Colonel Effingham's Raid (1946) - full transcript

I shall
never forget that warm April

evening in 1940 when the first
hit reached me that cousin

Willie had reappeared
full blown in the life

of our little southern town
in Fredericksville, Georgia.

Until the moment he telephoned
and invited me to supper,

I hadn't even known
I had a cousin.

Is this Albert Marbury?

Yes, sir.

Are you cousin Willie?

I am.

Come in, my boy.
Come in.



It's good to see good folks again.

I used to know you when you were
no taller than a deviled egg.

Emma, here's your cousin Albert.

Good evening, Albert.

Hello, cousin Emma.

I didn't know you
were going to be here.

Oh, yes.

Nothing would do Will but that
I must keep house for him.

You know, we were
just talking about you.

I'll tell you, Will's
a full of curiosity

as an old cat trying to catch
up on everybody and everything.

Say, Cousin Will, you're...

Your mother's second
cousin, Albert.

Of course, I remember!



Mom talked about you.

You send us a Bolo knife from
the Philippines one Christmas.

I did.

Sit down, Albert.

Supper will be ready any time now.

Thank you.

Are you back in Fredericksville
for good now, Cousin Will?

Well, I don't know.

I've only been here a week, hardly

time enough to decide whether this
is a garrison or a [inaudible] area.

But you're retired?

Yes.

Uncle Sam has turned the
old horse out to graze.

What may I offer you
to drink, my boy?

Well, if cousin Emma doesn't mind...

Oh, don't pay any attention to me.

Orderly!

I guess a little whiskey and
branch water, anything else you say.

Yes, sir?

Well, 98.

Oh, good evening, Mr. Al.

I thought you were
working down at the depot.

Well, yes, I was until the
colonel mobilized me up here.

Orderly, bring those
two rum tampicos.

Yes, sir.

Going to get them.

Sure a nice place you have here.

Comfortable quarters.

But we were speaking of
my retirement, Albert.

I confess I've been looking
forward to it merely

as an assignment to a new post.

A new command means
a new point of view...

new problems, new solutions.

You must have a lot of old
friends around here, cousin Willie.

Enough at least for a good
Saturday afternoon poker game.

Yes, this post is not wholly
without its social aspects.

But first, Albert, tell
me about Fredericksville.

Well, there's nothing to tell.

It's just like any one
of 100 towns in Georgia.

What's the population now?

Oh, about 30,000.

How many voted in
the last election?

4,000 or 5,000 I'd say.

You mean 25,000 took
no part in the action?

Well, you know how
folks are around here.

Politics and polite
society just don't mix.

The mixed when your
grandfather was a boy.

Perhaps Fredericksville
is neglecting its history.

Yes, sir.

That road out in front was
the very road over which

the late General Sherman was expected
to advance on Fredericksville in 1864.

But General Sherman didn't
come to Fredericksville, Will.

True enough, Emma.

Why didn't he?

Didn't he think out town
was as important as Atlanta?

Lots of folks around here
have never felt the same about

Atlanta since he passed us by.

Had they, cousin Emma?

You aren't still expecting General
Sherman are you, cousin Willie?

Every populated center is
always in danger, Albert.

Call out your sentries
and the enemy appear.

Community's history
is its family tree.

Swell drink, cousin Willie.

Uh, mess is ready, Miss Emma.

All right.

Just bring your drink along
with you to the table, Albert.

No use letting supper get cold just
because Will's wound up like this.

No, my boy.

Fredericksville didn't spring
up like a mushroom overnight.

How did the molder do it?

It was rusted by steady
hand and steady eye

from the reluctant wilderness
wrested from a British king's

tyranny, wrested from Sherman,
wrested from the noxious mire

of defeat in operations.

It is for us... the
living, my boy... for you

and me and every decent
citizen in the community

to see to it that Fredericksville
does not forget that.

Yes, sir.

I'll try to keep it in mind.

By morning,
I had forgotten about cousin Willie

for it was Confederate
Memorial Day.

In Confederate Monument
Square, the mayor... head

of the Home Folks Party, which
had governed our town for as

far back as I could remember...

was delivering his usual glowing
tribute to the lost cause.

I yield to no man
in everlasting pride,

in that gallant band
of gray-clad heroes!

With the mayor's salubrious praises

still ringing in my ears,
I returned to my job at "The Leader."

Hey, how about
handing this to Dewey?

- Sure.
- Thank you.

Say, maybe this isn't going to
be such a phony war after all.

You've got a neat
column banner, Pete.

"Nazis sweep through Norway."

Got a cigar, Al?

Thanks.

What about his honor's
tribute to the lost cause?

Oh, yes.

We mustn't let the world
interfere with anything big like that.

I believe that it's locked.

Well, that's the trouble of the
world today, no faith in human nature.

Why do you reckon a dame would
want to lock up a few measly cigarettes?

Maybe we should have a chisel.

Well, there's one
thing you can bet on.

Miss Carrie would never have done such
a thing when she was society editor.

Oh, Miss Carrie was
one swell old girl.

Oh, the salt of the earth.

But this new dame, hm.

And all these fancy
things here, Venetian

blinds and flowers and rugs.

Yeah, just like I say.

There ought to be a law against
women in newspaper offices.

Dewey!

Yes, sir?

Look at this.

How come that other
paper up the street

gets a full-page ad from Chromarty's
and we only get six inches?

Well, I'll tell you
how it is, Mr. Hoats.

Yeah, I know.

I know. "The News"
supports the city hall.

And the city hall tells
Chromarty's where to spit.

That's about the size of it.

Well, it's got to stop, boys.

It's costing us money.

I want the mayor's speech
on page one, you understand?

Yes, sir.

Well, what else you
got on the stove, Dewey?

Well, the British are getting
ready to pull out of Norway.

I mean your locals.

Well, Doc Buden says they're going
to change the name of the square.

What square?

Confederate Monument Square.

Change it to what?

Toolen Square after old Pud Toolen.

So they're going to name the
square after that old crook?

There won't be a story
on that, all right?

Eavesdropper.

Maybe she doesn't understand that he
was the founder of the Home Folks Party.

I understand plenty... the way he

lived on the city, the
poor white relatives

he kept on the payroll.

Isn't there anyone around here
who'll stand up for what he thinks?

If my father was still
editor about this paper...

You know, Dewey, that was
another nice thing about Miss Carrie.

You never caught her sticking
her nose into men's business.

Oh, Miss Carrie was
sure restful, a credit

to pure southern womanhood
if ever I saw it.

Dewey, I want a Sunday
editorial on Pud Toolen.

Pud Toolen?

He's been dead for 20 years.

Well, dig him up.

Unless I missed my guess,
here's our chance

to get in solid with the
folks down at city hall.

You know, hit the
civic leader angle.

Talk about what he did the city.

Or a Toolen.

Hit it off on the
note, "The Leader"

takes pride in joining
its voice to the clamor

for naming Monument Square after
its benefactor" and so forth.

"The time has come in the growth
of the expansion of our city"

and so forth, however you feel it.

Give it the works.

But isn't that dynamite?

Listen, I'm from Ohio.

Maybe I don't feel the way you
Southerners do about these things.

I've got to think about the
red and black ink on the books.

My bosses sitting
up in Chicago aren't

worrying about what Stonewall
Jackson did at Manassas.

And let me see it
before you set it up.

I may want to add something.

Had to be a surprise
to old Pud, I'd bet.

Beg pardon.

Where will I find
the managing editor?

Right in there.

Thank you.

Colonel Effingham, sir.

W. Seaborn Effingham, currently
United States Army retired.

Good morning, Colonel.

Take a chair.

Thank you.

You're visiting in
Fredericksville, Colonel?

Not at all.

I was born in Fredericksville.

My father and my grandfather
and my great grandfather

were all born in Fredericksville.

For an Effingham,
Fredericksville is home.

I see.

My people have
always been soldiers.

My grandfather fell at Chickamauga,
his grandfather at Saratoga.

When Beauregard fired on
Fort Sumpter, my own father,

unfortunately, was only nine.

That was a little young.

I, myself, was wounded
at San Juan Hill.

I was at the siege of Panama.

For 50 years, Mr. Editor,
the forces of civilization

had been held a day on the Isthmus,

unable to join the waters
of two great oceans.

And do you know what blocked them?

Gatling guns?

Mini balls?

Superior forces?

Guerrilla bands?

Mosquitoes.

Well, perhaps one of my boys
could fix up a little story for Sunday.

Stegomyia faciata.

A half a century, the
enemy less than a quarter

of an inch in stature blocked
the economic march of a nation

of 100 million people.

It was insupportable.

Well, Colonel...

We blockaded General
Stegomyia, to with the mosquito.

We cut him off from reinforcements.

We hammered his communication.

So you're back in Fredericksville
for good, now, Colonel?

We sprayed his
concentrations with oil.

We screened his wells.

We put fifth columns of fish in the
water to attack his ammunition dumps.

But more of that another day.

What I've been leading
up to, Mr. Editor,

is the possibility of a column
of war commentary in your paper?

War commentary?

War commentary?

I read both "The
Leader" and "The News."

And though I realize "The News"
has the largest circulation,

your former editor Mr. Sam Dozier
was an old and honored friend of mine.

Well, we couldn't offer you enough.

We're only a small paper.

We haven't got much money to pay.

But sir, I don't want pay.

I'm offering my services free!

Well I'd like to think it over.

How can I get in touch with you?

My telephone is 514, sir.

Good day, sir.

Good day, Colonel.

How about... who is that guy?

I'm proud to say I never
saw him before in my life.

Sometimes I wonder what I
ever did to deserve things like this.

What's the harm in trying it?

Are you crazy?

Oh, I know it wouldn't be as
good as taking on another comic.

But you're always looking for
something to fill up that page.

Local guy, column two or three times
a week on the editorial page might...

But of mosquitoes?

His grandfather?

I know.

But this is a funny town, Earl.

It's built around
grandfathers and mosquitoes.

You know, this war in
Europe is picking up.

A lot of people are worried.

We may be getting into it
ourselves, if you can't tell.

In that case, a lot of the
boys will be joining up.

After all, the old
boy was a colonel

in the United States Army.

You don't get to be a colonel
in peace times for nothing.

It might sit well with a lot of folks

to think we had a military
expert right here on the paper.

Well, that's...

I think you ought to try it, Earl.

What have you got to lose?

OK, I'll take a chance.

Hold him on the firing line.

If you ask me,
any time you buy something for nothing

that's just what you get.

Did you ever hear of a guy
named W. Seaborn Effingham?

What's he done?

He's going to run a
column in our little paper.

Column?

I didn't know he could write.

Anybody can write, bub.

As long as we're going to
do it, let's do it right.

Build up the old guy two or
three days before you start.

Get a few informal shots of
the author at work and at play.

Uh, you'd better let me handle it.

All right, take Jake
along to get the pictures.

No, I'll do it alone.

Two of us will make him nervous.

Two of us didn't make
him nervous this morning.

And for my personal information,

find out the name of the last
lunatic asylum he attended.

I can ell him that now.

Why?

Do you know the guy?

That's my cousin Willie.

Orderly!

On the double!

Orderly, our guest
here wants a dog.

Is there an animal on the post?

- There's old Buck, Colonel.
- Buck.

I don't know him.

But have him report here at once.

Yes, sir.

Oh, hello, Miss Emma.

Oh, I don't know what
Will's thinking about.

This is the first time an Effingham
has ever done such a thing.

People see.

Bad enough getting your name

in the paper when you're
born or get married or die!

It's not my idea.

He's a man of determination.

Effingham men have always
been men of determination.

Here, Buck!

Here, boy!

Hey!

Attention!

It's got "reader confidence"
written all over it.

What's his name?

W. Seaborn Effingham, Colonel,
the United States Army, retired.

The dog!

Buck.

His name's Rover.

Our subscribers seemed to
open their arms to the pair.

First thing we knew,
our leading citizens

were giving parties
for him in the most

stylish houses in town.

Good evening, Miss [inaudible].

Good evening, Miss Emma.

Well, Will!

How's the old publicity hound?

Good, Clyde.

Effingham!

[inaudible], how are you?

Man, they've certainly been
giving you plenty of write ups.

Everybody in town must know
Colonel Effingham and his

faithful old dog Rover by now.

How does it feel to be
in the limelight, Will?

Well, I'm used to being shot at.

Anyhow, Will, we want you to
know we're right behind you.

Thanks, Clyde!

Sorry, I can't offer
you anything but punch.

But if you boys would step
out into the kitchen...

I've already sweetened
it just a mite Mr. Clyde.

Here's to you, Will, and to our
good old billy goat days together.

And to Will's new column!

Oh, yes!

Here's your good health!

I can't get over it.

Old Will here, a colonel in the army,
been everywhere, seen everything.

And we've just sat home
and kind of mildewed.

On the contrary!

You gentlemen have made
substantial successes in

your chosen fields of endeavor.

Jesse and you, Sterling,
president of flourishing banks.

And Clyde, head of the
Southeaster Fertilizer.

Oh, we've managed to
keep a roof over our head.

Will Effingham!

You don't remember me!

Clara Breckenridge!

Clara Meigs, now.

You remember Charlie Meigs?

He was at dancing school with us.

He was always a lucky dog.

I would've known
you anywhere, Clara.

Still the finest figure in Georgia!

Now, Will, there you go!

The same old flatterer.

I declare, I don't know how
you ever escaped marriage.

Colonel Effingham,
I'm Ella Sue Dozier.

I believe you knew my
father, Sam Dozier.

Sam Dozier, one of the most courageous
editors Georgia ever produced.

I rank him with Henry Gray.

I'm delighted to know his daughter.

Oh, you probably see a
lot of this little girl

now that you're fellow workers!

Fellow workers?

I felt some Dozier had
to be on "The Leader."

It's a pleasure to join forces
with you any day, my dear.

To the ladies, under
whose sheltering

wings lives the valor
of Fredericksville.

Excuse me, Ella Sue.

Oh, hello, Ed.

Colonel Effingham,
this is Mr. Edward

Bland, professor of
economics in the high school.

Good evening.

How are you, Colonel?

Isn't this our dance?

Oh, I'm sorry, Ed.

But I've been saving this
one for Colonel Effingham.

Will you dance with me, Colonel?

It's an honor, my dear.

I don't mean to be sacrilegious,

but you know who Will reminds
me of, if he had a beard?

General Lee.

Yes, I can see the resemblance.

But I'm afraid General Lee wouldn't

lend his name to a column
in the public print.

Turn ye, turn ye
from your evil ways.

Amen.

- Brother, are you prepared?
- I am.

Hallelujah.

Hallelujah.

The end of the
world comes, brother.

Are you saved?

I've been saved, brother.

Hallelujah.

They want to ruin you.

Hallelujah, don't I know it.

Good morning, Albert.

How are you, my boy?

Fine, cousin Willie.

How's the war going?

Albert, tell me.

Does what's-his-name
know about this plot?

What plot, Colonel?

The plot to name our
Confederate Square

after that... that carpetbagger?

Well, I... I couldn't say.

The information hasn't
been made public.

Well, let's go tell him.

It's time for newspaper's
to deliver their big guns.

Well, I can't go right now.

- I have to write a story.
- Well, I'll go see him myself.

Mr. Hoats isn't here.

He had to go to
Atlanta for the day.

Well, surely there's
a second in command?

No, Mr. Hoats is the
man you have to see.

There's no hurry.

Next time you're in town, why don't
you stop by and have a chat with him.

Yes, I'm sure he'll be glad
to do everything he can.

It isn't a question of
doing everything he can.

A newspaper's run for the good
of the community, isn't it?

Well...

Isn't it?

Exactly.

Well, I'm out, my boy.

Good day, Ella Sue.

Then cousin Willi struck.

It was exactly as if he'd hurled a
custard pie to established government.

The response of the town
was quick and emphatic.

Meh.

What do you make of it?

Doc, after all we've
done for Earl Hoats,

it's like finding a rattlesnake
in your bureau drawer.

Hello?

Is this "The Leader?"

Is it true that they're going
to rename Monument Square?

Well, as far as I can determine,
Mrs. Meigs, it's an unfounded rumor.

Thank you very much.

Yes.

We'll do everything we can.

City desk!

No, no, the colonel doesn't
happen to be in at the moment.

Mr. Hoats is the editor.

Yes, he's the man you want to see.

What's going on?

Oh, I never read his tripe.

I just hung it on the hook.

I thought the old guy was
going to write a war column.

Hoats said to give him his head.

There, he's your cousin.

"Who is Pud Toolen?

Never got through the sixth grade.

Became Interested in politics
when working in the cotton mills.

Set himself as head of
the Home Folks Party.

Robbed this city for 20 years.

How does this compare
with the contribution of

our glorious Confederate dead?"

City desk.

Isn't it horrible?

Nobody complained about the city
government for as long as I can remember.

Just as peace and friendship
and mutual understanding

were taking place
between them and us.

Glad you liked it, ma'am.

United Daughters of the
Confederacy congratulate us.

Say, is this cousin of yours
just a nut or is he just a nut?

Well, he doesn't understand.

Trouble is he's been
in the army for so

long he doesn't understand
the rest of the world.

Give him a chance.

He'll catch on.

What are you and I going to use
for money while he's catching on?

How'd it get by you, Dewey?

Well, I...

City desk!

For you, Mr. Hoats.

Hello?

Mr. Hoats?

This is Mrs. Clyde Manadue.

I just want to tell you
how terribly pleased

I am... how terribly pleased
all my friends are...

with the position Colonel
Effingham has taken

on your paper in regard to the renaming
of Confederate Monument Square.

Thank you.

Bye.

You heard anything
from the city hall, yet?

I wasn't seeing this
on the sport page.

Seems to me, Mr. Hoats,
that if this thing was found

by a special writer,
it wouldn't necessarily

represent the policy of the paper.

Mrs. Manadue's words must've
fallen so sweetly on his ear

as to undermine his
sense of reality.

At any rate, his reaction was
simply to write a new editorial

to fit the circumstances,
offered in the spirit

of righting a wrong.

I read it with satisfaction as
I ordered my sausage and hominy

in the Manhattan Cafe.

Then I turned the page to
Cousin Willie's column.

What's the matter?

Coffee too hot?

Listen to him.

"We shall not submit.

It is not enough that
we stand to the defense

and hold the name of the square
as it has been for nearly a generation.

Let us improve the square."

Oh.

"Picture, if you will, in a circle

above that shaft of Georgia
marble 13 live oak trees."

Ain't you feeling good, Al?

Have you read what
he's been up to now?

Aw, I think that'd be nice.

Nice shade, nice to see the leaves

blowing in the summertime.

Look, every year or two somebody
brings up the question of the trees!

Well, where'd we be without trees?

You want this place to
look like a country town?

Well, anyhow, they're
not going to do it.

No use bringing the whole thing up
again and trying to embarrass everybody.

Gee, I never heard of a
tree embarrassing anybody.

What's the matter, Albert?

The bacon burnt?

Do you ever read this little
piece called, "On the Firing Line"?

Yeah, yeah, sure.

We always read it.

Bit of a nicer fella, eh?

And look at that dog.

My wife, she cut it from the paper.

What are you going to
do about all those trees?

Little something spent
for beauty is a good buy.

Before I'd read what
he says, I never

know we had such interesting
things in this town.

You live in a place, and you
never know what happens way back.

It makes you feel
a... like a somebody.

You know, the old guy
got something to live.

On guard.

Straighten your body, man.

Straighten your body.

Bend your knees.

Oh, Mr. Colonel, sir, won't
you rather have a rum tampico?

Position.

1, 2, touch.

Watch your feet, man.

Watch your feet.

Mr. Colonel, [inaudible] too.

Come here, Albert.

We're just keeping in shape.

Have a seat.

Cousin Willie, you know
the mayor, don't you?

I haven't had the pleasure
of meeting his honor.

Well, the mayor's a garden fancier.

He loves trees and flowers.

Seems to me it'd be nice if you can
sell him about planting those trees.

Actually, he'd like to be in on
any civic improvement of this type.

You know, take a
little of the credit.

I don't care any about
the credit of the trees.

On guard!

Touche!

They might welcome
the chance of the trees

just to show their hearts'
in the right place.

I don't know, Albert, whether
their hearts' in the right place or not.

Stand up to it, man!

Uh, Mr. Colonel, sir, you sure
you don't want no rum tampico?

On guard.

They're nice fellas.

They're only trying
to do what's right.

Mustn't forget, cousin
Willie, that they haven't had

the advantage of an education and travel

and that sort of thing like some
of the rest of us have had.

You'll be surprised what
some of those boys come from.

Wouldn't surprise
me at all, Albert.

But I don't see why our
biggest and most important

project... the administration
of government...

should be handed over lock, stock,
and barrel to a bunch of incompetents.

On guard.

Cousin Willie, I don't think you're
quite giving the boys their due.

Due?

When we turned on the malarial
mosquitoes in the Canal Zone,

you think the mosquitoes
were not getting their due?

Somebody had to run the government.

The citizens won't do it.

If it weren't for
the Home Folks party,

there wouldn't be any
government at all.

Is it your impression, Albert,
that these people are acting

as trustees until such time
as the citizens come of age

and can take over the
government themselves?

Well, anyhow, I think you ought to
have a chat with the mayor sometime.

All right, I will.

Orderly, bring the car please.

Can I drop you by
your office, my boy?

Well, you're not going to see
the mayor right now are you?

Soon as I can change my clothes.

Well, there's no
hurry, cousin Willie.

Any old time will do.

Son, when you get to be 65,
it's a good time to hurry.

Mayor?

Your name is familiar to me, Colonel,
but I can't seem to put my finger just

where I've run into it before.

Are you here in Fredericksville in
connection with national defense?

Defense of America is the
nearest thing to my heart.

What I want to discuss
with you, Mr. Mayor,

is the desirability of
planting 13 trees in a circle

about the Confederate Monument.

You write that
column in The Leader.

I do.

I knew your name
was familiar to me.

Well, Colonel, I
tell you what you do.

Now, understand, there's
nobody in Fredericksville that

loves trees more than I do.

Any kind of beautification
appeals to me.

But there's a water main under
Monument Square that might be disturbed.

And you can't dig up a water
main just to plant a few trees.

Why don't you go see Mr.
Clement, the city engineer.

I couldn't do a thing
without his approval.

It's been nice to see you, Colonel.

Any time I can be of service...

Good day, sir.

See what I have to put up with?

No gratitude.

Sometimes I wonder why
I ever let them put me up

for mayor in the first place.

I don't blame you cousin Ed.

And don't you "cousin
Ed" me around here!

I have enough to contend
with without relatives.

Hey, look Ed.

You're making a mountain
out of a molehill.

The way to handle these
nuts is to agree with them.

Let him plant his trees.

Are you crazy?

You want to undermine the
whole city government?

No, no.

Certainly not, Doc.

But while we're improving
the park, planting the trees,

we'll just go one step farther
and improve the whole square by

putting up the new courthouse.

He'll think the whole idea's his.

Hmm.

What do you think, Doc?

By granny, I believe
Joe's got something there!

Yes sir, Joe.

I think we've hit the nail
right on the head!

From now on, this Effingham colonel's
playing second base on our team.

So you're gonna tear
down the courthouse?

I have nothing to do with it!

You could stop it!

How?

You could if you wanted to!

Look, the old fire trap's about
ready to fall apart anyhow.

Well, how'd it wear out so quickly?

It's been warn out for years.
They just discovered it.

Well, why didn't
you keep it repaired?

Look, why do you suppose I'd
have anything to do with it?

I just tell the facts.

Oh, you tell some of them!

Isn't the fact that they've already
signed a contact with Bill Silk,

the mayor's brother-in-law,

to build a new one?

I don't know anything about that!

Well, you ought to know!

That's your job, isn't it?

Hey, what's the matter
with you today, any how?

I've got a slight case
of mild indigestion.

You don't understand!

The old building's
just tumbling down.

The floor's unsafe.

The sewer's disintegrated.

The roof's no good!

Wow, you sound like somebody
in Berlin describing democracy!

Do you think every building
that's 150 years old

- ...is tumbling down?
- Sure!

And if it isn't, it ought to be!

The end of the
world coming, brother.

Are you prepared?

I will be as soon as our
artillery comes to position.

Gentlemen.

You'll have to excuse me, Colonel.

London's just been blitzed.

Just a moment, if you please.

May I presume to ask, what is
the attitude of this newspaper

regarding the destruction of that
final landmark, our courthouse?

Oh, later, Colonel, later.

Dewey, get this set up.

I've searched your column for a word
of condemnation of this diabolical plot.

But I could find nothing, sir.

I'm afraid you don't
understand, Colonel.

The courthouse is in a
pretty dangerous condition.

Who says so, may I ask?

The two best structural
engineers in the section.

Local engineers!

The condition cannot be
determined except by a man

from out of town, one who has
never even heard of this courthouse.

When I was in the Canal Zone...

Excuse me, Colonel, I
just remembered a date.

I had the privilege of seeing
the Red Mirror Flores locks

hewn out of the jungle, one
of the greatest feats of skill

in that entire monumental project.

The man principally responsible was

a Captain Hickcock, now a major,
US Army Corps of Engineers.

Major Hickcock is now retired
and living in Atlanta.

Let him look at this building.

He'll tell you whether
it's falling down or not.

Colonel, nothing would give me more

pleasure than to help in getting
your friend this little job.

But no loyal citizen of Fredericksville
wants to ask Atlanta for anything.

Besides, there's the cost
of bringing him here.

I'll get him here for nothing.

Doesn't that imply a lack of
confidence in the government?

It certainly does.

I've discussed this matter with
a number of responsible citizens.

And they agree that "The
Leader," true to its name,

should sponsor a movement.

What responsible citizens?

People you know.

They'll come forward when the
time is right, never fear.

I'm a newspaper man,
Colonel, not an evangelist.

My function is to
inform our readers

of what's going on in the
world, not to advise them.

If a group of citizens
want a third engineer

to look at this
courthouse, bring him in.

I'll print the story.

That's our position.

As you say, Mr. Editor.

Long distance, please.

Never give anything for nothing.

I always did know that.

You got me into this, remember?

I told you what would happen.

All I said was...

And you, don't stand
there with your mouth open.

Do something.

He's your cousin.

I tell you, no private
citizen has the right

to go meddling in public affairs that
don't concern him, pulling us into it.

Confound it, it's sedition!

Major Hickcock!

Phone number, 1483, Atlanta.

No, I don't want to
reverse the charges.

Charge it to "The Leader."

Naturally, we didn't carry any
buildup on Major Hickcock's

coming to Fredericksville.

But I was detail to
accompany him and the colonel

on the tour of the building, just

to make sure they didn't go into
a huddle and fling us a fast one.

Of course, if the major should happen
to agree with the local contractors...

a new building was
needed... it was to be

a page-one story with a byline.

I don't quite see how this old
wreck rates the society column.

I'm just here on my own.

Curiosity?

Interest.

Trying to check up, hmm?

Trying to make sure I won't
draw any wrong conclusions?

Possibly, or print them.

How do I get up onto the roof?

Right this way, gentlemen.

Mind yourselves.

You can wait over there.

Can I?

Won't find anyone socially
prominent up there.

After you, my dear.

Fire up here?

Way back, just after the war.

War between the states?

No sir, that other war.

Surface char.

I'd like to see the roof.

Give me a hand, will you?

You don't want to go out there.

You'll ruin your clothes.

Oops, sorry.

What's the matter
with that Effingham

colonel anyhow, bringing in that
old has-been engineer from Atlanta?

Is he a red or something?

Wait, let's get
down to grass roots.

What does this guy own?

Five acres in the
country and a $500 Ford.

What sort of business is he in?

Maybe we ought to
inspect his plumbing.

He's retired.

What does he live on, then?

Oh, he gets a pension from
the United States government.

He's still got a
water bill, hasn't he?

Reformers are mighty
touchy about water bills.

Gentlemen, the question before
us is the new courthouse.

Exactly.

And if we don't
watch out, he's going

to get people to thinking we're
trying to railroad this thing through.

The people don't care!

I don't know, Doc.

You can never tell about them.

My idea is to get the jump on it.

Call a public meeting.

Discuss the whole thing
right out in the open.

Show them we're not
trying to hide anything.

But Ed, you're my brother-in-law.

That contract for the courthouse
has already been signed.

Don't you worry, Bill.

You will build it.

We only want to do
what's right and proper.

Besides, how many people came
to the last public meeting?

It must have been 15
counting you and me.

It's a good idea, Chief.

Let the public get
it off its chest.

The public hasn't got anything
on its chest but its shirt.

Right, Doc.

Suppose you call Hoats
around at "The Leader."

Let him have the story.

We'll set the meeting for a week
from tonight in the courthouse,

in the superior courtroom.

Think that'll be big
enough, your honor?

Well, it's not up
to us to get a crowd.

Well?

I don't like subtlety.

Maybe you like petitions.

Petitions?

Would you like to sign one?

I would not.

What sort of petition?

Listen, honey child.

You've reached the age of reason.

Do you really think free
people in a free country

are going to sign their
commercial death warrants?

I'm not asking you to sign.

I asked you if you want to.

I have nothing against
the old courthouse.

Matter of fact, I have a
personal attachment for it.

I think cousin Willie's stirring
up a lot of unnecessary trouble.

He's stirring up a lot
of trouble, all right.

I want to feel
sorry for the old guy

like a rabbit bouncing out
of it his nice briar patch

and leaping lickety split across a field

under the muzzles of 12-gauge shotguns.

More like a rabbit to
sit cowering in his nest?

Put it on the desk, will you?

Well, the National Guard has just got
in some new 30-caliber machine guns.

Go on over and have a talk
with Captain Ramsey, will you?

See if you can get a
little story for Sunday.

Well, its water cooled.

Your water jacket, your
hose, your water can.

Fires from a belt of 250 rounds.

And it fires at the rate of
500 to 550 rounds per minute.

It's deadly, of course,
within short bursts.

Then a funny thing happened.

The captain talked and talked,
but I didn't hear a word he said.

I just kept looking at that uniform

and wondering how Ella
Sue would like me in it.

Here, this field manual
will tell you all about it.

Not bad.

Not at all.

Hello, Professor.

How are you, Marbury?

By the way, did I tell you...

Tell me what?

I've offered my services
to the government.

That's swell, Ed.

You what?

You are now addressing
Private Marbury

of the Georgia National Guard.

I don't understand.

Nothing to understand.

Democracy is threatened.

I reach for my gun, simple as that.

Funny that all of a sudden
you should be so much more

concerned about democracy in Europe
than democracy in Fredericksville.

My dear girl, what
happens in Europe

is directly connected to what
happens in Fredericksville.

You can't isolate our town
and forget all about Europe.

Neither can you isolate Europe,
which is 3,000 miles away,

and forget about Fredericksville
right here under you nose.

OK.

OK.

I'll sign your petition.

Sorry, we've done
very well without you.

Hope it isn't your trigger finger.

Thursday night was more
fitting to moonlight and mint juleps

than to public meetings.

But to everyone's amazement,
there was quite a turn out.

Stay together, ladies.

Mostly widows and old-maid aunts.

They know as much about
running a town as a jack rabbit.

Yeah, but they're the talking type.

Well, there seems to be a
scarcity of bank presidents

and captains of industry.

Where's Mr. Clyde Manadue?

Probably in a dugout.

He usually is when
there's any shooting.

Hello, boys.

Mr. Mayor.

The sooner we get started,
the better chance we have

of getting out of this
place before it collapses.

Just a minute, Mr. Mayor.

If you'll please, sir, these
ladies have not found seats.

Oh, ladies, I think you'll find
comfortable seats over by the window.

I know you're all anxious
to get through with

this so you can go on
about your own affairs.

To the contrary, Mr. Mayor.

The matter requires
considerable discussion.

There he goes.

Order, order.

We've invited you here
tonight, ladies and gentlemen,

to express any opinion you
may have as to the disposition

of this old building.

Now, I'm going ask the clerk to
put into evidence as exhibit

a reports of two independent contractors
who have examined the building.

Oh, for sweet and legal.

Nice looking couple.

Lovely.

From that report, ladies and gentleman,
you'll be able to see that it is not

a question of what we would like
to do with this grand old building.

It's a question of what we can do.

Mr. Mayor!

Before presenting a petition
to repair this building,

I'd like to have your permission
to read a report on the state

of this edifice, the report by Major
Anthony D. Hickcock, United States Army

Corps of Engineers retired.

But we don't know anything
about this gentleman.

You've heard of the Mirror
Flores locks, I presume, sir?

Why, no sir.

I don't think I've ever heard
of that particular brand.

Have you heard of the Panama Canal?

Why, yes.

I've heard that...

Major Hickcock was
the engineer in charge

of that monumental achievement
in the Panama Canal.

He's examined this building from
top to bottom and has filed his report.

Has this man a license?

Yes, has this man a license?

He has a Congressional
Medal of Honor.

Now, Mr. Mayor, I move that the chair
accept the Major's report in evidence.

Certainly.

I was just about to make
the same suggestion.

That the structure should have
been allowed to deteriorate

to such an extent as now is a
matter of apparent negligence,

certainly which it is
not my duty to report.

But the building is, by
no means, beyond repair.

To destroy such a dignified
and harmoniously proportioned

structure is something which
the pride of this community

should go to great
lengths to prevent.

The council will be glad to take this
report under its due consideration.

Mr. Mayor, I make a
motion that the chair call

for a rising vote of those in
favor of preserving this building.

Seconding the motion!

Just a minute, if
you please, Mr. Mayor.

Uh, OK.

May I inquire if it is in
order to call upon this meeting

for a vote on a matter
which is entirely

the responsibility of the
duly elected city officials?

The gathering of citizens
require a government license

to vote on a public question?

Well, I... I don't deny the right

of this or any other anomalous
body to expresses its opinion.

But that opinion must not be
forced upon the council, which

has had thee benefit of the
advice of competent engineers

known and respected by all of us.

This is a... is not a matter
in which a pressure group

should try to enforce its will.

This building doesn't
belong to the city council

to dispose of as they choose.

It belongs to the people of
the city of Fredericksville

and the country of
Fredericks, 500,000 strong.

I'm afraid the gentleman's idea of
our population is as exaggerated

as some of his other ideas.

The figure is highly
conservative, sir.

This courthouse doesn't belong merely to

the citizens of today, but of yesterday.

On the steps of this building,
General George Washington

addressed the citizens
of Fredericksville.

In this very room, the delegates
from the young state of Georgia

assembled to ratify the
Federal Constitution.

This embodiment of
our common memories

is a symbol of law and order
and of democratic procedure,

a symbol of what we
fought the revolution for.

It represents a heritage of our
free government, handed down

to us through perilous years.

It belongs to every citizen
who trod the streets before us.

It belongs to every citizen
who will tread these streets

after you and I are gone, sir.

No, the figure is not exaggerated.

The only exaggeration is in
naming any figure at all.

The owners of this building
are as impossible to number

as the generations yet unborn.

The old boy's quite an orator.

The contract's been signed.

Shh!

The council is, of course, interested
in the opinions of the citizens.

Whatever is done with this
old building is going to cost

money, the taxpayer's money.

And it is our duty to see
that that money is well spent.

Now, in order to either
rebuild or repair,

we will need WPA help.

If a grant can be
secured from the WPA,

it will take care
of 1/3 of the cost.

But the WPA is not interested
in repairing old buildings.

However, there is every reason
to believe that a grant of 1/3

can be obtained toward
building a new courthouse.

May I ask, what could
be the approximate cost

of these two projects?

Approximately $375,000
for a new courthouse.

And for repairing?

$390,000.

You mean to say it
would cost $15,000

less to build a new courthouse
than to repair this one?

$15,000 on the face of it, ma'am.

But when you add to that saving
the $120,000 that the WPA will

probably grant, you have a
total savings to the taxpayers

of something like $150,000.

Preposterous.

What kind of repairs
would cost $390,000?

It's all contained
here, sir, in the report

of the architect which,
unfortunately, is too long to read.

This building should be preserved,
no matter what the cost.

I question the figure submitted
for the cost of repairing this building.

Objection noted, sir.

Furthermore, no matter how
much is spent on a new building,

it can not buy for it the
history and dignity of this one.

Unfortunately, the
city government cannot

be conducted on mere dignity.

We are entrusted with
the duty of providing

the county with safe and proper
means for carrying on its business.

Has the WPA already agreed to
grant $120,000 for a new courthouse?

Why, um...

I move the meeting be adjourned.

I second the motion.

It is moved and seconded that
this meeting be adjourned.

All those in favor, say, "Aye."

All those not?

Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned.

Cousin Emma, I hope this
means he's going to lay off.

He ought to know by now he can't
do anything with these people.

They have too much power.

Why don't you steer him to raising
roses or camellias or any thing?

Cousin Willie, have you a
statement for the paper?

You may say I have
nothing but praise

for the magnificent
behavior of the troops.

Well, at least I'm
glad it's all over.

There's been no order
to sound retreat.

I'm scarcely mobilized.

Write an editorial to go
with it, something like, um,

"Since the WPA refuses to aid
in financing the repairing

of the old courthouse, even
the most sentimental citizen

will be practical
enough to realize"

and so forth and so forth.

Lay it on thick.

Hey, Chief, look at this, a full-page
ad for Sunday from Chromarty's!

Good boy!

Yeah, well don't thank him.

Thank your pals down at city hall.

They passed the
word to Chromarty's.

You see, that's what comes of
playing ball on the right team.

See to it we keep on doing that.

"The Leader."

For you, Mr. Hoats.

Atlanta calling.

Hello?

Colonel Effingham speaking.

It's him.

Yes, Colonel?

Your cousin.

In other words, sir,
the local authorities

seem to be suffering from a
considerable misapprehension.

The WPA has, one, not agreed
to aid in the building

of a new courthouse and, two,
has not refused to aid in the repairing

of the present structure.

In fact, the WPA has not even
been approached in the matter.

Therefore, since it was this
misrepresentation regarding

the attitude of the WPA
that caused the citizens,

at the recent public meeting,
to hesitate as to how to cast

their vote, I insist,
Mr. Editor, that you

demand a new public meeting.

I'll inform the mayor of
your suggestion, Colonel.

That's the best I can promise.

Goodbye.

Give me strength.

What are we going to do with him?

Why don't the
officials do something?

Is the whole country
headed for chaos?

Is he trying to start a second party
here with all the wastes of campaigns?

Why,
some of these people have been in office

since they got out of the fifth grade!

They know their job!

Is he trying to turn them
all out on the street?

You're not going to
print that, are you?

If we don't, "The News"
will blow it wide open,

especially when they see
what we got from Chromarty's!

Al, go and tell the mayor
we've got to run it.

Maybe they can think of something.

Who, me?

He's your cousin!

Why did he have to
come back here, nice

and peaceful and contented?

Couldn't he stay in Panama
with General Stegomyia...

to wit, the mosquito!

Bring your identification tag.

Oh, hello.

Mrs. Meigs, you know Mr. Marbury,
one of our bright young reporters

and one of our most
patriotic citizens.

Why yes, of course.

You're a relative of my very dear
friend, Colonel Effingham, aren't you?

Oh, sort of.

They're devoted.

Hey, Al.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

The town took it like a man.

Two or three people called
in about the meeting,

but they were mostly
just surprised or sorry.

There was no suggestion
of resistance.

My dear, the fault lies
with the high command.

We made the tactical error of
withholding our reserves too long.

The time has now come to throw in
our storm troops and our capital ships.

Then you're not
discouraged, Colonel?

Discouragement has no more
place in a soldier's equipment

than an inner-spring mattress.

To our capital ships!

Full speed ahead!

And as Admiral Farragut said...
you know, about the torpedoes?

Ah.

Top on the list of the colonel's
reserves was his friend Sterling Tignor.

Well, what do you
want me to do, Will?

I want you to help us save
this fine old courthouse.

It belongs to the people.

And the people want it saved.

Will, let me tell you something.

I've been watching all of this
to-do about the courthouse.

It reminds me of somebody

trying to open up a can of
sardines with a pocketknife.

You're going about
this the wrong way.

If you want to save that
courthouse, you can do it.

Are you suggesting bribery?

Well, these are practical
man you're dealing with.

They listen to reason.

I be willing to make a
personal contribution of

any reasonable amount, myself.

What you suggest is
unthinkable and indecent.

All you need do is write
a letter to the paper,

as a private citizen, calling
for another public meeting

in the light of this new
information from the WPA.

Write a letter to the paper?

Why, don't you
know, if I did that, tomorrow

morning the whole municipal
checking account would be closed out!

Nonsense.

It's you fellas who
are impractical.

What can they do with it?

They can't walk around town
with the money in their pockets!

They'd take it right up the
street to Jesse Bibbs bank.

No, no.

You reformers don't have
a sense of reality, Will.

You don't seem to grasp
the heard-headed facts.

The hard-heading facts are
if you don't repair something

that needs repairing,
pretty soon you won't have it to repair.

I'm sorry, but there's
no use arguing about it.

Good day.

I'm sorry, Will.

But you're making a
mistake... a great mistake...

to antagonize these people.

Antagonize?

You advocate appeasement?

No, but what you're proposing is
that I stab my stockholders in the back.

That I most assuredly will not do.

What about all the windows
and orphans who own stock

in the bank of Fredericksville?

But sir, what about all the widows

and orphans who own stock in
the city of Fredericksville?

What are you afraid of, man?

No citizen has anything
to fear from a politician!

Young men of this town will
be going off to war soon.

They volunteered to serve
their country in time of war.

When they come home,
they must be prepared to volunteer

to serve their community
in time of peace,

to confront any enemy of progress

wherever he shows his head.

What sort of example are
we going to set them?

I'm sorry you won't see
this realistically, Will.

Idealism is all right
in its place, but...

Idealism is everything, Jesse.

Without it, you go stumbling
along in the dark day after day.

Its your match in the dark tower.

Well, romantic, then.

Whatever you want to call it.

There's nothing more romantic in any
us than to think we are not romantic.

We are such stuff as
dreams are made of.

Well, never mind.

There's one man in this town who
sees things the way I do, Clyde Manadue.

He can buy and sell the lot of
you bankers, and you know it.

I'll let him call the tune.

We'll see if you fellas dance.

Yes, sir, I should have consulted
Clyde Manadue in the first place.

He'll put a stop to
this... this invasion.

How is he?

Mighty poorly, Mr. Al.

Where's Miss Emma?

She's inside.

Oh, Albert.

Thank goodness you've come.

Maybe you can do
something with him.

Any change, cousin Emma?

No.

He just sits there
staring out the window.

Ever since his best friend, that
Clyde Manadue, turned him down,

the whole fight seems
to have gone out of him.

He just can't understand it,
Clyde Manadue of all people.

Been able to make
him take his medicine?

Yes.

That's what worries me.

He takes it without
hardly any fussing at all.

And you know how cranky he
used to be about medicine.

It's not like Will
to give in so easy.

Could I see him?

Yes, go right on up.

Maybe you can do
something with him.

Oh, stop playing that thing.

A body can't hear himself
think around here.

I ain't playing nothing, Miss Emma.

I ain't touched it
since the colonel...

Well then play it.

Stop acting like there was
a funeral in the house.

Come in.

Hello, cousin Willie.

Hello, Albert.

I just thought I'd stop by
for a minute before we leave.

Leave?

The company's
pulling off at 9:30.

My boy, I'd clean forgotten it.

I'll be there.

Oh no, cousin Willie.

You mustn't do that.

You'd better stay here
and take care of yourself.

Albert, I have made
the unpardonable error

of overestimating the
quality of my reserves.

You mean Manadue and that crowd?

Well, I...

It's not as bad as it
looks, cousin Willie.

You know, Albert, there's only one

phase of this whole campaign I can

look back on with satisfaction.

When I first saw you again, I must

say you seemed as indifferent to the
fate of Fredericksville as all the rest.

After you began to consider that
life story of Fredericksville

and realize the toil
and blood and sorrow

that Fredericksville
had grown from,

your indifference
began to leave you.

And you enlisted in
the National Guard.

Sure, Colonel, but...

Now that we've come
to a time of new growth

when oil and blood and sorrow
are, again, called for, I

am proud, Albert,
proud that you stepped

forward among the first.

The same is true of
your comrades in arms.

I didn't do anything,
cousin Willie.

They'd have drafted me, anyway.

Albert, I want you to have this.

Oh, cousin Willie,
I couldn't take that.

This was the first wristwatch
in the Panama Canal Zone.

It hasn't lost a
minute in 34 years.

Cousin Willie, that's swell.

I should like to think of
it carrying you into action.

In action, my boy,
timing is very important.

Thank you, sir.

Well, I guess I'd
better be shoving off.

Bye, sir.

Bye, my boy.

God bless you.

Hello, Dr. Evans.

Oh, good afternoon, Albert.

Hey, Doc, what's the real
low down on the colonel?

Well, I'll tell you, Albert.

He ought to be in the hospital.

But I can't do a thing with them.

He refused to budge from the house.

Is he going to get well?

Not unless we can put
some fight back into him,

give him something to get well for.

The way he is now, at his
age, It's hard to say.

But we'll do our best.

Goodbye.

Order!

Halt!

Right face!

First Sergeant.

Dismiss the company.

Yes, sir.

Inspection arms!

Forward arms!

Dismissed!

Hello!

So you've come to cover
the story, have you?

Well, you don't think I
came to see you, do you?

Ella Sue?

Want something to eat, soldier?

Have you a statement for the press?

Only that I wish to convey
to our esteemed city leaders

my heartfelt appreciation for
this delicious barbecued pig,

without which democracy as
we have known it in Georgia...

You know, I think you ought to
hang a service star on the door

of the society department.

Why?

You got me into this.

Me?

I thought you'd like the uniform.

Oh, Albert, this is so sudden!

Remember that day at the courthouse

up in the catwalk when a
wind blew your skirts up?

Well, Albert, how
sweet of you to notice.

I guess that was the
turning point in my life.

Oh, I'd seen your legs before.

But they'd never impressed
me as being anything unusual.

Just run of the mill.

Suddenly I realized there
was something about them that

didn't seem to fit in
with that fresh little

dame in the office who
hid her cigarettes.

You know, something sort
of special and person.

I didn't suspect
you knew I had legs.

Just began to bother
me, that's all.

You mean, there's something
profane in your feelings towards me?

Definitely.

Oh, Albert.

You are nice.

After that, I never felt the same

towards you... towards
anything, for that matter.

Then I thought maybe
you'd like the uniform.

Why didn't you tell me?

I reckon I couldn't figure out how
to say it without getting serious.

Seriousness won't hurt you.

Listen, honey child.

I'm a southerner.

Seriousness is one thing
I'm scared to death of.

Ladies and gentlemen,
it is my privilege

and distinguished pleasure to
present his honor the mayor.

This is a red-letter day
in the glorious history

of Fredericksville when
the sons of Georgia

once more answer the call of duty.

Words fail me to express the
gratitude that we, the citizens

of this community, feel for you
young men who are going forth

like your fathers of old
to preserve and protect

our way of life and the ideals
of government of the people,

for the people, and by the people.

Some of you may even be called upon
to make the supreme sacrifice in defense

of our ideals and our homes.

But boys, I want to remember this.

You can always count
on the folks at home.

And when the war is won and you
come marching back in triumph,

you'll find the home folks
right here waiting for you

and the Home Folks Party.

Boys, boys!

Quiet!

Quiet!

I want to make a speech.

I've listened to all
the bunk I want to.

We guys are going out to do
a job that's got to be done.

Maybe we won't get back in
time for the next election.

But when we do get back, we
want to make sure that we're

going to have something to say
about what's going on around here!

Too many of us have sat
back like scared rabbits.

We're scared to
talk, scared to vote,

scared to even look at
things the way they are!

Maybe by the time we
get this job done,

we won't scare so easy!

Maybe more people heard Colonel
Effingham than you thought.

When an honest man speaks out, you'd
be surprised how many people hear him!

Maybe they're tired of
political tricks and grabs

and runarounds and shenanigans!

Maybe they want their
town run and not run down!

And about this courthouse,
leave it right where it is.

See to it that it's fixed
up by the time I get back.

If it's not fixed up, we're
gonna want to know why!

And leave Monument
Square alone, too!

We had enough of Pud Toolen
while he was here in person!

Am I right, fellas?

All right come on you kids.

Get down there.

All right, what's
your answer, Mr. Mayor?

And we want it straight!

Boys, boys!

And we want it right here in front of the
whole town, so there'll be no stalling.

Well, uh...

Boys, boys!

Why, I... uh, we promise.

You know we wouldn't do anything
to harm that grand old building!

That's all we wanted to know!

So long, everybody!

Fall in!

Goodbye, Ella Sue.

Darling.

Left face!

Right shoulder, arms!

Forward march!

Eyes right!

Uh, Colonel... uh.

I'm sorry, Will.

I was wrong.

From now on, you can count
on me... and the others, too.

Yes, yes, Will.

Good luck, Will.

Colonel, you ought to hurry
and get back on the job.

We need you!

Mr. Colonel.

Great column, Dewey.

I always said so.

Oh, that's right, Earl.

You did, always.