Drango (1957)

[bunniefuu]

BOY: They're comin'.

They're comin'!

They're comin'!

They're comin'!

♪ Drango

♪ Some men live by love

♪ Some men live by lust

♪ Hero, coward

and fool

♪ Each man does

the thing he must

♪ Drango rode

with trouble

♪ Drango rode apart

♪ No man stood

with Drango

♪ There's a time

every man

♪ Must ride alone

♪ Live or die

♪ He must ride alone ♪

[HORSE NEIGHS]

Which way to

Judge Allen's house?

[HORSES TROTTING AWAY]

Can I help you,

gentlemen?

I'm Major Drango.

This is Captain Banning.

We'd like

to see Judge Allen,

if he'll receive us.

Would you be

good enough

to step inside?

I'm Clay Allen,

the Judge's son.

I'll take you

to him.

[DOOR OPENS]

We have visitors...

Major Drango

and Captain Banning

of the Union Army.

We've been expecting

you, Major.

You must be tired

after your journey.

Perhaps, we can

get you a brandy.

I'm sorry. There's

nothing like that

left in the house.

JUDGE ALLEN:

My apologies.

We used to keep

an excellent cellar.

These are my

orders, sir.

Please read them

at your leisure.

We want everything to

go as well as possible.

Aren't you

assuming a

great deal?

I'm afraid there

isn't any choice,

Mother.

You've got to

understand that

these men rule us now.

We don't want

to rule anybody.

CLAY: Well, you're

a military governor,

aren't you?

Technically, yes.

Aren't those

official papers,

giving you the power

to do what you like

with our town,

with all of us?

We came here to help.

Forgive me, Major,

if I don't believe you.

Union soldiers have been here

before... Nine months ago.

General Sherman's army.

They made certain

we'd never forget them.

I understand,

Mrs. Allen.

You're the leader of

this community, Judge.

Nothing can be done

without your cooperation.

Will you work with us?

This town was laid out

almost 100 years ago,

Major.

My grandfather

helped build it.

There was a meaning

to our lives then.

Now, we just want

to be left alone!

We won't intrude

any further.

Good day, ma'am.

Good day, Judge.

Good day.

Good day,

gentlemen.

O, Major!

A word

of warning.

Our people

won't live under

a military governor.

If you stay,

they'll k*ll you.

Sure make a man

feel at home.

Think they know you?

Let's go.

211... Second floor,

end of the hall.

Stay where you are

and keep your hands up high.

[GRUNTING]

Get off him, Marc.

He hasn't any fight left.

[PANTING]

[MARC SHUTS DOOR]

I wasn't going to

use the g*n.

I just wanted to

make sure it was you.

Who are you?

Name is Calder.

I've been hiding here,

waiting for you.

I've been loyal to

the Union for four years.

I've been beaten for it,

shot at.

That's done with now.

No, not in this town,

or many others either.

These soldiers here,

back from the army,

are ready to k*ll anyone

who doesn't believe

like they do.

They came for me

two nights ago.

Where?

My place, about a mile

down the valley road.

I got away only

'cause I...

I got a daughter

can fire a g*n.

You recognize them?

No.

I k*lled

one of them,

though.

Now, they'll

hunt me down

for sure.

Take me to Fort Dalton.

You k*lled a man here,

it's... It's gotta be

settled here.

It's my life

you're talking about!

I think you should

stand trial here,

Mr. Calder.

You k*lled in self-defense.

No jury can

convict you for that.

I wouldn't

have a chance.

You've seen the faces of

the people in this town.

They hate you and

everything you stand for.

They'll fight you

in all the little ways

that eat a man's guts out.

I know.

You've taken it

for four years... Why?

I was born here.

This is my home.

Well, that's...

That's why I want

you to stay.

You're a strong man

or you'd have run

a long time ago.

We need men like you

to help rebuild Kennesaw.

They don't intend

to rebuild anything!

They're not interested

in law and order.

All they want

is revenge!

He's right, Clint.

These people have got to be

whipped into line.

I've seen enough k*lling!

We've got to make the law

count again.

I'm taking you in,

Mr. Calder.

Get word to

his daughter.

Have Judge Allen

come to the courthouse.

DRANGO:

Will you give him

a fair trial?

You can't deny

his right to defend

his life and his home.

I've lived by the law

all my life

and I'll not use it

to harbor a man

who turned his back

on his own people.

[DOOR OPENS]

He wants me

to stand trial,

Kate, here.

Why don't you just put

him up against the wall

and sh**t him now?

Please, please, Father.

I'll go to Dalton myself.

Will you conduct

the trial?

I'll have to.

CALDER: Do you think

you can find

12 fair men in this town?

If I don't,

there'll be no trial.

On your word?

What does

his word mean?

Maybe, he's right.

We've never run away from

anything, have we, Kate?

No.

[CROWD MURMURING]

[CROWD CLAMORING]

[CLAMORING STOPS]

We meet under

strange conditions,

conditions that make

understanding

on both sides

vitally important.

Captain Banning and I

have come to help you

rebuild Kennesaw Pass.

[MUTTERING]

You may not believe that,

but it's the truth.

It's up to us

to prove it to you.

We're here for the trial

of one of your own people...

Henry Calder.

There's got to be

a beginning someplace.

The law's a good place

to start.

Is that your idea

of law, sir,

you with a g*n?

Don't you really mean, sir,

this is a military trial,

a Union Army trial

and that the verdict

will be yours, not ours?

[MUTTERING]

It will be your trial,

your verdict.

I give you my word.

I want 12 men

to serve on this jury.

Men who will swear

to give an honest judgment.

Captain Banning,

bring in the accused.

I have a list of men

who held public office

here before the w*r.

Mr. Gareth Blackford.

Yes.

Do you know

the duties of a juror?

I think so.

Do you think

you could render

a fair verdict

in the case

of Henry Calder?

Yes, sir.

I think hanging's fair

for Henry Calder.

[CROWD MUTTERS ANGRILY]

Rev. Giles Cameron,

will you serve justly

on this jury, sir?

I cannot.

Why, sir?

Come to the church.

You can look high up

into its rafters

and see right through

to the sky...

Burned out

by Sherman's

drunken troops...

A house of God.

George Randolph.

He doesn't

deserve a trial.

[MUTTERING]

Have you ever read

the Constitution?

Men from this state

helped write it.

I think I can render

a fair verdict in

the case of Henry Calder.

[MUTTERING]

I know all of you

pretty well,

know what

you've been through.

As a doctor, I know

all the sickness

that w*r breeds.

But I just can't believe

what I'm seeing here today.

The law doesn't belong

to a man or an army.

Belongs to all of us.

If we turn our back

on it now we've lost

more than a w*r.

I say let's

try this man fairly.

Now, who'll

serve with me?

[PIN-DROP SILENCE]

[CROWD MUTTERING]

I am grateful, sir.

Do you believe me now?

Take my father

to Fort Dalton

tonight.

We found one man.

There'll be others.

Can't you see it?

They're a mob.

They want to k*ll!

What right have you

to play God?

I warn you, Major,

my father's life

is in your hands.

[GRUNTING]

Come on, Calder.

[MUFFLED GROANS]

[WHIP CRACKS][CALDER GRUNTS]

Any sign

of the jailor?

Get our horses.

You k*lled him,

same as if you

did it yourself.

Leave him.

For what?

It's not a woman's job.

We'll give him

a decent burial.

[LAUGHS]

Will you?

And will

the troops at Fort Dalton

fire a salute?

Have them fire

into this crowd.

They wanted him dead!

We'll find the men who

did this, I promise you,

Miss Calder.

My father believed

your promises.

I won't make

the same mistake.

This what you wanted, sir?

No.

No.

Seen anything of five men

headed up the valley?No.

Calder was hanged

last night.

We heard.

Know anything

about it?

No.

DRANGO: You're not

clear of this, Blackford.

Everybody heard you

in court yesterday

saying hanging

was fair for Calder.

You accusing me?

A man's been m*rder*d.

We've got to find

the people who did it

and we need your help.

BLACKFORD: Those two

rode against you.

I'm not ridin' with you.

Come on.

You'll never

take this place.

I'll k*ll you first.

Nobody's going

to take your place.

My brother said different

the night he died.

Yankee soldiers.

[SPITS]

What's your name, son?

Jeb Bryant.

BANNING: Did you hear

any men riding hard

by your place last night?

No.

Did you?

We didn't hear nothin'.

Where's your father?

Gettysburg.

Is your mother here?

She's dead too.

Looks deserted.

Just like the

whole valley.

People living all

through there,

maybe even some

of the lynchers.

Why not call out

the troops from Dalton?

They can't live with

g*ns in their backs.

We've got to

give them a chance.

It won't take 'em long

to find out who you are.

How do you think

they'll feel then?

[HORSE GALLOPING]

Miss Ransom?Yes?

I'm Major Drango.

This is Captain Banning.

Yes, I know.

Henry Calder was

hanged last night.

The lynchers

headed this way.

I've seen no one.

You'd heard

about Calder?

This is a small

community, Major.

Search the house

if you like.

I'm well aware

of the ways of

the Union Army.

General Sherman's men

were here for five days.

There'll be nothing

like that again.

Your father was

in the legislature,

wasn't he, Miss Ransom?

Yes.

Do you think he'd

have hanged a man

without a trial?

What do you think, Major?

He was a man of honor.

And you know a

great deal about honor,

don't you, Major?

Enough to respect it.

Good day,

Miss Ransom.

You don't have to

worry anymore.

They're gone.

Do you think

they believed you?

They had a chance

to search, didn't they?

The Major didn't

sound convinced.

I'd like to know more

about this man...

Doesn't carry a g*n,

doesn't force himself

in anywhere.

People might start

listening to him.

MAN: I say k*ll 'em now,

both of 'em.

CLAY: And bring

Union troops around here?

I'll pick the place.

First, I want every man

in this territory

riding with us.

Luke, I want you to contact

our people at Fort Dalton.

Tell them I want to have

a look at Drango's file

any way they can get it.

Yes, sir.Burke and Ragan...

I want you to go

out on the street and

keep a good lookout.

BURKE AND RAGAN: Right.

When does it stop, Clay?

There's nothing pleasant

about a w*r... Never has been.

Drink?

There's nothing too small

to put in that book,

is there, Clay?

Have you put

me there, too?

How you used my home,

how I lie for you?

Not for me, Shelby,

for an army.

Do you really think

you can change anything?

I know it.

This is a new kind

of w*r, Shelby.

No great armies

pounding at each other

across fields and rivers,

but a w*r

that will be fought

in a thousand places

all at once,

in every town and

city of the south.

There are men like

mine everywhere, Shelby.

Disciplined men,

waiting for a leader.

Maybe they

have a leader.

If we can get every man

in Kennesaw with us,

soon we can

take Fort Dalton.

Then all of Georgia

will rise up

and the other states

will follow.

By the first day of

the new year we've

got to be ready,

before Stanton can order

a full detachment of troops

here.

Less than two months, Shelby,

and we'll be marching.

What Lee couldn't do

with an army,

we'll do

in our way.

We'll take back everything

that was stolen from us,

everything we've lost.

I want to believe you,

Clay.

I want to.

Them dirty Yanks.

[SPITS]

You Yanks in there!

Come on out here!

Why'd you bring

the troops back?

Can't you handle

the job yourself?

[HORSES TROTTING]

MAN: Troop, halt!

Can you try

a dead man?No, sir.

Were you ever instructed

to conduct a jury trial

here in Kennesaw?

No, sir.

Well, did anyone

ever tell you

that a military governor

asks for volunteers?

A military governor

doesn't ask, Major,

he commands!

Could we talk inside, sir?

I understand this man

Calder had a daughter.

I'd like to

talk to her.

She's staying at

Dr. Blair's.

Would you get her,

please?

Why wasn't I notified

about Calder at once?

I just finished

drawing up the

report, sir.

I was going to dispatch

it to you today.You're late.

The whole town of Dalton

knew about it last night.

My men heard it

on the street.

I don't

understand that, sir.

Bad start here,

Major.

It was unfortunate.Unfortunate?

It was stupid!

Now then, what

have you done about

finding the lynchers?

We tracked them to

the farms in the valley.

We lost them

in the hill country.

What did the farmers say?

Someone must have

seen them!

They won't say anything.

Oh, won't they?

Well, then, we'll

bring them in here

and line them up

in full view

of the people

and if they won't talk,

we'll burn 'em out!

Nothing will be burned!

I'm building here,

not burning!

I was at Appomattox,

Colonel.

I'm going to try to carry out

the terms of that surrender

just as President Lincoln

meant them.

Lincoln's dead.

There's a different

policy in Washington now.

Stanton knows

how to handle

these people!

My orders originated from

President Lincoln's office.

They give me a free hand here

as long as I'm in command,

and I'm going to use it.

Without your g*ns?

Who's your

next of kin, Major?

I'd like to know

where to send the body.

If they k*ll me,

you can bury me here.

Miss Calder,

I'd like to express

the regret of

the Union Army

and my entire

district concerning

your father's death.

That doesn't include

all of your officers,

does it, Colonel?

BRACKEN: Well,

I hope so, ma'am.

Would you

care to sit down?

No, thank you.

I want to ask you

a question, ma'am.

Did your father ever

agree to a jury trial

here in Kennesaw?

No.

This man disarmed him,

placed him in custody,

promised him

a fair trial

in the name

of the Union Army.

We could have

gotten to Dalton.

I pleaded with the Major

to take us there.

My father

would be alive today

if Major Drango had never

come into this valley.

I'm very sorry

I had to trouble

you, ma'am.

You'll be hearing

from me again.

Captain, escort

Miss Calder home.

I can't spare an officer

for this job right now,

but I'll tell you one thing

to your face, Drango...

I'm going to replace you

by the first of the year.

Six weeks?

To try to repair

what it took four years

to tear down?

You weren't always

so interested in

repairing, Major.

I wonder if the

w*r has left you

quite yourself.

I need supplies

for the winter...

Food, clothing and medicine.

When can I have them?

I've got 17 communities

to supply,

and you'll get

your share in

good time.

Maybe these people

will whip into line

when they get

cold and hungry.

Why don't you

tell us the truth?

You're gonna hold us

as hostages till you find

the men who hung Calder.

That's the way a military

governor works, isn't it,

Major?

Does Blackford

speak for all of you

or will you

listen to reason?

Now, there's no harm

in talking this thing

out, Gareth.

What do you

suggest, Major?

You're the leaders

of the town.

Clear the land

for planting.

Open the school.

Get out the paper.

Put it out yourself.

That way the people

will know it's your paper.

I want it to

be their paper.

I want you to publish

it like before.

I'll never print

what you want me to print.

I'd rather see the paper

dead like it is.

Print what you like.

Just get it out.

Mr. Stryker,

what about school

for the children?

The school's burned out.

Well, we still

have a teacher.

Suppose we set up school

in the church?

Agreed, Reverend?

Yes.

Doctor, we've got

to get a place

for the sick

and the wounded

who still need help.

Well, I guess

we could use

my house.

Can you get anyone

to help you?

Mrs. Scott might.

And, uh, Kate Calder

used to help out

a little bit before the w*r.

We don't want any of her kind

tending our people.

What do you know

about her kind?

We need everyone's help.

And you, sir,

will you persuade the

farmers in the valley

to get their fields

ready for spring?

You've got to decide,

each of you...

Do you want Kennesaw

a decent place to

live in again?

Before long the government

is going to send troops

into every area

of the south.

If there's trouble here,

they'll ride in with

just one order.

To burn you out.

Liar!

That's what he is.

This Yankee Major

has a plan...

Destroy our purpose

by false promises,

divide us

against ourselves.

Do I have to tell any man

here about the enemy?

MEN: [YELLING] No!

I order you!

Fight in every silent way.

Ostracize Drango

and Banning.

Keep them alone

and afraid.

Don't let a single man

cross to their side.

Remember...

Never reveal anything

about us to anyone

until you're sure

of your man.

And when you're sure,

enlist him...

Secretly.

Not even his family

must know.

This time we'll win!

Take a look

at this, Clay.

Hmm.

Borrowed 'em

from the Yanks.

Did you have

any trouble?

Cut a wagon off the

Atlanta supply train

last night,

just the way

you laid it out.

Good, Gareth, good.

He'll probably

die tonight.

Came home from

the w*r with half

his lungs shot away.

Kate,

is that you?

Yes, Lieutenant.

Major, we've got to have

medical supplies.

More of these people

will die without them.

We'll get them,

I promise you.

[CHURCH BELL TOLLS]

Whoa.

Where do you

want these, sir?

Courthouse.

Ha!

Whoa!

Dismount.

Unhitch those horses.

Those wagons are

a welcome sight,

Lieutenant.

When will

the rest be here?

There won't be

any more, Major.

These are the requisition

orders, signed by

Colonel Bracken.

Three wagonloads

of food...

That'll have to get you

through this winter.

No medical supplies?

No orders on that, sir.

Well, we've got to

start back.

Lieutenant...

Children will starve

here this winter

and people will die

because they don't have

proper clothing and medicine.

Remember that.

And tell Colonel Bracken.

That's an order.

Yes, sir.

Attention!

Forward, h*!

[PEOPLE CLAMORING]

MAN: Stay away

from that wagon!

Every one of you

will get his share

when the time comes,

not before!

Let's take it now!

It belongs to us!

I'll arrest any man who

lays a hand on these wagons

without my permission!

I'll need some of you

to help unload.

How long do you think

the food will last if

we stretch it thin?

Six weeks.

That's the way

I figured it.

If we start giving it out

now we'll never get

through the winter.

When we do start, we can't

give 'em enough to fill

their stomachs.

We'll have to

measure it out

a little at a time.

[g*nshots]

[g*nshots][PEOPLE SCREAMING]

Drop that g*n!

Twenty years in prison.

That's what you could get

for this, both of you!

It's mine.

He tried to

take it from me.

It's six months

we ain't had meat.

We ain't had nothin'

but coffee and weeds

for the past two days.

I had to bring home

somethin' this time.

Take your chicken

and go on home.

This is the way we live

under you...

Fightin' over a bone

like dogs!

I've got to have those

supplies... All of them.

We'll let the people eat,

gorge themselves.

In a week, there'll

be no more food

and they'll be hungrier

than they are now.

And Major Drango will have

nothing to give them.

They'll be ready to follow

whoever promises them filled

bellies and warm clothes.

The wagons ready,

Gareth?

At the river...

Far side.

No definite time

on the watch.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Sorry to be

so late, Major.

Had to bring a man in

from the valley tonight.

Swamp fever.

Bad?

Yes.

Did you get

any sleep?

How long since

you've been to bed?

Marc will be here

at 6:00.

Good night, Doctor.Good night, Major.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

It's my sister.

We need you

right away.

Well, I can't leave

here now, Jeb.

But you've got to come.

She's got the fever.

DR. BLAIR: Now, wait a minute.

I'll tell you what you do.

Get on over to the hotel

and get the m...

You did good, Jeb.

Go on home. You'll get

your share of the food

tomorrow.

[WHISPERS]

Get back, get back.

[SLURRING]

...now I gotta drink

this dump water.

They got all

the good whiskey.

[BOTTLE SHATTERS]Gonna get me some of it!

Come on out.

I know you're in there!

Come on out!

I want some whiskey!

Come on!Gotta get out of here

as fast as we can.

Gareth, you take

the supply wagon.Right.

[SLURRED] I know

you're in there. Gotta have

some whiskey! Come on out!

Come on out![DR. BLAIR FIRES]

[SCREAMS][EXCLAIMS]

Get going, Gareth.

[g*nsh*t]

Yee-ha!

[FIRING][SCREAMS]

What happened?

They shot him!Easy here.

Let's raise him.

The b*llet went deep.

Near his heart?

Mmm.

Easy, Doc, easy.

You've lost a lot of blood.

The b*llet's still in there.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Did you ever

take one out before?

I'm a little particular

who carves me up.

Kate, bring me my whiskey.

We can't use an anesthetic.

Got to keep me conscious.

I'll have to tell you

what to do.

It's near the heart,

but not as close as was

intended, I expect.

[MOANING]

Saved this

all through the w*r.

[COUGHING]

Clean it

with water first.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

The instrument

on the end there.

Probe with that.

[GROANING] That's it.

It must be blocked

in there sideways.

Take the probe out.

Now, the small forceps.

This one.

Just take it slowly

and try to pull the b*llet

away from the heart.

And don't stop

no matter what I do.

Hold me down

if you have to.

[GROANING]

[SCREAMING]

[MOANING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[SIGHING]

He'll be all right.

A man like Blair,

what he means to this town,

and they left him to die

in the street.

The driver k*lled?

Gareth Blackford.

I grew up with Gareth.

We were in the same company

all through the w*r.

He was never a thief.

Or a lyncher?

Something terrible's

happening to us.

People are turning

against their own kind.

Captain Banning's out

gathering up the supplies.

I'll go help him.

Thanks.

Oh, would you men carry

the doctor inside, please?

You can clean up in there.

You all right?

You're never

going to find

the men who did this.

They'll go on

k*lling, lynching.

The people in this town

will hide them,

lie for them, anything.

Not Dr. Blair, nor Randolph.

It'll take time,

but the people will change.

With speeches?

How would you have it?

An eye for an eye?

Yes.

I... I know

how you feel, Kate.

I know what your father

meant to you.

Do you?

Ever since I can remember

he talked to me about

this country,

how it started,

what it meant.

He saw the w*r coming

and argued against it.

He said there had to be

a way of settling it

without dividing up

the country.

And when it came,

people wouldn't have anything

to do with him anymore.

People he had known

all his life,

they crossed the street

when they saw him coming.

They k*lled him

a long time ago.

w*r changes people.

Some of them stay changed.

They live on hate and revenge.

You can't be like that, Kate.

Why?

Because you're the

only one who can make

your father's life count.

You understand

what the others don't.

I need your help.

I know a soldier's

need for a woman.

I've seen the women

go to the camps

with their children

beside them,

trading themselves

for a sack of meal.

Can't you understand

what happens to a woman

in a country

that's lost a w*r?

It's ugly.

I can hate a woman

I once liked because

she has shoes.

I can hate a man who...

Who looks at me

because I don't feel

like a woman anymore.

I wish I could

make it up to you, Kate.

[CROWD CHATTERING]

Very good morning, Tommy.Hello, Mr. Allen.

You getting out

the paper today?

No, just helping out.

My father was up

all last night setting type.

Oh, was he? I heard he'd

written a special editorial.

Could I see it?Sure, Mr. Allen.

Thank you.

"Tomorrow, December 24th,

"Major Drango will give out

one share of food and clothing

"to every man, woman and

child in this township.

"It will be

a minimum allotment,

"only because as much

as possible must be saved

"for the winter months

to come.

"This paper will

support Major Drango.

"We believe he is a fair

and honest man

"and has made his decision

in the best interests

of our people.

"George Randolph, editor."

You know, it's a fine stand

your father's taking.

It might draw

the people together.

That's what he hopes.

You know, Tommy, you look

like a newspaperman already.

You'll be taking over for your

father one of these days.

No, not for quite

a while, I guess.

Well then, look, have a nice

Christmas, Tommy.

Thank you, sir. Same to you.

Bye-bye.Bye-bye.

You going to spend all

Christmas day in bed?

I didn't know there was

any Christmas in this country.

Where are you headed?Valley.

Can't you take one day out?

I've been watching you

drive yourself, Clint,

more than any man can take.

Look, nobody can bring this

town back to life. It's dead.

Then what

are we doing here?

Since you insist

on packing a g*n,

you've always had your eye on

this one, so merry Christmas.

Thanks, Clint.

I was gonna find me one just

like it when I got back home.

I'll see you later.

Don't forget the party

at the Ransom house.

Shelby'd be offended

if you didn't come.

I told her you'd be there.

You've been

calling on Shelby again?

When would I have the time?

What's Kate doing

for Christmas?

I don't know, staying

at the hospital, I guess.

Is there anything

else, Captain?

No, sir.

Attention.

Dismissed.

It's ready, Major.

A military coat

is easy to cut down.

The wool is strong.

I've never seen buttons

like these before.

Where'd you get them?

A dress I wore

a long time ago.

I have no use for it now.

I'm grateful, ma'am.

[BALLROOM MUSIC PLAYING]

You've made another

conquest, Shelby.

I want you to dance

with him, talk to him.

There's a change in orders

going out to all military

governors from Washington.

Find out if they

know them yet.

Captain Banning seems

to be enjoying himself.

Are you, Major?

Very much.

It was nice of Miss

Ransom to invite us.

Oh, George, I'm glad

to see the paper out again.

Good editorial, too.

Thank you, Clay.

Tommy's so excited

he won't even leave

the office.

[CHUCKLING]

He's setting up

the type for tomorrow.

He's George's

son, all right.

The paper's his life.

[SHELBY LAUGHING]

You know what it

used to be like here

Christmas time?

People came from all over,

from far as 200 miles away.

You couldn't see the lawn

for the carriages.

There was so much silk

on the ladies

the veranda looked like

a sea of brilliant waves.

I lived in

a fine house, too,

in the back where

the servants are kept.

When I was a boy I used to

look out in the great halls

at the parties

and see women like you.

I never thought I'd know one.

Do you know me?

Does anyone really ever

know another human being?

I know that I love you,

have ever since

I first saw you.

I've lain awake at night

trying to think

how to tell you,

wondering if

it would matter.

No one's spoken

to me as you have

in a long time

and meant it.

Too much has happened.

MAN: I just came from town.

The newspaper's on fire!

The whole newspaper office

is burning like dry grass.

Did you see Tommy?I didn't see anybody.

He must have gotten out

before it started.

Where is he, then?

Where is he?

We'll find him.

Oh, oh.

[SOBBING]

[EXCLAIMING]

[CRYING] No.

Tell your people, Reverend,

that no man or woman

in Kennesaw

will get another ration

of food until they surrender

the men who did this.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

How dare this man cut us off

from the food and supplies

in his storeroom?

Not one of us,

the smallest child,

can stay alive without them.

This man Drango has

exceeded all the limits

of human decency.

[DOOR OPENING]

This is a private meeting,

Major Drango.

If you see fit to inflict

your presence, there's nothing

we can do about it.

But you can't keep us

from speaking the truth.

By all means, go ahead.

And the truth is this.

This man is using

his position to tyrannize

the people of this town.

He is denying us

the food at his command

in the name of justice.

I submit, gentlemen,

that he is starving

us into submission.

MAN: That's right. That's

the truth. Call him out.

CROWD: Yeah, yes.

Please. Please.

We are not a mob, gentlemen.

This is an

open meeting, Major.

You have a right to speak.

I met a man once

who loved this country

very deeply.

He believed that

what one single person did

in a country or a town

was important.

Because every man's a part

of the people around him

and they're part of him.

But we're not one

people anymore.

Some men on both sides want

to go on destroying, k*lling.

There are men

among you who have

lynched a man,

burned a child,

tried to k*ll your doctor,

and steal your food.

Are you going

to give over your town

and your lives to them?

[ALL MURMURING] No.

Many of you know

who these men are,

but no one's come forward

to testify against them.

That's why I cut

off your food.

You gave me no choice.

GEORGE: He's talking sense.

If we don't take

a stand together,

no family in Kennesaw

will be able to live

in peace.

I didn't fight

four years to live

under a Yankee dictator.

You're right.

Just a minute, folks,

just a minute.

Does a dictator

live on the same rations

as the people?

Does he give a newspaper

power to say what it will?

What good is talk?

We'd have food if the Yankees

hadn't burned our crops

and robbed our storehouses.

I spoke against this

man from my pulpit.

I failed you and myself

because I was

blinded by hate.

But this man

has shown us the truth.

If we deny him,

we deny ourselves.

Ask him if he's got enough

food to keep us alive

through the winter.

Maybe that's why

the rations were stopped.

I say he's lied to us

from the start.

Nobody hated Yanks

worse than us.

We had reason enough,

but this man don't lie.

He said he was

our friend and he is.

I have as much reason

to hate as you.

My boy died

in a northern prison.

But I know this man.

Do you, Mrs. Scott?

Do you know who

this man really is?

Major Drango,

did you not hold command

of a troop of Union cavalry

under General Sherman

in May of 1864?

Yes.Did you not

hold that command

in General Sherman's

march to the sea,

3rd Brigade, 15th army corps?

I did.[ALL MURMURING] Oh.

What was your record,

Major, in that march?

Do you decline

to tell the people,

you who talk so much

about the truth?

MAN: Tell us.MAN 2: Tell us

what he did, Clay.

[CROWD AGREEING] Yeah.

This is the man

who commanded the very troops

who rode down into

our valley to destroy us.

This is the man

who burned down

our warehouses,

our homes, our church,

this very courtroom which

your people and mine

built in respect to the law.

I tell you, this man

who doesn't carry a g*n,

who talks about

law and justice,

this man is a m*rder*r.

He'd have k*lled us all.

Now he's asking us

to follow him.

I say we'll never follow him.

CROWD: No. Never.

You've declared

your leadership, Mr. Allen.

That knowledge is taken

from secret Union Army files.

Only a man using

paid spies could know it,

a man deliberately violating

the terms of surrender praised

by General Lee himself.

Mr. Allen, I charge you

with arson, theft and m*rder.

I won't believe that, Major.

I'd rather see my son

dead in the street.

Serious charges, Major.

Where are your witnesses?

Is there one witness

to this man's crimes who

will testify against him?

Whiskey.

I guess you didn't hear

me. I said whiskey.

Give me a bottle.

You should have been over

at the courthouse tonight.

You would have

learned the truth

about the Major here.

He had quite a record

in the w*r,

not exactly the kind of record

a man likes to talk about.

How do you feel,

coming back here, Major?

Proud of what you did

to this country?

Get out, Ragan.

I've been waiting to see

if you had fight in you.

I'm not some hungry kid

you can starve out.

[GRUNTING]

I didn't expect you

till morning.

Rode straight through,

Bracken's orders.

You were right, Clint.

Time's run out.

Stanton's policy is going

into effect all through

the south,

sending full troops in.

Bracken's ordered you

to report to Dalton

as soon as you get these.

Have you seen the doctor?

No.

Kate, I...

I know who lynched

your father.

Who?

Clay Allen.

He finally came out

in the open tonight.

When are you going

to hang him?

I can't even arrest him.

Why?

Well, because I...I'll k*ll him myself.

Kate.

Why do you just talk

about justice?

Why don't you

do something about it?

You're no better

than the rest of them.

You don't want justice.

You want revenge.

It's blinded you

to everything your

father believed in,

what you really

believe in yourself.

And what is that?

This country, all of it.

Kate, if we go on divided

against ourselves,

looking for revenge,

people will go on

suffering and dying.

I want to see the burning

and k*lling stop.

Does that mean that Clay Allen

is to go unpunished?

No.Then what are

you talking about?

Right now

I can't touch him.

He and all of Kennesaw

would laugh at me if I tried.

See, they know something

that you don't know.

They learned it

from Clay tonight.

They know that near

the end of the w*r

I had a special command,

and like a good soldier

I followed my orders.

What are you saying?

From the Kennesaw

mountains to Atlanta,

I was ordered

to burn and destroy.

My men rode through

these streets, Kate.

My men ravaged

Kennesaw Pass,

burned out the valley

and destroyed the crops.

Why did you come back?

Why?

Do you know what it is

to look into the faces

of men and women,

little children,

knowing that they're going to

starve and die because of you?

I wanted to give back

the life I'd taken.

All I've done is cause

more hurt and more hatred.

Now there's no more time

to make it right.

Bracken's ordered

me to Dalton.

He'll send troops in.

Maybe that's the only thing

they'll understand.

Oh, Kate. Kate.

You're the one

I've hurt most of all,

and I need you most of all.

You've got to come back.

You've got to.

Clint.

Yeah?

Just one thing,

when we first started here

I didn't agree with what

you were doing.

I didn't believe in it.

Kinda like you to know

no matter what happens

I believe in you now.

Thanks.

Don't let Bracken

change anything.

Look out for yourself.You too.

Shelby?

Shelby.

Shelby.

Still drunk.

I want you to write a letter.

Get out.

Get out of my home.

[GASPING]Your home?

I risked my life

for everything you have,

this house, these clothes,

the food you eat.

You don't own me, Clay.

You don't own me.

Don't I?

Write what I tell you.

"My dear Captain Banning,

"I need your help.

"Please come to Ransom

house immediately."

You're going to k*ll him.

You would have me

ask him here

to the home where

you loved me once?

Can you sleep at nights, Clay?

Don't you see

that woman's face

when she looked

at her dead son,

so burned that she

couldn't recognize him?

Oh, Clay,

I dream about that face,

that face, that

same face. [SOBBING]

Stop it. Stop it.

I'm going to stop you, Clay.

You're not going

to k*ll anybody else.

Oh.

DRANGO: If the people

laid down their g*ns,

and showed you themselves

they can live peacefully

without armed troops.

Would that be proof?Maybe.

And if they do that, will you

give us the things we need

to get us through the winter?

Us?

Are you fool enough to think

these people are ever going

to accept you?

You stand for

everything they hate.

For defeat, Major.

Don't ever forget it.

Anyway, it's too late.

Your time has run out.

I got word yesterday

that Stanton's troops

will be here in three days.

Be ready to turn over

Kennesaw Pass to the new

command. That's all.

Anyone else know when

those troops are coming in?

The whole post. Why?

With your permission, sir...I've arranged

quarters for your stay.Thank you, Colonel,

I'm going back tonight.

Clay Allen shot him tonight

and strung him up in front

of the courthouse.

Called us all together

and made us a promise,

ride with him, take back

everything we lost.

Ride where?

Against Fort Dalton.

How many has he got?

Every man and boy

that can ride.

And he's armed them all.

They're not thinking

anymore.

They're just a mob.

They'll do anything

he says.

When do they move out?

Dawn.

Better get back to town.

We'll ride back

with you, Clint.

No.

I want you with Allen's

men in the morning.

No.

You can't go back.

I've got to.

Stay here.

All right.

I'll meet you outside.

You've led them

from the beginning,

my own son.

We were born

to command, Father.

You told me that

often enough when

I was a boy.

Not this way, Clay.

They're crazy

with hunger and fear.

You've got to stop them.

You stop them, Father.

They've always

listened to you.

There was a time

when you listened too.

When I respected you.

Things have changed

since then, and you've

changed with them.

Has the power to command

crawled into your mind

until you're the only

human being that counts?

Have you lost

your courage, Father?

[g*n c*ck]

You're all that's left, Clay,

but if you take another step,

I'll k*ll you.

Get out of my way.

[CLAY'S FOOTSTEPS RETREATING]

[ALL CHEERING]

Men!

There's food and clothes

and everything you need

at Fort Dalton,

just sitting there waiting

for you to take it!

Do you know how many men

they've got in the whole fort?

One hundred

and fifty-five!

Do you think they could

stand against us if we

march together?

ALL: No!

We'll take

what's coming to us!

Now, let's discuss

this thing reasonably.

You've got to wait!

We've waited

long enough.

You're soldiers again

with a cause!

[ALL CHEERING]

Finally got yourself

an army, Mr. Allen.

Have you told them

they'll be hunted down

and k*lled, one by one,

once they raise a g*n

against Fort Dalton?

Why don't you tell

them the truth?

What kind of an army

they really are,

what kind of a cause

they've really got?

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nsh*t][CLAY SCREAMING]

My son was our enemy.

He terrorized our town.

He told me himself he was

proud of what he'd done.

Can any one of us

any longer doubt this man,

this man we've

refused to accept,

that he truly wants

to bring us the peace?

There can be no new w*r,

no going back.

I want every man

to lay down his g*n,

for good.

You're not through yet.

We're going to Fort

Dalton, all of us.

We've got to have

food and clothes,

seed for spring planting,

and medicine.

We're going to petition

for the things we need

and we're going to get them!