Child Bride (1938) - full transcript
Jennie is a twelve-year-old girl living with her parents in extremely rural mountain country. Her schoolteacher, Miss Carol, though a mountain girl herself, has gone off to be educated and returned in hopes of stopping the tradition of child marriage which permeates the culture. Jennie's father Ira is a good man who tries to protect Miss Carol from the men who threaten her if she doesn't call off her crusade. One of these men, Jake Bolby, has his eye on little Jennie and plots to make her his bride.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[ROOSTER CROWING]
-Ira, Ira, It's time to get up.
-All right.
-Jennie?
Jennie?
Jennie, oh, Jennie?
JENNIE (OFFSCREEN) Yes, Mommy.
-It's time for chores.
JENNIE (OFFSCREEN) All right.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[ROOSTER CROWING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Come on, Rex.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[WHISTLING]
-Freddie!
You forgot those darned things.
-She sure would
have bowled me out.
-Listen, son, don't
you let that art
teacher put anything
over on you.
-I sure don't.
I put over on her.
-Freddie, you want to go up
the road with me a piece?
-Where are you going?
-And it looks like it's
going to shower, ain't it?
And I want a cup of that new
[INAUDIBLE] that they steal.
-Gee, I was going
to go after Jennie.
-All right, go on.
-All right, Dad.
[HUMMING A TUNE]
-Oh, my poor little pig!
-I'm acoming, Jennie.
-Oh, Freddie.
-Gee, she is mean.
-Ha-ha-ha-ha, gosh,
but you look funny.
-Oh, Freddie!
-Don't be mad, Jennie.
[LAUGHING]
-Jennie, you know better to
get in there with that old sal.
-But Daddy, the little
pig was stuck in mud,
and, and he was drowning.
-Next time you call me.
-Get to the barrel
and wash yourself.
Wait a minute, Jennie--
-And I'm funny?
-Well, no.
-But you did look kind of silly
in there with all those pigs.
Anyway, you had to know better.
You can't drown a pig in mud.
-Well, maybe you can't.
But Daddy says that
in this country,
the pig is the gentleman
that pays the rent.
And I wasn't going
to take any chances.
-Hey, wait a minute.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Good morning.
-Good morning, children.
[BELL RINGING]
-Gee, Jennie, why didn't
you wear your hat?
It's raining.
-Just a couple of drops.
Sun will be out time
we go to school.
Freddie?
-Yes, Jennie?
-Did you study your
spelling lesson?
-No.
Anyway, my dad says that
teacher don't know how to spell.
-Why, Freddie Nulty, my
teacher knows all the words
in all the books
in all the words.
I don't care what your dad says.
My teacher says you have
to learn how to spell.
[BELL RINGING]
[GUN SHOT]
-Was that a shot?
-Yeah, right down there.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
It-- it looks like-- Dad.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Daddy, Daddy, He's been shot.
Jennie, go for help.
Hurry.
Hurry.
-Yes, Freddie.
-Daddy, Daddy, you all right?
Daddy, speak to me.
-Where are you going
this morning, Ira?
-Well, my aim is to go
up to the [INAUDIBLE].
JENNIE (OFFSCREEN) Mommy!
Daddy!
Mommy!
Freddie's father's been shot.
-What?
Shot?
-Where is he at?
-He's out in the woods.
Come on!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
He's at their [INAUDIBLE],
just past the road.
He's over there.
-I think he's hurt bad, Ira.
-The bullet went clean
through his shoulder.
-It's going to be
all right, Mike,
it's going to be all right.
Oh, Freddie.
Freddie, he is not bad hurt.
We'll take care of him.
Now you and Jennie
go onto school, dear.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Ira, I guess I was hit.
-You going to be all right.
-I reckon so.
-Mike, tell me who shot you and
I'll follow him to his grave.
-No, Ira.
It's my fight.
I'll take care of that
skunk when I'm up above.
Oh!
-Mike, we've got
to get him home.
-Oh, easy, please, please, easy.
(SINGING)--reading,
writing, arithmetic,
learning a new rhyme.
Jingle bells, jingle
bells, jingle all the way.
When in school, oh, what
fun, studying and play.
-Be seated, children.
Jennie Colton and Frederick
Nulty, please come here.
What excuse have you
both for being late?
-My old man got hurt.
Jennie here had to go for help.
-Oh, I'm sorry to
hear that Frederick.
Was it serious?
-No, I think he'll be all right.
-He should have a
doctor, teacher.
-There's no doctor in
this community now.
Later, perhaps.
Go on back to your seats.
[CHILDREN LAUGHING]
-Quiet!
Alex Cross, why did you do that?
-Teacher, it was a pigeon
and he dropped it on my book.
[CHILDREN LAUGHING]
-Quiet.
Alex, you come up here.
Bonta, Lila, Bill for
your spelling lesson.
Bonta, you spell
the word "butter."
-Butter.
B-U-T-T-E-R.
-Correct.
Lila, the word "banish."
-B- I- N- H.
-That was a very good try, Lila.
You try it, Bill.
-Banish.
B-A-N-D-H-I-S-H.
-You'd better take your
book home with you tonight.
Alex, you try it.
-Banish.
B-A-N-I-S-H.
-Correct.
Now go back to your seat.
All right, Jennie
Colton, Frederick Nulty,
Jeanette, and Tom.
All right, Tom, spell
the word "catalogue."
-C-A-T-A-L-O-Q-U-E.
-You didn't study
you lesson, did you?
-No.
-Jeannette, the word "mountain."
-M-O. M-O-T-I-A-N.
-You'd better study your lesson
more thoroughly next time.
Jennie, the word "automobile."
-A-U-T-O-M-O-B-I-L-E.
-Correct.
Freddie, the word "milking"
-M-I-L-K-G-I-N-G.
-Freddie, you didn't study your
spelling lesson last night,
did you?
-I tried to make him, Miss
Carol, but he wouldn't.
-See that you study
it tonight, young man.
-Teacher?
-All right, George.
-Teacher, teacher?
-All right, Cecil.
MISS CAROL (OFFSCREEN) So take
out your arithmetic books.
-Hey, Cecil, this one's "MA."
This is "PA."
-Charles!
Darling!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Are you really glad to see me?
-Why didn't you tell
me you were coming?
-I just couldn't stand another
minute down there in the city
with you up here in
this God-forsaken.
-You know why I stay here.
-But you promised that
when I became established
in my profession,
you'd marry me.
-Yes, I know.
-Well, now I'm assistant
district attorney.
You, you can't
stall me this time.
-Oh, I am proud of you, Charles.
But I haven't accomplished
what I set out to do.
-Ah, you're wasting your time.
-No, dear, I'm not.
-Yes, you are!
Now look here, you can't change
the customs of these people.
Others before you have tried.
-But I was born here, they
are my people, my blood.
-But you've been
out in the world.
You've gone to school.
-Yes, I was fortunate in
obtaining an education.
Now it's my duty to help them.
-All the education in the
world wouldn't help them.
-But you could help me,
if you really loved me.
-Of course, I love you,
but what could I do?
-You can do a lot, dearest.
-What for instance?
-Just continue to love
me and be patient.
-Patient?
I've been waiting patiently
for the last five years.
I suppose you want me to
wait until I'm an old man.
-Charles, I'm going to
fight for these people
until the state realize that
child marriage must be stopped.
-Sometimes I wonder if you,
if you really do love me.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-The purest blood
in our land flows
in the veins of these
mountain people.
And yet, the government
does less for them
and for any group
within its boundaries.
Government neglect is one cause.
And as governor of this state.
I beg of you to realize that
this child marriage law will be
a wedge to free
these mountain people
from adverse social and
economic conditions.
-How do you do, gentlemen?
There goes that Miss Carol.
-Sadie, how is the baby?
-Pretty good, Miss Carol.
-We're missing you at school.
-Well, my husband
says there's nothing
finer than a bunch of youngins.
-But, Sadie, don't you
realize that at 25,
you will be an old woman.
-If that school woman don't go
and quit preaching to our women
folks, she is fixing to get
herself into a mess of trouble.
-I thought we have all
the women of the village
could get together and--
-We don't go meddling in
the foreigners' business.
Why should you in ours?
-I'm not a foreigner.
I'm as much a mountain
person as any of you.
And I'm fighting for the
improvement of this community.
Now, listen, Mrs.
Haggerty, you're a mother.
You have seven
children of your own.
You can't jump from childhood
into womanhood by saying I do.
-We've got to marry them young.
We're short in women.
-Well, isn't it better to
have a woman for 30 years
than a child for 15?
But I'm trying to
make you understand
is that you can't
fight nature's law.
Bearing children
is a woman's job.
Child marriage must go.
-Your Excellency,
this law must pass.
Oh, I beg Your Excellency to
endorse Miss Carol's bill.
-Hey, Happy, come on down.
-All right, Angelo.
-Hey, you.
Did you get that corn
up to the Haggens?
-Yeah.
-Well, where is the money?
-I'm giving the money to Ira.
-Well, Ira is my partner.
It is much mine as if it his.
-I'm still giving
the money to Ira.
-Don't give me any of your lip.
Come on, come on,
give me that money.
-I won't do it!
-Why, you--
-Hey, leave him alone!
Leave him alone, I tell you.
-Are you poor [INAUDIBLE].
-No!
No!
-Now, can I have that money?
-I won't do it.
-Give me that!
Now, and then I'm going
to give you the same dose.
-No, Jake, no!
-Jake, put him down!
-Who do you think
you're talking to?
-You, you slimy weasel?
How many times must I
tell you to leave him be?
So you want to play?
I've been waiting a long
time for this chance.
And now I'm going to
cover your dirty--
-All right, all right.
This time I lose.
But there'll be a next time.
-Ain't gonna be no next time.
No!
Fill up before I [INAUDIBLE] and
take it over that [INAUDIBLE].
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Ira Colton, some day,
I'm going to kill you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-I wonder what could
have happened to Jake.
He should have been here by now.
-Maybe he's down to school
seeing whether she's out
preaching against
us marrying youngin.
-Why is she doing our
education, anyway?
Why don't she mind
her own business?
-I'm for driving
her out of town.
-Yeah.
Tying feathers, risky business.
-Oh, you're getting
yellow, Clump.
-I'd put her in boiling
oil and watch her fry
if she weren't one of our kind.
Why she has a call to me
losing that kid, Bella Jensen.
Jake, your face looks like it's
gone through a trash machine.
What happened?
-Oh, I had a run-in with
a bunch of hijackers
on the corn valley.
It's a little bit
too much [INAUDIBLE].
Is everybody here now?
-We're all here.
-Good.
-What are we doing now?
-You, Ezra, Lem,
Jeremiah, and Clump,
go down through Bone
Valley and meet us
at the bat cave near
the [INAUDIBLE].
Take your masks
along and be sure
and bring those
torches along too.
-All right, Jake.
-Be careful now.
OK, where's my mask?
-Oh, there it is.
Put out this fire.
-All right, let's go.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[KNOCKING]
-Who's there?
[KNOCKING]
Who is it?
[KNOCKING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[KNOCKING]
[SCREAMS]
[SCREAMS]
What have I done?
[SCREAMS]
-Happy?
Happy!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-All right, Jake
Bolby, [INAUDIBLE].
I know who are.
-Come on!
Come on!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMS]
-Hey, wait for me!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMS]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-You're mad.
You're mad, all of you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Why?
Where are you taking me to?
What have I done?
-There's going
towards Spooky Hollow.
Come on, Happy.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[DOG BARKING]
-Rex, shut up.
Shut up, Rex.
[KNOCKING]
-Jennie, they've
taken the school
ma'am into the mountains.
-Well, who?
Where?
What for?
-Go fetch your dad.
-Mommy!
Daddy!
Mommy!
-What's the matter?
-They've taken my
school teacher.
-Who has?
-I don't know.
I was asleep.
And her screams woke me up.
Then Happy and I ran
up to the [INAUDIBLE]
and we saw a lot of robed
figures with torches.
I left Happy to trail them.
And he is to meet
us at Devil's Rock.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-We'll take the shortcut
through Devil's Ground.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMS]
-What are you going to do to me?
What have I done?
-Well, we've given you plenty
of warning not to meddle
with our customs and to
stick to your own ABCs.
-[INAUDIBLE], right?
-We have our own ideas
about what's right
and what's wrong
in this section.
-How dare you to bring me here?
I'll have the law up on you.
-The law?
Ha!
We are the law in
these here mountains.
And I will show you.
Bring her over here!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Come on with the tar.
Let's get this visit over.
-No!
No!
No, please, no!
[SCREAMS]
-Take your dirty hands off Miss
Carol or I'll [INAUDIBLE] all
of you.
Get down to tree
and help Miss Carol.
-Yes, Ira.
Yes.
-Step up right up
against my light.
-You two can shoot straight?
-You try me.
I'm just itching to plug one
guy I think is down there.
-Make a false move and
I'll let you have it.
-And take this gun.
-I have still got you covered.
And I'm acoming.
-If it ain't [INAUDIBLE]
and Jeremiah.
Norm, my friend.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
And Jake, my partner.
-Now, let not.
The school ma'am had
it coming to her.
-And I thought I gave
you enough our last time.
I'll finish it now.
-Jake, did Colton pay you for
the interest in that still?
-He sent me $40.
Just what I put in.
But you never can tell.
Maybe later, when I get
settled, I can get even.
-Right here that school
ma'am is still staying.
Never scared her one bit.
-Yeah, I hear she's preaching
stronger than before.
-Well, when we're on the prowl
again, I'll make certain.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-I'll beat you
undressed, Jennie.
-Freddie, you ain't going
swimming with me no more,
so don't you take
your clothes off.
-Ah, you're teasing.
-No, I'm not.
I mean it.
-We've always gone in swimming
together, why not now?
-Teacher says not to.
-Why?
-Well, because-- because
we're not what we used to be.
-You mean, we're different?
How?
-No, we are the same.
Only you can't see
me my clothes on.
-How come?
I know how you look
without your clothes on.
I've seen you lots
of times, haven't I?
-Yes, I know.
But now we're grown
up and baring.
Teacher said it might put
bad ideas into your head.
-Oh, shucks.
Now I can't kiss you no more.
-Of course you can, silly.
Only with my clothes on.
-All right, but I
wish that teacher
would mind her own business.
-Now, don't nag.
See. you look out for me
and I'll watch for you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm going in.
-All right.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Jennie, dog is wanting
to come, should I let him?
-Yes, can't you just say
not to let him look at me.
Come on, boy.
Come on.
Come on, Rex.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Pretty, ain't she?
-Hey, Jennie, you'd better hide.
Somebody's up in the ridge.
-OK, I'll hide in
the [INAUDIBLE].
-Oh, what do you want?
-Nothing of you,
you old scarecrow.
I know what you're aiming at.
-Ah, hush your fuss.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Freddie, bring me my clothes.
-Oh, gee.
You told me not to look.
How can I?
-You can't look, but
I want my clothes!
-All right, all right.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Let's go up by the
still on our way home.
-Nah-huh, I'm cold.
Besides, looks like a
storm is blowing up.
-Well, all right.
-[INAUDIBLE], Freddie?
-Come on, Rex.
-Who was on the ridge?
-I think it was
Jake [INAUDIBLE].
-Oh, it couldn't be Jake.
His field's on the
other side of the river.
[THUNDER]
-Look, there comes
Colton, stiffy-eyed again.
You'd feel all liquored
up too if your wife was
fooling around
with your partner.
-That Jake ain't fooling around
with Colton's wife no more.
He says he's trapped
with that youngin.
[THUNDER]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-You're home early.
I have never made in a JIFFY.
You've been drinking again.
-Yeah, I have.
[SCREAMS]
-I scolded!
-Pan of frying grease,
you're low-down sneak.
-What have I done?
-You've been carrying on
with my partner, Jake Bolby,
right in front of my nose.
[SCREAMS]
--[INAUDIBLE], Ira Not
since I married you.
-You're lying.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-You've got to believe me, Ira.
-The whole village
is talking about ya.
-It's a lie!
-I am going to break
every bone in your body.
-If you hit me again, Ira,
I'll kill you, kill you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Next time you've got to
let me go in swimming first.
-Well, all right.
But Momma said I had to get
home in time for supper tonight.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-JENNIE (OFFSCREEN)
Shame on you, Freddie.
-Well, heck.
She spoiled all the
fun we used to have.
I hater her.
-Now, Freddie.
The teacher is right.
-All right.
[LAUGHS]
[SCREAMS]
-Mommy!
Mommy!
Mommy!
Oh, Mommy, speak to me, Mommy.
Speak to me.
Are you hurt?
-Oh, Jennie.
-Is Daddy drunk again?
-Yeah.
Something vile.
And took it out on me.
-Poor Mommy.
Come on, Mommy.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Mommy.
-Jennie?
-Yes, Mommy.
-Go get him to bed.
-All right, Mommy.
Come on, Daddy, get to bed.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-You'll be catching
a cold laying
there on the floor, Daddy.
Come on, get to bed.
Wake up, Daddy.
It's your little Jennie.
She wants you to come to bed.
Oh, Daddy!
Oh, Daddy, I can't lift you.
Please, wake up.
Or, I suppose, I'll have to
undress you and put you to bed.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMS]
But Daddy!
-Jennie, what's happened?
-Oh, Mother.
I think Daddy's dead.
-No, no, no, it can't be.
-Well, I see you
crocked him at last.
I knew you'd do it
sooner or later.
And it sure looks
like a good job.
-No, no, Jake.
I didn't do it.
-I believe my own eyes, Flora.
I saw you do it.
-I only scratched
his side, I thought.
-No, Jake, she
didn't, she didn't.
-Jake, God as my
witness, I didn't do it.
-Eh, best part we ain't
got no time to lose.
Before anyone gets wind of
this, I'd like to help you.
-Oh, Ira.
-Oh, Daddy, tell Jake
that Mommy did it.
-You fool, don't you understand,
this means a lot for you.
-All right, Jake.
What do you want me to do?
But I didn't do it, I tell you.
-You're lying, Flora.
You're lying and you know it.
[INAUDIBLE], we both know
that he had it coming to him.
-No, he didn't
-We ain't got no more time to
lose, don't you understand?
Jennie, Jennie, you step
outside and see that no one's
watching when I
bring your papi out.
Hello?
[INAUDIBLE]?
[INAUDIBLE]?
Go on, go on, get us safe.
Go on.
-Jake, what are you going to do?
-You can leave this fool behind.
I'll make it look like
he fell over a cliff
and [INAUDIBLE] that way.
[THUNDER]
[INAUDIBLE]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Good bye, Daddy.
Good bye.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[DOG BARKING]
[DOG HOWLING]
-Oh, come, Jess.
It's only a wolf on a
prowl after the rain.
[DOG BARKING]
-That's no wolf, it's a dog.
I bet you somebody's crocked.
[DOG BARKING]
[DOG BARKING]
-Holy Moses.
Let's go down.
[DOG BARKING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-It would be easy for Jake
to get the best of Flora, now
that Ira is gone.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Who could kill him?
-I got my suspicions.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-This is so hard for Flora.
-I'm sorry for Jennie.
Poor kid.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-And these last [INAUDIBLE]
are for one Ira Colton,
esteemed member
of our community,
killed by unknown hands.
We of the Coltons clan, are not
worried about his soul going
to heaven, but woe onto
the guilty one whose
hands are stained
with Ira's blood.
And as God said to Noah, for
whosoever shedeth man's blood,
by man shall his blood be shed.
Amen.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-What are you aiming at?
-Well, I've decided
to take myself a wife.
-Why do you come to me?
-Oh, don't get scared.
I don't want you.
I want to talk to you about her.
-You mean Jennie?
-That's right.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-What's the matter Jennie?
Your face is all puffing up.
-Oh, nothing.
That Jake Bolby is in
the cabin with Mother.
And I shouldn't leave
her alone with him.
-Oh, come on.
He won't bite her.
We'll take a short swim
and come right back.
-All right.
-All right, that's
the way it's going
to be, then, because
you are going to hang.
And you will look pretty
with a rope around your neck.
-Now I know what you're going
to meet for killing Ira.
But you ain't going
to get my Jennie.
You ain't!
-Yeah?
Well, I'll testify that
I saw you killed Ira.
-You lie and you know it.
And everybody else will know it.
-Heh?
But they will believe Norm
and Ezra, and Jeremiah.
I'm going to the
county seat tomorrow.
That will give you plenty of
time to make up your mind.
And remember, it won't
take their Marshal long.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Howdy, boys.
-Hello, Jake.
-How does it feel
the Coltons are
putting this youngin
in the community?
-I don't see how you do it.
I thought your and an
Coltons were on the outs.
-Not at all.
Flora thinks that I will make
Jennie a right good husband.
-Well, Jake, you'd
few better hurrying.
For the school ma'am has
firm sweetheart fighting
to pass a marriage law
at the state capital.
And if it does,
you will courting
Jennie for seven long years.
-Yeah?
I'll take care of that.
Jennie, look what I brought you.
Now, listen, Jennie, I'm
agoing to be your husband.
And you want to be nice to
me, because if you don't, you
know what'll
happened to your mom.
-I-- I'll try.
-Oh, and there's
just one more thing.
I don't want you to be seeing
this Freddie Nulty no more.
Do you understand?
-Yes.
-All right.
Now, take this.
Go on, go on, take it.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Don't forget what I told you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
FREDDIE (OFFSCREEN) Hey, Jennie.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Oh, Freddie.
-Jennie, I-- I came to tell you
that Jake told me if he catches
me seeing you or speaking
to you, he'll wring my neck.
-Yes, I know.
But-- but, Freddie, I must marry
him or my Mommy will suffer.
-Well, why should
your mother suffer?
-Oh, Freddie, don't ask me that.
I can't tell you.
-Well, all right.
You don't want to tell me.
But ain't you going to
come to school no more?
-No.
He won't let me.
Oh, Freddie.
-Don't cry, Jennie.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
-Yes?
Well, Freddie Nulty,
what brings you here?
-I-- I came to
tell you that Jake
is going to my marry my Jennie.
And I thought you could stop it.
-Yes.
I heard about it.
I went to see Mrs.
Colton, but she's
already given her consent.
-Well, gee, couldn't
you do nothing?
-I couldn't make
her change her mind.
I'm sorry, Freddie.
There's nothing else I can do.
-If I was a little
bigger, I'd kill him!
-Freddie!
You mustn't say that.
Perhaps, we may still be able
to stop this child marriage.
-Well, I thought
you could do it.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-If there is anyone here among
you who knows of any reason why
these two people should
not be joined together
in holy wedlock, let him speak
now or forever hold his peace.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MINISTER (OFFSCREEN)
Join hands, please.
Do you, Jake Bolby, take
this-- this girl child
that you hold by the hand to
be your lawfully wedded wife,
to love, honor, and cherish
the rest of your life?
Repeat after me, I do.
-I do.
-And you, Jennie Colton, do
you take this man that you hold
by the hand to be you lawfully
wedded husband to love,
honor, and obey for
the rest of your days?
-(HESITANTLY) I do.
-And now, I pronounce
you man and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-(CRYING) Jennie, Jennie.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-That one right there.
-It puzzles me,
Mr. Bright, why you
have to post these
notices at night.
-Well, I'll tell
you, Marshal, I want
to surprise the
girl I'm engaged to.
-You know, I kind of
thought there wasn't
[INAUDIBLE] will power
on here somewhere.
-Give we one of those
placards and that hammer.
I'll show you how it's done.
-That's right.
Here's a nail.
-You wait here.
-Oh, all right.
[KNOCKING]
MISS CAROL
(OFFSCREEN) Who is it?
-It's me, Charles.
-Charles!
-Darling.
Darling, I put it over.
Look, the law.
-Wait, when did the law pass?
-Three days ago, dear.
-(EXCITEDLY) Three days ago?
Darling!
-Good night, Jake.
-Good night, dear.
-Good night.
Be happy.
-Well, I will, I guess.
Flora, I'll be taking
my wife home now.
-Oh, Mommy.
I don't want to go.
-Jennie, you are my wife now.
And it's time to go home.
It's getting late.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Oh, Mommy!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Jennie.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Jennie.
-[INAUDIBLE], my job's done.
-And mine just starting.
-Darling, what do you mean?
-Well, I can't be a
child bride, but--
-But what?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Jump into bed and
I'll blow the lamp out.
-Can I say my prayers?
-Oh, all right, but
make them short.
-And dear God, take
good care of my Mommy
and my Daddy in heaven.
Amen.
[GUN SHOTS]
[SCREAMING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Freddie.
Oh, Freddie, I was so scared.
-It's all right now, Jennie.
You don't have to be his wife.
Later, you can be mine.
-Oh, Freddie.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[ROOSTER CROWING]
-Ira, Ira, It's time to get up.
-All right.
-Jennie?
Jennie?
Jennie, oh, Jennie?
JENNIE (OFFSCREEN) Yes, Mommy.
-It's time for chores.
JENNIE (OFFSCREEN) All right.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[ROOSTER CROWING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Come on, Rex.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[WHISTLING]
-Freddie!
You forgot those darned things.
-She sure would
have bowled me out.
-Listen, son, don't
you let that art
teacher put anything
over on you.
-I sure don't.
I put over on her.
-Freddie, you want to go up
the road with me a piece?
-Where are you going?
-And it looks like it's
going to shower, ain't it?
And I want a cup of that new
[INAUDIBLE] that they steal.
-Gee, I was going
to go after Jennie.
-All right, go on.
-All right, Dad.
[HUMMING A TUNE]
-Oh, my poor little pig!
-I'm acoming, Jennie.
-Oh, Freddie.
-Gee, she is mean.
-Ha-ha-ha-ha, gosh,
but you look funny.
-Oh, Freddie!
-Don't be mad, Jennie.
[LAUGHING]
-Jennie, you know better to
get in there with that old sal.
-But Daddy, the little
pig was stuck in mud,
and, and he was drowning.
-Next time you call me.
-Get to the barrel
and wash yourself.
Wait a minute, Jennie--
-And I'm funny?
-Well, no.
-But you did look kind of silly
in there with all those pigs.
Anyway, you had to know better.
You can't drown a pig in mud.
-Well, maybe you can't.
But Daddy says that
in this country,
the pig is the gentleman
that pays the rent.
And I wasn't going
to take any chances.
-Hey, wait a minute.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Good morning.
-Good morning, children.
[BELL RINGING]
-Gee, Jennie, why didn't
you wear your hat?
It's raining.
-Just a couple of drops.
Sun will be out time
we go to school.
Freddie?
-Yes, Jennie?
-Did you study your
spelling lesson?
-No.
Anyway, my dad says that
teacher don't know how to spell.
-Why, Freddie Nulty, my
teacher knows all the words
in all the books
in all the words.
I don't care what your dad says.
My teacher says you have
to learn how to spell.
[BELL RINGING]
[GUN SHOT]
-Was that a shot?
-Yeah, right down there.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
It-- it looks like-- Dad.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Daddy, Daddy, He's been shot.
Jennie, go for help.
Hurry.
Hurry.
-Yes, Freddie.
-Daddy, Daddy, you all right?
Daddy, speak to me.
-Where are you going
this morning, Ira?
-Well, my aim is to go
up to the [INAUDIBLE].
JENNIE (OFFSCREEN) Mommy!
Daddy!
Mommy!
Freddie's father's been shot.
-What?
Shot?
-Where is he at?
-He's out in the woods.
Come on!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
He's at their [INAUDIBLE],
just past the road.
He's over there.
-I think he's hurt bad, Ira.
-The bullet went clean
through his shoulder.
-It's going to be
all right, Mike,
it's going to be all right.
Oh, Freddie.
Freddie, he is not bad hurt.
We'll take care of him.
Now you and Jennie
go onto school, dear.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Ira, I guess I was hit.
-You going to be all right.
-I reckon so.
-Mike, tell me who shot you and
I'll follow him to his grave.
-No, Ira.
It's my fight.
I'll take care of that
skunk when I'm up above.
Oh!
-Mike, we've got
to get him home.
-Oh, easy, please, please, easy.
(SINGING)--reading,
writing, arithmetic,
learning a new rhyme.
Jingle bells, jingle
bells, jingle all the way.
When in school, oh, what
fun, studying and play.
-Be seated, children.
Jennie Colton and Frederick
Nulty, please come here.
What excuse have you
both for being late?
-My old man got hurt.
Jennie here had to go for help.
-Oh, I'm sorry to
hear that Frederick.
Was it serious?
-No, I think he'll be all right.
-He should have a
doctor, teacher.
-There's no doctor in
this community now.
Later, perhaps.
Go on back to your seats.
[CHILDREN LAUGHING]
-Quiet!
Alex Cross, why did you do that?
-Teacher, it was a pigeon
and he dropped it on my book.
[CHILDREN LAUGHING]
-Quiet.
Alex, you come up here.
Bonta, Lila, Bill for
your spelling lesson.
Bonta, you spell
the word "butter."
-Butter.
B-U-T-T-E-R.
-Correct.
Lila, the word "banish."
-B- I- N- H.
-That was a very good try, Lila.
You try it, Bill.
-Banish.
B-A-N-D-H-I-S-H.
-You'd better take your
book home with you tonight.
Alex, you try it.
-Banish.
B-A-N-I-S-H.
-Correct.
Now go back to your seat.
All right, Jennie
Colton, Frederick Nulty,
Jeanette, and Tom.
All right, Tom, spell
the word "catalogue."
-C-A-T-A-L-O-Q-U-E.
-You didn't study
you lesson, did you?
-No.
-Jeannette, the word "mountain."
-M-O. M-O-T-I-A-N.
-You'd better study your lesson
more thoroughly next time.
Jennie, the word "automobile."
-A-U-T-O-M-O-B-I-L-E.
-Correct.
Freddie, the word "milking"
-M-I-L-K-G-I-N-G.
-Freddie, you didn't study your
spelling lesson last night,
did you?
-I tried to make him, Miss
Carol, but he wouldn't.
-See that you study
it tonight, young man.
-Teacher?
-All right, George.
-Teacher, teacher?
-All right, Cecil.
MISS CAROL (OFFSCREEN) So take
out your arithmetic books.
-Hey, Cecil, this one's "MA."
This is "PA."
-Charles!
Darling!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Are you really glad to see me?
-Why didn't you tell
me you were coming?
-I just couldn't stand another
minute down there in the city
with you up here in
this God-forsaken.
-You know why I stay here.
-But you promised that
when I became established
in my profession,
you'd marry me.
-Yes, I know.
-Well, now I'm assistant
district attorney.
You, you can't
stall me this time.
-Oh, I am proud of you, Charles.
But I haven't accomplished
what I set out to do.
-Ah, you're wasting your time.
-No, dear, I'm not.
-Yes, you are!
Now look here, you can't change
the customs of these people.
Others before you have tried.
-But I was born here, they
are my people, my blood.
-But you've been
out in the world.
You've gone to school.
-Yes, I was fortunate in
obtaining an education.
Now it's my duty to help them.
-All the education in the
world wouldn't help them.
-But you could help me,
if you really loved me.
-Of course, I love you,
but what could I do?
-You can do a lot, dearest.
-What for instance?
-Just continue to love
me and be patient.
-Patient?
I've been waiting patiently
for the last five years.
I suppose you want me to
wait until I'm an old man.
-Charles, I'm going to
fight for these people
until the state realize that
child marriage must be stopped.
-Sometimes I wonder if you,
if you really do love me.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-The purest blood
in our land flows
in the veins of these
mountain people.
And yet, the government
does less for them
and for any group
within its boundaries.
Government neglect is one cause.
And as governor of this state.
I beg of you to realize that
this child marriage law will be
a wedge to free
these mountain people
from adverse social and
economic conditions.
-How do you do, gentlemen?
There goes that Miss Carol.
-Sadie, how is the baby?
-Pretty good, Miss Carol.
-We're missing you at school.
-Well, my husband
says there's nothing
finer than a bunch of youngins.
-But, Sadie, don't you
realize that at 25,
you will be an old woman.
-If that school woman don't go
and quit preaching to our women
folks, she is fixing to get
herself into a mess of trouble.
-I thought we have all
the women of the village
could get together and--
-We don't go meddling in
the foreigners' business.
Why should you in ours?
-I'm not a foreigner.
I'm as much a mountain
person as any of you.
And I'm fighting for the
improvement of this community.
Now, listen, Mrs.
Haggerty, you're a mother.
You have seven
children of your own.
You can't jump from childhood
into womanhood by saying I do.
-We've got to marry them young.
We're short in women.
-Well, isn't it better to
have a woman for 30 years
than a child for 15?
But I'm trying to
make you understand
is that you can't
fight nature's law.
Bearing children
is a woman's job.
Child marriage must go.
-Your Excellency,
this law must pass.
Oh, I beg Your Excellency to
endorse Miss Carol's bill.
-Hey, Happy, come on down.
-All right, Angelo.
-Hey, you.
Did you get that corn
up to the Haggens?
-Yeah.
-Well, where is the money?
-I'm giving the money to Ira.
-Well, Ira is my partner.
It is much mine as if it his.
-I'm still giving
the money to Ira.
-Don't give me any of your lip.
Come on, come on,
give me that money.
-I won't do it!
-Why, you--
-Hey, leave him alone!
Leave him alone, I tell you.
-Are you poor [INAUDIBLE].
-No!
No!
-Now, can I have that money?
-I won't do it.
-Give me that!
Now, and then I'm going
to give you the same dose.
-No, Jake, no!
-Jake, put him down!
-Who do you think
you're talking to?
-You, you slimy weasel?
How many times must I
tell you to leave him be?
So you want to play?
I've been waiting a long
time for this chance.
And now I'm going to
cover your dirty--
-All right, all right.
This time I lose.
But there'll be a next time.
-Ain't gonna be no next time.
No!
Fill up before I [INAUDIBLE] and
take it over that [INAUDIBLE].
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Ira Colton, some day,
I'm going to kill you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-I wonder what could
have happened to Jake.
He should have been here by now.
-Maybe he's down to school
seeing whether she's out
preaching against
us marrying youngin.
-Why is she doing our
education, anyway?
Why don't she mind
her own business?
-I'm for driving
her out of town.
-Yeah.
Tying feathers, risky business.
-Oh, you're getting
yellow, Clump.
-I'd put her in boiling
oil and watch her fry
if she weren't one of our kind.
Why she has a call to me
losing that kid, Bella Jensen.
Jake, your face looks like it's
gone through a trash machine.
What happened?
-Oh, I had a run-in with
a bunch of hijackers
on the corn valley.
It's a little bit
too much [INAUDIBLE].
Is everybody here now?
-We're all here.
-Good.
-What are we doing now?
-You, Ezra, Lem,
Jeremiah, and Clump,
go down through Bone
Valley and meet us
at the bat cave near
the [INAUDIBLE].
Take your masks
along and be sure
and bring those
torches along too.
-All right, Jake.
-Be careful now.
OK, where's my mask?
-Oh, there it is.
Put out this fire.
-All right, let's go.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[KNOCKING]
-Who's there?
[KNOCKING]
Who is it?
[KNOCKING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[KNOCKING]
[SCREAMS]
[SCREAMS]
What have I done?
[SCREAMS]
-Happy?
Happy!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-All right, Jake
Bolby, [INAUDIBLE].
I know who are.
-Come on!
Come on!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMS]
-Hey, wait for me!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMS]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-You're mad.
You're mad, all of you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Why?
Where are you taking me to?
What have I done?
-There's going
towards Spooky Hollow.
Come on, Happy.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[DOG BARKING]
-Rex, shut up.
Shut up, Rex.
[KNOCKING]
-Jennie, they've
taken the school
ma'am into the mountains.
-Well, who?
Where?
What for?
-Go fetch your dad.
-Mommy!
Daddy!
Mommy!
-What's the matter?
-They've taken my
school teacher.
-Who has?
-I don't know.
I was asleep.
And her screams woke me up.
Then Happy and I ran
up to the [INAUDIBLE]
and we saw a lot of robed
figures with torches.
I left Happy to trail them.
And he is to meet
us at Devil's Rock.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-We'll take the shortcut
through Devil's Ground.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMS]
-What are you going to do to me?
What have I done?
-Well, we've given you plenty
of warning not to meddle
with our customs and to
stick to your own ABCs.
-[INAUDIBLE], right?
-We have our own ideas
about what's right
and what's wrong
in this section.
-How dare you to bring me here?
I'll have the law up on you.
-The law?
Ha!
We are the law in
these here mountains.
And I will show you.
Bring her over here!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Come on with the tar.
Let's get this visit over.
-No!
No!
No, please, no!
[SCREAMS]
-Take your dirty hands off Miss
Carol or I'll [INAUDIBLE] all
of you.
Get down to tree
and help Miss Carol.
-Yes, Ira.
Yes.
-Step up right up
against my light.
-You two can shoot straight?
-You try me.
I'm just itching to plug one
guy I think is down there.
-Make a false move and
I'll let you have it.
-And take this gun.
-I have still got you covered.
And I'm acoming.
-If it ain't [INAUDIBLE]
and Jeremiah.
Norm, my friend.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
And Jake, my partner.
-Now, let not.
The school ma'am had
it coming to her.
-And I thought I gave
you enough our last time.
I'll finish it now.
-Jake, did Colton pay you for
the interest in that still?
-He sent me $40.
Just what I put in.
But you never can tell.
Maybe later, when I get
settled, I can get even.
-Right here that school
ma'am is still staying.
Never scared her one bit.
-Yeah, I hear she's preaching
stronger than before.
-Well, when we're on the prowl
again, I'll make certain.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-I'll beat you
undressed, Jennie.
-Freddie, you ain't going
swimming with me no more,
so don't you take
your clothes off.
-Ah, you're teasing.
-No, I'm not.
I mean it.
-We've always gone in swimming
together, why not now?
-Teacher says not to.
-Why?
-Well, because-- because
we're not what we used to be.
-You mean, we're different?
How?
-No, we are the same.
Only you can't see
me my clothes on.
-How come?
I know how you look
without your clothes on.
I've seen you lots
of times, haven't I?
-Yes, I know.
But now we're grown
up and baring.
Teacher said it might put
bad ideas into your head.
-Oh, shucks.
Now I can't kiss you no more.
-Of course you can, silly.
Only with my clothes on.
-All right, but I
wish that teacher
would mind her own business.
-Now, don't nag.
See. you look out for me
and I'll watch for you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm going in.
-All right.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Jennie, dog is wanting
to come, should I let him?
-Yes, can't you just say
not to let him look at me.
Come on, boy.
Come on.
Come on, Rex.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Pretty, ain't she?
-Hey, Jennie, you'd better hide.
Somebody's up in the ridge.
-OK, I'll hide in
the [INAUDIBLE].
-Oh, what do you want?
-Nothing of you,
you old scarecrow.
I know what you're aiming at.
-Ah, hush your fuss.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Freddie, bring me my clothes.
-Oh, gee.
You told me not to look.
How can I?
-You can't look, but
I want my clothes!
-All right, all right.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Let's go up by the
still on our way home.
-Nah-huh, I'm cold.
Besides, looks like a
storm is blowing up.
-Well, all right.
-[INAUDIBLE], Freddie?
-Come on, Rex.
-Who was on the ridge?
-I think it was
Jake [INAUDIBLE].
-Oh, it couldn't be Jake.
His field's on the
other side of the river.
[THUNDER]
-Look, there comes
Colton, stiffy-eyed again.
You'd feel all liquored
up too if your wife was
fooling around
with your partner.
-That Jake ain't fooling around
with Colton's wife no more.
He says he's trapped
with that youngin.
[THUNDER]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-You're home early.
I have never made in a JIFFY.
You've been drinking again.
-Yeah, I have.
[SCREAMS]
-I scolded!
-Pan of frying grease,
you're low-down sneak.
-What have I done?
-You've been carrying on
with my partner, Jake Bolby,
right in front of my nose.
[SCREAMS]
--[INAUDIBLE], Ira Not
since I married you.
-You're lying.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-You've got to believe me, Ira.
-The whole village
is talking about ya.
-It's a lie!
-I am going to break
every bone in your body.
-If you hit me again, Ira,
I'll kill you, kill you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Next time you've got to
let me go in swimming first.
-Well, all right.
But Momma said I had to get
home in time for supper tonight.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-JENNIE (OFFSCREEN)
Shame on you, Freddie.
-Well, heck.
She spoiled all the
fun we used to have.
I hater her.
-Now, Freddie.
The teacher is right.
-All right.
[LAUGHS]
[SCREAMS]
-Mommy!
Mommy!
Mommy!
Oh, Mommy, speak to me, Mommy.
Speak to me.
Are you hurt?
-Oh, Jennie.
-Is Daddy drunk again?
-Yeah.
Something vile.
And took it out on me.
-Poor Mommy.
Come on, Mommy.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Mommy.
-Jennie?
-Yes, Mommy.
-Go get him to bed.
-All right, Mommy.
Come on, Daddy, get to bed.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-You'll be catching
a cold laying
there on the floor, Daddy.
Come on, get to bed.
Wake up, Daddy.
It's your little Jennie.
She wants you to come to bed.
Oh, Daddy!
Oh, Daddy, I can't lift you.
Please, wake up.
Or, I suppose, I'll have to
undress you and put you to bed.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMS]
But Daddy!
-Jennie, what's happened?
-Oh, Mother.
I think Daddy's dead.
-No, no, no, it can't be.
-Well, I see you
crocked him at last.
I knew you'd do it
sooner or later.
And it sure looks
like a good job.
-No, no, Jake.
I didn't do it.
-I believe my own eyes, Flora.
I saw you do it.
-I only scratched
his side, I thought.
-No, Jake, she
didn't, she didn't.
-Jake, God as my
witness, I didn't do it.
-Eh, best part we ain't
got no time to lose.
Before anyone gets wind of
this, I'd like to help you.
-Oh, Ira.
-Oh, Daddy, tell Jake
that Mommy did it.
-You fool, don't you understand,
this means a lot for you.
-All right, Jake.
What do you want me to do?
But I didn't do it, I tell you.
-You're lying, Flora.
You're lying and you know it.
[INAUDIBLE], we both know
that he had it coming to him.
-No, he didn't
-We ain't got no more time to
lose, don't you understand?
Jennie, Jennie, you step
outside and see that no one's
watching when I
bring your papi out.
Hello?
[INAUDIBLE]?
[INAUDIBLE]?
Go on, go on, get us safe.
Go on.
-Jake, what are you going to do?
-You can leave this fool behind.
I'll make it look like
he fell over a cliff
and [INAUDIBLE] that way.
[THUNDER]
[INAUDIBLE]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Good bye, Daddy.
Good bye.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[DOG BARKING]
[DOG HOWLING]
-Oh, come, Jess.
It's only a wolf on a
prowl after the rain.
[DOG BARKING]
-That's no wolf, it's a dog.
I bet you somebody's crocked.
[DOG BARKING]
[DOG BARKING]
-Holy Moses.
Let's go down.
[DOG BARKING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-It would be easy for Jake
to get the best of Flora, now
that Ira is gone.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Who could kill him?
-I got my suspicions.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-This is so hard for Flora.
-I'm sorry for Jennie.
Poor kid.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-And these last [INAUDIBLE]
are for one Ira Colton,
esteemed member
of our community,
killed by unknown hands.
We of the Coltons clan, are not
worried about his soul going
to heaven, but woe onto
the guilty one whose
hands are stained
with Ira's blood.
And as God said to Noah, for
whosoever shedeth man's blood,
by man shall his blood be shed.
Amen.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-What are you aiming at?
-Well, I've decided
to take myself a wife.
-Why do you come to me?
-Oh, don't get scared.
I don't want you.
I want to talk to you about her.
-You mean Jennie?
-That's right.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-What's the matter Jennie?
Your face is all puffing up.
-Oh, nothing.
That Jake Bolby is in
the cabin with Mother.
And I shouldn't leave
her alone with him.
-Oh, come on.
He won't bite her.
We'll take a short swim
and come right back.
-All right.
-All right, that's
the way it's going
to be, then, because
you are going to hang.
And you will look pretty
with a rope around your neck.
-Now I know what you're going
to meet for killing Ira.
But you ain't going
to get my Jennie.
You ain't!
-Yeah?
Well, I'll testify that
I saw you killed Ira.
-You lie and you know it.
And everybody else will know it.
-Heh?
But they will believe Norm
and Ezra, and Jeremiah.
I'm going to the
county seat tomorrow.
That will give you plenty of
time to make up your mind.
And remember, it won't
take their Marshal long.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Howdy, boys.
-Hello, Jake.
-How does it feel
the Coltons are
putting this youngin
in the community?
-I don't see how you do it.
I thought your and an
Coltons were on the outs.
-Not at all.
Flora thinks that I will make
Jennie a right good husband.
-Well, Jake, you'd
few better hurrying.
For the school ma'am has
firm sweetheart fighting
to pass a marriage law
at the state capital.
And if it does,
you will courting
Jennie for seven long years.
-Yeah?
I'll take care of that.
Jennie, look what I brought you.
Now, listen, Jennie, I'm
agoing to be your husband.
And you want to be nice to
me, because if you don't, you
know what'll
happened to your mom.
-I-- I'll try.
-Oh, and there's
just one more thing.
I don't want you to be seeing
this Freddie Nulty no more.
Do you understand?
-Yes.
-All right.
Now, take this.
Go on, go on, take it.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Don't forget what I told you.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
FREDDIE (OFFSCREEN) Hey, Jennie.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Oh, Freddie.
-Jennie, I-- I came to tell you
that Jake told me if he catches
me seeing you or speaking
to you, he'll wring my neck.
-Yes, I know.
But-- but, Freddie, I must marry
him or my Mommy will suffer.
-Well, why should
your mother suffer?
-Oh, Freddie, don't ask me that.
I can't tell you.
-Well, all right.
You don't want to tell me.
But ain't you going to
come to school no more?
-No.
He won't let me.
Oh, Freddie.
-Don't cry, Jennie.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
-Yes?
Well, Freddie Nulty,
what brings you here?
-I-- I came to
tell you that Jake
is going to my marry my Jennie.
And I thought you could stop it.
-Yes.
I heard about it.
I went to see Mrs.
Colton, but she's
already given her consent.
-Well, gee, couldn't
you do nothing?
-I couldn't make
her change her mind.
I'm sorry, Freddie.
There's nothing else I can do.
-If I was a little
bigger, I'd kill him!
-Freddie!
You mustn't say that.
Perhaps, we may still be able
to stop this child marriage.
-Well, I thought
you could do it.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-If there is anyone here among
you who knows of any reason why
these two people should
not be joined together
in holy wedlock, let him speak
now or forever hold his peace.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
MINISTER (OFFSCREEN)
Join hands, please.
Do you, Jake Bolby, take
this-- this girl child
that you hold by the hand to
be your lawfully wedded wife,
to love, honor, and cherish
the rest of your life?
Repeat after me, I do.
-I do.
-And you, Jennie Colton, do
you take this man that you hold
by the hand to be you lawfully
wedded husband to love,
honor, and obey for
the rest of your days?
-(HESITANTLY) I do.
-And now, I pronounce
you man and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-(CRYING) Jennie, Jennie.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-That one right there.
-It puzzles me,
Mr. Bright, why you
have to post these
notices at night.
-Well, I'll tell
you, Marshal, I want
to surprise the
girl I'm engaged to.
-You know, I kind of
thought there wasn't
[INAUDIBLE] will power
on here somewhere.
-Give we one of those
placards and that hammer.
I'll show you how it's done.
-That's right.
Here's a nail.
-You wait here.
-Oh, all right.
[KNOCKING]
MISS CAROL
(OFFSCREEN) Who is it?
-It's me, Charles.
-Charles!
-Darling.
Darling, I put it over.
Look, the law.
-Wait, when did the law pass?
-Three days ago, dear.
-(EXCITEDLY) Three days ago?
Darling!
-Good night, Jake.
-Good night, dear.
-Good night.
Be happy.
-Well, I will, I guess.
Flora, I'll be taking
my wife home now.
-Oh, Mommy.
I don't want to go.
-Jennie, you are my wife now.
And it's time to go home.
It's getting late.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Oh, Mommy!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Jennie.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Jennie.
-[INAUDIBLE], my job's done.
-And mine just starting.
-Darling, what do you mean?
-Well, I can't be a
child bride, but--
-But what?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
-Jump into bed and
I'll blow the lamp out.
-Can I say my prayers?
-Oh, all right, but
make them short.
-And dear God, take
good care of my Mommy
and my Daddy in heaven.
Amen.
[GUN SHOTS]
[SCREAMING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SCREAMING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Freddie.
Oh, Freddie, I was so scared.
-It's all right now, Jennie.
You don't have to be his wife.
Later, you can be mine.
-Oh, Freddie.
[MUSIC PLAYING]