The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd (1980) - full transcript

(drums)

(dramatic music)

(horse hooves running)

(pounding on door)

- Mother, Father!

- Settle the kids.
(baby cries)

I'll see who it is.

- Coming, I'm coming!

Who is it?!

- [Tyson] I have an injured man here.

His leg is broke.



Can you mend it?

- Come in, come in.

You'll have to get him up the stairs.

Easy.

(baby cries)

Second to the left.

To the left.

Get him on the bed, I'll
be back in a minute.

- Sam, who are they?

- I don't know.

(baby cries)

The war is over, we don't
have to worry about strangers

anymore.

Well, this may hurt a bit.



I have to get the boot off.

- He fell of his horse, while running.

Bone cracked like a walnut.

It's broke bad, isn't it?

- Well, your friend is lucky, Mr...

- Tyson, my name is Tyson.

This is Mr. Tyler.

- Seems to be a straight break.

There's no compound fracture,
I should be able to set it.

- Good.

We can pay you the going rate in dollars.

So, we'll be up and on our way.

- Dollars?

We haven't seen any
dollars around these parts

in some time, Mr. Tyson.

Since the war my only
patients have been neighbors

and soldiers.

They usually pay me in cornmeal, eggs,

whatever they might have.

If you don't mind my asking,
how'd you know I was a doctor?

- Well, sir, we was on
our way to Port Tobacco

when his horse throwed him.

There's this farmhouse, asked
if they knew a doctor around

and the man he pointed us to your house.

Is it going to take long to fix it?

- Setting it's not going to take long

but your friend's going to have to rest.

Afraid you're going to have
to spend the night here.

I'm gonna set the bone
in your leg, Mr. Tyler

and it's gonna hurt.

You better hold him.

Don't have any whiskey in
the house, I'm sorry to say.

Alright, hold on.

(shouts)

(rooster crows)

(dramatic music)

(soft music)

(kids shout)

- What are you doing up at this hour?

- It's Easter.

- And we have to give Papa his present.

- Shhh, Papa has a patient
and he needs his rest.

- What, you got a present for me?

What is it?

- It's the Eater bunny.

- And we all made it.

- Yes, this is just, really beautiful.

- I almost walked in on them
yesterday when they were

cleaning it.

- Well, it's good that I didn't
because I love surprises.

And I love this, that's wonderful.

It's beautiful.

- Mama said you'd put it in your bookcase

with all your books.

- No, no, books are a work of the mind.

This is a work of the heart.

(giggles)

I don't have a wagon
to lend you, Mr. Tyson.

We've suffered some hard
times these war years.

Thank the Lord it's over.

- It's not over.

It's not over till the
North pays for the suffering

hard times they've given us.

- Well it's over, Mr. Tyler,
if we let the wounds heal.

- The wounds have got to bleed.

- Dr. Mudd, my friend, it's
just pain that's talking.

If you could just point us the
way to Port Tobacco crossing

to Virginia, we'll be on our way.

- There's a trail through the
opening in the fence there

in the front yard.

That leads to Zekiah Swamp.

That'll cut maybe an
hour off the main road

but I don't think your
friend should be riding.

- Don't fret about him, he's a tough one.

- Well, suit yourself.

That leg could get nasty.

You're free to stay and
rest as long as you like.

- We're much obliged, Dr.

- Sorry that I have to leave,
I've got important business

in town that won't keep.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

- Don't be long, Sam.

- I wouldn't go if it wasn't necessary.

Everything's gonna be alright.

- [Frances] Take care.

(suspenseful music)

(shouts)

- Sorry to startle you, Ma'am.

I thought you might be asleep.

- Is there something I
can do for you, Mr. Tyson?

- My friend was thinking he'd
feel better if he took a razor

to his beard.

Would you have one to use?

- Of course.

I'll bring it right up to him.

- No, I'll take it from you now.

- Well, he'll need a
basin of water and soap,

I'll be more than happy to
bring it to him, excuse me.

- I told ya, there's no one in there.

Please, leave my goods be.

- Sergeant, what's the
problem here, I know this man.

- Shut up!

- [Soldier] Nothing here sir.

- You, you tell your people,
anyone helping the killers

will be treated as accomplices
and punished the same.

- Killers?

Who was killed?

- President Lincoln.

And all you rebels had
a finger on the trigger

and you're all gonna pay.

Search the next house!

Want those murderers caught
before they get into Virginia.

- President Lincoln was killed?

Who did it?

- Don't know, Dr. Mudd.

It happened up in Washington.

Terrible thing.

- They think the ones that did
it are headed for Virginia?

- Yeah, seems that's the
only thing they do know.

(shouts and hollers)

- Search every room!

If they're in there and won't
come out, we'll burn 'em out.

(pencil scratches paper)

- I, John Wilkes Booth, had struck tyrant.

(door opens)

- [Frances] Mr. Tyler.

(dramatic music)

- Set the basin down, Mrs. Mudd.

The basin, set it down!

I'll take the razor if you don't mind.

Has your husband returned home, yet?

- No, I expect him any moment.

- Get the horses.

Get the horses!

This should pay for
your husband's troubles.

Are you a patriot, Mrs. Mudd?

- I'm just a person.

- Well, when the time
comes for you to choose,

remember you are a Southerner.

(horse hooves patter)

- Whoah.

Frances, Frances!

- Sam, oh, Sam!

- What is it?

- Sam, thank God, you're back.

- [Sam] What is it?

- They frightened me so, those men.

- Where are they?

- They left just a minute ago.

The one with a broken leg, he--

- Where are the children?

- I sent them to your
father's home, just hold me.

- How did he frighten you, Frances?

- Mr. Tyson said that his
friend wanted to shave

so I brought up a razor
and a basin of water.

And I should've knocked
but the door was ajar

so I just walked in and when he saw me,

his eyes were so...

His beard, it wasn't real, I
saw a corner of it peeled back.

Sam, what, what is it?

- [Sam] Well--

- Who are they?

- I don't know.

I don't know, I...

Frances, President
Lincoln has been killed.

- Oh my God.

- And they think the men who did it

came this way.

- Those two men?

- Well, I've got to go in
Bryantown and tell the soldiers.

- No!

No, I don't want you to
go, they could come back.

- Frances, if they were
the ones who did it--

- No, please!

I won't have a moment's peace
without you in this house,

please.

- Alright, alright.

I'll send a message into
town and have the soldiers

come out here.

Alright?

- Dr. Mudd, could you describe
the man with a broken leg?

- Well, he was about
5 foot 10 inches high.

150, possibly 160 pounds.

Long hair, black, curly.

I've already mentioned about
the beard, that it was false.

- Why didn't you say
something about these men,

when you saw the soldiers on the road?

- Well, there was really no
reason for me to be suspicious

till I came home and my
wife mentioned the beard.

- Dr. Mudd, do you know John Wilkes Booth?

- The actor?

- Yes, do you know him?

- Yes, well not, really no.

He came to the church that
my family and I attend.

This was about last November.

Said that he was interested in
some of the land in this area

He looked at our farm but
he didn't buy any of it.

- Then if John Wilkes
Booth were to come here,

you'd recognize him, wouldn't you?

Dr. Mudd, John Wilkes Booth
assassinated Abraham Lincoln

at Forge Theater last night.

Now, was the man whose leg
you set John Wilkes Booth?

- Well, I'm not sure.

- He wore a false beard, it was dark.

- Did he leave anything behind?

- No.

- No.

- You're sure you only met Booth
that one time last November

Not counting last night.

- Yes, yes, I'm sure.

(dramatic music)

- Talk to me.

Been staring in that
fire almost an hour now.

- I saw Booth another time.

It was just before Christmas
when I went to Washington

to buy gifts.

I was walking down 7th street
and this man called to me

and I turned around and it was him.

He said he was still interested
in buying some of our land.

And would I come back to his
room at the National Hotel

to talk about it.

You know how we needed money
at the time, so I did it.

We smoked cigars and

he said that he wanted
to see the farm again

but that he'd gotten lost the
last time he was in Maryland

and would I draw him a map

so he could keep the roads straight.

Well, I did that.

I led him right here.

- Sam, you had no way of knowing.

- There were two other people in the room

that saw us together,
that saw me draw the map.

- You didn't do anything wrong.

- Well, I didn't tell
the soldiers about it.

- Why didn't you?

- I don't know.

I don't know.

I was afraid I guess.

(dramatic music)

(rooster crows)

(suspenseful music)

- Sam!

- [Lovett] Why didn't you give
this to us on our last visit?

- Well, my wife just found it.

It dropped under the bed.

But we knew that it was important to you

and that's the reason why we sent for you

as soon as possible.

- You never noticed this before?

- Well, not until my
wife showed it to me, no.

- There are a lot of things you
seem not to have noticed, Dr

I wonder if you'd mind
accompanying us to Washington,

so we can get to the bottom of all this.

- Certainly.

- How long will he be gone?

- We'll have him back in a couple of days.

- It'll be alright.

- Please sit here, Dr. Mudd.

Someone will be in to
see you in a few minutes.

- Thank you.

- I'm Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

- Yes, of course, it's an
honor to meet you, sir.

- Please, Dr. Mudd, sit down.

- Thank you.

- I've just ridden through
the streets of Washington.

People crying.

Mourning our great loss.

- That's terrible.

The worst thing that could've happened.

- It's taken the heart out of the people.

I've never seen them as fearful and angry

as they appear to me today, Dr. Mudd.

Angry, and desperate for vengeance.

And until the murderers
are caught and punished

for all to see, there will
be no purging of the pain.

No true feeling of justice of country.

That's why I need your help, Dr. Mudd.

- Well, I'll do anything I can, of course.

- There was a conspiracy
to kill Abraham Lincoln,

you know that don't you?

- No, I'm not a very
political person I'm afraid.

- But you are a Southerner.

- Well, I was for the
Union during the war.

I'm a loyal citizen Secretary Stanton.

I love this country, what it stands for.

- Did John Wilkes Booth mention any names

while in your house?

- Well, he said his name was Tyler.

Or his friend said his name was Tyler.

- His friend was David E. Herrold.

Did you know him?

- No, I'd never met him before, no.

- But you had met Booth before.

- Yes, yes of course, but I

I didn't recognize him because
he was wearing a false beard.

- Why did he come to your house?

- He had a broken leg and needed help.

- Yes.

But why did he come to your house.

- I don't know.

- You say he mentioned no other names.

- No, he mentioned no other names.

- You say you met Booth only once before

he came to your farm that
night, is that correct?

- The truth, Dr. Mudd!

- I met him twice, but it
was strictly a coincidence.

I was in Washington at the time.

It was just before Christmas,
I was doing some shopping

for the family.

- Well, why did you tell Lieutenant Lovett

you'd only met him once before?

- Well, I...

Mr. Stanton, I'm a doctor.

A man came to my house with
a broken leg and I set it.

And that's all.

That's all that I did.

- I have important business

that needs my attention, Dr. Mudd.

I want you to sit here a while longer.

And try to recall anything
that Booth or Herrald

may have said that may lead
us to the other conspirators.

And you think carefully, Dr. Mudd.

- There's concern at the
White House about the legality

of trying civilians in a military court.

Especially during peacetime.

- Peacetime?

There's still a war on, Mr. Holt.

I'm not gonna let the
murderers of Abraham Lincoln

have the delays and the
(mumbles) available.

Not from the country
they're trying to overthrow.

They will face a military
tribunal and that's all

to be said on the matter.

- Yes, sir, I understand.

But, President Johnson wants to ensure--

- You let me deal with our new president.

This court must not stand vacant
too much longer, Mr. Holt.

If Booth and his rebels are
not moved through the docket

to the gallows very soon,
we may become the targets

of this country's outrage.

People want vengeance and
need to see someone suffer.

Relieve their own suffering pain.

- Secretary Stanton, may I
speak with you alone please?

- I have work to do.

- Sir, John Wilkes Booth
has been shot and killed.

- Did he name any of his
conspirators before he died?

- He didn't even have time to pray.

- He said nothing?

- No sir, but this was found on his body.

It's a diary.

- Has anyone read this?

- I'm not sure, sir.

- You find out!

Have them sent to me.

Have everyone who is aware
of this diary sent to me

immediately.

That includes every soldier
present when it was found.

- Yes, sir.

Should Judge Advocate Holt
be advised of the diary?

- Judge Advocate will use the
evidence the war department

supplies him.

I will read this diary.

And see if it contains any
evidence pertinent to this case.

- I understand.

There are reporters outside, sir.

They're demanding to know why
you haven't made any arrests.

- Tell them...

Tell them we have made an arrest.

One of the conspirators is
already in jail at this moment.

- Mr. Stanton, Booth did say something--

What is going on here?

What is going on here!?

What is this?!

- Dr. Mudd, you're under
arrest for conspiracy

in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

- [Sam] Assassination?

No, no!

I'm a doctor!

This is a mistake!

(Sam screams)

Please.

No.

(cow moos)

- Sissy!

(horse hooves patter)

(men holler)

What are you doing?!

Stop it!

Stop it!

What are you doing?!

- Why?

'cause while a great man was dying,

you were caring for the killer.

Burn that field!

- Mama!

- Andrew.

Andrew, stay where you are!

It's alright.

- [Soldier] Burn the field!

- Just wanted to make
sure you weren't hiding

any more rebels.

- Where's my husband,
what's happened to him?

- In a cell waiting to be hung.

- I don't understand.

- He's being tried, lady,
for murdering the president.

And don't bother with lawyers.

They're ain't one gonna come
within spitting distance

of his case.

Let's move out!

(dramatic music)

- I don't know what made
you think my answer would be

any different than any other
attorney you've approached.

- Mr. Lake, if it's a question of your fee

perhaps I could work--

- It's a question of my
reputation, I'm sorry.

I can't take your husband's case.

Hello Thomas, come on in,
I'll be right with you.

Good day, Mrs. Mudd.

- You need not worry about
your reputation, Mr. Lake,

rust cannot tarnish.

- Who was that?

- She's the wife of that Dr.
Mudd who was in with Booth.

Trash like that doesn't deserve a lawyer.

- Every man on trial deserves a lawyer.

- Not in this case.

- In every case!

What has happened to this city.

This is where laws are made.

How can Stanton be allowed
to convene a military court

in a civil case?

Blatantly illegal.

- I thought you weren't
practicing law anymore, Thomas?

- I thought you were.

- [Lake] Thomas, don't
get involved in this.

It'll ruin your career, it's not worth it.

(church bells toll)

(footsteps)

- Mrs. Mudd?

My name is Thomas Ewing.

I must apologize for
disturbing you at such an

inopportune time as this.

But I'd like very much to talk to you.

- Forgive me, General
Ewing I have nothing to say

to anyone wearing that uniform.

I'm afraid it makes me very uncomfortable.

- I have retired from the
military, but I still wear this

on occasion.

To annoy those that like to
forget that I fought with them.

Since I now so often fight against them.

I'm aware of your husband's
plight, Mrs. Mudd.

And I'm a lawyer.

Out of practice, but with a cause.

I believe in truth.

- My husband's only
crime is being a doctor

at the wrong time in the wrong place.

- And that is no crime at all.

I'd like to represent Dr. Mudd
at his trial if you'll agree.

- Why do you want to help us?

- I became a lawyer after
asking my grandfather,

when he was dying, why he was smiling.

Even as life faded away.

He put his hand behind my
neck and pulled me close.

And he whispered, "I've told
the truth my entire life,

"from the first day I knew what it was.

"I fought a battle to do it.

"And today, I know that I finally won."

And then he died.

And I knew, that for me,
his was the only battle

worth fighting.

- I'd be honored to have
you defend my husband,

General Ewing.

(dramatic music)

(door unlocks)

- I'm a friend.

I've come to help you.

- I can't open my eyes.

Wait, wait a minute, don't go!

- No, I'm not leaving.

- I can't--

- I'm going to wash your eyes, alright?

Wait, wait.

I'm Thomas Ewing.

Your wife has retained me to defend you.

- Frances?

How is she?

- [Thomas] She's fine.

- My children?

- [Thomas] They're all fine.

Your children are staying
with your brother-in-law.

Your wife is here.

She's a very courageous woman.

- How long have I been here?

- 13 days.

- Why?

Why have they done this to me?!

I haven't done anything!

Make them take these off of me.

- I've tried to.

I can't do anything to
help you, except to prove

you're innocent and send you
home to your wife and children.

Now, your wife gave me
something to give you.

So you'd know that I
came with her blessing.

We have little time, doctor.

We have to talk about your defense.

Dr. Mudd.

They won't let you in to see
him and they won't allow you

to testify.

- What about the man who was with Booth?

Couldn't he tell them that
we didn't know who they were?

- They won't let him on the stand either.

It's a military trial.

But don't worry, I'll get Sam acquitted.

- How?

I heard they've offered people
money to testify against him.

- Mrs. Mudd, I want
you to pack your things

and go home to your children.

There's nothing you can
do here in Washington.

- The president's life is
worth more than an assassin's.

An eye for an eye will not
balance the scale of justice.

- Listen to him.

If them folks out whose wife you are

it won't be safe for you round here.

- I'm staying.

General Ewing, when you have
anything to tell me about

the trial, you'll find
me outside the courtroom.

Excuse me.

- [Protester] Did you
love President Lincoln?

- [Crowd] Yes!

- [Protester] Did you?!

Let me hear about it!

What shall we do with his assassins?

(crowd hollers)

- Thomas, what are you doing here?

- Defending Dr. Mudd.

Are you racing through
these cases so fast Edward

you don't take time to
find out who's involved?

- Giving each conspirator,
including the woman, a just

and honest trial.

Dr. Mudd will be treated
fairly, Thomas, I promise you.

We will be fair.

- When it comes time to
hear your verdict, Edward,

I will look into your eyes.

If you can look back into mine,

I'll believe you've been fair.

(chains clunk heavily)

(dramatic music)

(gavel strikes)

- This court is now in session.

- Judge Advocate Holt please
continue with the trial

of the conspirators by
stating the charges against

Samuel A. Mudd.

- The office of the Judge Advocate charges

that Samuel A. Mudd did
advise, encourage, harbor

and conceal John Wilkes
Booth and his Confederates

with knowledge of the murderous
and traitorous conspiracy.

And with the intent to
assist them in its execution

and in escaping from
justice after the brutal

pre-meditated murder of Abraham Lincoln.

- Samuel A. Mudd how do
you plead to the charges

against you?

- I'm innocent.

- The first great question
that meets us at the threshold

is, do you gentlemen
constitute a legal court?

Do you have jurisdiction over the accused?

Because the constitution of our country

guarantees all citizens
the right to a trial

by an impartial jury.

- General Ewing, the legality
of this court is not on trial.

We are the jury.

You will confine your statements
to the guilt or innocence--

- Guilt or innocence?

How can a man shackled
and chained in court

before those who were to judge him

hope to be thought innocent
until proven guilty?!

Gentlemen I implore you to
remedy this barbaric situation.

- The prisoner will remain as he is.

Now be seated, General.

- Am I to be allowed to
cross examine the witnesses?

Or is that not part of the
procedure in this court?

- The Judge Advocate will
present the case against Dr. Mudd

in its entirety.

Without interruption.

When it is time for his defense,
you'll be able to recall

any witnesses you desire.

(crowd murmurs)

(gavel strikes)

- And when I asked him if
he'd seen any strangers around

that seemed suspicious to
him, he said he hadn't.

He turned very pale in the
face, like a man who was lying.

Finally got him to admit
that he'd had Booth,

right there in his house.

- And it's your understanding
that he knew it was

John Wilkes Booth before he encountered

the soldiers on the road?

- Absolutely, he knew it was Booth.

- Tell the court about the second time

you went to Dr. Mudd's.

- He was acting nervous.

When I told him we were
gonna search the house,

he got real scared.

Told his wife to go get
the boot they'd found.

- The boot that belonged
to John Wilkes Booth?

- The same one.

It had John Wilkes in it.

But the last name was hard to see.

Like someone had tried to scratch it out.

- Very interesting.

And Dr. Mudd only offered
to show you this boot,

after you'd threaten to search his house.

- That's right.

(crowd murmurs)

(gavel strikes)

- I was in Washington walking
down 7th street with a friend

and ran into Dr. Mudd.

That gentleman there, walking
with John Wilkes Booth.

Dr. Mudd introduced us to Booth.

And Booth invited us up to his
room at the National Hotel.

When we got there Booth ordered
for us some cigars and wine.

Then Dr. Mudd and Booth
sat down at a table

where Dr. Mudd began making
marks on the back of an envelope

that Booth had given him.

- What kind of marks?

Writing?

- No.

From the motion of the pencil,
I'd guess it'd be more like

roads or lines, like a map.

- Like an escape route from Washington--

- Please, the court, witness
is guessing what he saw.

- He is not guessing
that he saw, Dr. Mudd--

- And the Judge Advocate
is drawing conclusions

from that guesswork that
are totally inadmissible

as evidence in any
court anywhere, anytime.

- General Ewing is trying to
divert the court's attention

from the important
issue of this testimony.

That Dr. Mudd lied to Lieutenant Lovett.

He did not meet with Booth
just once or even twice,

but rather he met with
Booth on numerous occasions

to plan the cold-blooded
murder of Abraham Lincoln.

(crowd murmurs)

(gavel strikes)

- My name is Daniel Thomas,
and I've known Dr. Mudd

for most of my life.

He's cared for my family and me.

I truly wish I didn't have to be here.

- Mr. Thomas, state whether
or not some weeks before

the assassination of the
president you saw Dr. Mudd

and had a conversation with him.

- Yes, sir, I did.

In Mr. Downy's place,
while Mr. Downy was away.

- And during that conversation,
did Dr. Mudd speak

about the president?

- Yes, sir, he did.

He was angry about the
South losing the war.

He said President Lincoln
was an abolitionist,

and the South wouldn't
stand for losing slaves.

Then he went on and on
about President Lincoln.

Saying awful things about him.

Well, I was surprised because
I'd never heard him talk

that way.

Then he, you know, kinda
smiled and said he didn't know

what he's getting so riled up about.

That he and his friends
were gonna see to it

that President Lincoln
was dead within six weeks.

- That's a lie.

That's a lie!

He's lying!

There was no such conversation!

(gavel strikes)

Make him tell the truth!

- Restrain the prisoner.

- There was no conversation, none!

Tell the truth!

(crowd murmurs)

(gavel strikes)

- It was the fourth of July when we met.

Everyone in Charles County
came out to celebrate.

All the single women would
cut a piece of material

from the hem of their
skirts and tie it up on this

long branch that hung out over the field.

And the single men rode by,
reached up for the material

from the dress of the girl
they wanted to dance with.

That was the first year my
mother cut material from my skirt

and hung it up with the rest.

And Sam Mudd rode by.

Could barely reach the branch.

Rode by four times stretching up

till he finally pulled mine off.

And he came over and asked me to dance.

I've loved him since that first day.

And I can't help him.

- You can help him.

The fact that Booth was disguised
when he came to your home

is the biggest single factor
in your husband's defense.

Now, I need to know in
detail, when you first saw

that his beard was false.

- I was bringing him a
razor and a basin of water.

Excuse me.

When he saw me he pushed
this book he was writing in

under the covers.

- Book?

What book?

What kind of book?

- I only saw it for a moment.

It was leather. I don't
think it had a title.

- I want a few words with you.

- We have other business here, general.

- Where is Booth's diary?

- What makes you think Booth kept a diary?

- He was an actor, he needed an audience.

He committed murder in
front of an audience.

He would never let himself be killed,

the ultimate drama, without
providing for an encore,

not Booth.

So he wrote it down.

Every detail of his plot, every fact.

And who, if any, were
his fellow conspirators.

- I think you're the one who
needs the audience, general.

- Are you denying that a diary
was found on Booth's body?

- Are you offering evidence that one was?

(gavel strikes)

- General Ewing, please
call your first witness.

- It was before church on Sunday.

Dr. Mudd told me that two suspicious men

had been to his house the day before.

One with a broken leg, which he set.

He asked me to inform the
authorities at Bryantown.

Which I did.

- Who exactly did you inform?

- A Lieutenant Lovett.

- And to your knowledge,
did Dr. Mudd freely advise

the soldiers that he'd had the
visitors or did he deny it?

- How could he deny it?

It was Dr. Mudd who sent for
the soldiers in the first place

(crowd murmurs)

(gavel strikes)

- Mr. Whiteman, these lines
you said Dr. Mudd was drawing,

did you actually see with
your eyes that it was a map?

- No, I never actually did
see the piece of paper--

- Oh, then they might
have been playing a game

of knots and crosses.

- Booth and Mudd were
both in that hotel room.

You can't deny that!

- May I remind you, sir,
that you were there also?!

Perhaps we should
investigate your association

with John Wilkes Booth!

(gavel strikes)

Now, tell the court why did
Daniel Thomas come to see you?

- Daniel Thomas asked me for a certificate

two days after the doctor's arrest.

He wanted me to write that
his share of the reward money

should be $10,000 for providing
incriminating evidence

against Dr. Mudd.

- And, to your knowledge,
did he have such evidence?

- In my opinion, for $10,000 Danial Thomas

would invent such evidence.

(crowd murmurs)

(gavel strikes)

- No further questions.

- Mr. Holt, would you like
to cross-examine the witness?

- I venture to say that
rarely in the history

of criminal trials has
the life of an accused man

been assailed by such an
array of false testimony.

And rarely has it been the
good fortune of an innocent man

on trial for his life, to
so refute and overwhelm

his accusers.

Then what are we left with, gentlemen?

One question.

Why did John Wilkes Booth
go to Dr. Mudd's home

on the night of his abominable act?

I answer only only
because he broke his leg

and for that reason alone.

And let it be remembered,
when you gentlemen

are deciding this man's fate,

that in all the documents presented here

there is not a mention of Dr. Mudd's name.

This man who 27 honorable
witnesses have testified

is a loving and peaceful
man, loyal to his country,

this man must not forfeit
his life or his liberty

because he was a doctor and
a man of infamy came to him

with a broken leg.

If this tribunal is to be governed

by the just and time-honored rules of all

Dr. Mudd must be found innocent

and returned to his suffering
wife and frightened children.

Gentlemen, I have faith in your integrity.

I have faith that your decision

will be fair and just.

(dramatic music)

(footsteps approach)

(door opens)

(gavel strikes)

- Dr. Mudd, stand and receive
the verdict of this tribunal.

To the charge of conspiracy
and the assassination

of the president of the
United States of America,

Abraham Lincoln, this
court has found you to be

guilty as charged.

(crowd murmurs)

Dr. Mudd, this commission
sentences you to be imprisoned

and hard labor for the
duration of your lifetime.

(dramatic music)

- Does Frances know?

- She knows.

But she hasn't given up hope.

None of us have.

Don't you.

- Tell her to hire somebody
to plant the crops--

- Sam, listen to me.

Listen to me.

I have a judge preparing a writ
of habeas corpus right now.

It'll be waiting for you
when you reach Albany prison.

We'll get you a civil
trial, a legal trial.

We'll get you out.

- Are my children well?

- Why don't you ask Frances?

She's on her way over.

- [Frances] Sam.

- Frances.

- There'll be no touching, Ma'am.

You've got one minute.

- Just one look at you.

Frances, through it all, when
I couldn't see anything else

I could see your face.

- Sam.

Do they hurt?

- [Sam] No, not anymore.

- Damn you all!

Damn you all to Hell!

- For God's sake please!

- I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I love you so much.

I miss you so much.

- I love you.

- [Guard] That's it, let's go.

- No, please don't take him away.

Please don't take him away!

- Tell the children I'm alright.

- We'll get you out!

Sam, I promise, we'll get you out!

We'll get you...

(dramatic music)

- Don't you have any regard

for the laws of this country, Stanton?

- You talk about the law as
though it were some kind of

castle wall for the guilty to hide behind.

Well, it is not General Ewing.

It is a prison wall for the
guilty to suffer behind.

To pay for their sins behind.

- I just talked to Judge Millikan.

He says that Dr. Mudd is not
being taken to Albany prison.

I want to know where you're sending him.

- Where you can't reach him
with your writ of habeas corpus.

To a federal prison where only
the army has jurisdiction.

(dramatic music)

- [Soldier] Let's go!

Come on!

Move!

- I can't go in there.

I'd die in there.

We'll all die in there.

- No talking!

Line it up!

Spread out!

Attention!

- You may have prayed to go to Heaven

but you've wound up in Hell.

Do as you're told and you may survive.

Break a rule and you'll learn
how painful Hell can be.

Take 'em inside!

- You heard the captain, move!

You too, move!

Move!

Hurry up!

- Bring those prisoners over here.

- Move!

- I want you all to see
what happens to those

who try to escape.

- Help!

Please, somebody!

(screams)

(dramatic music)

- Move along!

Move!

Let's go!

- Put this on.

What's that?

- It's nothing, it's an Easter bunny.

It's just something my
children made for me.

Please, you don't have to take it.

- What's going on?

- We found this on him, captain.

- There are more people than
there are souls, you know.

Only those with souls are truly alive.

I have a soul.

Abraham Lincoln had soul.

That thing that jumped
in the moat had no soul.

He was dead the day he was born.

This prison is filled
with dead flesh, Mudd,

and you're just another empty body.

- Captain I had nothing
to do with the killing of

Abraham Lincoln.

- You're dead flesh, Mudd.

You're a murderer,
you've been buried here.

You'll have no time for play things, Mudd.

Not here.

(crunch)

(soft music)

- Don't talk!

There's a lot of men on
this island want you dead.

Only they figure you ain't
gonna live long here anyway

so why should they risk killing you.

They lay blame for 78
square between your eyes,

you know that?

- 78?

- Special order number 78.

Stanton wrote it up and
then followed you here.

Says any prisoner refusing
to obey a rule will be shot

and then bayoneted.

And no guard carrying out
his duty will be punished.

It's all to do you in.

- If you're gonna kill me do it quickly.

- Hell, we wanna save ya.

What you did to Lincoln was
justice for what he'd done

to all of us.

We're your friends.

- This is for you.

- These are from my wife.

- And your lawyer.

I work in the (mumbles)
office, I seen these piling up.

- They told me that--

- Shhh, you've got a lot
to learn about this island.

The only time you yell is when you pray.

The rest of the time you whisper.

- When can I get the rest of them?

- When things ease up some.

Lincoln's gonna take a long time to bury.

- I, I've got to tell you
that I had nothing to do

with killing President Lincoln.

- You don't gotta shout innocent to us.

What you done needed to be done.

Only shame is it couldn't a
been done sooner, that's all.

- Man came to my door with
a broken leg, I set it.

I didn't even know who he was.

- Are you saying we're
helping a man who ain't done

what we helping him for?

- No, well, don't misunderstand
me I want your help.

- Let's get out of here.

- Wait a minute, wait a minute.

- You know what you just become, Mudd?

A squashbug.

You know what a squashbug is?

It's a little tiny bug, that
lives down between rocks.

And it stays alive just long
as the rocks don't move.

But when those rocks move
that little bug gets squashed.

You got a lot a loose
rocks around you, Mudd.

- [Frances] Everything
at the farm is fine,

and we're all well.

You can be so proud of our children.

They never waver in their love for you.

And their belief that their
papa will be coming home soon.

When I came to tuck them in last night,

they were all praying for you.

I knelt with them, we all held hands.

There is no doubt in my mind

that our prayers will be answered.

I miss you.

(dramatic music)

- Come on, move it up here.

- You're off hard labor for
two days, I want you to rest.

Next.

Name?

- Samuel Mudd.

- I was hoping we'd get a
chance to meet soon, Dr. Mudd.

Sergeant, I want this man assigned to me.

I want him to work here.

- Well, that's for
Captain Murdock to decide.

Come on, Mudd.

- Next.

(dramatic music)

(footsteps approach)

(horn sounds)

- Drink it quick, throw away
the cup when you're done.

- Who gave that to you?

- No one.

- Lying's a punishable offense here.

Who gave you that water?

- No one.

- Guard!

(Dramatic music)

You'll walk this compound
for the next 24 hours, Mudd.

And if that ball comes off
or you stop for one second

there's going to be a bullet
in the back of your skull.

Move!

- [Sam] My dearest, my darling wife,

please forgive the condition of my writing

but I was not able to
sleep well last night.

Life here is not as bad as I had feared.

I'm well treated.

So don't worry about me.

We have adequate supplies of food.

But water is scarce.

And the commandant prefers to see it used

to keep the lawn green and
his vegetable garden fertile.

I live only to be with you
and our children again.

My love and devotion for
you increases every day.

And sees me through what
I might otherwise give in.

I sometimes ask myself, what have I done,

to bring such trouble upon my family.

The answer from my innermost heart is

nothing.

(church bell tolls)

- [Churchgoer] See you later.

- Excuse me, Mrs. Stanton?

- Yes?

- I'm Frances Mudd,
Dr. Samuel Mudd's wife.

I want to talk to your husband,

but I was hoping I could
talk to you for a moment.

- Please, it's taken my
husband many long months

to put Dr. Mudd's trial behind him.

I don't want him to
suffer through meeting you

and bringing it up again.

- Mrs. Stanton, my husband is
unable to put it behind him.

He continues to suffer.

I've tried to talk to the
President but that is impossible.

If I could talk to you
for just a moment please.

- Alright, we can talk in my carriage.

- Then I spoke with Judge Advocate Holt,

who asked me if I was a Southern woman.

And I told him I was.

He said that in his opinion,
not enough Southern women

had been hung during the war.

I've had senators admit
to my face that my husband

is innocent.

And then ask me to be patient
until the mood of the country

is more forgiving.

In the same breath as they
curse us and threaten us

they ask my family to
bear the burden of pain

John Wilkes Booth brought this country.

Mrs. Stanton, I can't allow
my husband to die in prison

away from his family,
so that certain people

don't have to think about
what they've done to him.

Someone has got to be
courageous enough to admit

that a mistake was made and rectify it.

Your husband is in a position to do that.

- My husband has been at
war a long time, Mrs. Mudd.

You can't see his wounds, nobody can.

They're deep.

And they make it hard for him
to move in the right direction

sometimes.

- You love your husband, Mrs. Stanton.

- Yes, I love him very much.

- Then you must help him heal his wounds.

- Good day.

And who might you be?

- Edwin, this is Mrs. Samuel Mudd.

- The woman who cries
on senators' shoulders.

And weeps in congressmen's arms.

Your reputation precedes you.

- I pray it continues, sir,
until my husband is set free.

- Your husband is where he belongs.

Which is more than I can
say for you, Mrs. Mudd.

- Mr. Stanton, my husband is innocent.

You know that as well as--

- I know nothing of the kind.

- Can you deny that half
the senators believe him

to be innocent?

- That's of no concern to me.

But I will tell you how innocent
the people of this country

believe your husband to be.

Four boys were fighting
behind this church.

And one of them ran away like a coward.

And the others yelled after
him, "Your name is Mudd!"

They said, Mudd.

The very name is a slur.

- Not to me.

My husband is a man of--

- I'm sick and tired of
hearing about your husband!

If Booth hadn't broken his
leg we would've never known

the name of Samuel Mudd.

- Then you admit that he's innocent.

- I admit no such thing.

- But you just said--

- Woman!

The deed has been done.

Now good day.

- Nothing you can say will
ever make me think less

of my husband, sir.

- Well, I feel sorry for the woman.

- Is her husband innocent?

- The man is guilty.

Daniel, go!

(dramatic music)

- This is what happens when you fight

for lost causes, Colonel.

You become one.

- You'd be surprised how
many lost causes have won,

young man.

Now, slam the door.

(door closes softly)

I hate the slamming of doors.

Men are so insecure these days.

Merely insult them and
tell them to do exactly

what you don't want and you
can have no doubt they'll rebel

and do exactly what you do want.

My name is George St. Leger Grenfell.

- Samuel Mudd.

- Dr. Mudd?

- Yes.

- Sir, I'm delighted to see you alive.

When so many would have you
dead and out of their conscience

- Yes, well, I am dead.

- Well, never admit that,
even when it's true.

Derive pleasure from the fact
that the mention of your name

inflicts punishment on the
men who have punished you.

- My only pleasure would come
from never having to spend

another day here.

Be it, whatever, freedom or death.

- Then, we shall have to make it freedom.

The prison in Algeria was
my most creative escape.

I tore the bed sheets

and fashioned a robe
and turban out of them.

I painted on the emir's red
insignia with my own blood.

And then not only did I walk
straight out through the main

prison gate, but I was
given two female slaves

to escort me all the way to Morocco.

(laughs)

I fought with the Riff pirates there.

Then I served under
Garibaldi in South America.

Fought in India during
the sepoy rebellion.

But then after the Crimean War I ran out

as the young man who brought
me here just mentioned,

I ran out of lost causes.

But then I heard of your civil war

and the South's predicament
so I came here and fought with

Morgan's Raiders in Tennessee.

- Oh, you fought with Morgan.

- Until he married and
disqualified himself

as a dedicated independent soldier.

(laughs)

So I joined Fighting Joe Wheeler's cavalry

before enlisting in Robert E.
Lee's army in North Virginia.

Oh, believe, he played
the banjo so miserably,

no ear for music, that I
had to get out of there

or lose all my gusto
for the Southern cause.

Well, caught, tried, convicted.

So here I am.

For the time being.

- Well, there's no escaping this place.

Nor is there any escape from
this slop that they call food.

- But my friend, you must
always keep yourself prepared

for the possibility of escape.

It keeps you alive, it keeps you fit.

Eat.

(sweet triumphant music)

If nothing else, exercise
will help to get this

wretched food out of our
bodies all the faster.

But more importantly, if
the chance for escape comes

it'll get us out of this
prison faster still.

- Vegetables are the key to sound health.

And meat is poison to the system.

Vegetables and fruit keep the soul pure.

Do you care to share
some of my meal, Colonel?

- Thank you, captain.

But I'm afraid my soul
would reject any purity,

this late in its life.

- The reason I brought you here, Colonel,

is that I want you to take
care of my vegetable garden.

Man your age should not be
burdened with the heavy labor

of prison life.

- Oh, I agree, wholeheartedly.

Nothing would give me greater pleasure

than tending to your vegetables.

(George whistles)

- [Soldier] (marching chant)
Lift, lift, lift and lift.

Move out of the way.

Lift, lift and lift.

Move it!

- Grenfell!

You bastard!

What have you done!

You've destroyed my garden.

Guards!

Guards!

Put it on him.

Get up.

- Captain Murdock, a man my
age should not be burdened

with the heavy labor of prison life.

(George groans)

- I said get up!

- But I'm an old man.

What do you want of me?

- Get him, get him up!

This is your last chance, Grenfell,

are you gonna carry that cannonball?

- Man cannot do what he cannot do.

- Get that off of him.

Take him to the bridge.

- God's sake, Murdoch, he's an old man.

- Throw him in his cell!

Tie that rope tight.

Stand him up.

Will you carry out my orders?

- Sir, I have disobeyed
finer men than you.

- Damn you!

Push him in.

- No!

- Pull him up.

Now, you'll carry that cannonball.

- Captain, if it is your
intention to murder me.

Please do so in a more respectable way.

- Damn you, you deserve to die.

- I will allow God to decide that.

Which of the two of us
deserves that fate, captain?

You or I?

- On this island, I decide.

Throw him in!

- Murderers!

Murderers!

Murderers!

- It's Easter and we have
to give Papa his present!

(Frances and the children's voices)

- I'll take care of this, you go on.

- He's alive, thank God, he's alive.

- He's alive alright, but his shoulder

I think it's dislocated.

What he took down there,
he's got more will to live

than any person I ever saw.

- I'll need something to
make a sling for his arm.

- I'll see what I can get.

- Thank you.

- I'm sorry.

- [Soldier] (marching chant)
One, one, one, two, one.

- Did you get it?

- I got a shirt.

You can use it for a sling.

- Good, good.

- And here's some fresh
fruit and some bread.

- Why are you doing this?

- Does it matter?

- Yes it does.

Why are you doing this?

- Because I hate this place.

I hate everything about it.

You know, the commandant
before Murdoch, he was fair.

He punished people just
when they deserved it.

But Murdoch, he punishes everyone.

I'm sorry I didn't step forward
after I gave you the water.

- (mumbles)

- No, but I should've.

It's just I don't wanna
die here, that's all.

I just don't wanna die here.

I read about your trial.

Made me ashamed.

- You better go now.

- If there's anything I can
do to help you, I'll do it.

- Thank you.

- I brought this for you.

There's something in it I
figured you should read.

(George groans)

- Raise your head.

Sit up.

It's brandy.

- That's awfully cheap brandy

with which to revive a
gentleman in my condition.

(shouts)

- Your shoulder was dislocated,

it's gonna take a little time to heal.

- Thank you, my friend.

- Why did you do it?

- When I joined the army,
I vowed never to surrender.

And I never shall.

- But Murdoch could've killed you.

- Circus trainers don't
kill their lions and tigers.

That's what we are to men like Murdoch.

They try to tame us.

(dramatic music)

- Booth had a diary.

Which they suddenly discovered
in Stanton's possession

and 18 pages missing.

Torn out and undoubtedly destroyed.

- What do you suppose was on them?

- The truth!

What else?

The truth.

The truth that I have nothing to do

with Lincoln's assassination, nothing.

Stanton just wanted me dead, that's all.

- He will not have your death, my friend.

We will have to find you a way to freedom.

- Ready?

- Gonna need another two
bags of seaweed at least.

- I'll get them up to you when I can.

- You be careful.

- What's this?

- Christmas present for my children.

It's made out of moss from the wall.

I scraped it from the wall in the cell.

You gotta come with me.

- I'd slow you down.

This braid is too loose.

- If you stay here, Murdoch
will know that you helped me.

Might as well come with me.

- You'll go on schedule alone.

I have friends in Cuba, they'll help you.

- I'm not going to Cuba.

- But that's the safest route to Europe.

- I'm not going to be a fugitive.

If I can't be with my wife, my children,

I might as well be here or dead.

- If you try to return
home those most definitely

will be your alternatives.

- I'll go to Key West and turn myself in

to the civil authorities.

And get a writ of habeas corpus there

and force them to give me a new trial.

One that's fair.

One that's legal.

- This time they might hang you.

- I have four children.

Can you imagine what life
must be like for them?

Having the father that's supposed
to be one of the assassins

of President Lincoln?

I can't let them live
with that, I just can't.

- Keep the braid tight.

- [Nathaniel] It's a Christmas
present from Dr. Mudd.

- I told you Papa would send us a present.

- Hurry, Mama, open it!

- I'm hurrying.

Oh, Nathaniel.

Thank you so much for bringing this.

- Nothing could've stopped
me from bringing it over here

when I saw it in the post office.

- Mama, can we see it?

- Of course, darling.

Be careful with it.

Oh, here's a letter from Papa.

Dearest family, this letter must be brief.

I miss and love you all
and will dream tonight

of being with you and drinking eggnog

while seated around a happy fire.

My gift to you is small but
the message it bears is great.

View it carefully, Frances,
for under the tree,

the true meaning of
Christmas can be found.

The key to our future happiness is beneath

the Christmas tree where all presents

must be unwrapped and revealed.

Although I am not there with you,

you must look beneath the tree for me.

- Doesn't it say goodbye or anything?

- No.

No, that's all he wrote.

Sissy, let me see your papa's gift please.

Children, time for bed.

- Oh, please, it's too early.

- Kiss your mother goodnight.

That's a good boy.

Goodnight, Sissy.

I'll be up to see you in a minute.

- Goodnight, children.

- Goodnight, Nathaniel.

- What you doing?

- I'm not sure.

Nathaniel look, look.

- [Nathaniel] Hurry, get the rest off.

Well what does it say?

- I'm escaping.

Bring Ewing with writ.

Key West, south of old lighthouse.

Light two fires January 12th, 2am.

Have no fear.

Love, Sam.

I'm escaping.

Oh dear God.

- I can't have you getting
cut on your way out.

Not with sharks down there.

- Well, my friend.

Whatever happens--

- Let me hear that Dr. Mudd is free.

When I see that look on Murdoch's face,

that's all the thanks I'll ever need.

- But...

But not all that I would like to give.

- Now we've got nine
strands of braided seaweed

hanging out of a prison window.

Let's get moving.

(suspenseful music)

Watch that cloth!

- I got it.

- Watch it.

- I'll tell you the story.

(voices murmur)

- (mumbles)

- What's that?

We better report this.

- Does he have a chance?

- Your husband has become
a man of destiny, Frances.

He'll make it, if that's
what was meant to happen.

- Check all the cells.

- Oldest got married two months ago.

Moved to Maine my wife tells me.

Raise a kid all your life
and she moves to Maine

without even giving you
a chance to come home

and give her a kiss goodbye.

- I know how you feel.

Listen I brought a bottle
of whiskey onboard.

- Yeah?

- Under the tarp at the stern.

Why don't you patrol over
there and help yourself?

- I'll give it back just soon as I--

- No, it's alright, don't worry about it.

- I'm good to my word.

Hey, Thorpe, I can't drink this alone.

- One of us has to stand guard

or Murdoch will have our hides.

Now go ahead.

- Where's Mudd?

- He took his leave this morning, sir.

I would say he's in Cuba now.

- Here, take this.

It keeps perfect time.

The trip's six hours.

Wait five and a half then
find a way to get off

and swing the rest of the way.

God be with you.

(dramatic music)

- Has anybody come aboard this ship?

- No, sir.

- Search it.

- What is it?

- It's just a chill, I'm alright.

- Find anything?

- No, sir, captain.

- Keep looking.

- Captain Murdoch.

- [Murdoch] Yes.

- The ship's captain says
he's ready to set sail, sir.

He's afraid he'll lose the wind.

- Alright, let's go ashore.

- Captain, blood.

- Good evening, Dr. Mudd.

Two feet higher, that
bayonnete would've killed you.

That is your misfortune.

Don't put him in yet, turn him to me.

That'll be all.

It's always cold in there, Mudd.

It's always wet, cold.

Is your freedom worth that?

- Yes.

- There's no freedom when
other people control our lives.

The army controls mine
and I control yours.

Step into your cell, Mudd.

Close the door yourself.

Remember, once that door
closes it'll never open again.

Go on, pull it closed.

- Whoah.

(knock knock)

Frances?

He's alive Frances.

They captured him in the boat.

- They've killed him.

- No, no he's alive.

- There is no life without freedom.

(dramatic music)

(Sam mumbles)

- Damn, my head feels like the
cavalry's running through it.

- Musta got it from
Bernet, he's sick as a dog.

- No, it's just not Bernet,
everybody's getting it.

(coughs)

- Yellow fever has no
regard for rank, captain.

It can't tell the difference
between the prisoners

and the guards.

- But you can.

You've let 16 of my
soldiers die since June.

- I've let no one die.

- From now on, I want you
working only on the soldiers,

is that clear?

- No, sir, I'm afraid it's not.

- It better be.

Unless you wanna leave on the
next boat in the same coffin

as him.

- There won't be a next boat.

I wrote a letter to Washington.

I advised them there was an
epidemic of yellow fever here.

The (mumbles) are officially quarantined.

- I'll have you hung for
doing this without permission.

- I threw up this morning, captain.

It was black.

I'll probably be dead in three days.

My only regret is that
I won't be around when

the yellow jack gets to you.

And your skin starts burning,
and your stomach starts

to rot away from the black vomit.

And you know you're going to die.

(keys jingle)

- Move over.

(Sam groans)

He's alive, thank God.

(clanking iron)

- Those who aren't sick
are digging graves.

For every man they bury
two are coming down

with the fever.

- Thorpe here has boat.

It's waiting for us.

- I can't.

- No one cares, it's
every man for himself now.

- My friend, I too was in a torture cell

these past six months.

And every minute of every
day, I cursed everything

that was holy.

But my cell was a palace
compared to yours.

If you had the strength to survive that

then you must find more strength
to leave all this behind.

(choking and coughs)

- Sam what are you doing?

- Oh my God.

- If someone finds where
I've hidden the boat

they'll take it themselves.

- I'll get him, you got to the boat.

Come on, Sam.

- How could Murdoch put
coffins next to living men?

- They're dying men, Sam.

- Then they deserve mercy, not torture.

See if you can find some water.

- Sam, we've got to think
of our own lives now.

- This man needs water.

- Sam!

- How could they not have water?

Where's the post doctor?

- He's died, Sam.

We'll die too unless
we get off this island.

- Then go on, you go.

I've got to stay now.

- Think of your wife and children.

- I can't leave these men to die.

- Then I'm gonna carry you to the boat.

- No!

When I was in that cell I
prayed for you every day.

You put me on that boat against my will

and I'll curse you the rest of my life.

- It's because you were a doctor

that you were imprisoned
here in the first place.

- I'm still a doctor.

- Then God save the sick,
for I shall be your nurse.

- That man needs water.

Lift him up.

My darling Frances, I know this
letter may never reach you.

There's no ships are
allowed near the island.

But I must write it, to keep hope alive.

Being pulled away from
you and brought back

to this island of death,
has brought me suffering

beyond the greatest torture
the government could inflict.

But my torture must yield
beneath the suffering

of the men here stricken
with yellow fever.

And although I have now an opportunity

to make good an escape, I must remain here

and do what I can.

The whole island has become
one immense hospital.

Everyone's afraid.

But the fear has joined the
prisoners and the guards

in a kinship that has
overcome our mutual distrust.

I love you more than life itself.

And long for the day we are reunited.

Pray for us.

- I don't need nothing on my head,

it's my stomach that's burning, oh God.

- Rest easy, easy.

- My stomach's burning.

- I know.

- You've got to bleed me,
you've gotta get this bad blood

out of me--

- Bloodletting is
nonsense, it doesn't work.

It only drains you.

- No one's getting any
better with this for food.

- You have to stay in bed.

- Please, no.

- Just stay in bed.

Save your strength.

Sergeant Pawn swears that
Murdoch has enough food

stored in his cell to feed
the whole fort for a month.

- You need sleep, you know that?

- I slept.

- Three hours in four nights?

- You slept more?

- I'm not the commander
in charge of this post.

- Neither am I.

- But you hold the weapons
to fight this enemy.

That makes you commander,
that puts you in charge.

(knocking)

- Who is it?

- It's Dr. Mudd.

- [Murdoch] Away!

- You have food!

Stored in a locked cell.

We need the key!

- I said go away, I don't
want anybody near my door!

- [Sam] Murdoch, barricading
yourself in there is not going

to keep you from getting the fever.

You help us, we'll help you.

- You'll die before I will, Mudd.

I don't need you!

Go away!

- What now, commander?

(George laughs)

- How are you?

Sleep some.

That's it.

Easy, easy.

- Look at me, I'm yellow.

My whole body's yellow.

I'm gonna die, ain't I?

- Young man, I knew a soldier in Morocco

who turned yellow and
red and blue and green.

Not only did he survive, they
designed the flag after him.

Fear sinks you know.

Courage floats.

Take heart.

- Just lift your head, that's it.

Open your mouth.

There.

That's it.

That's it.

- Whatever that is, take some yourself.

- I'll be alright.

- You are relieved of your duties.

Now, I'll take this.

Now how much do you give them?

One spoonful?

- Well, I don't know really,
it's just something you don't--

(Sam murmurs)

- Frances...

- Please don't take him, please!

- This court has found you
to be guilty as charged.

Dr. Mudd this commission
sentences you to be imprisoned

and hard labor for the
duration of your lifetime.

- You're under arrest for the
conspiracy and assassination

of Abraham Lincoln.

(shouts)

- Let me go!

Gotta get outta here!

- Help me somebody!

Come help me or I'll drag
him over there and let him

breathe down your throat
so you'll get it again.

- Gotta get out of here.

It's so hot.

Hot.

- This is truly a prison.

Even the heat can't escape.

- Dr. Mudd, I'm feeling some better now--

- What are you doing up?

- What's wrong with Bernet?

- Dr. Mudd, I wanted to thank you--

- You stay here.

- I ain't sick anymore.

- That qualifies you to be a nurse.

You are officially on duty.

- What is it?

- Hallory's found a boat
in the old boathouse.

Four of the men are
preparing it to row over

to the mainland.

Burnet wants to go with them.

- They're still sick.

- Yes, they are.

- Where are they?

- On the beach.

Sam.

- Wait!

Wait!

Stop!

- Ain't no more room in the boat!

- Sorry, doc, it's each for hisself now.

- Nobody is going.

- I'm going.

I'm rowing that thing to Key West

and then I'm riding straight
on through to my kin.

If I gotta die, I wanna die in my own bed

with my own kinfolk around me.

- And they'll die with
you, you'll kill 'em.

If you live long enough to get home,

you'll cause an epidemic
that'll kill thousands.

Including your kinfolk!

You've got to stay here.

We've got to keep it confined here.

The treatment is working!

You wanna go?

You wanna go?

Then take this.

Take it!

When you get off the boat
you stab the first person

that you see.

And then then next!

The children.

And the women, just kill 'em all.

Because that's what you'll be doing.

- How are we gonna live
in there with that heat?

How, you tell me how!

(explosion)

(men cheer)

(knock knock)

- Come in.

- Dr. Mudd, it's Captain Murdoch.

He's awful sick.

He's asking for a doctor.

- Oh.

(shouts)

(laughs)

- Now you can watch me die.

You'll enjoy that won't you?

(coughs)

I wasn't your judge.

- I don't wanna hear it, Murdoch.

I was 14, I thought there
was nothing as noble

as being a doctor.

In the past three years you
and men that I've never harmed

in any way, have tortured me,
poisoned my mind with hatred.

Somehow, I don't know why
or how, I still feel alive.

And a life is worth saving,
so just keep your mouth shut.

Don't say anything that'd
make me change my mind.

Sit up.

Sit up, up.

Drink this.

Drink it.

- We're both casualties of war, Mudd.

Both of us.

(men holler)

- I don't see a single
sick face left around here.

Get out of your beds and back to work!

Back to your posts, back to your cells.

This is a prison.

(men boo)

- We don't want (mumbles).

- This has come to me, doctor,
written by Private Scott.

Signed by every soldier on the post.

Without my knowledge or permission.

Whereupon Dr. Samuel A. Mudd,
without ulterior motives,

spontaneously and unsolicited came forward

to devote all his
energies to aid the sick.

Inspired the hopeless with courage.

And by his constant presence
in the midst of danger

and infection and his vigorous
treatment of the malady

saved the lives of countless men.

We do therefore, in consideration
of his invaluable services

rendered during this fatal
epidemic, earnestly recommend

him the well-merited
clemency of the government

and solicit his immediate
release from here

and restoration to liberty and freedom.

All these signatures aren't
worth anything without mine,

you know that, don't you?

- Yes.

- I pay my debts, Mudd.

You'll never be able to say that I don't.

(pen scratches paper)

(dramatic music)

- How long before something's done?

- I've been called to Washington

to account for the deaths here.

I'll show the petition
where it needs to be shown

to get you a pardon.

Sail next week.

I'll be back in three weeks.

Then you and I will be
through with each other.

- Can always tell someone
is waiting to go home.

They'll do anything to pass the time.

Even reading bloody books.

- Where were you last night and all day?

- Building.

The HMS Samuel Mudd.

- The what?

- Oh, everyone else is
honoring the brave doctor.

So, I've named my raft after you.

I hope you'll float.

Goodbye, my friend.

- Where...

- I'll aim for Cuba and
pray that the winds blow me

any place but back here.

- You should be going with me.

- Nurses never receive
the rewards of doctors.

Besides, I must seek new
adventures, new escapes.

Good luck my friend.

- I owe you my life.

- When I write my memoirs,
I'll make the most

memorable chapter ours.

- Well, just so it isn't the last.

- Last?

Our episode will be nearer
the beginning of the book

than the end.

I guarantee that.

(dramatic music)

- Murdoch, thank God.

- Where are the rest of
your troops, sergeant?

- They're inside eating.

- Then get them in formation
to greet their replacements.

I will not allow my commanding
officer to come here

and see this time of disrespect.

Is this man a prisoner?

- Well, yes he is, but--

- Then get him in his cell.

- Well, excuse me, sergeant but I don't--

- Stand at attention when
you address your superiors.

- But I--

- At attention.

- My name is Samuel Mudd, sergeant.

- Dr. Mudd?

- Yes.

Captain Murdoch went to
Washington to get my pardon.

- Captain Murdoch is dead.

- He's dead?

- His ship went down two days
before it reached Washington.

Captain Slater's in charge now,

and you're not about to
get a pardon from him.

Sergeant, lock this man in a
cell appropriate to his crime.

And assemble those troops immediately.

- I'm sorry, doctor.

Dear Frances, this will
be my last letter to you.

I know now that I shall never
be allowed to leave this place

You must consider me dead and
go about your life without me.

Tell our children I tried my best.

I love you.

Sam.

- Frances, where are you going?

Frances?

- Good evening, Mr. President.

- [President Johnson]
Good evening, Waters.

- Here are the results of the
survey we made of Congress.

They don't have the votes
they need to impeach you, sir.

They're well short.

- I trust surveys as
much as I trust Congress.

Leave it open.

I feel trapped enough in
here as it is, Waters.

I'd set up office out
on the lawn if I could.

That woman has been here all day.

Who is she?

- She's Mrs. Mudd.

- The wife of Dr. Mudd?

- Yes, sir.

She wants to see you.

She says she won't go until she does.

Now I--

- Have her brought in.

- Mr. President, with
the mood of Congress,

I don't think it would do
you well to show sympathy

to her or her husband.

- The president has been
said to be the conscience

of the country, Mr. Waters.

At the moment the president
has a guilty conscience.

Bring her in, please.

Mrs. Mudd, first of all,
I want you to know that

I am a compassionate man and
sympathetic to the tragic

circumstances of your husband's case.

But I want you to listen
to me, not as a wife,

but as a citizen of this country.

As you know, there are men in
Congress who would like to see

the South punished forever for
their disloyalty to the union

I feel differently and that
has put a rift between us.

If I were to pardon Samuel Mudd
now, it could give those men

the ammunition they're looking
for to end this presidency.

And to undermine my efforts
to reunite the union.

Can you understand that?

- You are supposed to be
the father of this country.

And a father has got to take care of

every one of his children especially those

that are mistreated.

- Mrs. Mudd the president being
the father of this country

is a figure of speech.

- Forgive me if I speak plainly.

I cannot listen as a
citizen and not as a wife.

I am a wife.

Of a suffering husband who
risked his life to save those

who would've killed him.

And his reward was to be left
in a dark lonely cell to die.

Every soldier at Fort
Jefferson signed a petition

to free him.

- I received no such petition.

- I know that, that is why I am here.

Those men that signed that
petition survived and went home

to their families because
of my husband's courage.

Not his duty, but his courage.

If you required it, I'm sure
everyone would write a letter

saying what my husband did for them.

With the stroke of your
pen you can free him.

He has never done anything to deserve

to deserve what has happened to him.

You see, I am not asking
you to be sympathetic.

I am asking you to be courageous.

(dramatic music)

(keys jingle)

(door creaks open)

- Sam.

- No, no.

- Sam, it's alright.

Oh, God.

It's alright.

The president's pardoned you.

He's pardoned you.

I've come to take you home.

- Frances.

Frances.

- It's alright, you're free.

We're going home.

We're going home.

(dramatic music)