The Man Who Came Back Page #2

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Yeah, I am a product of

Oswego, New York, sir.

But we mustn't let unfortunate

regional differences

stand in the way of civility.

Yeah, all that.

Let me speculate

on something.

When the war was over,

you and your carpet bag

decided to come down here

and make a profit out

of the tragedy

that they call

"Reconstruction. "

Now the federal army's

moved on

and all of a sudden, you decide

to switch over to the white man's side.

Am... am I close?

Nearly.

Um, I... I am devoted

to justice

and prosperity.

Since justice is blind,

the only color I really care about

is green.

Damn your accent!

I love the way you talk.

Sit down, Mr. Tarwell.

- Sit down.

- That looks like someone was...

I want to report a murder.

Reese Paxton,

y'all know there ain't

no n*ggers allowed in here.

I know justice

for a black man

lies way below

what we expect for ourselves.

This was a human being.

What sanction

would you suggest

if our sheriff were to arrest

one of our fine citizens?

I ponder that question.

I know that pigs will fly before

this town will jail a white man

for killing a black,

but maybe you can fine them,

each according to what he can pay.

And him with

the deepest pockets

should give up

a piece of land

and give it to

this poor boy's family

so that they have

something of their own.

Reese?

Reese, maybe you

didn't notice,

but them Yankee soldiers,

they packed up; they gone home.

Maybe I get 'em

to come back.

Maybe I'll go

to Washington

with my Confederate medals,

of which you have none,

and maybe I'll tell them

that things down here have gone sour

way beyond what

I can swallow.

I have seen more killing...

than you can ever imagine.

You know, Reese,

you're right.

The man who's responsible for this,

he's got to be brought to justice.

Right!

I personally seen Reese Paxton

hang and shoot this here Negro.

You won't need

to arrest him.

Grab his arms.

Hold him! All right!

That's enough, that's enough.

Right now!

Our beloved federal government

promises a speedy trial.

Well, we'll give him one

right now.

We even got him

a lawyer.

Wait. What, me?

The right kind of

young attorney

could prosper mightily

in this town.

I want everything

done by the book.

I do not want this man getting out

on any kind of an appeal.

Hear ye, hear ye,

this court is now in

ad hoc session

in the saloon of

the Whore Palace

'cause the Yankees

burned down our courthouse;

Judge William Duke, Sr.

Presiding;

Mr. William Duke, Jr.,

special prosecutor.

I'm doing my job here.

I'm out investigating

the strike labor activities.

I come upon Reese,

he's drawing a bead.

Ere he pulled back,

he plugged the n*gger dead.

I said, "What'd you do?"

He says, "I just took

a damn fine shot. "

What are you talking about?

- You swear to tell the truth?

- Yeah.

Hold on, I think

I'm supposed to interview the witness.

You were at Mr. Paxton's

cabin on the day in question?

Right. Right.

I remember it 'cause,

well, it ain't nothing to

see a n*gger get whipped.

Ain't that often you get to

see one shot cold.

Reese Paxton shot that n*gger

like a big old swamp rabbit.

This is bad.

Preacher, do you swear to

tell the truth?

I do.

Wait, now hold on...

Now hold on a minute.

- I did not cross-examine...

- Let me cut to the chase here.

Now you seen Reese Paxton

shoot that Negro?

- Well, actually it...

- Just answer the damn question.

- Yeah. Yeah, I saw it.

- That's good. Sit down.

No, excuse me.

Would you kindly ask him

about the Ninth Commandment?

What about

the Ninth Commandment?

Which is what?

"Thou shalt not bear

false witness. "

"The servant will be

severely punished,

for though he knew his duty,

he refused to do it. "... Luke 12.

How about the commandment,

"Thou shalt not kill"?

"As for these enemies of mine who do

not want me to be king of them

and slaughter them in my presence. "

- Luke 19:
27...

You're a preacher?

What about your wife?

Now you said that she saw...

- You keep my wife out of it.

- Fine.

Is there anyone who can

support your claim?

Him? Skinny one,

with the hat?

- Not exactly.

- Excuse me, sir, I'd like to

call you to the witness...

Ho!

Hey, there.

Hey, what goes on in there?

Billy Duke,

what are you doing?

Let Reese holler!

No one will listen.

You gonna refuse

to help mete out justice

for Reese Paxton,

are you, Caleb?

Well, you're gonna

find yourself refused.

Maybe you don't want my help

rebuilding that saw mill of yours

them federal boys

set on fire.

You hear me?

In there.

St... stand up, Caleb.

What do they want

you to do?

They want me to lie.

Daddy, Caleb is

feeling sickly.

I don't think his testimony's

gonna be missed.

I'd like to hear what

an appeals court has to say about that.

Oh, come on.

For a moment there, I thought

you managed to handle the situation.

Hey, Kate? Kate?

Kate, this is

a sporting house, you know?

Go on.

I understood it was

a courtroom.

Your Honor, I was at

the Paxton house that day.

And just as Caleb did,

I saw Reese Paxton

shoot that Negro.

Paxton...

your lawyer's here

to see you.

How you doing?

I was... was in prison

briefly.

Twice.

And a good attitude helps.

Preacher, I do not have

the time to listen

to the phantoms of

your guilty conscience.

A phantom...

that's just what Reese was.

During the war, he was

an assassin for the Confederacy,

going back and forth

between enemy lines.

Nobody knew how he did it...

just showing up

dealing death.

There's not a prison around that's

gonna hold a man like that.

Will you shut the hell up?

As long as I can remember,

I always wanted to be a lawyer.

I guess I should have

practiced, huh?

Get out.

Good luck.

The evildoer that repents

shall escape

everlasting fire.

Brother Reese, it says in

the Good Book, in Psalms

Chapter 34,

"Depart from evil, brother,

and do good. Seek ye peace

and pursue it. "

"The face of the Lord is

against them that do evil.

...from this earth. "

Hey!

Get back to work!

"... nurture your soul

and bring it out of you. "

Old strike petered out,

did it?

Should give them a notion

of consequences.

Well, we owe you a debt, Amos.

No one's denying that.

Y'all should consider me

for being overseer here.

Let's take the long way

by Reese's cabin.

"... and I think I should

find it.

I think we can work together

and bring that out... "

Are you okay?

My God.

What is he doing in here?

Let him out of here!

You're just like

a one-eyed dog, Reese.

- I'm gonna get you out!

- I just want you to know,

while you're in prison

I'm gonna be taking care of your wife.

No! Ah, Billy!

Let go of me, Billy.

Gabe, get away.

Get away! Oh!

Someone find help!

Get some help, boy!

Your husband...

your husband...

is found guilty of hanging

and shooting a Negro.

Hang on, Angelique.

Your husband...

No no no!

Oh no no!

Get away from me!

Get!

Billy, his skull

is cracked.

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