My Favorite Scenes
#10. Ashton's Last Line
One of the main subplots of Heaven and Hell is Ashton's nasty plot to take Mont Royal from Madeline. She goes through the whole 6 hours wanting it more than anything. Then, at the very end, she discovers what we all knew from Book II...Cuffey and Co. burned it to the ground. She wails on and on about how upsetting this is to her. "My beautiful Mont Royal! What's happened to you!" Then her husband urges her to go home with him. "Well," Ashton says, "I didn't really want it that much anyway." Typical Ashton!
#9. Charles's Duel
I love the relationship between Orry and Charles, and this is the turning point! The whole set up is great from the start...Charles, the outcast from the disgraceful part of the Main family teams up with Orry, the perfect southern gentleman of the family to bring honor to the Mains. I love Lewis Smith's line when Orry tells him he can't go dying and sullying the family's name..."Well, if there's any reason I wouldn't want to get my brains blown out, that's it."
#8. "Get Off the Horse!"
I love this scene, because Brett finally sticks it to Ashton. She shows her sister that she is NOT going to take any of her crap anymore. This is not the Brett from Book I who sat there and watched Forbes LaMotte and his second nearly kill her husband.
#7. Justin Goes Flying Out the Window
This is so awesome, because Justin is finally gone for good! It is so sweet how Orry rescues Madeline. I love how he runs up the stairs with that old war injury.
#6. Billy Goes AWOL
This has got to be one of the most touching moments in the entire mini-series. Billy, not caring what the consequences, takes and absence without leave to go to Mont Royal. Brett and Billy haven't seen each other for two long years, and their reunion (with the theme song playing in the background) is amazing. Plus it's Parker Stevenson!!!
#5. Teeny Tiny Window
This is one of the great climaxes of Book I. Orry and Virgilia get into a huge fight at the Hazards'. This is when it seems that George and Orry's friendship is in jeopardy. The emotions are so tense and believable that you wonder if they will be able to remain friends. A highlight is Kirstie Alley's line, "Did you know that George tried to lock me away in the attic? But I managed to escape, because I found a teeny, tiny window and I crawled out!" which is followed by a very insane sounding laugh.
#4. Charles Finds Out About Ashton at West Point
Ashton manipulates everybody....everybody except Cousin Charles that is. We know that he is on to her from the first time we see him and the grown up Ashton at Tillet's funeral. He refuses to flirt with her. By the time Ashton is getting buttons from every guy at West Point, things are no different. She gives Charles a great performance, crying on and on about how she has been taken advantage of. He sees through her bull and makes sure she knows it. Then he throws her buttons on the floor and walks out. Great scene!!!
#3. Everyone Goes Ballistic at Breakfast
The Hazards and Mains sit down to a nice breakfast when in comes James demanding to know if Virgilia helped Grady escape. She ends up admitting it, and everyone seems to go ballistic. Everyone is shouting at everyone, Virgilia is making one of her abolitionist speeches, and Billy decks James.
#2. The Snot Scene
Okay, I'm not sure if I love this scene because it is very emotional and Patrick Swayze and Genie Francis play it so well or if it has to do with the fact that at the end of it, a big glob of snot goes flying out of Orry's nose....This is the scene in which Orry and Brett fight over her marrying Billy. It starts and ends funny; everything in between is serious and suspensful. Drunken Orry throws a glass, and Brett comes in to see what has happened. He goes to get up, but has trouble and says, "A house divided cannot stand......and neither can I." Then they fight and scream at each other and Orry hits Brett. He is immediatly sorry, but to Brett, "It doesn't matter...it doesn't matter at all!" Then Orry breaks down and cries...this is when Patrick overdoes it and the snot part of the snot scene happens.
#1. Virgilia and Orry Finally Make Peace
My very favorite scene has to be when Orry is at the field hospital Virgilia is working at and she warns him that he is going to be moved. They have finally talked and made their peace. Then she watches him ride off to freedom on his horse. Given their history, this is a very noble thing for Virgilia to do, and I almost cry every time I see that part!
My other favorite scene:Billy and Charles Meet in War
This scene really drives the theme of North and South home. Charles and Billy, best friends and cousins by marriage, find themselves face to face (and gun to gun). They stand there in shock, arguing over who is going to kill whom. Great scene!