Well, I don't know
what you'd call it.

You were supposed to be away
five days. I didn't know
you and Heath would come back.

You were never intended
to be involved.

Oh, forget me.

Forget me.

What about mother? Huh?

And Audra?

Those men
were under strict orders

that if mother and Audra
were in danger at any time,

they were to call
the whole thing off.

The fire was an accident.

Oh, so that makes it all
all right.

Maybe not.

But if the government
approached you, Nick,

and said "Here's a man
who's responsible for
wiping out an innocent town,

"a man we know helped plan
the assassination
of Abraham Lincoln.

We know it,
but can't prove it
without your help."

If they came to you, Nick,
and said that...

what would you do?

[chuckles]

Probably the same thing.

What's that smell?

Snake repellent.

-What?
-Snake repellent.

Sally Anne's
snake repellent.

She gave it to me
for the drive.

She made a very big mistake,
a big mistake.

The only snake I've seen
in the past three days...

has been wearing my tie.

[both laugh]

♪♪ [theme]