Lone Star

- Where's Gen. Jackson? - He's in the parlor, sir.

Having a meeting.

- Well, Ms. Minni-- - I got to see him.

Luther.

Luther Kilgore, try to remember what little manners you have.

I got bad news, Ms. Minni.

Sam Houston's made a speech against annexation.

The Austin Blade carries a full statement. This means--

I've known since early morning.

- What does the General say? - The General doesn't know.

- You kept this from him? - That's right.

Why? Who are you to decide--

I'm not only related to Andrew Jackson. I'm also his friend.

I don't want to see him go to his grave

any sooner than the good Lord intended.

Your Texas has given him enough trouble already.

He'll be told when this meeting is over and not before.

But I must warn you, sir. If we continue to campaign for Polk

on a platform favoring Texas, we'll lose this election.

He's right. Texas is a slave state.

The people of the North'll never tolerate adding shame to us.

I resent that, sir.

It's you who've twisted the peaceful relationship

between master and slave into an evil.

- 'And so, it is.' - 'That's a lie.'

'Highly eternal.'

I haven't heard so much dribble since I left Washington.

Andy, I paid $17 for that vase.

Never did like that vase anyway.

Oh, I know that someday or other

we'll have to settle the question of slavery.

But right now, our people are on fire with a new vision.

When they think of Texas, they think of California

and the Oregon territory.

A democratic nation, rich and magnificent

'stretching from sea to sea.'

Yes, sir. That's our destiny.

And when the people go to the polls, they'll tell us so too.

And then with the help of God, my old friend Sam Houston--

'Not anymore, General.'

Read this, sir.

- The meeting isn't over. - I had to do it, Ms. Minni.

"For his sudden reversal Houston said

"three times we've petitioned to be taken into the union

"and three times we've been refused.

"Now, let's have no further talk of union

"but of building a greater Texas."

Ah, this is what comes of your bickering.

'Your confounded procrastination.'

Minni, did you know about this?

Yes, but I saw no reason to disturb you

until something constructive could be done.

Constructive?

Devereaux Burke is due here at 6 o'clock.

Dev in Tennessee? What's he doing here?

- 'Business.' - I don't approve of Mr. Burke.

'Nor he of you.'

But there's a job to be done. A big job.

Someone will have to find Sam Houston.

He's gone off into the Comanche country.

Who'll go after him? You, Colby? Thompson? Mr. Mayhew?

And who'll be willing to campaign for us down there

with more than half the people fighting mad against us.

It's 6 o'clock. Where is he?

Is he going to disappoint us?

Could a man be more prompt?

- 'Good evening, Mr. Burke.' - 'Hello. Is General in?'

'Yes, sir.'

- Am I late, Minni? - No.

But if I were younger, you'd have been here an hour early.

Good evening, General. You're looking extremely well.

That's a lie, but I'm happy to hear it.

You know these gentlemen, don't you?

- Oh, sure. Colby. - Mr. Burke.

- Thomas. - How do you do, sir?

Well, Mr. Mayhew, as I live and breathe.

And how's the foreclosure on Widows and Orphans' bidders?

- I don't think-- - No need to answer.

By the cut of your clothes and swell in your belly, I can see.

- Thompson. - 'Howdy, Dev?'

Luther! How did you get so far north?

- Sure good to see you. - I've been looking for you.

Tonight Nashville Hotel, 9 o'clock.

Uh, Minni tells me you volunteered

to help us bring Texas into the union.

Well sir, Minni made me a kind of proposition.

'Proposition?'

It-it was only politics, Andy.

I promised him, but I said, you'd have to approve of it.

You'll excuse us, gentlemen. You'll hear from me soon.

- 'Goodnight, General.' - Goodnight. Goodnight.

Minni...come here.

Now say, what's all this about?

Well, General. Annexation means war with Mexico.

You're going to have to send troops to defend Texas.

Those troops will have to be fed.

- I want to feed 'em on my beef. - I don't believe it.

You, a Texan, trying to make a deal

when your country's life hangs in the balance.

You, a man who'll fall against the legions of Santa Ana.

- Or did you fight? - I fought.

When it was over, was left with a gun, rope and a horse to ride.

And all of Texas to find a living.

- Does a man need more? - I didn't ask for more.

But I've learned a few things this end, General.

If I'm gonna risk my neck, I wanna come out

this time with something more than glory.

'You are a scoundrel. At least, a knowledged one.'

We'll buy your beef.

Come closer.

I wanna speak to you frankly.

Not because I have any hope of rekindling

the spark of patriotism in you.

But because I'm frightened for the first time in my life.

I'm frightened for the future of the United States.

You see, sir. We're on our way to becoming a great nation.

The powers of Europe know this.

And they'd stop at nothing to block us.

Why, even now they're trying to use Texas against us

and there are men down there conspiring with them

to destroy us.

Well, that's hard to believe, sir.

There's bitterness towards the States

but they're still Americans.

Yeah, and they're proud and headstrong too like Sam Houston.

But they're being led into a trap.

Now, that's the reason you gotta find Sam Houston

wherever he is, without him, we are lost.

I'll give you a letter to him. Minni.

Now..

...you tell him it's my wish.

Probably, my last wish.

That the dream we both shared

that we worked so hard at..

...be fulfilled.

Now, you tell him that.

What plans have you made so far, Dev?

I'll set up in Austin. That's where the real opposition is.

Headed by a man named Tom Craden.

Tom Craden, cattleman?

Gold, cattle, cotton. Anything you might name.

Why is he against us? What's his stake in this?

I don't know exactly, sir. He got in early. Dug down deep.

Likes things the way they are, aims to keep 'em that way.

- Real noisy about it too. - You'll have to shut him up.

- He's got an awful loud voice. - Oh, he'll shut him up alright.

I'll be in Austin in 30 days. Will you be there?

Why, Minni. Did you ever know me not to get some place

where a beautiful woman is waiting for me?

Oh, damn!

- Well Luther, this is it. - Yup.

Sure you got everything straight? It's important.

Nacogdoches's your ranch. Sid Yoakum Bud Avery.

New Orleans, Louis Mizette. San Antonio, Henry Gurau.

You got it.

- So long. - See you in Austin.

'Hey, Burke. You Burke! Hold up a minute.'

- Well, Mr. Mayhew. - Thought I'd lost you.

You've been doing some hard riding.

- I got a long way to go. - Maybe I can save you the trip.

- Oh? - Shall we step down?

What's in your mind?

Whatever your deal's with Jackson, I've a better one.

- You? - I'm a friend of Tom Craden's.

I thought you were a friend of Andy Jackson's.

A man can have more than one friend.

Hold it.

You oughta know I never make more than one deal at a time.

Tell it to Tom Craden. Now ride, north.

Well, looks like warm weather ahead, Dev.

I'll worry about Tom Craden when I get to Austin.

Right now, I'm headed for Sam Houston in Comanche country.

- And Indians scare me. - Well, good luck.

I'll need it.

- You got any more rounds? - These might be enough.

Nice shooting, mister.

You're not doing so bad yourself.

My name's Tom Craden.

- Craden? - Yeah, and you're real welcome.

I figured, I might be.

Right after the tough talk then they'll be back for a shootout.

What's a man with good sense doin' in Comanche country?

I was just gonna ask you the same thing.

I'm looking for a fellow named Burke. You know him?

Really well, why?

He's riding south tryin' to stir up annexation trouble.

- And you aim to stop him? - If I can find him.

- Where'd you say you hail from? - I didn't say.

I was heading for Austin.

I know the short way in. Lucky you met me.

Not too lucky. Here they come. This is the big group.

- Nice knowing you. - Yeah, real nice.

Hey! Hey, look here, son. Ain't the street wide enough for you?

Why don't you save your breath, Windy. Ain't you heard the news?

Jim Folkes' been elected President of the United States.