Original subtitles

IN DEEP DIXIELAND,

THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS ALMOST SUMMERY.

I HAD COME SOUTH

TO VISIT MY FATHER.

MOTHER HAD DIED A FEW YEARS BEFORE,

AND DADDY WAS LIVING ALL ALONE.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE IT OTHERWISE.

LOOKING AT THAT OLD HOUSE,

A PAINFUL NOSTALGIA GRIPPED ME

FOR THE SOUTH ITSELF--

THE OLD SOUTH I HAD KNOWN AND THE PEOPLE IN IT.

WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD,

A GIRL CAME TO THIS HOUSE.

I OVERHEARD MY FATHER DECIDE,

IN A CONFERENCE WITH MY MOTHER,

TO HIRE THIS GIRL...

A GOOD-NATURED AND HIGHLY UNFORTUNATE GIRL

WHO WAS WORKING FOR A FARM FAMILY

DOWN NEAR GADSDEN, ALABAMA.

THUS SHE WAS HIRED, SIGHT UNSEEN,

BY A LONG-DISTANCE CALL.

SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I EVER LOVED

OUTSIDE MEMBERS OF MY OWN FAMILY.

BUT, AS MY FATHER SAID,

SHE CAUSED ONE HELL OF A DAMNABLE COMMOTION.

[WHIPPOORWILL CALLS]

HELLO.

I'M ROSE.

I COME TO LIVE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

MOTHER?

YES?

THE NEW GIRL'S HERE.

WONDERFUL.

WHAT'S SHE LIKE, BROTHER?

WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSION OF HER? SHE'S BIG.

SHE COULD ALMOST BEAT UP DADDY IF SHE WANTED TO.

BROTHER...

BUT SHE'S VERY GIRLISH AND WOMANISH.

SHE WOULDN'T HURT ANYBODY. SHE COULDN'T.

YOUR IMPRESSION IS VERY REASSURING, BROTHER.

I SENSED THAT THAT WAS WHAT THAT GIRL WAS LIKE,

AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE IT RECONFIRMED.

YOU MEAN CONFIRMED, MOTHER.

I WOULD HAVE HAD TO CONFIRM IT PREVIOUSLY

IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE RECONFIRMED.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GET DOLL AND WASKI.

I'LL TELEPHONE DADDY.

ROSE...

THIS IS WASKI.

HIS REAL NAME IS WARREN,

BUT WE CALL HIM WASKI.

HE DOESN'T LIKE IT MUCH.

I SUPPOSE SOMEDAY WE'LL HAVE TO STOP CALLING HIM THAT.

YOU CAN STOP NOW.

YOU WILL FIND HIM

A VERY GOOD BOY, AND AS YOU CAN SEE,

HE'S BEAUTIFUL.

NOW, ROSE...

THE LITTLE GIRL STANDING ACROSS FROM YOU IS FRANCES,

BUT WE CALL HER DOLLY.

IT'S SHORT FOR DOLL-- A DOLL BABY.

DOLL BABY...

THAT'S WORSE THAN WASKI.

I WANT TO BE CALLED FRAN.

DADDY WOULDN'T HEAR OF IT, DEAR.

AND THE YOUNG MAN

IN FRONT OF YOU--

YOU'VE MET HIM, OF COURSE.

HE IS MY OLDEST SON

AND MY MOST BRILLIANT CHILD.

THEY SAY I BRAG TOO MUCH ABOUT MY CHILDREN,

ESPECIALLY ABOUT BROTHER.

I SIMPLY TELL THE TRUTH, BUT--

AM I BORING YOU, ROSE?

NO, MA'AM. NOT AT ALL.

GOOD.

I REALIZED THE REMARKABLE THING ABOUT BROTHER

WHEN HE WAS ONLY 6 WEEKS OLD.

HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE RECOGNIZED ME.

HE UNDERSTOOD ME.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH.

BUT I HAVE TO WARN YOU ABOUT HIM.

HE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

HE HAS AN EVIL STREAK IN HIM.

IT IS A STREAK OF PURE, SHEER MEANNESS.

HONEY, YOU'LL SCARE THE GIZZARD OUT OF THE GIRL

GOING INTO THE FOURTH DIMENSION LIKE THAT.

WELL, DARLING,

MAYBE TO YOU IT'S THE FOURTH DIMENSION,

BUT TO ME, ROSE, IT'S SIMPLY THE TRUTH.

WELL, WELL, WELL. SO MISS ROSEBUD HAS ARRIVED.

YES, INDEED.

DOLL, YOU TAKE IT FOR ME.

ROSEBUD...

I SWEAR TO GOD,

YOU ARE GRACEFUL AS A CAPITAL LETTER "S."

YOU WILL ADORN OUR HOUSE.

YOU'LL GIVE A GLOW AND A SHINE

TO THESE OLD WALLS.

YES, INDEED.

NOW...

IT IS MY DEAR WIFE'S BELIEF,

WHICH I ACCEPT,

ALTHOUGH I DO NOT TOTALLY GRASP IT,

THAT TO HIRE A PERSON TO DO HOUSEHOLD WORK

IS A-- IS A, UH... CRIMINAL PRACTICE.

YOU ARE THEREFORE HERE AS A FRIEND,

AS A GUEST,

AND, INDEED, AS A MEMBER OF THIS FAMILY,

IN LOVE AND HARMONY, DEAR ROSEBUD.

IN LOVE AND HARMONY.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

Yes, sir.

I KNOW YOU'VE HAD SOME TROUBLES IN YOUR LIFE.

THOSE SCOUNDRELS IN BIRMINGHAM

TRYING TO LEAD YOU ASTRAY, SO ON AND SO FORTH...

LIFE CAN BE VERY CRUEL

TO A YOUNG GIRL.

I KNOW YOU'VE HAD

A HARD TIME, BUT...

I HOPE AND BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE FOUND

A SAFE HAVEN IN THIS HOUSE, HONEY.

WELCOME TO OUR HOME, ROSEBUD.

WE WELCOME YOU FROM THE HEART...

AND HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY HERE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

PUT YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS

AND YOUR POCKETS IN YOUR PANTS

WATCH THE LITTLE TURTLE

DO THE HOOCHIE-KOOCHIE DANCE

OOH, LOOK, HE'S DOING IT!

TURTLES SORT OF DO LIKE THIS.

[DOLL] I WANT TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES IN THE WATER.

[WASKI] SHE'LL GO AWAY.

WASKI, I WANT TO SEE HER SWIM.

[ROSE] WASKI'S TRYING TO FOLLOW IT INTO THE WATER.

[PLAYING BIRMINGHAM JAIL]

WASKI, YOU GOT TO LICK YOUR LIPS.

A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WASKI...

BE MEAN TO THOSE SEEDS

AND THEY'LL SNAP AT YOU, WASKI.

HEY, BUDDY,

THAT HOTEL MR. HILLYER RUNS--

DO Y'ALL OWN IT PERSONALLY?

YES. IT'S A PART OF MOTHER'S ESTATE.

HER ESTATE?

HER INHERITANCE. IT WAS LEFT TO HER WHEN SHE WAS ORPHANED.

BUDDY...

YOUR MAMA WAS A ORPHAN?

YES.

[DOLL] WASKI...

NO!

Y'ALL HELP ME SHUCK.

HEY, BUDDY?

YES?

WHERE IS IT--

UH, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY--

AND, WELL, WHAT IS IT, EXACTLY?

WELL, IT'S A ADVANCED SCHOOL FOR BRILLIANT PEOPLE.

IT'S IN NEW YORK.

NEW YORK?

OOH, NEW YORK!

IMAGINE THAT-- WITH ALL THEM SKYSCRAPERS

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

NEW YORK...

AND YOUR MAMA LIVED THERE?

WENT TO THAT SCHOOL?

GOOD LORD!

ROSE?

HUH?

WHO WERE THOSE SCOUNDRELS IN BIRMINGHAM?

NOBODY.

Y'ALL KEEP SHUCKING.

WHO WERE THEY?

THEY WERE JUST BAD MEN, THAT'S ALL.

IN WHAT SENSE WERE THEY BAD?

WELL...

BAD IS BAD, BUDDY.

THERE AIN'T NO SENSE TO IT.

DID THOSE BAD MEN TRY TO INDUCE YOU INTO BECOMING A PROSTITUTE?

BUDDY, I DON'T EVEN LISTEN TO TALK LIKE THAT.

I TURN MY BACK AND LOOK T'OTHER WAY.

THAT'S WHY MY DADDY HIRED YOU HERE--

TO KEEP YOU AWAY FROM-- FROM THOSE SCOUNDRELS.

YOUR DADDY IS THE BEST

AND MOST KINDHEARTED MAN IN THE WORLD,

I'LL SAY THAT TO YOU.

ROSE, DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT TERRIBLE THING

IN CAVE SPRINGS?

WHAT TERRIBLE THING IN CAVE SPRINGS?

WELL, THERE WAS THIS...

OLD MAN...

THAT ATE HIS NIECE.

OH! I DID NOT HEAR THAT, BUDDY.

I DIDN'T EVEN HEAR YOU!

HE CHOPPED HER INTO PORK CHOPS.

I DON'T EVEN HEAR THAT.

THERE'S SOME TERRIBLE THINGS IN THIS WORLD.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT MAN IN CHATTANOOGA?

KILLED HIS WIFE WITH A BLACK WIDOW SPIDER.

SHE SUFFERED HORRIBLY.

[DOLL LAUGHING]

BUDDY...

YOU ARE IN ONE OF YOUR EVIL MOODS.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

[BUDDY] MAMA, I'VE BEEN READING THE ODYSSEY.

I WAS WONDERING, WHAT ARE SIRENS, REALLY?

ARE THEY MERMAIDS, OR ARE THEY MYTHOLOGICAL, OR ARE THEY SEALS?

SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER SIRENS TO BE GREAT MYTHICAL BEAUTIES.

HEAR, HEAR.

HEY, SWEETHEART.

HI, DADDY!

HOW ARE YOU ALL?

OH, FINE.

OHH...

REVERSE INSOMNIA.

[MOTHER] AWW...

WHAT A CURSE.

NO APPETITE, EITHER.

ROSE...

MAY I HAVE A HALF A CUP OF COFFEE?

I ALREADY GOT IT HERE.

WELL, ROSEBUD, BABY, YOU'RE THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE, DARLIN'.

YOU'RE THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE.

PRETTY AS A MOONBEAM AND...

WARM AS SUNSHINE.

HOW DID WE EVER

GET BY WITHOUT YOU?

ROSE MUST BE NON COMPOS MENTIS THIS MORNING.

MUST BE THAT TIME OF MONTH. WELL...

SHE HAS BEEN A LITTLE... PEAKY LATELY.

WASN'T PEAKY TILL DADDY SHOWED UP.

[BUZZING]

WHAT, DEAR?

YOUR HEARING AID IS ON THE BLINK, HON.

WHAT?

YOUR HEARING AID IS BUZZING AT ME LIKE A SNAKE.

OH!

I'M SORRY.

[CRASH]

[ROSE] OH!

[WHOOPING]

[IMITATES GUN FIRING]

HEY, WASKI, I SHOT YOU. FALL DOWN.

[WASKI] I'M GOIN'!

[BUDDY] HEY, DOLL, PULL HIM DOWN.

I GOT YOU, TOO, DOLL.

[HUMMING]

MRS. HILLYER...

YES, DEAR.

YOU GOING TO GET YOUR MASTER'S DEGREE PRETTY SOON?

YES. PRETTY SOON, DEAR.

WHEN I FINISH MY THESIS.

WHAT YOU STUDYING RIGHT NOW?

HISTORY, DEAR.

AMERICAN HISTORY.

IS THAT, UH... THE STORY OF THIS COUNTRY,

JUST LIKE THE STORY OF A PERSON?

EXACTLY.

YOU MUST HAVE A WONDERFUL BRAIN.

ROSE, DARLING...

YOU WORK TOO HARD.

WHY DON'T YOU GO SIT DOWN SOMEWHERE

AND HAVE A NICE REFRESHMENT?

AFTER ALL YOU AND HIM'S

BEEN DOING FOR ME,

WORKIN' HARD'S NOTHIN'.

MISS HILLYER...

YES?

IS IT TRUE YOU WERE A ORPHAN?

YES.

AFTER THE AGE OF 7

I WAS.

ME, TOO.

DADDY SURE IS DUMB.

MOTHER DIDN'T NOTICE EITHER.

YOU WOULD THINK SHE WOULD NOTICE.

WELL, MOTHER'S IGNORANT

ABOUT THAT SORT OF THING, DOLL.

BESIDES, HER MATERNAL FEELINGS ARE AROUSED.

MATERNAL FEELINGS RUN DEEP.

YEAH.

ROSE IS IN TERRIBLE SHAPE.

- SHE IS. - YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I DO, TOO.

ROSE IS MADLY IN LOVE WITH DADDY.

He loves me.

He loves me. He loves me not.

He loves me. He loves me not.

He loves me. He loves me not.

He loves me. He loves me not.

He loves me.

YOU DON'T EAT GREENS, BROTHER?

HMM?

UH, ALL RIGHT.

OH!

UM, HERE, ROSE, TAKE MY NAPKIN AND DRY IT.

IT'S O.K.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, DEAR?

ARE YOU ILL OR SOMETHING?

NO, MA'AM. I'M JUST FINE.

I--I JUST SPILT...

MY BEANS.

I HAVE TO PRESENT THE FIRST ISSUE OF MY MAGAZINE

AT THE GARDEN CLUB MEETING TONIGHT.

WELL, I'LL DRIVE YOU, DARLING.

YOU GOT NO BUSINESS

BEHIND THE WHEEL OF AN AUTOMOBILE.

WHY NOT?

IF YOU'RE THINKING OF THE WRONG THING,

YOU LIABLE TO RUN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE.

WELL, DARLING...

I THINK ABOUT WHAT I AM DOING

EVERY MINUTE ALL THE TIME,

AND I HAVE AS MUCH RIGHT

TO BE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF AN AUTOMOBILE AS ANYBODY.

BESIDES, I WANT YOU TO HELP ROSE WITH THE DISHES.

THIS POOR GIRL ISN'T FEELING WELL.

THE DISHES, DARLING?

YES. YOU CAN HELP WITH THE DISHES

EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A MAN-TYPE THING TO DO.

MAN-TYPE THINGS, WOMEN-TYPE THINGS.

WHAT DOES THE CREATIVE FORCE BEHIND THE UNIVERSE

CARE ABOUT SUCH FOOLISHNESS?

SO YOU CAN HELP ROSE

WITH THE DISHES, PLEASE.

CERTAINLY, DARLING. DELIGHTED.

THANK YOU, DARLING.

COME ON.

O.K.

[FLOOR CREAKS]

SHH.

I'LL BE DAMNED.

THERE'S A...

THE MOON IS TURNING 38,000 MILES FROM THE EARTH.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

YES, THE MOON.

IT SAYS THAT IT'S A SOLID ROCK BODY

2,000 MILES IN DIAMETER.

THAT'S FASCINATING.

FASCINATING.

I THINK SHE'S GOING TO KISS HIM.

AT LEAST.

[WHISPERING]

OH, GOD!

MR. HILLYER, I LOVE YOU.

I TRIED, BUT I CAN'T HELP IT.

PLEASE KISS ME. WILL YOU KISS ME?

NOW, R-ROSE, ROSE, ROSE...

NOW, GET OFF MY LAP.

BUDDY, STOP. I CAN'T SEE.

BUDDY!

I CAN'T HELP IT.

NOW, CALM DOWN. THE--THE CHILDREN WILL HEAR.

NO, NO, NO, NO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS THING. LET'S DISCUSS IT.

PLEASE.

COME ON, LET'S CALM DOWN.

PLEASE.

CALM DOWN. DISCUSS IT.

PLEASE!

SHH, SHH!

DON'T MAKE ME GET UP.

NO, NO, NO, NO. SHH.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING? THEY'RE DISCUSSING IT.

I CAN'T KISS YOU. I ONLY KISS MRS. HILLYER.

BUT I LOVE YOU.

YOU DON'T LOVE ME.

I DO.

PLEASE JUST KISS ME ONCE.

IF I KISS YOU ONCE, YOU WOULDN'T... ASK ANYMORE?

JUST ONCE.

ON THE LIPS OR MOUTH? MOUTH.

I ONLY KISS MRS. HILLYER ON THE MOUTH.

THEY'RE KISSING.

MM-MMM. MM-MMM.

MM-MMM. MM-MMM.

MM-MMM. MM-MMM.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?

UH, HER TITTY'S OUT.

HE'S GOT HIS HAND ON IT.

THAT'S ENOUGH OF THIS...

DAMN NONSENSE.

AND I MEAN ENOUGH.

GET UP OFF THIS DAMN THING, ROSE.

PUT YOUR DAMN TIT BACK IN YOUR DRESS.

YOU HEAR ME, GIRL?

REPLACE THAT TIT.

DAMN YOU, GIRL!

YOU MADE ME MAKE A FOOL OUT OF MYSELF.

OH, SHE PUT IT AWAY.

A MAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FOOL LIKE THIS,

BUT A WOMAN IS MEANT TO HAVE SOME CONTROL AND SENSE.

ARE YOU A NITWIT? WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

I'M SORRY.

I COULDN'T HELP IT 'CAUSE I LOVE YOU.

ROSE, ROSE...

YOU POOR, MISERABLE CHILD.

YOU SAID YESTERDAY

YOU LOVE MRS. HILLYER.

NOW, IS THIS ANY WAY TO REPAY HER?

DON'T YOU KNOW SHE WOULD FLY TO YOUR DEFENSE

IF ANYONE TRIED TO HURT YOU?

THAT SHE WOULD FIGHT FOR YOU LIKE A TIGER?

DON'T CRY, HONEY. DON'T CRY.

HERE.

HERE.

HERE.

NOW, LET ME WARN YOU.

I'M STANDING HERE AT THERMOPYLAE, DO YOU HEAR ME?

I AM STANDING AT THERMOPYLAE...

AND THE PERSIANS SHALL NOT PASS.

NOW, YOU GET YOUR TAIL OUT OF HERE

AND GO WASH THOSE DISHES. GO ON!

WASN'T DADDY GREAT?

I'LL BET HE WANTED TO KISS HER SOME MORE

AND PLAY WITH HER, BUT HE DIDN'T.

PROBABLY JUST SCARED THAT MOTHER WOULD COME HOME EARLY

AND CATCH HIM WITH ROSE.

BUDDY...

SOMETIMES YOU MAKE ME SICK!

OOH, BABY DOLL.

[DOOR SLAMS]

THERMOPYLAE.

THE PERSIANS SHALL NOT PASS.

[DOORKNOB JIGGLES]

[DOOR OPENS]

BUDDY...

ARE YOU ASLEEP?

NO, I'M AWAKE.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

BUDDY...

I'VE BEEN WANDERING IN A WILDERNESS LOST.

I JUST FEEL AWFUL.

DO YOU MIND IF I GET IN BED WITH YOU

FOR A LITTLE WHILE?

WELL, ALL RIGHT.

I'LL BE QUIET.

I'LL JUST LIE HERE A WHILE.

YOU CAN GO ON BACK TO SLEEP.

OH, BUDDY...

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT HURTS

TO HAVE A BROKEN HEART.

MEN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM.

I CAN'T SEE THROUGH THEM.

I CAN'T FIGURE THEM OUT,

AND THEY BREAK MY HEART, THAT'S ALL.

BUT THIS IS THE WORST EVER

'CAUSE IT WASN'T HIS FAULT,

IT WAS MY FAULT.

I WAS BAD.

YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW BAD I WAS.

WHAT DID YOU DO, ROSE?

I WAS JUST AWFUL, BUDDY.

WORSE THAN YOU COULD KNOW, A CHILD LIKE YOU.

IT ISN'T JUST THE LOSS OF HIM,

BUT MY OWN BAD BEHAVIOR WHAT BOTHERS ME SO.

WHY, IT HAS JUST MADE ME ILL. I'M SICK.

ROSE, YOU WASN'T COUGHING AT ALL.

YOU PROMISE NOT TO TELL DOLL OR NOBODY?

IT'S YOUR DADDY. I'M SO MUCH IN LOVE WITH HIM, I'M OUT OF MY MIND.

HOW COULD SUCH A THING HAPPEN?

WELL, YOU KNOW WHEN I FIRST COME,

AND HE SAYS I LOOK GRACEFUL

LIKE THE CAPITAL LETTER "S"

AND CALLED ME ROSEBUD?

I FELL MADLY IN LOVE WITH THAT MAN RIGHT THEN.

BUT IT'S A LOST LOVE.

HE'S A GOOD MAN.

HE WON'T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.

ROSE, CAN I TOUCH YOU HERE?

IT'S SOFT. IT'S AWFUL SOFT.

WELL, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT, BUDDY?

I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE LIKE A CANTALOUPE.

THAT'S SOME IDEA-- A CANTALOUPE!

THERE IS SOME TYPE OF GRISTLE IN IT, THOUGH.

BUDDY, NOW, QUIT THAT.

YOU'RE JUST A CHILD.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INTERESTED IN SUCH THINGS.

WELL, ACTUALLY, I AM, THOUGH.

DO YOU KNOW THAT DADDY OF YOURS IS THE FUNNIEST MAN?

THINGS HE SAYS.

NEVER KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO SAY NEXT.

ROSE, CAN I PUT MY HAND INSIDE YOUR NIGHTGOWN?

NO, YOU CAN'T.

I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE. HE SCARES ME.

CAN'T FOOL AROUND WITH HIM.

OOH, NOT WITH THAT MAN.

IF I DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT AGAIN, HE'LL FIRE ME.

CAN I SEE WHAT THE NIPPLE LOOKS LIKE?

BUDDY, WHAT HAS COME OVER YOU?

A CHILD LIKE YOU ASKING SUCH THINGS.

I'M CURIOUS, ROSE.

NOW, BUDDY, GET YOUR HAND AWAY. QUIT IT.

GET YOUR HAND OFF OF ME, BUDDY.

BUDDY... COME ON, NOW.

COME ON, ROSE, JUST FOR A SECOND.

WHAT'S THE HARM?

BUDDY, YOU DON'T REALIZE IT,

BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING ISN'T NICE, NOW.

CAN'T I JUST SEE WHAT THE NIPPLE LOOKS LIKE?

ARE YOU SATISFIED NOW?

CAN WE LIE AND TALK NOW, HUH?

IT'S GOT A NIPPLE, ALL RIGHT.

OF COURSE IT DOES.

AT FIRST I COULDN'T FEEL IT,

BUT NOW I FEEL IT EASILY.

IT'S LIKE A LITTLE ACORN.

ALL RIGHT, BUDDY, THAT'S ENOUGH.

NOW, YOU'RE JUST A CHILD

AND WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND IT,

BUT THAT TYPE OF THING CAN...

STIR A GIRL UP.

YOU LIE BACK DOWN.

WE'LL JUST TALK.

IT WAS SOFTER THAN I THOUGHT.

THAT WAS MY MAIN IMPRESSION.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU HIT A GIRL THERE,

IT COULD HURT HER A LOT.

WHO WOULD DO A THING SUCH AS THAT?

SOME FIEND MIGHT.

YOU KNOW, BUDDY, I CAN'T FIGURE YOU OUT AT ALL.

YOU CAN BE VERY NICE, BUT LIKE YOUR MAMA SAID,

THERE IS AN EVIL STREAK IN YOU.

THERE'S AN EVIL STREAK IN EVERYBODY, ROSE.

THERE AIN'T NONE IN YOUR DADDY.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENED

HAS MADE ME LOVE HIM ALL THE MORE.

I NOT ONLY LOVE HIM,

I RESPECT HIM.

I ADMIRE HIM.

ROSE, I HAVE A SERIOUS FAVOR TO ASK YOU.

YOU KNOW, MOST MEN WOULDN'T ACT LIKE HE DID.

IF THEY CAN GET A GIRL,

THEY GO AHEAD AND GET HER.

I RECKON THEY DO, JUST LIKE SOME MONKEY.

OF COURSE LATER THEY TELL HER SHE'S NO GOOD

WHEN THEY DONE THE SAME THING THEIRSELVES.

ROSE, SINCE YOU'RE HERE IN BED WITH ME, YOU KNOW,

AND I'VE ALREADY TOUCHED YOUR TITTY...

[WHISPERING]

BUDDY, WHAT AN AWFUL THING TO SAY.

WHERE DID YOU GET ANY SUCH IDEAS AT, ANYHOW?

I'M--I'M CURIOUS, ROSE.

I'M REAL CURIOUS.

WELL, THAT IS JUST TOO BAD.

CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT.

YEAH, BUT SATISFACTION BROUGHT HIM BACK. MAY I?

NO. YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF

ASKING SUCH A NASTY THING.

A CHILD YOUR AGE.

CAN'T I TOUCH IT JUST A LITTLE? NOT A LOT.

JUST A LITTLE TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

NO, YOU CAN'T, BUDDY.

OH, ROSE, I'M CURIOUS.

CAN'T I TOUCH IT JUST FOR A SECOND?

YOU'RE MY FRIEND, AREN'T YOU?

DON'T YOU LIKE ME AT ALL?

I LIKE YOU A LOT.

IN FACT, I LOVE YOU.

WELL, YOU'RE SWEET, BUDDY,

BUT YOU DON'T REALLY LOVE ME.

YES, I DO.

AND DON'T YOU LIKE ME JUST A LITTLE BIT?

SURE, I LIKE YOU, BUDDY,

BUT YOU'RE JUST A CHILD.

I'M 13, AND I HAVE A NATURAL CURIOSITY, ROSE.

IT'S NATURE, ROSE.

NOW, WHAT'S WRONG WITH NATURE?

HONEY...

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

JUST THAT, UH...

DAMNABLE REVERSE INSOMNIA.

YOU GO BACK TO SLEEP.

THE DEPRESSION HAS GOT ME.

STRONG MEN WEEPING,

CHILDREN HUNGRY.

WHAT A LIFE. WHAT A WORLD.

BUDDY, QUIT IT.

AM I HURTING YOU?

NO.

NO, YOU'RE NOT HURTING ME.

YOU JUST BETTER QUIT IT, BUDDY, IS ALL.

WHY, IF I'M NOT HURTING YOU?

YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.

I MUST BE OUT OF MY MIND.

[CLOCK CHIMES TWICE]

[MOANING]

WITHOUT A DOUBT,

THIS IS THE MOST FASCINATING EXPERIENCE

OF MY LIFE.

ALL ALONE.

MAN RISES LIKE SPARKS IN A FIRE.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

WHAT'S THE MATTER, ROSE?

ARE YOU SICK OR SOMETHING?

I HAVE ROBBED THE CRADLE

AND FELL INTO HELL.

I MUST BE CRAZY.

[PANTING]

I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

OH, BUDDY, YOU WOULDN'T TELL NOBODY,

NOW, WOULD YOU?

NO. I WON'T TELL A SOUL.

OH, I SURE HOPE YOU DON'T.

OH, I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

[DOOR CLOSES]

BUDDY, I HATE TO TURN THIS LIGHT ON,

BUT YOUR DADDY'S AWAKE DOWNSTAIRS.

I GOT TO TAKE THE CHANCE, BUDDY.

PLEASE DON'T TELL ON ME.

I SAID--I SAID I WOULDN'T.

BUDDY, I NEVER MEANT TO HARM YOU.

I NEVER WANTED TO HURT A HAIR ON YOUR HEAD,

BUT THEY'D THINK I DID.

ROSE, I DON'T SEE WHAT YOU'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT.

IT WAS MY IDEA.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY'D BLAME ME, NOT YOU.

THEY'D THINK I WAS AWFUL--

A DISGUSTING GIRL, WHICH I AM.

BUT PLEASE DON'T TELL ANYBODY.

PLEASE.

ROSE...

WHAT DID THOSE SCOUNDRELS IN BIRMINGHAM

WANT WITH YOU?

WELL, THEY WANTED WHAT YOU SAID.

FOR YOU TO BE A PROSTITUTE?

HOW MUCH DO THEY PAY THOSE GIRLS TO DO IT?

WELL, THE HOUSE IN BIRMINGHAM,

I THINK IT WAS $3.00.

GIRLS GOT $1.00 AND THE HOUSE TOOK 2.00.

HOW MANY MEN

DID THEY DO IT WITH IN A DAY?

BUDDY, I DON'T KNOW.

10 OR 12, I GUESS. MAYBE MORE.

12 MEN? THAT'S A LOT OF MEN.

PROBABLY MOST OF THEM HAD B.O. AND NEEDED SHAVES.

PROBABLY.

ON THE OTHER HAND,

12 MEN A DAY AT A $1.00 EACH.

IN TWO DAYS, YOU COULD MAKE

WHAT YOU MAKE HERE IN A MONTH.

BUDDY, I DON'T WANT TO BE NO WHORE.

I CAN'T. IT'D KILL ME.

BUDDY, THAT ISN'T WHY

I DON'T WANT YOU TO TELL THEM.

THE REASON IS...

I LOVE IT HERE.

I LOVE YOUR WHOLE FAMILY.

AND, BUDDY...

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO.

SO, PLEASE,

EVEN IF YOU LIKE ME A LITTLE BIT,

PLEASE, BUDDY, DON'T TELL THEM.

PLEASE.

BUDDY.

I KNOW THAT I'M A BAD GIRL,

BUT, PLEASE, HAVE PITY ON ME,

PLEASE, BUDDY, DON'T TELL THEM.

PLEASE, DON'T TELL.

I WOULDN'T TELL ON YOU, ROSE.

THEY COULD PUT SPLINTERS

UNDER MY FINGERNAILS,

AND I WOULD NEVER TELL.

NEVER, 'CAUSE I LOVE YOU, ROSE.

I LOVE YOU.

THANK YOU, BUDDY.

I LOVE YOU.

WELL, I'M GOING TO STOP BOTHERING YOUR DADDY.

EVEN WORSE ROBBING A CRADLE.

OH, I GOT TO FACE THE FACTS OF LIFE.

TOMORROW...

I'M GOING TO GET MYSELF UP AND GO OUT.

GET YOURSELF UP AND GO OUT?

BUDDY.

MR. RIGHT IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERES.

AND I'M GOING TO FIND HIM.

IF I HAVE TO WAKE YOU UP

AT 11:00 IN THE MORNING,

EITHER YOU'RE SICK,

OR YOU WERE UP VERY LATE LAST NIGHT.

YOU WEREN'T READING \hHUCKLEBERRY FINN.

I LOOKED IN YOUR ROOM.

IT'S NOT THERE.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING?

MOTHER, I HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH.

OF COURSE.

I WAS READING ONE OF THOSE DIRTY COMIC BOOKS.

OH, BROTHER,

I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN YOU.

YOU MUSTN'T LOOK AT THOSE AWFUL THINGS.

THEY DEGRADE THE HUMAN IMAGE.

THEY'RE FILTHY, MOTHER.

SEX ISN'T UGLY.

IT'S ONE OF LIFE'S MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

THE POWER OF THE UNIVERSE DESIGNED IT.

I KNOW, MOTHER.

BUT WE MUST RESPECT THAT POWER.

WE MUST BE IN AWE OF IT.

OH, I AM IN AWE, MOTHER.

NOT SUFFICIENTLY. GET THE CASTOR OIL.

CAN'T IT BE CALOMEL?

THIS IS NOT PUNISHMENT.

THIS IS FOR YOUR HEALTH.

ACTING LIKE THIS-- OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE FULL OF POISONS.

YOU'RE SICK.

HERE, BUDDY.

HERE WE GO.

OPEN UP.

1, 2. COME ON.

OPEN UP.

GOOD.

UH.

GODDAMN CRAP.

WHAT DID YOU SAY, BROTHER?

I SAID, "PUTRID STUFF."

YOU DIDN'T SAY THAT, BROTHER.

YES, I DID, MOTHER.

YOUR HEARING AID ISN'T WORKING.

NO, MOTHER. HE LIED.

I'LL CUT YOUR GUTS OUT.

YESTERDAY HE STOLE MONEY FROM YOU.

SHUT UP, BRAT. I'LL KILL YOU.

CHILDREN, BE QUIET. ALL OF YOU.

THE STRANGEST VIBRATIONS IN THIS HOUSE TODAY.

WHERE IS ROSE, ANYWAY?

SHE'S GETTING HERSELF UP TO GO OUT.

WHAT DID YOU SAY, BROTHER?

SHE'S GETTING HERSELF UP TO GO OUT.

OUT? OH, YES. IT'S THURSDAY.

OH, HELLO, ROSE, DEAR.

WOW!

MY, YOU'RE LOOKING...

PRETTY.

YOU LIKE MY OUTFIT?

I MADE MOST OF IT MYSELF.

WELL,

IT'S VERY...

CHEERFUL.

YEAH. I HAVE A KNACK FOR DESIGNING CLOTHES.

[LAUGHING]

DON'T YOU THINK, FOR THE DAY,

IT'S A LITTLE TIGHT?

OH, NO. IT'S MEANT TO BE CLINGING.

THAT'S THE STYLE OF IT.

[MOTHER] UH-HUH.

HOLY CATFISH, ROSE.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO YOURSELF, GIRL?

I GOT MYSELF UP, IS ALL.

GOT YOURSELF UP?

I'M GOING OUT.

YOU'RE GOING OUT IN PUBLIC IN THOSE CLOTHES?

UH-HUH.

DARLING, I DO WISH

YOU WOULDN'T PICK ON ROSE ALL THE TIME.

DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO HIM.

YOU LOOK VERY PRETTY.

YOU'RE SWEET.

[WASKI GIGGLES]

[DOLL] NOW, COME ON, WASKI. STOP IT.

[WASKI] NO.

DADDY, BUDDY WAS UP LATE LAST NIGHT

READING LITTLE DIRTY COMIC BOOKS.

MOTHER GAVE HIM SOME CASTOR OIL,

AND HE CURSED IT.

HE TOOK THE LORD'S NAME IN VAIN,

THEN HE CLAIMED HE HADN'T SAID IT.

DON'T BE A TATTLETALE,

AND YOU MUSTN'T BE DELILAHISH

AND JEZEBELISH WITH YOUR BROTHER.

I'M ONLY TRYING TO HELP HIM, MOTHER.

WHAT A HYPOCRITE.

I DO WISH YOU WOULD SPEAK TO HIM.

HE'S BEEN READING THOSE GHASTLY LITTLE BOOKS AGAIN.

LAY OFF THAT STUFF, SON. IT UPSETS YOUR MOTHER.

I MEAN SERIOUSLY SPEAK TO HIM.

THOSE THINGS WILL INFLAME HIS MIND.

I'LL TAKE HIM WITH ME DOWNTOWN.

YOU, TOO, ROSE, IF YOU WANT A RIDE.

SURE. I'D LOVE ONE.

[HORN HONKS]

WELL, I'M GOING OUT AMONGST THEM, BOYS.

WATCH OUT FOR YOUR TATERS.

HELLO, MA'AM.

HEY.

HI, Y'ALL.

HOWDY.

[HORN HONKS]

OH, MY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU.

HEY.

MISSY.

HEY, Y'ALL.

HEY, FELLAS.

WHY, HI THERE.

LIKE MY OUTFIT? I MADE IT MYSELF.

[WHISTLING]

HELLO THERE, YOUNG LADY.

HOWDY.

[WHISTLING]

HEY.

HEY.

GUM BALLS.

MMM...

GUM BALLS.

YES, MA'AM.

OH, MY FEET SURE DO HURT.

BET YOU THEY DON'T HURT AS MUCH AS MINE DO.

WHY DO YOURS HURT?

WELL, I'M A SALESMAN.

I DO LOTS OF WALKING.

INCREDIBLE. THE SWIFTNESS OF IT.

MM-MM-MMM.

THE GIRL STRIKES LIKE A COBRA.

THAT GIRL BOTHERS ME.

SHE BOTHERS YOU?

IN WHAT WAY, DEAR?

IT'S A LITTLE TEDIOUS HAVING HER AROUND.

YOU THINK ROSE IS TEDIOUS?

I DON'T THINK SHE'S TEDIOUS.

SHE'S THE VERY OPPOSITE OF TEDIOUS.

FROM A MAN'S STANDPOINT, SHE'S TEDIOUS.

HMM.

[DOOR OPENS]

SHE'S BACK.

IN ONE PIECE, I HOPE.

HONEY, I THOUGHT YOU LIKED ROSE.

I'M CRAZY ABOUT ROSE.

I HOPE SHE DOESN'T TURN OUT TO BE

A HIDDEN HOTCHA CHARACTER, THAT'S ALL.

HOTCHA CHARACTER.

WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IS,

IT'S POSITIVE ENERGY ON THIS PLANET.

IT'S WHAT WE DO WITH IT

THAT MAKES IT NEGATIVE.

DARLING, DON'T--DON'T GO OFF

INTO THE FOURTH DIMENSION, ALL RIGHT?

EVERY TIME...

EVERY TIME I SAY SOMETHING IMPORTANT,

YOU ALWAYS SAY

I'VE GONE OFF IN THE FOURTH DIMENSION.

YEAH.

WELL, I DON'T ENTIRELY GRASP

YOUR PHILOSOPHY, SWEETHEART,

BUT I RESPECT IT.

I RESPECT IT.

WELL, THEN, I WISH YOU WOULDN'T SAY

CYNICAL AND MEAN THINGS

THAT--THAT GO AGAINST LIFE ITSELF.

WHAT'S SO CYNICAL

ABOUT HOPING ROSE ISN'T A HOTCHA CHARACTER?

WHY, SHE JUST WANTS TO LOOK PRETTY.

THAT'S ALL. I MEAN-- YEAH, SURE.

WELL, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ARGUE ABOUT THIS.

I CAN SEE THAT YOU'RE BEYOND REASON.

HUH. SO ARE YOU, DEAR.

SO ARE YOU.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU ANYMORE,

[HEARING AID BUZZES]

I'M NOT GOING TO TALK TO YOU.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

SWEETHEART, YOUR HEARING AID IS BUZZING.

I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. YOU WHISPERED.

[BUZZING STOPS]

I SAID BE QUIET.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU ANYMORE.

I HAVEN'T GOT ANYTHING TO SAY TO YOU

BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS THAT YOU DON'T LOVE ME,

AND YOU DON'T EVEN RESPECT ME.

I LOVE AND ADORE YOU, SWEETHEART.

YOU KNOW THAT.

YOU KNOW THAT.

DO YOU?

YOU KNOW I DO.

O.K.

IT'S JUST THAT-- I HOPE ROSE'S BITE

ISN'T AS BAD AS HER BARK, THAT'S ALL.

THAT'S NOT IT.

YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HER.

IT ISN'T SEX THAT SHE WANTS,

IT'S LOVE.

AND THOSE SILLY CLOTHES SHE WEARS,

IT'S THE ONLY WAY SHE KNOWS HOW TO GET IT.

YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT, DARLING,

BUT WE'LL RUE THE DAY ROSEBUD CAME TO OUR HOUSE.

MM-MMM. NO.

YES, MA'AM.

I DISAGREE WITH YOU.

SHE'S A VERY SWEET GIRL.

MM-HMM.

AND SHE LOVES CHILDREN.

SHE LOVES CHILDREN. SHE LOVES EVERYBODY.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

WHAT?

EVERYBODY.

THAT'S NOT A BAD QUALITY.

NO.

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL QUALITY.

YOU'RE RIGHT AS RAIN, SWEETHEART.

YOU'RE RIGHT AS RAIN.

BEAUTIFUL DREAMER

COME UNTO ME

LIST WHILE I WOO THEE

[WHISTLING SOUND]

NO...

COME HERE.

YOU SLEEPY?

NO.

YOU SLEEPY?

NO.

ME, NEITHER.

MMM.

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

I DON'T NEED TO. I CAN FEEL YOU.

[WHISPERS]

UH.

AH.

AH.

ROSE!

THAT SCRUFFY MAN IS IN THE YARD AGAIN.

MRS. HILLYER, I DON'T KNOW HIM.

WELL, I'M GOING TO CALL DADDY.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

THIS WAY, SIR.

GRAND HOTEL.

HONEY, THAT SCRUFFY-LOOKING MAN

IS OUT IN THE YARD AGAIN.

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

[HORN HONKS]

[HONK HONK]

WHERE IS HE, MOTHER?

OVER THERE!

COME BACK HERE, SIR.

COME BACK HERE, YOU.

COME BACK HERE.

COME HERE.

GET OUT OF HERE!

COULDN'T CATCH HIM.

RAN LIKE A DEER.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW HIM.

[RADIO PLAYS]

HEY, DOLL, I GOT ST. LOUIS ON MY CRYSTAL RADIO.

LISTEN.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR RADIO, BUDDY.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT ROSE.

SHE'S AWFUL DUMB.

OH, NO, SHE'S NOT DUMB, DOLL BABY.

HER BASIC INTELLIGENCE IS PROBABLY ABOVE AVERAGE,

MAYBE EVEN A LOT ABOVE AVERAGE.

THEN WHY DOES SHE ACT SO DUMB?

WELL, SEE, DADDY PETRIFIES HER SO INTENSELY,

HER BRAIN BLOWS A FUSE.

SHE DOESN'T LIKE TO THINK ANYHOW.

YOU SON OF A BITCH!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

COME ON.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

I'M THE ONE? YOU'RE THE ONE!

BITE MY ASS.

GO AHEAD AND TEE OFF, YOU ALLIGATOR MONKEY BASTARD!

I'LL TEE OFF ON YOU RIGHT HERE!

GO AHEAD. TEE OFF!

[SOUNDS OF FIGHTING]

BREAK IT UP!

I'LL KILL YOU!

WELL, GO AHEAD.

AAH!

LET GO!

LET GO!

HELL, NO!

I AIN'T GOING TO LET GO.

LET GO!

LET GO!

I GOT A SHOTGUN LOADED WITH BUCKSHOT.

BETTER GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE QUICK.

AND DON'T COME BACK, YOU SONS OF BITCHES,

I'LL BLOW YOUR HEADS OFF!

CHILDREN, GO TO BED.

THANK YOU, ROSE.

MM-HMM.

WASKI NEEDS SOME.

OH.

GIVE HER YOUR JUICE GLASS, DARLING.

WASKI, PASS THE SALT TO YOUR BROTHER.

DOLL?

MORE JUICE, SUGAR?

WELL, ROSE,

MY SLEEP WAS A LITTLE DISTURBED LAST NIGHT.

SO WAS MRS. HILLYER'S

AND SO WAS THE CHILDREN'S.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

WAS YOUR SLEEP DISTURBED, TOO?

WHY, YES, IT WAS.

I HEARD STRANGE VOICES IN THE NIGHT.

STRANGE VOICES, ROSE?

NOW, ROSE, STOP BEHAVING AS IF YOU'RE BO-PEEP.

I'M NOT BEHAVING AS IF I'M BO-PEEP, SIR.

REALLY I'M NOT.

THOSE MEN HAD A FIGHT LAST NIGHT

BECAUSE OF SOME FEMALE IN THIS HOUSE,

AND IT WASN'T DOLLY OR MRS. HILLYER.

WELL, IT'S BECAUSE...

I DON'T KNOW THEM. THEY'RE STRANGERS TO ME.

DARLING, I DON'T THINK ROSE IS FEELING WELL.

WOULD YOU LOOK AT HER? SHE'S ALL FLUSHED.

I THINK SHE HAS A FEVER.

DARLING, IT'S NOT MY FAULT THE GIRL HAS EPIZOOTICS.

I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HER EPIZOOTICS.

I DIDN'T BRING ABOUT HER EPIZOOTICS.

WHEN I HAVE TO GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

AND DEFEND MY HOME AGAINST A COUPLE OF DAMN SCOUNDRELS

FIGHTING IN THE BUSHES--

SCOUNDRELS? THEY WEREN'T SCOUNDRELS.

THEY WERE JUST BOYS.

BOYFRIENDS OF ROSE'S. THAT'S ALL THEY WERE.

AND WHY SHOULDN'T SHE HAVE BOYFRIENDS?

DON'T YOU THINK SHE'S HUMAN LIKE YOURSELF?

JUST A MOMENT, DEAR.

ALL I'M SAYING IS I WOULDN'T WANT ANY YOUNG WOMAN

LIVING IN MY HOUSE TO BE TRAIPSING OUT AT NIGHT

TO MEET STRANGE ORANGUTANS

TO DISCUSS THE NEW DEAL. UNDERSTAND?

NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO THIS.

WE'RE HAVING AN INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION

AND YOU BRING IN ORANGUTANS?

DARLING, PLEASE. SCRAPPERS IN THE BUSHES.

WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM.

IT'S THE SOUTH. THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

WITH ITS HORRIBLE TRADITIONS OF SLAVERY AND CRIME...

AND OPPRESSION OF WOMEN.

THE SOUTH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

NOW, ROSE-- YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIRE THIS GIRL,

NOT FOR AN INNOCENT THING LIKE HAVING BOYFRIENDS.

NOT WHILE I HAVE A BREATH IN MY BODY

OR STRENGTH IN MY FINGER TO SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER

AND SHOOT YOU WITH THE TRUTH RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES.

I DON'T INTEND TO FIRE HER, DEAR.

YOU DON'T?

NO, I DON'T.

ROSE, I TOLD YOU

YOU HAD A FRIEND IN MRS. HILLYER, DIDN'T I?

THAT SHE'D FIGHT FOR YOU LIKE A TIGER?

YES, SIR.

THANKS IN PART TO HER, YOU'RE GETTING ANOTHER CHANCE,

BUT DON'T TRY MY PATIENCE AGAIN. I--

WE HAVE GROWING CHILDREN IN THIS HOUSE.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

YES, SIR. I DO.

I'LL TELL FOSTER AND HORTON TO STAY AWAY FROM HERE.

I'M PLAYING A SPECTACULAR TRIPLE COMBINATION--

9-BALL IN THE CORNER.

READ THEM AND WEEP, BOY.

THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE.

MR. HILLYER?

THE CHIEF OF POLICE WANTS YOU ON THE TELEPHONE.

NOW, WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED?

THERE WAS AN AWFUL BRAWL DOWN AT THE BUSY BEAVER LAST NIGHT.

THE FUR WAS FLYING, THE GAL WAS SCREECHING.

IT WAS LIKE ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.

KNOW THAT HORTON FELLOW, THE BOOTLEGGER?

I'VE HEARD OF THE SCOUNDREL.

SCOUNDREL IS RIGHT.

DAMN NEAR KILLED A MAN WITH A BEER BOTTLE.

THIS GIRL HERE WAS THE CAUSE OF IT ALL.

WHAT'S MORE, SHE BIT THIS OFFICER'S THUMB DOWN TO THE BONE.

THE GIRL WAS REAL UPSET.

I DON'T THINK SHE MEANT TO BITE ME.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO BITE HIM.

AND, UH, WELL, I GOT AN AWFUL BAD COLD.

I DO BELIEVE SHE MIGHT BE SICK.

SHE'S HEALTHY AS A HORSE.

NO, I'M NOT, MR. HILLYER.

I'M SICK AS A DOG.

YOU WOULDN'T WANT HER TO HAVE A RECORD OF ARREST AND CONVICTION.

SHE'S YOUR GIRL, MR. HILLYER.

YOU WANT ME TO RELEASE HER IN YOUR CUSTODY?

NO, NOT REALLY,

BUT I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO DO THAT.

LET THE CRAZY CREATURE OUT, AND I'LL TAKE HER HOME.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO BITE HIM.

HE WAS HITTING HORTON WITH A BLACKJACK IN THE MEANEST WAY,

AND I--I JUST BIT HIM ACCIDENTAL.

I HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE HOTEL.

I'LL SPEAK TO YOU LATER, ROSE.

[RADIO PLAYS]

WHAT'S ROSE GOING TO DO?

WHERE COULD SHE GO?

I DON'T KNOW.

THEY'VE BEEN IN THERE THE LONGEST TIME.

I GOT TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

DADDY'LL KILL YOU, BUDDY.

ROSE JUST SAID

THAT OUR MORALS AREN'T ANY BETTER THAN HERS.

I CAN AND WILL SAY THAT.

HOW CAN ONE SET OF MORALS BE AS GOOD AS ANOTHER?

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

MAYBE SO, BUT ROSE HAS NEVER HURT ANYBODY

AND SHE NEVER WOULD.

SHE JUST BIT A POLICEMAN'S THUMB TO THE BONE.

I'M SURE, IN HER HEART, HER INTENTIONS WERE GOOD.

GOOD INTENTIONS ARE WHAT THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH.

YOU CAN HAVE A GOOD HEART

AND DO A LOT OF HARM IN THIS WORLD.

BE WITH YOU IN JUST A MOMENT.

I COULD'VE SWORN THAT BOY WAS OUT HERE.

THE RASCAL.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ROSE COULD BE A BAD INFLUENCE.

SHE HAS A LOVING NATURE.

AND YOU OUGHT TO WANT SOMEONE LIKE THAT AROUND THE CHILDREN.

WHY DO YOU THINK THOSE MEN AND BOYS ALL LIKE HER?

WELL, I-I'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA.

YOU MEAN SEX?

YOU COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG.

ANYBODY WITH ANY COMMON SENSE CAN BE SEXY.

ROSE LIKES THOSE BOYS AND MEN.

SHE'S GOT LOVE IN HER HEART.

THAT'S WHY THEY FOLLOW HER.

SWEETHEART, I'M SORRY, BUT ROSE HAS GOT TO GO.

WELL, LET ME TALK TO HER.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

SHH...

WELL, MOTHER TRIED TO FIGHT LIKE A TIGER,

BUT I DON'T KNOW.

IS ROSE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE?

SHE MIGHT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR.

WHAT DID ROSE DO?

SHE BIT A STUPID POLICEMAN'S THUMB.

I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD'VE BIT A POLICEMAN,

BUT I DON'T SEE WHY SHE HAS TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE.

ME EITHER. SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING REALLY BAD.

[COUGHING]

ROSE?

ROSE.

DEAR, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

[COUGHS]

YOU'RE ILL.

YOU'RE BURNING UP WITH FEVER, ROSE.

[SIREN]

I DON'T NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

I'LL BE O.K.

I'LL DIE IF I GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

NO, YOU WON'T, DEAR.

ROSE, I PROMISE YOU.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU.

I DON'T NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, PLEASE.

WE'RE COMING RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

WE'LL BE WITH YOU.

IT'S A SAFE PLACE, THE HOSPITAL.

THEY'LL HEAL YOU.

I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, PLEASE.

I DON'T WANT TO GO.

WE'LL SAY A PRAYER FOR ROSE.

IT'S GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT, SWEETHEART.

WE'RE GOING TO SAY A PRAYER FOR HER.

SHE'S IN HERE.

COME WITH ME.

SHE'LL BE O.K.

YOU JUST STAY CLOSE TO MOTHER, ALL RIGHT?

ROSE?

ROSE?

WELL, THE GIRL IS STRONG AS AN OX.

THAT'S WHAT'S KEEPING HER ALIVE.

BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE WALK AWAY FROM DOUBLE PNEUMONIA.

SHE LOOKS TERRIBLE. SHE LOOKS SO AWFUL.

OF COURSE SHE DOES.

BUT I'M PUZZLED BY YOUR DELAY

IN BRINGING HER TO THE HOSPITAL.

HER ILLNESS HAS BEEN GROSSLY NEGLECTED.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS OCCURRED.

WE DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS SO SICK.

I SHOULD THINK THAT NORMAL POWERS OF OBSERVATION

MIGHT'VE SUGGESTED IT TO YOU.

ROSE HID IT FROM US.

SHE'S AFRAID OF THE HOSPITAL.

AFRAID OF THE HOSPITAL?

DEATHLY AFRAID.

HER PEOPLE ARE POOR TENANT FARMERS.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT DOCTORS OR HOSPITALS.

YOU'RE TELLING ME SHE'S A PRODUCT

OF THE HOOKWORM AND PELLAGRA BELT?

WELL, YES. YES.

SHE'S FROM A POOR DIRT FARM.

I FIND THAT UNBELIEVABLE.

ASIDE FROM HER ILLNESS AT THE MOMENT,

SHE IS VERY STRONG

AND A SPLENDID SPECIMEN

OF THE YOUNG HUMAN FEMALE.

AND, UH, A COMELY ONE.

SHE HAS THE FIGURE OF A VENUS DE MILO.

NO. SHE DEFINITELY GOT PROTEIN SOMEWHERE AS A CHILD.

ROSE IS AN AMAZING GIRL.

WE TOOK HER TO OUR DENTIST WITH OUR CHILDREN,

AND ROSE HAS GOT PERFECT TEETH.

NO CAVITIES. NONE AT ALL.

JUST SO.

YOU DON'T GROW PERFECT TEETH

ON A DIET OF SORGHUM SYRUP AND HOECAKE.

SHE HAD PROTEIN, WHICH ALSO ACCOUNTS

FOR HER SUPERB AERIFEROUS ENDOWMENT.

HER WHAT?

LUNG CAPACITY, SIR.

THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE SHE WILL SURVIVE

DESPITE THE DELAY IN MEDICAL TREATMENT.

WELL, THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR, FOR YOUR DISCOURSE.

VERY INTERESTING, I'M SURE.

NOW, LET'S GET OUT OF HERE

BEFORE I GET THE EPIZOOTICS MYSELF.

UH...

THANK YOU, DOCTOR, VERY MUCH.

I BEG YOUR PARDON, UH, EPIZOOTICS?

DO YOU MEAN EPIZOOTICS, AN ANIMAL EPIDEMIC?

NO. I MEAN EPIZOOTICS.

AERIFEROUS. TELLING ME HOW TO PRONOUNCE EPIZOOTIC.

THEY OUGHT TO HANG THAT POLECAT.

HE'S A BRILLIANT DOCTOR.

YOU DON'T LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE'S A YANKEE.

HE'S A POLECAT, DEAR.

WELL, ROSEBUD LOOKED PRETTY PITIFUL IN THAT BED.

I--I HOPE SHE'LL BE ALL RIGHT,

BUT I STILL BELIEVE WE OUGHT TO FIRE HER.

HOW CAN YOU THINK OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT A TIME LIKE THIS?

WHEN SHE RECOVERS, SWEETHEART. WHEN SHE RECOVERS.

HE'S SO SMART, SO GOOD INSIDE,

AND SO UNHAPPY WITH THAT RICH WIFE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND HIM,

HER BEING A SOUTHERNER AND EVERYTHING.

ROSE, YOU'RE TOO UNCRITICAL OF PEOPLE.

MMM. BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THE BEDSIDE MANNER THAT MAN HAS GOT.

HE'S SO SOOTHING, SO SMART...

AND SO KINDHEARTED DEEP INSIDE.

THE OTHER DAY, HE PRACTICALLY GOT TEARS IN HIS EYES

JUST LISTENING TO MY HEART BEAT.

HE SAYS TO ME, "MY DEAR, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL."

WASN'T THAT A NICE THING FOR A DOCTOR TO SAY TO A PATIENT?

WHAT COULD CHEER A GIRL UP MORE THAN THAT?

I HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THAT DOCTOR.

AND SO DOES DADDY.

HE GOT DOUBTS ABOUT HISSELF.

THAT'S THE SADDEST THING OF ALL.

WOULD YOU BELIEVE THAT POOR MAN THINKS NOBODY LIKES HIM?

YEAH, I BELIEVE THAT.

HE WANTS JUSTICE IN THE WORLD, BUDDY.

JUSTICE FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE COLORED PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT'S REAL NICE OF HIM.

THE COLORED DON'T HAVE A VERY GOOD LIFE.

NO, THEY DON'T, BUT HE DOESN'T CARE.

WELL, WHY DOES HE SAY IT, THEN?

HE WANTS TO ACT NOBLE AND MAKE OTHER PEOPLE LOOK BAD.

HMM.

OH, DR. MARTINSON, COME IN, PLEASE.

IT'S VERY DAMP OUTSIDE.

ROSE IS FEELING SO MUCH BETTER.

IN FACT, SHE IS ALMOST ALL WELL.

LET ME BE THE JUDGE OF THAT, MADAM.

YES.

HER ROOM'S AT THE HEAD OF THE STAIRS.

RIGHT ON THE RIGHT.

HOW MUCH LONGER IS THAT POLECAT GOING TO BE IN HER ROOM?

HONEY, DR. MARTINSON IS A VERY GOOD DOCTOR.

HE STUDIED AT JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL.

HE COULD'VE STUDIED AT THE NORTH POLE FOR ALL I CARE.

ANYWAY, I HAVE A PLAN FOR ROSE.

EXCUSE ME.

I'LL START WITH CLOTHES.

SHE DRESSES TOO PROVOCATIVELY.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

DARLING?

EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT, DOCTOR?

OH, UH, YES. YES.

FINE.

SHE'S GETTING HEALTHY.

UH, A FEW MORE DAYS.

ARE YOU GOING TO SCHOOL HERE?

WE'LL TRY.

ROSE, YOU LOOK SO PRETTY.

YOU'RE SO SWEET TO MAKE THIS DRESS FOR ME.

OF JESUS AND HIS GLORY

OF JESUS AND HIS LOVE

I HOPE TO TELL THE STORY

BECAUSE I KNOW 'TIS TRUE

IT SATISFIES MY LONGING

AS NOTHING ELSE CAN DO

DARLING, NOW SHE IS A DIFFERENT PERSON.

BEING SICK AND ALL,

IT MADE SUCH A BIG IMPRESSION ON HER.

I THINK SHE'S REALLY LEARNED HER LESSON.

[BANGING ON DOOR]

OPEN THIS DOOR THIS INSTANT!

YOU HEAR ME?

ROSE, OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR OR I'LL BREAK IT DOWN.

WHO IS IT?

OPEN THE DOOR! DAMN YOU!

JUST A MINUTE.

YOU GOT SOMEBODY IN THERE.

HIS SHOES ARE SITTING ON THE PORCH SMILING AT ME.

ROSE, OPEN UP IMMEDIATELY! YOU HEAR ME?

ROSE, PROCRASTINATION WON'T HELP YOU!

ALL RIGHT. WHERE IS HE? WHERE'S THE CULPRIT?

THERE AIN'T NOBODY HERE.

I KNOWS HE'S HERE.

HONESTLY, MR. HILLYER, THERE AIN'T NOBODY.

WHERE ARE YOU, YOU SON OF A BITCH?

WHERE YOU GOT HIM HID?

THERE AIN'T NOBODY--

THERE AIN'T NOBODY HERE.

WHO, MAY I ASK, IS THAT?

OH...

WELL, THAT'S BILLY.

WHAT, MAY I ASK, WAS BILLY DOING HERE?

BILLY'S A VERY POOR BOY.

HE AIN'T GOT NO MONEY.

HE HAD NO PLACE ELSE TO GO.

IT WAS A SILLY QUESTION.

HE'S NICE. YOU'LL LIKE HIM.

HE WANTS TO BE A FIREMAN.

YOU GUYS ARE A LITTLE VICIOUS WITH FIRE.

UH...

UH, PUT SOMETHING ON, ROSE.

YOU'RE NAKED AS A JAYBIRD.

MR. HILLYER--

I'M AFRAID YOUR FRIEND BILLY'S INJURED.

NOW, WHERE ARE HIS CLOTHES?

UH...

UNDER THE MATTRESS.

I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO BE MAD.

HE WANTS TO MARRY ME.

BILLY'S A SWEET BOY,

BUT HE AIN'T GOT NO MONEY, NO JOB, TOO YOUNG AND ALL.

SHEESH.

I WAS THINKING YOU WOULDN'T HURT HIM OR ANYTHING.

NO. I WON'T HURT HIM, ROSE.

MR. HILLYER, I KNOW I WAS BAD

AND I HADN'T OUGHT TO HAVE DONE IT.

BUT I AM ONLY A HUMAN GIRL PERSON,

AND I AIN'T ALWAYS PERFECT.

DON'T FIRE ME.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH.

ROSEBUD, YOU BREAK MY HEART.

BUT I'M ONLY A HUMAN MAN PERSON MYSELF

OF THE FATHER VARIETY.

PACK YOUR BAG, BABY.

AS OF THIS MOMENT,

YOU'RE HIRED, MIRED, AND FIRED.

THIS COUNTRY COULDN'T STAND GEORGE III,

AND I CAN'T STAND ROSE.

BUT LIBERATION IS AT HAND!

HEAR YE, HEAR YE. I'VE GOT NEWS.

I CALLED COUSIN HOP LONG DISTANCE.

ROSE, I FOUND YOU A JOB IN TENNESSEE.

TENNESSEE?

TENNESSEE IS A LOVELY STATE.

WHAT KIND OF JOB IS IT?

IT'S AN OUTDOOR TYPE JOB.

YOU MEAN A FARM?

NO, NOT EXACTLY. IT ISN'T A FARM,

BUT IT'S A DAIRY ESTABLISHMENT.

[SOBS]

HONEY, ROSE HAS TERRIBLE MEMORIES OF FARM LIFE.

ROSE, THIS ISN'T A DIRT FARM LIKE YOU WERE BORN ON.

IT'S NICE. A NEIGHBOR OF COUSIN HOP'S, A FINE MAN.

I TALKED TO HIM MYSELF.

IT AIN'T A FARM, DAMN IT.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAIRY ESTABLISHMENT.

NOW STOP CRYING, ROSE, HEAR ME? STOP CRYING. IT'S IDEAL!

HOW CAN YOU CALL IT IDEAL

WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT THE WORD "FARM" MEANS TO HER?

IT ISN'T A FARM.

CALLING IT A DAIRY ESTABLISHMENT,

THAT'S JUST CHICORY AND POKERY.

SHE LEAVES TOMORROW ON THE BUS.

IT'S MEAN-HEARTED OF HER TO SIT THERE AND CRY LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT CRYING FOR ME.

I'M CRYING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

WHAT? FOR WHAT?

I HATE TO THINK OF THE BABY BEING BORN ON A FARM.

WHAT BABY YOU SPEAKING ABOUT?

MINE.

I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE.

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY.

THIS IS A CALAMITY.

THEY WON'T HIRE HER NOW, MOTHER.

[SOBBING]

OH, YOU POOR THING.

DON'T YOU CRY, HONEY.

NOBODY'S PERFECT.

WHO'S THE FATHER, DEAR?

WELL, UM...

I REALIZE THAT THIS IS EMBARRASSING,

BUT WHO WERE YOU EXPOSED TO, DEAR?

WELL, UM...

MRS. HILLYER, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SAY.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD LINE OF QUESTIONING.

THE PROBLEM IS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING WHO THE FATHER IS.

IT'S THE MOST VITAL QUESTION OF ALL.

WHO IS HE, DEAR?

SHE DOESN'T KNOW.

SHE MUST KNOW UNLESS YOU--

UNLESS...ROSE?

WAS THERE MORE THAN ONE PERSON?

WELL, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO THINK RIGHT NOW.

YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T ACT LIKE THAT.

WELL, I KNOW, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE.

BUT HE'S OUT OF TOWN

AND DIDN'T LEAVE ME NO FORWARDING ADDRESS.

NO FORWARDING ADDRESS?

NO FORWARDING ADDRESS?

HOLD THE PHONE. HOLD THE PHONE.

IN THE SHOCK OF HER BRILLIANT MOVE,

I FORGOT SOMETHING.

ROSE LIES LIKE A CHILD.

SHE'S NO MORE PREGNANT THAN I AM.

I AM, TOO!

NO, YOU'RE NOT!

YES, I AM!

ALL RIGHT.

TELL US, ROSE,

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU'RE PREGNANT?

WELL...

I HADN'T HAD MY PERIOD IN THREE MONTHS,

AND MY STOMACH'S GETTING BIG.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU.

IT'S SO, MR. HILLYER.

I TELL YOU WHAT.

YOU HAD YOUR CLOTHES OFF ENOUGH AROUND HERE.

PULL UP YOUR DRESS, ROSE,

AND LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

HONEY!

SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE HER PANTIES OFF.

WE CAN SEE HER BELLY WITH THEM ON.

YOU JUST WON'T BELIEVE ME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

I DON'T MIND.

NOW, YOU SEE? SHE'S LYING.

HER BELLY WILL BE AS FLAT AS A PANCAKE.

SEE?

I'D SAY ABOUT THREE MONTHS.

ARE YOU SATISFIED?

WHAT DO YOU SAY SHE HAS?

SHE HAS AN OVARIAN TUMOR.

WHAT IS THAT?

WELL, I WAS CERTAIN SHE WAS PREGNANT.

WELL, I'M NOT SURPRISED YOU THOUGHT SHE WAS PREGNANT.

AN OVARIAN CYST CAN LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE PREGNANCY,

BUT I'M AFRAID THAT'S WISHFUL THINKING.

THE GIRL HAS LOST HER REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY.

SHE HAD GONORRHEA AT AGE 15,

AND IT WAS LEFT UNTREATED.

GONORRHEA?

JUST SO.

SHE ALSO HAD TUBERCULOSIS.

THE X-RAYS PLAINLY SHOW SCARRING.

BUT THE GONORRHEA CAUSED IRREPARABLE DAMAGE

TO HER FALLOPIAN TUBES.

SHE CAN NEVER HAVE CHILDREN OF HER OWN.

THAT'S VERY SAD.

POOR ROSE. WHAT A SAD LIFE SHE'S HAD.

JUST SO.

NOW, AS TO THE MALIGNANCY,

MMM, I THINK THAT VERY UNLIKELY.

I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE MENTIONED IT TO HER.

NO, DOCTOR. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE.

SHE THINKS SHE HAS CANCER AND WILL DIE.

SHE IS AN ADULT, MRS. HILLYER.

I WAS MERELY GIVING HER THE FACTS.

WELL, IF SHE MAKES IT THROUGH THE SURGERY,

I SUPPOSE IT'S BETTER THAN HER BEING PREGNANT.

WELL, NOW. IT'S A BLESSING, REALLY.

AND A STROKE OF LUCK FOR ANOTHER REASON

I'D LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.

THIS OPERATION PROVIDES A THERAPEUTIC OPPORTUNITY

IMPORTANT IN THE CASE OF THIS PARTICULAR GIRL

WHO SUFFERS NOT ONLY FROM AN OVARIAN CYST

BUT FROM A NEUROTIC CONDITION AS WELL.

A NEUROTIC CONDITION?

GO AHEAD, DOCTOR. I THINK I'M FOLLOWING YOU.

EVIDENTLY, SHE HAS BEEN QUITE PROMISCUOUS

SINCE EARLY CHILDHOOD.

SHE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL

OVER HER SEXUAL IMPULSES.

PRAY CONTINUE, DOCTOR.

AS A RULE,

I DON'T BELIEVE IN RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY.

THE WOMAN'S HORMONAL SYSTEM

CAN BECOME PROFOUNDLY DISTURBED.

SHE MAY BE SUBJECT TO DEPRESSION,

AND CERTAIN OF HER SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS

CAN BE AFFECTED.

HER BREASTS MAY SHRINK AND BECOME FLABBY.

FACIAL HAIR MAY APPEAR,

ALONG WITH A CERTAIN COARSENING OF THE FEATURES.

AND OF COURSE,

HER SEXUAL DRIVE WOULD BE GREATLY DIMINISHED.

FOR THESE REASONS, I AM OPPOSED

TO REMOVING THE WOMB AND THE OTHER OVARY...

AS A RULE.

DO YOU FOLLOW ME, SIR?

I'M AHEAD OF YOU.

I THINK WE BOTH KNOW HER.

YES, WE KNOW HER.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS BUSHY TALK.

MRS. HILLYER,

THIS GIRL IS SICK IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.

SHE'S AN EXTREME PSYCHONEUROTIC

WITH UNCONTROLLABLE SEXUAL IMPULSES.

IT WOULD BE A MERCY

TO SPARE HER THE SUFFERING THAT SHE CAUSES HERSELF...

AND OTHERS.

THEREFORE, I AM RECOMMENDING AS A THERAPEUTIC MEASURE

THE REMOVAL OF HER SECOND OVARY.

I FEEL IT IS THE MEDICALLY PROPER DECISION

IN THIS CASE,

AND I SUSPECT THAT YOUR HUSBAND AGREES WITH ME.

RELUCTANTLY, I DO.

IT WOULD BE A KINDNESS AND A BLESSING

TO HER AND EVERYONE ELSE.

THE GIRL IS OVERSEXED.

AND I SAY, UH...

SPAY HER.

OVER MY DEAD BODY.

OH...

ARE YOU HUMAN BEINGS,

OR ARE YOU SOME KIND OF MALE MONSTERS?

IS THERE NO LIMIT TO WHICH YOU WILL NOT GO

TO KEEP YOUR ILLUSIONS ABOUT YOURSELVES?

ILLUSIONS, MADAM?

YOU'D GO SO FAR

AS TO MUTILATE A HELPLESS GIRL

WHO HAS NO MEANS OF DEFENDING HERSELF?

DO YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU SAID,

AND DO YOU THINK I DON'T UNDERSTAND

THE DREADFUL AND REVOLTING CRIME

YOU JUST CONSPIRED TO COMMIT?

DADDY,

I THOUGHT I KNEW YOU BETTER.

I THOUGHT, IN YOUR HEART,

YOU'RE A GOOD AND KIND MAN.

A DEFENSELESS GIRL

TRUSTING YOU TO PROTECT HER,

AND YOU PROPOSE TO DESTROY HER?

WELL, NOW...

WHEN HE SAID IT, IT SOUNDED REASONABLE.

NOW, I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT BE BETTER OFF.

I REALLY DID.

IF I THOUGHT THAT YOU MEANT IT...

I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE.

YOU LOOK ME IN THE EYE.

YES.

COULD YOU REALLY TAKE ROSE'S WOMANHOOD AWAY FROM HER

WHEN IT'S ALL SHE HAS GOT?

MAY I SAY THAT I AM AGAINST THIS PROCEDURE

AS A GENERAL RULE?

BUT IN A CASE OF NEAR NYMPHOMANIA...

NOW, I MUST ADMIT, IN ROSE'S CASE,

IT WOULD BE CRUEL.

SHE'S SO ATTRACTIVE AND PRETTY,

IT--

BUT, UH...

NO. NO.

IT WOULD BE BAD FOR ALMOST ANY YOUNG WOMAN,

WHETHER IT BE ROSE...

OR OUR DOLL BABY GROWING UP

OR WHOEVER.

I WAS WRONG, AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

AND YOU ARE WRONG.

SORRY, DARLING. PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

I WAS DEAD WRONG.

I WILL NOT CRY LIKE A WOMAN.

NOW YOU GET THIS STRAIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH MONEY ANYMORE,

BUT I CAN RAISE QUITE A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS

IF I HAVE TO,

AND IF YOU HURT THAT GIRL,

I'LL HIRE LAWYERS,

AND I'LL SUE YOU FROM HERE TO KINGDOM COME.

I'LL RUIN YOU.

JUST SO.

ACTUALLY, I WON'T OPERATE.

I DON'T DO MAJOR SURGERY.

DR. HARDY WILL OPERATE,

AND OF COURSE HE SHALL BE GUIDED

BY YOUR WISHES, DEAR LADY.

LET HIM BE GUIDED, NOT BY MY WISHES,

NOR BY ROSE'S WISHES,

THOUGH I'M SURE THEY ARE IDENTICAL.

LET HIM BE GUIDED

BY THE WISHES OF THE CREATIVE POWER OF LIFE ITSELF,

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HAS SPOKEN THROUGH ME HERE TODAY.

I THOUGHT I'D SEEN THE LIMIT,

BUT THESE ARE THE MOST GAGA EPIZOOTICS

SHE'S EVER HAD.

HOW IS SHE?

SHE'S FINE. ROSE IS FINE.

MM-MM-MM.

YOU'RE LOOKING CHIPPER THIS MORNING.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

WELL, I FEEL PERFECT.

EXCEPT FOR THIS SCAR ON MY STOMACH,

I WOULDN'T KNOW I'D BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL.

WE KNOW YOU BEEN THERE.

WE GOT THE HOSPITAL BILL,

AND IT'S, UH... IT'S PRETTY BLOODCURDLING.

WELL, I'LL PAY YOU BACK, MR. HILLYER.

I DIDN'T MEAN THAT.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, HONEY.

I COULD TAKE THAT JOB AS A WAITRESS.

MM-MMM.

ABSOLUTELY NOT, ROSE.

I WOULDN'T HEAR OF YOU

WORKING IN A HONKY-TONK PLACE.

JUST A TOUCH.

I HAVE A HOTEL TO RUN.

BYE, DARLING.

GOODBYE, HONEY. HAVE FUN.

A ROOM AND BATH FOR A DOLLAR AND A HALF.

I MARRIED A RICH WOMAN,

AND I'M RUNNING THE JACKLEIGH HOTEL.

GOOD MORNING, LADIES.

BUDDY.

YEAH?

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE HERE.

I GOT TO GO.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU SAY THAT, ROSE.

I GOT TO, BUDDY.

WHY DID YOU GET RID OF ALL YOUR RABBITS?

I DON'T KNOW.

GUESS I JUST GOT TIRED OF THEM.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A CHILD,

WE HAD MORE THAN 500 RABBITS.

500 RABBITS?

AT LEAST THAT MANY.

WE HAD THEM IN ORANGE CRATES ALL OVER.

DADDY THOUGHT WE COULD SELL THEM,

BUT NOBODY BUT COUNTRY FOLK EAT RABBIT,

AND THEY AIN'T GOT NO MONEY.

WE HAD TO EAT THEM ALL OUR OWN SELVES.

TOOK ABOUT FOUR YEARS TO EAT THEM ALL.

THAT DOCTOR SAID YOU GOT PROTEIN SOMEWHERE.

I GUESS HE WAS RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, LATER ON,

AFTER MAMA AND LYNETTE DIED,

MY DADDY WASN'T DOING NOTHING

EXCEPT KILLING HISSELF

AND CHASING AFTER ME.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD

TO HAVE A LITTLE RABBIT STEW.

THAT WAS WHEN I RUN OFF TO BIRMINGHAM.

THAT DADDY OF YOURS MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY AWFUL, ROSE.

YEAH, I GUESS HE WAS.

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU RAN AWAY?

14.

14? HOW DID YOU LIVE?

WELL, I LOOKED A LOT OLDER,

SO I WORKED AS A WAITRESS.

YOUR DADDY KILLED HIMSELF?

WELL, HE FELL IN THE RIVER DRUNK.

WHAT WAS YOUR MAMA LIKE?

A SAINT,

JUST LIKE YOUR OWN MAMA.

WHAT DID SHE DIE OF?

SAME THING AS LYNETTE--

TYPHOID AND TB.

WAS LYNETTE LIKE YOU?

NO. SHE WAS A LOT NICER THAN ME.

LYNETTE WAS THE SWEETEST GIRL THAT EVER LIVED.

MOTHER SAYS IT'S A MIRACLE

YOU ARE THE WAY YOU ARE.

THE WAY I AM?

YEAH.

YOUR BAD ENVIRONMENT DIDN'T DRAG YOU DOWN.

BUDDY, LIFE AIN'T A PICNIC FOR NOBODY.

DON'T YOU GUESS

THEM MILLIONAIRES UP THERE HAVE TROUBLES, TOO?

500 RABBITS.

YEAH.

MAYBE IT WAS EATING ALL THEM RABBITS

THAT MADE YOU SO SEXY, ROSE.

SEX DON'T MEAN NOTHING TO ME, BUDDY.

IT AIN'T NOTHING BUT A MOSQUITO BITE.

A MOSQUITO BITE?

WELL, YEAH.

BUDDY,

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A SECRET.

GIRLS DON'T WANT SEX.

GIRLS WANT LOVE.

THAT'S WHAT MOTHER ALWAYS SAYS.

WELL, IT MUST BE TRUE, THEN.

WHEN WAS YOUR MAMA EVER WRONG?

I WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR A WONDERFUL AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

CAN I SEE YOU AGAIN IN THE MORNING?

OH, YOU SURE CAN.

WHOO!

YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT HAPPENED.

I HAVE MET MR. RIGHT.

WHO DO YOU SUPPOSE HE IS?

WHO?

THE POLICEMAN THAT ARRESTED ME,

THE ONE WHOSE THUMB I BIT.

HE'S MR. RIGHT.

I FOUND HIM.

OOH-WHOO!

KNOWING THE SERIOUSNESS OF MARRIAGE,

ARE YOU BOTH STILL RESOLVED TO TAKE YOUR VOWS

BEFORE GOD AND THESE PEOPLE?

WE ARE.

WHO GIVES THIS WOMAN TO BE MARRIED?

I DO.

All right. You can sit down now.

WOULD YOU JOIN YOUR RIGHT HANDS, PLEASE?

DAVID, REPEAT AFTER ME--

I, DAVID...

I, DAVID...

PROMISE WITH GOD'S HELP

TO BE YOUR FAITHFUL HUSBAND...

PROMISE WITH GOD'S HELP

TO BE YOUR FAITHFUL HUSBAND...

TO LOVE AND TO SERVE YOU AS CHRIST COMMANDS...

TO LOVE AND TO SERVE YOU AS CHRIST COMMANDS...

AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE.

AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE.

ROSE--

I, ROSE...

I, ROSE...

PROMISE WITH GOD'S HELP

TO BE YOUR FAITHFUL WIFE...

PROMISE WITH GOD'S HELP TO BE

YOUR FAITHFUL WIFE...

TO LOVE AND TO SERVE YOU AS CHRIST COMMANDS...

TO LOVE AND TO SERVE YOU AS CHRIST COMMANDS...

AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE.

AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE.

CARE FOR ONE, SIR?

O.K.

HEY, HORTON, HOW YOU DOING?

DO I SEE A MONKEY?

YOU THREE WANT SOME ICE CREAM?

YEAH! YEAH!

DO YOU LIKE PICNICS? I LOVE PICNICS!

IT ISN'T A PICNIC, HONEY. IT'S A BARBECUE.

SEE, A PICNIC DOESN'T INVOLVE ROAST MEATS.

AT A BARBECUE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF ROAST MEATS.

WELL...

THESE KIDS STILL WANT SOME ICE CREAM.

COME ON.

COME ON, BUDDY.

I WANT SOME ICE CREAM!

ME, TOO. COME ON.

I LOVE YOU, ROSE.

GOING TO MISS YOU.

I'LL BE FINE.

BYE, BABY. WE ALL LOVE YOU.

WE LOVE YOU. LOVE YOU.

YEAH.

YOU BEHAVE YOURSELF, YOU HEAR?

HA HA HA.

ROSE...

BYE. LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

CHILDREN, DID YOU GIVE ROSE SUGAR GOODBYE?

GOODBYE, BUDDY.

I LOVE YOU, BUDDY.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

I'LL MISS YOU SO MUCH.

I LOVE YOU ALL.

THANK GOD, WE'RE RID OF HER AT LAST.

AND SHE'S HAPPY.

THAT'S THE MAIN THING. SHE'S HAPPY.

YES. SHE'S HAPPY.

OF COURSE, DAVE DOESN'T HAVE HER LIFE FORCE.

THERE ISN'T MUCH FURNITURE IN HIS HOUSE.

THERE'S A TABLE, ONE OR TWO CHAIRS.

WITH ROSE, SHE'S GOT FURNITURE COMING OUT THE WINDOWS.

NOW, HONEY, HE IS MR. RIGHT.

WELL...

HE ADORES HER.

BUT I HOPE SHE ISN'T TOO MUCH FOR HIM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, BROTHER?

BUDDY'S CRYING, MOTHER.

OF COURSE, DAVE WILKIE WASN'T MR. RIGHT.

HE WAS MR. WRONG.

IT TOOK ROSE FOUR HUSBANDS

TO FIND MR. RIGHT.

SHE'S BEEN MARRIED TO HIM FOR 25 YEARS,

AND I DO BELIEVE SHE HAS BEEN A FAITHFUL WIFE.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BELIEVE IT,

BUT I THINK SO.

MAYBE I KNEW FROM THE WAY DADDY TALKED ON THE PHONE

THERE WAS SAD NEWS ABOUT ROSE.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY SHE'D BEEN SO MUCH ON MY MIND.

DADDY!

DADDY!

[DOOR CLOSES]

HELLO, OLD MAN!

HOW ARE YOU?

I'LL BE DAMNED. LOOK WHO'S HERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, SON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR.

LOOK AT YOU. YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD.

YOU, TOO. HOW YOU FEEL?

GOOD. MM-HMM. MM-HMM.

UH, YOU BRING ANY OF THAT YANKEE WHISKEY WITH YOU?

I--I DON'T MIND.

I'M ONLY 133.

NOW, WHAT'S ALL THIS ABOUT ROSE?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,

YOU HEARD FROM HER IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING?

THERE'S SOME SAD NEWS.

I WAS GOING TO WRITE YOU,

BUT I THOUGHT I'D WAIT TILL YOU WERE HERE.

WHEN I LOOK OUT AT THE RIVER,

I FEEL LIKE I'M A BOY AGAIN.

I WAS 13 WHEN I SAW ROSE COMING ACROSS THE BRIDGE,

CARRYING THAT SUITCASE TIED WITH THE STRING.

I REMEMBER THAT SUITCASE.

WELL, DADDY?

WE HAVE OUR DRINK. WE'RE OUT HERE ON THE PORCH.

YOU HAVE PREPARED ME FOR IT.

ROSE ISN'T WELL. THAT'S IT, ISN'T IT?

SHE SICK AGAIN?

NO, SON.

SHE'S DEAD.

ROSE IS DEAD?

I'M AFRAID SO.

ABOUT A WEEK AGO.

HER HUSBAND PHONED ME.

SHE HAD ASKED HIM TO CALL ME IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO HER.

YOU KNOW...

YOU HAVE KNOCKED ME FOR ONE HELL OF A LOOP,

OLD MAN.

I KNOW.

AND YOU LOVED HER.

YOU LOVED HER, AND SO DID I.

IT WAS AN AWFUL SHOCK TO ME, TOO, SON.

AWFUL SHOCK.

ROSE WAS SO ALIVE.

IT--IT--

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE.

WELL...

WELL...

WELL...

NOBODY LIVES FOREVER, AND WHO'D WANT TO?

THAT'S A HELL OF A THING TO SAY.

GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF.

SHE HAD A GOOD LIFE. MET MR. RIGHT.

YEAH.

NOW, WHAT ARE YOU BLUBBERING ABOUT?

I'M NOT BLUBBERING.

[SIGH]

ROSE ISN'T DEAD, SON. NOT REALLY.

SOME OF US DIE, AND SOME OF US DON'T.

ROSE...LIVES.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, BOY.

SHE'S AT REST WITH MOTHER

IN A CREATIVE UNIVERSE.

SHE'S AT REST WITH MOTHER.

[DIXIE PLAYS]