North and South, Book I (1985): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript

Over here, Ashton. Come and see.

A green heron left it, I think.
She'll be coming back to nest.

- Then she'll be disappointed.
- Ashton, put that back.

- That isn't yours.
- It is now.

No, please, you can't take
a mother bird's baby.

I'm sorry, Brett. You're right.

You found it, you put it back.

If I can't have it, nobody can.

Miss Ashton, Miss
Brett. You stop it now.

I say stop it, hear?

Come along, you're
wanted to the big house.



Mr Orry's just about to go.

Come along now, little ladies.

It's time to say goodbye
to your big brother.

You made sure you saw
to Mr Orry's trunk?

Yes, madam. Priam put it on
the steamer this morning.

- Thank you so much.
- Welcome, madam.

He's as eager to get
started as I am, Priam.

I'm gonna miss all of you so much.

Remember to keep warm.

You won't be used to
the cold up North.

And come back to us.

- I will.
- Safe.

I expect you'll do well, Orry.

Now, Tillet, tell him
what you told me.



Son, I know we've had our
disagreements in the past.

Sometimes your behaviour has
been a little less restrained...

than I might have wished for.

Your father's forgotten
how he was at your age.

Perhaps I have.

I want you to know I'm
very proud of you.

It's no small thing for a man
to have a son at West Point.

Thank you, sir. I'll
do my best for you.

I know you will.

Orry.

What in the world happened
to you two ladies?

Brett fell down, and I
had to help her up.

I picked this for you.

Thank you, Brett. That was sweet.

I found you a present, too.

- Liar.
- Brett wouldn't let me keep it.

Well, I'll tell you what.

This will be from you both to
remind me how much I love you.

And Mont Royal.

Whoa, son.

Help.

Praise the Lord.
Somebody heard us.

Please don't move. A snake's
gotten in the carriage.

Sweet Jesus.

Please be very still no
matter what happens.

It is poisonous.

I'm sure it is, Maum Sally...

or the young gentleman wouldn't
be so concerned for us.

- You are very brave.
- Thank you very much, sir.

It was my pleasure.

- Would you help Maum Sally first?
- Miss Madeline, I can wait.

Maum Sally, if we argue,
we'll both catch cold.

Careful.

Thank you, sir. Thank
you very much.

We can never repay you, sir.

And I don't even know your name.

It's Orry, Orry Main. I'm from
Mont Royal, just up the river.

My name is Madeline Fabray.

I'm delighted to meet you.

My father...

and I have only recently come
from New Orleans to Charleston.

I'm afraid our driver isn't used
to South Carolina roads yet.

The horses slipped and bolted.

It must have been terrifying.

Maum Sally and I are
travelling to meet my father.

He has business at a
plantation near here.

I'd be happy to escort you there.

I haven't told you where it is
yet. Perhaps it's out of your way.

I'm headed for Charleston.

Actually, much further than that.
I'm on my way to West Point.

- The military academy?
- Yes.

I won't be back this way
for two more years.

I'm so sorry...

that we haven't had
more time to talk...

You know...

it's customary in this
part of the country...

for a lady to give a
gentleman a token

if she wishes to
thank him properly.

- I see you collect them.
- Madam?

Tokens.

This is from a lady who stole
my heart six years ago...

when she was born. My
little sister, Brett.

Miss Madeline, Mr Villefranche
tell me we got trouble.

How is he, Maum Sally?

He got a bump on the
head, that's all.

But he told me we will never
reach Resolute before dark now.

The LaMotte place, that's
where you're going?

- Yes. You know it?
- They're neighbours of ours.

Let me take you there. We can send

back horses and men
for the carriage.

- But how?
- Do you ride?

- Yes, of course, but...
- Then it's settled.

Miss Madeline, you hardly
know this gentleman.

I'll be safe, Maum Sally.

Whoa, boy.

I feel I can trust him.

I don't know why, but I do.

You'll all be safe at Resolute
long before dark, I promise.

You see?

Ready?

How much further?

Resolute's just
around the next bend.

I've dropped something.

That was very clumsy of me.

Yes, it was.

Thank you.

Maum Sally would say
that wasn't ladylike.

That I should have given
you this instead.

I've never met anybody
like you, Miss Fabray.

I'd be honoured if you'd write
to me at the military academy.

I'd like that.

Well, I suppose we
should be going.

Resolute is quite
impressive, Justin.

You are to be congratulated.

Yes. I certainly
hope your daughter

shares your opinion, Nicholas.

I confess I'm a bit worried.

They should have arrived
long before this.

They probably got a late start.

We've got plenty of
time before dark.

Why don't we have a julep
while we're waiting?

Very well.

Papa, there's been a
most terrible accident.

What happened, Main?

Their carriage horses
slipped and bolted.

Our carriage was
thrown in the river.

Monsieur Main, he risked
his life to rescue us...

and then he told me that he was a
neighbour of Monsieur LaMotte's.

I am most grateful, Monsieur.

Please, sir, anybody would
have done the same.

What about Maum Sally
and Villefranche?

They're still with the carriage,
Papa, but they're fine.

I told them you'd
send fresh horses.

I'll do better than that.

Nathaniel. Come over here, boy.

I want you to organise
a rescue party.

I'd like to stay and help, but I'm
afraid I have a steamer to catch.

What a shame, but once
again, Monsieur, my thanks.

And mine.

Now remember, you
promised to write.

I will.

- Madeline, you must be exhausted.
- I am, Papa.

I have not properly introduced
you to Monsieur LaMotte as yet.

Station's over there.
It's as far as I go.

Well, ladies, goodbye. And
I'll see you in two years.

I'm sorry.

You'll be needing help
getting that to the station.

- No, thank you. I can manage.
- Will you listen to that?

Where you are from, country boy?

I'm from South Carolina.

And going to West Point, or I
don't know one when I see one.

Yes, that's where
I'm headed, so...

if you could get your foot off my
trunk. I got a train to catch.

Thank you.

Now listen here, soldier boy...

me and my friends
will get that on the

train, or you'll go on without it.

- How much to load it?
- $2.

It's worth maybe 25 cents.

Who do you think
you're talking to?

We ain't no part of
your slave labour.

No, sir. No, you're not.

So if you'll just stand
aside, I'll handle it myself.

We'll load it or you'll load it...

the price is the same, $2.

Don't put your hands
on me again, sir.

Or you'll what?

Thanks. Orry Main.

George Hazard.

- Glad to know you.
- Not as glad as I am to know you.

Pennsylvania. Lehigh Station.

South Carolina. I'm on
my way to West Point.

So am I.

I had no idea this trip
would be so eventful.

You're probably the first real
Southerner I've ever met.

You're my first damn Yankee.

I used to think that all
Yankees ever did...

was peddle jackknives,
tin ware, and

try to beat their
neighbours in court.

Well, we've got some like that.

And I guess there're
probably some Southerners...

who eat pork and
collards, sleep all

day and beat their
slaves all night.

Some of us do think slavery's
outdated, you know...

we favour more modern methods in
spite of what some folks believe.

I know that.

My family owns an ironworks.

We've got labour problems, too.

- Hazard Iron? That's your family?
- Yes.

I hope you don't consider
that peddling jackknives.

No, not at all. You
make farm machinery.

Yeah.

I believe that mechanisation is
the key to the South's future.

Sounds like you want to be
a farmer, not a soldier.

I do.

Then why're you
going to the Point?

I want to learn something, George.

The military academy...

is the best all-round education
a man can get in this country.

I want to improve Mont Royal.

Maybe even build a cotton mill.

I've wanted to be a
soldier all my life.

Thank God I've got
an older brother...

who can take care of the
ironworks, or I couldn't do this.

- I think you'll be a good one.
- I hope so.

We'll have to be pretty tough to

make it through
West Point, though.

No leave for two years...

They say the hazing is hell.

I've never been too
great at book learning.

I just wonder if I'll
make it through.

You'll make it through.

- I'll bet money on it.
- You will?

What are you doing?
That's a $10 note.

That's right. When you
graduate from West Point...

you give that half back
to me, plus another $10.

What if I don't graduate?

Then I'll give you mine, but
that's not gonna happen.

This is one bet I'm going to win.

I trust the wine is to
your taste, Nicholas.

A fine vintage, Justin.

From France, of course,
and quite costly.

I have it shipped up by
an importer on the Gulf.

If there is a war with Mexico...

it's going to play havoc
with my wine cellar.

You expect President Tyler
to fight over Texas?

He must, sir. It's
a point of honour.

Mexico repudiating its treaty,

guaranteeing Texas
its independence?

Some say Mexico intends
to sell Texas to Britain.

Aren't those fears
being exaggerated...

by those who want Texas to enter
the Union as a slave state?

Where did you hear that, my dear?

I encourage my daughter to
read and question, sir.

She has an excellent mind.

A mind hardly seems
necessary, Nicholas...

when one has the face of an angel.

Left, right, left.

- Attention.
- Fire.

Fire.

Once again, gentlemen. Charge.

Move. Go, gentlemen,
strike the melons.

Ready. Fire.

Charge cartridge.

Draw sabres.

Ram.

This company can load and
fire three times a minute.

It's like I always
knew it would be.

Only better.

Think we'll ever be
able to learn all this?

Are you joking? We'll
be experts in no time.

Well, so far, we haven't even
been able to find our barracks.

He looks helpful. Excuse me, sir.

- My friends and I are plebes...
- No, sir, you are not.

- Sir?
- You are things, sir.

To become plebes, you must first
survive the entrance examination.

Until then, you are
lower than plebes.

You are the lowest of the low.

You are things, sir.

Remember that.

I'm beginning to wish I'd
never seen this trunk.

- Here, these belong to you two.
- Thank you.

- I'm Ned Fisk.
- George Hazard.

Orry Main. Thank you.

I come from Ohio.

Lehigh Station, Pennsylvania. I
know, you've never heard of it.

I'm from a place called
Mont Royal, South Carolina.

It's near Charleston.

You're a planter, are you?

- My father is. We grow cotton.
- With slave labour.

You can sleep some place else.

I may have to be here with your
kind, but I don't have to like it.

- And just what's my kind, friend?
- Slave owners.

My pa's got a small tobacco farm.

He can't get decent prices
because of Southern competition.

I had to wait two
years to get here...

because there was no
money for the trip.

That's unfortunate, but
it is hardly my fault.

The hell it isn't.

It's yours and every slave
owner's in this country.

Well, there's nothing anybody
can do about it here.

So we'll just have to live
and let live, all right?

Your visit has been distressingly
brief, Miss Fabray.

Or may I call you Madeline?

Yes, it has been a short visit.

And I'm not sure that we know each

other well enough for
first names yet.

Perhaps we should get to
know each other better.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

You two seem to be
enjoying yourselves.

It was a wonderful ride.

It's a pity we have to
leave this afternoon.

You see, my dear? It's the
opinion of the majority.

And the majority rules.

A well brought up young lady
is ruled by her father.

Isn't that right, Nicholas?

Alas, I am ruled by my business
appointments in Charleston...

but, Justin, your hospitality
has been beyond compare.

We are most grateful.

I promised Maum Sally I would
supervise Villefranche.

She is afraid...

his injury has made him forget
how to load a carriage.

Shall I help, Papa?

No. Enjoy your breakfast.
I shan't be too long.

Your father is very
indulgent with his slaves.

Maum Sally is our freed servant.

And my father is kind to everyone,
no matter who they are.

Of course.

Miss, I apologise. I'm
most terrible sorry.

Don't distress yourself, Nancy.
I have to change anyway.

- If you'll excuse me.
- Of course.

If that ever happens
again, it'll be the whip.

My name is Bent.

Cadet Bent.

I, sirs...

am your drillmaster.

Elkanah Bent, sirs, of the great
and sovereign state of Georgia.

And you, sir, are from Ohio.

Yes, sir.

- I can't hear you, sir.
- Yes, sir.

To most of us from
the Southern states,

the word Ohio means one thing...

Oberlin College...

where white and black
students defy convention...

by studying together as equals.

You consider yourself the
equal of a nigger, sir?

No, sir. I mean, yes, sir.

What is your comment on that, sir?

Or do you have one?

No, I don't.

You will reply,
"No, I don't, sir."

No, I don't, sir.

Thank you, sir.

I know how difficult that
must have been, sir...

because you gentlemen from South
Carolina consider yourselves...

superior to the gentlemen from
Georgia, do you not, sir?

- No, we don't, sir.
- Good, sir.

I'm pleased you agree with me.

Surprised, but
pleased, nonetheless.

And you, sir.

How do you feel about the
South as compared with...

your section of the country, sir?

The East, I believe?

Which do you think superior, sir?

Why, the East, sir.

- What did you say?
- I said, the East, sir.

Nothing but dirt
farmers down South.

Present company excepted,
sir. As always.

Mr Hazard...

the potmaker from Pennsylvania.

You will step forward, sir.

I shall use you to demonstrate a

fundamental principle
of marching, sir.

And Mr Main...

our hothouse lily
from South Carolina.

You seem amused.

You step forward, too, sir.

Now, sirs...

you'll raise these
buckets to your sides

and keep them at a
90-degree angle...

to your bodies at all
times. Now, sirs.

The principle of which I spoke is

commonly called the
goose step, sirs.

On command, you will stand on one
leg thus, your right leg, sirs.

On the command,
"Front," you will fling

the raised leg
forward, thus, sirs.

Now, sirs, begin.

Stand. And front.
Down. Front. Down.

Continue, sirs.

Not one drop of water
is to be spilled, sirs.

Keep your arm up, sir.

Arms up, Main.

Arms up, sirs. Up, sirs.

Get your legs down, sirs.

Keep your arms up, sirs.

Up, Main. Up, sirs.

And up, sirs.

Yes, sirs. Up, sirs.

And continue, sirs.

Let's see 90 degrees, sirs.

Up, sir.

No slacking off, sir.

Halt, sir.

Stay where you are, sir.

Up on your feet, Mr Main.

You have not yet
mastered the principle.

Cadet Bent.

These two men have been
drilled sufficiently.

You will return them to rank,
sir, and dismiss the squad.

Yes, sir.

Fall in, sirs.

Squad dismissed.

Good for you, boys. You stood
up to him. Called his bluff.

Call that a bluff?

By the way, Hazard, we haven't
really met. My name is George.

So is mine.

That makes three. I'm
George McClellan.

And I'm George Pickett,
from Virginia.

So am I. From Virginia,
that is. Tom Jackson.

- Are you all right, Mr Main?
- Fine, Tom. The name's Orry.

That Cadet Bent is a
little tetched, I think.

Thank God for that
upperclassman, whoever he was.

His name is Ulysses, but they
call him Sam. Sam Grant.

The mail, sir. One for you
and one for Miss Madeline.

Thank you, Maum Sally.

I have something for you, child.

Why didn't you tell me there was
a letter for me this morning?

Because I only just arrived.

Now, who or what could
be so important?

He says he's always
thinking of me, and

that he can't wait
to see me again.

"Even though the training at
the academy is sometimes...

"merciless...

"the thought that..."

The thought that I'll be here when
he gets home helps him through it.

He says a whole lot for
such a short acquaintance.

What else he got to say?

You're mighty taken with
that Mr Main, aren't you?

Madeline, dear, may
I speak with you?

Yes, Papa.

Justin LaMotte has
written to say...

he will be here in Charleston on
business the first of the month.

He asks permission to call on us.

Well, that's fine.

I'll have something special
prepared for dinner that night.

I hope you will be as pleased
to see Justin as I will.

Of course, Papa. He's your friend.

Mr Fisk, sir.

You hold your sabre
like a hose, sir.

You parry as though you were
scaring crows, Mr Fisk.

You are nothing more than a
miserable, clumsy little farmer.

But I'm supposed to make
a soldier out of you.

En garde.

Set yourself down.
Bend your elbow.

Straighten your knee.

I said, bend your elbow, sir.

Your head, Mr Fisk.
Parry. Seconde.

Point. Parry seconde. Seconde.
Point. Parry seconde.

You're a joke, Mr Fisk.

On the battlefield, you'd
be cut to ribbons.

And rightly so.

You, sir...

are the sorriest excuse for
a soldier I have ever seen.

All right, sirs. Who
shall we have next?

Let's have you, Mr Main.

At your service, sir.

My pleasure.

Drummer, sound mess call.

Squad dismissed.

Where did you learn how to
handle a sword like that?

My father thought
it was something...

every Southern gentleman should
know, so he gave me lessons.

You sure gave Bent a lesson.

Look, child.

These were the cuttings Mr LaMotte
sent from Resolute last fall.

They're very pretty.

You look so sad.

Still thinking about Orry Main?

I can't seem to do
anything else, Maum Sally.

His letters were so wonderful.

I think they were
part of the reason

that I fell in love with him.

But he doesn't write any more.

You got to forget about him.

Young men always making promises
they never going to keep.

That's what Papa says.

"Soldiers have wandering hearts."

He tells me I should forget
him, but I can't, Maum Sally.

I can't, no matter what I do.

Madeline, it seems our
guest has arrived early.

He says he could not
deny himself the

pleasure of our
company any longer.

Monsieur LaMotte, how
nice to see you again.

You're more lovely than
ever, Miss Fabray.

But I do wish you
would call me Justin.

I think it is proper, my
dear, after all this time.

As you wish.

Justin.

Splendid.

I will tell Uncle John to have an
extra place set for dinner, sir.

Thank you, Maum Sally.

Justin, I've been saving a very
interesting brandy for you.

If you'll excuse
me, I will have it

brought up from the wine cellar.

You're too kind, Nicholas.

I know it isn't proper, but I took
the liberty of bringing you this.

I hope you'll accept it.

That was very thoughtful of you...

Justin.

I really shouldn't accept
it, but I love surprises.

It's beautiful. Thank you.

Not half so beautiful as you.

I'll never make it,
George. Mahan is

gonna eat me alive in that class.

I wasn't cut out for West Point.

Don't say that. You ride a horse
better than any man here.

You're a good marksman.

Lord knows, you're
handy with a sabre.

That won't do any good if I can't
remember what's in these books.

I'll get you through
it. We'll drill

it till you know it backwards.

It doesn't seem any use right now.

I don't even want to be a soldier.

But you want to improve
Mont Royal, don't you?

Maybe I should find another way.

I think there's something
else that's bothering you.

And I don't think it has anything
to do with military history.

How long has it been since
you've heard from Madeline?

- Fisk.
- Ned.

I thought you'd gotten
used to us, Fisk.

I haven't heard you talk about
moving to another barracks...

I'm not moving to
another barracks.

I have to resign from the academy.

My pa took a fall from a hayloft.

Laid him up real bad.

They need me to run the farm
because there's nobody else.

I'm sorry, Fisk.
That's tough luck.

If there's anything we can do...

You could help, Mr Planter's
son, but you won't.

You're gonna keep on working your
slaves and undercutting prices...

so that folks like us will
always live hand-to-mouth.

You can save your sympathy.

Put it in the bank
with all your money.

Come on, what do you say
to a trip to Benny Havens?

- This hour?
- You need a bracer, don't you?

We already have more demerits than
any other two men in our class.

Over 150 each.

And whose fault is that?

All right, so those
demerits came from Bent.

Just the same, over 200 skins
in one year, and we're out.

And if we're caught at Benny's...

We won't get caught.

Who would be crazy
enough to go out

on a night as cold
as this? Come on.

Careful. That ice is soft.

George, you're right.

Who would be crazy enough to
go out on a night like this?

Here we are. Now, you
just face the wall there.

You come around here.

Now, remember what I said.

Don't face one another
and that will

take care of your
boys' honour code.

So if an officer was to ask you if
you'd seen one another drinking...

you could swear on oath that
you hadn't seen nothing.

Thank you, Benny.

To your health.

George, listen.
I've been thinking.

We could make things
right for Fisk.

How's that?

We both get allowances.

We could give him the money to
hire somebody to run his farm.

Then he could stay at the Point.

Fisk is too proud. He wouldn't
accept charity like that.

Yes, he will. If
we make it a loan.

We'll just give him a
long time to pay it back.

Might leave us a little
short of cash, though...

but it would sure be worth it.

You're right. It would.

Let's do it.

Now don't you feel better?

Yes. A little.

I just keep thinking...

No.

About Madeline?

I just don't understand why she
doesn't answer my letters.

There could be a hundred
reasons. You hardly know her.

I know her well enough
to believe that she...

What is it?

Nobody.

Just a civilian from the village.

Don't you do that to me. You
took 10 years off my life.

You boys best get moving.

Just seen the Corporal go
round to the back door.

Damn.

Go.

Stop, you there.

The path's up ahead.

George.

Help.

He's fallen through.

Good, that ought to slow him down.

George, we can't leave him
here. He might drown.

I was afraid you'd say that.

Help me.

Careful, George. It's
cracked. Lie down.

Hold on, Bent. We'll get you.

Take my hand.

Come on. Bent, you
can't stay here.

Bent, you got to get back to your
barracks. You'll get pneumonia.

I know.

I can make it without any help...

from either of you two.

That gracious "thank you"
made it all worthwhile.

At least he can't put us on
report. We saved his life.

Don't let that get around the
barracks, or we're in trouble.

You sound awful, Orry.

You really should report
to the medical officer.

I'm fine, George.

Hazard, Main. You have both
been placed on report, sirs.

Bent.

He really did report us.

After saving his life.
Can you beat that?

Come in.

What do you want, Main?

Request permission to report
to the infirmary, sir.

Why? You look healthy
enough to me.

I think I'm very ill, sir.

I think you're a malingerer, Main.

I think you just want to
avoid your assigned duties.

Corporal Bent, I swear...

Permission to report to
the infirmary denied.

Now I'll show you what happens
to shirkers, Mr Main.

As of right now, you start 10
hours of extra guard duty.

You are dismissed, sir.

- Cadet Grant, isn't it?
- It is.

What are you doing out
here in this weather?

Working off demerits, sir.

You're a sick man. You
should be in the hospital.

No, sir. Thank you,
sir. I'm all right.

Shall I ask a tactical officer
to have you relieved?

No, sir.

I have to work off
these demerits, sir.

You'll make a good
soldier, Mr Main...

if Corporal Bent doesn't
kill you first.

If Grant hadn't had that tactical

officer send someone
to relieve you...

you might have frozen to death.

We should have let Bent freeze.

You're the one who
insisted we go back.

Anyhow, it's better that
it turned out this way.

Grant and his friends are
keeping their eyes on Bent.

That will make him ease up on us.

Don't you think that somehow
in Bent's twisted mind...

he'll see that as our fault
and come down even harder?

No.

He's too much of a coward
to go up against Grant.

He'd rather bully underclassmen.

I never met anybody
like him before.

I believe the word is "bent."

There's another reason why
I'm glad you didn't freeze.

What's that?

I wanted to thank you for loaning
me the money to stay here.

I guess I might have been
wrong about Southerners.

Maybe some of them. But
remember, Bent's from Georgia.

Yes.

George.

- Would you mail that for me?
- Sure.

Still wooing Madeline?

- If she doesn't write me soon...
- I'm sure she will.

But even if she
doesn't, I've still

got a sister who's not married.

We've got to go.

Goodbye.

Hello, Mr McCullough.

Our foundry's down here, and
there's the new library building.

Mum. Dad. They're here.

This is your house?

Hi, George.

George, hello.

Come on.

At last.

- Hello, Mother.
- Welcome home, son.

Doesn't he look grand?

I thought we'd never get here.

Those were the longest
two years of my life.

It's good to have
you here, George.

Thank you, sir.

I want you to meet my parents.
This is Maude and William Hazard.

How do you do?

It's a pleasure.
Welcome to Belvedere.

Thank you.

George has written us
so much about you.

It's kind of you to have me here.

And these are my
brothers, Stanley...

and this is Billy.

- Are those real sabres?
- Here, take a look.

Don't touch that,
Billy. It's dangerous.

My brother obviously forgot
to introduce me, Mr Main.

Of course not.

I'm Virgilia Hazard.

Pleased to meet you, Miss Hazard.

I've heard so much about you.

George tells us
you're a Southerner.

Yes. From South Carolina.

Do you keep slaves?

My family does, yes.

Are you evil, Mr Main?

Oh, no. Not again.

Virgilia.

Great men like Mr Garrison keep
trying to show Southerners...

the evil they're doing. And
it's our duty to take...

Virgilia.

I thought I asked you to stop

reading that
abolitionist nonsense.

It's not nonsense, Father.
It's God's truth.

I'm afraid her causes
are Virgilia's way

of making up for not
being born a man.

Don't you patronise
me, Stanley Hazard.

That will be enough, Virgilia.

Now, I think we should
all go indoors.

Yes, by all means.

I hear congratulations
are in order for you.

Mother wrote that
you were engaged...

but she didn't tell me
who the lucky girl was.

My fiancée is Miss
Isabel Truscott...

from one of the best
families in Pennsylvania.

I've no doubt.

George wrote that you might be
interested in seeing the foundry.

Yes, sir. I want to know all there
is to know about Hazard Iron.

It's the busiest operation
of its kind in the country.

Our boilerplates wind
up on everything

from ships to fire engines.

Anything that uses
a steam generator.

- Like a cotton mill?
- Like 10 or 12 of them.

I take it you found
that impressive.

More than that, sir. Your
foundry is a revelation.

I'm sure it's a good idea to build
a cotton mill in South Carolina.

I just hope I can make
my father see that.

Surely he must be aware that
the economy of the South...

would be much stronger if more
cotton were processed there.

Yes, sir. But he has a very strong
bias against any form of industry.

My God. That's a shame.

Father, I think this
requires your attention.

Would you excuse me for
just a moment, please?

Yes, sir.

- Who lives there?
- Our workers.

Immigrants mostly. Irish, German,

Welsh. A lot more
than when I left.

I know. They're not much better

than your slave
quarters, are they?

They're worse.

At least our workers have a
choice. We don't own them.

We don't force them to work here.
They can leave whenever they want.

An empty belly is a pretty
good reason to stay.

Are you saying that you don't like
the way that we run the foundry?

I don't have to like
everything about...

what you do any more than you
have to like everything we do.

I guess you're right.

I guess there's probably room
for improvement on both sides.

I know there is.
That's why I wanted

to visit and learn
from you Yankees.

You're really serious about
this cotton mill, aren't you?

After the army, I'm dead serious
if I can talk my father into it.

If Hazard Iron supplies the parts,
you won't get a better deal.

I'm planning on using that
argument on my father.

They sure don't feed us
like this at West Point.

I'm glad you were the
one who was there.

Soup, Mr Stanley.

- Late again, Billy.
- Sorry, sir.

Now, don't forget to put your
napkin on your lap, Billy.

Salt and pepper, Mr Main?

- Thank you, Miss Truscott.
- You're welcome, Mr Main.

I'm sorry you have
to leave so soon.

Yes, there's a
friend I have to see

in Charleston before I head home.

A friend, Mr Main?

I think it must be a lady.

And how do your instructors
feel about your president?

Well, sir, they like him.
Even when they don't agree...

But I've enjoyed my
stay here very much.

Have you read something
on Mr Polk's views?

I think that Polk will annex
Texas if he's elected president.

After all, he's a
committed expansionist.

But it's wrong. Texas
belongs to Mexico.

And if he does, there will be war.

I just hope that Orry and I don't
graduate too late to fight it.

They say we'll see action
with Gen. Zachary Taylor.

Wouldn't that be something?

Mr Polk believes in Manifest
Destiny, all right.

If this country is to stretch...

from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
there will be plenty of action.

We know that.

Unless God strikes him dead
first, which he deserves.

Can't any of you see?

Expansionism is just
another name...

for perpetuating the foul
institution of slavery.

Virgilia, be quiet.

No, Mother. Not this time.

I can't just sit by and listen to

my own brother and
a slave owner...

tell us how eager
they are to fight...

when everyone knows that
this a devil's war.

George, to annex Texas
as a slave state...

I see you're still reading
your abolitionists, Virgilia.

I'm doing more than
reading, George.

I've joined their cause, and my
allowance goes to support it.

Virgilia.

I have a right, Father.

I'm a grown woman, and I
must decide for myself now.

And I will fight the ungodly
evil that lives in the South.

Miss Hazard...

Perhaps if you knew more about
our Southern way of life...

you wouldn't be so
quick to condemn.

Mr Main, I know all
I need to know.

And I will not sit down at a table
with a man who chooses to keep...

his fellow human
beings in bondage.

Orry, I'm afraid I have to
apologise for my sister.

She sometimes lets her
emotions run away with her.

Why don't you tell
us some more about

your plans for the
cotton mill, Orry.

Yes, sir.

Strawberries.

Blueberries.

Berries, fresh berries, sweet
berries, out on your front street.

Fresh berries.

Ain't nobody home, sir.

This is the Fabray house?

Yes, sir, but they
is all gone now.

Gone where?

Me can't rightly say, sir.

But that house there been closed
up for nearly a week now.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Strawberries.

Blueberries.

Berries, fresh...

Orry, you're home.

Hello, sir. I'll take care of him.

- Are you feeling all right, sir?
- I'm just tired, son.

And worried about the cotton crop.

We didn't get enough rain
after the spring planting.

Irrigating by hand is keeping the
slaves away from other work.

The crop is still
liable to be small.

We could still make a
profit in spite of that...

if we milled our own cotton.

Son, we've argued
this point before.

Father, you should have been
with me at Hazard Iron.

I saw a hundred ways
to improve Mont Royal.

You seem very anxious
to change your home.

We can't ignore progress,
sir. We'll be left behind.

That's what the
Hazards said and...

I'm very sure your
friends know a great

deal about running
their foundry...

but a cotton plantation
is different.

Every year, the South counts for
less on a national level...

because we cling to manual labour.

That's enough, son. I said I
don't wish to discuss it.

Daddy, if you...

You just got home.

Go join your mother
in the parlour.

I'll be along directly.

- He does, too.
- Does not.

- He does.
- Not.

All right.

Who does or doesn't do what?

Brett says Priam doesn't
deserve to get whipped.

And I say he does.

We don't punish our
slaves that way.

We have ever since
Salem Jones got here.

The new overseer
Father wrote me about?

Yes. And Priam doesn't
do anything bad.

But Salem Jones whips him anyhow.

Because Priam's uppity
like his sister.

What has Semiramis
got to do with this?

Ever since Salem Jones has been
sleeping with Semiramis...

Priam's been acting strange,
and getting whipped a lot.

You two go upstairs, and be nice.

Who the hell are you?

I'm Orry Main, Mr Jones.

Mr Main, sir...

I was coming up to meet you just
as soon as I finished with this.

This is why I'm here.

What has Priam done? Why
are you beating him?

No crime, exactly. It's
his attitude, sir.

Priam don't show the
proper respect.

A good overseer knows how to get a
man's respect without beating him.

And we don't whip
slaves at Mont Royal.

So you let Priam go.

Your father told me to handle
these slaves any way I see fit.

I don't see fit to
let you whip them.

Especially because it
appears you enjoy it.

Now you do what I tell
you and you let him go.

Now.

Cuffey, Caesar. Get him down.

You've been away two years, you'll
be two more at the academy...

then another four in the army.

You're not running
Mont Royal yet, and

you'll not interfere
with those who do.

Salem Jones gets more work out of
the Negroes than anyone ever has.

That doesn't make him right.

Cruelty, like what
I saw yesterday,

makes both of you wrong.

Does it? Well, Salem Jones
knows a thing or two.

What about that slave, Nat Turner,

murdered 55 white
people in cold blood?

That was over 10 years
ago in Virginia.

You think it couldn't happen here?

With those abolitionists
stirring up slaves against us.

Tillet, Orry, please.

We've got such a
short time together

while Orry's home on leave.

Let's not spoil it.

I'm sorry, Mother.

We're invited to a
wedding this afternoon.

It wouldn't do for
us to be fussing.

Whose wedding?

Justin LaMotte. I
wrote you about it.

No, sir, you didn't.
Who is he marrying?

Orry, she's the most
beautiful girl you ever saw.

A Creole from New Orleans.

Her name is Madeline Fabray.

Do you, Justin, take Madeline
for your lawful wedded wife...

promising to love, honour,
and cherish her...

forsaking all others as long
as you both shall live?

I do.

And do you, Madeline, take Justin
for your lawful wedded husband...

promising to love,
honour, and obey him...

forsaking all others as long
as you both shall live?

I do.

In the sight of God
and this company,

I pronounce you man and wife.

We should pay our respects, son.

My very best wishes, Mrs LaMotte.

You are very kind, sir.

How nice of you to come.

Monsieur Main, I am so glad
your family could come today.

It gives me the chance
to thank you again

for your courtesy
toward my daughter.

Was she planning to
marry Justin even then?

No, she was not.

I had it in mind from
the day I met him.

I knew he would be a perfect
match for Madeline.

An older husband.
Wiser, more settled.

I see.

Tell me, how is life treating
you in the military?

As well as could be
expected, sir. Thank you.

Good day.

Cuffey, saddle my horse for me.

Yes, sir.

Orry, please don't go.

I have to ask you something.

What could possibly matter now?

Why did you stop
answering my letters?

What?

I didn't. You stopped
answering mine.

I didn't.

Papa.

It was Papa. He
destroyed your letters.

What?

He wanted me to marry Justin.

But until now, I
never knew how much.

Now it's too late.

Every day that I was
away from you...

I kept thinking about the day
I would make you my bride.

Better have this back now.

Don't you think I
dreamt of you, too?

I better leave.

Leaving, Main?

See you again when you
finish military school.

Come, my dear. Our other
guests are waiting.

Justin.

I didn't expect you so soon.

You've been up here
half an hour, my dear.

I thought you'd be
ready for me by now.

You're so beautiful.

So beautiful.

What's the matter with you?

Nothing.

You're always so distant.

But not tonight.

I'll show you what it
means to be my wife.

No.