Coward of the County (1981) - full transcript

♪ Souls in danger, look above

♪ Jesus completely saves

♪ He will lift you by His love

♪ Out of the angry waves

♪ He's the Master of the sea

♪ Billows His will obey

♪ He your Savior wants to be

♪ Be saved today

♪ Love lifted me

♪ Love lifted me

♪ When nothing else could help



♪ Love lifted me

♪ Love lifted me

♪ Love lifted me

♪ When nothing else could help

♪ Love

♪ Lifted

♪ Me

- [Congregation] Amen.
[man coughing]

- Jesus said,

Matthew 5:38,

"I know you have heard it said,

"an eye for an eye and
a tooth for a tooth,

"but I say on to you,

"resist yee not evil



"but whosoever shall strick
thee on the right cheek

"turn to him the
other cheek also."

- [Man] That's right, Preacher.

- Not that sounds like
a Jesus of love to me.

- [Congregation] Amen.

- The Jesus we all love.

Love lifted me.

Love lifted me.

When nothing else could help,

love lifted me.

Now I like that.

Now we talk about love

and we talk about
turning the other cheek.

We have a good
example here today.

Brother Dean's with us today,

hasn't been here
in a year or so.

It's awfully nice to
see you again, brother.

For those of you who do
not know Brother Dean,

he used to quite
a heavy drinker.

Is that right?

[Dean chuckling]

When he met his wife, Pauleen,

in fact, the way he
met his wife, Pauleen,

he was driving through town
one day drunk as a skunk.

[congregation laughing]

Jumped the curb, hit
Pauleen's mailbox.

Two by four hit her across
the jaw and broke her cheek.

[congregation chuckling]

Now the way I see it,
she only had two choices.

One, turn the other cheek,

take a chance on
it getting broken.

[congregation laughing]

Or snap him like a twig, I
think she could've done it.

[congregation laughing]

But what did she do?

She showed him love.

She took him in and
showed him love.

- [Man] Amen.

- And what did she get for it?

Three of the most beautiful
children in the world.

Four?

Well, congratulations,
Brother Dean!

I see now why you haven't
been to church lately.

[congregation laughing]

Of course, the other
side of that coin,

I was in Madison
County preaching

and I heard a story about a
man came in late one night

after gambling all night long,

lost every bit of
his week's paycheck.

Well his wife had just about
all of that she was gonna take

and she hauled off and hit him
as hard as she could hit him.

And what did he do?

He had the same
choice as Pauleen did.

Did he turn the other
cheek, no-ho-ho.

Knocked her across the room.

[congregation murmuring]

Now what'd he get for that?

A divorce and two years in jail.

[congregation laughing]

And what'd she get?

150 acres of the best
bottomland in the county

and the last I heard,
she was off with the man

that won the money from
him in the poker game

in the first place.

[congregation laughing]

Vengeance is mine,
saith the Lord.

- Amen.
- Amen!

- [Man] Amen!

- And you know, we
all have out fights.

We all fight in our own ways.

But our fight is not with men,
our fight is with the devil!

Am I right?

- [Congregation] Amen!

- Now the devil, you
gotta be careful.

He'll sneak up on you

when you're least expecting it.

He'll jump up and he'll grab
you and he'll tear at you.

He'll try to take
you down with him.

But you gotta fight back.

It's the only way you're
gonna beat the old devil.

- Right.

- The way to fight
him is you gotta get

right down in his face and say,

Devil, you ain't
getting this soul!

Now isn't that right?

That right, boy?

Amen.

Now what we all need to do
it try to be more God-like.

- [Man] Amen.

- Brother Hofelter, you're
trying to be more God-like,

don't you?

- Oh, do-do-do,
Matthew, that's a fact.

- Good, I need you to help me

show something up
here, Brother Hofelter.

I wanna show the people
how the Lord works.

- Okay.

- Now Brother Hofelter,
let me ask you something

and you answer me truthfully.

If I should draw
back and hit you,

could you turn the
other cheek to me?

- Why, Matthew, I can't
answer a question like that.

- Well, Brother Hofelter,
I have an answer for you.

I want you smite me
on the right cheek.

Well, smite me,
Brother Hofelter.

There was a time when
you gladly smote me

with a beer bottler,
as I remember.

[congregation laughing]

- That was a long
time ago, Matthew.

- It was.

And we were young, that's true,

and children of the devil.

We stand here in
the name of the Lord

and I want you to smite me,

I want you to hit me
as hard as you can.

- You mean it, Matthew?

- In the name of the
Lord, smite me, Claude.

[punch thudding]

[congregations groaning]
- [Matthew] Oh, baby.

Oh.

- Matthew.

- [Man] He's gonna hit him back.

- No, Claude.

Love lifted me.

- [Congregation] Amen.

- Love lifted me.

- Amen.

- [Man] Amen.

- I'll say this.

You got the power of the
Lord in your arm, Claude.

[congregation laughing]

Kinda expected on the
right cheek though, Claude.

[congregation laughing]

Don't mind, I think
we'll ask Brother Toomb's

latest benediction.

[congregation laughing]

- The Lord bless
the and keep thee,

the Lord make his face
to shine upon thee

and be gracious under thee.

The Lord lift up His
countenance upon thee

and give thee peace.

Amen.

- [Congregation] Amen.

[people chattering]

[somber organ music]

- That was a fine sermon.

- Thank you so much.

- Good sermon, Reverend.

- Brother Adams, nice to
see you in church again.

- Real fine sermon,
preacher, we enjoyed it.

Had us worried a little though.

- Why didn't you hit
him back, preacher?

- Because, son, that's
exactly what I was preaching.

Turn the other cheek.

- I woulda knocked
his block off!

- Didn't learn
very much, did he?

- Enjoyed it.
- Thank you.

- Was a really good sermon.

- You look just like my mother.

- God bless you.
- Thank you.

[motor puttering]

- Thanks for your help.

[people chattering]

- Good sermon.

- Will you lock up for us?

- Sure.
- Thank you.

[birds chirping]

["Coward of the County"
by Kenny Rogers]

♪ Everyone considered him

♪ The coward of the county

♪ He'd never stood
one single time ♪

♪ To prove the county wrong

♪ His mama named him Tommy

♪ But folks just
called him yellow ♪

♪ Something always told me

♪ They were reading
Tommy wrong ♪

♪ He was only ten years old

♪ When his daddy
died in prison ♪

♪ I looked after Tommy

♪ 'Cause he was
my brother's son ♪

♪ I still recall
the final words ♪

♪ My brother said to Tommy

♪ Son, my life is over

♪ But yours has just begun

♪ Promise me, son, not to
do the things I've done ♪

♪ Walk away from
trouble if you can ♪

♪ It won't mean you're weak
if you turn the other cheek ♪

♪ I hope you're old
enough to understand ♪

♪ Son, you don't have
to fight to be a man ♪

- [Matthew] Tommy, let me
out over here, will you?

[motor puttering]

- I thought we'd go
home and get ready

for the Christmas carnival.

- I'll meet you there.

You and your mom can
take care of things

until I get there, can't you?

- Folks will be expecting you

to run the cakewalk like always.

- I'll be there, Emma.

Just need to look in
on Brother Simmons.

He's been feeling
kind of poorly lately.

Likely as not he's coming
down with something,

seeing as how he wasn't
in church this morning.

This will perk him right up.

- Uncle Matt?

You want us to wait for you?

It's a long walk up
up to the Grange Hall.

- No, I'll catch a ride,
I'll just meet you there.

- Mr. Simmons did leave
work early on Friday.

[motor rumbling]

[birds chirping]

[children laughing]

[somber music]

- Good morning, Matthew.

- You're looking mighty
pretty this morning,

Brother Simmons.

[woman chuckling]

[church bells ringing]

- [Emma] That's Becky
Wagner, isn't it?

- Yeah.

She's Jimmy Joe's girl.

I really don't
know her that well.

- You two been in the same
class since the first grade,

what do you mean you don't?

You like her, don't you?

- After we load up
the food and all,

do you think we oughta
stop back by Mr. Simmons,

pick up Uncle Matt?

- Ed Simmons is gonna have
a sore belly for a long time

if he's waiting for your
Uncle Matt to comfort him.

[pleasant piano music]

- [Man] Come on over here
and try this squirt gun!

Come on, you get four
tries for a dime!

[people chattering]

["Jingle Bells" piano music]

[gunshot popping]

[people chattering]

[coins clinking]

- Over here!

Hey!

["Pop Goes the
Weasel" piano music]

[people laughing]

[crowd cheering]

- [Man] Come on over here
and try this squirt gun!

Come on, you get four
tries for a dime!

[couples yelping]

[crowd clapping]

["Pop Goes the
Weasel" piano music]

- Come on, Jimmy!

Go!

- Watching him out here, Jimmy!

[music muting]

[guys cheering]

- We got 'em, we won!

- Here's your cake, oh!

- [Guy] Woo-hoo!
- You cheated!

- He cheated, you
all saw what he did!

You all saw what he did!

- Doesn't matter, Violet.

- Me and Tommy
should've won that cake!

- Hey, whatever it takes
to win, right boys.

[guys shouting]

- Give it to them, Jimmy Joe!

- Okay.

Let's be fair.

We'll share the prize.

Hey, Tommy.

[guys laughing]

Hey, watch it now, Violet.

Don't worry, you're
gonna get your share.

- Don't do that.

- [Guys] Oooo.

[guys grumbling]

- Let's go.

[guys chuckling]

- All right, Jimmy.
- You got him, all right!

[guys laughing]

Got him good!

[people chattering]

- Here, let me see.

You should've shoved
it right in his face.

That's what I thought
you were gonna do.

I wish you had.

Tommy, sometimes I just wish
that you would fight back.

- You know what I wish?

- [Violet] What?

- I wish we would've won that
contest, this cake's good.

Here, try it.

- [Woman] May I have
your attention, please?

I have a few announcements--

- You are impossible.

- [Woman] First, I wish
to thank Ben Stewart.

- Here's Uncle Matthew.

Cakewalk's gonna
be starting soon.

We've got another chance.

- And thanks too to the
Top Notch Lumber Company,

Dee's Hardware Store--

- Two points.
- Ruby's Luncheonette.

And thanks, of course,
to Hayden Lowery

for these beautiful
Christmas cakes

which she's made us again.

And now it's time
for the cakewalk!

Will you move...

[people chattering]

Oh, certainly.

- May I have your
attention up here, please?

[people chattering]

May I have your attention
up here, please?

- What is it, Preacher?

Taking a collection?

[people laughing]

- Now you hold on there, Gatlin.

I've got a very important
announcement to make here.

I know we all came here
to have a good time

but I'm afraid I have
some bad news for you.

The Japanese have just
bombed an American naval base

in Hawaii called Pearl Harbor.

[people muttering]

- Does that mean we're
gonna have to go to war?

- I don't know what this means.

But I do know one thing,

we're all gonna
be forced to make

some very serious
decisions very quickly.

- Tommy, what are we gonna do?

- I don't know.

I'm gonna go.

- I want everyone to
go home, stay calm,

stay close to your radio

and for God sake pray.

[people mumbling]

- There are West
Virginians in Pearl Harbor.

Bill Tucker's son.

- Okay, boys, I'm signing up
first thing in the morning!

Who's coming with me?

- I'll come with you,
you can count on it!

- [Roosevelt] Yesterday,

December 7th,

1941,

[airplane buzzing]

a date which will
live in infamy,

[bombs rumbling]

the United States of America

was suddenly and
deliberately attacked

by naval and air forces

of the Empire of Japan.

No matter how long
it may take us

to overcome this
premeditated invasion,

the American people in
their righteous might

will win through to
absolute victory!

[crowd cheering]

[whistle blowing]

[marching band music]

[firecrackers popping]

[crowd cheering]

[upbeat marching band music]

[crowd cheering]

[upbeat marching band music]

[crowd cheering]

[guys shouting]

- Quiet, quiet now, listen!

- What, what, what?
- Quiet!

- What?
- Listen,

I want you boys to
get in shape in camp

so you can bring me
back some scouts.

- Yes!
[guys laughing]

- There are no
other scouts boys.

[people chattering]

- [Young Man] Go on, look!

[guys cheering]

- Keep it down, boys.

There's more where
that came from.

I'm gonna get you a ring and
I'm gonna send it to you.

- Jimmy Joe.

- And I'm gonna put
your picture up too.

I betcha I got the prettiest
girl in the outfit.

- Jimmy Joe, I'm not your girl.

Jimmy Joe!

- Now what're you tell me?

- The same thing I've
been trying to tell you

for a long time.

- At a time like this?

Now you are my girl, you
have always been my girl

and everybody knows that.

- Telling everybody
doesn't make it so.

- You are my girl.

Now I'll only be going to
bootcamp for eight weeks.

So I don't want you seeing
anybody while I'm gone.

- No, Jimmy, please!

Don't say things
like this, okay?

- This is not the end, Becky!

You can bet on that!

[upbeat marching band music]

[crowd cheering]

- Folks, folks!

Please be quiet.

I have asked Matthew Spencer

if he would say a prayer
on behalf of our boys

going to basic training.

Matthew?

- Seems mighty funny
to me that the preacher

who's offering up the
prayer to our boys

that are going away to fight

has his nephew living
at home with his mommy.

[people chuckling]

- Would you mind
bowing your heads

in prayer for a moment, please?

We thank thee, most
heavenly Father,

for this opportunity
to come together

to say goodbye to our boys
who are off to basic training.

Take care of them, look
after them, train them well

so that they might defend this
country that we love so much.

In Jesus name we pray.

Amen.

[crowd cheering]

- All right, men, on the bus!

- Hey, Tommy, what're you
doing here with the men?

[people chuckling]

Will you take care
of my girl, Paul?

Make sure that nobody
comes near her.

- Don't worry, Jimmy.

I'll take care of her
real good for you.

- [Lem] I want you guys
looking out after each other,

you hear me?

Remember, you're brothers.

Get tough.

Take care of yourself.

- [Jimmy] Bye, Daddy.

- [Lem] Take care of yourself.

You get mean.

You get tough now.

[guys chattering]

- All right, knock it
off, you meatheads!

As of right now, you're
in the United States Army

and I expect you to
act like soldiers!

Sound off when I call your name!

Carver, Joseph.

- [Joseph] Here.

- Dawn, Albert.

- [Albert] Here.

- Gatlin, James Joseph.

- Yo.

- [Sergeant] Luke.

- Here.

- Next time I lay
eyes on Tommy Spencer,

he better find a
hole to crawl in.

- He always does.

- [Sergeant] Did I tell
you to talk, mister?

- No, sir.

- [Sergeant] Then don't!

- Yes, sir.

- [Sergeant] Knowles, Benjamin.

- [Benjamin] Here.

[birds chirping]

- [Matthew] You know, Tommy,

I brought you along
for companionship.

You haven't said a
word all morning.

- I'm sorry, Uncle Matt,
I was just thinking.

What happened to my pa?

- You know what happened
to your pa, everybody does.

- Yeah.

Did he have a mean streak

or was it just
something that happened?

- Your pa had no
more of a mean streak

than even I do, Tommy.

- Well, he died in prison,
you ended up a preacher.

- You know, when I
was 10 years old,

my mother took me to see
a traveling preacher.

Boy, he could preach that
hellfire and brimstone

unlike anything I've ever seen.

Not sure at 10 years old I
knew what he was talking about

but the people responded.

Tommy, they would've
jumped off this bridge

if he had asked them to.

I think that man
changed my life.

- Well you were a hell
raiser just like my pa.

[Matthew chuckling]

- I was a hell raiser,

till the day your
pa went to prison

and when I promised
him I'd look after you,

I realized I had to start
looking after myself too.

- I guess promises are
a lot easier to make

then they are to keep.

But it's not just that I
made a promise to my father,

I really believe that
fighting's not the way.

And it just makes
me sick to think

that the whole world's fighting.

But it is.

So what am I supposed to do?

- I don't have an
answer for that, Tommy.

But, you know, I
think your problems

are a lot like that old tree
stump you been wrestling with.

If you work at it a
little bit every day,

sooner or later, it won't
be there to be in your way.

[engine rumbling]

[tires screeching]
[man shouting]

[metal clattering]

- What're you doing?

Get that thing out of here!

- Sorry.

[engine rumbling]

- Him carrying lumber to
build the volunteer roster,

it doesn't seem right to me.

I wonder what he told the
draft board to keep from going.

- Maybe he told
them he as a girl.

[Paul chuckling]

I mean, we all seen
him drive like one.

- Yeah, I think he's starting
to look like one too.

[guys laughing]

- Thanks, Tommy!

We appreciate that!

- Yes, sir.

Mr. Henderson said
anything you wanted.

- Hey, Tommy!
- Hey, Tommy boy!

- Hey, Tommy!

- Hey, when we join
up next summer,

you be sure to spell
our names right!

[guys hollering]

All capital letters!

You make sure you do it right!

♪ I'm gonna find me a feller

♪ A feller who is yeller

♪ And beat him red,
white and blue ♪

[guys laughing]

[water splashing]

[guys groaning]

- Jimmy Joe's
gonna get you good!

He's gonna get you real good!

Maybe teach you how
to be a real man!

- Stupid commie!
- Tell him, Billy!

- [Paul] Yeah, come on
back here, commie boy!

[machinery hissing]

[metal clattering]

[machinery rumbling]

[whistle blowing]

- Hi, Uncle Matt.

- You look like you're
on your last leg.

You getting enough to eat?

- Yep.

- Let me see this.

That's just what I suspected.

You really oughta start
eating right, you know?

You're too young to die.

- I will.

- You hurt your mama's feelings

when you don't eat your
food she fixes for you.

And I care way too
much about your mom

to let you hurt her feelings.

[machinery rumbling]

[bell ringing]

You get home this evening

and make sure you
get a good supper.

- Oh, I'm not gonna go home.

I volunteered for night work
at that parachute factory.

- Why would you do a
fool thing like that

when it's hard and as
dangerous as this job is?

What do you need
two jobs for anyway?

- I just felt I ought to.

- Hard work is a
virtuous attribute.

Too much of it getting
in the way of living.

A boy your age oughta be
out having a good time,

shooting a little pool,

chasing some of
those pretty girls.

- That's not what
you preach at church.

- I didn't say anything
about catching them.

I just said chasing.

We got everybody here, Charlie?

- I don't know what they
sent you up here for anyway.

- I just got hired
on for night work.

Mr. Woodward said you could
tell me what I could do.

- He did, huh?

He also expects me to
turn this sock factory

into a parachute plant.

- Well, I'm here to help.

- Help what?

All I got is a bunch of
women and old codgers

and you're gonna help?

How come you didn't go help
fight the war where you belong?

What's wrong with you anyway?

You got flat feet or cold feet?

- Neither one, sir.

- Well, get this
thread to the women

and be sure that
they don't run out

because those machines
are real tough to set up

if they go down.

[machinery buzzing]

[car engine rumbling]

- Hey, Misses Quigly.

- [Woman] Hello, Tommy.

[pleasant music]

[tires screeching]

[upbeat instrumental music]

[faint radio chattering]

[engine rumbling]

- [Girl On Radio]
Can I speak with you?

I can't help it because
I always know about you

because I wanna be just like.

- [Woman On Radio] You are
more like me than Erin is.

- [Girl On Radio]
Sure, she's like Jane.

I'm like you.

- [Becky] I'll be
right back, okay?

- [Clerk] That'll be fine.

- [Girl On Radio] I
wanna be like you.

I wanna be like
you when I grow up.

I think you are the
nicest lady in the world.

I wanna sing just
like Mama does.

- Hello.

- Can I help you?

- Yes, do you have any asprin?

- Sure do, what size?

- Regular, I guess.

- Regular.

- [Woman On Radio] It'll be
the happiest day in my life.

- [Girl On Radio]
I wanna sing better

than anybody in the whole world.

Maybe she doesn't like...

- That'll be 16 cents.

- Oh.

That's not the brand I wanted.

- Well what brand do you want?

We have all brands.

- Um...

That's okay, my headache's gone.

[cash register bell ringing]

Becky, hold up, wait a minute.

I think there's been a mix-up.

I think...

I have your magazine.

They mixed up mine.

- I don't think so.

- Oh.

How'd that happen?

- Got me.

- So how have you been?

- Oh, fine, just fine.

- You know, I'm sorry
about what happened

that day at the carnival.

Jimmy Joe was awful.

- That's okay.

- Was that you that ride up

on those grain
sacks the other day?

- Yeah, that was me.

Some guy, he just wasn't
watching where he was going.

I had to swerve to miss him.

[tower bell ringing]

You know, it's
almost lunch time.

- Oh, don't let me keep you.

- Oh no, no, no, that's
not what I meant.

I was gonna say that the
cafe is right down the street

and I thought maybe...
[tower bell ringing]

You know,

we could...

We could get a bite to eat.

- Sure.

Let's go.

[Becky giggling]
[faint upbeat music]

Sure, I remember.

That was the craziest
Halloween I ever had.

- How do you think
it was for me?

My truck broke down

and I had to walk there
all the way in the rain.

- You looked so awful.

- Sure I did.

The coloring came
out of my paper mache

turned my skin orange.

- You were the sorriest
looking pumpkin

this county's ever seem.

- I won first prize.

- Yeah,

but Miss Quigly thought you
were supposed to be a carrot.

[Tommy laughing]

I remember Jimmy Joe got so mad

because he thought for
sure he was gonna win.

- What do you hear from him?

- Not much.

- I thought you were
supposed to be his girl.

Doesn't he write?

- Well, he writes me
but I don't write him.

You see, I'm not his girl.

That's what he tired to make
everybody think but I'm not.

[faint upbeat music]

- What kind of pie are we
gonna have this afternoon?

- Oh.

I think I'll have pumpkin.

- So will I.

[Becky and Tommy giggling]

[car motors rumbling]

[distant dog barking]

- You're late!

I was about to take
your mother home myself!

- Got a little held up.

Something wrong with the Buick?

- Putting her away
for the duration.

Old man Henderson
has got a C sticker.

But the Ford gets
better millage.

- Oh.

- He'll sell this Buick
for twice the price

when the war is over.

- Yeah, I guess if there's
a dollar line around,

Mr. Henderson will figure
out a way to pick it up, huh?

- That's for sure.

Yeah.

How's Miss Becky doing?

- Just fine.

- Yeah, Ralph's
asking about her.

- Is Ralph home from college?

- Yeah, come in last night.

He joined the Navy.

Said he was gonna finish up
school when the war was over.

Miss Henderson just
about had a hissy.

- Guess it's a good thing
they made the volunteer roster

as big as they did, huh?

- Yeah.

I reckon.

My nephew's going in.

Every young man's got to
have his war, I suppose.

Part of the human condition.

Oh, I had mine all right.

Never told you about that.

- No.

- Damn German whiz-bang
got both my ears.

Part of my brain too, I recon.

Why, I couldn't stand up
straight for a full year.

Sometimes, late at night,

I can hear 'em.

Whizzing and banging and

raising all manner of hell.

But I don't hear the birds sing

and I ain't heard
thunder in over 20 years.

♪ Over there

♪ Over there

The Yanks are coming.

Why in the hell do we have
to do this all over again?

- You know, the draft board
says I don't have to go

because, you know,
being the only son

and taking care of
my ma and all that.

Do you think I oughta enlist?

- Nobody can tell anyone what
to do, Tommy, you know that!

Mr. Jefferson used to say to me,

Car-Wash, the most
important thing in the world

is what a man thinks of himself,

not what anyone else thinks.

All that does is
clutter up his head.

[Car-Wash chuckling]

- Which Mr. Jefferson
might that have been?

- Why, that'd be Mr. Thomas
Jefferson, of course.

- Of course.

- He'd sit out on the
porch there at Monticello

and I'd bring his rig
around and he'd say to me,

Car-Wash,

if people don't quit
telling me what they think,

I ain't gonna have time to
write this here constitution.

[Car-Wash laughing]

- [Emma] Oh, Tommy,
you're here, good!

- [Tommy] Yep.

See you later, Car-Wash.

- [Car-Wash] All right, son.

- [Tommy] Mom,
what're you doing?

- Oh, Flora couldn't get
the laundry finished today,

so I'm taking it home.

With Ralph here, there's
extra meals and all.

Bye, Car-Wash!

- [Car-Wash] Bye, ma'am.

- Mama, you got no
call doing this.

Washing the Henderson's
dirty underwear.

- It's honest work.

It's just a favor.

Besides, Mrs. Henderson
pays fair and it helps out.

She's been good to us.

- Mama, I should be the one
that's taking care of us.

- You?

You should be taking
care of the farm

instead of working two jobs.

- I will, Mama!

- [Emma] Let's go.

Ah.

- I'm glad the mill's
closed on Saturday night.

I heard this is a
really good picture.

- Yeah, it is.

I just wish they'd get
some newer pictures here.

- Like what?

- Well, I hear they got "King's
Row" over in Charleston.

- Joan Henderson
saw "King's Row."

- Really?
- Yeah,

but she said it was horrible

when Ronald Reagan
loses his legs.

- Well, I like pictures
when they're real.

You know, that's real life.

- Not me.

I like Walt Disney movies.

Really!

"Fantasia" is the best movie

I've ever seen.
[Paul spitting]

[guys laughing]

Somebody oughta teach you
some manners, Paul Gatlin.

- Oh yeah?

Well somebody oughta teach
this creep some manners.

Splashing mud on folks.

- Your mother would like
to see you, I expect,

chewing tobacco and
acting like trash.

- And my brother
would like to see you

hanging around old
yellow belly, here.

- Come on, Becky, let's go.

- Hey, what's your hurry, Tommy?

Have a cut of tobacco.

- No, thank you.

- Go ahead, come on, try it!

- I said, no thanks.

- Hey, look out, Paul.

He's turning pale.

I think he's liable
to throw up on you.

- No, now,

now he ain't pale.

No, that there is
his natural color.

Aint it, Tommy?

Yellow.

You know, you should naught
be out with Jimmy Joe's girl.

- Especially with him away,
defending the country and all.

- Jimmy Joe ain't got
nothing to worry about.

Look at him.

He ain't no man.

Come on!

- Just fight him down

and see what kind of
a man he really is.

- [Thug] Yeah,
let's depants him!

- [Paul] Come on, grab his
arm while I get his belt!

- Hold it, boys!

Knock it off!

Let him up!

What're you boys doing?
- This has got nothing to do

with you, Preacher.

[guy laughing]

- You know, foolishness is
bound in the heart of the child.

The rod of correction shall
drive it far from him.

[guy laughing]

- You use the good book
for your own purposes.

My pa says that.

Yeah, well I'll see
you in church preacher.

- Yeah, say a prayer
for us, preacher man!

- Yeah right.

You too, Mr. Yellow Belly!

- I'm awfully sorry
about that, Uncle Matt.

- Don't worry about it,
son, it's just horseplay.

Why don't you go on
upstairs and get cleaned up?

You don't wanna keep the
young lady waiting any longer.

These boys, they're
always in to something.

- So why does he take it?

- He's keeping a promise, Becky.

- Yeah, I know.

I just wish for once
he'd knock 'em flat!

- You know, his
father killed a man.

It was a fair fight.

The jury paid no
attention to that.

Being locked up that long,

I think that's what killed him.

Something like that could
change a boy's whole life.

- But it's not only tonight.

They're always picking on him.

- You know, a flock of crows
could take an eagle down.

Don't make the eagle any less.

He's had it pretty
tough, you know.

- Okay, Becky, I'm ready.

Uncle Matt, you wanna go
to the movies with us?

- No thanks, Tommy, you see,

I'm taking up a
collection upstairs

for the church robe fund.

- In the pool room?

- Seems like Brother Thomas
slept through my sermon

about the evils of gambling.

He's donated three
dollars already.

- Oh.
- You kids have a good time.

- Good night.
- Good night.

- Night.

- [Tommy] Oh.

- [Becky] You all right?

- [Tommy] Yeah, I just
clunked my head on the steps.

Look, we don't have
to go to the movies.

- [Becky] Come on,
Tommy, forget about them.

- Oh, it's not them,
I can take that.

It's...

It's me!

It's Uncle Matt
fighting my fights.

- Oh, Tommy.

- Sure am glad he showed
up when he did though.

[Tommy laughing]

- You know,

I really like you.

- Well, the whole town still
thinks you're Jimmy Joe's girl.

- I already told you, I'm not.

- Well,

it just doesn't feel right,

me being here with you while
Jimmy Joe is off in the army.

- Well it wouldn't have made
any difference if he was here

because I already told him.

Besides,

you can't live your life
to please other people.

[Tommy chuckling]

- That's easy for you to say.

- Come on.

I don't wanna miss the movie.

- [Tommy] Oh.

Two please.

[explosions rumbling]

[plane zooming]

- [Announcer] German bombs
fell across Europe this week

as Luftwaffe attacks
killed thousands.

[explosions rumbling]

Axis troops rolled into Russia

and crushed local resistance.

In France, the Fuührer's
troops goosestepped

along the Champs-EÉlysées

as thousands of French
patriots despaired.

[boat horn blowing]

German authorities in Paris
have announced five executions

and the deportation of 100
persons to Eastern Europe

because of bombings and
other underground assaults

on German troops.

[airplanes rumbling]

In Burma, American
and British flyers

scored their most
spectacular victory

when the broke up bombing
attacks on Rangoon

by down at least 10
Japanese raiders.

[airplanes buzzing]

[Matthew snoring]

[birds chirping]

[rooster crowing]

- Good morning, Matthew.

- Oh, Emma, I'd give
thanks to the Lord

everyday for a week if you'd
just make me a pot of coffee.

- Oh, is that right?

- I feel like I'm gonna die.

I'm afraid I won't.

- Well if you're
looking for sympathy,

you've come to the wrong place.

[truck door thudding]

- Oh, that's mighty nice of you.

Just what's got you in such

a bright and cheery
mood this morning?

- [Emma] Nothing!

- [Matthew] You're
burning about something.

I can smell the smoke
all the way over here.

- Doesn't do me a
darn bit of good

to fix a fine big supper

and then sit down
and eat it by myself.

You were gone all night.

- When I am a preachin',
it's my business.

You can't put a clock on it.

Folks out there
need ministering to.

- Oh, the whole county knows

about your all
night ministering.

Matthew, if you're
gonna expect people

to keep coming to
church on Sunday,

you best keep your ministering
confined to the needy.

- That's what I was doing.

Ministering to the needy.

- I just bet you were

and I bet she's just lying
there smiling this morning.

- Emma, sometimes you
act just like a wife.

Other times, dang, if
I don't think you might

like to take up preaching.

- Oh, listen to who's talking.

Matthew, when are you gonna
stop playing at preaching

and settle down?

- If you hadn't
married my brother,

I would've settled
down with you.

One other thing, Emma,

if it was me,

I'd either hang 'em
up or take 'em down.

I don't think I'd do both.

- Oh!

[door thudding]

[engine puttering]

[military drumming music]

- [Radio Announcer]
Dateline Washington.

A totally of one thousand 292
men of the Navy and Marin Corp

are being held prisoner
by the Japanese.

According to reliable sources,

Japan has launched heavy
air attacks against

the Allies' principle
naval base in Ghana.

26 Japanese bombers,
escorted by fighter planes,

bombed Malaya and it's
surrounding air vessels.

The communique says,

quote, heavy damage
has been inflicted.

[military drumming music]

President Roosevelt
announced today

that the Pacific War
Councils of the Allies

have established a combined
chiefs of staff of war.

[military drumming music]

In Libya, the Germans
continue their advances.

The situation on their
plans is uncertain.

[military drumming music]

On the Bataan Peninsula,

the Japanese have
mounted a mass assault

from the sea along
the west flank.

[military drumming music]

[dramatic music]

[saw buzzing]

[machinery clattering]

- Hey!

Hey, Tommy, take five!

[machinery powering down]

[distant steam hissing]

[machinery rattling]

[gears cranking]

[ominous music]

[machinery rattling]

- Hey, Charlie!

Is Tommy still working with you?

- Yeah, he's still
up top, Matthew.

[machinery buzzing]

[ominous music]

- Hey, Tommy!

Tommy!

[saw buzzing]

[machinery rumbling]

Get down from there!

What the heck are you doing?

What's wrong with you anyway?

- [Tommy] I'm all right,
Uncle Matt, I'm all right!

- All right?

I don't call falling asleep

on dangerous
equipment all right!

- [Tommy] Oh, come on!

- Come on, Tommy, you damn
near got debarked up there!

- Would you stop making
such a raucous about it?

I need this job!

- You got your job!

You're gonna work
with me on the fields.

- What're you talking about?

- David Willis
enlisted yesterday

and I need someone to help me!

You get in the truck,

I'll show you what
hard work's all about!

[saw whooshing]

[horse huffing]

- Enough, boy.

Get out of there!

You keep up with me!

[axes clanking]

[saw whooshing]

- There she goes.

[tree crackling]

- Timber!

Look out, boys, here it comes!

[tree rumbling]

[horse neighing]

[men chattering]

How's he doing, Lem?

- He ain't cut nothing
but wood so far.

As far as work,
don't show me spit.

- Well, what's your
version of the story?

- Well, I'm staying awake.

Haven't cut off any toes yet.

- Never got this much
work out of Lem Gatlin.

He's trying to run you
in the ground, you know?

[Tommy laughing]

- I think he's doing
a pretty good job.

- You know, Tommy, you
don't have to take this.

Not from the old man,
the boys, any of them.

- Oh, it's all
right, Uncle Matt.

- Even a man of God like myself

loses his patience
every now and then.

- I'm okay.

- You know, man's
only got two cheeks.

He don't say what
to do after that.

I'd think about that.

- I am thinking about it.

[birds chirping]

[cathedral bell ringing]

- Well he has to go on Friday.

- Gosh, that's a short visit.

- I know.

- Hey, Tommy, how're you doing?

- Hi, Ralph.

- You remember my
sister, Joanne.

- Oh sure, how're
you doing, Joanne?

- Hello.

- Ralph's invited us all to
the Daniel Boone for lunch.

- Oh, I don't think so.

I got a lot of work to
do back at the house.

But you go, Becky!

- Please come, Tommy.

Take at least one day off.

- Well, you know I can't.

Sunday's the only day I get
some work done around the farm.

- Every been to
the Daniel Boone?

It's very nice.

- No, I haven't.

- Well,

if he doesn't want to go.

- Hey, Tommy, if it's the
money, don't worry about it.

My treat.

- No, it's not that, it's...

I really do have a lot of
work to do around the house.

But you guys go and
have a good time.

And thank you, thank you.

- Okay.

Becky, see you later.

- Let's go.

[birds chirping]

- Here we go.

I wish you'd change your mind.

- Thanks anyway, Ralph.

Maybe some other time.

- You name it.

- Thanks.

- Hi, Mrs. Spencer.

- Hi, Becky.

Ralph.

Tommy said you were going
on down to the Daniel Boone

with the rest of them.

- Well, I decided not to go.

Where is Tommy?

- He's out and back
there wrestling with

that big old tree stump again.

You go on back.

Here, let me take your coat.

- Thank you.

- Isn't that pretty?

He's gonna be glad to see you.

- Me too.

- Oh.

Becky, oh...

[Becky laughing]
[mud splashing]

[Becky laughing]

I thought you were going
to the Daniel Boone.

- Changed my mind.

I wanted to be with you.

- Oh.

Really?

[water sloshing]

All right.

Come here.

- You wouldn't...

You wouldn't dare.

- I would!
[Becky yelping]

I'm gonna get you, Becky!

- [Becky] Come on, you're slow!

[pleasant music]

- [Tommy] Why you
running away, Becky?

[Becky laughing]

- [Becky] Come on!

- Come on, Becky, just one kiss!

[Becky laughing]

- [Becky] Oh!

- I'm gonna get you, Becky!

Gotcha!

[pleasant music]

[Tommy chuckling]

[faint radio chattering]

- How's your mom, Tommy?

- Just fine, Mr. Adams.

- And your Uncle Matthew?

- Same as always.

[Tommy chuckling]

- He sure does sell that
fire and brimstone, don't he?

- Hey, the Second
Corp is in Africa.

Isn't that where Jimmy and the
boys are headed after basic?

- Yep.

They'll get to come home
once before they go overseas.

How're things going
out at the mill, Tommy?

- Just fine.

- Hello there, Jess!

- [Jess] How're you
doing, Mr. Fouche.

- [Fouche] How you doing, boy?

- [Jess] Good to see you, sir.

- [Fouche] Good to see you too.

- How you doing, Jess?

Good to see you, boy.
- Fine, Mr. Adams.

Great to see you, sir.

- You're looking good.

- [Jess] Thank you,
it's been quite awhile.

- Come right on over
here and have a seat.

- No, I just came
by to say hello.

Seeing as the army's already
given me a pretty good haircut.

- Now listen, we've
been taking care of you

since you were two years old.

We'll tell you when
you need a haircut.

You sit down right there.

Besides,

it's free to any
man in the service.

- Thank you, Mr. Adams,
I appreciate that.

How're you doing, Tommy?

- Hiya, Jess.

- That'll be 50 cents, Tommy.

- Yes, sir.

- [Fouche] Hey, Jess,
didn't I hear your pa say

you're going overseas soon?

- Yes, I'm going in
a couple of weeks.

- [Fouche] Yeah, I thought so.

- Jess, it's really
good to see you, boy.

- [Fouche] We're proud of you.

- [Adams] We really are.

- [Fouche] Looking
good, isn't he?

- How about that hair?

[men laughing]

[tower bell ringing]

[engine rumbling]

[hammer thudding]

[hammer thudding]

[engine rumbling]

- Hey, there goes Tommy Spencer!

- Yeah, Tommy Spencer!

- Come on, let's go!

[guys laughing]

- Hey, wait for me, you guys!

[upbeat music]

[engine rumbling]

Come on, wait a minute!

[tires screeching]

[upbeat guitar music]

[guys shouting]

[thug banging]

[metal clattering]

[tires screeching]

[exciting music]

- Hey, commie boy!

[bullies laughing]

[metal clattering]

[bully laughing]

[tires screeching]

[truck whooshing]

[crows cawing]

[birds chirping]

- Tommy, what the hell are you
doing out here anyway, boy?

- I had a little accident.

- Mama fretting over you,
you're working too hard,

you ain't eating right and...

look at this mess.

- Well,

you tell her not to fret.

I'll be home in a little while.

- I ain't gonna drive
off and leave you, son.

- Oh,

don't do that.

What're you doing?

- Working.

Work is supposed to be
good for a man's soul.

Of course, if that was the case,

yours would be as
big as all outdoors.

- Well, I get a lot of thinking
done while I'm working.

- Thinking, huh?

- Yep.

- Mr. Webster was about
the most powerful man

I ever knew for thinking.

Car-Wash, he said,

thinking is just
about the finest thing

that a man can do.

[Tommy chuckling]

- Mr. Webster, huh?

- Mr. Daniel Webster, of course.

He wrote right in
his dictionary,

"Worrying is about as
useful as hitching up

"a 20 mule team to
pull down a mountain."

- Well, I thought
you was gonna help me

pick up this number, huh?

- Yeah.

[Car-Wash chuckling]

- [Woman] Hi, Tommy,
how's your mother?

- Fine, Mrs. Worthington.

- Hey there, Tommy boy.

Heard you finally signed up.

- What're you talking about?

- Paul said your name's going
up on the volunteer roster.

In fact, he's putting it
there himself right now.

- What the heck you
think you're doing?

- Hey, hold on, Tommy!

There's nothing to
get excited about.

We just wanted the town to know

how we really feel about you.

[paint splashing]
[Paul laughing]

No doubt about it,

that there's your color.

- [Bully] It sure fits him!

[bully laughing]

- Come on, Paul!

[horn honking]
[tire screeching]

Watch out now, Paul!

He's gonna get you,
he's coming up colorful!

Come on, colorful, come on!

[bully shouting]

- Let go of me!

[ominous tempo music]

[Paul huffing]

Come here!

[Tommy huffing]

You're not worth it.

[dramatic music]

I don't think I can
take it anymore, Mama.

Move, cow.

[cow mooing]

- Paul Gatlin and his buddies,

you can't let them
get to you, Tommy.

- It's not just them, Mama!

It's everybody in this town!

The way they look at me
and the things they say.

And it's getting to Becky too.

Of course she doesn't
say anything, like
you, she wouldn't.

[Tommy sighing]

It'd be easier going to war.

- Now, Tommy, listen to me.

You can't just go against
your own feelings.

Now if you make a decision,

it's gotta be for
your own reasons,

not because you're being
pressured by some folks.

- But maybe they're right, Mama.

[cow mooing]

- Well I don't want you
doing something foolish

like your daddy did.

- I gotta go.

- You go on now, I'll finish up.

- Tommy!

See you next week.

I'm on my way to Logan
County for the revival.

It's gonna be a good one.

- Matthew,

Tommy's talking about enlisting.

[engine rumbling]

- You know, I'm not
sure he shouldn't.

- What're you talking about?

I need that boy here!

I need him on this farm!

- You know and I know
that's not the reason.

He is a grown man.

Don't you feel what
he's going through?

- Matthew, I'm asking you
to help me keep him home.

- So what you want me to do

is ask this boy to do
something he knows is wrong.

- Yes!

Yes, that is exactly
what I want you to do.

And you're right, Matthew.

This doesn't have anything
to do with the farm.

I'm scared.

I'm frightened to death.

I listen to that radio every day

and I hear about
boys dying over there

and I don't want
that child to die.

- I don't want him
to die either, Emma.

We gotta have faith in the Lord.

- The Lord?

[Emma laughing]

The Lord, oh!

It sure is easy
for you, Matthew.

If something gets too tough
or you don't have the answer,

you just dump it
off on the Lord.

When you gonna stop
hiding behind Him?

You see, I'm calling
on you, Matthew.

I'm not calling on the Lord.

- And I'm gonna be
right here to help you.

Just not today.

I've got folks waiting on me

and I've gotta go.

He ain't gonna do
nothing till I get back.

- [Woman On Radio]
I'm sorry, Herman.

You see, there's a
big, big war going on.

[faint radio program chattering]

- Mmmm.

Delicious.

Did you make these?

- With my own little hands.

[Becky laughing]

Gracie Allen, I just love her.

She really tickles
my funny bone.

- Funny bone?

[Becky giggling]
- Yeah.

- Nobody really
has a funny bone.

- Oh yeah?

- Oh, Becky!
[Becky giggling]

Becky, don't, please.
- I didn't know you

were ticklish.
- Stop, Becky!

[Tommy laughing]

- I knew I could
get you to laugh!

- Oh, Becky, the news is on.

- Come on.
- Let's listen

to the news, okay?
- You haven't laughed

in a long time.
- Becky, please.

- Come on!

- I said, knock it off!

- [Radio Announcer]
Over one thousnad 292

dead or are missing.
- Sorry, Tommy.

- [Radio Announcer] While
American troops face

overwhelming odds
on the far east.

- I didn't mean to get
you upset or anything.

- [Radio Announcer] Meantime,
in the South Pacific,

the Japanese advance down
the peninsula of Bataan

and had laid siege on
the island of Corregidor.

American loses are
reported heavy.

And on the home front,

100 thousand volunteered
to join the Navy

since December 7th--

- I gotta go, okay?

- [Radio Announcer]
We'll have more news

at our regular time.

And now back--
- Tommy!

[upbeat radio jazz music]

[people chattering]

[upbeat jazz music]

- You want a cold one, Tommy?

- Oh, no thanks, George,

but I do need change for
the telephone, please.

How much do you think it'll
cost me to call Logan County?

- Oh, let's see, 60
miles, 45 cents, okay.

- Logan County?

They don't have no pretty
girls in Logan County.

- Is that a fact?

- Mm-hmm.

Give us two beers, Georgie pie.

- He don't want none.

Tommy said he don't want none.

- Put your teeth in, George,

I cannot understand a
word you are saying.

Two beers, I said.

- I've got a phone
call to make, Violet.

- You know, Tommy,

I never thought you
were a dull boy.

You sure are all
work and no play.

- Well, I wish I could
stay Violet but I can't.

- That'll be 20 cents.

- Tommy doesn't have to
spend his hard-earned money.

Put it on our bill.

- Does your date like you
buying beer for other guys?

- You know Ralph.

He won't mind.

[Tommy chuckling]

Come on.

Just one little sip.

It'll start your feet moving.

- I'll tell you what, Violet,

you let me make my phone call

and I'll come back right away
and have that beer with you.

- Come right back.

- Promise.

- Okay.

I never knew you to
tell a lie, Tommy.

[people chattering]

- Hello?

- [Tommy On Phone] Hello,
Uncle Matt, it's Tommy.

- Tommy, are you okay?

- I'm fine.

- [Matthew On Phone]
Is Emma all right?

- Yeah, she's all right.

Listen, Uncle Matt, I
need to talk to you.

I'm thinking about enlisting.

- Enlisting, now Tommy,

your mother and I
have discussed this.

If you wait till I get home,

we'll all sit down
and talk about it.

- [Tommy On Phone] I need to
talk to you now, Uncle Matt.

- I'm sorry, Tommy,
what'd you say?

- I told you, I'm
thinking about signing up.

- You can't just up
and do that, boy.

Wait till I get back.

- [Tommy On Phone] Well
when's that gonna be?

- Now, Tommy, the war's not
gonna be over in a week.

I'll be home in a few days.

Where are you calling from?

- I stopped by the Blue
Room to use the television.

- That's good.

You know, Tommy,
there's an old saying,

give wine onto those
that be of heavy heart.

They've got beer
at the Blue Room.

It's about the same thing.

Gladden your heart
with beer, my boy.

It'll make you feel better.

- Uncle Matt, that's
not going to help.

What kind of preacher
are you anyway?

Sunday sermon's
all you're good for

because that's just talk.

Gladden your heart.

Just wish my pa was still alive.

- Tommy.

- I wish to God he was.

He'd be here!

- Tommy?

[people chattering]

[faint beat music]

- Gladden your heart, Violet.

[Tommy sighing]

Gladden your heart.

[somber piano music]

- Did I hear you say
something about giving wine?

Sounds like you're having
a pretty tough time.

- On the phone?

That's my nephew.

He's having a tough time.

- Well,

if you need someone to talk to.

- You know, I'm just
not sure talking

would solve a thing though.

- Well maybe it's
not talking you need.

- My God, my God.

Why has thou forsaken me?

Why art thou so far
from helping me?

- You sound like a preacher.

- It's because I am a preacher.

- Well, I suppose a preacher
has feelings and needs

like any man.

- Not a good preacher.

And you know,

that might be just what my
nephew was trying to tell me.

- Ralph's gonna be okay.

Car-Wash will take him
upstairs to go to bed.

- Good.

Now, come on, get going,
get away from here.

- What're you doing?

- If his mother saw me out here.

- Oh.

Ralph's mother is
a very nice lady.

- I'm just afraid we'll
wake up the whole house.

- Oh.

- Now, come on, let's go.

- Where?

- Well we could go
back to the Blue Room

and pick up some beer.

- Oh.

Give wine onto those
with a heavy heart

and gladden your heart.

- Huh?
[Tommy laughing]

- Oh, nevermind.

Oop.

Here we go.

[Tommy chuckling]

Uncle Matthew has
a forgetful nature.

God bless him.

[Violet chuckling]

- Tommy, you are changing
right before my very eyes.

- Oh.

How beautiful are
thy feet with shoes.

Oh prince's daughter.

[Violet and Tommy giggling]

- What?

- And the joints of thy
thighs are like jewels

that are the work of the
hands of a cunning workman.

- I don't understand
a word you're saying

but I sure am
beginning to love it.

- It's the Bible.

- That's the Bible?

- Mm-hmm.

"The Song of Solomon."

Uncle Matthew is always
quoting the Bible.

Let her breasts satisfy
thee at all times

and be thou ravished
always with her love.

[Violet chuckling]

- No wonder your Uncle
Matthew's in such demand.

- Hmm?

- With ammunition like that.

[Violet moaning]

- [Matthew] Tommy.

- Uncle Matt.

What're you doing here?

You're not supposed to
be back till next week.

- You know, Tommy, a lot of
things between me and you

haven't been right lately.

This old stump's one of them.

What do you say we get rid
of it once and for all?

- Okay.

Real glad you're
back, Uncle Matt.

And what I said on the
telephone, I'm sorry.

- Never need to apologize
when you're telling the truth.

You know, you're right.

I've been laying things
on the Lord way too long.

I've been getting the feeling

He was getting a
little tired of it too.

You know, Tommy, if
you were to enlist,

Emma and I can take care
of this place just fine.

- What about the
promise I made my pa?

- Well, there's a difference
between a barroom brawl

and defending your country.

I think your pa
would understand.

What about you and Becky?

- Oh, well...

I'd like to marry her.

But...

I've been acting
pretty stupid lately.

- Well, Becky's a fine girl.

Man's lucky to love one
good woman in his life.

Especially one that
loves him back.

To have somebody
that cares about you

is the most important
thing in the world.

If you wanna marry her,

sooner or later you're
gonna have to ask her.

- I will.

I will.
[wick sizzling]

- You will if we hurry.

- Yep.

[explosions booming]

- Yeehaw!

[Tommy and Matthew laughing]

Why, we made toothpicks out
of that tree, didn't we?

Let's go see it.

- [Tommy] Your hat.

- Oh, leave it, let's go!

Yeehaw!

[exciting marching band music]

[crowd cheering]

- Hey, there's Becky.

Wait a minute, Pa.

Be back in a minute.

[exciting marching band music]

[crowd cheering]

Hey, Becky, hey!

Hi.

- Hi.

- Well don't I
even get a welcome?

- Looks like the whole town's

giving you a pretty big
welcome, don't you think?

- You didn't write.

No picture neither.

- Jimmy, I thought we settled
all that before you left.

- Yeah but I was hoping
maybe you changed your mind.

- Jimmy, I'm getting married.

To Tommy Spencer.

[upbeat marching band music]

♪ When my eyes are
closed in death ♪

♪ When I rise to
worlds unknown ♪

♪ And behold Thee
on Thy throne ♪

♪ Rock of Ages, cleft for me

♪ Let me hide

♪ Myself in Thee

- Amen.

- Wednesday night,

when I was preparing my
text for today's sermon,

I decided on the
10 Commandments.

And the more I thought
about the 10 Commandments

the more it reminded
me of a story I heard.

Preacher came to
church one Sunday

and the old deacon said to him,

Preacher, what're you
preaching on today?

The preacher said, you
know, Deacon, I don't know.

I had a sermon all prepared.

I got up this morning and
someone had stolen my bicycle.

And I was so upset,

he told me I forgot what
I was gonna preach about.

The old deacon says, you know,

if I think if it
was me, Preacher,

I'd get out there and I'd
preach on the 10 Commandments.

And when I got to thou shalt
not steal, I'd lay it down

and I'll tell you one thing,

whoever stole your bicycle

the Lord's gonna make
them feel guilty,

they're gonna bring
that bicycle back.

So preacher got up
there and preached

one of the best sermons he's
ever preached in his life.

When it was over, he came up
to the old deacon and said,

Preacher, mighty good
sermon, very inspiring.

I gotta tell you, I was
a little disappointed.

When you got to thou
shalt not steal,

I expected to hear
you really hit it.

I didn't notice any difference.

Preacher says, you know, Deacon,

I got to thou shalt
not commit adultery

and remembered where
I left my bicycle.

[congregation laughing]

That's a funny story
and I know that

but, you know, sometimes

funny stories have a
way of hitting home

and that one hits way
too close to home for me.

The 10 Commandments
are for everybody,

even preachers.

There's another
commandment that says

something to the fact
that thou shalt not lie.

And I've done that,
I've lied to you people.

I've lie to the people
who've care the most about me

and I've lied to myself.

Now some of you may have
seen me out drinking,

seen me in places I
shouldn't have been

with people I should've
never been with

and there's no excuse for that.

So until I can straighten
out some things in my life

and get right with God,

I can't be the minister
of your church anymore.

I'm truly sorry.

[congregation murmuring]

[birds chirping]

[somber piano music]

- Where do you figure they'll
be sending you, Jimmy Joe?

The Pacific, I bet.

They say them Japs is all
over their mileage down there.

- By the time you get finished

there ain't gonna be none left.

- Hey, it ain't gonna take me
as long as it took you two.

I went up and volunteered
with the Marines.

- Hey!

Little brother's a gyrene.

You hear that, Jimmy Joe?

- Hey, Marine green.

Yeehaw!

- Woo!

[Luke burping]

[Paul laughing]

- Three more days.

- Three more days?

No, we got another week.

- Yeah.

- Three days, she's
getting married.

- Well you don't care
nothing about that.

- She ain't worth
worrying about.

- He just stays here.

I mean, how'd she take up
with him to begin with?

I'm off fighting and
he just stays here!

- Will you forget it?

- Hey, George, three
more beers, huh?

- It ain't worth
thinking about, Jimmy.

- Becky was my girl.

Now come Sunday
she's marrying him.

Let's get out of here.

- Hey, where we
going, Jimmy Joe, huh?

- I'm going to take
back what's mine.

[engine rumbling]

[tires screeching]

[ominous music]

[door thudding]

- Mama?

I'm up here.

Daddy?

Is that you?

I didn't hear the car.

[eerie music]

Jimmy Joe.

What're you doing here?

- I come a calling, Becky.

- Jimmy Joe, please leave.

- It was supposed
to be you and me.

Well now it's gonna
be you and me.

- Get out of my house!

Get out of my house!

- We'll see if he
wants you then.

- Joe, please leave!

Go, just leave!

No!

No!

No!

[Becky crying]

God, no!

[sinister music]

Please, leave me alone!

Please, leave!

[Becky crying]

[cloth tearing]

- [Jimmy] Shut up!
[Jimmy slapping]

[Becky crying]

[sinister music]

- Woo!
- Yahoo!

Come on in here, buddy!

[upbeat jazz music]

[people chattering]

- Listen, Joanne,

you gonna give me a little
something to fight for?

A little something
to remember you by?

Good evening, Preacher.

- How's the army
treating you, Jimmy Joe?

- Fine, just fine.

- [Man] See you later, Matthew.

- Well, you knew I always
liked you, Jimmy Joe.

- Is that a fact?

- Uh-huh.

- How about a bottle
of beer, George?

[people chattering]

[upbeat jazz music]

- Hi, Tommy, where you been?

- Let's go outside, Gatlin!

- But what do I wanna go
out in the cold for, Tommy,

when I got me a nice
warm girl, right here?

- Go away, Tommy, we're
enjoying ourselves.

- Yeah, get out of here, get!

Go on!

Come on, go on!

[people giggling]

[upbeat jazz music]

Get going, yellow.

[Jimmy Joe laughing]

[Joanne laughing]

Come on, Joanne, do your thing.

Go on, yellow!

- Hey, commie!

Yellow-belly!

[thugs laughing]

[door clicking]

[crowd silencing]

- Get him, Tommy!

Hit his jaw!
[punch thudding]

[crowd shouting]

[jukebox crunching]

[exciting jazz music]

[glass shattering]

- Get him, Jimmy Joe!

Get him!

[chair clattering]

[punch thudding]

- Come on, boys, get
up, he ain't hurt.

Get up, he ain't hurt.

[punch thudding]

- Oh, no, hold it, boy.

It's not you I
want, it's your pa!

[Gatlin boy grunting]

[punch thudding]

[Lem laughing]

[punch thudding]

- Hit him again!

[crowd shouting]

- That ain't bad
for a preacher man.

- I'm no preacher,
haven't you heard?

[punch thudding]

[piano keys banging]

[crowd shouting]

[piano rumbling]
[glass shattering]

- Come on, Pa!

Get him!
[boys cheering]

[wood clattering]

[upbeat jazz music]
[punches thudding]

[people shouting]

[punch thudding]

[wood banging]

[glass shattering]

[glass shattering]

[punches thudding]

[crowd shouting]

[punch thudding]

[crowd cheering]

- Come on, Lem, eat him alive!

You got him right
where you want!

- Doing fine, Lem.

[punch thudding]

[bells ringing]

[punches thudding]

- Get off!

- Watch it now.

I got him.

[heads thudding]

[crowd shouting]

[punches thudding]

[punch thudding]

[door clattering]

[crowd cheering]

Let's go home.

[people muttering]

[leaves crunching]

- Glad you felt up
for taking a walk.

It's a real pretty day.

- [Becky] Mm-hmm.

- You're looking pretty too.

- Do I still look pretty to you?

- You look beautiful.

You'll always look
beautiful to me.

[somber piano music]

Becky,

it's an unfortunate
thing what happened

but it didn't just
happen to you alone.

It happened to both of us.

- Tommy, it felt so
awful, I'm so ashamed.

- Becky,

we're gonna get married.

Nothing's changed.

I'm still who I am and
you're still who you are

and I love you, Becky.

More everyday.

- I love you too.

[pleasant music]

- [Tommy] It's all right now.

It's all right.

- You want to enlist, don't you?

- Yes.

Because I have so much here to
stand up for and to protect.

And I feel I ought to.

But, Becky, you, you're
the most important thing

in the world to me,

so if you need me here.

- I want you to do
what you have to do.

You go on.

I'll be here

and I'll make us a home
worth fighting for.

And after you get back from
basic, then we'll get married.

[pleasant music]

- I'll have leave
in a few weeks.

- [Becky] Okay.

- And I can wear my uniform
when we get married.

- [Becky] Okay.
[Becky laughing]

- [Tommy] We may not
have much of a honeymoon.

I might have to leave
right after the wedding.

- [Matthew] Emma!

- Out here!

Did you hear anything
about the jury?

- Sure did.

Will be a long time
before this town

has to worry about
the Gatlin boys again.

- Ah.

- Only took 30 minutes to
convict all three of them.

- Oh, I wonder if Becky knows.

- Yeah, I went by and told
her on the way over here.

She looks good, Emma.

She's got fire in
her eyes again.

You know, she says Tommy writes
her regularly from bootcamp.

- Oh, I'm glad that's behind us.

How're you feeling?

- I'm okay.

Feel a little awkward
sometimes, you know,

without my ministering.

I did it for so long.

But I'm okay.

[child laughing]

- You look beautiful.

- Were you this nervous
on your wedding day?

- Oh, yes.

Every bride is.

- I feel so grown
up, like a woman.

- I always kinda hoped

that you and Tommy
would get together.

I'm so happy to have
you as a daughter.

- Oh, thank you.

- Careful now.

- [Becky] Oh, sorry.

- Your mama and I are
just about to be seated

but I just had to
take a look at you

before your daddy came in.

- Is Tommy here yet?

- Don't worry, Matthew's
gonna pick him up

just as soon as the bus gets in.

- I'm so glad they let us get
married before he ships out.

- A few hours isn't much
time for a bride and groom.

- I know.

But it's enough for now.

- I better get out there.

Good luck.

- Thank you.

[pleasant organ music]

[crowd cheering]

- Thanks for coming.

Mr. Wagner.

- Good luck to you.

- Beautiful!
- Take care of her.

- I will.

I'll take care of
her even better.

[engine rumbling]

[horn honking]

Mama.

Take care of yourself,
I'll be back.

[Emma mumbling]
Okay, okay.

I love you, Becky.

- [Emma] Aw!
[crowd clapping]

- I'll write you all the time.

- I'm proud of you, Tommy.

- Thank you, sir.

Take care of Becky for me.

- Of course I will.

It's the least I can do.

I haven't been much
of an uncle to you.

- No, sir, you haven't.

You've been more like a father.

- Thank you.

- I love you, Becky.

[crowd cheering]

[engine rumbling]

- Give 'em hell, son.

[Emma whispering]

- Matthew,

the deacons say that the church

just isn't the same without you.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

[crowd cheering]

["Coward of the County"
by Kenny Rogers]

♪ 20 years of crawling

♪ Was bottled up inside him

♪ He wasn't holding
nothin' back ♪

♪ He let 'em have it all

♪ When Tommy left the barroom

♪ Not a Gatlin
boy was standing ♪

♪ He said, this
one's for Becky ♪

♪ As he watched
the last one fall ♪

♪ And I heard him say

♪ I promised you, Dad,

♪ Not to do the
things you've done ♪

♪ I walk away from
trouble when I can ♪

♪ Now please don't
think I'm weak ♪

♪ I didn't turn
the other cheek ♪

♪ And Papa, I sure
hope you understand ♪

♪ Sometimes you gotta
fight when you're a man ♪

♪ Everyone considered him
the coward of the county ♪