Lt. Johnson:
When are you going to take this war seriously, Anderson?
Charlie Anderson:
Now let me tell you something Johnson, before you get on my wrong side. My corn I take seriously, because it's mine. And my potatoes and tomatoes and my fence I take note of because they're mine. But this war is not mine and I don't take note of it.
[at the site of his wife's grave]
Charlie Anderson:
I don't even know what to say to you any more, Martha. There's not much I can tell you about this war. It's like all wars, I guess. The undertakers are winning. And the politicians who talk about the glory of it. And the old men who talk about the need of it. And the soldiers, well, they just wanna go home. I guess you're not so lonely any more, with Ann and James and Jacob. And maybe the boy. You didn't know Ann, did you? Well, you'd like her. You'd like her, Martha. Why, she and James are so much alike, they're just like... no... no... we were never that much alike, were we Martha? We just sorta grew alike through the years. But I wish, I wish I could just know what you're thinking about it all, Martha. And maybe it wouldn't seem so bad to me if I knew what you thought about it.
[He notices the church bells are ringing]
Charlie Anderson:
You never give up, do you?
Jacob Anderson:
They come closer every day, Pa.
Charlie Anderson:
They on our land?
Jacob Anderson:
No, sir.
Charlie Anderson:
Then it doesn't concern us. Does it?
[the family is saying grace]
Charlie Anderson:
Lord, we cleared this land. We plowed it, sowed it, and harvest it. We cook the harvest. It wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be eating it if we hadn't done it all ourselves. We worked dog-bone hard for every crumb and morsel, but we thank you Lord just the same for the food we're about to eat, amen.
[Boy Anderson is wearing a confederate cap]
Charlie Anderson:
Where'd you get the hat, boy?
Boy Anderson:
Down by the creek, sir.
Charlie Anderson:
Some fella down there handing out hats?
Charlie Anderson:
What about you, James? You ever think you might like to own a slave?
James Anderson:
Well, I guess I never thought about it, Pa.
Charlie Anderson:
Well think about it! Think about it! If you had money would you go out and buy a slave?
James Anderson:
No sir, I wouldn't.
Charlie Anderson:
Why not?
James Anderson:
4c
Well, if I can't do my own work with my own hands it'd never get done.
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[at the site of Charlie's wife's grave]
Jennie Anderson:
You still miss her, don't you?
Charlie Anderson:
Jennie, you don't know how I feel. Even after all these years, 16 years gone, 16 years. And even so, I somehow feel that she's not really dead but just resting. And it's as though I'm expecting her to get up and walk home with me.
Pastor Bjoerling:
There are no doubt some present, Charlie Anderson, who wonder why you and yours are never on time for the Lord's services.
Charlie Anderson:
Have I kept the Lord waiting, Pastor Bjoerling?
Pastor Bjoerling:
You have not.
[all laugh]
Boy Anderson:
What'd I do?
Charlie Anderson:
It's what you haven't done, boy. A man who eats with his hat on is going nowhere in a hurry. Now, your mother wanted you all raised as good Christians, and I may not be able to do that thorny job as well as she could, but I can do something about your manners.
Lt. Sam:
I'd be eternally grateful if you'd permit me to call upon you this evening.
Jennie Anderson:
Eternally is a long time, Sam.
Lt. Sam:
Not when one carries a memory of you, miss Jennie.
Pastor Bjoerling:
Charlie Anderson, I wonder if you'd be good enough to tell me why you even bother coming to services. Meaning no disrespect, of course.
Charlie Anderson:
It was my wife's last request, Pastor Bjoerling. Meaning no disrespect, of course.
Charlie Anderson:
I'm glad you're here, Johnson. I've been meaning to have a word with your people about those cannons of yours. The chickens have stopped laying, the cows have dried up. Who do I send the bill to?
Charlie Anderson:
Can you give me one good reason why I should let my sons march down that road like a bunch of damn fools?
Lt. Johnson:
Virginia needs all her sons Mr. Anderson.
Charlie Anderson:
They don't belong to the state they belong to ME! When they were babies I never saw the state comin' around here with a spare tit!
Charlie Anderson:
[to the engineer, explaining the decision to burn the prison bound train] You run a sad kind of a train mister. You take people away when they don't want to go and won't bring them back when they're ready.
Charlie Anderson:
If we don't try we don't do. And if we don't do, what are we on this Earth for?