All language subtitles for Ode.To.Billy.Joe.1976.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

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[Bobbie Gentry singing
"Ode To Billie Joe"]

♪ It was the third of June

♪ Another sleepy dusty
delta day ♪

♪ I was out choppin' cotton ♪

♪ And my brother
was balin' hay ♪

♪ And at dinnertime
we stopped ♪

♪ And walked back
to the house to eat ♪

♪ And mama hollered out
the back door ♪

♪ Y'all remember
to wipe your feet ♪

♪ And then she said
I got some news this mornin' ♪

♪ From Choctaw Ridge ♪

♪ Today Billy Joe McAllister

♪ Jumped off
the Tallahatchie Bridge ♪

♪ And papa said to mama
as he passed around

♪ The black-eyed peas ♪

♪ Well Billy Joe
never had a lick of sense ♪

♪ Pass the biscuits please ♪

♪ There's five more acres
in the lower 40 ♪

♪ I've got to plant now ♪

♪ And mama said it was a shame
about Billy Joe anyhow ♪

♪ Seems like
nothin' ever comes ♪

♪ To no good
up on Choctaw Ridge ♪

♪ And now
Billy Joe McAllister's ♪

♪ Jumped off
the Tallahatchie Bridge ♪♪

- Bye.
- 'Bye, Bobbie Lee.'

Hey!

I've been holding up this
here bridge for over an hour

so it wouldn't fall on you.

Right neighborly of you,
Mr. McAllister.

You know, I could charge you

maybe half a dollar
for my efforts.

It ain't worth but a quarter.

Whole bridge ain't worth
but a quarter.

Bobbie Lee,
I wanna talk to you.

Billy Joe, let me be.
I'm 15 years of age.

Now, you may think that's old

but my papa sees me
as nothin' but a child.

Well, your papa
is clearly behind the times.

Oh, he is also on the porch.

And does your papa know that
you've been sportin' a brassiere

for at least two years
I've known of?

They ain't the same one.
The first one was a trainer.

I'm up to a 32 now.
B cup, I believe.

Well, I believe
you're gonna be a 96

and trippin' all over yourself

before your papa
lets you out of his sight.

If I was a 96, I'd not be
out of anyone's sight.

[chuckles]
Shoot.

We used to play together
when we was kids.

And I work at the sawmill
with your brother, James.

Now that oughta
count for somethin'.

Counts for nothin'.

Gee, I don't know.

A girl your age still relyin'
on Benjamin for companionship.

Benjamin is a childhood
invention of mine

to help pass the hours

and give me someone
to talk to besides cows.

And you are cruel
to taunt me about him

since I only told you
of his existence

in a moment of weakness.

Well, there's gonna come
a time, young lady

when your little old Benjamin
ain't no longer

gonna do you any good.

So I am hereby
volunteerin' my services

as his official replacement.

Well..

Well, now how'd that
sound to you, Benjamin?

[as Benjamin]
How should I know, Billy Joe?

I'm only a creature
of this girl's imagination.

[as himself]
Well, in that case, Benjamin

why don't you just take a step
aside and let reality in?

[as Benjamin]
I'd like to,
but, why, this girl here

she still prefers dreams.

Oh, come along, Benjamin.

Well, I'll be seeing you,
Benjamin.

You take it easy, you hear?

[as Benjamin]
Yeah, I hear.

[as himself]
Hey, Benjamin,
let me know when she's a 35 D

and I'll just hurry on over.

That's a rascally man you've
been talking to, Benjamin.

[as Benjamin]
But he sure is cute,
Bobbie Lee.

[as herself]
Don't I know it?

Need a lift?

People always tryin'
to pick me up.

I do declare,
what is happenin' to the South?

Sorry, my mistake.

Hey, papa. Hey, papa, wait!

Oh, come on, papa!

[barking]

[car honking]

You had the longest tenure
as deacon of anyone

in the congregation.

I believe that's something
to be truly proud of.

Well, perhaps that's because
as owner of the nicest pond

in the county,
I do hold small baptisms

for many fine members
of the congregation.

True.

I often wonder if the elders
ever consider that Baptists

though not always
the best Christians

do usually turn out
to be the best swimmers.

[laughs]
The Lord works
in mysterious ways.

[laughter]

If I may be excused,
I do have to be leaving.

The Wilson boys are paintin'
the inside of the church

and one of 'em is color-blind.

Don't see it as fittin' to have
a chartreuse western wall.

[laughter]

Oh, Brother Taylor, before
you go, perhaps you'll favor us

by listenin' to Bobbie Lee
play the piano.

Mama, Brother Taylor
shouldn't have to pay

for his dinner
in such a terrible manner.

But I'd love
to hear you play, Bobbie.

- The dog plays better.
- Oh, come on now, girl.

You go sit down and play.

You're the only piano player
we got in this house.

- After you.
- Okay.

What's the matter
with a chartreuse western wall?

[chuckles]

[piano music]

♪ Gentle Jesus meek and mild ♪

♪ Look upon a little child ♪♪

[upbeat music]

[indistinct chatter]

Hey. Hey, Billy Joe.
Come on, smile.

Hey, hey, hey.

- Hey, baby, looking good!
- Hey!

[bottle shatters]

[chuckles]

Get this, Benjamin.

"My blood raced
as he looked down at me.

"My heart pumpin' so hard

"that my ample breasts
came close to burstin'.

"I feared him, but I wanted him.

"I loathed him, but I love him.

"No, I screamed, no!

"And then I heard my own voice
sayin' yes, yes, yes.

"And then no, no, no.

"And then, yes, no, yes.

"My mind went blank,
the light went off..

"...and all I remembered
was the wonder of it

and the joy and the magic."

[sighs]

Oh, Benjamin, I don't believe
you're doin' me any good.

Now, Bobbie Lee,
your papa knows the prices

'but you'd best remind him
that Caldwell's pays'

'higher for eggs than Acme.'

And Sungold Farms pays better
for milk than Greenwood Dairies.

Yes, mama.

Chickens are all dressed
and prepared.

Twenty goin' to Bleekers
on order

another dozen to Gary Chris.

- You were up late last night.
- I was reading.

The Good Book?

Oh, yes, mama,
it was a good book.

Guess you're gettin'
to that time.

Guess so.

Sometimes when the sapgets
to risin'

sometimes a girl
has to count to ten.

I'm way past a hundred, mama.

Sometimes a girl
has to count to a thousand.

How high did you count
with papa?

As I recall, 844, by 2s.

Phew, those seven-year locusts

sure seem to have taken
over the henhouse.

Your papa says they come
every year and stay seven.

Wouldn't be so bad
if they laid eggs.

Oh, mama.

[Bobbie Lee]
Mama says
the Caldwells pays higher

for eggs than Acme
and the Greenwood Dair--

Your mama has yet come
to believe

that I always get
the most favorable prices.

Yes, papa.

Oh, can we stop by
and get some sewin' goods?

I got an order for two dresses
and I'm making myself one.

It's a dancin' dress.

I know how to dance now, papa.

Though I don't have
many opportunities

trip light fantastic.

Time enough
when you've grown a bit more.

Well, I don't wanna wait
too long.

My legs may give out
from practicin..

And from arthritis.

- There's time enough.
- Yes, papa.

Oh, hush, Benjamin.

- How's that?
- Oh, nothin'. Nothin', papa.

- I thought you said somethin'.
- No, papa.

I never say anythin'.

Looks like somebody's comin'.

We're first. He's just
gonna have to back off.

- 'Who is it?'
- 'I don't know.'

Well, we'll just have to stop

and acquaint him
with the procedure.

Afraid you're gonna
have to back up.

We ain't backin' up.

[laughter]

[Papa]
'The way we work it around here'

'first one on the bridge
got the right of way.'

We ain't from here.

[laughter]

[honking]

That does give us a problem.

Oh, we just took a vote
and decided

that you would do
the backin' up.

[laughter]

[honking]

Back up, papa.

Can't.

For some time now,
this truck ain't had no reverse.

[sighs]

[honking]

Then tell them.
They'll understand.

Ain't the issue.

The issue is
we was on the bridge first.

There's a lot of eggs
on our truck, papa.

Too bad they ain't
hard-boiled, huh?

- We're waitin'.
- Yeah.

I sure would take a crack
at explainin' to 'em, papa.

Don't seem like no good never
come to nobody on this bridge.

[honking]

Best you get out, girl.

- But, papa--
- 'Go on.'

'There ain't no time
for discussin' it, Bobbie Lee.'

Climb on out
and you get yourself clear.

- Go on.
- 'Oh, I love it.'

Okay.

Woo-wee! Woo-hoo!

Hey, mama.

Hey, old man,
we're losing patience.

This election is over.

Returns are in and you are out!

[all laughing]

[honking]

- 'That's right.'
- You kiddin', old man.

[laughter]

- Woo-wee!
- Get out of the way.

'That's good, boy.
Come on, do it again.'

[boys clamoring]

[boys laughing and shouting]

[tires screeching]

Back it up, boy. Back it up!
Move the tire, boy.

[engine sputtering]

Come on, man,
get out of the way.

[engine sputtering]

[engine sputtering]

[engine revving]

- Hey, get him.
- Go on. Go on!

[engine sputtering]

Come on, old truck.

Goddamn, Jack.

[engine sputtering]

[Papa]
'Come on.'

Come on, back it up,
back it up.

'Come on, back it up.'

Son of a bitch.

[gears grinding]

[indistinct]

'Hey, come on.
Come on, start.'

'Come on.'

Come on.

Come on, get him, boy.
Get him now.

Nail him, boy.

'Go ahead, boy, that's all.'

[tires screeching]

- Damn clutch.
- 'Get him out of the way.'

[boys laughing and shouting]

- Back it up, boy.
- Go, go.

Papa? Papa, are you oka..

It's alright, honey.
I'm alright. Now listen.

Shh. I want you to go back
there without climbin' on.

Now, I want you to see if you
can move some of that stuff

up to the front.
Go on now, honey.

[grunting]

It's alright, honey. Come here.

Come on, baby, I want you
to go, go to the sawmill

and you get James right away.

- But it won't--
- Go on, baby.

A breeze comes up,
your papa's goin' swimmin'.

Go on, girl.

[grunting]

[panting]

Mr. Barksdale!
It's my papa, he's in trouble.

He sent me to get
my brother, James.

Well, yeah. Come on!

James! Hey, James!

Get Billy Joe and Tom!

Take my truck.
Your daddy's in trouble!

- Come on, Tom, Billy Joe!
- Come on, Billy Joe, let's go!

Hurry up! Come on!

[honking]

Some shit-ass there,
that guy back there.

Hey, come on.
Let's get 'em, Jack.

- Come on, man.
- He gonna try. He gonna try!

- Keep going.
- Come on, come on, man!

[indistinct shouting]

Hey, get the hell
out of the way, you redneck!

[clamoring]

- Goddamn it.
- Hey, James! Slow down!

- What the hell?
- Shut up.

What the hell are you doing?

Son of a bitch
is throwin' bottles.

- Goddamn!
- Move it! Come on!

[James]
You son of a bitch!

[laughing and shouting]

Goddamn it, I tell you,
if we had time, I swear--

- We don't, James.
- I'm gonna break your neck!

[James]
'Get out of the way,
you redneck! Damn it.'

[Billy Joe]
'There must be somethin'
wrong with those boys.'

[James]
'Get the hell out of the way!'

You asshole, I'm gonna get you!
I'm gonna break your neck!

Hey, that's the little mama
on the bridge.

- 'Where, man?'
- 'Hey, come on, boy.'

Turn around, boy, turn around.

I don't wanna mess
with them right now.

Hang on.

[James]
'If I ever catch up
with them boys, I swear..'

- Pa, are you alright?
- Yeah, I'm alright, James.

Hey, now don't you worry, pa.
We'll get you out of there.

I'm fairly well
countin' on that.

[James]
'Tom, now hurry up
and hook that rope up'

'to the bumper, you hear?'

This damn door's jammed.

- 'Fast now.'
- Afternoon, Mr. Hartley.

Hi, I'm Billy Joe McAllister.

[James]
'Hurry up now, Tom.
Come on, boy, move it.'

I'm gettin' it,
I'm gettin' it.

Five hundred and seventy-five
dollars. Oh, goddamn it.

- You got insurance.
- Hell, yes, we got insurance.

But the damn deductible is gonna
come out of my daddy's pocket.

'Boy, I tell you,
what kind of lowlife'

'son of a gun
would do such a thing, huh?'

'And just drive off. Drive off.'

'Leaving a man's life hangin'
over the Tallahatchie River.'

'I don't believe it.
Goddamn, I don't.'

As a child, James,
did I not used to play

with that Billy Joe McAllister?

Oh, I'll tell you,
if I ever run into 'em boys

they're gonna pay
for that for sure.

'I don't give a goddamn
who the hell they are.'

'They could be Eisenhowers
for all I care.'

I mean,
look at this damn vehicle.

This thing is a disaster!

[sighs]
That Billy Joe McAllister sure
did seem like a nice person.

[James]
'What are you beatin'
your gums about, girl?'

That person.

Billy Joe McAllister
I believe his name was.

- What kind of boy is he?
- Billy Joe?

He ain't nothing but a tadpole.

'Hey, come on over here.
Take a look at this fender.'

'Take a look at this now.'

'Shouldn't take too long
to fix now, should it, huh?'

Shouldn't take too long.

- About two weeks.
- About two weeks. Goddamn!

[James]
'Two weeks?'

'Hell, it takes longer
to fix a damn truck'

'than it does to make one.'

'Why don't we
just call up Detroit'

'and have 'em bring in
a new one?'

'That way, it would save all of
us the paperwork we got here.'

[chuckles]
I think that Billy Joe
McAllister handled himself

real fine
in his introduction to papa.

Girl, how can you
keep yappin' about

that loon-minded
Billy Joe McAllister

when we got a problem here
that is both

financial and transportational?

'Now, don't you understand?'

'Until this truck gets fixed'

'papa's gonna have to do
all that hauling'

with a mule and wagon.
Yeah, that's right.

Leastwise if we knew who did it

we'd get their insurance company
to pay for the deductible.

Damn them Eisenhowers.
Damn it.

I got their license number.

- You did?
- I do.

Well, alright,
let me look at that.

Alabama.

Mighta known,
some stupid Southerners.

I'm gonna phone this in
to the sheriff right now.

You know,
that's pretty bright thinkin'

of you there, Bobby Lee.

Yeah, I'm a brain.

Yeah, that you are, little one,
that you are indeed.

[laughs]

I'm a body, too, James,
with desires.

Somebody better pay
attention to that.

Because my blood is racin'

and my ample breasts
are burstin'.

Don't need no help
from you, Benjamin.

You're beginning to bug me,
you know that?

Get..

Hear me right from God's word.

First Corinthian, chapter three

reading the 16th
and 17th verses.

"Do you know
that you are God's temple

"and God's spirit dwells in you?

'"If anyone destroys
God's temple'

'"God will destroy him'

'for God's temple is holy
and that temple you are."'

'And so we say
to our young people'

'respect your body
for it is the temple

'and repository of your soul.'

'Do not offer it freely,
not even in the name of love'

'unless that love has been
duly sanctified by the church'

'as a direct result
of a proper Christian marriage.'

'And until that sacred time'

'do not be fooled
by the languorous Lorelei'

'that beckons you wickedly
into dark corners.'

For her only wish is to see you

crashed from those high emotions

'down upon the cruel rocks
of hell. Amen.'

- 'Amen.'
- 'Amen.'

Thank you kindly.

Good morning,
Mr. and Ms. Hartley.

Indeed a fine sermon,
don't you think?

Uh-huh.

I'm Billy Joe McAllister.
You may remember me.

Excuse us. Come on.

There's something wrong
with that boy.

Oh, I don't think so.

Nah, he keep popping up
and introducing himself

like he wants to sell me
a vacuum cleaner or somethin'

Snappy dresser though.
Those shoes.

Look like he been kickin'
vanilla ice cream.

Here, honey. Take this.

[girls chattering]

Billy Joe.

Okay, Bobbie Lee.

By now, your papa
surely knows who I am.

Oh, he knows who you are.
He just don't know what you are.

That very well may be.

Still, you inform your papa
that I am coming to call.

You don't seem
to understand, fool.

My papa's problem is
not with you.

His problem is with me
and the fact that I'm only--

Fifteen. Yes, I know.

You're also 32 and you best
start using 'em real quickly

before they go bad and fall off.

Miss Hartley,
I shall arrive at your home

at 7 p.m.
on this very evening.

You would be wise to make
no such personal appearance.

Seven p.m. on the nose.

And you please inform your papa
that I am coming to call.

I would appreciate some iced tea
as befits a gentlemen caller.

With lemon and sugar.

And a straw, if you got one.

You set one foot on our porch

and he'll blow
both your ears off in one shot.

I shall not be needing my ears,
little lady

as I shall be doin'
all the talkin'.

- Ah, morning.
- Uh, morning, James.

[laughs]

Nice to see you in church
from time to time.

Yeah, well, I do try to keep

a Christian outlook there,
Mrs. Thompson.

- Mornin', James.
- Mornin', Becky.

And, uh, don't you look nice
this morning.

- Thank you, James.
- Yeah.

Your papa seems most over
his accident.

Oh, yeah. Well, you know papa.

I tell you, he heals
just about as fast as he hurts.

I don't see you over
at our house much these days.

Oh, uh, yeah, uh, well,
you-you see, I've been

pretty busy lately what with
working down at the sawmill

'and then helping papa with the
balin' and choppin' at home.'

Well, I, I thought perhaps you
might have forgotten the way.

Oh, uh, uh, well, uh..

Mama, James has been
favorin' someone else

which is his privilege.

Well, I was implyin'
to when he tired of such a..

...strenuous activity.

Uh, yeah, uh, well,
if y'all excuse me now

I-I see my family's
getting ready to leave.

- So, we'll see you all later.
- Bye, James.

[James]
'Bye.'

[jazz music]

That was a nice station.
Why'd you turn it off?

Just to save my batteries.

[sighs]

Papa, may I have a few words?

A few?

- Papa, I'm lately bothered.
- Oh.

Yes, I'm lately bothered
by an attitude of yours.

By an attitude of mine?

'Am I about to hear
about that now? Yes?'

Yes. So?

Well, you go on,
you just choose your words

real careful, you hear?

Yeah, I hear.

Go on.

Bobbie Lee,
your papa's listenin'.

This is your moment.

You're gonna have to
move on now, honey.

I've got me
some reading to do here.

I ain't in no mood
for no time wastin'.

- Well, that is my botherment.
- What is?

The light in here,
it's surely gonna ruin our eyes

and, and we need our eyes for
readin' and lookin' and seein'.

- Is that a fact?
- Yes.

And I think it's high time
we had some electricity

into this place and stopped
livin' like tobacco road.

Tobacco road, you say?

Well, only in a manner
of speakin'.

Oh, come on, girl,
you're into it now.

You best
make the most of it.

Well, here it is, 1953.

And we have yet to get
electricity into this house.

My eyes are goin' bad

and I have yet to see life.

Rural Electric Association
don't supply power

to isolated areas, Bobbie Lee.

Now, you know that.

Well, then what about
the plumbin'?

'Surely, we can have some
modern plumbin' in here.'

Does goin' to the outhouse
hurt your eyes, girl?

Oh, well, that's your attitude.

My attitude?

Your papa hardly knows what

you're talkin' about,
Bobbie Lee.

Yeah, ain't that always the way.

- What way?
- Be specific.

I think I'm old enough
to receive gentlemen callers.

[sighs]

So, that's your botherment, huh?

Yes, that is surely
my botherment!

Why'd you have to drag
plumbin' into it?

I don't know!

I mean, why didn't you
just come out

and say what you wanted to say?

Well, I'm sayin' so now!

Well, you're mighty huffy
about it, aren't you?

Yes, I'm huffy!
I'm very huffy!

Bobbie Lee is huffy.
See how huffy Bobbie Lee is.

[chuckles]

- How old are you, girl.
- 32.

D cup.

Well, I'll tell you what.

In two more years
when you are 34 or whatever

then you can have your gentlemen
callers. How's that?

Two more years, I'll be a 96.

The girl's ravin' on, Anna.

- Where you goin'?
- What's the difference?

I'll be old when I get there.

Uh, what should we do
with all this iced tea?

That last question, Anna

that was
a very dangerous question.

Here we are, second half
of the 20th century.

The 20th century!

Mississippi has yet
to hear a word of it.

Amazing. Amazing!

I've come this far in life
and as yet

I have seen no television,
ridden in no convertible car.

Nothin' fortifyin' has crossed
my lips but a Pepsi-Cola.

Nothin' venturesome
has crossed my mind

beyond two back issues
of "Torrid Romance"

which I've read to death

and I know better
than "The Star-Spangled Banner."

[scoffs]

My entire life is dictated

by the 1925
"Sears, Roebuck Catalogue."

Pages 267 to 295.

We got plumbin'
that the caveman gave up

around 22 million years ago!

[sighs]
And an outhouse
that further utilizes

"The Sears, Roebuck Catalogue"

issues 1895 to 1927.

[sighs]

- Evenin'.
- Evenin'.

Where do you think you're goin'?

To your own house up ahead.

Well, you're about
as welcome as a drought.

A lot better than
the rude company out here.

I admire your courage, but I
don't much care for your timin'.

If you have any feelin'
at all for me, sir

and any hopes
of squeezing my soft

and pliant flesh
this heady evenin'

you best stop and consider
what I'm sayin, Billy Joe.

Miss Hartley, I do not see

how we can go
on this way much longer.

It's both unfulfillin'
and, and pretty damn medieval.

I've a similar concern,
I assure you.

But this is no night
for a shootout with my papa.

Didn't you tell your papa
I was comin' to call?

Well, we never got past
the plumbin'.

Am I supposed
to understand that?

Oh, nobody's supposed
to understand that!

Einstein couldn't even
understand it!

How can I like you?
You are very unlikeable.

- Oh?
- Yes. Oh!

You're always ornery.

You're forever ziggin'
when I'm zaggin'.

We're always arguin'.

[scoffs]
Why am I attracted to you?

I ask myself that about you.

- Oh?
- Yeah. Oh!

My brother says
you're a tadpole.

I plainly think you're stupid.

You're an embarrassment
when you try

to make yourself known
to my papa.

I mean, you've introduced
yourself to my family so often

they think you're Jack Benny.

Tadpole.

At least you ain't wearin'
those stupid white shoes.

I don't wear 'em
in the evening.

- They attract snakes.
- Well, they don't attract papa.

These for me?

They were for whoever
answered the door.

Papa always answers the door.

You know, I'm sick
and tired of your papa.

- Oh, come on.
- Where?

Oh, Billy Joe,
will you stop your yappin'?

You know, you do
an awful lotta yappin'.

[Bobbie]
Hey, you ever get to thinkin'
that maybe you're adopted?

[Billy]
About every other day.

And all day on Sunday.

[Bobbie]
I think I'm either adopted
or depraved.

Of the two, I prefer depraved.

'Cause if you're depraved,
you can always be redeemed.

But once you're adopted,
you're always adopted.

[Billy]
Yeah.

I don't think I'm depraved.

I'm merely underprivileged.

[Bobbie]
Underprivileged?

[Billy]
Well, maybe not underprivileged.

It's more like deprived.

Deprived of you for no good
reason I can understand.

[chuckles]
Swell, you're deprived
and I'm depraved.

Oh, what a pair.

I'm growin' tired of talkin'.

I caution you
not to act in a rash manner.

[chuckles]
Oh, shut up.

If I shout, my papa
will be here in a moment

and my dog will be here
even sooner.

So you got fair warnin'.

You talk, you talk.

Years from now,
what's it gonna be like for you

when you stop talkin'?

Well, I've done my talkin'
for this evenin', rest assured.

You talk so much,
you give me a headache.

Every time I leave you,
I got a headache..

...amongst other things.

Well, that is,
of course, your problem.

No, ma'am.

It is our problem.

Damn you, Billy Joe,
right on my own property.

Right on your mouth.

[moans]
Billy Joe, you're trespassin'.

You're intrudin'.

Papa? Papa?

Dog?

[moans]

We gotta stop this funnin'
around we've been doin' lately.

Where is that dog?

Oh, dog.

Dog.

I love you.

I sure hope so.

I love you, Bobbie Lee.

- It's trouble.
- I don't care.

I'm supposed to say no.

You can say whatever
you damn please.

Well, the girl says no
for three and a half pages.

You can say no
for the whole damn book.

No, no, no.

No, no, no.

- Well, that's one page.
- That's good.

Go on, use 'em up.
Get 'em out of your system.

[moans]
No, no, no.

No, no, no, no.

There's another page, no?

- Yes.
- Go on, you're doin' fine.

- Oh, Billy Joe, I swear.
- Go on.

- No, no, no.
- No, no, no.

- No, no.
- No, no.

- Go on. No, no, no.
- No, no, no.

Okay. That ought to do it.

No.

Now, come on.

Give me a big ol' yes.

No.

Come on, girl. You done give me
five pages of nos, easy.

Now, come on.

Gimme a yes.

[chuckles]
Oh, Billy Joe.

[moaning]

[Bobbie screams]

Woah! Oh, goddamn!

- Ah! Ah!
- Oh, goddamn!

- Ah!
- Goddamn, this baptismal pond!

I ain't swimmin' upstream
to mate with you, Billy Joe.

That is for salmon.

- Oh, look at you.
- Ah!

Look at you, Bobbie Lee.
Look at you in the moonlight.

[chuckles]
Oh, Jesus Christ,
what a headache I'm gonna have.

[laughs]

You get back in here.

Get back in here.
I wanna baptize you proper.

- I don't think so.
- Oh, give me a yes.

[laughs]
Unh-unh!

- Give me a maybe.
- Okay, maybe. You got it.

- Now give me a when.
- A year from last Tuesday.

[laughs]

I am deprived, Bobbie Lee.

Oh, no, sir.
You are by no means deprived.

You have everything
you're supposed to have.

[laughs]

[instrumental music]

You boys workin' by the hour
or by the tune?

Uh, well, uh, we're just

practicin' up there,
Mr. Barksdale.

We're fixin' to play at the
Okolona River Bottom Jamboree.

Yes, sir.

How 'bout Billy Joe?

Ah, Billy Joe, uh,
he-he don't play now.

He's our agent. Yes, sir.

Is that a fact, Billy Joe?

First I got wind of it.

Uh, yeah,
didn't we tell you, Billy Joe?

You're gonna,
gonna be our agent.

Yeah. We're gonna
give you ten percent, boy.

Plus expenses.

Now, you boys do know
that I donated my facility

of my cotton gin
for your jamboree, don't you?

Yes, well, that's mighty decent
of you, too, Mr. Barksdale.

- Mighty.
- Yes, sir.

If I still have a facility.

My point bein' that
if all of my workers

turn into musicians,
I'm gonna have to close down.

Now am I correct in assumin'
that you get my hidden meaning?

Uh, yes, sir.
You're correct, Mr. Barksdale.

We most clearly
get your meaning.

Well, that sure pleases me
that you comprehend.

Now, if you'll move
your collective asses.

- Uh, yes, Mr. Barksdale.
- Yes, Barksdale, we're goin--

- Right away, Mr. Barksdale.
- Right now.

Come on now, Billy Joe.
You can do more work than that.

'I mean, you're only our agent.'

'Me and Tom, we're the stars
here, right, boy?'

[laughs]

I'm no agent. I'm a tadpole.

Oh, good Lord,
I don't know what you are

but you ain't nothin' like I've
ever seen before in my life.

[laughing]

Your life is not yet over, sir.

[chuckles]
Yeah.

Hey, tadpole.

If I kisses ya, does I turn
into a frog or a prince?

[laughing]

Oh, cut it out.
One thing you ain't ever

gonna turn into
is no harmonica player.

Whoa, ho. Hey, pal.

Don't you pay that boy
no mind now because, uh

that's the way us stars,
we all start out that way.

You know, suffering abuse
from, uh, non-believers.

Like, uh, Bing Crosby
worked in a cotton gin.

Well, what about,
uh, uh, Doris Day?

[James]
'Dirt farmer. Gives me hope.'

That's right, boy.
I tell you, you keep it up.

Who knows? You may just turn out
to be another Doris Day.

[laughing]
Oh?

- Do you really think so?
- I do.

You keep that up, boy, and
you're on your way for sure.

[laughing]

Bing Crosby in a cotton gin.

I gotta get out of this town.

Ain't the size, Bobbie Lee.

It's the sincerity.

Well, I sincerely hope that
I'll one day be this size.

With that size,
you assume risks.

Oh, I'll gladly accept
those risks.

It's biological sadness
that with age

the size often ends up
around here.

[laughing]

Provin' once again that

everything that goes up
doesn't necessarily stay up.

Ah, but better to have been up
there for one beautiful moment

than never to have loved at all.

[laughing]

You never did tell us why you
went swimmin' the other night

with all your clothes on.

Well, as I recall,
you never did ask.

Your papa figured
it was best we didn't

as you were behavin'
quite strangely that evening.

[car approaching]

That'll be him now.

Mama, mama,
things are out of whack.

I mean, when we go to town,
you dress me up real pretty

and you like for me
to be attractive.

I mean, my hair and my lipstick.

Yes.

And then Brother Taylor
says don't

and papa says can't.

And there I am
all primed up to be a woman

only I'm not allowed
to be anythin' but a child.

It does seem a contradiction.

I mean, I'd understand
if you dressed me drab

and covered my face

and snuck me around
like some fretful thing.

But when you parade me
and show me off and admire me

'and then you tie me
to a fencepost..'

Well, that's like givin'
somebody a brand-new

high-powered car and sayin'

here, it's all yours

but don't drive it.

I imagine I'll introduce
the matter to your papa.

Now, let's go see what he drove
all the way into Greenwood for.

Ah!

[Papa]
'Just a little present
for you, Bobby Lee'

to let you know
I've been thinkin' about you.

- Oh, look!
- What a thoughtful gift!

Uh, well, if it'll keep
that girl from throwin' herself

in the pond,
it's a worthwhile investment.

I do say, I don't understand

how that commode's
gonna help her eyesight.

Oh.

[imitates flushing]

Hey, papa, this thing
really gonna flush?

Well, if it don't,
we could put it just as

far away from the parlor
as we can.

Like in Houston.

Hello?

[laughing]

Oh, papa.

It's a very beautiful thing

and a very definite step forward
into this century.

Thank you. I love you.

You know, if Robert E. Lee
had himself a couple hundred

of those,
the South woulda won the war.

[laughing]

[indistinct chatter]

Knudsen's Landin'.

Gary, Susie, Beecham,
and Howard. All out.

Billy Joe, you get the hell
outta here.

This ain't no public vehicle.

Oh, shut up, Coleman.
Stop your carryin' on.

This bus is to transport
only persons still in school.

I missed this bus four times
when I was still in school

so I'm collectin' back
on one of 'em right now.

I can put you off this bus,
Billy Joe.

Fine. Put me off
at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

[clears throat]
As I was sayin', Gloria

the French Revolution
marked the end of an era

in which the so-called nobility

was livin' off the fat
of the land.

I think we're bein' followed.

Pay him no nevermind, Gloria.

He's just a local sex fiend
up to no good.

May I have a word
with you, miss?

You may not, sir.

You're imposin' yourself
on our presence.

Won't take but a moment
of your time.

I don't have a moment to spare.

- I merely wanted to point out--
- I'm not interested!

That your ass is on fire.

[chuckles]

[Billy Joe]
Well, I just thought
you'd like to know that.

[sighs]

You smell smoke, Franklin?

[sniffing]

Tallahatchie Bridge. All out.

Bobbie Lee,
take that stowaway with you.

You're doin' a good job,
Coleman.

A little heavy on the brake,
but, you know

those things do happen.

[chuckles]

Miss, miss, pardon me, but,
I thought you'd be very pleased

to know that the fire
on your ass is out.

There are no complications.

Everything has been
taken care of.

Gonna ruin my reputation

long before you have
the opportunity to ruin me.

Does that mean that
you still feel kindly toward me?

It means that everyone on the
bus knows you desire my body.

Includin' my best friend Gloria

who is also known
as the Voice of America.

I haven't seen you
since we went swimmin'.

If you're referring
to that escapade

when you came close
to drowning me with passion

you are no gentleman, sir.

Well, I've been giving
the matter a lotta thought.

- Oh?
- Yes.

I've decided that
if I can't call on you openly

I think it's best
to end our friendship

as fond but total strangers.

You wanna say that again,
total strangers?

Gal, what I'm tryin' to get
across to you is that..

...I've been havin'
some fitful dreams

in which you are
so warm-blooded

that if we do half
of what we did in my dreams

we'd be makin' love
with a regularity

that would close this town.

[laughing]

Oh.

You wouldn't by any chance have
a couple aspirins, would ya?

Oh, Billy Joe.
We are makin' progress.

Sneakin' up on things,
gainin' ground.

The plumbing's in
and you're next.

Oh. Make it four aspirins.

Well, you should be
takin' encouragement

from what I'm tellin' you.

How can I take encouragement
when I'm not allowed

into your house
until after the plumbing?

Well, when you consider
that nothin' has been allowed

in our house since the piano,
you'll take heart.

Make that six aspirins,
and an enema.

Listen, this Saturday night

the Okolona Jamboree
is being held.

- Will I see you there?
- Well, ordinarily, no.

Those things have been
known to end up

with a lot of people drunk.

But since my brother's takin'
part, papa says we can go.

Good.

Oh, damn.

That's Brother Taylor.

Here I am not supposed
to be seein' anyone

and along comes the eye of God.

- But we're not doin' anything.
- True.

But no man can be ordained
as a Baptist minister

unless he's ready to think
the worst of his congregation.

Well..

Let's just pretend that
we're not with each other.

You're not gonna fool
Brother Taylor.

Oh, I'm just tryin' to protect
your reputation, young lady

knowing full well
that in your heart

I come after the piano..

...and the plumbin'.

- Good afternoon, Bobbie Lee.
- Afternoon, Brother Taylor.

Just comin' from your house.

Your papa's really
fixin' things up modern.

Yes, sir. He knows 1960's comin'
and he wants to be ready.

- You comin' from school?
- Oh, yes, sir.

That Billy Joe McAllister?

Oh, gee. Could be anybody.

Seein' as how
as I'm goin' his way

perhaps I could give him a lift.

Oh, I'm sure he'd appreciate it,
whoever he is.

- Goodbye.
- Bye.

See ya in church.

[sighs]

Is that Bobbie Lee Hartley?

I don't know. Could be anybody.

Well, Benjamin, I do believe
things are lookin' up.

[country music]

[male #1]
Hee-haw!

[laughter]

[male #1]
'Hee-haw!'

♪ Well my brother Bill he's got
a still up on the hill ♪

♪ Where he runs
on a gallon or two ♪

♪ And the buzzards in the sky
they get so drunk ♪

♪ They can't fly ♪

♪ From smellin'
that ol' mountain dew ♪

♪ They call it
that ol' mountain dew ♪

♪ And them that refuse it
are few ♪

♪ I'll shut up my mug
if you fill up my jug ♪

♪ With that good
ol' mountain dew ♪♪

[cheering and applauding]

[male #1]
'Alright, now we will hear
from the Choctaw Ridgeline.'

[country music]

[male #1]
'Yee-haw!'

♪ She came into town
on the midnight train ♪

♪ She didn't have a dime
in her hand ♪

♪ She left one sayin'
she had money for the train ♪

♪ She left kind of
broken heart again ♪

♪ In the summer of 1951 ♪

♪ A woman made a fool
out of me ♪

♪ She stole away my money
and she stole away my love ♪

♪ Just stranded up
in Tennessee ♪

♪ But here I am workin'
in this.. ♪

- Havin' a good time?
- Yeah.

I like it. It's fun.

- Hello, Billy Joe.
- Hi, Bobby Lee.

- Hi.
- Come on, Billy Joe.

- Come on, go with me.
- Naw, that's okay.

- Come on, Billy Joe.
- I'd rather not.

Come on, kid! Come on.

Be right back.

♪ I took her up to Memphis.. ♪

Hey, that ain't tight enough.

Keep your hands off that, boy.

Look over there. See that?

♪ Now what have I done
to deserve all this? ♪

♪ I never will
quite understand ♪

♪ All I wanted was some.. ♪

- Hi.
- Hey.

♪ All she wanted
was a footloose thing ♪

[indistinct chatter]

[laughter]

♪ She's a wild goose.. ♪♪

Hey, buddy, have a full beer.
I'll take that one.

- Help us out.
- Come on, smile.

- Some of this?
- No.

Let her go.

[crowd cheering and applauding]

[male #1]
'Alright, now for the old time
Lee County string band'

'Walnut Grove, Mississippi.'

[crowd cheering and applauding]

[upbeat music]

I have never seen anything
so shameful in my..

[gasps]
Olaf, you get them out of there!

You get out of my car!
Get, get, get!

You floozy, you cheap..

Uh, we..

Get in. Get in, Emmett.

Hey, man.

I saw you do that.
Get that crap outta here.

[laughter]

[Tom]
Hey, let's see what's back here.

- Hey.
- If I'd in God's name..

[crowd cheering]

[laughter]

Get out of here. Go on.

[laughing]

- Go on.
- Woo-wee!

[laughing]

[moaning]

[Tom]
'Shit, with those boots
and everythin'!'

[laughing]

[moaning]

[laughing]

[Tom]
'Hey, Billy Joe. Look at that.'

'That's the sheriff.
He oughta be arrested.'

[laughing]

Woo-wee!

[laughs]

'That! Oh!'

[laughing]

'Woo-wee!'

[laughing]

Go ahead, Billy Joe.
Go on, get you some!

[moaning]

[laughing]

[crowd cheering]

[moaning]

[male #1]
'Alright now. We'll hear
from the Parks Family.'

[groans]

You redneck son of a bitch,
get your ass..

- What are you doin'?
- I want you to come here, boy!

[upbeat music]

[clamoring]

[moaning]

Hey, guys.

- Mornin', Dewey.
- Mornin', Bosh, Ned.

Isn't that Billy Joe's papa?

Looks to be.

Wonder what kind
of trouble that fool kid

went and got himself into now.

You ain't, by any chance,
seen Billy Joe

around anywhere, have ya?

Paul here is looking for him.

No, Dan, I ain't seen him
in a couple of days.

I figured he was over
at the house soberin' up

from his drinkin'.

Drinking's not his style, Dewey.

It was everybody's style
the other night.

Even the sheriff.
Has he sobered up yet?

He told me to tell you that, uh

you may be held
criminally liable.

Allowing drinkin'
on your property

and you's dry and all.

You mean to tell me
he gets drunk

and then he's gonna
hold me liable?

More or less.

Wonder if those boys
have seen Billy Joe.

Well, that dirty SOB.

He didn't mind
usin' my facilities for free.

Now, now, he's gonna
take action against me.

Is that what you're tryin'
to tell me?

- Yes, sir.
- Mornin', Dan.

- Good morning, Tom.
- Good morning, Mr. McAllister.

You boys seen Billy Joe lately?

He hasn't been home
for a couple of days

and the wife and I got worried.

- I haven't seen him, sir.
- No, sir.

Well, if he does show up

you boys give us a call,
you hear?

- Sure will, Mr. McAllister.
- We will.

Much obliged.

I wonder what that
fool boy went and did

that he's afraid to go home.

A boy his age ain't got
no business drinkin'.

Hey.

Wait a minute now.

You were the one
who gave him the beer

so that makes you
an accessory to the drunk.

I'm gonna have your jobs.
I'm not kiddin'.

- Go on, get out of here.
- Thanks, Dewey.

[instrumental music]

Billy Joe?

People've been
lookin' for you.

Figured they might be.

Where you been?

In the woods.

Out here, there's no problem
this time of year.

What'd you eat?

Huh? Oh.

Mushrooms, onions.

I guess people can really
survive if they got to.

I got drunk the other night.

You weren't alone.

Somethin' happened.

Can you tell me?

No.

Is it why you took off?

It was somethin' real bad,
Bobbie Lee.

Well, I don't know
how bad it can be.

I mean, as far as I know,
the worse thing that

that happened was a busted jaw

that my brother, James,
gave one of those 'Bama boys.

Ones that messed up
my papa's truck.

I love you.

Well, I love you too.
So there.

I think part of the problem

is that we've been kidding
around so much.

You see, I don't wanna
call on you no more.

I wanna have you.

And I think it's about time
that if you don't feel

the same way about me,
you oughta tell me

so I can get the hell out
of this county.

- What are you asking me to do?
- Girl.

I am onto your scent.

I'm downwind of you
everywhere I go.

I mean, you-you're wiggling
your old tail feathers

and I'm respondin'.

Now, you can mama-says,
papa-says

Jesus-Christ-say all you want.

The fact of the matter
is that if we were squirrels

with cottontails out there
in the forest

in the middle of the night,
we'd be snortin'

and ruttin'
in a very healthy manner.

Oh, God.

I would not be roamin' the woods
in this predicament.

What do you want me
to do, Billy Joe?

I'll do whatever you say.

I just want you
to think it over.

You just think it over.
I'll meet you on the bridge.

When the day is almost gone

I'll meet you
on the bridge and, uh..

...if you don't come..

...I promise..

...I'll respect your decision
and I'll move on.

Bobbie Lee.

It is not my purpose

to hurt you or to shame you.

I merely wanna make you proud..

...and happy.

[Papa]
'So, old Dewey Barksdale
got himself'

'in a whole peck
of trouble over there.'

[James]
'Yeah, he's sayin' now

'he didn't know nothin'
about no whiskey.'

He says as far as he know,
all they was drinkin'

over there was beer.

Well, I'll tell you,
old sheriff said

"Well, if all they was
drinking was beer

then he is J. Edgar Hoover
himself."

Of course, uh..

Of course, the thing
no one talks about

is the ladies of the evening

which come over special
from Yazoo City.

'It seems they made enough money
to keep the county in whiskey'

'for the next 20 jamborees.'

[laughs]

You watch your mouth, boy.

You know your mama
don't like that kinda talk

especially at the table.

Ah, come on now, papa.

Didn't we get them boys that
messed up our truck real good?

That's nice talkin' about,
innit? Yes, sir.

Vengeance is the Lord's, James.

Alright, papa, alright.

But seein' as the Lord
wasn't on the premises

why, we was just givin' Him
a little helpin' hand

that's all. Ha ha ha.

Yeah, I also heard
that one of those ladies

from Yazoo City got herself
messed up pretty good

'by some persons
or persons unknown'

'who apparently did not have
the price of the dalliance.'

'Mnh-mnh.'

Papa, may I be excused?
I'm not very hungry.

- Sure, honey, go right ahead.
- Thank you. Mama?

Sure, you can go.

Just where do you come by
all this information, James?

Just keep my ear
to the ground, papa.

Just keepin' it to the ground.

And your mind in the mud, boy.

I ain't in the habit
of repeatin' myself.

- I don't wanna hear this, papa.
- You're gonna hear it.

If I hear you talk that way
in front of your mama

'and your sister ever again,
you're gonna get it from me.'

- 'Do you understand?'
- 'Yes, sir.'

[knock on door]

[Mama]
'Bobbie Lee, may I come in?'

Yes, mama.

Remember Benjamin, mama?

The one and only, original,
rode-out-of-Montana Benjamin.

I do indeed.

Where ever has he been hidin'?

In my hope chest.

- Your hope chest?
- Yep.

I put him inside
and hoped he'd turn real.

Just like Pinocchio.

Well, he tried, I guess.

He tried
and he tried and tried..

...but he just couldn't do it.

Could you, Benjamin?

What made you
take him out tonight?

I don't know.

He just occurred to me, I guess.

I have been talkin'
to your papa

and he allows as
to how it'd be alright

if you was to receive callers

even though you're not
quite yet of an age.

My papa surely does have
a delicate sense of timin'.

I thought you'd be pleased.

Oh, I am.

Thank you, mama.

May I assume that

there's somebody
you wish to encourage?

Yeah.

Well, you tell him to feel free.

We'd be pleased
to have him come by.

Thank you.

I think I'll take a little walk.

It's still light out
and it has been such a warm day.

- You go right ahead.
- Thank you, mama.

- Bobbie Lee?
- Huh?

You takin' Benjamin?

Yes, I believe I will.

After all that time

I expect he'd appreciate
an airin'.

Well, don't stay out too long.

'Mosquitoes always did take
to you on a thick evenin'.'

- Hi.
- Hi.

- What you got yourself there?
- I brought Benjamin.

- Ah. So, that's Benjamin.
- It surely is.

Here, say hello.

What'd you do,
bring him along for protection?

I don't know.

I just brought him, that's all.

I'm pleased
you decided to come.

Yeah?

Well, here I am.

Here we are.

- The whole gang.
- Yeah.

Billy Joe, did you beat up

on one of them
Yazoo City hookers?

No. I did not beat up
on no hooker.

Well, then did you
have yourself a hooker?

No, I did not have me
no hooker neither.

You are mincin' words
and beatin' about the bush!

Now I'm here as requested.

I wanna know
what made you run away

'cause I know it wasn't me.

Alright, I'll tell ya.
Let me tell ya after.

No, tell me now and watch
what you're doin' to Benjamin.

You're twistin' him.
You're hurtin' him.

Get your hands..

I'm sorry.

Bobbie Lee?

I'm sorry.

It slipped.

I'm sorry.

It's nothin'
but an old rag doll.

Oh, shit.

Well, I'm sorry.

- Now, come on.
- I'm not goin' anywhere.

Dang it, it was an accident
and you know it.

I do not know it!

Look at me, gal.

Now, I cannot say
I will get you another doll

'cause I know
it will not be the same.

So, all I can do
is tell you I am sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Benjamin!

I'm sorry!

Come with me. Please?

No, not till
you tell me what happened.

Alright.

I'll tell ya.

But not now.

Somebody's watching us.

[engine revving]

I've never been out
of Mississippi in my life

and when I do go,
it's gonna be on a train.

You don't have to be afraid.

I'm not afraid, I'm winded.

I love you.

No matter what I say,
no matter what I do

please remember I love you.

Well, you keep that up,
I ain't gonna remember nothin'.

I'm sorry about Benjamin.

Benjamin, who?

Hey, Billy Joe.

Maybe I shouldn't know
what happened.

Maybe I should just,
just love you

and just love you.

[moans]

I love you, Billy Joe.

I've loved you for so long.

And maybe we should just..

Maybe we should talk later.

I'm sure that would be okay.

Don't you?

[instrumental music]

It's no good, Bobbie Lee.

What?

I can't.

Is it me?

Oh, Billy Joe, don't do that.

Oh, it's alright.
It's alright.

Oh, we've just been
waitin' so long

and, and tryin' so hard.

Oh, it's alright, Billy Joe.

It ain't alright!

I ain't alright.

[sobs]
Bobbie Lee.

I have been..

...with a man!

'Did you hear me?'

Which is a sin against nature.

A sin against God!

I don't know how
I could've done it, I swear!

I don't know how I could be
wantin' you and do that.

But you were drunk.
Maybe you just imagined it.

I ain't imagined nothin'!

But you were drunk.
Everyone saw how drunk you were.

Wrong.

I knew.

I knew it was happenin'.

- Who was it?
- I ain't gonna say.

Why?

I wish I could understand.

I wish I could.

I always thought that men
like that were easy to see.

Oh, Jesus.

Men like that.

Well, I know you're not
a man like that.

So, you're wrong.

You conjured it all up
for some reason

that I don't understand.

Because I couldn't be wrong
about the only boy in the world

that I'd ever permit to love me.

I couldn't be wrong.

I couldn't.

We are wrong.

Why should this happen to us?

Honey, not us.

Not you.

You're fine, you're beautiful.

You're ready to fly

and you're goin' to.

Tell me you were funnin' me.

Tell me you made it up
and then we can get back

to our long-awaited lovemakin'.

Where were we?

As I recall, we were right here.

'Our bodies pressed together
in passion.'

Our lips burning with fire.

I was no longer sayin' no

'cause those days
are gone forever.

Oh, come on, Billy Joe.

This is no way for you
to treat a lady.

Can you get home
by yourself from here?

- No.
- Yes, you can.

Where are you going?

I don't know.

Home, I reckon.

My parents probably
worried sick.

If I'm truly a man, I'll just
have to face up to things.

'You've been away
for three days.'

You can surely give it
another half an hour..

...to please a lady.

Some other time.

Right now, I, uh..

...I just wanna sort things out.

I could do right well by you
some other time..

...lady.

I'm sorry 'bout Benjamin.

He needed a bath anyway.

Will you come and call on me?

My papa says it's okay.

The piano, the plumbin'

and Billy Joe McAllister.

What will they think of next?

[instrumental music]

Hey, what you got there?

Looks like some kid's doll.

[male #2]
'Yeah, some kid's doll.'

[Brother Taylor]
'That a young man should take
his own life is a tragedy.'

We read in First Samuel,
chapter 31, verse four

that Saul, in his defeat
and despair, took his own life.

Will we see Saul over in glory?

'Will we see Billy Joe
over in glory?'

'In Romans, chapter 14,
verse 12 and 13.'

'"So then every one of us shall
give account of himself to God.'

'"Let us not therefore judge
one another anymore'

'"but judge this realm..'

'"...that no man
put a stumbling block'

'on occasion to fall
in his brother's way."'

'One of our young men committed'

'a desperate act
of self-destruction.'

'What drove him to it?'

'Was he alone
in this senseless act?'

'Was he being cowardly
or protective?'

'Did a brother or a sister
become a stumbling block'

'in the way of Billy Joe?'

'I don't know.'

'Some of you may know.'

'One of you might know.'

'But one thing I do know.'

'God knows.'

'Moses in declaring God's word'

'in numbers 32-33 says'

'"And be sure.'

And be sure your sins
will find you out."

Well.

McAllisters sold their place.

Moved on off to Vicksburg.

Can't say as I blame 'em.

Come on now, Bobbie Lee,
everybody knows

you and Billy Joe
were real close.

'Hell, even mama's got it
figured out.'

'Papa, I don't know'

'it may take him
a little bit longer.'

Girl, they are layin' ten to one
downtown that you're with child

and if I wasn't your brother,
I swear I'd be layin' 20 myself.

Now, this Joan of Arc stuff's
all good and well.

Just fine and dandy.
Just great, just great.

But the days are gonna pass

and little Joan
is gonna be bellyin' out.

'And then ain't that gonna be
a little bit embarrassin', huh?'

'Ain't it?'

Get rid of the damn thing.

Bobbie Lee, it's gonna be
a curse on all of us.

Now, look, we can't
bring Billy Joe back.

And maybe it's just well
we can't because he wasn't

gonna amount
to nothing' no how anyway.

And now..

Now, since he's taken
that big high dive of his

'he's gonna be
some kind of hero'

'some kind of giant in the minds
of every young stud'

'around this place.'

Well, it's alright

if Billy Joe

wants to be a legitimate
folk hero around here.

But I'll tell you
one thing, girl.

I am not gonna be
an illegitimate uncle.

And ma and pa ain't
gonna have to walk downtown

'sideways neither.'

'Hell, nobody talks
to ma anymore.'

And pa..

Our beloved brethren

has done eliminated him
as deacon of the church.

'After 20 years'

the inner circle
has done thrown him out.

Just thrown him out.

'Anyway..'

Anyway, when Belinda Wiggs and I
went afoul her period one time

we, uh, we dealt with this man
up in Calhoun County

'who does first-rate work.'

That is, providin', of course,
that's the route you wanna take.

But if it's not..

If it's not,
if you got some idiotic idea

about spawnin' that thing
into this world

I tell you, girl,
you just go take a walk

and you have it somewhere else.

'Now, those are your choices,
Bobbie Lee.'

'One or the other.'

'And you gotta make up
your mind'

'and you gotta make it up
real soon now, you hear?'

[sighs]

Billy Joe McAllister.

Shit.

[Bobbie Lee]
There's a time and place
we've yet to know.

There's a sea
we've yet to sail.

And though we saw
the mountain long ago..

...it's a peak
we've yet to scale.

There's another world
we've yet to find.

There's a world
we've yet to lose.

And there's a windin' road
we left behind..

And another yet to choose.

And there's a tender journey
yet to take.

The sun waits to rise.

And there are promises
we've yet to make.

But days we'll spend never end

in each other's eyes.

And there will be lovers' songs for us to sing..

...in that place
that we've yet to be.

There will be time enough
for everything.

Time for life.

Time for love.

Time for us.

Time for you.

Time for me.

[instrumental music]

[door closes]

[Bobbie]
'Mornin', Mr. Barksdale.'

Up early, Bobbie Lee.

Yes, sir.

You goin' somewhere?

I'm gonna catch the 6:40 bus.

So, you decided to leave, huh?

Appears.

To have your baby?

More or less.

There's no baby in you,
Bobbie Lee.

Well, that makes you about
the only person around here

who don't think that.

You know, I heard that talk.

What I can't understand
is why you wanna leave?

Seems to me it'd be much easier
for you to stay here

you know, and just
face up to the world

and show the people
that there's no baby.

They'd just figure I sneaked off
during the night sometime

and had an operation
when nobody was lookin'.

- I suppose so.
- I know so.

Does your mama know
you're leavin'?

Mama knows.

I was, I was just on my way
up to your house

and I realized how early it was.

So, I parked my car back there
and decided to walk on up there.

No sense getting up there
till somebody's stirrin' around.

You got some business
at my house?

- I do.
- With me?

Yeah.

I wanted to talk to ya, uh..

One of the reasons
I waited so long was..

...selfish, uh..

Selfish.

My family, I..

I didn't, I didn't think
it would sit too well with them.

It won't.

I was also gonna talk
to your papa.

Come on, I'll walk you back.

My papa's
never gonna understand.

Well, he might.

You're gonna kill Billy Joe
all over again

and yourself besides.

I guess he told you.

He did.

But he didn't mention any names.

It's nice
that you stepped forward.

But I don't see
much sense in that.

It's best to just let it be.

I don't follow that.

Billy Joe's on his way
to becomin' a legend.

He made
a desirable girl pregnant

and then just flew away.

'It takes a lot
to become a legend.'

'Sometimes
even takes your life.'

Billy Joe has already
paid that price.

There's no reason
for him not to collect

on something of value
for his efforts.

Why should you pay too?

Oh, I don't mind.

It's kinda dangerous

like in those magazines.

"And she went to Switzerland
to have a baby..

'...and it looked like him."'

I still think
I'd better talk to your papa.

You ready to speak
to Billy Joe's papa too?

He's in Vicksburg, you know.

Yeah, I know that, uh, I..

Sure hoping to spare him that,
you know.

'Well, then my papa
would speak to him for you.'

After all, there is my good name
and reputation to be considered.

The best
that could happen to you

would be a jail term, I guess.

You, you thought it all out,
haven't ya?

Pretty much.

I can't see pilin' new hurts

on top of an already
hurtful situation.

I mean, we can't have
people believing

that Billy Joe McAllister
jumped off a bridge

because of a man, can we?

This way, people will think
there's a baby somewhere.

Somethin' to show
for all our trouble.

And maybe
I'll get to believin' it too.

I tried to tell him that it'd
probably never happen again.

I guess he didn't believe you.

It ain't gonna be easy for ya.
You're, you're goin' off alone.

Oh, I'll be back before long.

I'm only 15.

What do I know of the world?

If you want, I'll, uh..

I'd sure be pleased
to drive you to the bus.

Why, that'd be right neighborly
of you, Mr. Barksdale, sir.

[Bobbie Gentry singing
"Ode To Billie Joe"]

♪ A year has come and gone
since we heard the news ♪

♪ About Billy Joe ♪

♪ Brother married
Becky Thompson ♪

♪ They bought a store
in Tupelo ♪

♪ There was a virus
goin' 'round ♪

♪ Papa caught it
and he died last spring ♪

♪ And now mama doesn't seem
to wanna do much of anything ♪

♪ And me I spend a lot of time ♪

♪ Pickin' flowers
up on Choctaw Ridge ♪

♪ And drop them
into the muddy water ♪

♪ Off the Tallahatchie River ♪♪

[instrumental music]