North & South: Book 1, North & South

1842, a special summer day at the huge plantation of Mont Royal. A South Carolinian young man, Orry Main (Patrick Swayze), leaves his rich home for West Point Academy. On his way northwards, in very strange circumstances, he meets two people who will play a decisive role in his life: beautiful lady Madeline Fabray (Leslie-Anne Down), who Orry helps and with whom he falls in love, and a "Yankee", George Hazard (James Read), by whom Orry is helped, and who is also on his way to West Point Academy. From that time, Orry and George are best friends and help each other at every moment, they fight for the U.S. in the Mexican War at Churubusco, where George saves Orry's life. A few years later, the friendship of Orry and George spread to the friendship of their families, the Mains from South Carolina and the Hazards from Pennsylvania. Yet, the love of Orry's life, Madeline gets married to Justin LaMotte (David Carradine), the rich cruel owner of a nearby plantation in South Carolina. Their love cannot be fulfilled, and they only meet in secret. Years pass by and the relations between north and south are not that calm as in the past. Northern abolitionists demand the end of slavery while the south demands secession and separation from the "damn Yankees". Although George and Orry badly want peace between north and south, there is no escape from the inescapable fate. April 12, 1861, and the attack on the northern fortress Fort Sumter done by the southerners means the beginning of war. The two men, who fought together at Churubusco, will have to fight against each other. Friends will have to become enemies. Will war be stronger than peace of mind? Might the storm and noise of canons, rifles and bullets destroy honour, respect and true friendship?