Original subtitles

- 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?