Original subtitles

Ah, go on back to your wife for a change.

Ungrateful slobs.

Man, gets 'em every damn penny. For what?

Soon as they can, they throw him out. That's wonderful.

Take his money.

Damn shippies.

Damn. No good shippies.

Woman. Woman. Wake up. You hear?

Wake up. Damn you.

Don't wanna let me in, huh?

I'll wake you up. My God.

Damn truck.

No good piece of junk.

Yes, sir. I'll get your fanny out of bed

even if I have to break the damn door down.

Why aren't you going back to Maggie Marie's house?

That's where you've been all night.

Stop it, you hear?. You wanna wake...

I'll wake up everybody between here and Chop when you don't open this door.

All right, I'm coming.

Sydney. Don't you try nothing.

You.

You go fix yourself up a bit in the kitchen, you hear?

Damn way to speak to your own husband?

Why don't you go back to Maggie Marie's house?

And that's what you want?

- You jealous, Hannah? Are you jealous? - Say, stop it.

You really mean things.

You smell.

You stink like a wet coat.

You don't like the way I smell,

You put a pillow over your puss.

Oh, no.

Shut up, dam it.

You want to wake the old man? Maybe we should.

Maybe he forgot how it's done.

I. I didn't mean to kick that can at you.

I hope I didn't hurt you.

Look, if you're mad because I kicked the can at you, I said I was sorry.

You live in there?

Don't pay her no mind, young fella.

Eula. That's the child's name.

She can'ttalk. Can't hear it either.

They do say she makes some right pretty sounds

once you get to know her.

I. I thought I heard her.

Oh, no.

Injoys! Clara Belle!.

Stop all that cracking.

Can't you two have your fun without

Busting up the whole house?

I declare. I just do declare.

There ain't a minute's peace around here, what with them two going at it.

Wrestling and carrying on is what they's doing.

I. I guess I better be gone.

Now, ain't that something?

The child's took a hankering to you.

Them folks come here.

She takes a hankering to.

She just don't want to see them leave.

Can't say as I blame her none either.

Once she makes up her mind, all creation can't change it.

So you might as well cool your heels a spell.

You look kind of dried out.

How about a nice drink of fresh well water?

Hope you don't object to plain drinking water.

We had us a little socializing last night, and the home brew's all gone.

I got a new batch working, though.

I make the best home brew and corn liquor around here.

Isn't that kind of against the law?

You mean the Prohibition?

Folks around here don't pay no mind to that foolishness.

Besides, it's about to be appealed anyhow.

Say, what's your name, young fella?

Calif, ma' am. Calif McKinney.

Oh, you from California?

Michigan. I'm on my way to California.

You aiming to walk all the way?

No, I got a ride from a man from St. Louis,

But he was heading south.

He dropped me off outside of town.

I had to walk it from there.

How many cars come out this way?

Well, small wonder with the Depression we got,

folks ain't got the money to run them cars.

You got the Depression where you come from?

Michigan.

Things are about the same every place I've been.

No work, nothing at all.

A bucket. I declare that child must think you want to wash your feet.

Come back here, Clara Belle.

I got you. I got you now.

You ain't gonna get away this time.

Shut up.

We got company.

Now, thishere's my other daughter, Clara Belle.

And this here is Injoy. He's our hired hand.

Hired what?

- Howdy. I'm Clara Belle. - I just told him who you was.

Gosh, you're pretty.

He's come all the way from Michigan. He's going to California.

Well, what y' all doing in Spooner, honey man?

I'm just passing through unless I find a job.

Well, I know a job you can have. You can have.

You can have Injoys' job, honey man.

You're a whole lot prettier than him.

What?

Course, there ain't much pay,

And the hours is downright inhuman.

- But you sure love your work. - Relax, young fella.

Clara Belle ain't gonna bite you.

You really looking for a job, mister?

Shut up.

I'll tell you where there's a job.

I ain't kidding.

I know where there's a job at.

Sheriff Able told me about it.

Thought maybe I'd want it.

Take it.

Not that job, no siree.

Where's there a job in Spooner?

At the Wade farm, that's where.

Like I said, young fella, ain't no jobs around here.

What's wrong with the Wade farm?

Sidney Brenshaw, that's what's wrong with him.

Well, Sidney Brenshaw.

You see, he's married to Luke Wade's niece, Hannah.

Sidney ain't really a bad sort.

It's just that...

He thinks he's too off our good for folks around here.

- Well, Sidney's had a hard time. - So's everybody else.

Well, Sidney gets a mite peevish now and then.

A mite peevish?

Look what he done to that hard hand they had a month back.

He done busted the dog.

You hush.

The man fell off on the porch.

Yeah, right after Sydney pushed him.

How would I get to this place?

The Wade farm?

You must want a job real bad.

Your funeral, I reckon.

Just going back down that a way about half a mile.

There's a little road cuts off.

It goes down the hill. Just follow that.

It don't go nowhere except in the Wade farm.

Well, thank you for the water and everything.

Morning.

Morning, ma' am. Is this the Wade farm?

It is.

I come to see about the job.

Come on in.

Had your dinner yet?

No, ma' am.

Sit. He come about the job.

What's your name?

Calif, ma' am. Calif McKinney.

Mine's Hannah. Hannah Bramshaw.

This is my uncle, Lute Wade.

Where is it you come from, boy?

Michigan. Detroit, Michigan.

City, boy, huh?

You want to work on the farm?

Well, I'm strong and I learn quick.

Yeah?

How quick can you learn to handle your fists?

Uncle Lute!

Well, I think it's only fair to warn the boy what he's up against.

You know what happened to the last field hand?

It happened accidentally.

Oh, accidentally on purpose, you mean?

Hannah, I still say we best forget about hired hands.

Now, you know you ain't able to do

All what's got to be done around here.

Not the way you've been ailing.

Well, I know.

I know Sidney ain't about to help out nothing, either.

Why, thank you, Mr. McKinney.

Well, you are asking for trouble if you let this young fella stay on.

Now, you know that.

Uncle Lute, there.

Ain't gonna be no trouble. Now, stop saying that.

You'll give Mr. McKinney here the wrong idea.

The trouble with women, son, is

They likes to see things the way they likes to see them,

Not the way they really is.

Now, I got nothing personal against you, boy, but

I think it'd be best all around if you just kept moving on.

Listen, I don't want to cause any trouble.

There's no trouble. It's just that.

Well,

If you're going to work here, you might...

Well, no.

Uncle Lute just don't get on too well with my men.

But there ain't no kind of trouble.

Now, we can't keep you on after the crops is in,

And we can only pay you $8 a month and your key.

I'll take it.

And don't worry about me staying on,

After the harvest, I'll be moving on anyway.

Now, if there's anything else you want, ask me later.

I've got to go out and help Uncle Lute with the work.

Well, I'll go with you.

No, you look like you've been up half the night.

Best you stay here and rest up,

And get an early start in the morning.

Finish your dinner and look around the place after a while, if you like.

I want to thank you, ma' am.

You missed some boy, right here.

So you're the new hired hand, huh?

What's yourname, boy?

Calif. Calif McKinney.

Calif.

Now, what kind of name is that? That don't make sense.

That's no real name.

- Well, it's short for California. - California? That's a place.

Everybody knows there's a place that ain't no name.

You're real serious one, ain't you?

You know, it's a funny thing.

The last fellow that worked here, he was serious, too.

Now he was so serious that he walked right off the porch and he

Busted his arm.

Now, you ain't that serious, are you?

What do you want from me anyway?

Let's just say that I'm kind of measuring you.

Fella gonna work for me?

I wanna know what it is he's like.

Work for you?

The woman, she hired me.

I know what she done.

You don't have to tell me.

But what she says don't mean much.

- And the old man... - What he says don't mean much more.

Now, you're gonna walk around here to be me, you'll be listening to.

You know, I like you, boy.

I really do like you.

And we're gonna get along just fine.

Me and you're gonna get along just fine.

You get me to town to one of these sites and I'll buy you a drink.

Your husband, ain't ya?

He just ain't an easy man to understand.

Uncle Lute runs the farm and I help him best I can.

You listen to us, nobody else.

If you're staying on.

I'm staying.

Are you all right, Mr. Wade?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm fine.

Just been going at it a little too hard, I guess.

I reckon it wouldn't hurt either of us.

To rest a spell.

Am I doing something wrong, Mr. Wade?

You've been watching me kind of close all day today.

I guess I've been trying to make up my mind what kind of a man you really are.

Have you made it up yet?

Before I tell you I gotta ask you something.

And if you ain't gonna tell me the truth, then don't say nothing.

Because if there is one thing I cannot abide, it's a liar.

What was you in jail for?

And what makes you think I was in jail?

Prison gives a man a look he don't get no place else.

A look and a color that stays with him a long time.

What was you in prison for?

You said before if I wasn't gonna tell you the truth,

I shouldn't say anything at all.

Well, that's fair enough.

Can I ask how long you was in?

5 years.

You just got out, huh?

I guess you'll be wanting me to move along now.

Move along?

What for?

You done your time, didn't you?

When you got another chance coming.

But I come here to see Clara Belle.

Clara Belle's busy right now. Go find Eula.

What the hell you smiling about?

Bet if you could talk, you'd be telling me all about her.

Yamming away like an old magpie.

Damn females.

All you ever do is yammer the damn four heads off.

Instead of doing for man what they should be doing.

I guess that makes you the perfect female, huh? Can't hear, can't talk.

Damn, Clara Belle in there playing around with some idiot,

and I'm out here yamming away like some old female with you.

What are you doing? What you trying to do?

I didn't never realize it before, but

You got almost as much as your sister.

You ain't bad at all.

Pheasant. I thought I heard a shot late this afternoon.

You shot a pheasant yourself?

Now, what's so surprising about that?

Hannah here is a better shot than most men in these parts.

Women is strange critters, son.

Sometime they look small and weak, but sometimes there's anything but that.

That's the first thing you got to learn about 'em.

Where's Sidney?

Girl, when are you gonna wake up to the fact that

That man of yours is no good?

- Never was, never will be! - Uncle Lute.

Oh, I know what you're gonna say.

Lord knows I've heard it often enough.

He weren't always like that.

He were a good man back in Kansas City.

He's still a good man at heart.

Trouble is,

He just ain't an easy man to understand.

Hannah,

When are you gonna stop making excuses for Sidney Brenshaw?

Why don't you and me go in the other room?

Be I don't want to.

You want to rat a niff?

Money?

Is that all you think about it? Money?

So my little time.

Why don't you take Mama?

- She ain't had no fun all week. - All week?

Hell, I ain't turned a trick in 15 years.

Boy, to see you all five poor.

Gives about every penny I get my hands on.

Which ain't much when you get right down to it.

Well, I'd rather over tweet and beat you out of it.

You gonna get every single you got coming

Pretty damn soon too.

Oh, now, don't tell me, Sydney.

Luke Wade done changed his mind about you.

He's gonna give you all that money you've been trying to borrow the last two years.

Yeah, ever since you come back from Kansas City.

Yeah, then you're gonna do like you've been saying all along.

You're gonna go back to Kansas City, ain't ya?

And find you another good job, just like you had.

Only better.

Why don't you learn a new song, Sidney Brenshaw?

We're tired of hearing that one.

You think you so damn smart, don't you?

Well, I've been doing a little study about old Lute Wade and all his money.

What you mean, Sidney?

I mean I know that old Lute Wade named my woman at his will.

Well, I'd say that was pretty nice of him.

And that's pretty lucky for Hannah.

But what that got to do with you?

Yeah, you're not so off fire smart after all, are ya?

Well, I read a friend of mine, a big lawyer in

Kansas City, and he says according to the law,

whatever Hannah gets is as much mine as it is hers.

Well, that's right smart, Sidney. There's only one thing.

Old Lute Wade, he's gonna outlive me and you both.

Well, he can't live forever,

Not with that bomb ticker he has.

Well, that's right promising.

But I would like to have a little cash money on account now and then.

I could show you a ragged time for a dollar, Sidney.

Then a dollar'd make mama right.

- Please - I ain't got no dollar.

The ten.

Yeah, it's. You better get your hands out of there.

You're gonna get in trouble.

Come on.

Rubble.

Come on. Let's see what you got, dear.

See, you lying. You did have something in your pocket.

- What you got? - Two bits.

Two bits?

Well, that's high enough to pay for a look at his squeeze.

Sidney's such a good customer.

Why, I give him the look for free.

But anything else is $1 cash money, Mr. Brenshaw.

Sidney, we were just having a little fun.

You tramps.

You lousy bunch of dirt grubbing tramps.

See how much fun you gonna have when old dies

and I got more money than you'd ever see.

Why don't you shut up and go on home, Sidney?

Yeah, go home to that wife of yours for a change.

Don't know why you come around here buying it anyway.

You got more at home than a man can handle.

Maybe that's why.

Maybe he can't handle it.

Shut your mouth. What'd you say about my Hannah?

Listen to him, will ya?

He's defending her good name.

You reckon it needs defending?

It might. It might.

Yeah. Calif McKinney.

I bet he's handling things just all right.

Get a bottle.

Get.

Come on. Get off.

Get off.

You son of a...

You had enough of him for one night.

Come on, Sidney get out of here, get out.

I had enough.

Yeah.

You and your damn IOU.

Brenshaw!

You!

He was like crazy, man.

I ain't never seen him like this before.

Steady, Topsy.

Get your head over there.

Oh, Topsy.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Where's Mr. Wade?

He's not feeling well. I made him stay in bed.

What's the matter?

I don't know.

He's got a pain in his arm

And he complains about not getting his breath too good either.

Lute works too hard around here.

He's been doing the work of two men.

Calif, I want to thank you.

For what?

Oh, for the way you've been looking out for Uncle Lute and all.

I. I better get to work if he's not coming out here today.

Hannah,

what you really wanted to say was thanks for last night.

But you didn't have anything to thank me for, did you?

I really didn't do anything, did I?

I wanted to, Hannah.

Believe me, I wanted to.

Calif. Calif.

- Morning, Calif.

Morning.

Well, I'm glad to see you hard at, boy.

Yes, sir. We've been needing help around here.

Place is going to seed.

It's some real sprucing up.

Farm's worth a whole lot more when it's spruced up proper.

Now, first off, we got a lot of fixing and painting to do.

Then we got them busted windows out in the tool shed.

What the hell are you doing here?

Planting a garden.

Planting a garden?

Now, who told you to do that?

Hannah.

Mrs. Brenshaw.

Hannah, huh?

Looks like Maggie Marie was right.

You taking the shine of my woman, boy?

Well, damned if you ain't.

So that's why you come busting into her room the

other night like some little old baddie rooster.

You're sniffing after her, ain't you, boy?

Answer me.

Answer me!

So you got a thing for my woman, huh?

Well, boy, you go ahead and do what you can, but you're wasting your time.

Hannah gets riled with me, and she purely hates a lot of things that I do.

But she's my woman, boy. My woman.

And you know why?

Cause she needs a man.

A real man, not some gutless boy.

How's it going, son?

Pretty good, I guess.

- I'm glad to see you're feeling better. - Thank you, son.

Yeah, I'll be as good as new in a couple of days.

You can't keep us old mules down long.

It's been a right pretty day. Yeah, I guess so.

Calif,

Is there something you'd like to talk about?

Talk? No. Why?

Oh, nothing, nothing. I was just wondering.

Calif?.

Oh, come on, have another.

It's good for what ails you.

If ever I saw a man ailing, it's you.

Are you suffering from Sidney Brenshawitis?

Young fella, use your hand on your liquor like a trooper.

I never drink.

Oh, my goodness. I just remembered.

What's the matter?

I got some mash working out back I better go check on.

Now, don't run off, Calif.

I'll only be a minute.

Stick around and kind of

Watch things for me, will ya?

Oh, pardon me.

Looks like I interrupted something.

Oh, go right ahead, boy.

I always wanted to see

You're any kind of man at all.

Eule there is a mighty fine little gal.

They're knew a lot.

And you've got a lot to learn if you're fixing to go after my Hannah.

Well, look at the little old batty rooster with his comb up and blood in his eye.

If you want to fight me, I'll be downright happy to oblige you.

There'll be no fighting in here.

My fine feathered friend, Sidney Brenshaw, I'm ashamed of you.

Now, don't get your dandruff bang of, Marie.

I was just having a little fun with the boy.

Get on out of here.

Go on home and leave these children be.

Oh, come on. It's no laughing matter. Get out of here.

Morning, Cal.

See now, you ain't still ringing

me about last night, are you? Come on, boy.

C'mon boy. I was just having a little fun with you.

Yeah, Have a slug of lightning.

Yes, sir.

Maggie Marie sure makes good corn liquors.

She swings a pretty mean right hand, too, don't you, boy?

Calif, I like you. I really do.

And you know why?

Because you're a hard worker.

Back in Kansas City for all this depressing stuff,

I was loading foreman for the Kelsey Company,

and I had me, 20 men working for me and I could

tell a hard worker his first day at a job.

And you're a hard worker.

Calif.

Calif, can you lend me a dollar or two?

You got a lot of nerve.

I haven't got any money.

And if I did, I sure as hell wouldn't give it to you.

You're feeling mighty tall this morning, ain't you, boy?

I guess being with you to put a little starts on you backbone?

You figure you got enough stars to go after my Hannah now?

- You got a filthy mouth, Sidney. - Sidney, is it?

Listen, as long as you work for me, you call me Mr. Brendshaw.

I work for Lute Wade.

Not for long you don't.

He's sick, boy, and he's gonna get sicker and he's gonna die.

Didn't you bad God call me Mr. Brenshaw.

If you still here.

I figured out.

- Who's that? - Sheriff Able.

Sheriff? What does he want?

I'm afraid I know what he wants,

Sidney.

Well, what did he do this time?

He's in jail.

What's he done? Oh, he probably got drunk and

went to Maggie Marie's and got in a fight.

He's always getting himself in some kind of hassle over there.

Who'd he hit this time? That feller Injoys?

No.

Thurmond Pate.

Yeah, well, Sidney couldn't pick a better man to hit.

Thurmond Pate and his big mouth.

He probably begged for it. Oh, don't fret.

Calif and I'll go and pick him up.

Oh, Uncle Lou.

I...

I'll go get the truck.

Well, hello, Lute.

Glad to see you up and around.

This must be Calif McKinney.

Nice to see you again, too, Abel.

Pleasure to meet you, Sheriff.

Oh, I just call me Able. Everybody does.

Well, Able,

How much is it this time?

It's a Whoppaloop. $20.

20?

What did he do, burn Maggie Marie's to the ground?

Threw Thurmond Pate through the feed store window.

More than half this money is just to pay for the plate glass.

I sure hate to take your money, Lute.

Why don't you just let him set?

Maybe you'd teach him a thing or two.

Believe me, I would if it wasn't for Hannah.

Well, she ought to let him set, too.

Can't she see he's getting worse?

Yeah, she sees it all right.

Trouble is, she won't admit she sees it, not even to herself.

Well, I'm telling you one thing.

Next time he gets into a scrape like this, he's

coming up before the county judge and he won't

get off with no fine either.

What took you so long?

What do you mean, what took us so long?

Just that.

It's about time you and that field

hair drug beard behind you over here got me out.

You think I like it in that stick of jail?

Well, you must.

Otherwise you'd stay away from that Maggie Marie bunch.

Listen, old man,

When I want your advice, I'll ask for it.

Well, looky here now.

I didn't think you had it in you, boy.

But I'm mighty glad you have.

Cause right now I'm gonna tear you apart.

Go get him, Cal.

- You like the inside of my jail. - Damn it, Able.

I was just defended myself.

You mean you was trying to kill that poor fella.

If I was you and yours, I'd keep my mouth shut.

- But he was. Was he? - Hey, guys. I said get up.

Are you all right, son?

You going to put Sidney in jail, Able?

All right, brother Injoys.

For defending his home and his honor from the threatening

stain of the would be adulterer.

Brother Gimp.

You should be ashamed, Brother Injoys.

All of you should be ashamed.

This poor benighted sinner

Only seeks to defend the sanctity of his marriage.

The only thing of purity left to him.

And you, all of you.

You side with this child of Satan, this messenger of the devil.

Your hearts and prayers should be with brother Brenshaw.

Let us pray for the good Brother Brenshaw.

That the Lord may show him the light.

That the Lord may save his soul and his home

from the clutches of Satan.

Oh Lord, hear me.

There's one amongst us who needs your special help.

Oh, blessed is he that does not...

- Are you coming? - You go on.

I got me some talking to do with the good brother here.

- As soon as he stops that yammering. - In the seat of the scornful...

For his will be the word of God, and in the Lord's word

he meditates both night and day. The ungodly are not so.

He just walked in and fell down.

No sound? Nothing.

Will he be all right?

I'll get a doctor.

Mr. Wade.

Mr. Wade.

I've been out for quite a while, ain't I?

- You've been resting. - Yeah.

How long have I been resting?

Off about a day.

The doctor said you have got to stay in bed for at least a week.

Hannah told me to give you this.

Oh doctor. What does he know?

I seen that damn fool the day he coming into this world.

I guess he's gonna see me out of it.

Ah, that's no way to talk.

Remember what you said about you can't keep an old mule down long.

Yeah, well, this old mule is pretty wore out.

At least my heart is.

Calif.

I got a little money put aside. You know that.

It ain't much, but together

is what this farm is worth.

It'll keep up body going quite a spell.

Even Hannah don't know about the money.

Well, it's yours, boy.

What?

Well, it ain't really yours, but last week when I was in town, I went to

the bank and I made all the arrangements.

Arrangements? What arrangements?

What are you talking about?

I'm trying to tell ya.

I put the money in the farm in your name.

It's in a trust account.

You'll sort of be holding it for Hannah.

Now, why would you do that?

To keep Sidney from getting it, of course.

If I gave it to her direct, he'd have it in a week and he'd be off and leave her.

Why me?

Because you love her.

You do, don't you?

Don't you?

I don't know.

I never loved anybody before this way, I mean.

Yeah, you love her right enough.

I seen it in your eyes for a long time.

Now the question is,

What are you gonna do about it?

What can I do about it?

Even if I do love her like you say,

I'm not too sure how she feels about me, I mean.

I know what you mean.

What I'm trying to say is, if you love her,

you gotta have faith.

Faith?

- I'm afraid I've never been religious. - Oh, you young idiot.

What I mean is faith in yourself.

Now you think about that.

Now you get out of here, boy.

I gotta get some rest.

Hannah.

Hannah.

What are you doing out here?

The doctor said it was just a matter of time.

It's the waiting. It's hard, I guess.

I remember when my mother died.

I was away when it happened.

I don't know if Lute told you or not,

But I was in jail.

He did. The second day you was here.

What was she like, your mother?

Good woman, I guess. At least she thought a lot about being good.

She went to church a lot.

My father left when I was 3, and she raised me from there.

Did she name you Calif?

California.

She read about it and she had a dream about going there.

Kind of like her own personal promised land.

Well, is that why you were heading for

California when you came through Spooner? I mean.

I guess it's my personal promised land now.

When I got out, it seemed like the thing to do,

What with her dying before she had a chance to.

Good morning, Sister Brenshaw.

Good morning, Mr. Hanson.

Why, you can call me Brother Hanson, Sister Brenshaw.

I ain't no kin of yours, spiritual or otherwise.

So if you come out here to make a big show of

praying and fussing over Lute, I can tell you

right now he feels the same way.

I.

I know how you and Brother Wade feels.

I've known it for a great many years.

But I prayed for the both of you.

Prayed that the Lord would be merciful and show you the way.

I'd like to show you the way.

If you're not out here to see Lute, what do you want?

Well, the Brenshaw asked me to come out here anytime I could.

At least someone around this devil's abode has seen the light.

Brother Brenshaw.

You mean Sidney asked you to come out here?

He did. Is he around?

Well, the last time I saw him, he was out behind the barn.

Thank you, Mrs. Brenshaw.

Mr. Hanson.

Sidney, he ain't seen the inside of the church since he was baptized.

And if he's got religion now all of a sudden,

You can bet there's something he wants from you.

Ye of little faith.

Morning, Brother Hanson. Morning, Brother Brenshaw.

I'm glad to see you took me up on my invite.

I came out as soon as I could.

I figure you needed me and the Lord's word.

Oh, I need you right enough.

Truer words were never spoken.

Brother Hanson.

Can I ask you something straight out? Folks in time.

They don't care much for me, do they?

No, they don't, Brother Brenshaw.

But it's mostly Brother Thurmond's doing and others like him.

There's even been talk about.

About what?

About running you out of town.

Well, I knowed they was riled at me.

Brother Brenshaw,

You've been getting into a lot of trouble lately.

But what people don't understand, it ain't your fault.

- It ain't? - No.

I've long had the idea

Of you living in this devil's abode

With these children of the devil.

That's been the root of your trouble.

Brother Hanson, you're so right.

If you only knew what goes on around here.

If the people in town only knew.

Perhaps they will.

After all, I am their spiritual shepherd.

That's what I figured.

I mean, you could make them understand, couldn't you?

Indeed I could.

But, Brother Brenshaw,

As you were saying, about what goes on around here.

Well, now, you take that Calif and the way he's been playing up to my Hannah.

Adultery!

Just as I suspected.

Go on, Brother Brenshaw.

The other day, I saw the two of them.

They came out here behind this shed

And you should have seen the goings on.

Uncle Lute, what are you doing up?

Feels good to sit in a chair again.

I still say you ought to be in bed.

In bed. My backside feels like a side of raw beef now.

And she wants me to lay on it some more.

I fixed you.

I fixed you.

I fixed all three of you.

What are you talking about?

You find out soon enough.

I've been saved. I've been saved.

I've been in. Save me.

Oh, he's crazy, that's what he is.

Crazy.

Crazy like a old fox. Yes, sir.

Crazy like a old rag fox.

I've been saved. I've been saved.

I've been in. Save me.

You. All three of you have been fixed.

Lute's right. He's gone crazy.

What, I'd tell you call crazy? You,

Weary pup.

Why don't you go in and sleep it off?

I ain't gonna fight you.

I don't have to fight you.

Cause somebody else gonna be doing that real soon.

A whole lot of somebody else.

Hallelujah.

I'll get him to bed.

Uncle Lute, what am I gonna do?

I don't know.

I don't rightly know.

Where's California with my truck.

I sent him to town. We need supplies.

You could have let him walk.

He got no call taking my truck.

Your truck? That truck belongs to Uncle Lute. You know it.

Oh, no, please.

No!

That's it, Hannah. Fight me.

It's much better when you fight me. You give in so good.

You chick ass.

What's the matter with you?

You.

That's what's the matter with me.

I'm sick of you.

I hate you.

Go ahead and hate me, Hannah.

But you like what I do, don't you?

I hate what you do.

I hate everything about you.

Since when?

You still like it and you know it.

Don't touch me ever again.

It's that Calif, ain't.

You get the hots for him, ain't you?

You leave me alone.

Sidney.

You leave her be.

You leave her be, you hear me?

I don't know why I keep waiting for

you to die.

Sidney! Leave him be.

Leave him be. I'll kill you.

I mean it, I'll kill you.

You really want to kill me, Hannah?

Well, you ain't gonna get the chance.

No, sir.

You ain't gonna get the chance.

What's the matter, honey man?

You think you're hearing things?

Is that you, Miss Clara Belle?

Why, Calif McKinney.

Fancy meeting you here.

Why don't you get out of the enclave

and come on in?

The water's just right.

What's the matter?

Little old pussy cat got your tongue?

Oh, I bet I know.

I bet a little old city boy like

you's got to have one of them, um...

What do you call them?

Bathing suits.

Honey man.

Honey man, there's only one kind of suit

that's right for swimming.

And that's your birthday suit.

Honey man, how come you ain't been around

to see us lately?

I've missed you, and so has Eula.

Well, I better be going.

What's your hurry?

You got something more interesting at that old Wade farm?

It's better for you if you start having

your fun with me, Mama and Eula.

Better and a whole lot safer.

What are you saying?

Everybody knows how you've been carrying on with that Hannah Brenshaw.

Don't act so goody-goody with me, Mr. Calif McKinney.

And those were her exact words?

Everybody knows about you and Hannah?

Well,

You got to consider the source, son.

Well, I did first.

But it wasn't only Clara Belle, when I went into town,

Thurmond Pate and that bunch that always hangs around the general store

When I went in, they made some remarks.

And then Mrs. Downs wouldn't even wait on me.

It's Sidney.

Him and that two-faced preacher.

That's what he meant when he said he'd fixed us.

He's using that preacher to stir up the whole town against us.

And they're listening to him?

You remember what I said once about how

when a man feels cheated, a hate will

grow in his belly?

Well, this whole town's been cheated.

Cheated by the times.

They's full of hate.

And they's liable to listen to anybody who'll

give them something solid, something real to use

that hate on.

They was fixing to use it on Sidney,

I'd say, till he got the preacher on his side.

Maybe I ought to just pack up and go.

Which would make Sidney as happy as a pig in a mud waller.

Besides, it wouldn't change nothing.

This town's got to hate something.

Or somebody.

Like maybe Hannah.

Well, then what do we do about it?

Just sit tight for now.

And pray that preacher's got a brain in his head.

Yes.

You're wise indeed, Brother Sidney, to keep away

from that devil's abode.

Devil's what?

The farm, Brother Sidney. The farm.

Oh.

Well, good day, Sister Hanson.

A good day to you, Brother Sidney.

Brother Hanson.

Brother Sidney.

You don't know how warm you make me feel inside.

You being saved and all, I mean.

Well, all I needed was you, Sister Lucy.

And the good brother here.

To show me the true pleasures that

good life can offer.

Oh, the pleasures there to be had, Brother Sidney.

It surely is.

And I do believe it'll come to you.

If you're a man of patience.

The pleasure of love.

Like the good book says.

Love one another.

Oh, I'm for that, Brother Hanson.

I truly am.

Tell me, Brother Sidney.

How do you feel inside?

Now that you've been saved, I mean.

All warm and tingly.

Like electric lights been turned on in my innards.

I know, Brother Sidney.

I really know.

Aren't you going to be a little late

For chapel services at the schoolhouse?

Oh, my goodness, yes.

Excuse me.

Brother Sidney.

I would like to talk to you about

a grave situation.

A grave situation which has been disturbing my

Innermost thoughts for some time.

A good day to you, Brother Sidney.

I'll be seeing you, Sister Lucy.

Brother Sidney.

Brother Sidney!

Yes, Brother Hanson?

I understand that you're acquainted with that

Maggie Marie woman.

Well, now, I wouldn't exactly say I was

Acquainted with it.

It's more like I...

It occurred to me lately

That there's no place in town

That needs the word

Like her place.

Maggie Marie's?

Yes.

I've often thought of her

And those poor, unfortunate children.

And the need for their salvation, I mean.

Oh, it's a sinful house, right enough.

Why, the work the devil does over there,

I'd be ashamed to talk about it.

I think, Brother Sidney,

What a great victory over the devil

If we two humble servants of the Lord

Were to save her

And her two children, of course.

Brother Hanson,

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Brother Sidney,

Isn't there a back door to this place?

What's the matter, Brother Hanson?

You're doing the Lord's work, ain't you?

Come on, they're probably all back anyways.

Come on, Brother Hanson.

You'd never go see a thing like that, Brother Hanson.

Come on, boy.

How do you like that, huh?

Ain't she something?

How about that, Brother Hanson?

Well, you boys getting a eyefull?

- Howdy, Maggie Marie. - Hi.

You know old Preacher Hanson here, don't you?

Howdy.

Me and the preacher, we've come to bring you the word.

Oh, the word.

Yeah, well, that's right neighborly of you.

Go on right in.

Come on, Brother Hanson.

She'll come along directly.

I'm sure she wouldn't want to miss getting the word.

Brother Hanson, come on.

Injoys! Clara Belle!

Stop that nonsense.

We've got company.

Howdy.

I declare you have no idea what goes on

When I'm not around here to watch them.

Well, howdy, Brother Gimp.

My goodness, I never thought I'd see the day

You'd come calling.

Shush.

Ain't she got the brass toes?

Now this one, she's her mama's pride, she is.

She can't talk.

It's the devil's work, Brother Hanson.

She can't hear neither.

She needs more saving than any of them.

You mean you come all the way over here

just to save us?

As a matter of fact, Brother Sidney and

I just happened to be passing by and...

What, Brother Hanson?

You said we were going to bring

The word to these sinners.

Look at that poor little thing.

Can't hear, can't talk.

Now you going to tell me that's not

the devil's work?

Why, I...

Go on, Brother Hanson.

Take her in the other room and give her some

Salvation.

I can pray for her right here.

Pray?

Well, we wouldn't want to be a bother to you.

You two go in the other room.

Now look here, Brother Sidney!

Brother Sidney!

Brother Sidney!

Oh, shut up!

What do you know about this?

You're always buttoning on something.

How come you ain't been around to see us lately, Sidney?

Oh, he's been busy getting religion, ain't you, Sidney?

Getting me a farm, you mean.

Old Lute's on his last leg.

And when he's gone, that farm is as good as sold.

What are you going to do with all that money, Sidney?

Maybe I'll just take you to Kansas City,

instead of that Hannah.

Would you really, Sidney?

What makes you so sure you can get

Your hands on that farm so all quiet easy?

Yeah.

Old Lute would rather see it burn than have you get it.

Well, now, let's just don't bother about that.

I've got the Lord on my side.

Why, Brother Hanson!

Whatever!

Sins of Sodom!

Sins of Gomorrah!

Why, child, you didn't.

Why, Ginger, she did!

Is the doctor going to be here long?

Oh, about an hour or so.

He said he wants to give Lute a good going over.

Where are we going?

For a walk.

Oh, but I can't.

I've got to...

The doctor's orders.

But the doctor didn't say anything about...

Dr. Calif McKinney.

Oh, well, now, that's different.

Yes, sir, doctor man.

Come on, now, you've got to eat something.

You and Hannah was, uh...

Was gone a long time this afternoon, wasn't you?

No, I'm glad, son.

I'm glad for the both of you.

What are you trying to say, anyway?

It's written all over both your faces.

What do you aim to do about it?

What can I do about it?

She's married to Sidney.

Ah, these laws that can change that?

Divorce?

I thought about that.

But even if she's willing, and I'm not

too sure that she would be, where would be

Where would we go?

How do we get away from the kind of man that he's turned into?

What would we live on?

Go to California, like you always wanted to.

You got the money I put in your

name for Hannah, live on that

Until you find something.

What about Sidney?

What about him?

He'd follow us.

Yeah, what if he did?

Uh,

I know what you're thinking.

If he comes after you, you might have to kill him,

Like you did that strikebreaker back in Detroit.

How did you find out about that?

Sheriff Able.

He's been my friend for years.

I knowed all about it from the first week you come here.

I hope you ain't mad I had Able check up on you.

Look, I would have noted anyway.

A man like you don't back down

Like you did in that fight with Sidney

Because he's a coward.

He backs down because he's afraid he might

hurt or kill another human being.

That strikebreaker back in Detroit, that was an accident.

I didn't know.

I know.

The law knows it too.

That's why they call it manslaughter.

Boy,

What do you aim to do about you and Hannah?

I-I don't know.

Well, you better find out.

And quick.

Because when Sidney gets a look at the

two of you and does a little thinking,

the crazy way he's been acting lately,

Well...

What are you trying to say, Uncle Lute?

That I might have to kill Sidney anyway?

Well, now.

If it ain't the right reverend Brenshaw.

If you're waiting for the preacher

You're gonna have a long wait.

He was over in the old show.

Some folks getting hitched over there.

If it's any of your business, I'm waiting for Sister Hanson.

Oh, my.

Religion do have its rewards, don't it?

I always thought there was more to that

Precious Hanson woman

than what meets the eye.

Won't you shut up, Thurmond Pate?

Before I get up and pull you out of that tree.

I'll cut it out, Sidney.

Your whole town knows you and shine master

like an old hound dog in rutting season.

I told you to shut up, Thurmond.

Looks like I'm gonna have to get up and slap you down yet.

You best do your slapping at home, Sidney.

You won't beat up on anyone.

California will take your pick.

Well, I'll stop that soon enough.

Oh, yeah?

The way I hear it, you ain't about to stop nothing.

Soon as old Luke dies, boy, you're gonna be out in the cold.

What are you talking about?

Banker's wife told my mama

That when old Luke dies, boy, he's gonna leave California farms

and money and everything.

I'm all ready, Brother Sidney.

Brother Sidney?

Brother Sidney!

No use calling Lute.

Calif and Hannah are both out in the yard.

I want to know the truth about the farm, the money.

Did you give it to that field hand?

You did give it to him.

That stinking field hand.

You gave it to him.

He cheated me.

Damn you.

Damn you!

Oh, no!

No!

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.

Able, how come there's so few people here?

Lute had more friends than us.

He had a lot of them what called

him friends until Sidney and him started stirring things up.

Just as well there ain't many here.

The whole town's like a party kick.

A crowd of any kind could touch it off.

Forever!

Amen.

Amen.

And now, dear friends, let us sing for

our dear departed.

Shall we gather at the river?

Shall we gather at the river?

The beautiful, the beautiful river.

Yes, we shall gather at the river

And stand in the sight of the Lord.

Shall we gather at the river?

The beautiful, the beautiful river.

Yeah, we shall gather at the river and walk in it.

What's the matter?

Why isn't everybody singing?

Oh, let's all gather at the river.

Don't want to sing, huh?

All right, let's tell stories.

You ever heard of one of us a

traveling city boy and a farmer's niece?

Well, a farmer's niece, you see.

Oh, Sidney, for God's sake.

Shut up.

I'm going to do to you what I

should have done a long time ago.

I'm going to tear the living guts out of you.

You gotta catch him, there's something wrong with him.

There's no telling what he might do.

Wouldn't make me none too sad to write about now

When those state troopers happen along.

Just to help you catch Sidney.

More to it than that, son.

Hannah, you know how folks around here are.

Once they get something in their head,

Between Sidney and that preacher, they sure got some strange notion.

About Calif and me, you mean.

Hannah, they're good people, but they don't understand such things.

We love each other, Able.

I know that, son.

You're the best thing that ever happened to this gal.

You both got my blessing, just like Lute's.

But dang it, all folks in this town is riled.

And that's the truth.

Lute said one time that bait makes people do crazy things.

Hey Able, you gotta come quickly.

He's burning the place.

I seen him setting fire to everything.

Oh, hold on.

Who's burning what?

Sidney Brenshaw's burning away the farm.

Oh, oh my god.

He did it now.

Milton, see if you can round up some

men in town to help out in the farm.

Right.

Hanna, lock the door behind us.

Don't let nobody in except me or Calif.

Calif, come on.

Sidney Brenshaw, why did you ever have to

see the light of day?

Brother Sidney, you scared the daylights out of me.

Where's Brother Hanson?

Well, he's over at the schoolhouse.

He's gotta help me.

The sheriff's after me.

The sheriff?

That Calif done burned me out.

Burned everything he did.

The house, the barn, burned everything.

You mean he burned the farm?

I told Sheriff Able I'd done it.

I can't believe that.

It's true!

It's true, all right.

He done it right enough.

Sister Lucy, you, you, Brother Hanson, you gotta help me.

You bet we'll help.

Come on, let's go get the good brother.

He'll know what to do.

Lordy, lordy, why they call this a shortcut,

I'll never know.

Brother Sidney, where did you get that?

Throw that vial stuff away, you hear?

Needing some vial?

Here, try something.

Try some.

Look, what have you done?

Come here.

Please, Sidney, I don't understand you acting this way.

I haven't done nothing at all.

You're pretty, Lucy.

You know, you're real pretty.

Have you ever been to Kansas City?

No.

No, I ain't.

Brother Hanson said it's a beautiful place.

What's he know?

It's a nice place.

Lots of money there and good jobs.

And folks know how to have a good time.

We going there, Lucy.

Me and you's going there.

And we gonna have a good time.

You hurt me, Hannah.

You hurt me.

Hannah?

You ain't ever gonna hurt me again, Hannah.

I'm gonna fix you.

Fix you good.

I'm not Hannah.

I'm Lucy, Lucy.

I'm gonna kill you.

I'm not Hannah.

I'm not Hannah.

I'm Lucy.

Lucy, Lucy, Lucy, Lucy.

Hannah, come back here, you hear?

Hannah, Hannah, Hannah.

No sense waiting.

I'm gonna call the state police.

Reiner, Sheriff Able.

Get me state police barracks and hurry.

What's wrong?

Nothing yet.

Captain Sprague, Able over.

Only a handful of men come out to

the farm with the rest of the town.

What? What about the farm?

Still burning what's left of it.

Some men are out there trying, but it's no use.

Oh.

Oh, no.

Well, I called them.

Trouble is, it'll take them quite a while to get here.

We're leaving.

You and I are going to California.

Leaving?

Calif, this is my home.

Your home, Hannah?

Lute's gone, the farm's gone.

All you've got here, girl, is some burnt

-out land and the clothes on your back

and a lot of bad memories.

I'll try to make you forget that.

Oh, don't you worry none, gal.

I'll take care of selling the land for you.

When the state troopers get here,

You can ride over to Mavor with them.

I'll bring your Lute's money tomorrow when the bank opens.

What about Sidney?

What do we do about him?

Just forget he's alive?

What are you driving at, girl?

Able.

Sidney's in trouble.

He's in bad trouble.

He's sick.

He's sick in his mind.

I know all that.

Soon as we find him, we'll take him

to the state asylum.

But I still don't see what you're driving at.

Oh, Cal, if you understand what I mean,

don't you?

I mean, what kind of life could we have

If I ran away now?

Hannah, you've got no cause fretting over Sidney Brenshaw.

No cause?

Able,

I'm his wife.

Law says you don't have to stay married

to a crazy man.

Well, maybe that's so.

And maybe that's the way it'll be

After we find him.

But I just can't run off and leave

him like this.

She's right, Able.

Hannah and I belong together,

And that's the way it's gonna be no matter what.

But she's right.

We just can't run out on things.

There'd be like a shadow on us.

Hannah!

You come back here, you hear!

Hannah!

No!

No!

Hannah?

Oh, stop, please! Don't do that!

I am defiler!

Spawn of Lucifer!

I struck down the living.

And I myself shall be struck down.

But I, for an eye,

and a life for a life.

(Prays indistinctly)

Able, they got Sidney.

Where'd they got him?

Down at the beef store.

And they're dragging him up the street to the church.

Look, stick around with them state troopers.

Hannah, wait here.

We ain't got time for debating.

Anyway, she's a lot safer waiting in the car.

All right.

Come on.

No ,no, yo stay here.

Sheriff Able.

I'll advise you not to interfere with the Lord's justice.

Lord's justice?

Have you people gone clean out of your minds?

What are you trying to do to that poor bastard?

Tire him, that's what.

Kill Sister Hanson right there and kill her.

Kill Sister Hanson.

Oh, Lord.

Why is my pain so unceasingly?

My wound so uncured?

You make me sick.

If Sidney's still anybody,

It's a matter for the law.

It's God's law that will punish him.

Woe to you, brethren.

Why do you stand there?

Quit this undisputed filth, I say.

We're going to kill you now.

We're going to hang you right here.

You hear me?

We're going to kill you now.

For God's sake!

I told you to wait in the car.

Hannah.

I didn't kill her.

I didn't kill her.

Let me go.

- Let me go. - Shut up.

Shut up, Sidney.

Let me go.

I got four loads of buckshot in this thing.

Righteous are we in the name of the Lord.

Are you going to listen to this spawn of the devil?

These children of the devil?

Hanson, if you don't shut your mouth up.

You what?

Arrest me?

Shoot me?

This man does the bidding of Lucifer.

He would raise his hand against the servant of the Lord.

Look.

Even now, he shelters and protects these adulterers.

Listen to me.

All of you.

Don't be fooled.

If you listen to Hanson

And do as he says,

You'll have to live with yourselves

For the rest of your lives.

Go on. Let the Lord take care of Sidney.

Go on home to your folks now.

Please, Sidney...

Oh, the Lord.

The Lord has shown us his eyes.

Give me back that gun, servant.

Just one more step, Sheriff,

And I'll let you have it all right.

Right in your face. Good.

And you go back to the car when Sidney's up.

An eye for an eye...

Go on.

Get in the car.

Move.

Oh, you've got to stop them, Able.

You've got to.

Why, you stand there, brother.

All you will is justice.

Oh, my God, Jehovah,

Had just an irascible power.

I am.

I am.

Save him, please.

Save him!

Let me go!

Let me go!

We smug a couple of guns.

We can still break up this shindig.

I wanna hit the start, and you

and Hannah hug the floor,

You hear?

Damn you, Abel.

Oh, no.

Leave him away that fool, Able.

Ain't no stopping.

Stop you, you crazy maniac!

... and a time of Judgement, and a time...

Hannah, Hannah!

Pull over here by the window.

Seems that I get blocked by you.

Get out.

Time of anger and a time of your destruction...

For the destroyer of

All right. Get down.

Get down. I mean it.

Get away from him.

Move away.

I swear to God I shoot anybody gets near.

I'll just keep moving.

Everybody.

Move away.

Move away!

Get away Hanson.

Get away Hanson, I mean it, I'll shoot you!

I swear to God.

Help me.

Keep moving, I said!

Get away-

Please.

Move Hanson.

Move!

"One man's evil can become the curse of all" Publilius Syrus