Young Mr. Lincoln Page #4

Never saw a man like you

look at a river like you do.

Folks'd think it was a pretty woman

or somethin', the way you carry on.

How come they call that thing

you're playin'a Jew's harp?

Comes down from David's harp

in the Bible.

I don't wanna say nothin'

against the Bible...

but those people back there

sure had funny taste in music.

What's that tune you're playin'?

Don't know. Catchy, though.

Makes you wanna march

or somethin'.

Good morning, Mrs. Clay, Sarah.

I reckon that's plenty.

People used to say I could sink an ax

deeper than anybody they ever saw.

Well, that's still not bad

for a city feller.

This house certainly takes me back

to the time when...

I was just a little old

shirt-tailed boy in Kentucky.

Our place was just about

this size too.

One window, I remember...

and a dirt floor.

Some wild crab apple trees

out in the front yard.

And a big hearth inside

where I used to stretch out...

while my mother read to me.

I'll never forget how bad I felt

the day we decided to...

pull up stakes

and head for Indiana.

Kentucky's a mighty fine place

to live, but...

with all the slaves coming in,

white folks had a hard time making a livin'.

And you folks just like my folks.

I said that to myself

the minute I laid eyes on you.

"My mother'd feel right at home

with Mrs. Clay, "I said.

Now I know she would.

Sarah, I bet you didn't know

I had a sister once, just about your age.

Named Sarah too.

Only she died

when her baby was born.

And I knew a girl like you,

Carrie Sue...

named Ann.

Ann died too.

Well, finished reading

your letters yet?

I read mine, by myself too.

I never learned to read yet.

I thought maybe you'd read it to me.

Why, certainly. I'll be glad to.

"Dear Ma,

I seat myself this evening...

"to inform you

that I and Matt are well...

"and hoping these few lines...

"may find you all

enjoying the same blessings.

"We had turnip greens

and pork chops for supper.

But, oh, me! Nobody can cook

turnip greens like you, Ma".

Matt always says nobody can cook

turnip greens better than me.

Sarah can cook 'em as good as anyone.

So can Carrie Sue.

"We've been treated mighty nice.

"The sheriff says

he never had anybody in here...

"who could beat me playing checkers.

"Well, Ma, I bet you wish

we were there...

"to do some plowing

and laying in fresh meat.

Oh, me.! Wouldn't

a squirrel stew taste good?"

Yeah. Them boys

were great ones for hunting.

"A preacher comes in regular

and reads us the Bible.

"I'm fixing to learn me a whole psalm,

if I don't get hung first.

"Well, my pen is bad,

my ink is pale...

my love for you will never fail.

Adam".

Sarah, do you suppose you've got

an extra piece of paper in the house?

I want to make some notes

while I'm talking to your mother.

We ain't got any paper that I know of,

but we got a new almanac.

- Reckon you could write on it?

- Almanac? Why, yes, it's just the thing.

Carrie Sue, my mouth's beginning to water

for some of those turnip greens.

Honest?

Do you think there's anything

you can do about that?

Yeah! Sarah and me'll

fix some together.

Thanks, Sarah.

Now, then, suppose you tell me

somethin' about the boys.

Well, there ain't very much to tell.

Your husband - did he die?

Yeah. The summer after we got here.

We just finished building the house.

It's a fine house, all right.

Not a nail in it.

No, he was mighty good

with his hands.

He was killed by a drunk Indian.

It was 'long round sundown.

I was just coming back from milking.

Adam was clearing out the timber,

and Matt was down with a fever.

That Adam - I'll bet he knew

what to do with an ax.

Yeah. He takes after his father.

Matt was always the puny one.

Why, once when he was a baby,

I- I held him for two days...

while he was burning up

with lung sickness.

Mrs. Clay...

which one of your boys

killed Scrub White?

I can't tell you.

I just can't.

But I'm your lawyer.

You can trust me.

I don't want to scare you, but...

we've got an awful fight

on our hands.

I've gotta know what I'm doing.

I can't.

Be just like choosing between 'em.

What do you suppose

made 'em both say they done it?

Matt did because he's older...

and Adam said so because

Matt has a wife and baby.

There are a lot of people'd

like to see those boys hang.

I know, but I - I just can't.

They've got a pack of witnesses...

and a lot of mighty fine lawyers

on the other side.

It ain't no use.

I can't.

No, I don't reckon you can.

Better take them

in the back door, Sheriff.

Hang 'em up.!

Order! Order! Quiet!

Quiet! Quiet! Order!

Hey! We're just waitin' for ya!

Order.! Order.!

Take off your hats!

Put them jugs away.

Huh.

Mighty big crowd here today.

All right, Mr. Clerk. We're ready.

Oyez, oyez, oyez.

The honorable court of the Eighth

Judicial Circuit of the State of Illinois...

is now in session.

Judge Herbert A. Bell presiding.

Is the State ready, Mr. Felder?

May it please the court,

the State of Illinois is ready-

ready and waiting, sir.

Then go ahead, gentlemen,

and pick yourselves a jury.

- So your name's Bill Killian?

- Yes, sir.

- You don't like my clients, do you, Bill?

- No, sir, I don't.

Well, tell me this.

You any kin to old Jake Killian,

used to live down in New Salem?

Why, yes, sir. I'm his son.

Well, Bill, if you take after your dad,

you're a smart boy...

and an honest one too.

Reckon he's all right with us,

Your Honor.

Clarence, how you stand

on capital punishment?

You mean, do I want to see

them two fellas hung? I do.

- You're a blacksmith, aren't you?

- Sure.

Well, there's going to be a heap

of horseshoein' around here this week.

I wouldn't want to

keep you from your job.

- You're excused.

- Get going, Clarence.

You say you've never

discussed this case?

No, sir, I never did.

Ever hear anybody else discuss it?

No, sir.

How long you been a barber

in this town?

Oh, about 18 years, goin' on.

And you never heard it mentioned?

No, sir, not that I remember.

Do you know the, uh, gentleman

who's prosecuting this case, Mr. Felder?

- I guess I know him.

- Then you're excused.

Your Honor, this is a waste of time.

Mr. Lincoln should know

that the mere fact...

that a prospective juror

knows counsel for the State...

does not disqualify him.

I know that, John.

What I'm afraid of is that some

of the jurors might not know you...

and that'd put me

at a great disadvantage.

Order! Order!

Order. Order.

Heh.

Nipped you there, John.

- Sam Boone!

- Sam Boone.!

- Guilty.

- No, no, Sam. Sit down.

Sit down!

- You drink liquor, Sam?

- Yup.

Cuss?

Go to church regular?

Enjoy hangings?

Got a job?

Just like to loaf, huh?

Ever tell a lie?

Well, you're just the kind of honest man

we want on this jury.

Take your place.

All right, Mr. Prosecutor.

Your move.

Gentlemen of thejury...

"Thou shalt not kill".

So says the sixth Commandment...

as handed down to Moses

on Mouth Sinai...

by the Lord God of Israel himself.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes