Original subtitles

Three.

Thank you.

You've got to get all the notes in here. Back to the top. Don't spike it.

Let's stop, okay?

I think I'm getting a sunstroke.

I just saw a mirage of a frosty root beer.

By the time it's so hot, it's bending.

What's so great about Chicago, anyway?

It's not Halstead.

And if I don't get the scholarship, you'll come live with me in San

San Francisco.

Or downtown Persia. Or New York City.

Or anywhere.

I'm getting out of Halstead.

We both are.

You wait and see.

I'm waiting.

You need a ride home?

Oh, no thanks, Andy. I have the car today. I went to see Matt at the prison.

I

hope

you like sour cream.

Why?

If it doesn't cool down tonight, we have a dairy full of it tomorrow.

the Bulge, you idiot.

You know what the Battle of the Bulge was, don't you, honey?

If it wasn't part of the Civil War, it's not one of my priorities.

Now get out of here. I'm tired. I want to lock up.

You're getting too old for this kind of nonsense anyhow.

You said it. If anybody told me I'd be 66 and still sitting here reading papers

from summer sessions, I'd have a good laugh.

Come on. Go on, I'll lock up.

Just getting a quick cup of ice, Aggie.

Fancy twirling the girls did out there just now.

Hope one of you wins.

You that nervous? You just ate a chunk of the paper.

Did not.

Hold on five more minutes. We'll know who won.

I never won anything my whole life.

I was the only kid in Brownie Scouts who never won a single bingo game, okay?

I don't think I'll ever win anything.

Hey, too hot to get so riled.

Wait, something to matter?

Nothing.

Your art scholarship.

You didn't win it?

They said June 1st, okay? They promised I'd hear by then. It's what, almost

July?

I'll be stuck in Halstead the rest of my life is what'll happen.

I won't win the scholarship.

The heat goes up and everybody gets nuts.

Maybe they're just late, huh?

Maybe I still got a chance.

I never met anybody who could paint like you.

Or anybody who could twirl like you.

You make great grades.

You've got a terrific boyfriend.

I, like, have none of the above, okay?

I'm the one who should be mad.

Yes, you freak!

Yuck. Too hot to say hello like that.

of chips.

It was.

Hey, Jeff.

Come on. We're going to miss the announcement.

I can't tell you what to hear in the window.

No.

Who is it? Is it you, Tilda?

Me, Mama.

Ah. I was all set to launch into Tilda about leaving her faints all over

Come. She probably just forgot.

Yeah, well, she also forgot to stake the tomatoes and clean up the attic like

she promised.

You spoil that child's silly.

Uh -huh.

I know I've said this before, but I'm saying it again.

You would have to be this tired.

Andy offered you a very nice job.

In and off.

No, you just love to work your fingers through the bones.

Can't talk to an adding machine, Mama. Oh, of course. Cows are brilliant

conversationalists. You know what I mean.

I'd go crazy sitting behind a desk all day.

You wouldn't have to take any job, officer or otherwise.

You could just have done with it and married the man.

Here we are, three women, slaving like stevedores.

He proposed to you, gentlemen.

Wealthy, solid.

That's enough, Mama.

Oh, look, you made me chop enough cucumbers to open a facial boutique.

Well, we're going to have to drag it out of you.

What? Oh.

The prison. Did you go or didn't you? I did.

And?

Are they going to parole Matt, Lord help us?

Could be quite a while still.

Distortion of all those lies.

In the centerpiece we have a coward who is afraid to speak up in his own

defense. Now we're supposed to think of him as some kind of a hero? Stop it,

Mama. He did turn state's evidence against Crow.

Oh, great.

Now that Crow's dead, he's finally going to tell the truth. But he should have

done it years ago.

He was protecting us, Mama.

Crow threatened to kill Matt. He could have harmed us, too. The law is supposed

to protect us. What kind of a law is it that lets Matt sit around in jail with

Crow?

Running around free as a bird. What kind of justice is that?

Crow got his justice, Mama. He's dead now. Leave him alone.

Ten car wrecks. Wouldn't be punishment enough, that mutant.

Oh, cover your ears, Lord.

Well, you can sit down. You look terrible.

So, how was he?

Steamed.

Passed all his tests as a mechanic.

Oh, well, that'll be nice.

Before I'm in jail.

For when he gets out, Mama.

If he gets out.

Work all kinds of machines.

Old bank vaults, cash registers.

It's a lousy joke, Mama.

Oh, now, it's no fun if you don't get mad.

That's why I don't. Oh, you mean.

I have my little pleasure, just me.

Anyway. Robbing is better than murdering. Damn it, Mama Crow was the

Matt never hurt a soul in his life.

I got you, Matt.

I did.

Baby, what happened? What's the matter? I won.

Me.

I won over Patty Francis and Cindy Snyder and all of them.

It's going to be me who gets to lead the parade.

Baby, that's wonderful.

Congratulations.

There, I told you you could do it.

When they called out my name, I was so surprised I just froze.

Oh, well, you practiced so much for that thing, you should have won.

You don't stake the tomatoes. You don't clean the attic, but you do practice

till two in the morning in the dark.

Mama, you could have gone all night without saying that. Well, somebody

here has to set the discipline.

Baby, you've been keeping your promise, haven't you? You didn't go out with

Jeff.

No, I was out with a whole gang of creeps.

They all got plastered on rot gut.

We shot up with heroin.

We topped off the evening by having sex with everybody in the crowd.

Oh, a night like any other.

I don't know about you, but I'm going to touch rubber so I won't cry when the

light is on.

Honey, we just want you to call if you're out past midnight, okay?

So great. When I do, you tell me to come right home.

Well, what can you do till 2 o 'clock in the morning that you haven't done by

midnight?

Look, I'm tired, you know?

So, I'll see you in the morning, all right?

I

saw

your dad today.

So?

Well, so he asked about you.

Oh.

Might be up for parole now that he's testified against Crow.

When?

Could be soon.

Doesn't understand why you haven't been to see him.

So, like, congratulations to me, huh?

Big leader of the parade.

Rachel?

Oh, darling.

You know, sometimes when you'd leave on visiting days, I'd start to think you

weren't real.

That I'd made you up like a dream.

Hey. Hey, how come you're getting your mail here?

What, you got a secret lover boy in Chicago?

I'll give it to you only if you go out with him.

You need to give me a raise.

All right, two chocolate shakes, two pies, two fries, two hamburgers, and two

onion rings.

We're back.

I just went past your house.

What? Tell me.

Your father's home.

What?

Oh, my God.

I'll cover for you.

You know, the only bad thing about prison was we never had enough Brussels

sprouts.

Everything's changed like crazy since you were here, Matt.

Lots more jobs than there used to be. There's that new farm machinery shop on

Route 12, the Halstead Machine Shop, Wally's Tool and Dye. All just dying for

Matt to become president of the company.

Well, it seems some things never change, though, do they?

Well, she's trying to give you the impression it's going to be easy. I'm

Of course it's going to be hard.

But if we all pitch in... You see people at the church all the time, Mom. And at

school, you just let them know he's available.

Until the... What can I do? I barely got my own job. Yeah, it's all right. Hold

it, everybody. Just stop the music.

See, I don't need anyone to help me. If I do, I know you'll all be glad to help,

but I won't need it.

You see, I'm so happy to be on the outside. I can't help but make it this

Don't worry. I'll get a job.

I'll learn as much about it as I can, and then I'll get another job, a better

one. And pretty soon, with a few breaks, God willing, I'll be a success.

And who knows, Miss Sarah, maybe I will be the president of some company.

Well, how about let's just see you start with one real paycheck.

You will, Mama, you will. Okay, close your eyes, everybody.

Close them.

Close your eyes.

Okay, open.

One candle for each of your women.

Ready?

Tilda. Train's keeping you up?

I guess.

Yeah.

Me too.

Sure like to hear them, though.

Don't you?

No.

You've hardly said a word to me, Tilda, since I've been home.

So?

Just wanted to tell you, I understand why you quit coming to visit me.

I don't blame you.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means I know it's not the easiest thing in the world being the daughter of

jailbird. How can you know?

You don't see how we get treated around here.

People either pitying me or rubbing it in.

I get blackballed from girls club.

Not invited to parties.

I want to know what's fair about that.

What did I ever do?

Well, uh... I wish I could change all the bad things that have happened to

I wish to God I could do that.

Is that you got there?

Letter from the president congratulating me on getting home?

You know, a form letter.

I applied to the Art Institute in Chicago for a scholarship.

Chicago?

Well, that's terrific.

What'd they say?

Too many entries or something. Says I have to wait another week.

Oh, yeah.

Tired of waiting.

It's just I want this so much.

I've got to get out of here.

Is that because you hate Halstead so much, or you've just got bigger fish to

fry? I like it.

At least I know everything about it.

I know Mom will watch the 7 o 'clock news at 7 o 'clock.

The druggist will look down my dress and say, my, my, what a grown girl you are.

What does your mother think about the Chicago deal?

It's her 11th commandment. Thou shalt not leave home.

See, that's because she thinks maybe she made a big mistake one time.

Running away from home with me.

If she hadn't, I wouldn't even be here, right?

You had a point there.

You know what was the worst thing about prison for me?

It wasn't being shut in, it was being shut out.

Shut out of you and your mama's life.

What I mean is, now that I'm home, I hope I won't be shut out anymore,

Tilda.

You're sewing me up out there. Everybody from the church, my ladies from the old

-fashioned cloak committee.

Rachel, for heaven's sake, you've got a whole yard of badges out there to

consider. See, Mommy, you said nobody'd show up.

I told you they'd all be so curious to stare at the convict they'd get crushed

in the stampede.

I still think it's a dumb idea for a party. I say let him goggle in them

and give them a job tomorrow.

Rachel, how many bottles of wine have you poured in there?

Everybody gets drunk. I want them all to get smashed, Mama.

Delightfully smashed.

I think you're a little smashed or something.

I'm so glad he's home. I can't stand it. I want everybody to be happy. I want

them all to be punch drunk. The whole world. I want them to get drunk on

their... Oh, Rachel, the good Lord doesn't like words like that. Then he

shouldn't use them.

What was that?

It's probably the angel Gabriel come to tell you the good Lord thinks the punch

is spiked enough.

What is that trumpet doing here? I told you, it wasn't invited to this party. I

need all the practice I can do, Papa.

Not if it bursts the eardrums of everyone.

But, Papa, it won't let me be in the parade if I can't play loud.

Did anyone ever give you a real hard frog in the arm? Yes, ma 'am. I take it

wouldn't want to get another one any too soon?

Mm -hmm. Good boy.

Hey, Sam.

How are you?

Twenty to two, he'll be back in jail before Christmas.

Have to give me better odds than that.

Even him is hot.

Kind of hot tonight.

Yeah. Especially a lot of hot air right around the two of you.

About time you two met.

My husband and my boss. Matt, this is Andy Janicek. He's the foreman of the

dairy. How do you do?

Nice to meet you. Matt.

Are you the boss of the party, Rachel? Oh, I guess you might say.

Don't you let's me play, Rachel.

Oh, I think I know just the thing for you to play.

Where is it?

Come with me.

He's really in love with her.

Smart boy.

So am I.

You too.

Wow.

Yeah.

I'm going to say it once and for all and forget about it.

At least twice a year, I've asked Rachel to marry me.

Wow, damn.

Looks like I got home in the nick of time.

No.

There was never any emergency.

Rachel. What's he doing here?

Who's that?

Nova.

Did you invite Jeff?

Yes. I specifically asked you not to invite him. Well, I did, Mom.

Let go.

Let her go. Who's that? What's wrong with him? Everything. He's the worst

of lowlife. He's a hoodlum, a gambler. It's because he works at the roadhouse,

Mom. It doesn't make him a gambler. It's not illegal. Anyway, half the people at

this party go there. Hi, folks.

How's it going?

Jeff, you were not invited to this party. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave

Mom. I thought I was invited.

I would also appreciate it if you'd stop seeing my daughter. Is that clear?

Your daughter's past 18, Mrs. Kirby.

She can do as she pleases.

You want to dance, Jeff? No, I want him to leave now.

And you know what Mrs. Kirby said? She wants you to leave.

I'm Tilda's father.

You're welcome home, Mr. Kirby.

Thanks. Better beat it, kid.

You heard him. Mom, stop it!

Don't worry, Mrs. Kirby.

I'm leaving.

You are so crude, Mom. I can't believe it.

I'm going after him. Go on. Who's stopping you? You want to go after him,

after him. Are you out of your mind? It's up to you, honey. I don't need your

advice. Good. Then don't take it. And I don't want you on my side or on his.

Yeah, I'd hate to give him a bad name. He already has a bad name. Only to you.

He's never done anything wrong, Mom.

He's never committed a crime and he's never been to jail.

Don't try to help me anymore, okay?

I got along just fine without you.

You been down to Joe Medina's shop yet?

Yeah.

Full up.

I could call Wally's too and knock, would you?

I've already been there.

I'd help you if I could, Matt, but...

Like I said, we're Union, of course, so it's a closed shop.

I'd catch hell if I hired a non -Union man.

Yeah, right.

Union says someone has to hire me before I can join the Union.

It's a vicious circle.

Hard to find a chink in the armor.

I'll say.

Well, take care. Thanks, Clint.

Hey, Sam, any of these master croppingers need an apprentice?

Oh, Matt.

How you doing?

What'd you say?

I just wonder if any of these men here needed a boy to hold a can of nails for

them.

Gosh, Matt, they're only high school kids.

Work for $2 .50 an hour?

Yeah.

I don't need the money. I just thought, you know, it might be something to do.

Well, I can always use help if you want.

No, no, thanks, Sam. I'd probably...

Trip over the can of nails anyway.

See ya.

Hey, buddy.

Why aren't you back there with the band?

They don't think I play good.

No. You think maybe they've forgotten how they sounded when they first started

playing? I think it's just my lungs are small for my age.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

Come on, Hawkins. Let's go get us a lemonade and take the edge off the day.

do you say?

Come on, girls. You're late.

I got another letter from your secret lover boy in Chicago.

The next letter that comes in here goes in the garbage disposal. Don't let him

get to you, Dillman. I mean, anybody who thinks Sid Vicious is a fun guy.

Forget it.

What's the matter?

That's my scholarship results.

You'll find another way, Till. I know it.

Heard about a guy once who was making cookies with his wife.

He thought they were so yummy, he thought, why not sell them?

Now he owns a giant cookie factory.

I see you as king of a cookie factory.

Then there was another guy who was a carpenter, made wooden coat

hangers. Got his little boy to sell them door to door.

Now he's running a big woodworking shop worth more than a million dollars.

Is that what you want? A woodworking shop?

Not especially.

But I wouldn't mind a million bucks.

Anna, why don't I get a job?

Why don't you just ask him?

Derry needs a good mechanic in the machine shop.

Nope. Please, Matt.

I'm not going to go begging your boyfriend for a job. You won't be

Andy's not my boyfriend.

I know. He told me.

He said he proposed to you at least twice every year.

Well, I can't blame him for that.

Nobody's fool.

And I can't blame you if you took a shine to him either.

He seems like a nice guy.

He is a nice guy.

And he's attractive and he's in love with me.

It's not worth a turnip because I'm in love with you, so forget it.

Forget what?

So you'll talk to him?

No. Why are you so pig -headed?

Because people have been telling me what to do for a long time now.

Now I think I've got the right to make up my own mind about some things.

deal from the bottom of the deck one more time and I'm going to knock you so

hard you'll be dealing from way down under.

Get your hands off me. Same thing as last week. Cheating just like that.

Gentlemen, excuse me.

I

told

you never to come here.

What are you doing here?

Why are you talking to me that way?

I just found out I lost a scholarship.

And I feel like I'm losing you too.

I don't know, everything's falling apart.

Sorry about the scholarship.

But I don't know what else to say.

Sorry about last night.

I should have followed you.

If your family doesn't think I'm good enough for them... You are good enough.

Who am I, the daughter of the president?

Your father being what he is, your mother's going to be even tougher on

like me, okay?

So I say to hell with her, and to hell with the whole thing.

You don't mean that.

Go home, Tilda. Don't get yourself in trouble, okay? I am in trouble. I'm in

love with you.

I'm going back to work.

Why don't you walk away from me when I tell you I love you? Because I don't

you. Then listen to me when I say it. Listen to me.

I love you.

Go home, will you? Stop protesting me.

Stop treating me with unspeakable. I'm not...

Please hold me.

Stop.

I love you.

Alice Joy. Of course I'm sure it was Tilda. It was the same hair, the same

the same...

Well, the same everything.

I saw her too clear as day.

Just like you were so sure it was Reverend Wilson at the house of you

-what? I've had my glasses fixed since then. I know what I'm seeing.

Well, supposing it was Tilda. So what?

So what?

What was she doing at the roadhouse?

And just what were you doing at the roadhouse?

Right. If it's so illegal for Tilda, why isn't it illegal for you?

We were there to see that no other church members were out there, weren't

Anyway. We were there with our husbands.

And that makes you respectable.

Does it?

Of course we're respectable.

Well, then, so is Hotilda.

Anywhere there are watermelons, there's likely to be a thumper.

How do you tell they're ripe? Some swear by thumping.

Some scratch him with their fingernails. Some check the color of the curl.

Sarah,

would you like some coffee?

No, I'm nervous enough as it is. How's the new minister, Mama? I can't stand

him. He gossips with God instead of praying to him.

Gossips, huh?

Yeah. He tells the good Lord all the nasty little things we do.

Things the Almighty wouldn't even hear about us. The minister just keeps his

mouth shut. Like what, Mama? Like what our children are doing in the nighttime.

You saying the minister said something about Tilda? Well, if he did, he

be the only one. Yesterday I heard it at my float committee.

Today the congregation's jaws were flapping. By tomorrow, they'll hear it

Belgian Congo.

Heard what?

The Hortons and the Wallaces saw Tilda at the roadhouse. I don't believe it.

Well, I do. I heard her coming in at three o 'clock in the morning.

I thought she said she was going out with Aggie.

We know who she was out with, all right. Who is this boy?

I'll tell you who.

Somebody who'll be right at home with you over in the prison house.

Here we go again.

Goodbye, girls. I'm taking a walk.

Mama, you have to make things harder on him than they already are. I'm just

speaking my mind. I'm about ready for him to get a job, too.

Supporting ourselves is bad enough.

Another hungry mouth to feed. He'll get a job, Mama. Can't you be a little

kinder to him? I'm as kind to him as he deserves. Oh, God.

Don't blast... See, why is it when I say God's name, it's blasphemous, and when

you say it, it's praying? Because I love God.

No, you don't. You only fear him. I can do both at the same time. No, you can't.

Are you going to do something about Tilda and that boy or not? I just pray

wins that scholarship.

As much as I hate to see her leave, at least she'll get away from him. There's

two months of summer before she goes to Chicago. Anything could happen.

What could happen, Grammar?

What could happen?

That's your mother.

You're talking about me and Jeff, aren't you?

You were with him Friday and Saturday nights, weren't you, Tilda?

Yes.

Are you sleeping with him?

Yes.

I love him, Mama.

Never mind that. Never mind? What are you talking about? I'm talking about

could happen. Would you like me to give you a list?

Getting pregnant's number one, isn't it? Well, it's up there. Well, you don't

have to worry about that. I'm handling it. But you're not handling the truth.

Jeff and I don't lie to each other. You're lying to yourself.

I don't have to listen to this.

You think Jeff is going to change your life for you, don't you? He's going to

make everything new and romantic.

He's doing something illegal, so it's adventurous.

I promise you, the only thing in it is pain.

Are you saying that's all there is with you and Dad? Every time he got arrested,

how do you think I felt?

I hurt so bad it made me hate him. I don't believe you. You're just trying to

scare me about Jeff.

Yes, I am.

If you hated him, why did you hang on so long? You could have divorced him. You

could have married Andy or something. Why did you hang on?

I don't know.

Because... Because you love him.

Yeah.

Then it's worth it, Mom.

That's a reward, isn't it? It's a punishment, Tilda. Jeff is not what you

He's different. He is. He is not. Every time I look at that boy, I feel like I'm

looking right at your dad when he was that age. It's so easy to be seduced. So

easy to be seduced. Mom! Tilda, you listen to me. You listen to me.

Tilda!

Thanks, Jim.

Rachel said you might come.

I'm glad you did.

What a place you got here.

So, how are things?

Fine? Not complaining.

Still excited just to be out.

Adjusting.

It's not so easy, I think.

Now, this is what I found when I come to this country.

Every opportunity seems so large.

But you have just the, uh, the scratch to start from?

It's just it, Andy. I don't even have the scratch.

I guess I didn't realize how hard it would be to get a job.

Any job.

You're a machinist now?

Well, I've studied it, but I haven't had that much practical experience.

We look like a small operation here.

But last year, we were bought by Bergkamp Farms.

We have our own machine shop out in the old Halstead Road.

I see. Well, that sounds good. I'd like to help you.

But? No buts.

Judge, fill this up.

I take it to the board, then.

The board?

Oh, nothing to worry.

I am the foreman here. I carry some pretty big weight.

Don't let this bother you.

Well, just in case I don't get the job, would you mind not mentioning this to

Rachel?

I understand you. I keep this private.

Says here they want a biography?

Nothing to worry.

And nobody's expecting Tolstoy.

If I was Tolstoy, I wouldn't mind.

I mean, my past.

Doing time's not a great conversation piece. It's not exactly what people want

to hear.

Here. Thanks anyway.

Oh, I won't take it. It's yours.

You will get the job, Matt.

Just feel it out.

Thanks. I don't know about this.

Come on, Tilda.

It's real late. You better be getting home.

Oh, stop moving. I'm never going to get this right.

Don't punish her.

She's probably real worried about you.

I'll bet.

You shouldn't lie to her about that art scholarship either. She deserves to

know. I didn't lie.

You're letting her think you haven't heard from the Art Institute yet, and

that's a lie.

Well, that's what families do to one another. They lie.

Lies you don't have one. Give my teeth to have a family.

Lies or no lies.

Dad used to tell me I was great even if I was biggest knucklehead in class.

Mom used to call me a genius even if I couldn't tie my own shoelaces.

I'll call you a genius.

At least you ought to tie your shoelaces.

You like it?

What would you say if... If what?

If we both went to Chicago?

You mean that?

Do you think if you won that Art Institute scholarship, I was going to

go up there alone?

I asked you a question.

I was afraid of losing you, so... I don't want to think about it.

I've got some money saved up.

Get us out to Chicago.

I'll get me a job.

You get yourself one.

Maybe you go to the Art Institute at night.

Tell them I made some more money.

I'll go in.

Go with me, Tilda.

Be my family.

Come on.

I swear the good Lord didn't know how to create the fires of hell until he spent

a July in the hall with it. Want some iced tea, Mama?

Yes. Just pour it over my head.

Oh, thanks. The fence is falling down. The tomatoes need staking. The attic

needs cleaning.

Nothing's going to be done in this heat.

I'm having trouble moving.

I'm having trouble breathing.

You're not having trouble complaining.

When I was a girl, I would have had cayenne pepper sprinkled on my tongue if

sassed my elders like that.

Could have been a lot worse, Grandma. I could have just squirted you with the

hose. You wouldn't dare.

See,

Grandma, you're not having trouble moving now. I'll move you, you little

monster. Quiet down, Mama. Look, you're all cooled off. Oh, yes, I come to think

of it, I do feel better now.

You see, the good Lord works in mysterious ways.

I wonder what the weather's like in Chicago.

Should be beautiful there in the fall.

I meant now.

Now?

Yeah. I'm thinking I might leave next week.

Like, right after the 4th.

Baby, you don't mean it.

You won your scholarship?

No, Mama, I lost. I'm not getting a scholarship.

How do you mean?

I mean I lost. They sent me a letter. I didn't make it.

Oh, baby, I'm so sorry.

But it's okay, you know, because I got alternatives.

What kind of alternatives?

Where can you go with no money?

Jeff had some money.

Tilda, you're not going anywhere with Jeff.

I just said I'm thinking about it.

Matt, help me.

Tilda!

You are not going to Chicago with that boy.

Mom. Rachel, I think she's old enough to make that decision for herself. She is

not old enough. I am, Mom. I'm 18.

I'll be 19 in a couple months. I'll have you stopped.

Rachel, for God's sake. Go to your room, Tilda. Go on.

Matt, I meant what I said. I'll have her stopped.

What do you want to do, scare her to death? Yes, if that's what it takes to

some sense into her. She's scared enough as it is. You've got to give her a

little breathing room.

Have a little faith in her. It doesn't work like that. She'll make the wrong

decision. You mean like you did?

You regret leaving home with me.

Tiddler says you might be going away together.

Yeah, we're talking about it.

I guess you know her mother's set against it.

How about she?

I don't know yet.

Cheers.

Tell her either. She says she's scared.

Well, I don't understand. I mean, her mother. I don't understand. She loves

Why is she so scared?

What do you mean, if she loves you?

She says she loves me.

I think she does.

She's loyal to Mama.

And we all know what Mama's afraid of, don't we?

What's that?

She thinks I'm like you, Mr. Kirby.

I'm not like you at all. How would you know? You don't know me any better than

know you.

I'm never going to jail like you.

I'm not a loser.

Don't get too cute, hot shot.

I punch the lights out on bigger chumps than you.

I'm not that fun to you myself.

Because you're the real thing standing between me and Tilda.

When you were in jail, man, it was like your ghost.

Your wife, she looks at me and sees you.

How do you know she just doesn't see you for the little jerk you really are?

Look, I don't care how you see me.

I love your daughter, okay?

I love her more than anybody's ever loved her.

Plan on taking her away to a place where she can learn what she's dying to

learn.

Away from the time she's outgrown.

Yeah.

I'd like to do the same thing for her, but I just wish that I could afford it.

I've got the cash.

Plan on making more money.

It's going to be a success.

Tilda?

She's going to be a success, too.

She deserves it.

We're going to make us both happy.

Being a winner.

Don't we all.

Thank you, hon. Bye.

Good luck to you.

Hey, Kirby.

Wait. Get lost.

That was real lame of me, okay? Forget it. Don't run away.

Let me get you a job.

Huh? A job?

Till to mention you're having a rough time.

I'll live.

The guy owns this place.

Ernie, he likes me a lot.

He'll do one thing for me.

Let me get you a job. You mean in there?

I got too many memories of that place.

Besides, I'm on parole. I'm not even supposed to go into joints like that.

Inside is where you're safest.

You'll get protected.

That's what we're paying for.

Guaranteed protection.

I haven't done anything. I don't need any protection.

Think about it, man. Yeah, yeah, I'll think about it.

What the hell's the matter with this thing?

Hey, kid.

Excuse me.

Wasn't that Matt Kirby?

Yeah. What's going on? We're supposed to meet here, and I'm a few minutes late,

and he rushes off.

Doesn't give me much leeway, huh?

Maybe he slipped his mind.

You know where he lives by any chance? I've come a long way, and I'm kind of

tired. He's expected me.

Oh.

Oh, dear. Come on, kid. You can tell me. He'll be glad.

He's one of my oldest friends. We used to ride the trains together.

Okay, pal.

So you ought to know where he lives.

What's his name, Mitchie?

I think I'm going to call him Firecracker. That's a good name.

Rachel? Yeah?

You don't look so pretty like you usually do. You look kind of tired.

I'll see you later, Mitchie.

Bye, Firecracker.

Andy?

Would you mind if I take the rest of the day off?

Take as long as you want.

Thanks, Sandy.

I've been worried about you.

I don't say it, but you don't seem like yourself lately.

It's just been kind of hard lately, that's all.

You know, I'm here to talk, if you want.

Thanks, Sandy.

Andy, you know how hard I tried with my family.

I've tried so hard, but... But?

But what?

Don't seem to be doing a very good job.

Tilda's... Rachel, will you listen to me? You are taking too much on your

shoulders.

They are not built for it.

Mac gone, I haven't had much choice.

And now that he's back... What is he doing for the family?

Everything he can.

I don't believe this.

He's been to every machine shop, every factory, every farm. Then why didn't he

return my application?

What application?

He asked me not to tell you.

I don't like this, Rachel.

I gave him an application.

And?

I never got it, Rachel.

I don't know what to say.

He must not want the job.

Maybe he goes only where he knows he will fail. I don't believe that. He's

trying so hard.

Then why not here, where he has such a chance? I don't know.

It hurts me so deeply to see you like this, Rachel.

You've waited years for this man.

You've supported yourself with hard work, raised his family.

You deserve so much better.

You deserve that he should try as hard as you have tried.

Maybe you are not in love with him.

Maybe you're still in love with a memory.

It's all that's left, Andy.

Of what?

Of what?

Of my hope.

My hope.

I don't know how else to say it.

The love of my life, Andy. He's a good man.

I pray that...

Need a little help here, lady?

What did we have to do today?

Just giving those guys a hand before the sun goes down.

What's for supper?

Peanut butter.

Oh, great.

What about Brussels sprouts?

Dessert.

Any luck today?

Hardly a nibble.

Everybody closing up for the fourth weekend.

Came close to the post office, though.

Then after my interview, the guy didn't think it was worth me filling out an

application.

I think he thought I looked like a guy a dog might like to bite.

You already have an application from Andy. Why didn't you fill it out?

It's no use, honey.

No chance.

I don't know that. He wouldn't have given it to you if he thought that.

I'm just being nice.

Being nice to you, actually.

You always have such a good excuse for everything.

Rachel, they asked for a biography.

Look, honey, you're just going to have to trust me on this. I know I lied to

in the past, but I was also lying to myself.

This time it's different. Is it? Rachel, what do you want me to do? Get another

application from Andy. No.

If you don't want to fill it out, I'll fill it out for you. I don't need you or

anybody else to fill out an application for me. Don't you think I have any

pride, any respect?

Pride? It's your pride that's going to put you right back where you came from.

What the hell are you talking about, woman? You think I want to go back to

Is that what you think? I don't know.

But if you do, you're never going to see me again.

I'm not going to come visiting you every week, bringing you cookies and cheerful

little greetings from the outside. I won't, damn it, I won't.

I don't want you to.

Can't you see that I've changed?

Why won't anybody let me be different?

What are you looking at?

Sarah.

Oh, Matt.

Sit down. You look terrible.

I feel better than I look.

No, you don't. Don't put on any airs with me.

You look terrible and you feel worse.

Where is she?

Already in bed.

Said she had a headache.

This could have been more original.

What did you fight about?

I wouldn't know where to begin.

Tell you what, Matt.

I think maybe it's just too hard for you at home here right now.

You're suddenly supposed to be husband, father, provider.

Those are all heavy burdens. I wouldn't blame you for collapsing, Andrew.

What do you think?

Think I should leave?

Well, just so you'd be freed of everything.

So that you'd only have to think of taking care of yourself for a while.

you know, just till you get on your feet.

I appreciate it, but I don't see it like that.

Well, just think about it.

It'd be better for all of us. And I'm thinking of you too, Matt. It'd be

for you.

I'm not trying to hurt you, Matt.

Honest to God, I'm not. It's just that we've been... We've had... Things have

been so hard for us for so long that I don't know how much more pressure we can

all take.

See you later.

How are you?

Pretty good. Just a little thinking.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah. Tilda been around by any chance?

I need to talk to her.

I haven't seen her since I last saw you.

Really? Yeah, she's probably practicing for tomorrow.

Practicing? Well, she won the twirling competition.

Guess to lead the parade.

Huh.

Didn't she tell you?

No, no, I didn't know.

I guess you forgot to tell me.

You decided whether you want me to talk to Ernie?

Ernie? The guy who runs this joint.

Too many memories.

Look, if you should see Tilda... Come

on, fellas, if we don't get this, we're gonna be here till Christmas.

What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost. Crow, I thought you were

dead. Honest, I read where you were killing some car wreck in Kansas City. I

don't believe this.

It's good to see you, pal.

I've been thinking about you a whole lot lately.

Yeah, I've been thinking something about you, too. As a matter of fact, I spent

the last day sitting underneath the railroad trestle down by the river,

how we used to ride the freights together.

We had lots of good times, you and me.

I really missed you. I really didn't, brother. I didn't know, Crow. How's

Rachel? She must have missed you too, huh? And your daughter, what's her name?

never would have said anything, you know that. What's your daughter's name?

Tilda.

Tilda. Yeah, Tilda.

Look, you got me wrong, Crow.

I was D &D and you know it.

Deaf and dumb for seven years.

I never killed anybody and I never talked to nobody.

You were my best friend.

But I never understood that deal, Crow.

I mean, how... Why did you kill those people?

I thought you were just gonna scare them a little.

The way I heard it, pal, is that you're out on parole because you turned state's

evidence. That's right, but I thought you were... All right, pal, look. Wait a

minute, wait a minute. But you and I go down to the river. We can work

everything out. It's me. Yeah, it sounds like a swell idea, Crow.

Will you girls please get over here? We need your help. We'll be there in a

minute.

Tell them what's happened to my pizza.

Matt?

Hilda?

Who's that?

It's me.

Good Lord, you scared me. I didn't know you were home.

What are you doing?

I'm leaving.

Leaving? Uh -huh.

Listen, I didn't mean what I said.

It's all right.

Look, I didn't realize how hard it was on everybody.

I thought when I got out of prison, things would be better.

But instead, it's gotten worse.

Right now, it's not even safe. Safe? What do you mean?

Pearl's not dead.

He showed up tonight with a gun in his hand. If I stay here, pretty soon

somebody will get hurt.

But that's not possible. We all saw the picture in the paper.

I know.

Well, there must be... Did you call the police?

I never had much luck.

God. Rachel, I'd like to see you like this.

If I leave, you'll be better off.

You won't have to worry whether I have a job or not or what my state of mind is.

It's better this way.

Where will you go?

I don't know.

When nobody knows me, I don't have a past.

Matt, please don't go.

I can't bear to lose you again.

I finally got you back. I just can't bear to lose you again.

You look so beautiful, Rachel.

Oh, Matt.

Please don't go.

Please don't go.

Please don't go.

God knows I love you so much.

parents yet?

I think I'm going to tell them after the parade.

Okay.

I don't know how long it is before we're going to get them jobs.

Or how long. It's a thousand dollars it's going to last.

But we'll make it work.

You know, there's not a whole lot of courage in my family.

But you make me feel courageous.

You do.

You make everything seem possible.

I couldn't do any of this without you.

Of course you could.

I couldn't.

I don't think I could live without you.

I love you.

I love you too.

You stay here.

Yeah, who is it?

Me, Matt.

You over here, Chuck?

Yes.

I am.

I thought I'd find you here.

Just came by to say goodbye.

Are you leaving?

Yeah. I did.

I don't know yet.

Does Mom know?

Yeah, she knows.

I'm leaving, too.

Chicago?

Yeah.

Both of us leaving at the same time.

Maybe I should wait a while.

I don't know. If you wait a while...

Sometimes it becomes a longer while before you know it.

The moment's past.

What about Mom?

She knows sooner or later you're gonna go.

And you, uh, you'll just have to prove to her she was wrong about you.

I know you will.

I think your mother needs a friend about now.

Well, then... Bye, Dad.

I miss you.

I miss you, too, honey.

No, what are you gonna do in Chicago Jeff?

I don't know yet.

I'll find work Yeah Yeah, yeah sure you will

Just keep it on the up -and -up

We'll see How about a promise

hey, come on man, you know, there's nothing more I'd like to do than go

You know, ever touch a marked card again?

I can't promise that'll happen.

If you don't, it won't happen.

And if I do, it's a lie.

All I can promise to you is that I won't lie.

Either to you or to Tilda.

Nobody's asking you to lie.

I'm just telling you, Jeff.

No matter how bad it gets, anything's better than jail.

I'll buy that.

What about you?

Can you keep it straight?

Never going back to the joint, I can tell you that.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

Thanks.

Well... Well, I better hit it.

Hey, man.

If you really are leaving, would you, uh...

It, uh... What you gonna be doing for cash?

Oh, I still got some dough left from my severance pay.

Freedom money, it's called.

That's a good one.

I got some money saved up.

I'd sure like to give you a little piece of it. Ah, thanks.

Hang on to it. You'll need it for Chicago.

You sure?

I'm sure.

Take care of Tilda, Jeff.

I mean it, son.

I mean it.

I hope we don't lose touch here.

I feel like we're almost friends.

Yeah, me too.

Take care of yourself.

Be seeing you.

Just take it easy.

It's all right. I'm going to call for help.

Where? Huh?

The money.

Huh?

It's all right.

Till then.

Till then.

All right. The money.

Easy, son. Easy.

Easy.

I'm down here.

Where are you, crow?

How could God be so cruel?

I know.

I know.

I know. I know.

I know.

I know.

I know. I know. I know.

I know.

And I'd always thought of myself as a God -fearing woman, and I despised him

that. You know what I said?

Yes.

I despised him.

Because there I was, with a little girl to raise all by myself and no way to

support myself.

What did you do?

Well, I wanted to bundle your mother up and then go out and meet the world.

And find a new life. But I didn't. I just stayed at home.

I let my relatives take care of me.

And I stayed bitter for years.

I'll tell you the truth.

I haven't told that to anybody.

Don't you let that happen to you, precious.

Don't.

There's so much life ahead of you.

Hey, Andy.

How's the arm?

Oh, it's okay.

Didn't even know I was hit until the cop told me.

I just stopped by the police barracks.

There are no other prints on the gun.

Only the ones of Crow.

Yeah, I'm not surprised.

I could never get his hand off the gun.

How's Tilda?

Cries herself to sleep.

Wakes up and cries some more.

Rachel all right?

She's okay.

Go on in.

She's inside.

Oh, no.

No, I, uh... Just come to tell you about the gun.

I thought you'd want to know.

Thank you.

Appreciate it. If there's anything that I can do for you... I would like to ask

you something.

Yeah. Remember that application you gave me?

I tore it up.

Did you?

Yeah.

I know it's kind of late now, Andy, but... You think you could get me

one?

Sure.

You think, uh...

If I was to fill it out and tell the truth about myself, you think there's a

chance I'd get a job? I mean, really?

A good chance.

I give you my word.

Thank you.

I'll come by to see you on Monday.

Good.

I'll wait for you.

Trains keep going as if nothing happened.

As if there's some more of the world out there.

I'll love him for the rest of my life.

I don't know what to do without him.

I don't know what to do.

What does Jeff want you to do?

He'd say go to Chicago.

And I'd say I've got $120.

And he'd say, but you've also got your courage.

That's right.

You know, he was my courage.

Nobody can give you courage, honey.

You gotta reach down inside and get it out of yourself.

I don't have it in myself, Dad.

Yes, you do.

You scared?

Yes.

Everybody gets scared sometimes.

I've been scared all my life.

Scared of crow, scared of failure, even success.

Ran away from things for a long time.

Believe me.

Doesn't work, Tilda.

Going to Chicago is running away.

No.

Going to Chicago is running too.

You think for a minute I can go to Chicago on my own?

Why not?

Ever since I was little, I listened to the trains.

I knew someday I'd be on one.

I even had one all picked out.

It had a special sound.

I really don't have any choice, do I?

No.

I have to go and see what's there.

It you go and see you check it out Yeah

Jeff

left this for you.

I don't want it. He wanted you to have it I guess it was his way of telling you

what to do.

Why didn't you give it to me before?

I wanted you to make up your own mind and not have the money make it up for

Well, I did make up my own mind, didn't I?

You sure did.

I'm very proud of you, honey.

I'm so proud of you.

God's teeth.

After this, I'm going to start in on the attic.

Rachel.

Don't say anything, Mama.

There's nothing left to say. I've got a tear left of my body, nothing.

Where are you going all decked out like that?

I'm going to church.

Rachel, I have a few things to clean up with the good Lord.

I'm not the only one with an attic, you know.

Want to come with me?

No, you go on ahead.

I guess this is my way of talking to him.

You think Tilda's ever going to forgive me for the way I treated

them both?

Well, I think the important thing is for you to forgive yourself.

Now listen to me.

You've been very strong -willed ever since you're no higher than this chair.

You're just taking on the world like it was up to you to change everything.

Single -handedly.

But there are some times, and I think this is one of them, you have to

let go.

And you have to let it be all right that some things are bigger than you are.

And have courage.

Put it in God's hands.

I declare the universe is just about perfect.

Matt, you know me well enough to know that I like to be right.

And when I'm wrong, I don't like to admit it, but I'm going to say it

I have been wrong about you, and I've just been determined to believe the

I hope you can forgive me.

Consider it done, Sarah.

Those tomatoes have worms on them the size of pencils.

There's a can of dust in the garage, I think.

No, it's in the attic.

Well, see you at the parade if you stick around, son.

You didn't happen to run across a can of tomato dust up here, did you?

No, no tomato dust.

Well, we sure have every other kind.

I guess it seems kind of crazy to be trying to clean all this up just to make

some way for fresh dust.

You need some help clearing this place out?

Yeah.

I don't know what you're planning or what you're feeling now.

I've been doing some thinking.

Yeah, me too.

Look at me shaking. I feel just like a schoolgirl.

I guess I stored up a lot of resentment while you were gone.

Kept me from seeing who you are now.

I was holding on to blaming you.

And you've been trying so hard.

All those years I thought of nothing but coming back and...

Making everything right.

I guess I thought we could just start up where we left off, but... It didn't

work out that way.

There's time now.

Plenty of time.

To stay.

That's what I came up to tell you.

I love you, Rachel.

I've always been in love with you and I always will.

I can't leave.

You look so beautiful, Tilda.

Grandma says you're the most beautiful woman in Kansas.

I think you still are.

There's so many things I wish I could change, Tilda. So many things.

I'm going to be all right, Mom.

You raised me up real good.

And I'm going to be just fine.

You know, I don't think I ever bought one of these before.

I

feel

like

I'm going with... You are, Mama.