The Long Hot Summer (1958) Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Anthony Franciosa ｜ Hollywood Classics movie

One One Channel

Accused barn burner and conman Ben Quick arrives in a small Mississippi town and quickly ingratiates himself with its richest family, the Varners.

Transcript

00:00:30It was him! He did it!

00:00:50Then his hog got my corn again.

00:00:54He had no fence that would hold it.

00:00:56So I put it in my pen.

00:00:58I told him he could have his hog back when he paid me a dollar-pound fee.

00:01:02What did he say to that?

00:01:04He didn't say nothing. But yesterday I got his answer all right.

00:01:08My barn burned!

00:01:10A barn burner is the meanest, lowest creature there is.

00:01:14I can't find against you quick. There's no proof.

00:01:17But I can give you some advice.

00:01:19Leave this county and don't come back to it.

00:01:23You're the judge.

00:01:25That'll do. Take your belongings and get out before dark.

00:01:55The long, hot summer

00:02:10Seems to know every time you're near

00:02:16And the touch of a breeze

00:02:19Gently stirs all the trees

00:02:23And a bird wants to please my ear

00:02:29The long, hot summer

00:02:35Seems to know what a flirt you are

00:02:41Seems to know your caress

00:02:44Isn't mine to possess

00:02:48How could someone possess a star?

00:02:54But you may long for me

00:03:00Long before the fall

00:03:06Long before the winds announce

00:03:11That winter's come to call

00:03:16And meanwhile I'll court you

00:03:22And meanwhile I'll kiss you

00:03:28Meanwhile my lonely arms

00:03:33Will hold you strong

00:03:41And meanwhile

00:03:45The long, hot summer

00:03:52Slowly moves along

00:03:57Oh, so slowly moves along

00:04:27Oh, so slowly moves along

00:04:57Oh, so slowly moves along

00:05:27You like a lift to town?

00:05:29Never walk when I can ride.

00:05:33Just push him out of your way.

00:05:35Thank you, ma'am.

00:05:42I went shopping in those Memphis stores this morning

00:05:44And just went wild.

00:05:46Alligator bag, figure prints, summer shoes,

00:05:49Which is all a lie, considering we live in Frenchman's Bend

00:05:51And nobody's gonna see them but redneck farmers and immediate family.

00:05:55I don't care, though. I got my morale to keep up.

00:05:58You two country girls?

00:06:00Country?

00:06:01Our little town's the most nowhere place in the whole state of Mississippi.

00:06:04You can believe me when I tell you it laces you in tight as a corset.

00:06:07And as far as social amusements are concerned, there are none.

00:06:11Well, that's all right. I'm a quiet living man myself.

00:06:14Oh, I only know one reason for living quiet.

00:06:16That's if you're too old to live any other way.

00:06:19In other words, you two girls just take your fun where you can find it?

00:06:23In conclusion, young man, we've given you a ride and that's all we're giving you.

00:06:27Where you headed?

00:06:29Well, I'll go as far as you go, ma'am.

00:06:31Oh, you sound free as a bird.

00:06:33Doesn't he sound free as a bird, Clara?

00:06:35Well, Clara's wondering what kind of a bird, aren't you, Clara?

00:06:37Well, now, if you want a mind reader,

00:06:40Clara here's a schoolteacher and mighty finicky about her reputation.

00:06:43She didn't want to pick you up.

00:06:45I said, why not? There's two of us and one of him.

00:06:48And she said, because he looks mean and dirty.

00:06:51Well, now, I'd say that lady's a real fine judge of character.

00:06:55Clara, you've got no regard for the safety of your purse

00:06:58and the way you drive this old Lincoln car.

00:07:00Honey, I'm getting a falling kidney

00:07:02jolting around this countryside with you.

00:07:21Let's go.

00:07:47Looks like Von is the man to see around here.

00:07:50You can find him over at our house most any time.

00:07:53You two girls belong to Von, huh?

00:07:55We two girls most particularly belong to Von, huh?

00:08:21How does a man make a living around here?

00:08:24Honest or dishonest?

00:08:26Let me hear what's open.

00:08:28Well, now, a fellow that's hard-working and clean-living

00:08:31can plant cotton in the bottomland,

00:08:33corn along the edge of the hills.

00:08:35Of course, if he ain't so particular, he can make quite a lot of money.

00:08:39Well, let's go, then.

00:08:41Well, let's go.

00:08:43A man that's hard-working and clean-living

00:08:45can plant cotton in the bottomland,

00:08:47corn along the edge of the hills.

00:08:49Of course, if he ain't so particular,

00:08:51he can make whiskey in a homemade still,

00:08:53and what he don't drink, he can sell.

00:08:56Well, what happens if a federal man comes by?

00:08:59Oh, they'd be known to come by,

00:09:02or should be known to disappear.

00:09:04Well, not entirely.

00:09:06No, not entirely.

00:09:09Mr. Man's shoes might show up, or his hat.

00:09:12That's what it is.

00:09:14Oh, somebody else is wearing them.

00:09:19You a federal man?

00:09:24Let's say I'm a farmer, Dad.

00:09:26Uh-huh.

00:09:28Lest you say so.

00:09:30Now, you used to follow that road over there.

00:09:32You'd come to a tenant farm.

00:09:34You could work if you ever mind to.

00:09:36Belongs to a fellow named Varner.

00:09:38What does?

00:09:40What's your name, boy?

00:09:42Quick. Ben Quick.

00:09:46Quick.

00:09:48Sure now.

00:09:50So that's him.

00:10:07Heavenly days, there's Agnes Stewart.

00:10:09She called up all nervous and fluttery this morning

00:10:11to say she was coming over, and I forgot to tell you about it.

00:10:14Jody!

00:10:20Jody, I'm home!

00:10:22And I spent all your money!

00:10:24Well, it looks like you sure had a busy day, honey.

00:10:27You just wait and see what I have for you.

00:10:29I bought you a red and white pure silk tie

00:10:31and a box of brown sugar prolines

00:10:33and some maroon felt bedroom slippers.

00:10:35Honey, I bought you all kinds of other things, too.

00:10:38A whole bunch of new records and some sports shoes.

00:10:41All sorts of things.

00:10:43Oh, honey, it ain't my birthday or anything.

00:10:45Well, I just wanted you to know you was in my thoughts.

00:10:47I've been in Memphis.

00:10:49Now, you just sit down and close your eyes.

00:10:51I'm gonna model my purchases.

00:10:53You want to know something, honey?

00:10:55I hate this house when you're not in it.

00:10:57Well, I'm in it now.

00:10:59And I'm gorgeous.

00:11:02Oh, and will you see this new dress?

00:11:04They show the same one in the June Vogue magazine.

00:11:06Only without all these little balls in the back.

00:11:09The salesgirl said to me,

00:11:11Miss Varner, that dress was made in heaven for you

00:11:14on account of I'm so long wasted.

00:11:16She said five customers had that dress on

00:11:19and I was the only one that did anything for it.

00:11:22You like it?

00:11:24What I like is you, honey.

00:11:26There's more?

00:11:28There sure is.

00:11:30And all of it mighty pretty.

00:11:32Aah!

00:11:34Oh, now.

00:11:36You come to your daddy.

00:11:38Come on.

00:11:40I got you.

00:11:42I got you.

00:11:44What's going on up there?

00:11:46We don't go in much.

00:11:48It's stately quiet around here.

00:11:50Where do you get so much energy on a day like this?

00:11:52That party has been going on

00:11:54since Papa left for the hospital.

00:11:56I don't see how you can stand all that hooting and howling

00:11:58and carrying on.

00:12:00It would just turn me into a nervous wreck.

00:12:02Well, you better look.

00:12:04There you are.

00:12:06For your information,

00:12:08we're still on the green side of 25 ourselves.

00:12:10Oh, but good it does it.

00:12:12Look!

00:12:14That baby brother of yours.

00:12:16I tell you, he's like a five-year-old kid.

00:12:18You know what we were doing in there?

00:12:20We were having a pillow fight.

00:12:22I hit him so hard, I knocked the wind smack out of him.

00:12:24Hello, Agnes, sweetie.

00:12:26Hello, Eula.

00:12:28You sure do look calm and collected on this hot day.

00:12:30Oh, I know what you mean.

00:12:32I'm going straight into a bubble bath myself.

00:12:34Agnes, you bring a bow by some one of these nights

00:12:36and we'll cook us up a party.

00:12:38Hey, Eula!

00:12:40Oh, if I'm not mistaken, that's my master's voice.

00:12:44Bring a bow, Bong.

00:12:46My phone rang just one time last week.

00:12:48Just one time.

00:12:50And this man with a deep,

00:12:52beautiful voice says,

00:12:54can I interest you

00:12:56in the Encyclopedia Britannica?

00:12:58Well, come on, let's go upstairs,

00:13:00and I'll give you a permanent, and that'll cheer you up.

00:13:02Clara, you've given me three permanents

00:13:04in the last six months.

00:13:06All my ends are split.

00:13:08Oh, Clara, it's unnerving,

00:13:10having all this time on my hands.

00:13:12I want to rush home and fix supper

00:13:14for some big, handsome man

00:13:16and put kids in a bathtub

00:13:18and broil steak and crank ice cream

00:13:20and think about

00:13:22what the night's gonna bring.

00:13:24Why, aren't there enough men to go around?

00:13:26There's no shortage,

00:13:28just of the right kind.

00:13:30Oh, I'm not fussy on that subject.

00:13:32Neither am I.

00:13:34Tell me just one thing.

00:13:36Have you ever in your whole life been proposed to?

00:13:38I have.

00:13:40And you let him go?

00:13:42No, I didn't let him go.

00:13:44I watched him get scared off.

00:13:46He came to call on me,

00:13:48and then he met my father,

00:13:50and then he didn't come calling on me anymore.

00:13:52Speaking of your father,

00:13:54when's that august personage

00:13:56coming home?

00:13:58Tomorrow.

00:14:00And the forecast is storm and thunder.

00:14:02Well,

00:14:04you come on over to my house for supper.

00:14:06Alan's been asking about you.

00:14:08He's sick and bad,

00:14:10being fed milk pudding,

00:14:12all dreamy with temperature.

00:14:14Thoroughly enjoying himself.

00:14:16It gives something to know

00:14:18what goes on in my brother's temperature dream.

00:14:20I know what goes on in mine.

00:14:26Um,

00:14:28don't swivel round.

00:14:30There's someone coming.

00:14:32Someone young.

00:14:34It's probably a sewing machine,

00:14:36salesman.

00:14:38Yes, well, even if it is,

00:14:40don't say no right off.

00:14:42Let's at least talk.

00:14:46Morning, lady.

00:14:48Morning, lady.

00:14:50Fine warm day, isn't it?

00:14:52Yes, indeed. Pretty as a picture.

00:14:54Now, you all look like

00:14:56two butterflies lit out on the grass.

00:14:58Go again, Miss Clare.

00:15:00If it's work you're looking for,

00:15:02you can see the foreman at the gin.

00:15:04If it's food, they'll take care of you around the back door.

00:15:06Well, now,

00:15:08you hadn't hit on it yet, lady.

00:15:10What I'd like to see now is a man of the house.

00:15:14Lucius!

00:15:18Lucius!

00:15:22What is it, Miss Clare?

00:15:24Would you tell Mr. Joder that there's a person

00:15:26waiting to see him, please?

00:15:28You could have said gentlemen.

00:15:30This ain't a minor whim.

00:15:38Where did you find him?

00:15:40Out on the road.

00:15:42I gave him a lift this morning.

00:15:44Why'd you have to go and be so unfriendly?

00:15:46Agnes,

00:15:48the last desperate resort is strangers.

00:15:50We haven't come to that yet.

00:15:52Oh, haven't we just?

00:15:54Clara, you want to hear a cold clinical fact?

00:15:56Every single girl we went to normal school with

00:15:58is married and pregnant

00:16:00or about to be.

00:16:02I'm residing with my mother and brother,

00:16:04and you're still occupying

00:16:06the bedroom you had when you was 13.

00:16:08I know about you, Clara.

00:16:10I know what's making me nervous.

00:16:12Well, don't throw in the towel yet, Agnes, dear.

00:16:14Those tranquilizers may see us through yet.

00:16:18Eulana?

00:16:20Yeah, I'm warm, Father.

00:16:22Turn that thing off, Eula.

00:16:26What can I do for you?

00:16:28The name's Quick.

00:16:30I heard you had a farm to ramp.

00:16:34Eula, you hear me?

00:16:36I'm gonna come up there and kick that thing in.

00:16:38How much family you got, boy?

00:16:40You looking at it?

00:16:42Well, a man usually puts six, seven hands in the field.

00:16:44Well, one's all you get from me.

00:16:46Jody, you got the stove to talk business in.

00:16:50Well, for heaven's sakes, it's our passenger.

00:16:52How do you do, ma'am?

00:16:54Hello, yourself.

00:16:56Hey, here now, you two know each other?

00:16:58Uh-huh.

00:17:00Well, how come?

00:17:02The how-come is, Clara and I bought a house

00:17:04and we're living in it.

00:17:06How come?

00:17:08The how-come is, Clara and I obliged him with a ride

00:17:10when his car broke down.

00:17:12Yeah, well, we're talking business.

00:17:14Come on, now. Come on, now!

00:17:18How much rent you aiming to pay, boy?

00:17:20How much rent you aiming to rent for?

00:17:22Oh, half your crop.

00:17:26You finish out of my stall.

00:17:30No cash?

00:17:32Mm-hmm.

00:17:34I'll take it back at your prices.

00:17:36That makes a dollar worth about six bits.

00:17:38Take it or leave it.

00:17:42I'll take it.

00:17:44Ha-ha-ha!

00:17:46Ha-ha-ha!

00:17:48Doo-dee-doo-da-da-dum-da-dum

00:17:50Da-doo-da-da-da-dee-da-dum-dum

00:17:52Ha-ha-ha!

00:17:54Ha-ha-ha!

00:17:56Ha-ha-ha!

00:18:04Ha-ha-ha!

00:18:10Mister, you sure do leave your calling card.

00:18:34It's summertime when the living is easy.

00:18:36No, thank you.

00:18:38When you gonna start working?

00:18:42Lady, I never move and work on the same day.

00:18:46Miss Quick, my daddy's coming home tomorrow.

00:18:48He says quite a stall by this rug.

00:18:50You track it, you clean it.

00:18:54It's not a fuss to be making about a rug, lady.

00:18:56It's the rug that's bothering you.

00:18:58What else would it be?

00:19:00Well, now, you correct me if I'm wrong,

00:19:02but I have the feeling I rile you.

00:19:04I mean, me being so mean and dirty and all.

00:19:06Mister Quick, you being personal with me,

00:19:08I'll be personal with you.

00:19:10I spent my whole life around men

00:19:12who push and shove and shout

00:19:14and think they can make anything happen

00:19:16just by being aggressive.

00:19:18And I'm not anxious to have another one around the place.

00:19:20Miss Clare, you slam a door in a man's face

00:19:22before he even knocks on it.

00:19:24Would you have the rug at the house by six, please?

00:19:27Don't swallow seeds.

00:19:42I'm in!

00:19:44I'm in!

00:19:46I'm in!

00:19:48I'm in!

00:19:52I'm in!

00:19:54I'm in!

00:19:56I'm in!

00:19:58Marty, you behave yourself.

00:20:00I'm back!

00:20:14Warner's home.

00:20:16He don't look very peaky.

00:20:18Anybody know what they cut out of him

00:20:20in that hospital?

00:20:22I'll compare to what's in his pocketbook.

00:20:30Is that you, Will Barlow?

00:20:32Come closer, if you bloody don't!

00:20:34This is more like

00:20:36the land of the livid.

00:20:38Oh, I'm glad you made it home, you old piece of beef.

00:20:40You get a little fatter, Minnie,

00:20:42and a little blonder.

00:20:44And how about you? I understand they cut and stitched you up.

00:20:46Is anything left of you worth having?

00:20:48You just put 18 cans of beer on ice and wait and see.

00:20:50I'm coming back, Minnie.

00:20:52Later.

00:20:58My white hairs kind of had you fooled, huh?

00:21:00Yes, sir.

00:21:02Drive on!

00:21:04Welcome, Mr. Will.

00:21:06Yeah.

00:21:08Welcome to your home.

00:21:10Here I am.

00:21:12Back in your capable hands again, Lucius.

00:21:14Back where I belong.

00:21:16Hi, Daddy Warner.

00:21:18You look all right.

00:21:20You're dressed up to be held up.

00:21:22It's all in honor of you.

00:21:24That's good.

00:21:26I'm glad you made it home.

00:21:28I'm glad you made it home.

00:21:30I'm glad you made it home.

00:21:32That's good.

00:21:34Three months, I ain't even smell nothing

00:21:36but the starch in her uniforms.

00:21:38That's what I like.

00:21:40There's bones there,

00:21:42but the bones is covered up good with plenty of real woman.

00:21:44I was gonna hope we had a little more of you.

00:21:46Isn't it about time you was fixing yourself

00:21:48some maternity dresses, you little gal?

00:21:50Now you're embarrassing me, Daddy Warner.

00:21:52Hello, Papa.

00:21:54Well, well, well.

00:21:56There's a fulsome greeting.

00:21:58Now the hallelujah chorus.

00:22:00Not through dancing in the streets,

00:22:02not only son exactly

00:22:04pining his heart away for his daddy,

00:22:06but simple and direct.

00:22:08He said hello, didn't he?

00:22:10Suppose we could get through the opening ceremonies

00:22:12without civil war.

00:22:14I'll be coming to you later, sister.

00:22:16I know you will, Papa.

00:22:18Jody's been an absolute living doll while you've been gone.

00:22:20I'd call that a real fine recommendation,

00:22:22except I already had my look around town before I come here.

00:22:24What's happened?

00:22:26We've gone out of business, huh?

00:22:28We're living off our income.

00:22:30What do I see in town?

00:22:32Two dead asleep clerks washing the store.

00:22:34And no gin going at all.

00:22:36Well, things may have slacked off a little bit today, Papa,

00:22:38because I was home, seeing to your arrival.

00:22:40But we've done all right.

00:22:42You can look at the books if you'd like.

00:22:44Well, now,

00:22:46I intend to.

00:22:48I'm gonna crawl over them books like an old fly.

00:22:50Old fly paper.

00:22:52Hey, you better bring me another loosers.

00:22:54Yes, and I'm old self again.

00:22:56The doctors down at Jefferson, they, uh, guarded me.

00:22:58And they took away just about every organ

00:23:00they thought I could spare.

00:23:02They didn't spare my spirit down there,

00:23:04and thank you, Jody, for your kindly inquiries

00:23:06as to my health.

00:23:12Next?

00:23:14All right, sister.

00:23:16Your own.

00:23:18What do you want to know, Papa?

00:23:22You still fixin' to get yourself known

00:23:24as the best-lookin', richest old maid

00:23:26in the county, or have you seen any young people lately?

00:23:28Any young people seen you?

00:23:30Been to any parties, any picnics,

00:23:32any barbecues, any church bazaars?

00:23:34Have you mingled, have you mixed?

00:23:36Have you kept yourself up in that room all this time,

00:23:38reading them poetry books, huh?

00:23:40I hope this doesn't come as a shock to your nervous system,

00:23:42Papa, but when you're away, I do what I please.

00:23:44Well,

00:23:46I'm back.

00:23:48Welcome home.

00:23:50Who's this?

00:24:20Oh, you don't give me my due respect

00:24:22in front of my wife.

00:24:24You've got a business, too, Jody.

00:24:26What about a little respect for that?

00:24:28Ain't no use.

00:24:30You and me just don't talk the same language.

00:24:34It's what gives us our aches, our pains.

00:24:36Now, me,

00:24:38all the time in the hospital,

00:24:40I didn't do nothing wrong.

00:24:42But you,

00:24:44all the time in the hospital,

00:24:46I didn't do nothing wrong.

00:24:48All the time in the hospital,

00:24:50I didn't just lay there.

00:24:52I was busy.

00:24:54Yes, sir, I wheeled and I deal.

00:24:56That's what I done, boy.

00:24:58Now, what about you?

00:25:00May wasn't so good,

00:25:02but June and July I made up for it.

00:25:04That's to be expected.

00:25:06I moved all I have of farm equipment.

00:25:08Yeah?

00:25:10Fresh out of inventory.

00:25:12Including that old tractor?

00:25:14That's right.

00:25:16I rented off that tenant farm

00:25:18nobody around here would have.

00:25:20And a fella come down here

00:25:22from Boston, Massachusetts.

00:25:24He bought a lot of land

00:25:26and built this big fence around it

00:25:28and started a goat ranch.

00:25:30Only he plumb ran out of goats

00:25:32and went bust.

00:25:34Yeah?

00:25:36Yeah.

00:25:38So, Papa, now you got 2,000 acres more

00:25:40of good grassland.

00:25:42Well, seems like you ain't been

00:25:44How'd you rent that farm off?

00:25:46On shares.

00:25:48Foundable?

00:25:50Well, I had a little trouble with a man.

00:25:52What's the name of this poor unfortunate?

00:25:54A fella named Quick.

00:25:58Quick?

00:26:00You mean Quick?

00:26:02Yeah, yeah, from out west.

00:26:06You knucklehead fool!

00:26:08You empty-headed joker!

00:26:10What are you calling me names for?

00:26:12Quick!

00:26:14Don't you keep her breast handed to St. Eula!

00:26:16Do you know what Quick means in this county?

00:26:18Herophile!

00:26:20Fascist and char!

00:26:22Flame follows that man around like a dog!

00:26:26He's a bald burner!

00:26:28I never do anything right, do I?

00:26:30Not to my immediate recollection.

00:26:32You want to hear something, I'll sweat around you.

00:26:34All those months you were away in the hospital,

00:26:36I was dry.

00:26:38Now I'm sweating again.

00:26:40I ain't got time for your personal troubles.

00:26:42You started talking with her, Mr. Ben Quick.

00:26:44Yeah, and I gotta finish it

00:26:46before this house of mine goes up in smoke!

00:27:04I'm Varner.

00:27:06You already met one, Varner.

00:27:10I'm the other.

00:27:12Just driving by,

00:27:14thought I'd stop and see if you got any plans.

00:27:18Well, that cabin ain't fit for hogs,

00:27:20but I can get along with it.

00:27:22Yeah, we can talk that over.

00:27:24Boy, I hear your boy

00:27:26gets in a little trouble

00:27:28with your landlord.

00:27:30The kind of trouble he might need

00:27:32to handle the fire department.

00:27:34You scare to me, mister.

00:27:36Why don't you just come right out and say so?

00:27:38Why should I be scared of you?

00:27:42Because I got a reputation

00:27:44for being a dangerous man?

00:27:48Hmm.

00:27:50You're a young dangerous man.

00:27:54I'm an old one.

00:27:56Yes, you don't know who I am.

00:27:58I better introduce myself.

00:28:00I'm the big landowner

00:28:02and chief moneylender in these parts.

00:28:04I'm commissioner of elections

00:28:06and veterinarian

00:28:08on the store and the cotton gin

00:28:10and the grist mill and the blacksmith shop

00:28:12and is considered unlucky for a man

00:28:14to do his trading or gin his cotton

00:28:16or grind his meal or

00:28:18chew his stock

00:28:20anywhere else. Now, that's who I am.

00:28:22You talk a lot.

00:28:24Well, yes, I do so.

00:28:26But I'm done talking to you.

00:28:28Except for

00:28:30passing you on this piece of information.

00:28:32I built me a new jail in my courthouse

00:28:34and if during the course

00:28:36of your stay here

00:28:38anything at all should just happen to catch fire

00:28:40I think you ought to know

00:28:42that in my jail

00:28:44we never heard of the words

00:28:46habus corpus.

00:28:48You rots.

00:28:50Well, a smart man,

00:28:52he'd give me a job.

00:28:54You're already

00:28:56working for me.

00:28:58None of this weed scratching.

00:29:00I'm talking about a job that'll give me

00:29:02a white shirt

00:29:04and a black tie and three squares.

00:29:06You've got a place in your store

00:29:08and several other spots where you could use me

00:29:10and you'd be writing yourself

00:29:12a fire insurance policy into the bargain.

00:29:14I'll give it some thought.

00:29:16Yes or no, mister.

00:29:18Ain't no in-between.

00:29:20You're a mighty bushy tail for a beginner.

00:29:22I'm in a hurry.

00:29:24You're wasting your time.

00:29:26You're off the top so ready to take it.

00:29:28But like you said, you're an old man.

00:29:30I'm not.

00:29:32You bear that in mind.

00:29:34Be respectful.

00:29:36Yes, sir, Mr. Varner.

00:29:38Now, just who do I have to kill?

00:29:40Well, we won't start

00:29:42right off with murder.

00:29:44Happens I just got handed

00:29:46me a third of Texas

00:29:48horses on a foreclosure.

00:29:50You get rid of them for me at a reasonable profit

00:29:52and we're in business.

00:30:00Well, there's a cool breeze

00:30:02from the river, Alan.

00:30:04But everything nice comes with you, Clara.

00:30:06Hot broth, cool breeze

00:30:08from the river.

00:30:10How's your school?

00:30:12You mean that free-for-all I run in town?

00:30:14Those 35 young hellions

00:30:16who are making their last stand

00:30:18against me?

00:30:20I wouldn't say it was a summer

00:30:22on the Riviera.

00:30:24I'd say it was a summer

00:30:26on the river.

00:30:28Well, I wouldn't say it was a summer

00:30:30on the Riviera.

00:30:32Well, it's unnatural to keep kids in school in the summertime.

00:30:34Well, in winter they got to help work on the crops

00:30:36somewhere along the line.

00:30:38They got to learn to read and write.

00:30:40Besides, who knows?

00:30:42I don't have much hope,

00:30:44but maybe I have a young painter

00:30:46or a young poet cooped up there.

00:30:48Oh, Alan,

00:30:50I love this place.

00:30:52Grace, dignity,

00:30:54beautiful things left undisturbed,

00:30:56just the way they were 100 years ago.

00:30:58Most people say I'm fighting the 20th century.

00:31:02I suppose I ought to sell this place,

00:31:04put it to corn and cotton,

00:31:06go out and get a job like everybody else,

00:31:08but I wouldn't be any good at it, hate it, make a mess of it.

00:31:10Then don't do it.

00:31:12There are enough hustlers around here as is.

00:31:14You stand for something, you hold on to it.

00:31:16Your father refers to me

00:31:18as decayed gentry.

00:31:20That's because he is

00:31:22pea-green with envy.

00:31:24You listen here.

00:31:26He would give anything in the world to have what you have.

00:31:28Wouldn't he just love to have your shine and polish?

00:31:30He can put up all those billboards

00:31:32and those neon signs

00:31:34and those billing stations,

00:31:36but quality is one thing he can't buy, and he knows it.

00:31:38He has quality, Claire.

00:31:40And you.

00:31:44Now, that's what I came through

00:31:46this dusty summer day to hear.

00:31:48Alan, I want you to be

00:31:50hale and hearty again.

00:31:52I want you to courtly gallant self again

00:31:54and come calling on me.

00:31:56Very soon, ma'am.

00:31:58Well, you better.

00:32:00You know, girls get all fidgety and looked at sideways

00:32:02and talked about when they don't have the gentleman colors.

00:32:04Besides, I've missed you.

00:32:10That boy's temperature has been hovering

00:32:12between 100 and 102 tenths for three days,

00:32:14so none of that now.

00:32:16I just brought over some of Lucius's broth.

00:32:18Oh, he won't eat a bite I don't cook.

00:32:20And I'm going to hustle you right along

00:32:22because it's way past Sons' nap time.

00:32:26All right, Miss Stewart.

00:32:28I'll give up the field for now.

00:32:30Goodbye.

00:32:32Goodbye, Alan.

00:32:34Goodbye, Claire.

00:32:48Why, you old crook, you.

00:32:50Them's horses out of hell.

00:32:52That's right.

00:32:54Them ponies never even had a rope on them.

00:32:56You didn't tell me that was wild.

00:32:58Well, you're knowing that.

00:33:00Kind of gives you the edge of wherebody else, huh?

00:33:18Ah!

00:33:24Minnie, little John,

00:33:26I'm getting thirsty again.

00:33:30Since when you been in the horse flesh business, Will?

00:33:32Ain't no kind of business.

00:33:34What you're watching is a plain old-fashioned swindle.

00:33:38So, of course, I ain't involved in it directly.

00:33:40You mean you hired that boy out there to fleece him?

00:33:42I hired that boy.

00:33:44I'll tell you the truth, Minnie,

00:33:46I hired him, but I ain't been found out.

00:33:48Okay, come on, now. Let's gather around in here, folks.

00:33:50Come on, let's move in here.

00:33:52John, come on, now.

00:33:54Bring your whole family down.

00:33:56I don't want to strain my conscience.

00:33:58Let's go. We're gonna get going.

00:34:00Mr. Armstead, I heard what you had to say about them horses.

00:34:02And all I can tell you is I wouldn't hesitate

00:34:04to put my own sister on one of them if I had a sister.

00:34:06Oh, you there.

00:34:08Now, Miss Clara, how'd you like to be the proud owner

00:34:10of one of them handsome-looking horses?

00:34:12Well, I can see you've got no written all over your face.

00:34:14Now, wait a minute. Now, you stop and you think a minute.

00:34:16Now, you can, uh,

00:34:18pack yourself a picnic basket

00:34:20and you can follow some woodsy trail.

00:34:22You can ride off steam and bad temper

00:34:24if you happen to be afflicted that way.

00:34:26And if you see a young fella along the way

00:34:28who happens to take your eye,

00:34:30well, you can put him up behind you and ride double.

00:34:32Now, uh,

00:34:34what's your answer, Miss Clara?

00:34:36You were right the first time, Mr. Quick.

00:34:38I got no written all over my face.

00:34:40She told you.

00:34:42That don't bother me none at all, folks.

00:34:44A lot of women say no when they mean yes.

00:34:46That's for sure.

00:34:48I just ain't fooling about these horses.

00:34:50The man that buys one of these, he'll get the best piece of horse flesh

00:34:52he ever fought to drove for the money.

00:34:54Naturally, they got spirit. I ain't selling no probate.

00:34:56Now, who's gonna start it off with a beer?

00:34:58I'll tell you what I'd do with you.

00:35:00I'll give you $10 for that there fiddlehead.

00:35:02$10? Why, man, you couldn't buy that much dynamite

00:35:04for just $10.

00:35:06There's no horse in there can't run a mile in three minutes.

00:35:08You put them out to pasture,

00:35:10they're gonna bore themselves.

00:35:12Work them like hell all day long

00:35:14and every time you think about it, pretty soon,

00:35:16every jackrabbit one of them, they gonna be so tame

00:35:18you'll have to put them out of the house at night like a cat.

00:35:20Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

00:35:26Nanny, what are you doing?

00:35:28Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

00:35:30I got a hum in my blood

00:35:32my fingers about to swallow the bee.

00:35:34You swallowed five bottles of beer in a hot sun.

00:35:36That's what you swallowed.

00:35:38that fiddlehead horse. $10, take the leap. $11. That's sweet, Pa. Shut up, son. $13. Wait a minute, what are you doing? $15. $15, I got $15 bid on that fiddlehead horse. Now who's gonna make it $20? Kiss me, Will. I got a number of friends and associates here.

00:36:01Hon, I'm your friend, I'm your associate, I have been for 10 years. Well, what's the matter? Well, all this time, this summer, all I done is put up 22 jars of picklily, and I put down a corned beef and a crop, and I say to myself, Minnie, where's it all gonna end? It's gonna end with me eating a corned beef, you know I'm partial to it. Yeah, midnight supper's after you come sneaking up the back stairs.

00:36:31I want to serve it to you right here, six o'clock. Minnie, what are you trying to say? I made plans, Will, matrimonial plans. Now, you ain't ever heard me say the word matrimony. Well, now, I'm willing to overlook that. You know my married sister in Tallahassee?

00:36:54Huh? Well, she's making me up some hand-crocheted sheets, and I've sent away for some flatware with the initial V on it. Minnie, I'm 61 years old. Look, honey, it's no good you trying to tell me you're too old. I happen to be in a position to deny it.

00:37:18Just hand it right over here. Thank you, thank you. Twenty-two dollars from you, twenty-five from you, thirty-two from you, and thirty from you. Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Now, don't forget what I told you now about banging them horses over the head from time to time till they get used to you. I mean, they won't give you any trouble. You mean that's all there is to it? That's it. They belong to us now, right? Yeah, just get yourself a rope and go on in there and take the horse that belongs to you. All right, we'll need some rope. Come on, Joe.

00:37:48You're not much of a prospect, Miss Clara. You don't need my money, Mr. Quick. You got everybody else's. Yeah, but it's the holdout that challenges me. Well, I'll tell you, Mr. Quick, the last time I parted with my money to a pitchman, I was 12 years old. And nobody's ever taken you since? Nope, nobody ever will. Well, life's very long and full of salesmanship, Miss Clara. You might buy something yet.

00:38:18That's a musical horse.

00:38:49Hey, go on. I'll try to catch him, Roberts. Boy, you got something that belongs to me. You ain't no better than a crook. Well, you ain't nothing better than a con man selling my crooked merchandise.

00:39:13Never mind the name calling. Now, where's my share? I got some for you, boy. Come on.

00:39:26Whoa, you! Head off! Head off! Whoa! Whoa, you! Whoa, I'll have you!

00:39:52The man that built this place, his name's forgotten. This was his dream and his pride. Now it's dust. Must be a moral there somewhere. Looks like that's about all there is.

00:40:09I don't know. They got a legend about this place. They do say there's money buried around here on the ground. At the time, Grand overrun the country on the way to Vicksburg.

00:40:18What's that got to do with me? I've been watching you. I like your push. Yes, I like your style. I like your brass. It ain't too dissimilar from the way I operate.

00:40:30You've been here a few days, you've gone up an inch. That's because you listen to me. Now, you go on listening to me and someday, here in a wild burst of generosity, I might just make you a president of this place.

00:40:41Well, thank you for nothing. It's falling apart. You're a shrewd boy. You'll find a way of getting something good out of it.

00:40:49Mister, now you've been making me a lot of promises. One of these days, I'm going to collect on it.

00:40:55Surely.

00:40:56I just ain't passing the time of day with you.

00:40:58I'm aware of that. Come to supper with me, boy, at the big house.

00:41:09You want a retreat?

00:41:14Another one on the creek bridge.

00:41:17Could be, you know, their poor unfortunates could come out ahead on the deal after all, if their money's worth and health outdoor exercise.

00:41:26And I ain't like this. It's good for him. It stimulates his liver.

00:41:31Oh, they'll catch those horses, Mr. Varner. They'll catch them and make good work teams out of them.

00:41:37You figure you know them redneck farmers better than me, huh? I suppose that's because the Stewart family's been in these parts a little longer than the Varners.

00:41:49About 200 years.

00:41:51That's a long time to live in one place.

00:41:53You don't believe in living in one place, Mr. Quick?

00:41:56My family moved. Not that they wanted to. They was encouraged by the local citizens.

00:42:01You a haunted man or something?

00:42:03Something, Miss Euler.

00:42:05I'd like to hear a yes or no answer to that, boy.

00:42:09Well, if he's haunted, he ain't caught.

00:42:13Lucius, pass the drinks. Who's for drinking some of my fine brandy, huh?

00:42:17Alan, you're partial to my brandy. Let's see, how many years you been drinking it now, huh? Five?

00:42:24I've enjoyed your hospitality a long time, Mr. Varner.

00:42:27I sometimes ask myself, do we get the major part of your attention or are you brightening up other parlors around the county?

00:42:35That's Alan's personal business, partner.

00:42:38Don't you get yourself fussed, sister. Alan knows a friendly inquiry when he hears it, don't you, Alan?

00:42:44When I hear one, sure, sure. Friendly inquiry never bothered nobody, will it now?

00:42:49As I understand it, when you ain't here with us, you keep pretty close to your house with your mother.

00:42:57Papa, I can't stand this.

00:42:59I think you've forgotten, Mr. Varner, that my mother is a widow. She relies strongly on me.

00:43:04Widow? The old man ain't dead. He just disappeared. Just wandered off.

00:43:10The end result is the same. She's alone.

00:43:12No, she ain't, Alan. She's got you. She sure has you.

00:43:18I do my best.

00:43:20Not around here, you don't!

00:43:24Jody, you seem to enjoy my conversation tonight. Guess I'll direct just a little bit at you.

00:43:29Why, I didn't say nothing, Papa.

00:43:31Ain't she been quick here? He's going to work tomorrow in the store as a clerk right alongside of you, boy.

00:43:36He's going to receive the same identical wages, the same benefits.

00:43:41And I don't seem to strike you as quite so funny.

00:43:47I don't?

00:43:49Well, what I mean to say is, Jody, with men around, you can sleep late mornings.

00:43:54That is, just as late as you feel you can afford to.

00:43:58Outside, everybody. Take the evening air.

00:44:19Alan, I apologize for what we are.

00:44:21Don't, Claire. It isn't necessary.

00:44:23I wouldn't blame you if you left right now. Other young men have with much less cause than this.

00:44:27My people have stood off Indians, Yankees, carpetbaggers.

00:44:31The least they could expect of me is to stand up to a whiner.

00:44:35All right, then. Let's go have some more.

00:44:40Eula! Eula!

00:44:44Oh, listen to that!

00:44:46Those boys don't sound like a bunch of tomcats and yaks.

00:44:50Isn't it terrible the way they come prowling around here every night?

00:44:53It's like that in town, too. They follow me wherever I go.

00:44:56Well, don't go anywhere, then. And you stay put. You stay right close to home.

00:45:00Jody, they're homeless. They're only 16, 17 years old.

00:45:03You call that harmless?

00:45:08And now you quit it off, huh?

00:45:10I'll pass them on to you with a handkerchief.

00:45:12Eula! Eula!

00:45:16And now you quit it off, huh?

00:45:18I'll pass them on to you with a shotgun.

00:45:25Come on, Eula. Get out of the lab.

00:45:28Yeah, they don't have to see her. They can smell her.

00:45:34Tom Shortley, V.K. Bookwright, John Fisher.

00:45:37Now, I know it's you out there, now quit it.

00:45:40Would somebody please make him stop?

00:45:42Just wait. I'll stop him.

00:45:46It's a madhouse around here.

00:45:48Well, it's just young boys and healthy young animals.

00:45:52That's right. That's right.

00:45:53How come they don't come to anybody else's house?

00:45:55They don't hide in anybody else's garden. It's just us that get seen alive.

00:45:58Yeah, we're the ones that got Eula.

00:46:01It's not her fault. It's yours.

00:46:03They come here because they know you gonna laugh.

00:46:05They know you gonna think it's funny no matter how crude and how vulgar.

00:46:09I was young myself, wasn't I?

00:46:12I used to hide in the greenery and hoot and bellow.

00:46:17I'll bet you did. I'll bet you stayed longest and yelled loudest.

00:46:22Your mama listened.

00:46:38What's that?

00:46:42All right.

00:46:44Now, let's deal them off the top.

00:46:52Is that the way you acquired your fortune or the way you're acquiring mine?

00:47:05Those boys sure do make their desires plain, don't they?

00:47:08Callin' and callin', just like they thought Eula was gonna get up and follow them.

00:47:13Wonder what would happen if she did.

00:47:15That'd be quite a romp.

00:47:18Now, why did I make such a fuss about it?

00:47:22Because it offended you?

00:47:25No, it didn't.

00:47:27Now, that's the plain, unvarnished truth at last.

00:47:31You know, Alan, there's no sense in pretending the girls don't think about sex.

00:47:34They do.

00:47:35You ought to hear some of the conversations between Agnes and me.

00:47:38Oh, I'd like to.

00:47:40Well, there's nothing wrong with being anxious about your love life.

00:47:45I am about mine.

00:47:52Well, this is certainly not the way I expected this conversation to be goin'.

00:47:57I thought we was just gonna sit out here on the front porch and let the moon shine down on us,

00:48:01and just like those boys in the bushes, let nature take its course.

00:48:04Oh, Clara, nature is takin' its course.

00:48:07You're not the kind of girl to be howled at and dragged off the porch into the bushes.

00:48:12You're a nice, quiet, self-contained girl.

00:48:15You'll see.

00:48:16Everything you want's gonna happen to you.

00:48:26Well, eat it, Alan.

00:48:28Well, eat it, Alan.

00:48:30Wanna see me?

00:48:32Miss Manny Littlejohn said, where are you?

00:48:35Oh.

00:48:37Where am I, huh?

00:48:38Yes, sir.

00:48:39She said if you're not there in half an hour, the place will be triple locked against you.

00:48:44Triple locked, huh?

00:48:46Well, you tell Miss Manny Littlejohn I'll be there when I'm there.

00:48:52I'll tell her.

00:48:53I'll tell her.

00:48:56Appears I have a late date.

00:49:01You married?

00:49:03You got a woman somewhere?

00:49:05I live single.

00:49:09Known a few, though, huh?

00:49:12Yeah, my fair share.

00:49:15Deal.

00:49:23Come on.

00:49:54Well, your friend left early.

00:49:56Not even firing a shot.

00:49:58I was kissed goodnight, Mr. Crick.

00:50:00Kissed and left.

00:50:02That'd been me I'd have stayed till sun up.

00:50:04Why, now, aren't you reckless?

00:50:06Aren't you?

00:50:07No, I'm just skittish, Mr. Crick.

00:50:09Just plain skittish.

00:50:10Well, now, I have an answer for that.

00:50:12Let's go get in that old Lincoln car of yours and we go and plow up the countryside.

00:50:15Let's go holler off a bridge, good and loud.

00:50:18I think there's been enough commotion around here already.

00:50:20You want quiet?

00:50:22Let's go find us a needle in a haystack.

00:50:24Mr. Crick, those are all lovely, colorful suggestions,

00:50:27but I'm afraid if I started out to follow you,

00:50:30I would hear the starch in my petticoat begin to rustle

00:50:32and I'd know I was out of character.

00:50:34Get out of character, lady.

00:50:36Come on, get way out.

00:50:38Sudden changes are not in my life.

00:50:40You never know till you try.

00:50:42Mr. Crick, there's a volume of Jane Austen upstairs by my bed

00:50:46and a glass of hot milk that's getting cold.

00:50:47You mean your friend would not like it if we went off together?

00:50:50The idea of you and me just wouldn't go down, would it?

00:50:52I wish to discuss him with you.

00:50:54Why not? I respect him.

00:50:56I admire his manners and I admire the speeches he makes

00:51:00and I admire the big house he lives in.

00:51:02But if you're saving it all for him, honey,

00:51:05you've got your account in the wrong bank.

00:51:08You can leave any time now.

00:51:11Don't ask me twice.

00:51:13Sister?

00:51:22Oh, you're out here, alone, huh?

00:51:25When did Alan leave?

00:51:27About ten.

00:51:29Early.

00:51:31I thought he'd be back by now.

00:51:33He'll be back.

00:51:35He'll be back.

00:51:37He'll be back.

00:51:39He'll be back.

00:51:40About ten.

00:51:42Early.

00:51:44He's been ill.

00:51:46Yeah? You look a little pale yourself.

00:51:49It's hot. I haven't been sleeping very well.

00:51:52How old are you, sister?

00:51:54Don't you know?

00:51:56I keep a lot of figures in my head.

00:51:58Well, I have these. I'm 23.

00:52:02Your mama was 18 when I married her.

00:52:05Just turned.

00:52:07Papa, are we going to talk about that again?

00:52:08We are.

00:52:11You know, you never look at me.

00:52:13My life comes and goes.

00:52:15My birthdays come and go.

00:52:17Do you know I'm really quite a lively, intelligent girl?

00:52:20Sometimes I even make people laugh.

00:52:22And yet you and I never seem to have any other conversation but this one.

00:52:26You're unmarried.

00:52:28I've pointed that out before.

00:52:30What do you do out here, you and Alan, huh?

00:52:33We talk.

00:52:35What gets said?

00:52:36Any important?

00:52:38He thinks I'm a nice, quiet, self-contained girl.

00:52:42Well, that ain't damn near enough.

00:52:46Thousands of acres out there.

00:52:48Millions of seeds put down in the ground every year.

00:52:51The seeds come up again.

00:52:53Life goes on.

00:52:56Where's my crop, huh?

00:52:58What follows me?

00:53:00What happens when I'm dead?

00:53:02You'll probably have the biggest funeral in the state of Mississippi.

00:53:06Don't scare me now, just so long as there's plenty of varnas to mourn me.

00:53:10Jody and I'll be there.

00:53:12You and Jody and Jody's kids and yours and their kids,

00:53:15my descendants, sister,

00:53:17a line, a long line with my face stamped on it,

00:53:19my blood flowing in their veins.

00:53:21All of that from the two of us?

00:53:24You think I'm joking?

00:53:28You listen here to me, sister.

00:53:30Okay, your blood is so frail and so delicate

00:53:33that it just calls out for Alan Stewart.

00:53:36Amen, let it be him.

00:53:39I'll give you a big wedding.

00:53:41I'll build a house for you.

00:53:43I'll put money in Alan's account at Jefferson First Trust Bank,

00:53:46but it's gonna be now, missy.

00:53:48No more pussyfoot, no more holding hands

00:53:51and squeaking that front porch swing back and forth.

00:53:54Six years, that's all I heard is squeaking.

00:53:57Well, you go and tell his mama to let go.

00:54:00You tell her you're taking over

00:54:01because your daddy said so.

00:54:03And if you should get no finance,

00:54:05let me tell you, sister,

00:54:07but it's gonna be that other.

00:54:09Which other?

00:54:11That prize, blue ribbon.

00:54:14Boo, that hand-grown, hand-picked,

00:54:16hand-selected by me fella named McQuint.

00:54:18You can't mean him.

00:54:20Can I?

00:54:22Listen, I'm gonna get me some men in the Varner family,

00:54:24some good, strong, strapping men.

00:54:26Varners, that's what I want, Varners.

00:54:28And more Varners, yes, more Varners.

00:54:29Enough Varners to infest the countryside.

00:54:31I'm gonna see that happen, sister.

00:54:33Before I die, I'm gonna accomplish that.

00:54:35Yes, ma'am, by means of that quick,

00:54:37that big, stud horse.

00:54:41You mean you'd sell me away like that?

00:54:44We're not selling you.

00:54:46Yes, sell me, without caring what I feel

00:54:48or what I think or what I am.

00:54:50I'm trying to save you.

00:54:52Is that what you call it?

00:54:54Sister,

00:54:56I'm not selling you.

00:54:57Sister,

00:54:59you're gonna give me grandsons.

00:55:03And I will, Alan.

00:55:06All quick.

00:55:09But you're gonna do it, Claire Ann Varner.

00:55:11You'll get that ring on your finger.

00:55:27Here comes Jody.

00:55:58What's going on, huh?

00:56:00They ain't come to do much buying.

00:56:02Ten worth of candy,

00:56:04two cents worth of nails, maybe.

00:56:06No, they just come to look.

00:56:08What at?

00:56:10We ain't running no side show.

00:56:12They come to look at the new man.

00:56:14Three days ago, never even knew his name.

00:56:17But from now on,

00:56:19they're gonna have to be dealing with him

00:56:21for all the necessaries of living.

00:56:23They're gonna deal with me?

00:56:25Like always.

00:56:28Come on, Jody.

00:56:33Mr. Jody?

00:56:36Mr. Jody,

00:56:38my little chaps at home

00:56:40never even had shoes last winter.

00:56:43We ain't got corn to feed the stock.

00:56:46Them $30 my husband paid for that horse yesterday.

00:56:50We ain't got corn to feed the stock.

00:56:53We ain't got corn to feed the stock.

00:56:55Them $30 my husband paid for that horse yesterday.

00:56:58Which he ain't even seen since then.

00:57:01I earn myself

00:57:03sewing at night and baking cakes.

00:57:07Oh, if that ain't the limit.

00:57:09Now, you get greased and fleeced

00:57:11and then you come in here late at my door?

00:57:13The trouble is, we got an outsider here.

00:57:17He don't know nothing

00:57:19and he don't care nothing about you and your worries.

00:57:22No, sir.

00:57:23He don't know anything except advancing himself.

00:57:27A lot of harsh things being said about me.

00:57:31And if I was to answer each and every one of them,

00:57:34well, that'd take up too much of your time.

00:57:36All I can say, miss,

00:57:38is you took your complaint to the wrong department.

00:57:40Now, we under new management.

00:57:42You got a $30 problem,

00:57:49it's solved.

00:57:54Goodwill.

00:57:56Ain't nothing in the world like it.

00:57:59You think you got a cozy nest here, don't you?

00:58:02Well, you ain't gonna take over from me, boy.

00:58:05Well, off with the old, on with the new.

00:58:08Same old store, same stand.

00:58:11All we got is a new broom, morning.

00:58:13Hiya, Will.

00:58:15Can't teach a old dog new tricks, morning.

00:58:18Sure can't teach a young willing puppy just about anything.

00:58:21A banquet?

00:58:23Fetch me a Coke.

00:58:25Give it time, Will.

00:58:27Penny on the waters pays interest when the flood turns.

00:58:35Thank you for your encouragement and kind support.

00:58:48Jody, aren't you ever going to work?

00:58:49You always gonna be hanging around?

00:58:51I can't do my nails or fix my hair

00:58:53without having you hanging around.

00:58:55Now, you take that Ben quick.

00:58:57He's down at that store, working, sweating.

00:59:00He's where you ought to be.

00:59:02Who are you to tell me to work?

00:59:04You ain't never out of a chair.

00:59:07Only time I seen you break covers when they're sweeping,

00:59:10cleaning the house,

00:59:12calling you to the dinner table.

00:59:14Now, you got to be kidding me.

00:59:16You ain't never out of a chair.

00:59:17Only time I seen you break covers

00:59:19when they're sweeping,

00:59:21cleaning the house,

00:59:23calling you to the dinner table.

00:59:25Now, you got no call to be insulting.

00:59:27As your wife,

00:59:29I just don't want to see you get passed by that boy.

00:59:40Now, Jody.

00:59:42No, Jody.

00:59:44Come on.

00:59:45It's never too late to learn.

00:59:47No, Jody.

00:59:49No.

00:59:51I sure do wish you'd find yourself

00:59:53some other form of recreation.

01:00:15Come on.

01:00:45Come on.

01:01:15You seem to be keeping store, isn't it?

01:01:17No, I'm just

01:01:19moving these cotton dresses down front

01:01:21so the ladies can see them when they first come in.

01:01:23You seem to know a lot about women.

01:01:25Well, I know what makes them spend their money.

01:01:29Coming in to buy something, Miss Clara,

01:01:31or are you just shopping around?

01:01:33I was just passing.

01:01:35Well, it's a warm night.

01:01:37I've been drinking some beer. You want some?

01:01:39No, thank you.

01:01:41Got a sweet tooth?

01:01:43I can offer you

01:01:45a glass of whiskey and liquorice whips

01:01:47and jawbreakers.

01:01:49I do a big business in jawbreakers.

01:01:51I'm a grown man.

01:01:57Well,

01:01:59sun bonnets,

01:02:01hand lotion,

01:02:03lilac water,

01:02:05sprinkle remover,

01:02:07spotted dimity.

01:02:10I just can't sell you, can I?

01:02:11Well, do you have an aspirin?

01:02:13I have a headache.

01:02:15Oh, sure.

01:02:17We got all kinds of nostrums and remedies.

01:02:20Of course, I don't have headaches myself.

01:02:23I don't have any problems.

01:02:26Or scruples.

01:02:29Nope, not those either.

01:02:32Well, I have both.

01:02:38You got a thin skin.

01:02:39You got a thin skin is what you got.

01:02:42But the world belongs to the meat eaters, Miss Clara,

01:02:44and if you have to take it raw,

01:02:46take it raw.

01:02:49I couldn't live that way.

01:02:52Well, let's just examine

01:02:54the way you do live, Miss Clara.

01:02:56Now, you drive around

01:02:58in that old Lincoln car of yours

01:03:00like it had wings,

01:03:02and you teach school,

01:03:04and you sit out on your front porch

01:03:06with your skinny little friend

01:03:07drinking lemonade.

01:03:09Now, what is all that

01:03:11when you see the rest of the world

01:03:13passing you by paired up?

01:03:15What, 23?

01:03:17Them's the golden years,

01:03:19and you're being asked

01:03:21to play a waiting game.

01:03:23Why wait?

01:03:29Our school's out, Miss Clara.

01:03:33Them blinds are drawn.

01:03:35Night's falling.

01:03:37Nobody here to see if you make a mistake.

01:03:42You put them things down, Miss Clara,

01:03:44because I'm going to kiss you.

01:03:46I'm going to show you how simple it is.

01:03:49You please me, and I'll please you.

01:03:55Oh, I don't know what's troubling you.

01:03:57It's all those boys

01:03:59hollering for Eula every night.

01:04:01And Eula with her hair hanging down,

01:04:04and Jody with her ears hanging down.

01:04:07And the old man with his shirt off

01:04:09chasing her.

01:04:11The old man at 60.

01:04:13He's calling on his lady love.

01:04:38All right, you proved it.

01:04:40I'm human.

01:04:42Yes, ma'am.

01:04:44You're human, all right.

01:04:48Barnburner!

01:04:56Well, you hit on it.

01:04:59I can see my white shirt

01:05:01and my black tie

01:05:03and my Sunday manners

01:05:05didn't fool you for a minute.

01:05:07That's right, ma'am.

01:05:09I'm a menace to the countryside.

01:05:11All a man's got to do

01:05:13is just look at me sideways

01:05:15and his house goes up in fire.

01:05:17And here I am,

01:05:19living right here in the middle

01:05:21of your peaceable little town.

01:05:23Right in your backyard, you might say.

01:05:25Guess that ought to keep you awake at night.

01:05:38Anything you break, you got to pay for.

01:05:42What are you doing here?

01:05:44Taking a nap.

01:05:46You hired me to tend your store,

01:05:48now I'm tending it.

01:05:50They don't need no supervision.

01:05:52You and my daughter had some words, huh?

01:05:54Yeah, a few.

01:05:56She don't cart to you much, does she?

01:05:58Ain't no love lost.

01:06:00Well, I don't need to slow you down.

01:06:02I'll put you forth as a candidate.

01:06:04Oh, yeah?

01:06:05Just what office you got me running for?

01:06:07I've opened a lot of doors for you, Ben Quick.

01:06:10Ever ask yourself why?

01:06:12Am I a senile old man?

01:06:15Am I a sentimental old fool?

01:06:18I am not.

01:06:20So?

01:06:22I'm a man with a purpose.

01:06:24Well, we all got some mission in life.

01:06:27Care to hear yours?

01:06:31Just what do you think you'd like me to do?

01:06:33If you was able to make me do it.

01:06:35Get married.

01:06:38Have sons.

01:06:42Well, I'll be damned.

01:06:44More than probable, you will be.

01:06:46But first, you're going to church and get married, yeah?

01:06:50To my daughter.

01:07:04That's the one you didn't figure, ain't it?

01:07:08Yeah, that's the one.

01:07:11Oh, yeah?

01:07:14What about it?

01:07:17Well, I'd say it's a mighty interesting notion.

01:07:20Notion?

01:07:22Notion? I'm talking about the survival of my family name.

01:07:26I'm talking about the establishment of my immortality.

01:07:30You, you want to put down roots?

01:07:33Move to my house.

01:07:35Live with us, sleep on the clean sheets.

01:07:37Study that skinny gal.

01:07:43Now, what's in it for me?

01:07:46Well, there's lands and monies.

01:07:49On the day of the wedding.

01:07:52More to come.

01:07:54What lands? What monies?

01:07:56And how much more?

01:07:58We'll have a meeting with my banker and my lawyer, you'll see for yourself.

01:08:00I'll take that old Frenchman's ruin for a starter.

01:08:03Yeah.

01:08:05Yeah, right now.

01:08:07Tonight.

01:08:09I'll give it to you in writing.

01:08:11Yeah, you do that.

01:08:13Who says I picked the wrong man?

01:08:15You and me got a deal, Vinquick.

01:08:18And who says marriage is a maiden heaven?

01:08:21Boy, hell wouldn't have this one.

01:08:23Now, make no mistake about that gal.

01:08:25She's delicate, but no way she's smart.

01:08:27Like her mother before her.

01:08:28She has quality.

01:08:30Quality.

01:08:32As close as you and me will ever get to it.

01:08:52Move right in, boys.

01:08:54It's all yours.

01:08:56I'm moving up.

01:08:58I'm moving up in the world.

01:09:14Miss Clare's room is in the back of the house.

01:09:18Mr. Jody and Miss Eulen.

01:09:21And here's your room.

01:09:23The old man?

01:09:25Never know where he is.

01:09:26He doesn't sleep so good no more.

01:09:28Just roams around from room to room,

01:09:30sometimes three in the night.

01:09:44I had five sisters and a brother

01:09:48and a mother and a father and an old maid, Ann.

01:09:52And all together, we slept in a room about

01:09:54half this size.

01:09:56Same as my family.

01:09:58And look at us now, Lucius.

01:10:00Big room, small room.

01:10:02It's all the same size.

01:10:04Bathrooms, end of the hall.

01:10:25Just so we don't crowd each other,

01:10:27I'll shave nights and shower mornings.

01:10:54Come on.

01:11:18Bring him here?

01:11:20Into the house?

01:11:22Big house, room for one more.

01:11:24He's hard held.

01:11:26More than that.

01:11:29How much more than that?

01:11:31I'm going to be kind of brother to you, Jody.

01:11:34I brought you home a big brother,

01:11:37so look out for him.

01:11:39He'll be up when you sleep

01:11:41and he's going to be where you ain't.

01:11:43Look alive, Jody.

01:11:45Give you a couple of racehorses,

01:11:47starting out even.

01:11:49We'll see who is the fastest

01:11:51and who is the smartest.

01:11:52Considering I'm your blood son.

01:11:54Don't open that can of beans.

01:11:56I am opening it.

01:11:59Eat what you got.

01:12:02Exactly nothing.

01:12:13Am I your son?

01:12:16Or ain't I your son?

01:12:19You was born to me.

01:12:22Ain't you got any affection for me?

01:12:24Or regard for me?

01:12:26Just tell me that.

01:12:28Trying to make yourself miserable.

01:12:30Miserable?

01:12:32It seems like I walked around in misery all my life.

01:12:34You ain't never been a papa.

01:12:36No.

01:12:38Except to tell me to stand up straight,

01:12:40you push, reach, stretch yourself.

01:12:43I put down a big footprint.

01:12:46I said, here,

01:12:48step in.

01:12:50Feel it.

01:12:52Well, I tried.

01:12:54I tried to be what you wanted,

01:12:56but I ain't got it in me.

01:12:58Where do you go looking for it, papa,

01:13:00if you ain't got it in you?

01:13:02Find a way and you don't.

01:13:05Papa,

01:13:07please.

01:13:12You have Lucious dig you up some worms, Jody.

01:13:18You go fishing, boy.

01:13:22You go fishing, boy.

01:13:52Jody.

01:14:08Don't you lie there with your face in the pillar, Jody Varner.

01:14:11That's exactly what he expects you to be doing.

01:14:15Jody,

01:14:17you had spunk once.

01:14:19Remember, you used to throw brown paper bags

01:14:20full of water on his head from this very window.

01:14:23Remember, I'd fill them up and you'd throw them.

01:14:26You were only seven years old then

01:14:28and you were wonderful.

01:14:30You weren't afraid then.

01:14:32Jody.

01:14:34Jody, you remember John Wesley Pritchard.

01:14:36You remember how he stood out in the schoolyard

01:14:38and said, Clara Varner has front teeth like a horse,

01:14:41and I cried and I said,

01:14:43I'm gonna get my big brother, Jody Varner,

01:14:45to punch you in the nose, and you did.

01:14:47Jody,

01:14:49I wouldn't have gotten through my girlhood alive

01:14:51if it hadn't been for you,

01:14:53all of which makes you very dear to me,

01:14:56and I don't care what he did or said to you downstairs.

01:15:16Jody.

01:15:46You look mighty pretty with them reading glasses on.

01:15:52You look pretty with them off.

01:15:56You look mighty young there, Miss Clara,

01:15:58all curled up in your bed,

01:16:00like you just washed your hands and brushed your teeth

01:16:02and said your prayers like a little girl.

01:16:05I'll bet you was a mighty appealing little girl.

01:16:08I'll bet your hair hung in a tangle down your back.

01:16:11I'll bet you knew where to look for

01:16:13robin's eggs and blackberries.

01:16:16I'll bet you had a doll with no head on it.

01:16:20There's a church bazaar coming up next week.

01:16:23Now you wear a white dress and a ribbon in your hair,

01:16:26and I'll waltz you around under the moon.

01:16:34Clara?

01:16:40Clara?

01:16:41Clara?

01:16:47Clara?

01:16:56And three poles a quarter,

01:16:58win something every time you pull a string.

01:17:01Ten cents if it's the old-fashioned way every time.

01:17:04Ten cents for June, ten cents for everybody.

01:17:07Okay, folks, this is the old-fashioned way.

01:17:09Love the rude world heard in the day.

01:17:15Love by the moonlight have all passed away.

01:17:24Beautiful dream of queen of the night.

01:17:30And three poles a quarter,

01:17:32win something every time you pull a string.

01:17:34Ten cents if it's the old-fashioned way every time.

01:17:37Hi, Will.

01:17:39Hi, Sam.

01:17:58That been quick.

01:18:00He sure is a comer.

01:18:02Yep, name suits him all right.

01:18:04First into that farm, then into the store,

01:18:07now into house.

01:18:09And all he started with was a book of matches.

01:18:12I wish I was been quick.

01:18:15You got this year whole state of Mississippi to graze on.

01:18:19Yeah, but if you should happen to go out

01:18:21to see him on business, go out naked.

01:18:23That way you won't feel the cold coming back.

01:18:28Hi, Jody.

01:18:30Hi.

01:18:32Can I sell you something?

01:18:34Yeah, where'd you buy it?

01:18:36Apple pie.

01:18:38All right.

01:18:40Fifteen cents.

01:18:42Thank you.

01:18:44Thank you.

01:18:54Jody, you got a pencil, Will?

01:18:57What for?

01:18:59I want you to write something down.

01:19:01What?

01:19:02A six-layer vanilla cake is coming from Mayville,

01:19:04suitably decorated in boiled white frosting.

01:19:07A hundred and four handwritten invitations have gone out,

01:19:09no children under six years.

01:19:11Women has got to take care of theirselves, Will.

01:19:13That's what I've done.

01:19:15What have you done, Minnie Littlejohn?

01:19:17It's all arranged.

01:19:19All but the license and the blood test and the wedding ring.

01:19:21When?

01:19:23Minnie, you take that six-layer white-boiled frosting

01:19:26and the vanilla cake and you cut it up in one hundred

01:19:29and four pieces and you send it out with your regrets?

01:19:32All right, Will?

01:19:35Wait a minute, honey.

01:19:38Aren't you like a...

01:19:41yellow Thunderbird automobile, huh?

01:19:44No, thank you, Will.

01:19:47Well, aren't you like a brand-new super-sewing machine

01:19:50with all them fancy attachments?

01:19:52No, thank you, Will.

01:20:00Well...

01:20:03how'd you like a...

01:20:05plain gold ring?

01:20:12Folks!

01:20:14Folks, can I have your attention?

01:20:16You all come on and gather round, you hear?

01:20:18Because this is the moment all you young fellas

01:20:20have been waiting for.

01:20:22Each of these young ladies here has packed two boxed suppers

01:20:25and the high bidder wins not only the delicious bittles,

01:20:28but also the privilege of eating them

01:20:30with the fair young maiden who prepared them

01:20:33with her own little white hand.

01:20:35Now, I'm going to start this off

01:20:38with the daughter of one of our first citizens,

01:20:41Miss Clara Varner.

01:20:43Hooray!

01:20:45All right, now, folks,

01:20:47what am I offering for Miss Clara Varner's boxed supper?

01:20:50Ten dollars.

01:20:52Ten dollars, he's bid.

01:20:54Come on, folks, anybody going to hike that sum?

01:20:56I'll make it eleven.

01:20:57Well, now, Mr. Quigg is interested in competing.

01:21:00It's now eleven, folks, eleven dollars.

01:21:02Any advance on eleven dollars?

01:21:04Twelve dollars.

01:21:06Thirteen.

01:21:07Fourteen.

01:21:08Fifteen.

01:21:09Fifteen dollars.

01:21:10Any advance on fifteen?

01:21:11Do I hear sixteen anywhere?

01:21:13You hear sixteen dollars.

01:21:17Now, Mr. Stewart has bid sixteen dollars.

01:21:19Any advance on sixteen, folks?

01:21:21Fifteen.

01:21:24Fifty dollars.

01:21:25In a very fine call.

01:21:27Mr. Quigg bids fifty dollars.

01:21:29You hear that, folks?

01:21:30Fifty dollars once.

01:21:32Fifty dollars twice.

01:21:34Sold to Mr. Vann Quigg for fifty dollars.

01:21:40This is going to be about the most expensive

01:21:42chicken supper you ever had, boy,

01:21:44but worth every cent of it,

01:21:46considering the charming company

01:21:48you're going to be eating it in.

01:21:50I'll hope you're going to give him

01:21:52dessert for that price, Clara.

01:21:53He'll get his just desserts, all right.

01:21:57All right, folks.

01:21:59Now, I know this young lady's a good cook,

01:22:02because I'm her daddy.

01:22:04How about I get the drumsticks

01:22:06and chocolate brownies?

01:22:07It's all right?

01:22:09Nope, I like my picnics in the woods.

01:22:24Well, come on, now.

01:22:26Either we eat it, or the ants will.

01:22:31That's quite a gesture you made back there.

01:22:33What do you expect to live off of?

01:22:35I don't know.

01:22:37I don't know.

01:22:39I don't know.

01:22:41I don't know.

01:22:43I don't know.

01:22:45I don't know.

01:22:47I don't know.

01:22:49I don't know.

01:22:51I don't know.

01:22:53In any case,

01:22:54I don't expect to live on for the rest of the month.

01:22:56I have prospects.

01:22:57Well, now,

01:22:59look what we have here.

01:23:02Little fancy napkins,

01:23:07little frosted cakes,

01:23:11and little daily sandwiches

01:23:12with the crust cut off.

01:23:14You've got a bigger appetite

01:23:16than that, haven't you, Miss Clara?

01:23:18Hogwash.

01:23:19Well, well.

01:23:20You heard me. I said hogwash.

01:23:22That's strong language, Miss Clara.

01:23:24You got some foolish ideas about me, Mr. Quick.

01:23:26I am no trembling little rabbit full of smoldering, unsatisfied desires.

01:23:30Is that so?

01:23:31Yes, that's so.

01:23:32I'm a woman, full-grown, very smart, and not at all bad to look at.

01:23:35Amen.

01:23:36And I expect to live at the top of my bent with no help from you.

01:23:39Well, you're a real fire-eater, you are.

01:23:40You are bonking up the wrong girl, Mr. Quick, because it will never be you.

01:23:47Never say never.

01:23:50I don't know what arrangement you think you have with my father,

01:23:53but you'll find you have no bargain with me.

01:23:55Now, we're going to be married, Miss Clara, haven't you heard?

01:23:57You have been hoodwinked, Mr. Quick, for once in your crafty life you have been had.

01:24:02Oh, you mean you're turning me down, refusing my hand and my heart?

01:24:06You're too much like my father to suit me, and I'm an authority on him.

01:24:10He's a wonderful old man.

01:24:12One wolf recognizes another.

01:24:14Tamers, make pets out of her. She could...

01:24:15I'm not interested.

01:24:16I gave up on him when I was nine years old,

01:24:18and I gave up on you the first time I ever looked into those cold blue eyes.

01:24:22You got the color right.

01:24:24I've got everything right, Mr. Quick.

01:24:26Well, I can see you don't like me, but you're going to have me.

01:24:30It's going to be you and me.

01:24:32Not the longest day I live.

01:24:34Yes, sir. They're going to say there goes that poor old Clara Varner,

01:24:38whose father married her off to a dirt-scratching, shiftless, no-good farmer

01:24:42who just happened by.

01:24:43Well, let them talk. I'll tell you one thing.

01:24:45You're going to wake up in the morning smiling.

01:24:48That's not enough. Do you understand me?

01:24:51That is not nearly enough.

01:24:54Mr. Quick, I am a human being. Do you know what that means?

01:24:58It means I set a price on myself, a high, high price.

01:25:03You may be surprised to know it, but I've got quite a lot to give.

01:25:07I've got things I have been saving up my whole life,

01:25:10things like love and understanding and jokes and good times and good cooking.

01:25:17I'm prepared to be the queen of Sheba for some lucky man,

01:25:20or at the very least the best wife that any man could hope for.

01:25:24Now, that's my human history, and it's not going to be bought and sold,

01:25:28and it's certainly not going to be given away to any passing stranger.

01:25:32All right, then run, lady. And you keep on running.

01:25:36Buy yourself a bus ticket and disappear. Change your name, dye your hair, get lost.

01:25:40And then maybe, just maybe, you're going to be safe from me.

01:25:44Clara?

01:25:46You finished here, Clara?

01:25:50Yes, thank you, Alan.

01:25:52Well, now, walk you back, with your permission, Mr. Quick.

01:26:07Do I look very flustered?

01:26:09No.

01:26:11Well, I am. Alan, let's stop a minute.

01:26:18Well, what's wrong, Clara?

01:26:21Want to tell me?

01:26:25Alan, this is the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life.

01:26:29Well, tell me about it, and we'll see if we can make it easy for you.

01:26:33Alan, I have told people you love me, and I have told myself you love me.

01:26:38Now, I've done this for five years,

01:26:41but I have never heard you say it.

01:26:45And now I've got to know.

01:26:47Well, I guess I'd better say it then, Clara.

01:26:51I do love you.

01:26:53But do you want me the way a man wants a woman?

01:26:56What I want is a woman.

01:27:00Do you want me the way a man wants a woman?

01:27:03What I want is to help you, Clara.

01:27:07But, Alan, that's such a pitiful answer.

01:27:11That's such a good, kind, pitiful answer.

01:27:15It's the only kind of answer I can make you, Clara.

01:27:20I didn't mean to waste your young years like this,

01:27:23but you're so sweet, so graceful, so intelligent,

01:27:27and you never made any demands.

01:27:29I wanted to.

01:27:33Oh, I came very close a couple of times.

01:27:36There were all sorts of feminine wiles I was going to try out on you.

01:27:41Of course, I don't guess it would have done me any good.

01:27:44Your mama has a long head start on me,

01:27:46and I don't think anybody's going to overtake her.

01:27:52How awful that must have been for you.

01:27:56All those Friday evenings with my dreadful father

01:27:59snipping at your heels and me mooning and dreaming over you.

01:28:04It must have been very embarrassing.

01:28:11I'm so ashamed. I'm so...

01:28:16Well, what are you doing? You looking for me, Jody?

01:28:19I'm looking for you. I found you.

01:28:23Well, all right, now. We got that much clear. What next?

01:28:27From the minute you strayed in here,

01:28:29everything's gone wrong in my life.

01:28:31I've been cut down to nothing.

01:28:33I lost me my stall, my wife's respect, and my old ma'am.

01:28:38I lost everything.

01:28:41I lost my stall, my wife's respect, and my old ma'am.

01:28:46He hates me, worse than ever.

01:28:48All that's over now, boy.

01:28:50They're going to find you downstream tomorrow.

01:28:52And I'm going to have my place back in the world. Do you hear me?

01:28:55Oh, Jody, you aiming to kill me?

01:28:57Yeah, that's right. What, do you think I'm joking?

01:29:01Huh?

01:29:04Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute, Jody.

01:29:07I'll tell you what I'll do.

01:29:10I'll pay you back for everything you think I've taken.

01:29:13I don't want to hear about it.

01:29:15Now, wait a minute.

01:29:17Now, look at that, Jody.

01:29:20Yeah, so you got $5.

01:29:23Who cares, boy?

01:29:25No, sir. Not no ordinary $5.

01:29:27Now, this ain't wages, Jody. It ain't spending money.

01:29:30Jody, this is treasure.

01:29:33From where?

01:29:35From right out of my front lawn.

01:29:38You kidding me?

01:29:39No, sir.

01:29:40Huh?

01:29:41That old Frenchman's place, you know, your daddy gave me?

01:29:44Hey, look, boy, that's nothing but a heap of bricks.

01:29:47An old haunted house now.

01:29:49That's what it appears to be.

01:29:52Now, look, boy.

01:29:55Look, I ain't the kind to be taken in.

01:29:57And by a bunch of hooker stories old men tell

01:30:00while they sit around the shade spitting tobacco juice.

01:30:02Jody, I'll tell you something. You know, I felt the same way, too.

01:30:04That is, till idle curiosity

01:30:06led me to do a little poking around.

01:30:08And I'll tell you, when this turned up,

01:30:11I was struck dumb.

01:30:13But there it is, Jody,

01:30:15just like people have said it was for a hundred years.

01:30:24Boy, you trying to gull me?

01:30:27Jody, you just put your mind at ease.

01:30:30Look, I know better than to try to trade you blind.

01:30:33Especially when it's my life I'm dickering for.

01:30:36It's your life, all right.

01:30:39Show me.

01:30:41Come on.

01:31:03Come on.

01:31:34My treasure.

01:31:36I've been working an hour.

01:31:38Now, where is it? Huh?

01:31:41You never can tell.

01:31:45Might be in the next shovel load.

01:32:03Come on.

01:32:22Boy, we got it.

01:32:28Yeah.

01:32:30Come on.

01:32:32Come on.

01:32:34Come on.

01:33:00Jody, what are you doing out here?

01:33:04Are you going out of your mind, boy?

01:33:06Get away from me.

01:33:08Your wife's getting kind of anxious about you, boy.

01:33:14Get out of that hole.

01:33:16Come on home with me.

01:33:18I said get away from me.

01:33:20Jody, I ain't going without you.

01:33:29Go on. Go on.

01:33:32You think I'm crazy?

01:33:34I'm about as crazy as a fox.

01:33:36I'm out from under your thumb, Papa.

01:33:38I paid that bank quick friend of yours $1,000 for the rights to this land.

01:33:43And everything I find here is mine.

01:33:48Who knows? I may be opening a store right across the street from yours.

01:33:52Who knows?

01:33:54Boy, is this what you think you're going to find out here, huh?

01:34:03More of that?

01:34:05Buckets of that.

01:34:10Can I bite on it?

01:34:12It's real all right.

01:34:17Is this the money that the folks hid when they thought Grant was coming?

01:34:25Is this the money that's supposed to have been laying out here all these years since the war between the states?

01:34:31That's right.

01:34:35This piece was minted in 1910.

01:34:41What?

01:34:45Being quick.

01:34:47They sold it, this place.

01:34:51Just a couple of hatfuls of silver dollars

01:34:55buried out here one night in an old canvas bag

01:34:58to catch a sucker like you.

01:35:20I'll kill you.

01:35:22I'll kill you.

01:35:24I'll kill you.

01:35:26I'll kill you.

01:35:28Jody.

01:35:51Good night.

01:36:00Sister.

01:36:03Don't have a nightcap with me.

01:36:21Everything settled with Alan?

01:36:24Oh?

01:36:27Yes, sir, it's all settled.

01:36:32You mean that?

01:36:34Well, a drink to that.

01:36:37To your wedding. It's going to be a great big one.

01:36:40I kind of thought it might be Ben, but Stuart, it's more your dish.

01:36:44Oh, well, good name, good old family.

01:36:48He's kind of weak, though.

01:36:50We'll bolster him up, though.

01:36:52Papa, I'm tired. I want to go to bed.

01:36:55Oh, no, not just yet.

01:36:57There's a time for father and daughter to have a little talk.

01:37:03Finally?

01:37:06I know.

01:37:10I know.

01:37:12I know.

01:37:14There's been a long, hard silence between us.

01:37:22Now's the time for opening our hearts.

01:37:27I got one, you know.

01:37:30Have you, Papa?

01:37:32Honey, I've been eating the bread of sorrow.

01:37:34You made me happy tonight,

01:37:36but I walked around with a bitterness choking me.

01:37:43Parents, children.

01:37:46I asked myself,

01:37:48what are children for? Why do we have them?

01:37:52Tonight I know.

01:37:54Now I know.

01:37:56Do you?

01:37:58Oh, I know I've been hard on you,

01:38:01but don't feel you've been pushed.

01:38:06You're going in the right direction.

01:38:10A woman's only half a thing, not a man.

01:38:15What do you know about women, Papa?

01:38:20I had the best.

01:38:25Your mother and I were just not as close

01:38:29as two people ever get together.

01:38:35I wanted to be with that woman all the time.

01:38:40Look at her, listen to her,

01:38:43touch her.

01:38:48She lit up the whole world for me.

01:38:53I'll tell you something remarkable.

01:38:56That woman loved me.

01:38:58She did, girl.

01:39:01You find that hard to believe about me?

01:39:05A ugly-haired old redneck like me.

01:39:13Now tell me, baby,

01:39:16have I done wrong with you?

01:39:19I mean, imposing my will on you,

01:39:25shoving you this way and the other.

01:39:30Sometimes the strong just roll over the weak.

01:39:36Sometimes, Papa.

01:39:56Good morning, Will Varner. What brings you our way?

01:39:59Get up!

01:40:00What's come over you, you old fool?

01:40:02Don't let it trouble you, Elizabeth Stewart.

01:40:04Give me some coffee there, Alan.

01:40:06It's all in the family, Mother.

01:40:08Make it a half a cup.

01:40:09We've got to get us an early start.

01:40:11If I'm going to show you all, you're going to kill me.

01:40:13You're going to kill me.

01:40:15You're going to kill me.

01:40:17You're going to kill me.

01:40:19You're going to kill me.

01:40:21You're going to kill me.

01:40:23I said, get me an early start.

01:40:25If I'm going to show you all, you're going to get.

01:40:27That's going to take us most of the day.

01:40:29Sure, you don't think I'm going to send Clara to you without a stitch, huh?

01:40:33I'll take care of my own.

01:40:34I'm going to see to it that you guys will at least take care of Clara.

01:40:37Mr. Varner, you're making a mistake.

01:40:43A mistake?

01:40:44Yes, sir, a mistake.

01:40:49You mean

01:40:52There be no engagement between you two?

01:40:54None at all.

01:40:56Good Lord.

01:40:58You're lying!

01:41:00Have you lost your mind, Will Varner?

01:41:02Will you shut up? I'm talking to your sister's son.

01:41:04If you'll just quiet down a minute,

01:41:06I'll tell you something.

01:41:08I'm no good for your daughter.

01:41:10I never was. I never will be.

01:41:12My boy doesn't need any to do

01:41:14with your family, Will Varner.

01:41:16He never wanted it. Your girl pushed it on him.

01:41:18Now, that's not true.

01:41:20You shut up!

01:41:26I went to the whole county to find out

01:41:28that my daughter was jilted by anybody like you.

01:41:30We're not given to gossip.

01:41:34You keep a tight lip, boy,

01:41:36or I'll come after you with my bare hands.

01:41:38Hear?

01:41:40Are you going to be home all day, son?

01:42:10Fan quick!

01:42:14I'll be back in a minute.

01:42:20You got yourself a blue suit?

01:42:22Get it clean.

01:42:24You got some black shoes? Have them polished.

01:42:26Get yourself a haircut.

01:42:28You're going to be married.

01:42:40Find him at the store, sister.

01:42:42Get yourself down there, now.

01:42:44Just say one word.

01:42:46Yes.

01:43:10Mr. Will!

01:43:12Mr. Will!

01:43:14The mayor's phone.

01:43:16Fan quick!

01:43:18About half-hour ago.

01:43:20And he is a beauty.

01:43:22Well, I better go have a look.

01:43:40I'm glad something around here is getting born.

01:44:10Jody?

01:44:24Well, now, Jody.

01:44:26I know that's you out there.

01:44:28Jody!

01:44:30I'm not sorry.

01:44:32I'm not sorry.

01:44:34I'm not sorry.

01:44:36Jody!

01:44:38Get the horses out!

01:44:40Sorry.

01:44:42Jody! Jody!

01:44:52Jody! Jody!

01:45:00Are you all right, Papa?

01:45:02Are you hurting?

01:45:04Papa, are you hurting?

01:45:07You got hellfire and damnation in you, Jody Varner.

01:45:12But you got redemption, too.

01:45:16When I think of the hate

01:45:18that put me in there and locked the door.

01:45:22And set fire to it.

01:45:24When I think of the love

01:45:26that wouldn't let me go.

01:45:28I got me a son again.

01:45:30I got me a good right arm.

01:45:32And a left.

01:46:02Wait a minute.

01:46:04There's only one man in this town

01:46:06that settles his accounts by fire.

01:46:08You see this rope?

01:46:10I'm supposed to catch me a horse, this rope.

01:46:12A horse I've never seen since.

01:46:14Maybe I've got a better use for it now.

01:46:16Story of my life.

01:46:20Why doesn't anyone ever want to consult with me, peaceable?

01:46:23I wouldn't fool with them folks, boy.

01:46:25I'd lie down.

01:46:27I'm just not in a running mood.

01:46:32Get in.

01:46:48Get in.

01:46:50Well, now, what's it to you

01:46:52whether I do or whether I don't, Miss Clara?

01:46:54Get in.

01:47:03Get in.

01:47:15Get us out of here.

01:47:33That's it. Well, you can't use it.

01:47:35Papa, are you all right?

01:47:37Now, don't you bust on me.

01:47:39You've got the thing left.

01:47:41There, see?

01:47:48Get her over here.

01:47:50Get her back.

01:47:53Ben?

01:47:55Ben.

01:48:01I'm sick of that sight.

01:48:04I've seen about 50 fires like that,

01:48:06or maybe a hundred of them.

01:48:09I've seen men with their shirts on fire.

01:48:12I've smelled horses.

01:48:14I've smelled horses.

01:48:16I've smelled horses.

01:48:18I've smelled horses.

01:48:20I've smelled horses cooking.

01:48:25I was raised on that smell of gasoline around me,

01:48:28coal oil, kerosene, anything that burned.

01:48:31My old man used to keep them around the house

01:48:33in case he had a grudge he wanted to settle.

01:48:36My old man.

01:48:41My old man.

01:48:45Last time I seen him, I was about 10 years old.

01:48:50Lying in a ditch, crying my eyes out,

01:48:54praying that God would strike me dead.

01:48:59That was the night that I'd run ahead to tell him,

01:49:02turn him in,

01:49:04warn his farmer that he was coming with his torch.

01:49:10I remembered

01:49:13just lying there,

01:49:16choking on my own tears.

01:49:21Remember that house burning and these men on horseback

01:49:24and the sound of shots, my old man was running.

01:49:30Maybe one of them shots killed him.

01:49:33Or maybe he died in one of them fires he set.

01:49:38I don't know.

01:49:40I've never seen him again.

01:49:44How terrible that must have been.

01:49:47No, it wasn't a terrible part come later.

01:49:51Knocking around this whole countryside,

01:49:54floating around from town to town,

01:49:57looking in on other people's kitchen windows from the outside.

01:50:02Boy, that man sure left his mark on me.

01:50:05I got his name and I can't run away from that.

01:50:08Yes, you can.

01:50:10You know, people are kinder than you think if you just tell them.

01:50:15Well, I wouldn't give them that satisfaction.

01:50:18I wouldn't tell them anything any time.

01:50:20I can change your name. Get rid of it.

01:50:23I'm a proud man, Miss Clara.

01:50:25My name is quick, no matter how much people hate it.

01:50:31I was one of them. I hated it, too.

01:50:35No, you didn't.

01:50:40You hated me.

01:50:45I guess I did.

01:50:50You're a hard-headed, soft-hearted woman, Miss Clara,

01:50:54and I like you a lot.

01:50:57You do, do you?

01:50:58Yes, ma'am, I do. All of a sudden, I do.

01:51:03And if you can save my life, I guess I can return the favor.

01:51:07I can let you go.

01:51:10There ain't nothing to it.

01:51:12All I gotta do is just pack that old straw suitcase of mine

01:51:15and say goodbye to millions.

01:51:18I won't even feel sorry for myself

01:51:20till I get about one mile and a half out of Frenchman's Bend.

01:51:25Well, you couldn't tame me, but you taught me.

01:51:40I'll be back.

01:51:56Now, hold it!

01:51:59Now, hold on, you hear?

01:52:01Well, we can't let that firebug get away with it.

01:52:03We're gonna catch him.

01:52:04Fire's out, thanks to you all.

01:52:07Yeah, well, what about Ben Quick?

01:52:09Fire's out?

01:52:10Yeah, but who started it?

01:52:12Old jackass named Will Varner.

01:52:15That's who started it.

01:52:17I dropped my cigar in the hay.

01:52:19Isn't that right, Jody?

01:52:21That's right, Papa.

01:52:23Well, what do you know?

01:52:25Well, I guess our work's done, ma'am.

01:52:27You all come out here Sunday,

01:52:29and we'll open us some kegs of beer and have a party.

01:52:31You're gonna have company Sunday, Will.

01:52:33Thanks, Will, thanks.

01:52:34Thank you, man. He's got friends like you.

01:52:36He ain't got no trouble.

01:52:37Are you all right? I heard you was in that barn.

01:52:39Yeah, in and out. Now, simmer down, Minnie.

01:52:42You ain't a rich widder yet.

01:52:47If you got a minute, Will, I'll be saying goodbye.

01:52:50You'll be doing what?

01:52:51Yeah, I'm leaving as soon as I get my things together.

01:52:53What's the matter? Don't the room and board here suit you?

01:52:55No, I got no complaints about that.

01:52:57Well, what is it, then?

01:52:59Will, you and me, we been in business only a little while,

01:53:02just one hot summer.

01:53:07We started off on that horse-flesh game.

01:53:10Get to the point.

01:53:11Well, the point is, now we sort of left off horses.

01:53:13We got started on people. Now, that's something different.

01:53:15Which people you talking about?

01:53:17I'm talking about Clara, that daughter to Will Varner.

01:53:20You want to stay in Heather's?

01:53:23Papa, wild horses wouldn't drag me off this front porch.

01:53:27Will, you know, in all this scheming we been doing,

01:53:30we forgot something, you and me.

01:53:32I get preached to on Sunday.

01:53:34Yeah, I know, and you don't listen.

01:53:36Neither did I.

01:53:37I didn't take too easy to the idea.

01:53:39In fact, I've been a little long coming around to it, but...

01:53:42Well, life's a pretty valuable thing,

01:53:44and it ought to be treated with a certain amount of respect.

01:53:47Now, you're old enough to know that,

01:53:49and I'm young enough to learn it.

01:53:51Well, isn't that the truth?

01:53:54So I'll be seeing you around, Will.

01:53:56Now, first off, Buckle,

01:53:57nobody give you permission to call me by my front name.

01:54:00Will, that shout may be coming to you.

01:54:02That's second. Don't tell me what life is like.

01:54:04Life around here is what I say it is.

01:54:06You can't always have it your way, Will.

01:54:08I got influence. I'll dog you, boy.

01:54:10Wherever you go, I'll break you.

01:54:12No, you won't.

01:54:14You'll miss me.

01:54:20What are you grinning about?

01:54:23Huh?

01:54:24Now, there's your gratitude.

01:54:27There's your thanks.

01:54:28I put that boy where there was fast, easy money,

01:54:30just to lay in there.

01:54:31I put him in a garden,

01:54:32even let him dip his bread and honey,

01:54:33and he's got the all-out gall to tell me no.

01:54:39I got you.

01:54:50So you run,

01:54:52and you keep on running,

01:54:54and you buy yourself a bus ticket,

01:54:56and you disappear,

01:54:58and you change your name,

01:55:00and you die your hair,

01:55:02and maybe,

01:55:04just maybe,

01:55:06you might be safe from me.

01:55:19Boy, I know human nature, huh?

01:55:22Didn't I say that fella quick

01:55:24was made for my clever?

01:55:27Am I gonna be your grandfather?

01:55:30I am.

01:55:32And, Minnie, sure is good to be alive

01:55:35this summer evening.

01:55:37Yeah, alive with friends and family

01:55:39and a big, healthy woman to love you.

01:55:42Oh, I like life, Minnie.

01:55:45Yeah.

01:55:47I like it so much,

01:55:49I might just live forever.

01:56:01Oh, I like life, Minnie.

01:56:04Yeah.

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