Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Steady!

Hold the line!

Hold that line! Hold the line!

Hold the line!

Hold the line!

Brave men of the 11th!

Get together, God damn!

Theirs not to make reply!

Theirs not to reason why!

Theirs but to do and die!

You will follow me,

and you will fire.

Charge!

Fire!

Advance!

You done killed the wrong side.

I'd rather be shot in the face than in the back.

We collected 200 prisoners

and a battery of field guns...

...while McCulloch's division suffered 325 casualties,

with 788 unaccounted for,

thought to be killed, deserted

or runaway.

Another challenge in this bloody campaign

we must overcome.

There's nothing we can't, nothing we won't,

for God favors the Confederacy.

Let us adjourn, gentlemen.

No war has ever been won on an empty belly.

Before dinner, sir, if you don't mind...

inform us when the supply train will arrive.

Has it not arrived?

I'm not aware of it, General.

Despite good counsel from many honorable men here,

you made the decision to leave our wagons behind

to advantage our swift flight and goal of surprise.

We marched fast, only to find ourselves outflanked,

outmaneuvered and now, out-supplied.

Major, that may be an unfortunate oversight.

My oversight, indeed.

Yes, General, yours indeed.

Are you finished?

I hear that you like poetry, is that right?

A poet typically does, Major.

Thank you.

What is your current line of inquiry...

I saw you.

What is your name, soldier?

No soldier, sir.

Just Bass.

Well, you are a wolf, then, Bass.

We are a breed apart.

We know our own.

"...and the lovely plumage of the bird's

that never alights;

less celestial,

I celebrate a tail."

As do I, gentlemen.

Consider yourself dismissed, Major.

Bass.

It's a damn confederacy of dunces, Bass.

It's not debatable, is it?

No, sir.

"No, sir," indeed.

Strike my tent. Pack my gear.

Tack the horses.

Where do you think you're headed, Mr. Nighttime?

To get the horses a little of that grass over yonder.

My Henry rifle may have served you well,

but don't go thinking you're any kind of master now.

Boy, I don't think I cotton to the light in your eyes.

Answer me straight.

Do you mistake me for some kind of cowardly deserter?

No, sir.

You Master Reeves, through and through.

I received dispensation from Van Dorn.

"Damn Born's" more like it.

He's calling it a health reprieve.

Pardon my saying, sir,

but you didn't fight like no sick man.

Well, I suspect he was sick of my company, Bass.

Mutual sentiment to be sure.

Can't figure how the general

didn't find you sweet like honey.

I did leave him a bit stung, didn't I?

Deep, I'd say.

Go get your grass.

Yes, sir.

Don't think you're going to sleep while I lie here awake.

Oh, no, sir.

Just admiring God's creation.

You ever thought God could be our own creation instead?

No, sir.

Well, isn't that rich?

If you could read,

you'd surely delight in Longfellow.

Who knows, you two could be right,

there could be life after.

Some grand paradise above.

I'd still like to learn, Master.

So I could study the Bible.

You're not thinking

niggers go to the good part of Heaven, are you?

Sir?

You see that big separation up there?

You're looking at all the pretty twinkling lights.

But if you're going anywhere,

you're going to where there's nothing.

Just black airy nothing.

That part you ain't even looking at.

Only white folks go to the big dance, boy.

If anybody's going anywhere.

Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa.

This is an unusual conservation.

Wait here.

Yes, sir.

Rachel?

Rachel?

Nobody's here.

No, sir?

When you finish up, come find me.

Yes, sir.

No garlands, no trumpets.

Just us tonight.

Such a sad homecoming.

Jennie?

Is it you?

It is.

Is the war over?

It is for me.

Bass!

God damn you.

Bass!

That man just can't quit you.

Want me to tell him that I'm yours tonight?

You mine forever.

Master?

Master Reeves?

You there?

Master, you in there?

You found me.

You want me to come in?

I said, "You found me."

Do you know what I've been ruminating on

this whole time you were tending to the horses?

Or doing whatever else took you so damn long?

I was thinking,

"Watch.

That nigger will run off

before I give him a chance to walk away scot-free."

Master?

The whole damn family is visiting Rachel's folks.

Ain't that some unlucky bullshit?

Now, we could ride over there and rouse them one and all.

A merry ruckus.

Or we could share a gentler repast here,

play a round of cards.

Yes, sir.

That's it?

That's all you got to say to me?

Thank you, Master.

You act as though you don't believe I'm a man of my word.

Oh, no.

I'm listening. I'm listening, sir.

Confused, but listening.

So, how am I confusing you, boy?

No, sir, I'm not saying you're confusing me.

I'm saying I'm-I'm confused all on my own

about how I can walk out of here scot-free.

Here's my offer.

You only get one chance,

fleeting and final.

War is war that way, and this is war.

After your heroics in battle,

this is what I'll do.

I'll set you free tonight.

I'll write out a letter of manumission

you can carry with you at all times.

That's my promise.

That sound awful kind.

But you must beat your master.

Hurry up.

Yes, sir.

You're counting, boy. I can see your lips move.

Sorry, sir. I-I got to.

Jesus.

- I can't draw until you do. - Yes, sir.

I'm hurrying.

You ready now?

Ready, Master.

Almost perfect, is it?

My hand's not bad either.

You look first.

Yes, sir.

Yeah.

Oh, your God has been good to me.

Let's see what lot He has given you.

Well, that can't be, boy.

Do you realize what you have?

A plain flush?