All language subtitles for The.Grass.Harp.1995.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC

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Man, narrating:
WHEN WAS IT I FIRST HEARD

OF THE GRASS HARP?

LONG BEFORE THE AUTUMN
WE LIVED IN THE CHINA TREE.

AN EARLIER AUTUMN, THEN.

AND, OF COURSE,
IT WAS DOLLY WHO TOLD ME.

NO ONE ELSE WOULD HAVE
THOUGHT TO CALL IT THAT.

THE GRASS HARP.

Man: THE LORD GIVETH,
AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY.

HE HAS RETURNED UNTO HIM
OUR SISTER MARY FENWICK,

OBEDIENT WIFE,
DEVOTED MOTHER,

A WOMAN OF RARE VIRTUE.

LET US TURN
TO THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON,

THE SON OF DAVID,
KING OF ISRAEL.

HE ASKS,

"WHO CAN FIND
A VIRTUOUS WOMAN,

"FOR HER PRICE
IS FAR ABOVE RUBIES.

"STRENGTH AND HONOR
ARE IN HER CLOTHING.

"IN HER TONGUE
IS THE LAW OF KINDNESS.

"SHE LOOKETH WELL
TO THE WAYS OF HER HOUSEHOLD

AND EATETH NOT
THE BREAD OF IDLENESS."

Narrator: MY FATHER
WAS A TRAVELING MAN.

MY MOTHER USED TO CRY
EVERY TIME HE WENT AWAY

TO SELL HIS FRIGIDAIRES.

MARRIED HER WHEN SHE WAS 16,
BUT SHE DIDN'T LIVE TO BE 30.

Choir: * ROCK OF AGES,
CLEFT FOR ME *

* LET ME HIDE
MYSELF IN THEE *

* LET THE WATER
AND THE BLOOD *

* FROM THY WOUNDED SIDE
WHICH FLOWED *

* BE OF SIN THE DOUBLE CURE *

* SAVE FROM WRATH
AND MAKE ME PURE *

* WHILE I DRAW
THIS FLEETING BREATH *

* WHEN MINE EYELIDS
CLOSE IN DEATH... *

MARY.

MARY.

* WHEN I SOAR
TO WORLDS UNKNOWN *

* SEE THEE ON
THY JUDGMENT THRONE *

* ROCK OF AGES,
CLEFT FOR ME *

* LET ME HIDE
MYSELF... *

NO.

EUGENE!

I'LL EXPECT HIM
THIS AFTERNOON.

Narrator:
AND SO I CAME TO LIVE
WITH MY FATHER'S COUSIN VERENA

AND HER SISTER DOLLY TALBO,

WHO LIVED BY THEMSELVES
IN A HOUSE ON TALBO LANE.

SON.

GO ON.

Narrator: VERENA
WAS THE RICHEST PERSON IN TOWN.

THE DRUGSTORE,
DRY-GOODS STORE,

A FILLING STATION,
GROCERY--

ALL THIS WAS HERS,

AND THE EARNING OF IT
HAD NOT MADE HER AN EASY WOMAN.

NOTHING MATTERED TO HER SO MUCH
AS THE OWNING OF THINGS...

AND PEOPLE.

It isn't right
raising a boy

in a house
full of women.

A FEW DAYS LATER
ON THE WAY TO MOBILE,

MY FATHER'S CAR SKIDDED
AND FELL 50 FEET INTO THE GULF.

THE TOWN CALLED IT AN ACCIDENT,
BUT I KNEW BETTER.

HE LOVED MY MOTHER SO MUCH,

HE COULDN'T BEAR
TO BE SEPARATED FROM HER.

DOLLY, THE BOY'S HERE.

I'M GOING TO TAKE HIM UPSTAIRS
AND SHOW HIM HIS ROOM.

DOLLY, GET RID
OF THAT CAT.

YOU WANT TO AGGRAVATE
MY ASTHMA?

THAT ONE.

ALWAYS "DO THIS,"
"DON'T DO THAT,"

"STOP," "START."

HUSH.

THIS WAS FATHER'S ROOM.
IT'S YOURS NOW.

SEE YOU DON'T
MAKE A MESS OF IT.

Narrator:
AFTER MY FATHER'S DEATH,

PEOPLE POINTED ME OUT
AND SAID,

"THAT POOR LITTLE
COLLIN FENWICK."

I TRIED TO LOOK PITIFUL

BECAUSE I KNEW
IT PLEASED PEOPLE.

IT WAS A LONG TIME
BEFORE I CALMED DOWN ENOUGH

TO NOTICE DOLLY TALBO.

WHEN I DID,
I FELL IN LOVE.

DOLLY HAD RARELY LEFT
THE TALBO HOUSE

SINCE SHE WAS
A LITTLE GIRL

AND MADE HER REAL HOME
IN THE KITCHEN.

THOUGH OLDER
THAN HER SISTER,

SHE SEEMED SOMEONE WHO,
LIKE MYSELF, VERENA HAD ADOPTED.

THEY LIVED
UNDER THE SAME ROOF,

BUT THEY INHABITED
DIFFERENT WORLDS.

CATHERINE CREEK HAD GROWN UP
WITH DOLLY IN THE TALBO HOUSE.

THEY WERE ALWAYS TOGETHER,

AND WHATEVER THEY HAD TO SAY,
THEY SAID TO EACH OTHER.

CATHERINE CLAIMED TO BE
AN INDIAN.

OF COURSE,
NOBODY BELIEVED HER.

DOLLY, WHAT
WAS AMERICA CALLED
BEFORE COLUMBUS CAME?

AMERICA, OF COURSE.
STANDS TO REASON.

OTHERWISE HOW ELSE
WOULD HE HAVE KNOWN
IT WAS AMERICA?

THAT IS CORRECT.

YOU KNOW AMERICA'S
AN OLD INDIAN NAME.

IT IS?

SHOOT, DON'T THEY
TEACH YOU NOTHING
IN THAT SCHOOL?

I BET THEY AIN'T
EVEN TOLD YOU

THAT MR. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
HISSELF WAS PART INDIAN.

HE WAS NOT.

WAS TOO. 40% NEGRO,
40% INDIAN,
AND 10% WHITE MAN.

FOLKS EVERYWHERE
KNOW THAT.

WE GOT ANOTHER ONE
OF THOSE LETTERS TODAY.

Catherine:
OH.

"DEAR MISS DOLLY TALBO,

"WE WILL NOT BE NEEDING
ANY MORE BOTTLES
OF YOUR DROPSY CURE

"ON ACCOUNT OF
DEAR COUSIN BELLE,
BLESS HER SOUL,

PASSED AWAY
NIGHT BEFORE LAST."

WELL, WE DID
THE BEST WE COULD,
DOLLY HEART.

I GUESS
THE GOOD LORD

JUST HAD
OTHER INTENTIONS.

DO YOU MISS THEM,
COLLIN,

YOUR MOTHER
AND FATHER?

I THINK THEY LOVED
EACH OTHER VERY MUCH.

I STILL REMEMBER
PAPA URIAH.

WHEN WE WERE GIRLS,

HE USED TO
STOMP AROUND
ON COLD MORNINGS

AND SING
CONFEDERATE SONGS

WHILE HE BUILT
THE FIRES.

I'VE HEARD
THE GRASS TELL ABOUT
THOSE COLD MORNINGS.

THE GRASS?

COME TO
THE RIVER WOODS

WITH CATHERINE
AND ME TOMORROW.

WE'VE GOT TO
GATHER INGREDIENTS.

WE'LL MAKE A PICNIC
OUT OF IT.

FRIED CHICKEN.
I'LL MAKE A CHOCOLATE
LAYER CAKE.

YOU CAN'T LEARN
EVERYTHING FROM BOOKS.

Catherine: WOO-HOO!

JE SUIS FATIGUEE.

Collin: CATHERINE,
IS THAT INDIAN?

NO, HONEY.
THAT'S FRENCH, SEE.

DOLLY HEART AND ME,
WE LEARNED HOW
TO BETTER OURSELVES.

IT WAS GOING TO BE
OUR SECRET LANGUAGE

VERENA WOULDN'T
UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S THE ONLY
LESSON SHE LEARNED.

OH, WELL. IT'S ALL
I NEED TO KNOW.

HOW MUCH OF YOU
IS INDIAN?

BOY, I DONE
TOLD YOU.

GET...

Collin: A TREE HOUSE!

WOW!

DOLLY HEART.
DOLLY HEART.

THEM BOARDS TOO OLD.

AND NOW THEY--
THEY SLIPPERY AS WORMS.

THEY GONNA CRACK
IN TWO.

OH, SHH!

THEY GONNA BUST OUR HEADS,
AND DON'T I KNOW IT.

Dolly:
LIKE A RAFT, ISN'T IT?

THIS IS GREAT.

GOD,
IT'S SO HIGH.

THE BOYS WHO BUILT IT

MUST BE VERY OLD MEN
BY NOW.

WHY CAN'T WE
LIVE HERE?

Catherine: HMPH!

Dolly:
TAKE ONE OF THESE.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK
FOR INGREDIENTS.

Collin as narrator:
ABOUT ALL NATURAL THINGS,
DOLLY WAS SOPHISTICATED.

AS A GIRL,
A BAND OF GYPSIES

HAD TAUGHT HER
A SECRET DROPSY CURE.

EVERY WEEK WE WENT
TO THE RIVER WOODS

TO GATHER HERBS, LEAVES,
STRANGE ROOTS.

NO ONE,
NOT EVEN CATHERINE,

KNEW WHAT
WENT INTO THE MEDICINE.

ONLY DOLLY.

Dolly: I REMEMBER
ONE EVENING

I WENT OUT
TO THE COW SHED,

AND THERE WERE
3 WOMEN THERE.

THE YOUNG ONE
WAS ALL NAKED,

TWISTING ON ACCOUNT
OF THE CORN SHUCKS.

WHEN THEY SAW
I WASN'T GOING
TO RUN AND TELL,

ONE OF THE OLD WOMEN
ASKED WOULD I
BRING A LIGHT,

SO I WENT
TO THE HOUSE
FOR A CANDLE,

AND WHEN I CAME BACK,
THE WOMAN THAT SENT ME

WAS HOLDING
THIS HOLLERING
RED BABY,

AND THE OTHER WAS
MILKING SHERRYBELL.

I HELPED THEM
WASH THE BABY
IN WARM COW'S MILK.

THEN THE OLD WOMAN
TOOK MY HAND,

AND SHE SAID,

"I'M GOING TO
GIVE YOU A GIFT

BY TEACHING YOU
A RHYME."

THAT'S WHEN
I LEARNED ABOUT
THE DROPSY CURE.

WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE GYPSIES?

OH...

IN THE MORNING,
THEY WERE GONE.

I LOOKED FOR THEM
ON THE ROAD AND IN
THE FIELDS, BUT...

THERE WAS NOTHING
LEFT OF THEM BUT...

THE RHYME
INSIDE MY HEAD

AND THE SECRETS
THEY TAUGHT ME.

Collin: SECRETS?

I'VE NEVER TOLD
ANYBODY.

NOT EVEN CATHERINE.

OH, LISTEN, COLLIN.

DO YOU HEAR?

IT'S THE GRASS HARP.

WHERE?

THERE, IN THE GRASS.

IT'S A HARP OF VOICES
TELLING STORIES.

KNOWS EVERYBODY'S STORY.

AND WHEN WE'RE DEAD,
IT WILL TELL OURS, TOO.

YOU'RE HEARING DEAD FOLKS
AGAIN, DOLLY HEART?

IT'S ONLY THE WIND.

THE WIND IS US.

IT GATHERS AND REMEMBERS
ALL OUR VOICES

AND THEN SENDS THEM
TALKING THROUGH
THE LEAVES AND FIELDS.

I'VE HEARD PAPA
CLEAR AS DAY.

Collin as narrator:
CLASSMATES SAID I WAS STRANGE,

THAT LIVING IN THE TALBO HOUSE
HAD TURNED ME INTO AN OLD MAN,

BUT NOTHING
WAS EVER AS MUCH FUN

AS THE ADVENTURES
I SHARED WITH DOLLY.

I DREAMED UP STORIES
ABOUT US

AND LATE AT NIGHT
WROTE THEM DOWN.

Girl: HE'S ROMANTIC.
HE KNOWS HOW
TO TREAT A LADY.

NOT LIKE YOU.

ALL THIS TIME WE'VE
KNOWN EACH OTHER,

AND NOT ONCE HAVE YOU
INVITED ME OR ELIZABETH
OVER FOR A VISIT.

WHAT ARE YOU
AFRAID OF?

HE'S WORRIED ABOUT
DOLLY TALBO.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS
DOLLY TALBO'S GONE,
AND YOU'RE GONE, TOO.

SHUT UP!

Catherine: SEE?

SEE, THAT'S
WHAT HAPPENS

WHEN YOU HANG OUT
WITH THEM FLOOZIES

LIKE THAT OLD
MAUDE RIORDAN.

MAUDE'S NOT
A FLOOZY.

AND JUST LOOK
AT YOU.

YOU'RE NOT
MUCH BIGGER THAN
THAT BITTY SKINNER.

YOU KNOW,
FOLKS STILL TALK

ABOUT HOW
HE GOT OFFERS
FROM THE CIRCUS.

CATHERINE.

OH, DOLLY HEART,
DON'T WORRY
YOURSELF.

THE BOY JUST NEEDS
SOME STRETCHING.
COME ON, COLLIN.

COME ON, BABY.

NOW, YOU ASK ME...

FLOOZIES AND SMOKING

ARE AMONGST
THE SEVERAL THINGS

THAT WILL STUNT
A LITTLE BOY'S
GROWTH.

HERE, HONEY.
COME ON.
TURN AROUND.

HMM. MM-HMM.

MM-HMM.

UGH!

HEY!

MM-HMM.

COME HERE.

OH. MM.

Collin as narrator: IN 2 YEARS,
CATHERINE STRETCHED ME

FROM 4' 9" TO 5' 7".

WE WERE FRIENDS--
DOLLY, CATHERINE, AND ME.

I WAS 11.

THEN I WAS 16.

NOTHING WOULD EVER BE
THE SAME AGAIN.

ABOUT TIME YOU GOT
THIS HAIR CUT, HONEY.

I WAS ABOUT TO BUY YOU
A PACKAGE OF BOBBY PINS.

YOU KNOW, I AM SURPRISED

THAT VERENA DIDN'T MARCH YOU
IN HERE WEEKS AGO.

BOY LIKE YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BE
SLOPPY ABOUT HIS APPEARANCE.

I WOULD GET ME
A CLEAN SHIRT, THOUGH, HONEY.

YOU COULD GROW TURNIPS
ON THE COLLAR OF THAT ONE.

A BOY YOUR AGE...

HAS TO BE CAREFUL
ABOUT HIS APPEARANCE,

ESPECIALLY WHEN HE HAS
A RENDEZVOUS

WITH MISS MAUDE RIORDAN
TOMORROW NIGHT.

HOW DID YOU KNOW
ABOUT THAT?

OH, YOU HEAR
THINGS, HONEY.

WASN'T
TOO LONG AGO,

YOUR FEET
WASN'T ABLE

TO TOUCH THE FLOOR
FROM THIS CHAIR.

LOOK AT YOU NOW.

GROWN-UP, COURTING,

THE MAN OF THE HOUSE.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T
COUNT VERENA.

AMOS, YOU REMEMBER
OLD CARPER,
THE FISHERMAN,

USED TO HAVE A HOUSEBOAT
ON THE RIVER?

YEAH. CHASED
OUT OF TOWN,
WASN'T HE?

HE WANTED TO MARRY
THAT PRETTY LITTLE
COLORED GIRL

WHO WORKS FOR
MISS POSTHAM NOW,
I THINK.

WELL, YOU KNOW,
HE REALLY LOVED HER.

YES, HE DID.

I SAW THEM A LOT
WHEN I WENT FISHING.

THEY WERE VERY HAPPY
TOGETHER.

NEVER COULD HAVE BROUGHT
MYSELF TO SENTENCE HIM

IF HE'D
EVER MARRIED HER.

BUT THE LAW, IT DOES NOT
ALLOW ANY DIFFERENCES.

I WAS TOO OFTEN
ON THE WRONG SIDE
OF THE LAW.

NEVER SHOULD HAVE
BEEN A JUDGE.

WELL, TOO BAD YOU AIN'T
STILL A JUDGE.

OTHERWISE YOU COULD
HAVE DONE THE HONORS

FOR ROMEO HERE.

Collin: CUT IT OUT.

LORDY LORD,
JUST LOOK AT YOU.

MM! AIN'T YOU
THE CAT'S MEOW!

Collin as narrator: OLDER PEOPLE
SPOKE OF RILEY HENDERSON

WITH SIGHING VOICES,

BUT SECRETLY I ADMIRED
HIS WILD WAYS.

AN ORPHAN LIKE ME,
HE ANSWERED TO NO ONE.

EVENING,
SPORT.

I LONGED TO BE HIS FRIEND.

YOU WANT TO
REACH AROUND
THAT COUNTER

AND GRAB ME
A PACK OF
SHADOWS?

UH, SHADOWS?

YEAH.

WEASEL WRAPPERS.

WEASEL WRAPPERS?

WHERE ARE
THE WEASEL WRAPPERS?

HERE YOU GO.

SEE YOU AROUND,
SPORT.

SAY HI TO THAT
MAUDE RIORDAN

FOR ME, TOO,
WILL YOU?

Maude: COLL, HOW COME WE
NEVER GO TO DINNER AND DANCING

LIKE MICKEY AND JUDY?

Collin: I DON'T KNOW.

Collin as narrator:
CATHERINE NEVER APPROVED

OF MY INFATUATION
WITH MAUDE RIORDAN.

"NOTHING ON HER TO PINCH,"
SHE SAID.

"MAN WOULD
HAVE TO BE CRAZY

TO EVEN GIVE HER
THE TIME OF DAY."

Maude: I THINK IT'S SCANDALOUS
THE WAY RILEY HENDERSON

CARRIED ON IN THERE
WITH MAMIE CURTIS.

CAN YOU IMAGINE,
WITH TRASH LIKE THAT?

Collin: YEAH, I SAW THEM.
THEY CAME BY THE STORE.

HE BOUGHT A PACK
OF SHADOWS.

Maude: OH, COLLIN.
YOU ARE SUCH AN INNOCENT.

Collin as narrator:
IT DIDN'T TAKE A GENIUS

TO SEE MAUDE
WAS HEART-SET ON RILEY.

STILL, I IMAGINED FOR A WHILE
THAT I WAS IN LOVE WITH HER.

Maude: WELL...

HERE WE ARE.

THANK YOU FOR
THE LOVELY EVENING.

I ENJOYED
THE MOVIE VERY MUCH.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WELL, GOOD NIGHT.

OH. I DON'T THINK
THAT'S NECESSARY, COLLIN,

ALTHOUGH, UH...

IT WAS CUTE OF YOU
TO TAKE ME OUT.

GOOD NIGHT.

BYE.

BYE.

Man: DON'T THINK I'M
ENJOYING THIS, BECAUSE I'M NOT,

BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
OUR PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOW, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN THE SAME
SINCE MOTHER DIED...

SITTING IN
THAT BARBERSHOP ALL DAY

WRITING THESE...
THESE RIDICULOUS LETTERS.

MARTHA FOUND THIS
IN YOUR DESK TODAY.

Martha: YOU SHOULD BE
ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.

NOW, PEOPLE
AT THE BANK ARE
STARTING TO ASK ME--

VERY POLITELY,
OF COURSE--

IF PERHAPS MY FATHER
ISN'T JUST A BIT...

UNBALANCED.

Judge: WHEW!

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Judge: OUT.

EVENING, COLLIN.

JUDGE.

HOW DID IT GO
WITH MAUDE?

OK, I GUESS.

SEEMS STRANGE
A MAN CAN'T LIVE
WITHOUT KEYS

IN WHAT USED TO BE
HIS OWN HOUSE.

SIR?

WHAT DO YOU SAY
WE GO DOWN
TO THE DRUGSTORE

AND GET
A CHOCOLATE MALT?

ALL RIGHT.

ALWAYS BEEN VERY FOND
OF CHOCOLATE MALTS.

VERY COMFORTING.

USED TO LIKE
BANANA SPLITS,

BUT I DIDN'T
FIND THEM
AS COMFORTING

AS CHOCOLATE MALTS.

Collin as narrator:
ORDINARILY JUDGE CHARLIE COOL

WAS NOT ONE TO MAKE
A SHOW OF HIMSELF,

AND THERE WERE MANY WHO HAD
TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF HIS MODESTY

TO SET THEMSELVES
ABOVE HIM.

IT WAS SAD
TO SEE THE JUDGE,

SAD TO SEE HIM
WITH NOTHING TO DO

BUT SIT
IN AMOS' BARBERSHOP

OR STOP IN
AT THE DRUGSTORE.

Woman:
LOOK AT THESE PRICES.

IT WOULDN'T KILL HER
TO HAVE A SALE
EVERY NOW AND THEN.

HMPH.

IT'S YOUR FAULT.

DOLLY?

I NEED TO TALK
TO YOU A MINUTE.

OUT HERE.

IS SOMETHING THE MATTER?

JUST WHAT GOES INTO
THAT MEDICINE
OF YOURS?

WELL, THIS AND THAT.

NOTHING SPECIAL.

WHY?

WELL, YOU MADE
ENOUGH ON IT
THIS YEAR

TO PAY
AN INCOME TAX,
THAT'S WHY.

MY, MY.

Collin as narrator:
THE AUTUMN I TURNED 16,

VERENA WENT TO CHICAGO
ON A BUYING TRIP

AND AFTER 2 WEEKS

RETURNED WITH A MAN
NAMED DR. MORRIS RITZ.

NO ONE HAD SEEN A MAN
ON VERENA'S ARM

SINCE SHE DANCED AS A DEBUTANTE
WITH MEISELF TALSAP,

BUT HE TOOK UP
WITH VERENA'S BEST FRIEND,

AND VERENA
NEVER RECOVERED.

TO THEN BE SEEN
WITH A YANKEE AT HER AGE

WAS ENOUGH
TO GET PEOPLE TALKING,
AND TALK THEY DID.

SCANDALOUS, PEOPLE SAID,
THE WAY VERENA CARRIED ON

WITH THAT FANCY MAN
FROM CHICAGO.

MORRIS, THIS IS
WALT HIGGINS.

HE LOOKS AFTER
THE HOTEL FOR ME.

CLASSY
ESTABLISHMENT,
VERENA.

IT'S QUITE
SNAPPY HERE.

SEE THAT DR. RITZ GETS
THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE.

AND MIND HE GETS
KANSAS CITY BEEF.

NONE OF THOSE CHEAP
LOCAL CUTS.

K.C. IT WILL BE,
MISS TALBO.

WOULD YOU SIGN
THE REGISTER?

OF COURSE.

THANK YOU.

AH, DON'T FORGET
LOTS OF TONIC.

I GOT A BIG DATE
TONIGHT. I GOT
TO BE SPIFFY, HUH?

WHILE YOU'RE AT IT,
BETTER GIVE ME
A MANICURE.

A MANICURE?

YEAH.

WE DON'T GET
MUCH CALL FOR THAT
AROUND HERE, HONEY.

LET ME SEE THOSE HANDS.

SHARECROPPER YOU AIN'T.

RUMOR HAS IT THAT
YOU AND VERENA TALBO

DONE BOUGHT
THE OLD FACTORY ON
THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN.

UH-HUH.
SHE IS A PISTOL.

SHE'S WASTED IN
A BURG LIKE THIS.
SHE'S BIG-CITY STUFF.

WHAT LINE OF WORK
DID YOU SAY YOU
WERE IN, HONEY?

YOU CAN CALL ME
A CHEMICAL ENGINEER.

OH, PARDON ME, SIR.
HOPE YOU DON'T ME INTRUDING,

BUT DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT
YOU WERE A CHEMICAL ENGINEER?

CORRECT.

EXACTLY WHAT DOES
A CHEMICAL ENGINEER DO?

IDEAS. I GET IDEAS.

WHAT SORT OF IDEAS
DO YOU GET?

CHEMICAL...

IDEAS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SORRY. GUY NEEDS A HAIRCUT.

Catherine: JUST WHO
IS THIS FUNNY-LOOKING
DR. MORRIS RITZ?

HE'S NOT HALF
AS FUNNY LOOKING AS
SOME I COULD MENTION.

Dolly: DO PEAK
IN THE KITCHEN,
VERENA.

WE'RE HAVING
FRIED CHICKEN, HAM,
ENGLISH PEAS, ROLLS,

BANANA PUDDING,
2 KINDS OF CAKE,

AND TUTTI-FRUTTI
ICE CREAM FROM
THE DRUGSTORE.

WHY ARE THERE
ONLY 2 PLACES?

WELL, IT'S ALL RIGHT
IF COLLIN WANTS
TO EAT AT THE TABLE,

BUT I'LL JUST STAY
IN THE KITCHEN
WITH CATHERINE.

DON'T FOOL WITH ME, DOLLY.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.

MORRIS HAS COME HERE
EXPRESSLY TO MEET YOU.

MEET ME?

YES.

I CAN'T.

I CAN'T.

PUT ON THAT NEW PINK DRESS
I BOUGHT YOU IN CHICAGO.

WHAT'S MORE,
I'D APPRECIATE IT IF
YOU'D HOLD YOUR HEAD UP.

IT MAKES ME DIZZY,
HANGING THERE LIKE THAT.

AND DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT MOP OF HAIR.

YOU LOOK
LIKE A RAGAMUFFIN.

THAT ONE.

HUSH, NOW.

Ritz: EVENING.

LADIES OF
THE HOUSE IN, HUH?

NAME IS RITZ,
DR. MORRIS RITZ.

Verena:
OH, MORRIS.
SO GOOD OF YOU.

DID YOU
MEET COLLIN?

UH, WELL,
HE...MM-HMM.

COLLIN, SEE THAT
THE DOCTOR GETS
A DRINK.

COLLIN IS MY POOR
COUSIN EUGENE'S BOY.
HE LIVES WITH US.

MY SISTER IS SO
ANXIOUS TO MEET YOU.

LET ME TAKE THESE.

THANK YOU.

Verena: DOLLY!

DOLLY, DEAR!

HUH...

I WILL TELL
MISS VERENA THAT
YOU ARE INDISPOSED.

AS ONE STRAWBERRY
SAID TO THE OTHER,

"IF YOU HADN'T BEEN
SO FRESH, WE WOULDN'T
BE IN THIS JAM."

Catherine: MISS VERENA!

MISS DOLLY'S
FLAT ON HER BACK.

HER BOWELS IS LOOSE.

EXCUSE ME.

AHH.

WELL, YOU'RE 16, HUH?

YEAH.

AND THROWING IT AROUND
A LITTLE, I BET, HUH?

HEY, NEXT TIME VERENA
GOES TO CHICAGO,
MAKE HER BRING YOU

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT
TO THROW IT AT THERE.

HEY, WHAT
HAVE WE HERE?

THE OLD 88. I WONDER...
I WONDER HOW SHE SOUNDS.

YOU KNOW?

* I WANT TO KNOW, HONEY,
JUST WHAT YOU MEAN *

* WHEN YOU SAY YOUR EVERLOVIN'S
DOUBLE-CROSSIN' YOU *

* I WANT TO KNOW, BABY,
WHAT YOU'RE COGITATING *

* SAY YOUR EVERLOVIN'S
DOUBLE-CROSSIN' *

* THAT LITTLE OLD, TEENSY OLD,
BITSY OLD YOU *

* YOU SHOULD KNOW
THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
FOR WHOM I'D FALL *

* ANY DOUBTS
THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE,
THEY MAKE NO SENSE AT ALL *

* 'CAUSE YOU'RE A DOLL *

* WANT TO KNOW, BABY,
WHAT YOU MEAN *

* SAY YOUR YOUR EVERLOVIN'S
DOUBLE-CROSSIN' *

* THAT LITTLE OLD,
TEENSY OLD, BITSY OLD YOU *

* WELL, THEY SAY
YOUR EVERLOVIN'S
DOUBLE-CROSSIN' YOU *

IT'S A LITTLE THING
I WHIPPED UP FOR VERENA

AND UH...UH, VERENA.

Catherine: OUCH!

THERE YOU GO.

OH, TO TELL YOU
THE TRUTH,

THE ONLY PART
OF THE CHICKEN
THAT INTERESTS ME
IS THE BRAINS.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SOME OF
THOSE BACK IN THE KITCHEN,
WOULD YOU, MAMMY?

OH, I'S SORRY,
DR. RITZ,

BUT MISS DOLLY HERE
DONE ALREADY TOOK
ALL THE BRAINS.

THAT'S, THAT'S...

I HAVE THE BRAINS
ON MY PLATE.

PLEASE. LET ME
PASS THEM TO YOU.

ARE YOU SURE
YOU WOULDN'T MIND?

NO, SHE DOESN'T MIND
AT ALL.

SHE ONLY EATS
SWEET THINGS, ANYWAY.

WELL...

HERE, DOLLY.

HAVE SOME BANANA PUDDING.

UH...

THERE.

UH...UH...

BLESS YOU!

UH, I'M SORRY.

AN OLD ALLERGY.
I THINK IT'S THE ROSES.

OH, DEAR!

OH!

OH, BOY.

SEE? IT'S HOPELESS.

NOTHING
IS HOPELESS, DOLLY.

Ritz: DON'T FORGET
THE SLEEVES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SIT DOWN AND FINISH
YOUR PUDDING.

BESIDES, WE HAVE A NICE
LITTLE SURPRISE FOR YOU.

MORRIS, SHOW DOLLY
THOSE LOVELY LABELS.

OH, YEAH.

Ritz: HERE
YOU ARE, DOLLY.

HERE YOU GO, DEAR.

Verena: GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD...

OPEN IT.

Ritz: FIRST CLASS, HUH?
THEY WERE MADE IN CHICAGO.

A FRIEND OF MINE
DID THE DRAWINGS.

HE'S A REAL ARTIST,
THAT GUY.

AREN'T YOU PLEASED?

I'M NOT SURE
I UNDERSTAND.

WELL, OF COURSE YOU DO.

I TOLD MORRIS ABOUT
THAT MEDICINE OF YOURS,

AND HE THOUGHT UP
THIS WONDERFUL NAME.

GYPSY QUEEN DROPSY CURE.

IT WILL LOOK GREAT
IN THE ADS.

MY MEDICINE?

BUT I DON'T
NEED ANY LABELS.
I WRITE MY OWN.

HEY, THAT'S
A GOOD IDEA!

YOU KNOW, WE COULD
MAKE THE LABELS LOOK
LIKE HER HANDWRITING.

PERSONAL, SEE?

WE'VE SPENT
ENOUGH MONEY ALREADY.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Verena: NOW, MORRIS
AND I ARE GOING UP
TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK

TO GET A PATENT
FOR THE MEDICINE,

NAMING YOU INVENTOR,
OF COURSE.

THE POINT IS, DOLLY,
YOU MUST SIT DOWN

AND WRITE OUT
A COMPLETE FORMULA FOR US.

IT WON'T DO.

IT WON'T DO BECAUSE
YOU HAVEN'T ANY RIGHT.

NOR YOU, SIR.

Verena:
THOSE ARE FACTS.

3,000 FOR THE FACTORY.

BILL TATUM
AND 4 CARPENTERS

WORKING THERE
AT $1.10 AN HOUR.

$9,000
FOR THE MACHINERY...

ALREADY ORDERED.

NOT TO MENTION WHAT
A SPECIALIST LIKE
MORRIS RITZ IS COSTING,

AND WHY? ALL FOR YOU.

YOU'RE MY OWN FLESH,
AND I LOVE YOU DEARLY.

I COULD PROVE IT TO YOU NOW

BY GIVING YOU THE ONLY THING
THAT HAS EVER BEEN MINE...

THEN YOU WOULD HAVE IT ALL.

PLEASE, VERENA,
LET THIS ONE THING
BELONG TO ME.

YOU SPEAK OF GIVING?

ALL THESE YEARS
I'VE WORKED LIKE
A FIELD HAND!

WHAT HAVEN'T I
GIVEN YOU?

THIS HOUSE!
THOSE CLOTHES!

YOUR LUXURIES!

YOU'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING
TO ME AND TO CATHERINE
AND TO COLLIN...

BUT WE'VE EARNED
OUR WAY A BIT.

WE'VE KEPT A NICE HOME
FOR YOU, HAVEN'T WE?

OH, YES.
A FINE HOME.

YOU AND...
AND POCAHONTAS!

HASN'T IT STRUCK YOU
THAT I'VE NEVER ASKED
ANYONE INTO THIS HOUSE?

AND FOR
A VERY GOOD REASON.

I'M ASHAMED TO.

LOOK WHAT HAPPENED
TONIGHT.

I'M SORRY.

I AM TRULY.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE
WAS A PLACE FOR US HERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO AWAY.

POOR DOLLY.

POOR, POOR THING.

WHEREVER WOULD YOU GO?

HI.

I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW
WHERE WE'RE GOING.

TO THE TREE HOUSE?

JUST FOR NOW.
UNTIL WE KNOW BETTER
WHAT OUR PLANS WILL BE.

YOU'RE NOT LEAVING
WITHOUT ME.

DON'T FORGET
YOUR COMB.

DOLLY!

DOLLY!

DOLLY!

Collin as narrator:
THAT MORNING, WE BEGAN
OUR LIFE AS RUNAWAYS.

THOSE WERE LOVELY DAYS.

I'M HUNGRY.

WELL, THERE'S PLENTY
TO EAT.

YOU WON'T STARVE
FOR A WHILE YET.
I STRIPPED THAT PANTRY.

I DIDN'T EVEN
LEAVE A BISCUIT
FOR THAT ONE'S BREAKFAST.

RILEY HENDERSON,
DON'T YOU DARE
SHOOT US.

WELL, I'LL BE.
HOW DID YOU FOLKS
GET UP THERE?

A WILDCAT CHASE YOU?

Dolly: JUST SITTING.

I GOT SOME
FRESH SQUIRRELS HERE.

HAD SOME
FOR SUPPER LAST NIGHT.
THEY'RE REAL TENDER.

I'M GOING
TO BRING THEM UP.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
YOU CAN JUST LEAVE THEM
THERE ON THE GROUND.

NO, MA'AM.
ANTS WILL GET THEM.

I'LL BE DAMNED.

IT'S A TREE HOUSE.

YOU BUILD IT, COLLIN?

NO.

SMOKE?

CATHERINE CREEK,
YOU'VE NEVER TOUCHED
TOBACCO IN YOUR LIFE.

IT MUST BE
A COMFORT.

SO MANY FOLKS
SPEAK IN ITS FAVOR,

AND YOU GET
TO BE OUR AGE,
YOU GOT TO LOOK
FOR THEM COMFORTS.

WELL, I DON'T SUPPOSE
THERE'S ANY HARM.

Riley: NEXT TIME YOU-ALL
DECIDE TO HAVE A PICNIC
SO EARLY, CALL OUT...

SO I'LL KNOW
YOU'RE HERE.

Dolly: YOU'RE WELCOME
ANY MORNING.

I DARESAY WE'LL BE HERE
FOR SOME WHILE.

Riley: WANT A RIDE?
MY CAR'S JUST UP
THERE BY THE CEMETERY.

THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU,
BUT WE REALLY HAVEN'T
ANYPLACE TO GO.

WELL, SUIT YOURSELF.

Dolly: BYE-BYE.

YOU OUGHT
TO BE WHUPPED, BOY!

PROBABLY.

COME ON.

I WANT THEM FOUND, SHERIFF.
I WANT A SEARCH PARTY.

Sheriff: BUT I GOT
HENS LAYING TODAY,
VERENA.

Verena: DON'T SASS ME, SHERIFF.
I'D LIKE TO THINK MY VOTES
PAID FOR SOMETHING.

MORRIS, SHOW HIM THE PAPER.

I WANT EVERY SHERIFF
IN THE STATE TO HAVE
A COPY OF THIS.

"BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE
TRAVELING TOGETHER.

"DOLLY AUGUSTA TALBO.

"WHITE. LIGHT BROWN HAIR.
HEIGHT: 5 FOOT 3.

"PROBABLY INSANE
BUT NOT LIKELY
TO BE DANGEROUS.

POST DESCRIPTION
IN BAKERIES, AS SHE
IS A KNOWN CAKE EATER."

"CATHERINE CREEK. NEGRO.
PRETENDS TO BE AN INDIAN."

"COLLIN FENWICK. WHITE.
AGE: 16, LOOKS YOUNGER.
HEIGHT: 5 FOOT 7."

I DIDN'T KNOW
HE WAS THAT TALL.

"BAD POSTURE.
SURLY NATURE.

ALL 3 WANTED
AS RUNAWAYS."

WELL, THEY SURE
AIN'T RUN FAR.

WHAT'S THAT?

SEEN THEM THIS MORNING
HAVING A PICNIC DOWN
BY THE RIVER WOODS,

JUST BELOW THE CEMETERY.

Dolly: WHERE DID YOU
GET THIS RING?

UH, COME OUT
THE HOG GUTS

WHEN I WAS
STUFFING
SAUSAGE.

WELL, $47, NOT COUNTING
THE JEWELRY.

47? SHOOT.
HEAR TELL

WE CAN GO ALL
THE WAY TO MEXICO
ON A BUS FOR 15.

HOW WE ABLE TO MAKE
THE DROPSY CURE IF WE'RE
NOT NEAR THE FOREST?

I THINK WE SHOULD
SET UP RIGHT HERE
IN THE RIVER WOODS.

IN THIS OLD TREE?

YOU JUST
PUT THAT NOTION

RIGHT OUT YOUR
HEAD, DOLLY HEART.

Collin:
UH-OH.

WHAT?

OH, DEAR.

THERE THEY ARE.
UP IN THERE.
YOU SEE THEM?

THERE THEY ARE.

SAY!
NOW, LOOKY HERE.

NOW, SHERIFF,
WE AGREED TO LEAVE THIS
TO THE REVEREND.

THANK YOU.
DOLLY TALBO, ON BEHALF
OF YOUR SISTER,

THAT GOOD
AND GRACIOUS WOMAN...

Woman:
THAT SHE IS.

WHO ON THIS DAY
HAS RECEIVED
A GRIEVOUS SHOCK...

Woman: THAT SHE HAS.

SHAME ON YOU, SITTING
UP THERE IN THAT TREE
LIKE A DRUNKEN INDIAN,

SUCKING
ON CIGARETTES
LIKE A COMMON...

FLOOZY.

FLOOZY!

PREACHER LADY,

DON'T YOU GO CALLING
MISS DOLLY AND US NO FLOOZIES,

OR I'LL COME DOWN THERE
AND I'LL SLAP YOU BOWLEGGED!

YOU HEARD THAT,
SHERIFF? THAT NIGGER
THREATENED ME!

Judge: OH, NOW,
MIND WHO YOU CALL
NAMES, THELMA.

NOTHING PARTICULARLY
CHRISTIAN ABOUT THAT.

CONSIDER A MOMENT,
MISS BUSTER,

AND YOU WILL REALIZE
THAT WE ARE NEARER
GOD THAN YOU...

BY SEVERAL YARDS.

Judge: GOOD FOR YOU,
MISS DOLLY. I CALL THAT
A GOOD ANSWER.

Reverend: WHY DID YOU
COME WITH US IF IT WASN'T
TO DO THE LORD'S WILL?

LORD'S WILL.
MAYBE THE LORD TOLD
THOSE PEOPLE TO GO
LIVE IN A TREE.

HE NEVER TOLD YOU
TO DRAG THEM OUT,

UNLESS, OF COURSE,
VERENA TALBO IS THE LORD.

A THEORY THAT SEVERAL
OF YOU FOLKS GIVE CREDENCE
TO, HEY, SHERIFF?

THE HELL WITH THIS.

LOOK, LET'S
NOT BE HAVING
ANY MORE TROUBLE.

NOW, COME ON
DOWN FROM THERE,
THE PACK OF YOU.

MISS DOLLY, YOU ALWAYS
BEEN A PEACEFUL PERSON.

NOW, WHY DON'T YOU
JUST COME ON DOWN
AND GO HOME WITH US?

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS
YOUR DINNER, DO YOU?

IT'S TOO EARLY
FOR DINNER. BESIDES,
WE'RE NOT HUNGRY.

ARE YOU? THERE'S
A DRUMSTICK UP HERE
IF ANYONE WANTS IT.

Sheriff: YOU MAKE IT
HARD FOR ME, MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT.

Judge: JUST A MINUTE,
SHERIFF.

IF HE LAYS A HAND
ON ANY OF YOU, JUST
KICK HIM IN THE HEAD.

Sheriff: CATHERINE,
NOW, YOU BACK UP,
CATHERINE.

YOU BACK OFF.

Catherine: NO!

NO!

VERENA WANTS YOU
HOME, COLLIN.

NO!

Woman: ARE YOU
ALL RIGHT?

Woman: DOLLY TALBO,
YOU COME DOWN FROM THAT TREE
RIGHT THIS MINUTE.

BEG PARDON.

OH, MY GOD.
ALL RIGHT,
THAT DID IT.

DOLLY TALBO,
SHE ATTACKED ME!

EVERYONE HERE'S
A WITNESS!

JUNIUS, YOU ARREST HER!

IF YOU WEREN'T
SUCH AN OLD MAN,
I'D KNOCK YOU DOWN.

OH, I'M NOT
SO OLD, JUNIOR,

JUST OLD ENOUGH
TO KNOW THAT MEN
OUGHT NOT FIGHT
IN FRONT OF LADIES.

ON THE OTHER HAND,
I'M READY WHENEVER
YOU ARE.

NOBODY'S GOING
TO ACCUSE ME OF
HITTING AN OLD MAN.

OR STANDING UP
TO ONE. GO ON.
GO FEED YOUR CHICKENS.

SAVE YOURSELVES A LOT
OF TROUBLE AND JUST GET
ON DOWN FROM THERE.

NEVER MIND. THEY'VE
HAD THEIR CHANCE.

YOU THINK YOU'RE GETTING
AWAY WITH SOMETHING,
BUT LET ME TELL YOU,

THERE WILL BE
RETRIBUTION.
IF NOT HERE IN HEAVEN,

RIGHT HERE
ON THIS EARTH!

RIGHT HERE
ON EARTH!

YOU LEADING CITIZENS
OUGHT TO BEHAVE
THEMSELVES,

OTHERWISE,
THE WHOLE DAMN PLACE
JUST FALLS APART!

YOU OLD FOOL.

DO I REMEMBER YOU
OFFERING A DRUMSTICK
TO ANYBODY WOULD LIKE IT?

Collin as narrator:
FOOLS IN A TREE, THEY CALLED US,

AND VERY SOON, OTHER OUTCASTS
WOULD FIND THEIR WAY

INTO DOLLY'S
SPECIAL SANCTUARY.

ASK ME, HONEY,
I DON'T CARE WHO HIT HER.
THEY OUGHT TO GET A MEDAL.

AH!

PRAISE JESUS!

PRAISE JESUS!

PRAISE JESUS!

PRAISE JESUS!

EVANGELISTS.

I SAW THEM ONCE
AT A FAIR IN BARNWELL.

THEIR MAMMA--
DADDY'S LONG GONE
BY NOW--

SHE CALLS HERSELF
SISTER IDA.

THAT LITTLE HOMER,
THOUGH, HE IS AS CUTE
AS A BUTTON.

SAYS THEY'LL BE HERE
TOMORROW NIGHT.

WELL, IT'S NOT LIKE
WE CAN'T USE A GOOD
REVIVAL.

ASK ME, HONEY,
THERE HASN'T
EXACTLY BEEN

A SHORTAGE
OF LOST SOULS
AROUND HERE LATELY.

HERE. READ THIS.

"SOUL ROUNDUP"
MY FOOT.

WOMAN'S KNOWN
THROUGHOUT 6 STATES
AS AN INFAMOUS TROLLOP.

THINK OF IT.
15 CHILDREN AND NO
SIGN OF A HUSBAND.

SHAMEFUL.

Reverend: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES
WILL I ALLOW THAT BROOD

TO INTERFERE
WITH THIS CONGREGATION.

Thelma: ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Reverend: THE NERVE!

BOYS, GOING TO NEED
SOME DEPUTIES.

GOT TO ROUND UP
THIS TREE HOUSE BUNCH
AND BRING THEM IN.

ANY VOLUNTEERS?

RILEY HENDERSON,
COME OVER HERE AND GET
YOURSELF DEPUTIZED, BOY.

NO, THANKS.

YOU OUGHT TO GET YOURSELF
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

GOING TO HAVE
TO LEARN HIM
SOME RESPECT.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY?

ANYBODY AT ALL?

COME ON!

OH, LORD.

ALL RIGHT.
THEM THAT'S IN,
RAISE THEIR RIGHT HANDS.

YOUR OTHER RIGHT, RAY.

ALL RIGHT.
NOW, SWEAR AFTER ME...

Riley: THEY EVEN
SAID THEY WAS GOING
TO ARREST YOU, JUDGE.

DISTURBING THE PEACE
AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE.
THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.

AIN'T NOBODY
BUT THAT ONE TO BLAME
FOR THIS HERE PREDICAMENT,

HER AND THAT OLD
FUNNY-LOOKING
DR. MORRIS RITZ

COMING IN THERE
TRYING TO STEAL
OUR MEDICINE.

SOME WAY
WE FAILED HER.

THERE WAS NO
PLACE FOR US
IN HER HOUSE.

MAYBE THERE'S NO PLACE
FOR ANY OF US, EXCEPT
WE KNOW THERE IS.

THIS COULD BE
YOUR PLACE AND MINE.

HMPH.

SOME MORE WINE,
JUDGE?

OH, NO, THANK YOU,
MISS DOLLY.

I'VE HAD A SUFFICIENCY.

WHAT YOU WRITING,
JUDGE?

IT'S NOT NICE
TO PRY.

THIS IS A LETTER
TO A GIRL NOT MUCH
YOUNGER THAN YOU.

HER NAME
IS HEATHER FALL.

HEATHER FALL?
OH, WHAT
A LOVELY NAME.

CAME ACROSS IT
IN ONE OF THOSE
CHILDREN'S MAGAZINES

THAT AMOS KEEPS
IN THE BARBER SHOP.

ON THE BACK COVER,
THEY HAVE THE ADDRESSES
OF CHILDREN

WHO WANT TO CORRESPOND
WITH OTHER CHILDREN.

I SENT HER
A PICTURE POSTCARD.
SHE ANSWERED AT ONCE.

CHARMING DESCRIPTION
OF HER FATHER'S
SHEEP RANCH IN ALASKA.

THAT'S VERY NOBLE
OF YOU, KEEPING
COMPANY WITH HER.

IT MUST SNOW THERE
SO MUCH.

HMM.

I STILL HAVE
THE PHOTOGRAPH SHE SENT.

HUNTED THROUGH
SOME OLD ALBUMS,

FOUND A KODAK OF MYSELF
ON A FISHING TRIP
WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS OLD,

OUT IN THE SUN
WITH A TROUT IN MY HAND.

WELL, I WROTE HER BACK
AS THOUGH I WAS STILL
THAT 15-YEAR-OLD BOY.

TOLD HER ABOUT THE GUN
I GOT FOR CHRISTMAS
AND HOW THE DOG HAD PUPS.

IT WAS FUN FOR
AN OLD MAN SITTING ALONE,

LISTENING
TO THE NOISE OF A CLOCK,

TO BE GROWING UP AGAIN
WITH A SWEETHEART
IN ALASKA.

2 YEARS AGO, I WROTE HER
AND TOLD HER I WAS GOING
TO LAW SCHOOL.

SHE SENT ME THIS.

A GOLD NUGGET.

IT WOULD BRING
ME LUCK, SHE SAID.

MY SON, THE BANKER,
HE DOESN'T APPROVE
OF ANY OF THIS.

HE THINKS I...
A SIGN OF, UH...

WELL, I AIN'T
NO GOOD WITH WOMEN.

YEAH, WELL,
ME NEITHER.

IF YOU ASK ME, SON,
YOU'RE GOING AT IT
THE WRONG END FIRST.

YOU GOT TO START SMALL.

FIRST YOU GOT TO LEARN
TO LOVE A LEAF.

THEN THE RAIN.

THEN SOME DAY,
IF YOU'RE LUCKY,
THE RIGHT PERSON.

JUDGE...I GOT ME
A BOWL OF GOLDFISH,

BUT JUST BECAUSE
I LIKE THEM,

THAT DON'T MAKE ME
LOVE THE WORLD.

LOVE AIN'T NOTHIN'
BUT A WHOLE LOT OF MESS.

COULD TAKE A LIFETIME.
IT'S TAKEN ME THAT LONG.

ONLY THING I KNOW IS
LOVE IS A CHAIN OF LOVE,

SAME AS NATURE'S
A CHAIN OF LIFE.

OW!
WHAT'S THAT FOR?

IT'S FOR SNATCHING
MY TEETH.

DOLLY.

ALL THESE YEARS,
AND I'VE NEVER
KNOWN YOU.

NEVER KNOWN
ANYBODY.

NEVER KNOWN
THE ONE PERSON
IN THE WORLD

FROM WHOM NOTHING
IS HELD BACK.

MY WIFE IRENE WAS
A REMARKABLE WOMAN.

I SHARED EVERYTHING
WITH HER.

AT LEAST
I THOUGHT I DID.

DURING THE LAST
2 YEARS OF HER LIFE

WHEN SHE
WAS VERY SICK,

I TOOK HER ABROAD

TO ALL THE PLACES
WE'D BEEN
ON OUR HONEYMOON.

RIGHT BEFORE
SHE DIED, SHE...

I SAID...

"IRENE,
ARE YOU HAPPY?

HAVE I MADE YOU
HAPPY?"

"HAPPY, HAPPY,
HAPPY."

IT WAS ONE OF
HER LAST WORDS.

I NEVER KNEW
WHETHER SHE
WAS SAYING YES

OR WHETHER
SHE WAS ANSWERING
WITH AN ECHO.

I SHOULD KNOW IF
I'D EVER KNOWN HER.

I SUPPOSE I'VE BEEN
IN LOVE ALL MY LIFE.

WELL, NO, I'VE NEVER
LOVED A GENTLEMAN.

YOU MIGHT SAY, I NEVER
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

WHEN I WAS A CHILD,

I LOVED THE COLOR PINK.

AND THE BOX I KEPT--
IT'S SOMEWHERE
IN THE ATTIC.

I MUST ASK VERENA
TO PLEASE GIVE IT TO ME.

WHAT'S IN THERE?

A DRIED HONEYCOMB,

EMPTY HORNET'S NEST,

AND A BLUE JAY'S EGG...

MY FIRST LOVES.

ALL THESE YEARS,

AND I'VE NEVER
RECOGNIZED YOU.

SPIRIT OF A PAGAN.

A PAGAN?

WELL, SPIRIT, THEN.

SPIRITS
ACCEPT LIFE...

GRANT
ITS DIFFERENCES.

I THINK SPIRITS
ARE SILLY THINGS.

GHOSTLY.

SO MANY TIMES,
I PASSED YOUR HOUSE

AND WANTED
TO COME IN.

ALL IT TOOK, CHARLIE,
WAS A PUSH
ON THE DOORBELL.

CALL DR. RITZ.

TELL HIM
I'M ON MY WAY UP.

HE CHECKED OUT
THIS MORNING,

TOLD ME
TO CHARGE THE BILL

TO GYPSY QUEEN
DROPSY CURE.

THEY GOT AN ACCOUNT
WITH US, MA'AM?

OH...

MISS TALBO?

Collin as narrator: IT TOOK
WALT HIGGINS AT THE HOTEL

NEARLY HALF AN HOUR
TO REVIVE VERENA.

PEOPLE SAID DR. RITZ'S
TAKING HER MONEY

HAD KNOCKED THE GUMPTION
CLEAN OUT OF HER.

THAT MORNING, OUR WORLD, TOO,
CHANGED FOREVER.

THE JUDGE HAD BRAGGED

WHAT A GREAT HAND HE WAS
AT FRYING CATFISH,

SO RILEY AND I SET OUT
TO RUSTLE ONE UP FOR BREAKFAST.

AS IT TURNED OUT,
THAT FISH NEVER GOT EATEN.

JIMBO, GET HER!

HEY, THERE'S
ANOTHER ONE OF THEM.

GET THE LITTLE
BASTARD!

Catherine:
LEAVE MY BABY BE! STOP!

KICK HIM IN
THE BOOBOOS, BABY!

YES! NOW LEAVE
MY BABY BE!

RUN, BABY!

RUN!

RUN!

RUN!

Sheriff:
DID YOU FIND THAT OLD FOOL
WITH MISS DOLLY?

Man: SHE'S AROUND
HERE SOMEWHERE.

Man:
SHERIFF!

YEAH, OVER HERE.

YOU BETTER
GO BACK INTO TOWN.

VERENA'S
DONE PITCHED
A CONNIPTION.

THAT RICH FELLA...

OH, WHAT IN THE HELL
DOES THAT WOMAN WANT NOW?

WANT A ARMY?

MOVE OVER, RALPH.

COME ON. MOVE OVER.

COME ON.

AIN'T IT JUST TERRIBLE?

THAT IS HOW IT TURNS OUT

WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR MONEY
LYING AROUND, HONEY.

VERENA TALBO
OF ALL PEOPLE?

AND HERE WE THOUGHT

THAT SHE JUST
TROTTED DOWN TO THE BANK

WITH EVERY DIME
THAT CAME HER WAY.

$12,700!

OH!

LORDY LORD.

AS FOR HIM...

THEY HAVE NOT LOCATED
HIDE NOR HAIR.

YEAH, SOUTH AMERICA--
THAT'S WHERE THEY'LL FIND HIM,

IF AND WHEN.

I WAS NEVER ONE TO INSINUATE
THERE WAS ANY MONKEYSHINES

WENT ON BETWEEN HER

AND THAT SO-CALLED
DR. MORRIS RITZ.

HONEY...

THAT MAN HAD
THE WORST CASE OF DANDRUFF

I EVER SAW
ON ANY HUMAN HEAD. OH!

Collin as narrator:
IT WAS MY FAULT.

IF CATHERINE HADN'T GONE
TO LOOK FOR ME,

THEY NEVER
WOULD HAVE CAUGHT HER.

DOLLY COULDN'T BELIEVE
HER FRIEND

HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM HER.

THE JUDGE THOUGHT
HE'D FAILED US.

IT SET A POOR EXAMPLE
FOR THE TOWN, PEOPLE SAID,

THE TALBO SISTERS
QUARRELING

AND CATHERINE BEING DRAGGED OFF
TO THE COLORED JAIL.

THEY WANTED US HOME
WHERE WE BELONGED.

BUT BEFORE THE SHERIFF
COULD COME BACK FOR US,

A WHOLE NEW SCANDAL
HAD ARRIVED,

AND HER NAME
WAS SISTER IDA.

REVIVALS HAD ALWAYS BEEN
POPULAR IN OUR TOWN,

BUT NO ONE
HAD EVER SEEN ANYTHING

LIKE SISTER IDA'S
SOUL ROUNDUP.

SOME CALLED IT
THE DEVIL'S WORK.

* WHO WILL COME TOGETHER
IN THE SWEET BY AND BY? *

* THEM THAT WASH AWAY THEIR SINS
BY GIVIN' TO MANKIND *

* ONLY THE SELFISH WILL BE
LEFT OUT HIGH AND DRY *

* COME TIME FOR
BRINGIN' IN THE FOLD *

* FROM GOD'S CLOTHESLINE *

* PIN UP YOUR TROUBLES
ON GOD'S CLOTHESLINE *

Man: AMEN!

* LEAVE ALL YOUR WORRIES
AND YOUR SINS BEHIND *

Boy: PRAISE JESUS!

* YOUR SOUL WAS DIRTY,
BUT IT CLEANS UP FINE *

* SO PIN UP YOUR TROUBLES
ON GOD'S CLOTHESLINE *

* BUT YOU CAN'T
PIN UP A NICKEL *

* YOU CAN'T
HANG UP A DIME *

* NO PENNY-PINCHIN' MISER *

* WILL SEE
THE NEXT LIFETIME *

* WE CAN MAKE
A STRING OF DOLLARS... *

LOOK AT THEM.
FLEECING THE FLOCK!

* THE LAUNDRY WILL GET... *

I KNOW ONE PERSON
WHO WILL PUT
A STOP TO THIS.

* HANG UP
YOUR TROUBLES... *

Woman:
WE'VE SEEN ENOUGH.

HELLO.

VERENA,
REVEREND BUSTER.

THAT HUSSY
OF A REVIVALIST

IS DENOUNCING YOU
AS RIGHT NOW
AN ENEMY OF JESUS.

CAST OUT YOUR OWN
SISTER, SHE SAYS.

WHAT?

* JOSHUA FOUGHT
THE BATTLE OF JERICHO *

* JERICHO *

* JERICHO *

* JOSHUA FOUGHT
THE BATTLE OF JERICHO *

* WHEN THE WALLS
CAME A-TUMBLIN' DOWN *

* THEN THE MIGHTY HORNS... *

GO DO YOUR DUTY,
SHERIFF.

* JOSHUA FOUGHT
THE BATTLE OF JERICHO *

* JERICHO *

* JERICHO *

* JOSHUA FOUGHT
THE BATTLE OF JERICHO *

* WHEN THE WALLS
CAME A-TUMBLIN' DOWN *

UH-OH.

MA'AM, YOU CAN'T
GO AROUND

BAD-MOUTHING OUR
LEADING CITIZENS.

NOW, DOLLY
AND VERENA TALBO

ARE FINE,
UPSTANDING WOMEN.

EVEN IF ONE OF THEM
IS LIVING IN A TREE.

EDDIE!

WHAT?

Ida: HEY!
HEY, WHO PUT THIS UP!

THAT THIEF THERE?
HEY, LOOK!

LOOK AT HIM.
HE'S TAKING OUR MONEY.

MA'AM, YOU GOT TILL
SUNRISE TOMORROW TO
PACK UP THAT WAGON,

LOAD UP THESE BRATS,
AND GET THE HELL
OUT OF HERE.

HEY, GET THAT
ROPE IN QUICK!

THIS IS
THE LORD'S MONEY.

I'M CONFISCATING IT
IN HIS BEHALF.

THIS REVIVAL'S OVER.

GO DO IT NOW.

EVERYBODY GO--
JACK, RAY, WHAT IN THE HELL
ARE YOU-ALL DOING IN HERE?

HELP ME GET THESE PEOPLE
OUT OF HERE.

COME ON, FOLKS!

PULL!

WHORE OF BABYLON,
REPENT!

Girl: DADDY!

AND YOUR SHAME
SHALL BE SAVED.

I'M NOT YOUR DADDY!
GET AWAY FROM ME!

JANUS.

OH!

YOU ALL RIGHT,
REVEREND?

Ida: HEY! THAT
IS OUR MONEY.

REVEREND BUSTER,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

THAT WAS FREELY OFFERED
BY THESE GOOD PEOPLE

FROM THE BOUNTY
OF THEIR HEARTS.

JUST CALL THAT MONEY
A FINE, OK?

GET UP HERE.
JUST BE GLAD WE'RE
LETTING YOU GO.

WAIT! WAIT!

GET HER OUT OF HERE.

HEY!

Ida: LET GO OF ME, YOU BIG APES!
LET GO!

Reverend: GIVE ME THAT!

WHY CAN'T THE JUDGE
GET HIS OWN COFFEE?

IT'S NOT LIKELY,
WITH THE SHERIFF
OUT LOOKING FOR HIM.

BESIDES, MAYBE HE
WANTS A LITTLE TIME

TO GET
BETTER ACQUAINTED
WITH MISS DOLLY.

JEALOUS.

NO WAY.
I'M NOT JEALOUS.

SOUNDS
LIKE IT TO ME.

HEY, WAIT UP.

YOUR FOLKS?

YEAH.

I MISS THEM.

STRANGE.

YEAH.

I'M GLAD YOUR MA WAS NICE.

OLD LADY USED TO MAKE ME
HOP AROUND ON ONE LEG

RECITING
THE MULTIPLICATION TABLES.

CAUGHT HER ONE DAY

TRYING TO DROWN
MY SISTER IN THE TUB.

I HAD TO BREAK
THE DOOR DOWN WITH AN AX.

THEY JUST CAME
AND TOOK HER AWAY.

NEVER HAD MUCH USE
FOR FOLKS AFTER THAT.

COME ON.

Ida: MORNING, FELLAS.
I'D APPRECIATE
A FEW DIRECTIONS.

Riley: WHAT THE HELL?

Ida: THEY TOLD ME
THAT OUT THIS WAY

I'D FIND A MISS TALBO,
MISS DOLLY TALBO, THEY SAID.

LIVING IN A TREE,
THEY SAID.

OH, ARE THESE
ALL YOURS?

YEP. SURE ARE.
ALL MINE.

COULD YOU HELP ME OUT
WITH A CIGARETTE?

SURE.

WE JUST CAN'T GO
MUCH FURTHER.

JUST DON'T HAVE
THE GAS.

YOU'RE WASTING
YOUR TIME.

THERE'S NOBODY THERE
ANYMORE.

NOT IN THE TREE?

OH, WELL,
WHERE WILL WE
FIND HER, THEN?

DON'T ASK ME.

OH, SHOOT!

YOU KNOW,
YOU COULD HAVE
AT LEAST FOUND OUT

WHAT THEY WANTED.

NAH. A LOOSE WOMAN
LIKE THAT'S

NO ONE TO ASSOCIATE
WITH MISS DOLLY.

YOU LOOK VERY RADIANT
THIS MORNING,
MISS DOLLY.

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN MY LIFE,

I'M DOING
WHAT I WANT TO DO.

MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD
SEEM SO BEAUTIFUL,

SO ALIVE WITH CHOICES.

Judge: WHEN I STARTED
WITH THE SHERIFF'S PARTY,

I WAS A MAN CONVINCED

THAT HIS LIFE WILL
HAVE PASSED WITHOUT A TRACE.

NOW I THINK I WILL NOT HAVE
BEEN SO UNFORTUNATE.

Dolly:
OH, OF COURSE NOT.

Judge: I HAVE SOME MEANS--
NOT A GREAT DEAL,

BUT ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF US.
ALL OF US.

YOU AND CATHERINE...

AND COLLIN TILL HE'S GROWN.

Dolly:
WHY, CHARLIE.

I KNOW IT MUST
SEEM ABRUPT,

BUT IT'S BEEN
IN MY MIND

FOR A LONG,
LONG TIME.

IT WOULD BE
THE CROWNING
ACHIEVEMENT

OF MY LIFE.

YOU REALLY ARE...

AREN'T YOU...

ASKING ME TO...

TO BE THE ONE PERSON
IN THE WORLD.

CAN YOU IMAGINE
THE GOSSIP?

PEOPLE WILL BE
TALKING FOR MONTHS.

LOOK,
I'M ALL FLUTTERY

JUST AT
THE THOUGHT OF IT.

COULD I BE?

IT'S FOR YOU
TO DECIDE.

I'D SAY YES RIGHT NOW.

I'D JUMP UP AND
TELL THE WHOLE WORLD...

YES!

YES, YES.

BUT I CAN'T, CHARLIE.

NOT UNTIL I'VE MADE
MY PEACE WITH VERENA.

WELL, SHE'LL NEVER
LET YOU DO THAT,
MISS DOLLY,

EXCEPT ON HER TERMS.

SHE'D JUST
TRY TO PULL YOU

RIGHT BACK
INTO THE PRISON.

NOT IF YOU DON'T
LET HER, CHARLIE.

DON'T LET ME.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

JUST IN TIME.

EDDIE, ROUND UP
THE OTHER DEPUTIES.

SOBER THEM UP IF YOU HAVE TO
AND MEET ME OVER AT VERENA'S.

WE GOT TO GET
THIS TREE HOUSE THING SETTLED.

Eddie:
YES, SIR.

OK.

I MISS MY KITCHEN.

REMEMBER HOW WARM
IT USED TO BE

ON COLD
WINTER MORNINGS?

OUR SPECIAL PLACE.

YOURS, MINE,
AND POOR CATHERINE.

YOU DIDN'T SEE HER.

SUPPOSE WE LET THEM
HAVE THEIR WAY--
GAVE UP, THAT IS.

THEY'D
HAVE TO LET HER GO,
WOULDN'T THEY?

BUT IF I DID THAT,

I'D BE DOING
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE
WANT ME TO DO,

SAME AS I HAVE
EVER SINCE
I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

AND THE JUDGE...
CHARLIE.

IT WOULD
DISAPPOINT HIM SO.

HE'S VERY DEAR
TO ME, YOU KNOW.

THIS MORNING,

WHILE YOU WERE
AWAY...

HE ASKED ME
TO MARRY HIM.

Judge: COLLIN, YOU TAKE CARE
OF MISS DOLLY, NOW, HEAR?

SO YOU'RE GOING TO
GO AWAY, LEAVE US...
LEAVE ME?

OH, YOU KNOW I WOULD
NEVER LEAVE YOU.

YOU AND CATHERINE
WOULD COME WITH US.

DON'T BE UNHAPPY.

LET'S TRY SOMETHING.

YOU AND I ARE GOING
FOR A LITTLE WALK.

YOU-ALL TAKE THIS BAR
OF SOAP

AND YOU GO DOWN TO THE RIVER
AND YOU WASH YOURSELVES.

IF I CAN WASH MYSELF,
YOU CAN WASH YOURSELVES.

NO, YOU'RE DIRTY!
YOU ARE DIRTY!

Children:
NO! I HATE BATHING!

I DO BELIEVE
YOU'RE SITTING
ON MY FATHER.

OH, SORRY, SOLDIER.

OH, PLEASE DON'T.

I ONLY MEANT
TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

I UNDERSTAND
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ME.

I'M DOLLY TALBO.

PRAISE JESUS.
YOU'RE THE ANSWER
TO OUR PRAYERS.

WE NEVER SAID
A WORD AGAINST YOU
OR YOUR SISTER.

I OUGHT TO
HAVE THEM ARRESTED,

THAT PUKE-FACED
BUSTER
AND THAT SHERIFF.

HE THINKS
HE'S KING KONG.

THEY CLEANED US OUT.
THEY TOOK
OUR LOVE OFFERINGS.

I HAVE 15 MOUTHS
TO FEED,

LESS THAN HALF
A GALLON OF GAS,

AND 90 CENTS
TO OUR NAME.

THAT WON'T
EVEN GET US
TO THE NEXT TOWN

FOR THE REVIVAL
MEETING.

OH!
I HAVE A FRIEND.

A BRILLIANT MAN.
HE'LL KNOW AN ANSWER.

COLLIN,
YOU SCOOT ON AHEAD

AND LET THE JUDGE KNOW
TO EXPECT COMPANY
FOR DINNER.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

PLEASE, DON'T WORRY.

OH.

Collin: JUDGE.

DOLLY INVITED
16 MORE PEOPLE
TO DINNER.

16 PEOPLE?
LORDY LORD.

FETCH--FETCH
SOME MORE WATER.

FETCH SOME MORE WATER.

SEE IF YOU CAN SCROUNGE UP
SOME FIXINGS.

YES, SIR.

SEE IF YOU CAN GET
SOME SQUIRREL.

Ida: WANT A CIGARETTE?

Dolly:
I'VE JUST STARTED.

I DO HOPE IT'S
NOT HABIT-FORMING.

WELL, JUST NEVER
GET MY HABIT...

HAVING KIDS. HA HA!

THAT'S DANNY, MY OLDEST.

HIS FATHER, DAN RAINEY,
WAS MY FIRST LOVE.

WHERE IS
YOUR HUSBAND?

OH, NOT MY HUSBAND.

HE'S STILL MARRIED
TO MY SISTER GERALDINE.

I NEVER TOLD HIM
DANNY WAS HIS.

I'VE SPENT YEARS
LOOKING FOR
ANOTHER DAN RAINEY.

ONE OF THE MINERS
UP IN STONYVILLE,

HE HAD
THE SAME FRECKLES,

THE SAME
YELLOW EYES.

HE OBLIGED ME
WITH SAM,
MY NEXT OLDEST.

WHAT IS IT LIKE,
THE LOVE OF A MAN?

WHY, HONEY,
IT'S ANYTHING YOU
CHOOSE TO MAKE IT.

FOR ME,
THERE IS NOTHING

LIKE THE TOUCH
OF A MAN'S HAND.

IT TELLS EVERYTHING,
THE TOUCH--
EVERYTHING.

THE JUDGE SAYS,
LOVE IS A CHAIN.

HMM.

CERTAINLY IS
IN MY CASE.

JUST LOOK
AT ALL THEM LINKS.

HA HA HA!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU
HAD THE CALLING, DEAR?

IT WAS 15 YEARS AGO
LAST FEBRUARY 3.

I DIDN'T
BY ANY MEANS DESERVE
TO BE CHOSEN.

IT WASN'T UNTIL
I MET MR. HONEY

THAT I SAW
WHY THE LORD
HAD CHOSEN ME.

WE HAD ROY,
THEN PEARL,
THEN KATE AND CLEO

AND LITTLE HOMER--

MOST OF THEM BORN
IN THAT WAGON.

I SUPPOSE COLLIN IS
AS CLOSE AS I'VE COME
TO HAVING A BABY.

LITTLE IDA,

UM...LAURA,
AND, UH, TEXACO--

ALL THEM OTHER KIDS,
THEY JUST SORT OF
HAPPENED, LIKE...

SEEMS SOMEHOW
I CAN'T GET ALONG

WITHOUT ANOTHER LIFE
KICKING UNDER
MY HEART.

BUCK, YOU AND HOMER
CHASE UP
TO THAT WAGON.

GRACIOUS KNOWS
WHO'S COME ALONG
AND HELPED THEMSELVES.

WE'VE DISCUSSED
YOUR SITUATION.

Judge: YOU'D WIN
YOUR CASE IN COURT,
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

FOR ONCE THE LAW WOULD BE
ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

AS MATTERS STAND...

OH. OH.

Judge: YES, PLEASE.
TAKE THAT.

HERE, TAKE MINE, TOO.
I'LL KEEP A DOLLAR.

OH...

UM...

THIS IS WRONG,
BUT...I THANK YOU.

Boy: THEY'RE COMING!

THEY'RE COMING!

WHO, THE BRITISH?
NOW, SLOW DOWN.
WHO'S COMING?

THE SHERIFF! STOPPED THERE
BEHIND THE GRASS WITH GUNS.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY,
KEEP YOUR HEADS.

NOW, THE WOMEN
AND SMALL CHILDREN,
UP TO THE TREE HOUSE.

RILEY, SCATTER
THE REST OF YOU
OUT THERE.

SHIMMY UP
THE OTHER TREES.

Ida: LISTEN
TO THE JUDGE.
GRAB A HANDFUL
OF ROCKS, HEAR?

Riley: HELP YOUR MOM
AND MISS DOLLY
GET UP THIS TREE.

Ida: HELP EACH OTHER.

Collin: HELP MISS DOLLY.

BEEN EXPECTING YOU,
SHERIFF.

STEP ASIDE, JUDGE.
THIS IS FOR
THE LAW TO HANDLE.

GET OUT OF MY WAY.

YOU...DOLLY.

MIND THE POISON IVY,
SISTER.

AM I TO UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU'RE
STILL CONNIVING

WITH THAT...

THAT WOMAN...

AFTER SHE
MADE A MOCKERY
OF OUR NAME?

I CAN'T SET MUCH STORE
IN A NAME

THAT STEALS
FROM LITTLE CHILDREN

AND DRAGS WOMEN
INTO JAIL.

IT OUGHT TO BE
A MOCKERY.

YOU'RE NOT
YOURSELF.

YOU'D BEST LOOK AGAIN.

I AM MYSELF.

DAMN YOU,
CHARLIE COOL!

TALK SOME SENSE
INTO THAT SISTER OF MINE!

Man: WHAT THE HELL
IS GOING ON?

Amos:
WATCH OUT, HONEY.

Judge: ALL RIGHT, YOU PEOPLE.
GO ON HOME NOW.

GO ON HOME. YOU'RE GOING
TO MISS YOUR SUPPER.

Judge: THAT'S ENOUGH.
SOMEONE'S GOING TO GET HURT.

VERENA!

VERENA!

Riley: COLLIN!

OH, MY GOD.

OH, MY GOD.

SON.

OH, HAVE MERCY.

Amos: VERENA.

Judge:
OH, HAVE MERCY.

HAVE MERCY.

OH, MY BOY.

HERE. TAKE
THE GOLD NUGGET.

BRING YOU LUCK.

WHICH ONE OF YOU FOOLS
FIRED THAT GUN?

IT WAS
AN ACCIDENT.

Child: HE DID IT.

I WAS BUMPED.

I HOLD YOU PERSONALLY
RESPONSIBLE, MR. STOVER.

NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE...

EXCEPT OURSELVES.

THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS
IT'S ONLY HIS SHOULDER.

YOU'RE ALL RIGHT,
SON.

YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

TAKE HIM BACK
TO THE HOUSE.

YES'M.
BOYS, COME OVER
HERE QUICKLY.

FETCH DOC CARTER.

YES, MA'AM.

Ida: HE'S GOING TO BE
ALL RIGHT, NOW.

YOU JUST BE CAREFUL
WITH HIM.

Sheriff:
WATCH YOUR HEAD.

WATCH YOUR BACK.
EASY, NOW.
WATCH YOUR HEAD.

Ida: CAREFUL.

Sheriff: CAREFUL.
JUST TAKE HIM HOME.

HE'S GOING TO BE
ALL RIGHT.

Ida: WHERE IS TEXACO?

COME ON.

Ida: Y'ALL SAY YOUR GOOD-BYES.
LAURA CAN HOLD THE BABY.

EVERYBODY STAY TOGETHER.

Man: WELL, HE'S GOT
A PRETTY BAD CONCUSSION,

AND THAT SHOULDER'S
GOING TO SMART HIM A MITE,

BUT HE'S GOING TO BE FINE.

THANK HEAVEN.

I'LL DROP IN IN A FEW DAYS,
TAKE A LOOK AT HIM.

JUDGE, MISS DOLLY.

Verena: THANK YOU.

I HAVE SOMETHING
TO SAY TO MY SISTER.

I'M AFRAID YOU'LL
HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ME,
MISS VERENA.

I HAVE AN INTEREST
IN THE OUTCOME

OF WHAT YOU
MIGHT HAVE TO SAY.

I DOUBT THAT.

FRANKLY, CHARLIE,
YOU'RE NOT A WELCOME
SIGHT TO ME.

MY SISTER COULDN'T
HAVE GONE THROUGH
SUCH TOMMYROT

IF YOU HADN'T BEEN
GOADING HER ON.

IT'LL BE NO FURTHER
AFFAIR OF YOURS.

BUT IT IS BECAUSE
JUDGE COOL...

CHARLIE HAS...

DOLLY MEANS
THAT I'VE ASKED HER
TO MARRY ME.

WELL...

THAT IS...REMARKABLE.

REALLY.

I WOULDN'T HAVE CREDITED
EITHER ONE OF YOU

WITH SO MUCH IMAGINATION.

QUITE LIKELY
I'M DREAMING,

EXCEPT THAT I NEVER
HAVE DREAMS.

THIS ONE I SUGGEST
WE ALL FORGET.

BUT A MAN
WHO DOESN'T DREAM

IS LIKE A MAN
WHO DOESN'T SWEAT.

HE STORES UP
A LOT OF POISON.

YOU'VE ACCEPTED HIM,
HAVE YOU?

I'VE TAKEN
YOUR ADVICE--

STOPPED HANGING
MY HEAD, I MEAN.

YOU TOLD ME IT
MADE YOU DIZZY.

YOU TOLD ME
YOU WERE ASHAMED

OF ME,
OF CATHERINE.

SO MUCH
OF OUR LIVES

HAVE BEEN LIVED
FOR YOU.

IT WAS PAINFUL
TO REALIZE

THE WASTE
IT HAD BEEN.

CAN YOU KNOW
WHAT THAT IS--

SUCH A FEELING
OF WASTE?

I DO KNOW.

IMAGINED I'D GO
TO MY DYING DAY

WITH THE HURT
OF IT.

I WON'T.

BUT IT'S NO
SATISFACTION,
VERENA, IS IT?

I'M ASHAMED
OF YOU, TOO.

DOLLY.

DOLLY.

I THOUGHT I WOULD
KNOW WHAT WAS RIGHT.

DO OTHER PEOPLE?

I WANTED
TO HAVE A LIFE

MADE UP OF
MY OWN DECISIONS.

Verena: BUT WE'VE
HAD OUR LIVES.

YOURS HAS BEEN
NOTHING TO DESPISE.

LEAVE DECISIONS
TO ME.

THAT, YOU SEE,
HAS BEEN MY LIFE.

IS THAT TRUE,
CHARLIE?

HAVE WE HAD
OUR LIVES?

SOME PLANTS,
THEY BLOOM
JUST THE ONCE,

AND NOTHING MORE
HAPPENS TO THEM.

THEY LIVE,
BUT THEY'VE
HAD THEIR LIFE.

NOT YOU. NOT ME.

I'VE ALWAYS
ENVIED YOU, DOLLY.

YES...ENVIED YOU.

YOUR ROOMS...
YOUR KITCHEN...

HUH.

I COULD ONLY
KNOCK AT THE DOOR,

AND NOW THERE'S NO ONE
TO LET ME IN BUT YOU,

BECAUSE MORRIS--
HELP ME.

I LOVED HIM.

I DID.

OH, I ADMIT IT,
WE WERE...

WE WERE
KINDRED SPIRITS.

WE LOOKED EACH OTHER
IN THE EYE.

WE SAW THE SAME DEVIL.

WE WEREN'T AFRAID.

HE MADE ME LAUGH.

BUT HE OUTSMARTED ME.

I...HAD KNOWN
HE COULD.

HOPED HE WOULDN'T,
BUT HE DID.

NOW, UH...

IT'S TOO LONG
TO LIVE ALONE,
A LIFETIME.

I WALK
THROUGH THE HOUSE.

NOTHING IS MINE.

YOUR PINK ROOMS,
YOUR KITCHEN...

THE HOUSE IS YOURS...

AND CATHERINE'S,
TOO, I THINK.

ONLY DON'T LEAVE ME.

LET ME LIVE WITH YOU.

I'M FEELING OLD.

I WANT MY SISTER.

FORGIVE ME.

I WANT
MY SISTER, TOO.

Collin as narrator:
THE JUDGE COULD NOT REACH HER,

NOT WITH HIS ARMS...

NOT WITH HIS HEART.

THE SISTERS' BOND
WAS TOO FINAL.

THE JUDGE CONTINUED
TO CALL ON DOLLY.

SHE BECAME
WHAT HE HAD WANTED:

THE ONE PERSON
IN THE WORLD

TO WHOM EVERYTHING
CAN BE SAID.

PERHAPS WHEN EVERYTHING
CAN BE SAID...

THERE'S NOTHING MORE
TO SAY.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE
MY BABY BACK.

Doc Carter:
NO PERMANENT DAMAGE.

GOING TO BE
WEAK AT FIRST.

MIGHT ITCH AWHILE,
BUT THAT'S ONLY NATURAL.

HI, MAUDE.

NOW, COLLIN, I DO HOPE
THAT YOUR COSTUME IS READY.

OH, COLLIN,
YOU HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN
HALLOWEEN, HAVE YOU?

WE'VE BEEN WORKING
LIKE DOGS.

THERE'S GOING TO
BE WINE PUNCH,

AND I WOULDN'T
BE SURPRISED

IF THERE WAS, UH,
DRUNKENNESS AND EVERYTHING.

RILEY'S COMING
AS THE DEVIL.

NOW, WE WANT YOU THERE
IN A SKELETON COSTUME.

I KNOW THERE ISN'T
MUCH TIME LEFT--

Dolly: OH, I'M
SURE WE CAN FIND
SOMETHING FOR HIM.

THANK YOU, MISS TALBO.
I KNEW I COULD
COUNT ON YOU.

PLEASE GIVE MY REGARDS
TO THE JUDGE.

WHAT ABOUT THAT RIDE
YOU PROMISED ME,
RILEY HENDERSON?

YEAH. YEAH. SURE.

WELL, SEE Y'ALL LATER.

BYE-BYE, CATHERINE.

Maude: BYE, COLLIN.

BYE, MISS TALBO.

Dolly:
BYE, MAUDE.

Doc Carter: EASY.
THAT'S STILL GOING
TO HURT YOU SOME.

Catherine:
BE CAREFUL, BABY.

Dolly: CATHERINE,
HALLOWEEN.

OH, WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO BE?

Doc Carter:
ONE IN THE MORNING,

ONE BEFORE HE GOES
TO BED AT NIGHT.

UH-UH. SEE,
MISS DOLLY HEART
AND ME,

WE GOT OUR OWN CURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL FEED THIS
TO A HOG.

GIVE ME
THOSE PILLS.

THAT ONE...

Verena: IN THE SPRING,
WE'LL MAKE A TRIP TOGETHER.

WE COULD GO
TO THE GRAND CANYON...

OR FLORIDA.

YOU'VE NEVER SEEN
THE OCEAN.

Dolly: I WOULDN'T
ENJOY IT--

SEEING THINGS
I'VE KNOWN

SHAMED BY
NOBLER SIGHTS.

I'M WHERE
I WANT TO BE.

THE WOODS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL
THIS TIME OF YEAR.

WE'LL GO TOMORROW,
CATHERINE.

WE MUST TAKE
OUR SPADES.

I WANT TO GET
ENOUGH DROPSY HERBS

TO SEE US
THROUGH THE WINTER.

WHO GONNA CARRY
ALL THAT STUFF?

I DONE TOLD YOU,

THE CHILDREN
PUT A PERMANENT
CRICK IN MY BACK.

I DONE LAID DOWN
THE LOAD.

WE COULD HIRE
SOMEBODY.

OR WE COULD TAKE IN
ANOTHER PARTNER.

HMM?

I THINK, IF HE
WOULD ACCEPT,

I THINK WE SHOULD
ASK THE JUDGE.

MAY I?

MAY I COME
WITH YOU, TOO?

I'D LIKE TO HELP...
IF YOU'D LET ME.

OH, MY.

Judge:
THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.

FATHER, ARE YOU SURE
YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

YES, SIR. HA HA HA!

FATHER.

DON'T CALL ME
FATHER.

Woman: OH,
THE JUDGE IS HERE.

OH!

LET ME HELP YOU
WITH YOUR SATCHEL.

Judge: HI.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?

CHARLIE.

HELLO, LADIES.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HERE YOU GO.

OH, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.

HERE YOU GO,
DARLING COLLIN.

OH, YES. THIS WILL MAKE
SOME NICE BLOOMERS.

Dolly: YEAH.

A BLACK SATIN COLLAR

WOULD DRESS UP
MY PRINT CONSIDERABLY.

I CAN USE
ALL THIS STUFF.

CATHERINE, DEAR,
WE MUSTN'T THINK
OF OUR OWN NEEDS.

PITY I DIDN'T INHERIT
MY FATHER'S HAND AT SEWING.

SO MANY MEN SEWED
IN THE OLD DAYS.

DID YOU KNOW THAT,
COLLIN?

UH-UH.

YOU KNOW I WAS AGAINST
YOUR COMING HERE.

TOLD VERENA
IT WASN'T RIGHT,

RAISING A BOY
IN A HOUSEFUL OF WOMEN--

WOMEN AND THEIR
PREJUDICES.

BUT I'M NOT WORRIED
ABOUT THAT NOW.

YOU'LL MAKE YOUR MARK.
YOU'LL GET ON.

THERE. LET'S SEE
HOW IT FITS.

I THOUGHT THIS
WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE SILVER.

IT'S BETTER,
ISN'T IT?

GOLD...LIKE
A KING'S RANSOM.

HA HA HA!

SHH!

IT TICKLES.

I KNOW,
BUT I'M GOING
TO MAKE A MESS

IF YOU DON'T
HOLD STILL.

SEE WHAT ELSE
I FOUND?
MY VALUABLES.

Dolly:
LOOK INSIDE.

CATHERINE
STOLE THEM FOR ME.

I WAS
TOO PRINCIPLED.

IT WAS MY CHRISTMAS
PRESENT.

CHARLIE SAID LOVE
IS A CHAIN OF LOVE.

I HOPE YOU LISTENED
AND UNDERSTOOD HIM,

BECAUSE...

IF YOU CAN LOVE
ONE THING...

YOU CAN LOVE
ANOTHER,

AND YOU CAN FORGIVE
EVERYTHING.

THAT'S SOMETHING
TO LIVE BY.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

WELL, I GOT TO
GET YOU PAINTED.

I HAVE SO MANY
FRIENDS NOW,

I'M GOING TO
GIVE A PARTY.

LET'S SEE, THERE'S
CHARLIE AND RILEY,

AND WE CAN ASK AMOS.

OH, DEAR.

YOU SEE
WHAT I'VE DONE?

YOU'RE TRAPPED
INSIDE THERE
FOR A WHILE.

YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO WHIRL.

WHIRLING
WILL DRY YOU.

WHOO! HA HA HA!

HA HA HA!

WHIRL! WHIRL!

DOLLY?

DOLLY?

YOU OK? HUH?

Collin: HELP!

HELP!

GET SOMEBODY!

DOLLY, PLEASE GET UP.

PLEASE.

HUSH, NOW.

IT APPEARS MY...
MY SISTER HAS...

SUFFERED A STROKE.

SHE'S LEFT US.

COLLIN.

Catherine: DOLLY.

Dolly's voice, whispering:
Love is a chain.

DOLLY?

Love is a chain...
Love is a chain...

Collin as narrator:
AFTER DOLLY DIED,
I WAS A LONG TIME DANGLING.

RILEY AND MAUDE
WERE MARRIED THE FOLLOWING FALL.

RILEY'S SISTER ELIZABETH
WAS MAID OF HONOR,

AND I WAS
RILEY'S BEST MAN.

I'VE READ THAT PAST
AND FUTURE ARE A SPIRAL,

ONE COIL CONTAINING THE NEXT
AND PREDICTING ITS THEME.

MY OWN LIFE, THEN,
SEEMED TO BE

MORE A SERIES
OF CLOSED CIRCLES.

BYE!
BYE!

WHAT WEAKENED ME
WAS THE WAIT

BEFORE I KNEW
WHERE TO JUMP.

IF EVER I WAS
GOING TO MAKE THE LEAP,

THAT WAS THE TIME.

JUDGE, CAN I GET YOU
SOME OF MISS DOLLY'S TEA?

I'D LOVE SOME.
THANK YOU,
CATHERINE.

OK.

I'LL HELP.

ALL RIGHT,
DEAR.

VERENA, I WANT
TO GO AWAY.

I KNOW.
I DO MYSELF.

I'D HOPED TO MAKE
A TRIP WITH DOLLY.

I WANTED TO SHOW HER
THE OCEAN.

IT COULD BE
A LONG TRIP.

I'VE BEEN THINKING OF
SELLING A FEW PROPERTIES.

WE COULD TAKE A BOAT.

YOU'VE NEVER SEEN
THE OCEAN.

NO.

WELL...

WHAT ARE
YOUR AMBITIONS?

HEY. DON'T YOU
COME BACK HERE
BALDHEADED, HONEY.

THEY'LL TRY AND
SCALP YOU UP THERE,

CHEAT YOU
EVERY WAY THEY CAN.

HERE. HA HA HA!

BYE, AMOS.

BYE-BYE.

REVEREND.

THAT CITY IS
AN EVIL PLACE.

SEE YOU DON'T
FALL VICTIM
TO THE WAYS OF SIN.

GOD BLESS YOU, BOY.

BYE.

GOOD LUCK.

COLLIN, YOU STAY
OUT OF TROUBLE, NOW.

HEAR YOU'RE UP
TO SOMETHING,

ME AND RALPH WILL COME
UP THERE AND ARREST
YOU PERSONALLY.

SAY GOOD-BYE, RALPH.

BYE, RALPH.

YOU TAKE CARE, SON,
ALL RIGHT?

GO FOR A WALK.

COME ON.

TCK TCK TCK.

WE'RE GOING THIS WAY.
COME ON. COME ON.

A WRITER
IS WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO BE, EH?

OH, YEAH.

YOU BETTER WRITE
US A LETTER,
NOW, YOU HEAR?

I WILL.

GOOD LUCK.

LOOK AT YOU.
YOU'RE ALL READY TO GO.

MISS DOLLY
WOULD BE PROUD.

YEAH, I KNOW
SHE WOULD.

YOU STILL GOT
YOUR LUCKY NUGGET?

YEAH. OF COURSE I DO.

YOU WRITE TO ELIZABETH.
SHE'S A GOOD GIRL.

AND HERE'S
A DIARY FOR YOU.

WRITE EVERYTHING
DOWN IN THERE
THAT YOU THINK OF.

THANK YOU.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU
SOMETHING.

SURE.

Collin as narrator:
SO LITTLE, ONCE IT IS CHANGED,
CHANGES BACK.

THEIR MEMORY FADES
WITH EACH PASSING YEAR.

YET THE PRECIOUS MOMENTS
WE SHARED,

THAT UNFORGETTABLE AUTUMN
OF MY YOUTH,

FOREVER SHAPED MY LIFE
AS A STORYTELLER.

I LIVE WITH THE SOUND

OF A HARP OF VOICES
INSIDE MY HEAD,

TELLING A STORY.

THEY ARE
FOREVER TALKING,

AND THE VOICE...

IS DOLLY'S.

THE GRASS HARP.

WHEN WE'RE DEAD,
IT WILL TELL
OUR STORIES, TOO.

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Woman:
* AM I YOUR LOVE OR NOT? *

* PLEASE MAKE IT CLEAR *

* WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME
WHAT I LONG TO HEAR? *

* GOODNESS ME *

* CAN'T YOU SEE
I'M UP A TREE? *

* YOU'VE GOT ME GUESSING, AND *

* I HATE TO GUESS *

* WHEN WILL I UNDERSTAND *

* TRUE HAPPINESS? *

* HONESTLY *

* CAN'T YOU SEE
I'M UP A TREE? *

* WHAT A CHANCE I'M TAKIN' *

* 'CAUSE HOW THAT TREE
IS SHAKIN' *

* AND I'M HANGING
OUT ON A LIMB *

* LOOKS LIKE
MY CHANCES ARE SLIM *

* GOT NO WAY OF KNOWIN' *

* HOW THE WIND IS BLOWIN' *

* YOU PUT ME IN SUSPENSE *

* AND KEEP ME THERE *

* I'M LOSIN' CONFIDENCE *

* IN THIS AFFAIR *

* PITY ME *

* CAN'T YOU SEE
I'M UP A TREE? *

* WHAT A CHANCE I'M TAKIN' *

* 'CAUSE HOW THAT TREE
IS SHAKIN' *

* AND I'M HANGING
OUT ON A LIMB *

* LOOKS LIKE
MY CHANCES ARE SLIM *

* GOT NO WAY OF KNOWIN' *

* HOW THE WIND IS BLOWIN' *

* YOU PUT ME IN SUSPENSE *

* AND KEEP ME THERE *

* I'M LOSIN' CONFIDENCE *

* IN THIS AFFAIR *

* PITY ME *

* CAN'T YOU SEE
I'M UP A TREE? *

* I'M JUST A FOOL
TO LOVE YOU SO *

* WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER,
YES OR NO? *

* CAN'T YOU SEE *

* I'M UP A TREE? *