GIDDYUP, GIRL.
WHOO!
[ Laughing ]
WHOA.
WHAT'S THIS?
[ Girl Screaming ]
[ Girl Crying Out ]
[ Man Shouting ] GET THA DEVIL OUTTA YOU, OR I WILL!
HUSH UP, OR I'LL BEA IT OUTTA YA! [ Girl ] NO!
THERE! YOU WON'T WALK
FOR A WEEK!
HEY!
IS ANYBODY THERE?
[ Screams ]
WHOA, POKE.
WHOA, GIRL.
NIGHT, MAMA.
HEY, DADDY. WHERE YOU BEEN, ELLIE?
I STOPPED TO PICK A ROSE
FOR MAMA, AND POKE DONE RUN OFF.
HE ALMOST BEAT ME HOME.
I'M SORRY, DADDY.
WHERE'S YOUR BROTHER? NOW, BOTH YOU
KNOWED BESSIE WAS FIXIN' SUPPER TONIGHT.
I BEEN WAITIN' AND WAITIN'.
GET ME A PIECE OF PIE.
YES, SIR.
HEY, GRANNY. DON'T YOU "HEY, GRANNY"
ME. IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU GOT HOME.
OOH, AND JUST LOOK AT YOU! WHAT?
NOW, GRANNY WANTS TO SEE YOU IN A DRESS
AT THE BOX LUNCH SOCIAL THIS YEAR, ELLIE.
DON'T YOU THINK THAT YOUR MAMA'S GOLDEN
LOCKET WOULD LOOK PRETTY ON A DRESS?
I REALLY DON'T WANT NO DRESS, AND
I DON'T WANT NO LOCKET NEITHER.
I'M NOT GONNA MAKE NO LUNCH TO
HAVE SOME BOY WANNA EAT IT WITH ME.
I'M FINE AS I AM.
NOBODY'S FINE AS THEY AM.
[ Radio: Banjo
THIS PIE LOOKS MIGHTY GOOD, DADDY. WHY DON' YOU COME IN THERE AND JOIN ME AND GRANNY?
GO ON AND EAT YOUR DINNER BEFORE
YOU START IN ON ANY OF THAT PIE.
[ Radio Announcer ]
AND NOW, FOR THE NATIONAL NEWS.
TODAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAS SIGNED
THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT,
WHICH ESTABLISHES A MINIMUM
WAGE OF 40 CENTS AN HOUR-
WELL, THERE HE IS.
HEY, HI.
HEY, SAMMY. LISA MAE SAID CALVIN MARTIN
WAS OUT THERE OPOSSUM HUNTIN' LAST NIGHT...
AND HEARD THOSE HANTS UP THERE
AT THE GUTHRIES'.
HE SAID MR. GUTHRIE HANGS DEAD
BIRDS UP BY THE NECK TILL THEY DROP.
THEN HE EATS THEM RAW
LIKE SAVAGES.
DON'T EVEN GUT THEM. THEY GOT A
MONSTER LOCKED IN THE SHED TOO,
AND THEY FEED HIM
LITTLE CHILDREN FOR BREAKFAST.
UH-HUH. I BET OLD MAN GUTHRIE'S GOT THE
SKINS OF TWO DEAD MEN HANGIN' IN HIS BARN.
YOU STAY AWAY FROM THEM GUTHRIES. HE'D
JUST AS SOON SHOOT YA AS LOOK AT YA.
DON'T YOU EVENTHINK ABOUT TRESPASSIN'
OVER THERE. YOU HEAR ME, GIRL?
YES, SIR.
YOU GOT SOME EXPLAININ'
TO DO, BOY.
BESSIE DIDN'T COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE JUS SO YOU CAN STROLL IN HERE ANY TIME YOU WANNA.
I'M SORRY. I BEEN
TO THE POST OFFICE, DADDY.
OH, SAMMY, DID THEY COME?
YES, THEY DID.
LET ME SEE.
WHAT'S THAT?
ELLIE, READ I TO ME.
WANT ME TO READ
ALL OF IT?
IF I COULD READ, I'D READ I MYSELF. JUST READ IT TO ME.
JACK, THERE'S NO NEED FOR ALL THIS.
THE BOY JUST WANTS TO GET AN EDUCATION.
READ IT!
ELLIE, DON'T.
THESE HERE PAPERS COME FROM
HERSHEL HAWKINS COLLEGE, DADDY.
IT'S A GOOD SCHOOL,
AND I WANNA GO THERE.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I GOT TO TELL YA
THOSE COLLEGES CHARGES TO GO THERE?
THEY GOT WHAT THEY CALL SCHOLARSHIPS,
DADDY, WHICH MEANS YOU GET TO GO FOR FREE.
NO BOY OF MINE
IS TAKIN' A HANDOUT.
WHAT'D I SAY? WHAT, YOU DON' LIKE TO WORK FOR A LIVIN'?
WHERE ARE YOU GOIN'? DON' YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME!
I WANT TO EDUCATE MYSELF, DADDY. I
WANT TO BE SOMETHING IN THIS WORLD!
I AIN'T LOOKIN' FORWARD TO THAT MILL,
GETTIN' LAID OFF EVERY TIME SOMEBODY SNEEZES!
I DON'T WANT TO LIVE LIKE THAT. YOU THINK YOU
SO HIGH AND MIGHTY 'CAUSE YOU CAN READ AND WRITE?
BETTER MEN THAN YOU HAVE WALKED THIS MOUNTAIN
WITHOUT A HEAD FULL OF BOOK LEARNIN'...
TO MESS 'EM UP!
I'M JUST GLAD YOUR MAMA AIN'T HERE
TO SEE YOU CARRYIN' ON LIKE THAT.
I'M JUST GLAD MAMA AIN'T HERE TO SEE
YOU FOOLIN' WITH THAT RADIO AND DRINKIN'.
WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU
JUST QUIT ON LIFE, DADDY.
I'M TELLING YOU
I WANNA GO TO COLLEGE.
NO!
[ Girl ]
I LIKE YOUR BIKE, MARTY.
I LIKE YOUR DRESS, BERTHA.
SURE IS PRETTY.
[ Bertha ] OH, THANK
YOU, CLETUS. THANK YOU.
[ Sammy ]
HEY, BERTHA! WAIT UP!
SAMMY?
YEAH.
[ All Chattering ] SLOW UP.
I GOTTA ASK YOU SOMETHING.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS IN REAL LIFE LIKE LISA
MAE WAS SAYIN' THEY GOT UP AT THE GUTHRIES'?
WE COULD GO UP AND SEE FOR SURE. AND GE SWALLOWED UP BY THEM SAVAGES? NO, THANK YOU.
HEY, SAMMY. HOW COME YOU
LIKE THAT BERTHA ANYHOW?
LISA MAE SAYS SHE GOT A BALE OF
COTTON WADDED UP IN HER CHEST.
I LIKE HER 'CAUSE SHE'S PRETTY AND FUNNY. FOR
YOUR INFORMATION, I KNOW THEY AREN'T COTTON.
SAMMY PERKINS! YOU DID NO TOUCH BERTHA'S BOSOMS!
IT'S TIME YOU ASKED GRANNY ABOU THE BIRDS AND BEES, MISS FLAT CHEST.
PLEASE! I GO MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO.
HEY. IS ANYBODY THERE?
HEY?
HEY.
[ Gasps ]
[ Grunts, Cries Out ]
HEY! I'M YOUR NEIGHBOR,
ELLIE PERKINS.
[ Whimpers ]
I'M ELLIE.
LOOK, I WON'T HURT YA.
- [ Snarls ]
- NO, DON'T BE SCARED. I'M NOT GONNA HURT YA.
SEE, I BRUNG CANDY.
WHAT YOU DOIN' HERE
IN THIS SHED?
I MEAN, DO YOU LIVE HERE? AIN' YOU NEVER LIVED IN A HOUSE?
[ Sniffing ] CAN YOU HEAR ME?
MAYBE YOU CAN'T EVEN HEAR ME.
[ Sucker Bangs ] CAN
YOU HEAR ME? 'CAUSE-
HERE. HERE. I'LL SHOW YA. I'LL SHOW YA.
[ Mutters Negatively ]
NO, IT'S OKAY.
SEE NOW?
[ Grunts ]
[ Chuckles ]
IT'S GOOD, AIN'T IT?
[ Screams ]
[ Both Screaming ]
[ Banging ]
SHUT THE HELL UP IN THERE!
SHH. BE QUIET.
SHUT UP, OR I'LL SHUT YOU UP!
[ Banging ]
DAD GUM IT!
LOOK, I'M ELLIE PERKINS.
WHO ARE YOU?
I- I-
I ALICE.
ALICE GUTHRIE?
ALICE- LALO.
LALO.
LALO, LALO.
I GOTTA RUN, OKAY?
NO, THANKS.
I'LL SEE YA LATER, OKAY?
BYE.
LALO.
LALO.
[ Congregation ]
FOREVER AND FOREVER, AMEN.
JUST LIKE ADAM AND EVE
IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN,
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH
THE BEAUTY OF GOD'S CREATION.
THERE'S NO HARM IN COMING
TOGETHER ONCE A YEAR...
TO CELEBRATE THE GLORY
OF SPRINGTIME.
TO REACH OUT TO YOUR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS WITH LOVE AND GOODWILL.
I JUST HATE BERTHA.
SHE KNOWS I'M CLAIMING DAVID, BUT SHE
JUST BATS THEM EYES AT EVERYTHING IN PANTS.
I KNOW.
WHAT'S A BOY GOOD FOR?
ANYHOW, THAT BERTHA
SURE SEEMS TO KNOW.
YEAH, SHE KNOWS MORE THAN
SHE SHOULD. WHO CARES?
IF YA ASK ME, A BOY AIN'T GOOD FOR
NOTHIN' BUT TOTIN' OUT THE GARBAGE.
[ Minister ] IN THIS LIFE, WE MUS FIND OUR COMFORT AND STRENGTH IN GOD,
THE LORD OUR FATHER.
[ Congregation ] AMEN.
YOU SHOULD'VE HEARD THAT OLD GHOS CARRYIN' ON LAST NIGHT AT GUTHRIES'.
I HEARD IT ALL THE WAY FROM MY
HOUSE. WHEN I WENT OUT, THERE IT WAS,
HOVERIN' UP IN THE SKY OVER ECHOING HEIGHTS
LIKE TO SCARE ME TO A HORRIFYIN' DEATH.
YOU BETTER WATCH OUT, LISA MAE. THA GHOST IS GONNA COME DOWN THERE...
AND SNATCH THE LIFE
RIGHT OUTTA YOU!
[ Minister ] ARE ALL YOU
YOUNG FOLKS... JUST KIDDING.
READY FOR THE BOX LUNCH
BIDDING- BOYS?
ALL RIGHT.
[ Congregation Chuckles ]
ALL THE PRETTY YOUNG GALS OF OUR
CONGREGATION HAVE MADE UP BOX LUNCHES...
THAT THEY'LL SHARE
WITH THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
THE PROCEEDS WILL, OF COURSE,
GO TO CHARITY.
FIRST UP WE HAVE THE VERY LOVELY
MISS BERTHA LANGFORD.
WHAT A LOVELY CREATION THAT IS.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO STAR THE BIDDING?
[ Several People ] OOH! DON'T BE SHY.
I BID FIVE CENTS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH. SIX!
- THERE'S ANOTHER BID.
- SEVEN CENTS.
- [ Third Boy ] EIGHT CENTS.
- [ Minister ] EIGHT CENTS!
- TEN CENT.
- A WHOLE DIME FOR THAT CRITTER FACE?
TEN AND A PENNY. [
Minister ] THERE'S IKE.
[ Third Boy ] TWELVE. I AM GONNA DIE.
- TWENTY CENTS.
- [ Minister ] TWENTY CENTS!
BERTHA'S GOT SAMMYANDDAVID BIDDIN'
ON HER! WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME?
TWENTY-FIVE CENTS AND
A PENNY. TWENTY-SEVEN.
[ Minister ] TWENTY-SEVEN CENTS.
VERY NICE BID. TWENTY-SEVEN CENTS.
- WELL- - TWENTY-SEVEN
CENTS. GOING ONCE.
GOING TWICE.
THIRTY CENTS.
[ Congregation Gasping ] THIRTY CENTS!
A VERY GENEROUS BID BY MR. SAMMY PERKINS.
- FIFTY CENTS.
- FIFTY CENTS! I BELIEVE THAT'S A CHURCH RECORD.
UH, SAMMY, CAN YOU TOP THAT?
FIFTY CENTS, GOING ONCE,
GOING TWICE,
SOLD FOR 50 CENTS!
MR. DAVID BUTLER, YOU HAVE A BOX
LUNCH FROM MISS BERTHA LANGFORD.
FIFTY CENTS.
VERY NICE. AND DON'T THEY
MAKE A LOVELY COUPLE.
YOU RECKON THAT DAVID KNOWS SHE
AIN'T STUFFED WITH COTTON NEITHER?
[ Laughing ]
LALO?
[ Smacking Lips ]
LALO.
FOOD. FOOD.
[ Grunts ]
[ Gagging Sounds ]
[ Gasping ]
SAMMY.
YEAH?
I GOTTA TELL YOU SOMETHING.
DON'T GET MAD, OKAY? ALL RIGHT.
BUT I WENT TO SEE WHAT THEY
GOT LOCKED IN THAT SHED. WHAT!
WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR?
WELL, I HAD TO FIND OUT, DIDN' I? YEAH, I SUPPOSE YOU DID.
LISTEN, SAMMY. IT WASN'T A MONSTER A ALL, YOU KNOW, LIKE PEOPLE BEEN SAYIN'.
IT'S NOT MY CONCERN IF SOME PEOPLE CAN'T TELL
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MONSTER AND A COW.
SHUT UP, SAMMY.
IT WAS A GIRL.
UH-HUH. SHE WAS REAL RAGGED
AND DIRTY, BUT IT WAS A GIRL.
YOU SHOULDN'T POKE AROUND
IN OTHER PEOPLE'S AFFAIRS.
DADDY TOLD YOU TO KEEP OUTTA THERE. NOW I OUGHT TO TELL HIM
- SAMMY, YOU CAN'T TELL.
I OUGHT TO TELL HIM.
PLEASE. SHE WAS SO PITIFUL.
SOMETHING AWFUL'S WRONG,
AND WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING.
WE ARE, ARE WE?
NOW, THERE'S NOTHIN' WE CAN DO.
NOW, THAT MAN IS DANGEROUS.
YOU HEARD DADDY.
ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, I HEARD DADDY.
HEY.
[ Laughs ]
ADA! ADA!
IF YOU DON'T GET OUT HERE,
WE'RE GONNA MISS THE FIRST FIGHT.
I'M SICK OF WAITIN' FOR YOU!
GET OUT HERE NOW!
DAMN COW! GET UP HERE! YOU'RE THE
SLOWEST WOMAN THIS SIDE OF HISTORY!
GIDDAP! GIDDAP!
GETTIN' MY BOOK WET.
OOH, THAT HURT.
OH, MY GOSH.
SAMMY, LOOK.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
IS THAT HER?
I THINK SO.
COME ON. LET'S GO TALK TO HER.
HEY, ALICE!
ALICE!
HOLD ON, ALICE!
HEY, ALICE. THIS HERE'S
MY BROTHER, SAMMY.
GOOD TO MEET YA,
ALICE.
NO, THANKS.
I'M NOT HUNGRY.
YOU KINDA GOTTA SPEAK UP.
SHE CAN'T HEAR TOO WELL.
[ Loudly ] GLAD TO MEE YOU, ALICE. GLAD TO MEET YOU.
ALICE. ALICE, HOW'D
YOU GET OUTTA THE SHED?
ALICE. THE SHED.
HOW'D YOU GET IT OPEN?
DOOR. DOOR?
DOOR.
DOOR.
DOOR.
[ Chuckling ] UH, WELL,
DID THEY LET YOU OUT?
ALICE.
ALICE, ALICE.
DID YOU GET OU BY MISTAKE?
OH, SAMMY, SHE MUST'VE GOTTEN OUT BY MISTAKE.
THEY KEEP HER LOCKED IN THERE ALL THE TIME.
SHE'S GONNA BE
IN AN AWFUL LOT OF TROUBLE.
WE BETTER GET HER BACK
OR SOMETHING.
HEY, ALICE, WHEN THEY COMIN'
HOME? DID YOU SEE THOSE EYES?
YEAH, I SAW HER EYES.
WHAT ABOUT 'EM?
COME ON.
[ Croons ]
[ Gasps ]
OH!
HEY, ALICE.
THESE ARE ROSES.
PRETTY.
[ Sniffs ]
SMELL IT.
AIN'T THAT THE
PRETTIEST SMELL?
SMELL.
SMELL. YEAH.
IT'S NICE.
[ Sammy ] SEE HOW SHE WATCHES
YOUR MOUTH? I THINK SHE READS LIPS.
ALICE?
MY NAME IS SAMMY.
"SAM-MY."
SAMMY.
SAMMY.
SAMMY. SA-
SAMMY!
[ Laughing ]
COME ON.
ALICE. ELLIE!
ELLIE.
COME ON.
YOU DO. YOU DO.
YOU FIX ME IN.
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?
BYE-BYE, SAMMY. SHE WANTS
YOU TO LOCK HER INSIDE.
I DON'T WANNA LOCK HER. IT ISN' RIGHT. YOU, YOU DO. YOU FIX ME IN.
BYE. ALL RIGHT. BYE-BYE.
BYE. BYE.
HEY. HOW MANY JARS OF PEACHES
YOU RECKON WE CAN TAKE...
BEFORE DADDY'LL NOTICE?
WELL, JUST TAKE ONE.
HE WON'T NOTICE IF WE
PUT THE JAR BACK. OKAY.
NOW, THAT SHED HAD CRACKS
IN IT, DIDN'T IT?
YEAH. HAD LOTS OF CRACKS IN IT. I RECKON SHE
MUST'VE FROZE STIFF LAST WINTER DURING THE SNOWS.
[ Alice ] MORE! MORE. [ Ellie
] THEY'RE ALL YOURS. SLOW DOWN.
YOU MIGHT WANT SOME LATER.
YEAH.
ELLIE, COME HERE. MM-MMM.
ALL RIGHT, NOW GO OU THERE AND LOCK US IN.
THIS IS DUMB, SAMMY. GUTHRIE'LL
KILL US IF HE CATCHES US HERE.
JUST GET OUT THERE.
ALICE. ALICE!
[ Ellie ]
BE QUIET.
THIS IS REALLY STUPID.
SHH!
HERE. COME HERE.
TAKE THIS STICK LIKE THIS.
THAT'S IT.
ALL RIGHT?
NOW YOU TRY IT.
YOU TRY IT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
[ Laughs ]
ALL RIGHT. SHH. OKAY.
COME ON, COME ON.
NOT TOO BAD FOR A DUMB BROTHER, HUH?
DON'T GET TOO SWOLE-HEADED, SAMUEL.
LET'S TAKE HER SOMEWHERE. LET'S
GET OUTTA HERE. OOH, I KNOW WHERE.
WE'LL TAKE YOU
- DON'T DO THAT. WE'LL TAKE YOU TO ECHOING HEIGHTS.
YOU TAKE ME? THAT'S
RIGHT. ECHOING HEIGHTS.
COME ON, LET'S GO. LET'S GO. WE GO?
[ Sammy ] WELL, ALICE. THIS IS IT.
[ Ellie ]
THIS IS ECHOING HEIGHTS.
THAT BIG!
YEAH, IT'S BIG.
BIG. Y'ALL WANNA MAKE THIS A
NIGHT LISA MAE WON'T NEVER FORGET.
SHE'S BEEN SAYIN' THEY GO GHOSTS UP HERE AT ECHOING HEIGHTS,
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE
IT'S ALICE SHE'S BEEN HEARIN'.
SO, HEY, ALICE.
CAN YOU SAY "LISA"?
WHAT?
CAN YOU SAY "LISA"?
LISA? YEAH. NOW YOU GOTTA SAY IT REAL LOUD, LIKE
- LISA!
[ Loudly ] LISA! [ Voices Echoing ]
THEN SAY IT EVEN LOUDER.
[ Shouting ] LISA! LISA!
OKAY, NOW YOU GOTTA SAY, "LISA,
I'M COMIN'." "I'M COMIN'."
LISA, I COMIN'!
LISA!
[ Both Continue Shouting ]
LISA!
WHOA.
ORMAND. WHERE IS SHE?
DID YOU LET HER OUT?
I DON'T KNOW NOTHIN'
ABOUT IT! [ Grunts ]
YES, YOU DO. DON'T LIE TO ME! WHERE'D
SHE GO? I HAVEN'T DONE IT. I SWEAR.
I'M GONNA FIX HER. I'M GONNA
FIX HER GOOD. REAL GOOD.
[ Moans ]
OH, GOD.
[ Girls Shouting ]
LISA!
[ Girls Shrieking ]
LISA, LISA!
[ Shrieking Continues ]
[ Mr. Guthrie ]
ALICE!
[ Sammy ]
SHH. SHH.
ALICE!
SHH.
LISA!
ALICE!
ALICE! ALICE!
ALICE!
STAY. STAY!
ALICE, IS THAT YOU?
YOU BETTER ANSWER ME.
I SAID IS THAT YOU?
[ Alice Yelps ]
HOW'D YOU GET OUTTA THERE?
[ Alice ]
STOP. STOP.
[ Alice Screams ]
YOU EVER GET LOOSE OUTTA THERE AGAIN,
I'LL CHOKE YOU TILL YOU CAN'T MOVE!
STOP IT, STOP IT!
DADDY!
DADDY, STOP.
DADDY!
WHERE WERE YOU TWO
LAST NIGHT?
UH, WELL WE WENT UP TO
ECHOING HEIGHTS.
TILL 1:00
IN THE MORNING?
I WAS- WE WENT UP-
UH, WE WAS-
WAS WHAT?
W- WE WENT UP WITH-
GO ON, JUST TELL ME, SON.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE. WHAT?
YOU KNOW, YOU KEEP YOUR
YOUNG SISTER OUT LATE.
YOU GOT NO RESPONSIBILITY, AND
YOU THINKIN' YOU READY FOR COLLEGE?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IN THE HELL IS
GOIN' ON HERE, BUT FROM NOW ON,
I DON'T WANT Y'ALL ROAMIN'
AROUND AT NIGHT. YA HEAR ME?
NO MORE!
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
[ Ellie ] CLETUS, I SWEAR
YOUR MIND IS A DITCH.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO WASH
YOUR BRAIN OUT WITH SOAP.
I HEARD LISA MAE MISSED SCHOOL
TODAY. ON ACCOUNT OF SHE HEARD GHOSTS?
OH, SHE'S SO PITIFUL. DID YOU
SEE WHAT SHE WORE TO THE SOCIAL?
ALL THOSE BUTTERFLIES, AND THAT HAT!
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THAT COLLEGE YET?
WELL
- I GET GOOSE BUMPS ABOUT COMIN' UP AND SEEIN' YOU NEXT YEAR.
WOULDN'T THAT BE GREAT THOUGH? YES.
[ Kids Chattering ]
HEY!
- LET'S SEE WHO CAN SPIT THE FURTHEST.
- [ Boy ] LET ME TRY.
WELL, I GOTTA GO.
BYE, BERTHA.
WELL, BYE, SAMMY.
HEY.
SAMMY!
I GO OUT THE DOOR. ALICE, I ISN'T SAFE. WE GOTTA GET YOU HOME.
IF YOUR DADDY CATCHES US-
ALICE?
IF YOUR DADDY CATCHES US, YOU'LL
GET IN TROUBLE. DADDY NO HOME.
WELL.
YOU SMELL. SMELL.
THAT'S NICE. NOW, ALICE,
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.
ALICE, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THE DANGER WE PUT YOU IN.
WHAT?
D- WHAT?
DANGER.
"DAN-JUH!"
YEAH.
OOH.
ALICE, NOW, COME ON.
HUH? OOH. WHAT THIS?
THAT'S A BOOK.
OOH! WHAT IS THIS?
THIS HERE'S A BOOK. HAVEN'T YOU
EVER SEEN A BOOK BEFORE? WHAT IT DO?
YOU DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
YOU JUST SHOW ME.
WELL, ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
"I THINK THAT I SHALL
NEVER SEE...
"A POEM LOVELY AS A TREE.
"A TREE WHOSE HUNGRY MOUTH
IS PRESSED...
AGAINST THE EARTH'S
SWEET FLOWIN', UH, BREAST."
- BREAST? BREAST?
- MM-HMM. UH-HUH.
GO ON. ALL RIGHT! "A TREE THA - " YEAH, ALL RIGHT.
"A TREE THAT LOOKS AT GOD ALL DAY
- " COME ON. MORE.
"AND LIFTS HER LEAFY ARMS
TO PRAY."
"UPON WHOSE BOSOM SNOW HAS LAIN,
WHO INTIMATELY LIVES WITH RAIN.
POEMS ARE MADE BY FOOLS LIKE
ME. ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE."
AGAIN, SAMMY. AGAIN! ALICE,
I READ IT FOUR TIMES THROUGH.
AGAIN! SEE, SHE DON' HAVE ANY SCHOOLIN' AT ALL.
OH!
ALICE! ALICE. NO.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO A BOOK.
ME, SAMMY. ME!
SHE WANTS TO KNOW ALL THE THINGS
SHE DON'T KNOW. IT'S AWFUL BIG-
ALICE, YOU GO AHEAD
AND KEEP THAT POEM.
HOP OVER.
COME ON.
WHAT IF WE TOLD GRANNY HOW SMAR SHE IS? MAYBE SHE'D TEACH HER PROPER.
YOU KNOW GRANNY DON'T BELIEVE NOTHIN'
UNLESS SHE SEES IT WITH HER OWN EYES, SAMMY.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SHOW HER. YOU
KNOW THAT POEM ALICE LOVES? YEAH.
THAT'S ONE OF GRANNY'S FAVORITES.
IF WE CAN GET HER TO MEMORIZE IT-
SHE COULD NEVER MEMORIZE THA WHOLE POEM, SAMMY. YOU'RE DREAMIN'.
JUST 'CAUSE SHE NEVER LEARNED
BEFORE DOESN'T MEAN SHE CAN'T.
SHE JUST NEVER HAD ANYONE TO HELP HER. I COULD GIVE HER A CHANCE AT A NORMAL LIFE.
HEY!
"A TREE THAT MAY
IN SUMMER WEAR."
YOU GO AHEAD
AND SAY IT, ALICE.
WEAR A TREE. WEAR.
THAT'S CLOSE.
A TREE-
A TREE THAT LOOKS
AT GOD ALL DAY.
AND- AND-
AND-
AND LIFTS HER LEAFY ARMS
TO PRAY!
ALICE! ALL RIGHT, COME
HERE. GET BACK DOWN.
COME ON. BE CAREFUL. COME ON DOWN!
IT'S DANGEROUS.
YOU BE GOOD.
ALICE! ALICE, YOU DONE IT.
YOU LEARNED HALF THE POEM!
GRANNY WILL BE SO PROUD OF
YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU DID GOOD.
YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
HI!
I... THINKIN'-
I READ-
I THINKIN'- I-
ALICE.
COME ON, ALICE. LET'S GO
IN. I SHALL NEVER, NEVER SEE-
I THINK
- HEY, ALICE. THE WATER FEELS REAL GOOD.
AND TOMORROW WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN TO GRANNY'S,
AND YOU'RE GONNA RECITE THAT POEM FOR HER.
AND TONIGHT I WAS GONNA
BRING YOU ONE OF MAMA'S DRESSES,
AND IT'S GONNA LOOK REAL PRETTY
ON YOU, OKAY?
SO COME ON.
LET'S GO IN.
NO!
OH, SEE, THAT'S YOUR
REFLECTION. REFLECTION?
REFLECTION? YEAH. LOOK AT IT. SEE?
AAH! 'FLECTION GO!
I GO.
NO, NO, NO. IT'LL COME
BACK. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
SEE, LOOK. DON'T THE WATER
- NO! NO.
ALICE. WHY DON'T YOU
WANNA BATHE?
OKAY, LOOK. I'M GONNA SHOW
YOU. YOU JUST WATCH ME.
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU, OKAY?
REFLECTION.
I DONE-
THIS... ME. HEY, ALICE. ALICE.
ALICE. I'LL SHOW YOU, OKAY?
WATCH THIS. I'M GONNA GO NOW.
OKAY.
NO.
OKAY. NOW.
YOU SEE MY REFLECTION HERE?
SEE IT?
NO, NO, DON'T TOUCH IT.
OKAY? WATCH THIS.
[ Screams ]
ELLIE! ELLIE, COME BACK! NO!
SEE, I'M STILL HERE. MY REFLECTION
DIDN'T GO AWAY AND NEITHER DID I. OKAY?
SO NOW YOU WANNA COME IN?
[ Laughing, Squealing ]
COLD!
[ Laughing ]
OH!
[ Crooning ]
[ Ellie ] THAT DRESS SURE
DOES LOOK PRETTY ON YA, ALICE.
SAMMY, YOU LIKE?
YOU LIKE MY DRESS?
YES, I LIKE IT VERY MUCH.
NOW COME ON OUT.
YOU NO LOOK AT ME.
COME ON OUT.
NO. NO, NO. [ Laughing ] COME ON!
I THINK SHE'S KIND OF SHY. ALICE,
COME ON. YOU'RE VERY PRETTY.
YOU'RE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL
IN DILMONT.
MOST BEAUTIFUL...
GIRL IN DILMONT?
YES. ALICE, IT'S TIME TO GO MEET GRANNY.
OH, NO, NO.
I NOT- NO.
DON'T BE AFRAID OF GRANNY.
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
COME ON.
IT'S REALLY TIME TO GO.
ELLIE, NOT SO FAST.
OH, GRANNY.
I'LL FALL, AND I'LL BREAK MY HIP. SOMEBODY
AS SPRY AS YOU, GRANNY? I DOUBT IT.
I DO NOT KNOW WHY I LET YOU
DO THIS TO ME.
THIS BETTER BE A GOOD
SURPRISE. DON'T WORRY, GRANNY.
I KNOW YOU'LL LOVE IT. OKAY?
NOW, HERE'S THE COUCH.
ELLIE, I'M NOT A BAG
OF GROCERIES. SAMMY?
HONEY, TAKE THIS THING OFF NOW.
OKAY. IT'S COMIN' OFF, GRANNY.
ALL RIGHT.
HERE YOU GO.
I THINK-
I- I THINKIN'-
I SHALL NEVER SEE...
A POEM...
AS LOVELY AS A TREE.
A TREE WHOSE HUNGRY MOUTH
IS PRESSED...
AGAINST THE EARTH'S SWEE FLOWING BREAST.
A TREE THAT LOOKS AT GOD
ALL DAY, AND LIFTS HER LEAFY-
[ Vase Hits Floor ]
OH!
[ Ellie ] IT'S OKAY, ALICE. OH!
[ Crying ]
I'LL GET HER.
ALICE! ALICE!
SHE KNOWS IT REAL WELL.
WE TAUGHT HER.
SHE'S JUST KINDA NERVOUS,
THAT'S ALL.
SO GRANNY, WILL YOU TUTOR
HER, PLEASE? TUTOR HER!
CHILD, I DON'T THINK MY HOUSE
WOULD SURVIVE TUTORING HER.
WHO IS SHE? WHAT'S WRONG
WITH HER? LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
WHAT DO HER FOLKS SAY ABOUT ALL
THIS TEACHING YOU TWO BEEN DOIN'?
WELL, THEY THINK IT'S FINE. IT'S
JUST SHE COULD REALLY USE THE HELP...
FROM SOMEBODY WHO CAN TEACH
AS GOOD AS YOU, GRANNY.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW. WELL, ALL
RIGHT. MAYBE I CAN TUTOR HER-
SIT DOWN, MISSY.
IF YOU BRING ME WRITTEN PERMISSION
FROM HER FOLKS, YOU HEAR?
OH.
OKAY. BUT WILL YOU JUST NO MENTION THIS TO DADDY JUST YET?
ALICE! ALICE, STOP!
ALICE! ALICE!
OW. ALICE, WHAT? WHAT'S THE MATTER?
I NOT SMART!
I NOT KNOW POEM.
COURSE YOU ARE.
YOU'RE SMART AS ANYBODY ELSE.
NO.
YES. YES, YOU ARE.
WHY? WHY I NOT LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE?
I WANNA BE.
WHAT? WHAT YOU WANNA BE?
I WANNA BE-
I WANNA BE REAL GIRL.
I WANNA BE REAL GIRL. YOU ARE A REAL
GIRL. YOU ARE A REAL GIRL, ALICE.
ALICE, WHAT'S WRONG?
ALICE, WHAT'S WRONG? ALICE!
ALICE. ALICE,
WHAT'S WRONG?
ALICE, WHAT'S WRONG?
ALICE?
SAMMY?
WHAT?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,
ELLIE! WE WERE TALKING, ALL CALM!
RUN AND GET DOC! RUN AND
GET DOC! GO AHEAD, GET HIM!
IT'S ALL RIGHT, ALICE. IT'S ALL
RIGHT. ALICE, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
WHAT'S WRONG?
YOU ALL RIGHT?
[ Moans ]
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
DOC, IT WAS SO SCARY. SHE WAS SHAKIN' ALL OVER,
AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS GONNA CHOKE TO DEATH.
YOU DON'T SUPPOSE ALL THAT SHAKIN' IS
CAUSED BY HER BEIN' HARD OF HEARIN', DO YA?
WELL, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
YET, ELLIE. COME ON.
ALL I KNOW IS I LEFT A PAYIN'
CUSTOMER UP THERE IN THE PARLOR.
I DON'T SUPPOSE THIS IS
A PAYIN' CUSTOMER, NOW IS IT?
COME ON.
SHE'S RIGHT OVER HERE, DOC.
SAMMY, PUT HER HEAD UP HERE A LITTLE
BIT FOR ME. ALICE, GONNA SIT UP.
SHE'S ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
JUST TAKE IT EASY.
YEAH.
OKAY. NOW-
SHE SEEMS OKAY, BUT-
[ Moans ]
THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
SHE'S A BIT TIRED THOUGH.
AS SOON AS SHE FEELS UP TO IT, YOU
TRY TO GET HER HOME AND GET INTO BED.
WHAT IS IT, DOC?
WHAT HAPPENED?
FROM WHAT YOU SAY,
IT SOUNDS LIKE A SEIZURE.
COULD BE EPILEPSY. EPILEPSY.
WHAT IS THAT? IS THAT BAD?
WELL, THERE'S NO CURE FOR IT, BUT THERE
IS SOME NEW MEDICINE I CAN GIVE HER...
SO SHE WON'T HAVE SO MANY OF 'EM
- WHAT'S HER NAME?
ALICE.
ALICE?
ALICE! CAN YOU HEAR ME? HEAR ME.
ALICE, CAN YOU DO THIS?
[ Inhales Deeply ]
[ Chuckles ] THAT'S A
GOOD GIRL. CAN YOU DO THIS?
AH.
YEAH.
[ Tuning Fork Vibrating ]
ALICE,
CAN YOU HEAR THIS?
CAN YOU HEAR THIS?
CAN YOU HEAR THIS?
YOU KNOW, I DELIVERED EVERYBODY
IN THIS COUNTY.
I DON'T REMEMBER NO EPILEPTIC
GIRL WHO'S HARD OF HEARING.
WELL, HER FAMILY'S
NEW IN TOWN, DOC.
WELL, IF YOU SAY SO, ELLIE,
I'M SURE IT'S A FACT.
WHAT ABOUT HER HEARING, DOC?
WELL, THEM FITS, AS YOU CALL 'EM...
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH
HER HEARING PROBLEM.
THE ONLY THING THAT MIGHT HELP
IS A- A HEARING AID.
BUT THEY'RE MIGHTY PRICEY.
OOH, MIGHTY PRICEY.
WELL, COME ON. YOU TWO GET HER
HOME AND GET INTO BED NOW, YOU HEAR?
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, DOC.
EXCUSE ME, MA'AM. I'M SAMMY
PERKINS. CAN I HELP YOU WITH THAT?
NO, YOU CAN'T. I KNOW WHO YOU
ARE. I SEEN YOU COMIN' AROUND HERE.
WHAT YOU AFTER? WELL, I GUESS YOU
KNOW WE BEEN TAKIN' ALICE PLACES.
WE GOT A CHANCE
TO GET HER SOME LEARNIN'.
AIN'T NO USE. SHE'S SICK.
SHE'S BORNED SICK.
DOC SAYS SHE GOT EPILEPSY, AND HE GO SOME MEDICINE TO GET RID OF THEM FITS.
AND MRS. GUTHRIE, SHE LEARNS
REAL GOOD. SHE GOT A GOOD MIND.
I KNOW SHE NEEDS FRIENDS.
BUT MY HUSBAND'S MEAN.
HE SAYS SHE'S DEVIL TOUCHED.
PLEASE, MRS. GUTHRIE. WE NEED TO GE WRITTEN PERMISSION TO GET HER SOME SCHOOLING.
YOU THE ONE TAUGHT HER THEM
RHYMIN' WORDS? YES, MA'AM.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO HELP HER MORE.
WE NEED TO GET YOUR PERMISSION
SO SHE CAN GET TAUGHT PROPER.
NO, NO. I DONE TOLD
YA NO. MRS. GUTHRIE-
AND YOU BEST BE CAREFUL, 'CAUSE
IF HE CATCHES YA, HE'LL KILL YA.
HE WON'T BE ASKIN' FOR NO
WRITTEN PERMISSION NEITHER.
[ Laughs ]
WHAT YOU GOT THERE?
MADE A COBBLER. YOU BEEN
GETTIN' TO BE A REGULAR GIRL, EL?
NAH. I JUST SEEN HOW HARD YOU WAS
WORKIN' IN THE FIELD, AND I SAID,
"MY DADDY DESERVES
SOMETHING REAL NICE." MM-MMM.
HEY, DADDY?
YEAH.
YOU KNOW THAT LOCKET OF MAMA'S? MM-HMM.
DO YOU THINK
I COULD GET IT NOW?
WHAT'S YOUR HURRY?
WELL, I JUST BEEN THINKIN'
IT MIGHT LOOK REAL NICE ON ME.
YOU RECKON
IT'S WORTH A LOT?
IT'S BEEN IN YOUR MAMA'S FAMILY SO
LONG, I 'SPECT IT'S WORTH A SIGHT.
I KNOW YOU MISS HER, DADDY.
YOU DO, HUH?
YOUR MAMA WAS A GOOD WOMAN.
BEST WOMAN THAT EVER WALKED.
SHE LOVED TO WEAR THAT PRETTY
NECKLACE AROUND HER NECK.
SO CAN I WEAR IT, DADDY? GIRL, YOU
GONNA PESTER ME TO A EARLY GRAVE.
"NO," I SAID.
[ Sammy Thinking ] JUST LIKE
A ROSE TO BE FAINT OF HEARING,
SWEET TO THE EYE,
CLOSE TO THE EARTH...
AND LIVIN' ALONE.
BUT SHE HAD SISTERS IN THE FIELDS
WHO TOLD OUR CURIOUS EARS...
OF A ROSE WHO WALKS,
WATCHES AND FEELS.
WE FOUND ALICE BY FATE,
TAUGHT HER BY HAND AND WAITED
FOR OUR ROSE TO DANCE.
SAMMY? HOW AM I GONNA GE DADDY TO GIVE ME MAMA'S LOCKET?
SAMMY.
GONE.
"JUST LIKE A ROSE
TO BE FAINT OF HEARIN',
SWEET TO THE EYE, CLOSE TO
THE EARTH AND LIVIN' ALONE."
[ Chuckles ]
HE'S SO STUPID SOMETIMES.
[ Sighs ]
SAMMY!
SAMMY.
YOU BATHE?
UH, NO, ALICE. NO.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
SAMMY.
SAMMY! YOU BATHE?
YOU PUT THIS SHIRT ON, ALICE. YOU
COME IN, YOU PUT THIS SHIRT ON.
YOU BATHE, SAMMY? NO, ALICE, NO.
COME HERE AND PUT THIS SHIRT ON.
SAMMY, WHY YOU NOT BATHE?
OH, MY GOODNESS.
THIS ISN'T RIGHT.
HERE YOU ARE. YOU PU THIS SHIRT ON, RIGHT HERE.
WHY?
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO.
'CAUSE IT'S ABOUT YOU BEIN'
A GIRL AND ME BEIN' A BOY.
COME ON, NOW.
NONE OF THAT.
IT'S SORT OF LIKE RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT AND WRONG?
SEE, UH, NICE IS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THIS RIGHT? UH, WELL, NO. UH, SEE-
NOW, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN
A BOY NAKED?
NO. YOU?
NO, UH-UH.
NO, ALICE.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT NICE
TO SEE A BOY NAKED.
ALL RIGHT? 'CAUSE NOW BOYS
AND GIRLS ARE DIFFERENT.
UH
- BOYS HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN GIRLS.
ARE THOSE YOUR CLOTHES OVER THERE? WHAT?
ARE THOSE YOUR CLOTHES, ALICE?
YOU GO PUT THOSE CLOTHES-
YOU GO PUT THOSE CLOTHES ON,
ALICE! GO AHEAD. GO ON. UH-HUH.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
SAMMY!
UH, ANYWAY,
I BROUGHT YOU A PRESENT.
AND IT'S A BOOK.
THE ONE YOU LIKE.
AND I'M GIVIN' IT TO YOU.
OOH! BOOK?
UH-HUH.
OOH.
OOH.
OH.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
THIS ISN'T RIGHT.
SAMMY.
SAMMY.
[ Grunting ]
DAMN. YOU BETTER NOT MESS THIS
TRUCK UP ANY MORE THAN IT IS, BOY.
I NEVER HEARD OF NO BOOKWORM
FIXIN' NO TRUCK.
DADDY! SAMMY. ELLIE, HONEY, GO
ON IN. LEAVE ME ALONE WITH HIM.
THAT BOY AIN'T ALL THERE
LATELY. NO, HE'S NOT.
JACK, ELLIE'S BEEN ASKIN' ABOUT HER
MAMA'S LOCKET THAT WAS PROMISED TO HER.
GIRL'S GONE CRAZY ABOUT IT.
WELL, I WAS JUST THINKIN'.
YOU KNOW IT'S THE FIRST INTEREST SHE'S EVER
EXPRESSED IN ANYTHING GIRLISH OR FEMININE.
SAMMY'S GONE PLUMB DUMB. YOU
BEEN POWERFUL HARD ON HIM, JACK.
SAMMY, YOU SHOULDN'T BE
WORKIN' SO HARD.
WELL, I'M ALL RIGHT.
HEARD FROM HAWKINS COLLEGE YET? UH-UH.
DON'T THEY START UP
PRETTY SOON NOW?
WELL, MAYBE I
DON'T NEED COLLEGE.
SAMMY!
WHAT'S TROUBLIN' THAT BOY?
I DON'T KNOW. CHANGED ALL OF A
SUDDEN. HE AIN'T NO FUN NO MORE.
WHAT'D DADDY SAY?
HERE. THANK YOU, DADDY!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
WHERE'D YOUR BROTHER GO?
I DON'T KNOW.
HERE. I'LL DO IT.
JUST HOLD YOUR HORSES.
I'M GONNA WEAR IT REAL CLOSE TO MY
HEART. THAT WAY I'LL REMEMBER MAMA MORE.
YEAH. YOU TAKE CARE OF IT.
I WILL.
YOUR MAMA DID.
THANKS, DADDY. YOU DON' KNOW HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO ME.
I LOVE YOU, DADDY.
I'LL GET THIS PAN BACK TO YOU
SOMETIME NEXT WEEK, MRS. ARROWOOD.
MMM. THANK YOU. DOC, I COME
TO ORDER THAT HEARING AID.
WELL, WHERE'D YOU GET THAT KIND OF
MONEY? THAT OUGHTA BE ENOUGH, AIN'T IT?
YEAH, MAYBE.
BUT I AIN'T NO PAWN BROKER.
WELL, MAYBE I CAN FIND
SOMEBODY.
COULD YOU REALLY?
THAT LOOKS MIGHTY OLD.
YOU SURE IT'S NOT AN HEIRLOOM?
NO. IT'S JUST A LOCKE AND CHAIN, DOC. THANKS.
JUST A LOCKET AND CHAIN, HUH?
[ Chuckles ]
MMM.
SAMMY. WHY YOU NOT COME?
SAMMY.
PLEASE COME.
[ Ellie ] SO WHY IS IT THAT YOU
CAN'T GO WITH ME TO SEE ALICE TODAY?
I JUST CAN'T.
NOW QUIT ASKING.
BUT, I MEAN, SAMMY,
IT'S BEEN OVER A WEEK,
AND SHE KEEPS ON ASKIN'
OVER AN OVER WHERE YOU'RE AT.
BESIDES, SAMMY, I THOUGH WE'S DOIN' THIS TOGETHER.
NAH, I CAN'T SEE HER.
ALL RIGHT?
I DON'T KNOW.
SHE WAS DOWN AT THE LAKE.
AND I WAS A LITTLE TIRED. AND
SHE WASN'T WEARIN' NO CLOTHES.
WHAT?
SAMUEL PERKINS,
WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?
WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST LOOKED IN THOSE EYES...
AND THAT SMILE.
I NEVER SEEN A PRETTIER SMILE.
JUST, UH, SWEET.
[ Sighs ]
WELL, ALL I CAN SAY IS...
THAT'S THE PRETTIEST GIRL
I EVER SEEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
AND IT WAS, UH-
IT WAS JUST LIKE-
- LIKE YOU WAS AN ANIMAL. IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN?
- NO. THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
YOU JUST WOULDN'T NEVER
DO THAT TO BERTHA, WOULD YOU?
YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT MAYBE
YOU REALLY LOVED ALICE.
BUT YOU DIDN'T NEVER ADMIT IT 'CAUSE YOU WAS
TOO ASHAMED OF HER BEIN' SO DIFFERENT AND ALL.
BUT YOU HONESTLY THINK YOU'RE
TOO GOOD FOR HER, DON'T YOU?
WELL, ELLIE, I'M A LITTLE
MIXED UP, ALL RIGHT?
WHEN I'M WITH ALICE,
I THINK I LOVE HER.
SHE'S JUST NOT LIKE BERTHA,
AND SHE AIN'T LIKE YOU.
SHE'S MORE LIKE A-
WELL, A LITTLE BABY.
SO MY MIND TELLS ME
I CAN'T LOVE HER.
BESIDES, BERTHA'S MY GIRL. NOW
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, DON'T YA?
YEAH, I UNDERSTAND
MORE THAN YOU THINK I DO, SAMMY.
MEN AND BOYS
JUST MAKE ME SICK.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU HOW
SORRY I AM I DONE WHAT I DONE.
I WOULDN'T NEVER HURT YOU.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT GOT INTO ME-
'CEPT SEEIN' YOU LIKE THA IN THE WATER.
BUT IT WON'T NEVER
HAPPEN AGAIN.
SAMMY, I THINKIN' AND THINKIN'.
I NOT KNOWIN' BOYS.
AND I NOT KNOWING GIRLS TOO.
THAT THING THAT YOU DO, YOU
TELL ME 'BOUT IT, HUH, SAMMY?
THAT WHAT GIRLS ARE FOR?
NO. UH-UH. GOD, NO, ALICE.
WE- BOYS AND GIRLS,
WHEN THEY GET OLDER, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
- THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LOVE EACH OTHER.
WHAT LOVE?
WELL- WELL, LOVE ISN' SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE,
AND IT AIN'T SOMETHING
YOU CAN TELL.
IT'S SOMETHING, WELL,
YOU FEEL INSIDE.
FEEL IN HERE?
WELL, YEAH.
I USED TO FEEL I WHEN MY MAMA SUNG TO ME.
YOU SING TO ME?
UH-UH. NO.
NO, NO. I CAN'T SING.
YOU SING, SAMMY.
NO, NO, I CAN'T SING.
SING?
WELL.
UH-
[ Clears Throat ]
AT MY DOOR
THE LEAVES ARE FALLIN'
A COLD WILD WIND WILL COME
SWEETHEARTS WALK BY
TOGETHER
AND I STILL MISS
SOMEONE
OH, I NEVER GOT OVER
THOSE BLUE EYES
I SEE THEM EVERYWHERE
OH! I FEELIN'
THAT FEELIN'.
I FEELIN' THAT FEELIN'.
ALL RIGHT.
SING, SAMMY. DO AGAIN. ALL RIGHT.
OH, I NEVER GOT OVER
THOSE BLUE EYES
I SEE THEM EVERYWHERE
I MISS THOSE ARMS
THAT HELD ME
WHEN ALL THAT LOVE
WAS THERE
I FEELIN' THAT FEELIN'.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE KITCHEN, SAMMY,
COULD YOU GET ME SOME TABASCO, PLEASE?
SINCE WHEN DO YOU LIKE
TABASCO?
AND BRING ME A BISCUIT.
ONE THAT AIN'T BURNT.
HEY, SAMMY, COULD YOU
PASS ME THE STEW?
THERE YOU ARE. STEW'S RIGHT IN
FRONT OF YOU. WHY WOULD I WANNA-
JUST 'CAUSE, OKAY?
PASS ME THE STEW.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT!
HERE'S THE STEW.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
THIS HERE'S A LETTER FROM-
SEE? THEY SAYS YOU DONE IT! THEY SAID THEY'RE
GONNA GIVE YOU A SCHOLARSHIP AND A JOB...
AND A ROOM IN A DORMITORY
TOO! WHOO! THAT'S A DORMITORY.
WELL, DADDY, SOUNDS LIKE THEY WAN ME. THEY GIVE ME A SCHOLARSHIP!
- AIN'T IT WONDERFUL, DADDY?
- WELL, DADDY, I GOTTA GO.
YOUR WORK SHOWS OUTSTANDING ORIGINALITY,
AND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO YOU BEING A STUDENT.
WHOO! IT STARTS ON THE 14th OF AUGUST.
THAT'S IN TWO WEEKS, SAMMY! DADDY, THIS
IS MY CHANCE. I WANT YOU TO BE PROUD OF ME.
[ Crying ]
SAMMY, ELLIE! SAMMY!
MY GOD! THAT BASTARD BEAT HER UP!
MY GOD, WHO'S THAT?
ALICE. ALICE, ARE YOU
ALL RIGHT? ALICE WHO?
WHO BEAT THIS GIRL? DADDY, THIS IS
ALICE GUTHRIE. WHAT HAPPENED? YOU OKAY?
- I TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THERE!
- ALL RIGHT!
WHAT HAPPENED, ALICE? WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU ALL RIGHT? WHAT THE HELL?
DADDY. HE CATCH ME GOIN'
IN SHED.
HE HIT ME. HE HIT ON
MY MOTHER. HE DEAD.
- YOU SAY YOUR DADDY'S DEAD?
- MY GOD.
SAMMY, HE DRINKIN',
AND HE HITTIN' MY MAMA.
HE FALLIN' OFF OF THE PORCH.
HE HIT HIS HEAD, AND BLOOD IS-
MY DADDY'S DEAD.
YOU COME SEE MY DADDY'S DEAD.
WE NEED TO GET HER
TO DOC, OKAY?
- ALL RIGHT, COME ON, ALICE.
- HE HIT ON MY MAMA ON A PORCH.
[ Sammy ] COME ON. HE FALLED OFF.
JUST GO AWAY AND LEAVE US
BE! WHAT HAPPENED? IS HE DEAD?
YA DONE INTERFERED
A PLENTY, ALL RIGHT?
WELL, WE'LL GIVE YA
A HAND GETTIN' HIM UP.
[ Jack ]
WATCH HIS HEAD.
SHE'S PRETTY BANGED UP,
BUT NOTHING'S BROKEN.
WHERE CAN SHE GO TO REST? IN
THE SHED, WHERE SHE LIVES, DOC.
YOU ALL RIGHT, ALICE? YOU TAKE HER
ON OVER THERE. YOU GO WITH HIM, ELLIE.
SAMMY. SAMMY.
YOU READ ME?
ALL RIGHT. ELLIE,
HAND ME THAT BOOK.
I UNDERSTAND MY TWO KIDS BEEN
SPENDIN' A LOT OF TIME WITH ALICE.
THEY ALL FRIENDS.
I KNOW HOW BAD YOU GOT IT,
MRS. GUTHRIE.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO
HELP OUT, YOU JUST CALL ON US, MA'AM.
I HEAR ALICE
LIVES IN A SHED.
WHAT OF IT?
WELL, SHE'S A DAMN SIGHT SAFER IN
THAT SHED WHERE SHE BARELY SEES HIM...
THAN BEIN' INSIDE THERE
WITHIN HIS REACH!
[ Jack ] KIDS OUGHTN' TO BE TREATED THAT WAY.
HER REAL DADDY DIED,
IF IT'S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS.
AT THE TIME I FEL - FELT RIGHT FORTUNATE ORMAND WOULD TAKE US IN.
COURSE, A PERSON'S GO A RIGHT TO CHANGE THEIR MIND.
[ Sighs ] THEM FITS SHE TAKES,
THEY JUST DRIVE HIM CRAZY.
HEY, DADDY.
- ALICE COULD HAVE SAMMY'S ROOM.
- HUSH UP, ELLIE!
WHAT? TAKE MY GIRL?
YOU COME HERE FOR THAT?
YA AIN'T TAKIN' MY GIRL!
ALL THAT FANCY TALK!
I DON'T MIND YOUR YOUNG 'UN BEIN' FRIENDS
WITH MY GIRL, BUT AIN'T NOBODY TAKIN' HER!
- MRS. GUTHRIE-
- NOTHIN' CAN HELP HER NO WAY.
Y'ALL AIN'T HAVIN' HER LIVE
WITH YA! MRS. GUTHRIE, I-
"MY LIFE CLOSED TWICE
BEFORE ITS CLOSE.
"IT YET REMAINS TO SEE
IF IMMORTALITY UNVEIL...
"A THIRD EVENT TO ME.
"SO HUGE, SO HOPELESS
TO CONCEIVE...
"AS THESE THAT TWICE BEFELL.
"PARTING IS ALL WE KNOW
OF HEAVEN...
AND ALL WE NEED OF HELL."
TIME TO GET HOME NOW. WE WANNA GE HER TO SLEEP. WE'LL RIDE BACK DOWN-
YOU HUSH YOUR MOUTH, BOY.
WE ALL GONNA HAVE A SIT-DOWN
TALK WHEN WE GET HOME.
YOU HEAR ME?
YES, SIR.
YES, SIR.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
ONE MORE.
[ Sammy ] HOW BAD IS HE
HURT, DOC? I DON'T KNOW.
FOOL WON'T LET ME
GET HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.
CAN'T MOVE HIS LEG. HE'S
PARALYZED IN THERE RIGHT NOW.
SO IF HE STAYS PARALYZED FOREVER
MAYBE ALICE CAN GO TO SCHOOL!
[ Chuckles ] I'M SORRY, ELLIE.
I SUSPECT IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY.
HMM. SO, SAMMY, ELLIE HERE'S TOLD ME
THAT YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.
YEAH, THANKS, DOC.
NOW YOU LISTEN TO ME,
YOU TWO.
THAT ALICE,
SHE'S A NICE GIRL.
BUT THAT GIRL AND THAT WHOLE FAMILY NOW,
THEY JUST LOADED WITH PROBLEMS. YA HEAR?
GOT SOMETHIN' HERE.
I SUSPECT YOU BETTER PUT THIS
BACK WHERE IT BELONGS, ELLIE.
BUT DOC, SHE NEEDS THA HEARIN' AID. SHE'S GONNA GET IT.
WHEN I SAW THE WAY HE TREATED
HER, THE WAY HE MADE HER LIVE!
YOU TAKE THIS NOW.
TAKE IT.
I'LL JUST, UH-
I'LL JUST OVERCHARGE
MRS. DUNHILL AND MR. O'MURPHY.
[ Chuckles ]
THEY CAN AFFORD IT.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOTTA DO
WHAT WE CAN.
THANKS, DOC.
EASY, NOW.
YOU TWO BEEN LYIN' TO ME.
YOU BEEN SNEAKIN' OUT A NIGHT. BUT, DADDY, I MEAN-
I DON'T WANNA HEAR NOTHIN'
ABOUT THAT POOR GIRL.
YOU SAW HOW SHE LIVES
AND WHAT HE'S DONE TO HER.
THAT IS ONE CRAZY MAN OUT THERE!
NOW WHAT IF YOUR SISTER
GOT HURT?
IT'S NOT SAMMY'S FAULT.
I STARTED THIS WHOLE THING-
YOU BOTH STARTED IT, AND I'M
GONNA END IT RIGHT HERE AND NOW!
I AIN'T JUST A PIECE OF FURNITURE
IN THIS HOUSE, YOU UNDERSTAND?
HOW CAN I TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY IF
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT?
- W-WE'RE SORRY, DADDY.
- SORRY AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
ALL THIS LYIN' AND SNEAKIN'
ABOUT, IT AIN'T RIGHT...
EVEN IF IT WAS
FOR A GOOD REASON.
ARE YOU TWO GONNA SPEND
THE NIGHT OUT THERE?
I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU, BOY.
YOU'RE GOING TO COLLEGE.
YOUR MAMA'D BE PROUD
OF YOU TOO.
WELL, UH- UM-
[ Jack ] I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE WE CAN FIND...
A ROOM FOR THIS ALICE.
YOU MEAN SHE CAN COME
LIVE WITH US?
YOU SAW HER MAMA SLAM THE DOOR IN MY
FACE, SO DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP, GIRL.
WHERE'S THAT LOCKE YOU WANTED SO MUCH?
UH, IT'S RIGHT HERE, DADDY.
I WANNA KEEP I REAL CLOSE TO ME...
SO I REMEMBER
WHO GAVE IT TO ME...
AND WHO I LOVE AND WHO I THINK IS
THE BEST DADDY IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
ALICE, HOW'D YOU LIKE TO
LIVE WITH US? MMM, I LIKE IT.
GOOD. HEY, DADDY!
WHAT'S THAT?
ALICE SAYS SHE WANTS
TO COME LIVE WITH US.
[ Chuckles ] WELL, YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO ASK YOUR MAMA, ALICE.
I BET HER MAMA'LL SAY YES
IF ALICE ASKS. I ASK MAMA.
YEAH. WELL, SEE, THE WAY
YOU GET THINGS FROM MAMAS-
HEY, DADDY, DON'T YOU HAVE
SOME STUFF TO DO OR SOMETHIN'?
NOT WHEN I STAND
TO LEARN SOMETHIN'.
ANYWAY, THE WAY YOU GET THINGS IS TO
KEEP ON BEGGIN' TILL YOU DRIVE 'EM CRAZY.
ELLIE'S GOT A LOCKET TO PROVE
IT WORKS TOO. SHOW HER.
WHAT "BEG" MEAN? SHOW HER HOW TO
BEG. COME ON. YOU'RE THE CHAMP.
ALL RIGHT. COME ON, DAD. UH-OH.
COME ON. ALL RIGHT.
WHAT'S THIS?
WHERE WE GOIN'?
WE'RE GONNA SHOW HER.
UH-OH.
YOU BE MRS. GUTHRIE.
OH, LORD.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY, NOW. TA-DA!
ALL RIGHT. WATCH.
MAMA? MAMA!
MM-HMM.
PLEASE, YOU GOTTA LET ME GO
LIVE WITH ELLIE. YOU HAVE TO.
[ Jack ] UH
- HAVE TO.
[ Ellie ]
PLEASE, MAMA. PLEASE.
UH-
SEE, M-MAMA?
YOU WANT ME TO BE HAPPY,
DON'T YA? YES. MM-HMM.
WELL, YOU DO, DON'T YA?
[ Chuckles ] I DON'T KNOW.
PLEASE. COME ON, MAMA.
- YOU HAVE TO. PLEASE? PLEASE?
- [ Whimpering ] PLEASE? PLEASE?
MMMM. HMM?
YOU GOT IT?
[ Ellie ] YOU GOT IT. [ Jack Chuckles ]
[ Alice ] OH, PLEASE, MAMA!
PLEASE, MAMA! PLEASE, MAMA!
LORD, CHILD. OH, PLEASE,
MAMA. MAMA, PLEASE.
I SWEAR YOU GONE CRAZY! I GOTTA
GO LIVE WITH ELLIE. I HAVE TO!
DON'T YOU WANT ME TO BE
HAPPY, MAMA? JUST LEAVE ME BE!
PLEASE, MAMA!
[ Scoffs ]
[ Whimpers ]
LEAVE ME BE NOW.
YOU LETTIN' THAT GIRL GO FREE
LIKE SOME WILD ANIMALS.
YOU'LL BE SORRY.
GET ON OVER HERE AND HELP ME!
COME ON! COME HERE!
YOU GONNA PAY FOR THIS, YOU HEAR
ME? YOU ARE GONNA PAY FOR THIS.
DOESN'T MATTER HOW LONG
I'M IN THIS BED,
WHEN I GET OUT, I KICK,
YOU UNDERSTAND?
YES.
[ Gasps ]
HAVE YOU TOLD ALICE
YOU'RE LEAVING YET? NOPE.
YOU BETTER GET ON IT. SHE'S THE
ONLY ONE IN TOWN DOESN'T KNOW.
DO ME A FAVOR
AND KEEP OUT OF MY BUSINESS.
YOU CAN'T GO OFF WITHOUT FACIN' HER. THAT'S
WORSE THAN TELLIN' HER YOU'RE LEAVIN'.
I AM GONNA TELL HER
IN MY OWN GOOD TIME.
UNTIL THEN I'LL ASK YOU TO KEEP
YOUR OPINION TO YOURSELF.
[ Alice ] SAMMY! WELL,
HERE'S YOUR CHANCE, ROMEO.
SAMMY! WELL, ALL RIGHT THEN. YOU GET.
I MIGHT LEAVE YOU ALONE
IF YOU ASK REAL NICE.
I SAID GET!
HEY, SAMMY!
HEY, ELLIE. HOW ARE YOU?
JUST FINE, ALICE. HOW ARE YOU?
RIGHT FINE!
GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU, SAMMY? WELL,
OKAY, I GUESS. GO ON.
AIN'T IT-
AIN'T IT A GORGEOUS DAY?
YES, ALICE, IT IS. AND I
- [ Indistinct Chattering ]
HEY, DOC'S HERE!
HERE. THEY CAME.
ALL RIGHT! WHOO!
ALL RIGHT!
WE GOT A REAL SPECIAL DEAL
ON THIS ONE TOO.
NOW IT'S ALL BROKEN IN, SO WE
KNOW THAT IT WORKS REAL GOOD.
NOW, HERE. YOU HOLD
THIS. [ Ellie Giggling ]
SAMMY, WILL YOU HELP ME?
CLIP THIS ONTO HER.
ON THE TOP HERE.
AND I'LL JUST PUT THIS BATTERY
RIGHT IN HERE, LIKE THAT.
NOW, THIS GOES RIGHT UP
IN HERE NOW.
TAKE IT EASY. IT'S
ALL RIGHT. [ Whimpers ]
- CAREFUL, CAREFUL.
- YEAH, LET'S GET THAT...
WHERE WE CAN FIT THAT IN THERE
LIKE THAT.
YEAH. THERE.
NOW SHH, SHH.
COME HERE, COME HERE.
[ Chuckles ]
COME ON. COME ON.
ALICE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
[ Whimpers ]
I HEARIN'!
[ Laughing ]
SAY...
"MY NAME IS ALICE GUTHRIE."
SAY MY NAME...
IS ALICE GUTHRIE!
[ Whispering ]
I LIVE ON A HILL.
[ Chuckling ]
[ Paper Crinkling ]
[ Screams ]
PAPER MAKE THAT NOISE?
[ Ellie Laughing ] YEAH!
OH, MY GOD!
YOU MAKE NOISE WITH SMILE?
DO MORE!
MAKE MORE SMILE NOISE!
[ Crickets Chirping ] WHAT'S THAT? WHAT?
WHAT'S THAT NOISE?
CRICKETS!
CRICKETS! YEAH!
CRICKETS MAKE THAT NOISE! HEY!
LEAVE HER BE. COME ON, DOC. I GOT A
CUP OF COFFEE WITH YOUR NAME ON IT.
I CAN USE IT.
COME ON.
ALL RIGHT.
MAMA?
[ Scoffs ]
MAMA, I NEED
GO LIVE WITH ELLIE.
MAMA, PAPER MAKE A NOISE.
BIRD MAKE A NOISE.
I AIN'T TAKIN' NO MORE OF THIS.
NO, YOU AIN'T MOVIN' DOWN THERE!
TALKIN' ME, NOT HOLLER! DON' YOU TELL ME NOT TO HOLLER!
LALO.
YOU GOT THAT THANG-
THAT HEARING THANG?
IT HURT YOUR EAR?
IT NOT HURT. NO HOLLER.
YOU CAN HEAR ME?
I HEARIN'. PLEASE, MAMA?
PLEASE LET ME LIVE WITH ELLIE.
PLEASE, MAMA.
[ Smacking Lips ]
[ Alice Chattering ] ALICE, YOU LISTEN
TO ME 'CAUSE I GOT SOMETHIN' TO SAY.
WHAT? OKAY. WELL, I ALREADY KNOW ONE
POEM. I WANT YOU TO READ ANOTHER ONE.
A HAPPY ONE, OKAY?
ALICE.
OKAY? SIT, SIT.
YOU READ ME RIGHT HERE.
ALICE, WE HAVE TO TALK FIRST.
[ Stammering ]
WELL, THIS IS HARD FOR ME.
TELL ME.
FEET MAKE A NOISE.
HAND MAKE A NOISE.
BIRDIE MAKE A NOISE. EVEN
- ALICE, THIS IS IMPORTANT.
I'M GOING TO SCHOOL IN
A FEW DAYS. I GO TOO.
UH-UH. NO, I'M GOIN' ALONE.
AND I WOULDN'T GO
IF IT WASN'T IMPORTANT, ALICE.
SO I WON'T BE ABLE
TO SEE YOU FOR A LONG TIME,
AND, WELL, THAT'S JUST BES FOR A LOT OF REASONS.
I GO WITH YOU.
NO. I HAVE TO GO ALONE.
YOU KNOW
YOUR HEARIN' AID-
HOW IT LET'S YOU KNOW
MORE THINGS ABOUT THE WORLD?
THAT'S WHAT SCHOOL IS FOR ME.
I KNOW. I NO WANT YOU GOIN' OFF.
ALICE, OUR-
OUR FRIENDSHIP IS REAL SPECIAL,
AND I'LL NEVER LET GO
OF THAT...
BUT I GOTTA GO.
NOT ALL SOUNDS SO NICE.
MADE THESE FOR YA, SAMMY.
ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT NOW.
WE'RE GONNA BE LATE.
YOU ALWAYS WANTED THIS THING.
[ Ellie Laughing ]
LOOKS BETTER ON YOU THAN I DOES ME. LET'S GO. COME ON.
[ Footsteps Approaching ]
HI.
YOU STILL WANT MY GIRL?
OF COURSE. COME ON IN.
COME AND GET HER
EARLY TOMORROW THEN.
[ Thunder Rumbling ]
LALO, WE GO NOW.
[ Mrs. Guthrie ]
ORMAND, NO! [ Screaming ]
ORMAND, NO!
[ Screaming Continues ]
LALO!
THAT'S IT, WOMAN!
DADDY'S NOT FINISHED YET!
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
YOU GET THAT DAUGHTER AND YOU GET BACK
HERE NOW, UNDERSTAND? GET HER BACK NOW!
NO!
COME ON! GET UP!
GET UP!
GET OUTTA HERE
BEFORE HE SHOOTS YA!
[ Gasping ]
[ Clears Throat, Coughs ]
HEY.
[ Sighs ]
[ Sighs ]
AIN'T, UH,
SAMMY'S BED SOFT?
SAMMY BED?
MMM, YEAH.
SAMMY GONE.
AND LALO DEAD.
ALL BOOKS-
ALL BOOKS SAMMY'S BOOKS?
YEAH. THESE ARE SAMMY'S
BOOKS. ALL OF 'EM. MM-HMM.
BUT BEFORE HE GETS BACK
FOR CHRISTMAS,
BESSIE WILL HAVE TAUGHT YOU
HOW TO READ 'EM.
YEAH. I READ.
SAMMY LISTENS.
MMM.
MM-HMM. [ Ellie ] HEY, DADDY!
DADDY, COME HERE.
OH, WELL-
WELL, THIS OLD THING.
THIS WAS SAMMY'S, SO...
PROBABLY LIKE YOU
TO HAVE IT.
HERE.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
[ Laughing ]
[ Hillbilly ]
[ Gasps, Yells ]
[ Man Singing, Indistinct ]
[ Yelling ]
[ Ellie Laughing ]
YEE-HA!
WHOO-HOO!
[ Hooting, Laughing Continue ]
[ Jack ]
COME ON!
[ Bessie ] THAT'S GOOD.
NOW CAN YOU READ IT TO ME?
"DEAR SAMMY,
"HOW ARE YOU?
"I AM GOOD.
I HELP-" HELP?
"... MR. PERKINS.
I HELP ELLIE.
"I WRITE THIS.
LOVE, ALICE." BUT I STILL
NOT SURE I WRITE LOVE.
WELL, IF YOU DON'T WAN TO WRITE IT, DON'T.
I WRITE IT.
OKAY. L-O...
V... E.
LOVE.
GOT A LETTER
FROM KINDERGARTEN, SAMMY?
[ Sighs ]
[ Kids ]
TRICK OR TREAT!
BOO! BOO! OOH, BOO!
WITCHES. LITTLE WITCHES.
I GOT SOMETHIN' FOR YOU.
THERE'S ONE FOR YOU. YES.
IT'S CALLED MISTLETOE. IT'S A LITTLE GREEN
PLANT, SEE YOU LATER. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
AND PEOPLE HANG IT ABOVE THE
DOOR SO WHEN BOYS WALK THROUGH...
AND GIRLS ARE THERE AT THE SAME TIME, THEY KISS
- ELLIE! ELLIE!
LISA MAE'S BEEN DYIN' TO MEET YOU.
LISA MAE, THIS IS ALICE GUTHRIE.
ALICE,
THIS IS LISA MAE McCLUNG.
LISA! LISA, LISA,
LISA, LISA! [ Laughing ]
WHOO! ELLIE!
SAMMY? YOU'RE HOME!
HEY!
HOW ARE YOU? OH, YEAH!
[ Laughs ]
HOW ARE YOU?
HI, SAMMY.
HEY, ALICE. MERRY
CHRISTMAS. YOU GET MY LETTER?
UH, YEAH, MM-HMM.
COME ON IN!
CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES OVER. YOU'RE
LATE FOR CHURCH. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
[ Indistinct Chatter ]
SAMMY! ELLIE!
[ Church Organ ]
MERRY CHRISTMAS. MERRY
CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO, PREACHER.
YOU BETCHA.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
POWERFUL GOOD TO SEE YOU, JACK.
SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY TIME WE GET TO
SEE YOU IS AT CHRISTMASTIME AND EASTER.
YEAH, DON'T IT, THOUGH. GOTTA
START PRAYIN' MORE OFTEN, MAN.
YEAH.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
SAMMY? EXCUSE ME.
SAMMY. HEY!
HI, BERTHA.
HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, ALICE,
YOU GONNA COME TO OUR SCHOOL?
SURE, JUST AS SOON AS MY GRANNY'S
DONE TUTORIN' HER SPECIAL.
OH, I THINK THAT'S REAL NICE. WHA SUBJECTS ARE YOU STUDYIN', ALICE?
I LEARN... WRITE WORDS.
I WRITE LETTER TO SAMMY.
AND I LEARN... "TWESTION" MARKS
AND "COMMIES" TOO.
WELL, DOES THAT LETTER HAVE ANY
"TWESTION" MARKS OR "COMMIES" IN IT, SAMMY?
[ Laughter ] [ Boy ]
"TWESTION" MARKS? "COMMIES"?
[ Clears Throat ]
[ Giggling ]
THAT'S REAL FUNNY, HUH.
SOME OF Y'ALL GOT THE BRAINS OF A SPARROW.
ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? SEE WHAT YOU DID?
[ Bertha Laughing ]
YOU WAS ASHAMED OF HER, WEREN' YOU? YOU WERE EMBARRASSED TOO.
I WAS EMBARRASSED FOR HER, BUT I
WASN'T ASHAMED OF NO ONE BUT YOU.
AND WHAT DID I DO THAT WAS SO WRONG?
ALICE AIN'T LIKE THE REST OF US.
YOU WANT ME TO PRETEND SHE IS? YOU WAN ME TO CLOSE MY EYES AND MAKE LIKE...
SHE SAYS ALL THE RIGHT WORDS
AND DOES ALL THE RIGHT THINGS?
WHEN WE STARTED TO TEACH ALICE, WE
THOUGHT WE COULD UNDO ALL THEM YEARS...
THAT CRAZY MAN MASHED HER MIND AND BEAT HER
TILL SHE WAS NUMB AND AFRAID TO PAY ATTENTION.
NOW I THINK
YOU'RE NEAR AS BAD AS HIM.
YOU HURT HER, SAMMY.
YOU HURT HER REAL BAD.
WELL...
I DIDN'T MEAN
TO HURT HER.
ALICE, I-I'M SORRY.
YOU WANT ME LEARNIN'.
GRANNY BESSIE, SHE DOIN' IT.
SHE SAY I DOIN' GOOD,
BUT BOYS AND GIRLS
STILL LAUGHIN'!
ALICE, THEY'RE JUST STUPID.
YOU'RE DOIN' FINE.
THAT'S THE TRUTH.
NO! IT'S NOT TRUE!
YES, ALICE, THAT'S THE TRUTH.
NO, IT'S NO THE TRUTH, SAMMY!
I LEARNIN' READIN' AND WRITIN'.
I LEARNIN' COOKIN' AND WASHIN'.
I DOIN' IT ALL FOR YOU!
I DOIN' IT ALL
TO BE REAL GIRL,
BUT THEY STILL LAUGH
AND YOU STILL LAUGH!
YOU DON'T WRITE ME BACK!
[ Crying ]
ALICE, I- ALICE,
I'M REAL SORRY ABOUT THAT.
PLEASE LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I
- PLEASE, ALICE, LET ME EXPLAIN.
NO! I NOT LISTEN NO MORE!
I NOT WANT THIS.
[ Clears Throat ]
WE HAVE TO GO TO THIS PARTY?
I'M NOT MUCH UP FOR A PARTY.
DON'T YOU WANNA SEE ALL OUR FRIENDS?
YOU CAN SHOW OFF THE NEW SHIRT I MADE YA.
YEAH.
I THINK IT'S REAL SWEET WHA Y'ALL DOIN' FOR THAT POOR ALICE.
SHE'S SO PATHETIC-
CAN'T DO NOTHIN'.
CAN'T READ OR THINK
OR NOTHIN',
BUT Y'ALL BEIN' REAL SWEE TO HER.
NOT EVERYBODY'D DO THAT.
I KNOW I COULDN'T.
NOW I KNOW
WHAT THIS GIFT IS.
IT AIN'T NO OTHER PAIR
OF SOCKS. YOU THINK IT IS?
NO, SIR.
PUT THAT DOWN.
[ Bessie ] WHY IS IT YOU HAVE TO
GO BACK TO COLLEGE RIGHT NOW, SAMMY?
[ Sammy ] 'CAUSE THE JOB
THEY GAVE ME IN THE LIBRARY.
IF I WORK THERE FULL-TIME
TILL CLASSES START,
I CAN AFFORD TO BUY MY BOOKS
AND KEEP 'EM TOO.
[ Ellie ] I WISH I COULD
GO BACK WITH YOU AND DADDY.
I GO SEE MAMA NOW.
I NO CARE IF EVERYBODY
IN THE WHOLE WORLD LAUGH...
AT MY "TWESTION" MARKS
AND MY "COMMIES."
[ Door Opens, Closes ]
WELL, I THINK I'LL TAKE ONE LAS WALK BEFORE THE DRIVE BACK, DADDY.
I READ IT FOR YOU.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS, MAMA.
"I LOVE YOU.
I MISS YOU. ALICE."
BEEN SO LONG
SINCE WE HAD CHRISTMAS.
I GOT NOTHIN' FOR YOU.
OH, IT OKAY.
I BETTER GET BACK BEFORE YOUR
DADDY FINDS OUT YOU'RE HERE.
HE BEEN MOVIN' AROUND
TOO MUCH OF LATE.
ALICE, YOU HERE?
GOOD-BYE, SAMMY.
[ Sammy's Voice ] DEAR ELLIE,
COLLEGE EXAMS ARE A LOT HARDER...
THAN I EVER IMAGINED.
I STUDY AND WORK
AND WORK AND STUDY.
SEEMS LIKE I DON'T HAVE TIME
FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
I THINK ABOUT YOU AND DADDY
ALL THE TIME.
I MISS YOUR PLUM PUDDIN'.
LOVE, SAMMY.
P.S. SAY HEY TO ALICE.
HEY, ALICE.
[ Ellie's Voice ] DEAR SAMMY, WE'RE ALL
GETTIN' READY FOR THE FOUNDER'S DAY DANCE.
DADDY'S TEACHIN' ALICE TO DANCE.
UGH.
GRANNY'S MAKIN' ME GO.
UGH. UGH.
AND SHE'S MAKIN' US BOTH SEW
THESE FANCY DRESSES.
UGH, UGH, UGH.
ALICE'S DRESS IS CUT REAL LOW IN
THE FRONT AND SO HER BOSOMS SHOW.
LOVE, ELLIE.
[ Sammy's Voice ] DEAR ELLIE,
IT'S STILL EVERYTHING I CAN DO...
TO KEEP UP
WITH THE STUDYING HERE.
IT AMAZES ME HOW SIMPLE
THINGS ARE BACK IN DILMONT.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS THE
FIRST SPRING DANCE I WON'T BE HOME FOR.
IS GRANNY STILL TRYIN'
TO THROW A DRESS ON YOU?
MAYBE IF SHE DID, YOU'D GE A KISS OUT OF CLETUS. HA, HA.
LOVE, SAMMY. P.S. WHY IS
ALICE'S DRESS CUT SO LOW?
[ Ellie's Voice ] DEAR SAMMY, LISA
MAE IS MADDER THAN A WET HEN...
EVER SINCE DAVID BUTLER'S BEEN TELLIN'
EVERYONE HE'S SO HOOKED ON ALICE.
HE WALKED HER ALL THE WAY HOME YESTERDAY
AND ALICE WAS JUST LAUGHIN' THE WHOLE TIME.
I WONDER WHAT'LL HAPPEN
AT THE FOUNDER'S DAY DANCE.
LOVE, ELLIE. P.S. IT SURE
IS A SHAME YOU CAN'T MAKE IT.
[ Sammy ]
DAVID BUTLER. DAVID BUTLER.
SHOOT!
DAVID BUTLER.
WHAT THE HELL THEY DOIN'
IN THERE?
WELL, THEY'RE FUSSIN'.
GIRLS FUSS, YOU KNOW?
WE'RE ALREADY LATE,
GIRLS! [ Horn Honking ]
COME ON, ELLIE. YOUR DADDY'S GETTIN'
IMPATIENT. COME ON! QUIT FUSSIN'!
[ Jack ] ELLIE, TIME'S
A- WASTIN'! COME ON, NOW!
OH, MY GOODNESS!
ALICE, YOU LOOK LOVELY.
JUST LOVELY. [ Hooting ]
LOOK AT YOU. MY, GOODNESS.
SUCH PRETTY FLOWERS.
THANK YOU.
[ Laughs ]
OH.
EL,
YOU ARE THE PICTURE
OF YOUR MAMA.
I AM?
AIN'T SHE, HUH?
OH, YOU ARE.
AM I REALLY, GRANNY?
YEAH, YOU ARE. JUST THANK YOUR LUCKY
STARS YOU DIDN'T TAKE AFTER YOUR DADDY.
LET'S MOVE, GIRLS, BEFORE BESSIE SAYS
SOMETHING ELSE SHE'LL REGRET. COME ON NOW!
ADA, COME HERE!
ADA!
ADA, GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW,
YOU HEAR?
NOW!
[ Grunting ]
HOWDY. YOU GOIN' ANYWHERE
NEAR DILMONT?
WELL, NOT TOO CLOSE.
I CAN TAKE YA, THOUGH.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
ADA!
ALICE, YOU GET OUT HERE
RIGHT NOW!
YOU BRING THAT GIRL OUT HERE!
[ Laughter, Clapping ]
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION NOW?
AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE GATHERED
HERE TONIGHT FOR OUR ANNUAL...
FOUNDER'S DAY PICNIC.
YOU GONNA DANCE, ELLIE?
NOT ON YOUR LIFE.
I'M NOT INTERESTED, FOR YOUR
INFORMATION, MISS PRISSY.
WELL, THAT'S JUST FINE. IT'LL
BE ALL THE MORE BOYS FOR ME.
WELL, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
EXCUSE ME.
EXCUSE ME, LISA MAE,
BUT WOULD YOU CARE TO DANCE?
WHY, THANK YOU, HARLEY!
EXCUSE ME. EXCUSE US.
EXCUSE YOURSELF.
[ Hooting, Laughing ]
ALICE, NOBODY'D
WANT TO DANCE WITH ME.
THEY ASK YOU TO DANCE.
[ David ] GO ON, CLETUS.
ASK HER TO DANCE. GO ON.
DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS!
[ Stammering ]
UH, HI, ELLIE.
UM, YOU WANNA DANCE?
YEAH, I GUESS SO.
C- CAN I GET YOU SOME PUNCH?
YES, PLEASE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVID.
[ Music Ends ]
[ Hooting, Clapping ]
[ Screaming ]
NO!
SHUT UP!
[ Screaming Continues ]
[ Mrs. Guthrie ]
SOMEBODY HELP, PLEASE!
- SOMEBODY HELP!
- [ Man ] HEY, WHO IS THAT UP THERE?
YOU'RE COMIN' WITH ME! GIRL,
YOU'RE COMIN' HOME WITH ME!
STOP! STOP! STOP THIS!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
[ Screaming Continues ]
YOU LET MY MAMA BE!
I'M TAKIN' HER
AND I'M TAKIN' YOU HOME!
NO ONE'S GONNA MESS
WITH MY FAMILY NO MORE!
I AM YOUR DADDY!
NO! YOU'RE NO DADDY TO ME!
YOU LOCK ME IN A SHED,
MAKIN' ME LIVE LIKE AN ANIMAL!
- WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TALKIN' TO? I AM YOUR DADDY!
- ALICE?
NO! YOU NO TAKIN' MY MAMA
AND BEAT HER!
YOU DON'T BELONG WITH NO FAMILY!
I LEARN A FAMILY FROM THEM.
I LEARN LIVIN' TOGETHER.
I LEARN LOVE.
I LEARN ALL THE THINGS
THAT YOU NEVER TEACH ME.
WHAT THE HELL
Y'ALL GAWKIN' AT?
A MAN'S GOT A RIGH TO TAKE HIS FAMILY HOME!
YOU AIN'T GOT NO FAMILY HERE.
WE'S HER FAMILY NOW.
THE HELL WITH ALL OF YA!
[ Sobbing ]
NOW, FOLKS, ABNER DILMONT...
WOULD'VE WALKED TEN MILES
TO HEAR...
JACK PERKINS CALL OU THE "GEORGIA JUBILEE."
[ Chattering, Laughter ]
COME ON. GO ON!
[ Cheering, Hooting ]
WELCOME BACK, JACK.
COME ON. LET'S ALL JOIN HANDS. LET'S
JOIN HANDS AND FORM A BIG CIRCLE NOW.
COME ON. WE GONNA HAVE US
A LITTLE SQUARE DANCE.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.
GET YOUR PARTNER ON YOUR RIGHT.
WE GONNA PLAY SOME MUSIC
FOR YA!
OH, YEAH!
[ Hooting ]
SWING THAT PARTNER ROUND AND ROUND,
BIG FOOT UP AND LITTLE FOOT DOWN
[ Hooting Continues ]
CHASE THAT POSSUM
CHASE THAT SQUIRREL
CHASE THAT PRETTY GIRL
ROUND THE WORLD
OH, LOOK WHAT WE'RE DOIN'.
[ Hooting Continues ]
[ Hooting Continues ]
THANK YOU.
YEAH! OKAY! VERY GOOD!
THAT'S VERY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. Y'ALL SHOULD
CONGRATULATE YOURSELVES.
NOT BAD AT ALL.
NOT BAD AT ALL.
[ Banjo ]
[ Man ]
AT MY DOOR
THE LEAVES ARE FALLIN'
A COLD WILD WIND
WILL COME
SWEETHEARTS
WALK BY TOGETHER
AND I STILL MISS
SOMEONE
OH, I NEVER
GOT OVER THOSE BLUE EYES
I SEE THEM
EVERYWHERE
I MISS THOSE ARMS
THAT HELD ME
WHEN ALL THE LOVE
WAS THERE