Original subtitles

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY HALLMARK HOME ENTERTAINMENT

MY FATHER'S NAME WAS ROBERT SAMUEL PEEK...

MR. SAM.

HE WAS A FAMOUS NURSERY MAN,

GREW THE BEST PECAN TREES IN ALL OF GEORGIA.

MY MOTHER WAS CALLED CORA.

THIS IS THEIR LOVE STORY, I GUESS,

BUT NOT LIKE ANY LOVE STORY YOU EVER HEARD BEFORE.

IN 1966,

WE HAD A BIG PARTY FOR THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

EVERYBODY WAS THERE--

ALL THE GRANDCHILDREN.

THAT'S BOBBY, THE OLDEST GRANDSON.

HIS MOTHER, MY SISTER KATE,

AND MY OTHER SISTER CARRIE.

THEY STILL LIVED CLOSE BY.

IT WAS LIKE MAMA AND DADDY

WERE STILL THE CENTER OF THINGS.

WE BOYS WEREN'T TOO FAR AWAY, EITHER.

MY OLDER BROTHER PAUL AND ME, JAMES.

I REMEMBER THAT DAY.

I REMEMBER THEM DANCING.

[CYMBALS CRASH]

PECANS!

WHAT ELSE?

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET ONE OF THE WHOLE FAMILY.

CHILDREN ON BOTH SIDES, SPOUSES BEHIND.

KATE, CARRIE, JAMES, PAUL.

EXCUSE ME.

I'M FAMILY.

OH, YES! COME SIT BESIDE ME, NEELIE.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S HAVE THE GRANDCHILDREN SIT ON THE GRASS IN FRONT.

JUST COME ALONG HERE. THAT'S THE WAY.

EVERYBODY. SIT DOWN THERE. THAT'S FINE.

HOW MANY ARE THERE?

9. 11.

10!

NOBODY GETS IT RIGHT BUT YOUR MAMA.

EVERYBODY HOLD STILL. BIG SMILE.

AH, GOOD. ONE MORE, NOW.

EVERYBODY SAY PEEK.

PEEK. PEEK. PEEK.

THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU.

50 YEARS.

YEAH. A LONG TIME...

TOO LONG.

OH, DADDY!

HE'LL BE MARRYING AGAIN WHEN I GO. YOU'LL SEE.

MAMA, DON'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT.

OH, YES. YOU'LL SEE.

THERE'LL BE SOME OTHER WOMAN IN MY KITCHEN

MAKING HIM BISCUITS IN MY BISCUIT CUTTER.

IS THAT RIGHT, DADDY?

THAT'S RIGHT.

ONLY SHE WON'T HAVE TO COOK A LICK.

I'M GOING TO FIND ME A WOMAN

FROM ONE OF THEM LEG SHOWS OUT IN ATLANTA.

AHH.

BOBBY'S LIGHT JUST WENT OUT.

HE HAD A GOOD TIME.

THEY ALL DID.

SO DID I.

[BIRD TRILLS]

TWIRR...

TWIRR.

FIRST TIME I HEARD YOU DO THAT

WAS THE DAY YOU PROPOSED.

WELL...

WE MADE IT THIS FAR.

THINK YOU'LL STAY?

I'D LIKE TO KEEP YOU...

AND YOUR BISCUITS.

I'LL BE HERE...

ALWAYS.

MY DADDY LOVED HIS PECAN TREES MORE THAN ANYTHING...

EXCEPT MY MAMA.

FOR SEVEN MORE YEARS,

HE WENT ON WORKING IN HIS ORCHARD.

COULDN'T KEEP AWAY.

BOBBY USED TO HELP HIM. HE WAS 15 BY THEN.

THAT WAS THE YEAR THEIR STORY CHANGED.

THAT WAS THE YEAR OF THE WHITE DOG.

HOLD ONTO IT SO IT DON'T BREAK OFF.

NOW, GRANDDADDY,

I BEEN CUTTING BRANCHES FOR YOU SINCE I WAS 10.

I KNOW. I KNOW.

IT'S HARD NOT BEING UP THERE WITH YOU.

I GOT A BLISTER.

SHOW ME.

SEE THIS?

SAME PLACE EXACTLY.

YOU GET TO BE MY AGE, IT'LL BE A CALLUS.

TREE MAN'S THUMB, THEY CALL IT.

NO KIDDING?

SAM.

SAM!

[BREATHING HARD]

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?

YOU WALKED ALL THE WAY FROM THE HOUSE?

NOW THAT'S FOOLISHNESS.

I CAME TO BRING YOU HOME TO EAT.

OUT ALL THIS TIME IN THE SUN...

YOU'RE OVERDOING IT--

LOOK WHO'S TALKING!

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA TO ME.

WELL, COME ALONG, THEN.

I CAN CARRY IT.

[GEARS GRIND]

YOU'RE IN THIRD GEAR, GRANDDADDY.

YOU WANT TO DRIVE?

I DON'T HAVE MY LICENSE YET.

NOR DOES YOUR GRANDFATHER.

IT'S MY TRUCK.

OH, SMELLS GREAT, NEELIE.

IT'S YOUR GRANDMAMA'S BISCUITS.

ONLY PERSON COOK AS GOOD AS NEELIE,

AND THAT'S JUST 'CAUSE I TAUGHT HER.

CORA P., YOU WENT OUT THERE

WITHOUT YOUR PILLS IN YOUR POCKET.

YOU GOT NO BUSINESS DOING THAT.

OH, NEELIE, DON'T FUSS.

I DIDN'T NEED THEM.

YOU AIN'T NEVER GOING TO NEED 'EM

TILL THE MINUTE YOU NEED 'EM BAD,

SO THEY BETTER BE WITH YOU.

AIN'T THAT RIGHT, MR. SAM?

YOU'RE RIGHT, NEELIE.

PAINS ME TO ADMIT IT,

BUT JUST FOR ONCE YOU'RE RIGHT.

WASH YOUR HANDS.

YES, MA'AM.

IN YOUR POCKET, LADY.

OH, YES, YES, YES.

OH, YES!

LOOK WHAT CAME.

THE CLASSES OF MADISON A & M

FROM 1910 THROUGH 1915

ARE INVITED TOGETHER AT MORGAN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL,

SITE OF MADISON A & M,

ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1973,

AT 12 NOON.

IT'S A REUNION!

OH, SAM,

I WOULD DEARLY LIKE TO GO.

IT'S SO LONG SINCE WE'VE BEEN BACK.

[BOBBY] A & M?

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL.

THAT'S WHERE WE MET.

MECHANICAL?

WHAT WERE YOU STUDYING, GRANDMAMA,

TRACTORS?

I WAS STUDYING TO BE A NURSE, WISE GUY.

BUT I MARRIED MR. SAM INSTEAD.

BIG MISTAKE.

HA!

CAN WE GO?

AFTER 60 YEARS?

I WANT TO SHOW OFF TO THAT SUSIE, UM...

ROBERTS.

AHA.

SHE ALWAYS HAD AN EYE FOR YOU.

ALL RIGHT, THEN. LET'S GO.

I'LL WEAR A CARNATION AND A BOW TIE.

WANT TO LOOK MY BEST FOR SUSIE.

GOOD EVENING, GOOD PEOPLE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY NICE WEEKEND--

[TURNS OFF SOUND]

GOOD PEOPLE. ARE WE GOOD PEOPLE?

NO.

WE'RE MUCH MORE INTERESTING.

THIS FELLA'S BETTER WHEN YOU CAN'T--

WHEN YOU CAN'T HEAR HIM.

YOUR HIP BAD?

YEAH.

THAT OPERATION REALLY DIDN'T HELP MUCH, DID IT?

YOU HAVEN'T HAD A PILL TODAY.

I'LL GET YOU ONE.

HEART PILLS, PAIN PILLS...

WE'RE A REGULAR DRUGSTORE, YOU AND ME.

COME ON, COME ON, FELLA.

PACK UP YOUR WEATHER MAP AND GO HOME.

THAT'S BETTER.

[TURNS SOUND ON]

YOUR SHOW IS ON.

CORA!

YOUR SHOW'S STARTING.

[TURNS SOUND OFF]

YOU HEAR ME?

CORA!

CORA.

CORA.

CORA. C--

OH, GOD.

PLEASE. PLEASE.

DON'T DO THIS.

DON'T. DON'T DO THIS.

DON'T DO THIS.

[BIRD TRILLS]

TRILL--

DADDY.

IT'S LATE.

THINK YOU BETTER GO TO BED.

WHAT--

WHAT TIME IS IT?

IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING.

OH. THAT LATE.

PAUL AND I WILL BE HERE WITH YOU, DADDY.

GIRLS ARE GOING TO GO ON HOME.

THEY JUST WANTED TO SAY GOOD NIGHT.

TRY TO GET SOME SLEEP, DADDY.

GOOD NIGHT, DADDY.

WE LOVE YOU.

REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE LITTLE?

YOU HAD US SING TO HER ON HER BIRTHDAY?

I REMEMBER.

SHALL WE GATHER.

DO YOU THINK...

I MEAN, WHILE SHE'S STILL HERE...

COULD WE SING HER A GOOD-BYE?

I--I THINK...

SHE'D LIKE THAT.

♪ SHALL WE GATHER

♪ AT THE RIVER

♪ WHERE BRIGHT ANGELS' FEET HAVE TROD? ♪

♪ WITH THIS CRYSTAL TIDE FOREVER ♪

♪ THAT FLOWS BY THE THRONE OF GOD ♪

♪ YES, WE'LL GATHER AT THE RIVER ♪

♪ THE BEAUTIFUL, THE BEAUTIFUL RIVER ♪

♪ GATHER WITH THE SAINTS AT THE RIVER ♪

♪ THAT FLOWS BY THE THRONE OF GOD ♪

♪ YES, WE'LL GATHER AT THE RIVER ♪

♪ THE BEAUTIFUL, THE BEAUTIFUL RIVER ♪

♪ GATHER WITH THE SAINTS AT THE RIVER ♪

♪ THAT FLOWS BY THE THRONE OF GOD ♪

[HUMMING SHALL WE GATHER]

THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL FUNERAL,

JUST LIKE YOUR SWEET MAMA DESERVED.

NOT LIKE THAT, HONEY.

YOU GOING TO NEED AN OLD TOOTHBRUSH FOR THAT.

BRUSH THE CLEANER RIGHT INTO ALL THE LITTLE HOLES IN THE PATTERN.

WE DON'T HAVE AN OLD TOOTHBRUSH.

HONEY, THERE AIN'T A HOUSE IN THE WORLD

THAT DON'T HAVE AN OLD TOOTHBRUSH.

FOLKS DON'T NEVER THROW THEM OUT.

AH. THEY'RE SO PRETTY.

YOUR MAMA PLANTED THAT ROSE BED

SO SHE COULD SEE THEM WHILE SHE WAS COOKING.

NEELIE MADE YOU SOME OYSTER SOUP.

GOOD!

CARRIE, GET UP AND GET YOUR DADDY A BOWL OF THAT SOUP.

AND GET HIM SOME WATER WHILE YOU'RE UP, HONEY.

YOU KNOW HOW YOUR DADDY LIKE HIS WATER ON THE TABLE.

NEELIE, YOU CARRY ON LIKE I WAS STILL A LITTLE GIRL.

YOU ALWAYS BOSSED US AROUND MORE THAN MAMA DID.

YOUR MAMA AND ME WAS BEST FRIENDS

FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

BACK WHEN I WAS MIDWIFING,

SHE'D HELP ME WITH THE BIRTHING,

AND I'D HELP HER WITH YOU BABIES.

YOU SURE WAS A HANDFUL!

AIN'T THAT RIGHT, MR. SAM?

SURE IS, NEELIE.

KATE WAS WORST OF 'EM ALL,

ALWAYS COMING TO ME SAYING,

"NEELIE, MAMA WHOOPED ME AND I AIN'T DONE NOTHING!"

THEN SHE'LL THROW HER LITTLE FIT

AND SAY SHE WAS GOING TO RUN AWAY.

I DON'T REMEMBER THAT.

WELL, HONEY YOU WAS JUST A LITTLE BITTY THING.

LITTLE BITTY PEOPLE DON'T REMEMBER NOTHING.

YOU WAS A MESS, HONEY!

NOT LIKE PAUL. HE WAS THE SWEETEST THING YOU EVER SAW.

ONE DAY, HE COME OUT A PREACHER.

YOU HAD ANYTHING TO EAT, NEELIE?

I HAD ME SOME OATMEAL THIS MORNING.

CAN'T SEEM TO KEEP MUCH MORE THAN OATMEAL

ON MY STOMACH.

I BETTER GO NOW.

OLLIE'S PICKING ME UP TO FEED THAT BUNCH OF HIS.

OH, THEM GRANDCHILDREN SURE KEEP ME HOPPING.

CARRIE, YOU KEEP THE REST OF THIS SOUP

FOR YOUR DADDY'S LUNCH TOMORROW.

MADE IT GOOD AND THICK JUST LIKE HE LIKES IT.

ALL RIGHT, NEELIE.

I'LL BE BACK SOON, MR. SAM.

Y'ALL TAKE CARE.

I LOVE YOU CHILDREN.

LORD KNOWS I LOVED YOUR MOTHER.

SHE WAS THE BEST PERSON I EVER MET--

WHITE OR COLORED.

THANK YOU, NEELIE.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

NEELIE WOULDN'T LET YOU TALK?

I'VE GOT A HEADACHE!

SHE DIDN'T STOP TALKING ALL MORNING--

NOT A SINGLE MINUTE.

DADDY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL

ABOUT NEELIE WANTING TO COME OVER AND HELP OUT.

SHE'S WONDERFUL, BUT SHE'S NOT YOUNG ANYMORE.

ME, NEITHER.

SHE CAN'T DO MUCH,

BUT I DON'T NEED MUCH DONE.

WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW IT WON'T BE NECESSARY.

I'M HERE AND SO IS CARRIE,

AND THE BOYS AREN'T FAR OFF.

WE'LL ALL HELP OUT.

I LOOKED AFTER MYSELF BEFORE I MARRIED YOUR MAMA.

I DIDN'T STARVE...

DIDN'T GET POISONED.

DID YOU TAKE YOUR MEDICINE, DADDY?

I WILL, I WILL, I WILL IN A MINUTE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING BACK OUT IN THIS HEAT, ARE YOU?

MAYBE LATER, WHEN IT COOLS OFF.

DADDY, YOU'RE GOING TO WORRY US TO DEATH

IF YOU KEEP GOING OUT THERE IN THOSE FIELDS BY YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE TO PROMISE US YOU'LL STOP IT.

WELL, THEN...

I GUESS YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY.

I KNOW WHAT I CAN DO AND WHAT I CAN'T.

IF YOU WANT TO WORRY ABOUT IT,

THAT'S UP TO YOU.

HOW'S IT COMING, GRANDDADDY?

I THOUGHT IT WAS MARK'S TURN THIS WEEK.

HE'S BABYSITTING DALE AND JENNY.

WE TOSSED A COIN.

AND HE WON.

NO, I WON.

SPEND SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH MY LITTLE SISTERS?

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING.

SO YOU'RE BABYSITTING HERE INSTEAD.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

LIKE YOUR MOTHER...

AND YOUR AUNT CARRIE

AND YOUR UNCLES.

EVERYBODY'S KEEPING AN EYE ON MR. SAM.

THEY ARRIVE LIKE RUNNERS IN A RELAY RACE,

AND THEY'RE ALWAYS SO SURPRISED TO SEE ONE ANOTHER.

OH, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING!

WHAT A PITY I HAVE TO GO NOW.

HA!

WHAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IS

I MAY BE LONELY,

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T WANT TO BE ON MY OWN.

PRETTY MORNING.

I MISS YOU.

WHERE'D YOU COME FROM?

GO ON HOME.

GIT!

GO ON! GO ON HOME!

GET OUT OF HERE.

GO ON. GO HOME!

IF CORA WAS HERE,

SHE'D BE FEEDING YOU QUICK AS A WINK.

WELL, NOT ME.

GO ON. GO HOME!

OH, WELL.

HERE YOU GO.

SEE HOW YOU LIKE THIS.

O.K. SUIT YOURSELF.

[DISH SCRAPING]

DADDY.

MORNING.

MORNING, DADDY.

I'M DOING A WASH.

I CAME TO GET YOUR SHEETS.

SEE MY NEW FRIEND?

WHAT?

THE DOG.

I DIDN'T SEE ANY DOG.

RIGHT OUT THERE ON THE PORCH. WHITE DOG.

REAL WHITE. YOU MUST HAVE SEEN IT.

DADDY, I HAVE VERY GOOD EYES.

SHE WAS RIGHT THERE!

I'LL GO GET THE SHEETS.

HI, GRANDDADDY.

HI.

I PICKED UP YOUR MAIL.

OH. I'M MUCH OBLIGED.

YOU CAN TAKE THESE HOME TO YOUR MOTHER.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU'LL COME OVER

AND HAVE SUPPER AT OUR HOUSE TONIGHT.

SURE, I WILL.

YOU JUST MISSED SEEING MY DOG.

MAMA SAID YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT A STRAY DOG.

WHITEST DOG YOU EVER SAW,

JUST LIKE THE FIRST DOG YOUR GRANDMOTHER AND I HAD

DOWN IN FLORIDA.

STRAY. PICKED HIM UP ALONGSIDE THE ROAD.

SHE MADE ME TAKE HIM HOME.

CALLED HIM FROSTY.

SAID HE'D KEEP HER FROM BEING LONELY

WHILE I WAS AT WORK.

MAMA SAYS IT'S STRANGE HOW OUR DOGS AIN'T PITCHING A FIT

SEEING THERE'S A STRAY AROUND.

SHE THINKS I'M SEEING THINGS, DOESN'T SHE?

THAT WHAT YOU THINK?

NO. OF COURSE NOT.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT HIM.

YOU SHOULD COME SEE HIM.

NOW, KATE, THAT DOG'S PROBABLY JUST HIDING.

IT'S NOT THERE. I'VE LOOKED ALL OVER.

MAYBE WITHOUT MAMA TO TALK TO, HE'S IMAGINING THINGS.

OH.

THAT DOES HAPPEN. I'VE READ STORIES ABOUT IT.

I'LL COME HOME FOR THE WEEKEND.

IT'LL BE GOOD TO SEE HIM ANYWAY... AND YOU ALL.

THANK YOU, HON.

WHITE DOG CAME WITH ME.

SHE'S RUN OFF SOMEPLACE.

HEY, I GOT BIG NEWS.

JAMES IS COMING HOME FRIDAY--

YOUR BABY--

SPENDING THE WEEKEND.

YOU REMEMBER WHEN HE CAME HOME FROM VIETNAM?

JAMES.

JAMEY!

OH, THANK GOD.

I'M HOME, DADDY.

I'M HOME FOR GOOD.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

WHY DIDN'T YOU LET US KNOW?

DIDN'T YOU GET MY WIRE?

NO, NOTHING.

I CABLED YOU FROM SAIGON.

IT PROBABLY GOT SCREWED UP.

THEY STARTED PULLING US OUT IN A REAL HURRY.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR MOTHER'S FACE.

I'LL SNEAK UP ON HER.

[SCREEN DOOR OPENS]

OH, YOU'RE BACK SOON.

GOT EVERYTHING DONE.

WHERE'S THE TRUCK?

OVER BY THE BARN.

CORA...

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED,

WHAT WOULD IT BE?

WHAT ARE YOU UP TO?

WHAT WOULD IT BE

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANYTHING?

I DON'T KNOW.

A NEW CAR.

WHY ARE YOU ASKING?

THAT'S IT?

MORE THAN ANYTHING, YOU'D WANT A NEW CAR?

WELL...

THINK ABOUT IT.

ANYTHING YOU WANTED.

I'D WANT TO SEE MY BABY.

MAMA.

OH!

JAMEY.

JAMEY!

MAMA.

JAMEY!

OH, THANK YOU, LORD.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

LET ME LOOK AT YOU.

I'M FINE, MAMA.

ALL IN ONE PIECE, AND I'M HOME.

OH!

I'M HOME.

HEY, THERE, GIRL.

GLAD TO SEE YA.

HOW COME YOU DON'T LET THEM SEE YOU, HUH?

WHY IS THAT NOW?

THAT'S GOOD STUFF.

WHAT'S THE VINTAGE?

OH, ABOUT 10 MONTHS OLD.

NEVER DID GET TO WAIT A WHOLE YEAR YET.

YOU GOING TO BOOK ME?

NAH.

YOU'RE SMALL-TIME, DADDY.

THE STUFF WE GO AFTER IS CLEAR AND SMOOTH

AND ABOUT 200 PROOF.

YEAH. YOUR GREAT-UNCLE USED TO MAKE IT

UP IN THE MOUNTAINS.

HAD HIS STILL BACK IN THE WOODS.

ONE TIME, HE FOUND A HOG DROWNED IN HIS MASH BIN.

HE USED THE MASH ANYWAY.

SAID IT GAVE THE WHISKEY A REAL KICK.

JAMEY...

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE ON YOUR OWN.

PAUL'S A REAL GOOD SON,

BUT YOU CAN'T SIT AROUND

DRINKING HOMEMADE GRAPE WINE WITH A PREACHER.

YOU LOOK GOOD, DADDY.

HIP'S GETTING WORSE, ISN'T IT?

I MANAGE.

NOW, DON'T GET MAD AT ME.

I BOUGHT YOU ONE OF THEM WALKERS.

GOT IT IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR.

NOW, JUST TO HAVE AROUND.

I KNOW YOU'D RATHER DIE THAN USE IT.

YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

THANKS ANYWAY, JAMEY.

WHAT DO YOU SAY I DRIVE YOU INTO TOWN TOMORROW,

PICK YOU UP SOME GROCERIES,

ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED.

OH, I'D LIKE THAT.

WHY, AT THE SAME TIME,

I MIGHT GET MY BEARD TRIMMED.

I DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE

TO DO IT THE WAY CORA DID.

THIS FOR YOUR WHITE DOG?

YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT, DID YOU?

YOUR SISTERS THINK I'M MAKING IT UP.

THEY THINK I'VE GOT SOME KIND OF OLD-AGE, CRAZY DISEASE

AND THAT I'M SEEING THINGS.

DADDY, NOBODY THINKS YOU'RE CRAZY.

WELL, CRAZY OR NOT,

THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN GET IN TOWN TOMORROW--

GOOD BIG BAG OF DOG FOOD.

IT'S TIME SHE HAD SOMETHING BESIDES BISCUITS.

ALL RIGHT...

I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT IT.

BUT JUST TO PLEASE ME,

PUT IT IN THE HOUSE,

SOMEWHERE YOU CAN'T SEE IT.

AH, MAKES ME LOOK LIKE A POOR OLD MAN.

THAT'LL BE THE DAY.

I'LL CALL YOU TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR COMING, JAMEY.

HEY...YOU DRIVE SAFELY.

GOOD-BYE, DADDY.

WELL, THERE YOU ARE.

JUST TOO LATE.

WHERE YOU BEEN, HUH?

WAITING FOR ME TO BE ON MY OWN AGAIN?

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS DUMB THING, HUH?

WELL, I'LL BE DAMNED.

FIRST TIME I EVER DANCED WITH A DOG.

THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU, HONEY,

BUT I DON'T THINK I WILL.

I HAD A LATE LUNCH, AND I'M NOT HUNGRY.

YOUR SISTER CALLED FIVE MINUTES AGO,

AND I TOLD HER THE SAME.

WELL...

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

GOOD NIGHT.

I AM HUNGRY, THOUGH.

YOU HUNGRY?

BISCUITS AND MOLASSES-- THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE.

CAN'T BE SO HARD TO MAKE BISCUITS.

I WATCHED CORA OFTEN ENOUGH.

DON'T LOOK LIKE ENOUGH.

THINK I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING, DON'T YA?

YOU THINK I FORGOT THE BUTTERMILK.

THAT OUGHT TO DO IT.

TOLD YOU I COULD MAKE BISCUITS.

[WHIMPERING]

GOOD GRIEF.

I ONLY WANTED TWO OR THREE.

ALL RIGHT, TUCK INTO THIS.

OH...

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOOD.

HOW ABOUT I FRY US UP SOME EGGS?

DADDY, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAY OUT HERE TOO LONG.

YOU KNOW HOW HOT IT GETS

AFTER IT RAINS AND THE SUN'S OUT.

I'M NOT PLANNING TO PUT DOWN ROOTS.

I JUST WANT TO GET RID OF SOME OF THESE WEEDS

WHILE THE GROUND IS SOFT.

YOU KNOW HOW IT GETS WHEN THE SUN'S OUT.

OH, I'LL BE FINE.

MY LORD!

MY CHILDREN SURE DO KEEP AN EYE ON ME.

IT MUST BE LONELY WITH NO ONE TO TALK TO.

I'M NOT SO LONELY. I GOT MY DOG.

NOW, I THOUGHT THAT DOG MUST HAVE RUN OFF.

JAMES DIDN'T SEE IT WHEN HE WAS HERE.

YOU GIRLS ARE DETERMINED NOT TO BELIEVE IN HER, AREN'T YOU?

LOOK!

THERE SHE IS NOW.

OVER YONDER, BY THE FENCE.

DADDY,

THERE'S NO DOG OVER THERE.

WELL, ONE OF US IS BLIND,

AND IT'S NOT ME.

COME ON, GIRL!

COME ON OVER.

I DON'T SEE NOTHING.

LORD, CARRIE, HERE SHE COMES PLAIN AS DAY.

HELLO, GIRL.

THIS IS CARRIE.

YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DID

WITH THAT DAMN FOOL WALKER JAMES BROUGHT ME?

SHE PUT HER PAWS ON THE CROSSBAR

AND MOVED WHEN I MOVED,

JUST LIKE SHE WAS DANCING.

YOU EVER SEE A DOG DANCE, CARRIE?

NO, I NEVER DID.

YOU EVER SEE A DOG THAT WHITE?

DADDY!

UM...I GOT TO GO.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

SOMEONE'S GOING TO STOP IN TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS

BECAUSE OF MAMA--

THE PREACHER, MAYBE--

AND DADDY'S GOING TO START BRAGGING

ABOUT SOME WHITE DOG THAT ISN'T THERE,

AND WORD WILL GET OUT HE'S CRAZY.

I KNOW IT.

LIKE THAT SCHOOL TEACHER MAMA TOLD ME ABOUT.

SHE WAS A REAL PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEN ONE DAY, THEY FOUND HER ON HER FRONT PORCH

IN THE SWING

SITTING ON A QUILT AND CLUCKING LIKE A CHICKEN.

SHE'D PUT A DOZEN EGGS ON THE QUILT,

AND SHE WAS TRYING TO HATCH THEM.

BROKE EVERY LAST ONE.

MAYBE WE SHOULD HUMOR DADDY,

PRETEND WE CAN SEE THE DOG, TOO.

THAT MIGHT MAKE HIM WORSE.

NO. I THINK IT WOULD HELP.

IT WOULD MAKE HIM HAPPY.

OH, DEAR!

DADDY!

WE JUST SAW YOUR DOG.

YOU'RE RIGHT, DADDY.

THAT'S THE WHITEST DOG I EVER SAW.

CAN I TOUCH HER, DADDY?

YOU THINK SHE'D LET ME TOUCH HER?

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU TWO?

I DON'T SEE ANY DOG.

WHY, RIGHT OVER THERE, DADDY,

DOWN BY THE BARN.

I GUESS YOU MUST BE SEEING THINGS.

MY DOG'S IN THE HOUSE

ASLEEP UNDER MY BED. WANT TO SEE?

NO! NO, THANKS.

WELL, I THOUGHT I SAW SOMETHING... WHITE.

WASN'T MY DOG.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BEAR.

I SAW A WHITE BEAR ONCE, IN A CIRCUS--

POLAR BEAR.

THEY HAD HIM SITTING IN A TUB OF ICE.

DID YOU KNOW YOU'RE REALLY OVER BY THE BARN?

IT'S THE GRIEF.

IT'S MAKING HIM GO CRAZY.

DADDY'S NOT THE ONE THAT'S CRAZY,

IT'S YOU TWO.

I SAW HIM SITTING WITH A HAIRBRUSH IN HIS HAND

BRUSHING THIN AIR AND SAYING IT'S WHITE DOG.

IT SCARED ME SO MUCH I CAME HERE.

DON'T YOU KNOW WHEN DADDY'S PUTTING YOU ON?

YOU TWO HAVE BEEN AGGRAVATING HIM.

HE'S PAYING YOU BACK.

HE'S ALWAYS DOING THAT.

YOU JUST NEVER SEE IT.

DADDY KEEPS SAYING

THE DOG SHOWS UP EARLY TO BE FED,

BEFORE WE GET GOING.

WE COULD GET UP REAL EARLY AND WATCH!

HIDE BEHIND THE PUMP HOUSE!

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!

YOU COULD SEE THE BACK PORCH CLEAR AS DAY FROM THERE.

I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE SANE.

DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO HIM.

WE CAN GET UP BEFORE THE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL.

OHH!

WHAT'S THAT YOU HAVE ALL OVER YOUR FACE?

ASHES.

I GOT SOME FOR YOU.

I'M NOT GOING TO PUT THAT STUFF ON ME!

NOAH SAYS THEY DID IT IN THE ARMY,

BECAUSE A WHITE FACE IS EASY TO SEE.

NOAH CAN KISS MY FOOT!

IF DADDY SEES YOU, IT WON'T BE A FOOT-KISSING!

COME ON, CARRIE.

IT WASHES OFF, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

LORD.

I HOPE NONE OF THE KIDS SEE US LIKE THIS.

NOAH MADE OUT HE WAS ASLEEP,

BUT I COULD HEAR HIM GIGGLING WHEN I LEFT.

HOLMAN'S THE SAME. HE THINKS WE'RE CRAZY.

I DON'T GIVE A FLIP WHAT THEY THINK!

IT'S NOT THEIR DADDY.

KATE.

WHAT?

THAT'S MY FOOT YOU'RE ON.

SORRY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A ROCK.

LOOK, HE'S UP!

MY LEG'S GONE TO SLEEP.

LOOK, THERE HE IS.

HE MUST BE GETTING BREAKFAST.

SHH!

COME ON, GIRL.

BREAKFAST TIME.

SHH! OH, MY LORD!

CAN YOU SEE ANYTHING?

NOTHING YET.

[DOG BARKING]

MAX! HOW DID YOU GET HERE?

IT'S NOAH AND HOLMAN.

DAMN YOU, NOAH!

WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?

IT'S JUST US, MR. SAM-- NOAH AND HOLMAN.

AND THE GIRLS.

WHAT THE HECK YOU ALL DOING

THIS HOUR OF THE MORNING?

WHERE'S THE GIRLS?

UH.

RIGHT HERE, DADDY.

COME ON OVER HERE.

NOAH, I WILL GET YOU FOR THIS,

IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!

GOOD MORNING, DADDY.

[LAUGHTER]

GOOD GRIEF!

[GEARS GRIND]

[MOO]

MORNING.

I, UH...

I DON'T CARE TO HAVE LIVESTOCK ON MY LAND.

THEY DAMAGE THE TREES.

HOLD YOUR WATER, GRANDPA.

I WAS JUST TAKING A SHORTCUT.

YOU'RE ONE OF THE MORRIS BOYS, AREN'T YOU?

PETE MORRIS?

GET THOSE JERSEYS FROM JASON ED RAY?

NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS WHERE I GOT THEM!

THEY MY COWS.

OH, SURE THEY ARE.

SPITTING IMAGE OF JASON ED RAY'S, THOUGH.

YOU TALK TOO MUCH, GRANDPA.

MAKE SURE YOU DON'T TALK TOO DAMN MUCH.

[COW MOOS]

COME ON, LET'S GO!

THERE YOU ARE, GIRL.

GOOD GIRL.

I HURT.

WHY DO I HURT SO MUCH?

YOUR HIP'S BAD, ISN'T IT?

YEAH.

I'LL GET YOU SOME WATER AND ANOTHER PILL.

HOW LONG SINCE I TOOK THE LAST ONE?

IT'S BEEN LONG ENOUGH.

YOU CAN TAKE ANOTHER.

AND YOU'LL GET IT FOR ME.

ONLY YOU CAN'T, CAN YOU?

HERE,

GET--GET OUT OF MY WAY.

GET--GET OUT OF MY WAY.

I--I GOT TO TAKE A PILL.

MAMA?

MAMA...MAMA, GET UP. SOMETHING'S WRONG.

GRANDDADDY'S LIGHTS ARE ON. IT'S 1:00 IN THE MORNING.

MAYBE HE'S USING THE BATHROOM.

THERE'S TOO MANY LIGHTS.

LOOK!

OH, MY LORD! LOOK AT THAT!

IT'S THE WHITE DOG.

QUICK, NOAH, SOMETHING'S WRONG!

MR. SAM!

IS HE ALIVE?

YEAH, DARLING, BUT HE'S REAL SICK.

BOBBY, CALL HOLMAN.

TELL HIM TO BRING THE CAR.

WE'VE GOT TO GET HIM TO THE HOSPITAL FAST.

"AND GOD SAID, LET THE EARTH BRING FORTH GRASS,

"THE HERB YIELDING SEED

"AND THE FRUIT TREE YIELDING FRUIT AFTER HIS KIND,

WHOSE SEED IS IN ITSELF."

"WHOSE SEED IS IN ITSELF"?

THE BIBLE'S GOT IT WRONG THERE.

WHAT?

THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS WITH FRUIT TREES.

YOU CAN'T PLANT A SEED FROM A GOLDEN DELICIOUS APPLE

AND EXPECT TO GET GOLDEN DELICIOUS APPLE TREES.

YOU GOT TO TAKE A BUD FROM THE PARENT TREE

AND GRAFT IT TO THE SEEDLING.

THEN YOUR APPLES WILL COME TRUE.

SAM, THIS IS THE BIBLE,

NOT AN AGRICULTURAL TEXTBOOK.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE BIBLE

THAT I SHOULD DISCUSS WITH PAUL,

LIKE THE ARK--

NOAH PUTTING TWO OF EVERY CREATURE IN THE ARK,

EVERY CREATURE IN THE WORLD.

IT'D TAKE A BOAT THE SIZE OF HART COUNTY.

THE BIBLE IS FOR THE TEACHING STORIES, SAM.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO ARGUE WITH THEM.

YEAH...

LORD DON'T CARE FOR THAT, DOES HE?

LIKE LOT'S WIFE LOOKING BACK WHEN HE SAID NOT TO

AND GETTING TURNED INTO A PILLAR OF SALT.

MY GRANDDADDY USED TO SAY

LOT'S WIFE WAS THE FIRST SALT LICK.

DADDY.

DADDY, ARE YOU AWAKE?

CORA?

IT'S ME, DADDY, KATE.

HOW YOU FEELING, DADDY?

I'M...I'M ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE A BAD INFECTION IN YOUR HIP.

THEY'RE GIVING YOU ANTIBIOTICS.

DADDY, WE SAW THE WHITE DOG.

THE FIRST SALT LICK.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DIDN'T CALL ME

THE INSTANT IT HAPPENED.

YOU GIRLS DON'T THINK RIGHT.

POOR MR. SAM LAYING UP THERE ALL ALONE.

I COULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT THERE HELPING HIM.

I CALLED YOU THE NEXT DAY!

MR. SAM, YOU DOING ALL RIGHT?

I'M DOING FINE, NEELIE.

THEM GIRLS DIDN'T CALL ME WHEN IT HAPPENED.

I CALLED YOU THE VERY NEXT DAY.

YOU FEELING BETTER, DADDY?

OH, HONEY, HE'S FEELING FINE.

HE'S GETTING SOME COLOR BACK. HE'S FEELING FINE.

I'M BETTER. NOT SO MUCH PAIN IN MY HIP.

WE'RE GETTING THINGS READY FOR YOU DOWN AT THE HOUSE.

BLESS THEM SWEET GIRLS.

THEY'VE BEEN HELPING NEELIE OUT.

IT'S A GOOD THING YOU'RE AROUND, NEELIE.

I NOTICE THEY WORK BETTER

WHEN YOU'RE WITH THEM SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THEY'RE GOOD GIRLS.

THEY ARE.

THEY ARE.

THEY ARE.

YOU BEEN FEEDING MY DOG?

WE PUT FOOD OUT, AND IT'S GONE NEXT MORNING.

I GUESS THAT'S YOUR DOG.

NOBODY'S SEEN HER SINCE THE OTHER NIGHT.

CAN'T NOBODY SEE MY DOG UNLESS SHE WANTS YOU TO.

THAT'S A GHOST DOG, AIN'T IT?

MIGHT BE.

AND IT'S WHITE.

IT'S A REAL DOG, NEELIE. I SAW IT.

NOAH DID, TOO, AND BOBBY.

JUST DISAPPEARS, LIKE SHE WAS NEVER THERE.

DON'T DO THAT. YOU'LL SCARE HER.

YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT NO GHOST DOG.

I'VE SEEN TWO OR THREE.

DON'T NEVER BARK. DON'T NO DOGS BARK AROUND IT, NEITHER.

SHE'S JUST A STRAY, NEELIE.

SCARED OF EVERYBODY EXCEPT ME... BECAUSE I FEED HER.

I DON'T WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT DOG.

WELL, WELL.

HERE'S MY NEW TOY.

YOU NEED TO GET INSIDE AND GET SOME REST.

I WILL IN A MINUTE.

I WANT TO SEE MY DOG.

DADDY, THAT DOG'S NOT GOING TO SHOW ITSELF,

NOT WITH US AROUND.

GO ON INSIDE, THEN.

YOU CAN WATCH FROM THE WINDOWS.

COME ON, DADDY, YOU NEED TO GET IN. IT'S HOT OUT HERE.

NOT TILL I SEE MY DOG.

COME ON.

COME ON, GIRL!

COME ON OUT!

THERE YOU ARE.

DID YOU MISS ME?

YOU WOULDN'T LET THEM SEE YOU, WOULD YOU?

THEY THINK YOU'RE A GHOST.

HERE.

I BROUGHT YOU SOME HOSPITAL BREAD.

IT'S NOT GREAT, BUT IT'S BREAD.

COME ON, GIRL.

LET'S DANCE.

COME ON.

OH, MY LORD, LOOK AT THAT.

I TOLD YOU IT WAS REAL.

HE WAS RIGHT. THEY'RE DANCING.

THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

DANCING.

BRAKES, TOO.

ALL RIGHT, BRAKES, TOO.

YOU BETTER CHECK OUT EVERYTHING.

MAKE SURE THE LIGHTS WORK

AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS.

YOU MIND ME ASKING WHY YOU WANT ALL THIS DONE, MR. SAM?

WELL, THE SHERIFF MAY STOP ME ONE OF THESE DAYS.

I DON'T WANT TO END UP IN JAIL.

I EXPECT IT'LL COST A BIT.

YOU NEED SOME NEW PARTS.

JUST DO WHAT IT TAKES. I'LL GIVE YOU A CHECK.

AH! THERE'S ANOTHER.

HEY, BOBBY, I GOT A SECRET TO TELL YOU.

I'M GOING TO TAKE A TRIP, WHITE DOG AND ME.

WHERE TO?

MADISON, WHERE I WENT TO COLLEGE.

THAT REUNION YOUR GRANDMA WANTED TO GO TO?

YOU REMEMBER?

MADISON A & M.

I ASKED GRANDMA IF SHE DROVE TRACTORS.

YEAH.

WELL, I'M GOING.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT,

BUT DON'T YOU BREATHE A WORD TO ANYONE NOW.

YOU KNOW HOW THEY CARRY ON.

I'LL ONLY BE GONE TWO DAYS.

SPEND THE NIGHT IN A HOTEL.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO COME WITH YOU?

NO, THANK YOU, SON.

THIS IS KIND OF A PRESENT FROM ME TO YOUR GRANDMA.

SHE DEARLY WANTED TO GO TO THAT REUNION,

AND THERE'S A PLACE IN MADISON

I WANT TO LOOK AT AGAIN, A POND.

THE LAST TIME I SAW IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

WHEN WAS THAT, GRANDDADDY?

THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

[HONK HONK]

THERE SHE IS, MR. SAM.

DON'T LOOK ANY PRETTIER,

BUT IT RUNS A MIGHT BETTER.

EVEN GOT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKING.

THE HORN BLOWS. YOU HEAR IT?

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SHE HAD ONE.

SHE SURE RUNS GOOD.

I'LL BET SHE DOES.

LOOK HERE, MR. SAM,

YOU'VE GOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE GEARS.

YOU DON'T CHANGE GEARS WHEN IT'S TIME TO,

YOU'LL JUST TEAR THAT GEARBOX BACK UP.

I'M REAL GRATEFUL, HOLMAN.

HOW MUCH DOES IT ALL COST?

I'LL ADD IT UP AND LET YOU KNOW.

HOLMAN, WHEN I DIE, I'M GOING TO WILL YOU THIS OLD TRUCK.

MR. SAM, THIS OLD TRUCK WILL BE LONG GONE BEFORE YOU ARE.

I DOUBT THAT.

I GOT NO MORE GEARS TO CHANGE.

I'LL PUT IT OUT IN THE BARN FOR YOU.

LEAVE IT RIGHT HERE. THAT'S FINE.

YOU TELL CARRIE AND KATE

THAT I'M THINKING OF GOING TO SPEND A DAY OR TWO

WITH MY OLD FRIEND NEAL LEWIS.

I'LL CALL THEM ABOUT IT TONIGHT SO THEY WON'T FUSS.

YOU THINK THAT'LL STOP THEM FROM FUSSING?

I DOUBT IT.

AH, HERE WE ARE--

MADISON.

SO...

THE ROAD GOES THIS WAY.

YOU WANT TO KEEP ME COMPANY?

YOU CAN NAVIGATE.

COME ON, GIRL.

TIME TO GO.

COME ON.

UP YOU GET.

THAT'S A GIRL.

COME ON.

[TRUCK STARTS]

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

YOU HEARD THE TRUCK.

HE REALLY LEFT.

HE'S NEVER SPENT THE NIGHT OFF WITH ANYONE

WHO WASN'T IN THE FAMILY.

YOU KNOW MR. LEWIS?

NO.

MAYBE NOAH DOES.

DADDY'S BEEN ACTING FUNNY FOR A LONG TIME NOW.

HE KNOWS RIGHT NOW HOW MUCH HE'S GOT US WORRIED.

I'LL BET HE'S HAVING A BIG LAUGH ABOUT IT.

[HONK HONK]

WHERE THEY ALL GOING IN SUCH A HURRY?

[HONK HONK]

GOOD GOD!

HIM, TOO.

LOOK AT HIM.

LIKE WE'RE ON A RACETRACK FOR TURTLES.

SEEMS TO ME WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE HOURS AGO.

OH, GOOD GRIEF.

YEAH, THIS IS NEAL LEWIS. WHO'S THIS?

YOU SAY YOU WANT SAM PEEK?

YOU GOT THE WRONG NUMBER. THIS IS NEAL LEWIS.

NO, HE AIN'T STAYING HERE. HE'S GOT HIS OWN HOUSE.

WHO'D YOU SAY YOU WAS?

LEAVE YOUR DADDY ALONE, FOR PETE'S SAKE.

HE'S JUST GONE OFF TO GET SOME PEACE.

WHY DIDN'T HE SAY SO

INSTEAD OF MAKING UP A STORY ABOUT NEAL LEWIS?

TO GET AWAY FROM YOU TWO AGGRAVATING HIM.

LORD, HE'S BEEN GONE HALF A DAY.

YOU ALREADY GOT PAUL AND JAMES

RUNNING ALL THE WAY HOME.

PAUL AND JAMES ARE HIS SONS.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM.

I'M CONCERNED, TOO, CARRIE, BUT LET HIM LIVE HIS LIFE.

WE SHOULD CALL THE SHERIFF.

IF ANYTHING HAD HAPPENED, SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE CALLED US.

HE'S THE BEST-KNOWN NURSERY MAN IN THE STATE.

PEOPLE WRITE ARTICLES ABOUT HIM.

NOAH'S RIGHT. ONCE IN A WHILE,

A MAN HAS GOT TO GET AWAY BY HIMSELF

WITHOUT EVERYBODY HOVERING OVER HIM LIKE A CLOUD.

KATE, I THINK YOU SHOULD CALL THE SHERIFF RIGHT THIS MINUTE.

YOU BABIES GOT TO TAKE THAT OLD RATTLETRAP AWAY FROM HIM,

IF HE BE FOUND ALIVE.

BLOWED UP WITH HIM IN IT.

OH, NEELIE, DON'T.

IT'S THAT DOG, THAT GHOST DOG.

THAT DOG STILL AROUND?

NO, SHE'S NOT.

I SENT NOAH TO LOOK, AND THE DOG WAS MISSING.

THAT DON'T MEAN NOTHING.

HE COULD HAVE TAKEN THE DOG WITH HIM.

THAT DOG DONE TOOK MR. SAM OFF.

IT DON'T BARK.

SOMETIME CAN'T NOBODY BUT MR. SAM SEE IT.

IT'S A GHOST DOG.

THE SHERIFF SAID

THEY'D START LOOKING AGAIN IN THE MORNING.

POOR OLD MR. SAM.

I HOPE THEM MORRIS BOYS AIN'T GOT HIM.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NEELIE?

OH, HONEY, YOUR DADDY SAW ONE OF THEM SORRY BOYS

WITH SOME COWS THEY STOLE FROM MR. JASON ED.

HE TOLD THE SHERIFF,

AND THEY PUT THAT SORRY BOY IN JAIL!

WHEN?

OH, BABY, THAT WAS MORE THAN A MONTH AGO.

HAS THE SHERIFF BEEN TO MORRIS'S PLACE?

NO.

YOU'D THINK HE WOULD.

DAMN IT!

WHAT'S HE GONNA DO?

WE BETTER GO WITH HIM, PAUL.

LET ME TALK TO HIM.

STOP HIM! MAKE HIM CALL THE SHERIFF.

IF HE THINKS ANYBODY'S HURT HIM...

LORD, LORD. THEM MORRIS BOYS IS MEAN!

[HONKS HORN]

HERMAN MORRIS?

I WANT TO SEE YOU.

WHO'S OUT THERE?

JAMES PEEK.

YOU BETTER BACK UP. YOU GOT A GUN POINTING AT YOU.

James.

WELL, YOU BETTER BE A DAMN GOOD SHOT!

BECAUSE I AM.

COME OUT HERE!

WHO'D YOU SAY YOU WAS?

JAMES PEEK, SAM PEEK'S SON.

I'M A FEDERAL AGENT.

WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT?

I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN MY DADDY.

YOU GOT NO CALLING

TO COME SCARING A MAN'S FAMILY.

I AIN'T SEEN YOUR DADDY.

WHY YOU ASKING ME?

HE'S MISSING. WHERE ARE YOUR BOYS?

THEY AIN'T HERE.

WHERE ARE THEY?

TWO OF THEM IS WORKING UP IN VIRGINIA.

THE OTHER ONE IS IN JAIL.

I RECKON YOU KNOW THAT.

MR. MORRIS,

TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT ME.

THERE AIN'T NOTHING ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH

I LOVE MORE THAN THAT OLD MAN.

SO IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MY DADDY,

YOU BETTER TELL ME NOW.

I AIN'T SEEN HIM, BOY.

I HOPE YOU FIND HIM.

HE'S A GOOD MAN.

GIVE ME SOME TREES ONE TIME.

GRAPEVINES.

ANY OF MY BOYS EVER BOTHERED HIM,

THEY'RE GOING TO ANSWER TO ME.

I'M SORRY I...

UPSET YOU, SIR.

BUT HE'S MY DADDY.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS.

DONE FOR, GIRL.

GOT TO STOP FOR THE NIGHT.

IT'S GOING TO BE COLD, AND I'M GOING TO HURT.

I'VE BEEN SITTING TOO LONG.

LOST.

OLD MAN AND A DOG LOST.

[KNOCK ON WINDOW]

MISTER, YOU ALL RIGHT?

[KNOCK KNOCK]

MISTER.

HOW'D YOU GET OUT HERE?

I--I DON'T RIGHTLY KNOW.

I MUST HAVE GOT TURNED AROUND.

I WAS HEADING FOR MADISON.

MADISON?

YOU SURE DID.

YOU MUST BE HALF FROZE.

IT GOT REAL CHILLY LAST NIGHT.

I GOT A WALKER IN THE BACK.

WOULD YOU MIND GETTING IT FOR ME?

I GOT TO GET OUT AND STRETCH.

THANK YOU.

OOH...

YOU, UH, SEEN MY DOG?

HAVEN'T SEEN NO DOG. WHAT'S IT LIKE?

WHITE.

SOLID WHITE.

SHE WAS RIGHT HERE.

MUST HAVE LET HER OUT DURING THE NIGHT.

MY NAME'S HOWARD COOK.

I LIVE DOWN THE ROAD A MILE OR SO.

USED TO LIVE HERE WHEN I WAS LITTLE.

SAM PEEK.

WHERE YOU FROM, MR. PEEK?

OVER IN HART COUNTY.

YOU'RE A LONG WAY FROM HOME.

COME TO MY HOUSE FOR SOME HOT COFFEE AND BREAKFAST.

THAT'S REAL GOOD OF YOU.

MORE COFFEE, MR. PEEK?

NO, THANK YOU, MRS. COOK.

THAT WAS A REAL GOOD BREAKFAST.

I'M MUCH OBLIGED.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH COLD BISCUITS.

A PERSON NEEDS HOT FOOD.

YOU'RE LOOKING BETTER.

GOT MORE COLOR IN YOUR FACE NOW.

WHAT TIME YOU SAY YOU NEEDED TO BE IN MADISON?

BEFORE LUNCH...

THOUGH I WON'T BE EATING MUCH, NOT NOW.

YOU GOT TIME FOR SOME REST.

I DON'T WANT TO BE LATE.

IT'S ONLY 15 MILES. YOU CAN FOLLOW ME.

I'VE BEEN MEANING TO GO TO MADISON.

MILDRED WAS JUST SAYING LAST NIGHT

I OUGHT TO DO IT TODAY AND GET DONE WITH IT.

NO SENSE IN PUTTING THINGS OFF.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU OUT

MORE THAN I ALREADY HAVE.

HOW'D HE GET SO TURNED AROUND?

GUESS HE WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE MAIN ROADS.

SHOWED ME HIS MAP.

MUST HAVE COME OUT OF THE FORTIES.

HE'S GOT THIS LINE MARKED FOR HIMSELF.

PART OF IT GOES DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE BROAD RIVER.

THANK THE LORD HE MISSED THAT TURN.

I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM REAL DETAILED DIRECTIONS

FOR WHEN HE GOES HOME.

HOLD STILL A MINUTE.

HE SAYS SHE WON'T COME UNLESS HE'S ON HIS OWN.

COME ON, GIRL!

SHE CAN'T BE AROUND HERE.

OUR DOGS WOULD HAVE BEEN BARKING.

WHERE ARE YOU?

COME ON OUT.

WHERE YOU BEEN ALL NIGHT, EH? WHERE YOU BEEN?

WELL, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT?

THERE WE ARE.

HOW ARE YOU, GIRL?

HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

JUST AIN'T LIKE MR. SAM TO GO OFF

WITHOUT TELLING NOBODY WHERE HE WAS GOING.

I'VE KNOWN HIM ALL HIS LIFE. AIN'T LIKE HIM.

KATE THINKS HE'S BEEN ACTING STRANGE LAST FEW WEEKS.

CARRIE, TOO.

HE'S GOT NO BUSINESS DRIVING THAT OLD TRUCK

OFF THE FARM.

I DON'T KNOW WHY Y'ALL LET HIM DO IT.

IF YOU KNOW HIM SO WELL,

YOU KNOW HE AIN'T ABOUT TO BE TOLD

WHAT HE CAN AND CAN'T DO.

I'VE GOT EVERY CAR IN THE DEPARTMENT OUT AFTER HIM.

ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN.

OLD MAN DARBY PILGRIM BLEW A TIRE LAST MONTH

AND WRAPPED HIS CAR AROUND A TREE.

HE'S LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

I GOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

JUST A MINUTE. HOW'S OLD MAN--

I KNOW WHERE GRANDDADDY WENT.

HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO A COLLEGE REUNION IN MADISON.

SAID HE'D BE BACK IN TWO DAYS.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US?

YOUR MOTHER'S BEEN WORRIED SICK.

HE MADE ME SWEAR NOT TO.

HE SAID MOM AND AUNT CARRIE WOULD DRIVE HIM CRAZY.

THEY'D EITHER STOP HIM OR BRING HIM BACK.

THAT OLD FOX.

HE SAID HIS LIFE WAS HIS LIFE. HE WANTED TO LIVE IT.

I THOUGHT SO, TOO.

HE SAID THAT--

ARE YOU DONE?

YES, SIR.

SORRY, DADDY.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL TELL YOUR MOTHER,

BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO TELL YOUR UNCLE JAMES.

YES, SIR.

BOBBY, WHY DID YOU TELL US?

IT WAS WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MR. PILGRIM

HITTING THAT TREE AND ALL.

I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT THE WAY GRANDDADDY DRIVES.

I'M SCARED.

WE'RE NEARLY THERE, GIRL.

I USED TO PLOW THAT LAND.

OVER THERE, THAT'S WHERE THE COLLEGE USED TO BE.

TORE IT DOWN TO PUT UP A HIGH SCHOOL.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY HAD TO DO THAT.

VERY FANCY.

MY, OH, MY.

EASY. THERE WE GO.

O.K.

DO WE ALL LOOK LIKE THAT?

EASY. THERE WE GO.

WHO ARE THEY?

HUH?

I DON'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE.

THEY'RE NOT WHAT I CAME HERE TO SEE.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

HEY, LET'S GO.

HEY, LET'S GO.

I'LL TAKE YOU TO A SPECIAL PLACE.

A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN RUN.

IT WAS RIGHT HERE.

THIS VERY SPOT.

WE CAME WALKING THROUGH THOSE TREES

AND OUT ONTO THE BANK.

IT WAS MY FAVORITE PLACE ON THE WHOLE SCHOOL FARM.

CORA HAD NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

I SAID, "DO YOU LIKE IT?"

AND I SAID, "IT'S BEAUTIFUL."

AND I SAID, "SOMEDAY I'M GOING TO HAVE ME A TREE NURSERY.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO-- GROW TREES."

I THINK YOU'D RATHER BE WITH TREES THAN WITH MOST PEOPLE.

I LIKE BEING WITH YOU...

WALKING, TALKING,

SOMETIMES JUST DOING NOTHING AT ALL.

YES...

SO DO I.

CORA...

I WANT TO MARRY YOU.

OH...

HOW MANY CHILDREN DO YOU WANT?

I DON'T KNOW.

I WANT A LOT.

I WANT THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE.

WHY?

I JUST DO.

I ALWAYS WANTED A BIG FAMILY.

I NEVER HAD ONE OF MY OWN.

YES.

YES, WHAT?

YES.

I'LL MARRY YOU.

THAT'S WHAT I SAID THAT DAY.

57 YEARS.

WE SURE HAD SOME GOOD TIMES.

IT'S NOT GONE.

IT'S ALL STILL THERE.

YOU'RE GONE.

OH...NO.

I'M STILL WITH YOU, SAM, EVERY DAY.

I THOUGHT YOU'D REALIZE THAT.

DARN IT.

I NEVER DID GET ME A LEG SHOW LADY

TO COME USE YOUR BISCUIT CUTTER.

IT WAS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

WELL, YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME.

I NEARLY DID.

WHAT STOPPED YOU?

GRANDDADDY SAID ALL HIS CHILDREN

WERE TURNING THINGS AROUND, ACTING LIKE HIS MOTHER,

AND HE WASN'T READY FOR THAT YET.

I THOUGHT THAT MEANS EVEN UNCLE JAMES.

SOON BE HOME, GIRL.

BACK TO THE HORNETS' NEST.

UH...OH.

THERE'S THAT DIVIDE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT

THAT ISN'T ON THE MAP.

ONE ROAD GOES TO THE BRIDGE,

AND THE OTHER, THE OLD FORD.

WHICH WAS WHICH, HUH?

WELL, THEY BOTH GO TO THE SAME PLACE IN THE END.

LET'S TRY THIS LEFT ONE.

LOOKS LIKE WE FOUND THE FORD.

RUNNING PRETTY HIGH.

WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S WHY YOU BUY A TRUCK INSTEAD OF A CAR.

COME ON, GIRL.

IT'S O.K.

IT'S A FORD.

COME ON.

WELL, PLEASE YOURSELF.

YOU ALWAYS DID HAVE A MIND OF YOUR OWN.

BUT, IF YOU WON'T RIDE WITH ME,

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SWIM.

[ENGINE DIES]

[STARTER CRANKS]

UNCLE JAMES...

DOES GRANDDADDY REALLY NOT HAVE A LICENSE?

WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

GRANDMAMA.

WELL, LET'S JUST SAY HE'S HANDIER WITH TREES

THAN HE IS WITH AUTOMOBILES.

WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE TO MADISON.

UGH. OH.

[GASPS]

[GASPS]

IT'S UP IN HERE SOMEWHERE.

UNCLE JAMES, I SEE SOMETHING UP AHEAD.

LOOK OUT.

[BRAKES SCREECH]

THAT'S WHITE DOG.

UNCLE JAMES, THAT'S GRANDDADDY'S DOG.

WHERE'S SHE GOING?

I DON'T KNOW.

LOOK, THERE HE IS IN THE--IN THE WATER.

DADDY.

DADDY.

YOU ALL RIGHT, DADDY?

GOT HIM.

GET HIM OUT OF HERE, PAUL.

GIVE ME A HAND, BOBBY.

EASY NOW.

EASY.

EASY NOW. EASY.

I'M STUCK.

GOT HIS LEG, PAUL?

YEAH.

COME ON.

HERE WE GO.

DADDY, ARE YOU HURT?

MY--MY DOG.

SHE'S RIGHT HERE, DADDY.

IF IT WASN'T FOR HER, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE FOUND YOU.

OH, GIRL.

YES, YES.

WELL, SO FAR, SO GOOD.

WE'RE SORRY TO BRING YOU OUT.

THE DOCTOR AT THE HOSPITAL SAID--

ABSOLUTELY. I TALKED TO HER THIS MORNING.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON OLD PEOPLE

WHEN THEY'VE HAD HYPOTHERMIA.

HE WAS IN THAT CREEK A LONG TIME.

TOO LONG. AND THAT'S COLD WATER.

I QUIT SWIMMING IN IT WHEN I WAS 10.

SHOULD WE BE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR HIM, DOCTOR?

PLENTY OF REST, PLENTY OF FLUIDS.

HE'S GOT THE HEART OF A MAN OF 30.

IT'S HIS LUNGS I WANT TO WATCH.

THERE'S SOME NOISE IN THERE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

NOTHING, IF IT GOES AWAY.

IF IT GETS ANY CLOSER TO PNEUMONIA,

WE'LL HIT IT WITH ANTIBIOTICS.

YOU CALL ME TOMORROW.

I BROUGHT YOU A BOWL OF SOUP, DADDY.

AND SOME JUICE.

DR. BENNETT SAYS YOU NEED LOTS OF LIQUIDS.

ALL RIGHT.

AIN'T HUNGRY, BUT THANK YOU.

IS YOUR DOG IN HERE, DADDY?

UNDER THE BED.

SHE DOESN'T LIKE DOCTORS.

SHE WOULDN'T EAT FROM HER DISH IN THE KITCHEN,

SO I THOUGHT I'D BRING IT IN HERE WITH YOU.

OH, THAT'S REAL THOUGHTFUL.

THANK YOU, CARRIE.

[COUGHING]

I HATE--I HATE TO SEE YOU STUCK IN BED.

IF ONLY YOU HADN'T GONE TO MADISON.

OH, YES.

NOW...LET'S NOT HAVE ANY MORE OF THAT.

THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T TELL YOU WHERE I WAS GOING

WAS 'CAUSE I KNEW HOW YOU'D CARRY ON.

I WENT TO THAT REUNION BECAUSE YOUR MAMA WANTED TO GO.

SHE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE SHE DIED.

SO I MADE UP MY MIND THAT'S WHAT I'D DO,

AND I WENT, AND I'M REAL GLAD I DID.

WELL, WE ONLY WORRY BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU.

I--

I KNOW.

I KNOW. I KNOW. I KNOW.

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT THAT YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY.

DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME AT THE REUNION, DADDY?

IT WAS AN EVEN BETTER DAY THAN I HOPED IT WOULD BE.

"I WAS VERY YOUNG IN THOSE DAYS--

"EXCEEDINGLY YOUNG,

"MARVELOUSLY YOUNG.

"YOUNGER THAN I AM NOW,

"YOUNGER THAN I SHALL EVER BE AGAIN

BY HUNDREDS OF YEARS--"

YOUNGER THAN I AM NOW,

YOUNGER THAN I SHALL EVER BE AGAIN.

DO YOU WISH YOU WERE YOUNG?

NO.

I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

I WOULDN'T CHANGE A BIT OF IT.

NOW I'D RATHER WATCH YOU BE YOUNG.

[COUGHING]

READ ME SOME MORE.

"I WORKED EVERY NIGHT FROM 11:00 OR 12:00,

TILL BROAD DAY IN THE MORNING..."

I'M GOING HOME NOW, DADDY.

KATE'S HERE.

MY CHILDREN ARE RUNNING THEIR RELAY RACE AGAIN.

THE FIRST TIME YOUR DOG'S EVER LET ME GET THIS CLOSE.

DO YOU THINK SHE'D LET ME TOUCH HER?

I DON'T THINK SO.

SHE ALWAYS RUNS AWAY WHEN WE COME IN OR HIDES UNDER THE BED.

I WONDER WHY SHE HASN'T TODAY.

WELL, MAYBE SHE'S TIRED...

LIKE I AM.

WELL, YOU REST, DADDY.

ANYTHING YOU WANT, JUST CALL KATE.

AND BOBBY WILL BE HERE OVERNIGHT.

[COUGHING]

NOT JUST THE TWO OF US ANYMORE, GIRL.

NOW WE GOT TO PUT UP WITH PEOPLE BEING AROUND ALL THE TIME.

YOU DON'T LIKE THAT, DO YOU?

I KNEW YOU WOULDN'T.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO ME.

YOU CAN GO NOW.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

DOOR'S OPEN.

GO ON.

SEE YOU SOON, GIRL.

I'LL SEE YOU REAL SOON.

COME ON, GIRL.

WHITE DOG.

WHERE ARE YOU?

HELLO, UNCLE JAMES.

HI, BOBBY.

STILL NO SIGN OF HER?

IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS NOW.

WHAT AM I GOING TO TELL HIM?

HAS HE ASKED FOR HER?

NO. THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY WEIRD.

WELL, JUST WAIT TILL HE DOES.

GOT A LONG WEEKEND?

I TALKED TO YOUR MOTHER.

SHE CALLED ME.

SHE'S BEEN TALKING TO THE DOCTORS.

I KNOW.

THEY'VE BEEN GIVING HIM ANTIBIOTICS,

AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE WORKING.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK HE WANTS TO GET BETTER.

NOW, TAKE IT EASY.

I'M AFRAID OF HIM DYING, UNCLE JAMES.

IT'S LIKE HE'S NOT TRYING ANYMORE.

HOW CAN HE DO THIS TO US?

UM...

I DON'T THINK IT'S US HE'S DOING IT TO, BOBBY.

WELL, NOW. IT'S THE THIRD SHIFT.

HOW ARE YOU, JAMES?

FINE, DADDY.

HERE.

BOBBY, YOU OUGHT TO BE OUT IN THAT SUNSHINE...

SO SHOULD I.

OH, I'D DEARLY LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY PECAN TREES.

JAMES, YOU THINK YOU COULD ARRANGE THAT?

MOM WOULD KILL US.

I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOUR MOM AND AUNT CARRIE WERE SHOPPING.

BUT IF SHE FOUND OUT--

SO WE WON'T TELL HER.

WELL, WHAT DID THE DOCTOR SAY ABOUT THIS?

I DIDN'T ASK HIM.

THEY'RE NOT HIS TREES.

I DON'T KNOW, DADDY--

JAMES...

PLEASE.

YOU'VE CUT THE GRASS,

AND YOU'VE BEEN WEEDING.

YES, SIR.

THAT'S MY BOY.

OH, AIN'T IT A PRETTY DAY?

I'D LIKE A DAY LIKE THIS FOR WHEN I'M BURIED.

I'D LIKE FOR THE SUN TO BE SHOVELED IN WITH ME.

WE'LL SEE TO IT, DADDY.

NOW, GRANDDADDY, PLEASE DON'T TALK LIKE THAT.

NOW, LOOK HERE, BOY.

YOU BEEN WORKING ON TREES WITH ME LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW

THAT NOTHING EVER STOPS.

THE OLD ONES FALL DOWN, BUT EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT ON

BECAUSE THE YOUNG ONES GROW UP.

YOU AIN'T GOING TO GET RID OF ME.

I'M IN THIS HERE PECAN GROVE.

OH, I--I'M IN THE SHAPE OF YOUR EARS.

I'M IN THAT CALLUS ON YOUR THUMB.

TREE MAN'S THUMB.

RIGHT.

YOU WERE PLEASED FINDING THAT OUT, REMEMBER?

THERE ARE NO REAL ENDINGS IN THIS WORLD, BOBBY...

JUST DISCOVERIES.

I'VE BEEN MAKING DISCOVERIES ALL MY LIFE,

AND THIS LAST ONE IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED.

LET'S GO HOME.

YOU ALL BEEN FEEDING MY DOG?

[WHEEZING]

SHE'S GONE, AIN'T SHE?

YES, SIR.

EVERYONE'S BEEN LOOKING FOR HER,

BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND HER.

THAT WAS YOUR MAMA, SON.

WHO, DADDY?

WHITE DOG.

THAT WAS YOUR MAMA COME BACK TO WATCH OVER ME.

[BIRD TRILLS]

WE HAD SUCH A TIME TOGETHER.

SHE KNEW IT WAS ALL RIGHT TO LEAVE

NOW THAT ONE OF YOU'S ALWAYS HERE.

I'LL BE SEEING HER SOON.

YOU GET SOME REST NOW, DADDY.

OH, I'M ALL RIGHT.

I FEEL GOOD.

I--I DON'T HURT.

CAN WE GET YOU ANYTHING?

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE MY DOG IS, SON?

WHERE?

UP AT THE CEMETERY.

SHE'LL BE WAITING TO SHOW ME THE WAY.

YOU WANT TO SEE HER,

YOU GO UP THERE EARLY THE MORNING AFTER.

RIGHT AT SUNUP.

SHE'LL BE THERE.

YOU REMEMBER THAT.

YOU, TOO, BOY.

YOU REMEMBER NOW--

NO ENDINGS...

DISCOVERIES.

NOBODY EVER SAW THE WHITE DOG AGAIN.

BUT THE DAY AFTER DADDY WAS BURIED,

BOBBY AND I DID WHAT HE SAID.

RIGHT AT DAWN, WE DROVE TO THE CEMETERY.

THERE WERE JUST THESE TWO SANDY GRAVES--

MY MOTHER'S AND MY FATHER'S--

AND ALL THE WREATHS AND FLOWERS AROUND.

IT WAS VERY QUIET,

AND THE SUN CAME UP.

AND THEN WE SAW THEM--

RIGHT ACROSS THE GRAVE OF ROBERT SAMUEL PEEK

WE SAW THE PAW-PRINTS.

PRINTS SO LIGHT,

THEY COULD HAVE BEEN MADE OF AIR.

I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A LOVE STORY.

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