Field of Lost Shoes Page #3

Of course I do.

This ain't about your

people and the Pharaoh

and you feeling something them

other boys can't feel, hmm?

What's that you got there?

Oh. Oh, nothing.

You let me be the

judge of that.

Well...

my, my, look at this.

I thank you for these.

There are some children

who won't be hungry tonight.

And, uh, who's this?

Someone who will go hungry.

All right, sir. 18 credits.

Thank you, sir.

How much are the sausages, sir?

Get behind, rat!

Hey! I said get behind!

No! I was here first, sir.

What's going on here?

This is my rat! Hands off!

Butt out, John, if you know

what's good for you.

You have no right to push a

cadet out of your way.

He's just a rat.

Don't pretend to boss me

around, Johnny.

Wasn't it your father,

the governor,

who opposed secession?

The old fool.

Whoa. Whoa.

Come on!

Hey, stop it!

Down there, stand fast!

You're all under arrest!

This ain't over, Johnny!

You bet it ain't!

Come on. We gotta go!

Hey! Hey!

Ho, boy.

General Sigel, my respects.

I have the honor of providing

artillery support for

your advance.

Welcome, dear Captain DuPont.

You have been sent by General

Grant to spy on us, eh?

I wish only to provide

the best possible support for

your command, sir.

Are there any maps

of the route?

Any intelligence of the enemy's

dispositions or intentions?

General Grant is your patron.

Let him provide

whatever you need.

Libby, Miss Clinedinst, I need

to tell you something.

When I first saw you...

your eyes... No, not "your

eyes. " Something else.

Your... Your mouth...

All right, then I say,

"Good evening. "

S-She's gonna say,

"Good evening... "

She doesn't know my name.

She doesn't know my name.

You need to come inside?

Uh, well, I better not,

given my recent problems

with conversation.

A wise boy.

Shall I get you something?

Conversation would be nice.

Are you counting on

an uncontrollable

attraction to the uniform?

Wouldn't help.

You'd soon find out I'm not

much of a soldier.

See, I didn't think that I

believed in anything

enough to fight for it...

until tonight.

And what is that, Mr...

Sam.

Mr. Sam.

What is it you

believe in tonight?

I believe in something

more than just sudden,

superficial attraction.

Tonight I believe in love

at first sight.

Get him.

That's what you get for

giving away food!

I think you should

stick to drawing.

That's a

woman's work.

I see how you could pick up on

a local with that. Nice.

Well, what do we have here?

I hope he's got warm bread.

It's Old Judge, sir!

I went to the bakery to

make our delivery,

and the soldiers were all

in there with him!

Dear God.

Do you know where

they took him?

To the faculty Captain,

the one called Chinook.

Get Jefferson.

Was it very bad?

Ain't gonna be nothing

compared to what the

hanging's gonna be.

This don't make no sense.

They need the Judge.

They can't need a slave, son.

But they can forgive one.

Oh, yeah. Captain Chinook's

just dripping with the

honey of forgiveness.

Y'all, it's time to go.

Johnny...

weren't your fault, son.

Hungry got fed.

I promised.

Don't you know it's the

other way around?

Old men make the promises

the young'uns got to pay on.

That's war, ain't it?

I'm coming back for you, Judge.

I'll stay.

All right.

Let's go, boys.

He fed people who

were starving.

And hanging is the consequence

a slave faces for

stealing food.

He didn't steal it.

I did, sir.

No, Captain, it was I.

I did it, sir.

I as well.

And I bring the confession

of Moses Ezekiel,

so it's five gallows, then.

Shall I organize a detail to

assist the hangman?

You know very well you

won't be hanged.

Are you so willing to

end your careers?

With all due respect, sir,

who would offer a career to

five dishonorable men?

What kind of satisfaction could

such a life bring?

You too, Colonna? Jefferson?

Honor is honor, sir.

It is the most precious quality

in our profession.

All for one, sir.

That's the honor thing, sir.

Get out of my sight.

And don't be late for

morning class.

And, Jack, looks like

I'm gonna get

some baked bread this morning.

Get 'em out of here.

So Echols and

Wharton are, what,

joining us on foot?

60 miles for Echols,

75 for Wharton.

Gentlemen.

They can make it.

If they march through the

night, don't eat,

kill most of their horses,

maybe.

Well, there is one more

possible solution.

We have 250 trained

troops and artillery

less than 50 miles

from Staunton...

Jesus, Charlie, the

schoolboys again?

Cadets. Just in reserve

and only if Wharton and

Echols are delayed.

In reserve to fight.

And if we have to put those

children in to fight,

then what kind of dire

circumstances

will they find themselves in?

Yes, they are young,

and, yes, you have told me on six

occasions in the last four days

that you will not permit

them near the Gap.

And I won't.

But we do need them

in reserve...

just in case, sir.

The Yankees burned his home.

The mill's gone.

Everything's gone.

His sister Margaret?

His baby brother?

No one knows.

That there is your Grant,

Johnny.

That's how he is.

You take me...

where I could get revenge.

Son, I must speak to the

superintendent.

We do not expect General

Sigel's forces

to proceed south through the

valley at best speed,

but if they do...

I understand. Of course.

Thank you, Major.

200-odd boys really gonna

make the difference?

Is the situation

really that dire?

I am quite sure.

I have promised

General Breckinridge

that you will be in

Staunton by Thursday.

That's 50 miles in 2 days.

Yes, sir.

Battalion, fall in!

Quickly now!

I said fall in!

Attention to orders!

Enemy in heavy force

is advancing

up the Shenandoah Valley!

General Lee cannot spare forces

from the Army of Northern

Virginia to meet this advance!

All available forces from

southwestern Virginia and elsewhere

are hereby ordered to

assemble in Staunton

to defend the valley!

The battalion of cadets

of the Virginia

Military Institute

is ordered to march with four

companies of infantry

and one section of artillery

by the Valley Pike!

All cadets will appear with

canteen, blanket and weapon

at 8:
00 tomorrow morning

prepared to march!

That is all!

Yeah!

Dismissed!

Revenge, Johnny. Revenge.

Scared?

Are we really going to fight?

They tell us no.

We're gonna be held

back in reserve,

but we can't be sure.

Is that supposed to make

me feel better?

What makes you think I want

you to feel better?

I want you to stay safe.

Whatever happens, you

stay with me.

I guess we should

declare a truce.

Of course.

This ain't over, though.

I'm still gonna whup you good.

That boy is outside.

Come to say goodbye, have you?

Absolutely.

I'm gonna miss this old house.

Women's work,

darning socks,

mending uniforms,

packing food and blankets,

and of course, pulling together

medical supplies and bandages

for those who'll follow to

help if needed.

Well, I hope you're not

gonna do that.

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