All language subtitles for Tammy Tell Me True 1961.subrip

(CAR APPROACHING)

Gosh almighty, Mr. Beasley, I
thought you'd never get here!

No use to run your legs off,
Miss Tammy. Nothing for you.

Advertisement for Professor Brent,
and looks like a bill for his missus.

They've gone visiting for a few days.
Are you sure there ain't nothing else?

Might be there's a post card stuck
betwixt two letters or something?

Better luck next time,
Miss Tammy.

I've plumb give up hoping.

Pete ain't writ me once since he
went off to that agricultural college.

You know, I could write me a
book about the folks along this route,

waiting to hear from
somebody, some place.

If you did, Mr. Beasley, I reckon
it'd be such a book of sadness

as would spill over the
four corners of the earth.

(SIGHING)

(GOAT BLEATING)

More than likely Pete's took to comparing
me with some of them college-type girls,

and he realizes
how funny peculiar I am.

Well, there's no sense
in arguing about it, Nan.

One thing I learned here for
sure, visiting with Pete's folks,

and that's that I'm still just an unlearned
shanty boat girl come from the river.

But time comes when a
body's got to do what's what

and hang it up
on the wall to dry.

You know what, Nan? You
and me are going to college.

(GOAT BLEATING)

It's me, Grandma, Tammy. I
come home from out in the world.

I guess I just didn't realize
how home-pining I'd been.

Well, I'll be back
when I can tarry longer.

Come on, Nan! We've got a lot of
work to do before we get to college.

(GOAT BLEATING)

(MOTORBOAT APPROACHING)

(BELL RINGING)

Captain Joe!

Howdy, Tammy!

Why,
I'm pleasured for sure!

I seen the smoke from the
chimney and said to myself,

"Old Dinwoodie must be out of jail
and maybe needing some vittles."

No,
Grandpa's still locked up.

Too bad.

My customers up and down
the river sure miss his corn liquor.

Well, it was the making and
selling of that fine corn liquor

that got him into the hands of
the revenuers in the first place.

But I guess he's happy.

He's preaching there to the inmates
on Sunday and he seems content.

You know, this is one congregation
that can't walk out on him.

But how about you, child?

I ain't a child! I'm a
woman, fully growed!

Well, you sure
got convincing arguments!

Captain Joe!
Such talk ain't seemly!

Last I heard, you was
gonna marry that young fellow

you and your grandpa
fished out of the river.

Oh, it appeared that way
for a spell, but...

Well, he took off for that
agricultural college and...

Well, that's exactly
what I'm aiming to do.

You going
to farming school?

Nope! A regular college.

So's when Pete comes home,
he'll find me real ladified,

and I'll be proper learned
and proper spoken!

But it ain't
that easy, Tammy.

You can't go to college until
you've had a formal schooling.

But Pete's ma and pa says
that the Seminola College

takes in special students
for one or two classes,

and, well, that's all
I'm figuring on.

But college costs
a heap of money!

Well, come inside.

Look,
Grandpa's emergency fund.

Did you ever see such a sight
of greenbacks in your life?

I mean,
must be nigh to $100 here.

Do you think you should be
using his emergency fund, Tammy?

When I was living
on the river, Captain Joe,

the Bible and a little
common sense was enough.

But well, out there in the world
there's a sight more to know,

if I'm not to go shaming
Pete in front of his friends.

Well, Grandpa told me to
use it if I needed it, and...

Well, this is an emergency
for sure, ain't it?

Yeah, I guess it is.

But $100 won't even pay for the teaching,
let alone other things like clothes, and...

Oh, I got plenty of clothes. Pete's
folks bought them for me. Look.

I been readying
some chinaberry beads!

Now you know there ain't nothing
more that fancies up a dress

more than chinaberry pits
dyed in pokeberry juice.

Yeah, but you'll
need a place to live.

Well,
when the river rises,

I'll pole the Ellen B. downstream
to college and live on her.

Well,
what about food?

Well, I can near live off fish.

You know, I can even sell
some and make some money.

Damn, if I don't
believe you'll make it.

Of course I'll make it, Captain Joe,
and there ain't no need for swearing!

It ain't swearing when you
spell "damn” with three letters.

Like Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
It's the four-letter word that's bad.

Well, I sure hope the good Lord can
tell the difference, 'cause I sure can't!

Tammy, I'm in a trading
mood for some of this catfish.

You needn't set around
waiting for high tide.

Soon as I sell my load, I'll come
back and give you a tow downstream.

Captain Joe, I was fair in a
frenzy hoping you'd say that!

I'll stop over on my way back,
Tammy. See if you need something.

Thank you, Captain Joe!
You been monstrous kind!

I reckon the world is just full
of monstrous kind people, Nan.

(GOAT BLEATING)

Oh, gosh almighty! Oh! Looks
like you cotched me for fair!

Well, so I did.

I was after a butterfly,
a very unusual specimen.

I can't see much sense in a growed
man going around catching butterflies.

I study their colors.
I'm an artist.

But what are you up to, out here
alone this hour of the morning?

Well, I was aiming to get
some of this swamp mud off

before anybody laid eyes on me.
I better hurry before it dries stiff.

Here, try this.

Now it's all messed up
and it's so fine.

1t'll wash.

I'll wrench it out, only I know river
water will never get it this white again.

Say, where were you coming
from through the swamp?

There's nothing beyond
but the river.

That's where I live.

In the river?

Well, you're not a mermaid, not
with those two legs I see before me

and very shapely,
if I do say so.

Well, you've done said it,
so just let it lay.

I thank you for the use of your kerchief,
but... Well, where shall I return it?

My studio is just outside
the Seminola east gate.

Name's on the door,
Buford Woodly.

Well, I sure do
thank you, Mr. Woodly.

I better hurry. I'm registrating
at the college today.

Hey, wait a minute!
You've got time. It's early.

Tree, I can't
rightly believe I'm here.

You must be like
the tree of knowledge,

just standing here in the
midst of all this learning.

Maybe if I hold
still long enough,

your leaves will whisper
words of sweet wisdom.

MR. FREEMAN: "And this our
life exempt from public haunt,

"finds tongues in trees,
books in the running brooks,

"sermons in stones, and good in
everything. I would not change it."

As You Like It.

Well, I like it fine, but you
fair took my breath away.

I'm sorry.

I took you for the voice of this here
tree speaking to me with words like music.

Did you like
what you heard?

Smooth as molasses
pouring out of a jug.

You made the words ring true and
fair, just like a fiddle shapes sound.

Your speech, your phrasing,
where've you been to school?

Well, I ain't been yet, but I'm going
as soon as they open up them doors.

If they'll take me.

Depends on your preparation.

Well, I haven't had any yet. I mean,
not the kind that comes in books, anyway.

But well, I know about
living and I know about dying

and I know about begetting
and being in love.

Well, I can cook and
sew and patch and knit

and plant taters
by the light of the moon

and peas and beans
in the dark of the moon.

And I know how to milk my nanny
goat and I can tend chickens and...

Well, did you know that once I
even helped out in borning a babe?

Borning a babe?

I were eight at the time.
We was living on the river.

I mean, same as now.

And this here woman, she
come up to see my grandma.

Well, it was her woman time
and I was alone there.

She told me what
to do and I done it.

Helped out
in borning her babe.

You live on the river?

I brung my own lodgement.

Like a snail traveling hither
and yon in my own snug shell.

Well, you're a little young to be
living alone on a boat, aren't you?

There ain't nothing to fret about.
There's no place safer than the river.

I mean, I've been living on
it all my remembering days.

But there's one thing that's
got me discombobbled, though.

And that is they tell me I
have to find work for my keep.

Don't worry about that. There
are plenty of jobs open to students.

In fact, I know of a possible position
as a companion to an elderly woman.

What's your name?

Tammy. Tammy Tyree.

Tammy being
short for Tambrey.

You know, it come out
of a book, it means immortal.

What? And what might
be your entitlement?

Your entitlement.

Oh, Thomas Freeman.

Here, give this to Miss Jenks.
She's the dean of women.

Dean of women.
Has a noble sound.

"Mrs. Theodore Call."

Well, ain't she the one who
give this here park to the college?

Yes, a lonely sad old woman who
needs someone to stay with her.

Her son was my best friend.
She was a good friend too, once.

I have a feeling
you'll be good for her.

Oh, by the way, if her niece, Suzanne,
is there, don't let her put you off.

See Mrs. Call herself.

I will.
And thank you mightily.

Oh, and let me know
how you make out.

You'll find me in Room 12,
I teach public speaking.

Why, that's just what
I come here to learn!

You see, I wanna
talk like other folks.

Oh, more's the pity.

Your manner of speech is delightful.
Straight out of the early 1800s.

Yes, but that ain't
the time I'm living in.

I can see your problem.
Maybe I can help you.

That is, if you
care to enter my class.

Why, I'd be proud and
pleasured so, Mr. Freeman.

And thank you.
You've been monstrous kind.

Mother insisted
I go to school in Paris,

but Dad wanted me back in New
York where he could keep an eye on me.

Hold it, Rita.

Is it my tired blood,
or do you see what I see?

(MUMBLING)

(GIGGLING)

Hi, toots.

I think you mistook me.
My name is Tammy Tyree.

(LAUGHTER)

Are you for real?

No, no.
I'm for Miss Jenks,

if you'll kindly tell me
where she's to be found.

I'm going that way.
I'd be glad to take you.

Thank you.
You're monstrous kind.

Monstrous kind?

Hello, Rita. Welcome
back. Thanks.

Hey, Rita, what's new? Hi, Joe.

Rita! Rita, doll!
You look fab!

RITA: Ditto, Joanie!
How's Bob?

JOAN: He's a drag.

I've snagged myself
a new cat.

Phi Sig?

Tau Ep.
How great!

Dig you later.

Them foreign languages sure
do sound like English, don't they?

Foreign languages?

Hide the men and boys. The
Great White Huntress is back.

You don't have to worry,
Phil, you're safe.

It must be right companioning to
know you got such a power of friends.

Right companioning.

This must be it.

Come with me.
I've got a better idea.

Well, here you are. I'll be right
across the hall in the laboratory.

Laboratory? Yes.
I'm taking physics.

I'm sorry.
I hope you feel better.

MISS JENKS: Come in.

Yes?

My name is Tambrey Tyree and I
come here to be a special student.

Please sit down.

We do accept a limited number of
special students to sit in on classes.

What are
your qualifications?

Well, I don't rightly
know if I have any.

What courses do you
intend to pursue?

Well, I intend
to pursue speaking.

Not so much public speaking as
private, although they call it public.

And I'd also like to get
cotched up on my reading.

I want to learn what's
going on now in the world.

I mean, I already know
about Bible times.

Well, have you done
much reading? Yessum.

Whilst I was living at Brentwood
Hall, that was just before I come here,

I took up reading.

Did you know they got a whole
roomful of books they call the library?

Well, we...

We have courses in both English
literature and current events.

No, ma'am.

You see, more than anything
else, I want to be able to understand.

Sometimes people in this
world are so odd and peculiar.

As a wise man once said, "With
all thy getting, get understanding.”

Yes, I know. And if I do, I will have
an ornament of grace for my head

and a crown of glory
will be delivered to me.

That's one of my
grandpa's sermons.

Your grandfather
is a preacher?

On and off,
when he gets the call.

That's one thing he learned me for sure
before he got took up by them revenuers!

And that was the Bible.

Got took up by revenuers?

It was nothing he done wrong!

I mean, just some fool law regarding
the making and selling of corn liquor.

But do you know that Grandpa's
best, aged and seasoned,

were the talk of the river?

Well, Miss Tyree,

I think we can find room
for one more special student,

especially one
as sincere as you.

Gosh almighty, Miss Jenks! Do
you know, you've set me so atremble

that I could lie down and
die right here of pure pleasure!

Now then, you'll start
classes on Wednesday.

Public Speaking at 9:30
and Current Events at 2:00.

Now where will you
be living?

Oh, well, Professor Freeman,
he give me this to give to you.

He said there's a lady who
needs someone to companion her.

Oh, dear.

I wouldn't dream of questioning
Mr. Freeman's judgment,

but acting as companion to Mrs.
Call is a very difficult assignment.

I've already sent
over several girls.

I don't mind hard work.
I'm real work prickle.

Oh, it isn't
the work that...

All right, there's no harm in trying.
I'll give you a note to Mrs. Call,

and I want you to report back to
me immediately after the interview.

Oh, and I think maybe we'd
better leave the hat here.

Thank you, Miss Jenks.

Just like everyone else here,
you've been just monstrous kind.

Thank you.

(DOORBELL RINGING)

Morning, ma'am.
I'm from the college.

I come to live with Mrs.
Call, if... Well, if I suit.

Come in.

Take a chair. I'll tell Miss
Rook. That's Mrs. Call's niece.

I'd prefer talking
to Mrs. Call.

When Miss Rook comes
visiting from New Orleans,

she takes charge
of everything.

Hello.
Hello.

I'm catching a train to New
Orleans. I only have a minute.

Oh, you can sit down.

Well, might as well know my aunt
doesn't want anyone here with her.

And she's bound to
make it difficult for you.

Frankly, she's...
Oh, how shall I say...

Notional, I reckon.

Yes.
Don't worry, ma'am.

I know more about old folks
than I do about the young.

I was raised by my
grandpa and grandma.

Oh, well,
that's splendid.

If I decide to have you then, I'll
expect you to write me in New Orleans

if she gets any more
notional, as you call it.

Yes, ma'am.

Now you tell me
about yourself.

Well, there ain't
much to tell.

I grew up on the river
with my grandpa and grandma

that is, until she died, and well,
as of late, I've been living with Pete.

That's who I'm
thinking of marrying.

You've been living
with him? Yessum.

That is, until
he went away and...

Well, I decided I should come
here and get some schooling.

And your grandfather
permitted it?

He was glad to get
me off his hands.

Incredible!

Well, he couldn't rightly look after
me himself whilst he was in jail.

Meantime, I'm living
with an old goat...

That will be all.

And thank you very much
for coming, Miss...

Goodbye.

You mean you don't want me?

Yes... No!

If it's about my grandpa,
I can explain.

No, please don't bother.

I'll have to send someone
up from New Orleans.

TAMMY:
Howdy, ma'am.

Who are you?

Why, I'm from the college.
My name is Tammy Tyree.

I thought I'd have at least until
tomorrow to enjoy my privacy.

Isn't that how my
ever-loving niece arranged it?

No, ma'am. She didn't like
me so she wouldn't have me.

That's one thing
in your favor.

But I figured it was you who
should have the real last say, so...

A novel idea. My real last say-so
is no. But who listens to that?

But how can you say no before
you even laid your eyes on me?

I've laid eyes on you
and I've made up my mind.

Now I'll let you out.

Don't bother.

I don't stay where I'm not wanted, so
I'll just go the way I come, thank you.

You know, it just seems a
shame that we can't join up.

I mean, I heard them calling you
"that poor lonesome old lady" and...

Well, you know, ma'am, I get
kind of lonesome myself sometimes.

A child like you
lonesome? Nonsense.

I ain't a child. I'm a woman fully
growed. Look for yourself, front and back.

Well,
that's a matter of opinion.

You know, before I left the river
I never had much lonesomeness.

But now, especially
on moonlit nights I...

I get such a sad
lost feeling as if...

As if something not yet here
were gathering dark around me.

And sometimes
it comes when I hear

the whippoorwills calling
again and again, and...

And getting no answer.

You say you lived
on the river?

Yessum. On the
Ellen B. Same as now.

What's the Ellen B.?

Well, I guess it's what
some folks call a shanty boat.

Where is she?

She's out yonder
on the river, upstream.

Wait. Wait,
come down.

(GROAN)
Well, what's keeping you?

Well, my drawers, they're
cotched up here on a twig.

Well, uncotch them
and come on down here.

Now tell me about the Ellen
B. How many rooms has she?

Two. One being the kitchen
wheres my grandpa slept

and the other, well, that's in
the back. That's where I sleep.

Oh, it's real nice. It has an
iron bed right out of a catalog.

An iron bed
out of a catalog.

Well, there ain't no need to laugh just
'cause some folks have more than others.

Oh, don't begrudge me
a little laughter.

You've just set me to remembering
my own shanty boat days.

Your shanty boat?

No, not mine, really.
My uncle's.

I was 10 years old
at the time.

We had five rooms and
servant quarters in the stern.

And then there was a carriage
and two horses besides.

We stopped at landings all the
way from St. Louis to New Orleans.

Took all summer.

Catfish every morning
for breakfast.

Fried in corn meal?

Fried in corn meal.

There ain't nothing tastes so
good when you're hunger-bit.

Those... Those were the
happiest days of my life.

Now I'm
practically in prison.

Prison?

I have two jailors.
Age and my niece.

Since my son is gone, she seems to
think she has to manage me, run my life.

Look at this! Her
idea! I hate knitting!

Well, I'd be proud and pleasured to
have you come stay with me on the Ellen B.

Well, why not?

You mean you'll do it?

That's exactly what I mean.

Well, are you sure
you'd be comfortable?

Oh, blazes with comfort. There's
no such thing at my age, anyway.

Are you getting cold feet?

No. No, ma'am. No, I'm
used to going barefoot.

Well, run along now, child.
I've got things to do.

But remember, not one
word of this to anybody.

I'll be there tomorrow.

Well, you know, ma'am,
it's through the swamps,

so I think I better come back
and show you the way.

If the Ellen B. is on the river, I'll
find her. Now stop pestering me.

Well, I guess I'd better
leave something to the Lord.

The Lord and me, Tammy.

Two good managers.

Yes, ma'am.

(CHATTERING)

MR. FREEMAN: Miss Tyree?

I'm glad I caught you
before you went in.

You know, Mrs. Call's
niece phoned, and...

Well, I'm afraid you didn't
make a very good impression.

I still can't figure out why.

I no sooner told her about me living
with Pete whilst Grandpa was in jail,

then she went ahead and
got herself into a swivet.

You told her
you were living...

Mr. Freeman, you're laughing at
me, same's everyone else here.

If I am,
it's with pure delight.

Don't you understand?

Suzanne got the notion that
you and this fellow Pete were...

Well, living in sin.

You mean she took me
for a scarlet woman?

Not exactly scarlet.

Sort of medium red.

I been out in this here world a
mighty short time, Mr. Freeman,

but I see plain and simple that there be
some folk who speak with false tongues.

Well, I'm sure Miss Jenks will
understand. She's a fine woman.

Then I hope she still
accepts me here as a student.

So do I, Since one of
your classes will be mine.

Thank you, Mr. Freeman.

(MOTORBOAT APPROACHING)

MRS. CALL:
Ahoy, there, the Ellen B.

Here I am, like a
thief in the night.

Don't stand there,
lend me a hand.

Well, I make you welcome, ma'am, but
I rightly didn't expect you till morning.

Fewer witnesses in the dark.
I packed Della off to Chicago

and I wrote my niece a note that I
was going on a boat trip for my health.

I wish I could see her
face when she reads it.

Ma'am, you brung
such a power of food, I...

Well, I reckon I ought to
be paying for some of it.

Oh, nonsense.

Then I'd have to pay you for my room
and there'd be no end to the business.

I'd better pay that river pirate
his hush money and get rid of him.

Hush money?

My niece is half bloodhound. She'll
be on my trail before the week is out.

Here you are. Remember,
not one word to anyone.

Compared to me, madame,
a corpse talks too much.

And you'll come past every
week for a list of supplies.

Yes, madame,
every Wednesday.

Now, let's have
a look at the Ellen B.

Yes, ma'am.

I sleep in here.

I suppose it ain't much of a muchness
after living in that big, elegant house.

It's very much of a muchness,
Tammy. I know I'm going to like it here.

Free for the first
time in years.

Well, it pleasures me
to hear you say that, ma'am.

As a matter of fact,
I feel better already.

What was that?

My sleeping pills.

You mean they got pills
for putting folks asleep?

And others to wake them up.

Well, I declare. What is
this civilization coming to?

Well, if you ask me, Tammy,
this is civilization, pure and simple.

Without any of the fixings
and the trimmings.

Now where do I put this?

In here.

Ma'am, I hope you brung
some everyday clothes.

Of course,
I'm not in my dotage yet.

(BOARDING WHISTLE BLOWS)

I'm going to love
your river, Tammy.

It's real friendly like,
ma'am.

Of course, sometimes
it gets to boiling over mad,

but most of the time it's just
real lazy and slow, like now.

You know,
the river is forever.

It don't get up and leave you
one day like some humans do.

(BOAT WHISTLE BLOWING)

Morning, ma'am.
Morning.

Fine morning,
wonderful morning.

But it's hardly after sunup.
Couldn't you sleep?

Like a top.

But I just couldn't wait
to catch me a catfish.

Been here nearly an hour
without even so much as a nibble.

Well, maybe you ain't fishing him right.
You know, a catfish is a funny critter.

Nigh onto being
human in some ways

and being half cat and half fish
and three-quarters pure cussedness.

He's gotta be
cajoled on that hook.

Cajoled, my foot.
They're just not hungry.

Oh, let me see.

Come on. Here's a pretty
for your mouth. Come on.

You are gonna be rolled in meal and
fried in fat and ate by two fine ladies.

And that's a most
honorable end.

Well, I'll be... Don't say it
unless it's a three letter one,

like Rotterdam
or Amsterdam.

Well, I'll be
Rotterdam med.

And in conclusion, I can only say that
despite the undeniable charm of Paris,

and the beauty
and grandeur of Rome,

and as much as I enjoyed Venice,
and the art treasures of Florence,

not to mention
scaloppini, which I adore,

and even though in some ways
I found this trip to the continent

even more pleasant
than my previous ones,

I wasn't really happy until I returned
here to my friends and classmates

at dear old Seminola.

(CLAPPING)

MR. FREEMAN:
And now, as is our custom,

I shall call upon our new students
to say a few extemporaneous words.

First, a young lady who has been
quite out of contact with the modern world.

Her speech has
a flavor of the Elizabethan,

as is true of the speech of the
mountain folk of Kentucky and Tennessee.

Miss Tammy Tyree.

(GIGGLING)

(LAUGHTER)

(CLEARS THROAT)

There don't seem to be
nothing coming to my mind.

Don't be nervous, Miss Tyree.
Just forget you're in front of a class.

Pretend you're speaking
to me alone.

Well, I reckon then I'll talk
about my own travels, too.

Of course I never been to any fancy places
like Paris or Rome, or scaloppini, but...

(LAUGHING)

Well, a few years
back, Grandpa and me,

we decided to pole our boat,
the Ellen B., downstream.

And whilst we were on our way, it come
night and being there was a full moon,

Grandpa took a notion to float all night
instead of tying up like we usually did.

Well, as we were drifting
along with the current,

we come upon this
big house on the bluff,

and it was all lit up with dancing
and music and merriment.

And he looked at me and he said,
"Tammy, this is sure dancing country.”

And then after another little while,
we come upon another house,

and the other house was all lit up with
dancing and music and lots of merriment,

and he looked at me
and he said,

"Tammy, this is the dancingest
country I ever heard tell of!"

And then after another while,
we come upon the third house

and it was lighted up from
top to toe to the bottom

with dancing and music and merriment
and he looked at me and he said,

"Tammy Tyree, this is the out-and-out
dancingest country in the whole world."

Well, then came morning,

and we seen that we was
caught up in a big whirlpool

and then we realized
that we were...

Well, that we were going by the same
house over and over and over again.

MR. FREEMAN:
Miss Tyree!

Miss Tyree!

I enjoyed your
story, Miss Tyree.

Well, I reckon you're
the only one who did.

You've got to expect that the
other students may find you...

Well, a little strange.

Well, that ain't a circumstance
as to how I find them.

They'll get over it, as soon
as they know you better.

No, Mr. Freeman, I
shouldn't have come here.

I know now that even with
proper speech, I'll never blend in.

Don't try to blend in. You're
different. Be true to yourself.

I don't know what for you're
being so kind to me, Mr. Freeman,

but it makes me feel kind of important
having a professor take notice of me.

Why do you always have to
think of me as a professor?

I'm only an instructor, and
well, after all, I am human.

I can see you be human. And I
can see you've known trouble.

Why do you say that?

Well, Grandpa always says that, "Them that
were cast into the furnace of affliction

"either come out burnt to
bitterness or refined to gold."

Sounds like a wise man, your
grandpa, I'd like to meet him sometime.

He'd be likewise
pleasured, I'm sure.

Oh, by the way, Miss Jenks
would like you to drop by.

She wants to talk to you
about a babysitter opening.

A what?

A babysitter opening.

Well, if she figures that's a fit
subject for her to be talking about,

I reckon it's a fit subject
for me to be listening to.

You do know
what a babysitter is?

Yes, it's what
the baby sits on.

This is slightly different. A babysitter
is someone who keeps an eye

on other people's children
when they're out for the evening.

Oh, you mean like quieten
them when they're dauncy

and changing their
hippens when they're wet.

Well, yeah. I guess
that's what I mean.

Oh, well, thank you very much
for telling me, Mr. Freeman.

And I'm muchly beholden.

Not at all, Tammy.

(BELL RINGING)

Well, there's the bell
for another round.

I'll be calling on you to speak again
soon and I don't want you to feel nervous.

I won't for a fact. Not if you're
standing there, like today.

You know, it was pretending
that I was talking to you alone

that, well,
made it easy.

Well, I'm glad.

Tree, I sure wish Pete
were more like Mr. Freeman.

He gives me
a feeling inside

as if the warmth of the sun
were soaking into my innards.

I reckon that's how growing things
feel when spring sets them stirring

and the world comes awake.

218 Cypress Road.

Why, that's just around
the corner from my place.

Well, I gotta
be there at 7:00 sharp.

The baby's ma and pa, they're
going out to a fancy dinner.

They called it a banquet.

I wonder if you'd
do me a favor, Tammy.

But you just have
to name it, ma'am.

I left my raincoat hanging
in the front hall closet.

If you could just
stop by and pick it up.

Why, it'll be
no trouble at all.

Oh, you'll need the key
'cause there's nobody there.

Thank you, ma'am.

A woman fully growed?

Well, I ain't that growed.

If he cries, just change him
and he'll go right to sleep.

Where'll I find the hip
pen for him? The what?

What you put on him when
he wets the one he's wearing.

In the top drawer.

Can we leave, dear?

There's a sandwich in the
refrigerator in case you get hungry,

and you'll find
the TV in there.

The what?

The TV.

Well, it's right handy
to know where it is, ma'am,

but I ain't never heard
it called that before.

(BABY COOING)

(BELL RINGING)

SUZANNE: Who is it?
Who's down there?

Who is it?

Hello, operator,
get me the police quickly.

I knew Suzanne'd
come shooping,

but I didn't think she'd come up
from New Orleans for at least a week.

But, ma'am, it must be right comforting
to know there's a body worried about you.

It's not me. It's my
money she's worried about.

She's afraid I'll leave it to some
institution. If I know Suzanne,

she'll have detectives checking
every steamship company and airline.

We've gotta be
doubly careful, Tammy.

There ain't nothing
to worry about, ma'am.

With me keeping an eye on you,
they ain't no harm gonna come.

You're the nicest thing that
ever happened to me, Tammy.

It pleasures me to hear you say that,
ma"am, but I don't rightly know why.

Because you're helping me
learn myself, that's why.

You mean you been living
with yourself all your life

without having any
knowledge of what you are?

Not all my life.

But since my son was killed, I've
been like a ship stuck on a sandbar.

He and Mr. Freeman were
monstrous good friends, weren't they?

Tom Freeman was driving
the car when it crashed.

It wasn't his fault, but I
became a bitter old woman,

and I've held it
against him ever since.

That were
a wrong thing, ma'am.

I know that now, Tammy.

Somehow out here on the river,
I'm able to think clearly.

Just being here,

listening to the whippoorwills
and the frogs at night,

the water lapping
against the sides.

But above all,
listening to you.

It takes me back to the little
girl I once was, so long ago.

Coming downriver
with my uncle.

I was real then. Myself.

You're helping me find
that old self, Tammy.

That's why I'm grateful.

Ain't nobody kissed me like
that since my grandma died.

TAMMY:
Mr. Freeman.

I was hoping
you'd get here early.

And I'm nigh onto busting
to tell you about last night.

I'm nigh onto busting to hear
about your first baby-sitting job.

But I seen a wondrous thing last night.
A modern-day contraption called TV.

First time you
ever saw a television?

In all born days
I never dreamed

such a wondrous miracle existed. I mean,
so many stories and, with play acting.

Well, the stories,
they weren't so much.

Just a lot of men on horseback
chasing one another and shooting

and never really
hitting anything. But...

Well, it was what come
between that was real educational.

The commercials?

Well, I don't know
what you call them by.

I never dreamed there could be
so much excitement over soap suds.

And then there was this here doctor,
he was selling these little white pills.

And showing human innards.
To me that was a mite confusing.

Well, in what way? Well,
you see, I always thought

that human innards were like other animal
innards. I mean, chicken innards and all.

But you know,
they're not.

They look just like the pipes to
bring water to the kitchen sink.

Mr. Freeman. Are you laughing at
me with pure delight, or otherwise?

With pure delight, Tammy.
Absolutely. Please go on.

Well, there was something
else that was mite confusing.

What was that?

Did you know
they got a cream

for taking the stink off of people without
their even bothering to wash theirs elves?

A cream? Yes,
I guess I did.

Then they got stuff
that's supposed to make folks

irresistible to folks
of the opposite sex.

Now, I mean,
that makes a body wonder.

Well, about what?

Well, how males and females
got together in the first place

without all them
fine inventions.

Tammy, I could listen to
you by the hour or forever!

You know, Mr. Freeman, now
I know you're laughing at me

with pure delight,
so I feel no dismay.

It's like Grandpa says, "The
way into one's heart is twofold,

"one by being the way of laughter
and the other being the way of tears.”

Laughter and tears. Your
grandpa is a very wise man, Tammy.

Well, I'd better
be going in.

I have a lot
of papers to mark.

Tree, there goes
one monstrous kind man.

He sure makes
me feel funny inside.

A womanish kind
of funny.

No, sir. She said she was going on
a boat trip but she didn't say where.

That'll be all,
Della. Thank you.

All right, Mr. Welling. You're my
aunt's lawyer. Now do something.

Well, there's really
nothing to do, Suzanne.

I believe your aunt merely
decided to get away for a while.

For three weeks?
Without a word?

You know what I think? I
think she's been kidnapped.

Oh, nonsense. You would've
been contacted by now.

Well, what about that
prowler that I frightened away

a few nights after
my aunt disappeared?

Maybe he was supposed
to be the contact.

He left no note.
Nothing was stolen.

Maybe it was
your imagination.

In any event, I don't think my aunt
should be allowed to wander around

by herself in her condition.

What condition?

Well, I've been trying
to keep it a secret, but,

you know, she's
completely irrational at times.

And as her lawyer, I must demand
that you notify the police at once.

Very well.

I'll contact
the missing persons bureau.

Well, if it isn't
my little woodland nymph.

Gosh almighty. The butterfly painter.
I plumb forgot to return your kerchief.

There's no hurry.

I could drop over to that river boat
of yours some evening and pick it up.

Oh, no need to do that. No,
sir. I'll return it like I promised.

We could have
a little téte-a-téte.

Well, I don't know whether
you drink that, sir, or do it, but...

No, thank you.
I ain't having any.

All right, but if you change
your mind, you let me know, huh?

(TELEPHONE BUZZING)

Yes? WOMAN: Miss
Tammy Tyree to see you.

Send her in.

Sit down, Tammy.

Thank you.

Here's the address.

Why, you've been
crying, Miss Jenks.

Tammy, you'll find that
this is not an easy job.

Every girl I have sent over
there has refused to go back.

Well, what makes
it so hard?

Three boys,
five to 11.

Their father is one of our most
brilliant instructors in psychology

and their mother has a
doctor's degree in child training.

The children have been
raised on the permissive system.

What's that?

Well, it's a sort of
learn-by-experience method.

They've been permitted
to do exactly as they please.

And they've never heard the word no.
In fact, you're forbidden to even use it.

Well, no wonder their pa and
ma have to get away for a spell.

Do you figure that's the
best way for raising children?

I wouldn't know.

I don't have
any children of my own.

That'll be all, Tammy.

Good luck.

Well, thank you kindly,
Miss Jenks.

(SOBBING)

(GOAT BLEATING)

Gosh almighty, Nan.
Captain Joe's here.

Looks like Mrs. Call's
been found out.

Well, I declare, Nan.
If they wasn't so old,

I'd swear they'd be making up to
each other for all they was worth.

(LAUGHING)

Howdy, Captain Joe.

Hi, Tammy.

Well, I see you already
been made welcome.

Sure have, Tammy. If I had known
Shanty Boat Annie was taking care of you,

I wouldn't have
been so worried.

Shanty Boat Annie?

Well, shucks, gal, they
ain't no sense of him

calling me by my full
entitlement of Annabella Smith,

so I'm letting him
call me Shanty Boat Annie,

same as all the
rest of my friends.

Well, I'm baby-sitting
tonight, Captain Joe,

but we'd be real pleasured
if you'd stay for supper.

Mrs... Shanty Boat Annie makes
the best buttermilk and soda pancakes,

and I know
how you favor them.

It ain't the only thing
I favor around here.

You're sure you'll be
all right? Yes ma'am.

The skiff's quicker
and I'm already late.

There's no call
to worry, Annie.

Tammy's been navigating craft like this
ever since she were knee-high to a tadpole!

Oh, and don't fret none
if I'm home late.

The baby's folks they said they
won't be home till nigh to midnight.

Oh, I forgot. The river police
have notified all boat owners

to be on the lookout for the
body of an elderly female.

There's a fancy reward. It's a
Mrs. Call. Mrs. Theodore Call.

What's the matter, Annie?
Something wrong?

I must have had
too many pancakes.

(DOORBELL RINGING)

Come in.

(BANGING)

I'm Miss Tyree,
the babysitter.

(SCREAMING)

That's Neil,
the youngest.

Harold's in the living
room, smoking. Smoking?

He's satisfying a natural
curiosity about tobacco.

When he's through,
take the matches away.

Julian's in the dining room
absorbed in one of his pet projects.

Miss Jenks undoubtedly
explained something of our system.

Yes, ma'am, but she... We
really must be going, darling.

It's an important faculty
meeting and we are late.

There's Neil. Good
night, Neil. Good night.

Good night.
Good night.

Who are you?

Well, I'm Tammy,
the babysitter.

Then sit.

(SCREAMING)

Now what for
did you do that?

That's my ego
striving to be heard.

Why, I reckon you could
hear it clear to New Orleans.

(PURRING)

Better not interrupt. Julian's
on his aerodynamic project.

Whatever are
you trying to do?

I'm gonna set this
little beast into orbit.

Well, I don't reckon
this permissive system

of bringing up kids is gonna
be very popular with cats.

Laws of mercy.

It's a rather curious effect
I get from smoking.

Merely a slight reaction
from the cigarettes.

But the cigar seems to
interfere with my vision.

Everything is blurred.
Is that usual?

Or a personal idiosyncrasy.

Well, I reckon you'll get over
it. Now, I'll take them matches.

I have not yet
completed my experiment.

Little boy, you
give me them matches

or I'm gonna whop the
living daylights out of you.

Daylights?
Daylights.

I don't know of any such organ
in the functioning human body.

I'm giving you these, not
because you order me to,

but because I find your
language picturesque.

Well, if my talk
sounds funny to you,

it ain't a circumstance as to
how your talk sounds to me.

(CAT MEOWING)

Look at it. Just look at it! My
golly, you're apt to have killed it!

How would you like to be
hung up in the air like that?

I wouldn't mind if it's in the
cause of scientific advancement.

Little boy, you
touch this kitten again

and I declare I'm gonna take
a hairbrush to your bottom.

Hear that, Harold?
Hairbrush to my bottom.

Is that some new
method of child training?

No, I reckon it's been
right much used.

Then it couldn't have
been very successful.

TAMMY:
And why not?

Otherwise, the world would
not be in such a state as it is now.

Well, I reckon we can give
the devil some credit for that.

Oh, but we don't
believe in the devil.

Nell's bells, are you
heathens as well as savages?

What was that for?

When he screams in a minor
key, it means he's hungry.

Well, show me where
the kitchen's to be found.

And that's how come the
angel with the flaming sword

had to throw them
out of Eden.

And that's how come folks ever after
had their knowledge of good and evil.

I like your Bible, Tammy.

It ain't mine.
It's everybody's.

I hope you come again.

You're the most interesting
babysitter we ever had.

Yes. I'd like to hear some
more of those religious myths.

Of course, we
shan't tell our folks.

But why not?

Gosh almighty, you'd think
the Bible was something nasty

so as you had to seek out a
creep hole for you dast speak of it.

We're not supposed to hear too
much about all that till we're older.

I declare. The more
I stay on in the world,

the more I wonder at how
many kinds of people there are.

All wrapped up in these
strange mixed-up notions.

I reckon humans got more
layers to them than an onion.

Here you are, miss. If we need
you again, we'll call Miss Jenks.

I still can't believe all three
went to sleep without any trouble.

They have no temperature. There
must be a psychological reason.

Well, I don't know what
that is, but I told them

if they didn't behave, I
was gonna skin them alive

and hang their skins
up on the wall to dry.

Must have been real
psychological. It worked.

Good night.

Tammy!

Mr. Freeman, what're you
doing traipsing about at this hour?

I was waiting for you,
Tammy.

Miss Jenks mentioned at the faculty
meeting that you were babysitting here

and, well, I didn't like the idea
of you crossing the swamp alone

at such a late hour.

Well, that were monstrous kind of
you, sir, but I come tonight with a skiff.

I'm as good at rowing people
home as I am to walking them.

Well, I'd be
pleasured to, sir.

But first, I have to drop off at
Mr. Woodly's painting studio

and return this
handkerchief I borrowed.

Why don't you just give it
to Miss Jenks in the morning?

Well, what's Miss Jenks
got to do with Mr. Woodly?

They're married.
Have been for years.

She just uses her maiden
name at the college.

That's a monstrous
good woman, Miss Jenks.

It ain't right for her to be so
all-fired sad most of the time.

Sad?

The last time I seen
her she was crying.

Most likely on account
of old Woodly.

How come you say that?

Well, when they were first
married, they seemed happy enough.

Woodly showed great
promise as an artist.

Something went wrong.
He began to change.

Why she even puts up
with him now, is beyond me.

When a woman
loves a man, ...

Well, I reckon she'll put
up with most anything.

Even waiting for letters
that never come.

So, I left Brentwood Hall and I
come here. That's all the telling of it.

But I know now that... Well, Pete
and his folks are just being kind

because Grandpa and me fished him
out of the river when his airplane crashed.

Even thought he never writes,
you're still in love with him?

Before I met Pete,
I always figured that

when a body fell in love,
it just naturally filled up

every breathing minute of
the day and night, but it ain't so.

I mean, there's so many things
that gotta be done in this world that...

Well, sometimes, you just
gotta set love back on the stove

and let it simmer a while.

You can always bring the
pot forward if you're hungry.

It's kind of like shoes.

Shoes?

If you got shoes, you don't have
to be wearing them all the time

just to show off
that you got them.

(WATER SPLASHING)

Here we are.

You handle a skiff almost
as good as my grandpa does.

Well, I use to do a little fishing back home.
And I rowed on the crew here at Seminola.

Where's back home?

New England.

I came down here 'cause the tuition's
low. Stayed on to become an instructor.

Mrs. Call let me
room at her home.

Remember Mrs. Call,
don't you?

Yes. I do for a fact.

Well, after Bill,
that's her son,

Bill was killed in that smash-up,
she couldn't stand the sight of me.

Well, I reckon that she was
just so forespent with grief that...

Well, she wasn't
thinking straight, that's all.

I'm sure of it.

That's why I'm worried
about her safety.

Her safety?

The police called me in
today for questioning...

Police? What for?

It seems she took off for parts
unknown. Nobody's heard from her.

It seems to me a body should be
able to take off when she wants.

He niece doesn't seem to think so.
She insists she met with an accident.

Or is running around
non compos.

Non compos?
What's that?

Irresponsible.

But that's silly. She ain't no
more notional than most old folks.

I reckon,
it's just because she...

Well, she ain't.
That's all.

You seem to have been very
observant in your brief encounter with her.

Are you always so
swift to form an opinion?

Well, take Pete, for instance, I'm
beginning to think that I was too swift

in forming the opinion
that I was in love with him.

Tammy, I think being
loved by you would be

the most wonderful and exciting
thing that could happen to a man.

Do you reckon?

I reckon.

Is something wrong?

Well, I feel funny
in my innards.

Funny?

Like I ate an unripe
persimmon or something.

It's on account of you give me
that womanish kind of feeling, as if...

As if you was a man and...
And I was a woman.

Well, aren't we?

Well, there are some, including
Pete, who still think I'm a child.

You're anything
but that, Tammy.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I think I'd better be going, I
have a lot of papers to mark...

Well, good night.

Very interesting.

For shame, ma'am.
You was listening.

Couldn't help it. You two were
courting right under my very nose.

Courting?

Why, Mr. Freeman is just a monstrous
good man who's been kind and encouraging.

Kind and encouraging, is he?
He's in love with you.

Why, that ain't true.

Why, he's a professor and me, well, I
don't know nothing compared to him.

You know enough.
Well, ma'am...

I'm glad I lived
to see him in love.

When he was
staying with me,

I used to invite the gayest
and prettiest girls in college.

I was quite a matchmaker in those
days. But he was my worst failure.

And now here you come
along in a shanty boat

and he gives up
without a struggle?

I think you're forgetting
about Pete. Pete.

He's something you just
made up in your mind.

The sooner you
forget him, the better.

But didn't you ever feel that you had
to love just one man till the day you die?

I don't think you ever
really loved this Pete.

And I think you're
beginning to realize it, too.

Living in isolation
with old people,

well, you were bound to be fascinated
by the first young man that came along.

Do you reckon
that's how it is?

I reckon
that's how it is.

Well, that being the case, I'll
write Pete just one more letter.

And if he don't answer it right
away, he don't have to answer it at all.

Fine.

Good night, dear.

Night, ma'am.

(GOAT BLEATING)

Nan, I don't rightly know what
to think. I'm plain discombobbled.

(GOAT BLEATS)

(SINGING)
Please tell me do

And tell me true

Is Tammy in love?

Wish I knew,
wish I knew

Is Tammy in love?

Oh, evening breeze

Please ask the trees

Then whisper to me

And when you do

Please tell me true

Is Tammy in love?

For Tammy loved,
not long ago

Did Tammy love him true?

Has Tammy lost
her heart once more

To a love that's new?

Please tell me do

And tell me true

Can this be true love?

Wish I knew, indeed I do

Is Tammy in love?

Please tell me do

And tell me true

Can this be true love?

I wish I knew,
indeed I do

Is Tammy in love?

(MOTORBOAT APPROACHING)

(BOAT HORN BLOWING)

Hello there.
Identify yourself!

Well, this here's the Ellen B.
and my name is Tammy Tyree.

I'm known as
Shanty Boat Annie.

That's the name I go by
in this neck of the woods.

We're asking everyone along the river to
keep watch for a body. An elderly woman.

Wearing a black dress
and lots of jewelry.

We'll let you know
if we hear anything.

Her kinfolk must be
nigh on plumb distracted.

Thank you, ma'am.

Distracted about how soon she
can get her hands on my money.

It appears to me, ma'am,
that it'd be much simpler

if you just told your
niece that you was here.

But I can't do that now.
I know what she's up to.

She's going to try and have
me clapped into an institution.

She couldn't
possibly do that?

Couldn't she,
though.

And then have herself appointed
conservator of my estate.

What are you
aiming to do?

Leave it to the Lord.

As I told you before, he and
I are both good managers.

Yes, ma'am.

My, my. All prettied up.
Must be a special occasion.

Yes, ma'am. Mr. Freeman asked
me to speak to the class again today.

Oh, Rotterdamned
and Bolderdamned!

My chinaberry beads.
They're all busted.

Don't get upset.
I've got something prettier.

But, ma'am, there ain't nothing that
fancies up this dress like chinaberry beads.

I mean...

Oh, my.

Oh, that's just the most
elegant-looking thing I ever seen!

It's dazzled many an eye
at many a fancy dress ball.

Turn around.

But...

That's lovely.

And it's yours.

Mine?

It looks real valuable.

Well, a few weeks ago,
I would have agreed.

But now, thanks to
you and the Ellen B,

my opinion has changed about what's
valuable in this world and what isn't.

Oh, ma'am. Thank you. Oh,
it's just beautiful. So elegant.

Hello there, mermaid. Still
carrying your shoes, I see.

Well, shoes are harder
to clean than feet...

Nell's bells.
What is that?

That is a woodland scene.

Well, I reckon that's what
it is if you say so, but...

Well, it looks more like
a patchwork quilt to me.

It's neo-impressionistic.

Are you sure you painted it right
side up or the other side hindmost?

Well, now, what for
did you do that?

Because you're right.
It's trash.

But, sir, you shouldn't
pay no heed to me.

I know nothing
about art.

I do or
I did once.

Now, I'm trying to find
something I lost.

Well, whatever it is you're
looking for, Mr. Woodly,

you just keep right
on trying. You'll find it.

How? Painting butterflies and trees?
No, my little mermaid. It's gone. Forever.

You mean you want to do
something important, but can't?

That's one way
of putting it, yes.

Well, maybe, Mr. Woodly, what you
do isn't as important as how you do it.

I mean, that depends on
how you yourself are, inside.

Well, that's a rather grown-up
philosophy for one so young.

I ain't so young
as some folks think.

And I wish some folks
would stop saying so.

Now wait. Hold that
expression. Now look this way.

There. That's it.

Something wrong?

I want you to sit
for me. I ain't tired.

You've got to
let me paint you.

I'd be very proud and pleasured
to have my face painted, sir,

but you see, I am late
and I've got to get to class.

But it's early, and this
morning light is perfect.

I'll only keep you long
enough to get it started.

We can finish it
in two or three sittings.

All right. Well, I reckon I can't say
no to a body as stirred up as you be.

Mr. Freeman,
fellow students,

I reckon I'm at
a loss for words again.

(LAUGHTER)

There was a time when all a girl
needed to know was how to cook

and sew and mind the
baby and hold her tongue.

Well, I reckon that's why I'm
no good at speech making.

Well, Mr. Freeman asked me to
talk on such matters as I know best,

that being my impressions
whilst living on the river, mainly.

Reminds me of
a story about a man

who seen the great
Mississippi for the first time,

and his friend asked him what
he thought of this here great river.

And he said, "There's only one
thing that comes to my mind and that's,

"'Where in heck did all
this water come from?""

Well, I see you're
aiming again not to laugh.

But this time it don't rile me in the
least because it ain't my story at all.

It come from a book of yarns
by one Mr. Abraham Lincoln.

Of course, I guess you know better
than he did what's funny and what ain't.

You know, ever since I come here I've
been trying real hard to become one of you.

But I see now that I just been
dog paddling to keep afloat.

But I did learn one
thing since I'm here,

and that's that young folks have such
strange notions and cunning devices that...

Well, while they're saying one thing,
underneath they're really meaning another.

And that makes me feel
sad and full of pity for them.

I used to look up and when I'd
see this one star up in the sky,

I'd think this is the loneliest
sight in all the world.

But I know now
that it's one person

who's different, among
many who are the same.

And young folks,
especially young folks,

they ain't got
no tolerance for that.

So, maybe I missed a great
many things while living on the river,

but I think you missed a sight more things.
And I wouldn't trade them for anything.

And that's all I got
to say on the subject.

Thanks, Tammy.
Thanks a lot.

Tammy,
you were wonderful.

We deserved
every word of that.

So why don't you drop by
the Alpha Gamma house?

Do you think maybe sometime
I could come by to visit...

Miss Tyree. Pardon me,
do you have a moment?

Yes, sir. I was only
aiming to mail a letter.

Well, may I join your classmates in
saying that was a most interesting talk.

You may, sir,
and I thank you.

Only, you know, I couldn't have spoke
a word without you being right there.

It gave me courage.

I notice you're still having a
little trouble with your hands.

Yes, sir. It seems when I start speeching
the good Lord he give me one extra one.

Look, hand gestures should come
naturally. Here, let me show you.

There are three or four basic
gestures that cover all contingencies.

For example, the left hand, extended
palm upward nearest the heart...

No, not like that. No, sir.
No, that ain't the gesture.

It's that funny feeling...

I think I better
mail my letter.

To Pete?

Yes, sir. But this
is the last one.

I told him if he don't
answer this one right away,

he don't have to
bother at all.

Well, then. I hope
he doesn't bother at all.

You do?

I do.

I think I better go
mark some papers.

Mr. Shakespeare, if that ain't the
paper markingest man I ever knowed.

I'd like the fastest
stamp you got, please.

Airmail. We haven't
switched to rockets yet.

Thank you kindly.

Well, I reckon sending you to Pete is
like calling into the deep of the night.

Won't be so much
as an echo in return.

Oh, oh. Excuse me.
I'm sorry, ma'am.

Aren't you the girl that...
Where did you get that necklace?

All right, young lady, you
and I are going to the police.

Help!

Somebody stop that girl.
Help! Police!

What's the trouble?
That girl. Stop her.

(BLOWING WHISTLE)

Okay, girlie.
We're running you in.

If it's all the same with you,
Mr. Policeman, would you mind walking me in?

Good morning,
Miss Tyree.

Good morning.

What are they jailing you up
for, if it be polite to so inquire?

I'm Joshua Welling, Mrs. Call's
lawyer, at your service, if you so desire.

I do so desire.
How is Mrs. Call?

Well,
she's in the hospital.

Her niece is trying to prove that
she's incapable of managing her affairs.

Why, I never heard of
such trumped-up nonsense.

Well, I agree but there's a
good chance she may succeed.

Are you willing
to testify on her behalf?

Yes, sir.

Can I get out now?

Yes. The kidnapping charge was
dropped as soon as I got a statement

from the boatman who brought
Mrs. Call to the Ellen B.

Bail is being arranged for you
right now on the larceny charge

for stealing the necklace.

But she give it to me
of her own free will!

I know. But if Mrs. Call
is found to be incapable,

and you had knowledge of her
condition, well, the court may treat it

as though you'd taken the
necklace without permission.

The bond's been posted,
Mr. Welling. Your client's free to go.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Sergeant.
Tammy, are you all right?

I'm fine,
Mr. Freeman.

Well, I might have known it
was you who'd come help me out.

But actually, I am fearful
worried about Mrs. Call.

Do you think we
could go to see her?

I'm afraid not, Tammy.

She's being held
incommunicado.

Well, where's that?

She's under guard.

This is an awful dark
time for me, Mr. Freeman.

I shouldn't never come
down the river on the Ellen B.

I brought nothing but
trouble to poor Mrs. Call.

Mr. Welling here is going to do
everything he can for her, Tammy.

Right now you've got some
serious problems of your own,

such as possible
expulsion from school.

Well, then, I better
go see Miss Jenks.

If you'd like,
we can see her together.

No, Mr. Freeman.

I'd be poor shucks if I didn't
face up to my problems alone.

I suppose you've seen the
newspapers? Yes, ma'am.

I think it's shameful.

And disgraceful.
Yes, ma'am.

Nothing but a lot of cheap
sensationalism. Tying in the college?

Mentioning that
your grandfather's in jail!

They ought to be
ashamed of themselves!

You mean you ain't angry at
me? Only at the newspapers?

Angry at you?

Oh, no, Tammy. No, I'm
just very grateful to you.

What for are you
grateful, ma'am?

My husband told me how
much you've helped him.

Shucks, I just sat there while
he was painting my picture.

I know. I've seen it.

It's only just started,
but already I can tell.

He's painting just the
way he used to paint

when we first met.

I haven't seen him
so excited in years.

You know, I think maybe, at last,
he's found what he's been looking for.

No, ma'am. Only part
of what he's looking for.

What do you mean?

Well, you see, ma'am, whilst
he was painting my picture,

he started talking,

and the words they just kept pouring
out just like berries out of a basket,

and I just
sat there listening.

Well, you see, if Mr. Woodly... If
sometimes he don't act fine and noble,

it's only 'cause
he's scared inside.

Scared?
Scared of what?

Of becoming less
and less of a man.

Tammy,
I don't understand.

Well, you see, ma'am,

being dean of women, now that's
a fine and mighty position, but...

Well, when such a woman marries
a man who's just a beginning painter,

who don't make near as much money
or have near as much glory, well...

Well, in time he's gonna
feel like he's a failure.

Did...

Did my husband
tell you that?

Yes, ma'am. He said that more than anything
he wanted you home, taking care of a baby.

Babies.

He knows very well
I can't have any children.

But, ma'am, it don't
have to be your own seed.

You mean adopt one?

One or a dozen!

My grandma always said
that a babe in the house

is a well spring
of pure joy.

Stronger than glue
for keeping folks together.

I wonder.

You know, ma'am, it was you who
sent me out on my first baby-sitting job.

Well, since then, I ain't been
able to tell the adopted ones

from the real flesh
and blood ones.

I mean, they're all loved and
cuddled and cherished the same,

and the folks
who love them,

they all got the same gleam
of happiness in their eyes.

I'll do it.
Tammy, I'll do it.

Oh, I should've
done it years ago.

Maybe... Maybe a baby might
bring my husband back to me

the way he used to be.

That's for sure, ma'am.

Thank you, Tammy.

Heaven bless you.

And you, too,
ma'am.

I can tell by your expression you
didn't do very well with Miss Jenks.

Oh, no, but I did.

No, I mean, she's just
the most wonderful there is.

It's poor Mrs. Call
I'm thinking about.

I'm full of
foreboding about her.

Don't worry, Tammy.
We'll see it through together.

This is a closed, informal hearing
to inquire into the legal competency

of one Mrs. Annie Rook Call
of this city,

brought to court at the request of her
niece, Miss Suzanne Rook of New Orleans,

who, believing her aunt
to be of unsound mind,

prays that the said aunt be
committed to a suitable institution

or confined in her own home
in the care of proper attendants.

Furthermore, she prays that
she, the said Suzanne Rook,

be appointed conservator

of the said Annie Rook Call's
real and personal property

with all rights
and remunerations thereto.

First witness, please.

Now, Doctor, will you tell His Honor
how you brought Mrs. Call to the hospital?

Well, when she left the police boat at
the dock and approached the ambulance,

she suddenly
became violent.

It was necessary
to administer a hypodermic.

I've been with Mrs. Call
six years come Christmas.

Notional and getting
more so every day.

Well, I thought it was crazy to
give up such a beautiful house

to go live on a shanty boat,

but she paid me
to keep my mouth shut,

so I didn't figure it was any of
my business if the old lady was...

Must I answer,
Your Honor?

Yes, you must.

Yes, it's true.

She chased out every girl I ever
sent over to act as her companion,

all except Miss Tyree.

She needed Tammy.

I know because I can see the
wonderful change that's come over her.

Why, Tammy changed her life
just as she changed mine.

I didn't ask for any personal
opinions, Miss Jenks.

Isn't it a fact that all the other girls
were afraid to return to Mrs. Call's home?

Yes.

I did what I thought
was right, Your Honor.

I reported her disappearance
and I offered a reward.

Go on, Miss Rook.

And then I got the report that my aunt
had been living in squalor on a shanty boat

with a river girl of no culture or
background and even fewer morals

who was taking
advantage of her condition.

I object, Your Honor.

Please confine yourself
to facts, Miss Rook.

I have nothing more to say,
Your Honor.

I merely want to do my duty
in this painful matter.

Court will recess
one hour for lunch.

Well, looks bad.

Suzanne's managed to
make out quite a strong case.

And I reckon Mrs. Call's
been mad at the whole world

and now it's come back
to slap her down.

How about letting me
testify, Mr. Welling?

No. That wouldn't help. You
haven't been close to her lately.

Is there anything
I can do?

No, you'd have to testify to all that
Shanty Boat Annie nonsense, Captain Joe.

That would hurt
instead of help.

But if Mrs. Call
loses the case,

what's going to happen to Tammy
and the necklace Mrs. Call gave her?

Well, there's a strong
probability a record of this hearing

will be turned over to the district
attorney's office for criminal prosecution.

That's ridiculous. There
must be some way to stop it.

There is, only one way.
And only one witness.

Tammy, your welfare,
Mrs. Call's welfare,

our entire case
rests in your hands.

Mine?

And in the time that you and Mrs.
Call lived together on the Ellen B,,

you had an opportunity
to observe her behavior?

I think so.

Please tell this court in
detail everything you observed.

Well, I don't rightly
know where to begin.

Something wrong,
Miss Tyree?

No, sir.

I'm just gathering
the stillness around me.

My grandpa always said that out
of stillness come the proper words.

Your Honor.

Miss Tyree, we
can't wait any longer.

But, sir, the proper words
just don't seem to come.

Well, I reckon I'm just too scared that...
Well, that I might say the wrong thing.

(WHISPERING)

Your Honor, this being
an informal hearing,

I request permission
for Mr. Thomas Freeman

to take over the
questioning of this witness.

JUDGE: It's unusual,
but granted.

Your Honor.

There's no need
to be frightened, Tammy.

Lawyer talk fair
gives me the shivers.

But, well, now
that you're here,

darn if I don't have the courage to
speak up and say what's on my mind!

Please do.

Well, firstly,
Your Excellency,

this here trial is a mockery
of injustice and plumb unfair!

MR. FREEMAN: Tammy! I
apologize, Your Honor. I had no idea.

No, no, Mr. Welling,

I'd like to hear the witness' reason
for such an astounding statement.

Well, I'd be proud and pleasured
to give it to you, Your Excellency.

Firstly, did you ever
talk to Mrs. Call?

Well, no.

Did you ever spend
any time with her?

See here, young lady, I'm
not on the witness stand.

Well, did you,
Your Excellency?

Well, no.

Well, then how can you sit
there and pass judgment on her?

And you, Mr. Slade, how can you slanderize
a fine, noble lady like Mrs. Call

by calling her non compos?

That means she ain't got all the
right parts in the proper places!

Your Honor, I firmly protest
this outrageous conduct!

And if it was Mrs. Call
who hired you first,

you'd be just as rambunctious
shouting to high heaven

on how fine, sane and normal a
lady she is. And I dast you to deny it!

I'm afraid this is one of the weaknesses
in our judicial system, young lady.

But I must ask you to confine
yourself to matters before the court.

Tammy, just tell them what you
know about Mrs. Call. Nothing else.

Well, Your Worship,

it was my idea to have Mrs. Call
come on the Ellen B. In the first place.

I mean, she was all alone in
that big, elegant house and...

Well, I was kind of
lonesome myself on the river.

And when she
first come to me,

she was fat and mean and
grumpy as a hog at hog-calling time.

Forgive me, ma'am,
but you were.

I mean,
when she walked,

she wobbled that Jacob's
staff in every panimbula.

But look at her now.

Why, she's lost a power of poundage
and... Well, she's a fine figure of a lady.

But what's most important, Your Honor,
is that... Well, she's changed inside, too.

I mean, she don't hold a grudge no
more. And she's got a kind, loving spirit.

Why, she gets pleasure out of watching
birds sing and the river running and...

Well, even just to cast a line for
fish and the cooking of that fish.

Why, she come to life on the
river, sir, and she got her soul back!

I mean, it was all shriveled
up in that big, elegant house.

And she taught me
a heap of things, too, sir.

About the real kind of
love, the until-I-die kind.

Now, Your Excellency, there
can't be anything crazy about

a body who does something
as sane and sensible as that.

Mrs. Call is a fine,
noble lady and...

Well, I reckon that's all
I got to say on the subject.

No more witnesses,
Your Honor.

It will not be necessary to take
this matter under advisement.

The court has considered the
testimony of all the witnesses

and finds the defendant
of sound mind.

All that gibble-gabble for nothing.
I'm so happy I'm nigh onto busting.

Thank you, dear... Mrs.
Call, I'm so happy for you!

...for everything.

I'm glad it's over.
It's wonderful.

(LAUGHTER)

Tammy, you were great.

You really are the star of
my public speaking class.

Something bothering you?

Well, it's just them words I
spoke to His Majesty, the judge,

about Mrs. Call making me realize
what the forever-after kind of love is.

Wasn't it the truth?

Oh, yes, Tom,
for a fact, but...

Well, it was putting it into them
words that made me realize that I...

That I never
really loved Pete.

You sure about that, Tammy?

Oh, yes, Tom.
Real sure.

It can't be the
forever-after kind of love

if a man don't make a woman
feel like a woman, only like a child.

You don't feel that
way with me, do you?

Oh, no, Tom.

When I'm with you, I feel like
I am a woman fully growed.

I just remembered! Mrs.
Call asked me to give you this.

She said it was yours.

Would you put it on
for me, Tom? Uh-huh.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, Tom! I am a
woman fully growed!