Field of Lost Shoes Page #4

It's a war, not a party.

Of course not.

Why would I go?

There's nothing I believe in

enough to fight for,

while you, on the other hand...

Oh, yes. Love at first sight.

Let's go!

Hurry!

Fall in!

Fall in!

Battalion, fall in!

Order!

Arms!

Eyes front!

Battalion of cadets,

Virginia Military Institute!

Forward, march!

Why is the answer no

insufficient for you?

General, with all respect...

There is no respect,

not in your face, your voice,

your words!

There is no respect in you.

When I'm comfortable, then

I will advance.

Sir, if we do not reach

New Market Gap

before Breckinridge

gathers his troops,

it will be too late.

If I advance before

I'm comfortable,

that will be too early.

And early comes before late.

Why would he do that, Sigel?

Just sit there?

Oh, I'm sure it's a whole

bunch of reasons,

cowardice near the top.

And with General Wharton

on the train...

Yes, things would appear to be

going better, Charlie.

Observe my elation.

You won't have to use the boys.

No. They still on the way?

Yes, sir.

Attention,

cadets!

The young ladies of Staunton

have invited you to a

welcoming social tonight!

Look sharp, boys!

If you insist, sir.

Orders are orders.

Sorry, boys.

Down to just bread

and dried beef.

Thank you very much.

You think there's gonna be a

lot of ladies at this dance?

I hope there's more than one.

Otherwise, you boys

are out of luck.

I know I'll be looking for

one in particular.

Do you think Captain Chinook

will let us rats go tonight?

My goodness, I forgot to ask

him in our last intimate chat.

Sorry, I won't be

able to make it.

Got guard duty.

Looks like I'll be dancing with

old Chinook instead.

Oh, I hear old Chinook's known

for his waltzing abilities.

Ah, you could do far worse

than Captain Chinook.

Be careful, Johnny.

He might just sweep you

right off your feet.

Well, now, that's making me

mighty uncomfortable.

Hey, rat.

You want to splash a little?

Rat! Come on now!

I'm in the middle of shaving.

I just did my hair!

I gotta move and

get some food

I never meant to stay

Is it all right

that I don't have a

uniform like you do?

Not to worry,

Robert.

One day, you will be

magnificent, remember?

When you're an upperclassman,

you will have a coat just

like this one.

But for tonight,

you're perfect.

Now let's find you a lady.

Excuse me, miss. I'd

like you to meet

a real Southern gentleman.

Hi. I'm Robert.

Kara.

Go enjoy yourselves.

Go on.

Well, welcome, soldier.

Can I persuade you to a dance?

No.

No, thank you.

I knew I should have worn

the red dress.

Miss, you are lovely

in that dress,

and whoever dances with you is

gonna be the envy of all.

The hair, then? I can

take it down.

Please, don't trouble yourself.

This is about a girl I left

behind in Lexington.

Oh.

Married, are you?

Not yet.

Childhood sweethearts.

Been together as long as...

long as I can remember.

Mm.

I just came here tonight

for the refreshments and music.

Do you know if all the other

ladies have arrived already?

I'm sure I wouldn't know.

All right, of course.

Evening.

Would you just excuse

me a moment?

I hope I'm not

interrupting anything.

I told you not to come.

Yes, you did.

Tomorrow...

I know where you're going,

to New Market.

I'm going, too.

You haven't seen

the last of me.

Still not much at conversation.

Or anything else.

I'll be the judge of that.

You are absolutely right.

Oh, Miss...

no way to talk to a soldier on

the eve of battle.

Hmm.

You'll be fine.

That's the plan.

For good luck.

So you won't forget me.

No, Sam, this is the plan.

A farm, a shop, a trade.

Your choice.

Four babies, my choice.

That'd be all?

We'll fight a good deal.

We will, will we?

I'm sure of that,

even when we're old on a

porch together

with nine grandchildren

and our teeth falling out.

Well, we'll laugh some, too,

I believe.

And there will be conversation.

I do like conversation.

You missed a good party.

Cadet Wise, I'm here

to relieve you.

If you ask me, something

big is coming.

Only one day's march

from New Market.

By Saturday night,

the battle will begin

the next day.

You and Breckinridge

figure it all out?

Well, I have it from Grant

himself, actually.

We shared a whiskey,

foul cigar.

He said let's end this whole

bloodstained mess

Sunday at New Market Gap.

I'm sure of it, actually.

It's an omen.

How?

Stonewall Jackson always

fought on a Sunday.

I'm worried about you, John.

If you don't believe in

what you're fighting for,

you won't make it out

of this valley.

A man must believe his

cause is just

in order to gladly die for it.

Defending our homeland

against strangers?

You know I come from a

family of bankers.

We don't own slaves,

but the South's way of life's

depended on slaves for

over 200 years.

You rip it to pieces

all at once,

and you destroy the rest of us.

We should not be fighting to

keep people in chains.

Will you or will you not

defend Virginia?

I will defend my family.

My friends are my family.

This school is my family.

I will fight for that.

But if God grants us victory,

we must change.

Keep your thoughts to yourself,

John.

The others, they... they may

doubt your resolve.

They would be fools

if they did.

Sir, Union Cavalry in force

approaching from the east

just on the other side

of that hill.

So it is to be tomorrow.

Finally.

We'll have Wharton?

Almost certainly.

God damn it, Major!

Can you not speak

plain English?

Is that half certain?

Is that more than certain?

At least half.

We will win tomorrow, sir,

because we have to.

I didn't hear that, Charlie.

I said... I do not want to hear

the language of losers

from you, Charlie.

Victory will not come because

we think it must.

Well, then, what is the

language of the winners, sir?

I will lose, and I will die,

and I will fail everything

and everyone that I love

unless I find the way to win.

The Confederates

cannot sustain the losses.

Is that what Grant says?

The general doesn't speak

in predictions.

Nor in boasts. Mm.

What news does he give of

the Valley campaign?

We're better fed,

better supplied,

more experienced.

The report is that Breckinridge

has actually

conscripted schoolboys,

cadets from the Virginia

Military Institute,

he's so desperately

shorthanded.

So we've stooped to

massacring schoolboys?

Only if he chooses to use them,

sir.

Help me, please! Somebody!

Please, sir, can you

spare a moment?

Can you help us, sir?

My sister, sir. Get

away from me.

Her leg is... Please.

Somebody help me!

Please, somebody help us.

Help me!

Please, sir. Mister.

Help me!

Anyone asks, I'll

be right back.

Keep marching!

Please, sir, help us.

We're gonna get you

out of here!

Please, help me!

Go to the other side. Please,

help me!

Moses, let's go.

I got it.

Men, come on.

Help me!

Step to it, Moses!

Think it's stuck on something.

It's gonna be okay.

Are you okay, Miss?

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