Never had the bad mumps.
No syphilis, nothing like that?
So as far as you know. . .
. . .you have good semen?
ls that a trick question?
No, it's not.
l'm only asking. . .
. . .because l want you to make me pregnant.
All right. . .
. . .that's it.
Wait.
Wait, please.
lt's got to be the uniform.
This is my husband, Michael. He hasn't said no.
l haven't said anything yet.
We've been trying to have a baby for 3 years.
We cannot on account of Michael. He had the bad mumps when he was 1 2.
So we need a body father.
We could ask a man here, but it may cause problems.
We've seen it happen.
Things go okay until the woman shows, then it can be difficult.
But you'll only be around once in a while with the mail.
You're the postman.
What do you say, mister?
You'd do us a favor.
l'm going to think about it.
Excuse me.
My mother would like to give you something.
He's right here, Mom.
lt's to my other daughter. . .
. . .Annie.
lt doesn't say where.
We don't know where she is. She left 5 years ago.
The last we heard she was living up north.
Look, Mrs. March, you should know that--
Know what?
l have a feeling about you.
l know you'll do what's right.
l got to get out of here.
Easy, boy.
lt's right around the corner.
What is?
What you're looking for.
What l'm looking for?
Crazy old coot.
l knew you'd come here.
You did?
So how do you get to be a postman, anyhow?
You have to be in the right place at the right time.
How can l do it?
-l thought you wanted to drive cars. -Not anymore. That's kid's stuff.
This is real.
So where's the right place?
Could be anywhere, you know. Anytime.
Only another postman can make you a postman.
Kind of like vampires, right?
Yeah, something like that.
You have to be sworn in, so. . . .
The organization's kind of shaky right now. lt might not last.
What does?
You'd meet people who don't believe in you.
l'll set them straight.
lt's a lonely job.
l've been lonely all my life.
So have l, Ford.
So have l.
What the hell!
You repeat after me.
"Neither snow. . .
. . .nor rain. . .
. . .nor heat. . .
. . .nor gloom of night. . .
. . .stays these couriers. . .
. . .from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. "
Okay, then.
No, l'm saying that. You just listen.
l'm sorry.
By my authority you're now empowered to carry the mail.
Congratulations.
You're a postman.
l'd die to get a letter through.
What did you say?
-l said l'd die to get a letter through. -Johnny!
Why don't you run along.
l need to speak to this man.
l'll see you around.
Sure thing, Ford.
Johnny is impressed with you. Whole town is impressed with you.
l take it you're not.
-You're smarter than you look. -What can l do for you?
You can either clear out or l can throw you out. Either way suits me.
You don't understand. l'm a government employee authorized by--
You are not authorized by shit!
You were trying to sneak out of here. You are nothing. . .
. . .but a drifter who found a bag of mail. l want you out of town.
All right. This is going in my report.
These people don't need dreams, Mr. Oostman.
They need something real. They need help with the Holnists.
Are you going to bring them that?
Didn't think so.
All you cost us so far is a few bowls of soup and maybe a few broken hearts.
l aim to keep it that way.
You can stay here till morning. . .
. . .then l don't ever want to see you again.
"Benning.
Oortland.
Boston"?
What the hell these people--
Just leave it.
l said, leave it.
"St. Rose"?
Hello, Abby.
You'll be leaving tomorrow?
l guess.
Everybody's up late writing letters for you to take.
They're so excited.
And how about you? Do you have a letter?
l don't have anybody to write to.
l'll find you a pen pal.
Someone with similar interests. You know?
Like dancing and. . .
. . .checking for mumps.
You're funny.
Hardly anybody's funny around here.
Have you decided yet?
Been thinking about it.
Sure.
l mean. . .
. . .why not?
God, you're so. . . .
You're so. . .
. . .beautiful.
l'm sorry, you probably want to keep things more clinical.
You don't even know my name.
l don't want to.
lt would be easier for me. . .
. . .if you closed your eyes.
We took a vote, Mr. Oostman.
We want you to have this.
So you can't say no.
l'll take it.
You got a bedroll, some oats and a week's rations.
Good.
Thank you.
Where will you go from here?
Go?
West. . .
. . .then l'll work my way. . .
. . .back here, sort of a figure eight.
Times seem hard right now.
But you got to believe things are getting better.
Birds are migrating again.
The rains are back.
Stuff's. . . .
Stuff's getting better.
O beautiful
For spacious skies
For amber Waves of grain
Shit!
You've got a hell of a nerve, whoever you are.
Did you see Abby around this morning?
This is as far as l go.
You're on your own.
God shed his grace on thee
And croWn thy good
With brotherhood
Are you really who you say you are?
lf l come back with some mail. . .
. . .you'll know.
Goddamn it!
What are you looking at?
Everything.
They don't usually look at me.
Who is responsible. . .
. . .for that?
l said. . .
. . . "Who's responsible. . .
. . .for that?! "
Holnists, Johnny. You got to stay--
-You got to stay out of sight. -l'm a postman!
And l'm not running from anybody!
Stay out of this, or l will lock you up myself.
You'll be responsible.
Now set that flag on fire.
Throw it through the window of your post office.
Do it, Michael.
lt's all right, Michael. Throw it.
The United States. . .
. . .doesn't exist!
That flag is an abomination!
There was the strangest little goat and it was behind a fence and it. . . .
l looked at it and it had a color to it.
Good.
Everything.
l was amazed. lt was. . . .
Good Lord!
That, gentlemen. . .
. . .is a first-rate piece of ass.
Tell the sheriff to introduce me. She doesn't belong in this mudhole.
Excuse me.
You again!
That's my wife, General.
She's a married woman.
Really?
Do you know what system of government we have here?
We have what is known as a feudal system, like in the Middle Ages.
That's lords and vassals. That's you and me.
Now those lords. . .
. . .they had some ideas.
They believed that if a vassal got married. . .
. . .it was the lord's right. . .
. . .his right. . .
. . .to sleep with the bride on the wedding night.
Me and Abby have been married 3 years.
l'm sorry, but l wasn't invited to the wedding.
You've already done me one favor, son.
Don't let this be a black mark on an otherwise perfect record.
We'll be civilized about this.
l want you to give me your blessing.
Sir, l can't.
You can't?
You can't.
"Can't. "
We had a great nation once.
Know what made it great?
"l can. "
Till the weak came along.
The "l can'ts" destroyed us!
l'm going to make us strong again.
l'm going to be the father. . .
. . .of a new nation.
And do you know why. . .
. . .it will be me?
Because l can.
Stop it!
You're killing him!
Let me go!
Olease, let me go!
Help him, somebody! Olease!
You didn't have to--!
Didn't have to what?
You bastard!
You killed him!
Your people seem seditious.
You seem seditious.
What am l seeing here?
l'm waiting!
A man came through with mail. Said he was a postman.
Said that the government had been restored back east.
What government?
The United States government!
Who said that?
Which way did he go?
Do not make me ask again.
East.
Send a patrol east!
Send 3 more. . .
. . .north, south and west!
They'd better find him east.
Take that damn shirt off, Johnny!
l managed to save these.
Do you want to die too?
l'm headed south with the mail.
Don't be a fool.
What should l be?
Rachel Clark.
"Charlie Sykes. "
"Graham Drewitt. "
G.D. died of flu last winter.
That's all there is.
That's all there is, folks.
For now.
But there'll be more, lots more, once there's a real system in place.
Right?
What about New York City?
Did they survive the plague?
Survive?
They got Broadway up and running again.
There's a kid doing Andrew Floyd Webber, you wouldn't believe.
How much is it to mail a letter?
"Mail. . . . "
They won't open the gates.
They say they got a representative of the Restored United States in there.
They say this army is illegal.
-And they say-- -Drop dead!
And go to hell!
That's what they say.
What are you doing?! Open the gates.
ldiots!
What're you thinking?!
The Romans. . .
. . .had an expression. . .
. . .they used to scare their children.
"Hannibal...
...ad portas!"
Hannibal. . .
. . .is at the gates.
Do you know who Hannibal was?
Of course not.
A pretty girl like you wouldn't understand something like that.
-Let's fight them! -With what?
We've got 5 guns, maybe 20 rounds of ammo.
How we going to fight with that?
You don't.
Negotiate a settlement.
Give them extra supplies.
You're the government rep. Tell them.
Right here.
Make it quick. l've got an attack to coordinate.
They've asked me to negotiate a peace treaty.
Do l know you?
l don't think so, sir.
You're the postman.
Aren't you?
lnside!
"U.S. Mail. "
"The Restored United States of America. "
Do these people really believe that shit?!
Who are you, really?
l'm a United States postman. . .
. . .authorized by Order 41 7 of the Restored Congress.
l was at the Battle of Georgetown. l watched the White House burn down.
Do not try to sell me. . .
. . .on any Restored United States!
The new capital is based in Minneapolis. . .
. . .inside the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome.
You know where the Vikings used to play?
You're funny.
What are the terms?
They'll open the gates, give double the usual. . .
. . .just. . .
. . .don't hurt anybody.
This was all a misunderstanding.
l appreciate your offer, Mr. Oostman.
But the fact is that you're in no position to negotiate.
These people made it through the bugs and the riots. . .
. . .and the 3-year winters, but they're not going to survive you.
Fire at will!
Law Six:
Justice can be. . .
. . .dictated!
Kill him, and kill the Restored United States with him.
ln accordance with Law 8. . .
. . .and by the authority of Emergency Order 46. . .
. . .you are hereby--
Get her!
Go on, get him!
We can't stop now.
What are you. . .?
Oh, God!
Come on down.
Don't move.
lf you had a bullet, you'd use it.
Come on.
l don't think l ever had water soup before.
Maybe next time we could try it with a little sand.
Dirt.
Maybe a twig garnish.
You used to think l was funny.
They killed Michael.
l'm sorry.
How sorry are you?
What?
What's that supposed to mean?
What's with you?
You have the mark of 8 on you.
Mark doesn't mean--
You're a liar.
You were with Bethlehem.
Does that make you one of them?
Don't make me use this.
Wind's come up.
lt's getting colder too.
Must be another storm.
Anything else?
l didn't mean for you to. . . .
Your legs are going to rot off if you don't try to walk.
-l'm hurt. -You're lazy!
Lazy?
l got a hole in my stomach. . .
. . .and l'm weak.
The 2 big meals around here are snow and grass. . .
. . .and we're running out of grass.
What're you doing?
Give me a break!
l'm going to check the pass.
Why are you in such a hurry?
l could think of worse places.
Or l could think of worse company.
Oerfect!
Help!
Olease!
Quick!
God, help me!
l told you that's all there was.
That's why you should have it.
l knew you could walk.
You're weird.
Know that?
We walked on the moon once, Abby.
So?
What good is that now?
Obviously you've forgotten. . .
. . .Tang and. . .
. . .microwave ovens and. . . .
Your face looks pretty.
l mean. . .
. . .not so bruised.
Look. . .
. . .there's something you'd better know.
You're going to find out soon enough.
l'm pregnant.
lt's Michael's baby.
You're just the body father.
How do you know it's mine. . .
. . .not Bethlehem's?
He tried with me almost every night.
He couldn't do it. . .
. . .so he beat me.
Said it was my fault.
l'm sorry, Abby.
What is it?
What's wrong?
ls it the baby?
The pass is clear.
What happened?
Good, you got our stuff out.
Of course.
What?
l don't understand.
l set the fire.
Did you think we'd stay here forever?
No.
l'd appreciate it if you'd walk with me to find someplace safe for the baby. . .
. . .then we can split up.
You shaved.
Looks nice.
You're really weird!
You know that?
You ever heard of St. Rose, Abby?
l've heard people talk.
l've heard lots of names. . .
. . .Bliss, Hesperia, and New Eden.
Sheriff Briscoe says it's a fantasy.
He's wrong.
St. Rose is out there. . .
. . .and l'm going to find it.
But you're The Oostman.
l'm nobody, Abby.
This is what l hate.
Strangers.
Do you say hi, or do you blow their heads off?
Do they want to share what they got or take what you have?
lf they want to take, how far are you willing to go to stop them?
All right, that's far enough.
We don't want any trouble.
Me neither, mister.
What are you?
Carrier 1 8. . .
. . .U.S. Oostal Service.
Got any mail?
That's impossible.
Ain't you heard of The Oostman?
No.
Tell us.
He's only the greatest man who ever lived.
He crossed the wasteland. . .
. . .shook his fist at the enemy. . .
. . .and spit in the eye of General Bethlehem himself.
He's back east with Oresident Starkey right now.
Who told you all this?
Oostmaster Ford Lincoln Mercury.
He's in direct contact with the restored Congress.
Direct contact?!
l don't believe this!
Carrier camp!
Gather around, everybody!
Come on, gather around. Got another letter here.
lt came in last night.
-What's all this? -The Oostman sent Ford another letter.
He's going to read it.
"Hello, all postal carriers.
l'm here in Minneapolis with Oresident Starkey. . .
. . .but my thoughts are with you.
Remember. . .
. . .nothing worth doing can be done overnight.
Keep your chins up and do your best not to get shot.
Signed. . .
. . .The Oostman" !
His letters are always kind of short.
Hold on! There's a O.S.
Does anybody know what O.S. stands for?
-Holy shit! -That would be H.S., Eddie.
No, l saw him once when l lived in Oineview.
lt's The Oostman.
Guess you want to talk about this.
l found him!
"Minneapolis"?
"O.S. Ford knows what to do"?
What is this?
What is all this? What the hell--
l lied!
l told people you were in direct contact with me.
-Why? -Because l didn't want it to end.
Look. . .
. . .l don't know how long l can stay. l mean. . .
. . .Oresident Starkey. . .
. . .he's going to send word for me one day and then l'll have to move on.
Do you understand?
But you'll stay until he sends word, right?
Don't do that. Hands down.
You're staying till Oresident Starkey sends word, right?
Yes!
Until he sends word. Right.
Could you say a few words just so they know it's really you?
lt's me.
Coming down.
We bring all the mail here first.
We sort it.
We group it. Then it goes out.
So far, we got 30 routes.
You spelled "tyranny" wrong.
Boy!
He's smart.
From the swift completion. . .
. . .of their appointed rounds.
Congratulations. You are now U.S. postal carriers.
How old are you?
l'm 68, sir.
Can l ask you a question?
Can you ride?
No.
Can't walk too good either.
So why are you here?
l know stuff.
Where did you get that?
1 970.
A girl with eyes as big as saucers. . .
. . .did me in a little town called Saigon.
Ford wants me to have his place.
Said it's the best.
l'm on the other side.
l got plenty of room here.
So much for the uniform theory.
He was captured on the Oregon border.
Who the hell are you?
Carrier 1 2.
United States Oostal Service.
l want the camp struck at dawn.
We'll be moving north!
You spelled "tyranny" wrong.
l wish they'd stop saluting.
Just stay safe.
Remember. . .
. . .the mailman's more important than the mail.
Boy, he's smart.
When l was a kid we used to turn our hat around backwards.
Thought it was cool.
Jesus Christ!
Damn!
l missed him.
What's the name of this town?
We never named it.
l officially declare. . .
. . .Oostal Station Number 1 0. . .
. . .in Elvis, Oregon. . .
. . .open for business.
From now on you got to get your mail down there, okay?
This one doesn't work.
Read it again.
Are you sure?
Yes.
"Dearest Mom: What a miracle to hear from you. "
Stuff is getting better.
Stuff is getting better every day.
l don't know who you are. . .
. . .but l do know l was wrong about you.
Got a letter for you too, Sheriff.
lt's from my sister.
Thought she was dead.
You thought wrong.
Would you like to dance?
Well, they say that you can never
Never go back home
And if you're bound to Wander
You're bound to be alone
You say l got no right
To feel What l feel
When l look into your eyes
Want to dance?
But that l dream of you
Most every night
Comes as no surprise
Well, l've been Out on this road for so long
Far and Wide
Do l roam
But something in your smile tells me
l'm almost home
l Was lost in the dark
All alone
Till the light
ln your eyes shoWed me
l Was almost
Home is Where the heart is
And my heart goes With you
l Would travel till the end of time
lf that's What l have to do
Just to spend one night
Till your sWeet love light
Come doWn
Shining doWn on me
Hello.
Who do you talk to?
Not a soul in 7 years of trying. . .
. . .but l will.
Want some?
No, thanks.
Don't let the kids see that.
You go ahead, take a look.
l was an aerospace engineer.
l helped design the Galileo Space Station.
No shit?
No shit.
l dream it's orbiting the Earth forever. . .