Jezebel (1938) - full transcript

Boy, stop here.

Might as well
get us a ball.

Julie will have plenty
to drink at the party.

Party liquor always messed up
with cherries and such.

Come on.
Wait right here.

Driver: Yes, sir,
Mr. Cantrell, sir.

Man:
Man, you talk crazy.

I say, that horse is out of
The Truxton Strain.

Gentlemen.

Good afternoon.

How are you,
General Bogardus, sir?



Hiya, Buck, Ted.

Going to the party,
General?

Yes, indeed.

See you later, then, sir.

I tell you, The Truxton Strain's
the best horse blood in this state.

Here's somebody
that really knows bloodlines.

Hi, Buck Cantrell, come here
and help us decide a bet.

Got no time, Huger.
Ted and I were just shifting.

Won't take
any time at all, Buck.

Pardon, Huger,
Buck got no time.

Gentlemen,
Buck Cantrell got no time.

5-to-4 he doesn't
know the day of the month.

I'll do better... even money
he doesn't know what month.

Know what time of day
it is, anyhow.



Must be getting on
towards... 3:00.

If it was any later,
De Lautruc would be a lot drunker.

[laughter]

Isn't it admirable Monsieur Cantrell
can joke so cleverly

when he has just lost
the lady of his heart?

Better not, Rene.

Yes, gentlemen.

Monsieur Cantrell
has just lost his lady.

I wouldn't go on,
De Lautruc.

You see, gentlemen,

Monsieur Cantrell
is in bad humor

because Miss Julie Marsden
is going to marry...

De Lautruc.

I thought I heard you
mention a lady's name.

Must have misunderstood
you, sir.

And if I did mention
the name of a lady?

Why, just that a gentleman doesn't
mention a lady's name in a barroom.

Are you trying to teach me manners,
my friend?

Wouldn't think of
trying, De Lautruc.

But I somehow don't like
your hat or your ears

or anything
between them.

Plain enough?

Amply, Sir. Pierre?

I have the honor

to ask you to name
a friend, sir.

- I'm acting as...
- Shoot, Ted.

You're much too young
for this sort of thing.

Gentlemen,
a moment.

Buck, I ought to get
Lautruc myself.

It's my brother
that's going to marry her.

That makes it much more
my quarrel than yours.

Let me act
for you, Buck.

Well, if you feel
that bad about it.

I'd be honored to be
acting for Mr. Cantrell, sir.

Will sunrise at the oaks
be satisfactory?

Perfectly, sir.

What you want to make it
so confounded early for?

Make it 10:00.
De Lautruc ain't wild.

We don't have to sneak
up on him in the dark.

Ah, oh, well.
Your servant, gentlemen.

Come on, youngster. We got to
get on to the party.

[speaking French]

Gentlemen,
let's have another drink.

Buck, listen...

Ah, here's something I've been
aiming to get for you all day.

Must have all the trimmings
for Miss Julie's party.

Cantrell,
one minute.

Oh, General, you riding
along with us?

I have my carriage,
thank you.

Cantrell, I don't like this.
Miss Julie's name was mentioned.

As her guardian, I don't like her
mixed up in this.

Miss Julie's name
was mentioned?

Why, sir, if it was,
I never heard it.

It's just that I don't like
De Lautruc is all. Ah. May I?

Cantrell,
you're a fool.

De Lautruc's an old hand,
been out a dozen times.

The 13th's liable to be
awful unlucky for De Lautruc.

You know these French, they shoot
for the head. Like as not, miss.

I'm gonna shoot for the body
and bust his tripes.

General Bogardus, sir,
your servant.

Mrs. Kendrick,
Miss Kendrick, ma'am.

Keep it in the shade,
Albert.

Yes'm, Mrs. Kendrick, ma'am.

I won't have the horses standing
in the sun, you hear me?

Yes'm.

Stay in your seat.

Yes'm.

Keep your hat and gloves on.

Yes'm.

And your coat buttoned.

Yes'm.

Yes'm.

Mrs. Kendrick, ma'am.

Good evening, Cato.

Honoria, how good
of you to come.

Sweet of you to ask us,
Belle.

And Stephanie,
how pretty you look, child.

Oh, thank you,
Miss Massey.

Stephanie,
your manners.

I do hope
we aren't late, Belle.

Late? Julie isn't here
herself yet...

at her own party
in her own house.

Really, I don't know
what to do with that girl.

Well, I always say
better late than never.

Excuse me, please,
Honoria.

Mama,

please don't fault me
like that before people.

Girls don't
curtsy anymore.

- I read it in Godey's.
- They do in New Orleans.

You've no call to take up
with Yankee manners.

How do you find yourself,
Mrs. Petion?

Bonjour, Noria.
Stephanie.

Belle just told me
Julie's late

for her own party
in her own house.

But I always say, punctuality is
the Politeness of kings.

Politeness was never
one of Julie's virtues.

Ted,
isn't it exciting?

I think your brother Pres
is the luckiest man.

Well, providing he keeps
a short rein on her.

Oh, you're just trying to talk
like Buck Cantrell.

I wish Julie
would come.

So does Aunt Belle.
She's having a fit.

Tell me,

wasn't Mr. Cantrell
just crushed?

Crushed?

Buck Cantrell?

Hounds all over him, Tom in there
with his knife hightailing around with a bear.

The only way you could tell
which was which,

he had a hat on.
Laugh, I thought i'd...

yes, Miss Belle?

Theopholus, that child
isn't here yet.

You're her guardian.
You'll have to speak to her.

You're her Aunt, Miss Belle.
Why don't you?

Girl never was on time
for anything in her life.

It's outrageous of her!

Oh, time ain't so
important, Miss Belle.

Seems like the longer I live,
the more there is of it.

And I don't know
what to say to people!

Evening, Miss Julie.

Thank you, gros bat.

Take him around, Ti Bat.

Now Ti Bat, don't stand there
with your eyes bulging out like that.

He knows you're scared.

Yes'm, Miss Julie,
but he bites.

Well, then you just
plain bite him back.

Good evening,
Uncle Cato.

Praise be,
Miss Julie.

Miss Belle been
nigh onto a fit.

I know I'm late.

Miss Julie, I done
laid out your party dress.

Thanks, no time, Sadie.
Got to go in to my guests.

Miss Julie,
in them horse clothes?

They won't mind.

Good evening, everybody.

Terribly sorry to be late.

I had trouble
with the Colt.

Hello, dumpling.

Julie,
your riding habit?

No time to change,
darling.

Stephanie.

- I think it looks lovely.
- Thank you, honey.

How are you,
Ted?

Fine as frog's hair.

Good evening.
How do you do?

So sorry, but, you know
when a Colt gets high-headed,

it's teach him his manners
right now or ruin him.

Yes, that's so
important, isn't it?

Hello, Molly.
Excuse me, will you?

I declare!

I hope I'm broad-minded,
but I must say!

I know
what Stephanie would get

if she did such a thing,
big as she is.

I always say spare the rod,
and you spoil the child.

Woman: It sounds so
thrilling, darling,

living way up north
in New York.

Oh, Julie, I wish you and Pres
all the happiness...

the best of health,
and the most of prosperity.

Sherry, ma'am?

Molly, you said
the very same thing

the last time
Pres and I were engaged.

And we'll keep right on saying it
until you finally get married.

My dear, the toddies are
for the gentlemen.

Whiskey, Uncle Billy?

Yes'm. The very best
of bourbon.

That's fine.

To the very good health
of the future Mrs. Dillard.

Buck,

aren't you gonna wish me
happiness, too?

What's the use?
You won't get it,

marrying a traitor
and going up north.

Pres is a banker,
not a traitor.

I'll thank you
to remember that.

I keep forgetting
there's a difference,

but you won't like it in the north,
Miss Julie. Tell you, that's a fact.

I'll be happy
anywhere Pres is.

You won't like it
at the north.

You know those
little old white beans?

Horse-feed beans?

You know what they do
with them in Boston?

They eat them.

Ladies and gentlemen
eat them,

what I hear.

Buck,
you're an idiot.

My dear, isn't Preston Dillard
ever going to arrive?

I'm sorry,
Mrs. Kendrick.

I tried
to persuade him,

but Preston
found it important

to meet with
the directors of his bank.

Of course.

Business before pleasure,
I always say.

Ladies and gentlemen,
I give you a toast.

To the firm
of Dillard and sons...

a venerable institution,
a financial colossus,

with branches in New York,

Boston, London,

and Paris.

Man: I guess the one railroad
we got is not enough, huh?

Second man: Let's see what it does
before we finance another.

Man 3: It's losing money by
the fistful, that's what.

Second man: Steam cars. $10 million
to mess with another railroad.

Who's going
to ride on them?

All joggled up with any kind
of ragtag and bobtail.

What's a gentleman
keep a carriage for?

What if a gentleman
ain't got a carriage?

He can borrow one.
What's he got friends for?

Gentlemen. Gentlemen.

We are here to listen
to Mr. Dillard's plans

to finance
the Nashville pacific.

Pacific?
And build it east?

When they gonna ask you to build
a railroad to California, Pres?

Gentlemen, I'm a banker,
not a conjure man,

but I can
tell you this...

New York and Boston are steadily laying
in rails to the northwest.

They're tapping the whole trade
of that country...

Chicago, St. Louis,
Cincinnati,

the whole great lakes
country...

beginning to ship east
by rail.

And New Orleans
is missing the parade.

The river's
still there.

I reckon even those Yankee
sharpers aren't smart enough

to turn the old
Mississippi around.

The Yankee sharpers
are smart enough

to turn the flow
of traffic around.

The railroads
are getting it.

Cursed, snorting
tin teakettles...

scaring my horses.

Every time we get a Colt, I look for him
to be foaled with a whale-oil headlight.

I do not think they're so
healthy too. All that smoke and...

ha! Since when have you
become so suddenly concerned

about what's healthy?

He's off again.

You're old enough
to remember

the epidemic of '30...

or are you so old
you've forgotten it?

I knew it!
Quick as anybody said "health,"

doc Livingstone comes surging
out of the Canebrake

hollering, "Yellow Jack."

Yes, and I'll keep
right on a-Hollerin'

till you do something about
cleaning up this town

and getting the filth
off the streets.

I been trying to pound some sense
into your knot-heads for years,

just the same as Pres
is trying to do right now,

with no better luck.

But I'm warning you...

and you, Jean La Cour,
member of the city council...

and all of you!

If we get us another dose of yellow
fever like we had back in '30,

when there wasn't enough men alive
to bury the dead,

there just isn't gonna be
any town to run a railroad into.

Now, I'm telling you
what's a fact.

Dr. Livingstone,
let us not confuse the issue.

We are here
to discuss a railroad.

Mr. Dillard?

Gentlemen,
I have here the figures

on a decline
in river freight.

These figures don't lie.

Last year,
our riverboat...

- yes?
- It's Miss Julie's boy, sir.

He insists
to see you, sir.

What does he want?

He insists that Miss Julie told him
to see you personally, sir.

A moment, please,
gentlemen.

The lady's
waiting, sir.

Is the party over?

Yes'm, Mr. Pres.

Miss Julie tell me
to ask you,

would you most politely
drop what you're doing and come?

Ti Bat, you
tell Miss Julie

I'm in the middle
of something important...

a directors' meeting.
I can't leave now.

I'll see her later.
She'll understand.

Yes'm, Mr. Pres,
she understand, all right,

but liking it
is gonna be different.

And expecting a man to go to
a dressmaker's with you?

I declare, I hope
Pres doesn't come.

- He will.
- But, Julie...

now, dumpling, don't you fret about Pres.
I been training him for years.

Like with that
man-killing horse you bought.

Pres was outrageous.
He had no right

to tell me what I could ride
and what I couldn't.

The horse showed you
what you couldn't.

You broke your collarbone
and your engagement.

And they both mended,

so I was right after all.

Ti Bat:
Miss Julie, ma'am.

Oh, Ti Bat, did you
tell him to hurry?

Yes'm, Miss Julie, I tell him,
but he ain't come...

That is,
not just exactly.

That is, he say, uh...

Will you please go along?

In the middle
of some directions

'cause it's important.

He can't see you later.

Did Mr. Pres say that?

Yes'm.
Those his very words.

He say you understand.

Yes.

Yes,
I understand perfectly.

Julie...

Julie, in a bank!

I'll get him,
Miss Julie.

I'll get him.

Thank you.

Just a moment.

I'm not trying to put the bank
in a $10-million proposition

without knowing
what I'm talking about.

I haven't spent 6 months
getting these figures together

for my album. The least you
can do is give me a little...

- Mr. Dillard, sir.
- Yes, what is it?

It's Miss Julie, sir.
She's waiting.

I'm sorry, gentlemen.

Certainly, my boy.

Everything waits
where beauty's concerned.

Julie,
you shouldn't...

Pres, are you coming
or aren't you?

Oh, Julie, please
try to understand.

I only understand
that you promised.

I know, honey,
but this is important.

I don't suppose it's important
that I've spent a whole month

having my ball dress made
for tomorrow night.

And that you promised
to come and see it fitted.

In fact, I don't suppose it's important
to you what I wear to the Olympus ball.

It's only you
that's so important.

I suppose
Mr. La Cour and the others

couldn't possibly
get on without you.

They'd love to...
permanently.

- Now, Julie, you've got good sense.
- Thank you.

Right now, I'm having the fight of
my life in there. I've got to get back.

You just run along,
I'll see you later.

Oh, no, no.
Don't trouble.

I'm sure you'll be too exhausted
from your terrific struggle.

Julie,
you must realize...

oh, I realize
only too well.

Good day, Mr. Dillard.

I'm so sorry
to have troubled you.

To madame Poulard's.

Julie, it's
perfectly lovely.

I don't like the color.

And does it have to be
so tight here?

[speaking French]

It binds,
and the skirt...

it's adorable, Julie.
It really is.

[speaking French]

Pres has always
loved you in white.

Yes.

If he isn't simply
bowled over by it, I won't...

wait a minute.

Bring that over here.

Oui, Mademoiselle.

Saucy, isn't it?

And vulgar.

Yes, isn't it?

Come on.
Get me out of this.

Julie,
what are you doing?

If it fits me, I'm going to
wear it to the Olympus ball.

A red dress to the Olympus ball?
Why, you're out of your senses.

[speaking French]

That creature?

Julie, you heard what
madame Poulard said?

That infamous
Vicars woman...

Mary Vicars couldn't
possibly do it justice.

Child, you're
out of your mind.

You know you can't wear
red to the Olympus ball.

Can't I?
I'm going to.

This is 1852, dumpling.

1852,
not The Dark Ages.

Girls don't have to
simper around in white

just because
they're not married.

In New Orleans,
they do.

Julie, you'd insult

every woman
on the floor.

Mademoiselle, your Aunt,
she's right.

Look how beautiful
this dress is.

Will you kindly
get me out of this?

Julie,
you can't be serious.

Never more serious
in my life.

But, Julie,
think of Pres!

That's just exactly
what I am thinking of.

Preston,
I am not convinced,

but I consider,
I think.

Gentlemen,
bonsoir.

Evening, La Cour.

Well, cheer up, son.

You've got La Cour
to thinking, anyhow.

And that, my boy, is as good
as starting a balky mule.

Took your support,
doctor.

Nonsense.

I'd always be with Tom Dillard's son,
right or wrong.

Best man
I ever knew.

Don't breed men
like that nowadays,

and you measured right up
to him this afternoon.

I'm afraid not, doctor.

You been having you some little fuss
with Miss Julie?

If you don't mind,
sir.

Oh, certainly,
certainly, my boy.

None of my business
anyhow,

but speaking
abstractly,

and nothing personal
intended,

your generation
don't understand the darlings.

Why, maybe not.

Absolutely not,
my boy.

Woman, sir,
is a chalice...

a frail,
delicate chalice

to be cherished
and protected,

but nowadays,
hmph...

No proper respect
for our Southern womanhood.

Think your father
would have allowed

the lady of his choice

to come surging into
his place of business?

What would
he have done, sir?

He'd have cut him a
hickory, sir, a hickory,

and he'd have flailed
the living daylights out of her,

then helped put lard
on her welts

and bought her
a diamond brooch.

That's what
he'd have done, sir,

and she'd
have loved it.

Good evening,
my boy.

Thank you, doctor.
Good evening, sir.

Evening, Mr. Pres, sir.

Hello, Cato.
Is Miss Julie about?

She's up to
her room, sir.

I'll tell her
you're here.

Just rest yourself
in there with the folks.

Thanks, Uncle Cato.

Good evening.

Pres, I'm so glad
you've come.

I thought you...

Julie said you'd
quarreled again.

It's high time we all stopped
hanging on every word Julie says

when most times
she only half means them.

I was just telling your Aunt Belle
the very same thing. That girl is...

but she just had
a little fuss with Pres.

That's all. That's all,
isn't it, Pres?

If you can call it
a fuss, Miss Belle.

You see,
Theopholus?

Now, Belle, I'm going to speak out.
That girl is high-headed and willful.

Son, if you just
come to realize it,

what she needs
is a firm hand.

I appreciate your interest,
General,

but I believe
I can handle this.

Mr. Pres, sir?
Miss Julie say,

will you most politely
excuse her?

Is she ill?

Why, no, Pres.

She's
sound as a nut.

Excuse me a moment.

Take your own
good time, my boy.

Now, Belle...

♪♪ Beautiful dreamer ♪♪

[knocking]

♪♪ Wait there for me... ♪♪

[knocking]

Pres: Julie?
Julie, it's Pres.

Open the door.
I want to talk to you.

♪♪ For me ♪♪

[knocking]

Pres: Julie,
why don't you answer?

Now, look here, Julie.

You and I have got to
straighten things out.

There's no sense
to all this.

I'm here
because I love you,

and because I know
you love me,

but there's some things
we've got to see straight.

Julie, I couldn't leave the bank today.
You know that.

I was just as disappointed
as you were.

Now, please, Julie,

we've always had
these silly quarrels.

Can't we stop?

[knocking]

Julie,
why don't you answer?

[lock clicks]

Darling, if you'll just
open the door,

I'm sure I could...

Julie!

[knocking]

Open this door!

Julie!

[pounding on door]

Julie...

Who is it?

Open this door!

Why, Pres...

banging
on a lady's door?

I'm scandalized at you.

Well...

Did you come up here
just to stand there?

Julie, how long must we
go on like this?

Like what, Pres?

Fighting, fussing all the time,
like a couple of children.

Why do you treat me
like a child?

Because you act like one.
A spoiled one.

You used to say you
liked me like that, once.

You never wanted me
to change.

'Member?

Julie...

Why, Pres,
in a lady's bedroom!

Now you'll have to
marry me.

What do you figure
I aim to do?

Then kiss me again.

Would you like
to see my new dress?

That's what I wanted
to do all day.

Well...

Well, let me go,
then.

There it is.

For the Olympus ball?

Uh-huh.
Isn't it lovely?

Julie, it's red!

Mmm.
It's gorgeously red.

But you can't wear red
to the Olympus ball.

Why not?

You never saw
an unmarried girl

in anything but white.

And you're gonna see one
tomorrow night.

Julie, you
can't be serious!

Are you afraid
somebody will take me

for one of those girls
from Gallatin Street?

- Julie!
- Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot I'm a child.

I'm not supposed to know about
things like Gallatin Street.

I'm just supposed to
flutter around in white.

Pres: You're supposed
to know better

than to scandalize
the whole town.

It might be bad
for the bank.

Of course.

Will you please hold
another directors' meeting

and ask them to decide
what I can wear?

Julie, for heaven's sake,
will you be reasonable?

Were you reasonable
this afternoon?

So that's it.

You're just
nursing a spite.

Well, I'm not
going to let you.

You've made your point, for once,
you're going to do as I say.

I'm calling for you
tomorrow night at 10:00.

And you're going to be dressed
properly for the ball, in white.

Am I?

Oh, but of course,
Preston,

if you say so.

Don't be absurd. Your own
good sense will say so.

And if it doesn't?

Then, my sweet,

you and I will
sit at home quietly

with our embroidery.

Good night.

Tomorrow night at 10:00.

Oh, Preston...

You forgot your stick.

So I did.

I forgot to use it, too.

So you did.

Did you call me,
Miss Julie?

Yes, Zette. I've got
an errand for you.

I'd rather not
trust the others.

Yes'm.

Ooh-whee, Miss Julie!

This sure is the most
elegantest dress! Mm-mmm!

You can have it
after tomorrow.

Me, Miss Julie?

Mm-hmm... if you can
keep a secret.

It's just like you ain't
never said nothing.

Now, Zette, I want this
delivered right away

to Mr. Buck Cantrell
on chartres street.

And Zette, remember...
not a word to anyone, understand?

I sure do understand,
Miss Julie.

It's just like I was struck
stone-dumb in both my ears.

- Well, go on.
- Ooh!

Zette...

Zette, when Mr. Pres comes,
give him this.

Give him this,
Miss Julie?

Just give it to him.
He'll understand.

Yes'm, Miss Julie, ma'am.

Good evening,
Buck.

Evening, Miss Julie.

You're late.

Sorry, but I had a
little business to attend to...

is it true
about Mr. De Lautruc?

Don't be upset. Don't you suppose
I know about the meeting?

I don't know
what you mean, Miss Julie.

Is it true you killed him?

Oh, Pshaw. I never
did him that bad.

Dr. Livingstone, though,
he had an elegant name for it...

a fractured ful...
fis... well, anyway,

it just looked like
a busted hip to me.

My zing, Miss Julie, you all
dressed up for a hog killing?

I hoped you'd like it.

Well, it makes me feel
kind of all-overish.

Well, your note said 10:00,
side entrance, Miss Julie.

What you up to?

Buck, you're taking me
to the Olympus ball.

Well, you do me a
great honor, Miss Julie.

Then we'd better hurry.

Just a minute, Miss Julie.
You had a set-to with Pres?

Oh, I'd rather not
discuss it.

Yes, we'd better, because
Pres isn't going to like it.

What's the matter, Buck?
Afraid Pres will call you out?

Oh, he'd do that,
naturally.

Can't say I blame him much.
Where do I stand, carrying his lady?

If I ask you to,
isn't that enough?

Not this time,
Miss Julie.

I think too much of you to help
you do something you're gonna regret.

I know exactly
what I'm doing.

Well, mosty likely you do,
but you're wrong.

That dress could cause
no end of trouble.

Folks would keenly resent you coming
to the ball in it.

Well, let them.
They're just petty and narrow-minded.

No, ma'am. It's just they got rules,
and they go by them,

same as you and I.

And you prefer
to go by your rules?

I always have,
Miss Julie.

Then I'm sorry
I troubled you.

Good night, Mr. Cantrell.

Good night,
Miss Julie.

Pres:
Evening, Uncle Cato.

Uncle Cato:
Evening, Mr. Pres.

Evening, Pres.

- Evening.
- Evening, Pres.

Zette, tell Miss Julie Mr. Pres is here.
We're ready to go.

Well, don't stand there
like a bump on a log.

Go along and tell her.

Yes'm, Miss Belle,
ma'am.

Zette?

Good evening.

Well, shall we go, Pres?

Not till you're
properly dressed.

You're sure it's the dress?

It couldn't be
that you're afraid...

Afraid somebody
will insult me

and you'll find it
necessary to defend me?

May I?

Ready, Aunt Belle?

Pres, please...

we're ready, my boy.

[crowd murmuring]

Julie:
Hello, Molly.

Mrs. Kendrick.
Hello, dick.

- Miss Julie.
- Evening, Julie.

Stephanie, we must pay our respects
to Miss Zinmere.

You'll excuse us,
please.

[waltz ends]

Gentlemen,
you all have the privilege

of Miss Marsden's
acquaintance, I think.

Gentlemen.

Miss Marsden.

Good evening, Buck.

We were just fixing to
pour us a little libation.

That's right.

Shall we
see you later?

Excuse me.

Oh, there's
my partner now.

Uh... excuse me,
please.

You haven't a partner
you have to meet, Cantrell.

Why, no.
Came alone.

Pleasant evening,
isn't it?

Mighty pleasant.

Nice and cool.

Do you find it
cool in here?

I don't find it
particularly cool.

Do you, Julie?

Why... why, no.

I don't find it
particularly cool.

Miss Julie
doesn't find it so.

Why, no.

Now you speak of it,
it's just about right.

Seems so to me.

[waltz begins]

Your servant.

Yours, Miss Julie.

Pres,
I want to leave.

Why? We haven't
danced yet.

- Shall we?
- No.

Pres, let me go.

Take me out of here.

Psst. Psst.

[music stops]

Go on and play.

Go on and play!

Pres, let me go.

Please take me
out of here.

Night,
Aunt Belle.

Bye, Julie.

Is that all you've
got to say to me?

There's nothing
more to say.

Evidently, you've
made up your mind.

No, Julie.
You've made up my mind.

Good-bye, Pres.

Good-bye, Julie.

Julie,
don't let him go.

Call him back.

[horses trotting away]

Julie, you're a fool!

Not such a fool.

He'll come back.

He won't.

Not this time, he won't.
Believe me.

Julie, honey,
let me send for him.

No. He'll come back.

Wait and see.

Yet tonight,
I think.

If he does,
say I've retired

and that I'm sleeping late
in the morning.

Not to come round
till afternoon tomorrow.

Tell him to...

Ha ha! Huger's got himself
a brand-new reason

for getting liquor.

Straight bourbon and lots of it.
That's a fact.

Ever hear tale
of a man and his liquor

getting
yellow fever?

I aim to carry
all I can hold,

and I advise you gentlemen
to do likewise.

Huger aims not
to be carried off

by anything
but drink.

[speaking creole]

It's no joking matter.
Looks mighty serious.

More cases than
you hear about.

Doctors call it
by another name...

any name
but yellow fever.

Every time I see
old dead wagon,

I pour me 4 fingers
of bourbon.

Yesterday, I drank nigh on
to 2 quarts.

Ah, ain't any more
yellow fever

than this time
last year.

Never hear fever talk
in racing season, do you?

Why? 'Cause folks got
something better to talk about.

- Hello, gentlemen.
- Hello, Dillard.

How are you, Ted? You look like
you've got something working on your mind.

Pres is
coming back.

Why, now, folks generally do.
When did you hear the news?

Just now, from
Dr. Livingstone.

He's bringing something rare
and precious

from the north,
he says.

What could it be,
I wonder?

A stem-winding
watch, maybe.

Give yourselves a breathing spell up
there on the plantation.

Only a matter of a few weeks,
I say, until the scare blows over.

You'll be back in time
for the Mardi Gras and Olympus ball.

Is there really
cause for alarm?

Well, I wouldn't go
so far as that,

but the city's
not going to be so pleasant.

No parties.

Theater's liable
to be closed

as a precautionary
measure.

The theater.

I haven't
been since...

When was the last time,
Aunt Belle?

Camille.

I hated it.

I wouldn't mind
if I never saw another play.

I strongly urge
you go.

Who knows?
Maybe we are in

for another time
like '30.

Heaven forbid.

Dr. Livingstone's
only looking after

our best interests,
I'm sure, my dear.

I am, indeed.

May I
send instructions

to have the house
made ready?

I'll try to persuade her,
Dr. Livingstone.

Julie don't look as well
as I've seen her.

It's all I can do to get her
to step from this house.

Won't go outside except to ride that
crazy thoroughbred of hers.

Then I'm in fear and trembling
she'll break her neck.

Won't go anyplace
where there's company.

Won't have company in.

Young Mr. Cantrell
and the others...

she hasn't received them
in months.

They've stopped calling,
only leave cards.

What does she do
all day long?

Tends the house as no house has
ever been tended.

She's so particular, if an article is
half an inch out of place

or there's a speck of dust
on anything, she notices.

Makes me uneasy.

You might
be interested

in a bit of news
I got today.

Preston Dillard's
coming back.

Arrives Friday
on the packet.

What brings him?

This yellow fever
business.

We two stand together on
what ought to be done about it.

Now it's busted loose,
he's coming back.

It's high time.

I suspect I know Julie
like nobody ever will...

every crook
and cranny of her.

You ought to, Miss Belle.
She's more like you than you ever were.

Maybe I love her most
when she's her meanest

because I know that's
when she's loving most.

I'll let you know
about the plantation

just as soon as I can.

Do that, Miss Belle,
if you please, ma'am.

Don't bother, Miss Belle.

Good-bye, Cato.

Evening,
Dr. Livingstone, sir.

I do believe
Dr. Livingstone

takes pleasure in
frightening people,

particularly women.

You don't remember
the last outbreak.

It was dreadful.

I guess it's
pretty serious.

Pres Dillard's
coming home

on account of it.

Pres is coming home.

Of course.

Did you know it?

Certainly I knew it.

I knew all along.

He had to come
back to me.

He couldn't
help himself.

He wouldn't know
how to fight

as hard as I have

to keep
from going to him.

We'll be married.

I'm going to beg
his forgiveness.

I was vicious
and mean and selfish,

and I'm going to tell him
I hated myself

for being like I was
even then.

I'll humble myself
before him.

And everything that
ever stood between us

will be gone

when he takes me
in his arms.

Child.

Perhaps we'd better go
to the plantation.

Of course. That's the place
for our meeting.

We'd better
start packing.

Uncle Cato! Zette!

We'll give a party,
dumpling.

We'll invite
everybody...

a party
to celebrate.

Uncle Cato, get the trunks
out of the attic,

and, Zette,
lay out my dresses.

Have gros bat Polish
the big carriage.

And have mammy Cleo
pack a basket.

Oh, and get the
furniture covers out.

We're closing
the house.

What are you standing there
for, you two? Get a move on.

We're going to Halcyon!

♪♪ Oh, my pretty fortune ♪♪

♪♪ My flower that faded
too soon... ♪♪

You guess that's
plenty, Uncle Cato?

I guess so,
Miss Julie.

If all that mint
sticks in julep,

it's bound to be a powerful night
for the gentleman.

Now, don't you forget
a hard frost on the glasses.

Miss Julie, when I ever serve
a gentleman a julep without the frost?

Mr. Pres sure going to
know he's back home, all right.

You finish it,
will you?

Zette, run a damp cloth
over my mirror

and lay out my dress.
I'll be up in a minute.

Yes'm, Miss Julie.

Zette, is gros bat
on the lookout?

Yes'm, Miss Julie.

♪♪ Oh, my pretty fortune ♪♪

♪♪ My flower that faded
too soon ♪♪

♪♪ My heart,
like the strings on my banjo ♪♪

♪♪ All broke for my... ♪♪

You're gonna wear
those flowers out

with fixing and fussing.

Everything's got to
be right, dumpling...

just right.

Well, I guess
everything is,

and you most
of anything, honey.

Excited?

Feel my heart
jumping.

Well, I guess
I better go and dress.

♪♪...Faded too soon ♪♪

♪♪ My heart,
like the strings on my banjo ♪♪

♪♪ All broke
for my pretty fortune ♪♪

Zette, Zette, help me
out of this.

♪♪ Oh, my pretty fortune ♪♪

♪♪ My flower that faded
too soon... ♪♪

Did you hear
a carriage?

Go on, Zette. See.
Hurry.

♪♪...Like the strings
on my banjo ♪♪

♪♪ All broke
for my pretty fortune ♪♪

♪♪ Oh, my pretty fortune... ♪♪

See any carriages yet?

No carriage
coming yet.

Nope. No carriages
coming yet.

♪♪ All broke
for my pretty fortune ♪♪

Yes?

No carriages yet.

Oh. Well, then,
hook me up, Zette.

Why you never wear this dress
before, Miss Julie?

It's the most prettiest
dress you own.

I've been saving it
for today.

Yes'm. I don't ever
have no hopes

of falling heir to this dress,
I don't, Miss Julie.

No, not
this one, Zette.

Ti Bat:
Carriages coming!

Carriages coming
down yonder!

Carriages coming!

Zette...

Zette, go and see.

Gros bat:
Men on horseback, too!

Hey, carriages coming!

Ti Bat:
Carriages!

Gros bat:
Carriages coming!

Carriages coming!
Carriages!

Uncle Cato:
Carriage coming!

Zette:
Carriage coming!

[cheering]

Uncle Cato: We're sure glad
to see you.

Oh!

Mr. Buck and Mr. Dick
are on horseback!

- Keep an eye out for Mr. Pres.
- Yes'm.

Buck, I'm so glad
to see you.

Will you all go in
and just sort of

carry on, right? Go on and
make yourselves at home.

Dick, I'm so glad!

Go right in.

It's a pleasure
to be here.

Yes, ma'am, I'm sure glad
to see you all back.

Well, I guess it's no use
my telling you folks

how glad we are
to have you here.

Thanks, Miss Belle, I reckon
none of us ever could forget

the hospitality
at Halcyon.

Well, you stay out
of my kitchen.

I haven't forgotten the time
you ate my party pompano.

Miss Julie and me,
we'd been bird hunting.

We were hungry, and there was
that elegant pompano.

You were both of you
mighty reprehensible.

Theopholus, have you
heard from Preston?

No, but I had a note from Ted,
he said Pres would arrive

on the packet
about noon.

He'd be responsible for
bringing them on over.

Noon? Well, then, they
ought to be here by now.

Well, they might have
had to wait

for the sheriff to pass them
through the parish line.

- Pass them through?
- Armed guards are patrolling the road

as far up
as riverview.

They're stopping everybody
coming from the city.

It's mighty bad in the
city, Miss Belle, mighty bad.

We're all very fortunate
to be up here.

Are any gentlefolk
taken down?

Major Crandall's
dead with it, for one.

Ned Warrington's
got it.

No telling
how many others.

You see, with a sickness in the
house, they're keeping it a secret.

'Course, there's talk of
shipping those who have got it

off to Lazaret Island
where the lepers are.

Lazaret Island
where the lepers are?

Mm-hmm.
Like in '30.

Why,
it ain't civilized

to condemn
Christian people

to Lazaret Island!

They won't
have a chance at all!

No chance at all,
Miss Belle,

but maybe
the rest of us will.

Theopholus,
we are safe up here.

This parish always
has been above the fever line.

They aim to
keep it that way.

Excuse me for keeping
you all standing.

Come on in
and freshen up.

- Gros bat: Carriage coming!
- Ti Bat: Carriage coming!

That must
be Pres and Ted now.

[cheering]

Pres, my dear boy!

Aunt Belle!

And Ted!

Pres: Aunt Belle, everybody,
this is Amy, my wife.

Pres, your wife?

You could have knocked me over
with a feather!

Hey, Buck, there's
your stem-winder.

Oh, my dear...

Pres' wife would
naturally be welcome here,

but you are
for your own sake.

Thank you.

Pres' brother's been so gracious
in his welcome.

I really hoped that the others
he loves would be the same.

Of course we will,
my dear.

May I
present our friends?

May I present
General Bogardus?

- Delighted.
- How do you do?

- Mr. Cantrell. Mr. Allen.
- How do you do?

How do you do?

My dear, will you
come with me?

Howdy, ma'am.

Man: Mighty nice having
you back, Pres.

Uncle Cato, see that
the gentlemen get their juleps.

Yes, Miss Belle.

Cato!

Praise be,
master Preston!

Sure glad to see
you back home.

Ted: How are you,
Uncle Cato?

Excuse us,
please.

You got some
mint juleps?

Yes, sir. You gentlemen
just follow me. Now, I'm sure...

It was kind of you
to have us.

To tell the truth,
I would have come anyhow.

I hope so.

I've got to go back
tomorrow.

Back to the city?
But Pres...

things at sixes and sevens
at the bank.

The fever's left us
short-handed,

but I want to ask
if Amy may stay?

I want her out
of the city.

Pres, perhaps it
isn't convenient.

My dear, Halcyon
belongs to its guests,

and Pres' wife is,
of course, an honored one.

Come, my dear.

Is this your first
visit south?

Yes. It's beautiful.

Strange and beautiful.
And a little frightening.

Frightening?

Because of its strangeness
and beauty, I suppose.

This way, my dear.

- Mmm! You haven't forgotten how.
- Me, sir?

The head might forget,
but the hand remembers.

Anyhow, Miss Julie, she's right
in behind me all day

to fix them just the way
you used to like them.

Uncle Cato,
how is Miss Julie?

Miss Julie?

Why, she's
just Miss Julie.

Just the same?

Well, I reckon
princesses, they

just naturally grows up
to be queens,

that's all.

Uncle Cato, we've
known each other a long time.

I'm back now... home.

It's a special
occasion.

Will you
join me in one?

Why...
Why, Mr. Preston,

'tain't hardly proper.

But I'll kindly take one
out in the pantry

and bless you
and Miss Julie.

Pres.

Are you
remembering the time

you wanted me
to wear white?

Are you?

Well, until now,
I never have.

Cat got your tongue,
Pres?

Julie...

You said that
plain enough.

Pres,
what fools we were.

Julie,
you're lovely...

Lovelier than ever.

Pres, I can't believe
it's you here.

I dreamed
about it so long...

a lifetime.

No. Longer than that.

I put on this
white dress for you...

To help me tell you

how humbly I ask you
to forgive me.

Pres,
I'm kneeling to you.

Julie, don't.

To ask you
to forgive me

and love me

as I love you.

Julie, please.

Julie...

This is Amy,
my wife.

Your wife?

And you're,
may I say, Julie?

Pres' wife.

You're funning!

Pres: Hardly.

Married.

My felicitations,
Pres.

Belle:
Julie? Julie?

Yes, Aunt Belle.
In here.

I was just
congratulating Pres

on his marriage.

You're from the north,
Mrs. Dillard?

New York.

She was
a Miss Bradford.

Isn't that what you
told me, my dear?

Yes.

Bradford.

Amy Bradford...

From New York.

I'm very happy
to welcome you to Halcyon.

Thank you.

You have such charming
customs here.

You may find
our customs,

as you call them,

different from those
of your country.

I did want
to meet you.

Pres has told me so much
about you.

Everything,
I suppose.

Are you very surprised
about our getting...

we louisianians
are very impulsive.

I wouldn't be surprised
at whatever Pres did.

Julie, the others
will be coming down.

Oh, yes, Aunt Belle.
Of course.

Would you excuse us
a moment?

Julie...

Julie, child,
I'm so sorry.

For heaven's sakes,
don't be tender with me now.

Do you think I want
to be wept over?

I've got to think,
to plan, to fight.

But you can't
fight marriage.

Marriage, is it?

To that washed-out
little Yankee?

Pres is mine.
He's always been mine.

And if
I can't have him...

why, Buck!

Miss Julie.

You don't know
how glad I am to see you.

And I am most pointedly
delighted to see you, Miss Julie.

Most pointedly delighted.

William Lloyd Garrison
is a fanatic.

Wendell Phillips
is another.

They've made a
mighty touchier situation.

But I can't believe that
the intelligent men up north

are plotting to destroy
our sovereign rights.

You sound right calm now, sir,
but they tell me you were raring to go

when you joined
up with Andy Jackson

to fight the British.

I was a lot younger then,
Cantrell, and a lot foolisher.

What Buck's been saying
doesn't sound foolish to me.

Most of it makes sense.

And I'll take the rest
on faith.

Why, Miss Julie, that's the first time
you ever said I talked sense.

Well, you don't much,

but it's refreshing to see a man
who knows his own mind.

Don't you
think so, Pres?

It's hard to know
your mind sometimes.

If only we could put away
this stale old quarrel.

Mrs. Kendrick:
Exactly. I always say

let sleeping dogs lie.

Trouble is those abolitionists
don't act like sleeping dogs.

They're scratching their fleas
all over the place.

Looks to me like we'll have to
hang a few to get us any peace.

This William
Lloyd Garrison

would look elegant
that way.

I'm afraid your problems
wouldn't be solved

by hanging Mr. Garrison,
Mr. Cantrell.

Why, there's plenty more,
mistress Dillard.

I named Garrison because he's
a traitor by his own say-so.

And there's such meanness
in a traitor.

Don't you
think so, Pres?

Julie spoke to you,
Pres.

Excuse me.

Oh, just small talk.
Don't trouble.

I'm sorry.
Tonight, I'm haunted.

Haunted?

Pres: Only by
memories, Uncle Cato.

It's just
coming back here.

All my childhood summers...
there's so much to remember.

Remembering?
A forward-looking young banker?

Even a banker
has memories.

Well, he ought to kill them,
then, or laugh at them.

But I interrupted
you, Buck.

You were just about to
hang somebody for a traitor.

Why, for an abolitionist,
Miss Julie.

I think it was Voltaire who said,
"I disagree with everything you say,

"and I will defend
to the death

your right to say it."

Pres, that don't
make sense.

Maybe Pres got a little
beyond us, Buck.

We ignorant southerners
simply expect a gentleman

to go by his raising.

I think we're all
agreed on that.

Here's how I see it.
Cotton is king.

Folks are bound
to ship cotton downriver.

So how can New Orleans
keep from being

the greatest city
in America,

fever or no fever?

I'm afraid there's more than
fever the matter.

Being up north seems to have changed
your point of view.

I hate to say this,

but in a war of commerce,
the north must win.

That's a mighty curious thing
for a southerner to say.

It strikes me
that way,

but maybe Pres
has learned why up north.

If you must have it,
it will be a victory of machines

over unskilled
slave labor.

Preston!

I don't know that I like
that, Dillard.

You're not expected
to like it.

You'll like it a lot less
when it happens.

You talk mighty like
a black abolitionist.

I think you know
I'm no abolitionist.

I believe the tide
has turned against us,

but I'll swim
against that tide

just as far
as you will, Cantrell.

General: Sure, we're all
of one mind here.

We hate an abolitionist
as we hate the devil.

Naturally we claim the right
to the customs we were born to,

even some of us who question
the value of those customs.

I like my convictions
undiluted,

same as I do
my bourbon.

Frankly, I'm not impressed by
Preston's nightmares.

I've had dreams myself,
but they never come to much.

They slip away
from you.

And you wonder how
you could have been so silly.

Sure is a fact,
Miss Julie.

There was one
very curious one I had.

I'd certainly
admire to hear it.

Oh, heavens, I wouldn't think
of boring our guests.

Shall we go into
the drawing room, ladies?

You can bore me,
Miss Julie.

Perhaps to you
later, to you alone.

We'll be in the
drawing room, gentlemen.

You can find us.

You can lay 10-to-1
on me, Miss Julie.

Gentlemen.

Stephanie, what you
giggling about now?

Oh, nothing, mother.

- Your health, sir.
- Thank you.

It's mighty good to
have you back, Pres.

With times so unsettled,

- we need our good men about us.
- Looks like it, sir.

If the Yankee nation
don't let us be,

we'll have to go up there
and teach them manners.

I'm afraid facts are against you
doing it as easy as that.

I think your facts are
mostly to scare women

and sell
northern bonds.

- Cantrell...
- I don't like to hear that.

One fact
you can't deny...

that we're the guests
of a charming hostess.

Sorry, General.

Most likely, I've
misunderstood you, sir.

I don't think you
misunderstood, sir.

I expressed an opinion. There was nothing
personal about it, take it as you like.

If it wasn't personal,
I'm satisfied.

Just understand,
Cantrell,

the question of your being
satisfied about my opinions

is of no
importance to me.

Gentlemen, gentlemen.
Don't look like we're in the mood

for political
discussion tonight.

Come. Shall we go in
to the ladies?

I'm with you there,
General.

Shucks, Buck, we're all
friends here. Old friends.

General: Naturally,
we are. Come along.

Buck seems dead set
to pick a quarrel with you.

That's nothing new
for Buck.

And Julie, she's set herself up
to fascinate Buck

like a Gallatin
Street girl.

Great ladies and
Gallatin Street girls,

my dear brother,
have a lot in common.

Look here.
Has Julie been...

The less you
crack your teeth,

the longer you'll have them,
youngster.

Ted! Pres!

Julie wants you
both right away.

Miss Massey's
going to play for us.

Thanks, Stephanie.
Coming, Pres?

Yes, of course.

Uncle Cato.

Yes, sir, Mr. Pres?

How's
Miss Julie been?

Is she seeing lots of people?
I mean...

no, sir. She ain't. She
ain't seen nobody much.

Just stay in the house
or ride the horse.

Mr. Pres, your lady take tea
or coffee in the morning?

I hear folks is
mighty curious up north.

Coffee.

Uncle Cato,
has Mr. Cantrell been up here?

I mean,
before today.

No, sir, he ain't.
No company at all.

[piano playing softly]

Thanks, Uncle Cato.

Yes, sir, Mr. Pres.

Pres,
why did you do it?

Why, Pres?

Because I love her.

But you'd had my love.

And lost it.

Wasn't that memory
more real

than anything
she had to give to you?

Don't be cross
with me, Pres.

Just tell me.
You must.

Pres:
Please, don't, Julie.

Shall I cry for you?

Nobody ever
made me cry but you,

and that was
only twice.

Do you remember?

Yes.

How much
do you remember?

Everything
you ever said or did.

But that's
past now, Julie...

done, finished.

I ought to have
come to you.

I wanted to
so terribly.

It's because
I wanted to so much

that I couldn't.

You do understand that,
don't you, Pres?

I didn't understand.
I just knew what you did.

But you had to
come home, didn't you?

You had to come back
to the country

and the things you know
because you belong here.

Nothing can change that.

Pres, listen.

Can you hear them?

The night noises.

The mockingbird
in the magnolia.

See the moss hanging
from the moonlight.

You can fairly taste the night,
can't you?

You're part of it,
Pres.

And it's part of you...

Like I am.

You can't get away
from us, Pres.

We're both
in your blood.

This is the country
you were born to,

the country you know
and trust.

Your country, Pres.

Amy wouldn't
understand.

She'd think
there'd be snakes.

Julie, please.

Oh, it isn't tame and easy
like the north.

It's quick and dangerous,
but you trust it.

'Member how the
fever mist smells

in the bottoms...

rank and rotten...

but you
trust that, too,

because
it's part of you,

just as
I'm part of you,

and we'll never
let you go.

Pres, you're afraid.

Miss Julie,
I thought we'd lost you.

That's a right
nice little Yankee...

pretty as
a red wagon,

but trying
to talk to...

poor Buck.
That must have been something.

I tried her
on horses.

She told me about
a policeman's horse

she used to feed sugar to
back north.

Then I tried her
on hound dogs.

She thinks a Walker hound
is one that walks.

My zing, don't they educate
the women up north?

She's just
plain ignorant.

Northern girls are
just educated differently.

She probably
knows calculus.

Oh, sure, Miss Julie,
any flower wench knows calculus...

by calculation,

out of
sidereal maid.

Won the ranger
stakes in '47.

What's the matter?
You ache anywhere?

Oh, it's nothing.

It is.

Look here, Miss Julie.
You were out here

a mighty long time
with Pres Dillard.

Oh, please, Buck.

Pres had just been
punishing the Brandy.

My back teeth!

Did he lose
his capacity

to drink like a gentleman
in the north, too?

What's he think a lady's house is,
a riverboat bar?

- What did he do?
- Oh, Buck.

I wouldn't have
some silly thing I said

be the cause of anything.

Miss Julie, you won't be
the cause of anything.

Depend on me.

Thank you, Buck.

[distant boom]

That's the Cannon
from New Orleans.

You can hear it when
the wind's right.

Ted: There
it goes again.

Wind has shifted
to the south.

I can't bear loud
and sudden noises.

Even firecrackers
give me palpitations.

Well, what is it?

It's the fever Cannon
down in the city.

- Fever Cannon?
- Yes.

At night, they set tar barrels blazing
on every street corner.

And the Washington artillery
fire Cannon to fight the plague.

What good
does that do?

Why, everybody knows it
starts air currents

to carry
the fever away.

[distant boom]

They might better drain the swamps
and clean up the city.

Is that what they do
in Yankee land?

They do, and a lot of other
customs up north

that will
bear copying.

Eating horse-feed
beans, maybe.

Everyone to
his own taste.

I'll have to remind you, sir, that my wife is
a northerner and a stranger here.

Buck: And you talk like
you're the same.

- See here, Buck.
- Ted, please.

I'm sorry,
but this subject

is an unwelcome one.
Excuse me, Julie,

but as mistress
of the house,

you'll agree
with me, I'm sure.

Why, Aunt Belle, I wouldn't think of
forbidding any subject

to my guests.

Uncle Cato:
Mr. Pres, sir?

Here come a white gentleman
looking for you.

Hello, Jenkins.
What is it?

Dr. Livingstone
sent me.

Mr. La Cour's down
bad with the fever.

The doctor says
you better come right down.

Pres: Of course. Send a boy
for my carriage.

But Mr. Pres, sir,
you told him

he'd go visiting with
his folks down in riverview.

Belle: Bat will drive you,
of course.

- Yes, hurry up, bat.
- Mr. Dillard, Mr. La Cour's bad.

He wants to talk some
bank business to you before...

Well, before it
gets too late.

Was I you, I'd ride.
Be quicker.

All right.

Belle: You'll stop at Halcyon
tonight, Mr. Jenkins.

Make the journey back
at your pleasure.

Jenkins: Gracious of you,
mistress Massey,

but I must
return at once.

Belle: Well, then you'll need
a fresh mount.

There's by-a-Belle
and donacon in the stables.

Bat will go with you to
bring the horses back.

- Go along, bat, and saddle.
- Yes'm, Miss Belle.

Thank you,
Aunt Belle.

Pres, I ought to
go with you.

No, honey, this won't take long.
When our boy gets back,

you come down
the carriage.

- Ted, will you get me a coat? I'm gonna put on some boots.
- Right away.

- You take care of her. Be right back.
- Belle: Sure, Pres.

Belle: Would you care to
freshen up, Mr. Jenkins?

Jenkins:
Thank you, ma'am.

Theopholus,
would you mind?

Theopholus:
Gladly.

Why, erroneus!

What are you two
doing here?

Zette done said for us
to make inquiries

when we all was to sing with you
and mas' Pres.

Just another old custom,
Mrs. Dillard.

Tell Zette they can
come up anytime.

Yes'm.

What time,
Miss Julie?

Ain't you hear?
She done say anytime.

That don't
mean nothin'.

It sure do.

Julie: Of course it does, errata.
Just you tell her.

Yes'm, Miss Julie.

It do.

It don't.

I hope you'll all
forgive me.

Good-bye,
Mrs. Kendrick. Good-bye.

We understand
perfectly, Pres.

Now, darling,
don't fret about me.

I'll try not to.

You'll look after Amy,
won't you, Ted?

You needn't
have asked.

Good-bye.
Good-bye, everybody.

Good-bye,
Preston.

Good-bye, Pres.

Good-bye, Julie.

I do hope everything
will be all right.

It always is.

'Course, it's a pity Pres
had to leave now,

but I suppose his
bank comes first.

You don't find that admirable,
Miss Marsden?

Oh, admirable,
I suppose.

Just seems to me there are other things
more interesting.

I imagine Buck
finds it so.

Why, Miss Julie, I never go
into a bank if I can help it.

Seems like they're
mostly studying

how to get something
away from somebody.

I wouldn't
say that, Buck.

What Mr. Cantrell means
is most folks down here

prefer other pursuits,
like planting.

You needn't apologize
for Mr. Cantrell.

I'm sure he's capable
of defending his own insinuations.

Why, mistress Dillard,
ma'am,

I surely didn't mean
to offend.

Of course, Amy. Buck didn't realize
what he was saying.

- He doesn't even realize how Julie's using him.
- General: Ted.

How do you
mean that, son?

I just don't get
the sense of it,

but it don't
sound polite.

You know right well
what I mean.

Julie's been
egging you on...

first against Pres,
and now his wife.

- Ted, be quiet.
- I meant what I said.

Well, let's figure
I didn't hear, then.

And boy, I'd keep
Miss Julie's name

out of your conversation.

You're fool enough
to defend

what you don't
even understand?

Buck, don't you pay
any attention to him.

I don't see anybody
that needs any defense.

If I did, I'd make out
to defend them, yes.

Let's put it this way,
Mr. Cantrell.

All evening long,

I thought you
coarse and loud

and not a gentleman.

That's better.
No need for that.

Very well,
Mr. Dillard, sir.

I'd be glad
of your kindness, dick.

Happy to do you
the honor,

you young jackass.

Buck, you surely
don't mean to...

why, Aunt Belle,
I don't mean nothing at all.

Just talking.

What do they mean
to do, Aunt Belle?

Julie: Buck!

Of course,
you're joking.

Joking, ma'am?

Buck, I forbid you,
as a guest in my house.

Forbid me what,
ma'am?

To do what
you're planning.

I don't know what you mean,
Miss Julie.

Oh, stop playacting!

Your stupid code.
It's for fools!

You, too, beginning to
think our customs are old-fashioned?

Oh, Buck, I beg you.
This mustn't happen.

I don't understand.

I guess there's a lot
I don't understand.

Woman:
♪♪ If I live until next spring ♪♪

♪♪ Gonna get
a wedding ring ♪♪

♪♪ Bring down
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ Bring down
my darling ♪♪

♪♪ Bring down
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ Bless you,
my lovely ♪♪

♪♪ Bring down
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ Bring down
my darling ♪♪

♪♪ Bring down
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ Bless you,
my lovely ♪♪

♪♪ Back came
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ Back came my honey ♪♪

♪♪ Come back,
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ That's right,
my lovely ♪♪

♪♪ Back came
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ Back came my honey ♪♪

♪♪ Come back,
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ That's right,
my honey ♪♪

♪♪ Somebody's
calling my number... ♪♪

Naturally, you'll
apologize to Buck.

General Bogardus,

may I put myself
in your hands?

You'll be good enough
to make the arrangements.

Ted, listen to me.
You can't do this! You must ap...

♪♪ Bring down
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ Bless you,
my lovely ♪♪

♪♪ If I live
until next fall ♪♪

♪♪ Susie came,
Susie came... ♪♪

Uncle Theo, you won't let this
go any further, will you?

Mighty little I can do
about it now.

Naturally, I'll
do everything I can.

Whatever it is,
you must do it.

Isn't this what
you wanted, Julie?

Or did your plans
go astray?

♪♪ Susie came, Susie came ♪♪

♪♪ The old cow passed,
and the buzzard danced ♪♪

♪♪ Susie came, Susie came ♪♪

♪♪ Bring down
Miss Susie Girl ♪♪

♪♪ Bring down
my lovely ♪♪

♪♪ Bring down
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ Bless you,
my lovely... ♪♪

We women can start
the men quarreling often enough.

We can't ever
stop them.

♪♪ Susie came, Susie came ♪♪

♪♪ Back came
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ Back came my honey ♪♪

♪♪ Come back,
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

♪♪ That's right,
my honey ♪♪

♪♪ Back came
Miss Susie Gal ♪♪

Come on! Let's raise
a ruckus tonight!

♪♪ Come 'long, chilluns,
little chilluns, come along ♪♪

♪♪ While that moon
is shining bright ♪♪

♪♪ Get on board,
go down the river ♪♪

♪♪ Gonna raise a ruckus
tonight ♪♪

♪♪ Come 'long, chilluns,
little chilluns, come along ♪♪

♪♪ While that moon
is shining bright ♪♪

♪♪ Get on board,
go down the river ♪♪

♪♪ Gonna raise a ruckus
tonight ♪♪

[softer]
♪♪ Come 'long, chilluns ♪♪

♪♪ Little chilluns,
come along ♪♪

♪♪ While that moon
is shining bright... ♪♪

Julie.

Come on, sing,
Aunt Belle.

Have the little Yankee
join in.

♪♪ Gonna raise a ruckus
tonight... ♪♪

We have such charming
customs down here.

♪♪ While the moon
is shining bright... ♪♪

That's why I wore
my white dress tonight.

I'm being baptized.

♪♪...Raise a ruckus
tonight ♪♪

♪♪ Come 'long, chilluns,
little chilluns, come along ♪♪

♪♪ While that moon
is shining bright ♪♪

♪♪ Get on board,
go down the river ♪♪

♪♪ Gonna raise a ruckus
tonight ♪♪

[laughter]

You'd no business
to take him up,

a youngster that's
never been out before.

Why, if he's going
to talk man-size,

he's got to
act man-size.

- But, Buck...
- why, dick, he's lucky.

All I aim to do is
clip a wing

fix him so he won't
fly too high.

Mighty nervous
feeling,

first time
you face shot.

Wish I could
tell him,

but that would be
highly irregular.

Anyhow, it might
hurt his feelings.

Don't be a fool,
Ted.

Buck has offered twice
to accept an apology.

He doesn't want to
fight you.

You realize what
you're up against.

I've had the benefit

of Buck Cantrell's
skill and experience.

I'll make the best
use of it I can.

Man: Gentlemen,
take your places.

Remember, gentlemen,
you turn and fire

at the count of 10.

Very good, sir.

Places.

Are you ready?

At your service,
sir.

Ready, sir.

Gentlemen,
1... 2... 3...

4... 5... 6...

7... 8... 9...

10!

[gunshots]

Are you savages,
you southerners?

[sniffling]

Woman: Whee!

[talking excitedly]

Good morning.

What brought you all
out so early?

It's a grand morning.
I couldn't resist it.

Where are the gentlemen?

You know very well
where they are.

Oh, yes, at a meeting.

A silly custom,

but part of what we southerners
call our chivalry.

You know,
sometimes, I envy them.

To face the one you hate,
to kill or be killed,

to settle something.

We can't do that.
We're women.

Oh, Zette,
aren't they beautiful?

Zette: Yes'm,
Miss Julie,

right nice
and pretty.

"Right nice
and pretty."

Pretty enough
for Ted's grave.

[crying]

Ted!

Buck's dead.

I never saw a man
die before.

He knew what
you had done.

Before he died,
he told me so.

Miss Amy,
we're leaving,

if you'll get ready.

Thank you,
General.

Miss Molly, you'll
ride back with us.

Dick will follow.

I quite understand,
Uncle Theo.

My respects, ma'am.

I'll arrange to turn
my guardianship over

to the bank.

Julie...

Mrs. Kendrick:
Stephanie.

All right, Zette.

Well, say it!

What are you thinking?

I'm thinking of
a woman called jezebel,

who did evil
in the sight of god.

[gunshot]

[dogs yelping]

He's to bury.

More killing.

Man: Sorry, gentlemen.
Case of had-to.

Fugitive?

No. Just a poor fool who was
crazy enough to think

he could run
the fever line.

Has it spread
this far?

Sure, spreading like wildfire
all along the river, Yellow Jack is.

We got orders to shoot if we have
to whoever tries to pass

the parish boundaries,
coming or going.

You mean no one can
get downriver to New Orleans?

Man: That's the law,
gentlemen.

Mind if we leave
the body here

till we can
get a wagon?

I'm sorry,
ladies.

You heard what
the sheriff said.

Uncle Cato!

Bring the baggage
back in.

Ladies and gentlemen,

my home is yours,
as always.

That's today's crop
for Lazaret Island.

[arguing]

Excuse me.

Good evening,
gentlemen.

Good evening.

Bartender:
Dillard, bourbon?

- Certainly, doctor.
- Make mine double.

Well, they might
as well now.

Good a time as any.

Ain't that kind of
unusual for you, son?

You telling me
what I can drink?

Why, Pres.

Lord.

Dr. Livingstone,
I don't know why I said that.

Don't you
feel right, son?

Kind of edgy,
maybe.

It's been
a tough day.

I caught a chill
walking up.

Chill? You better be
easing down.

With La Cour gone, we want you
to clear up that mess in the bank.

Man: Saw him myself,
day before yesterday.

Second man: Well, I saw him
an hour ago.

You think I don't know
a dead man when I see one?

And him laying in his coffin?
His folks brought the body down.

What happened
now?

Huger here claims
Buck Cantrell is dead.

- What? Buck dead?
- Fever? - Huger, you're crazy.

I'll give 20-to-1
Buck Cantrell's to bury.

I'll give 10-to-1

Ted Dillard shot him
in a duel.

Ted Dillard follows him round
like a hound dog.

Ted Dillard? And Buck?
The best pistol shot in Louisiana?

- Come on!
- Oh ho ho!

20-to-1!
Any takers?

I believe I heard you
make a private matter

that concerns my family
the subject of a bet.

Why, Dillard,
I'm mighty sorry.

It's not a thing
to bet on.

No. I reckon
you're right.

Only there's been so many
dead folks lately that...

why, Dillard.

Why...

Man:
A Yellow Jack!

Yellow Jack!

Get back!

Get out of here!

One of you
lend a hand here.

Ain't no one of you
got enough whiskey in him

to give you
a little courage?

You're going to
let him lie here,

you drunken blaggards?

If one of you
don't help me,

every mother's son of you whose
face I remember I'll call out...

if you live through
this epidemic...

to be challenged!

You, Loren!

Taylor! Lanois!

Come on!

Come on!

Some rice, dick?

No, thank you.

More gumbo,
Uncle Theo?

Thank you.

Serve the wine,
Uncle Cato.

Miss Julie,
please, ma'am.

Bat, he just come.

Say Dr. Livingstone
sent him back.

Mr. Pres,
he got the fever bad.

The fever?

Pres?
It can't be.

Yes'm. He take him
to your house, Miss Julie,

'cause the hotel folks
won't take him in.

He said you all
get there right away quick

before they hustle him off
to that leper place.

Leper place?
What does he mean?

Lazaret Island,

where they ship
the fever victims.

Cato, get
our carriage.

Dick: But Ted, you can't
get through.

Cato, have a couple
of horses saddled.

Ted, you come with me.
You all stay here.

Miss Amy, I can't promise,
but I'll get a pass

from the governor,
short of killing.

You and Miss Amy
be dressed and ready.

We'll be back as soon as we can.

- Bat.
- Yes'm, Miss Julie?

Go on and eat.
Go on.

How come they let you through the fever line?
Sit down and eat.

They never, Miss Julie. I just
kind of oozed through.

How?

When the white gentlemen stop me
just out of town,

I leave the horse
with some folks I know,

and go walking across
the back of the pass.

'Cause I bound to get
back to Halcyon.

I just kind of squinched
through The Cane by The Bayou.

You swam The Bayou?

No, ma'am,
Miss Julie.

I scared
of them gators.

I just kind of find me
a double-end boat.

Oh, 'tain't like I steal,
Miss Julie.

I'm fixin'
to take it back.

You are. You're going back right now.
And I'm going with you.

Zette,
get me a cloak.

I'll meet you
at the smokehouse.

- Now go on, hurry.
- But Miss Julie! Miss Julie, ma'am!

It's too risky for a white lady,
Miss Julie.

Me, I kind of mix in
with the night.

But them shore folks ain't fooling.
They're shooting first

and asking
afterwards.

Bat, you hear me?
We're going!

But, Miss Julie!

Get me a coat.

[knock on door]

[pounding]

All right!
I'm coming. I'm coming.

[coughing]

Miss Julie!

Doctor,
is Pres still here?

Why, yes, ma'am.

Oh, thank heaven!

Gros bat, all right, go around
to the quarters. And thank you.

How is he?

As well as
can be expected.

He's up in your
room, Miss Julie.

I had to bring him here.
No hotel would take him, of course.

Naturally.
His place is here.

Miss Julie!

I don't think you
ought to go up there.

[muttering]

...blood.

Pres:
That's Louis' blood.

You oughtn't to be in here,
Miss Julie.

Yellow Jack's
mighty catching.

Pres.

Pres:
Hurts my head.

Just keep on applying
the cold compresses.

That's all we can do.

[muttering]

[water splashes]

Get some ice.

Yes, ma'am.

Be quick.

[muttering]

[knocking on door]

[knocking]

Why, Miss Belle,
how did you all get through?

We got a pass
from the governor.

- Pres is here? How is he?
- Yes.

You
Mrs. Dillard?

Yes.

Well, he's no better,
he's no worse. That's something.

Please take me
to him.

Yes, ma'am.

Pres, dear.

Please, doctor,
you must tell me.

Then it's true.
They're going to take him away?

It was the only
thing I could decently do.

I'll bet
he'd kill first.

There's been enough
of killing, son.

Pres is
a fever patient.

I had to
report him so.

You reported him?

Have you any idea
what would happen to New Orleans

now if folks got to thinking
there was one law for the rich

and another
for the poor?

Mistress Dillard,
I put Pres on his first horse.

I caught his daddy
out of the saddle

when he died at buena vista
ahead of his men.

Pres is beyond
talking for himself,

but I know him
and I know his breeding.

I know what he'd say.

He's a man of honor.

I've got to get on down
to the wharf.

Miss Julie, you're looking
mighty worn-out.

You better get yourself
some sleep.

Otherwise, we'll be sending you off
to the island, too.

Amy: Doctor.

Doctor!

When they come for Pres,
I'm going with him.

Mistress Dillard.

You must arrange it so that I
can go with my husband.

But it's unthinkable.

Will you arrange it?
You must, doctor.

You're asking a mighty terrible thing,
mistress Dillard.

Oh, doctor, will you?

I know what I'm asking.
Will you?

Yes, if you want it.

Thank you.

[door closes]

Amy.

Of course it's your right to go.
You're his wife.

But are you
fit to go?

Loving him isn't enough.

If you gave him all your strength,
would it be enough?

- I'll make him live or die with him.
- Amy.

Amy, do you know
the creole word

for fever powder,
for food and water?

How to talk to a sullen,
overworked black boy

and make him fear you
and help you?

Pres' life and yours will hang on
things just like that.

And you'll both
surely die.

Then it will have to
be that way.

It's not a question
of proving your love

by laying down
your life for Pres.

Nothing so easy.

Have you the knowledge
and the human strength

to fight for his life
and for your own

as one will
have to fight?

Amy, it's no longer
you or me.

What do you mean?

I'll make him live.
I will.

Whatever you might do,
I can do more.

'Cause I know how to fight
better than you.

Amy, if you knew
the horror of that place.

It isn't a hospital.

It's a desolate island
haunted by death.

They'll put Pres in an open shed
with 100 others.

You must be there with him
day and night,

watching every
breath he draws...

you must bathe him,
keep him clean,

give him drugs,

fight for his
food and water.

You must keep the living from him,
and the dead.

Be there by him,
with your body

between him
and death.

- Amy, i...
- [knock on door]

[pounding]

[door opens]

Where is he?

Upstairs.

End of the hall.

I'm not afraid.

No, you're not afraid.

You're the bravest woman
I ever saw.

I even believe you have
the courage to save him...

By giving me the right
to go in your place.

You aren't
afraid to die.

I boldly ask a greater sacrifice
in Pres' name...

his life.

And for yourself?

I'm asking for
the chance to prove

I can be brave and strong
and unselfish.

Help me, Amy.

Help me make myself
clean again as you are clean.

Let me prove myself
worthy

of the love
I bear him.

Julie, tell me...

Something that only
you can tell me.

Does Pres
still love you?

He himself might not know,
but you would.

Amy, you must let me
go with him.

Tell me.

What does it matter
who he loves?

It's his life
that matters.

Tell me.

We both know.

Pres loves his wife.

Who else
would he love?

Not me, surely.

I've done too much
against him.

You see, I never knew how
to be gentle and brave as you are.

Had there been any love
in his heart for me,

I'd have taken him
from you.

I tried it and failed...

Because he loves
only you.

I'm grateful to you
for telling me,

but I had to know.

[footsteps]

Amy!

God protect
you and Pres.

[cannon fires]