All language subtitles for 5571842

BOBBIE LEE: Bye.
GIRL: Bye, Bobbie Lee.

BOY:
Hey.

I've been holding up this bridge
for an hour so it wouldn't fall on you.

Right neighborly of you, Mr. McAllister.

I could charge you
maybe half a dollar for my efforts.

It ain't worth but a quarter.
The 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 nothing but a child.

Well, your papa
is clearly behind the times.

He is also on the porch.

And does your papa know that you've been
sporting a brassiere for at least two years?

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

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

I believe you're gonna be a 95
and tripping 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.

Shoot.

We used to play together
when we was kids.

And I work with your brother, James.

- Now, that ought to count for something.
- Counts for nothing.

Gee, I don't know.

A girl your age still relying
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 going to do you any good.

So I am hereby volunteering my services
as his official replacement.

Well...

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

[IN SILLY VOICE]
How should I know, Billy Joe?

l am only a creature
of this girl's imagination.

[IN NORMAL VOICE]
Well, in that case, Benjamin...

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

[IN SILLY VOICE]
I'd like to, but--

Why, this girl here,
she still prefers dreams.

Oh, come along, Benjamin.

[IN NORMAL VOICE] Well, I'll be seeing you,
Benjamin. You take it easy, you hear?

[IN SILLY VOICE]
Yeah, I hear.

[m NORMAL VOICE] Hey, Benjamin,
let me know when she's a 35D...

...and I'll just hurry on over.

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

[IN HIGH-PITCHED VOICE]
But he sure is cute, Bobbie Lee.

[IN NORMAL VOICE]
Don't I know it.

Need a lift?

People always trying to pick me up.

I do declare,
what is happening to the South?

Sorry, my mistake.

Hey, Papa. Hey, Papa, wait!

Oh, come on, Papa!

[BARKING]

[CAR HORN HONKS]

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...

...l do hold small baptisms for many
fine members of the congregation.

True.

I often wander if the elders
ever consider that Baptists...

...though not always the best Christians,
do usually turn out to be the best swimmers.

[TAYLOR LAUGHS]

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

[ALL CHUCKLING]

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

The Wilson boys are painting
the inside of the church...

...and one of them is colorblind.

Don't see it as fitting
ta have a chartreuse western wall.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Oh, Brother Taylor, before you go...

...perhaps you'll favor us
by listening 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.
PAPA: 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?

[PAPA CHUCKLES]

[BOBBIE LEE SINGING
"GENTLE JESUS, MEEK AND MILD"]

[BURLESQUE MUSIC PLAYING]

[CROWD CHEERING]

MAN:
Come on!

Hey. Hey, Billy Joe, come on, smile.
Hey, hey, hey.

- Hey, baby, looking good.
-Hey.

[BOTTLE SHATTERS]

[GIGGLES]

Get this, Benjamin.

"My blood raced
as he looked down at me.

My heart pumping so hard that
my ample breasts came close to bursting.

I feared him, but I wanted him.

I loathed him, but I loved him.

'No,' I screamed, 'No.'

And then I heard my own voice saying,
'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."

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

New, 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 going to Bleekers on order,
another dozen to Geery's place.

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

The Good Book?

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

- Guess you're getting to that time.
-Guess so.

Sometimes when the sap gets to rising,
sometimes a girl has to count to 10.

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 twos.

Phew. Those seven-year locusts
seem to have taken over the hen house.

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 that Caldwell's
pays higher for eggs than Acme.

And Greenwood Dairies--

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 sewing goods?

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

It's a dancing dress.

I know how to dance now, Papa.

Though I don't have many opportunities
to trip the 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 practicing.
And from arthritis.

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

Oh, hush, Benjamin.

- How's that?
-Oh, nothing. Nothing, Papa.

- I thought you said something.
-No, Papa.

I never say anything.

BOBBIE LEE:
Looks like somebody's coming.

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

BOBBIE LEE: Who is it?
PAPA: 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 backing up.

PAPA: The way we work it around here,
first one on the bridge got the right of way.

We ain't from here.

[HORN HONKING]

That does give us a problem.

We just took a vote and decided
that you would do the backing up.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Back up, Papa.

Can't.

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

[HORN 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 waiting.
-Yeah.

I sure would take a crack
at explaining to them, Papa.

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

[HORN HONKING]

Best you get out, girl.

- But, Papa--
-Go on.

- But--
-No time for discussing it, Bobbie Lee.

Climb on out, you get yourself clear.

- Go on.
BOY 1: Oh, I love it.

Okay.

[whoops]

Hey, mama.

Hey, old man, we're losing patience.
This election is over.

Returns are in and you are out.

DRIVER:
Oh, look at that.

BOY 2: That's right.
-You kidding, old man.

[ENGINE REVVING]

BOY 2:
Come on now, get out of the way.

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

Do it again, that's right.

BOY 1:
Come on.

- Come on.
-Boy, let's do it.

DRIVER:
Look at me now.

[TIRES SCREECHING]

BOY 2:
Get him over.

Let's get him, boy. Come on, move it now.

Back it up, boy. Back it up.

Move the tire, boy.

[ENGINE STALLING]

DRIVER:
Come on, man, get out of the way.

BOY 1:
Yeah.

- Hey, get him.
-Go on.

Come on, old truck.

Goddamn, Jack.

PAPA:
Come on.

- Come on, back it up, back it up.
BOY 2: Come on, back it up.

Son of a bitch.

[GEARS GRINDING]

Come on...

Hey, come on. Come on, start.

Come on.

Come on.

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

Ga ahead, boy, that's all.

[TIRES SCREECH]

- Damn clutch.
BOY 2: Get him out of the way.

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

Papa? Papa, are you oka--?

It's all right, honey. I'm all right.
Now, listen...

Shh. I want you to go back there
without climbing on.

See if you can move that stuff
up to the front.

Go on now, honey.

It's all right, honey. Come here.

Baby, I want you to go to the sawmill
and you get James right away.

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

A breeze comes up,
your Papa's going swimming.

Go on, girl.

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, let's go.
-Go on, go. Hurry up.

[HORN HONKING]

Some shit-ass, that guy back there.

Hey, come on. Let's get them.

BOY 2: Come on, man.
BOY 1: He gonna try. He gonna try.

BOY 1: Keep going.
DRIVER: Come on, come on, man!

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

Goddamn it.
-Hey, James, slow down!

- What the hell?
-Shut up.

What the hell are you doing?

- Son of a bitches throwing bottles.
TOM: Goddamn!

DRIVER: Move it! Come on!
JAMES: You son of a bitch!

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

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

Get out of the way, you redneck!
Damn it.

BILLY JOE: Must be something 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.
BOY 2: Where, man?

BOY 1: 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...

JAMES: Pa, are you all right?
-Yeah, I'm all right, James.

Don't you worry.
We're gonna get you out.

PAPA:
I'm fairly well counting on that.

JAMES: Hurry up and hook that rope up
to the bumper, hear?

Damn door's jammed.

- Fast now.
-Afternoon, Mr. Hartley.

Hi, I'm Billy Joe McAllister.

JAMES: Hurry up now, Tom,
come on, move it.

TOM:
I'm getting it, I'm getting 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
hanging aver 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'?

If I ever run into them boys,
they're gonna pay for that for sure.

I don't give a goddamn who they are.

They could be Eisenhowers,
for all I care.

I mean, look at this damn vehicle.
This thing is a disaster.

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

JAMES: What are you beating
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.

MAN: About two weeks.
JAMES: About two weeks, goddamn.

Two weeks. Hell, it takes longer to fix
a damn truck than it does to make one.

Why don't we call up Detroit
and have them bring in a new one?

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

I think that Billy Joe McAllister
handled himself real fine...

...in his introduction to Papa.

Girl, how can you keep yapping 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.

At least-wise 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, all right, let me look at that.

Alabama.

Might have known,
some stupid Southerners.

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

- That's pretty bright thinking of you there.
-Yeah, I'm a brain.

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

[JAMES LAUGHS]

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

Somebody better pay attention to that.

Because my blood is racing
and my ample breasts are bursting.

Don't need no help from you, Benjamin.

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

Get...

TAYLOR:
Hear me right from God's word.

First Corinthians, Chapter 3,
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.

MAN 1: Amen.
MAN 2: Amen.

WOMAN:
Thank you kindly.

Goad morning, Mr. and Mrs. 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.

I don't think so.

He keep popping up
and introducing himself...

...like he wants to sell me
a vacuum cleaner.

Snappy dresser, though. Those shoes.

Look like
he's been kicking vanilla ice cream.

Here, honey.

[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 them 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.

7 p.m., on the nose.

And you'll 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 doing all the talking.

- Ah, morning.
-Morning, James.

Nice to see you in church
from time to time.

Well, I do try to keep
a Christian outlook there, Mrs. Thompson.

Morning, James.

Morning, Becky,
and don't you look nice this morning.

- Thank you, James.
-Yeah.

Your papa seems most over his accident.

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.

Uh, yeah, well-- Well, you see,
I've been pretty busy lately.

Working down at the sawmill...

...and helping Papa
with the bailing and chopping at home.

Well, I thought perhaps
you might've forgotten the way.

Oh, well, uh...

Mama, James has been favoring
someone else.

Which is his privilege.

Well, I was implying to when he tired...

...of such a strenuous activity--

Yeah, well, if y'all excuse me now,
I see my family's getting ready to leave.

We'll see y'all later.

- Bye, James.
JAMES: Bye.

[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]

[TURNS RADIO OFF]

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

Just to save my batteries.

Papa, may I have a few words?

A few.

- Papa, I'm lately bothered.
PAPA: 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.

Sir.

Well, you go on. You just choose
your words real careful, you hear?

Yeah, I hear.

Go on.

MAMA:
Bobbie Lee, your papa's listening.

This is your moment.

You're gonna have to move on now.

I got me some reading to do here,
I ain't in no mood for no time-wasting.

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

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

...and we need our eyes for reading
and looking and seeing.

-Is that a fact?
-Yes.

I think it's high time
we had some electricity in this place...

...and stopped living like tobacco road.

Tobacco road, you say?

Well, only in a manner of speaking.

Came 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 going bad.

And I have yet to see life.

Rural Electric Association don't supply
power to isolated areas, Bobbie Lee.

Now, you know that.

Then what about the plumbing?

Surely we can have
some modern plumbing in here.

Does going to the outhouse
hurt your eyes, girl?

- Oh, well, if that's your attitude.
-My attitude?

Your papa hardly knows
what you're talking about.

- Yeah, ain't that always the way?
-What way?

Be specific.

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

- So that's your botherment'?
-Yes, that is surely my botherment.

- Why'd you drag plumbing into it?
-I don't know.

Why didn't you come out and say
what you wanted to say?

Well, I'm saying so now.

- 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.

- How old are you, girl'?
-Thirty-two.

D cup.

Well, I'll tell you what...

...in two more years,
when you're a 34 whatever...

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

- Two more years, I'll be a 96.
-The girl is raving on, Anna.

Where you going?

What's the difference?
I'll be old when I get there.

What should we do with all this iced tea?

[DOOR SLAMS]

That last question, Anna,
that was a very dangerous question.

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

The 20th Century.

And 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.

Nothing fortifying has crossed my lips
but a Pepsi-Cola.

Nothing 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."

My entire life is dictated
by the 1925 Sears-Roebuck catalog.

Pages 267 through 295.

We got plumbing that the cavemen
gave up on 22 million years ago.

And an outhouse that further utilizes
the Sears-Roebuck catalog.

Issues 1895 through 1927.

BILLY JOE: Evening.
-Evening.

- Where do you think you're going?
-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 timing.

If you have any feeling at all for me, sir...

...and any hopes of squeezing my soft
and pliant flesh this heady evening...

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

Miss Hartley, I do not see
how we can go on this way much longer.

It's both unfulfilling and...

And pretty damn medieval.

I have 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 coming to call?

Well, we never got past the plumbing.

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 unlikable.

- Oh?
-Yes: "oh?"

You're always ornery.
You're forever zigging when I'm zagging.

We're always arguing.

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.

You've introduced yourself
to my family so often...

...they think you're Jack Benny.

Tadpole.

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

I don't wear them 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 yapping'?

You know,
you do an awful lot of yapping.

BOBBIE LEE: Hey, you ever get to thinking
that maybe you're adopted?

BILLY JOE: About every other day
and all day on Sunday.

BOBBIE LEE:
I think I'm either adopted or depraved.

Of the two, I prefer depraved,
because if you're depraved...

...you can always be redeemed.

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

BILLY JOE:
Yeah...

I don't think I'm depraved.

I'm merely underprivileged.

BOBBIE LEE:
Underprivileged?

BILLY JOE:
Well, maybe not underprivileged.

It's more like deprived.

Deprived of you
for no good reason I can understand.

[BOBBIE LEE LAUGHS]

BOBBIE LEE:
Swell, you're deprived and I'm depraved.

What a pair.

I'm growing tired of talking.

I caution you not to act in a rash manner.

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 warning.

You talk, you talk.

Years from now, what's it gonna be like
for you when you stop talking?

Well, I've done my talking
for this evening, 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.

Billy Joe, you're trespassing.

You're intruding.

Papa? Papa?

Dog?

We gotta stop this funning around
we've been doing.

Where is that dog?

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.

Use them up.
Get them out of your system.

No, no, no.

No, no, no.

- That's another page, no?
-Yes.

- Go on, you're doing fine.
-Oh, Billy Joe, I swear.

Go on. No.

BOTH:
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 old "yes."

No.

Come on, girl, you done give me
five pages of No's, easy.

Now, come on, give me a yes.

Oh, Billy Joe.

[BOBBIE LEE SCREAMS]

BILLY JOE:
Whoa! Oh, goddamn!

Goddamn.

Goddamn this baptismal pond.

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

That is for salmon.

Oh, look at you.

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

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

You get back in here.

Get back in here.
I wanna baptize you proper.

I don't think so.

- Oh, give me a "yes."
-Uh-uh.

- Give me a "maybe."
-Okay, maybe.

- You got it.
-Now give me a "when."

A year from last Tuesday.

I am deprived, Bobbie Lee.

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

You have everything
you're supposed to have.

[PLAYING HARMONICAS]

You boys working by the hour
or by the tune?

Well, we're just practicing up there,
Mr. Barksdale.

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

Yes, sir.

How about Billy Joe'?

- Billy Joe, well, he don't play nothing.
-He's our agent, yes, sir.

Is that a fact, Billy Joe'?

First I got wind of it.

Didn't we tell you, Billy Joe?
You're gonna be our agent.

- Yeah, we're gonna give you 10 percent.
-Plus expenses.

Now, you boys do know
that I donated my facility...

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

- Yes, well, that's mighty decent of you too.
-Yes, sir.

If I still have a facility.

My point being that if all of my workers
turn into musicians...

...I’m gonna have to close down.

Now, am I correct in assuming
that you get my hidden meaning?

- 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...

- Yes, sir.
-Yes, we're going right away.

Right now.

Come on now,
you can do more work than that.

I mean, you're only our agent.

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

[JAMES LAUGHING]

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

I don't know what you are, but you ain't
nothing like I've ever seen before in my life.

- Your life is not yet over, sir.
-Yeah.

Hey, tadpole, if I kisses you,
does I turn into a frog or a prince?

Oh, cut it out.

One thing you ain't never gonna turn into
is no harmonica player.

Oh, hey, Tom,
don't you pay that boy no mind...

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

You know, suffering abuse
from non-believers.

Like Bing Crosby?

Worked in a cotton gin.

Well, what about Doris Day?

JAMES:
Dirt farmer. Gives me hope.

That's right, boy.
I'll tell you, keep it up, who knows?

You may just turn out
to be another Doris Day.

[IN FEMININE VOICE]
Oh, do you really think so?

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

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...

...this size often ends up around here.

Proving 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.

[BOTH GIGGLING]

You never did tell us
why you went swimming the other night...

...with all your clothes an.

Well, as I recall, you never did ask.

Your papa figured
it was best we didn't...

...as you were behaving
quite strangely that evening.

[TRUCK 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.
-Mm-hm.

- 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 anything 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...

...that's like giving somebody
a brand-new, high-powered car and saying:

"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.

[MAMA GASPS]

PAPA: Just a little present for you to let
you know I've been thinking about you.

- Oh, look.
-What a thoughtful gift.

Well, if it'll keep that girl
from throwing herself in the pond...

...that's a worthwhile investment.

I do say, I don't understand how
that commode's gonna help her eyesight.

[IMITATES TOILET 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.

BOBBIE LEE:
Hello?

Oh, Papa.

It's a very beautiful thing and a very
definite step forward into this century.

Thank you. I love you.

If Robert E. Lee had himself
a hundred of those...

...the South would've won the war.

Come here.

[BRAKES SQUEALING]

Knudsen's Landing.
Gary, Susie, Beecham and Howard.

All out.

Billy Joe, get out of here.
This ain't no public vehicle.

Shut up, Coleman, stop your carrying 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 collecting back on one of them.

- I can put you off this bus, Billy Joe.
-Fine.

Put me off at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Ahem. As I was saying, Gloria, the French
Revolution marked the end of an era...

...in which the so-called nobility
was living off the fat of the land.

I think we're being followed.

Pay him no nevermind, Gloria.
It's just a local sex fiend up to no good.

- May I have a word with you, miss?
-You may not, sir.

- You're imposing yourself.
-Won't take but a moment of your time.

I don't have a moment to spare.

- I merely wanted to point--
-I'm not interested.

That your ass is on fire.

Well, I just thought
you'd like to know that.

[BILLY JOE SNIFFS]

You smell smoke, Franklin?

[FRANKLIN SNIFFS]

[BOBBIE LEE TSKS]

Tallahatchie Bridge. All out.

Bobbie Lee,
take that stowaway with you.

You're doing a good job, Coleman.

A little heavy on the brake,
but, you know, those things do happen.

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.

Including my best friend, Gloria.

Who is also known
as The Voice of America.

I haven't seen you
since we went swimming.

If you're referring to that escapade
when you came close to drowning me...

...you are no gentleman, sir.

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

- Oh?
-Yes.

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

...l think it's best to end our friendship
as fond but total strangers.

You wanna say that again?
Total strangers?

Gal, what I am trying
to get across to you is that...

I've been having 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 making love with a regularity
that would close this town.

Oh...

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

Oh, Billy Joe, we are making progress.

Sneaking up on things, gaining ground.

The plumbing's in and you're next.

Oh.

Make it four aspirins.

Well, you should be taking encouragement
from what I'm telling you.

How can I take encouragement
when I'm not allowed into your house...

...until after the plumbing?

Well, when you consider that nothing 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.

Because those things have been known
to end up with a lot of people drunk.

But since my brother's taking part,
Papa says we can go.

Good.

Oh, damn.

That's Brother Taylor.

Here I am, not supposed to be seeing
anyone, and along comes the eye of God.

- But we're not doing 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 trying
to protect your reputation, young lady...

knowing full well that in your heart,
I come after the piano.

And the plumbing.

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

Just coming from your house.

Your papa's
really fixing things up modern.

Yes, sir. He knows 1960 is coming
and he wants to be ready.

- You coming from school?
-Oh, yes, sir.

Is that Billy Joe McAllister'?

Oh, gee, could be anybody.

Seeing as how as I'm going his way,
perhaps I could give him a lift.

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

Goodbye.

Bye.

See you in church.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Is that Bobbie Lee Hartley?

I don't know. Could be anybody.

Well, Benjamin,
I do believe things are looking up.

[BAND PLAYING BLUEGRASS MUSIC]

[MAN SINGING "MOUNTAIN DEW"]

[PEOPLE CLAPPING]

[CHEERING]

MC [OVER SPEAKER]: All right, now
we will hear from the Choctaw Ridgeline.

[SINGING]

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

- You having a good time?
-Yeah.

I like it. It's fun.

Hello, Billy Joe.

- Hi, Bobbie Lee.
-Hi.

Come on, Billy Joe.
Come on, go with me.

- No, that's okay.
-Come on, Billy Joe.

-I'd rather not.
-Come on, kid, come on.

Be right back.

Hey, that ain't tight enough.

Keep your hands off me, boy.

Look over there, see that?

- Hi.
-Hey there.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Here, buddy, have a full beer.

Here, I'll take that one.

- Help us out.
-Come on, smile.

- Some of this?
-No

Hey, wait up.

Come on, man. Let her go.

Let her go.

Here, here.

[SONG ENDS]

[CROWD APPLAUDING
AND CHEERING]

[WOMEN CHATTERING]

MC: All right, now for
The Old Time Lee County String Band...

...Walnut Grove, Mississippi.

[CROWD CHEERING]

[BAND PLAYING BLUEGRASS MUSIC]

I have never seen anything
so shameful in my--

Olaf, you get them out of there.

- Out.
-You get out of my car. Get, get, get.

You floozy, you cheap...

JAMES:
Uh, we...

Get in. Get in, Emmett.

MAN 1: Hey, man.
MAN 2: Hey, come on, give us a shot.

MAN 3:
Come on, let's move up.

Where'd you get that?

I saw you do that.
Get that crap out of here.

TOM:
Let's see what's back here.

MC: Hey.
TOM: Goodbye...

[CROWD APPLAUDING]

[WOMEN LAUGHING]

MC:
-and the River Reeds.

MAN: Okay.
-Get out of here, go on.

- Go on.
-Oowee!

[TOM LAUGHING]

[WOMAN MOANING]

MAN:
Shit, with those boots and everything.

TOM:
Hey, Billy Joe, look at that.

That's the sheriff.

He ought to be arrested.

Oowee!

[TOM LAUGHING]

That...

Oowee!

Go ahead, Billy Joe.

Go on, get you some.

[TOM LAUGHING]

[WOMAN MOANING]

[BOTH LAUGHING]

MAN:
Yeah.

MC: All right, now we'll hear
from the Parks Family.

[BAND PLAYING BLUEGRASS MUSIC]

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

MAN 1: What the hell are you doing?
MAN 2: I want you, come here, boy.

[ALL SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY]

WOMAN:
Get him. Hurry up.

Hey, guy.

BOSH: Morning, Dewey.
DEWEY: Morning, Bosh, Ned.

Isn't that Billy Joe's papa?

It looks to be.

Wander what kind of trouble
that fool kid got himself into now.

You ain't, by any chance,
seen Billy Joe around anywhere, have you?

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
sobering up from his drinking.

Drinking's not his style, Dewey.

It was everybody’s style the other night.
Even the sheriff.

Is he sobered up yet'?

He told me to tell you
that you may be held criminally liable...

...allowing drinking on your property,
and youse 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 using my facilities for free.
Now he's gonna take action against me.

-Is that what you're trying to tell me?
BOSH: Yes, sir.

- Good morning, Tom.
TOM: Good morning.

You boys seen Billy Joe lately?

He hasn't been home
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 wander what that fool boy went and did
that he's afraid to go home.

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

Hey, wait a minute now.

You were the one
that gave him the beer...

...so that makes you
an accessory to the drunk.

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

Go on, get out of here.

Thanks, now.

[RUSTLING]

Billy Joe?

People have been looking for you.

I figured they might be.

Where you been?

In the woods.

Out here.
It'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.

Something happened.

Can you tell me?

No.

Is it why you took off?

It was something real bad, Bobbie Lee.

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

I mean, as far as I know,
the worst thing 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 ought to 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're wiggling your old
tail feathers, and I'm responding.

Now, you can "Mama says," "Papa says,"
"Jesus Christ say" all you want.

The fact of the matter is that if we
were squirrels or cottontails in the forest...

...we'd be snorting and rutting
in a very healthy manner.

On, God.

I would not be roaming 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...

If you don't come...

...l 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.

JAMES: So old Dewey Barksdale got himself
in a whole peck of trouble over there.

Yeah. He's saying now he didn't know
nothing about no whiskey.

Says as far as he know,
all they was drinking 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... Of course, the thing no one
talks about is the ladies of the evening...

...which came over special
from Yazoo City.

They made enough money
to keep the county in whiskey...

...for the next 20 jamborees.

[JAMES LAUGHING]

PAPA:
You watch your mouth, boy.

You know your mama
don't like that kind of talk.

Come on, Papa, didn't we get them boys
that messed up our truck real good?

Well, that's nice talking about, isn't it?
Yes, sir.

Vengeance is the Lord's, James.

All right, Papa, all right.

But seeing as the Lord
wasn't on the premises...

...why, we was just giving him
a little helping hand, that's all.

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. Mm-mm.

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

Sure, go right ahead.

- Thank you. Mama?
-Sure, you can go.

[DOOR CLOSES]

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

Just keeping my ear to the ground, Papa.
Just keeping it to the ground.

And your mind in the mud, boy.

- I ain't in the habit of repeating myself.
-I don't wanna hear this.

You're gonna. If I hear you talk that way
in front of your mama, you're gonna get it.

You understand?

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

MAMA:
Bobbie Lee, may I came in?

Yes, Mama.

Remember Benjamin, Mama?

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

I do indeed.

Wherever has he been hiding?

In my hope chest.

- Your hope chest?
-Yep.

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

...just like Pinocchio.

Oh, 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've been talking to your papa...

...and he allows as to how it'd be
all right 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 timing.

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 taking Benjamin?

Yes, I believe I will.

After all that time,
I expect he'd appreciate an airing.

Well, don't stay out too long.

Mosquitoes always did take to you
on a thick evening.

BOBBIE LEE:
Hi.

BILLY JOE:
Hi.

What you got yourself there?

BOBBIE LEE:
I brought Benjamin.

BILLY JOE:
So that's Benjamin.

BOBBIE LEE:
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 am 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 mincing words
and beating about the bush.

Now, I'm here as requested.

I wanna know what made you run away,
because I know it wasn't me.

All right, I'll tell you.

Let me tell you after.

No, tell me now.
And watch what you're doing to Benjamin.

You're twisting him. You're hurting him.

BILLY JOE:
Get your hands--!

I'm sorry.

Bobbie Lee?

I'm sorry.

It slipped.

I'm sorry.

It's nothing but an old rag doll.

Oh, shit.

Well, I'm sorry.

Now, come on.

I'm not going 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
because 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.

All right.

I'll tell you.

But not now.

Somebody's watching us.

[ENGINE STARTS]

[BOBBIE LEE PANTING]

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 nothing.

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.

[BOBBIE LEE 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?

It's no good, Bobbie Lee.

What?

I can't.

Is it me?

Oh, Billy Joe, don't do that.

Oh, it's all right.

It's all right.

Oh, we've just been waiting so long and...
And trying so hard.

Oh, it's all right, Billy Joe.

It ain't all right.

I ain't all right.

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 wanting you
and do that.

But you were drunk.

- Maybe you just imagined it.
-I ain't imagined nothing.

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

Wrong.

I knew.

I knew it was happening.

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.

Well, you 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 going to.

Tell me you're only funning me.

Tell me you made it up...

...and then we can get back
to our long-awaited lovemaking.

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 saying no,
because 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 are 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...

...ta please a lady.

Some other time.

Right now, l...

I just wanna sort things out.

I could do right well by you
some other time.

Lady.

I'm sorry about Benjamin.

He needed a bath anyway.

Will you come and call on me?

My papa says it's okay.

The piano,
the plumbing and Billy Joe McAllister.

What will they think of next?

SHERIFF:
Hey, what you got there?

MAN:
Looks like some kid's doll.

SHERIFF:
Yeah.

Some kid's doll.

TAYLOR: Any young man
should take his own life is a tragedy.

We read in 1 Samuel, Chapter 31,
Verse 4...

...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.

I can't say as I blame them.

Come on now, Bobbie Lee.

Everybody knows
you and Billy Joe were real close.

Hell, even Ma's got it figured out.

Papa...

I don't know,
may take him a little bit longer.

Girl, they are laying 10-to-1 downtown
that you're with child.

And if I wasn't your brother,
I swear I'd be laying 20 myself.

Now, this Joan of Arc stuff is all good
and well, just fine and dandy, just great.

But the days are gonna pass,
and little Joan is gonna be bellying out.

Then ain't that gonna be
a little bit embarrassing, 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 as well we can't...

...because he wasn't gonna amount
to nothing nohow anyway.

And now...

Now, since he's taken that 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 all right...

...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 of her period one time, we...

We dealt with this man in Calhoun County
who does first-rate work.

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

But if it's not...

If it's not, if you've got some idiotic idea
about spawning that thing into this world...

...l 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,
you gotta make it up real soon, you hear?

Billy Joe McAllister.

Shit.

BOBBIE LEE: There's a time and a 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 winding road
We left behind

And another yet to choose

And there's a tender journey yet to take

The sun that waits to rise

And there are promises
We've yet to make

The days we'll spend never end

In each other's eyes

And there will be lovers' songs
For us to sing

In that place, we've yet to be

There'll be time enough
For everything

Time for life, time for love

Time for us, time for you

Time for me

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Morning, Mr. Barksdale.

Up early, Bobbie Lee.

Yes, sir.

You going somewhere?

I'm gonna catch the 6:40 bus.

So you decided to leave, huh?

Appears.

To have your baby?

Or more or less.

No baby in you, Bobbie Lee.

Well, that makes you about the only person
around here that don't think that.

I 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 looking.

I suppose so.

I know so.

Does your mama know you're leaving?

Mama knows.

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 stirring around.

You got some business at my house?

I do.

With me?

Yeah.

I wanted to talk to you.

One of the reasons
I waited so long was...

...selfish.

Selfish.

My family, I--

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 is on his way
to becoming a legend.

He made a desirable girl pregnant,
then just flew away.

It takes a lot to became 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 kind of 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. l...

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 could happen to you
would be a jail term, I guess.

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

Pretty much.

I can't see piling new hurts
on top of an already hurtful situation.

I mean, we can't have people believing that
Billy Joe McAllister jumped off the bridge...

...because of a man, can we?

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

Something to show for all our trouble.

And maybe I'll get to believing 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 you.
You're-- You're going 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...

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

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

[English - US - SDH]