The Undefeated

Fire!

Bugler, sound recall!

It's over!

Corporal Clemens, sir. Masters' brigade.

Who gave you permission to come ridin' across my command, yellin' like a fool?

- Have you got a message from Masters? - Yes, sir.

- Deliver it. - That's it, sir. The war's over.

Lee surrendered to Grant in Virginia. Place called Appomattox Courthouse.

- When? - Three days ago, sir.

Three days?

General Masters just got word himself, Colonel Thomas. Our wires were down.

With your permission, sir.

Rig up a flag of truce, Blue Boy.

- Short Grub! - Yo.

Let's go.

I be a sergeant, sir. Can I be of any service to y'all?

I'd like to talk to your commanding officer.

Who be giving orders today, Jim?

Yes, sir?

Major, I've just received word that Lee surrendered to Grant three days ago.

Yes, sir.

- You knew it? - We received the news yesterday.

I don't think you understand, Major. The war is over.

No, sir.

Are you telling me that you intend to keep fighting?

Haven't we just proven it, sir?

- But why? - Because this is our land... and you're on it.

We're all Americans.

Yes, sir. That's always been the saddest part of it.

- Good day, sir. - Colonel?

Thank you for your courtesy.

Damn.

- Captain Anderson? - Here, sir.

General Robert E Lee has surrendered. Am I right?

Yes, sir.

That means that we no longer exist as an armed body.

Yet everywhere I look I see armed men wearing uniforms and flying the battle flag!

- Get it down. - Yes, sir.

- Jamison! - Yes, sir?

- Take down the flag. - Yes, sir.

All right, people. Now, listen to me, all of you.

We have about 2,000 miles to go.

700 are between here and the Mexican border,

and through a Yankee occupation army.

We are not gonna give the lowliest blue belly

any reason to suspect we're anything but a band of homeless pilgrims.

Until we cross the Rio Grande, arms will remain in the bottom of the wagons.

Pack those uniforms away and wear regular clothing. The poorer-looking, the better.

Once across the border, we have 500 miles

to go before we reach a town called Durango.

There we will be met by representatives of Emperor Maximilian

who will escort us to Mexico City.

- Captain Anderson? - Sir?

- We leave at midnight. - Yes, sir.

Down with the traitor.

Up with the star.

We'll rally round the flag, boys.

We'll rally once again.

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

We will rally from the hillside.

We'll gather from the plain.

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

The Union for ever.

Hurrah, boys, hurrah!

Down with the traitor.

Up with the star.

While we rally round the flag, boys.

Rally once again.

Shouting the battle cry of freedom!

- We are marching through... - Old times there are not forgotten.

Look away! Look away!

Look away, Dixieland!

In Dixieland where I was born in.

Early on one frosty morning.

Look away! Look away!

Look away, Dixieland!

Then I wish I was in Dixie

Whoa.

Ah, Mrs Langdon. My name is Benedict.

Thad Benedict, late of Pittsburgh, but now of Natchez.

And this here's my partner Jimmy Collins.

Word's got around that you are of a mind to put your place up for sale. Is that right?

I beg your pardon, sir, but I'm the sister-in-law.

I believe you want to speak to Mrs James Langdon.

Ah, Mrs James Langdon.

Thad Benedict is my name.

I was just saying we heard the place is up for sale. Is that right?

No, that is not right, Mr Benedict.

Oh, come on, ladies.

We've come all the way from Natchez just to make you people a handsome offer.

- Mind if I get down? - (man) Yes, she does.

And so do I.

My father resting over there, he minds too.

Well! Well, well, well.

You must be Colonel Langdon.

James Langdon.

Well, Colonel, I'm here to do you a favour.

Well, let's see now. Langdon Hall Plantation.

Ah, yes. Here it is.

1500 acres. Is that right?

600 acres bottom land, 400 in pasture and 500 in woods.

Two streams, three ponds, with a two-and-a-half mile river front.

- Nice place. - Thank you kindly.

I imagine the house could use a little work though, huh?

- It could stand it. - Yeah.

Well, I'll just have a look inside.

We just swept the floor, Mr Benedict.

You understand?

I'll give you 50 cents an acre. My top offer.

You buzzards. You come down here

lookin' to get fat on the misfortune of others.

This house is not for sale.

Not now, not next year, not ever.

- We are businessmen... - You're trash.

Well! Well! You're a right plain-talking gentleman, ain't you?

Hear what the man said, Jimmy? "Trash."

Who's gonna pick your cotton?

Who's gonna plough up all that bottom land?

Who's gonna chop the wood when it gets cold?

Now, now, now, Jimmy. No need to get uppity with the colonel.

60 cents an acre.

Take it or leave it.

- Just like that. - Just like that.

If I was you, I'd grab it. We're gonna get it anyway, you know.

We'll get the house and every last acre of land

when they put it up for taxes.

Oh, I see.

And how do you know it will be put up for taxes, Mr Benedict?

You went busted outfitting that Rebel regiment of yours.

Now, what do you say? 60 cents?

Or nothin'?

Ha!

This belonged to Granddaddy Langdon, Horace.

I think maybe he'd want you to have it.

Thank you, sir.

Little George, bring along that anvil and as many tools as you can carry.

- Yes, sir. - Colonel?

Can anybody going with us talk that there Mexican?

Why don't you stop looking at me?

I can't, Charlotte. I just can't keep my eyes off you.

Well, you make me uneasy, Bubba Wilkes, so stop it.

You know, I've asked you a dozen times to marry me and you've never answered.

I'm too young to marry.

No girl who looks the way you do is too young to marry.

Well, I am. If you don't believe me, you can ask my daddy.

Ask your daddy! He knows there's no man better suited...

Charlotte.

Maybe you'd better go on up to the house, help your mother.

- You're a good junior officer. - Thank you, sir.

- Don't let anybody tell you you're not. - No, sir.

But as a young man with a desire for my daughter's hand... you're pitiful.

It embarrasses me to watch you.

- I don't understand, sir. - You sure don't.

You let magnolia blossoms go to your head

and forget the real purpose of your mission.

- Newby! - Yes, sir.

Don't tell me I can't resign, Joe.

I volunteered into this outfit and I'll volunteer out.

- There's still a lot of work to be done. - Not for me.

I came into this thing three years ago with 75 volunteers, all good riders.

- You know how many are left? - No, but I imagine you're gonna tell me.

If you'll look out this window, you'll see ten.

Two of them won't make Christmas.

I still can't understand what they have to do with you resigning.

They didn't join the army, Joe, they joined me.

For three years, I've watched them fall.

Not one of 'em quit, not one of 'em deserted.

Those that are left deserve more than a pat on the back from some newspaper editor.

And I'm gonna see that they get it. The army needs horses.

There's plenty of horses in the Territory, wild horses in Arizona and New Mexico.

- We're going after 'em. - And sell them to the army?

We're sure as hell not gonna give 'em to the army.

All right. Write out that letter of resignation and I'll see that...

You came in mighty handy a few times.

Take care of yourself. We may need you again, John Henry.

You'll have a hard job finding me, Joe.

Where to, John Henry?

Short Grub, I've been trying for three years

to get you to say "Colonel". Now it's too late.

- Where to, John Henry? - West.

- The barn's yours, Newby. - Yes, sir.

Goodbye, old lady.

- How come you know they'll be here today? - Cos I told him to be here today, that's why.

Where do you think you're gonna mail that, Solomon?

There's a pony express, ain't there? Somewhere.

Still a long ways to Oklahoma, John Henry.

- Anything could happen. - Not to Blue Boy, it won't.

- Come on, tightwad. Gimme a chew. - I've only got one left.

- Oh, just a little bit. - Well, make it a small bite. That's too big!

Give me that!

Gimme that plug. That's my last one. Come on now, Frank.

Give me that. All right.

Give me that, Frank.

Ha! Ha!

I'll be damned. Iookie yonder!

Hello, Two Toes. How's your wife?

- Pregnant. - What, again?

Cold winter.

- How are you, McCartney? - Mister McCartney.

John Henry, the least you can do after I come all this way is to say hello.