All language subtitles for Decoration.Day.1990.1080p.WEBRip.x265-RARBG.en

- THE SIMPLE LIFE.

DON'T TAKE ON ANYTHING

THAT CAN'T BE HANDLED
FROM THE SEAT OF A ROWBOAT.

DON'T OWE A SOUL ANYTHING
CAN'T BE PAID BY THE MONTH

OR BY MAIL.

THE FISHING JUST ISN'T
WHAT IT USED TO BE, BUT WHAT IS?

CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT DAY IT IS
HALF THE TIME.

THAT'S GOOD,
THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

KRISSY HERE IS
THE ABSOLUTE IDEAL COMPANION.

UNDERSTANDS ENGLISH PERFECTLY,
DOESN'T SPEAK A WORD OF IT.

HELLO, KRISSY.
HOW ARE YOU, PUP?

OH, KRISSY GIRL.
LONG DAY, HUH?

A MAN, HIS DOG, NOTHING
BUT A LOT OF PEACE AND QUIET...

ALMOST.

- MY, NOTHING LIKE A DAY ALONE
WITH NATURE

TO PUT A SMILE ON A MAN'S HEART,
NOW, IS THERE?

- I THOUGHT YOU'D BE GONE.
- YOU HOPED I'D BE GONE.

I COOKED YOU SOME SUPPER.
IT'S ON LOW IN THE OVEN.

- WISH YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT,
ROWENA.

- THAT A FACT?

- PUTS A HEX
ON THE FISHING.

YOUR COOKING CASTS A SPELL
OVER THE ENTIRE LAKE.

- IT'S NOT MY COOKING.

A LAWYER COME INTO YOUR COURT
WITH A SPIEL LIKE THAT,

ALBERT SIDNEY, YOU WOULD
HAVE HIM CHECKED FOR LUNACY.

- IS THAT A FACT?

- YOU--YOU JUST GIVE OFF
A MEAN AURA LATELY.

FISH CAN TELL
A MILE AWAY.

- I WISH I HAD TIME
TO HEAR MORE OF THIS.

- YOU'VE GONE FROM BEING
NO-NONSENSE TO BEING NASTY.

CAN'T ARGUE WITH HIM
EVER SINCE VICTORIA PASSED ON

AND YOU QUIT THE BENCH.

- WELL, VICTORIA DIDN'T PASS ON,
SHE DIED,

AND I DIDN'T QUIT THE BENCH,
I RETIRED.

- MOST MEN 58 ARE JUST
GETTING THEIR STEAM UP.

I CALL IT QUITTING,
YOU CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT.

- WHAT'D YOU FIX
FOR SUPPER?

- SURPRISE YOURSELF.

OH, I ALMOST FORGOT,
YOUR GODSON BILLY WENDELL CALLED

AND ASKED IF YOU'RE
GONNA BE HOME LATER.

- I HOPE YOU TOLD HIM NO.

- NOW, IF YOU WANT ME
TO LIE FOR YOU,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE
PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS.

- MAKE IT A STANDING RULE.

AY-YI.

MMM.

- HOW ARE YOU, KRISSY?

UNCLE ALBERT.

DON'T YOU EVER PLAY ANY MUSIC
YOU CAN WHISTLE?

- YOU'RE TRESPASSING,

YOU'RE DISTURBING THE PEACE,
AND I'M NOT YOUR UNCLE.

- SOUNDS LIKE
I'M ON SHAKY GROUND HERE, HUH?

- HOW ARE YOU, BILLY?
HOW'S LOREEN AND THE KIDS?

- OKAY.
- MEN OF GOOD CHARACTER

ARE GENERALLY HOME WITH
THEIR FAMILIES AT THIS HOUR.

- USED TO BE, I WAS WELCOME
TO DROP BY ANYTIME.

- WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

A DONATION FOR SCHOOL,
ROLLAWAY BED FOR COMPANY?

- I NEED SOME LEGAL HELP.

- NO, NO,
I'M OUT OF THAT BUSINESS.

- NOT THE KIND YOU PAY FOR.

- WELL, TELL ME
ABOUT THE OTHER KIND, BILLY.

- IT'S OLD GEE.

- OLD GASPARD PENNYWELL?
- GEE, OLD UNCLE GEE.

- SO?

OLD GEE LETTING HIS HOGS
RUN IN YOUR FIELD?

- OH, GEE AIN'T KEPT A HOG
ON HIS PLACE IN 20 YEARS,

YOU KNOW THAT.
- BILLY, IT'S GETTING LATE.

- WELL, GEE COME TO ME
WITH A PROBLEM

WITH THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT,
SO I GIVE HIM A HAND.

NOW, THE WHOLE DARN
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S

THREATENED TO COME DOWN ON ME
LIKE A TON OF ROCK.

- WHAT'S GEE GOT TO DO
WITH THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT?

- WELL, THIS FELLOW BY THE NAME
OF WARING WROTE TO GEE

SAYING HE HAD A MEDAL COMING
FOR HIS SERVICE IN WORLD WAR II.

GEE BROUGHT THE LETTER TO ME
AND ASKED ME TO ANSWER IT.

- I KNOW OLD GEE WAS IN THE ARMY
FOR A SHORT TIME.

WHAT DO THEY WANNA GIVE HIM?
THE UNIT CITATION,

GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL,
OR SOMETHING?

- THEY WANT TO GIVE HIM THE
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR.

- THE MEDAL OF HONOR?
- YEAH.

YEAH, I GOT THE LETTER
BACK UP AT THE HOUSE

IF YOU WANNA SEE IT.

THIS FELLOW WARING
IS CHECKING OUT AN OLD REPORT.

SAYS GEE TOOK OUT A WHOLE BUNCH
OF GERMANS BY HIMSELF.

YOU WOULDN'T EVER HEAR IT
FROM HIM.

HECK, I WAS ONLY TRYING
TO DO GEE A FAVOR.

I MEAN,
THAT'S THE THANKS YOU GET.

- A BUREAUCRAT SPURNED
IS A BEAST UNCHAINED.

- HUH?

- YOU REALLY STEPPED IN IT.
- OH.

I ONLY TOLD HIM WHAT GEE TOLD ME
TO TELL HIM,

WITHOUT THE CUSS WORDS.

HECK, I CAN'T SEEM TO DO
ANYTHING RIGHT ANYMORE.

- DON'T TALK LIKE A JERK,
BILLY.

SPARE ME THAT
AT THIS HOUR ANYWAY.

- WELL, YOU THINK I SHOULD
JUST FORGET IT?

- BILLY, THE GOVERNMENT
WANTS TO GIVE GEE

THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL
OF HONOR.

- WELL, HE DOESN'T WANT IT.
I MEAN, YOU TALK TO HIM,

YOU BEING A LAWYER
AND A JUDGE AND ALL.

- NO, NO.
NO CHANCE.

NO, YOU JUST WRITE
ANOTHER LETTER.

NOW, BE POLITE,
USE YOUR HEAD.

- WELL, I SORT OF TOLD GEE YOU'D
BE BY TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT.

- WHEN DID YOU START
MANAGING MY AFFAIRS?

- HE DIDN'T SEEM TO COTTON
TO THE IDEA MUCH NEITHER.

SAID YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BY
IN 30 YEARS,

DIDN'T EXPECT TO SEE YOU FOR--

- WELL, THAT OUGHT
TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I'LL--I'LL THINK OF SOMETHING
TO SAY TO THIS WARING FELLA.

- AND WHAT ABOUT GEE?

- LET'S JUST LEAVE GEE OUT OF IT
FOR RIGHT NOW.

- YEAH, BUT--

- WHAT, BILLY?

- BEEN A LONG TIME.
YOU OKAY, UNCLE ALBERT?

- I'M FINE,
I'M JUST FINE, BILLY.

GOOD NIGHT, BILLY.

- WELL, DID BILLY COME BY?

- HE DID.

- I HOPE YOU GIVE HIM
A TALKING-TO.

- WHAT?

- LOREEN,
POOR YOUNG THING,

TWO CHILDREN
AND THAT NO-GOOD BILLY

CATTING AROUND ON HER
WITH THAT TERRY NOVIS.

- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
- MM-HMM.

I WONDERED
IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW.

- BILLY WENDELL AND TERRY NOVIS,
JUDGE WESLEY'S SECRETARY?

- MEN ARE BOYS
TILL YOU BURY 'EM.

- MS. TERRY NOVIS IS THE MOST
COMPETENT LEGAL SECRETARY

IN THE COURTHOUSE,
WHERE YOU HAVEN'T SET FOOT

FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

WHERE DO YOU GET THIS STUFF?

- BAILEY ROGER
WHO SINGS ALTO IN THE CHOIR.

HE'S ON THE MAINTENANCE CREW
AT THE COURTHOUSE.

- YOUR SPY NETWORK
IS AMAZING.

I AM NOT GETTING INVOLVED
IN BILLY AND LOREEN'S AFFAIRS.

I HOPE THAT DOESN'T SPOIL
YOUR WEEK.

ROWENA, DID YOU KNOW
THAT THE GOVERNMENT

WANTS TO BESTOW A VERY HIGH
HONOR ON OLD GEE PENNYWELL?

HMM, YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT,
DID YOU?

- ALL I KNOW IS THAT YOU
AND BILLY'S DADDY,

WILL DEE, REST HIS SOUL,

WERE REAL THICK WITH GEE
WHEN YOU WERE TADS.

MAKING BLOOD PACTS, TROMPING THE
FIELDS AND THICKETS WITH GUNS,

SLAYING SQUIRRELS
AND PIGEONS,

SMOKING AND SPEAKING VILE,
NO DOUBT.

JUST INTO ALL MANNER
OF PERVERSITY

THAT THE MALE OF THE SPECIES
IS PRONE TO.

WHAT ABOUT GEE?

SHOULD I KNOW
WHERE YOU'LL BE?

- BILLY AND LOREEN'S,
I'VE GOTTA PICK UP SOMETHING.

- GO EASY WITH HER.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE KNOWS.

- TRACY, KRISTEN,
THE BUS IS HERE, LET'S GO!

THE--COME ON.
HERE YOU GO, BOTTOMS UP, SPORT.

OH. ARM. YEAH.

GREAT.
- I WANTED TO TALK TO DAD.

- WELL, YOU'RE JUST
GONNA HAVE TO STAND IN LINE

FOR YOUR DADDY 'CAUSE
IT'S A BUSY TIME FOR HIM NOW.

COME ON.

COME ON, SWEETHEART.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT,
DON'T FORGET YOUR LUNCH.

HERE.

IF YOU'RE GONNA GO TRADING
YOUR APPLES FOR CUPCAKES,

YOU BETTER MAKE SURE
YOU GET TWO FOR ONE, OKAY?

BYE.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR SISTER, HUH?

- MORNING, LOREEN.
- HEY.

HOW ARE YOU, UNCLE ALBERT?
- I'M FINE. YOU?

- THERE YOU GO.
I'M OKAY.

- OH, THANK YOU.
- YOU'RE WELCOME.

- I SAW THE PRISON BUS LEAVING
JUST AS I ARRIVED.

- THEY CAN HARDLY WAIT
TO GET ON THAT BUS ANYMORE,

TO GET ON
OUT OF THIS HOUSE.

- I'VE ALWAYS LOVED
THIS PLACE.

- YEAH?
YOU'D NEVER KNOW IT.

I SEE YOU DRIVE BY NOW AND THEN
BUT YOU NEVER STOP IN.

- USED TO ROW
ACROSS THE LAKE HERE,

PICK UP BILLY'S DADDY.

- I ALWAYS WONDERED
HOW JUDGES GOT STARTED.

- BILLY SAID HE HAD A LETTER
FROM SOME FELLA

IN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT,
GUY NAMED WARING.

I'M GONNA NEED IT.
- YEAH.

- SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
- I JUST SAW THAT YESTERDAY.

IT'S IN THE DESK.
I'LL GET IT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND GEE
NOT WANTING THAT MEDAL, DO YOU?

- NOPE.

NONE OF MY BUSINESS,
I SUPPOSE.

- HE SEEMS TO THINK
BILLY'S TRYING TO INTERFERE,

BUT THAT'S JUST NOT SO.
- I KNOW.

WELL, MR. WARING, YOU'VE JUST
MADE ONE BIG MISTAKE.

YOU'VE PROVOKED ME.

- BILLY SAID YOU GET ALONG
BETTER WITH GEE THAN ANYONE.

- YEARS BACK.

- SO WHAT HAPPENED?

- WELL, NOTHING HAPPENED.

TIME PASSES,
PEOPLE CHANGE.

- I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THEY JUST GET
MORE LIKE THEMSELVES.

- YOU WERE ALWAYS THE SMART KID
IN CLASS, WEREN'T YOU?

- I FAKED IT.

- AH, GEE WAS CONSIDERED
PART OF THE FAMILY

YEARS BACK, TRULY.

HE KNEW THREE GENERATIONS
OF WENDELLS.

THERE WAS BILLY'S GRANDDADDY,
OLD W. DEE HIMSELF.

HE SORT OF DEPUTIZED GEE
BACK THEN TO,

OH, SHOW BILLY'S DADDY AND ME
HOW TO HUNT

AND LIVE IN THE WOODS
AND A FEW OTHER MANLY THINGS.

YEAH, GEE TOOK HIS ASSIGNMENT
VERY SERIOUSLY, VERY.

HE WAS 17, WE WERE 12.

- WELL, THAT MUST HAVE BEEN
A TRIO TO BEWARE OF.

GEE'S HAD
HIS NIECE'S LITTLE GIRL

STAYING WITH HIM
FOR THE SUMMER.

OOH, SHE'S A PRETTY
LITTLE THING.

I'VE BEEN MAKING 'EM
SOME BAKED GOODS

AND BRINGING 'EM UP
EVERY WEEK OR SO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S GONNA BE
HEADING ON BACK TO SCHOOL

ANY DAY NOW, AND OLD GEE,
HE'S GONNA BE ALL ALONE AGAIN.

- WHERE IS BILLY?
IS HE UP YET?

- I DON'T KNOW.

- OH.

- BUT I'M SURE WHEN HE DOES GET
UP HE'LL PROBABLY COME ON HOME,

AT LEAST
TO CHANGE HIS CLOTHES.

- WHEN I RETIRED FROM THE BENCH,
I PROMISED MYSELF

I WOULDN'T TAKE ON ANY MORE
PROBLEMS, MAKE ANY JUDGMENTS.

- WELL, I'M SURE THAT COMES
AS A GREAT RELIEF

TO THE CRIMINAL POPULATION
OF THE STATE.

BUT, UNCLE ALBERT,

KINFOLK CAN USE
A LITTLE MEDDLING SOMETIMES,

DON'T YOU THINK?

- YOURS AND BILLY'S MARRIAGE,

THOUGH, WAS SOMETHING
EVERYONE TOOK FOR GRANTED.

- WELL, I NEVER
TOOK IT FOR GRANTED.

JUST FOR THE RECORD, WHENEVER
BILLY STARTED GETTING BORED,

I TRIED TO COAX HIM
TO GO TO PARIS OR VENICE

OR SOMEPLACE REAL ROMANTIC,
BUT HE NEVER WANTED TO GO.

NOW, WHY DON'T MORE MEN JUST
WANNA RUN AWAY WITH THEIR WIVES?

I ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE LIKE VICTORIA,

'CAUSE SHE WAS SHARP
AND EASY TO LAUGH WITH,

PRETTY FOR MORE
THAN TONIGHT.

I'M SORRY.

- IF I WERE YOUNGER,
I'D GIVE HIM A WHIPPING.

- NO, HE'S DOING THAT
TO HIMSELF ALREADY.

SOMETIMES, I WISH
HE'D JUST ACT LIKE A SKUNK

ABOUT WHATEVER IT IS HE'S DOING,
MAKE IT EASIER TO LET GO,

IF I HAVE TO.

- STRANGE HOW THE YEARS
CANCEL OUT THINGS.

SOME THINGS.

WILL DEE'S LONG GONE.

MY, OH, MY,
SUCH DAYS THEY WERE.

- FINISH WITH THESE CANS,
WE'LL GO SWIMMING.

YOU GOTTA HIT SOMETHING FIRST,
WILL.

- I'M GONNA--
- YOU TOO, AL.

- I'LL TRY.

- WOW.

- COME ON, BOY.

YOUR SHOULDER THERE.
THERE YOU GO.

PUT YOUR FINGER FORWARD
RIGHT THERE.

THERE YOU GO, ALBERT.

COME ON.

- HEY, ALL RIGHT, ALBERT.

- HELLO THERE.

- HI.

- HELLO, ALBERT SIDNEY.

- BEEN A LONG WHILE.

- FRITZIE, WHY DON'T YOU GO
ON IN AND HAVE YOUR COOKIE?

- I'M SAVING IT.

- WELL, YOU GO EAT MY COOKIE.
YOU CAN KEEP SAVING YOURS.

- OKAY.

BILLY TOLD ME
YOU MIGHT BE BY.

- WELL, HIGH TIME, HUH?

GEE, I KNOW YOU HAVE
YOUR OWN REASONS, BUT...

WOULDN'T IT BE A LOT EASIER
ALL THE WAY AROUND

IF YOU JUST ACCEPTED THIS MEDAL,
LET IT GO AT THAT?

LIFE'S TOO SHORT.

- SEEMS PLENTY LONG ENOUGH
TO ME SOME DAYS.

YOU TELL THAT GOVERNMENT MAN
THIS FOR ME, ALBERT SIDNEY,

YOU TELL HIM YOU SAW MY FACE
WHEN I SAID IT.

I AIN'T KILLED A MAN
IN OVER 30 YEARS,

BUT HE HADN'T OUGHT TO TRY ME
BY STEPPING FOOT ON MY LAND.

- NOW, GEE,
THAT JUST WON'T WASH.

THIS LETTER BILLY GOT,

IT SAYS YOU WIPED OUT A--
A GERMAN PANZER UNIT.

- WASN'T NO WAR OF MINE.
I GOT DRAFTED.

WOULDN'T HAVE BUDGED
OUTTA HERE OTHERWISE.

- IF I RAISE A RUCKUS, THEY'RE
JUST GONNA INSIST ON A HEARING.

YOU WANT ME TO TELL THEM
THE ONLY THING I KNOW

IS WHAT SOME LIEUTENANT
WROTE DOWN 30 YEARS AGO?

- I THOUGHT
THAT LIEUTENANT WAS DEAD...

TILL HE CLIMB INTO THAT JEEP
LATER AND TOOK OFF.

HE'D HAVE HELD UP,
I'D HAVE GONE ON WITH HIM.

YOU KNOW I SHOT
"EXPERT RIFLEMAN"

IN BASIC TRAINING?

YOU WOULD'VE GUESSED THAT.

BUT THEY PUT ME
INTO COMMISSARY DUTY

RIGHT QUICK AFTERWARDS.

"YES, SIR! NO, SIR!

"I DON'T BELIEVE WE GOT
NO PANATELAS.

HOW ABOUT ONE
OF THESE HERE CORONAS?"

WHITE MEN SHOOT.
BLACK MEN COOK AND CLEAN UP.

- I THINK I MIGHT KNOW
HOW YOU FEEL, GEE.

WHITE BOYS, THEY PIN MEDALS ON
WITHIN THE WEEK,

SO THE MAMAS CAN STILL
BRAG ON 'EM.

YOU...
THEY MAKE WAIT 30 YEARS.

YEAH, I TOOK A LITTLE
KRUPP STEEL IN MY BACK MYSELF

IN FRANCE, GEE.

I CAN STILL FEEL IT
WHEN THE WEATHER'S JUST RIGHT.

NO PURPLE HEART.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'D ACCEPT IT
NOW IF THEY OFFERED IT.

BUT THE MEDAL OF HONOR,
YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE.

- YOU'RE OFF BY MILES.

USED TO BE, WE COULD READ
EACH OTHER PRETTY CLOSE.

I KNOW YOU COME OVER HERE
AS A FAVOR TO BILLY

'CAUSE I GOT HIM IN HOT WATER
WITH THAT GOVERNMENT MAN.

- THE WAY BILLY PUT IT,
I WAS DOING YOU BOTH A FAVOR.

I FIGURE I OWE YOU ONE.

- WELL, THEN,
I GUESS WE CAN JUST SETTLE UP.

IT AIN'T YOU,
ALBERT SIDNEY.

WORSE THAN THAT,

I DON'T EVEN THINK
ABOUT YOU NO MORE.

DON'T GO LOOKING INTO THE BOTTOM
OF THE BOWL, ALBERT SIDNEY.

IF I WANTS TO REMEMBER,
I REMEMBER YOU AS 12,

GOT THAT NEW STEVENS
SINGLE SHOT 20 GAUGE,

THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU WANNA SETTLE UP?

JUST GET THIS MEDAL BUSINESS
DONE WITH.

YOU KNOW THE RIGHT WORDS,
TELL 'EM TO LEAVE ME ALONE.

EVERYTHING WILL BE SQUARE THEN,
ALBERT SIDNEY.

YOU CAN JUST
LEAVE ME BE AGAIN.

- ALBERT,
WHY'D YOU COME ON IN?

- OH, I DIDN'T WANT
TO INTERRUPT YOUR ROUTINE.

- WELL, THAT NEVER
BOTHERED YOU BEFORE.

- GOSH, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I DIDN'T THINK
THERE WAS ANYTHING

THAT WOULD SEPARATE YOU
FROM THE FISHING ROD.

- WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, WES.
BETWEEN ALL THE FISHING

AND THE POUNDING THE GAVEL
ALL THOSE YEARS,

MAN'S GOT TO REST HIS ARM
EVERY NOW AND THEN.

- YEAH,
I RECKON THAT'S RIGHT.

- DID YOU ASK HER?
- YEAH, I ASKED HER.

- DID SHE SAY OKAY?

- WELL, SHE DIDN'T SAY OKAY,
SHE SAID SHE'D BE HONORED.

YOU DON'T KNOW IT, BUT
YOU'VE HAD TERRY NOVIS BUFFALOED

FOR A LONG TIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHY,
YOU NEVER HANDED DOWN

A PRO-WOMEN DECISION
IN YOUR WHOLE CAREER.

- I'M OCCASIONALLY PRO-WOMAN,
ONE AT A TIME.

AS A CLASS, I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT
THEY COULD HOLD THEIR OWN.

- I'LL TELL YOU
WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

I'M GONNA SPEND THE AFTERNOON
DECREASING

THE SQUIRREL POPULATION
OUT ON BOB DILWORTH'S PLACE.

- GOOD TO SEE YOU, WES,
AND THANK YOU.

- YOU SAY THIS IS A PETITION
FOR A RESTRAINING ORDER,

JUDGE FINCH?

- MS. NOVIS,
THESE ARE MY "ALBERT" CLOTHES.

SINCE I'M NO LONGER
A MAN OF THE CLOTH,

I WONDER IF I MIGHT
CALL YOU TERRY,

JUST FOR THE AFTERNOON
ANYWAY.

- MAY I TAKE THAT TO MEAN
I MAY RELAX DURING DICTATION?

- BY ALL MEANS.

- A PETITION
FOR A RESTRAINING ORDER

AND PERMANENT INJUNCTION
TO THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT,

NORTHERN DISTRICT,
THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

PENNYWELL VERSUS THE U.S. OF A.
SO FAR, SO GOOD?

- SO FAR, VERY EXCITING.

- LET'S GO. PARAGRAPH.

OH, THE USUAL OPENING,
PARAGRAPH.

THE GREATEST PRIVACY OF ALL
IS NOT OF A MAN'S LANDS

OR HIS HOME,
BUT HIS HEART.

AND IT IS THIS SANCTUARY
WE BEG THE COURT TO DECLARE

OFF-LIMITS TO THE GOVERNMENT
AND ITS AGENTS.

THE FEDERAL AGENCY,
WHICH NOW SEEKS

TO PUBLICLY INVADE
THE PETITIONER'S PRIVACY,

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS NOW
HAS...

EITHER WILLFULLY OR
BY CLERICAL OVERSIGHT DECIDED--

- EXCUSE ME.

I WONDER IF YOU MIGHT
WANT TO USE A DIFFERENT WORD

THAN "OVERSIGHT."

IT CAN ALSO MEAN WATCHFUL CARE,
CLOSE SUPERVISION.

DALTON RIGGS ALMOST LOST
A CLASS-ACTION SUIT LAST YEAR

BECAUSE THAT WORD COULD MEAN
EXACTLY OPPOSITE THINGS.

- YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT.
MAKE IT "OFFICIAL INDIFFERENCE."

- YES.

- I WONDER IF I MIGHT
SUGGEST SOMETHING.

- OF COURSE.

- THE BEST PRIME RIBS
AT GALLEGLY'S

ARE THE FIRST CUTS
OFF THE ROAST.

BY THE TIME WE FINISH HERE,
THEY SHOULD BE JUST ABOUT READY.

DO YOU ACCEPT BRIBES?
- CERTAINLY.

I HAVEN'T BEEN TO GALLEGLY'S
IN A YEAR.

- GOOD,
WE BEST GET OVER THERE

BEFORE THEY HAVE TO SEND
SOMEBODY AFTER US.

- I MISS YOUR BEING
ON THE BENCH.

I USED TO ENJOY
READING YOUR OPINIONS.

- COME ON, NOW.
THE PRIME RIB ISN'T THAT GOOD.

- NO, I MEAN IT.

THEY ALWAYS SEEMED TO GO
BEYOND THE CASE.

LIKE LEVIS VERSUS SNOW.

I COULD JUST SEE THAT LADY,
OLD MRS. SNOW

ABOUT TO LOSE EVERYTHING,
AND YOU SAID--

- "WE HAVE HERE NO CONTRACT.

WHATEVER APPEARANCES
MIGHT SUGGEST--"

- "THE CONSCIENCE OF THE COURT
SHALL NOT SUFFER

"MANIFEST SELF-INTEREST

TO MAKE USE OF THE INSTRUMENTS
OF JUSTICE TO WORK INJUSTICE."

- HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT
ABOUT STUDYING FOR THE LAW?

- NO.

I THOUGHT ABOUT STUDYING
FOR THE OPERA.

- THE OPERA?
- MM-HMM.

I WAS A MUSIC AND VOICE MAJOR
AT EMORY UNIVERSITY.

WHEN MY FATHER GOT SICK,
I QUIT TO CARE FOR HIM.

AFTER HE DIED, I WENT
TO BUSINESS SCHOOL INSTEAD.

TRADED MOZART FOR SHORTHAND.

- SEEMS HARDLY
A FAIR EXCHANGE.

- OH, I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE HAD A GOOD LIFE...

WITH FEW COMPLAINTS.

I DON'T THINK MOZART
HAD AN IN WITH THE MAITRE D'

AT GALLEGLY'S.

I CAN HELP BUT THINK
OF THAT MR. PENNYWELL.

THAT POOR OLD MAN.
- OH, GEE?

NO.

GEE MAY SEEM OLD,
BUT HE'S NOT POOR,

NOT IN ANY SENSE OF THE WORD.
NO, HE HAS HIS LAND.

HE HIRES A COUPLE OF BOYS
OFF OF BILLY WENDELL'S PLACE.

HE FARMS A LITTLE.
NO, HE'S ALL RIGHT.

- BILLY WENDELL?
- YEAH.

GEE WAS FOREMAN ONCE
FOR BILLY'S GRANDDADDY.

NOW, BILLY'S DADDY, WILL DEE,
NOW, HE AND I

USED TO BE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS
WITH GEE A LONG TIME AGO,

VERY BEST OF FRIENDS.

BILLY AND LOREEN,
THEY, UH, KEEP AN EYE ON GEE.

THEY'RE GOOD PEOPLE.

NO, OLD GEE, HE'S NOT POOR.
HE'S ALL RIGHT.

- WELL,
WITH FRIENDS LIKE YOU,

I'M SURE HE'S GOING TO DO
JUST FINE.

- I HOPE I HAVEN'T KEPT YOU
FROM ANYTHING TONIGHT.

- NOT AT ALL.

- WELL, I APOLOGIZE.
I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR.

- ACTUALLY,
I'M QUITE FOND OF MOTORCYCLES.

ONE OF THE PENALTIES
OF LEAVING YOUR 20s BEHIND,

NO ONE OFFERS YOU A RIDE
ON A MOTORCYCLE ANYMORE.

- YEAH, I'M SEEING YOU
IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT.

- NOT TOO BAD, I HOPE.

THANKS FOR DINNER.

OH, NO, NO.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE ME IN,
REALLY.

- WELL, I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY.

I'M HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE
ADAPTING TO THIS NEW AGE.

ANY MANNERS
THAT OUR MOTHERS INSISTED ON

ARE DESPISED BY THOSE WOMEN
WHO MIGHT BE OUR DAUGHTERS.

VERY CONFUSING.

- I'M NOT QUITE SURE
WHERE I FIT IN THERE. ARE YOU?

GOOD NIGHT.

- MY, ISN'T THIS
A PROUD DAY?

FRIENDS' LIVES
ALL IN A MESS,

AND ALBERT SIDNEY'S
GOING FISHING.

- I FILED A PETITION.
THAT'S ALL I CAN DO.

- WELL, YOU REALLY GOT
TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, DIDN'T YOU?

- YOUR VOICE CARRIES, ROWENA.
- I TRAINED IT TO CARRY.

WHEN YOU GET YOUR AGE,
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LEND A HAND

NOW AND THEN
TO PAY BACK

SOME OF THE AIR YOU BREATHED UP
ALL THESE YEARS.

- YOU SURE USE PLENTY.

- IF I WAS AS THICK
WITH GEE PENNYWELL AS YOU WERE,

I'D SURE WANNA KNOW
WHY HE'S TURNED ON THE WORLD.

- THAT'S HIS BUSINESS.

- WELL,
YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.

HIGHEST MEDAL THE COUNTRY GIVES
AND HE DON'T WANT IT.

SURE NOTHING STRANGE ABOUT THAT,
NOW, IS THERE?

- NEVER THOUGHT YOU WERE
SO FOND OF GEE THESE DAYS.

- I WASN'T EVER FOND OF HIM,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN

THAT THOSE WHO WERE
LIKE YOU

MIGHT NOT MAKE
ANOTHER TRY AT IT.

YOU STOPPED DRESSING
LIKE A JUDGE.

NOW, WHEN ARE YOU GONNA STOP
ACTING LIKE ONE?

- WHEW.

IF SHE HAD BEEN A LAWYER,

CLARENCE DARROW WOULD'VE HAD
TO HEAD OUT THE MEN'S ROOM.

ROW FOR SHORE, ALBERT.

ROW FOR SHORE.

- IT WAS MY PLEASURE REALLY,
JUDGE FINCH.

- I HOPE I DIDN'T INTERFERE
WITH ANY OF YOUR REGULAR WORK.

- OH, NO MATTER, I TAKE
GREAT PRIDE IN BEING OVERWORKED.

- FINCH?
ALBERT FINCH?

- WELL, YES.
THIS IS MS. NOVIS.

- MICHAEL WARING,
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

I CALLED MR. WENDELL. HE GAVE ME
YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER.

I SPOKE TO YOUR MAID.

SHE TOLD ME I MIGHT
BE ABLE TO FIND YOU HERE.

- OH, WELL,
YOU'VE HAD A BUSY MORNING.

YOU MUST BE POOPED.

- MR. WENDELL SAYS YOU REP--
- THAT'S "WEND -ELL."

- MR. WEND -ELLSAYS
YOU REPRESENT HIM.

- WHY, HECK, MR. WARING,
I REPRESENT EVERYBODY.

I EVEN REPRESENT
GASPARD PENNYWELL.

- THAT'S A BLATANT
CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

YOU'VE GOT ONE CLIENT
OPPRESSING THE OTHER,

AND YOU'RE DEFENDING HIM FOR IT?
- OH, NOW, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

DON'T LET MY HAT AND BOOTS
FOOL YOU, COUNSELOR.

DON'T TELL ME
ABOUT CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

- WE'LL JUST SEE WHAT A JUDGE
HAS TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

- YOU JUST DID.

YOU MIGHT WANNA TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS.

- YOU'RE INSANE.

- YOU BETTER READ IT. I PLAN
TO FILE IT IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES.

- I DON'T HAVE TO READ
THIS RUBBISH.

- MR. WARING,

I'VE ANSWERED THE BELL
A FEW MORE TIMES THAN YOU,

SO LET ME GIVE YOU
SOME CAREER ADVICE.

IF YOU WAIT TO READ THAT
UNTIL THEY SERVE IT ON YOU,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DRAG
YOUR CARCASS BACK DOWN HERE,

TRY THE RULE AND LOSE,
THEN GO BACK UP NORTH

TO EXPLAIN TO YOUR BOSSES
HOW YOU FOULED UP.

- ANYTHING ELSE
CAREER-WISE?

- YES.

GET RID OF HALF THE JUNK

YOU'RE CARRYING AROUND
IN THAT SATCHEL,

OR YOU'RE GONNA BE LOPSIDED
BY THE TIME YOU'RE 40.

LUNCH, MS. NOVIS?

- I'VE BEEN THINKING,
WHILE I WAS TYPING IT,

YOU MIGHT WANT TO HOLD OFF
FILING IT FOR A FEW DAYS.

- RETREAT?
WHAT KIND OF STRATEGY IS THAT?

- UH, JUST TILL THIS ACTIVIST
FROM WASHINGTON

HAS A CHANCE
TO THINK IT OVER.

MIGHT, IN THE PUBLICITY
AND RUCKUS THIS COULD CAUSE,

BE HARDER ON THAT OLD FRIEND
OF YOURS

THAN ANYTHING YOU'RE TRYING
TO SAVE HIM FROM.

ANYWAY, THINK ABOUT IT.
I HAVE TO GO.

THANKS FOR THE LUNCH OFFER, BUT
I HAVE TO FINISH THESE FIRST.

- JUDGE WESLEY'S SECRETARY
SAID I MIGHT FIND YOU HERE.

- OH?

- SAID YOUR JEEP WAS STILL
PARKED OUTSIDE.

- DID YOU READ IT?
- YES, I READ IT.

- GOOD. I'LL BE HAPPY
TO DRIVE YOU TO THE AIRPORT.

- WE'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THIS,
JUDGE FINCH.

- NO, I DON'T. YOU DO.

YOU'RE THE ONE
CAME CHARGING DOWN HERE

THREATENING ONE OF MY CLIENTS
TO PESTER MY OTHER CLIENT

INTO ACCEPTING
SOME PIECE OF TIN

YOU'RE BOUND AND DETERMINED
TO FORCE ON HIM.

- THE MEDAL OF HONOR
IS NOT SOME PIECE OF TIN.

- YEAH.
YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'M SORRY.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT.

BUT GEE DOESN'T WANT IT,
AND THAT'S THE END OF IT FOR ME.

- WELL, MAYBE
IT SHOULDN'T BE.

MAYBE YOU'RE TRYING
TO MAKE IT

A LITTLE TOO EASY
FOR YOURSELF, HUH?

THIS IS
A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN PETITION,

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT STILL BOTHERS ME,

FROM WHAT MR. WENDELL SAYS
AND I GATHER YOU AGREE.

WHY IS GASPARD PENNYWELL,
YOUR CLIENT, GEE,

SO ANGRY ABOUT HIS COUNTRY
WANTING TO AWARD HIM A MEDAL?

- MAYBE HE THINKS
THE ONLY REASON YOU WANT TO

GIVE IT TO HIM AT THIS LATE DATE
IS BECAUSE HE'S BLACK.

GEE IS AN OLD MAN.

GRUDGES BECOME
YOUR ONLY COMPANION

SOMETIMES
WHEN YOU GET OLDER.

- THAT SHOULDN'T BE.

- RIVERS SHOULDN'T FLOOD,

AND THE GOOD
SHOULDN'T DIE YOUNG.

- WELL, SUPPOSE
YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL

AND WE'RE FORCED TO FORGET
ALL ABOUT THIS MEDAL BUSINESS,

MR. PENNYWELL
GETS LEFT ALONE,

AND YOU GET TO GO BACK
TO FISHING, I TAKE IT.

- THAT'S ABOUT IT.

- WELL, GIVE ME THREE DAYS
BEFORE YOU FILE THIS.

- YOU WANT TIME
TO BRING UP THE RESERVES?

- NO JUDGE IN THIS DISTRICT IS
GONNA GRANT AN ORDER LIKE THIS

WITHOUT GIVING THE U.S.
A CHANCE TO CROSS.

YOU KNOW THAT.

MR. PENNYWELL'S REQUEST NOT
TO BE AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR

WOULD BE, TO SAY THE LEAST,
NEWSWORTHY.

DO YOU WANT REPORTERS
TRAMPING ALL OVER HIS PROPERTY

ASKING HIM QUESTIONS?

YOU DO HAVE AN OBLIGATION

TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY
OF YOUR CLIENT, DON'T YOU?

- THREE DAYS.

I'LL GIVE YOU THREE DAYS

TO COME UP
WITH SOME BETTER ARGUMENTS.

I WANT TO SEE A WHITE FLAG.

- SOME OF THE LANGUAGE
IN THIS PETITION

ABOUT THIS OLD MAN, GEE,

I GATHER HE'S MORE
THAN JUST A CLIENT TO YOU.

- HE WAS A GOODLY PART
OF MY GROWING UP.

- JUDGE FINCH.
- HI.

- DID MR. WARING FIND YOU?
- YES, HE DID.

WE'VE DECIDED
TO DO IT YOUR WAY.

I'LL WAIT THREE DAYS
BEFORE FILING.

- BILLY WANTS
TO TALK TO YOU.

- PLEASE,
JUST LEAVE ME OUT OF THIS.

I'M JUST NOT UP TO COPING
WITH MODERN MORALITY RIGHT NOW.

- PLEASE, I ASKED HIM
TO TALK TO YOU,

AND HE FINALLY AGREED,
AS A FRIEND.

- I REALLY DON'T FEEL
TOO ALMIGHTY FRIENDLY

TOWARD BILLY WENDELL
AT THIS MOMENT.

- WELL, THEN,
AS A SMALL FAVOR TO ME?

BILLY WILL BE AT THE RED BARREL
AROUND 4:30.

PLEASE DON'T BE ANGRY WITH HIM.
THERE IS NO REASON TO BE.

- TO BE SAVAGELY HONEST,

I'M NOT FEELING OVERLY FRIENDLY
TO EITHER OF YOU RIGHT NOW.

- I KNOW.

OH, THAT'S WHY,

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE,
YOU HAVE TO TALK TO HIM.

- NOTHING RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU.

- I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

I WILL.
I'LL GO HOME.

BUT I CAN'T TELL HER.
IT'LL WRECK HER.

- SHE'LL LIVE THROUGH IT.

THAT'S A FUNNY THING TO SAY,
AIN'T IT?

- YOU'RE TESTING ME,
BILLY.

- SHE TOLD YOU, DIDN'T SHE?
TERRY TOLD YOU.

- TOLD ME WHAT?
- NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

SHE SAID IT WAS UP TO ME,
BUT SHE TOLD YOU, AND I'M GLAD.

AND IF YOU CAN STAND IT,
I RECKON LOREEN CAN TOO.

THEY SAY IT GETS EASIER
ONCE YOU KNOW OTHER PEOPLE KNOW.

WORST PART IS BELIEVING IT
YOURSELF,

AND HECK, I CAN STILL
TOTE 100-POUND BALES

FROM CAN-SEE
TO CAN'T-SEE.

I'M STRONG AS AN OX.

BUT IT'S TRUE, UNCLE ALBERT.
I'M DYING.

WOULDN'T HARDLY KNOW IT
TO LOOK AT ME, WOULD YOU?

THIS HERE LEUKEMIA
DON'T SHOW ON THE OUTSIDE.

I'M DYING SURE ENOUGH,
RIGHT HERE BEFORE YOUR EYES.

- YOU'VE GOT TO TELL LOREEN,
BILLY.

AIN'T THAT GONNA BE
THE FINAL STRAW NOW, THOUGH?

I NEVER DID DESERVE HER
FROM THE START.

- COME ON, NOW.
- OH, YOU KNOW IT, UNCLE ALBERT.

SAY IT IF YOU WANT,
I'M AS DUMB AS COW TRACKS.

I CAN RUN 4,000 ACRES OF FARM,

BUT IF YOU'D WATCHED HANDS
DOING IT FOR 20 YEARS

GROWING UP,
WHAT'S THE TRICK, HUH?

AND HECK, MOST OF THEM BOYS THAT
WERE STANDING IN LINE FOR HER,

THEY ALL GOT BIG JOBS WITH BANKS
AND OIL COMPANIES NOW.

YOU KNOW, GATOR SHOES
TO MATCH THEIR BRIEFCASE,

GETTING ON AIRPLANES
ALL THE TIME

TO GO HERE AND THERE.

YOU KNOW, I'M ALL RIGHT
AROUND HERE, UNCLE ALBERT.

I MEAN, DRIVING THE DIRT ROADS
CLOSE TO HOME.

I GET OUT
ON THE BLACK TOP,

AND I CAN FEEL IT
GETTING AWAY FROM ME.

MAN, I TURN ON TO ONE OF THEM
CONCRETE INTERSTATES,

AND I COMPLETELY
DISCONNECT.

LOREEN USED TO TALK ABOUT GOING
TO NEW YORK OR PARIS.

SHOOT, SHE MAY AS WELL BE
TALKING ABOUT VENUS OR PLUTO.

HOW AM I GONNA TELL
THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN THE COUNTY

THAT SHE'S MARRIED TO A FELLOW
WHO'S SCARED TO GO ANYWHERE

WHERE HE CAN'T BE HOME
BY DARK?

AND NOW THIS.

WHEN THE DOCTORS FIRST TOLD ME,
I SAID, "NOW, THAT DOES IT, MAN.

HOW AM I GONNA
TELL HER THIS?"

"SORRY, HONEY, BUT AFTER
12 YEARS OF MISPRONOUNCING WORDS

"AND...BEING
A GENERAL DISAPPOINTMENT,

I THINK I'M GONNA DIE ON YOU
THIS YEAR, SORRY."

- YOU'VE STILL
GOT TO TELL HER.

- NO, I DON'T THINK
I CAN TAKE IT, UNCLE ALBERT.

AT LEAST UP TO NOW, SHE
MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT SHE HAD...

A MAN, YOU KNOW?

- NOTHING UNMANLY
ABOUT BEING SICK, BILLY.

YOU GOT TO LEAVE IT UP TO HER
TO WHETHER--

SHE DESERVES THE TRUTH.

IF THERE'S SOME HOPE,
LOREEN WILL FIND IT.

- WILL YOU--WILL YOU TELL HER,
UNCLE ALBERT?

COME ON, PLEASE?
SORT OF PAVE THE WAY FOR ME.

SHE--SHE THINKS THE WORLD
OF YOU, UNCLE ALBERT.

AND YOU'LL KNOW
JUST THE RIGHT THING TO SAY,

SO I DON'T GO IN THERE
AND KILL HER WITH IT.

PLEASE?

OH, GOD, I'M DYING.

- ALL RIGHT, SON.

WE'LL GET YOU SOME SLEEP, HUH?
IT'S ALREADY TOMORROW.

- DOCTORS' MOUTHS
AIN'T NO GOSPEL, ALBERT SIDNEY.

WE GOT A MAN
AT FREE WILL CHURCH

WHO WAS TOLD HE HAD TO DIE,
JUNE 1947,

AND HE'S STILL
SINGING HYMNS.

YOU REMEMBER HELEN LANE?

SHE'S A NURSE DOWN
AT THAT CLINIC WHERE BILLY GOES.

WELL, SHE ONLY TOLD ME
YESTERDAY,

'CAUSE I WAS CLOSE
TO THE FAMILY

AND MAYBE THEY WAS
GONNA HAVE A NEED.

- ROWENA,

WHY DO PEOPLE KEEP GOING
OUT OF TURN LIKE THIS?

- NO GUARANTEE WHAT A LIFETIME
SHOULD BE, NOW, IS THERE?

WHETHER A BABY GOES
OR 100-YEAR-OLD MAN,

BOTH OF 'EM HAD A LIFETIME
IN THEIR OWN WAY.

NOW, EVERY TIME YOU PUT ON
THAT OLD BOMBER JACKET

THAT WILL DEE LEFT BEHIND
DURING THE WAR,

I WONDER IF YOU DO IT TO--

YOU CAN'T FEEL GUILTY
'CAUSE YOU'RE STILL ALIVE.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT,
ALBERT SIDNEY.

- I SMELL
COFFEE AND BISCUITS.

- WELL, BREAKFAST
IS ALMOST READY.

YOU FIXING TO GO OVER TO
LOREEN'S AND TELL HER THE NEWS?

- I TOLD BILLY I WOULD.

- WELL, MAYBE
YOU COULD TELL HER

THAT SHE AND BILLY
OUGHT TO GO OFF SOMEPLACE,

TAKE SOME TIME.

TELL HER I'LL LOOK
AFTER THE LITTLE ONES FOR HER.

THEY'LL MIND ME.

NOW, MAKE SURE YOU PUT THAT
IN HER MIND WHEN YOU GO SEE HER.

- WHERE DO YOU FIND
THE TIME?

- I'LL STEAL SOME FROM YOU.

- IN MY HOUR OF NEED?

- OH, YOU'RE MORE...

JUST LONESOME THAN NEEDY.

- COME ON, NOW.

- YOU NOTICE HOW EARLY
IT'S GETTING COLD?

DIDN'T USED TO.

WHEN I WAS A CHICK, WE SWUM
IN THE LAKE TILL NOVEMBER.

- YEAH, WHY IS IT
WHEN WE GET OLDER,

WE THINK IT'S THE WEATHER
THAT'S CHANGED?

SORRY I HAD TO BE THE ONE
TO TELL YOU, LOREEN.

- WELL, WHY WOULD HE
GO TO SOMEBODY LIKE TERRY NOVIS

INSTEAD OF COMING TO ME?

- YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?

- I'M NOT SURE.

- BILLY--

BILLY NEVER THOUGHT
HE MEASURED UP REALLY.

HE--

HE THOUGHT DYING WOULD BE JUST
ANOTHER FAILURE IN YOUR EYES

AND...UNMANLY.

HE WAS THINKING ABOUT GOING OFF
AND LIVING WITH HIS COUSIN

IN MACON TO SAVE YOU
THE TROUBLE OF LEAVING HIM.

CAN YOU IMAGINE?
- BILLY.

MEN--MEN TELL
EACH OTHER THINGS

THEY DON'T TELL
THEIR WIVES.

DON'T ASK ME WHY.

BILLY SAT UP TILL MIDNIGHT

TELLING ME ABOUT ALL YOUR DAYS
IN GRADE SCHOOL--

HOW HE HAD TO GO
TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE

FOR TRYING TO KISS YOU
ON THE PLAYGROUND.

AND HIGH SCHOOL--
HOW HE HELPED YOU LEARN

YOUR VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH.

COLLEGE--
TOLD ME HOW PROUD HE WAS

JUST SIGNING
THE KIDS' REPORT CARDS.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

- WELL, WHY WOULDN'T HE
EVER TALK TO ME

ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT?

THERE WAS TIMES I WOULD HAVE
GIVING UP EVERYTHING

JUST TO HEAR HIM SAY IT.

- YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS...

FOR YEARS, I HAD THIS IDEA
FOR VICTORIA.

OH, SHE KNEW I LOVED HER.
I TOLD HER THAT.

I WANTED TO DO
THIS GRANDER THING FOR HER.

I TOLD MYSELF
WHEN I RETIRED

I'D WRITE A BOOK
ON LEGAL PHILOSOPHY,

SUM UP THE TOTALITY
OF MY LIFE

AND DEDICATE
MY WHOLE EXISTENCE TO HER.

AS FAST AS THAT,
SHE WAS GONE.

BOOKS NEVER
HAVE BEEN WRITTEN.

VICTORIA WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP
EVERYTHING AND SLEPT ON DIRT

JUST TO HEAR
I'D PLANNED SUCH A THING.

TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, LOREEN,
BILLY LOVES YOU,

MORE THAN HE'S EVER
GONNA BE ABLE TO TELL YOU.

- SHE'S NOT THERE.

SHE'S GONE AWAY
ON A LONG...

TRIP.

- I--I TALKED TO BILLY.

HE ASKED ME TO TELL LOREEN,
SO I DID THAT.

- HOW IS SHE?

- SHE TOOK IT.

- MUST HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT
FOR YOU.

- A LITTLE TOUGHER ON HER.

I STARTED--
STARTED DRIVING AROUND,

WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE
IN PARTICULAR.

WOUND UP HERE,
WHY IS THAT?

- MIGRATORY INSTINCT MAYBE?
- NO.

NO, I THINK I WANTED
TO CLEAR UP

A LITTLE MATTER
OF MY CREDIBILITY.

- I NEVER DOUBTED IT.

- I KNOW,
THAT MAKES IT WORSE.

I STARTED STRUTTING AROUND
IN THE GLOW OF YOUR ADMIRATION,

SO TO SPEAK.

OH, I COULD SEE YOUR LOOK
AS I MOUNTED UP,

WHITE KNIGHT GOING TO RESCUE
SOME POOR, OLD BLACK MAN.

OH, BOY.

I WAS PREPARED
TO MAKE ALLOWANCES

FOR SLIGHT IMPERFECTIONS
IF THEY AROSE.

- ACTUALLY, I WAS TRYING

WITH A SHORT AFTERNOON CHORE

TO MAKE UP FOR YEARS OF NEGLECT
OF AN OLD FRIEND.

IT DIDN'T WORK.
GEE SAW RIGHT THROUGH ME.

NOW, I BELIEVE GEE DESERVES
THE MEDAL OF HONOR,

AND I'M GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR HIS NOT GETTING IT.

NEVER TELL ME ABOUT JUDGES
AND RIGHT AND WRONG.

I'M GONNA TRY AGAIN
WITH GEE.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING
ISN'T RIGHT.

AT LEAST I'D LIKE
TO SQUARE MYSELF WITH HIM.

- WELL, YOU'VE SQUARED YOURSELF
WITH ME.

OF COURSE, I'M EASY.

- I DOUBT THAT.

YOU--YOU PLANNING ON TAKING
A LONG TRIP

LIKE YOU SAID?

- AS A MATTER OF FACT, I STARTED
WRITING A LETTER TO THE JUDGE

TO TELL HIM.

OF COURSE, I'M NOT QUITE SURE
WHERE I'M GOING.

- YOU HAVE A NEED
TO GO SOMEPLACE?

- DID BILLY TELL YOU
ABOUT ME?

- HE SAID
YOU'RE A WONDERFUL FRIEND.

I BELIEVE THAT.

- OH.

OOH!

OH. OOH.

- AREN'T YOU GLAD
YOU WASHED YOUR CAR?

- OH. OH.
- WHEW.

- OOH.

HOW ARE YOU?
YOU NEED A TOWEL?

- UH--

DO YOU KNOW WHERE I MET
BILLY WENDELL?

- WELL, DOES IT MATTER?

- BILLY AND I SHARED
THE SAME DOCTOR.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING
WE'VE SHARED.

THAT AND...

THE PAIN OF FACING
YOUR OWN MORTALITY

AND TALKING ABOUT IT.

I'M...

I'M ONLY HALF THE WOMAN
THAT EVERYBODY

USED TO LOOK AT, RIGHT?

AT FIRST,
I WANTED TO DIE.

AND THEN I ALMOST CRAVED
TO KEEP ON LIVING.

THAT'S WHAT I TOLD BILLY
HE HAD TO DO.

WE'D TALK FOR HOURS.

- YOU KNOW, WHEN I FOUND OUT
YOU DIDN'T BELONG TO ANYONE,

I--I WAS THRILLED.

THEN I SANK
RIGHT OUT OF SIGHT.

I GOT 20 YEARS ON YOU.

SEE, IT...IT DOESN'T MAKE
ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME.

- PLEASE.

IT ISN'T SOME KIND OF A TRADE.
YOU KNOW THAT.

YOUR FEELINGS ARE JUST
ALL MIXED UP RIGHT NOW,

ABOUT BILLY,
HIS FAMILY, GEE,

AND NOW ME.

AND IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IT--

IT MAKES
A DIFFERENCE TO ME.

FOR MONTHS NOW, THERE HASN'T
BEEN A SIGN OF ANYTHING.

BUT WHO KNOWS?

TODAY...

I COULD LIVE FOREVER.

WHEN YOU WALKED UP HERE,
I WAS 16.

I HAD TO BE CAREFUL
YOU WOULDN'T HEAR ME BREATHING.

- MIGRATORY INSTINCT.

- THE WONDERS OF NATURE.

- ABOUT THIS DYING BUSINESS...

I'M NOT REAL SURE
WHETHER I'M GONNA LIVE OR DIE,

BUT I'M GONNA NEED YOUR HELP
EITHER WAY.

- I'LL PROBABLY SAY THIS
ONLY ONCE, BILLY,

SO I WANT YOU TO SIT DOWN
AND LISTEN REAL CLOSE.

I WOULD CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE,
BILLY WENDELL.

I LOVE YOU FAR TOO MUCH,
YOU KNOW THAT.

- YOU KNOW WHAT MY TROUBLE IS,
DON'T YOU?

I JUST NEVER COULD BELIEVE

MY GOOD LUCK.

- WELL, THERE'S SOMETHING A GIRL
CAN TELL HERSELF ON A RAINY DAY.

- SHOOT.

YOU TRULY ARE SOMETHING,
YOU KNOW THAT?

- WHAT?

- I LOVE YOU.

- THERE YOU GO.

- I'VE FILED A PETITION
TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT

FROM BOTHERING YOU, GEE.

- I THANK YOU.

- WELL, I DON'T KNOW
THAT YOU SHOULD.

I'M NOT SURE I DID
THE RIGHT THING.

SEE, I--I THINK YOU DESERVE
THE MEDAL AND MORE.

I DON'T QUITE KNOW WHY
YOU DON'T WANNA ACCEPT IT,

BUT I RESPECT YOUR WISHES
IF THAT'S WHAT YOUR WISHES ARE.

ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT,

WELL, IF YOUR NOT WANTING
TO TAKE THIS MEDAL

IS ANY WAY MIXED UP WITH THE WAY
YOU FEEL ABOUT ME AND WHY,

THEN I WISH YOU'D THINK TWICE
ABOUT IT.

GEE?

GEE, I'M GONNA SAY THIS,
SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL LISTEN.

THAT DAY OLD W DEE DIED

AND I WAS HOME
FROM FORT BENNING,

YOU AND I WERE THE ONLY ONES
IN THE BEDROOM WHEN HE WENT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED
TO BE, BUT THERE WE WERE.

I THINK THAT HIS GOING HURT YOU
MORE THAN ANYBODY ALIVE.

I COULD SEE IT
IN YOUR FACE.

I WANTED TO STEP OVER AND PUT
MY ARMS AROUND YOU RIGHT THEN.

I WOULD HAVE,
I WOULD HAVE A YEAR EARLIER,

BUT...SEE, A WHITE BOY CAN HUG
A BLACK MAN WHO'S A FRIEND.

A WHITE MAN'S
GOT TROUBLE WITH IT.

YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE A MAN,
AND THERE I WAS,

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN.

I DIDN'T MOVE.

"SORRY" DON'T SAY IT, GEE,
BUT IT'S THE ONLY WORD I GOT.

ALL I'M ASKING IS,

DON'T TURN DOWN
THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

'CAUSE PEOPLE LIKE ME
WEAR THE UNIFORM OF AN ARMY

THAT TREATED YOU
LIKE KITCHEN HELP.

- IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO
WITH YOU, ALBERT SIDNEY.

JUST LET IT BE!

- I'M NOT GONNA LEAVE IT BE,
GEE. WHAT IS IT?

- CAREFUL,
ALBERT SIDNEY, CAREFUL.

- ALL THAT CITATION SAYS WAS
THAT YOU GOT SHOT IN THE LEG.

- THAT'S ENOUGH NOW.

- A SHOT IN THE LEG
WOULDN'T SLOW YOU DOWN.

YOU'RE TOUGH AS CYPRESS.

OH.

- AH, YOU SEE? YOU SEE?
YOU CAN HARDLY STAND.

NOW, WHAT HAPPENED?

SOMETHING HAPPENED
YOU'RE NOT TELLING, WHAT IS IT?

TALK TO ME, GEE!

- AH!

AH!

- I'LL GET HELP!

- I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I WAS
SITTING IN THAT OLD HALF-TRACK,

WAITING FOR THAT LIEUTENANT
TO COME BACK.

FREEZING.

AND I HEARS
THIS JEEP COMING.

I FIGURE IT'S HIM, LIKE HE SAY,
WITH MEDICS AND ALL.

ALMOST DIDN'T SEE ME.
I GIVE 'EM A WAVE.

- YOU MADE ALL THIS?
JUST YOU?

- WASN'T NOBODY ELSE.

I NEED HELP, LIEUTENANT.
- YES.

YES, OF COURSE.

HERE'S YOUR HELP.

- THIS HERE IS WHAT YOU GET

WHEN YOU EMPTY
A FULL TOMMY GUN ON A MAN!

PRETTY, AIN'T IT?

THIS WASN'T DONE
BY NO GERMANS!

THIS WAS DONE BY A PRIVILEGED,
SMILING, BLONDE,

AMERICAN LIEUTENANT!

- OH, GEE.

OH, GEE.

"YOU MADE ALL THIS."

"YOU MADE ALL THIS."

"YOU MADE ALL THIS."

THERE, YOU SEE THAT?

OTTO SKORZENY,
LIEUTENANT COLONEL, S.S.

HE'S THE ONE
WHO LED THE PARATROOPERS

TO FREE MUSSOLINI.

HE WAS HANDPICKED
TO PUT TOGETHER

THIS SPECIAL UNIT
OF S.S. TROOPS IN BELGIUM.

- ALL OF THEM WERE ABLE
TO SPEAK FLUENT ENGLISH.

- WELL, YOU SEE,
THAT'S WHAT PUT ME ONTO IT.

THERE'S ENGLISH,
AND THEN THERE'S ENGLISH,

BUT THERE'S NO AMERICAN
THAT I KNOW OF

FROM ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY
WHO WOULD SAY,

"YOU MADE ALL THIS?"

- LET ME ASK YOU
A QUESTION.

YOU'VE KNOWN THIS MAN
ALL YOUR LIFE.

HOW COME YOU DIDN'T KNOW
ABOUT ANY OF THIS BEFORE?

- THAT'S BETWEEN HIM AND ME.

WHOA.
- WHOA.

- GEE?

GEE?

THIS IS MICHAEL WARING, A MAN
FROM THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.

UH, I APOLOGIZE FOR ENCOURAGING
HIM TO STEP ON YOUR LAND,

BUT WE DISCOVERED SOMETHING
I THINK YOU OUGHT TO KNOW.

- GO AWAY,
ALBERT SIDNEY.

- GEE, I WAS JUST A YOUNG BOY
WHEN YOU TAUGHT ME

THINGS OFTEN ARE NOT
WHAT THEY FIRST APPEAR TO BE,

SO PLEASE, WOULD YOU
LOOK AT THIS A MINUTE?

JUST FOR A MINUTE.
I THINK YOU'LL SEE WHAT WE MEAN.

GEE, IN THE WINTER OF '44,

AROUND CHRISTMAS,

A BUNCH OF GERMAN S.S. TROOPS,

THEY SET OUT TO INFILTRATE
AMERICAN POSITIONS

AND TIE UP
WITH VON RUNDSTEDT'S OFFENSIVE.

GEE, THEY WERE WEARING
AMERICAN UNIFORMS.

SOME OF 'EM
POSING AS M.P.s,

GOING AROUND GIVING FAKE ORDERS,
WRONG DIRECTIONS,

SHOOTING UP
SCATTERED TROOPS

BEFORE THEY COULD GET
BACK TO THEIR UNITS.

SEE, WE THINK
THAT A JEEP-LOAD OF GERMANS

RODE INTO YOUR CAMP
LOOKING FOR ANY SIGN OF LIFE.

- YOU WAVED TO 'EM,

THEN THE LIEUTENANT SAID,
"YOU MADE ALL THIS?"

NOT, "YOU DID ALL THIS,"

OR NOT EVEN,
"YOU KILLED ALL THESE."

- THEY WERE GERMANS?

- I KNOW ON ITS OWN
IT'S PRETTY THIN, GEE,

BUT TAKEN WITH THE REST OF IT,
IT'S PROBABLY TRUE.

NOT THAT IT'S GONNA HELP YOU
WALK ANY BETTER,

BUT I THINK IT'S ALMOST CERTAIN
YOU WERE SHOT BY A GERMAN,

NOT AN AMERICAN.

- THEY WERE GERMANS?

- MR. PENNYWELL, IF I CAN ASK
THE OBVIOUS QUESTION,

DID YOU TELL ANYBODY
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED

AFTER YOU WERE FINALLY TAKEN
TO THE HOSPITAL?

- YEAH, I TOLD 'EM.

THEY WAS OFFICERS MOSTLY.
I WAS A BLACK MESS PRIVATE.

THAT'S ALL THEY SAW
WHEN THEY LOOKED AT ME,

A BLACK MAN
OUT OF HIS HEAD IN PAIN.

I TELL 'EM,
AND THEY GIVE ME MORPHINE

AND TELL ME THE PAIN
WAS MAKING ME CRAZY.

KEPT ON TRYING TO TELL 'EM.

THEY SAID THEY'D TAKE AWAY
MY MORPHINE IF I DIDN'T SHUT UP.

IT WAS A GERMAN.

- IF YOU DON'T MIND,
MR. PENNYWELL,

I'D LIKE TO STAY
IN TOUCH WITH YOU.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN
COME UP TO WASHINGTON

FOR THE PRESENTATION
BY THE PRESIDENT.

- OH, I AIN'T GOING
TO WASHINGTON.

ALL THIS STILL DON'T MAKE
NO DIFFERENCE.

- I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

- NO DISRESPECT
TO YOUR MEDAL, SON,

BUT SEE, I KEEP REMEMBERING
ALL THOSE YOUNG GERMAN BOYS

I KILLED THAT DAY.

THEY WAS JUST KIDS.

THEY COME LOOKING
TO FIGHT THE AMERICANS

AND THE ONLY ONE LEFT HAD
A APRON ON, AND HE WAS BLACK.

THEY JUST STOOD THERE LIKE
DEER CAUGHT IN THE HEADLIGHTS,

AND I KILLED 'EM.

I DON'T WANT NO MEDAL FOR THAT,
YOU SEE.

I TRULY DON'T.

- I'M SORRY IF I SEEMED A LITTLE
ONE-DIMENSIONAL ABOUT ALL THIS.

I HAD NO IDEA MR. PENNYWELL
HAD SUCH PRIVATE REASONS

FOR NOT WANTING
ANY HERO'S MEDAL.

- OH, BY THE WAY,
MY OTHER CLIENT,

WHO YOU WERE GETTING
OFFICIAL WITH, BILLY WENDELL,

HE'S FIGHTING LEUKEMIA.

I WISH YOU COULD DROP HIM A NOTE
FROM WASHINGTON SAYING

THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S SORRY
THEY BOTHERED HIM

AND WISHES HIM
A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

YOU THINK YOU COULD DO THAT?

- I'LL DO THAT.

I TELL YOU
WHAT I'VE BEEN THINKING.

THE LEAST I CAN DO
IS ARRANGE FOR MR. PENNYWELL

TO RECEIVE
THE PURPLE HEART.

- I'M SURE
HE'D APPRECIATE THAT.

ME, I GOT TO FIGURE OUT
SOME WAY TO PATCH UP A LIFETIME.

- YOU REALLY LOVE THAT OLD MAN,
DON'T YOU?

- YEAH.

BUT YOU SHOULDN'T MAKE
TOO MUCH OF THAT.

DESPITE WHAT'S COME BETWEEN,
WE'RE PIECES OF ONE ANOTHER.

WE'RE PART
OF EVERYTHING HERE.

LIKE ROWENA THERE...

THE ONE YOU MISTAKENLY
REFERRED TO

AS MY MAID
THAT FIRST DAY.

YOU REMEMBER?

- I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO
DESCRIBE WHAT ROWENA IS TO ME.

SHE'S BEEN WISE TO MY FOIBLES,
AND ME ONLY HALF WISE TO HERS

FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

THAT'S 200 SEASONS.
YOU BELIEVE IT?

200 SEASONS.

- WELL, YOU TAKE CARE.

MAYBE I'LL SEE YOU
IN COURT SOMEDAY, HUH?

- NO, NO,
I'M RETIRED, AGAIN.

- I PITY THE NEXT GUY
WHO BELIEVES THAT.

- THAT LOOKS NICE ON YOU.

- MIKE SAYS IT'S FOR MY WOUNDS.

- EH, WE'RE ALL WOUNDED
SOME WAY I GUESS.

DID YOU SAY "MIKE"?
- YEAH, YOU KNOW, MIKE WARING.

- I DIDN'T KNOW
YOU WERE SUCH FAST FRIENDS.

- WELL, THAT'S HOW
HE SIGNED THE LETTER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS KINDA NICE.
BRIGHT, YOUNG FELLA.

HE SENT THIS ALONG TOO.

THIS ONE HERE IS YOURS.

HE TOLD ME TO GIVE IT TO YOU
WHEN I FOUND THE RIGHT TIME.

HE SAYS IT'S FOR THE SHRAPNEL
YOU TOOK IN YOUR BACK IN FRANCE.

- MIKE HAS A SENSE
OF POETIC JUSTICE, DOESN'T HE?

- I GUESS.

WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT WE'D BOTH
HAVE PURPLE HEARTS ONE DAY, HUH?

- YOU KNOW, GEE,
I GOT TO THINKING.

I CAN PROBABLY
SET YOUR MIND AT REST

ABOUT SOMETHING YEARS AGO.

WHEN I GOT BACK FROM OVERSEAS
AFTER WILL DEE,

I WENT BY AND PAID MY RESPECTS
TO MRS. WENDELL,

BUT I NEVER JUST TURNED LEFT
AND WALKED DOWN THE LANE

TO ASK YOU
HOW YOU FELT ABOUT IT.

- ROAD'S THE SAME LEFT
BOTH WAYS.

I COULD COME YOUR WAY
IF I'D BEEN

AS BIG AS I ALWAYS
LET ON TO BE.

YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME
I HEAR AN AIRPLANE,

I THINK ABOUT WILL DEE
GETTING SHOT DOWN OVER THERE.

YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING KINDA DOWN
LATELY, ALBERT SIDNEY.

- OH, NO, I'M FINE.
- TOO MUCH FISHING ALONE.

GETS TO BE A LONESOME THING.
- I'M NOT LONESOME.

YOU?

- YOU GOT AN EXTRA SEAT
IN THAT BOAT?

- WELL, WHY DON'T YOU
COME BY SATURDAY NEXT?

COME FISHING WITH ME,
EARLY,

WHEN WE CAN STILL
SEE OUR BREATH.

- DON'T HURT TO KNOW
YOU'RE BREATHING, THAT'S SURE.

FEELS GOOD
TO BE FORGETTING A FEW THINGS,

LIGHTEN THE LOAD, SO TO SPEAK,
DON'T YOU THINK?

- HOWDY, JUDGE!

- HI, WES.
- HOW ARE YOU?

- UH, I JUST CAME IN
TO SEE TERRY.

- I REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHERE TERRY WENT, AL.

SHE ASKED FOR A LEAVE
OF ABSENCE,

SAID SHE'D WRITE IF IT WAS
GONNA BE ANY MORE THAN THAT.

- WELL...

- WHAT'D YOU DO, AL,
MAKE HER A BETTER OFFER?

- I'D LIKE TO THINK SO.

WES, YOU THINK

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD
MAKE ME THE LOAN OF AN ENVELOPE?

- HEY.
- HI, DARLING.

- HOW ARE YOU,
UNCLE ALBERT?

ROWENA WAS WONDERFUL
WITH THE KIDS.

- WHAT'D THEY SAY?
- SO FAR, SO GOOD.

- IS THAT HOW WASHINGTON DOCTORS
TALK NOW, "SO FAR, SO GOOD"?

- THE EXACT MEDICAL TERM IS
"HOLDING OUR OWN."

- AH, THAT'S GREAT.

- YEAH, WELL,
IT'S SOMETHING.

IT'S AMAZING
HOW MUCH MORE HOPE THERE IS

WHEN THERE'S TWO OF YOU.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

- OH, YOU KNOW,
I'M HOLDING MY OWN.

SO FAR, SO GOOD.

- GOOD HIT.

ALL RIGHT, YOU TWO,
SHOW UNCLE ALBERT

WHAT YOU CAN DO, NOW,
ALL RIGHT?

- THAT LOOKS FAMILIAR.

- TERRY NOVIS.

SHE CAME BY TO SEE YOU,
SO I LET HER WAIT BY THE LAKE.

- I SUPPOSE
THAT MAKES IT ALL RIGHT.

- WELL, IF IT DIDN'T,
I WOULDN'T HAVE.

NOW, I DON'T INTEND
TO BREATHE MY LAST

WASHING OUT YOUR SOCKS AND DOING
YOUR DISHES, ALBERT SIDNEY.

THERE'S A LIMIT, YOU KNOW.

- NO, I EXPECT YOU'LL GO

SINGING HYMN NUMBER 292
AT THE FREE WILL CHURCH,

ALL SIX VERSES.

- DON'T MOCK.
THAT WOULD SUIT ME JUST FINE.

- I'M NOT MOCKING.

I MEANT IT AS A COMPLIMENT,
TRULY.

- UH, YOU DON'T REALLY MIND ME
LETTING HER WAIT, DO YOU?

- NO.

NO, I DON'T MIND, ROWENA.

YOU'VE ALWAYS KNOWN
THE RIGHT THING TO DO,

THE TIME TO DO IT.

I DON'T THINK I EVER REALLY
THANKED YOU FOR THAT, ROWENA,

FOR ALL OF IT.

- SURE YOU HAVE.

YOU JUST DON'T REMEMBER.

- HELLO THERE.

I SEE YOU GOT
MY MESSAGE.

- I DECIDED
IT WAS MY DAY TO WEAR IT.

I HOPE THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

- YOU GET MORE BEAUTIFUL
BY THE DAY.

I DON'T KNOW LONG
I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO STAND THIS.

- WELL, MISTER,

WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT.

OKAY?