Home Fires Burning (1989) - full transcript

[gentle piano]

[uplifting music]

♪

- I WISH THEY
WOULDN'T FLY SO LOW.

- PROBABLY LOOKING FOR GIRLS.

YOU SUNBATHE IN THE BACKYARD,
MY BEAUTY,

YOU'LL ATTRACT
A WHOLE FLIGHT'EM.

- HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?

YOU'VE NEVER SEEN ME SUNBATHE.

- MAN, I GOT
VIVID IMAGINATION.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME
SUCH A GOOD NEWSPAPERMAN.



- I WONDER WHO HE IS.

PROBABLY SOME BOY FAR AWAY
FROM HOME.

- AHH, SOME YOUNG BOY,
THAT'S FOR SURE.

WARS ARE MADE BY MEN TOO OLD AND
FAT TO FIGHT AND FOUGHT BY KIDS

TO YOUNG TO KNOW BETTER.

- WHERE'D YOU HEAR THAT?

- I JUST MADE IT UP.

I THINK I'LL USE IT IN MY
NEWSPAPER COLUMN NEXT WEEK.

- YOU'LL JUST MAKE PEOPLE MAD.

- WELL, THAT'S WHAT PAPERS
ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

- JAKE, WERE YOU CANTANKEROUS
BEFORE YOU BECAME

A NEWSPAPER MAN, OR DID
THE PAPER MAKE YOU THAT WAY?

- NO, I WAS BORN WITH IT, MY
BEAUTY, RUNS IN THE FAMILY.

THE WHOLE TIBBETTS BUNCH



THAT'S WHY WE ARE
ALL NEWSPAPER MEN.

NOW WHERE'S LONNIE?

WE GOTTA GET TO TOWN.
MORNING'S WASTING.

- PROBABLY OFF YONDER
IN THE WOODS

PLAYING WHATEVER IT IS
HE PLAYS.

YOU CAN TELL HE'S YOUR GRANDSON.

- AH.
CANTANKEROUS, HUH?

- NO, OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION.

- LONNIE!
LONNIE!

YOU COME TO TOWN WITH ME, BOY,
YOU BETTER GET A MOVE ON.

LONNIE!
LONNIE!

AND WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING IN
THERE?

PLAYING IN MY HIDEOUT.

- WHAT YOU GOT BEHIND YOUR BACK

GOOD GRIEF,THAT'S NOT A TOY, BOY.

YOU CAN CUT OFF A LEG WITH THAT.

- I'VE BEEN REAL CAREFUL
WITH IT, DADDY JAKE.

I WOULDN'T SCRATCH IT UP
FOR NOTHIN'.

- YOUR GREAT-GREAT-GRANDDADDY,
CAPTAIN FINLEY TIBBETTS CARRIED

THIS SWORD AT GETTYSBURG.

HE RODE RIGHT UP CEMETARY RIDGE

AND CUT OLD GENERAL
ULYSSES S. GRANT'S HEAD.

- YOU'RE LYING.
YOUR EAR'S TWITCHIN'.

- UH YOU CUT ME TO THE QUICK,
BOY.

QUESTIONIN' THE FAMILY HONOR

HERE. TAKE THAT BACK.PUT IT IN
THE HOUSE.

- GIVE IT TO ME.
I WILL PUT IT BACK.

DID YOU MAKE YOUR BED
THIS MORNING?

- YES'M.

- I CAN'T IMAGINE
WHY ANYBODY IN HIS RIGHT MIND

WOULD WANNA KEEP
A SWORD IN A HOUSE

WHERE A SMALL BOY
COULD GET TO IT.

ALL THE TIME YOUR
FATHER WAS GROWING UP, HE
WASN'T ALLOWED TO TOUCH IT.

- ALL RIGHT, ALLIGHT.
WE HAVEN'T GOT ALL DAY.

I'LL WAIT FOR YOU OUT FRONT.

- WHY DON'T DADDY JAKE EVER TALK
ABOUT MY DADDY?

- WELL, THAT'SA LONG STORY, HONEY.

- LONNIE!

- GO ON
BEFORE HE BUSTS A GUSSET.

[bell tolling]

- WHY HAVEN'T YOU EVER BOUGHT
A CAR DADDY JAKE?

BECAUSE I GOT TWO GOOD LEGS.

- BUT IF YOU HAD A CAR,
YOU COULD GET TO TOWN QUICKER,

AND MAMA PASTINE WOULDN'T HAVE
TO TOW THE GROCERIES HOME

- AND IF A FROG STRAPPED ON A
FIRECRACKER,

HE COULD JUMP FARTHER.

WOULDN'T DO THE FROG
MUCH GOOD THOUGH.

AN OLD MAN NEEDS HIS EXERCISE.

- OH, YOU AIN'T OLD, DADDY JAKE.

- I'M GAINING ON IT.

- NOW DON'T YOU GO TELLIN'
EVERYBODY

THAT TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY.

- LOOKS LIKE MR. BRUNSON'S
FRYING HIS EGG.

- BISCUIT'S BEEN FRYING AN EGG

ON THE SIDEWALK EVERY SUMMER

ABOUT THIS TIME SINCE AS LONG
AS I CAN REMEMBER.

IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITING
THING

THAT'LL HAPPEN AROUND HERE
ALL WEEK.

I'LL TAKE MINE SCRAMBLED

-HEY WHY DON'T YOU GO TO THE
NEWSPAPER AND GET YOUR CAMERA

- AH, PLENTY OF TIME
FOR THAT, BISCUIT.

LAST YEAR THE EGG
STILL HADN'T FRIED BY SUNDOWN.

BIG OLD DOG COME ALONG
AND LICKED IT UP.

NOT HOT ENOUGH YET.

- WELL, IT'S HOT ENOUGH
TO FRY A FAT MAN.

HEY, LONNIE, LET'S GO HAVE
SOME COFFEE, VICTORY DONUT.

HUH?
- YES, SIR, GRANDDADDY ROSH.

- COME ON.

- IT WAS A GOOD SPEECH
YOU GAVE YESTERDAY.

- LONNIE, THAT MUST'VE BEEN
A RED-LETTER DAY TO YOU.

YOU GOT TO SIT THERE AND SEE
YOUR GRANDFATHER, THE MAYOR,

DELIVER THE FOURTH OF JULY
SPEECH AND WATCH

YOUR GRANDFATHER, THE EDITOR,
TAKE A NAP IN THE AUDIENCE.

- YEAH.
I'M JUST GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT.

YEAH, LAST YEAR HE WAS LAID UP
WITH A BROKEN LEG AFTER HE FELL

OFF HIS TOOL SHED ROOF WHILE
LOOKING FOR ENEMY AIRCRAFT.

- NO, THAT--THAT WAS BEFORE.

- I REMEMBER THE HEADLINE
IN THE FREE PRESS-

AIR RAID WARDEN CRASHES,
TOWN SURVIVES.

[laughter]

- JAKE, YOU'VE BEEN TRYINGTO MAKE ME A LAUGHINGSTOCK

EVER SINCE I TOOK THE AIR-RAID
WARDEN'S JOB BACK IN 1941.

AND I THINK
IT'S SERIOUS BUSINESS.

- IT AIN'T DIGNIFIED
FOR A BANKER TO BE CRAWLING
AROUND ON TOP OF HIS TOOL SHED

BESIDES, YOU'RE TO OLD FOR THAT
BUSINESS JUST LIKE I'M TOO OLD

TO BE CRAWLING AROUND
UNDER FOLKS' WORE-OUT CARS

TRYING TO KEEP THEM RUNNING.

- OLD?
YOU AIN'T OLD, FOG.

- OF COURSE I AM.

GETTING OLD.
YOU'RE GETTING OLD.

EVERYBODY HERE IS JUST ABOUT
WORE OUT LIKE AN AUTOMOBILE.

- DADDY JAKE'S GONNA BE 64
TOMORROW.

- SEE WHAT I MEAN?
WE'RE ALL GOING TO SIEGE.

JAKE'S BOY HENRY WILL BE PUTTING
OUT THE NEWSPAPER.

- I HOPE THE U.S. ARMY HAS DONE
SOMETHING WITH HENRY,

'CAUSE I NEVER COULD.

[airplane approaching]

[airplane very close]

[gun shot]

[window crash]

- LOOK AT THAT WINDOW.

- THEY'VE SHOT OUT MY WINDOW.

[gunshots]

[ricochet]

- STOP IT, HILTON.
YOU'RE GONNA KILL US ALL.

- LONNIE!

- IT'S AN AIR ATTACK.

FOG, COME ON, WE GOTTA GO GET
THE FIRE TRUCK.

- IT AIN'T AN ATTACK.
IT'S ONE OF OURS.

- LOOK HERE,
IT'S A BULLET HOLE.

OLLIE, THEY SHOOTING
AT THE CAFE!

[car horn honks]

- HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON
OUT THERE?

I CAN'T MAKE ANY CONNECTIONS
WITH ALL THAT RACKET.

- IT'S AN AIR ATTACK, EM.

TURN THE SIREN ON
OVER AT THE FIRE STATION.

- AN AIR RAID, FOLKS.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PLANES
THERE WERE, BUT THEY SEEM

TO HAVE DONE SOME DAMAGE
TO BRUNSON'S CAFE.

THIS NEWS BULLETIN BY THE WAY
IS BROUGHT TO YOU

BY REDLINGER'S
FUNERAL HOME.

- YOU ALL RIGHT?
- OF COURSE I AM.

IT'S ONE OF OURS.

IT'S A STEARMAN PT-17,
A TRAINING PLANE.

DON'T EVEN HAVE GUNS ON IT.
- ARE YOU SURE?

- YEAH, I RECOGNIZED IT FROM
MR. RENFROE'S SILHOUETTE CHART.

- ROSH.

LONNIE SAYS
IT'S ONE OF OURS.

TRAINING PLANE, NO GUNS.

[siren wailing]

- GO HOME.
GO HOME.

EVERYBODY, GO ON HOME.

WE'RE SITTING DUCKS OUT HERE.

GO HOME AND FILL
YOUR BATHTUBS UP WITH WATER.

- NO!
LET'S DON'T HAVE A PANIC HERE.

OLLIE, YOU STOP BROADCASTING
ABOUT AN AIR ATTACK

AND PUT ON SOME MUSIC.

- BUT, ROSH, WE GOT
TO ALERT THE TOWN.

- ABOUT WHAT?
- THE AIR RAID.

- ONE AIRPLANE, TUNSTALL.

YOU, GO OVER
TO THE PHONE EXCHANGE

AND TELL EM NESBITT TO TURN OFF
THAT FIRE SIREN.

NOW LET'S JUST KEEP OUR WITS
ABOUT US HERE.

- HEY, JAKE.
IT'S YOUR WIFE.

SHE SAID AN AIRPLANE JUST LANDED
ON THE ROAD

OUT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

- COME ON.

- WHAT?

- WELL, I'VE COME TO TAKE YOU
FOR A RIDE.

- YOU'RE A FOOL,
BILLY BENEFIELD.

GO AWAY.
[vehicles approaching]

[siren wailing]

- HOLD HER STEADY, FROG,
AND I'LL BORE HIS TIRES OUT--

- HOLD ON THERE, HILTON.
THAT'S MY BOY.

THAT'S BILLY.

YOU MEN STAY PUT.

I'LL HANDLE THIS.

BILLY, WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' HERE?

WAS THAT YOU IN TOWN
A FEW MINUTES AGO?

- WELL, YES, SIR.
WELL, I JUST WANTED TO SEE

IF MR. RENFROE
WAS IN THE BANK

BEFORE I CAME OUT HERE
TO SEE ALSATIA.

I JUST GOT TOO LOW AND I HAD TO
TAKE HER UNDERNEATH THE WIRES.

- WHAT DO YOU WANT
WITH ALSATIA?

- WELL, I CAME TO TAKE HER
FOR A RIDE.

- IN AN ARMY AIRCRAFT
- [stammers]

BILLY, YOU LACK JUDGMENT.

- I LOVE YOU.

WON'T YOU COME?

- NO.
BUT YOU'RE WONDERFUL.

COME BACK WHEN THE WAR IS OVER.

- I GUESS I MESSED UP.

- HOW LONG ARE YOU OVERDUE
AT YOUR BASE?

- LESS THAN AN HOUR.
I'M ON A CROSS-COUNTRY.

- I'LL SEE IF I CAN FIX IT.

[uplifting music]

- WHO'S THAT?

COME BACK.
COME BACK. COME BACK.

- Y'ALL DIDN'T ALL HAVE
TO COME GET ME.

YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT I WAS
A PARADE OR SOMETHIN'.

- YOU JUST HUSH UP,
MR. SMARTY-PANTS.

WITH ALL THE COMMOTION YOU
CAUSED TODAY, I THINK YOU'LL BE

PRAYING FOR YOUR MORTAL SOUL,

OR AT LEAST THE SEAT
OF YOUR BRITCHES.

- WHO'S THAT ON THE STEPS?

- MAY WE HELP YOU?

- ARE YOU THE TIBBETTS?
- WHY?

- WELL, I'M FRANCINE TIBBETTS,
HENRY'S WIFE,

AND I'M ABOUT TO HAVE HIS BABY
ON YOUR STEPS.

- JAKE, CALL THE DOCTOR.

ROSH, YOU AND LONNIE
GET HER THINGS.

COME ON, LET'S GET YOU UPSTAIRS.

WE DON'T NEED ANY BABIES
BORN ON THE FRONT STEPS.

- HOLY COW, A BABY.

GOSH, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

DOES THAT MAKE ME AN UNCLE?

- NO, THAT MAKES YOU A BROTHER.

THE BABY WILL BE YOUR FATHER'S
CHILD, JUST LIKE YOU ARE.

- GEE.

CAN I CALL UP UNCLE BRUNSON TO
TELL HIM I'M GONNA BE A BROTHER?

- UH, JUST A MINUTE, LONNIE.

JAKE, DON'T YOU WANNA CALL
THE DOCTOR FIRST?

- NO.
- JAKE, DON'T BE DIFFICULT.

- IT'S HENRY, PULLING
ANOTHER ONE OF HIS TRICKS.

HE'S BEEN DOING IT
SINCE HE WAS BORN.

- IS HE ON THE WAY?

DID YOU CALL THE DOCTOR?

- HOW DO WE KNOW
THAT SHE'S HENRY'S WIFE?

- SHE'S HIS WIFE, ALL RIGHT.

SHE'S GOT
A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.

HER NAME USED TO BE
FRANCINE WALCZYNSKI,

AND SHE'S
FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO.

THEY WERE MARRIED IN TEXAS
BEFORE HE SHIPPED OUT.

- JUST LIKE HIM.

GETTING A WOMAN IN TROUBLE AND
THEN LIGHTING OUT FOR EUROPE.

- LONNIE, HOW ABOUT WE GO
OUTSIDE FOR A WHILE, HUH?

- JAKE, YOU'VE GONE FAR ENOUGH.

YOU CAN DISOWN HENRY
BUT NOT HIS WIFE AND CHILD.

YOU CALL THE DOCTOR OR GET OUT.

YOU'RE A HARD AND STUBBORN MAN.

NOW GET OUT.

I'LL CALL THE DOCTOR.
WE CAN DO WITHOUT YOU.

- I WILL NOT.
- YOU WILL NOT?

- I WILL NOT!

- ALL RIGHT THEN.

OH.

YOU GET OUT,
OR I'LL CUT YOUR HEAD OFF.

- NOW, LOOK,
PUT THAT DOWN, PASTINE.

PASTINE, PUT DOWN THAT SWORD
BEFORE YOU HURT YOURSELF--AH!

YOU KNOW--

- NO YOU DON'T, JAKE,
DON'T START IN WITH YOUR WORDS.

YOU KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT
AND YOUR FEET MOVIN'.

COME ON!
COME ON!

- PUT THAT DOWN.
YOU HEAR ME? COME ON!

COME ON!
STOP THAT!

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU
ANYWAY?

NOBODY'S GONNA RUN ME OUT
OF MY OWN HOME

WITH MY OWN GRANDFATHER'S SWORD.

YOU COULD'VE CUT MY HEAD OFF!

YOU SEE WHAT SHE DID?

- JAKE, I DON'T THINK
YOU OUGHT

TO TRY GETTING BACK
IN THERE AGAIN.

NOW, LET'S JUST GET OURSELVES
ORGANIZED

AND TALK THIS THING OUT
LIKE SENSIBLE FOLKS.

- YOU CALL THAT SENSIBLE?

- I CALL THAT PRETTY PERSUASIVE.

- THEN WHAT AM I GONNA DO
IF I CAN'T GET BACK
INTO MY OWN HOUSE?

- STAY AT THE NEWSPAPER.

TALK TO YOUR TYPEWRITER.

YOU'RE AN ARBITRARY OLD FOOL,
JAKE.

YOU HAVE NO MILK
OF HUMAN KINDNESS IN YOU,

NOT WHERE YOUR SON IS CONCERNED.

- ALL RIGHT, PASTINE.
IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT IT.

CAN I HAVE MY HAT?

- UH-HUH.

[door slams]

- YOU THINK I'M
AN ARBITRARY OLD FOOL TOO?

- 'BOUT SOME THINGS, YES.

- 'BOUT HENRY?
- THAT, MOSTLY.

- YOU KNOW, I FORGAVE HIM
FOR A LOT.

- MAYBE NOT ENOUGH.

- DON'T TELL ME
THAT YOU FORGAVE HIM?

AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO HAZEL?

- I DIDN'T FORGIVE
OR NOT FORGIVE, JAKE.

I JUST GOT ON WITH THINGS.

- YEAH.

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO.

JUST GET ON WITH THINGS.

[grumbles]

- AND I HEAR SHE NEARBY CUT
HIS HEAD OFF WITH THAT SWORD

THEY KEEP OVER THE FIREPLACE.

- WELL, DID THE WOMAN
HAVE THE BABY?

- YES, SHE HAD A LITTLE GIRL.

OLD DOC AMESWORTH WAS BY HERE
A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

HE SAYS,
"YOU TAKE ONE LOOK AT HER,

AND YOU CAN SURE TELL
SHE'S HENRY'S."

[laughter]

- HEY, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
HOW JAKE HANDLES

THIS WHOLE THING IN THE PAPER.

YOU DON'T RECKON HE'LL PUT IT
ON THE SOCIETY PAGES?

- [clears throat]

- GOOD MORNING, GENTS.
all: GOOD MORNING, JAKE.

- LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED
TO ME YESTERDAY.

- YEAH.
- OH, COME ON, JAKE.

DON'T TAKE ALL THE FUN
OUT OF IT.

- YEAH, YEAH.

I IMAGINE YOU HEARD
THE WHOLE THING ALREADY

WITH EMBELLISHMENTS.

AND MY VERSION WILL BE DULL
BY COMPARISON.

WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY,
IF PASTINE'S ARM HAD JUST BEEN

A TAD BIT LONGER,
I'D BE SITTING HERE HEADLESS.

[laughter]

ANYWAY, I COULD EAT A HORSE.
- COMING UP.

- I HEARD CALVIN
GOING ON THE RADIO LAST NIGHT.

HE SAID SOON AS OUR BOYS BREAK
OUT OF NORMANDY, IT'S ALL OVER.

JUST A QUESTION OF HOW QUICK
THEY CAN GET TO BERLIN.

- OUR BOYS ARE GONNA BE HOME
BEFORE LONG, YOU'LL SEE.

WE'LL GET EVERYTHING
BACK TO NORMAL.

- THERE'S NO SUCH THING
AS NORMAL ANYMORE.

WAR'S CHANGED ALL THAT.

- I WONDER
IF IT'S GONNA BE SAFE.

I MEAN, ALL THOSE BOYS,
TRAINED KILLERS?

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT COMBATS DONE
TO 'EM.

YOU COULD HAVE A YOUNG FELLA
STANDING ON THE STREET CORNER,

AND SUDDENLY A CAR BACKFIRES,

AND HE GRABS THE NEAREST GUN,
STARTS SHOOTING.

- INSTEAD OF WORRYING
ABOUT THINGS

LIKE THAT,
WHY DON'T WE SPEND

SOME TIME THINKING
ABOUT A PROPER MEMORIAL?

- WE GOT NO BUSINESS PUTTIN' UP
A WAR MEMORIAL.

- THEM THAT FIGHT
GET TO MEMORIALIZE.

ME AND MY NEWSPAPER ARE DEAD SET
AGAINST IT.

- DADDY JAKE?

- YEAH?

- I BRUNG YOU SOME STUFF.

IT'S UNDERWEAR MOSTLY.

- UNDERWEAR?
- YES, SIR.

MAMA PASTINE SAYS, IF YOU DON'T
CHANGE YOUR UNDERWEAR REGULAR,

YOU'LL GET THE DRY ROT.

- WELL, WHAT'S THIS?

- IT'S A BIRTHDAY PRESENT.

- CAN I OPEN IT?
- SURE.

I COULDN'T FIND ANY RIBBON,
SO I JUST USED SOME STRING.

- WELL, NOW, LET ME SEE
WHAT WE GOT HERE.

WELL, MY FAVORITE BRAND.

THANK YOU.
- YOU'RE WELCOME.

I BOUGHT IT WITH MY OWN MONEY.

- WELL, OF COURSE.

WELL, THIS IS
A SPLENDID GESTURE.

I'LL HAVE ONE OF THESE
WITH MY SUPPER TONIGHT.

WHEREVER IT IS I'M GONNA HAVE
MY SUPPER TONIGHT.

MAMA PASTINE KNOW YOU'RE HERE?

- NO, SIR.

I HAD TO GET OUT
OF THERE FOR A WHILE.

THAT BABY DON'T DO NOTHING
BUT SQUALL.

- OH, LONNIE, ABOUT--

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY...

I-I DON'T WANT YOU
TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

I LOVE YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

SHE'S PUT UP WITH ME
FOR A GOOD MANY YEARS.

SHE JUST GOT--GOT OVERWROUGHT.

- YOU'RE GONNA LIVE HERE?

- NO, CERTAINLY NOT.

THIS IS A NEWSPAPER OFFICE,
NOT A BOARDING HOUSE.

LORD KNOWS IF SHE DOESN'T COME
DOWN AND HELP ME WITH THE BOOKS

THIS WEEK LIKE SHE ALWAYS DOES,
I'M A DOOMED MAN.

- I'D HELP YOU.
- WELL, I KNOW YOU WOULD, BOY,

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT
MYSELF, MUCH LESS TEACH ANYBODY.

- WELL, YOU COULD TEACH ME
ABOUT PRINTING.

I COULD HELP YOU
GET OUT THE PAPER.

- OH, YOU WANNA BE
A NEWSPAPERMAN?

- I RECKON I'D LIKE TO TRY.

- WELL, IT'S HONORABLE WORK.

MAYBE THE MOST HONORABLE
THERE IS.

IT HELPS IF YOU HAVE
A THICK SKIN, HEAD LIKE A MULE,

A LITTLE IMAGINATION.

THIS NEWSPAPER HAS USED UP
TWO GENERATIONS OF TIBBETTS MEN.

SOMETIMES IT EATS
MY INSIDES OUT.

YOU GO HOME
AND ASK YOUR MAMA PASTINE.

AND IF SHE SAYS IT'S OKAY,
WELL, THEN IT'S OKAY.

[chuckles]

- [hums]

[baby crying]

- THE LITTLE BOOGER DON'T DO
NOTHING BUT HOLLER.

IT'S LIKE LIVING
INSIDE A FIRE STATION.

- THAT'S NOT A LITTLE BOOGER,
LONNIE.

THAT'S YOUR SISTER.
- HALF-SISTER.

- IT'S THE SAME THING.
- NOT TO ME IT AIN'T, MY BEAUTY.

- DON'T YOU SASS ME, YOUNG MAN.

- YES'M.
OH, I HAVE SOMETHING TO ASK YOU.

COULD IT BE OKAY--
- GOOD HEAVENS!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT OF BED?

HERE, COME UP AND SIT DOWN.

THIS IS LONNIE, HENRY'S BOY.

- NICE TO MEET YA.

[machine whirring]

[knock at door]

- ROSH?

- I BROUGHT YOU A COT
FROM THE FIRE STATION.

WELL, YOU GONNA HELP ME, OR AM
I GONNA HAVE TO TOTE THIS THING

THE REST OF THE WAY IN
BY MYSELF?

I AM TOO OLD AND TOO FAT
FOR HONEST WORK.

AND I NEED A DRINK.

- WELL, I'M BUSY.

I GOTTA GET A NEWSPAPER OUT.

I'M NOT LIKE A LAWYER.

POST OFFICE DOESN'T GRANT
POSTPONEMENTS.

- DRINK NOW.

SPREAD WISDOM LATER.

- YOUR HEALTH, SIR.

- AND YOURS, SIR.

MUST BE FAIRLY GOOD WHISKEY.

WE'VE DRUNK ENOUGH OF IT
IN OUR TIME.

- YEAH, I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY WE
CALLED IT LIGHTNING JIM'S BEST.

IS THERE
A LIGHTNING JIM'S WORST?

- IF THERE IS, I HOPE
IT NEVER PASSES MY LIPS.

IF IT WERE ANY WORSE,
IT'D PROBABLY KILL US.

- SOONER OR LATER,
SOMETHING WILL.

- I SUPPOSE IT'S BETTER
THAN GETTING STRUNG UP.

- OH, THINK THAT'S
ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO ME?

- YEAH, SOMETIMES YOU WEAR
THIS NEWSPAPER

LIKE A HAIR SHIRT, JAKE.

- IT MAKES PEOPLE THINK.

- OH, LORD KNOWS YOU DO THAT.

YOU'VE BEEN A BURR
UNDER THIS TOWN'S SADDLE

FOR AS LONG
AS I CAN REMEMBER,

AND GENERALLY WE'RE BETTER OFF
FOR IT.

BUT THIS TIME FOLKS THINK
YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR.

OH, IF I HAD TO WORRY ABOUT
GOING TOO FAR, I'D NEVER PRINT

ANYTHING EXCEPT SOCIETY NEWS
AND THE CLASSIFIED ADS.

I DECIDED A LONG TIME AGO
THAT A MAN HAS TO TAKE HIS LIFE

IN HIS OWN TWO HANDS
AND SHAKE IT FOR ALL ITS WORTH.

EVERYONE ELSE CAN DO
THEIR OWN SHAKING.

- I JUST WISH YOU BELIEVED IT.

- WHAT?

- YOU DON'T REALLY BELIEVE
WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT A MAN TAKING

RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIMSELF.

IF YOU DID, YOU WOULDN'T CARRY
OTHER FOLKS' GUILT AROUND
IN A PEDDLER'S SACK.

YOU'D LET THEM
DO THEIR OWN TOTING.

- OH, YOU MEAN HENRY?

I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT HENRY
SINCE HE GOT DRUNK AND JOINED

THE NATIONAL GUARD
FOUR YEARS AGO.

- YOU PUT ON A BIG SHOW, JAKE.

YOU DISOWN HIM, BUT YOU CARRY
HENRY AROUND ON YOUR SHOULDERS

TRYING NOT TO LET THE REST OF US
SEE HOW IT MAKES YOU STOOP.

- DO YOU THINK I OUGHT TO FORGET
WHAT HENRY DID?

YOU OF ALL PEOPLE?

- YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HE DID.

NOBODY KNOWS HOW IT HAPPENED,

NOT EVEN HENRY.

- I KNOW HE WAS DRIVIN'.
AND HE FLED LIKE A COWARD.

- ALL I KNOW IS WHAT IT'S DONE
TO YOU, MY FRIEND.

- BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, ROSH,
I'M NOT GONNA PRINT A WORD

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH BILLY
AND THAT AIRPLANE.

YOU WON THIS ONE.

BUT THIS NEWSPAPER
IS OPPOSED TO A WAR MEMORIAL.

- I SHALL NOW LEAVE YOU,
MY DEAR FRIEND.

SLEEP TIGHT, SWEET PRINCE.

[door opens and shuts]

- MAMA PASTINE?
- HMM?

- I WANT YOU TO TELL ME
ABOUT MY DADDY.

- WHAT DO YOU WANNA KNOW?

- EVERYTHING.

YOU NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING.

NOBODY HAS.

- OH, LONNIE, IT'S NOT ANYTHING
YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.

- YOU THINK I'M TOO YOUNG.

I'M ALMOST 14 YEARS OLD.

IT'S TIME YOU TOLD ME
WHAT HAPPENED.

MY MOTHER WAS KILLED
IN THE WRECK.

- YES.

YOU WERE FOUR.

- HOW'D IT HAPPEN?

- NOBODY REALLY KNOWS.

THE CAR RAN OFF THE ROAD
SOMEHOW.

YOUR FATHER WAS THROWN FREE.

HE COULDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING
AFTERWARD.

- THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
- HE WAS VERY SAD.

WHEN SHE DIED, WELL,
HE JUST NEVER GOT OVER IT.

- WELL, WHY IS DADDY JAKE
MAD AT HIM?

IS IT ABOUT THE WRECK?

- PARTLY, BUT IT GOES
A LONG WAY BACK.

YOUR FATHER WAS A DIFFICULT
CHILD, ALWAYS HARD TO MANAGE.

I THINK HE AND YOUR GRANDFATHER
ARE JUST TOO MUCH ALIKE.

THEY TRIED, BUT THEY
JUST NEVER COULD SEEM TO...

PLEASE EACH OTHER.

AND THEN THE WRECK.

WELL, JAKE BLAMED HENRY,

AND HENRY
NEVER WOULD DEFEND HIMSELF.

THEY JUST SEEMED
TO LOSE TOUCH.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU CAME TO STAY
WITH US.

- I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU SAD.

I LOVE YOU.

AND I LOVE DADDY JAKE TOO.

- OF COURSE YOU DO.

SO DO I.

HE'S A CANTANKEROUS OLD GOAT,
BUT I LOVE HIM IN SPITE OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT MARRIAGE IS,
SOMETIMES, "LOVIN' IN SPITE OF."

DOES THIS HELP, ANY OF THIS?

- OH, YES, MA'AM.

I JUST WANNA KNOW
WHO MY DADDY IS.

THEN I COULD THINK ABOUT HIM.

MAMA PASTINE!

DADDY JAKE'S COMIN' HOME.

- DON'T BOTHER TO SET FOOT
UNLESS YOU COME

TO MAKE AMENDS, JAKE.

- PASTINE, HENRY'S DEAD.

[baby crying]

- HE'S BEEN DEAD TO YOU
FOR YEARS.

- OH, PLEASE, PASTINE, DON'T.

NO, HE HASN'T BEEN DEAD TO ME.

YOU CAN'T BE ANGRY
WITH A DEAD MAN.

- BUT YOU CUT HIM
OUT OF YOUR LIFE

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T MEASURE UP.

- I TRIED TO CUT HIM OUT,
BUT I COULDN'T.

ROSH TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY THAT
I'VE BEEN CARRYING HENRY AROUND

ON MY BACK.

MAYBE WHAT I'VE BEEN REALLY
CARRYING IS FAILURE.

AND I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT.

- YES, YOU WILL.

WE BOTH HAVE TO LIVE
WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT LEFT.

YOU'VE GOT YOUR NEWSPAPER.

- OUR NEWSPAPER.

- OH, NO.
I'M THROUGH WITH THAT.

- OH, PLEASE, PASTINE.

I CAN'T MANAGE WITHOUT YOU.

THE BOOKS ARE A WRECK.

- CAN I HELP?

I CAN KEEP BOOKS.
WENT TO BUSINESS SCHOOL.

GUESS I NEED
TO START EARNING MY KEEP.

- DON'T YOU EVER FEEL THAT.

YOU BELONG HERE.

NOW MORE THAN EVER.

- YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME
TO TRY IF YOU WANNA.

- FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

[indistinct chatter]

- I GUESS IT'S ABOUT TIME.

ALMOST 10:00.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

- NO, I'M NOT ALL RIGHT.

AM I GONNA MAKE IT
THROUGH THE DAY?

YES, I AM.

- WHERE'S JAKE?

- I THINK HE'S OUT BACK
WITH LT. WHALEN,

THE YOUNG MAN WHO BROUGHT
THE CASKET HOME.

WHY DON'T YOU GO GET HIM?

- ALL RIGHT.

- WHERE'S LONNIE?
- RIGHT HERE, MAMA PASTINE.

- I WANT YOU TO BE PROUD
OF YOUR FATHER TODAY.

AND I WANT HIM
TO BE PROUD OF YOU.

- YES, MA'AM.
I'LL BE OKAY.

- I REALLY CAN'T, MR. TIBBETTS.
I'M SORRY.

- BUT COULD YOU,
IF YOU HAD TO.
- IF I HAD TO.

BUT YOU NEED AN ORDER
FROM A HEALTH OFFICIAL.

YOU--YOU JUST CAN'T TAKE
IT UPON YOURSELF TO DO
THAT SORT OF THING.

- JAKE, LIEUTENANT,
ANYTHING WRONG?

- NO, SIR.

- I'VE BEEN ASKING
THE LIEUTENANT

HOW HE KNEW
THAT IT WAS HENRY IN THERE.

BOTTOM LINE IS, HE DOESN'T.
- HUH?

WHAT I SAID WAS--IS
THERE'S A MILLION-TO-ONE
CHANCE OF A MIX-UP.

THE ARMY IS VERY CAREFUL.

- BUT ANYTHING CAN
HAPPEN ON A BATTLEFIELD,
YOU AS MUCH AS SAID SO.

- FOR CRYING OUT LOUD,
MR. TIBBETTS--

- LIEUTENANT,
WHY DON'T YOU GO INSIDE,

KEEP YOUNG LONNIE
AND THE LADIES COMPANY.

LEAVE JAKE AND ME TO REASON
THINGS OUT HERE.

- YES, SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

- JAKE, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

WHY CAN'T YOU EVER JUST LEAVE
THINGS BE?

YOU'VE HEARD HIM.

IT MAY NOT BE HENRY
IN THAT BOX AT ALL.

- SO WHAT IF IT'S NOT?

A MILLION-TO-ONE
THE LIEUTENANT SAID,

BUT JUST SUPPOSE, FOR THE SAKE
OF ARGUMENT THAT IT'S NOT,

THE DEAD HAVE NO NAMES, JAKE.

BURY HIM AND BE DONE WITH IT.

- BUT I HAVE TO KNOW.
- WHY?

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO KNOW?

- I HAVE TO PUT HIM TO REST.

- YOU NEVER SEEMED
TO CARE BEFORE.

- YOU KNOW WHAT HENRY WAS LIKE.

- JAKE, ONLY A MAN
OF YOUR OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION

COULD EVEN CONCEIVE
A THING LIKE THIS.

IT'S INSANE.

EVEN THE MENTION OF IT
WOULD GRIEVE PASTINE.

THINK OF HER, IF NOTHING ELSE.

HELL, THE BOY'S DEAD, JAKE.

DON'T TOTE HIS GHOST.

- A BRAVE MAN, A HERO,

WHO REMINDS US IN DEATH

THAT GOD USES US IN STRANGE

AND WONDERFUL
AND MYSTERIOUS WAYS.

HENRY TIBBETTS GAVE HIS COUNTRY

THE LAST FULL MEASURE
OF DEVOTION.

WE RECALL THE WORDS OF THE
PSALMIST WHO SAID, "I WILL LIFT

UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS
FROM WHENCE COMETH MY STRENGTH."

- HONOR GUARD, ATTENTION!

READY!

AIM!

FIRE!
[gunfire]

READY!

AIM!

FIRE!
[gunfire]

READY!

AIM!
FIRE!

HONOR GUARD, ORDER ARMS.

[Tapsplaying]

♪

♪

♪

♪

- AND NOW WE COMMIT
THE BODY OF OUR SON--

- STOP RIGHT THERE.
COME ON.

THE WHOLE MESS OF YOU,
MOVE AWAY FROM HERE.

COME ON, BACK, YOU HEAR ME?

- JAKE, JAKE,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

- COME ON, COME ON,
START MOVING.

COME ON.
YOU HEAR ME, SOLDIER?

GET MOVING THERE.
COME ON.

- YES, SIR.
- BACK!

[gunshot and screams]

- JAKE TIBBETTS,
YOU GIVE ME THAT GUN NOW,
OR YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.

- HILTON, YOU'RE NOT ARRESTING
ANYONE WITHOUT A PISTOL.

[gunshot and screams]

- ROSH, DO SOMETHING.

- JAKE, DON'T DO THIS.
IT'S SACRILEGE.

- MAYBE SO,
BUT I GOT TO DO IT ANYWAY.

LIEUTENANT, HAVE YOU GOT THAT
KEY YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT?

- YES, SIR.

- LONNIE, YOU TAKE
YOUR MAMA PASTINE

AND FRANCINE
OVER YONDER WITH YOU.

GO ON, GET MOVING.

[car horn honks]

ALL RIGHT, LIEUTENANT,

GET BUSY.

[car horn honks]

- IT'S DONE.

- OPEN IT.

- MR. TIBBETTS, PLEASE
DON'T MAKE ME--

- I SAID OPEN IT.

ROSH, COME SEE.

- SON, YOU GO TELL THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT TO COME GET

THIS POOR BOY WHOEVER HE IS.

IT'S NOT HENRY TIBBETTS.

[body thuds]

- MAMA PASTINE?

MAMA PASTINE?

- YOU GOT COMPANY,
MR NEWSPAPERMAN

YOUR LAWYER'S HERE

- HOW ARE YOU, JAKE?

- PENITENT.

- MM.
YEAH.

BROUGHT YOU A PAPER.

AND A LITTLE SOMETHING.

- AH WELL,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW LISTEN TO THIS,

METHODIST SERMON
AND RECEIPE

FOR CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
ON THE FRONT PAGE.

WHO DID THAT?

- PASTINE IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE SERMON OF THE SOUP.

SHE WANTED TO SUSPEND
PUBLICATION 'TIL YOU GOT OUT

OF JAIL, BUT LONNIE TALKED HERINTO GETTING OUT AN ISSUE.

NOTHING IN HERE
ABOUT THAT BUSINESS

OF HENRY AND THE CASKET.

- WAR DEPARTMENT IS TURNING
EUROPE UPSIDE-DOWN I'M TOLD.

SO FAR NOTHING.

- YEAH, ANYONE COME TO SEE ME?

- WELL, I'M HERE.

OTHERWISE I BELIEVE THE WORDS
PASTINE USED WERE,

"LET HIM ROT."

- YEAH, STILL MAD?

- HMM, I THINK HUMILIATED
COMES CLOSER TO IT.

- WELL, I WAS RIGHT.
IT WASN'T HENRY.

WHY CAN'T ANY OF YOU ADMIT
FOR ONCE I'M RIGHT

- YOU KNOW IN A STRANGE WAY,I THINK FOLKS GENERALLY ADMIRE

WHAT YOU DID AT THE
CEMETERY, ESPECIALLY

SINCE IT TURNED OUT THE WAY IT
DID.

AS FOR ME, I THINK IT WAS AN
OBSCENE ACT.

- , ROSH, PLEASE.

- YOU TALK ABOUT TAKING
YOUR LIFE IN YOUR OWN HANDS

AND SHAKING IT FOR ALL IT'S
WORTH, AND THAT'S FINE,

EXCEPT THAT YOU TRAMPLE
ALL OVER THE REST OF US.

HAS IT EVER OCCURRED TO YOU THAT
WHILE YOU'RE BUSY DIGGING UP

YOUR OWN DEAD YOU'RE UN--

YOU'RE UNCOVERING A LOT
OF OTHER BONES?

- I'M SORRY, ROSH.
I DIDN'T MEAN IT

- DOES TO ME, I CAN FORGIVE
IF NOT FORGET

BUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO
PASTINE--

- PASTINE NEEDED TO KNOW TOO

- AND WHAT DOES SHE KNOW?

HENRY'S STILL DEAD,
BUT HE'S NOT BURIED.

SHE MAY HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THIS WHOLE THING AGAIN.

- YOU--YOU AND PASTINE,
SHE'S THE ONE

YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT,
ISN'T IT

YOU NEVER GOT OVER IT
DID YOU ROSH

ROSH, I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T MEAN IT, ROSH.

I NEVER MET TO HURT ANYONE.

- DADDY JAKE, THEY WOULDN'T LET
ME IN TO SEE YOU.

-NO , I GUESS THEY DIDN'T--

MY DADDY IS ALIVE.

[dog barking]

- WHAT?

- MAMA PASTINE GOT A CALL
THIS MORNING.

THEY FOUND HIM IN A HOSPITAL
IN EUROPE.

THEY SAID HE'D BEEN HURT BAD
IN THE HEAD, FORGOT WHO HE WAS.

AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT
THE DOG TAGS GETTING MIXED UP.

- HENRY.

[metal scraping]

[baby cooing]

- I JUST HEARD.

LONNIE CAME OVER AND TOLD ME.

PASTINE?

- MY BOY IS COMING HOME.

- I KNOW.

- LET ME TELL YOU THIS, JAKE,
AND HEAR ME WELL.

IF THINGS HADN'T TURNED OUT
THIS WAY, I WOULD'VE LEFT YOU.

- YOU WOULDN'T.
- YES, I WOULD.

AND I STILL MAY.

I PUT YOUR THINGS
IN LONNIE'S ROOM.

- FOR HOW LONG?

- THAT DEPENDS.

- ON WHAT?

- ON YOU AND HENRY.

ROSH WAS BY A
LITTLE WHILE AGO, JAKE.

HE JUST GOT A CALL TOO.

BILLY'S MISSING IN ACTION.

[gentle music]

♪

- WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM
FOR A SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN.

I'M GONNA SWITCH YOU
TO WASHINGTON, DC.

- IT'S OVER.
- WHAT'S OVER?

- THE WAR.

IT'S OVER IN
EUROPE. THE GERMANS
SURRENDERED THIS MORNING.

I JUST HEARD IT ON THE RADIO.

- I'M GLAD.

IT'S BEEN A LONG WAR
FOR ALL OF US.

I'M TIRED OF FIGHTING.

- WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- OVER TO BISCUIT'S.

IT'S NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL
YOU HEAR IT AT BISCUIT'S.

[bells tolling]

- RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES, EAST
GERMAN OFFICERS SURRENDERED

UNCONDITIONALLY IN A CEREMONY--

[horn honks]

GENERAL JODL,
THE LAST CHIEF OF STAFF

OF THE DISSOLVING GERMAN
ARMY ASKED THE VICTORS

TO TREAT THE
GERMANS WITH GENEROSITY.

- BULL.
WE OUGHT TO LINE 'EM
UP AND SHOOT 'EM ALL.

- NO TIME FOR THAT.

WE GOT TO GET ON
WITH WHIPPIN' THE JAPS.

SOME OF US HAVE GOT
BOYS OUT THERE TOO.

[air horn wailing]

[cheers and applause]

- THE WAR IS OVER.

[cheers and applause]

- WE ARE WAR SURPLUS, GENTS.

ANOTHER YEAR, AND WE'LL
BE RUSTING IN THE SUNSHINE

LIKE OBSOLETE
CANNONS AND AIRPLANES.

WHEN THE YOUNG ONES COME HOME,
THIS IS THEIR TIME, THEIR LIFE.

I SAY LET THEM HAVE IT.

[horn honks]

[cheers]

LET ME SEE THAT.

FIELD, F-I-E-L-D.

YOU GOT THE "I" AND "E"
BACKWARDS.

IF YOU MISSPELL FIELD PEAS
IN GEORGE PULITZER'S AD,

HOW ARE PEOPLE GONNA
KNOW WHAT TO ASK FOR?

YOU HAVEN'T SAID TWO
WORDS ALL AFTERNOON.

IF THAT BOTTOM LIP OF
YOURS STUCK OUT ANY FURTHER,

YOU'D TRIP OVER IT.

- HMM.

- HOW LONG ARE YOU
GOING TO KEEP THIS UP

- I RECKON UNTIL I GET FINISHED.

- DON'T YOU SASS ME, BOY.

- YES SIR

- WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO,
LONNIE?

- I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

- YES YOU DO.

YOUR DADDY'S
COMING HOME TOMORROW.

- SO?

- SO HE AND FRANCINE WILL WANT
A PLACE OF THEIR OWN.

THEY'LL WANT YOU
GO LIVE WITH THEM.

- NO, IT'S NOT TRUE.

- OHH, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL
ABOUT, EH?

YOU DON'T WANNA MAKE CHOICE.

YOU DON'T WANNA BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF

TIME'S COME FOR YOU
TO GROW UP A LITTLE

AND YOU JUST CAN'T STAND IT

- WELL, YOU'RE SCARED YOURSELF.

YOU'VE BEEN SCARED ALL
ALONG TO TALK ABOUT MY DADDY

AND TELL ME WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED MY MOTHER.

- YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT BOY.

- NO? YOU NEVER
LOVED MY DADDY, AND
YOU DON'T LOVE ME EITHER

- NO, LONNIE!

GO ON
GO ON, TELLTAIL, AND RUN!

[car horn honks]

- AIN'T YOU GONNA OFFER ME
A DRINK?

- YES, I GUESS, I AM.

SIT DOWN, RIGHT THERE.

IT'S BIG CHAIR BUT YOU CAN SIT
IN IT I SUPPOSE.

- YOU MISS ROSH, DON'T YOU?

- YOU'RE DARN RIGHT I DO .

WELL, IT'S MY OWN FAULT.

ALL THESE YEARS,
THROUGH THICK AND THIN,

ROSH STUCK NO MATTER WHAT.

- I'M SORRY. I HOPE
YOU CAN PATCH IT UP.

- WELL, YOUR HEALTH.

- [coughs]

- OH, TOO MUCH OR YOU?

- GEE MANETTI.

WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW?

YOU UP FOR IT?

- WELL, I GUESS
WE'LL SEE HUH?

- HENRY'S NO BARGAIN.

- OH...I NEVER HAD
A BARGAIN IN MY LIFE.

I COULD TELL YOU ALL ABOUT HENRY
AND ME BUT THAT'S BETWEEN US.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS,

HE'S A GENTLE MAN, YOUR HENRY.

I DON' WHAT THE ARMY'S
SENDING HOME TOMORROW,

BUT I KNOW WHAT HE WAS LIKE
IN TEXAS.

WE'LL GET PLACE OF OUR OWN

AND TRY AND GET TO KNOW EACH
OTHER.

ALL OF US.

- ESPECIALLY LONNIE.

HE'S ALL CLOSED UP.

I CAN'T REACH HIM ANYMORE.

- HE'LL WORK THINGS OUT.

WE'LL ALL WORK THINGS OUT
WITH A LITTLE LUCK.

- YOU'LL NEED IT.

- WHAT ABOUT YOU, JAKE?

- OH, I'M NOT SURE ANYMORE.

EVERYTHING'S
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.

MY AGE,
THAT'S PRETTY HARD TO TAKE.

I'LL BE 65 YEARS OLD
BEFORE LONG.

MAN OUGHT TO HAVE
EVERYTHING TIED DOWN, SETTLED

BY THE TIME
HE GETS TO BE 65.

INSTEAD,
EVERYTHING'S COMIN' LOOSE.

- EAT YOUR SUPPER
BEFORE IT GETS COLD.

I'M GOING HOME
BEFORE I GET STINK FACED.

- THANK YOU.

[door shuts]

[phone rings]

YEAH?

- HELLO, JAKE.

- ROSH.

I WAS JUST HAVING A
DRINK OF LIGHTNING JIMS BEST.

I SURE WISH YOU WERE HERE.

- I KNOW HENRY'S
COMING IN TOMORROW,

AND I'D LIKE THE TOWN
TO BE REPRESENTED OFFICIALLY.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS--IS
PRESENT HIM HIS SILVER STAR

WHEN HE GETS HERE,
SOMETHING BRIEF.

- WE'D BE HONORED.

- GOOD.

I'LL BE THERE.

- OH, ROSH.

- HMM?
- ANY NEWS?

- NO.

- YEAH, I'M SORRY.

- WELL, MAYBE SOMETHING SOON.

SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.
- RO--

[receiver clicks]

[baby cooing]

- GOOD MORNING JAKE

- I'M GLAD YOU CAME, ROSH.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH.

- IT SEEMED TO BE
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

HOW YOU DOIN' THIS MORNING, WHIT?

SHE'S RUNNING A LITTLE LATE.

OH, BUT HERE SHE IS...

- HENRY?

- WHO, ME?

SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHERE I AM

I THOUGHT I'D MIGHT
SEE SOMETHING I'D
RECOGNIZE. SOMETHING

- WELL, -YOU'RE HOME NOW.

FAMILY'S ALL HERE.
THEY'RE OUTSIDE WAITING FOR YOU.

WHO?

- YOUR MAMA AND LONNIE
AND FRANCINE AND THE BABY

AND ROSH BENEFIELD.

HE WANTS TO PIN YOUR MEDAL ON.

MEDAL?

WHAT MEDAL?

I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING
TO WIN A MEDAL.

- WELL, YOU MUST HAVE.

SILVER STAR.

YOU GOT THE CITATION AT HOME.

- OK.

- YOUR WIFE AND BABY ARE HERE.

- I WANT YOU TO KNOW SOMETHING.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW I HAV'T HADA DRINK IN A LONG TIME.

- WELL, THAT'S GOOD.

YOU NEVER COULD HANDLE IT WELL.

HENRY, BEFORE WE GET OFF THE
BUS, I WANNA TELL YOU SOMETHING.

I'M NOT MAD AT YOU ANYMORE.

I'M PROUD OF YOU.

- PROUD?

I ALMOST GOT KILLED,AND YOU'RE PROUD?

WELL YOU FINALLY HITCHED UP YOUR
BRITCHES AND DID SOMETHING

THAT'S WHY I'M PROUD.

MAYBE IT MEANS YOU'RE READY
TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY NOW.

ANYWAY I'M...I'M NOT MAD ANYMORE

ARE YOU READY TO GO?

- I GUESS I'D STAY ON TO THE END
OF THE LINE IF I COULD.

- THIS IS END OF THE LINE.

[baby babbling]

- HENRY.

OH, HENRY.

- THIS IS EMMA HENRIETTA.

- LONNIE, IT'S BEEN
A LONG TIME.

- HENRY,

WELCOME HOME.

- THANK YOU.

- I'M HERE TO REPRESENT
THE TOWNSFOLK.

YOU'RE OUR FIRST
RETURNING WAR HERO.

I'VE ASKED YOUR MAMA
AND YOUR DADDY

TO LET ME
PIN ON YOUR MEDAL.

PASTINE, DO YOU HAVE THE MEDAL?

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME

- THANK YOU, SIR.

GOOD TO BE BACK.

HOW'S BILLY DOING?

NOT TOO WELL RIGHT NOW,
AND WE DON'T KNOW REALLY--

- [hyperventilates]

- HE'S MISSING IN ACTION.

- I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

- WELL, KNOWING BILLY,
IF THERE'S ANY WAY

TO GET OUT,
I'M SURE HE WILL.

- HE'S RESTING.

- DOC AMESWORTH SAY ANYTHING?

- NOT MUCH.

HE SAID HE'D BE BACK FIRST THING
IN THE MORNIN'.

MAYBE WE'LL KNOW MORE THEN...

HE SAID THE NEXT 48 HOURS...

- IT'S MY FAULT.

IF I HADN'T COME BACK NOW,
I-

- , NO DON'T YOU EVER THINK
THAT.

I DON'T WANT ANY MORE GUILT, ANY
MORE BLAME, ON YOUR PART OR
HIS.

HE LOVES YOU IN HIS OWN WAY,
HENRY.

I BELIEVE THAT.

WHERE'S LONNIE?

- I HAVE'NT SEEN HIM
FOR GOOD WHILE NOW.

- GO FIND HIM, WILL YOU?

IT'S ALL BEEN TERRIBLE FOR HIM.

[sobs]

- I THOUGHT
YOU MIGHT BE IN HERE.

- YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS PLACE?

- I USED TO COME TO THIS PLACE
ALL THE TIME MYSELF.

CAN I COME IN?

OOH.

IT'S STILL HOT.

[exhales]

I THOUGHT THIS PLACE WOULD'VE
TUMBLED DOWN BEFORE NOW.

PAPA LET YOU PLAY
WITH THAT THING?

- NO, SIR.

- ME EITHER.

YOU COME HERE MUCH?

- I GUESS SO.

IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO THINK.

- YES, SIR.

- I-I THOUGHT A LOT
ABOUT YOU, LONNIE.

- YOU DID?
- YEAH.

WELL, I'D BE WONDERING
WHAT YOU WERE DOING.

I KNEW THAT MAMA AND PAPA
WERE TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOU.

- I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU TOO.

- I'M GLAD.

I'M GLAD YOU DID.

WELL, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?

ARE YOU GOING TO SCHOOL?

- NOT NOW.
IT'S SUMMER.

- OH, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT,
OF COURSE.

WELL, WHAT ELSE?

- WELL, I'VE BEEN WORKING
AT THE PAPER.

I CAN SET TYPE AND MAKE UP ADS,

RUN THE FOLDER MACHINE,
STUFF LIKE THAT.

- YOU LIKE IT?

THE PAPER?
- IT'S OKAY.

I LIKE TO WRITE.

- SO DID I.

- YOU DID?

WHY DIDN'T YOU WORK
AT THE PAPER?

[explosion]

- HUH?

SOMETIMES I GET LOST.

WHAT'D YOU SAY, LONNIE?

- THE PAPER, WHY DIDN'T YOU WORK
AT THE PAPER?

- OH, I DIDN'T LIKE TO GET
MY HANDS DIRTY.

I COULDN'T DO IT RIGHT.

PAPA SENT ME HOME.

I TRIED, BUT I COULDN'T.

THEN, PAPA SAID--

[explosion]

HE SAID THAT--

- IS DADDY JAKE GONNA DIE?

- I DON'T KNOW.

HE'S TOUGH.

LORD KNOWS HE'S TOUGH.

- IT'S MY FAULT HE GOT SICK.

I SASSED HIM.

I TOLD HIM
HE DIDN'T LOVE YOU OR ME.

I RAN AWAY.

- NO, IT'S MY FAULT.

'CAUSE HE--HE HATES ME.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME BACK.

I WAS DEAD, YOU KNOW.

I SHOULD'VE STAYED DEAD.

[gunfire]

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?

- I GOTTA WARN 'EM.
I GOTTA WARN 'EM.

AND JUST THIS ONCE,
I'M GONNA DO IT RIGHT.

[gunfire]

- DADDY?
DADDY!

- ARTILLERY!

THEY'RE GONNA SEND IN
ARTILLERIES.

[gunfire]

GET BACK!

HERE IT COMES.

HERE IT COMES BOYS

THEY'RE SENDING IN ARTIILLERY.

I'M SORRY, BOYS.

I'M SORRY.

- DADDY!

DADDY!

- [shouts indistinctly]
PLEASE.

- DADDY!

DADDY!
[explosion]

DADDY, STOP!

- NO.

NO, HAZEL, NO!

[tires screeching]

[car horn honks]

I NEVER MEANT TO HURT NOBODY.

OH, HAZEL.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT YOU.

- DADDY?

- PLEASE.

PLEASE.
PAPA, DON'T MAKE ME LEAVE.

- DADDY, PLEASE.

- I'LL TRY.
I'LL DO IT.

JUST WHAT CAN I DO?

I NEVER MEANT TO HURT NOBODY.

- PLEASE, DADDY, LISTEN.

- I'M SORRY, DADDY.

- DADDY?

- JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT ME
TO DO, DADDY.

- DADDY?

DADDY, PLEASE.

- DADDY?

- DADDY?
DADDY.

DADDY.

- AREN'T YOU GONNA STOP
AND REST A WHILE?

- NO.

LET GO.

I'M EITHER GONNA WALK,
OR I'M GONNA--

FALL AND BUST MY BUTT

- NOW THAT'S AN ABOMINATION JAKE

ALL RIGHT.
CAN YOU TURN AROUND BY YOURSELF?

- NO, I'M GOING DOWN.
- YOU'RE CRAZY.

YOU'RE NOT READY FOR THE STAIRS.

- YOU TOUCH ME , I'LL JUMP

- OH, "JUMP."
YOU COULD JUMP TWO INCHES.

- ALL RIGHT,
THEN I'LL- I'LL TOPPLE.

- ALL RIGHT,
TOPPLE, DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.

IF I HEAR A CRASH,
I'LL CALL THE UNDERTAKER.

PASTINE!

- OH, JAKE.

OH, DANG.

YOU'RE A STUBBORN,
OLD FOOL, JAKE.

- NOW I'M A STUBBORN OLD CRIPPLE

- WHEN ARE YOU GONNA STOP BEING
SO ANGRY

- WHEN I STOP BEING A SICK,
WASTED, WASHED-UP, OLD MAN.

-MAYBE IF YOU DIDN'T ACT LIKE
ONE YOU WOULDN'T FEEL LIKE ONE

YOU NEED TO GET
BACK TO THE PAPER.

- OH, IT'S OVER.
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

- THE PAPER IT'S FINISHED.

- NO, IT'S NOT.

IT'S STILL THERE WHEN YOU'RE
READY.

ARE YOU GOING TO THROW AWAY
EVERYTHING YOU'VE WORKED

SO HARD FOR
ALL THESE YEARS?

WHAT ABOUT FRANCINE AND HENRY
AND LONNIE?

THEY'VE BEEN HOLDING THINGS
TOGETHER WAITING FOR YOU.

- WELL, THEY CAN HAVE IT
RIGHT NOW.

I JUST WANNA GET BACK TO BED.
I'M ALL WORE OUT.

I'M TIRED OF FIGHTING,
PASTINE.

I'M WEARY WITH IT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE PEACE
WHILE I STILL HAVE TIME

WITH EVERYBODY

ESPECIALLY MYSELF

- COME ON NOW.

HERE WE GO.

NO, YOU'RE COMING HOME TONIGHT.

- I'D LIKE THAT

IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW ONE THING,
PASTINE.

YOU AND...

ROSH BENEFIELD,
DID YOU EVER?

- NO.

YOU ARE A FOOL JAKE TIBBETTS

BUT YOU ARE THE
ONLY FOOL I EVER WANTED.

[indistinct chatter]

[door opens]

- BOY, YOU'RE GETTING
PRETTY GOOD AT THAT.

- NOT AS GOOD AS DADDY JAKE.

- BUT YOU WILL BE.

YOU'RE YOUR GRANDFATHER'S BOY
LONNIE

- WHEN'S HE COMING BACK?

- I DON'T KNOW.

WHY DON'T YOU ASK HIM?

- WELL WHO IS THIS?

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND
TO SEE ME, BOY.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

ON A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD?

- NO, SIR.

- JUST BUSY, HUH?

- YEAH, I RECKON SO.

- YOU LOOK KIND OF PEAKED, BOY.

- YES, SIR.

YOU DON'T LOOK SO GREAT
YOURSELF.

- [chuckles]

YEAH, WELL.

- I COME
FOR YOUR BIRTHY PARTY.

OH, ANOTHER ON

6TH OF JULY SEEMS TO COME AROUD
EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW.

SO HOW ARE THINGS AT THE PAPER?

- OKAY, I GUESS.
GETTIN' IT OUT EVERY WEEK.

OH, WE HIRED AN OLD PRINTER
FROM TAYLORSVILLE,

AND DADDY AND FRANCINE AND ME
ARE DOING THE REST.

- HENRY

- YES, HE COVERED
THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

SO WHEN YOU COMING BACK?

- WELL, I DON'T
RIGHTLY KNOW THAT I AM.

- WHAT?

- WELL, IT SOUNDS
LIKE Y'ALL

GOT EVERYTHING UNDER
CONTROL DOWN THERE.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU ALL ARE DOING
JUST FINE WITHOUT ME THERE.

- BUT IT'S YOUR PAPER.

DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT
IT ANY MORE?

- NO, IT'S NOT THAT.

IT'S THAT A MAN HAS TO KNOW
WHEN THE TIME HAS COME

TO LET GO OF THINGS.

- I THOUGHT YOU'D COME BACK,

AND EVERYTNG WILL BE
JUST LIKE IT WAS.

- LONNIE, THINGS AREN'T
EVER THE WAY THEY WERE.

LOOK AT YOU, 14,
YOU'RE GROWING UP.

LOOK AT ME.

- QUITTER.
- WHAT?

- YOU'RE A QUITTER.

JUST LIKE YOU TOLD ME I WAS THE
NIGHT BEFORE DADDY CAME HOME.

YOU SAID I WOULDN'T FACE UP.

AND THEN YOU GOT SICK.

I WAS AFRAID TO
COME AND SEE YOU.

I WAS AFRAID IT WAS MY FAULT.

I WAS AFRAID YOU WAS GONNA DIE.

AND NOW YOU'RE THE ONE
WHO'S QUITTING.

AND IF YOU DO QUIT,
YOU WILL DIE.

BUT I AIN'T GONNA
BE HERE TO SEE.

I AIN'T COMING BACK, DADDY JAKE.

YOU QUIT, I QUIT.

- READY

- FOR WHAT?

- BIRTHDAY PARTY.

EVERYBODY'S WAITING
FOR YOU DOWNSTAIRS.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
- NO I AM NOT

I'M A WORN-OUT OLD MAN.

- YOU TALKED TO LONNIE?

- YEAH.

HE CALLED ME A QUITTER.

THAT BOY'S GOT
SOME GROWING UP TO DO

- HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

WE'LL BE WAITING
FOR YOU DOWNSTAIRS

- WELL, HERE COMES
THE BIRTHDAY BOY.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS, JAKE.

- YEAH BIRTHDAY BOY, HUH?

I'M THE BIRTHDAY BOY, ALL RIGHT.

WELL, NOW,THESE ARE ALL VERY NICE.

IT'S VERY NICE OF ALL OF YOUTO COME DOWN

AND CELEBRATEAN OLD MAN'S BIRTHDAY.

- YOU'RE ONLY AS OLD
AS YOU FEEL.

- [chucks]
WELL, I FEEL PRETTY DADGUM OLD.

- LOOKING BETTER ALL THE TIME.

- LONNIE TELLS ME EVERYTHING IS
GOIN'--GOIN' WELL AT THE PAPER

-WE 'RE GETTING IT OUT.

HENRY'S DOING SOME WRITING.

- OH.

OH.ROSH, HOW'S--HOW'S BILLY?

I UNDERSTAND HE CAME BACK
QUITE THE HERO.

- I SUPPOSE SO.

HE'S FINE
JUST FINE

STARTS SCHOOL IN THE FALL.

HE'S GONNA STUDY
AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING.

HE WANTS TO DESIGN AIRPLANES.

WELL, HOW ABOUT
SOME REFRESHMENTS?

- YES, WHAT A GOOD IDEA.

ROSH, WOULD YOU GIVE ME A HAND?
- SURE.

- YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE ALWAYS SAID

- NO.
WHAT?

- I'VE ALWAYS SAID A MAN
OUT TO TAKE HIS LIFE

IN HIS OWN HANDS
AND SHAKE IT FOR ALL ITS WORTH.

- MAKES SENSE TO ME.

- TROUBLE IS, SOMETIMES YOU GET
THE FEELING THAT

YOU'RE THE ONE
THAT'S BEIN' SHOOK.

SO THEN YOU GOT TO DECIDE
HOW YOU'RE GONNA ACT.

I SUPPOSE ONE WAY OUT
IS JUST GIVE UP,

OR YOU CAN HITCH UP
YOUR BRITCHES

AND GET ON WITH IT IN SPITE
OF.

SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED
IS FOR SOMEONE

TO GIVE YOU A KICK IN THE BUTT.

- I PROPOSE A TOAST

TO MY GOOD FRIEND AND FELLOW
SUFFERER

JAKE TIBBETTS,
WHO ON THIS DAY

MARKS A MILESTONE
WORTHY OF ANY GOOD MAN

HE HAS CUT A PATH WIDE

AND SOMETIMES HE HAS CUT
A FINE FIGURE.

I SALUTE YOU.

- IS IT ALL RIGHT?

- IT IS AS YOU SAY ALL RIGHT.

JUST RIGHT

- AND NOW IT'S TIME
TO CUT THE CAKE.

- NO.
LET ME.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY.

- THEN ALL RIGHT.

- I HAVE

I HAVE TAKEN GREAT PRIDE
ALL MY LIFE

IN BEING A STUBBORN FOOL AND
A KEEPER OF MY OWN CONSCIENCE,

AND NOW I AM REAPIN'
THE REWARDS.

I HAVE REACHED THE
AGE OF GREAT WISDOM,

SURROUNDED
BY MY FRIENDS, FAMILY,

AND I BASK IN YOUR GREAT WARMTH.

SPEAKING OF WARMTH,

WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO LIGHT
THE CANDLES ON THE CAKE?

HENRY?

WOULD YOU LIGHT THE
CANDLES, PLEASE?

- SURE.

- THANK YOU

AH...NOW
LONNNIE

C'MON OVER HERE AND HELP AN OLD
MAN

BLOW OUT THEANDLESON HIS CAKE, HUH?

COME ON,
COME ON OVER HERE.

NOW, LET'S--LET'S DO IT
TOGETHER, HUH?

NOW YOU WILL HELP ME SERVE,
OK?

-DA!
- HOLY COW!

- 65 YEARS OLD, AND NOT A
GRAY HAIR ON MY FANNY

- JAKE, HAVE YOU LOST
YOUR MIND?

- SIT DOWN, PASTINE.

I'M THE BIRTHDAY BOY, AND I'M
RUNNIN THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.

AND I AM STILL THE EDITOR OF
THE NEWSPAPER.

HENRY, I-I DON'T
KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO YOU.

- YOU NEVER DID.

- I'M AN ORNERY OLD MAN.

- THAT'S TRUE.

- AND YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE.

YES THAT TO.

- I SUPPOSE,WE'RE--
WE'RE TOO OLD TO CHANGE.

- PROBABLY

- MAYBE WE'RE--

WE'LL JUST LIVE WITH IT.

- THAT'LL HAVE TO DO, I SUPPOSE.

LONNIE
COME HERE

HERE.
YOU TAKE IT.

AND NOW I THINK I WOULD
LIKE TO GO TO THE PAPER.

- YES, IT'S TIME

- WE ARE ALL PILGRIM SOULS HERE,

ALL RAGGED WAYFARERS, STOPPIN'
TO HUDDLE AGAINST THE COLD

AND DARK AROUND WHAT WE CALL
OUR HOME FIRES.

DOES A MAN INDEED LEARN
ANYTHING?

NOT MUCH.

ONLY THAT HIS HOME IS HIS
OWN HEART

AND THERE HE MUST ABIDE.