The Little Colonel Page #4

All right, Walker. That'll do.

Yes, sir.

I reckon you don't know

much about soldiering.

Of course I do. Look.

You don't even know how to salute.

I do too.

This is a proper salute.

Oh, no, it isn't, Grandfather.

Well, I ought to know.

I was a colonel in the army.

So was I.

Aw, stuff and nonsense.

They made me a colonel

and gave me a paper with ribbon on it.

- They called it my "permission."

- Who did?

The soldiers out West,

where Papa Jack is.

Aw, I never heard such folderol-

making a colonel out of a little girl.

Well, it's just another

fool Yankee notion.

Anyway, this is the proper salute.

It isn't!

For your years and weight...

you're probably the stubbornest

person in this county.

You weigh a lot more than I do.

Come on. Let's get on with this game now.

Come on. Come on.

Here. These are yours.

Now, I'll be the Confederacy,

and you're the Union.

Goody!

I got the winning side already.

No, you haven't. I'll show you.

Maybe you'd like to be the North,

and I'll be the South.

I wish I'd never thought

of this confounded game.

Here come my trusty scouts.

They see a Johnny Reb. Bang, bang!

Now eight of my men attack

the enemy's right flank. Up!

- You can't do that!

- Why not?

Because my men will fall back

on the right flank.

Then they'll let your men advance.

Then they'll surround them...

cutting off all retreat.

And then I'll wipe 'em out.

And then I'll order my men to advance...

and I'll wipe out your whole regiment.

Child, you're a true Lloyd.

You've got all the fire and courage...

our family has always had...

and you've got the same infernal temper

that's been our curse.

It's going to cause you

a lot of unhappiness...

unless you learn how to control it.

Will you try?

I will if you will.

Ah, you've got a lot more time

to learn than I have.

Well, come on now.

Your clothes must be dry by now.

I'll have Maggie Boy saddled...

and ride you home.

- Would you like that?

- Oh, yes, Grandfather.

Well, come along.

Hello, May Lily.

Miss Lloyd, is you all right?

Of course I am.

Couldn't we please take May Lily

and Henry Clay home too?

Impossible.

I could hold onto the rope,

and we could pull them.

No.

Please, Grandfather.

Oh, very well then.

Come on, you pickaninnies.

Fall in the rear.

Here, throw me that rope.

- Good afternoon, Colonel.

- Good afternoon, sir.

You're going to come

and see me again, aren't you?

Even though they tell you not to?

Yes, Grandfather.

And the next time we play,

we won't quarrel.

No. Come along now. Get along with you.

That's it.

- Why don't you come with me?

- No, no, no, no. No.

- All right. Good-bye, Grandfather.

- Good-bye.

You can gamble it's important.

Folks don't spend money for telegrams

unless they got something to say.

- What do you reckon it says, Mr. Nebler?

- Ain't allowed to tell.

- It's against the rules.

- Pretty expensive to send them, ain't it?

Well, telegrams ain't for poor folks.

Sendin' writin' over wires.

I wonder what they'll have next.

- Is Mrs. Sherman in?

- Yes, sir. Come in.

I've got a telegram for you,

Mrs. Sherman.

Sign here, ma'am.

I'm sure it's bad news. It must be.

Oh, dear. Here, Mom Beck.

You open it.

No, ma'am. Not me.

I don't want nothin' to do with it.

- Will you open it for me?

- Against the rules, ma'am.

He's coming home!

He's coming home, Mom Beck!

Papa Jack's coming home!

It's from my husband. He's on his way back.

Thank you very, very much.

- It's all right, ma'am. Any answer?

- No.

Oh, it's so wonderful! Good-bye.

Good-bye.

Sit up, Fritz. Sit up.

- When will Papa Jack be here, Mother?

- Soon, darling.

And he'll bring us beautiful gold pieces

to buy beautiful presents.

And can I have a pink dress

with pink ribbons and a pink bustle?

Of course you can.

We'll just have everything we want.

- Oh, I'm so happy!

- # Hallelujah #

# O praise be #

# Mr. Jack's a-comin' home #

Hallelujah

O praise be

Mr. Jack's a-comin'home

Jack! Oh, Jack!

Why, what's the matter?

Please help me.

What is it, Jack? What's wrong?

I've been very sick. Fever.

I'm not over it yet.

You'd better not come near me.

Please go to Dr. Scott's

and ask him to come here at once.

Yes, ma'am.

Please, Elizabeth,

don't come near me.

I don't want you to catch this fever.

I won't.

And if I did, I wouldn't care.

My poor boy.

Papa Jack! Papa Jack!

- Wait a minute, darling.

- Hello, my baby.

- Mother, let me go.

- Listen a minute, dear.

- Papa Jack is ill, and just for now,

you can't go near him.

- But why?

Because if you did, you might catch his illness,

and then you'd be sick too.

- That's right, dear.

- Becky?

Can't I even give him

just one little kiss?

No, darling.

You go with Becky.

Now, tell me, dear.

What happened?

Swazey and Hull were thieves.

The land they sold me was worthless.

We're ruined. We haven't a penny.

Jack, is all our money gone?

All of it.

After I found out that I'd been swindled,

I almost went crazy.

And then on top of it,

I got this fever, and-

Hush, dear.

Don't think of it now.

You must be quiet.

Poor Elizabeth.

You made a sorry bargain

when you gave up your beautiful home.

I'd do it again.

- Oh, Doctor.

- Yes.

I never thought I was going

to get a call from this house.

What's the matter?

Did Lloyd fall down and bump her nose?

No, it's Jack.

Jack? Oh.

- Mom Beck, do you know what I think?

- What, honey?

I think that those two bad men

gave the sickness to Papa Jack.

Oh, I don't think so.

Yes, they did,

just to get rid of it themselves.

Honey, you is a case.

I reckon bed will be the best place

for you, young man.

- How much fever have I?

- Oh, nothing to worry about.

We'll have you up and around

in no time.

I'll run along now...

and I'll bring ya some medicine

from my office.

- Good-bye, Mr. Sherman.

- Good-bye, Doctor.

Yes.

He's in a very weakened condition...

and he's still running

quite a temperature.

He needs very careful nursing

and plenty of it.

Mom Beck and I

will take care of him.

There's still a chance that his fever

may be contagious.

- That won't matter to me.

- No, but if I were you,

I'd send Lloyd away for awhile.

You shouldn't take any chances

with her.

But where can I send her?

There's only one place, Elizabeth...

and you mustn't be stubborn about it.

He's all alone in that big house,

you know...

and he'd see that

she was properly cared for.

She's never been away from me

one night in her whole life.

I know, but this house

is no place for her right now.

I'd send her if I were you.

Let me speak with him,

and I'll arrange it.

- Very well.

- I'll be back this evening.

Mother, do I have to stay here very long?

No, dear.

Just until Papa Jack is well.

'Cause I'm gonna be awfully lonesome.

You're going to be brave, aren't you?

You promised you would.

Yes, but when I promised,

I didn't know I was gonna feel this way.

Kiss Mother good-bye now.

- Walker!

- Yes, sir?

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