Friendly Persuasion Page #3

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This is that rare silver process.

You see the fine workmanship of

Professor Grady. He is the foremost...

Now where is the little pea?

Thank you, madam. Thank you!

Everything's back to normal now.

Now, just a minute.

Place your fingers there. That's it.

Now pump.

Wonderful!

Why, Friend Birdwell,

you've got a real touch.

A real, natural-born touch.

Ice-cold lemonade here!

Who'll have a cold drink?

Has thee forgotten thyself?

I'm to blame.

Mattie didn't want to dance.

I made her.

Let's look for thy father.

It's my last day of furlough.

I mean, I was hoping that Mattie

could stay with me for a while.

Gardiner, thy duties as a soldier

and Mattie's as a Quaker lie far apart.

God bless thee, Gard.

Come along.

Goodbye.

That's a mighty fine fight.

A mighty fine fight!

Here's your coat.

All right, men. Now's your chance

to get the Billy Goat.

Who'd like to give me a silver dollar?

Is there one man...

Caleb Cope!

He can throw the Billy Goat!

- Which one is that?

- There.

You mean the Quaker man here?

Come on in here, Quaker man!

Thee shouldn't fight.

This ain't fighting.

This is just friendly wrestling.

Go get him, Quaker!

All right, gentlemen!

May the best man win.

Let's go!

- Did I hurt you?

- What's wrong with you?

You didn't hurt me. Let's go.

No, thanks.

Come on. Let's go.

What's the matter with you?

The Quaker boy quit!

- Why didn't you kiss him?

- Quitter!

Quitter!

Hold on. I want to talk to you.

Leave him alone.

It's against his principle to fight.

Losing a bet's against my principles.

I think you're in with the boss.

- No, sir.

- So why'd you stop?

- He's a Quaker.

- Shut up! Who wants to hear you?

- Let them alone! These boys believe...

- I know.

They believe in loving their neighbor.

I'm their neighbor.

Do you still love me?

I feel sorry for thee, friend.

Thee feels sorry for me?

Don't let him talk to you that way.

Milk sop!

If thee wants to hit

someone, friend, hit me.

It'll be a pleasure.

I'll take a whack at him.

You want to fight?

You aren't showing me nothing.

What's the matter, Quaker boy?

- What's the trouble, friend?

- Another friend!

Thee needs cooling off.

My hat!

- Let me up!

- Thee not thirsty, friend?

Is thee having an altercation?

Okay, let's break it up.

Come on.

Fighting!

Dancing! Gambling!

Wrestling! And...

- Sleeve-holders.

- Sleeve-holders?

I never saw sleeve-holders like that.

They're from...

...Pierre, in Paris.

Listen, thee dirty...

But Mama, he took my hat.

It'll be a pretty day. Be hot

the other side of the Ohio though.

I wish thee didn't have to

make this trip.

It's too close to the war to be safe.

Now, Eliza, I have to

see my customers...

...this time of the year.

Leave Josh at home then.

He's so young to be exposed to danger.

Thee can't keep him tied

to thy apron strings.

This trip will be good for him.

Horse is hitched, bags stowed away,

we're off! Let's go!

Is thee so anxious to leave home?

I want to see Ohio.

I'll miss thee.

Come on, Pa!

Take good care of Josh.

God bless and keep thee.

Jess, see if thee can't

get rid of that horse.

- Afternoon.

- Howdy!

Man of the house around?

Ain't no man in this house

since Pa died.

And Mrs. Hudsp...

Hudspeth?

Ma's here.

Couple of men to see you!

Men!

Men?

Ma's coming!

Hi!

Hello.

- Mrs. Hudspeth?

- That's me.

I'm Jess Birdwell. I have

first-class nursery stock for sale.

- What kind?

- Everything in orchard fruits.

If thee likes apple trees, there's

Maiden's Blush, Ramblos and Winesaps.

In the berry line, there's

raspberries, gooseberries and the like.

- This your boy?

- This is Joshua.

Meet my girls.

This is Opal, Ruby,

she's my baby, and Pearl.

Gems, every one of them!

Girls, meet Joshua.

Back!

Don't overdo it, girls.

Come in the house.

Let's talk business in comfort.

Sit down, son.

They won't bite you.

Menfolks are so scarce here, the girls

get carried away at the sight of one.

But I keep telling them, "Easy does it."

Ain't that right?

As a Quaker, I've always been

against violence, Mrs. Hudspeth.

A Quaker, huh?

I guessed as much

from the way you talk.

All that thee-ing and thy-ing.

If I put my mind to it, I can say

you or yours if it suits thee.

No, sir.

"Pleased to meet thee.

Are these thy daughters?"

Prettiest talk I ever heard.

Makes me feel kind of romantic.

Come sit down.

Let's talk business back here.

You been on the road long?

About ten days.

Heading home tomorrow.

See any rebel raiders?

Everything peaceful all the way.

I hope you're right.

What if them ruffians come thieving

with nobody on the farm...

...but four defenseless women?

I shudder to think of it.

Now, about that nursery stock...

First look at my south 40...

...and tell me what orchard stock

would be best there. Opal!

Go hitch up Lady.

We'll drive my mare.

Give your animal a rest.

We can bed you down for the night.

That's very kind.

- But...

- Oh, now, no buts!

Glad to have some men around

for a change.

Ruby.

Go lay out some clean bedding,

will you?

All right, Ma.

Get going.

Pearl, take care of Josh

while we're gone.

Now, you just set right back here.

I don't want to be a bother.

You ain't no bother.

Sure is a nice place thee has here.

Want a smoke?

I don't smoke.

Want a drink?

I don't drink either.

Thee have one.

Not unless you do.

Is this a Narragansett Pacer?

You know that breed?

Thee's a favored woman.

That mare ain't got

but one real fault.

She won't be passed.

- Won't be passed?

- No, sir!

What's the fault in that?

I've got three marriageable daughters.

A man ain't got any heart for courting

a girl he can't catch up with...

...let alone pass.

It shouldn't be hard to find

a horse willing to be passed.

Hello, Abigail!

That's old Whiskey Pete.

He ain't drawed a sober breath

in 30 years.

Fool's always trying to race somebody.

Old drunk!

Why don't thee let her out?

Don't fight her. Let her go!

I'm going to learn this consarned mare

she's got to be passed!

Put my hat on!

Pull it down!

Not that far!

What are you doing?

It's all right.

Easy, Lady. Easy.

Sorry, I kind of overreached myself,

grabbing the reins thataway.

Don't apologize.

For a man, it's suitable to beat

another man in a race on a public road.

Do you ever think about getting

thy girls a horse a mite more...

...maidenly-acting?

I've thought of it.

You've got a stylish animal.

Red Rover's a looker, all right.

Got racing notions?

Not that he can't pick up

his heels a bit.

But racing's a thing

he's got no stomach for.

You wouldn't consider a trade, I reckon.

I don't know.

A strong-minded animal like this

can be a plaguey nuisance.

A forceful man like yourself

could learn her better in no time.

If you's a mind to.

Seems a likely exchange.

Then let's shake on it.

Don't leave it hanging.

A handsome young drummer

Came by in the spring

With beautiful laces

In cases

I'm sorry, she said

I can't buy anything

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