by Elmer Kelton
COLONEL TICKNOR
Mr. Scanlon! There'll be no abusing the prisoners!
Baker will not give up. He has to be tied in the wagon, struggles against the ropes as long as the wagon is in sight.
TODD
(in a loud whisper)
What wouldn't I give to help you, Tom Baker!
Todd has not yet tortured himself with watching the death wagon make its trip to the hanging tree, a half-mile east of the square. Fascinated now by Baker's defiance, he crawls to the back of the building to watch.
EXT. ROOF/MAIN STREET (TODD's P.O.V.)
The wagon followed by a long file of people passes along Main Street, under military escort, then pulls up under the hanging tree, halts. A man throws a rope over the huge limb that has received all the victims. The hangman steps up into the wagon to put the noose around Tom Baker's neck, Todd can no longer bear the sight. He turns away, collapses, then in a great struggle lifts himself to hands and knees, head down. Suddenly, uncontrollably, he begins to vomit. After a moment of this he turns and crawls away, dry retching, back to the shade of the parapet, and there he passes out.
EXT. ROOF/SQUARE
Todd regains consciousness. He crawls over and lies on his belly at his spyhole, scarcely able to hold up his head. The death wagon returns with Baker's body. Todd watches as it is loaded on the back of a horse by A YOUNG MAN, presumably his son, who mounts and rides off leading the pack horse.
EXT. ROOF/SQUARE
The sun has sunk lower. Todd watches the death wagon drive up with another body. He is confused, cannot focus attention.
TODD (V.O.) (CONT'D)
They hung a man while I was out!
Maybe the last one. Pap?...Pap?
HARLEY DEXTER
(shouting from below)
Any of Ramah Dye's bunch here?
Suddenly from the crowd, LOUD VOICES are heard. The TWO DYE BROTHERS shoulder their way up to the militiamen unloading their father's body and shove them aside.
WENDELL DYE
Get your goddamn rebel hands off our Daddy!
The brothers carry the body to a waiting ox-cart. Their sister RACHEL crouches there. The three of them lay out the body with ritualistic care, for a time silencing the whole square. Rachel stands up and pulls out a candle and strikes a match and lights it. One brother hands her an open Bible. She
holds the Bible out toward the mob in one hand and with the other waves the candle from side to side. She screams out across the dead quiet of the square.
RACHEL DYE
Ever manjack of you will burn in Hell. And Daddy'll be in Heaven watching it!
She blows out the candle and kneels beside her father's body. The oxcart rolls out of the square, one son walking on either side of it. Todd half collapses again. Then LOUD VOICES and a CONFUSION OF OTHER SOUNDS bring him to. He looks down to see Dexter and Scanlon standing near Colonel Ticknor's horse. Todd becomes instantly alert, seeing Dexter look all around the square. Todd eases the rifle forward and draws a bead on Dexter.
DEXTER
(in a loud voice)
Colonel Ticknor! If you please.
COLONEL TICKNOR
(turning in the saddle)
Yes, Captain Dexter.
DEXTER
Last night at the trial we overlooked one man...
(momentary pause)
Nathaniel Blair!....
COLONEL TICKNOR
What're you saying?
DEXTER
(looking around as if for Todd)
If you got no objection, we'll hang him too
COLONEL TICKNOR
Captain Dexter! This is not a lynch mob. We obey the court. Blair hasn't been tried yet!
(turning to the crowd)
These proceedings are over with for the day. I want this square cleared! Anybody caught here an hour from now will be arrested.
Dexter is left in a state of ferocious disappointment. The crowd begins to dissolve. Todd lies limp, sunk in the torpor of exhaustion.
EXT. ROOF/SQUARE - NIGHT
Todd comes down from the tree he climbed this morning, hides the Spencer in a clump of bushes next to the building and steals away.
EXT. LIVERY STABLE
Comanche has been here for the day. Todd pays the LIVERY STABLE MAN, mounts and rides quickly away.
TODD
(to Comanche)
I just gotta see Jenny!
EXT. WHARTON TOWN HOUSE
A one-story structure with deep porches on three sides, white, a white picket fence around the yard. Todd rides up, hesitates on seeing a large dapple-gray tied at the front
fence, which he rightly fears is Colonel Ticknor's horse. He rides to the yard gate, dismounts and flings the reins over the fence. He enters the yard boldly, clumps up the steps to
the porch, sees in candlelight through the screen door Colonel Ticknor seated in a rocking chair. Todd whacks the brass knocker hard, chuckling to see the colonel start.
EXT/INT. PORCH AND PARLOR OF WHARTON TOWN HOUSE
AN EXCLAMATIONS OF SURPRISE AND DELIGHT is heard from Mrs. Wharton, Jane and Jenny are also in the parlor but have not seen Todd knock.
MRS. WHARTON
Todd! Come in!
Todd opens the screen door and steps inside. Jenny and Jane and Mrs. Wharton crowd forward to greet him. Jenny holds out her hand. Todd takes it and bows to kiss it. Colonel Ticknor scowls like fury. Jane pulls forward a rocking chair for Todd. He is still standing when Jenny turns to her uncle.
JENNY
Uncle James, this is Todd Blair.
TODD
(with exaggerated courtesy)
Honored to meet you, sir.
COLONEL TICKNOR
(with a slight dip
of the chin)
Colonel James Ticknor.
For a moment Todd and Ticknor size each other up. The women look on nervously.
TODD
Nathaniel Blair's my daddy
A bare nod is Ticknor's only acknowledgment.
TODD (CONT'D)
(sitting down, to Mrs Wharton)
Ma'm, I just dropped by to make sure y'all're getting settled.
MRS. WHARTON
Oh Todd, bless you! we're doing very well. And we're so glad to see you're all right!
She stops, but even a brief silence weighs heavily. Trying to ease the situation, she frightens herself into the territory she was trying to avoid.
MRS. WHARTON (CONT'D)
(almost wailing)
But oh, these awful trials are terrible! Thank God they'll soon be over with. Isn't that true, James?
The jury decided to let the rest of the prisoners go, didn't they?
Horrified looks come on the faces of Jenny and Jane. Colonel Ticknor has been paying close attention to Mrs Wharton.
COLONEL TICKNOR
(turning to stare at Todd)
Yes! The jury made that decision.
JENNY
We're so lucky to have you in charge, Uncle James. Without your strong hand the mob might take over.
Colonel Ticknor, not being one to grasp a veiled irony, seems hardly to have heard Jenny. He keeps his eyes on Todd.
COLONEL TICKNOR
Blair? Let me see. You live out yonder in that Bell community, don't you?
TODD
Yes, we do.
COLONEL TICKNOR
And your father belongs to that...league. Or whatever it is. Am I right?
Jenny catches her breath in anger.
TODD
You ask him.
COLONEL TICKNOR
He does. All of you do, the ones in jail and the ones still running around loose. Free to undermine the
Confederacy just as they please... But then, like Martha says, the
jury aims to let the rest of the prisoners go. Traitors! The whole lot of them!
Todd has to bite his tongue, as it were, to keep quiet.
JENNY
Uncle James! Please!
COLONEL
TICKNOR
They plotted to go out and slaughter innocent people. But we broke 'em up. Just in time! And now we're setting 'em free! And all because of a spineless jury!...
(slamming an arm of his
rocker with an open palm)
All right then! The jury has so ordered... But you tell your father and that whole crew this. We'll be watching. If a one of you makes a false move, we won't wait for a jury this time. We'll set him down in front of a court martial! And as for you, young man, we have a conscription law, and you'll soon be called on to obey it!
(rising)
Now I must get back to my command!
MRS. WHARTON
James! I think you must not know what Todd did for Jenny.
COLONEL TICKNOR
Certainly I do. All lawlessness is reported to me.
Jenny goes over to face Colonel Ticknor and seizes him by the arms.
JENNY
Uncle James! Todd saved me from being raped!
COLONEL TICKNOR
Please! Watch your tongue. I understand.
(turning to Todd)
I'm obliged to you for assisting my niece.
TODD
(dipping his chin)
Glad I could help, sir!
Having her uncle's attention at last, Jenny makes her appeal.
JENNY
Uncle James! You know how certain men in this town may take the law in their own hands after the jury breaks up. Please do not allow them to do that! Promise me!
COLONEL TICKNOR
My dear! As a military officer sworn to uphold the law, I do not need to be wheedled into doing my duty.
JENNY
You believe what was done today is lawful because the jury ordered it. But they were forced into it by the mob. We know that. And since the jury's also decided to let the other men go, please give me your word you'll protect them from the mob afterwards. Please!
COLONEL TICKNOR
(actually smiling)
All right, child. I give you my word. Does that satisfy you?
(the smile fades)
Now! I really cannot tarry.
Colonel Ticknor firmly disengages his arms from Jenny's grip and steps back.
COLONEL TICKNOR (CONT'D)
Good night, dear. Good night, ladies.
He turns on his heel and leaves, ignoring Todd, all his military stiffness having returned stiffer than ever.
EXT. YARD GATE AT THE WHARTON TOWN HOUSE
A cool breeze stirs the remaining leaves of two big sycamores in the yard. Todd and Jenny stand outside the front gate under dazzling stars, in close-clinging embrace, kissing with passion and tenderness. They pause, still in tight embrace.
TODD
(whispering)
We can't see each other again till Pap's free. We can't risk riling up your uncle.
JENNY
Yes, but it's only for one more week.
TODD
Yes! And then... Darling, darling!
They smother the uncertainty of their future in kisses.
EXT. FRONT OF BLAIR CABIN - DAY
The next morning, bright and warm, a few scudding clouds from the south and a warm, rushing breeze. Todd is sitting in the cabin doorway in socks, a cup in hand, his boots on the doorstep beside him. He looks relaxed. Ma is at work at a spinning wheel under the post oak. Sis, with the help of
Montecristo and Jenk, is winnowing dry beans a few yards away. [This task consists of beating a flattened sack of dry beans with a stick to crush the hulls, then emptying the contents into a pan and while holding the pan high pouring the contents onto a cloth. The breeze blows the chaff away, the beans fall on the cloth.]
TODD (CONT'D)
(taking a sip, making a face)
Call this coffee! Hogpen mud's more like it.
Ma looks at him, relieved that he is less tense now. Sis too looks in Todd's direction, but she speaks in a sharp voice.
SIS
You could stir your bones and help us, big brother. Get the place in shape for...Pap.
MA
Now Sis, you let him alone. He's had a hard time of it these last few days.
TODD
She's right though. More beans to gather. Sweet potatoes to dig. Fall onions to pull. Cotton yet to pick. It looks purty good, too, in spite of the storm.
Todd stands up and sweeps his arm slowly toward the cotton field.
TODD (CONT'D)
Tell you what. I'm gonna hire Willun and them other Hackett kids, plus any other young'un around here big enough to drag a cottonsack. We'll fly in and get it picked right away.
MA
Pap'll be mighty pleased.
Todd rises suddenly and enters the cabin. Sis follows, stops in the doorway. As Todd reaches for his hat that hangs on a wall peg, his eye falls on Pap's fiddle hanging nearby. He stands gazing at the fiddle. "Sweet Nellie" as Pap played it is heard.
SIS
Don't you take down Pap's fiddle!
TODD
(startled)
I wasn't aiming to.
EXT. BLAIR FARM, SERIES OF SHOTS - DAY
VARIOUS SHOTS of three busy days. (1) Todd, in the lower end of the big garden, on his knees wearing heavy gloves, digging sweet potatoes out of the ground. (2) In another part of the garden Ma finishes tying a large hank of onions just dug and heads for the barn. (3) Sis and Montecristo and Jenk and FIVE OR SIX OTHER BOYS AND GIRLS are in the cotton field, bending and picking the snow white bolls. Willun Hackett works close beside Sis (4) Sis and Willun, each with a full cotton sack over the shoulder, head for the barn.
EXT. FRONT OF BLAIR CABIN - LATE AFTERNOON
Ma and Sis sit in chairs with their backs to the cabin wall. Both survey the stripped fields with pleasure. The crops are in. Todd comes riding around the cabin, dismounts slowly, stops and looks hesitantly at the two women.
MA
What's wrong, Todd?
Todd tries to hide his uneasiness under forced cheerfulness.
TODD
Well, everthing's gathered! I paid off the hands. Durn near broke us, but we got two bales of cotton to take to the gin come next week.
MA
Then why so glum?
Todd walks over and lays a hand on Sis's shoulder. She looks up wondering.
TODD
They brought Willun his notice this morning. He's being drafted.
Sis leaps from her chair, shrieking.
SIS
Oh no, no! Not Willun too! Not him too They're taking all of you!
She starts to leave the yard, as if to go to Willun, stops bewildered. Todd steps over and puts his hand on the small of her back. She turns, comes into his arms, clings to him.
SIS (CONT'D)
First Pap. Now Willun. Next you. Oh God in Heaven, where will it end?
She pulls away, gives him a terrified look, and runs into the cabin sobbing. Todd sinks into the chair beside Ma, takes her hand in both of his and holds it against his breast. She leans her head on his shoulder, eyes wide but dry. Todd stares grimly out over the harvested fields. Sis's grieving goes on inside, muffled as if her face is buried in a pillow.
EXT. BLAIR FARM, A SPRING ON THE HILLSIDE - DAY
The next afternoon. Half of a wooden barrel sunk into the ground forms a basin for the spring water, the excess trickling away in overflow. Ma dips water from the basin with a gourd dipper to fill a sprinkling can. She then waters late-blooming flowers in a bed nearby. She looks up at Todd, who is at the corral a little way off currying Comanche: for all the good it does his homely hide, but this is a ritual between man and horse.
Todd lays the curry brush on top of a post, walks to the spring, picks up the gourd dipper, dips from the basin, drinks. Comanche looks in Todd's direction and whinnies. Ma gazes at Comanche, recognizing what he senses, then turns to Todd.
MA
You fixing to go someplace?
TODD
Uh...Yeah. I was gonna tell you. I...I figure I better go check on Colonel O
ldham.
MA
What for? So he can make more promises he don't keep.
TODD
Maybe I can coax him to come to town aSaturday...if he's able. Ticknor says he'll rein in the mob
hisself, but I'd feel safer with Colonel Oldham there.
MA
Ticknor says? When'd you talk to him?
TODD
The day of the hangings.
Sis has walked over from the cabin, an empty bucket in her hand, visibly dejected about Willun. Neither Todd nor Ma notices her till she is close. She hears part of "the day of the hangings" phrase, which makes her perk her ears.
SIS
Day of the hangings? What did you say?
TODD
(laconic)
Ticknor told me that day he'd control the mob. That's all.
Both women have begun to intuit--by Todd's look, tone, demeanor: who knows the ways of intuition?--that he is concealing something, and that it has to do with a woman. Sis's eyes grow bright and wide, color rises in her cheeks, but it is Ma who speaks:
MA
You told us what you done for his niece... What's her name?
SIS
Her name's Jenny.
MA
So I suppose he...promised you because he's grateful.
SIS
Oh no, it wasn't you he promised. It was Jenny, wasn't it?.
TODD
(cornered)
All right, durn it! Yes, me and Jenny made it up she'd put in a plea with ole Ticknor. Which she
did... When I went by to see her after the hangings.