All language subtitles for What T D M H (1997)

Captioning made possible by
hallmark channel

[Can on sidewalk echoes]

- Sammy!

Sammy!

[Music box playing
"my ship"]

- Oh, please, Sammy.

Come on, honey, not now.

All right, arms up.

- How come we’re leaving?

- If you don’t hurry,
we’re not.

- But how come?

- Tell me you love it here,
and we’ll stay.

- Where are we going?

- A little step up
in the world maybe.

Time something good
happened for us, huh?

Yeah.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ok!

Let’s go, kiddo.

Here you go.

We’ve got a bus to catch.

Hmm? Come on, come on.

- Ma?

- What?

Oh! Oh, yes.

[Music box playing]

P.A. announcement:
...Service to Marion,

with intermediate stops in...

- I know. Somebody’s
chasing us, right?

- Wind down, Sammy.

- Bet it’s some goon.

- Sammy, nobody’s
chasing us, ok?

Get up there.

- But how come you won’t
say where we’re going?

- Because it’s a surprise.

Ok, move over.

- Sure.

Nobody I know, right?

- Watch your step, Mr. Ayers.

Man: Excuse me. Miss?

Woman: Yes?

[Indistinct conversation]

- Ma?

- Hmm?

- The kids ask me
how come?

- How come what?

- How come my mother’s
a "miss" instead of "Mrs."

- All right, that’s it.
Lights out.

The next sound I want to hear
coming from the seat next to me

is a 10-year-old kid snoring.

- But how come?

- Not one more word
out of you.

[Whispering] Not one.

[Indistinct conversations]

[Big band music playing]

Bus driver: Anniston!

Anniston station!

Rest stop, 3o minutes.

30 minutes only.

30 minutes.
Mind what I say.

Do your thing,
but do not stray.

If you ain’t back on-board,
we leave, anyway.

You like that?

I made that up myself.

- Never would have guessed.

- Well, you think
you can do better?

- Um, um...

Stretch your legs,
but don’t be late.

We’re pullin’ out
when the big hand’s on eight.

- Watch your step, ma’am.

[Laughter and music]

[Women screaming
and laughing]

[Honk honk]

Man: Whoo!

- Say! Night’s young, huh?

I’ll show you. Come on.

It’s called boogie-woogie.

Hey! Come on!

Yeah!

Hey! That’s it.

That’s it.

Hey.

Oh, yeah!

- Ok, folks,
take your seats.

All aboard now.

Woman: Aah!

- I gotta get back.

[Muffled scream]

[Indistinct conversation]

Man: Hello! Hello!

- Barrington!

Barrington!
End of the line!

Watch your step, folks.

Ohh!

Woman: Frieda!

- Watch your step.
Thanks for ridin’ with us.

- Matthew.

- Mornin’, norm.

- Thanks for ridin’
with us, sir.

Man: Oh, hello, mother.

Woman: Oh, uncle Charles,
let me take that.

- Come on, young fella.

Time to get off.
It’s the end of the line.

You’s feelin’
if it’s warm,

your mama or whoever’s
long gone.

I forget which stop.

Wouldn’t be surprised if she
knew exactly what she was doin’.

Helen’s voice:
Not one more word out of you.

- Come on. Let’s go.

Helen’s voice:
Not one.

- Hey, this yours?

Hey, kid!

Great.

Deaf and dumb to boot.

- What you got here,
finis?

- Oh...

A leftover.

Can’t remember when they got on.

His mother got off.

My guess is she slipped off
along the way

and dumped him.

- Well, now,
why would she do that?

- Well, you get to be
a student of human nature
behind the wheel, norm.

She’s the type, you know,
men turn to.

- Not in front of the boy.

- Oh, don’t worry.

I think he’s deaf as a post
and dumb in the bargain.

Watch this.

Hey, kid!

Hey!

Got your pants on backwards!

What’d I tell you?

I figure, I just seen her
a couple of times,

but here’s a gal
got a smart mouth,

been around and back.
You know my meaning.

I can spot ’em.

He’s a drag on her,
pullin’ her down,

so she dumps him.

- Well, maybe she got sick
or something.

- Sick and tired.

- Well, looks like
he’s expecting someone.

- Well, I hope
he don’t hold his breath.

Uh, well, norm,
he’s all yours.

Now, I am through
when I park it,

and, you know,
he’s sittin’ on that bench,

so he is terminal’s
responsibility.

- Oh, now, hold on
just a minute.

- Don’t even
think about that.

I’m not takin’ him home.

Adult Sammy: It was at this
exact moment in time

that I was struck
by a revelation.

If people thought you were deaf
and not able to talk,

they’d blurt out their true
feelings without holding back.

And I also began to notice

how they’d pay attention to you
in a special way.

It suddenly seemed to me

that in being deaf
and playing mute,

I had a kind of power
over things...

At least until I saw
how the land laid.

- Well, sir, there are days
I would consider you
downright lucky.

I guess that’s not fair
to say, is it?

Someone comin’ for you?

I’ll bet you’re hungry,
aren’t you?

Are you hungry?

Hey. That’s
all right, now.

You want somethin’ to eat?

Yeah? You like that?

Ok, let’s go get something
to eat now. Come on.

We’ll go right on
in here.

All right, now you let me
handle Lucille.

I wouldn’t advise eatin’
her cookin’ on a regular basis,

but in the case
of extreme starvation,

it won’t hurt you.

- Extreme starvation, huh?

You’ve gone up 3 belt sizes
sittin’ on that very stool.

Man: Thanks, Lucille.
Norm.

- Oh, thanks, Clyde.
See you tomorrow.

So, what’ll it be?

- He’s deaf,

and he can’t talk.

He’s just hungry.

- Well, you
and your aunt Lucille

got a little problem here.

Uh, here we go.
Now, you take your pick.

Number one--my specialty.

Number 2--how about this?

Number one.

Thought you had
that bacon and eggs look.

Let’s see.

- Looks like
you got a fan, Lucille.

- Don’t you give me that.

I feed strays
and send them on their way.

He just rolled in
on a bus, alone?

I don’t believe a mother
would just walk off
and leave him.

- I’m just repeatin’
what finis said.

- Finis is full of exhaust.

- Well...
I don’t get people.

Like finis saying
he’s deaf and dumb.

Just ’cause he can’t hear
doesn’t mean his brain’s
turned off.

Ain’t nothin’ dumb
about that boy.

People.

- People just don’t know
any better.

Looks sharp as a tack
to me.

- Well, he seemed to be
expectin’ someone.

I don’t know.
- Hey, royal.

- Miss Lucille.

- Well, he doesn’t
look like he’s on the run.

Hey, you’re not
on the run, are ya?

Hmm.

- Could you sign here?

- My autograph.

Thank you.

- Mm-hmm.

- I think
you better call Harvey.

- The police?
I’m not gonna call Harvey.

His answer to everything
is call someone else--

the fire department,
the highway patrol, whoever.

- Oh, well, I mean,
maybe somebody’s reported
him missing or something.

- I think a relative will come
looking for him, you know.

And, you know,
we keep a lookout,

and his mama may come
rollin’ in on the next bus.

- I know
what you are thinkin’ about.

- Oh, now, why don’t you
just hang out a sign,

"I know everything."

- Just thinkin’,
maybe if he’s been abandoned.

You know, sometimes
you are an open book, norm.

- Oh, now, Lucille...

- He’s not a stray cat,
for pete’s sake.

You got to do more than just
put down a saucer of milk.

- Can a fella
get a refill here?

- Kids have school,
clothes, chicken pox.

- I’m really sorry
that I ok’d the lease

on this ptomaine factory.

- Norman.
- [Shouting] I’m not gon--

[quietly] I’m not gonna
scare him off,

in case somebody
comes lookin’ for him.

- Well, maybe somebody
is lookin’ for him.

If you were lookin’ for a kid,
who would you call first?

- All right, i’ll...

I’ll give, uh...

- Harvey.
- A jingle.

[Crowd chatters]

- All right.

Come on, now, young fellow.
Speak up.

I got better things to do.

- Harvey, he’s deaf.
I told you that.

- How do I know
he ain’t just being contrary?

You hear me, boy?

- Oh, Harvey,
he can’t hear you.

When you’re deaf,
you can’t hear.

- Jenkins,
i’m a trained investigator.

I need to get
to the bottom of this.

- Harvey,
I can understand that.

But you can’t ask somebody
who can’t--

- Herbert,
stop the car. Stop.
Stop. I wanna see.

- You’re testin’
my Patience now, young fella.

I’d advise you not to try to
make a fool of the law,
you hear?

- Wait up, tolliver.

- Tolliver, tallasse.

- Someone
who can’t hear you.

- Maybe he’s just shy,
Jenkins.

- Lucy and I talked to him for
an hour and a half in there.

We asked him questions,
and he did not respond.
Is he talkin’ to you?

- No. But, you know,
i--you know, i’m lookin’
real close at him,

and i’m thinkin’,
"this looks like a boy
who can talk."

- Harvey, I said
he was deaf.

Will you just find out...

- Where--where
do you come from, boy?

- Harvey, don’t ask him.

- What? Well,
if I don’t ask him,
who am I supposed to ask?

But what i’m saying,
how do you know he’s deaf?

- This isn’t getting us
anywhere.

Woman: Now, how in the world
are they gonna prove
that he’s not deaf?

- I feel like he can talk.

- How can you tell?

I said he is deaf,
not blind.

- Well, I,
on the other hand...

- Aah!
- Ha ha ha.

- No, Harvey,
not the gun! Not the gun!

- Tolliver tynan.

- Mom! Please!

- You’re rotten! Now,
you just get in and sit down!

- That was a beautiful service
for Mr. Tynan, ma’am.

Been thinkin’ about it
all week.

He was a fine, fine man.

- Yes, well, the lord giveth
and the lord taketh away.

- Hey, stop it!
- Ain’t that the truth?

- Herbert, drive on.

- You’re bad, tolliver.
He’s such a nice boy.

- He’s deaf.

- Ok, so he’s deaf and dumb.

What am I supposed
to do about it?

Thanks for the pie,
Lucille.

- Uh-huh.

- They got places
to handle that.

- Oh.

Well...

Ahh. Now, then...

Well, so here we are, right?

Right.

Well, you just
stay planted there

in case somebody
comes along for you.

A boy fit and smart
like you,

somebody’s gonna come
for ya.

Of course, there’s
another possibility
just come to me.

Um, maybe somebody
sent you on here

because they thought
I had a place for you.

You think that
maybe that’s it?

- No, that ain’t it.
He isn’t here by any
divine intervention,

and both of you better hope
somebody does show up.

Because this is the world’s
poorest excuse

for an orphanage.

- Pay no attention.

Now, you heard her in there
call herself

your "aunt Lucille?"

Ah. Well, ha ha.

I mean, you know,

you didn’t hear, of course.

But that was her talkin’.

She’s all mush.

She took to you.
I can tell.

So, um...

You just sit here
and keep an eye peeled.

[Indistinct conversations]

- [Whistling]

- I’ll be right back.

- Charlie, you get Bob
to give you a ride home.

- All right, norm.

Good night.

- Mosquitoes are gonna
carry you off

if you continue
to camp out here.

Ohh. Boy.

Doesn’t look like
it’s gonna happen, does it?

Hey. Hey, you.

Sleepy, huh?

A fella can just keep his eyes
open so long, huh?

I got a cot
I keep out back.

You can stay the night,
anyway.

If somebody doesn’t come
and pick you up tomorrow,

i’d be lying if I told you
I know what will happen.

I don’t.

Come on. Hey.

Let’s go.

Well, now, here you go,
young fella.

There’s your cot.

Be careful you don’t--

you don’t trip
over anything, now.

Look around
and get familiar.

Now, this sink’s got a bit
of a drip in it. But...

I guess that won’t
bother you.

This is a clean shirt.

You can wear this
as a nightgown

and get out of those clothes
before they stick to you.

Ah, I got somethin’ for you.

Fig delights for you.

This is one of my favorites.

A new, fresh package for you

in case you get hungry
during the night.

Just take one of those.

All right.

Over here, the light,
see it?

Switch. Ok?

And, uh,
that’s about it, I guess.

Ok. Well, I can’t think
of anything else.

Well, I hope tomorrow
looks a whole lot better
for you, young fella.

Good night.

Adult Sammy: You might wonder
how I felt that night--

belonging nowhere
and to no one.

All in all,
I hadn’t done bad.

Not every day a pretty girl
takes your side

and pounds out
her big brother.

But down deep,
I had a pretty firm feeling

that I would never see
my mother again.

I didn’t know why, exactly,

except that
we were pretty close

and the connection
that we had was gone.

But somehow, I felt ok.

Maybe it was because
I knew for sure

I was going to wake up
the next day and keep
right on pretending

like I couldn’t hear
or speak.

I must have figured
that it was like
some kind of armor,

shielding me from
something I didn’t
want to think about...

At least not right then,
anyway.

- [Whistling]

Adult Sammy: It’s funny
how time goes by.

A whole lot of time, even.

The country was changing.

Even barrington was
adjusting in its own way,

which was slowly
and not all at once.

I still lived rent-free in
the back of the bus station,

thanks to norm Jenkins,
who still managed the place

and had stayed on
a couple of years past
his retirement.

All this time,
living in a bus station--

"how awful,"
some folks might say.

But I look at what
some of them have been
doing with their lives,

and I wouldn’t
change places.

- Nice to meet you.

- Norm Jenkins took off
every Saturday

on what Lucille called
"his secret fishing
expeditions."

On this particular day,
in the spring of 1965,

he acted different
when he came back.

At least, it sure appeared
that way to me at the time.

The one person who had changed
was tallasse tynan--

that pretty girl who punched out
her brother tolliver.

She’d given me my first
and only Valentine.

Then, a few years ago,
she’d gone off to college

and hardly ever came back.

Man on TV: He held that family
in an iron fist for 15 years,

and the whole town...

- You look like
you need a refill, merle.

- I could use it.

- Hi, Sammy.

Uh...the toaster...

Is on the Fritz again.

Sammy: Well, right off,
if you’ve been listening,

you know
that i’m 3 parts fraud.

But i’m one part handyman,

and the best there is
in barrington,

or so norm Jenkins
likes to say.

- Morning, all!
Miss Lucille!

- Tolliver.

Sammy: Guess who?

- Hey, dum-dum.

Forget that old thing.

These first.

Here’s number one--

in the hallway outside
the minister’s office,

the baseboard
needs replacing

and pain-ting.

Number 2--
2, 2--

mother dear--
mother dear--

would like you to wash
the patio furniture

and trim the driveway hedge.

And 3--hey, look at me.

As a little commission
you owe me

for this...
Act of welfare,

you can wash my car.

Mm.

Hey, get the whitewalls
this time...

Dum-dum.

Good morning,
miss Beatrice.

Sammy: Tolliver tynan’s
daddy died rich,

but he didn’t die dumb.

He left all his estate
in a trust to his widow

to be dispersed
to his children
only upon her death,

and the allowance
that she gave tolliver
was piddling,

which rankled him
to no end.

- Boy, I wish Sammy
would just beat the pulp
out of him one day.

- Oh, sammy’ll have his day.
Don’t you worry.

[Pop]

- You want a ride?!

Where to?!

- Hey! Thacker!

You’re a menace
on the streets!

You could’ve hit me!

- I decided
against it, Mr. Tynan.

- Don’t you
get smart with me,
Archibald thacker.

I don’t know why
you can’t haul this junk
on the side streets.

You’re a blot on the beauty
of downtown barrington.

- Oh, yeah.
Beautiful downtown barrington.

- Waste of breath
talkin’ to you.

- I’ve tried
for years to find something
to like about that boy.

No luck so far.

Tynan’s place, huh?

Ok, Sammy. I’ll get you there.
Climb on back!

- You sound like dad.
"I’m not a risk-taker.

A-b-c--always be cautious."

- You had Baxter in economics.
I had brown.

- Yeah, right.
I heard he was once
a pit boss in Vegas.

- So, there you are.
- So, there what?

- Look, look.
You want financial experience

running your portfolio,
or do you want to bet the store

on some theoretical nobel winner
from Harvard?

- [Deep voice] "Don’t bandy
the name Harvard around, son.

Bad for our image."
Ha ha ha ha!

- Hey, where is dad
taking all this stuff?

- Wedding present
for montgomery’s new bride.

[Both laugh]

Sammy: Archibald thacker.

A widower with 4 sons
had become wealthy
over the years

hauling junk and cleaning up
after other people.

He had 2 businesses
set up in the name of
a white Atlanta lawyer.

People thought he was
just eking by,

but what they didn’t see
was him eking in and out

of Atlanta banks
for the last 20 years.

- Stop! Stop that!
Are you crazy?

- Good morning,
Rachel. My goodness.

You look prettier
by the day.

- Mr. Thacker--
- now, now. Not to worry.

- What do you call this--
- about average.

You not accustomed
to our landscaping.

- Landscaping?

- Montgomery
should have told you.

You see, when you are
our color

in this part of
our great nation,

the key to getting rich
is to appear happily poor.

Just blend in
and bide your time.

Look upon these little items
as stepping stones.

- Rachel! Rachel!

Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

This is not so bad.

You know,
people pay good money
for some of this stuff.

We could actually
use this,

and it actually blends in
with the rest of
the neighborhood.

So, just relax.
Just relax...

Sammy: The fact is
he and his boys

had a third and even
more profitable business

which, well, let’s just say
it paid a whole lot better

than washing Mrs. Tynan’s
patio furniture.

- Well, you certainly
took your time getting here.

[Shouting] Taking advantage
of your handicap

won’t get you
anywhere with me.

You’ll get paid once
on the slip

no matter how long
you dawdle.

Gail!

- Mother, for heaven’s sake.

Why do you insist on
berating poor Sammy

when you know he can’t
hear you or talk back?

’cause you certainly
don’t need the practice.

- Every time
you come home for a visit,

you show less respect
to your mother.

- How’s your
blood pressure now?

Sammy: As I mentioned,
tallasse tynan had gone away

up to some college
in New York,

and this was
the first time she’d been
back in some while.

[Piano playing "my ship"]

I knew I was a fool
to be taking a chance,

but I couldn’t
help myself.

I was drawn to that tune
she was playing,

and I just had to listen.

- [Stops playing]

[Starts playing]
- Must you play that?

You know I hate that
sentimental tune.

- Sorry.
It just came back to me.

You know, this was
the first piece daddy ever
asked me to learn.

His face would light up.

I can still see him
standing there.

- I want you
to do something for me,

if it’s not asking too much.
- Of course.

- The new minister will be
staying here this summer

until the parish renovation
is completed.

That is, if the committee
approves, which they will.

Your brother will
see to that this morning.

- Who is it this time?
- He is a top graduate

from the barrington
seminary, of course.

Barrington church always
gets the top graduate. Gail!

- Tops at barrington seminary?

That’s like being first
in the slow Lane.

- We can do without
that kind of attitude

while he’s here,
thank you.

His name is Perry ray pruitt.
You be civil to him.

It’s our privilege
and our duty.

- Well, I certainly
will try.

- Now, I would like
you to go and pick him up
after the meeting.

Take Sammy with you.
Tolliver has work
for him at church.

- Yes, ma’am.

- And make sure
Sammy sits in back.

I don’t want people
to see him sitting
up from with you.

- Maybe I can tie a rope to him
and make him run along behind.

- [Sighs]

Tallassee: I keep thinking
of when you first came to town,

and tolliver threw that
firecracker to prove
you were deaf.

I guess if you had crutches,
he would have kicked ’em
to prove you’d fall over.

And they make him
treasurer of the church.

It’s funny. People think if
your daddy struck it rich,

you know how to handle money.
Like father, like son.

Not hardly.

Sometimes it’s a relief
to know i’m adopted.

Guess my secret’s
safe with you.

My daddy was a doll, Sammy.

I remember
he was a quiet man.

We’d take long walks,
and he’d just let me
jabber on...

Just like i’m doing now.

You remind me of him
a little.

Hey.

[Shutter clicks]

So, we’re gonna have
a preacher at the house,

reverend Perry ray pruitt.

Hand-picked by the one
and only tolliver tynan.

- I’m happy to
announce, reverend pruitt,

that the committee
has unanimously approved
your appointment

as the new pastor
of barrington church.

The many affirmations
we’ve received

only underline
what a privilege it is
for all of us

that you will consider
this position.

Well, I think
that’s about it.

[Hammering]

Your academic record
speaks for itself.

[Hammering]

Would you excuse me?

[Shouting] Hey, dum-dum!
For crying out loud!

Hey!

Shh!

[Hammering]
- I have a question.

- If I might be
allowed to finish, Loretta.

I was only gonna say...
[Hammering]

We’ll all be
looking forward now

to giving you high marks
as a preacher.

The pulpit
is the test, right?

[Hammering]
- The test?

- You were gonna ask,
Loretta?

- What?
[Hammering]

- You had a question.

- Oh! Yes.

I was only going to say...

We’re...well...

We’re used
to the stability

of a good woman
in the parish house.

And you being a bachelor...

Do you think--

- I think that’s neither
here nor there.

- I am a member
of the committee,

if i’m not mistaken,
Rebecca.

Pruitt: No!

I mean, I...

I hadn’t just thought of
up and marrying,

I guess,
as part of the job.

- But I think that
speaks very well of you,

I think, reverend.

- Anyway, reverend pruitt,

we have every
confidence in you.

[Hammering]

And...

I’m sure you’ll be
proud to know

you will be
the first minister
of barrington church...

To initiate the church’s
large new baptismal font.

[Hammering]

- It’s a regular lake.

Which, being the case,

I will, with god’s help,

do my...

Earnest most to make
this service the very tops.

- Earnest most?

- Come on.
He’ll do just fine.

- He’ll drown someone...
In the lake.

- He’s just nervous.
- Nervous?

- Sammy!

He’s perfect, I tell you.

He’s not the type to ponder
over financial reports.

- Reverend Driscoll
was catching on
before he retired.

- An act of Providence, Percy.

- Helping yourself
to the church insurance fund

is an act of larceny,
tolliver, not Providence.

- Hey...

You don’t trust me?

- Why should I?
I don’t even trust me.

I’m the one not sending in
the premium payments
to my underwriters.

You’re the one losing it on
one bum deal after another.

- What are
friends for, Percy?

- For sharing
a jail cell, maybe.

- Just relax.

We’ll put it back
with interest.

We’ve gone a hundred years
without trouble.

- The church is only
87 years old, tolliver.

- Take me out for
a 10-year grace period.

- I am in
the insurance business,

not the numbers racket.

We’ve got to pay the premium.

- Calm down, Percy.
You worry too much.

- I’m not sure
about this.

How do you know
it’ll all fit?

- Look, dad’s
figured it all out.

Don’t worry.

- "Don’t worry."

Where have I heard
that before?

- What do you think, Abraham?

- Well...

It’s the last place
i’d look.

Timing may be a problem.

- If it were done
what is done,

then ’twere well it
were done quickly.

- Well thought, Macbeth.

Sammy: Two trash haulers

staging Shakespeare
at the baptismal font

of a prominent church.

It’s just a little thing,
probably,

but it struck me something
peculiar was going on here,

wouldn’t you say?

- And he said,
"go ye therefore

"and teach all nations...

"Baptizing them in
the name of the father...

"And of the son...

And of the..."

"Holy ghost."

Ok, then.

Anyone?

I mean...

Anyone like to come forward
and be baptized?

Anyone at all?

Why, I mean, anyone
who meets the eligibility
rules, that is.

- Eligibility rules?
What does he think
this is, the Olympics?

[Congregation chatters]

- You’re Sammy ayers.

You’re, uh, sort of
cut off from people, I hear.

So am I.

Reverend pruitt.

[Sighs] Reverend.

Call? I didn’t hear
any call.

My folks heard the call,
that’s who heard it.

You can tell.

You can surely tell.

Lord...

Give me a sign.

Please, lord,
any sign...

Or let me go.

Just let me go.

- Hi, Sammy.

You want one or two?

4?

Seems like one Saturday
out of the year,

you can sleep past 7:00.

Saturday?

Saturday. Sleep in.

Norm won’t be in today.

He decided to, uh, take
one of his little trips.

You know norm on a Saturday.

Just goes off.

Never says where.

I don’t know what
the big secret is.

But I guess
everyone’s entitled.

Still, I don’t see why
he can’t take you along

once in a while.

What’s this?

"Hang the church
bulletin board immediately."

People in this town will not
give you a rest, will they?

Now, norm figures you’ve
probably done more things
for more people in this town

than anyone since
the place was founded.

You were good for norm.

I saw it when
you first came.

I could see he was gonna
hang on to you

like his life
depended on it.

Fresh maple syrup.

I guess when you get
right down to it,

you could say...
We’re family.

Norm would have retired
and gone fishing
a long time ago

if it weren’t for you...

And your aunt Lucille.

Well...

- We found her body
laying around here.

Fellow was arrested
a couple months later
in Georgia

on another murder charge.

He confessed to this one.

Jane Doe.

- Helen ayers.

- Yeah.

Well, maybe now she can have
a proper headstone.

I guess this is
the end of it.

- Not quite.

- No...

It never is, is it?

- She got off
the bus over there
to stretch her legs,

have a drink.

There’s some
unfinished business
at the end of the line.

- Running around the country
taking photographs

when you should be
starting a family.

A woman your age
and still barren.

- Luckily.

- Thank you, Gail.

- Well, so we haven’t taken
our pills this morning.

- They’re not
doing me any good.

- These should be
taken internally.

- Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

A sign!

A sign. I asked for
a sign, and here it is.

Listen to this.

Listen to what has been
put into my hands.

"Dickie devil,

"lead singer
of the top British
rock group the weevils,

proclaimed yesterday,
’i am more important
than Jesus Christ.’"

it hurts even to
utter those words.

"Gold records
by the millions,

"me and my disciples,
the weevils,

"are more famous
than Jesus by far.

"Look at our crowds.
Every record we make
is a smash.

The world gathers
when we walk onstage."

Burn ’em, I say.

- Oh, he’s good.
He’s very good.

- Don’t you think cremation
is a little bit dramatic?

- Dickie devil.
The devil at last,

and his wicked weevils.

We’ll build a fire,

a giant fire,

and we’ll burn his records.

Those sinful symbols
of lust and blasphemy
will go up in flames!

Tallasse: Bonfire?

- Tolliver, I got
a second notice from
the underwriters

asking about the church
insurance premium.

They want a check certified now,
or the insurance lapses.

- Stall ’em.
Tell ’em it’s an oversight.

The devil’s bonfire.
Can’t you just see it?

- Cash, tolliver,
is what I need to see.

- Cash?
You wanna see cash?

We’re gonna--good morning,
miss Lily.

- Morning, tolliver.

- We’re gonna
have crowds like
you’ve never seen.

Church will be packed
for weeks.

People will wanna be
where they see

the big bonfire rumpus on TV.

The collection baskets
will be spilling over.

I see a bank balance
with zeros going off the page.

- Listen to me, please?

We’re talkin’ about
eating our meals
on trays, tolliver.

We’re talkin’ about
takin’ showers in
groups of a hundred.

- Ok. Ok. Ok.
Take it easy. Take it easy.

The tynan name’s still good
for something in this town.

I’ll make some calls.

- Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Oh, boy.

- For pete’s sake, hal.
You know i’m good for it.

Oh, yeah? Well, laugh.

When my inheritance
comes in,

it is worth 100 times
your entire business.

Boy, am I gonna enjoy
seeing your face

when everybody in town’s
riding the gravy train,
and you’re not.

Damn.

So, you’re startin’ to show up
only when it suits you?

Huh?

Don’t be surprised--
hey, look at me.

Don’t be surprised
if you’re not paid on the dot.

Go on, now.
Before I call the cops.

You’re on church property.
It’s private.

Man: Don’t give me that.
I wanna see a priest.

- We don’t have priests.
Come on, let’s go. Out.

- I gotta talk to a priest.
I’ve sinned bad.

- No. Out.
Let’s go. Go on.

- You don’t know
who I am.

Burly masters,
highway department.

- Ok, Mr. Burly.
Highway plumbin’ back?

- No, masters,
and they fired me.

A little drink
and they fired me.

But I showed them.

I stole the secret plans

where the new state highway,
where the new interchange,

where it’s going? I stole it.

No, I stole it.
- Hold it. Hold it. Hold it.

It just so happens
I screen all confessions.

You tell me, and maybe
I can make an appointment.

- Well, I stole it
out of spite.

I confess.

You can
give it back, right?

- Morgan’s corner.
You say this is where

the new highway
interchange is going?

- Oh, shh. Shh.

- Who knows about this?

- Well, just
2 commissioners and me.

Oh, and you.

Boy, the new interchange.

200 acres worth a mint!

Prime commercial.

But it’s safe now, right?

Safe with a servant
of the church?

- Oh, yes, sir.
It’s safe indeed.

- Oh, thank you.
- Come on.

Why don’t we discuss this
over a beverage, huh?

- Oh, that would be
very nice. Thank you.

Sammy: I guess it was
right there and then,

seeing that poor man
being victimized

by tolliver’s
selfish ambition,

that I knew I had to
do something.

I knew I had to find
some way to get things
straightened out.

TV announcer:
A huge bonfire will be
lit on the church grounds,

a church spokesman
said, quote,

"to destroy the works of
Dickie devil and his weevils,

which have undermined
world morals."

Ironically, it’s been
learned exclusively

by our
barrington correspondent

that the town’s
well-known deaf mute,

one Sammy ayers,
who has, obviously,

never been exposed
to the jarring
rock ’n’ roll of the group,

has been chosen to build
and light the giant fire.

In other news,
the barrington--

- did you know that?

- Nope.

- That tolliver tynan thinks
he can push Sammy around

like a trained chimpanzee.

- The chimp who
laughs last laughs best.

- You know,
it is useless tryin’
to talk to you anymore.

- It doesn’t seem to stop you.
- Oh.

What I am sayin’...

I don’t like to see
Sammy made a fool of.

- You ever wonder what’s
going through his mind?

- Mm-hmm.

I got a feeling it’s
way more than average.

- Yup.

- Wow. That is a lot
of wood, isn’t it?

- That’s the new padre, huh?

- Yeah, he still
can’t coax anybody
into that baptismal font.

- Be thankful
for small blessings, boys.

- What’s he decided to do,
burn somebody at the stake?

- [Chuckles and coughs]

- I’ve represented
Mr. Ayers in a number

of modest investments
over the years.

Solid things,
nothing speculative.

In the case of this acreage,

we’d like to enter
a counter bid to
acquire a lease option.

- Well, the owner
is a little cautious,

in this case,

never having done business
with your Mr. Ayers here.

- Well, I can
vouch for my client’s
financial ability to pay.

I don’t assume there’s
a hearing test requirement

for buying property
in this state?

- Miss Larson,
would you see

that we had some
coffee served, please?

Well, the property
in question

wasn’t advertised for sale.

And, well,
when someone develops
a sudden interest in it,

it’s natural
for us to wonder why.

- I think I need
a moment alone with your client.

- Shall we wait outside?

- [Chuckling]

I wondered who it might be.

But I makes sense
it’s you, Sammy ayers.

You must’ve caught wind
of those stolen plans
when tolliver did, right?

Ha ha ha!

I thought so.

I figure you and I are
the 2 biggest frauds
in barrington.

Me with
my lawyer front man,

and you, with your
selective senses.

All right...

Let me guess.

You checked out
the property in question,

and you found out
that tolliver

was about to invest
in a bottomless swamp.

Now, how can that be?
You wonder.

How could those
highway plans be so far off?

Well, first off,
burly masters didn’t get fired

for drinking on the job.

He got fired drawing up a map

that was so far off
the engineer’s coordinates,

it was in another county.
As a matter of fact,

I own that 182-acre
mosquito swamp.

Born on it,
as a matter of fact.

So, when I found out that
there was a second bid,

I knew somebody was trying
to force tolliver’s ante up

on his lease option.

Ain’t justice
sweet sometimes?

Now, then, partner,

what do you say that
lawyer greer

calls tolliver
and tells him

that it’ll take another...

More or less. Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

- It’s a done deal.

Another offer came in,
but I topped it by 2,000.

I took a loan from
the building fund.

Just temporary.

Cashier’s check for 10 grand
is on its way.

- Man, oh, man.
The building fund?

- Now, we gotta
put out the word

to just a handful
of real estate agents.

The big ones.
Deep pockets only.

They’re gonna be
on their knees
to buy our lease option

for 100 times
what we paid for it.

- 200 would give us
a more secure margin.

- Do I hear 3?

- I hope.

- Ah, Percy, stick with me.
We’ll be standing in clover.

Take a look.

- This isn’t going to be
a highway interchange.

This is the nothingest
nothing I ever seen.

- Maybe there’s oil
under here.

Maybe we are floating
on a gusher, Percy,

and we don’t even know it.

- There’s no oil under here!

What we are floating on

is the church
insurance fund,

the parking lot
repaving fund,

the parish
renovation fund...

- Oh, here.
Give me those.

- No. No. I don’t want you
doin’ my laundry.

- Who cares
what you don’t want?

That laundry you take ’em to
makes a mishmash out of
the collars.

- You know,
i’ve been thinking
about what you said.

It’s not right,

them roping Sammy
into that bonfire circus.

I tell you, i’m gonna
talk to that tynan kid.

- I wouldn’t.

- Huh?

- Something you said.

Sammy’s his own man.

We have been bystanders
for a long time.

He’s not ours, you know.

- The heck he’s not.

Lucille...

I mean, who’s he got?

- I know he’s filled
a space for you.

Just like I have, maybe.

- You don’t
make sense most the time.

- Ha ha ha! Yes, I do.

- Oh.

- I hear things.

I know you lost a wife
and a baby

to the big flu epidemic
when you were off in France.

Don’t you see?
I cook and argue with you,

sammy’s leaned on you.

Sort of a fill-in family.

Maybe.

- How...

How come you never
said nothin’?

- What for? Never take apart
a clock that’s tickin’.

Isn’t that what they say?

- 32 years.

- 33 and a half.

- No starch!

- Yeah, that’s it.
Roll the hose.

Sammy: I learned later that
Archibald thacker occasionally
made an extra dollar or 2

in the frowned-on
but sort of fun-filled business

of trucking moonshine whiskey
in bulk from stills
to wholesalers.

His delivery schedule
got a little jammed up
this particular week,

forcing him to find temporary
storage in the baptismal font.

[Horns honk]

[Group chanting
"burn the weevils"]

Girl: We love the weevils!

[Group chanting
"we love the weevils"]

[Chanting and honking continue]

Sammy: Perry ray pruitt’s
big idea had become
a runaway bucking bronco.

He’d been thrown off early
and hadn’t the slightest idea
how to get back on.

- [Blasts trombone]

Sammy: Watching him like that,
I felt sorry for him.

- [Blasts tuba]

Sammy: He knew he should’ve
been consumed with
a burning desire to preach,

right here and now.

He also knew he didn’t have
a clue what to say.

He couldn’t tell the saints
from the sinners in this place.

- Burn the weevils!

Bonfire tonight!

[Indistinct shouting]

Thacker: You should’ve gone back
and got it out last night.

Now, we have to wait
till tomorrow.

- Do you realize
what we could make selling off
that load of moonshine

in this crowd
at 2 bits a glass?

- Ha ha ha! You have
a retail mind, son.

Unfortunately, we’re on
the wholesale end
of the business.

- Ha ha ha!
Look at this, Percy, look.

That land thing was peanuts.

This is where the gold is.

We don’t have to go get it.
They’re bringing it to us.

Ha ha! I picked a winner, huh?

- I think I need something
in my stomach.

- My, my,
what have we here?

Evening, governor.

- Governor. You hear that?

- [Men chuckling]

- Governor. Ha ha!

- Oh.

[Crowd gasps]

Reporter: Can we get the shot?

Quick interview with the guy
that’s gonna light the bonfire.

Be sure we got the bonfire
in the back, and we’ll be...

Not long now.
Blastoff time almost here.

I’m standing with the man
who will carry the torch over
and light the devil’s bonfire.

Sammy is his name.

Sammy, you’re a deaf mute,
right?

You think that’s why they chose
you for this fire job, huh?

Sammy, just nod.
Just nod, Sammy.

It’ll be fine.

- Excuse me.
Why don’t you just ask him

if he peels his bananas
before he eats ’em?

- A talker.
Well, and your name is?

- Joan of arc.
I love bonfires.

- Oh, I see you have
a couple of Dickie devil records

for the Blaze, no doubt.

- No. These are some
frank Sinatra albums
of my mother’s

that i’ve been longing
to incinerate for a while.

That’s the story, world.
Film at 11:00.

What?

- We should’ve stuck with
the mute.

- Yeah.

- You coming?

- I’m coming.
I’m coming.

- Earl, strike up
the band, huh?

It’s a party.

- Hit it.

[Band playing]

- Come on, reverend.
Here we go.

Here you go, reverend.

Take the torch.

Take the torch, reverend.

Now, give it to Sammy.

Give the torch to Sammy.

Give it to Sammy. Go on.
Give it to Sammy.

Take it, Sam--
take the torch...

Sammy: It was kind of awful.

I could hear every sour note
from the band,

every voice screaming.

And I was picturing that day
over 20 years ago

when tolliver held the match
to a firecracker

to try to make me
jump and talk.

And here I was...

Lighting his biggest
firecracker ever.

Well, I just couldn’t do it.

[Crowd cheering]

- Praise Jesus.

- Ooh, Sammy, stay back.

- Sammy will be all right.
Now, don’t you worry.

Woman: Tommy, come back!

[Crowd shouting]

- This is what we want.

- Oh, boy.

Oh, boy.

No insurance.

Not a nickel.

Man: Get that hose out now!

[Siren starts]

- No. No. No!

Some of my people
may be in there.

Oh, please, god, no.

Fireman: Hey, reverend,
come back!

Don’t go in there!

- I can’t watch this.

- No!

Woman: What’s he doing?

Oh, no!

- No. No. No.

[Crowd gasps]

[Clapping]

Woman: Hallelujah!

Sammy: It was a night
to remember.

Perry ray pruitt had finally
felt the hand of the almighty.

But the fallout from
the devil’s bonfire

was far from over.

[Congregation singing
"come, thou almighty king"]

Sammy: The reverend
Perry ray pruitt

found his true calling
that night in the fiery furnace.

The congregation was inspired
and flocked to his baptisms,

pledging to rebuild his church

brick by brick,
dollar by dollar.

[Hymn ends]

[Hymn repeats]

Sammy: The volunteer
fire department also welcomed
him with open arms.

It just so happened
they needed a power player
for the softball playoffs.

- I want a repeat
performance from you.

Sammy: Tolliver tynan
wasn’t so lucky.

He was charged with embezzling
church funds for personal gain.

Georgia vs. Tynan.

Percy queen never really
stole a dollar for himself,

so Georgia was not versus him
for anything.

As always, tolliver
figured he had money
and influence on his side,

that he could charm
his way out of trouble.

So, he wasn’t exactly
counting on what came next.

- All rise.

Please be seated
and come to order.

- Your honor, the state calls
its first witness.

The state calls Sammy ayers
to the stand.

[Courtroom murmuring]

Man:
Now, what’s all that about?

- He can’t talk.
- I know. What’s he gonna say?

- [Laughing]

[Gavel bangs]

Judge: I don’t want any more
outbursts in this court.

- Do you swear
to tell the truth,

the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth

in the matter
before this court?

Sammy: To my knowledge,

it’s the only trial
in the history
of American jurisprudence

that was over
in just 2 spoken words...

I do.

[Crowd gasping
and chattering]

[Gavel banging]

- Ohh.

[Thud]

Sammy, stammering:
First, it was
just a way to hide.

You know, protect myself.

Then after a while,

everybody
thought I was deaf.

Well, they started
talking around me
like I wasn’t there,

and so, I just...

I--i kind of went with it.

Norm and Lucille, they were
so nice to me, and...

After a while,
I got in so...Deep,

I was afraid
it might all go away
if I told the truth.

Funny thing is,

I liked
how people trusted me,
how they talked to me.

I didn’t wanna
hurt anybody.

The worst thing was,
back when we first met,

when tolliver
threw the cherry bomb,

well, ever since then,
I wanted to tell you.

- Tell me what?

What?

- Everything.

- You’re not gonna quit
talking again, are you?

- No, never. I just...

Well, i’m not
used to words.

Explaining how I feel.

I’m sorry
about your mother.

- No, don’t be. No.

No, she...She did
what she wanted.

Generations of heart problems
in that family.

She wouldn’t listen.

No doubt about it, she sure was
surprised you could talk.

But it wasn’t your fault.

Can I ask you something?

You remember a while back,

I had just come home
for my visit.

I was playing the piano,
and I thought I saw you
listening.

- Listening.
- Yeah.

But you had such a strange look
on your face.

- My mama
had a music box

played the same tune
as you were playing.

I used to listen to it
over and over

when she’d be gone or...
I was having a bad day.

So many years ago.

- You know, that was
my father’s favorite piece.

- That’s nice.

I like having something
in common with you.

- So, now you’re leavin’?

- Yeah. Got my voice.
[Chuckles]

It’s time...

To go try it out.

Heh heh heh!

- I’ll miss you.

- Well, all right,
here it is.

- You mean,
you had it all these years,

and you didn’t tell anyone?

Not even me?

- It just wasn’t the time.
- Time for what?

- Lucille,
i’m trying to tell you.

Now, first, I had to find out
what happened to his mother,

and then I had to
make sure that nobody...

Complicated his situation.

- Well, seems to me,

you’re the one who’s
complicated the situation.

- Lucille...

That boy heard everything
we said all this time,

and he never spoke.

Now, i--i...

I feel...

I feel...

- Cheated?

- Yeah, I guess.

- Betrayed?

- Yeah.

- Hurt?

- Well, don’t you?

- Um, well...

I just think he must’ve
done what he had to.

- Oh, Lucille...

- Here he comes.

- I suppose I, uh...

Owe ya...

A big apology,
an explanation.

Some reason for...

I don’t blame you
for being mad.

- I’m not mad.

- I’m sorry, Lucille.

It’s just, well,
everybody got used to me
being the way that I was,

and you needed someone
to listen to,

and norm needed someone
to listen to.

Everybody needed somebody
to listen to, and, well...

The years went by
and time passed,

and I just kept listening,

and I didn’t wanna hurt
anybody. I certainly--

- norm Jenkins,

you get back in here
and explain this suitcase.

- Where’d that come from?

- Judge, may I say something
on behalf of my client?

- No.

This is a sad day
for me, tolliver.

I must inform you
that i’m sentencing you

to 2 years in state prison

for the embezzlement
of church funds.

I say sad
’cause I knew your father.

I used to fish with him.

Finer man never cast a fly.

- Hey, judge neely,
that’s what you’re
here for, right?

Now, I figure with time off
for good behavior,

I can do it standing on
one foot, no time at all.

I’ll be off and running,
a better man for it.

- Let me finish,
please, tolliver.

Your father’s iron-clad will
left all of his estate

upon the death of Mrs. Tynan
to his eldest son.

- That’s me, judge.

My sister tallasse
can’t challenge that.

She’s adopted.
We’ve known that for years.

Heck, i’m one who told her.

- Well, that’s
very impressive, Mr. Tynan.

But now let me tell you
a thing or two.

Eldest son is the key here.

And among these documents,

sworn to and verified
by your father

before his death,

is this notarized letter
dated a year before he died.

I’d like to read it

because it sounds exactly like
the Alfred tynan I knew.

This here part’s
the meat of it...

"I have met the lad

"and recognize him
to be in my own true image.

"Blue of eyes,
wide of brow,

"bold chin, warm spirit.

"Born to me
of the only person

who showed me love
and unselfish commitment."

"Her full name
being Helen ayers."

Now, eldest son,
born out of wedlock

to miss Helen ayers

shortly before
you were born

is Sammy ayers.

Tolliver...

This just ain’t been
your summer.

- Well, there you go.

Often, i’d tell myself,

"norm, you got no right
to keep him here."

And then you looked
so...Helpless,

and I figured,
"a little while longer."

Maybe I didn’t do it right.

But I kept thinking
maybe I owe it to your mother.

At least I was right
about that one.

I mean, she didn’t desert you.

She was trying to do right
by you back then

when it happened.

- How’d you find her?

- Years of Saturdays

riding on bus passes

back along the route
I figured you’d come.

I ordered
a proper headstone.

You can go look at it
someday...

If you feel like it.

- From time to time,

i’ve thought if ever I could
pick out a father...

Might be somebody pretty close
to being like you.

Not exactly, but close.

- Oh, Sammy...

In all my years, I don’t recall
anybody ever saying

anything that nice to me.

- Now, why don’t you go on
and get out of here?

Oh, I...

Ahem.

Now, git.

- I guess
i’ll just git.

Sammy: I gave a lot
of the money away.

Norm and aunt Lucille would
never have to worry a day.

Tallasse could take pictures
around the world

to her heart’s content.

The tynan house
would become a home
for stray kids.

As far as tolliver
was concerned,

well, I figured
I lost an enemy
and gained a brother,

which made me feel
an obligation to take care
of his pocket money

while he served time.

[Horn honking]

- St. Louis.

- Yes, ma’am.

- So, what are your plans?

- W-Well, I guess
I don’t have any at the moment.

- Then I got on
the right bus.

- Got something
i’d like to show you.

["My ship" playing]

Helen:
♪ my ship has sails ♪

♪ that are made of silk ♪

♪ the decks
are trimmed with gold ♪

♪ and of jam and spice,
there’s a paradise ♪

♪ in the hold ♪

♪ my ship’s aglow
with a million pearls ♪

♪ and rubies
fill each bin ♪

♪ the sun sits high
in a sapphire sky ♪

♪ when my ship comes in ♪

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