02x02 - Flowers for McDonough

[bunniefuu]

[knife thwacks]

♪ Jim Bowie!

♪ Jim Bowie!

♪ He was a bold adventurin' man! ♪

♪ Jim Bowie!

♪ Jim Bowie!

♪ Battled for right with a powerful hand! ♪

♪ His blade was tempered and so was he! ♪

♪ Indestructible steel was he!

♪ Jim Bowie!

♪ Jim Bowie!

♪ He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin' man! ♪

[light humming]

[soft knocking]

[light humming]

- Come in.

[door crackling]

Mr. Bowie!

- Mother Catherine.

Please don't stand on my account.

- Indeed I shall,

your fame has preceded you.

- Oh, only the good parts I hope.

- Aha.

[Jim laughs]

Mr. Bowie, sometimes we say that the ways of God,

though indubitably good,

are now and then curious.

I confess that the reason he has brought you

to our convent is, to me, altogether mysterious.

[paper crinkling]

Aha, the Love Plan of Chartres St.!

Our convent used to be there,

before we moved down here to North Peters St.

- Yes I know, for 75 years.

Have you also owned other property around it?

- Yes, but most of it has been sold.

The property has become quite valuable.

That is why we moved.

- I see.

Well, Mother Catherine, you may know

that I'm a man of business, a speculator.

- Oh come now, I know something of business myself.

Out with it.

- Well, I'll lay my cards on the table.

I mean I'll...

[laughs] - You are also a poker player,

Mr. Bowie.

- I play a little.

[Mother Catherine chuckles]

Now, I bought these two lots here,

and I need these two in the middle.

I plan to build the finest block

of apartments in New Orleans.

- Your lots are separated by two others.

The Ursulines own one of them.

Well, Mr. Bowie, we both know ours is for sale,

so that clears up the mystery of your visit here.

You want to buy our lot.

- That's right.

- And we want to sell it.

The convent needs the money.

Up till now, fortunately for you,

we have not been able to find a buyer.

- Oh, why not?

- Perhaps because our price is too high.

- [laughs] What is your price?

- $5,000.

[Jim grunts]

- Mother Catherine, your sense of real estate is quite real.

[Jim chuckles]

- Not for the best block of apartments in New Orleans.

- Very well, I'll pay it, it's a deal.

[laughs]

You will give me an option on it?

- $500 for 30 days.

- Now I thought I was a pretty close trader,

but it seems to me you've got

an even better flair for the edge.

[light humming] [door handle clanking]

[light humming]

[doorknob turning loudly]

- Howdy yeah. - Listen, I'm Jim Bowie,

I'd like to see Mr. McDonogh please.

- Yes sir, come right in.

- Thank you.

[light humming]

[door closing softly]

- Just a moment, Mr. Bowie.

- [children loudly reciting alphabet]

- Mr. McDonogh will see you now.

- Is he responsible for this?

- That and much more, sir. - 1, 2, 3

- Hm. - 4, 5, 6,

- This way please. - 7, 8, 9, 10.

[loud whipping]

[loud whipping]

- Well, make yourself comfortable, Mr. Bowie.

[loud whipping]

I'm sure you won't mind waiting

until I have finished this task.

[loud whipping]

And Francis?

- Yes sir?

- The yellow roses, will you replace them please?

[loud whipping]

- Yes sir.

- You keep that up and you'll have to replace the boy.

- You question my authority?

- No sir, not your authority, your tactics.

- His education and his growth are my responsibility.

- I had my share of thrashing when I was a boy,

but my dad knew when to stop,

he had a little pity.

I mean, there are limits, Mr. McDonogh.

- Pity is for sentimental weaklings.

- Sentimental or not,

I don't intend to stand here and see

another lash on that boy's back!

- You challenge me in my house?

Very well, Martin.

Out of respect for the sensibilities of the great Bowie,

I will pardon you for today.

[footsteps pitter-pattering softly]

[door slamming]

Pity, bah!

[loud thumping]

How many public schools are there in New Orleans?

- At the moment I can't rightly say.

- You can't rightly say?

Exactly two, and they charge tuition.

- Well naturally, why not?

- And what about the poor?

Will they not also vote?

What about their education?

- You're forgetting the Ursulines.

- Very fine for the few that they can accommodate.

But education must be universal;

the whole population must be literated.

However, I doubt that I can complete

your education, Mr. Bowie, in a single afternoon.

State your business.

- Well, Mr. McDonogh,

[loud smacking]

I originally came here to appeal to your gratitude,

but I might just as well not state my business now at all.

- You came clear across the river for it,

state it!

- Came to make you a proposition.

- What kind of a proposition?

[paper crinkling]

- This lot here on Chartres St.

- I know the location of my property.

- I'd like to buy it from you,

at a handsome profit of course.

- I am not interested in a profit.

- Offer you $6,000.

- I will not sell the lot.

- What is your price?

- I do not wish to sell the lot to you.

[paper crinkling]

- Why, Mr. McDonogh?

Why don't you wanna sell the lot to me?

I'd just like to know why.

- Your curiosity's the last thing

I would satisfy, Mr. Bowie.

[door slamming]

[light humming]

[door slamming]

[light humming]

[low muttering]

[Jim sighs]

[cup thumping loudly]

- Adolph, sit down.

- Your expression indicated you might need that.

- Well John McDonogh is enough to give anyone an expression.

- John McDonogh, really?

- It's no wonder they throw vegetables at him;

he's arrogant, he's mean, he's stubborn, he's...

Well, why should take my troubles

out on an old friend like you?

- Everybody takes their troubles out on a newspaper man.

And we're always invading someone's privacy.

- Well it wouldn't do ya a bit of good to invade McDonogh's.

- I don't know Jim, I used to, right here.

- Here?

What was he doing here?

- Buying wine for his friends.

- John McDonogh had friends?

I find that kinda hard to believe.

- Well his house was right around the corner,

he used to entertain lavishly.

Great favorite in Creole society.

- Hmm.

- Not just with gentleman either.

- Well don't tell me he had a wife.

- No, a girl.

Romance; her family opposed it,

and she rejected him.

Directly after that he moved across the river.

I suspect that he was deeply hurt.

Well, I've got some articles to write.

- Go ahead, Adolph.

I guess I can get over McDonogh by myself.

- I often wonder whether the girl got over him.

- Hmm, that wouldn't be too hard to do.

- I don't know, she became a nun, Jim.

- A what?

- A nun!

Why? [cup slamming]

- Here in New Orleans?

- But of course, she's an Ursuline.

- Well dog my cat.

- Why all the excitement?

It's an old story.

- Not to me, sir, not to me.

Thanks Adolph.

[light humming]

[birds chirping]

- Oh, thank you Mother Catherine.

What's the occasion?

- To celebrate your safe return from John McDonogh.

- As a matter of fact I was there yesterday,

how'd you know?

- Because you are here today.

[Jim laughs]

I thought you might be having trouble.

- Did you also think that the cause

might be one of your sisters here?

- That thought had occurred to me, yes, Mr. Bowie.

- Now, I seldom take things for granted,

but I assume you want a quick sale of your property.

- A fair conclusion.

- Well, have you thought of someone

here making a plea to McDonogh?

- You are a devious man, Mr. Bowie.

- No, no, I suppose that's asking too much,

forget I said it Mother Catherine.

- On the contrary, I think it an excellent idea.

I should be glad to make a call on John McDonogh.

- You?

- Mmm.

I have never met the gentleman,

but I should welcome the opportunity to state our case.

[Jim laughs]

- You're a devious woman, Mother Catherine.

- Not at all, Mr. Bowie.

And I have a most compelling reason.

It might make possible the admission

to the convent of a few more girls in want.

In want for the greater glory of God.

Shall we go in?

[birds chirping]

- So you're back, are ya Bowie?

- Yes sir, with reinforcements.

Mr. McDonogh this is Mother Catherine

of the Ursuline convent.

- How do you do?

Won't you be seated please?

- Mr. McDonogh, I can see that we

have two deep interests in common:

real estate and flowers.

- Tending my flowers, Mother Catherine,

helps me to feel that something

good can grow out of real estate.

- Indeed, Mr. McDonogh, I feel that such beauty can often

transport us into another world.

- Quite so.

But I do not think that we convene

for a discussion of horticulture.

Mr. Bowie is very much of this world.

- And you must not think that I am now.

It is in that interest that Mr. Bowie and I coincide.

We could dispose of our Chartres St. property,

if you would dispose of yours.

I cannot tell you how much that would mean to the Ursulines.

- Why?

- We need every penny we can raise.

You will sell the land to Mr. Bowie,

won't you, Mr. McDonogh?

- Why not, McDonogh?

Why won't you sell?

What can you possibly want with all this land?

- It is none of your business, Bowie.

I never sell land I own in the city.

That is final.

[door crackling]

- Young Master Martin has run away.

Cicero saw him row across the river with his satchel!

- Run away?

But he's my ward.

Is this your doing, Bowie?

- My doing?

I'd say it was yours, McDonogh.

- There's so much more for him to learn.

He must know that I caned him for his own good,

he must know how much I...

I've got to find him, excuse me.

[door slamming]

- He caned the boy beyond endurance.

- Love can lead to excesses, Mr. Bowie.

- Love, him?

- Those we wound most deeply

are often those we love the best.

[loud singing]

[light humming]

[door shutting softly]

- Evening Henry, my key please.

- It's upstairs, Mr. Bowie.

- Upstairs?

What do you mean?

- Your cousin took it sir,

he's upstairs in your room.

- My cousin?

[door opening softly]

- You!

[door slamming]

- Good evening, Mr. Bowie.

- Look, don't you know your guardian's over there

across the river searching high and low for you?

Don't you know he's half out of his wits?

- He caned me again.

- Martin, you're going back.

You have to, come on.

- No, my folks never meant this to happen.

- Never meant what to happen, the caning?

- He won't let me rest.

He's taken over my whole life;

every day, every minute,

all he thinks of is educating me.

Languages, science, mathematics,

he even trains my hands.

I've gotta be a better man, see further,

do things others cannot do,

not be afraid of anything,

'cause my brain and hands will work well together.

- Well, is there anything wrong with that?

- I'm not going to be caned again.

- Martin, look,

don't you know he only does that because he loves you?

- My father never caned me,

nor my mother.

- Where are your parents?

- They died of yellow fever.

My father was Mr. McDonogh's rent collector.

- Mr. McDonogh took you in.

He didn't have to do that, did he?

- Does not give him a right to cane me.

- How ya gonna eat?

You think I'll keep ya?

- I will get work.

- Nah, you're not old enough to work.

- I'll sell this ring.

- Where'd you get that?

- It's mine.

- Where, did you steal it?

- No I did not steal it!

It was my mother's,

my father gave it to her when they were married.

She left it to me.

- And you'd sell it to raise money?

No you wouldn't,

course you wouldn't.

Look, Martin, it won't work,

you have to go back,

you've got an education to finish.

I'll write Mr. McDonogh a note

and tell him I'm bringing you first thing in the morning.

[paper crinkling]

Where'd you get this?

- I wrapped my ring in it.

- Yes, yes, but where'd you get it?

- I don't know, in his office, on his desk.

I was in a hurry,

it was the only place I could find that I could--

- Have you read it?

- No, why?

- Well.

[loud smacking]

- Now we'll see whether I get that lot.

[paper crinkling]

Martin, we're going back tonight.

In fact, we're going back right now.

Come on.

[doorknob turning sharply]

[door slamming]

- So you've come home again, Martin.

- Mr. Bowie brought me back.

- I am grateful to you, Bowie,

but if you think returning him will

reverse my decision on the property--

- Oh I didn't bring him back with that in mind, sir.

I know you too well by now.

But he's here,

and well I have something important to discuss with you

which doesn't concern him.

- In that case you have 30 minutes before bedtime.

You will study logarithms.

- Yes sir.

Goodnight Mr. Bowie.

- Goodnight Martin.

- Your business, Bowie.

[door shuts softly]

- McDonogh, you're a rich man.

- I am.

- And you're a mortal man.

- All men are mortal.

- Yes, but you've been more conscious of it lately.

You've made a will.

- All intelligent men make wills.

- But yours is a very interesting one.

- That is guesswork, conjecture.

- No sir, it's not conjecture,

I know what's in it.

- No one knows what's in it.

- I do, I read a page from it.

[paper crinkling]

Last will and testament of I, John Mc--

The residue of my estate I bequeath to the corporation--

- Where did you get it?

- Martin wrapped a keepsake in it when he ran away.

- Martin?

- He was in this room alone,

he didn't read it,

he has no idea of its value.

- You say it has a value,

what value?

- I have a newspaper friend, Adolph Fontenot, the courier.

- You move in wide circles, do you not, Mr. Bowie?

- I think my friend might find the provisions of this will

interesting enough for a story.

- I make no doubt of it.

- Course, if I could buy the Chartres St. lot from you,

I'd have no reason to call on my friend,

would I?

- The day that story appears in the newspaper,

that day I change my will.

- You wouldn't do that, sir, you wouldn't.

- Oh, then you approve of its provisions.

- Of course I approve of them.

- If you make them public I shall leave my entire estate

to the Horticultural Society of America.

- Well I believe you would.

- Will you risk it?

- No, sir, you know very well that I would not risk it.

[paper crinkling]

But I'll tell ya one thing,

I hope I never again have to do

business with anybody like you.

Goodnight.

[paper crinkling]

- Mr. Bowie, I never sell land,

I buy land.

I will buy your three lots.

- I have two lots.

- You must have had an option on the Ursuline lot

before you came to see me.

- You mean you'd buy that too?

- What price?

- $5,000.

[John chuckles]

- You are a child, Mr. Bowie.

You let Mother Catherine outwit you.

But I'll buy it.

- And $10,000 for my two lots?

- $5,000, what you paid for them.

[Jim laughs]

- You're a hard man, McDonogh, but...

It's a deal.

- Ah, Mr. Bowie, my will.

[light humming]

[loud singing]

[light humming]

[birds chirping]

- Flowers can be very important,

can't they Mother Catherine?

- And just what does that mean?

- Oh, nothing, nothing.

Just that John McDonogh likes flowers.

- Yes, he does.

- Well I won't keep you in suspense any longer,

your lot has been sold.

- Ah, congratulations, Mr. Bowie,

you're the first man who's succeeded

in buying land from John McDonogh.

- Yeah, well, not exactly.

You see, I sold land,

John McDonogh bought yours and mine.

- You wanted his land and ours,

and yours to build on,

and now John McDonogh owns it all?

May I ask how Jim Bowie,

who usually pulls more than his own weight,

came out on the short end?

- No, you may not ask, Mother Catherine.

But I can congratulate you

on the price you got for your land.

[birds chirping]

- Mr. Bowie, may I give you a fresh flower?

- Why, thank you.

Mmm.

Mother Catherine, before I go,

may I ask one more slight favor?

May I watch the convent children playing for awhile?

- Why, certainly.

Mr. Bowie, you're a man of many parts;

I never would've thought that you

would be interested in children.

- Oh?

I lately read a document that aroused my interest.

- God be with you, and them, young man.

[children yelling in unison]

[light humming]

- [Narrator] Yes, Jim Bowie kept McDonogh's secret,

and today John McDonogh's statue stands

in Lafayette Square in New Orleans,

for he left his fortune,

realized from the sale of his enormous holdings in land,

for the establishment of free public schools.

In New Orleans, his money built no less than 35,

of which 12 are still in use.

In return, John McDonogh's testament asked

but one slight favor,

and that was:

- [McDonogh Voiceover] That it may be permitted annually

to the children of the free schools to plant and water

a few flowers around my grave.

[loud singing]

♪ Jim Bowie!

♪ Jim Bowie!

♪ He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin' man! ♪