Original subtitles

Man, on TV: WE DON'T NEED

YOU HERE!

WE DON'T NEED YOU HERE!

Man, narrating: THERE WERE

A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN THE

WORLD DURING THE SUMMER OF

1963, BUT AT MY HOUSE, IT WAS

ALL ABOUT THE HEAT.

[ SIGHS ]

MICHAEL?

I SAID GO GET SHEWEE SOME WATER.

Man: I WAS JUST SEVEN.

THAT DOG'S GONNA DIE IN THIS

HEAT.

Man: AND OUR ELECTRICITY

WAS INSIDE, BUT OUR WATER WAS

OUTSIDE.

GO ON, NOW.

IT'S YOUR DOG.

AIN'T MY DOG.

[ ROOSTER CROWS ]

WAY OUTSIDE.

[ "HEATWAVE" BEGINS ]

♪ WHENEVER I'M WITH HIM

♪ SOMETHING INSIDE

[ DOG BARKS ]

♪ STARTS TO BURNING

♪ AND I'M FILLED WITH DESIRE

♪ COULD IT BE A DEVIL IN ME

♪ OR IS THIS THE WAY

LOVE'S SUPPOSED TO BE ♪

♪ IT'S LIKE A HEATWAVE

Man: AS I GOT THAT WATER,

THERE WAS NO WAY OF

KNOWING THAT TODAY WAS GOING TO

BE ONE OF THOSE DAYS THAT WOULD

CHANGE MY LIFE FOREVER.

OF COURSE, AT MY YOUNG AGE,

A THOUGHT LIKE THAT WOULD HAVE

NEVER EVEN CROSSED MY MIND.

NOW, WE WERE GOING INTO TOWN TO

GET OATS FOR THE MULE.

IT MAY SOUND SIMPLE NOW,

BUT FOR ME BACK THEN, THAT WAS

A VERY BIG DEAL.

SHEWEE!

DON'T DRINK THIS WATER ALL!

MAMA SAID WE'RE GONNA BE GONE

FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.

MICHAEL, LET'S GO.

NOW, DON'T TOUCH THIS TILL WE

GET INTO TOWN, OKAY?

OR AT LEAST ON THE BUS.

YOU HEAR ME?

YES, MA'AM.

♪ OOH, OOH

♪ OOH, HEATWAVE

♪ OOH, OOH, OOH, OOH

♪ OOH, HEATWAVE

[ BOTH COUGHING ]

Mother: CLOSE YOUR EYES.

NOW, MY MAMA DIDN'T HAVE

MUCH PATIENCE FOR DISCOURTEOUS

DRIVERS.

DAMN FOOL.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

YES, MA'AM.

AND EVEN LESS FOR AUGUST

OPELIKA HEAT.

OH!

BUT WHEN IT CAME TO ME...

THAT'S A FINE TIME TO EAT.

COME ON.

SHE HAD ALL THE PATIENCE

IN THE WORLD.

BUT THIS SUMMER, THAT VIRTUE

WAS ABOUT TO GET PUSHED

TO ITS LIMITS.

♪ IT'S LIKE A HEATWAVE

I WAS REALLY GLAD TO SEE THE

BUS BENCH, BECAUSE MY FEET WERE

ON FIRE, AND MY THROAT

WAS AS DRY AS A BONE.

WE HAD A LOT OF STRANGE CUSTOMS

DOWN HERE.

RAISING A RED FLAG TO SIGNAL

THE DRIVER TO STOP --

THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO MY

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BRAIN, 'CAUSE

WE WEREN'T EXACTLY HARD TO

MISS, AND THIS WAS, IN FACT,

THE BUS STOP.

♪ OH, GIRL

♪ I FEEL IT BURNING DOWN

♪ RIGHT HERE... ♪

OH!

GO ON, PICK IT UP.

ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WEIRD

CUSTOMS WAS THE FIRST-COME,

FIRST-SERVED THING.

ON THE SURFACE IT WAS PRETTY

EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

GOOD MORNING, MA'AM.

IF YOU GOT SOMEWHERE FIRST,

WHATEVER YOU GOT THERE FIRST

FOR WAS YOURS.

BUT THIS RULE GOT A LITTLE

FUZZY WHEN THEY SHOWED UP.

STRAIGHTEN UP.

Boy: NICE ARM!

Michael: DID YOU SEE THAT

"COMBAT!" LAST NIGHT?

YEAH, IT WAS GOOD!

NOW, WHEN IT CAME TO STRANGE

WAYS OF DOING THINGS,

IT DIDN'T STOP THERE.

THEY PAID THEIR FARE...

AND TOOK THEIR SEATS.

BUT WE PAID OUR FARE...

THIS WAY.

GOT OFF THE BUS.

AND THEN WOULD WALK AROUND TO

THE BACK.

AND THEN WE WOULD GO THROUGH

THE BACK DOOR.

THE WHOLE THING JUST SEEMED

LIKE A VERY INEFFICIENT WAY TO

LOAD A VEHICLE.

ONCE INSIDE, WE WOULD TAKE

OUR SEATS.

OR NOT.

[ GRUMBLING ]

Man: THE FLAG.

GET THE FLAG.

GOOD, LET'S GO.

Woman: OH, LET'S GO.

LET'S GET GOING.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

[ BRAKES HISS ]

HEY, GRANDADDY!

[ NEEDLE SCRATCHES RECORD ]

[ ALL GASP ]

THAT WAS MY GRANDAD.

LIKE GRANDADDY USED TO SAY,

"MORE PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY

MEAN MORE FUN."

STILL, NOTHING COULD KILL MY

EXCITEMENT OF GOING

TO THE BIG CITY.

DOWNTOWN OPELIKA -- WHERE YOU

NEVER KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GONNA

SEE.

GET OUT, COME ON.

[ GRUNTS ]

HEY, STOP IT!

[ GRUNTING ]

FOR INSTANCE,

ON THE TV, IT WAS USUALLY

PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME

GETTING HIT.

OW!

I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO

THINK ABOUT IT, 'CAUSE IN A

SECOND, WE WERE HEADED OFF

TO MAIN STREET.

TO ME, THE COURTHOUSE WAS SO

TALL, IT ALMOST TOUCHED THE

SKY.

MY GRANDDAD ALWAYS SAID THE

TRAFFIC WAS SO TERRIBLE

ON MAIN STREET, HE'D NEVER

GO DOWN THERE.

BUT ALL THAT HUSTLE AND BUSTLE,

I KIND OF LIKED IT.

NOW, THE PEOPLE WHO HAD TO GET

OFF IN THE BACK SOMETIMES WENT

TO THE FRONT.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO GOT OFF

IN THE FRONT, WELL, THEY

SOMETIMES WENT TO THE BACK.

NOW, THE BUS DEPOT HAD SO MANY

FOLKS DARTING IN AND OUT THAT

THEY HAD TWO DOORS.

Woman: CLAIRE!

ONE FOR THEM...

AND ONE FOR US.

HEY!

AND JUST DOWN THE STREET,

THERE WERE EVEN TWO KINDS OF

DRINKING FOUNTAINS.

AND AFTER A LONG, HOT BUS RIDE,

I COULDN'T WAIT TO TAKE

A DRINK.

NOW, WHEN YOU'RE THIRSTY,

EVEN WARM, RUSTY WATER

TASTES GOOD...

BUT ONLY TO A CERTAIN POINT.

ONCE YOU'VE PRETTY MUCH WET

YOUR LIPS, WELL, THAT

WAS ENOUGH.

SO IT DIDN'T QUIET ADD UP WHEN

THAT BOY KEPT DRINKING

AND DRINKING.

AND THAT'S WHEN IT HIT --

THE WHITE WATER MUST BE

DIFFERENT.

IT MUST BE BETTER.

AH!

BOY!

WHAT YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!

NOTHING, MAMA!

DON'T YOU "NOTHING, MAMA" ME.

AND DON'T YOU BE GETTING THOSE

IDEAS IN YOUR HEAD.

US FOLK DON'T HAVE THEM OPTIONS,

YOU HEAR ME?

YES, MA'AM.

TOO LATE.

IDEAS WERE FLOWING.

HEADING HOME, THAT WHITE WATER

WAS ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT.

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE,

SOME THOUGHTS COULD BE DEADLY.

SO THE NEXT FEW DAYS,

THAT WHITE WATER WAS STUCK IN

MY BRAIN.

I TRIED TO DO THINGS TO KEEP MY

MIND FROM THINKING ABOUT IT,

BUT TO TELL THE TRUTH,

IT SEEMED LIKE WATER WAS

EVERYWHERE.

SO IT WASN'T THAT EASY.

AND WHEN A NEIGHBOR CAME OVER

BECAUSE HER MAMA'S WELL WENT

DRY, WELL, MY COUSIN RED

SEEMED TO NOTICE HER.

SHE SEEMED TO NOTICE HIM,

BUT ALL I COULD SEE WAS THAT

WATER.

SEEMED LIKE I COULDN'T

CONCENTRATE ON ANYTHING ELSE.

AND EVERYTHING, INCLUDING MY

ACCURATE BALL-TOSSING ABILITY,

SEEMED TO BE LOST FOREVER.

AAGH!

OH!

SWITCH!

Gospel chorus: ♪ OOH

♪ OOH, OOH

♪ OOH, OOH

[ GRUNTS ]

♪ OOH, OOH, OOH

[ SIGHS ]

Man: ♪ COME TO JESUS

♪ COME TO JESUS

♪ COME TO JESUS

JESUS KNOWS THIS IS GONNA

HURT ME A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN

IT'S GONNA HURT YOU.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT MAMA SAID.

BUT TO TELL THE TRUTH,

I DON'T THINK JESUS COULD

POSSIBLY KNOW HOW MUCH IT HURT

ME, OR ELSE HE WOULDN'T HAVE

BEEN SITTING ON THE SIDELINES

JUST WATCHING THIS HAPPEN.

OW!

[ GRUNTING ]

OR WOULD HE?

[ GRUNTING ]

♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU

♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU

EITHER WAY, I OFTEN WONDERED

WHAT TEAM HE WAS ROOTING FOR,

ANYWAY.

♪ JUST NOW

♪ JUST NOW

♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU... ♪

YOU'RE ALWAYS GETTING YOUR

BUTT WHUPPED FOR DOING ONE THING

AND THINKING ABOUT THE OTHER.

AND I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE

THINKING ABOUT THIS TIME, TOO.

NO, YOU DON'T!

YES, I DO.

NO, YOU DON'T!

OW! WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!

FOR THINKING ABOUT HER.

THINKING ABOUT WHO?

CASSANDRA.

I SAW YOU LOOKING AT HER.

SHE'S MINE.

I WASN'T LOOKING AT HER

OR THINKING ABOUT HER.

IF YOU WEREN'T, THEN WHAT

WERE YOU THINKING ABOUT?

GO ON, SPIT IT OUT.

THE WHITE WATER.

THE WHAT?

YOU KNOW, THE WATER IN THEIR

FOUNTAIN.

DON'T YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IT?

NO.

WELL, I DO --

ALMOST ALL THE TIME.

I MEAN, DON'T YOU EVER WONDER

WHAT IT MUST TASTE LIKE?

HELL NO!

WELL, I'M PRETTY SURE IT

TASTES A WHOLE LOT BETTER

THAN OURS.

I'M GONNA --

OW!

NOW WHAT?!

I'M TRYING TO KNOCK SENSE

INTO YOUR STUPID HEAD.

BUT YOU DIDN'T LET ME FINISH!

I DON'T NEED YOU TO FINISH

TELLING ME HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO

SOME TYPE OF CRAZY FOOL THING

LIKE DRINKING OUT OF

A "WHITES ONLY" FOUNTAIN.

NOW, GET THAT WHITE WATER OUT OF

YOUR HEAD BEFORE YOU GET INTO A

HEAP OF TROUBLE.

YOU AIN'T GONNA TELL MAMA

ABOUT THIS, ARE YOU?

[ SIGHS ]

NOW, I COULD NOT LET MY MAMA

FIND OUT ANYTHING ABOUT THAT

WHITE WATER, AS THERE WAS NO

TELLING WHAT SHE MIGHT DO.

SHE WAS THE MOST FEARLESS

PERSON I KNEW.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM

HERE?

THIS GAL DON'T WANT TO PAY

FOR HER NEW SHOES.

'CAUSE I AIN'T BOUGHT NO

SHOES.

OH, BUT YOU TRIED THEM ON.

THEY HURT MY FEET, AND I

AIN'T GONNA BUY NO SHOES THAT

DON'T FIT.

HOLD IT.

WHO'S GONNA BUY THESE SHOES

AFTER SHE DONE TRIED THEM ON?

NOW, I SAID I AIN'T GONNA BUY

THEM SHOES.

[ NIGHT STICK CLICKS ]

AIN'T THERE OTHER PLACES YOU

CAN BUY SHOES IN THIS TOWN?

YES, SIR.

THEN WHY DON'T YOU GO DO

THAT, THEN?

THIS WAS DEFINITELY NOT THE

TIME TO PESTER MY MAMA

ABOUT ANY TYPE OF WATER.

THE NEXT DAY, I WASN'T THINKING

ABOUT WATER OR EVEN LOOKING AT

WATER, I WAS JUST TRYING TO

STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.

BUT I GUESS I WASN'T DOING SUCH

A GOOD JOB OF THAT AS THEIR WAS

NO BALL-PLAYING IN OUR HOUSE.

AND NO GOING IN THE LIVING

ROOM, AND, DEFINITELY, NO GOING

IN MY MAMA'S ROOM.

AND MESSING WITH THE SAXOPHONE,

WELL, THAT WAS REALLY OFF

LIMITS.

SEE, THE SAXOPHONE WAS MY

DAD'S, BUT MY MAMA TOLD ME IT

WAS HERS NOW, TILL SHE GOT ALL

THE MONEY HE OWED HER BACK.

IT SURE WAS A PRETTY THING,

THAT SAXOPHONE.

AND AS FAR AS I KNEW,

MY DADDY LOVED THAT SAXOPHONE

MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY MY MAMA WASN'T

TOO BIG A FAN OF MY DADDY.

I ONCE HEARD HER SAY HE'S A MAN

WHO WOMEN LOVE, HUSBANDS HATE,

AND CREDITORS CAN'T FINE.

[ AIR HISSING ]

MICHAEL?

LIFE LESSON NUMBER ONE --

DON'T EVER PUT YOUR LIPS

ON ANOTHER MAN'S MOUTHPIECE.

PULL IT OUT.

THANKS, DAD!

MM-HMM.

UH...

WHY DON'T YOU GIVE ME A BEAT?

HERE.

HERE, I'LL SHOW YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

RIGHT?

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

YOU CAN DO IT.

COME ON.

PUT YOUR HANDS RIGHT THERE.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

COME ON, GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

COME ON.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

COME ON.

TAP, TAP.

KEEP IT GOING.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

YEAH, THAT'S IT.

THAT'S IT.

TAP, TAP, BOOM.

TAP, TAP.

LIFE LESSONS 2 THROUGH 10 --

IT'S ALL IN THE ATTITUDE.

AND, BOY, YOU GOT ATTITUDE.

HOLD ON.

WHY DON'T YOU GO DOUBLE CHECK

AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR MAMA AND

YOUR GRANDDADDY AIN'T AROUND?

THEY AIN'T AROUND.

MAMA WENT TO TOWN,

AND GRANDPA IS OUT WORKING IN

THE FIELD.

THEN, THERE IT IS.

COME ON.

[ TAPPING BEAT ]

[ PLAYING JAZZY RIFF ]

WOW!

IS THAT A NEW CAR?

NEW TO ME.

WHY DON'T YOU SAY WE TAKE IT FOR

A RIDE?

YEAH!

YEAH!

WHILE WE'RE AT IT,

MIGHT AS WELL GO GET SOME

DINNER, RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT!

OKAY!

HAVE A SEAT.

YOU LIKE IT?

YEAH!

OKAY.

[ GRUNTS ]

LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT.

OH.

I GUESS WE AIN'T GONNA BE

HAVING NO DINNER TONIGHT.

THAT'S NONSENSE, BOY.

A MAN'S GOTTA DO WHAT A MAN'S

GOTTA DO.

HE FIGURES THINGS OUT,

MAKES IT HAPPEN.

WE GONNA GET SOME FOOD.

COME ON, NOW.

[ STARTS ENGINE ]

LIKE I TOLD YOU,

I REALLY DON'T NEED NO

INSURANCE.

YEAH, I DON'T, EITHER.

CAN'T STAND IT.

JUST ANOTHER BUNCH OF PAPERS

PILING UP IN THE HOUSE.

AND TO BE HONEST,

JUST ANOTHER BILL I GOT TO PAY.

YOU'RE SURE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

NO, BUT AFTER THAT DAY I SAW

YOU, I REMEMBER I HAD TO TELL

YOU SOMETHING.

COULDN'T SLEEP FOR A WHILE.

WELL?

WHAT DO YOU GOT TO SAY?

THIS WHOLE INSURANCE THING,

IT AIN'T ABOUT ME.

AIN'T ABOUT YOU, EITHER.

IT'S ABOUT HIM.

THAT'S RIGHT -- YOUR BOY.

AND HIM --

MY BOY.

OUR FLESH AND BLOOD.

MY ALL AND ALL.

NOW, IF THE GOOD LORD WERE TO

CALL ME HOME TODAY, AND I DIDN'T

HAVE THOSE PAPERS SIGNED AND

FILLED OUT, OH, MAN, MY SOUL

WOULD JUST TOSS FOR ETERNITY.

COME ON OVER HERE, SON.

KNOWING THAT HIS BELLY WAS EMPTY

AND HE DIDN'T HAVE A ROOF OVER

HIS HEAD, I WOULD GO TO

SAINT PETER MYSELF AND HAVE HIM

SEND ME STRAIGHT TO HELL.

I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS MY DRESS

HAS CAUGHT ON THE FENCE.

MUST BE A WAY TO

GET IT UNSTUCK.

ALL RIGHT, GO ON.

GO OVER THERE AND PLAY WITH THAT

BOY.

KEEP HIM OUT HERE, ALL RIGHT?

I GOTTA GO HELP THIS WOMAN

GET HER DRESS UNSTUCK

OUT OF THE FENCE.

I WON'T BE LONG.

[ RHYTHMIC CREAKING ]

WHAT YOU DOING?

WHAT YOU DOING?

MUST HAVE BEEN A HIGH FENCE,

BECAUSE MY DADDY SURE TOOK SOME

TIME AND MADE PLENTY RUCKUS

TRYING TO GET THAT LADY OFF IT.

YOU WANT THAT POLICY?

Man: MAYBELLE?!

WHOSE CAR IS THIS?!

OOH, YOU SELLING THAT POLICY!

HI, BABY!

Father: YEAH, YEAH, CALM

DOWN!

OH, WHOA, WHOA!

[ CAT SCREECHING ]

OKAY, I'LL PUT YOUR COPY IN THE

MAIL!

COME ON, SON.

TIME TO GO!

COME ON, TIME TO GO!

YOU'D BETTER RUN!

HA HA.

DADDY SAID SOME FOLKS JUST

DON'T KNOW HOW TO APPRECIATE

A HELPING HAND.

MAYBELLE, WHY DON'T YOU STOP

DOING THIS?

THIS IS THE LAST TIME.

[ TIRES SQUEAL ]

AS IF SEEING MY DADDY RUN

HALF-DRESSED OUT OF A LADY'S

HOUSE WASN'T EXCITING ENOUGH,

NOW WE WERE GOING INTO THE

FANCIEST RESTAURANT I'D EVER

SEEN IN ALL MY SEVEN YEARS

OF LIFE.

THIS ONE HERE.

THANK YOU.

THE IMPORTANT THING WAS SHE

PAID FOR THE POLICY,

SO WE GOT FOOD.

COME ON, KEEP DIGGING IN.

LIFE LESSON NUMBER 11 --

ANY SUPPER CAN BE YOUR LAST,

SO YOU ALWAYS HAVE YOUR DESSERT

FIRST.

NEVER LIVE LIFE WITH REGRETS.

YOU'LL ALWAYS WONDER "WHAT IF?"

AND ANOTHER THING,

DON'T GO TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT

YOUR DREAMS.

THEY'LL ONLY TELL YOU WHY THEY

CAN'T COME TRUE.

YOU HEAR ME?

MM-HMM.

OKAY.

MMM.

DAD?

WHY YOU AND MAMA BREAK UP?

[ GROANS ]

SOMETIMES, A MAN GOTTA...

MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS --

UNPOPULAR DECISIONS,

DANGEROUS DECISIONS.

SOMETIMES THOSE DECISIONS

CAN CAUSE CONFLICT.

YEAH.

LOTS OF CONFLICT.

CAN I ASK A PERSONAL

QUESTION?

UH-OH.

HAVE YOU EVER TASTED --

SURE HAVE.

BUT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT

I'M GONNA ASK YOU!

WHAT?

THE WHITE WATER.

WHITE WHAT?

YOU KNOW, THE WATER FROM

THEIR DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

WHAT ABOUT IT?

WELL, HAVE YOU EVER TASTED IT

BEFORE?

SURE.

HUNDREDS OF TIMES.

WHAT IT TASTE LIKE?

DELICIOUS.

WHAT, YOU WANT TO TRY SOME?

YEAH?

YEAH, DAD.

THING IS, YOU GOTTA BE REAL,

REAL SNEAKY.

[ WHISPERING ] Like a mouse.

Okay, I can do that.

You can do that?

I can do that.

Okay, well, finish up.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT

POLICEMAN KNEW WHAT WE WERE UP

TO, BUT HE DID --

BEFORE WE EVEN GOT THERE.

AND NOW WE WERE IN TROUBLE --

BIG TROUBLE.

OH, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING,

DON'T YOU, HUH?

WELL, YEAH, YOU CAN BET THAT

THESE FOLKS KNOW WHAT YOU'VE

BEEN UP TO, AND SO DO I,

DOGGONE IT!

YEAH!

YOU AND THAT HEATHENOUS

FATHER OF YOURS!

THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KEEP ACTING STUPID, THAT MAN

IS GONNA STRING YOU UP,

HE'S GONNA PUSH YOU UNDERNEATH

THE JUDGE, GONNA MAKE YOU EAT

THE KEY.

AND THAT'S ONLY IF HE'S IN A

GOOD MOOD.

COME ON!

[ GASPS ]

DEPUTY!

YOU FOUND MY CAR!

THANK GOODNESS!

AND THANK YOU.

THAT'S WHY YOU PAY TAXES,

AIN'T IT?

WELL, DID YOU CATCH THE

LOWLIFE SKUNK WHO STOLE IT?

SANDERS, BRING THAT BOY

OUT HERE.

TERRANCE?

CLORETTA.

AND YOU'RE LUCKY I DON'T

SEND YOU OUT TO THAT TREE RIGHT

NOW.

YOU CAN'T WHUP THAT BOY FOR

LISTENING TO HIS DADDY, ANNIE.

HIS DADDY IS A MAN OF BAD

IDEAS AND EVEN WORSE INTENTIONS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

[ SIGHS ]

OKAY.

YOU GO GET READY FOR BED.

WE GONNA FINISH THIS LATER.

WHOO, I SWEAR, IF I NEVER SEE

THAT MAN AGAIN.

DON'T SAY WHAT YOU DON'T

MEAN.

OH, I MEAN IT ALL RIGHT.

HEY, ANNIE.

[ SIGHS ]

WHEN DID YOU GET OUT?

IT'S ALL A BIG

MISUNDERSTANDING.

UH-HUH.

NOW, WHAT'S NOT TO UNDERSTAND

ABOUT STEALING CARS?

[ CHUCKLES ]

NO CAR WAS STOLEN,

IT WAS BORROWED.

AND AFTER CLORETTA HELPED CLEAR

THINGS UP, THEY LET ME OUT.

YOU KNOW, NOW, IT SURE WOULD BE

A LOT EASIER TO GET YOU YOUR

MONEY BACK IF I HAD MY SAX.

[ CHUCKLES ]

BABY GIRL...

YOU KNOW...

BABY GIRL, MAYBE...

MAYBE YOU AND ME SHOULD...

TRY TO WORK THINGS OUT,

HMM?

COME ON, T.

I GOT WORK IN THE MORNING!

AND YOU GOT WORK TONIGHT!

[ CHUCKLES ]

YOU HAVE GOT SOME NERVE.

I AM BREAKING MY BACK TRYING TO

RAISE THAT BOY RIGHT.

AND LIKE THE WIND, YOU JUST COME

BLOWING IN TOWN, KEEPING HIM UP

ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT,

PUTTING ALL KIND OF CRAZY

THOUGHTS IN HIS HEAD.

NEXT TIME YOU EVEN GET THE

NOTION TO DO THAT,

I WILL SNATCH OUT YOUR WINDPIPE

AND FEED IT TO THEM HOGS.

YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

YES, MA'AM.

AND A LITTLE SALVATION

WOULDN'T HURT YOU, EITHER.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE INSIDE OF

A CHURCH SINCE BEFORE

CHRIST WAS BORN.

THAT'S A MIRACLE YOU AIN'T

GONNA NEVER SEE HAPPEN!

[ HORN BLOWS ]

OKAY, WOMAN.

I'M COMING.

[ SOFT MUSIC PLAYING ]

[ SIGHS ]

[ SOFT MUSIC PLAYING ]

MAMA?

JUST CAME TO SAY GOOD NIGHT.

[ SIGHS ]

MICHAEL?

I KNOW YOU LOVE YOUR FATHER.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

JUST DON'T GO CHASING AFTER HIS

PIE-IN-THE-SKY DREAMS, OKAY?

YOU'RE JUST GONNA END UP

JUST LIKE HIM.

YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU.

YOU SLEEP WELL.

GOOD NIGHT.

IT'S OKAY.

I KNOW IT'S OKAY.

[ SNIFFLES ]

GO ON NOW.

[ SIGHS ]

I SURE DIDN'T WANT TO END UP

LIKE MY DADDY.

MAMA HATED MY DADDY,

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO END UP

WITH MAMA HATING ME.

SO I MADE A DECISION RIGHT THEN

AND THERE TO PUT THAT

WHITE WATER OUT OF MY MIND

FOR GOOD.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, SOME DREAMS

DON'T DIE EASY.

THAT NIGHT, I SAW MYSELF IN

THE DESERT.

THE SUN WAS BRUTAL.

MY MOUTH WAS AS DRY AS THE

SAND.

AND AS I TREKKED ACROSS THAT

DESERT, THAT WHITE WATER WAS

LIKE AN OASIS IN THE DISTANCE,

JUST CALLING MY NAME.

TRY AS I MIGHT, I COULDN'T

REACH IT.

SO BY THE NEXT MORNING,

I HAD A NEW PLAN.

YOU KNOW GOOD AND WELL

THERE AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH

YOU.

[ COUGHS WEAKLY ]

THE ONLY THING THAT'S WRONG

WITH YOU IS YOUR BAD ACTING.

HEY, THIS COUSIN OF YOURS

IS UP AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT

WITH THAT NO-COUNT FATHER OF

HIS, IT'S NO WONDER YOU'RE SICK.

NOW, SEE, CHILD, YOU GOTTA KEEP

IT IN YOUR MOUTH FOR IT TO WORK.

YOU STAY IN BED TODAY, OKAY?

I DON'T WANT YOU CHASING AFTER

THAT DOG, YOU HEAR ME?

YES, MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT, COME ON NOW, RED.

DON'T MISS THAT BUS.

[ WHISPERING ] Big liar.

MY MAMA DID COOKING AND

CLEANING FOR SOME FOLKS DOWN

THE ROAD.

SHE'D BE GONE UNTIL 4:00.

THAT'S WHEN HER SHOW CAME ON,

"QUEEN FOR A DAY,"

AND NOTHING WAS GONNA KEEP HER

FROM HER SHOW.

AND MY GRANDPA, WELL,

HE WOULDN'T BE BACK FROM THE

FIELDS TILL DARK.

[ SCREEN DOOR CREAKS ]

[ SLAMS ]

SHEWEE!

[ SIGHS ]

BOY -- DON'T YOU MOVE!

OH, I GOT A SNEAKY ONE ON MY

HANDS, I SEE.

I FORGOT MISS WILKENS' TOWELS,

AND I GUESS YOU FORGOT YOU WAS

SICK.

OH, NO, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT TRYING

TO TALK BACK.

COME ON!

WHOO!

TELL YOU THERE AIN'T NO REST FOR

THE WEARY.

YOU THINK YOU SLICK.

NO, MA'AM.

YOU DO, DON'T YOU?

WELL, YOU AIN'T.

I KNOW SLICK.

I MARRIED SLICK!

YES, MA'AM.

AND SLICK SLID OFF.

YOU WANT TO SLIDE OFF?

NO.

COME ON!

COME ON IN THIS HOUSE.

OKAY.

YOU MUST BE OUT YOUR MIND.

IF YOU SAY SO.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR

YOURSELF?!

NOW, DON'T YOU SAY ONE DAMN

WORD!

NOW GET IN THIS HOUSE!

UH-HUH.

NOW, GO UP THERE

AND GET YOUR SWITCH!

Man: ♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU

♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU

♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU

JUST NOW ♪

♪ JUST NOW

♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU

♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU

JUST NOW ♪

[ GRUNTS ]

♪ HE IS ABLE

♪ HE IS ABLE

♪ HE IS ABLE

JUST NOW ♪

♪ JUST NOW

♪ HE IS ABLE

THE LORD DON'T LIKE LIARS.

I AIN'T RAISING A LIAR,

DO YOU HEAR ME, BOY?

YES, MA'AM.

AND I AIN'T HAVING NO LIARS

LIVING UNDER THIS ROOF.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME, MICHAEL?

YES, MA'AM.

SEE, 'CAUSE FIRST IT'S LYING,

THEN IT'S STEALING, AND THEN

IT'S KILLING.

AND WITH GOD AS MY WITNESS,

I WILL NOT HAVE LYING, STEALING

KILLERS UNDER THIS ROOF.

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I'M TALKING

ABOUT?

YES, MA'AM.

♪ JUST NOW

[ MICHAEL GRUNTS ]

♪ JUST NOW

♪ CALL UPON HIM

♪ CALL UPON HIM

JUST NOW ♪♪

Man: I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW

THERE ARE NO SINNERS IN HEAVEN.

[ MURMURS OF AGREEMENT ]

THERE ARE NO SCHEMERS

IN HEAVEN.

AND NEED I SAY THERE CERTAINLY

ARE NO LIARS IN HEAVEN.

I WAS SURE HE WAS TALKING

ABOUT ME.

PROBABLY EVEN POINTING AT ME.

BUT I KNEW HE KNEW.

GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE YOU

SINNERS ARE.

AND GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT

YOU'RE PLANNING ON DOING

BEFORE YOU DO IT!

THOU SHALT NOT DRINK

THE WHITE WATER!

[ ALL GASP ]

MAYBE IT WAS MY IMAGINATION,

BUT REVEREND STOKES SEEMED TO

ALWAYS KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING.

[ UPBEAT ORGAN MUSIC PLAYS ]

Woman: THERE YOU GO, SWEETIE.

HERE YOU GO, BABY.

[ LAUGHTER ]

NOW, SISTER ANNIE,

NOW, IF I DIDN'T KNOW BETTER,

I'D SWEAR THAT CHICKEN OF YOURS

COMES STRAIGHT DOWN FROM HEAVEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IN THE WORLD

YOU DON'T OPEN UP YOUR OWN

RESTAURANT.

OH.

HMM!

Woman: ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT HER

FOOD, NEVER TALKS ABOUT MY FOOD.

WELL, I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY,

REVEREND, 'CAUSE I AIN'T GOT NO

TIME AND NO MONEY,

AND GOD ONLY GAVE THIS COLORED

GIRL TWO HANDS.

WELL, AS YOU KNOW, THE LORD

WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.

OH, BROTHER GENE!

HUP, HUP, HO!

HOW YOU DOING TODAY?

DRY, REVEREND.

DRY.

BUT I AIN'T TOUCH NARY A DROP.

SO YOU SAY.

SO YOU SAY.

GOD BLESS YOU, BROTHER.

TAKE YOUR WING AND FLY AWAY.

HEY, MICHAEL!

LOOK, HOW YOU BEEN?

I BEEN DRY, TOO.

I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT DRINKING

NARY A DROP, EITHER!

WHAT?

♪♪

YOU'VE BEEN WANTING SOME

SPECIAL WATER, RIGHT?

THEY SAY THE WATER'S SO SPECIAL,

IT MADE OLD MISS WILLIAMS

WALK AGAIN.

YOU SURE THIS IS ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.

STOP WORRYING, LITTLE COUSIN.

I GOT THIS ALL FIGURED OUT.

NOW, I WAS NO STRANGER TO

GETTING IN TROUBLE.

BUT WITH RED, IT WAS A WHOLE

DIFFERENT KIND OF TROUBLE.

WHO'S FIRST?

I'M FIRST.

NO, I'M FIRST.

NO, I'M FIRST.

NO, I'M FIRST.

NO, I'M FIRST!

Annie: NOBODY'S FIRST.

THIS WASN'T YOUR

RUN-OF-THE-MILL SIN.

NO, WE GOT CAUGHT DARN NEAR

BUCK-NAKED, ABOUT TO HORSE

AROUND IN THE LORD'S VERY OWN

SACRED BAPTISMAL POOL.

THAT WATER MIGHT HAVE MADE OLD

MISS WILLIAMS WALK AGAIN,

BUT ME AND RED WEREN'T GONNA BE

SITTING AGAIN FOR A LONG TIME.

♪ COME TO JESUS

♪ COME TO JESUS

♪ COME TO JESUS

JUST NOW ♪

♪ JUST NOW

MAMA SAID JESUS KNOWS

EVERYTHING.

BUT EVEN HE SEEMED PRETTY

SURPRISED ABOUT THIS.

OW!

[ GRUNTING ]

AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED

REVEREND STOKES MUST HAVE A MAN

ON THE INSIDE.

AND IF GOD FILLED HIM IN ON THE

SKINNY DIPPING THING, IT WAS

ONLY A MATTER OF TIME TILL HE

TIPPED HIM OFF ON WHAT I MIGHT

BE SCHEMING UP NEXT.

♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU

JUST NOW ♪

[ GRUNTING ]

♪ JUST NOW

♪ HE WILL SAVE YOU

RIGHT THEN AND THERE,

I KNEW I NEEDED TO MAKE MY

BRAIN WORK EVEN HARDER SO I

COULD CREATE MY BEST PLAN YET.

RED, GOT TO TELL THIS NEW IDEA

I GOT!

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!

THIS AIN'T ABOUT THAT

WHITE WATER, IS IT?

IS IT?

YOU'RE CRAZY.

YOU DONE LOST YOUR DAMN MIND!

YOU KNOW WHAT THEM FOLK WOULD DO

TO YOU IF YOU GOT CAUGHT?

THEY'LL HANG YOU AT

THE HANGING BRIDGE FOR SURE.

THE HANGING BRIDGE?

THE BIG WOOD BRIDGE OUTSIDE

THE CITY.

THEY'LL LEAVE YOUR LIMP BEHIND

SWINGING AT THE TRAIN TRACKS.

[ SIGHS ]

EVER SEEN ANYBODY HUNG BEFORE?

UH-UH!

FIRST, YOUR EYES POP OUT OF

YOUR HEAD.

THEN YOUR LUNGS JUST BLOW UP!

AND, SOMETIMES, THE HEAD SNAPS

CLEAN OFF YOUR BODY --

HITS THE GROUND WITH A THUMP

AND BOUNCES AROUND LIKE A

BASKETBALL.

AND IF THAT AIN'T ENOUGH,

THEY'LL GET WHAT'S LEFT OF YOU

AND PUT YOU IN A FIRE

AND WATCH YOU BURN.

OF COURSE, IF THEY HANG YOU AT

HANGING BRIDGE, THE TRAIN WILL

COME ALONG AND SMASH YOU INTO

SMITHEREENS.

YOUR BODY WILL LOOK SO BAD AFTER

THAT, WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN,

GOD WON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE YOU.

AFTER ALL OF WHAT I TOLD YOU,

YOU STILL AIN'T GONNA LET THIS

GO, IS YOU?

UH-UH.

WELL, GOD HELP YOU,

'CAUSE I SURE AS HELL

AIN'T GONNA!

I DID MY PART.

I GOT YOU PAST YOUR MAMA.

NOW YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

DAMN! THAT WAS THE

"WISH YOU WERE" DEAD DEPUTY.

WHY DO YOU CALL HIM THAT?

'CAUSE HE'S MEANER THAN A MAD

DOG.

AND WHEN HE GETS TO BEATING YOU

WITH THAT CLUB, IT HURTS SO BAD,

YOU WISH YOU WERE DEAD.

I'M GOING HOME.

YOU COMING?

YOU'RE CRAZY.

YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, CUZ.

[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]

BOY, WHERE'S YOUR MAMA?

SHE'S AT WORK, SIR.

WELL, WHERE ARE YOU GOING,

BOY?

I'M GOING TO TOWN TO SEE MY

TEACHER.

ON A SATURDAY MORNING?

I GOTTA TAKE A MAKE-UP TEST

IN GEOGRAPHY.

[ SIGHS ]

ALL RIGHT, EINSTEIN.

LET'S GO.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS ]

Man: ♪ ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT

♪ HEY NOW

♪ ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT

♪ HEY NOW

♪ HERE WE GO

♪ NOW, LOOKY HERE

♪ I GOT A BRAND NEW WALK

♪ EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT

THE WAY I TALK ♪

♪ I SAID LOOK AT ME

♪ I'M FANCIFIED

♪ GOT MY BACK ON STRAIGHT

MY HEAD HELD HIGH ♪

HI.

WELL, HI.

♪ AND I FEEL LIKE LOVE

♪ I SOUND LIKE LOVE

♪ NOWADAYS, I KIND OF SMELL LIKE

LOVE ♪

♪ 'CAUSE I'M IN LOVE

♪ WITH A BEAUTIFUL NOTION ♪

SON?!

[ ORGAN CHORD PLAYS ]

WHERE'S YOUR MAMA?

SHE'S AT THE...

SHE'S AT THE BUS DEPOT.

AND I'M JUST WAITING FOR HER.

SHE'S AT THE BUS DEPOT?

YES, SIR.

AND YOU WAITING ON HER?

UH-HUH.

ACROSS THE STREET?

YEAH.

WELL, I GUESS I'LL JUST SIT

RIGHT DOWN AND WAIT WITH YA.

AH!

IT'S OKAY, SIR,

I'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

OH, I'M SURE YOU WILL.

BUT THIS WILL GIVE US A CHANCE

TO CATCH UP A LITTLE BIT.

AREN'T YOU BUSY WITH YOUR

PREACHING AND ALL YOUR OTHER

PREACHER STUFF?

SON...

I GOT ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD.

[ GUITAR PLAYS SOFTLY ]

Woman: ♪ MM-HMM ♪

YOU EVER COUNT ON SOMEBODY

TO DO ONE THING AND THEY DID

ANOTHER?

WELL, I WASN'T COUNTING ON MY

DADDY TO DRINK FROM THE COLORED

FOLKS' FOUNTAIN.

SEEING MY DADDY WALK PAST THAT

WHITE WATER WAS A BIT OF A

LET-DOWN.

IT REALLY WAS.

AND THE DAY DIDN'T GET ANY

BETTER AFTER THAT.

[ HUMMING ]

[ CLOCK CHIMING ]

OH, LOOKY YONDER.

THAT'S THE LAST BUS OF THE DAY.

I PITY ANYBODY WHO'S SUPPOSED TO

BE ON THAT BUS.

BECAUSE SHE IS THE LAST ONE

OF THE DAY.

[ SIGHS ]

[ CHIMING ]

OOH.

COME ON, SON.

I'LL TAKE YOU HOME.

[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]

BOY, YOU BETTER GET --

I ALREADY DID!

I'LL BE WITH JESUS.

[ GRUNTING ]

HICKORY SWITCH, FOUR;

YOUR BEHIND, ZERO.

Man: ♪ COME TO JESUS

I WAS THE ONE GETTING HIT,

BUT IT WAS JESUS WHO WAS

TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK.

♪ JUST NOW

I WAS GETTING SO MANY

WHUPPINGS, IT FELT LIKE THE

LORD HAD JUST GIVEN UP ON ME

ALTOGETHER.

♪ COME TO JESUS

♪ COME TO JESUS

JUST NOW ♪♪

WELL, SISTER ANNIE,

YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS --

STRONG FOLKS, WELL, THERE COMES

A TIME WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING.

SISTER ANNIE...

IS WE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THOSE

TIMES?

[ SOBS ]

I'LL TAKE THAT AS A YES.

I SEE THAT...

I SEE THAT YOUR SOUL IS HEAVY.

CAN YOU SAY WHAT'S WRONG?

OH, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT --

IT'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING MUCH.

WELL, IF IT'S NOT MUCH,

WELL, IT SHOULD BE EASY FOR US

TO GO RIGHT --

I'M JUST HAVING TROUBLE WITH

MICHAEL.

HE JUST WON'T LISTEN!

HE WON'T LISTEN, HE WON'T DO

WHAT I SAY, AND IT'S JUST NOT

LIKE HIM.

HE'S GOTTEN SO CONTRARY --

JUST LIKE HIS DADDY.

JUST LIKE HIS DADDY, TERRANCE,

AND IT'S KILLING ME!

YOU KNOW...

I KNOW WE AIN'T TOGETHER,

AND IT AIN'T NONE OF MY

BUSINESS, BUT I HEAR WHAT HE

DOES, AND WHO HE DOES IT WITH,

AND HOW HE DOES IT.

YOU KNOW, OPELIKA'S A SMALL

TOWN.

THINGS GET AROUND, AND I JUST

NEED HIM TO STEP UP AND BE A MAN

AND BE AN EXAMPLE FOR MY BOY.

AND HE JUST ISN'T DOING IT.

YOU KNOW, I NEED HELP WITH MY

NEPHEW, RED.

RED IS TROUBLE TIMES 10,

YOU KNOW?

AND MY DADDY, MY DADDY TRIES TO

HELP, BUT I MEAN, HE'S OLD.

HE'S OLD!

AND SO BY THE TIME HE GETS HOME

FROM WORK, IT'S LIKE I GOT THREE

BABIES TO TAKE CARE OF,

YOU KNOW, ONLY ONE OF THEM IS

70, AND I JUST -- I CAN'T

HANDLE IT!

I JUST CAN'T.

I JUST -- IT'S TOO MUCH.

SISTER, SISTER, SISTER.

WHOA, WHOA.

NOW...

THAT DOES SEEM LIKE THAT'S A LOT

WRONG.

LET'S PRAY ABOUT IT...

RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF THE LORD.

COME ON.

ALL RIGHT NOW, SISTER,

THIS IS YOUR PRAYER.

YOU NEED TO PETITION THE LORD.

LORD...

BLESS MY DADDY, 'CAUSE THAT'S...

MICHAEL'S GRANDDADDY, AND HE'S

OLD AND ORNERY,

BUT HE'S OURS.

BLESS HER DADDY, LORD.

AND, LORD,

GIVE ME PATIENCE.

PATIENCE.

'CAUSE I TRY TO DO MY BEST BY

MICHAEL, BUT JUST GIVE ME THE

STRENGTH TO DO BETTER.

GIVE HER THE STRENGTH TO DO

BETTER.

AND, LORD,

GIVE ME CALM.

GIVE ME CALM TO DEAL WITH

MICHAEL'S TRIFLING, HEATHENOUS

FATHER.

YES, LORD, GIVE HER STRENGTH

TO DEAL WITH MICHAEL'S TRIFLING

DADDY.

AND HEATHENOUS.

HEATHENOUS.

HEATHENOUS.

AND, LORD, I'M A YOUNG WOMAN.

SHE'S YOUNG.

AND I'M ALL ALONE.

SHE'S BY HERSELF.

AND I DON'T DO NO WRONG.

SHE DON'T DO NO WRONG.

'CAUSE I'M A MOTHER AND A

DAUGHTER AND A CHILD OF GOD,

LORD.

YES, LORD, AMEN, YES, LORD.

BUT I HAVE A YEARNING,

AND MY LOINS FEEL AFIRE.

HER LOINS FEEL AFIRE.

YES, THEY DO, LORD!

AND I NEED ME A MAN!

OH, SWEET JESUS.

I NEED ME A MAN TO PUT THAT

FIRE OUT.

YES, LORD, AMEN, AMEN, LORD!

PUT IT OUT!

YES, AMEN.

OKAY, YES.

AMEN.

YOU THINK HE HEARD ME?

OH, YES.

YOU WERE LOUD AND CLEAR, SISTER.

YOU WERE LOUD AND CLEAR.

AND MAY I SUGGEST THAT YOU AND

MICHAEL BRING YOURSELVES BY

OUR WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING

SO THE LORD CAN GET TO WORK

ON THEM THINGS RIGHT AWAY.

YES.

WE'LL BE THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

PRAISE GOD.

[ UPBEAT ORGAN MUSIC PLAYS ]

LORD, PLEASE SEND THAT WOMAN

THE BIGGEST HOSE YOU CAN FIND

BEFORE SHE BURNS DOWN

THIS WHOLE DAMN TOWN.

AMEN.

BOY, I SWEAR YOU GOT THE

DEVIL IN YOU.

AND IF I CAN'T WHUP HIM OUT

OR SWEAT HIM OUT, THEN I'M GONNA

PRAY HIM OUT OF YOU.

AND THIS AIN'T GONNA BE NO

REGULAR PRAYING, DO YOU HEAR ME?

THIS GONNA BE REVIVAL PRAYING.

NOW, THAT'S "EVERY NIGHT OF

THE WEEK FOR A MONTH" PRAYING.

MM-HMM.

YOU BETTER GET RIGHT WITH

YOURSELF.

LOOK AT YOURSELF AND GET RIGHT

WITH YOURSELF.

PHEW!

COME ON NOW.

SO...

LET OLD REV STOKES KNOW

WHAT'S TROUBLING YOU THIS

EVENING.

REVEREND, DO YOU THINK YOU

CAN TALK TO GOD ABOUT GETTING

OUR STREETS PAVED?

I MEAN, WHEN IT RAINS, THAT

NASTY RED CLAY GETS ALL ON OUR

SHOES.

THEN IT'S IN OUR YARD.

THEN NEXT NEWS YOU KNOW, IT'S

TRACKED ALL OVER THE HOUSE!

WELL, I THINK THAT'S

SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY SHOULD

BETTER TAKE UP WITH THE MAYOR.

THE MAYOR DON'T CARE NOTHING

ABOUT US.

ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS GETTING

OUR TAXES!

[ CHEERING ]

NO, REVEREND.

YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE I KNOW THAT

GETS THINGS DONE AROUND HERE.

I THINK YOU SHOULD RUN FOR

MAYOR.

[ CHEERING ]

OH.

WELL, SISTER ANNIE, I APPRECIATE

YOUR CONFIDENCE, BUT I DON'T SEE

ANY SIGN THAT THE FOLKS AROUND

HERE ARE READY FOR SOMETHING

LIKE THAT.

WELL, REVEREND, MAYBE GOD

WILL GIVE YOU A SIGN.

WELL, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A

MIGHTY BIG SIGN, SON.

A MIGHTY BIG ONE.

BROTHER?

Woman: I'LL BE SURE TO LET MY

HUSBAND KNOW I RAN INTO YOU.

OKAY.

BUT YOU BETTER CHECK OUT THAT.

TOMMY, COME ON.

BUT, MAMA, WE JUST STARTED

TALKING.

BOY, DON'T YOU GIVE ME NO

LIP.

MOVE!

WE'RE GOING HOME RIGHT NOW.

MISS EMILY, THEY'RE JUST

BOYS TALKING.

THEY'RE JUST BEING FRIENDLY,

THAT'S ALL.

NOT HERE, THEY AIN'T.

YOUR FATHER WOULD KILL

THE BOTH OF US.

GO ON.

MAMA!

BETWEEN NOT BEING ABLE TO

SEE MY FRIEND TOMMY AND NOT

BEING ABLE TO TASTE ANY WHITE

WATER, I WAS PRETTY DOWN

IN THE DUMPS.

[ GRUNTS ]

WHERE'S YOUR HEAD AT?

IT SURE AIN'T ON HITTING

ANY TARGETS.

OW!

WHAT DID YOU HIT ME FOR?

TO KNOCK SOME SENSE INTO YOUR

SKULL!

NOW GET THAT DAMN WHITE WATER

OUT OF YOUR HEAD.

YOU AIN'T GOT ENOUGH SKIN LEFT

ON YOUR BLACK BEHIND

TO KEEP ON DOING THIS.

HEY, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR

COUSIN?

NOTHING.

LET'S GO.

THAT FOOL JUST WANTS TO TASTE

THAT WHITE WATER.

REALLY?

YOU KNOW WHAT, MICHAEL?

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW WHAT

IT TASTES LIKE, TOO.

YOU HAVE?

I'VE TRIED IT BEFORE.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

WHAT?!

YOU HAVE?

A BUNCH OF TIMES.

WHERE, IN TOWN?

NO, I GOT A SPECIAL

PLACE FOR IT.

YOU DO?

YEAH, YOU WANT TO GO THERE?

YEAH.

GREAT, I'M IN!

YOU SURE?

[ MARBLES RATTLING ]

[ BLUES PLAYING ]

Michael: LET'S GO!

Man: ♪ HEY, YEAH

Cassandra: HOW MUCH LONGER?

MY FEET ARE TIRED?

MINE, TOO!

AND WE AT DEVIL CROSSING.

Y'ALL WANT THAT WATER,

DON'T YOU?

Man: ♪ HEY, YEAH

SEE?

I TOLD YOU.

Man: ♪ HEY, YEAH ♪

LADIES FIRST.

NO, IT WAS MICHAEL'S IDEA.

HE SHOULD GO FIRST.

[ LOUD CLATTERING ]

GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT.

[ RUMBLING ]

[ KILLS ENGINE ]

HURRY UP!

THE MEETING STARTS IN 20

MINUTES.

COMING!

[ CLATTERS ]

WHAT THE HELL?!

RUN!

YOU THREE DON'T MOVE,

DAMN IT!

WE NEED TO SPLIT UP.

BUT WHY?

'CAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT YOU

DO -- LIKE ON TELEVISION --

YOU SPLIT UP!

[ SHOTGUN PUMPS ]

THAT'S A SHOTGUN.

SPLIT!

MEET AT DEVIL'S CROSSING!

THAT'S RIGHT, YOU LITTLE

THIEVES!

HE'S GONNA ARREST YOU

IF I DON'T SHOOT YOU FIRST!

YOU WANT TO STAY AFTER THE

LITTLE NIGGERS?

FORGET 'EM.

WE GOT A MEETING TO GET TO.

AND WHO THE HELL

SAID YOU COULD USE MY GUN?!

NOTHING?

[ SIGHS ]

WELL, ALL RIGHT.

IF THEY TURN UP OR IF YOU HEAR

ANYTHING, JUST GIVE US A CALL.

ALL RIGHT THEN.

NOW, CASSANDRA'S MOM SAYS THAT

CASSANDRA USUALLY COMES HOME

LIKE CLOCKWORK, AND SHE HAS NOT

SEEN THEM, EITHER.

SHE'S JUST GONNA WAIT THERE

IN CASE THEY COME BACK THAT WAY.

MAYBE THEY MISSED THE BUS.

OR MAYBE IT BROKE DOWN.

OR MAYBE IT CRASHED.

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE,

DON'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS.

WHERE WERE THEY LAST?

SOMEBODY MUST HAVE SEEN THEM.

MAYBE REVEREND STOKES KNOWS,

'CAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT EVERYBODY'S

UP TO.

I'M GONNA CALL HIM.

[ LIFTS HANDSET ]

[ DIALS NUMBER ]

I AIN'T GOING ANY FURTHER

WITHOUT MICHAEL.

WE CAN'T STOP NOW.

WE GOTTA KEEP ON GOING.

AND FOR ALL WE KNOW, HE'S BACK

AT THE HOUSE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT DEPUTY

DIDN'T CATCH HIM?

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT CRAZY OLD

MAN DIDN'T FILL HIM

FULL OF BUCKSHOT?!

HOW DO YOU KNOW HE AIN'T DEAD?

[ OWL HOOTS ]

WAIT!

COME ON.

MAYBE HE'S ALREADY INSIDE.

NO, HE'D BE WAITING OUT HERE.

IF I GO INSIDE WITHOUT MY

COUSIN, MY AUNT ANNIE'S GONNA

KILL ME.

YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE

IN TROUBLE, RED.

AND WE HAVE TO HELP FIND

MICHAEL.

COME ON!

[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]

[ KILLS ENGINE ]

REVEREND, WHAT'S GOING ON?

WHAT'S GOING ON?!

I'M HERE TO HELP YOUR FOLKS LOOK

FOR YOU ALL!

WHERE'S MICHAEL?

WHAT YOU MEAN YOU LOST HIM?

YOU DON'T JUST GO LOSING YOUR

COUSIN, BOY!

LOST HIM, WHERE?

LOOK AT ME, BOY!

TELL HIM.

AT CHAMBERS COUNTY.

WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE

DOING IN THOSE PARTS

AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT?

DON'T YOU KNOW

THAT'S KLAN COUNTRY?

WE WANTED TO TASTE THE WATER

FROM THE WHITE FOLK'S FOUNTAIN.

HE WANTED TO.

SWEET JESUS.

I SWEAR, IF THEY LAY A HAND

ON HIM, I'M GONNA SNATCH EACH

AND EVERY LIMB OFF THEIR BODY.

NO TIME TO WASTE.

WE GOTTA FIND THAT BOY BEFORE HE

GETS FOUND.

Stokes: YEAH, COME ON.

I'LL DRIVE.

[ MEN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]

Man, in distance: IT'S TOO

MUCH WHEN I GO INTO TOWN, I SEE

'EM JUST WALKING AROUND.

LOOK, WE ARE TRYING TO ORGANIZE

OURSELVES.

YEAH!

NOW, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND

EVERYTHING THEY WERE SAYING,

BUT I KNEW WHATEVER IT WAS,

IT WASN'T GOOD FOR ME.

Man: NOW, LOOK, I GOT

A REPRESENTATION.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING

ABOUT.

UH-HUH!

AND THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO

GET RID OF.

YEAH!

YEAH, YEAH!

[ CHEERING ]

[ MAN URINATING ]

AAGH!

[ SCREAMS ]

TOMMY?

MICHAEL?

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU

DOING HERE?

I KIND OF GOT LOST.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

I HAD TO PEE.

MY DADDY'S GONNA GET SO MAD

AT ME.

I GOT IT ON MY ROBE

THANKS TO YOU.

[ SNICKERS ]

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

AIN'T THAT THING HOT?

YEAH.

KIND OF ITCHY, TOO.

HOW YOU GETTING HOME?

GETTING LOST IS KIND OF SCARY.

YEP, IT IS.

I'D ASK MY DADDY TO GIVE YOU

A RIDE, BUT I DON'T SUPPOSE THAT

WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA

JUST RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T SUPPOSE, EITHER.

Man: TOMMY?!

GO, HURRY, RUN!

GO, HURRY -- RUN!

WHAT'S WRONG, TOMMY?

WHAT'S OUT THERE, BOY?

I SAW A SNAKE.

YEAH, A REALLY BIG SNAKE.

CHRIST!

IT AIN'T NOTHING.

THE BOY JUST SAW A SNAKE,

THAT'S ALL.

HEAD ON BACK.

Annie: I DON'T SEE HIM.

[ SOFT BLUES PLAYING ]

[ WOMAN SINGING INDISTINCTLY]

[ INDISTINCT CHATTER ]

[ MUSIC CONTINUES ]

Woman: ♪ IF SHE'S SUCH A GOOD

FRIEND TO YOU ♪

♪ YOU CAN ASK TO SLEEP

ON HER FLOOR ♪

THE ONLY PLACE I'D EVER

HEARD FOLKS SINGING AND DANCING

LIKE THIS WAS AT CHURCH.

SO I FIGURED THIS MUST BE SOME

KIND OF CHURCH GET-TOGETHER.

AND SINCE ALL THE CHURCH

PEOPLE I KNEW WERE FRIENDLY

ENOUGH, I THOUGHT FOR SURE ONE

OF THE DEACONS OR SISTERS IN

THE CHOIR WOULD GLADLY

GIVE ME A RIDE HOME.

BUT I COULD QUICKLY TELL THIS

WAS NO ORDINARY CHURCH

GET-TOGETHER.

IN FACT, I WAS PRETTY SURE

THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH

CHURCH AT ALL.

BUT FROM WHAT REVEREND STOKES

HAD ALWAYS PREACHED ABOUT,

IT SEEMED THESE FOLKS

HAD MOST OF THEIR SINNING

BASES COVERED.

BUT FOR A GROUP OF MISERABLE

SINNERS, THEY SURE SEEMED TO BE

HAVING A LOT OF FUN.

♪ TRAVELING ALLEY CAT BLUES

♪ TO THE ONE WHO

WANTS IT BEST ♪

DAMN!

HEY!

HOW YOU GET IN HERE?

SOPHIA!

YOU KNOW KIDS AIN'T ALLOWED IN

HERE!

THEY'RE BAD LUCK!

MR. POTTS, YOU DON'T NEED NO

KID TO BRING YOU BAD LUCK.

YOU WERE LOOKING AT IT IN THE

MIRROR THIS MORNING.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Y'ALL GO ON AHEAD AND KEEP

PLAYING -- AND LOSE SOME MORE OF

YOUR MONEY!

I GOT BILLS TO PAY.

GOOD HEAVENS!

HOW DID ONE LITTLE BOY FIND SO

MUCH DIRT?

COME ON WITH ME.

IT'S STILL A PARTY EVEN IF I

AIN'T IN THERE!

COME ON, BABY.

SIT RIGHT HERE.

OH!

OH.

MMM!

SO DOES THIS DIRTY LITTLE BOY

HAVE A NAME?

MICHAEL.

WHY AREN'T YOU HOME, CHILD?

I GOT LOST.

BUT MY DADDY'S HERE NOW.

HE COULD TAKE ME HOME WHEN HE'S

DONE PLAYING.

WHO'S YOUR DADDY?

THE SAXOPHONE PLAYER.

TERRANCE?

THAT'S YOUR DADDY?

I DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD A SON

AROUND HERE.

WHERE YOU FROM?

OPELIKA.

OPELIKA?

THAT'S A LONG WAY FROM HERE.

WHAT YOU DOING WAY OUT HERE?

SOMETHING I WASN'T SUPPOSED

TO BE DOING.

WELL, WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY

BE DOING THAT WAS SO BAD?

I WAS SNEAKING INTO TOWN TO

TASTE THE WHITE WATER.

WHITE WATER?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU KNOW, THE WATER FROM

THEIR FOUNTAIN.

I WANTED TO SEE WHAT IT TASTED

LIKE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

DON'T PLAY WITH ME TODAY.

YOUNG MAN, DO YOU KNOW HOW

DANGEROUS THAT IS?

THEY HAVE KILLED MEN

FOR LESS THAN THAT.

LET ME GET YOU SOMETHING TO EAT.

THIS IS EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE

KIND OF SANDWICH --

IT'S THE FREE KIND.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

THAT'S MY MAMA'S NAME --

MA'AM.

MINE'S SOPHIA.

I'LL CHECK BACK IN ON YOU

IN A LITTLE BIT.

AIN'T NO CREDIT TODAY.

YOU GONNA PAY UP YOUR BILL.

LET'S GO.

HEY, KID.

I GOT YOUR PROBLEM SOLVED.

I'M WHITE, RIGHT?

I HAVE WATER.

GO AHEAD.

SEE WHAT YOU'RE MISSING, EH?

I AIN'T AFRAID TO WHUP

A WHITE MAN'S ASS

IF HE'S MESSING WITH MINE.

MICHAEL...

THIS PLACE HERE IS FOR

GROWN FOLKS, MICHAEL.

IS THIS WHERE YOU COME NOW --

I MEAN, ALL THE TIME YOU'RE NOT

AROUND?

[ SIGHS ]

SON, I KNOW YOU DON'T

UNDERSTAND.

BUT...

YOUR MAMA'S PROBABLY BETTER OFF

WITHOUT ME.

I'M THE WRONG MAN FOR HER.

ARE YOU THE WRONG MAN FOR ME,

TOO?

[ CLICKS TONGUE ]

[ LAUGHTER ]

[ SIREN WAILS ]

[ GASPS ]

COME ON, MICHAEL.

WE GOTTA GO.

WE GOTTA GO!

I CAN'T!

I CAN'T -- MY LEG -- IT HURTS.

COME ON, COME ON, BOY!

COME ON, COME ON, COME ON.

[ SIREN CONTINUES ]

YOU SIT RIGHT HERE,

AND YOU DON'T COME OUT

UNTIL I COME BACK AND GET YOU,

ALL RIGHT?

QUIET AS A MOUSE.

[ DOOR CREAKS ]

[ SNIFFLING ]

Man: ALL CLEAR OUT FRONT.

HOW WE DOING IN HERE?

ALL RIGHT.

IS IT THERE?

OH, IT'S HERE.

GOOD.

[ CLANGING ]

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

IF YOU SAW SOMETHING YOU

SHOULDN'T HAVE SEEN, SON,

YOU GOT A BIG PROBLEM

ON YOUR HANDS.

I CAN'T SEE NOTHING.

OH, KEEP THE FAITH,

SISTER ANNIE.

LOOK!

TERRANCE, WHAT YOU DOING OUT?

WE CAN'T FIND MICHAEL.

OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT,

ANNIE, I GOT HIM HID.

YOU GOT HIM HID?

YEAH, AT THE JUKE JOINT.

SEE, THERE WAS A RAID,

AND I HAD TO HIDE HIM.

NOW, TERRANCE, WHY WOULD YOU

PUT A BOY IN A JUKE JOINT?

I DIDN'T.

THE BOY JUST SHOWED UP.

HE'S FINE, ANNIE.

HE'S FINE, OKAY?

YOU CAN GO RIGHT BACK ON

OVER THERE AND GET HIM.

HEY.

COME ON.

MICHAEL?

COME ON, BOY.

I TOLD THE BOY TO STAY PUT.

ANNIE...

MICHAEL?!

MICHAEL!

NOT A GOOD NIGHT FOR YOU,

BOY.

NOT A GOOD NIGHT AT ALL.

[ KILLS ENGINE ]

HERE?

HERE.

BOY, OUT OF THE CAR.

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?

I DIDN'T SEE NOTHING.

I SWEAR TO GOD!

OUT OF THE CAR, BOY.

THIS IS THE HANGING BRIDGE,

ISN'T IT?!

YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT

ABOUT HANGING BRIDGE, BOY.

TIE IT UP THERE.

HEY, HEY, HEY!

HEY, HEY!

NO, YOU DON'T.

COME AROUND HERE.

TURN AROUND.

GET OFF OF ME!

LET ME GO!

SHUT UP, BOY!

[ CAR DOOR CLOSES ]

[ BILLY CLUB THUMPING ]

LET'S GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF.

I AIN'T GOT ALL NIGHT.

[ ANNIE SIGHS ]

THERE AIN'T A SOUL IN THERE.

YOU SURE?

LET ME GO.

MICHAEL AIN'T THERE.

I HAD THE BOY HID.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I UNDERSTAND THAT

YOU LOST MY SON.

HE'S MINE, TOO.

WELL, YOU SURE DON'T ACT

LIKE IT.

Y'ALL, WAIT A MINUTE, STOP!

NOW, THIS AIN'T NO TIME FOR ALL

THAT NOW!

NOW, WE GOTTA FIND MICHAEL.

WHERE TO NEXT?

THE BRIDGE.

UH-UH.

LORD, NO.

ALL RIGHT, YEAH.

COME ON.

WHY ARE WE LOOKING FOR

MICHAEL HERE?

'CAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN FOLKS

GO MISSING, THEY END UP HERE.

I TOLD THAT BOY NOT TO COME

HERE -- NOT THIS BRIDGE.

MICHAEL AIN'T STUPID.

HE AIN'T COME OUT HERE.

NO, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY

IDEA IN HELL WHERE HE IS.

LET'S NOT BRING THE DEVIL

INTO THIS.

OH, JESUS!

IT CAN'T BE.

Annie: I CAN'T LOOK!

I CAN'T.

Terrance: Y'ALL STAY PUT.

OH, DAMN IT.

KEEP THE KIDS BACK!

Y'ALL STAY PUT.

NO, NO!

ANNIE, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

MICHAEL'S MY BABY!

JUST HOLD ON, HOLD ON!

JUST PULL HIM UP!

HOLD ON.

PULL HIM UP!

HOLD ON.

PULL HIM UP!

NO, WE NEED TO TELL THE

POLICE ABOUT THIS!

TERRANCE!

WE NEED TO --

[ TRAIN HORN BLOWS ]

[ BELL CLANGING ]

WE DON'T PULL HIM UP, THAT

TRAIN'S GONNA RUN

RIGHT THROUGH HIM!

OKAY, OKAY.

TERRANCE, PULL HIM UP.

OKAY, I GOT HIM, I GOT HIM.

I GOT HIM, I GOT HIM.

I GOT HIM.

[ HORN BLOWS ]

WE GOT IT, WE GOT IT.

Cassandra: MICHAEL!

[ HORN BLOWS LOUDLY ]

[ ENGINE CHUGGING ]

[ SOBBING ]

HEY, MICHAEL.

Deputy: DON'T YOU MIND HIM.

DADDY, WHEN ARE WE

GOING HOME?

I GOT SOME BUSINESS

TO TAKE CARE OF FIRST.

BUSINESS I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO

IF FOLK WEREN'T DOING WHAT THEY

WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

MICHAEL?

MICHAEL?

SOMEBODY THOUGHT THIS WAS

FUNNY.

WELL, THEY'RE SURE AS HELL

WRONG ABOUT THAT.

HE DEFINITELY AIN'T DOWN

THERE.

WELL, WHERE COULD HE BE?

WELL...

YOU KNOW, I'M THE LAST PERSON TO

BRING THE LAW INTO SOMETHING,

BUT...

WE NEED TO GO INTO TOWN.

COME ON.

COME ON.

I'M GONNA CALL YOUR MAMA TO GET

YOU WHILE I DEAL WITH THIS.

DON'T YOU MOVE ONE INCH.

[ ENGINE SPUTTERS, DIES ]

BLASTED CAR!

THAT'S MICHAEL.

A STRANGE THING HAPPENS

AFTER YOU STARE DEATH

IN THE EYES.

YOU REALIZE YOU DON'T HAVE

NOTHING TO LOSE.

WHAT IS THAT BOY DOING?

AND WHEN YOU KNOW THAT,

THERE AIN'T NOTHING THAT CAN

STOP YOU.

BOY, WHY DON'T YOU STAY PUT?

COME ON, COME ON!

Red: THAT STUPID FOOL

IS GONNA DO IT!

WHAT THE HELL?!

I REMEMBER WHAT

MY DAD SAID --

SOMETIMES BEING A MAN INVOLVES

MAKING HARD DECISIONS,

UNPOPULAR DECISIONS...

MICHAEL!

DANGEROUS DECISIONS.

I THOUGHT THAT WATER WAS GONNA

BE COOL AND REFRESHING --

LIKE FROM A MOUNTAIN SPRING,

BUT, INSTEAD, IT TASTED JUST

LIKE THE SAME HOT, RUSTY WATER

FROM OUR FOUNTAIN.

HEY, BOY!

WHY IN THE HELL DID YOU DRINK

FROM THAT FOUNTAIN?

I WANTED TO KNOW

WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.

WHAT IT TASTES LIKE?

All: NO!

[ CLANG ]

THAT WAS THE MOST PECULIAR

THING I'D EVER SEEN.

BUT SEEING IT WAS GONNA CHANGE

MY LIFE FOREVER.

I'D NEVER SEEN THE FOUNTAINS

FROM THAT ANGLE BEFORE.

FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME,

I COULD SEE THEY WERE BOTH

BEING FED BY THE SAME PIPE.

IT HIT ME LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN.

IT WAS THE SAME WATER, JUST

DIFFERENT FOUNTAINS WITH

DIFFERENT SIGNS.

I'D CONJURED UP A PICTURE OF

WHAT THAT WATER WOULD TASTE

LIKE BASED SOLELY ON THE SIGN

ABOVE THE FOUNTAIN, AN IDEA

THAT, AS IT TURNED OUT, HAD

NOTHING TO DO WITH REALITY.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ LAUGHING CONTINUES ]

FOR SOME REASON,

BY THE END OF THAT SUMMER,

EVERYBODY WAS THINKING JUST A

LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

THANK YOU.

REVEREND STOKES, WELL, HE

RAN FOR MAYOR.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

HEY, BROTHER!

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, I'M...

AND MY MAMA, SHE DECIDED

TO OPEN HER OWN RESTAURANT.

I GUESS HELL FROZE OVER,

'CAUSE MY DADDY ACTUALLY

CAME TO CHURCH.

HEY, BOY.

THERE WAS A RUMOR THAT SOME

STRANGE THINGS MIGHT HAVE

HAPPENED AT TOMMY'S HOME,

AS WELL.

MY COUSIN RED

DEVELOPED A CONSCIENCE.

AND LATER THAT SUMMER,

I DISCOVERED SOMETHING WAY

BETTER THAN ANY WATER.

NOW, THAT KISS WAS PRETTY

SPECIAL.

BUT I GOT SOMETHING EVEN

MORE IMPORTANT -- A STORY.

A STORY I COULD TELL ONE DAY TO

MY