The Little Colonel

Oh, that was delightful, indeed.

Delightful. that was lovely, Elizabeth.

Thank you, Dr. Scott.

Colonel, if I were 20 years younger, I'd carry her off.

I suspect some other people have the same idea.

Father, you shouldn't say such things.

Oh, I know I shouldn't, my dear. I've missed a lot.

Marriage is a wonderful institution.

Yes. No family should be without it. Oh!

Thank you.

Oh! Confound you, Walker! Watch what you're doing!

I'm sorry, sir. You'd better be.

If you'd broken that, I'd have broken your head.

Yes, sir.

It's pretty, isn't it? Valuable too.

Yes, someday your temper's gonna split you wide open.

Well, sir, when it does, I won't send for you to sew me up.

that's a good one.

But it's too late for you to change your family physician now, colonel.

Oh, I don't know, doctor. This is an age of change.

Colonel, a toast before we say good night.

yes, colonel, a toast.

I give you our homeland--

glorious in defeat,

gallant in victory...

And brave in her hour of grief.

Gentlemen, I give you the south...

And confusion to all her enemies.

Hear! Hear! Right, right.

a very lovely evening, colonel.

Oh, my dear boy, it's a pleasure, always.

Oh, my dear friends, don't run away like this. The evening's young.

Hurry, Becky.

Oh, miss Elizabeth, I hate to see you go,

and I'm afraid of what the colonel will do when he finds out.

He won't find out till I'm well on my way.

Now, stop crying and don't act suspiciously.

I'll send for you as soon as I can. Yes'm.

Put up your hands!

Don't try to run, or I'll shoot.

Come here.

Take my bag down the back way. Yes'm.

Now, who are you...

And what are you doing prowling around my place at night?

My name is Jack Sherman, sir. Sherman, huh?

Well, that name's no recommendation.

You're a Yankee too, huh?

Well, out with it. What are you doing here?

Wait, Jack! Let me tell him.

Father, this is the man I'm going to marry.

I knew you would never give your consent, so we were going to elope.

I wanted to come to you, sir, and ask you if you'd-- silence!

Why did you assume I would object to an honorable marriage?

I know how you feel about the north.

I hate all Yankees. That's why we didn't come and tell you.

Then you knew you were doing wrong.

I love him.

How can you love a man who represents what every true southerner should hate?

A man who probably fought against your father,

your brother and all your kinfolk.

Why, for all you know,

he may be the very man who fired the shot...

That killed your brother.

I was a soldier just as you were, sir,

and even though I fought on the other side, the south has my respect and sympathy.

My mother was a Virginian.

But may I remind you, the war has been over for a long time.

The war will never be over for me or mine, sir.

You know, I ought to kill you.

I don't know but what I will.

Elizabeth, go to your room.

No. Go to your room, I tell you.

I'm going with Jack.

Elizabeth!

When that door closes,

it'll never open for you again.

Assemble the men for orders of the day. Yes, sir.

Sound assembly.

Attention!

Troop is formed, sir. Take your post.

General Weatherby has this day appointed to his staff...

As honorary colonel, Lloyd Sherman.

Draw sabers!

Eyes right!

Eyes front! Present sabers!

This honor has been conferred on you for distinguished services.

Completely unarmed,

except for your golden curls, brown eyes and your dimples,

you've captured an entire regiment-- this one.

I take great pleasure in handing you your commission, colonel Sherman.

I can't read this writing. It isn't big enough.

Besides, I can't read anyway.

Oh, I assure you, it's all according to military regulations.

Now that I'm a colonel, can't I play with the boys anymore?

Of course you can. Well, you don't.

Uh--

Do colonels have to go to bed at 7:00?

Why, no. Sometimes colonels stay up as late as 8:00.

I wish you'd tell my mother that. I will.

Now I'll show that I'm a real colonel.

Attention, men. Company dismissed!

Company dismissed!

You heard the colonel's order.

well, colonel, how does it feel to be in command of a big army like this?

Thank you.

We feel just as proud as she does.

Bob, I want to thank you for everything.

It's been a great pleasure to have you and your family with us even for so short a time.

- Quite different from Philadelphia, isn't it? - Yes, indeed.

We lived there for six years, but I never got used to the noise of the horse cars.

I understood from Jack you had sold your home there.

We sold everything-- lock, stock and barrel.

Took Greeley's advice to go west, and here we are to find our fortunes.

Depending on your help for that.

Oh, there's plenty there for the finding, if we're lucky.

Attention, men!

Present arms!

I do wish I didn't have to go back home to Lloydsboro.

Now, dear, we've settled all that.

This country's no place for women and children,

and where Jack's going it's even rougher.

The colonel is right, ma'am.

Jack told me you have a lovely home waiting for you.

That sounds too grand. It's just a cottage my mother left me.

No one's lived in it for years.

A safe journey to you and an uneventful one. Thank you.

Now, you gotta watch very close.

Well, having a fine time for yourself, aren't you?

What's the matter? Has the cat got your tongue?

You hurt. Let me down! Oh, I wouldn't hurt you, little lady.

Give me a kiss, hmm?

You'll write often, won't you, dear? Of course.

The coach is here, Mr. Sherman. Thank you.

Remember what I told you, little colonel. All right.

Kiss me good-bye.

Good-bye, darling. Home safe.

Do be careful. I will.

Now, honey, you be a brave soldier and look out for mother, won't you?

Yes, papa Jack. I will.

Good-bye, my baby. Good-bye.

Good morning, colonel, sir.

Fair and bright today. Mm-hmm.

I hear down at the village prices is picking up...

And it's a big year for cotton.

Oh, stop chattering, Walker! Yes, sir.

I don't want to hear all this gossip. No, sir.

I was gonna tell you about the cottage, sir,

but I reckon you wouldn't be interested.

- Cottage? - yes, sir. Someone is moving into it.

Walker! Yes, sir?

Confound you! Why don't you let me know what's going on around here?

Who's moving in to the cottage? I don't know, sir.

I hear tell they moved in this morning.

Well, well, well, well.

It's been empty a long time now.

Ever since--

well, maybe I'd better call on our new neighbors...

And see what kind of folks they are.

Yes, sir. Having neighbors won't make it so lonely around here.

- Who says it's lonely around here? - Not me. No, sir.

Anyway, I like to be lonely.

Why, f--

mother, who was that?

Your grandfather. Why didn't he come in?

He didn't want to.

Did he make you cry?

Never mind, dear.

You're a bad man to make my mama cry!

Mom Beck. What, child?

Why doesn't my grandfather want to come in and see my mother?

Well, he mighty mad at she, and, I guess, she mad at he.

Why?

Your grandfather get mad when your mother married your daddy.

But he's her papa, isn't he? Sure enough.

Shouldn't papas love their little girls? Yes, they should.

Seems mighty funny to me.

Well, it's 'cause all the Lloyds are stubborn.

The old colonel is, your mother is, and you is.

I'm not stubborn! Don't you call me that!

No use you stomping your foot at me.

That don't change it. That just proves it.

Now, lookee here, honey, does you want to fight with me, or does you want to help me?

I want to help you.

That's fine.

Mom Beck, I'm expecting aunt Sally Tyler for lunch. Will you have enough?

I don't know if I can stretch one small chicken,

but as long as the water's running, we'll have soup enough.

Well, do the best you can. Yes'm.

Honey, don't eat that now.

You'll spoil your lunch.

Is aunt Sally Tyler my aunt too?

She's your great aunt, dear. My great aunt?

Oh, I know. The big, fat one.