South of St. Louis

" The civil war built a wall of hate between the North and South ."

" And on each side great armies fought and died ."

" But south of St. Louis, across the Mississippi ."

" Was a no-man's land ."

" Where guerrilla raiders led by men like Luke Cottrell ."

" Left a wake of ruin burning and plundering ranches and homes ."

" Riding across the great flat plain ."

" With gun and torch they pillaged the countryside ."

" In the name of the Union Army ."

" And against the Texas sky rose the slow dust of wagon trains ."

" Settlers driven from the land by the fury of war ."

Looks like we lost more than our cows.

Nobody but a Yankee would do a thing like this.

Somebody around here don't like us.

Kip.

Kip.

They must have been watching.

They saw you and the men ride off after the herd.

They came to all the ranches that night.

They dragged off all they could carry.

Stole the horses. Burned the houses.

Who did it? - Cottrell.

Luke Cottrell and his guerrillas.

Bronco. I want you to take good care of Deborah.

What are you going to do, Kip?

Your horse's alright? - Sure. They'll pull to Hampton.

Where you going? I want to go with you. - Deb needs you with her.

Where are you going, Kip?

Brownsville. - That's Union headquarters now.

And Cottrell's.

Don't do it, Kip. Come to Edenton with us.

Leave our land and let them burn us out and do nothing?

They've burned out all of us.

Finding Cottrell won't bring it back.

Lee, tell him you won't go with him. Tell him not to do it.

The three of us been together a long stretch, Deb.

Charlie?

I wouldn't mind getting a look at Cottrell myself right now.

It isn't Cottrell I'm thinking of. It's the three of you.

You came out here and made something out of the land.

There were troubles then too but they didn't turn you to hate.

Building Three Bell kept you together.

This can only end by splitting you apart.

Don't you see? Don't go.

We're going to Brownsville, Deb.

What about me, Kip?

You asked me to marry you.

We made all kinds of plans. What happens to them now?

Nothing's changed.

We'll all be coming back. Maybe sooner than you think.

Kip is right. Edenton is the place for you now.

I'm afraid we're going to Brownsville, Deb.

We're pulling out. You had better go now.

Hold it there.

What are you carrying? - Contraband.

Cannonballs and used rifle bullets.

I grow them on my ranch when nobody is looking at me.

I wouldn't throw that word 'contraband' around so free in these parts.

I've seen men shot for much less than that.

He's carrying hay.

Alright. Let him through, Cal.

Go ahead, Reb.

And next time save your jokes for Jeff Davis.

We're Union to a man, sir .

Yankee doodle never fails when he decides to try, sir .

We'll lick the pants off Johnny Reb, so have another ride, sir .

We'll have another ride, sir .

Yankee doodle does as well any other dancer .

And like the ladies, he is brave and Union to a man, sir .

Yankee doodle never fails when he decides to try, sir .

We'll lick the pants off Johnny Reb, so have another ride, sir .

Hello Jake.

How are you, Kip?

Lee?

Hello Charlie. - A full house today.

Yep.

I don't see Luke Cottrell.

Luke?

Cottrell? Oh.

He's been in today?

I don't think he was in today but I can ask.

Jake.

Does he usually come by?

Who?

Cottrell.

He comes by.

Sure.

A man gets thirsty, don't he?

Kip.

Please don't start anything. I don't want any trouble in the place.

Don't worry, Jake. There ain't going to be any trouble.

Can I buy you a drink while we wait?

Some other time. If it's just the same to you.

Rouge. Rouge, come here.

Sing Yankee doodle again. Sign anything.

But sing.

Boys.

Whiskey.

Our brave guerrilla allies.

Hello Cottrell.

You celebrate?

You ain't crazy enough to start anything here, Davis.

I'm not starting anything.

You figure on making me draw first, huh?

Maybe.

Then the three of you start pumping lead.

No. They're patient boys. They will wait their turn.

If you get past me.

You got a name for being pretty fast on the draw, Davis.

I'm still living.

But I've heard them say Charlie is faster.

Yeah?

What about him?

He outdraws both of you?

I don't put bullets in my guns. I just carry them for ballast.

If you boys are looking for a fight you'll have to fight each other.

I ain't drawing.

Pick up your gun, Cottrell.

Listen, Cottrell.

Get out of Texas and don't come back.

You've earned yourself a drink, mister. I'd like to buy you one.

I don't drink with Yankees.

Easy does it, Kip.

See, Jake? There wasn't any trouble.

Alright, you border rats.

Get in on the winning side.

If there's a man among you he'll join up with the best ..

Fighting force west of the Mississippi.

Come on, step up.

Sign your name or make your mark.

And ride to victory with the Seventh Cavalry.

Yeah. Join the army and steal cattle.

Say, you look strong enough to carry a gun.

I already got one.

But it's got a funny habit of shooting only one way. North.

A Johnny Reb, huh?

Or maybe you're too scared to fight.

Easy does it, Lee. Easy does it.

How much more of this do you think I can take?

For months now we've tried to raise a stake.

We ain't got the stake and I'm sick of looking at Union soldiers.

Living with them. Easting with them.

And marching through my dreams.

Why not march something else through your dreams? Something like blondes?

Come on, let's get a drink. - I'm going to Edenton.

What for? There's nothing in Edenton but more soldiers.

Yeah. But they're Confederate soldiers.

I am going to sign up.

You, a soldier-boy?

Stripes on your sleeve? Yes, sir. No sir. Saluting every minute?

You sure that's what you want to do, Lee?

Yeah. I'm sure.

I ain't got nothing against shooting. Why change clothes to do it?

Maybe he's right. Maybe all three of us ought to join up.

Wait a minute.

No. Not you two.

You wouldn't be in the army five minutes before they'd hang the both of you.

Inciting to riot. Striking an officer.

Disobedience to orders.

Wearing the uniform improperly.

What about you?

Well, it's different with me. You know.

It means we got to break up.

We never broke up before.

We've never had a war like this before.

Alright, Lee.

You're the only one who knows what you ought to do.

Well.

So long, Kip. - Good riding, Lee.

So long, Charlie. - So long, Lee.

What's Lee supposed to do now? Turn in his bell?

Quit joking, Charlie.

He is my friend too.

We still need a stake.

Maybe I can win a herd at Jake's card tables.

Hello cowboy.

How do, ma'am.

I've been wondering about you.

What does a cowboy do when he runs out of cows?

I've wondered the same thing myself.

I got fifty dollars looking for a job.

What kind of a job?

Driving that wagon.

High pay for a muleskinner.

Where you aim on driving it? St Louis?

Just to Point Isabel.

Point Isabel?

That is confederate territory.

What is in your wagon? - Furniture.

I brought some fine things into this town.

It's getting a little rough here so I'm moving out.

Every stick of it came over from the East.

That chaise there. It came from France.

It's all mine.

You haven't been listening.

I've been wondering about you ever since I drifted into town.

That's a healthy color you got in your cheeks.

Rouge.

I thought for a minute it was the Texas climate.

Even Texas needs a little help.