All language subtitles for The Dollmaker ¦ FULL MOVIE ¦ Jane Fonda ¦ WWII Drama (English)

♪ Where you going,
yonder bound maiden ♪

♪ Where you going,
head to the sky ♪

♪ I'm going back to my garden ♪

♪ Fair thee well,
tell me no goodbye ♪

♪ Can I join ya,
yonder bound maiden ♪

♪ Can I join ya,
tell me no lie ♪

♪ The road home is a hard one ♪

♪ 50 miles as the swallows fly ♪

♪ Sweet tender maiden ♪

♪ Ain't you aimin' high ♪

♪ Dreams, dreams are fadin' ♪

♪ Can you find one
before you die ♪

♪ Find 'em all,
maiden, by and by ♪

Whoa.

♪ Times is hard,
yonder bound maiden ♪

♪ Times is hard,
wells can run dry ♪

♪ Then I'll water my garden ♪

♪ With the tears
that my babies cry ♪

- It's all right.
- ♪ Fare the well,
tell me no goodbye ♪

[birds chirping]

Come on, don't be afeared.
Come on.

They're gonna stop.

[mule braying]
Yeah, but they're
staying left.

[horn honking]

[tires screeching]

[man] Get outta the way,
you damn fool!

Whoa.

Hurry up, go on now, get up.

[man] What do you
think you're doing?
You coulda killed us!

It's my young'un.

I gotta get him
to a doctor quick.

Well, not in this car.

I'm on urgent Army business.

20 mile on, and
you're headed thatta way.

Please, he's real bad sick.

Get off or
I'll have you arrested.

Hatcher, drive on.

- [Hatcher] We're stuck, sir.
- No, don't, you'll
go over the bluff.

Here.

Hatcher, I gave you an order!

Now see here, woman, you...

Your tire's caught up!

I gotta cut away some
of these saplings.

- I'll get me some rocks
for under the tire.
- [coughing weakly]

[man] Be careful
back there, lady.

Try her now.

[engine sputters and starts]

[woman]
I'll push, you give her the gas.

[Hatcher] Okay.
Hope we go.

[engine revving]

That's better.
Now, take your child.

Hatcher, drive on.

- Amos?
- [Hatcher] How's the
little one?

- [Gertie] Amos?
- He's turning blue.

He's choking to death.

Ain't no time for doctors now.

Oh, here! Help me!

Give me a rock.

Flat-like for a pillow.

Under 'im.
Now hold his head, tight.

Hold his hands and feet down.

He can't fight it much.

He's past feeling anything.

Hold him tight now.

- [man] What are you doing?
You'll kill him!
- My god.

- [Gertie spits]
- [raspy breathing]

Now we gotta keep it open.

Hold this here.

Gonna get something better.

[grunts]

How'd you know what to?

Oh, it's dipthery, they choke.

My Pa saved a cow
once that choked,

cut a windpipe and put
in a piece of tin can.

There we go.

[man] You're very
skillful with a knife.

I've always whittled.

Ax handles and such-like.

[man] But you shouldn't have
cut down that poster.

That's government property.

They need factory workers
as badly as soldiers.

Ain't a man in our settlement
left for him to take,

excepting my man, and oh,
they've called him now.

[man] Well, they can't
exempt every little farmer,

only those who produce a lot.

There's a war on.

I know there's a war on.

Kilt my brother yesterday.

Kilt in action is what
the telegram said.

I'm sorry.

He was a farmer?

One of them little 'uns.

Hold on, honey.

We'll be there soon.

What do they grow around here?

Young'uns, for the wars
and them factories.

- Do you farm?
- [Gertie] Some.

My man hauls coal in his truck.

When he can get gas.

And we rent a place, give
back half what we grow,

keep the rest.

But I'm saving real hard.

We're gonna have a place
of our own one day.

Here, for the ride.

- No, I couldn't think of--
- I always aim to pay.

Well, a dollar
will do, I guess.

Here, I'll make you change.

Much obliged.

[man] Good luck.

I ain't never been
to a doctor afore.

Lady, you can't be
afraid of nothing.

Just walk in.

[baby crying]

[woman] Okay, just quiet down.

I swear.

I gotta see a doctor quick!

You'll have to wait your
turn, ma'am, have a chair there.

Oh my Lord, come with me.

Did I do wrong?

I couldn't just stand by.

I believe that
you've done all right.

Mrs. Nevels,
your husband's here.

You tired?

You'll have to stay up all
night and watch that tube.

If it clogs, he'll choke.

I'll look in again
around midnight.

Mr. Nevels.

Doctor.

He's gonna be all right.

I knowed he was bad sick
or you wouldn't have gone off

with your mama needing ya so.

Hope you didn't have
to watch him get cut.

No.

I didn't have a
heart to tell her.

She's so low.

Just lays there with that
telegram in her hand.

We all had to beg her to eat.

Cleaned up her plate
pretty good, though.

She ain't so bad off, then.

Oh honey, you know
how weakly she is.

She's wondering when you
come over and do the washing.

How's Pa?

Poor woman just
can't get reconciled

to Henley going
without salvation.

Wants to get the preacher in
to pray to give her peace.

Says she can't meet Henley in
heaven if he ain't been saved.

Ma could backslide
and go to hell

if'n she's so sure
Henley would be there.

Oh, Gertie, you so
tore up, you don't know

what you're saying.

Henley ain't damned just
'cause he went square dancing

with me and Pa 15 year ago.

Besides, you was there too.

Well.

Why don't I get you some good
hot coffee and a hamburger?

You ain't never had a
hamburger in your life.

Don't go wasting good money.

I'll be on Uncle Sam's
payroll in a few weeks.

You'll be getting money
regular then, every month.

More than I ever
earned around here.

I don't know why they're
calling a man your age.

What's this settlement gonna
do without your tinkering?

I wish to goodness you
wouldn't call it tinkering.

People that can fix
machines as good as me

makes real money
in them war jobs.

More than any farmer.

We was livin' in
Will'er Run or Detroit,

there'd have been an ambulance
to take him to hospital too.

You reckon the doctor'd
miss a board or two from this?

I could make Cassie
a jumping jack doll.

Pass the time.

Jumping jacks.

Why don't you make
something a body can use?

Oh, this wood's only
fitting for dolls.

[Clovis]
I better get back to the kids.

You need cash?

I got some.

[telephone ringing]

[door closes]

[Gertie gasps]

40 dollars?

[solemn fiddle music]

[telephone ringing]

There.

Amos, look.

Ain't nobody seen it but you.

That's the money for our farm.

You ain't gonna
work your life away

plowing another man's land.

That's molasses money and...

The eggs I sold to Samuels.

Them two sholts
I butchered last fall.

310 dollars.

And now...

350.

Soon as your poor pa
gets in the Army,

we're gonna buy us
a place of our own!

[girl] Remember the
Sabbath Day to keep it holy.

[boy] Honor thy
father and thy mother,

that thy days may be
long upon the land

in which the Lord
thy God giveth thee.

Thou shout not kill.

But they killed uncle Henley.

Yes, they did, honey, but
that don't change the rules.

Now stop that,
you bad young'un!

Don't do that, Cassie Marie,
you'll be ruining it.

It wasn't me, Ma,
it was Callie Lou.

Make her behave, Ma.

She won't never pay no mind

when she's got that
Callie Lou in her head.

Cassie.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to hurt ya.

You'uns have
lessons to finish.

Reuben, you got copying to do?

Yes, ma'am.

Cassie Marie, come here,
honey, bring your primmer.

[ducks quacking]

Oh, my girl.

Oh, you remember where we were?

No.

There it is.

Oh, honey, don't get so
far away, you can't see.

"Here, Bobby, you can play.

You can play with my kitten.

Look, Bobby--"

Here, now, that'll do, now.

What's this word?

Ball?

No, honey.
No, that's play.

This 'un?

Come?

Awe, Cassie Marie, you got
the whole primer by heart.

- That's can.
- That's easy.

- [Cassie] I'm never
gonna learn.
- [Gertie whispers] Hush.

Aww, don't fret,
you're young yet.

[Clovis] Gertie?

We gotta finish
loading the truck.

They ain't finished
their lessons yet.

[Clovis] Well,
John'll be waiting.

Come on, Jep.

[dog barking]

Sorghum was real
good this year, Pa,

that's the biggest
crop we ever had.

Yeah, you done that son.

And Ma.

I never wanted your mama out

breaking her back in some field.

But she likes it, Pa!

All her life, she's
had her hands in the dirt

and always half the
crop to old man Ballew.

You know what I'd make in one
of them big city war plants?

Your momma could just
watch your house.

But she likes her
hands in the dirt, Pa!

[Gertie] About ready?

Ma, could I go huntin'?

I done all my chores.

I thought you was
going with your mama

to help your grandpa Kendrick.

Aw, let him go,
he's worked hard all fall

at Ma's and here.

And Henley would've
maybe gone hunting today.

Be careful, son.

Well, let's go!

[Enoch whistles]
Come on, Jep.

- Come here, Jep! [whistles]
- [door shuts]

[Gertie] Bye, honey!

Bye, Ma!

[truck engine rattling]

Come on, Jep.

[Gertie] Now don't you go
shooting me and Cassie, son.

- Recollect we're going down
past the old Tipton place?
- [Reuben] Okay.

[Cassie and Gertie]
♪ Up on the highest mount ♪

♪ I spend hours away
across the sea ♪

♪ Where places are
prepared for me ♪

♪ And you decided
glory shore my heaven ♪

♪ My home for ever more ♪

Look, Ma! Callie Lou
brought me new red shoes!

40 dollars in
the Ward's catalog!

Where'd she get
all that money?

Callie Lou's man, he's
gone away to the wars

and he makes good monies.

I can see two little girls
in your eyes, Ma.

[Gertie laughs]
That's you, honey.

Me and Callie Lou.

[gentle music]

Ma, make me
a hickory sprout doll?

[Gertie] Well,

here's a good 'un.

Look at the old
Tipton place, Cassie.

Ain't nobody been living
here for quite a spell.

It's for sale.

[Cassie]
Make her a curlidy skirt, Ma.

[music continues]

You think this
ol' house is purdy?

Sure do.

Purdy's the least of it though.

It's gonna be warm in the winter

and cool in the summer too.

No matter how hard
the wind blows,

that house ain't
never gonna shake.

[dog barking]

Ma, I seen a bear!

A bear, are you sure?

Biggest old thing
you ever did see!

I shot at him,
but he was too far off.

I ain't see'd a bear in these
parts since I can remember.

I bet he was fishing.

We lived here, we'd get us
a lot of fish outta that river.

Here you go, honey.

You know, once'd on a time, your
great-great grandpa Kendrick

owned all this land.

My grandpa sold
it to the Tipton's

and now old John Ballew owns it.

I used to come here when
I was about your size, honey.

Reuben, back in
the hillside over there,

there's this real deep cellar.

Nothing never froze
in that cellar

nor spoilt in the
summer neither.

And we put them
apples and pears

in the cellar wouldn't we, Ma?

We picked blackberries,

our own blackberries
in our own fields.

There's a heap of
good manure around back.

You've been studying it?

Just passing by.

There's a good
garden place too.

[Reuben] Even if old John
wanted to sell

and even if you had the
money, Pa'll never let ya.

He'll be wanting a new truck
or something like always.

Like he sold a cow last
spring to get them new tires.

But he ain't gonna
need nothing in the Army.

He's gonna want us to
have a place of our own.

He's always hated
having to give away

half of what we raised.

Son, I'm fixing to
talk to old John.

[Reuben] Does Pa know?

Well, we're
gonna surprise him.

Come on, Cassie,
let's go see Grandma.

Maybe if it...
if it hadn't been for you,

Henley would've
given himself to God.

You was the oldest,
but, but he seen ya.

He seen ya's standing there
stiff necked and stubborn

in the face of Almighty God

and you never did repent
your sin of dancing.

Oh, what are we gonna
do without Henley?

You Pa is so mule minded.

Just have to sell this old
place and move in with Mag.

But...

Pa could never live in town.

Oh, well Gert,
this war was all foretold.

You ought to read
your Bible more.

"I come not with peace, but
with a sword," Christ said.

Oh, he's scourageing the world
like he scourged the temple.

- And in his mighty-- [sobs]
- Mom?

Mom, maybe there's
another side to Christ.

Recollect he went
to the wedding feast

and he had time to
fool with lil' young'uns.

He was like Henley,
he worked and
he loved his fellow men and--

Oh, oh, Cassie Marie,
get my smelling--

Oh, Mama.

[groaning]

[whimpering]

Mm, and I'm mighty
bad constipated,
you know, mighty bad.

- [sighs]
- You just rest a while, Ma.

I'll make you a cup of tea.

[chickens clucking]

[gravel crunching]

Pa?

Oh, Pa!

Cassie.

How's Amos? I've been aiming to
ride up and see him, but

your mama been so
bad I couldn't leave.

[Gertie] He's fine.

How's your leg, Pa?

Ah, it's nothin' to speak of,

but I sure was lucky
having Reuben to help me

with the foal work.

And then the Kramer boys
will help me a few days.

- I hear they went away.
- Headed for Detroit.

Yeah.

Get themselves killed in one
of them factories up there

if they ain't careful.

I declare there won't be
enough men left around here

to dig the graves.

Seems like they could
have left us Clovis

to keep the mail truck running.

I hoped they would.

Maybe I oughta let
him go to a factory.

He wanted to.

It was mostly me afeared

he'd want me 'n' the young'uns
to follow him to some city.

Clovis is gonna be
all right in the Army.

How's your rheumatism, Pa?

It's so cold for you out here.

Well, you know how
it is, the mess I make

with all that whittlin'
aggravates your mama so much.

And it seems right now
I gotta be whittlin'.

What's this, Grandpa?

[Gertie] Oh, Pa!

[gentle fiddle music]

It's real pretty.

I ain't made a fiddle
in 15 years.

Remind me of Henley, I guess,

and out here,
it don't do no harm.

I wished I was closeder.

Maybe when Clovis' Army
money is coming in regular,

maybe I can move.

The old Tipton place?

Gertie! Gertie!

Gertie, Gertie, oh.

Oh, the Reverend Graham
is coming down the road.

This the last chance I'm gonna
have to see about yourself.

Now here,

here, Gert.

Oh, you've been a good girl.

In some ways.

Here, take these,
those are for you.

Father and I have talked it over

and you helped us a sight
back in your younger days.

And, uh, and your pa and me,
we can...

we can get along somehow.

You and Pa needs it
worse than me and Clovis.

[Grandpa]
It was Henley's cattle money.

He wanted you to have it.

All of it.

Well, oh, it was
his dying wish.

He writ me from the Army,
if anything happened to him,

we should help Gertie.

You raised it, he said.

[sobs] Ma!

- [Cassie] Ma!
- [Grandma] Gertie!

Gertie, think of me!

[Cassie] Mama! Ma!

Don't cry, Ma, don't cry!

Oh, honey, I'm all right.

[gentle music]

[laughs]

Less'n you choke me
to death with hugging.

"Miss Cassie hugged
her Ma to death."

That'd be a pretty piece
for the paper, wouldn't it?

Oh, Henley! [sniffling]

[Cassie] Was you crying 'cause
Grandma says Uncle Henley

can't never go to Jesus?

[Gertie] Oh, stuff, body don't
have to go to him.

He's right here all the time.

[Cassie] Have you seen him?

[Gertie] Well, kind of like
you seein' Callie Lou.

[Cassie] Did he look
like a preacher dressed in
suit clothes?

[Gertie]
No, seemed he wore overalls

and he made things
like your grandpa.

I ain't never see'd his face.

It seems to me he'd
be always laughing.

Laughing like I want the
Christ in the Cherry wood block

I'm working on.

When you gonna
let him out, Ma?

He's a-comin', Cassie.

He's gonna bust out in a
jostle one of these days.

Your pa is here.

[gentle twangy music]

- Time to get up.
- Hmm?

It's your Army
examining day, honey.

Mmmm.

[slow fiddle music]

There's coffee on the
stove and water warmin'.

You best hurry.

Oh Lord, my old woman
trying to be shed of me.

Oh Lord, look at
that, now get on!

- Shhht!
- Lots of times I think
you don't love me a bit.

Oh man, you're a fine
one to talk of love.

I could be tied hand and
put in a burning house

and if they told you the old
grist mill was broke down,

you'd run off first to
see what ailed the mill.

Oh Gertie, you as
jealous of machinery

like it was another woman.

I can't much blame you though.

For all my machine
fixing and coal hauling.

It's been a poor due.

We ain't so bad off.

There's a heap of folks
seen it worst.

Don't go wake the young'uns!

But I wanna tell 'em goodbye.

Well, you'll be back
tonight after the test.

Oh, I cleaned your boots.

I look like I've been
shaved with a cross cut saw.

Wish we had electricity
and running water like Mag.

Electric lights don't
fill empty bellies.

Your sister's got it easier
than you, living in town.

Her kids has got good schools.

Our kids are learning.

Always wanted you to have it
better than Mag, way better.

You wasn't raised
to eat sow belly

in some sharecropper shack.

[Gertie] You eating?

I ain't hungry.

You coming down
with something?

Girl, a man don't go
off to the Army every day.

I wish you'd've
woke the kids up.

[Gertie] But it ain't like
you was goin' for true.

Honey, would you put some
water in the radiator for me?

But don't go trying
to crank her now,

I'm always telling you that
that ain't woman's work.

I could drive a tractor
since'd I was as big as Cassie.

[gentle fiddle music]

♪ There blows a wind
down in the pine ♪

♪ It calls a name,
the name is mine ♪

♪ There's nothing more
you need to know ♪

♪ Just kiss me
once before I go ♪

♪ Don't work too hard,
don't grow too strong ♪

♪ If you must cry,
don't cry too long ♪

♪ For I'll be back
before you know ♪

♪ Just kiss me
once before I go ♪

♪ So keep my fields
and cut my hay ♪

♪ There's nothing
more that I can say ♪

♪ And what I don't,
I think you know ♪

♪ Just kiss me
once before I go ♪

[truck rattles, engine starts]

- [dishes clattering]
- Can't you look what
you're doing Cassie?

You're so messy,
you're half pig!

If I went around
pouring out stuff that'a
way you'd slap me!

You're bigger than her.

Quit measuring your corn
in somebody else's basket.

You too, Clytie.

[Cassie]
I didn't mean to spill it.

You're always
spilling something.

- [Gertie] Leave her be!
- You're the [indistinct]
young'un!

I ain't!

Piggy, pig, pig.

I ain't!

Enoch, one more word and
I'll get your pa's razor strap.

You can't do that, Ma,
it ain't there no more.

Callie Lou was so mean
this morning I said,

"I'll show you what you'll
get if you go on this way."

And I took her to see the strap
and it weren't there no more.

Pa's took it clean away.

[Enoch]
Ain't Pa coming back tonight?

[Reuben] You let him go
without waking us?

[Cassie] Has Pa gone to the war?

He's gone and we ain't
never gonna see him no more.

He'd go to one
of them factories

where they make bombs and stuff.

Well, I guess
he'll write us a letter,

telling us where he's gone.

- [dog barking]
- [birds chirping]

[Cassie] Mama Nevels!

Cassie.

- [Gertie] Howdy, Kate.
- Hello, Gert. [kisses]

We'll have news of Clovis today.

Don't you fret.

Mrs. Hull.

Three dozen,
they're laying right well.

Gert! Where's Clovis?

Ain't the mail in yet?

Clovis ain't driving
no more, Mamie.

He's gone.

Gone?

What'll I do when
the coal runs out?

I can't cut wood to
do no one no good.

I'll send Reuben
to cut you some wood.

Mamie's eggs.

You seen old John?

Not yet.

My Pa's gone to the wars.

My Pa flies airplanes.

You know, I'm afeared that
her man ain't coming home,

he's been missing
in action so long.

How?

[sighs] Mrs. Hull,
I just can't stand waiting.

You got something for me to do?

[boy] Hey, get over here!

[horn honks]

[John] Mrs. Hull,
you seen Gertie Nevels?

[Mrs. Hull] She's in the garden
over yonder.

Gertie, you about the best
hand with a hoe I ever seen.

Well, I've had plenty
of practice, Uncle John.

There's a little
piece of business

that you and me
ought to get into.

You want me to move
and ashamed to say so?

You're one of the
best renters I ever had.

But if you and me could
do a little trading,

your renting days would be over.

Don't seem like the time
to talk o' trading.

Didn't you know
they've took Clovis?

Them Army wages comes
in mighty steady.

I can rent pert near
any place I choose.

Is that why I see you
looking at the Tipton place,

knowing it's for sale?

Well I don't know, Uncle John.

I ain't hardly
give'd it a thought.

But how much you gimme to
take it off your hands?

Now Gertie, I have know'd
your old Pa for 50 years.

Now Henley was his only'st boy

and you're old Pa would
give his good leg to know

that you was always
gonna be close by.

And that place is yours, girl,

for what I give for it,
five hundred.

Put whatever you want
down and the rest later.

I could pay for it, Uncle
John, pert near all of it.

[child] Missus! There's a car!

Was a car brought
the news about Henley,

a Red Cross lady in a blue coat.

[car engine rumbling]

[children giggling]

[dogs barking]

[Cassie] It's the same one!

Evening, ma'am,
you've brung us word?

I have a message
for Mamie Childers.

Miss Childers,
your husband is safe.

He's a prisoner of war in Italy.

And I brought you your mail.

Now,
if you'll all pay attention,

I'll call out the name.

Thank you, ma'am,
I'm the post mistress,
I give out the mail here.

Mrs. Robert Maples,
McKinley Opal.

Come over to the porch.

Mrs. Harold Agee?

Mrs. Gertrude Nevels?

Here, it's postmarked Detroit.

Ms. May Boyd.

[pensive string music]

[Cassie] Is it from Pa, Ma?

[Gertie gasps]

Is he all right?

They didn't get him in the Army.

"Dear Gertie, well,
I passed the Army,

but they said I would not be
called for a right good spell.

So I went to a factory,

like I should have
done a long time back.

I got me a job that suits me.

It pays good.

I sold the truck and it
brang more than I paid.

It was them good new tires.

Now I am getting a place
so you and the children

can come here to Detroit.

I am sending some money.

I will send more
when I have a payday.

You and the children
needs clothes.

I want you not to
have it so hard.

Write to me, Clovis."

They's lots of kisses too, Ma,

see that big line of crosses?

Don't go, Gert,
he'll like it there.

If'n you follow him,
he might never come back.

Now, you know
I'd never go up there.

I'm gonna save just
about everything he sends

so's he can buy him another
truck when he comes back home.

There's all them
little flowers all
wrapped up for spring.

Why you bringing
pine trees too, Ma?

[Gertie] We'll plant 'em
either side of the gate
at our new house.

They got the prettiest voices
of all the trees, Cassie.

Oh.

[whispers] You better plant 'em
real deep or that bad Callie Lou

will come pull em up again.

You see her trying to
pull 'em up, you tell me,

I'm gonna give that
young'un a good twitching!

You won't make it
too hard, will you, Ma?

She ain't a bad
young'un at heart.

Just full of jumping meanness.

Well, I'll just scare her.

No hickory limb,
I'll just cut me a twig

from that little peach tree
outside our new kitchen.

Ma!

[Gertie] What's the matter, Ma?

Gertrude, Gertrude!

Grandma, is Grandpa dead?

No! No, your grandpa ain't dead,
but he'd be better dead.

That poor, old, crippled soul
with its own flesh and blood

bringing disgrace down
on his own gray head!

What's Mag gone and done?

Oh, Mag!
Mag ain't done nothing.

Mag is a decent woman.

She is not sneaking and
conniving to leave her man

and make her
children fatherless!

It's St. Paul said,

he said wives be in
subjugation to their husbands

and you know what
your mammy done?

When your poor daddy
is all alone,

in a strange place and
he is working so hard

to put bread in your mouth--

She bought us
a place of our own.

Oh Lord, oh Lord.

She turned her own children
against their father.

[Clytie] Ma, I'm home!

[Grandma] Look at your daughter,
growing up like a heathen.

She wouldn't be going to
ruin if Clovis was around.

[Gertie] She's just been over
at Mamie Childers
helping with the young'uns.

And that trashy Mamie
teaching her how to dance.

What are you fixing to order
from this catalog, girl?

Curtains,
white curtains with blue bands

for our new front winders!

Child, you don't
want curtains.

You don't need curtains
till you go to Detroit!

Detroit?

Yes Detroit, Detroit.

Your daddy wants y'all with him

and your mama's gonna do
her duty and take you there.

Detroit. Detroit.

[Grandma]
Oh, this poor little fella.

He needs somebody
to look after him,

running around barefooted,

he's gonna get that
ole croup again.

[slow music]

Ma, can Jep go to Detroit too?

And can we take Miss Callie Lou?

We ain't going yet, honey.

Clytie, make your
grandma a cup of coffee.

[Reuben]
Mama, don't let her!

[somber music]

[slow fiddle music]

Your ma sent for me.

The way she talks about it

you'd think I was making
a mint selling you this place.

Twice'd I thought she was
going to faint, dead away.

We both got to
do our duty, Gert.

I can't let a piece of land

come between a woman and
a man and her people.

But Ma bought it!
She gave you the money!

[John] You're gonna have to
give me back the key.

The right's on her side, Gert.

If Clovis is making a living,

you've got to go to him
if he wants it thatta way.

But you asked.

You said, did I wanna buy it?

You said I should
be close to my Pa.

Yeah, but we thought Clovis
was gonna be in the Army then.

But he ain't.

And it's what he wants that
matters, you're his wedded wife.

[sorrowful orchestral music]

I'm sorry, girl.

[mournful music]

[birds chirping]

[train engine chugging]

[bell ringing]

[indistinct chattering]

Enoch? Reuben?

Look where you going, lady!

Dumb hillbillies.

[crowd chattering]

[man over PA]
Three Planks Express

leaving on Northbound
track 11 for Toledo.

- [high pitched whistle]
- Ma!

Over here!

[man over PA] Buffalo,
New York all aboard please.

All aboard!

[indistinct chattering]

Sit down, Ma.

You look peaked.

It's snowing out there,
Ma, like you've never seen!

And it don't fall down,
it goes crosswise!

There's a place
you get drinks.

You want some good
hot coffee, Ma?

Can I have a Coke?

We gotta wait for your Pa.

Pa didn't sound prime sure
he'd meet us.

He said to take a cab.

Give me the tickets
for the baggage, Ma.

Reuben and me'll go
get 'em, I seen where.

Let me go, Ma, I'm the oldest.

You can't manage that
cherry woodblock, none of ya.

Grandpa sent it separate,
that and the big trunk.

Railway Express, he said.

Railway Express is
different, it comes later.

I hope they treat it good.

We shoulda wrapped it.

The tickets, Ma!

You oughta used your
new purse, Ma.

[Enoch] You look like a body
outta the funny papers, Ma!

Your hat's all...crooked.

Get it.

Who'd've thought it'd be
so cold in the fall this way?

[man] I got one over here!

Here, for the young'un!

God bless ya.

[driver] Where to, lady?

18911 Mary Hill.

It's close to where my Pa
works at the Flint plant.

Which one? Old Man Flint
owns half of Detroit.

My Pa's helping
make stuff for the war.

He's fighting it.

How fast can you go?

I gotta drink this coffee.

Don't smell like coffee.

Hush.

The smell froze.

Now, where the Dickens
is Mary Hill?

Well, I reckon it's
a great big place.

Three or four stories high

and we'll ride the elevator.

[car engine starts]

[driver] Detroit's not
like Kentucky, huh?

[Enoch] How'd you know
where we was from?

[driver] I've met yous at the
station through two World Wars.

And you're going back
pretty soon, huh?

Money saved to by a farm, right?

One of them big bluegrass farms.
[chuckles]

[indistinct chattering]

- [girl] My ears are freezing.
- [woman] All right.

This is it?

[driver] This is it, lady.

Come on, Cassie Marie.

[steam horn blowing]

[Enoch] It's freezing, Ma,
light the stove!

[Gertie] I don't know how.

It's easy, look! On!

Right down in there.

[flames whoosh]

There's coal here,
but no kindlin'.

Ma, Miss Callie Lou
don't like it here!

Ma, I'm cold.

Well, jump around a bit
now, it'll warm us up.

- [banging]
- [man] Quit the racket kids!

I gotta sleep!

Why's he sleeping
in the daytime?

Shhh, maybe he's sick.

- [children crying]
- [man] Can it will you?

I'll call the cops!

I gotta sleep!

They's afeared!

And they's cold!

[man]
So build them a fire!

Ain't no kindlin'.

[man] There's kindling in my
shed, out front on the porch.

Much obliged!

You took that out
of Victor's shed!

He'll get ya!

He knows.

I gotta get my young'uns warm.

Ma keeps the oven on
when hers got no coal.

You're a hillbilly ain't ya?

I lit it, Ma!

And we found some
stuff Pa left!

[Cassie] Tastes funny!

It's pasteurized, silly!

That's what school book says.

There's a cow
behind it somewheres.

- Drink it.
- [woman] Hey, y'all.

These beans ain't much.

I didn't have no pork

and Clovis don't have
ration points yet.

I had to use a bit
of bacon grease.

I'm plum ashamed of myself.

Told Clovis
I'd start y'all a fire

when I got up this morning to
get the boys off to school,

then I fell right
back asleep again

till Wheateye comes
yelling you'd come.

You said you'd knock my head
off if I woke you up again.

Sure is good of you to
go to all this trouble.

[woman] Well, it's like I said
to Wheat last night,

a body's got to have something
to make 'em think of home

when they find
theirselves in this dump.

[Enoch] You live with
the man that yells?

Oh no, that's Victor!

He's on nights at
the steel plant.

Don't you pay him no mind,
he's all bark.

Now we live on that side.

My man works with your daddy.

I'm Sophronie Meanwell.

Y'all dig in now 'fore
this all gets cold.

[water running]

That Miss Meanwell
talk's kinda like us, Ma.

Wasn't she dressed pretty?

[Gertie] That slip.

Body could see right through it.

Maybe Ma was right, I did
ought to be here with your pa.

Why?

It's awful stuffy
in here, ain't it?

- Whoof!
- They's double windows.

The outside ones
won't open, I tried.

[Amos crying]

The seat fell back on him.

Here, honey, let me look.

[objects clattering]

Fix his pants, Enoch.

[objects clattering]

It's 46 cents.

I didn't ask for no ice.

You gotta have ice, lady.

Pay 'im, Ma!

It's so hot in here
everything'll spoil!

[door closes]

Ice! Coal!

[woman] Over here! Number 17!

Anything else you want, lady?

[Amos whimpering]

Aww honey, you ain't
hurt, just scared.

[staticky radio playing

[Cassie crying]

Y'all, it's a real live man, Ma!

Look Ma, we got a radio!

- [loud banging]
- Make that thing turn off!

- [Victor] Cut the racket!
- I know how!

[Neighbor] I'll call the cops!

[radio blaring louder]

[loud banging]

Make it quit!

[Clovis] Anybody home?

[children] Pa!

How's my girl? Hey!

Hey, hey, hey.

Hi, Gert!

Supper ready?

You done real well, Clovis!

Buy so much stuff and send
us the truck money besides.

Lord, woman!

Surely you don't think
I paid for all this?

Up here, everybody buys on time.

How much we owe?

Now, come on, Gert.

I'm making big money.

I done what I aimed to do.

Got on as a machine repair man.

And I'm good at it.

You know what my paycheck
will be this week?

Better than a hundred dollars.

Pa! We're rich!

A hundred dollars?

Well, I don't reckon
I'll make that every week.

Of course that's 'fore union
dues and taxes and all.

It ain't no fortune.

Took real savings to get
the down payment on all this,

and the car.

[children chattering excitedly]

[melancholy music]

Clovis, you got all these
debts afore we even come.

How you gonna manage with
me and the young'uns here?

[Clovis] Don't worry,
old woman, they like me.

I get in a heap overtime too.

Besides that, I'm in real
good with all the union men.

Everything's gonna be
all right. [kisses]

I'm glad you come, Gertie.

I've sure been
missing ya. [kisses]

[steam horn blaring]

[Amos crying]

Shoot.

[crying continues]

[shushing]
It's all right, honey.

Go to sleep now.

[steam horn blaring]

Clovis, ain't hardly room
to breathe in this place.

[man] Sophronie,
come on here to bed now,

I gotta get up and go to
work here in a minute.

[Sophronie] I ain't
ready to go bed,

I ain't finished my drink yet.

[man] Now come on, baby!

[Gertie and Clovis giggling]

[steam horn blaring]

Ma, the Daly kids is leavin'!

We'll be late!

But Sophronie said 8:30,
it's only just past eight!

Hey guys, wait up!

[children laughing]

[boy]
We got to parochial school.

Go to your public school,
hillbilly!

- With the niggers and the Jews.
- [boy laughs]

Ma, I don't think people
up here carries baskets!

I do!

- Oh, hi!
- Y'all come home
right after school.

Come on, kids,
ain't ya coming to school?

Now Gert, you don't wanna
drag him all that way!

Amos, honey, you come inside
and play with Wheateye.

Ain't Wheateye
going to school?

No, she goes second shift.

They got more kids than space.

Hey, Amos, you want a cookie?

[Cassie] Oh, Ma,
I wanna go home!

Please, let's get home,
I can't learn to read no how

and I'm freezing cold!

Oh honey, school's gonna
be the prettiest place.

You'll see. [kisses]

There'll be a big yard
to play games

and a big fun lunch room.

Room with nothing but books.

Here kid, it's gum,
you chew it!

Don't be scared,
kindergarten's nice.

But you oughtn't tell
such big lies, lady.

I had a time with Joey, here,
on account I lied to him.

He's your little brother?

Yeah, Pop's a [indistinct]
gun on the Pacific

and Mom works a seven to
three shift at Flints.

Her runs one of them big
presses, good as a man!

Got her 14 hours
overtime last week!

[children chattering]

- [school bell ringing]
- Come on,
kindergarten's this way.

[children chattering]

Garcia. Is that how
you say it, Garcia?

He don't know English, Miss.

I seen him on my street.

He won't play or nothing.

He's a dummy.

Now stop that, Rachel,
Garcia is gonna be our friend.

It just takes a little while

when you don't
understand the word.

Well, hello!

Have you come to join us?

This is Cassie. Cassiah Marie.

Hello, Cassie!

I'm gonna tell you
a story in a minute.
You came just in time!

And on your first day we
let you chew your own gum!

[teacher chuckles]

You find it's much easier

if you take your
mittens off first.

[Garcia] Chicle?

Well, look at that.

He said something to us.

Give him a piece, Cassie.

Can you say thank you, Garcia?

Thank you.

[gentle music]

She'll be all right.

Bye, Cassie Marie.

[man] Would you
file these, please?

[woman]
Mrs. Ogorski, talk slower.

Olga, you understand Hungarian?

It's gotta be Hungarian
'cause it's not Ukrainian,

it's not Polish.
Take this, will ya?

[man] May I help you?

- I gotta sign up my young'uns.
- Name?

Nevels.

Is that basket from Poland?

Kentucky's my country.

It's beautiful.

Are those wood strips?

White oak splints.

It's a beautiful color.

You've stained it.

Oak weathers thatta way.

I always liked the color of
clean weathered oak wood.

It's as pretty as tobacco
when it's hung up to cure.

[man] You carve, huh?

[Gertie] You mean whittle?

Backs, handles and such.

Foolishness like
dolls for young'uns.

Fill these out, Miss Nevels.

- Thank you.
- When will they get home?

Oh, about noon for lunch.

You mean they ain't
no school lunch?

Ain't no place to eat!

The little 'uns only come
for half day no how.

This school ain't got nothing
but teachers and kids.

Too few of one and
too many of the other.

My name is Mr. Skyros.

I'm the arts and crafts teacher.

May I borrow your basket
for a few days?

I'd love to show
it to the children.

I've left four young'uns here.
I guess I can leave
an ol' split basket.

Oh, don't worry
about the children.

They'll be fine, they're young.
They'll adjust.

They'll what?

Well, they'll
learn to get along.

Be like the others.

I want 'em to be happy.
I don't knows I want 'em to...

At least ways, not too much.

[Mr. Skyros]
You have good hands.

Good for working.

They're strong,
an artist hands.

I'd like to see one
of your dolls someday.

Thanks for the basket.

[melancholy fiddle music]

[upbeat fiddle music]

♪ Daniel was my favorite horse ♪

♪ I loved him like a brother ♪

♪ When he died I thought that
I would never love another ♪

♪ Up and down the hollow you
could hear me holler, Daniel ♪

♪ Momma shed a tear for me
and bought a cocker spaniel ♪

♪ Myrtle was my favorite dog
and I did surely love her ♪

♪ When she died I felt a creak,
I never did recover ♪

♪ Up and down the hollow you
could hear me holler, Myrtle ♪

♪ Momma shed a tear for me
and bought a snapping turtle ♪

♪ Mary was my turtle's name,
I named her for my sister ♪

♪ When she died
nobody understood how
much I missed her ♪

♪ Up and down the hollow you
could hear me holler, Mary ♪

♪ Momma shed a tear for me
and bought me a canary ♪

♪ Now I have a little girl and
that's the song I taught her ♪

♪ Dogs and cats
and singing birds ♪

♪ And many things I bought her ♪

♪ Momma died a year ago
and now I whisper, Momma ♪

♪ I will shed a tear for you
as you did for your daughter ♪

[woman crying]

[crying continues]

Can...can I help?

[woman] Nobody can help.

Maybe you get to go home soon.

War won't last forever.

[woman] This one will.

Lord, bless thee
and keep thee.

Lord, make his face shine
upon thee and give thee peace.

[woman] You're Catholic?

No, I ain't.

[somber music]

Try to sleep.

[woman] I need a dream.

What do you dream about?

Spring.

[woman] Spring, I like that.

Thanks. [sniffles]

Oh, Callie Lou, look what
my boot has went and done.

Did you ever see such
boots, Callie Lou?

Eating up shoes this'a way?

Quit the silly talking
to yourself, Cassie Marie.

Kids will laugh at you.

Get your mittens.

You make me late
just waiting for you.

I ain't talking to myself
and I don't need you

to take me to school
never no more.

Now young'uns, don't fight.

Cassie needs milk
money today, Ma.

It's the Christmas
basket drive this week.

Me and Reuben should
take some too.

We need money for
[indistinct] too, Ma.

A dime at least, each!

You think we're made of money?

[Clovis] Oh, come on, Gert.

If every nickel you spend's
like losing or drop of blood,

you'd be bled dry in no time.

Cassie Marie!

Here, honey.

Take this to the
Christmas basket drive.

Oh Ma, they don't want that!

Clovis? Mornin', Gert.

Whit. How's Sophronie?

Oh, she banged herself up
at the plant yesterday.

She's okay though.

Uh, your man'll be a
little late tonight, Gert.

Huh?

Yeah, we got a union meeting.

Bender's gonna be there.

- Who's Bender?
- He's Mr. Union.

That was a good dream
you give me last night.

I'm Max [indistinct],
Victor's wife.

You're Gertie Nevels, ain't ya?

Is this your youngest?

- Amos.
- He's cute!

Hi, Amos!

- You going shopping?
- [Gertie] Uh-huh.

[Max]
You wanna hold my hand too?

[chuckles]

[steam whistle blows]

- Hey, kid!
- [Sophronie] Hey!

[Max] Hey, what'd you
do to your head?

Fell off that
damn merry-go-round.

What's a merry-go-round?

It's a thing that goes
around and around, what else?

[both chuckling]

Hey Joe, want green
beans, two pounds,

and a cauliflower and
two acorn squash.

It's in the factory.

It's like assembly
only it goes around,
and you walk with it.

I got dizzy.

[Max] Only in Flint
and his factories.

One of these days,
he's gonna figure out a way
so's a man can drop in a coffin

on one end of an assembly line

and step right out in hell and
shoveling coal at the other.

- [both laugh]
- You can keep
that job of yours.

Only danger in waitressing
is a blue butt from
all the pinching.

Hey, what'd you dream
about last night?

Clark Gable.

He ain't in my book.

Max here plays the numbers.

Gets 'em outta some
crazy dream book.

She's gonna make her fortune.

- Ain't you gonna ask Gert
for one?
- I already did.

She's gonna be lucky for me.

Uh, Miss?

Two cabbages and taters.

How many pound
do you want, eh?

How many in a pound?

10 pounds.

I never bought 'em before.

We growed everything.

It's a four dollar
and 93 cents.

You put 'em up on me again,
Joe, you're a regular Flint.

Hey listen, you don't
want it, you no buy.

Oh, I'll take 'em. What's
a nickel? What's a dollar?

What's a million dollars?

Old Man Flint makes that
every day, don't he, Joe?

With his tanks and bombs.

Like my Pa used to say,

blood's the cheapest
thing on earth,

but there's money in it.

Hey, what number
you wanted today?

I want a winner, Joe,
but you never gimme one.

What is it?

Cigarettes, black market.

How can she spend all that?

That dumb Polack she's married
to must weigh 250 at least.

You feed 'im or you lose 'im!

- [chuckles]
- Hey, Max! Want a hand?

Oh, Gertie! I got some
stuff that come for ya
from Railway Express.

You come in and get
it whenever you can.

- You want some coffee?
- No, thanks.

[Wheateye] Come on,
Amos, let's play!

Seems like all he has
to do is raise his head
and there he'd be.

[Max] Ain't it something?
Gives me the willies.

D'you make that?

It's Christ ain't it?

I always kindly hoped so.

I can't seem to find a face.

I want him laughin'.

Not like these Victor's
got hanging all over.

Not a smile in the whole bunch!

You got a good, steady man.

Ma, look at the pretty necklace.

That's one of
Victor's rosaries.

Whoo for heaven
sakes, Wheateye!

- [children giggling]
- Amos?

[Max] He's got dozens of 'em.

Your husband?

'Pends on who
you're listening to.

- Not if you talk to his mother.
- Why?

'Cause we wasn't
married Catholic.

We was in a hurry, see?

I was pregnant.

Oh.

My baby lived three days.

Victor's Ma said
it was a judgment.

I hate her.

I ain't going nowhere
near her damn church!

Wouldn't do no harm.

Well, we was married legal!

And Victor knows that!

He could shut her up, but
he just lets that old witch
jabber on about me in Polish!

Mama's boy!

He ain't no man.

Ya early.

10 hours, enough.

Oh!

That's purdy!

Victor, you oughtly
give Gertie here a hand

with that stuff
that come for her.

[gentle Appalachian music]

All the time, she want
genuine, hand carved crucifix.

Who?

My mom.

You make one?

[scoffs] Well, I don't know
nothing about such like.

I pay good, 15,
maybe 20 dollar?

Make it, um,

this big.

Well, if it ain't no good,
you don't have to take it.

It'll be good.

Down payment.

♪ I am a pilgrim
and a stranger ♪

♪ Travelin' through
this wearisome land ♪

♪ I got a home in
that yonder city ♪

♪ Good Lord and it's not,
not made by hand ♪

♪ I got a mother,
sister, and a brother ♪

♪ Who have gone
this way before ♪

♪ I am determined to go
and see them, Good Lord ♪

♪ Over on that other shore ♪

[gentle harmonica music]

[children chattering]

[children shouting]

Ya, ya, ya, my brother
licked your brother!

You just wait, hillbilly,
hillbilly, hillbilly!

Your ma ain't got no shoes!

Hillbillies come to Detroit
and Detroit went to hell!

Run home to your
old man, why don't ya?

Get your drunk old man!

My brother's lick the Daly.

Looks like our kids cleaned
up on the Daly's for once.

[children shouting]

Hey!

Hey, hey, hey!

Let go! Let go!

Let go, ya hillbilly fool!

Your beatin' up on a
little kid half your size!

Pa, he hurt me!

[Sophronie] Don't you go mixing
in it now, he'll call the cops!

Youses in Detroit now kid
you've gotta mind the law!

We got rules for
garbage like you!

- [boy laughs]
- You're all alike!

You come up here and for
the first time in your life,

you get food in your bellies
and shoes on your feet,

and it goes to your head!

Well, don't tell me
you got shoes!

- [kids laughing]
- How does it feel to have
shoes on them tough feet?

[all mockingly laughing]

No! Reuben, no!

I didn't hit your young'un!

They ganged up on my brother
and they had a lump of coal!

- You're lying!
- No, he ain't!

I see'd it!

You call me a liar,
you hillbilly slime,

and I'll have you run in!

The cops listen to
Joseph Daly, see?

I'm a decent, respectable,
religious American.

I seen your young'un
with a lump of coal.

[Joseph] Young'un?

Where's you get young'un?

In Detroit, you gotta
learn to speak English,

you communist hillbilly!

Who threw that?

I did, Mr. Daly!

Gee, I'm sorry,
I didn't mean to hit ya.

[boy] Cops! Here come the cops!

See? Now you'll get a ride!

Cops don't get ya
for little old fusses.

If'n it's me they're huntin',
tell 'em I'm right here!

[boy] They're not for you, lady.

Whadda they want?

18904 Mary Hill.

That's my house!

Oh, I hope it ain't
bad news about his Pa.

He's off fighting
in the Pacific.

I know her, she's on the shift
after mine, runs a press.

I didn't do nothing.

You grabbed me like a little
kid in front of everybody.

Honey, he'd been drinking!

And this is Detroit!
You're gonna have to
quit carrying your knife.

I ain't quitting nothing.
I ain't a-making myself
over for Detroit.

Standing, taking people's
lies like you done.

Ma, my bubble gum
boy's ma got killed.

Oh honey, here.

Pa's home! Pa's home!

- You sick?
- Do I look sick?

We had a walk out.

What's that, a walk out?

Oh, for God's sakes, Gertie!

Everybody walks off the job.
It was a protest.

Some woman got
caught in her press.

It was Billy Hansen's mother.

She got killed!

We had a big snow fight, Pa!

And Mr. Daly yelled at Reuben!

Reuben better learn
to watch his manners.

Ma, you know that
chickadee you give Cassie
for the basket sale?

Mr. Skyros paid three dollars
for it!

Three dollars?

And he says, will you make
him a jumping jack like mine?

Use the money.

Your pa is hungry.

I'll feed you 'uns
in a little while.

Oh Lord, it burnt.

What's this?

Fish.

Only thing wasn't sky
high at the market.

Clovis, when them
others walked off,

couldn't you have stayed?

If you want me to come
home with a busted nose.

When the union says walk,
you've gotta walk.

[spits]

This ain't fit for a dog!

What's got into yo' cooking?

You got plenty to spend.
You got all them ration books.

I spent better than
25 dollars this week for grub,

not counting the milk.

25 dollars!

You can't feed seven
good eaters on that!

What's the use of living
like this if'n a body
can't save something?

- When we go back home I'm--
- Save!

That's all I've heard
since we've been married.

Millions of people
don't never save nothing.

They buy on time.

Ain't always starving
their young'uns either.

I ain't a-starving nobody.

[Clovis] You've been buying
the cheapest grub you can get.

Look at this place!

Can't you cover up the
floor or something?

I bought us curtains.

Gertie, how much
have you saved

outta the money
I've been giving you?

About...about 50 dollars.

You've been feeding
us junk like that.

Letting the place
go like a pig pen.

All my life I wanted you and
the kids to have nice things.

I bet I'm making twice'd
what any of 'em farmers
back home's doing.

For God's sake, spend it!

Look at that cookware!

That's the same old
pot my momma give us

when we first got married to
make do till we got our own!

[menacing music]

Let me keep it a bit.

When they've had
a drop too much,

it's not good to take
the thing back in.

Not too soon and don't cry.

It makes them worse, I know.

He ain't drinkin',
he just wants some new pans.

- [indistinct singing]
- [children chattering]

It's a 1939 IcyHeart, Ma,
nine and a half cubic feet!

He give it to me real
cheap and on time too.

It's real sweet of you Clovis.

It's just, I lived a
long time without such.

[Christmas music on radio]

[Wheateye] Miss Nevels!

Miss Nevels, come look at me!

[Gertie] Hi, Wheateye.

Look at my new dress,
Miss Nevels.

You look purdy, Wheateye.

Miss Nevels, can Reuben
come skate with me?

Reuben didn't get his skates,
we got a wagon!

[Amos whimpering]

Come on!
Take Miss Callie Lou sailing

in your new boat
that Ma made you.

Ma, you gotta make her
quit that Callie Lou stuff.

Some of the kids are
saying she's cuckoo.

Put your coat on
if you're going out!

[wagon rattling]

Mack come for ya,
you wanna go out?

You could show 'em
your building set.

[Reuben] Kid stuff.

[gentle Appalachian music]

Why do we have to stay here?

'Cause your pa is
working for the war, honey.

Reuben, I ain't made
myself over for Detroit.

I'm still saving...

I'm saving everything
I can for our own place.

Maybe 'fore next Christmas
you'll be sowin'
your grass seed.

Oh, honey.

[Clovis] Hey, Gertie! Come here!

[Clytie] Pa, look what that
mean Cassie done.

She took the skirt off this
fine new doll you give 'er

and put it on this old thing!

[Cassie stomping]

Cassie Marie,
you come back here!

- [door slams]
- Well, she's working.

You got your electric
icebox, old woman.

I always wanted Clytie to
have a nice store bought doll.

She's too old now.

All the money I spent.

Little Cassie and Reuben,
what did they want?

Maybe they don't
want things, Clovis.

[indistinct chattering]

[Christmas music playing]

[Christmas music playing]

[Sophronie] Wheateye!
Oh, Wheateye!

Wheateye!

Oh, come back, honey, I ain't
finished fixing your hair!

Wheateye!

Oh, Miss Bommarita!

Miss Bommarita, you got
my Wheateye in there?

Did you see her pretty hair?

- She ain't here!
- Oh.

- Mom!
- Mom, please come home.

Damn!

Please let my mom in, she
don't know what she doin'!

- Wheateye!
- If you hillbillies
don't get outta here

I'll call the cops!

[Sophronie] I don't wanna see
no damn wop's house no how!

I don't need a coat
this time a day.

Oh, Merry Christmas, Gert!

- Oh, Miss Nevels!
- [Sophronie] Wheateye!

Take her into our house,
my mom's home.

Oh, is your mom home?

Ho, ho, ho!
Merry Christmas, Mrs. Daly!

- [Gertie] Let 'er in!
- Mary and Joseph!

Come on, Frankie, let's dance!

Mom, Miss Meanwell's in
here with no clothes on!

Oh, this damn merry-go-round.

It's 'round and 'round,
can't stop or you'll fall.

You can punch your eyes
out falling, but I didn't.

You gotta keep going.

No matter what.

[Mrs. Daly]
Careful of the stove!

[Gertie] Why don't you lay down
and rest a spell?

Oh, I can't my relief
ain't come.

What's happening, can I help?

Oh, my Lord!

Your reliefs here, huh? See!

Why don'tcha lay down so
she can get back to work.

[Sophronie]
Yeah, better lay down.

But I didn't fall, did I?

I didn't fall!

Clytie, you're gonna
freeze yourself to death.

You shoulda wore
your snow pants.

Aw, Ma, the only place
you need snow pants

is in the movies.

So the fellers can't get
their hands up your skirt.

Honey!

Look, Ma! There's a parade.

That's where Pa works.

[man] What are we
gonna do about it?

[men yelling in agreement]

[man] We can stay every day of
the week if we stick together!

- [men cheering]
- [man] One of these very men
was killed

and Old Man Flint
hasn't done anything

to correct the safety
problems, he's forced us out!

[men yelling in agreement]

[man] Not now, no!
Clovis, go, he'll be okay!

What are you doing here?

- [Clytie] It's Open House, Pa.
- [Clovis] Get in here.

- [men shouting]
- [horn honking]

[men yelling]

Bender's all right,
they got him away.

This here is Tom Cooper,
friend of mine.

We better get to headquarters.

Pa, why are those
men hitting each other?

Drive by the school, will ya?

Erie Street?

Them's bullies, Cassie Marie.

Union man's just fighting back.

Can't bust a union
by the busting heads.

[Cassie] What's a union?

Kinda like a family, honey.

You know, working together.

Now do you see why
I kept your basket so long?

It's just wetland foolishness.

Do you have any
others like these?

Just toys for the young'uns,
birds and critters.

I reckon Amos has 'em all now.

It's enchanting,
it's more than a toy.

A friend of mine
was admiring it,

he's an interior decorator,
really very well known.

And he said that he has
never seen carving like this.

The children tell me
that you're working

on something larger,
a block of cherry wood?

- Uh-huh.
- How big a piece is it?

Stands about yay high.
It ain't near finished.

Might I look at it one day?

Why yes, I reckon.

They live in Mary Hill.

We have the address.

Did you know that Cassie was
the only child to draw a tree?

I'm afeard her readin'
ain't too good.

Oh, she'll learn. She has
a very high intelligence rating.

There might be another
problem though.

The school doctor is coming
in on Tuesday morning.

Can you be here then?

- She's sick?
- No, not a bit.

The doctor's just going
to examine her eyes.

I gotta see Reuben's
teacher, Mrs. Stringer.

She's down the corridor to
the right, room number 14.

I'll return your basket
this afternoon. Mrs. Nevels.

Mrs. Stringer?

I come to see you about
my young'un, my boy.

You'll have to hurry.
I've been talking to
mothers all afternoon.

Child's name?

Reuben Nevels.

Well, what's the matter?

He just don't seem happy.

You hill...you Southern
people who come up here,

don't you realize it
will be a great change
for your children?

Well, Reuben has not
accepted the change.

I'm giving him a U in conduct.

He just won't get along
with other children.

But he weren't
never bad to fight.

Last week,
Mrs. Nevels, a small boy

with a toy gun was
teasing Reuben,

just poking at him in fun.

And Reuben completely
lost his temper.

Then he bragged about
having a real gun of his own

and shooting at a bear.

Now, of course the boy
called him a liar

and Reuben slapped him down.

Now I sent Reuben to the
principal and he was punished.

I will not have lying and
arrogance in my class.

Reuben weren't lying.

He's had him a rifle
since'd he were 10 year old.

And all my young'uns was taught
never to point a toy gun.

Case one day they might forget
and use a real one thatta way.

[Mrs. Stringer] That's very
interesting but I see no point

in continuing this discussion.

Reuben is in Detroit now,

he will have to adjust
to his surroundings.

That's the most
important thing in life.

That's what you're
learning my young'uns?

[Mrs. Stringer] Of course.

So's if one day they was
to go to Germany, they...

they could adjust?

Learn to get along with
them Nazis and Hitler?

How dare you twist
my words that way!

I'm much obliged to you
for your time, ma'am.

You can't roll out people
like biscuit dough.

[sighs]

[doctor] What's that first
letter, Cassie?

- [Cassie] Z.
- Good.

Now the next line.

O?

Hmm, not quite.

It's got a tail.

What's an O with a tail,
like a piglet?

Q.

Right!
And the letter next to it?

[Cassie] P.

[doctor] Well now, let's try
a little magic, shall we?

Here, let's slip these on,
there behind your ears.

There we go.

I'm gonna put a lens in here.

There we are.

And now.

It's a Q, then an R, then
a T, then a P, then an N.

Very good, nothing
wrong with that eye.

Put there, and this one
in there and now read.

X, M, F, A, K, L.

Well, you certainly
know your letters.

Can you read?

Some.

If'n the print's big.

Callie Lou can't neither.

Well you send her to me
and we'll show her the magic.

- All right?
- She's right there!

Well of course,
it's so dark in here.

It's nice to have a friend, huh?

Okay.

I'm gonna put this one
in here, very easy.

I want you to read this,
try that.

- "The Lord is my..."
- [gentle string music]

Shepard.

"Shepherd, I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie
down in green pastures.

He leadeth me
beside still waters.

He restored my soul."

[children chattering]

Oh, Ma, he's in trouble!

You know he ain't
supposed to walk
anywhere there ain't patrols.

And Reuben just
took off on his own,

across all kinds of
streets he shouldn't've.

He cut across that
land by the railroad.

Don't sound so terrible to me.

And Miss Stringer seen 'im!

And us young'uns, kids,

ain't supposed to walk
by the railroad tracks!

Well maybe he misses
the fields and the woods.

How'd you do today,
Miss Cassie Marie?

[Cassie] Miss Vashinski
had me read in front of
the whole class.

Ma, Ma, Reuben's
gonna get a lickin'!

Hush now,
you'll wake your pa!

[Clovis]
Hey, what's the racket here?

Reuben walked home on the
fifth by the railroad tracks.

Where we ain't allowed to walk!

[Cassie]
She was real pleased, Ma!

And she gave a story
book to bring home, look!

I'm gonna read it to Callie Lou.

- [Enoch] ...get him a lickin'!
- [Clovis] Reuben!

- Reuben?
- Clovis.

Reuben! Come in here!

[indistinct chattering outside]

What's going on?

You gotta walk where
they tell you to walk!

It's for your own safety.

The way y'all are
carrying on about it,
think I killed a man!

You walk where they
tell you to walk.

What's the matter with you, boy?
You always in trouble.

It ain't my fault!

The young'uns don't like me,
Miss Stringer, she hates me.

And now she hates
me worse than ever

'cause you come bawling her
out saying I wasn't happy.

She made fun of me in
front of everybody.

Things was bad
enough 'fore you come
sticking your big nose in!

No Clovis, don't!

You get in your room till
you can come out here and
apologize to your mama!

Rest of you young'uns,
clear out!

Clytie, turn the radio on
good and loud for Reuben.

So he'll have something
to listen to in his room.

I ain't gonna have him
talking to you like that.

What'd you go raise a racket
with that teacher for?

You don't know
nothing about schools.

Rest of the kids
is doing all right.

You've set Reuben
against Detroit

so's he hates school
and everything else!

It's you as much wrong
with him as anything.

[melancholic music]

[children chattering]

Bye!

He ain't never been
this late before.

Clytie and me ain't
seen him all day.

This one's all
black and squishy.

Yuck! Ma's trying to
feed us rotten bananas!

Try another one.

[Enoch] They're always trying to
make a fast buck off of you, Ma.

[Clovis]
Your Mom ain't used to buying.

Y'all get rid of that
and go do your homework.

Gertie, I think we
better call the police.

No, he'll come.

I know he'll come, he's
just waiting somewheres,

afeared to come home.

Well, I gotta go to work.

If he ain't here when I get
back, I'm calling the cops.

[pensive Appalachian music]

[truck engine running outside]

[slow oboe playing]

[melancholic music]

[Clovis] Gertie, we're awful
fools, Reuben's all right.

"Dear Pa, I took 20 dollars
to pay my way back.

I hope it don't run you
short on the car payments.

I don't steal,
I will pay it back.

Back home, I can work
and trap for Grandpa.

I can't stay here no more.

Your ever loving son, Reuben."

I'm glad.

[Clovis] Found it in
my mail hole at work.

"Go on home and tell ya
wife," the foreman said to me.

Who would've thought a foreman
would have so much heart.

Aw honey, you set up all
night working on this thing?

The Christ all whittled
outta one piece.

You coulda made a flat
cross in half the time

with a flat Jesus
Christ glued on top.

A jigsaw is what you need.

They'll cut out
anything, by the dozen.

Jesus Christ is jumping jacks,

it's all the same to a jigsaw.

♪ A leansy, a patsy,
a whirl around the mapsy ♪

♪ I touch my knee,
I touch my toe ♪

♪ Round and round they go ♪

Have another, Callie Lou.

[children] ♪ Cuckoo, cuckoo ♪

♪ Cuckoo, Cuckoo ♪

[children giggling]

Cassie Marie.

- Victor!
- [Victor laughing]

[children] ♪ A leansy, a patsy,
a whirl around the mapsy ♪

- [children singing
indistinctly]
- Don't forget Callie Lou.

[children]
♪ Round and round they go ♪

[Victor]
Hey, Gert! Look what I found!

It's finished.

[gentle music]

[Cassie] Let me see.

He looks so sad, Ma.

This one's gonna be laughing.

Well, I don't know,
Cassie Marie.

Maybe he will.

Ma, can I have a nickel
for a popsicle?

We're the onlyest kids in the
alley that hasn't got one.

[Victor] Enoch.

[growling]

Thanks, Victor!

[Gertie laughing]

[Cassie] Me too, me too!

[Gertie] Cassie!

[bright music]

Where'd you learn to do that?

My old man, he
knew lots of tricks.

He was a little man, was quick.

I was big like an ox so,
he just learned me the one.

Here Gert, you can buy
yourself some pretty shoes.

And Max, she's
crazy about shoes.

10 dollars will near pay for
a hog.

A hog, wh--?

[giggles] Not for here!

I'm saving for when
we go back home.

[door opens]

She put a lot of work in that.

I know it.

You heard from Reuben?

He's living with my folks
helping on their farm.

Ah, it'll be better for him.

There's some people
don't never do good
outside their country.

Like my mom.

Well,

thanks, Gert.

I wish Reuben would've
gone to my folks.

Your mama will work him like
a mule, give him no schooling.

Like she done you.

Won't be forever.

We'll be goin' back
home pretty soon.

Once the war's over.

Home to what?

I can hear 'em all now,
especially your mama.

"Poor Gert, back here with
that tinkerin' Clovis

and not a nickel to his name."

Tinkering, I'll show 'em
there's money in tinkering.

You wanna stay here?

Of course I wanna stay
here, I got a good job.

Young'uns is all in school.

We never had that
with me hauling coal

and you scrabbing on that farm.

You be better off
watching over Cassie.

She run by me just now gibberin'

and a-jabberin' to the thin air.

She's doing real
well in school

since she got them eyeglasses.

You can't hardly
stop her reading now.

You better stop
that foolishness

of her talking to herself.

Folks are thinking she's choir.

You don't make her quit,
you'll have another Reuben.

And she can't run home.

Oh, Ma, you know what
that greedy Callie Lou done?

She ate up all my popsicle.

Now that's enough
of that, Cassie Marie,

you stop playing
that silly game.

I ain't a-playing.

[Clovis] Don't be sassing me,
just quit.

You know they ain't
no Callie Lou.

Now mind me honey.

[somber music]

[Gertie] Honey,

back home you never
did have nobody

to play with but Jep, so
you thought up Callie Lou.

But you're a big girl now,

you can't go around talking
to yourself anymore.

Ma, don't you like
Callie Lou no more?

Cassie, go out and
play with others now.

Your pa's right,
there ain't no Callie Lou.

Got a clean shirt old, woman?

Me and Whit's going to
a meeting.

That union again.

Union means as much
as a job up here,

you just be glad
I'm doing good in it.

T'ain't right!

Gertie, you don't
know nothing about it.

This ain't like back home.

I don't mean your old union.

I mean Cassie Marie.

A body's gotta have
something of their own.

[somber music]

[Clovis] I'll be back
for supper.

[door shuts]

[contemplative
instrumental music]

[Cassie sniffling]

[music continues]

Ma, why don't you
like Callie Lou no more?

I bet you can see little girls
in my eyes Cassie Marie.

[mournful Appalachian music]

[Cassie] Don't cry, Callie Lou,
you're a big girl now!

Stay over them little
trees across the track.

I'll come see you
whenever I can.

Ma, I'm starved!

[Radio Announcer]
Hi ho, silver!

[gunshots on radio]

A fiery horse with
a speed of light,

a cloud of dust and a
hearty high ho silver!

The Lone Ranger!

Aw, Ma!

A body can't hear
theirselfs think.

[radio continues playing
quietly]

Cassie Marie, come
and eat something.

Come on, honey.

I ain't hungry, Ma, can
I just stay out and play?

You eat something first.

[Cassie crying]

[Radio Announcer]
A daring and resourceful
masked rider of the plains...

[Gertie] What's the matter,
honey?

Oh Ma, I wet on myself
right in the classroom

and all the kids laughed at me.

Aw, that's nothing.

Don't fret.

You want clean pants?

Ms. Vashinski
washed em out for me

and dried 'em in
the teacher's room.

Don't tell Clytie.

Come here. Aww.

♪ I've reached the land
of corn and wine ♪

♪ And all its riches
freely mine ♪

♪ Where shines undid
one blissful day ♪

Ma, I can't hear
The Lone Ranger!

[Cassie] Can I go out and play?

I guess so, honey.

[sighs]

[woman on radio]
What was that?

[man on radio]
It's at the end of this note.
I'll read it to you.

He says,
"Always remember this,

one man plus courage
is a majority."

[woman] One man
plus courage is a majority.

Why, that's wonderful!

But who is he,
did he sign his name?

[man]
It's written right here,

The Lone Ranger.

♪ High ho silver away ♪

[wax paper rustling]

[Gertie humming]

[paper bag crinkling]

Now children,
this word is skip.

Do what it tells you.

[children giggling]

Frankie Daly,
what's this next word?

- Jump!
- You dumb kid, that says sit.

Cassie, what's this next word?

I don't know.

Come on, you see good
with them specs on!

I don't know!

All right stupid,
then ask Callie Lou!

Come on, Cassie,
what does she say?

[somber music]

There ain't no Callie Lou.

[Gertie] Cassie?

[train whistle blowing]

Cassie Marie?

I have a surprise for you and
Callie Lou, come on Cassie.

Come feed that hungry
child of yours.

[train engine chugging]

Cassie?

- [train engine running]
- [railroad bells ringing]

Cassie?

Cassie, honey,
get back from there!

[train horn blowing]

Cassie Marie!

Cassie, get back!

The train's moving!

You fell, you fell, I didn't!

Come on.

Cassie!

Oh, Cassie!

[wood breaking]

Cassie!

Come on, you bad young'un,
I'm taking you home.

You sit right there,
you mind me now.

[horn blowing]

[whimpering]

[Gertie grunting]

Cassie!

[train horn blowing]

♪ Beullaline, sweet Beullaline ♪

Lady! Get outta there!

What are ya crazy?

♪ Now I stand and look away ♪

[suspenseful music]

♪ Legends are prepared ♪

[metallic crash]

No! [screaming]

[Cassie screaming]

Cassie!

- What happened?
- Over here!

- [Cassie] Mama!
- Cassie!

- Cassie?
- It hurts, Ma! Oh, Ma!

[dramatic music]

Help me! Help me, somebody!

Help me try to
stop the bleeding!

- We gotta stop it!
- [ambulance siren blaring]

This way, quick!

Outta the way!

[Gertie crying]

You gonna be okay,
Cassie Marie.

It's all right.

It's all right.

Can you go a little
faster, please?

I can't see, Ma!

It's dark!

[Gertie] We'll be going home
soon, honey, you and Callie Lou.

You can run with Jep
and climb trees, hmm?

We'll sit all day and have
school and tea parties,

while you're getting well.

Every day and every minute,

you can play with Callie Lou,
I promise.

[dramatic music]

[doctor]
Ma'am, I'm awfully sorry, ma'am.

Where are you taking her?

No, no!

- We gotta move.
- [Gertie] Where are you
taking her?

- Where are you taking her?
- [Victor] Gertie!

I wanna take her home.

I wanna take her home!

Gertie!

- Gertie. Gertie!
- Oh, Clovis!

No, no, no!

- Gertie?
- No!

Let go, lady.
They keeps 'em free overnight.

Leave her stay, Gert, them
undertakers murders ya,

it's money every minute.

Money? I got money!

I got money, Clovis!

Can we take her if we pay?

Won't it do?

- Honey.
- Ain't it enough?

I wanna take her home!

She's gone!

[Gertie wailing]

[funereal organ music]

- [somber music]
- [Gertie moaning]

- No. No!
- [Clovis] Gertie, here,
drink this.

No!

[discordant music]

[Gertie panting]

[trains horn blowing]

[somber music]

Gertie?
Doctor says you gotta sleep.

Go to sleep, honey.

♪ Something hurts me
here, dear Mother ♪

♪ Like a stone upon my breast ♪

♪ Oh I wonder, wonder, Mother ♪

♪ Why it is I cannot rest ♪

♪ Just before the lamps
were lighted ♪

♪ Just before
the children came ♪

♪ While the room
was very quiet ♪

♪ I heard someone call my name ♪

♪ In a moment I was looking ♪

♪ On a world so
bright and clear ♪

♪ Which was filled
with little children ♪

♪ And it seemed so happy there ♪

[Sophronie] Gertie? Gert!

Here.

I can't never get
this part right.

You'll have to set up.

[children chattering outside]

Where's Amos?

[Clytie] He's playing.

Where is he? Amos!

Gert, you've been
in here two weeks.

[Gertie] Don't you go outside.

Taking him right next
door to play with Wheateye.

It's all right, Ma,
we'll hold both his hands.

Get up now, Gert,
these kids need ya.

Aww.

[Max] Got a dream for me, kid?

Sheesh, let some air in here!

[Gertie whimpers]

Listen, you gotta listen!

It's spring kiddo.

War's about over, I need you.

I need a dream.

Victor's aiming to buy a house

and have his mom move in
with us and I ain't gonna eat

them Polish dumplings all
the rest of my life. [chuckles]

You gotta start
dreaming again, Gert.

It's something can't nobody
take away from you.

What's this they giving you?

Goofballs in water.

You got a hole in your life

and that ain't
the way to fill it.

Now get up!

Or I'm gonna send
Victor's ma in here

to feed you dumplings,
yuck! [chuckling]

I'll be back tomorrow to
help you clean up your room.

Hey, what's the dream?

Same as yours, home.

[slow Appalachian music]

[gentle orchestral music]

[Gertie sighs]

Hi, Ma! Feeling better?

A little.

Hey, old woman.

Enoch's planting
a garden for you, Ma.

They're giving out
grass seed and fertilizer
at the project office.

A garden?

[Clovis] It'll cost a heap.

I got some money
from babysitting.

You short on cash?

We on strike.

Now it's all right,

getting strike pay,

but ain't much left over.

We had to burn your coat,

but there wasn't
nothing left inside.

They took it all,
Gertie, for Cassie.

Them cops sent us to an
undertaker, it wasn't so good.

All of it?

It's all gone?

[Enoch] Can't we have a garden?

I'll do all the digging.

It won't last long, Gertie.

Cooper says they'll break soon.

We just gotta hang on.

That's union.

[Clovis] Union's just folks
looking out for theirselves.

Like Tom says,
people ain't rabbits.

Rabbits never make a
sound until you kill 'em

and it's just one little squeak.

You want me to be a rabbit?

[gentle music]

I got the grass seed.

They gimme some
flower seeds too.

What kind?

Well, I asked the lady that,

she looked me like I was
crazy and said flowers.

Look at the big
strong man, Callie Lou.

[hopeful fiddle music]

[Gertie] How much for cabbages?

Uh, 15.

Uh, turnips?

10 cents a pound.

I'll take six pound.

Six pound.

You, uh, you no sick now?

I'm better.

[man] You want-a some flower?

No money.

These uh, these not
so hot, you take anyway.

Turnip for 60 cents.

Ma, Ma! The radio
says we beat the Germans!

Oh, wonderful!

- [everyone cheering]
- [train horns honking]

What's all that racket?

The war's over.

- [Victor exclaims]
- [Joe laughing]

[Victor laughing]

Victor found a house,
he put a payment on it.

Got a big lilac
bush in the yard.

My mom, she come
live with us now.

Glen's protection
men are real buzzards.

It's gonna get
rough, real rough.

Look here, old woman,
got a present for you.

Tom here helped
me get the parts.

You got nothing else to do.

It's a jigsaw, Ma! Watch!

You can turn em out
by the dozens now.

Jesus Christs, jumping
jacks, anything you want!

Don't have to waste
all that time whittling.

You make a pattern,
I'll cut out the parts,

Kids can string them together.

I ain't got no wood.

I know a place where
you can get 'em cheap!

[Clovis]
Gotta keep it quiet though.

We ain't supposed to run
power tools in the projects.

Enoch, get me some coal.

Amos, come here.

[man] The company knows
damn well

their only chance
is to hit Bender.

We're covering
him day and night.

Night's when they'll try it.

You want me to help out?

[man] Fine, but I warn you,
these guys are animals.

Wait a minute.

Ma, I can't breathe.

Aw.

[machines rumbling]

It's all trash,
it's just fit for kindling.

Just look around!

Ma!

I bet they's maple, ain't they?

Ain't that good
for jumping jacks?

That'll do just fine.

Don't let on you want 'em.

Lemme do it!

Mister, us Cub Scouts is
building us a little denhouse,

could you gimme something cheap?

There's some old smashed
boxes over there,

no good for nothing.

Smart kid.

Them's government bins.
Solid maple.

Real good.

You just buy 'em
for scrap, don't you?

I don't buy nothing, lady.

I get paid for hauling
it out, fire risk.

Ah, whatever you can load
in that wagon, one dollar.

And I don't lend hammers
and screwdrivers.

[upbeat Appalachian music]

Gertie, you come up.

The number you
gimme, 800 dollars!

Oh.

I said you'd be lucky for me.

I'm taking off
'fore I get scared.

You can't just go.

- Where are you gonna
sleep tonight?
- In a bus headed for the ocean.

I grew up by the ocean.

Victor's Ma, she ain't
never even seen it.

She ain't never
been outta Detroit.

She wants to stay stuck
in this dump all her life.

Honey, you're 19 years old.

You need somebody.

Ain't you got no
people to go to?

I don't need nobody.

I learned that in there.

Victor's Ma can find
him a nice Polish girl.

I wish you'd been my people.

Max, he's a good man.

I'll write you.

[children]
♪ Ring around the rosy ♪

♪ Pocket full of posies ♪

♪ We all fall down ♪

♪ Ring around the rosy ♪

♪ Pocket full of posies ♪

♪ We all fall down ♪

[girl] One more time!

[children]
♪ Ring around the rosy ♪

♪ Pocket full of posies ♪

[door shuts]

[paper rustling]

This all?

[Clovis]
They cut the strike pay.

Had to put money on the car.

There's only two payments to go.

Ma, I sold four
jumping jacks!

And a cop took one!

A cop in a squad car.

He stopped and asked
what I was doing.

And I said, wouldn't he like
a doll for his little girl?

He said, how did I know
he had little girl?

But he laughed and he kept it.

You done real good honey,
but there's only 7.50 here.

Well, I didn't ask
him for no money.

You're learning, son.

Cops earn more than strikers.

[Enoch] I'm gonna have a cop
speaking to me personal now.

Just like Mr. Daly.

[Victor] Gert?

Where'd she go?

I don't know.

She said she'd write.

She'd come back to me,
if I could find her.

Gertie?

You know...why she left?

Maybe 'cause she didn't belong.

Okay.

Oh honey, what you done to it?

Pa done it.

Don't you like it?

Well, it's ugly.

[Clovis] Howdy, Gert.

We can't afford
foolishness like paints.

Now don't jump on me.

That's to help with your dolls.

I'll save you a lot
of time whittling.

[Gertie]
Is time gonna buy groceries?

Look at this, Clovis.

That's all I got left after
paying last month's rent

and by rights,
this month's is due.

How am I gonna buy food?

Get credit,
like everybody else.

You're so mule headed
about that.

You can get stuff on
account, down at the store.

Make ya pay back double,
like they done ya

at all the other stores.

[Clovis] We can pay it off
when the strike's over.

You're good with money.

Lord, the money you saved,

if that damned crooked funeral
parlor hadn't'a took it all.

With what Henley left you,
you must had over 600 dollars.

Enough to buy a piece of land.

If I'd'a knowed
you had all that,

I'd of said buy a place
and wait for me.

Then when the war was over,
I'd'a come rolling in.

We'd have been all set.

You always hated the farm.

Clovis, you'd'a spent
that money for a truck.

I know'd you would.

You sold the cow for tires.

I couldn't see you
working and working

and always giving
away half of it.

I wanted you to have
what you wanted.

Oh, for God's sake Gertie,

don't waste all that
time whittling on 'em.

You want 'em quick
and cheap, paint 'em.

Don't tell me what to do!

All my life, I've been
doing what I was told.

First Ma and then you.

Well 16 year, I dreamed
of us having our own farm

and I worked and I saved up

and you said, "Come to Detroit!"

You never cared what I wanted.

You never asked!

You left home with your bag
all hidden away didn't you?

You planned on not coming back!

And now look,
we're stuck in this hole!

Owing money all around
and you on strike

with your precious union!

And Reuben gone and Cassie,
Cassie Marie, oh. [crying]

You've gone your own
way always, Clovis,

and I've had to go too.

Well, these dolls...

this is all that's
feedin' our young'uns now

and their mine!

Don't you tell me
to do it your way.

I ain't doing it no more.

[clattering]

[suspenseful music]

- [rain pattering]
- [thundering]

[knocking on door]

Turn out the light!
Open the door!

Huh? We gotta get
him to a hospital!

- [man] Keep your voice down.
- He ain't bad hurt.

What happened?

They jumped us outside
of Bender's house.

They got him on the head.

- The blood's from
his scalp, that's all.
- Did--did you call the police?

Are you kidding?
Flint's got the cops in his
pocket, this is Detroit, honey.

- [Clovis moans]
- Easy, easy.

[Sophronie] Gert, are they back?

Clovis got his self hurt.

[sighs] Trouble, you hunt it.

Well, I figure the union's
worth a little trouble.

You gotta learn to
look behind you, buddy.

Whit, that old boy you popped.

Yeah, he ain't
getting up in a hurry.

Whadda you mean?

It means we got trouble.
A lot of eyes out there lookin'.

- Did they see ya car?
- No, it was Clovis'.

[Sophronie]
Will they set the cops on you?

- [man] We all gotta get
outta site for a while.
- Ain't no place to go!

Guy I know with a farm
outside of town
needs a tractor rebuilt.

Now, I was going to take Clovis.

- It's about a week's work.
- Is it safe?

Sure, it's safe.

Now you get a good sleep

and I'll come by for
ya in the morning.

[Clovis]
How are you gonna get by?

We'll manage.

[factory whistle blows]

Oh!

Shoulda got me up.

You didn't sleep much.

I'll be gone a week or so.

I'll write you.

It's a farm so maybe I can
bring some stuff back.

- Uh-huh.
- [car horn honks]

It's here.

Gertie, I wish
I'd never seen Detroit.

I tried to work for us
the best way I knew how,

nothing come out right.

We'll get back home one day.

I swear we will.

I love you, honey.

You just take
care of yourself.

Pa? Are you leaving now, Pa?

- [Amos] Bye, Pa.
- [Clovis] Bye, son!

Honey, our car is
parked out in the alley.

Wish you'd move it before
they come repossess it.

Can't make a payment
until I get this job done.

Take care of your mama now.

Yes, sir.

Look at the strikers, Amos.

Watch out, Miss Nevels, you
can't cross our picket lines.

You'll be at scab.

[boy] Can't you read dummy?
You've crossed the picket lines.

Sorry, I'm sorry!

Come on, Mr. Skyros,
I'll take care of ya.

Thank you, Wheateye.

It's all right, Mrs. Nevels.

I'm being well looked after.

Hello.

If it's not an inconvenience,

you just said I might
look at some of your work.

Of course!

Please come in, Mr. Skyros.

- Thank you.
- Amos?

Someday he'll have a face.

I can't seem to find it.

[Skyros] It's there.

Waiting.

Oh, beautiful!

Have you made any more of these?

I ain't got time for
such as that no more.

[Skyros] Could you have?

What do you mean?

[Skyros] Do you remember that
friend that I mentioned?

That admired your
little bird so much.

He has a store downtown

and he asked if he
could commission you

to make some for him.

How long would it take you
to say, make 50 of them?

- 50?
- Uh-huh!

He's convinced that he could
sell a great many of them.

He could only pay
you 4.50 a piece,

which is far less, of
course, than their worth.

I go pretty quick!

When I got me the time.

[Skyros]
Just go at your own speed.

Ask the children to let me know

when you've made maybe, a dozen.

He sent you 50 dollars for
the wood that you'll need.

I know how difficult
these days are for you.

And you must promise that
you're going to finish this.

Well, I won't keep you,
must be supper time.

Mr. Skyros?

- Thank you.
- Privilege.

[knocking on door]

Clovis Nevels?

- He ain't to home.
- You Mrs. Nevels?

- Uh-huh.
- You got a boy
down in Kentucky?

Reuben!

You have to call him,
we got a message.

- What happened?
- Officer in Kentucky
said it was an emergency.

You can phone from
the station if you like.

I'll come with you, Ma!

Hello? Reuben?

Here's Ma.

Reuben!
What's wrong, you alright?

[Reuben] Ma? Grandpa died.

Ma, you there?

When did he die?

[Reuben] Yesterday morning.
I found him in his workshop.

And Auntie Mag's here.

Grandma's going back with her.

Did you get my--

[telephone static]

Reuben?

Honey? I can't hear you!

Hello?

Hello?

[officer] Here, sit down.

We ain't had no letter.

No.

What'd it say?

Reuben? Hello?

I'm sorry, Ma.

[telephone rings]

Police.

What?

Oh, okay, thank you.

2.50.

[Clytie]
The call costs 2.50, Ma.

I ain't got no money with me.

I'll bring it to you.

You've got a boy
that sells dolls?

- Enoch.
- Yeah, Enoch.

He's a smart kid.

He gimme a doll.

My kid got so mad.

She tried right off
to take it apart

and when she couldn't,
she threw it at me.

[chuckles]
Can't get it away from her now.

Can I bring it
to you tomorrow?

Forget the money.
You get your ma on home.

She's all tore up.

And don't you let your kid
brother go selling after dark

or get into no cars
with no strangers.

Oh, we know about that.

We've been here a long time.

[children] ♪ Take the keys and
lock her up, lock her up ♪

♪ Take the keys and... ♪

Look, Ma, it's from Reuben!

That's what he must'a meant.

Read it, honey.

"Dear Ma,
I am writing for Grandpa.

He is very sick.

All Grandma does is cry
and say you deserted them.

She wants to sell the farm
and go live with Auntie Mag.

Grandpa says if he dies
the farm is yours

and she must not sell it.

But if you don't come,
she will sell it

because she says what
I do is not enough.

I am writing because
Grandpa told me to.

Your loving son, Reuben."

Is Reuben there all alone?

Reuben's got sense.

[gentle music]

Honey, look after Amos for me.

Come on, Enoch, I need
you to give me a hand.

[gentle harmonica music]

Honey, you've been to
the car lot with your pa
to make payments, ain't ya?

Sure! Down past the mill,
Josephson's.

Just point me in
the right direction.

What for?

Tell me the way.

Not even one more week?

But it's near all paid off.

No way, lady,
cash on time that's our rules.

You got till Friday
or we repossess.

[Enoch] Lookit, Ma!

It's just like Pa's truck,
only newer!

[man]
Not so new as your car, Sonny.

You'll find some way to
keep this, you got any sense.

If I can get the money
to pay off the car,

would you swap it
for that truck?

- Lady, you're crazy.
- Would ya?

Sure I would.

I want somebody to
check it over first.

We ain't got nothing to hide.

How much we owe?

[man] 52 dollars with tax.

- Ma!
- Shh!

Will you throw
in a spare tire?

[chuckles] Sure, why not?

Tools? And a jack?

Don't push your luck, kid.

I'm gonna go make
out the papers, lady.
You wanna come to the office?

- [Gertie] Put in about having
it looked over.
- Yeah.

Ma, that was your
money for wood.

How you gonna make dolls?

Gonna go see your
scrap wood man.

He ain't got nothing.

[Gertie] Well, it won't
hurt none to look.

Who you gonna have
check out the truck?

[horn honks]

Victor, when he
comes off shift.

[upbeat music]

Looks okay to me.

Good Lord, Gert,
why you want a truck?

Well, I'll tell you tomorrow.

I gotta get me some wood.

Wood?

Now you listen to me.

When Max was a young'un,
did she live near the sea?

Some place in Mississippi.

Biloxi.

If you can leave your ma,
that's where you oughta look.

She went home.

Ma, where are we going?

To see Cassie Marie?

We're just going out whilst
Clytie and Enoch are playing.

I'm gonna need to
borrow your wagon.

It's outside.

Want a cup of coffee, Gert?

Later maybe.

I got me a errand to do.

Heard from Clovis?

No, you hear from Whit?

They'll make out.

How's the merry-go-round?

Still going around,
me with it.

At least we got my
money coming in.

[scraping]

[Gertie grunting]

Open the door, Amos!

[Sophronie] Looks like you
almost finished.

Not quite.

Where you taking it?

To show to a fella.

Can me and Callie Lou
come too?

- [gentle music]
- Why sure.

You get a good price now!

What's that?

Where you taking him?

You make that?

You leave 'em be!

Ain't ya gonna
give him no face?

[Gertie] Maybe it's there if'n
you look real hard.

What's it look like?

Maybe like your ma.

[boy] My Ma?

[Gertie] Or Wheateye's Ma.

Maybe like you, Frankie.

Like most anybody.

[hopeful instrumental music]

I don't buy nothing.

I ain't selling.

Whadda you got there?

[Gertie] Cherry wood.

[man] It's Christ, ain't it?

I'd like it sawed up
for whittling.

Small pieces, 50 of 'em.

When you was so
near finishing?

I'm just beginning.

[hopeful instrumental music]

I'd like it sawed up now.

Got to be split first.

[music continues]

Pull the wagon, honey.

[wagon wheels squeaking]

Here. I ain't gonna do it.

[music continues]

[music swells]

You'll have to do
better than that, lady.
I'll get you a wedge.

[music continues]

[fiddle music]

[grand music]

[uptempo fiddling]

[music continues]

[no audio]

[triumphant orchestral music]

[gentle Appalachian music]

♪ Where ya going,
yonder bound maiden ♪

♪ Where are you going,
head to the sky ♪

♪ I'm going back to my garden ♪

♪ Fare thee well,
tell me no goodbye ♪

♪ Fare thee well,
tell me no goodbye ♪

♪ Can I join ya
yonder bound maiden ♪

♪ Can I join ya,
tell me no lies ♪

♪ The road home is a hard one ♪

♪ 50 miles as the swallows fly ♪

♪ Sweet, tender maiden ♪

♪ Ain't you aiming high ♪

♪ Dreams, dreams are fading ♪

♪ Can you find one
before you die ♪

♪ Find 'em all, maiden,
by and by ♪

♪ Just before the lamps
were lighted ♪

♪ Just before the
children came ♪

♪ While the room
was very quiet ♪

♪ I heard someone call my name ♪

♪ I am a pilgrim
and a stranger ♪

♪ Travelin' through
this wearisome land ♪

♪ I got a home in that
yonder city, Good Lord ♪

♪ And it's not,
not made by hand ♪

♪ I got a mother,
sister, and a brother ♪

♪ Who have gone
this way before ♪

♪ I am determined to go
and see them, Good Lord ♪

♪ Over on that other shore ♪

[fast fiddle music]