Original subtitles

[Captioning sponsored by ARTISAN ENTERTAINMENT]

Woman: SAMMY!

SAMMY!

( music box playing Kurt Weill's "My Ship" )

( door closes )

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.

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-OOH

OKAY, LET'S GO, KIDDO.

HERE YOU GO.

WE'VE GOT A BUS TO CATCH.

OOP, COME ON, COME ON.

MOM.

WHAT?

OH, UH-OH, YES.

( music box playing )

Man on P.A.: Service to Barrington with intermediate stops in...

I KNOW, SOMEBODY'S CHASING US, RIGHT?

WIND DOWN, SAMMY.

WE DITCHED THEM GOOD.

SAMMY, NOBODY'S CHASING US, OKAY?

GET UP THERE.

THEN HOW COME YOU WON'T SAY

WHERE WE'RE GOING?

BECAUSE IT'S A SURPRISE.

( sighs )

OKAY, MOVE OVER.

SURE.

NOBODY I KNOW, RIGHT?

WATCH YOUR STEP, MR. AYERS.

Man: EXCUSE ME. MISS?

( muffled conversation )

MA?

HMM?

THE KIDS ASK ME HOW COME.

HOW COME WHAT?

HOW COME MY MOTHER'S A MISS INSTEAD OF MISSUS?

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT. LIGHTS OUT.

THE NEXT SOUND I WANT TO HEAR COMING FROM THIS SEAT NEXT TO ME

IS A TEN-YEAR-OLD KID SNORING.

BUT HOW COME?

NOT ONE MORE WORD OUT OF YOU.

( whispers ): NOT ONE.

( big band music playing faintly )

Bus driver: ANNISTON.

ANNISTON STATION.

REST STOP, 30 MINUTES.

30 MINUTES ONLY.

30 MINUTES.

MIND WHAT I SAY.

DO YOUR THING.

DO NOT STRAY.

IF YOU AIN'T BACK ON BOARD

WE LEAVE ANYWAY.

YOU LIKE THAT?

I MADE THAT UP MYSELF.

I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED.

WELL, YOU THINK YOU CAN DO BETTER?

UM, STRETCH YOUR LEGS BUT DON'T BE LATE.

WE'RE PULLING OUT WHEN THE BIG HAND'S ON EIGHT.

WATCH YOUR STEP, MA'AM.

( big band music )

( lively crowd )

( car honking horn )

( laughter )

( people talking, music playing loudly )

HEY, JITTERBUG, HUH?

I CAN'T.

OH, SURE YOU CAN.

COME ON, BOOGIE-WOOGIE WITH ME.

HEY, HEY, COME ON.

HEY, THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT.

OH, YEAH.

Bus driver: OKAY, FOLKS, TAKE YOUR SEATS.

ALL ABOARD NOW.

( glass shatters )

DON'T GO NOW, BABY.

I'VE GOT TO GET BACK...

( woman grunt s)

( muffled screaming )

( screaming )

( wind whistling )

Bus driver: BARRINGTON.

BARRINGTON, END OF THE LINE.

WATCH YOUR STEP, FOLKS.

( groans )

WATCH YOUR STEP.

THANKS FOR RIDING WITH US.

MATTHEW.

MORNING, NORM.

THANKS FOR RIDING WITH US, SIR.

HELLO, MOTHER.

OH, UNCLE CHARLES, LET ME GET IT.

COME ON, YOUNG FELLOW.

TIME TO GET OFF.

IT'S THE END OF THE LINE.

NO USE FEELING IF IT'S WARM.

YOUR MAMA OR WHOEVER IS LONG GONE.

I FORGET WHICH STOP.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED

IF SHE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS DOING.

Mother: NOT ONE MORE WORD OUT OF YOU.

COME ON, LET'S GO.

NOT ONE!

HEY, IS THIS YOURS?

HEY, KID!

( sighs ) 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

AND MY GUESS IS SHE SLIPPED OFF

ALONG THE WAY AND DUMPED HIM.

OH, NOW, WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT?

YOU GET TO BE A STUDENT

OF HUMAN NATURE BEHIND THE WHEEL.

SHE'S THE TYPE, YOU KNOW, MEN TURN TO.

Norm: 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.

GOOD AROUND THE BACK, YOU KNOW MY MEANING.

I CAN SPOT THEM.

HE'S A DRAG ON HER...

PULLING HER DOWN

SO SHE DUMPS HIM.

WELL, MAYBE SHE GOT SICK OR SOMETHING.

SICK AND TIRED.

I DON'T...

LOOKS LIKE HE'S, UH, EXPECTING SOMEONE.

WELL, I HOPE HE DON'T HOLD HIS BREATH.

AH, WELL, NORM, HE'S ALL YOURS NOW.

I AM THROUGH WHEN I PARK IT.

OH, NOW, NOW... YOU KNOW

HE'S SITTING ON THAT BENCH.

HE IS TERMINAL'S RESPONSIBILITY.

HOLD ON...

Finis: NO, I AM NOT TAKING HIM HOME.

Norm: YOU BROUGHT HIM IN...

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 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.

( softly ): WELL...

YES, SIR, THERE ARE DAYS I WOULD CONSIDER YOU DOWNRIGHT LUCKY.

I GUESS THAT'S NOT FAIR TO SAY, IS IT?

SOMEONE COMING FOR YOU?

I'LL BET YOU'RE HUNGRY, AREN'T YOU?

ARE YOU HUNGRY?

HEY!

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WANT SOMETHING TO EAT?

( smacking lips )

YEAH, YOU'D LIKE THAT?

OKAY, 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 EATING HER COOKING ON A REGULAR BASIS

BUT IN THE CASE OF EXTREME STARVATION

IT WON'T HURT YOU.

EXTREME STARVATION, HUH?

YOU'VE GONE UP THREE BELT SIZES SITTING ON THAT VERY STOOL.

THANKS, LUCILLE.

THANKS, CLYDE...

NORM.

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

HAVE GOT A LITTLE PROBLEM HERE.

UM... HERE WE GO.

NOW YOU TAKE YOUR PICK.

NUMBER ONE...

MY SPECIALTY.

NUMBER TWO, HOW ABOUT THIS?

NUMBER ONE.

THOUGHT YOU HAD THAT

BACON AND EGGS LOOK.

LET'S SEE...

( sizzling )

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 REPEATING 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.

NOTHING DUMB ABOUT THAT BOY.

PEOPLE. I THINK...

WELL, PEOPLE JUST

DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER.

LOOKS SHARP AS A TACK TO ME.

YEAH, HE SEEMED TO BE EXPECTING SOMEONE--

HEY, ROYAL. I DON'T KNOW.

MISS LUCILLE.

WELL, HE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE'S ON THE RUN.

HEY, YOU'RE NOT ON THE RUN, ARE YOU?

( chuckles softly )

COULD YOU SIGN HERE?

MY AUTOGRAPH.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM.

I THINK YOU BETTER CALL HARVEY.

THE POLICE?

OH, I'M NOT GOING TO CALL HARVEY.

HIS ANSWER TO EVERYTHING IS CALL SOMEONE ELSE.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE HIGHWAY PATROL, WHOEVER.

WELL, I MEAN, MAYBE

SOMEBODY'S REPORTED HIM

MISSING OR SOMETHING?

Norm: OH, I THINK A RELATIVE

WILL COME LOOKING FOR HIM, YOU KNOW?

AND YOU KNOW, WE KEEP A LOOKOUT

AND HIS MOM MAY COME ROLLING IN ON THE NEXT BUS.

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING.

OH, NOW, WHY DON'T YOU JUST HANG OUT A SIGN?

"I KNOW EVERYTHING."

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU ARE AN OPEN BOOK, NORM.

OH, NOW, LUCILLE...

HE'S NOT A STRAY CAT, FOR PETE'S SAKE.

YOU'VE GOT TO DO MORE THAN JUST

PUT DOWN A, A, A SAUCER OF MILK.

CAN A FELLA GET A REFILL?

KIDS HAVE SCHOOL, CLOTHES, CHICKEN POX...

I'M SORRY I OKAYED THE LEASE...

YOU HAVEN'T THE SLIGHTEST...

...ON THIS PTOMAINE FACTORY.

( sighs ): NORMAN.

( loudly ): I'M NOT GO...

( quieter ): I'M NOT GOING TO SCARE HIM OFF.

IN CASE SOMEBODY COMES LOOKING FOR HIM.

WELL, MAYBE SOMEBODY IS LOOKING FOR HIM.

IF YOU WERE LOOKING FOR A KID, WHO WOULD YOU CALL FIRST?

ALL RIGHT, I'LL GIVE...

HARVEY.

A JINGLE.

( people talking )

Woman: IS HE SIMPLE?

Woman 2: HONEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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?

Norm: OH, HARVEY, HE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

WHEN YOU'RE DEAF, YOU CAN'T HEAR.

I'M AN INVESTIGATOR.

I NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

Norm: HARVEY, I UNDERSTAND THAT

BUT YOU CAN'T ASK SOMEBODY

WHO CAN'T HEAR YOU...

YOU'RE TESTING MY PATIENCE, YOUNG FELLOW.

I'D ADVISE YOU NOT TO TRY TO MAKE A FOOL OF THE LAW

YOU HEAR?

Girl: WAIT UP, TOLLIVER.

TOLLIVER.

TALLASSE?

Norm: HE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

Harvey: MAYBE HE'S JUST SHY, JENKINS.

Norm: LUCY AND I TALKED TO HIM FOR AN HOUR

ASKED HIM QUESTIONS, HE WOULD NOT RESPOND.

IS HE TALKING TO YOU?

Harvey: NO, BUT I'M LOOKING REAL CLOSE

AND THIS LOOKS LIKE A BOY WHO CAN TALK.

Norm: BUT I SAID HE WAS DEAF.

WILL YOU JUST FIND OUT?

Harvey: WHERE DO YOU COME FROM, BOY?

Norm: DON'T ASK HIM.

Harvey: WELL, IF I DON'T ASK HIM

WHO AM I SUPPOSED TO ASK?

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS HOW DO YOU KNOW HE'S DEAF?

THIS ISN'T GETTING US ANYWHERE.

Woman: HOW ARE THEY GOING TO PROVE THAT HE'S NOT DEAF?

Harvey: I FEEL LIKE HE CAN TALK.

Norm: HOW CAN YOU TELL?

I SAID HE'S DEAF, NOT BLIND.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND...

( sizzling)

( screaming )

( laughing )

HARVEY, NOT THE GUN!

TOLLIVER TYNAN!

( kids yelling )

NOW YOU JUST GET IN AND SIT DOWN.

THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE

FOR MR. TYNAN, MA'AM.

BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT ALL WEEKEND.

HE WAS A FINE, FINE MAN.

YES, WELL, THE LORD GIVETH

AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY.

AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH.

HERBERT, DRIVE ON.

OKAY, SO HE'S DEAF AND DUMB.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO ABOUT IT?

THANKS FOR THE PIE, LUCILLE.

Lucille: UH-HUH.

THEY GOT PLACES TO HANDLE THAT.

OH.

WELL.

NOW THEN.

WELL, SO, HERE WE ARE, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

WELL, YOU JUST STAY PLANTED THERE

IN CASE SOMEBODY COMES ALONG FOR YOU.

BOY FIT AND SMART LIKE YOU

SOMEBODY'S GOING TO COME FOR YOU.

OF COURSE THERE'S ANOTHER POSSIBILITY, JUST COME TO ME.

MAYBE SOMEBODY SENT YOU OUT 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 DIVINE INTERVENTION.

BOTH OF YOU BETTER

HOPE SOMEBODY DOES SHOW UP

BECAUSE THIS IS

THE WORLD'S POOREST EXCUSE

FOR AN ORPHANAGE.

PAY NO ATTENTION.

YOU HEARD HER IN THERE

CALL HERSELF "YOUR AUNT LUCILLE"?

WELL, UH, I MEAN...

YOU DIDN'T HEAR, OF COURSE

BUT THAT WAS HER TALKING.

SHE'S ALL MUSH.

SHE TOOK TO YOU, I CAN TELL.

SO, UH...

YOU JUST SIT HERE AND KEEP AN EYE PEELED.

( chattering )

Woman: OH, IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU!

( talking )

( men chatting and laughing )

Woman: OH!

( sniffling )

CHARLIE, YOU GET BOB TO GIVE YOU A RIDE HOME.

ALL RIGHT.

MOSQUITOES ARE GOING TO CARRY YOU OFF

IF YOU CONTINUE TO CAMP OUT HERE.

OH, BOY.

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, DOES IT?

HEY.

HEY, YOU.

SLEEPY, HUH?

A FELLOW 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, HERE YOU GO, YOUNG FELLOW.

THERE'S YOUR COT.

CAREFUL 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 SOMETHING FOR YOU.

FIG DELIGHTS FOR YOU.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

NEW, FRESH PACKAGE FOR YOU

IN CASE YOU GET HUNGRY DURING THE NIGHT.

JUST TAKE ONE OF THOSE.

OVER HERE, THE LIGHT.

SEE THAT?

SWITCH?

OKAY?

AND THAT'S ABOUT IT, I GUESS.

OKAY.

WELL, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE.

WELL, I HOPE TOMORROW LOOKS A WHOLE LOT BETTER

FOR YOU, YOUNG FELLOW.

GOOD NIGHT.

( car passing )

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 OKAY.

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.

( no audio )

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 MEETING 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's held that family in an iron fist for 15 years

and the whole town.

Lucille: YOU LOOK LIKE YOU NEED A REFILL, MERLE.

I COULD USE IT.

HI, SAMMY.

UH... THE TOASTER...

IS ON THE FRITZ AGAIN.

WELL, RIGHT OFF, IF YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING

YOU KNOW THAT I'M THREE PARTS FRAUD.

BUT I'M ONE PART HANDYMAN.

AND THE BEST THERE IS IN BARRINGTON.

OR SO NORM JENKINS LIKES TO SAY.

MORNING, MERLE.

MISS LUCILLE!

TOLLIVER.

GUESS WHO?

HEY, DUM-DUM.

FORGET THAT OLD THING.

( speaking slowly and loudly): THESE FIRST.

HERE'S NUMBER ONE.

IN THE HALLWAY... OUTSIDE... THE MINISTER'S OFFICE

THE BASEBOARD NEEDS REPLACING AND PAINTING.

NUMBER TWO... TWO... TWO.

MOTHER DEAR... MOTHER DEAR... WOULD LIKE YOU

TO WASH THE PATIO FURNITURE

AND TRIM THE DRIVEWAY HEDGE.

AND THREE...

HEY, LOOK AT ME.

AS A LITTLE COMMISSION YOU OWE ME FOR THIS...

ACT OF WELFARE

YOU CAN WASH MY CAR.

HEY, GET THE WHITEWALLS THIS TIME... DUM-DUM.

GOOD MORNING, MISS BEATRICE...

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 DISBURSED TO HIS CHILDREN ONLY UPON HER DEATH.

AND THE ALLOWANCE THAT SHE GAVE TOLLIVER WAS PIDDLING

WHICH RANKLED HIM TO NO END.

Lucille: BOY, I WISH SAMMY

WOULD JUST BEAT THE PULP OUT OF HIM ONE DAY.

OH, SAMMY WILL HAVE HIS DAY, DON'T YOU WORRY.

( tire pops and hisses )

YOU WANT A RIDE?

WHERE TO?

HEY!

THACKER!

YOU'RE A MENACE ON THE STREETS.

YOU COULD HAVE HIT ME.

( laughing ): I DECIDED AGAINST IT, MR. TYNAN.

DON'T GET SMART WITH ME, ARCHIBALD THACKER.

WHY CAN'T 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 TALKING TO YOU.

I'VE TRIED FOR YEARS

TO FIND SOMETHING TO LIKE ABOUT THAT BOY.

NO LUCK SO FAR.

TYNAN'S PLACE, HUH?

OKAY, I'LL GET YOU THERE. CLIMB ON BACK.

Young man: YOU SOUND LIKE DAD.

"I AM NOT A RISK-TAKER.

A.B.C.-- ALWAYS BE CAUTIOUS."

YOU HAD BAXTON ECONOMICS, I HAD BROWN.

I HEARD HE WAS ONCE A PIT BOSS IN VEGAS.

SO THERE YOU ARE.

LOOK, DO YOU WANT FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE

RUNNING YOUR PORTFOLIO

OR DO YOU BET THE STORE

ON SOME THEORETICAL NOBEL-WINNER FROM HARVARD?

( imitating Thacker ): "DON'T BANDY THE NAME HARVARD AROUND, SON.

IT'S BAD FOR OUR IMAGE."

( laughs )

WHERE IS DAD TAKING ALL THIS STUFF?

WEDDING PRESENTS FOR MONTGOMERY'S NEW BRIDE.

( both laugh )

ARCHIBALD THACKER, A WIDOWER WITH FOUR SONS

HAD BECOME WEALTHY OVER THE YEARS

HAULING JUNK AND CLEANING UP AFTER OTHER PEOPLE.

HE HAD TWO 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 THAT! ARE YOU CRAZY?

GOOD MORNING, RACHEL.

MY GOODNESS, YOU GET PRETTIER BY THE DAY.

FATHER THACKER...

NOW, NOW, DAUGHTER, NOT TO WORRY.

Rachel: WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS?

YOU'RE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO OUR LANDSCAPING.

LANDSCAPING?!

NOW, MONTGOMERY SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU.

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 ITEMS AS STEPPING STONES.

RACHEL, RACHEL... WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS IS NOT SO BAD.

PEOPLE PAY GOOD MONEY FOR SOME OF THIS STUFF.

WE COULD ACTUALLY USE THIS.

IT ACTUALLY BLENDS IN

WITH THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO, JUST RELAX.

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.

( sighs )

WELL, YOU CERTAINLY TOOK YOUR TIME GETTING HERE.

( louder ): TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR HANDICAP

WON'T GET YOU ANYWHERE WITH ME.

YOU'LL GET PAID WHAT'S ON THE SLIP

NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU DAWDLE.

GAIL?

Tallasse: MOTHER, WHY DO YOU INSIST

ON BERATING POOR SAMMY

WHEN YOU KNOW HE CAN'T HEAR YOU?

ON TOP OF THAT

YOU CERTAINLY DON'T NEED THE PRACTICE.

Mrs. Tynan: EVERY TIME YOU COME HOME FOR A VISIT

YOU SHOW LESS RESPECT FOR YOUR MOTHER.

Tallasse: WATCH YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE NOW.

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.

( playing "My Ship" on piano )

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.

Mrs. Tynan: MUST YOU PLAY THAT?

YOU KNOW I HATE THAT SENTIMENTAL TUNE.

SORRY, IT JUST CAME BACK TO ME.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST PIECE

DADDY EVER ASKED ME TO LEARN.

HIS FACE WOULD LIGHT UP.

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

UNTIL THE PARISH RENOVATION

IS COMPLETED

IF THE COMMITTEE APPROVES, WHICH YOUR BROTHER WILL SEE TO.

WHO IS IT THIS TIME?

HE IS THE TOP GRADUATE

FROM THE BARRINGTON SEMINARY, OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW, BARRINGTON CHURCH ALWAYS GETS THE TOP GRADUATE.

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.

I WANT YOU TO GO AND PICK HIM UP

AFTER THE MEETING.

TAKE SAMMY WITH YOU.

TOLLIVER HAS WORK FOR HIM AT CHURCH.

AND MAKE SURE SAMMY SITS IN BACK.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SEE HIM SITTING UP FRONT WITH YOU.

MAYBE I CAN TIE A ROPE TO HIM AND MAKE HIM RUN BEHIND.

( sighs )

( clipping )

I KEEP THINKING

OF WHEN YOU FIRST CAME TO TOWN

AND TOLLIVER THREW THAT FIRECRACKER AT YOU

TO PROVE YOU WERE DEAF.

I GUESS IF YOU HAD CRUTCHES

HE WOULD'VE KICKED THEM TO PROVE YOU'D FALL OVER.

AND THEY MAKE HIM TREASURER OF THE CHURCH.

PEOPLE THINK IF YOUR DADDY STRUCK IT RICH

YOU KNOW HOW TO HANDLE MONEY.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON.

OH, 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.

( snaps pictur e)

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PREACHER AT THE HOUSE.

REVEREND PERRY RAY PRUITT

HAND-PICKED BY THE ONE AND ONLY TOLLIVER TYNAN.

Tolliver: REVEREND PRUITT

THE COMMITTEE HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED

YOUR APPOINTMENT AS THE NEW PASTOR OF BARRINGTON CHURCH.

THE MANY AFFIRMATIONS WE HAVE RECEIVED

ONLY UNDERLINE WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS FOR ALL OF US

THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER THIS POSITION.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT.

YOUR ACADEMIC RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

( hammering )

WOULD YOU EXCUSE ME?

HEY, DUM-DUM.

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

HEY!

SHH!

( hammering resumes )

I HAVE A QUESTION.

IF I MIGHT FINISH, LORETTA.

I WAS ONLY GOING TO SAY...

( hammering )

WE'LL ALL BE LOOKING FORWARD NOW

TO GIVING YOU HIGH MARKS AS A PREACHER.

THE PULPIT IS THE TEST, RIGHT?

THE TEST?

( hammering and pounding )

Tolliver: LORETTA?

WHAT?

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

IT'S APPROPRIATE?

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.

WELL, I THINK THAT SPEAKS VERY WELL OF YOU

I THINK... REVEREND.

Tolliver: ANYWAY, REVEREND PRUITT...

( hammering resumes )

WE HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN YOU.

AND, I'M SURE YOU'LL BE PROUD TO KNOW

YOU WILL BE THE FIRST MINISTER OF BARRINGTON CHURCH...

( hammering continues )

( louder ): TO INITIATE THE CHURCH'S LARGE

NEW BAPTISMAL FONT.

( hammering continues )

( echoing ): IT'S A REGULAR LAKE.

WHICH, BEING THE CASE

I WILL, WITH GOD'S HELP, DO MY... EARNESTMOST

TO MAKE THIS SERVICE THE VERY TOPS.

EARNESTMOST?

FINE, HE'LL DO JUST FINE.

HE'LL DROWN SOMEONE IN THE LAKE.

HE'S JUST NERVOUS.

NERVOUS?!

SAMMY!

HE'S PERFECT, I TELL YOU.

ISN'T THE TYPE TO, UH, PONDER OVER FINANCIAL REPORTS.

REVEREND DRISCOLL WAS CATCHING ON BEFORE HE RETIRED.

AN ACT OF PROVIDENCE.

HELPING YOURSELF TO THE CHURCH INSURANCE FUND

IS AN ACT OF LARCENY, NOT OF 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.

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 100 YEARS WITHOUT TROUBLE.

THE CHURCH IS ONLY 87 YEARS OLD, TOLLIVER.

SEE, WE GOT 13 YEARS' 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.

( engine idling )

Thacker Brother: I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT WILL ALL FIT?

Thacker brother 2: 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 MIGHT BE A PROBLEM.

"WELL, IF IT WERE DONE WHEN 'TIS DONE

THEN 'TWERE WELL IT WERE DONE QUICKLY."

WELL THOUGHT, MACBETH.

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."

OKAY, THEN.

ANYONE?

I MEAN...

ANYONE LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND BE BAPTIZED?

ANYONE AT ALL?

WELL, I MEAN ANYONE

WHO MEETS THE ELIGIBILITY RULES, THAT IS.

Percy: ELIGIBILITY RULES?

WHAT DOES HE THINK THIS IS, THE OLYMPICS?

( congregation murmuring )

YOU'RE SAMMY AYERS.

YOU'RE...

SORT OF CUT OFF FROM PEOPLE, I HEAR.

SO AM I.

REVEREND PRUITT.

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?

FOUR?

IT SEEMS LIKE ONE SATURDAY OUT OF THE YEAR

YOU COULD 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," HUH?

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.

( fat sizzling )

I COULD SEE

HE WAS GOING TO HANG ONTO 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.

( giggles )

WELL...

WE FOUND HER BODY LAYING AROUND HERE.

( crows cawing )

A FELLOW WAS ARRESTED A COUPLE OF 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...

NEVER IS, IS IT?

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.

I SEE WE HAVEN'T TAKEN OUR PILLS THIS MORNING.

THEY'RE NOT DOING ME ANY GOOD.

THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN INTERNALLY.

"OH, SINNER, CONSIDER THE FEARFUL DANGER

OF GOD'S EVERLASTING WRATH."

UH... WORM, WORM, WORM, WORM, WORM.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

"THE WORMS SHALL NOT DIE

NEITHER THEIR FIRE BE QUENCHED."

THEN, UH, MOSES... MOSES.

"AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT..."

AND THEN... WHAT?

IN THE WOODS, IN THE WILDERNESS, YES!

EVEN SO...

( rings bicycle bell )

"THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP...

"AND WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM...

"SHALL NOT PERISH...

( no audio )

HALLELUJAH!

HALLELUJAH!

HA-LLE-LUJAH!

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 ON STAGE."

BURN THEM, 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!

Percy: 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.

WELL, JUST STALL THEM.

THE DEVIL'S BONFIRE.

CAN'T YOU JUST SEE IT?

CASH, TOLLIVER, IS WHAT I NEED TO SEE!

YOU WANT TO SEE CASH?

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE...

GOOD MORNING, MISS LILY.

GOOD MORNING, TOLLIVER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CROWDS LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN.

PEOPLE WANT TO BE

WHERE THEY'VE SEEN THE BIG BONFIRE RUMPUS ON TV.

THE COLLECTION BASKETS WILL BE SPILLING OVER.

I SEE A BANK BALANCE WITH THE ZEROES GOING OFF THE PAGE.

LISTEN, PLEASE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

EATING OUR MEALS ON TRAYS, TOLLIVER.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING SHOWERS IN GROUPS OF 100.

OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.

TAKE IT EASY, TAKE IT EASY.

THE TYNAN NAME IS STILL GOOD

FOR SOMETHING IN THIS TOWN.

I'LL MAKE SOME CALLS.

OH, BOY, 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 GOING TO ENJOY SEEING YOUR FACE

WHEN EVERYBODY IN TOWN'S RIDING THE GRAVY TRAIN AND YOU'RE NOT.

DAMN!

SO YOU'RE STARTING TO SHOW UP ON ME

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, THIS IS PRIVATE.

Man: I WANT TO SEE A PRIEST.

WE DON'T HAVE PRIESTS.

I GOT TO TALK TO A PRIEST.

I'VE SINNED BAD.

NO, NO, OUT. LET'S GO, GO ON.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO I AM.

BURLEY MASTERS, HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.

GOOD-BYE, MR. BURLEY, HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, BACK TO WORK.

NO, MASTERS. AND THEY FIRED ME.

A LITTLE DRINK AND THEY FIRED ME.

BUT I SHOWED THEM.

I STOLE THE SECRET PLANS FOR THE NEW STATE HIGHWAY

WHERE THE NEW INTERCHANGE, WHERE IT'S GOING.

I STOLE IT.

I STOL IT.

HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT.

HAPPENS I SCREEN ALL CONFESSIONS.

MAYBE I CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

W-W-WELL, I STOLE IT OUT OF SPITE.

I CONFESS.

YOU CAN GIVE IT BACK, RIGHT?

THIS IS MORGAN'S CORNER.

THIS IS WHERE THE NEW HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE IS GOING?

SHH! SHH!

WHO KNOWS ABOUT THIS?

WELL, JUST THE TWO COMMISSIONERS AND ME.

OH, AND YOU.

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.

LET'S DISCUSS THIS OVER A BEVERAGE, HUH?

OH, THAT WOULD BE VERY NICE, THANK YOU.

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.

( birds singing )

( low hum of traffic )

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

as 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 and roll of the group

has been chosen to build and light the giant fire.

In other news, the Barrington High...

( turns TV off )

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

NO.

( diners talking )

THAT TOLLIVER TYNAN THINKS

HE CAN PUSH SAMMY AROUND LIKE A TRAINED CHIMPANZEE.

CHIMP WHO LAUGHS LAST, LAUGHS BEST.

YOU KNOW, IT IS USELESS

TRYING TO TALK TO YOU ANYMORE.

DOESN'T SEEM TO STOP YOU, DOES IT?

OH! WHAT I AM SAYING, I...

( sighs )

I DON'T LIKE TO SEE SAMMY MADE A FOOL OF.

Norm: HMM...

YOU EVER WONDER WHAT'S GOING THROUGH HIS MIND?

MM-HMM.

I GOT A FEELING IT'S WAY MORE THAN AVERAGE.

YEAH.

( birds singing )

WOW. THAT IS A LOT OF WOOD, ISN'T IT?

THAT'S THE NEW PADRE, HUH?

( chuckles )

YEAH, HE STILL CAN'T COAX ANYBODY

IN THE BIG BAPTISMAL FONT.

( chuckles )

BE THANKFUL FOR SMALL BLESSINGS, BOYS.

WHAT'S HE DECIDED TO DO?

BURN SOMEBODY AT THE STAKE?

( snickers )

( coughs )

HOW MUCH WOOD WOULD A WOODCHUCK CHUCK?

RIGHT?

YOU SAY YOU WANT US

TO DO THE SOUTH ROAD RUN ON THURSDAY?

YEAH, I HAVE TO BE IN ATLANTA.

Man: 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 COUNTERBID

TO ACQUIRE A LEASE OPTION.

WELL, THE OWNER IS, UH, 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, HMM?

( both chuckling )

( clicks on intercom )

MISS LARSON, WOULD YOU SEE

THAT WE HAVE 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 )

( resumes chuckling )

I WONDERED WHO IT MIGHT BE.

BUT IT MAKES SENSE

IT'S YOU, SAMMY AYERS.

YOU MUST HAVE CAUGHT WIND OF THOSE STOLEN PLANS

WHEN TOLLIVER DID, RIGHT?

( laughing heartily )

I THOUGHT SO.

YOU KNOW, I FIGURE YOU AND I

ARE THE TWO BIGGEST FRAUDS IN BARRINGTON.

ME WITH MY LAWYER FRONT MAN

AND YOU WITH YOUR SELECTIVE SENSES.

ALL RIGHT.

LET ME, 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 COULD THAT BE, YOU WONDER.

HOW COULD THOSE HIGHWAY PLANS BE SO FAR OFF?

WELL, FIRST OFF

BURLEY MASTERS DIDN'T GET FIRED FOR DRINKING ON THE JOB.

HE GOT FIRED FOR DRAWING UP A MAP

THAT WAS SO FAR OFF THE ENGINEERS' COORDINATES

IT WAS IN ANOTHER COUNTY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I OWN

THAT 182-ACRE MOSQUITO SWAMP--

BORN ON IT, 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...

( chuckling )

...SWEET SOMETIMES?

( laughing )

NOW, THEN, PARTNER...

WHAT DO YOU SAY THAT, UH...

LAWYER GREER CALLS TOLLIVER...

AND TELLS HIM

THAT IT'LL TAKE ANOTHER...

( scrawling )

( drops pen )

MORE OR LESS?

( laughing )

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 TEN GRAND

IS ON ITS WAY!

MAN, OH, MAN, OH, M...

THE BUILDING FUND?

WE'RE GOING TO PUT OUT THE WORD

TO JUST A HANDFUL OF REAL ESTATE AGENTS

THE BIG ONES, DEEP POCKETS ONLY.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON THEIR KNEES

TO BUY OUR LEASE OPTION

FOR A HUNDRED TIMES WHAT WE PAID FOR IT!

TWO HUNDRED WOULD GIVE US A MORE SECURE MARGIN.

DO I HEAR THREE?

( bangs on tabl e)

I HOPE.

AH, PERCY, STICK WITH ME

WE'LL BE STANDING IN CLOVER.

TAKE A LOOK.

( sighs )

THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE A HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE.

THIS IS THE NOTHINGEST NOTHING I EVER SEEN.

( insects chirping )

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

THE ORGAN FUND...!

( siren blaring )

( clinking )

( tires squealing )

Thacker: UH-OH.

DEPUTY MYRON'S UP FROM HIS NAP.

( siren trailing off )

Man over police radio: Car five, car five...

Car five, we got a little accident on the corner of...

EVENING, MYRON.

YOU KNOW WHY I PULLED YOU OVER

ARCHIBALD THACKER?

I DON'T THINK IT WAS FOR SPEEDING.

THIS RIG WON'T GO MORE THAN 40.

Y-Y-YOU BEEN DROPPING BITS AND PIECES

ALONG THE WAY.

YOU'RE PAID TO PICK UP

NOT TO, TO DISTRIBUTE...

I MEAN, AM I, AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

( shaking latch )

( birds cawing )

WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT

YOU'RE RIGHT, MYRON.

WHAT CAN I SAY?

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

I'M JUST GOING TO WRITE YOU A WARNING

ARCHIBALD THACKER.

SO'S YOU DON'T THINK I'M PREJUDICED.

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, MYRON.

NEVER A DOUBT.

Dispatcher: Myron?

Myron, you there?

Listen up.

The revenue boys say they just passed somebody

transporting a load of moonshine

from Billy Hanson's still.

Could be heading your way.

Keep your eye out.

YOU BOYS ARE IN LUCK.

I GOT BIGGER FISH TO FRY.

GET THAT REAR LATCH FIXED, HEAR?

"THE QUALITY OF MOONSHINE IS NOT STRAINED.

"IT DROPPETH AS A GENTLE RAIN FROM HEAVEN

FOR 'TIS TWICE BLESSED."

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

ONE BLESSING IS BLESSING ENOUGH FOR ONE NIGHT.

PLUG THAT LEAK

AND LET'S GET ON TO THE CHURCH.

YOU PLUG IT, YOU WERE THE ONE.

ME? YOU DO IT.

OH, HERE, GIVE ME THOSE.

NO, NO, I DON'T WANT YOU DOING MY LAUNDRY.

WHO CARES WHAT YOU DON'T WANT?

THAT LAUNDRY YOU TAKE THEM 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'LL TELL YOU.

I'M GOING TO TALK TO THAT TYNAN KID.

I WOULDN'T.

NO?

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 HAS HE GOT?

I KNOW HE'S FILLED A SPACE FOR YOU.

JUST LIKE I HAVE, MAYBE.

YOU DON'T MAKE SENSE MUCH OF THE TIME.

( laughs )

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 THAT BEFORE?

WHAT FOR?

NEVER TAKE APART A CLOCK THAT'S TICKING.

ISN'T THAT WHAT THEY SAY?

32 YEARS.

33 AND A HALF.

NO STARCH!

( owl hoots, machine creaks )

( machine continues creaking)

OKAY, THAT'S IT, ROLL THE HOSE.

( truck starting )

I LEARNED LATER

THAT ARCHIBALD THACKER OCCASIONALLY MADE

AN EXTRA DOLLAR OR TWO

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.

Crowd: WE LOVE THE WEEVILS!

BAN THE WEEVILS!

( horns honking )

Boy: WE LOVE THE WEEVILS!

Man: GET RID OF THEM!

WE LOVE THE WEEVILS!

BAN THE WEEVILS!

BAN THE WEEVILS!

( horns honking ) BAN THE...

( horns honking )

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.

Girl: PROTEST!

YEAH!

( crowd continues chanting )

Girl: WE LOVE THE WEEVILS!

WATCHING HIM LIKE THAT, I FELT SORRY FOR HIM.

HE KNEW HE SHOULD HAVE 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.

TV announcer: Dickie Devil and his rock band, the Weevils

will miss the big event in Barrington tonight.

Interviewed in Sydney, Australia

where the band is on tour

Dickie Devil seemed pleased with the uproar

as he had this to say.

Lucille: HOLD ON, PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE.

( girls squealing )

Oh, I love Georgia.

We did super fab in Atlanta!

Hello, loves!

Have one on Dickie, eh?

I love you very much.

He may do super fab in Atlanta

but if the crowd gathering now has its way

he'll burn in Barrington tonight.

LET ME GET YOU A SPOON.

On the sports front...

EXCUSE ME.

I'M RUNNING OUT OF EVERYTHING.

the Barrington Fire Chiefs will host a double-header against...

IT'LL HELP IF YOU TURN THE TV OFF.

IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, FOLKS!

EVERYBODY'S GOT TO FINISH UP.

WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE IN TEN MINUTES.

BURN THE WEEVILS!

BONFIRE TONIGHT!

( horns honking )

BONFIRE TONIGHT!

GET YOUR ALBUMS AND BURN THEM!

Thacker: WE SHOULD HAVE GONE BACK AND GOTTEN IT OUT LAST NIGHT.

NOW WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW.

DO YOU REALIZE WHAT WE COULD MAKE

SELLING OFF THAT LOAD OF MOONSHINE TO THIS CROWD

AT TWO BITS A GLASS?

( laughs )

YOU HAVE A RETAIL MIND, SON.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE IN THE WHOLESALE END OF THE BUSINESS.

( laughing ) 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.

( laughs ): I CAN PICK A WINNER, HUH?

Man: GET YOUR HOT BUTTERED POPCORN!

I THINK I NEED SOMETHING IN MY STOMACH.

MY, MY, WHAT HAVE WE HERE?

EVENING, GOVERNOR!

GOVERNOR, HEAR THAT?

( laughing )

GOVERNOR.

( chortles )

Chanting: BAN THE WEEVILS!

BAN THE WEEVILS!

Man: IT'S A WAKE-UP CALL.

Chanting: WE LOVE THE WEEVILS!

BAN THE WEEVILS!

( drummer drumming )

...WZPZ, THIS IS NED CLARK...

OH, IT'S REVEREND PRUITT HIMSELF.

REVEREND PRUITT, PLEASE.

CAN WE GET A FEW WORDS WITH YOU HERE?

REVEREND PRUITT, I KNOW YOU MUST BE

DEEPLY MOVED BY THE MAGNITUDE

OF THIS EVENT YOU'VE INSPIRED.

THEY'RE GOING TO RUIN

THE LAWN.

THEY GOT PLENTY FIREWORKS.

Woman: Y'ALL BE CAREFUL!

DON'T GET TOO CLOSE TO THE BONFIRE!

MR. TYNAN.

YOUR REACTION TO ALL THE EXCITEMENT

BUILDING HERE.

I TELL YOU, NED, THIS IS ENNOBLING, INSPIRING.

I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS CRUSADE.

BARRINGTON TONIGHT WILL SEND A MESSAGE TO THE COUNTRY--

TO THE WORLD.

( drumming continues )

THIS SPOT WILL BE LONG REMEMBERED.

THE SIN AND BLASPHEMY OF THE LIKES OF DICKIE DEVIL

ARE ABOUT TO BE DEVOURED BY FIRE.

THIS IS A NIGHT OF RECKONING.

SOMETHING TO TELL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN.

( rockets whistling )

( crowd gasping )

Clark: GET A SHOT.

QUICK INTERVIEW WITH THE GUY

THAT'S GOING TO LIGHT THE BONFIRE.

BE SURE WE GOT THE BONFIRE...

NOT LONG NOW.

BLAST-OFF 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?

AND YOU THINK THAT'S WHY

THEY CHOSE YOU FOR THIS FIERY 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 THEM?

A TALKER.

WELL, AND YOUR NAME IS?

UH, 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 FRANK SINATRA ALBUMS OF MY MOTHER'S

THAT I'VE BEEN LONGING TO INCINERATE.

THAT'S THE STORY-- WORLD'S NUTS, FILM AT 11:00.

WHAT?

CUT.

WE SHOULD HAVE STUCK WITH THE MUTE.

YEAH?

YOU COMING?

I'M COMING, I'M COMING.

STRIKE UP THE BAND, HUH?

IT'S A PARTY.

HIT IT, AND...

( playing march music poorly)

COME ON, REVEREND

HERE WE GO.

HERE YOU GO, REVEREND.

TAKE THE TORCH.

TAKE THE TORCH, REVEREND.

( band continues playing )

Man: BEAVER, BRING YOUR CAMERA.

HE'S GOING TO LIGHT IT!

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.

IT WAS KIND OF AWFUL...

TAKE IT.

I COULD HEAR EVERY SOUR NOTE FROM THE BAND

EVERY VOICE SCREAMING...

SAMMY, SAMMY.

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...

COME ON.

...AND HERE I WAS

LIGHTING HIS BIGGEST FIRECRACKER EVER.

WELL, I JUST COULDN'T DO IT.

YAY!

( cheering and applause )

Woman: OH, THERE IT GOES!

PRAISE JESUS!

OH, SAMMY, STAY BACK.

SAMMY WILL BE ALL RIGHT.

NOW, DON'T YOU WORRY.

( whooping and hollering )

NO! IT'S MINE!

Woman: TOMMY, COME BACK!

( fireworks popping )

( whizzing )

( screaming )

( people shrieking )

THIS, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.

OH, BOY.

OH, BOY.

NO INSURANCE.

NOT A NICKEL.

GET THOSE HOSES OUT NOW!

( siren wailing )

NO, NO, NO!

SOME OF MY PEOPLE MAY BE IN THERE.

OH, PLEASE, GOD, NO!

Man: HEY, REVEREND!

COME BACK!

DON'T GO IN THERE!

I CAN'T WATCH THIS.

DON'T!

Woman: SWEET JESUS

WHAT'S HE DOING?

NO!

OH, NO!

NO, NO, NO.

( crowd exclaims )

( crowd cheers )

( applause )

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: ♪ COME THOU ALMIGHTY KING

♪ HELP US THY PRAISE TO SING... ♪

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.

♪ COME THOU ALMIGHTY KING...

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.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

TOLLIVER TYNAN WASN'T SO LUCK.

HE WAS CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING CHURCH FUNDS FOR PERSONAL GAIN.

GEORGIA v. TYNAN.

PERCY QUEEN NEVER REALLY STOLE A DOLLAR FOR HIMSELF.

SO GEORGIA WAS NOT v. 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.

( crowd gasping, talking )

Woman: HE CAN'T TALK.

Woman: I KNOW, WHAT'S HE GOING TO SAY?

( laughs )

( Tolliver laughing )

( gavel pound s)

Judge: I DON'T WANT ANY MORE OUTBURSTS IN THIS COURT.

( laughs )

DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH

AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH IN THE MATTER BEFORE THIS COURT?

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT'S THE ONLY TRIAL

IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE

THAT WAS OVER IN JUST TWO SPOKEN WORDS.

I DO.

( people gasping, gavel banging )

Sammy: FIRST IT WAS... IT WAS...

IT WAS JUST A WAY TO HIDE, YOU KNOW, TO PROTECT MYSELF.

THEN AFTER A WHILE

EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY THOUGHT I WAS, I WAS DEAF

AND THEY STARTED TALKING AROUND ME LIKE I WASN'T THERE.

AND SO I JUST, I, I, I, I KIND OF WENT WITH IT.

AND NORM AND LUCILLE, THEY WERE SO NICE TO ME

AND AFTER A WHILE I GOT IN SO, UH, DEEP

I WAS AFRAID IT MIGHT ALL GO AWAY IF I TOLD THE TRUTH.

THE FUNNY THING IS

I LIKED HOW PEOPLE TRUSTED ME

HOW THEY TALKED TO ME.

I DIDN'T WANT TO 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 GOING TO 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 DID WHAT SHE WANTED.

THERE ARE 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'D JUST COME HOME FOR MY VISIT?

I WAS PLAYING THE PIANO

AND I THOUGHT I SAW YOU LISTENING.

LISTENING...

BUT YOU HAD SUCH A STRANGE LOOK ON YOUR FACE.

MY MAMA HAD A MUSIC BOX.

IT 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.

WELL, THAT'S NICE.

I LIKE HAVING SOMETHING IN COMMON WITH YOU.

SO NOW YOU'RE LEAVING?

YEAH.

I GOT MY VOICE.

IT'S TIME.

I GOT TO GO TRY IT OUT.

( laughing )

I'LL MISS YOU.

WELL, ALL RIGHT, HERE IT IS.

YOU MEAN YOU HAD IT ALL THESE YEARS

AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ANYONE?

WELL, I HAD TO FIND OUT...

NOT EVEN ME?

IT WASN'T THE TIME.

TIME FOR WHAT?

LUCILLE, I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU.

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 DON'T KNOW...

I FEEL...

CHEATED?

YEAH, I GUESS.

BETRAYED?

YEAH.

HURT?

WELL, DON'T YOU?

UH, WELL...

I JUST THINK HE MUST HAVE DONE WHAT HE HAD TO.

OH, LUCILLE.

HERE HE COMES.

( dishes rattle )

I SUPPOSE I, UH...

OWE YOU 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, WELL, YOU NEEDED SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO

AND NORM NEEDED SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO HIM

AND SEE, EVERYBODY NEEDED SOMEBODY TO LISTEN TO HIM

AND WELL, THE YEARS WENT BY AND TIME PASSED

AND I JUST KEPT LISTENING.

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO HURT ANYBODY.

I CERTAINLY DIDN'T...

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 AM

SENTENCING YOU TO TWO YEARS IN STATE PRISON

FOR THE EMBEZZLEMENT OF CHURCH FUNDS.

I SAY SAD 'CAUSE I KNEW YOUR FATHER.

I USED TO FISH WITH HIM.

A FINER MAN NEVER CAST A FLY.

Tolliver: 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, IF YOU PLEASE, TOLLIVER.

YOUR FATHER'S IRONCLAD WILL

LEFT ALL OF HIS ESTATE UPON THE DEATH OF MRS. TYNAN

TO HIS ELDEST SON.

THAT'S ME, JUDGE, AND MY SISTER, TALLASSE, CAN'T CHALLENGE THAT.

SHE'S ADOPTED.

WE'VE KNOWN THAT FOR YEARS.

HECK, I'M THE ONE WHO TOLD HER.

THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE, MR. TYNAN

BUT NOW LET ME TELL YOU A THING OR TWO.

THE 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 RECOGNIZED HIM TO BE IN MY OWN TRUE IMAGE.

"BLUE OF EYES, WIDE OF BROW, BOLD OF CHIN

"WARM SPIRIT.

"BORN TO ME OF THE ONLY PERSON

"WHO SHOWED ME LOVE

"AND UNSELFISH COMMITMENT.

HER FULL NAME BEING HELEN AYERS."

NOW, THE 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.

OFF AND ON 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.

WELL, 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

AND IT HAPPENED.

HOW'D YOU FIND HER?

YEARS OF SATURDAYS

RIDING ON BUS PASSES

BACK ALONG THE ROUTE I FIGURED YOU COME.

I ORDERED A PROPER HEADSTONE.

YOU CAN GO LOOK AT IT SOMEDAY.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT.

YOU KNOW, FROM TIME TO TIME

I'VE THOUGHT IF EVER I COULD PICK OUT A FATHER...

IT 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...

( clears throat )

NOW GET.

WELL, I GUESS I'LL JUST GET.

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'D 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?

WELL, I GUESS I DON'T HAVE ANY AT THE MOMENT.

THEN I GOT ON THE RIGHT BUS.

I GOT SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU.

( playing "My Ship" )

♪ MY SHIP HAS SAILS THAT ARE MADE OF SILK ♪

♪ THE DECKS ARE TRIMMED WITH GOLD ♪

♪ AND OF GEM AND SPICE, THERE'S A PARADISE IN THE HOLD ♪

♪ MY SHIP'S AGLOW WITH A MILLION PEARLS ♪

♪ AND RUBIES FILL EACH BIN

♪ THE SUN SETS HIGH IN A SAPPHIRE SKY ♪

♪ WHEN MY SHIP COMES IN.

[Captioning sponsored by ARTISAN ENTERTAINMENT

Captioned by The Caption Center WGBH Educational Foundation]