Original subtitles

Back in 1906,

Boonville was the heart of activity

In Anderson Valley.

Nestled in Northern California

with mountains on three sides,

the ocean beyond the redwoods,

and rich farm land just as far as you could see.

Hard working people live here,

from all walks of life.

Everyone of them has a story,

and I know most of them,

'cause I've been the town's doctor

for as long as I can remember.

But there was one story

about a quiet girl named Melinda,

that transformed this town forever.

Maybe that's because

she didn't get the best start in life.

You see, she was born out of wedlock.

I'm sorry, I'm looking for Pastor Palmer.

The pastor's inside.

Melinda.

And she grew up knowing

that judging eyes were always on her.

She often visited Pastor Virgil Palmer

who didn't judge her, but listened patiently to all her questions.

She'd reached the age where she wanted to know

what happened to her real father,

but no one would tell her.

It's time you had your own Bible.

I can't answer all your questions, Melinda.

But God's word will.

- Pastor Palmer... - Hmm

Is hatin' bad people a sin?

It can be. Why do you ask?

I'm always wishin' that my life was like other families.

But there's just no pleasing my step-daddy.

You know, I knew him.

Your real father.

I've been wanting to talk to ya and tell ya...

Just wait here, I'll be right back.

What are you doing here?

- Oh, Heavens! - Oh, my dear!

Did you hear that? Hurry!

Someone help me!

Someone help me!

Pastor Palmer!

Maddox, someone shot Pastor Palmer.

Trouble just seems to follow you,

doesn't it.

Now get home. Go on get!

Melinda's stepfather, Maddox,

was a heartless man.

Money was his god,

and it always got him what he wanted.

Clyde was the town's watcher.

He had a terrible fear of the dark so,

he comforted himself with a lit lantern, night and day.

Melinda's home looked as friendly

as a warm apple pie on a windowsill.

Melinda!

But looks can be deceiving.

Where are you Melinda?

It's bad luck to worry your Mama.

Melinda.

- Child... - Ow!

That's for worryin' your mama.

We live too near an insane asylum,

one of those crazies coulda broke out

and hurt you!

You sit right down there and churn up that butter.

Cover your mouth when you yawn,

your soul can go out of your body.

Her mama's superstitions were an amusement

and a puzzle to her.

Actually, to all of us who knew Alice.

Hmm, looks like it's gonna rain.

I'd better put an acorn on the ledge

keep the lightning away.

Another superstition, Mama?

It's science.

What am I supposed to do with this?

It'll bring you good luck.

Did my real daddy believe in acorns?

What?

Here, why don't you have some more milk?

All you do is stuff me with food

like I was a pantry!

I'm old enough to know what happened to my Father.

What is this?

Pastor Palmer gave me that.

Is this where you're getting all your crazy ideas?

I don't want you reading it. It's full of lies.

Then why do we go to church?

Because it's a good work,

and I'm try to be a good person,

and I have a lot of...

I don't need to explain myself to you.

Melinda's questions about her father

always went unanswered.

It was what people didn't say,

that sparked her search for the truth.

I'm gonna be awhile.

Why don't you go see if any of your friends are in town.

Sorry about Pastor Palmer.

What?

He was a good man.

I know he was important to ya.

I'd see ya go visit him.

Clyde, you're always watching things here in town.

You ever hear what happened to my daddy?

Huh? What? Why, did you hear something?

Clyde you know something, I can tell you're lying.

You see everything that goes on.

Stop!

Look! Look what you've done.

My best lantern! My very best!

No! No! Go away.

How will I get home now? You're just trouble.

I'm sorry. It was an accident.

What if I get you a new one?

A better one.

Will you tell me about my daddy?

- How new? - The best.

Just tell me what you know.

I want to see the lantern first.

Wait here.

Here.

Sure is a pretty one.

Clyde, my daddy?

Oh, yeah.

Well, I know he used to work

for your Grandpa and Grandma.

And he was sweet on your Mama.

He was a good boy.

But then one day,

he just up and disappeared.

We think coyotes got him.

Yup, coyotes got him.

She knew that the truth was somewhere in the lies.

Did ya' know our town was named after W. Boone?

He's some relative of Daniel Boone?

They dropped the E.

I don't hear you talking to me.

Of course you hear me. You answered.

Just mind your beeswax.

I don't care who this stupid town's named after.

Stupid boy.

I ain't stupid, Melinda.

I knew this and I told you first.

Why are you gotta so mean to me?

'Cause I can be.

You're too stupid to stop me.

Ow!

Boy: You're meaner than a bear on her tick diet.

You're my sister, ain't you supposed to be nice to me?

There ain't no brother-sister law.

Give me some of that!

Look, I'm just mean.

I got something inside me

that's mad all the time.

Nobody wants me in this world.

You don't know how that feels.

Sometimes I'm glad your here.

And something else,

I don't believe in science like our Mama.

That ain't science, it's superstition.

What happened to my new lantern?

It was on the wagon.

It was there when we left for town.

I'll look for it. But first, Maddox,

my Mama's housekeeper, she quit.

And I'm gonna need to go to Wendling,

so I can find someone to take care of her.

Get one of those old hens

that go to church with her up there

to take care of her.

Please Maddox, this is my Mama.

I have to do what's right.

Your place, sweetheart,

is here in your home with your husband.

I broke it.

What?

You broke my new lantern.

And when were you going to tell me this?

I probably wasn't

Maddox!

I will not have her insolence.

You didn't have to hit her.

I did not hit her, I slapped her.

There's a big difference, remember?

Now, young lady, I want you to stand up,

go pack your things.

You're going to Wendling.

You're to take care of your Grandmother.

What about her schoolin'?

Those days are over.

Now get up and get ready.

I will be waiting for you outside.

Melinda turned that moment around in her mind.

This new turn of events

helped her get to her Grandma Mary's,

where she hoped to learn more about her real Daddy.

Hmm, she's not doing well.

Well of course I'm not doin' well.

I'm a codgy old woman confined to my sluggin' nook.

And on occasion I hear my own death rattle.

You call yourself a shovel tooth?

Just git, git, git.

Well, well forgive me.

What I meant to say was sometimes you don't act too nice!

And I got no pills for that!

Alice, we gotta make sure she keeps taking her medicine

and we'll just hope for the best.

Well if we're hopin' for the best,

I won't be callin' you, ya old buzzard.

I swear Mary, you've been calling me that for 45 years.

Alice, let's go!

Now Mama...

I gotta go.

But I'm only a few hours away,

and Melinda, she's a strong girl.

Promise?

Promise me you'll come back real soon?

I promise Mama.

I will.

I love you.

What if she dies?

She's not gonna die.

Now here, I want you to take these.

Come on, take em.

There's been no birds or even white moths

flying around inside of the house,

so she's not gonna die.

And the doctor says she goes into these spells

where it just takes her into the past, that's all.

Are you comin' in to say goodbye?

Is she dead?

I love you.

Take care, Mama.

Hyah.

For the first time, Melinda was on her own.

She was a little scared,

but it turned out she was not completely alone.

She was about to meet a quirky new friend named William,

who liked to call himself, Shakespeare.

Somebody here to help an old woman?

I brought you something to eat, Grandma Mary.

Well thank you, Melinda,

that's so sweet,

but I could a have come to the table.

I like waiting on you.

Thank you, again.

Grandma?

Yeah?

Yesterday I saw a boy in your backyard.

I think he was fixin' to take your fruit.

You want me to chase him off?

No, that's just Shakespeare.

He don't mean no harm.

His family is poor folk.

He cleans my yard,

and I let him take all the fruit he can carry.

God grows 'em for free, so I share.

Why they call him Shakespeare?

That boy,

he took a liking to Shakespeare

when he first learned to read.

And now, he goes around quoting Shakespeare

all the time,

and telling everybody he wrote it.

Well I think he's just little bit confused,

but he don't hurt nobody.

And the real Shakespeare, he ain't payin' him no mind.

Grandma, what's that other language you talk in?

Ya mean Boont?

Now I used to know a lot more than I do now.

But your Grandpa Bayless and those farm workers,

why they used to talk Boont all the time.

I kinda like it.

Say,

listen, did your Mama,

has she taught you to teach cook yet?

Yes ma'am. Some things.

Well, then how 'bout for dinner,

a big fat hen with all the fixins?

That's sound delicious.

Okay, well then you better get out there in that yard

and kill us a hen.

Me?

Yes ma'am. You'd better get to it.

Here chickie.

Come here.

Come here!

Stop moving!

Stop moving!

No! What's wrong with you?

Well, my words fly up, like these chickens,

but my thoughts remain below.

Well, I can't say if they did or didn't,

but you sound a bit touched in the head

Give me that chicken!

I will neither a borrower nor a lender be.

That's my chicken.

Listen! If you want to eat at our house tonight,

then you'd better give me that chicken.

I declare I'll not have to eat again until morning.

I say,

tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers.

Shakespeare, why do you talk like that?

Well, I think conversation should be pleasant,

without scurrility, and also witty.

Without affectation.

Grandma Mary, what was my Grandpa like?

Oh ho. Grandpa Bayless, he was a wonderful man.

Fetch me that photo album right back there.

On the shelf, that's it.

Okay, now.

We had lots and lots of cows,

and when they wore bells

we called the bell, dinglehonk!

Dinglehonk?

And I think we called the cows,

I think we called them...

"Broadies," that's it.

Because, you know, their horns were so broad.

That was "the Boont Broadies."

And then we had a lot of horses.

Now what did we call the horses?

Look how full their tails are.

That's it! "Fuzzy Tails."

Oh, and the dirty old pigs,

now we called them ""Borp."

Grandma Mary, can you remember anything about my daddy?

Is there any pictures of him in here?

Well,

what does your mother tell you about him?

Nothing.

Some say he's dead.

Some say he's in the hoosegow.

Or the coyote's got him.

I need to know.

If he didn't want me then I want to hate him.

No, no.

But if he's dead,

then I just want to stop lookin' for him and mourn him,

and hope maybe he was a good person.

I don't know where to put my thoughts sometimes.

I think you should ask your mother about him.

I do not want to overstep my bounds.

Hey Poker Face, you going to play those one-eyed jacks?

Let me think.

That's right, you're too...

chucky to think fast.

My fast thinkin' days are over, Maddox.

That's more your department.

You're right.

I'm done.

Jeb!

How done do you wanna be?

Better think real hard about that.

You still work for me, remember?

I provide for you and your Ite wife.

God is my provider.

Oh, he is, huh?

Does he pay your bills?

Melinda wasn't one for putting up with nonsense,

as Shakespeare was about to find out.

You listen to me!

No one will tell you, but I will.

You didn't write Shakespeare.

Look, I know a real language.

I'll teach it to you under one condition.

Pray tell.

That's it! If I teach it to you,

then no more of this "pray tell'" stuff.

Very well.

I'll tell you a story Grandma told me.

An eld'm, found some forbes and buckeys,

and felt highpockety.

So she piked to Boont and used her higs for borp.

You with me, William?

Sort of.

It's just smooshing words together,

and sometimes just making 'em up.

"Forbes," that's "four bits," all smooshed up.

"Highpockety," that means rich.

The richest man in Boonville

was also the tallest man in town,

which made his pockets higher than anyone else.

- Get it? - Here here, oops.

I mean, I hear you.

I have to go, I promised Grandma

I'd take her for a short pike today.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Shakespeare,

that had better be something you just made up.

I didn't think so. I'll see you tomorrow.

On Sundays in Boonville,

there where those who came to church,

to hear about God's grace,

while others were there just to be seen.

That was a wonderful service.

Thank you Sophia.

We are so glad to have you as our new pastor.

Thank you very much.

I hope we'll see you next week.

Of course.

Pastor Reign.

Thank you.

Well hey, young man.

Nice service, Pastor.

How about you, Maddox?

What about me, Mr. Preacher Man?

Well, did you receive anything

from today's sermon?

I sure did.

It's the old grace of God,

that saves us,

and not our own good works here on earth.

Kinda gives us permission to do what we want to do,

wouldn't you say?

Well-

If my workers did that,

I'd give 'em the boot,

like this little boy. Come here, get outta here,

get on son.

I'm so embarrassed, Pastor.

You're not responsible for your husband's beliefs,

or lack of.

Well if I was just a better person,

or if I'd kept myself proper,

he might be a better person too.

That's not your job, Alice,

That's the Lord's job.

Think about what Paul said in Ephesians.

"By grace are you saved through faith,

and that not of yourselves.

It is a gift of God.

Not of works.

I'll keep that in mind, Pastor.

- Good day. - Thank you.

Child,

you must be freezing.

Come here. Come.

Oh, you get in here.

Go on, cover up, cover up, cover up, cover up.

Now there you go. Now...

Grandma, last night you had a nightmare.

You were begging someone with high heels

not to take something called a "yink."

You thought I was my mama.

Grandma Mary, I just know it has something to do

with my daddy.

If I'm old enough to ask,

ain't I old enough to know?

You speak the truth, child.

I guess all this Boont talk has stirred up memories.

I can keep a secret Grandma,

but I can't keep not knowing.

How about,

we take our cold selves into the kitchen,

and make us some hot tea?

All right Grandma.

But if you feel your thoughts wanderin',

keep talkin'.

Maybe you'll finish in Boontling.

Mama said that we were all

bits and pieces of each other.

Uh-huh.

I want to be like your bits and pieces, Grandma.

Well, thank you, Melinda.

Melinda, I want you to believe me when I say,

that your Mama and your Daddy,

they were very much in love,

and they wanted you.

They just put the cart before the horse.

Your Daddy, he was a poor boy.

No family, so he became part of ours.

I guess,

the idea of having a new baby in the house,

it softened Bayless' heart.

And he forgave Thomas.

But oh, that didn't sit well with Maddox.

Maddox had his hat set for your Mama.

There was a fight between Maddox and Thomas,

in the saloon.

And your daddy, Thomas,

he didn't have the money to pay

for the damages for his share.

So they sentenced him to several months in jail.

But what happened to my grandpa and my daddy?

My sweet Bayless,

he got consumption.

And he died that winter while your daddy was in jail.

I'm so sorry, Grandma.

You know the day that your daddy was released from jail,

well I watched you,

so that he and your mama could spend some time together.

'Cause I was so hopeful of a new life,

for you and for them.

Oh, Alice, let's get married today.

I got a ring.

It's my mama's ring, it's in the vault at the bank.

If you'll accept it?

Thomas, I'd marry you if you only had a cigar band to put on my finger.

What happened?

That day,

he was arrested again.

This time for horse thievery.

Oh, they said,

that there was so many witnesses,

oh yes.

Oh well, it happened so fast.

I feel so sorry for my mama.

Your mother cried for days.

It was a horrible turning point for her.

She abandoned her faith completely,

and she got deeper into more superstitions,

and when she decided to marry Maddox,

it didn't make any sense.

She didn't love Maddox.

But what happened to my daddy?

We don't know.

Your daddy gave your mother a necklace,

that he carved himself.

And when he didn't come back,

well, she threw it away.

But I fetched it

out of the trash,

and I think I know somebody who should have it.

Somebody named Melinda.

But I gotta remember where I put it, but I will.

Yoo hoo, anyone home?

It's just us church mice.

Hello.

Oh, you must be, Melinda.

Please come in, my grandma is taking a nap.

Oh, what a sweet girl you are. I expected a...

You expected us, right?

We are the committee that checks on our elderly once a week.

They send us young ones.

We brought lots of goodies for you and Mary.

Ida, you take the baked goods.

I'll do the canned goods and...

Sister Martha, will you take care of cleaning the kitchen

and take your time.

Oh, never a need to rush.

Dear, do you have a step stool?

Yes, ma'am.

Poor little thing.

Such a pity. Born out of wedlock

with a monster of a father who just run off.

Just a monster.

Alice is very lucky that Maddox is such a saint,

and took pity what with her being soiled goods.

He's a saint. A real saint.

Here's your step stool, ma'am.

Oh, thank you very much darling.

I have a question.

Sure what is it?

You ladies know the Bible,

and all the good parts and the bad parts, right?

Yes dear, I don't think Thelma and I

have missed a Sunday in twenty years.

Uh-oh, I gave birth on a Sunday once.

But the good Lord understood.

Yes, it was Sunday.

So I'm sure between the three of us

we can answer your simple little question.

Does it say anywhere in the Bible that we get to choose our parents?

No, actually it doesn't...

Then which sins am I supposed to ask forgiveness for?

The ones I do now, or the ones that happened before I was born?

I thought so, you must have missed that Sunday.

William,

if God knows us before we're born

and what we are going to do,

then how can He be mad at us?

God's mad at us?

Well not us, not right now anyway.

I figured if church-goin' people don't have trouble

with God creatin' the heaven and the Earth,

then why do they have trouble with forgiveness?

You know what I mean?

Ah!

You beat me to the dinglehonks,

but I beat you to the house, I mean region.

We're getting good at this Boont.

Let's get some lemonade.

I could go for a horn of lemonade.

The glasses are in the cupboard

you can get them down.

I'll check and see if Grandma wants some.

Okay.

Grandma?

Grandma?

Grandma!

William! William, come quick!

It's okay Grandma. It's okay.

We're here, we're here.

Ain't no higs for gettin' codgy.

What?

She said it don't pay to get old.

Now stop asking questions and go get your mama

or the first person you see.

- Get help. - Okay.

Now!

Oh, Grandma...

Fortunately there were neighbors not far away

that could help.

James, and his niece, Doris.

I don't know how long I'm going to be there.

I mean, that was a bad fall Mrs. Mary took,

really bad.

I sent the message to her daughter like the doc asked.

Okay.

I reckon she'll be there just as soon as she can.

Oh, John,

you take care of Samuel, okay?

I've cooked up some food,

and baked some cookies for you all.

All right?

Don't you worry,

we've been feeding ourselves

for a very long time around here.

We already found the cookies.

Is she gonna be okay? Is she gonna wake up?

Hey, it was a pretty bad fall,

we'll have to just wait and see.

I shouldn't have been outside playing.

I should've been right here taking care of her.

Grandma, please don't leave me.

I'll be with her around the clock

until her mama get's here.

Thank you, Doris.

I know they told a bowgley.

Maddox knows...

the whole earth.

Grandma, I don't know those words.

"Bowgley" and "earth."

She said Maddox knows the whole earth.

That's everything.

I know it had something to do with my daddy.

Melinda, I love your grandma just as much as you,

but, she's a bit chuckish.

We can't believe everything she says.

She ain't never lied to me Shakespeare.

In any language.

What are you children talking about?

Ah, we, we were trying to,

remember what the date is.

I'm keeping a diary of my time with my Grandma.

Oh, that is so nice,

well, it's April 17th, 1906.

Mrs. Doris,

would it be all right if we go for a walk?

Yeah sure, I'll ring the bell to call you

when Mrs. Mary wakes up, okay?

You suppose our mama gonna take you home?

I don't know, William.

I really don't wanna go.

Not now or ever.

It's funny.

I was scared to come here

and now I don't want to leave.

I hope your mama don't take you home.

I think it's that...

You're trying to say you miss me?

Well, who will I talk Boont to?

We can write each other.

William, we'll always be friends okay.

You say that now.

It's different when people move away.

I was really lonely before you got here.

Are you gonna cry?

Nah, a bug flew in my eye.

Okay.

If you were about to cry,

so was I.

- Grandma! - Grandma!

Oh, Grandma.

I shouldn't try to be such a billy goat.

I should've been watching you.

Please, please get better.

Oh child, that's not practical.

I have more friends in the dusties than alive.

And, I so miss your Grandpa Bayless.

I'm never going to leave you.

I want to stay here with you forever.

I'm going to say goodbye to William,

and I'll be right back.

Melinda, hear me.

Always listen

to that still small voice inside you,

That's God talking to you.

You go take all the time you need

to be with your friend.

'Cause Grandpa Bayless, he's right here with me.

Love you.

I love you, too.

I wanna stay close to the house.

Can you come early tomorrow?

Sure.

Grandma Mary?

I brought some food for you.

Grandma Mary?

Dear Jesus...

Grandma Mary.

I'm gonna keep Grandma company...

No, no, no, she, she's asleep right now okay.

Why don't you go read in your bed?

I'll come get you when she wakes up.

All right?

Okay.

Grandma! Mrs. Doris!

It's an earthquake.

Melinda, we need to get out of here!

No! Grandma!

We need to go!

- Grandma! - We need to go now!

No! Grandma! Grandma!

She's going to be with your Grandpa Bayless now.

I know she's at peace.

What do I do without her?

I don't want to go home.

You just have to be strong,

Okay?

You have to be strong.

Oh, my god.

It's Uncle James.

Oh, thank you, Jesus.

Uncle James, oh my god. Are you alive.

Where's John and Samuel?

Well John's with the boy,

they were shook up a bit but they're okay.

I've got Shakespeare in the back of the wagon.

His parents are dead.

And he's bad hurt.

We need to get him into Boonville to Doc Woods.

Oh no, not Shakespeare too.

Our town was tore up pretty bad.

We learned later the quake was centered in San Francisco.

But right then,

folks were desperately looking

for friends and family members.

- Melinda! - Mama!

What have we got now?

What? Oh Lord...

Let's get him inside quick.

Marcello, James, help me now.

Grandma said that Grandpa was here with her.

Ain't that something?

It sounds like something your Grandma would do.

Oh Doris, thank you so much for keeping Melinda safe.

Oh, she was very brave.

This is just such horrible bad luck for everyone.

What's to become of Shakespeare now?

He's my best friend Mama,

I was hoping he could come stay with us.

I mean he won't eat much or take up room.

I'll give him my bed.

I'll even sleep on the floor. Please.

If it was up to me, I would, I would take him.

- But Maddox... - Maddox.

It's always Maddox.

Melinda, listen, listen.

Maybe one of the town's families will take him.

Okay, that'd be wonderful.

Um, we don't have much.

But I can speak for my husband John and my Uncle James,

he can come stay with us

while he's still on the mend okay.

I mean one more is still welcome.

Thank you, Doris.

The earthquake reminded everyone how fragile life is,

and how much we all need each other.

What troubles you, Candelario?

My soul is dark.

For some,

that meant looking back with regret.

I am kidnapped by my guilt,

and I wish to be free.

I must be sure before I speak my words,

but to who?

Our words are not trusted in the white man's world.

For James, thoughts of the past

brought a heavy heart.

What is troubling you, Uncle?

I can't get Melinda out of my thoughts.

I saw something years ago,

and I should have said something.

What did you see?

It was Melinda's father.

They said he stole a horse,

and those are hangin' words.

I was just afraid that somehow they would blame me for something.

And now that...

that poor sweet child's

lost all those years with her daddy,

and I'm blessed to be here with my family.

It's just not right.

Well do you know where her father is?

No.

Uncle, you're a good man.

I mean you took us in and gave us a home.

Maybe it's just God trying to talk to you.

If this man is alive,

he could be a prisoner somewhere.

We come from prison.

Slavery. Sold by our very own people of Nigeria.

I mean my parents died

not even knowing freedom again.

I'm sure you know how that feels.

And God wouldn't have set us free,

to be slaves to secrets and lies.

And didn't it say in Matthew,

"that with God, all things are possible."

Thank you.

It's all right.

Clyde kept to himself after the quake

and tried to drown his regrets.

Jeb couldn't shake his guilt over the past either.

Jeb,

in my country we say,

Dio è colui che legge i nostri cuori.

What's that mean?

God is the one that reads our hearts.

I want to talk to you about something.

Pastor Reign made his rounds after the quake

to ask if everyone was all right.

Hello, Pastor.

Hey, Marcello.

How did you fare in the quake?

Pastor,

the other day, after the earthquake,

they brought this little boy to the doctors.

He lost his parents in the earthquake.

It's so sad.

My thoughts go back to this little boy.

I wanna do something.

Well,

maybe you can.

He's gonna need some help.

Let's pray about it.

Thank you for helping my father today.

The earthquake caused a lot of damage.

Where else would I be?

Family is important.

This boy you talked about,

let's give him a home.

You're different Jeb. What's changed you?

I've been reading.

Virgil told me once, this'll give me peace.

Sophia what it says about me is true.

I'm guilty.

A sinner, been and done some of those things

I've read about in this book.

What things?

Bad things.

I did some bad things a long time ago.

I don't have all the answers yet.

I've asked God to forgive me

and to help me.

We'll find the answers.

Together.

Losing her grandmother,

was the saddest day of Melinda's life.

She comforted herself

by knowing she'd never have to bury her memories.

When she returned home, nothing had changed.

Except her.

Zach,

Grandma taught me this language called Boontling.

I could teach you if you like.

Sure.

One thing.

What's that?

It's a secret language for just us kids,

don't tell the grownups.

Never.

Zach,

while I learned Boontling,

I also learned more about my Daddy.

Tell me.

Hi, Melinda.

You need something?

My mama said you were adopting

my friend Shakespeare.

Yes.

We're very excited.

You'll be a good father.

Jeb,

You knew my grandma.

Yes I did, her and your grandpa were wonderful people.

She said you knew my daddy.

I don't recall.

His name was Thomas.

I'm sorry, I don't remember.

Doesn't matter.

I know you'll be a good father for Shakespeare.

Thank you, Melinda.

I'll do my best.

Melinda.

Yes?

I promise I'll treat him good.

Several weeks later,

Shakespeare had healed well enough

in body and spirit

for James and Doris to deliver him

to his new home.

We are so happy you're here.

I'm your grandpa, I think you looka like me.

- Come on. - Wait.

I have something for each of you.

Pick 'em myself.

I love them!

You do this?

When I was mendin',

James taught me how to do some whittlin'.

You did a great job.

I'm gonna keep this with me.

Now, let's get you in. Come on.

I'm so glad Willy will be close by.

I can't wait to see him.

Me too.

You're gonna like him.

I want quiet when I eat.

Aw Maddox, the children are just talking

about their friend William.

Children are to be seen, not heard.

I don't need my entire dinner ruined because of something

that idiot, Jeb, is doing.

But it's a happy time Maddox,

you should be happy for Jeb and Sophia...

Don't tell me what I should or should not do.

I don't want any talking.

From any of you.

I wish they would adopt me.

No! Give it back!

You have ruined my life.

Clean up this mess.

Melinda, where did you get that necklace?

Grandma.

I'm sorry,

Melinda, you are not the reason for any of this.

This is all my fault.

All of this is my fault.

Who could help me with the price of hay?

Can you?

You can, no you can't.

Can you?

Well, well, well.

Look at the big shot.

That must have been Maude.

Girls...

Maude.

Hello.

You know, if you didn't keep raising the price of hay...

You wouldn't need to feel so bad.

I don't feel bad. Do I?

I don't know.

Hey.

Look Zach, it's William!

It's William!

William! William!

I'm so glad to see you!

I have so much to tell...

William, they said you were...

Alive.

Move on, they got work to do.

It's no place for foreigners and cripples.

Sorry I didn't...

Get out!

Sophia.

What's wrong?

I really don't feel like talking.

But Sophia, I'm your friend,

what have I done.

You? It's Maddox.

How can you stay with him?

I cannot be near him.

Shakespeare cannot be near him.

But Sophia, please.

Please, listen to me.

I know what you say is true,

but I don't know what to do.

The other day I was sitting all alone and...

I wasn't afraid to die, and that scared me.

I was afraid that I was gonna kill myself and...

then for a moment.

I didn't care.

Oh, Alice...

I reminded myself that I would be leaving Melinda and Zach,

to the evils of Maddox.

But I made it through,

but I still feel so hollow and hopeless on the inside.

I have no answers.

I have no way out.

But please, please do not give up on our friendship.

I won't.

Let me ride with you, and we'll talk.

Something's only God can fix.

Come on! Git!

Get moving! Come on!

Come on, get. Come on, move.

Come on, move.

Come on, move.

Alice?

I remember, I remember Sofia,

when God loved me.

God still loves you.

That's why they call it his amazing grace.

That's what the Pastor said but...

We can never be good enough.

That's why Christ died.

If we could work our way to Heaven,

we'd all be claiming...

How do you say?

Bragging rights.

You mean, it's God's grace.

You mean I've already been forgiven.

I understand.

I understand.

In that miraculous moment,

Alice's life changed by the grace of God.

She was finally free from guilt

and ready once again

to embrace life with confidence.

Where do you come off yelling at my wife and son?

Your wife is from Italy, foreigner.

That little cripple of yours,

needs to get used to people telling him how it is.

You've bullied me for years,

but you'll not scorn my family.

Bully?

What is that?

You need to unload yourself out of here

before you can't walk,

because that pretty little Ite, wife of yours

doesn't need two cripples to take care of.

You watch your filthy...

Back off, Jeb!

My wife and son will not be disrespected by you.

Oh, oh yeah, well, that's

mighty strong talk, Jeb.

I'm gonna undo everything I can.

Oh, you are, huh?

Yeah, well, Jeb, I can't allow that.

You can't do anything to me.

I've got the perfect defense,

you rushed in here, and attacked me.

I have to defend myself.

You're pretty good at framing and killing people.

Aren't you Maddox?

Yes I am. And frankly, I should've killed Thomas too.

My mistake.

My daddy might be alive.

You're in deeper than I am.

You and Virgil committed the crime, I didn't.

Then he got a little religion to cover it up.

""Ensnared with the words of thy mouth."

To quote Pastor Virgil.

All this 'cause you wanted Alice.

And for what?

You're mean and cruel to her, to all of them.

Do you think I care what that woman wants?

I can have any woman in the valley, and I have.

Alice rejected me.

And she shamed me in front of the community.

She chose Thomas, bore his child,

I'm a saint for just taking her in.

The worse it is for her,

the better it is for me.

You're despicable.

Shut up!

Self defense my friend,

a simple case of self defense.

We'll help you, Mr. Harper.

Come on, let's get him out of here and hide him.

Zach, Maddox is gonna be looking for us.

You're gonna have to ride as fast as you can into town.

I'll say mama came for you.

I'm going back to the orchard so he doesn't notice. Go.

So sorry.

Why did you lie to me?

Jack.

When you finish here, I need you to go to town and fetch the Sheriff.

Jeb went crazy and tried to kill me,

I had to shoot him.

Jeb?

Help me Jesus, help me.

Don't let Mr. Harper die.

Please! Please!

Mama listen to me,

whatever you do, just agree with me.

Maddox shot Mr. Harper.

What?

I told Maddox you came and got Zach,

but Zach went to go get the Sheriff.

If you say different he'll kill us both,

you know he will Mama.

Please, trust me.

None of my science has ever changed my luck or my life, Melinda.

This time I'm gonna trust God and you.

Today we heard Maddox confess it with our own ears.

Daddy didn't do anything wrong, Mama.

You don't know how many years I've been waiting

to hear those words.

Well that hit the spot huh?

Sheriff I need your help there's been a shooting.

Come on.

Melinda go on in and get Dr. Woods, hurry.

I'm sorry Alice, I ruined your life.

I got mixed feelings right now.

So stay quiet, lest I kill you myself.

And that's when I came to get you.

All right boy, you go hide. Then you get home.

- Sheriff! - What's going on?

Jack here says that Jeb Harper went crazy

and tried to kill Maddox.

Did you see that happen Jack?

Nope, Maddox just told me.

God help us.

Send somebody to tell his wife,

this does not look good.

Doctor, Jeb's life is in danger,

nobody can know he's here.

I don't think he's gonna live through the operation.

But, but if he does, I'll try to keep him here.

He's... he's a good man.

Jeb you hang on.

You've got lots to live for and more to explain.

Now you people better leave now

but go out the back way, don't let anybody see you.

Mercy.

What? What is this?

My god.

Lord, sure did your part,

Please help me with mine.

It's the sheriff.

He's got the deputy and Jack with him too.

All right, now don't say anything.

I'll talk.

Hey both of you, now get out of their sight.

Go.

Evening Mrs. Lawson.

Sheriff Rawles, Jack, Deputy.

Mrs. Lawson this afternoon Jack came to me and,

he told me that Jeb was trying to kill Maddox in his office.

We went over there and checked and didn't find anything

but a little blood.

I was wondering if maybe you knew where Jeb or your husband are.

I haven't seen Maddox since this afternoon.

I see...

All right Deputy, you go back to the office

in case something comes up.

Okay, Sheriff.

Jack you go straight home.

You don't talk to anybody, especially not Maddox.

I've got a couple more questions for Mrs. Lawson.

There's something I need to tell you.

Please.

Where are the children?

We're right here, Sheriff Rawles.

Oh.

That was brave thing you did today.

They're good children.

Ma'am I think maybe what I have to tell you

they probably shouldn't hear.

All right, children it's time to go to bed.

Mama.

It's okay, go on.

Mrs. Lawson I was a Deputy the night

Jeb and Virgil accused Thomas Briggs.

What they had to say never really ran true to me.

Jeb was the only witness and as you know Virgil was killed.

I think Jeb may be dead.

And...

I think...

No, I know your husband is involved in all this.

And I'm sorry to say I think Thomas Briggs is dead.

Is there anything you can tell me?

Did you see the Sheriff?

Give him my message?

Yup.

What'd you do with Jeb?

He wasn't there.

What are you saying? I left Jeb in my office.

There was blood, but he wasn't there.

You gotta be kidding me. Come on, come on!

Seen Jeb? Is Jeb here?

You come here to pay his bill?

He passed away this afternoon.

Dead?

Yup.

He say anything before he died?

Nope.

Who else was here?

Nobody.

Doc, don't lie to me.

When you came barging in here like a beark,

I was just filling out his death certificate.

Now look, how you run your fields,

that's your business.

But this is my office.

And I don't want you in it.

I've sewed up too many kimmies

from the fisters you started.

And they never seem to stick to you, do they?

Maybe it's that layer of money you're covered in?

Huh, layer of money.

Doc,

that is funny.

I don't think I'd rest so comfortable

on my money now, Maddox.

You ever think maybe you having money

is your punishment?

Good book says,

"to whomsoever much is given,

of him shall be much be required,"

look what you've done with yours.

Oh yeah, that's right.

The whole town's solvent.

You're absolutely right, Doc.

I'm not afraid of you or your money, Maddox.

You ain't gonna kill me.

Oh, oh, my heart.

You all right pal?

Now, give me that gun or you're a dead man.

- Give me that gun. - Take it, take it.

It was my job to bring you into this world.

But I'm old now.

And it'd give me great pleasure,

to set the world right by taking you out of it.

Now, get out.

So Thomas Briggs was convicted on the testimony

of just two people, nobody else testified.

It was declared an open and shut case.

Why didn't anybody look into this further?

Hmm, oh yes, healthy. Healthy.

I'm so bad.

Yeah.

Maddox. Not now.

There you go.

- Don't. - Baby, just give me a little.

Not now, Maddox.

I'm not afraid of you anymore.

Ow!

Just one kiss.

Stop it!

Everything I've ever done,

I've done it for you.

- For me? - Yeah.

Everything you've done, you've done for yourself.

You treat me like a piece of property.

Look at you, finest clothes,

finest home, everything you could ever want.

I never loved you.

You never loved me?

That hurts me.

Is that what you want?

To hurt me?

And if that's true,

then you can leave any time you want.

And take the little girl with you,

but you're not taking my boy.

Get outta here!

I'm not gonna lie to you anymore.

He's not your son.

He's Thomas'.

I don't believe you.

You weren't pregnant when I married you.

Yes, yes I was.

Then what does that make you?

You should remember to lock your door Maddox.

You all right, Mrs. Lawson?

What do you think you're doing?

For one I'm taking you in

for not treating your wife like a gentleman.

That's not a crime.

And Jeb has gone missing so I'm taking you in

because there's blood in your office.

And if I can prove it,

for the death of Pastor Virgil Palmer.

Alice, notify my uncle.

No need, you'll see Judge Lawson

down at the jail.

Get him outta here.

Let's go.

Move it Maddox

You okay, Mama?

Is it true mama?

I'm so sorry you had to hear it this way,

it's true.

All this time, I've been wishing

I was adopted like William.

I didn't wanna be like him.

You will never be like him.

It took a while,

but finally the Circuit Judge

came to town

and held a hearing in the saloon.

Isn't that Alice?

And that must be that child next to her.

Don't judge the child.

Or the mother.

Well I never.

Yes, you did.

Silence in the court. All rise.

Court is now in session.

The honorable Judge Mordechai Price resides.

You can all sit down now.

Bring in the accused.

What do we have here Sheriff?

Maddox Lawson, suspicion of murder.

Order!

Judge I've taken care of this whole community,

I've put money...

Listen, you're not to talk to me.

Unless I say you can. Sit down!

Continue Sheriff.

There's a man who was dealt some midnight justice,

some vigilante justice, for a crime or crimes

that we don't think ever happened.

Order!

I said order!

What does this have to do with the accused?

We intend to prove that Mr. Lawson

in collusion with his Uncle, Judge Lawson,

appointed themselves judge and jury to this man,

Thomas Briggs.

If that is true,

A grave injustice had been done to this man.

Where is he now?

I wish I knew your honor.

This court is adjourned.

Until I can review all of the records of this case.

While I'm doing that,

Mr. Lawson will remain in custody, without bail.

Court's adjourned.

I wish I could fix all these problems.

In this world, there's two kinds of people,

those that fix things, and those that break things.

I'm sure that you're one that fixes things.

I miss Jeb.

I do too.

Court is now open.

I've reviewed the records of this case

and there aren't many I must say.

There is no proof,

that this man was given his day in court.

The papers also show that,

there was collusion between Judge Lawson,

and Maddox Lawson.

They are both in custody.

What else you got, Sheriff?

I have a witness your honor.

Bring him on Sheriff.

Daddy!

Mama, what's going on?

We had to keep Papa safe, William.

Easy boy, you can do this.

You told me he was dead.

I didn't think you'd be opposed

to a little shadin' the truth Maddox.

Put your hand on the bible.

Do you swear to tell the whole truth,

nothing but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

What happened?

I'm ashamed to say that,

Virgil Palmer and I took money from Maddox.

Watch where you're going.

To falsely accuse Thomas Briggs.

We also beat him up pretty bad that night.

Ah!

- You stole my friend's higs. - I didn't steal nothin'.

Now why would you do that Mr. Harper?

I needed money, so I could ask Sophia to marry me.

And Maddox wanted Thomas out of the way

so he could have Alice.

Your honor, I've tried to live a good life since then.

But this has ate at my soul.

I'd rather go to jail than live with this lie anymore.

Maddox shot me 'cause I wasn't gonna keep the secret any longer.

Jeb, you charged into my office

and attacked me.

Now you're trying to blame something on me that I didn't do.

- Judge! - One more outburst from you,

and I'll have you removed to a cell,

where they'll have to pump air into you so you can breathe.

Now shut up.

Your honor, both weapons used,

Just happen to belong to Mr. Lawson.

So what does that prove?

That you are both despicable men.

One of you knows it.

The other is a died-in-the-wool liar.

You're honor, I have another witness

relevant to Mr. Harper's testimony.

Bring him in.

Keep it moving Sheriff.

This is Thomas Briggs.

Judge Lawson confessed that he had Mr. Briggs removed to a Mexican prison,

south of the California border.

Now may I continue with my witness your honor?

Go on.

Mr. Harper what else do you have that's relevant to this case?

Your honor,

may I have my wife,

show her weddin' ring to Mr. Briggs?

Go ahead.

That's my mother's wedding ring.

Took it from the bank.

Day I was arrested.

It was meant for us.

How could you?

Evil upon evil. Lie upon lie.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Sophia!

Sophia!

He stole the ring, and he's lying about it.

He's lying about me, right now.

I think he doth protest too much.

Sheriff, anything else?

I think that's all your honor.

Very well. I...

I'm gonna need time to ponder.

All these testimonies and these events.

Court's adjourned.

This time it only took Judge Price

a little while to consider the case,

but for Sofia,

the damage had been done.

Sophia, please listen to me.

Jeb loves you.

I know what he did was wrong but,

he risked his life to tell the truth

and try to make things right.

How can you stand up for Jeb?

How could you stay with Maddox?

They've ruined everyone's life.

I've made my peace with it.

I'm not innocent in all this.

Sophia,

we all need forgiveness.

But I can't go back to being a prisoner of hate any longer.

I have something for you.

Court is back in session.

Ya'll come on in.

Court is now open for business.

Mr. Harper,

while I welcome your confession,

but there are so many stories attached to it.

What we have here is Maddox' word

against Jeb's.

I'm about to make a judgment here,

I think it's gonna make me very unpopular around here.

- Your honor? - Yes?

I was outside helping Mr. Marcello unload the wine,

I saw what happened in the alley.

You took his horse and money!

I even saw the glimmer of that ring

there in the light.

Jeb is telling the truth.

I appreciate your testimony,

ah but all you saw was Jeb

involved in the beating of Mr. Briggs.

You saw no involvement of Mr. Maddox.

- Your honor. - Papa!

It's all right, Sophia.

Your honor, I was delivering the wine that night.

I saw Maddox pay them.

- Did you get him? - Yeah.

I don't think anything,

because I know Maddox is a rich man.

He hire a lot of people.

I know Jeb.

He's a good man, he loves my daughter Sophia.

And his son Shakespeare.

I believe he's telling the truth.

You saw this and you let me marry him?

I don't know what was the story Sophia.

The Jeb I knew later was a nice young man.

All you saw was an exchange of money.

Yes, your honor.

Not enough, not enough.

Yes, you know this is like a field

of prairie dogs popping up.

You with the lantern, what do you got to say?

Your Honor, I crossed paths with Maddox that night.

Good evening to you.

Get away from me.

Just no manners at all.

Must've have been raised by buzzards.

I greeted him cordially

but he weren't friendly.

And later on, I saw him talking

with Jeb and Virgil real close.

Now, I'm a little hard of hearin'

but I got good eyesight, on account of

I always carry good light.

Well, I'm delighted of that sir.

I'm very happy for you.

But I do have to say to you

as my sainted mother would say,

the road to hell is paved

with good intentions.

I need facts.

Judge are you gonna listen to every maniac that pipes up in here?

Hold your tongue.

Your honor.

May I speak?

Go ahead.

That night, I saw Mr. Lawson give money to those men.

He said.

Tell him some serious bowgley

about what this bluetail did.

Don't mind old candle.

That big Indian don't know one word of English.

He can't shine light on anything we're doing here.

And what about Thomas?

That's taken care of.

He say, "I no speak English,

so I no bother to them."

And he right, my English very bad back then.

But at time, I speak very good Boontling.

I heard every word he said that night.

And I saw his money,

he paid these men for this evil deed.

All right now, in your own words,

I want you to tell me what you saw that night.

He say, "now jape to the high heeler

and tell him bowgley.

A serious bowgley about what this bluetail did."

Now look I don't understand this thing you call Boontling.

Tell me what happened in the King's English.

He said, go to the Sheriff and tell him a big lie.

And he paid them for the lie.

He said not to tell anyone,

if they want to continue working for him.

Is there anyone in this room

who didn't see what happened that night?

Your honor may we say something?

Now children, one of you wasn't even born

and the other one was just born,

don't tell me you were eye witnesses to this event.

No sir.

Yes, sir.

Zach and I were outside Maddox's office,

when we heard Maddox shot Mr. Harper.

We also heard Maddox say he shot Pastor Palmer.

We heard it your honor, we pulled Jeb from the office to save his life.

We did it.

Us.

And the lord's help.

Order! Order!

Order in the court, order!

Judge, everyone else has had their say,

what about mine?

Mr. Lawson, you and Judge Lawson saw to it

that Mr. Briggs did not get his day in court.

But I will see to it

that you get your day in court.

And Mr. Harper

will provide a wonderful eye witness account

to that effect.

You can step down.

All right, dang it

I'm about to make a ruling here.

To you who stood up today,

your fears transformed several lives.

In this community.

But today, we are able

to right a terrible wrong.

Mr. Briggs, will you come forward?

There is no doubt in my mind, that you have been,

maligned and falsely accused.

As a result you have lost precious years of your life.

There is nothing that I can do

to give you back those years,

but I can promise to do everything in my power

to see that you will have

the years ahead of you.

Sheriff, let this innocent man go free.

This courts' adjourned.

Melinda,

what a beautiful and brave daughter I have.

Thomas I,

The memory of that last night

that we had together,

it saved my life.

It convicted my heart.

That day for me was more than a memory too.

You have a son.

Zach.

Come here, son.

Come here.

We started off so wrong,

but over these years, I...

I found God's grace and forgiveness.

And we have a second chance.

Can you forgive me?

Alice, will you still marry me?

Yes.

Well, it's about time.

Melinda's mama and daddy were married

before the ink could dry on the divorce papers.

And ol' judge, Mordechai Price

didn't give Jeb anytime in jail,

'cause he felt he was reformed.

It took no time at all for Sofia to forgive Jeb,

and that gave young Shakespeare a family again.

Maddox and his Uncle, retired Judge Lawson,

were given that day in court Judge Price had promised.

They were both sent to San Quentin State Prison

for life.

Everybody stayed up all night after the lockin'

just harpin' about all the goings on,

and about how everybody makes mistakes.

Melinda learned that her value

was not determined by the decisions

people had made before her.

God loved her because He created her.

And she was one of a kind.

Yes sir, God will override

all sorts of situations that we get ourselves into,

all we have to do is ask Him for His help.

God isn't who you think He is...

He's bigger.

And when you look for the truth

you'll find...

grace.