Serena Page #2

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we're losing 'em

to the cut-and-run philosophy

of the logging barons.

But we're fools if we think

that what God has created

can be sacrificed for a quick profit.

The simple question before us is this,

ladies and gentlemen.

Do we want our Smoky Mountains

to be made a national park?

Or do we want them to be made a desert?

Thank you, Mr. Kephart. And thank

you all for showing up this afternoon.

What about the jobs, Sheriff?

These men need to work, don't they?

And the logging camps bring

in railroads and electric lines

to places that never had them before.

We're bringing progress to Carolina.

Progress? Progress for whom,

Mr. Pemberton?

All the profits are going north.

Well, what is it

that your park's providing?

I'm sure your park

will be very nice for you

and your rich friends to go

on a Sunday afternoon hike

but for the working men,

the men in this room, Sheriff,

the men unlike you, Mr. Kephart,

it's a matter of survival.

He's right, Sheriff.

The logging barons always cry "jobs"

and "free enterprise"

but the truth is, you barely pay

enough to put food on the table.

Oh, we pay more than

any job these men can get.

And that's why there's a line 50-deep

every time there's an opening.

Openings. Yes, you always have openings,

don't you, Mr. Pemberton?

Because your camps have killed more

men than the War Between the States.

It's dangerous work.

And every logger will tell you

he's proud of what he does.

And I don't think he wants

the government

to build him a pretty park, Sheriff.

I think he wants the freedom.

The freedom to work hard

and to better himself.

That's what this country

is supposed to be about, Sheriff!

- Yeah! That's right!

- Yeah! Yeah!

- You did wonderfully.

- Just told the truth.

One, two, three, smile! And flash!

I love you so much.

I have your child inside me.

- Namaste.

- Namaste.

Vaughn!

Put my horse in the stable.

They need to get used to each other.

Yes, ma'am.

- I'll get you some food and blankets.

- Don't bother.

I won't eat or sleep until she does.

- Well, I'm staying here with you.

- No, you're not.

I need to do this alone.

They need to know that it was a woman

who tamed the eagle.

All right. Everybody out.

Hi.

The prey believes that

if it keeps still, it won't be noticed.

But eventually it flinches.

And when it does,

the eagle always sees.

This, uh, park business

seems to be picking up speed.

Now that Rockefeller's thrown in

with them, they're making real offers.

- They'll be coming to us next?

- Yeah.

Rockefeller's $5 million behind them.

We're not interested.

Well, I was asking your husband's

opinion, Mrs. Pemberton, not yours.

Easy.

Well, I don't want you

to worry about it.

Well, I do.

We'll need about a million

to pay off the loan

and have enough money

to get going in Brazil.

That's two more years here in Carolina,

assuming this park business

doesn't shut us down.

We're going to have to

pay off a senator.

Listen. What do you think of Serena?

Oh, well, she's a lovely girl.

I'm sorry. I should have

said something to you earlier.

But Serena is different, you know.

She'd rather come to a godforsaken place

like Carolina

than sip tea with society ladies.

Can you imagine a woman like that?

Well, I don't have to imagine her,

George. She's right here with us.

I just don't want you to think of her

as my wife.

I want you to think of her as a partner.

Because she is.

A partner.

- Every cent she has, she gave to us.

- Right.

Well, I will indeed. A partner.

- Good morning, Sheriff.

- Ladies.

So, this is for you, Senator.

- You have a nice campaign, now.

- I will.

Good day, Mr. Buchanan.

Does Mr Pemberton think bribes

can stop the park?

Oh, well, nothing wrong

with having friends in high places.

I'm surprised Mrs. Pemberton

isn't handling the bribery by now.

I hear she's taken charge

of everything else at the camp.

I understand why

you might think so, Sheriff.

But you don't really know.

We'd like to make you a proposition.

- Sheriff McDowell.

- Buchanan.

- Welcome. How are you today?

- Good. Thank you.

Good. Good to see you.

Mr. Kephart.

- Good to see you.

- Good to see you, too.

- How are you?

- All right.

They seem chummy.

Has Buchanan ever done business

for them before?

Not that I know of.

This is your offer, then?

$400,000.

That's a good deal more than you'd

get on the open market, Mr. Pemberton.

Well, maybe that's true, Mr Kephart.

But we're asking

for a million dollars firm, so...

The land was appraised at 300.

Before the crash.

Well, I am very sorry to have wasted

your time today, gentlemen but, um,

we were all under the assumption

that you were coming to us

with a formidable offer.

If we have to take this land

by eminent domain,

you'll be lucky to get a half

of what we're offering.

- Is that a threat, Sheriff?

- No, no, it's a fact.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, uh,

why don't we all, um,

reconsider our positions

and convene whenever the Pembertons

and I have looked through...

The fact is, Sheriff,

you need our land to build your park.

And our price is a million dollars.

Well, think a second time.

Because one false step

and those bankers you're in hock to

will be picking on the bones

of your fortune.

And I personally would hate to see

your pretty wife humiliated in that way.

You don't ever get to talk about wife,

let alone look at her.

You can leave now.

Good day. Good day, ma'am.

- How are you, Mr. Galloway?

- Well, Mr. Pemberton.

I thought you were coming with us?

Galloway's got a line on a panther.

Oh. I'm afraid not.

I've got business in Asheville.

- On a Sunday?

- Yeah, I'm afraid so.

Bobcat.

But, um, that ain't what you want,

is it, Mr. Pemberton?

No, it's not.

Next time, we come at nightfall.

If there's a panther roundabout,

you'll hear it.

You know that, uh,

that park agitator, Kephart?

He has a cabin here.

Do you know where that is?

I reckon I do.

I'd like to take a look.

I went by Kephart's cabin.

I, uh... Yeah, I've been negotiating

with them.

- Behind my back.

- Yeah. Well, look. Listen.

Listen, they'll go as high as 450 now.

You said a million.

That's what you always said.

George, you're going to have to forget

about Brazil.

That's...

You're not the same any more.

The only thing that's changed is you.

Look. I just want out.

I'll buy you out

as soon as we move to Brazil.

Oh, I'm afraid I can't wait that long.

Well, I'm not going to sell, Albert,

so you can't do anything about it.

That's the agreement, till I sell.

You know what?

I'll tell them about the bribes.

- Go ahead. You're as guilty as I am.

- No.

You're going to take the fall, George.

I get a deal if I testify.

I've had that arranged.

You're going to go to prison.

That's what's going to happen.

You're a son of a b*tch.

It's so obvious now. My friend?

He was never my friend.

He'd come here and threaten me

in my home?

What we've built?

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