Things Don't Stay Fixed (2021) - full transcript

When a worldly photojournalist returns to the Deep South to try to stop his daughter's wedding and save her future, he discovers that it is he who has been stuck in the past.

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Good morning, Sleepy
Town. You're listening to 88.5, coming

to you from across the tracks in
beautiful downtown Columbus,

Georgia.

Oh.
Sam Grace, you handsome, son of a gun.

Thought you never were gonna get
your butt out of bed.

How you doing, gorgeous?

I'm so glad to see you.
You know Nina's gonna have a fit you

getting here and her gone.



Mornin', Nathan.

You ready for breakfast, honey?

Well, what's the matter? You
hungry or not?

Just trying to remember the last
time that somebody called me

honey.

You want cheese in your grits?

Yes, ma'am.

Is Kate already gone?

Oh, Lord yes. Ever since old
Doctor Sims retired, she does

all the surgery. Most mornings
she's gone before I even get up.

Kate loves those animals.

Oh God, these are sweet.

I know. Aren't they good?
Mm. Kate won't eat 'em.

She's given up sugar. You know
Kate. Always giving up



something. First it's
cigarettes, then it's caffeine,

then chocolate. And now she's
talking about white flour and

salt. Pretty soon, she won't be
able to eat anything I know how

to cook. You want
sorghum with those biscuits?

You got sorghum?

Uh-huh.

No, let's save it for tomorrow.

Those figs'll probably
put me in a coma.

That's what happens you go
North. You lose your tolerance

for sweet things. Everybody up
there's kinda lean and hungry

lookin'.

Yeah, well, where I've been
isn't North. It's, um, South.

And everybody is lean and
hungry.

Mm. You know I got Nathan
getting that old rose trellis

out of the shed. It's in good
shape, just needs a coat of

paint. Course it won't have any
roses growing on it.

Agnes, there is not going to be
a wedding.

Oh, there's gonna be a wedding,
honey. I don't want to hurt your

feelings, but that's done
decided. And Nina wants you to

give her away. Will you?

No. No, I'm not giving her away.
And I mean, for God's sake, I

can't believe you and Kate are
going along with this.

Well, you want me
to cancel that tuxedo?

Why would a beautiful, talented,
20-year-old girl with her whole

life in front of...

They're in love.

So what?

They're older than you
and Nancy were.

The last time I talked to her,
she didn't mention to me

anything about getting married.
The thought never crossed her

mind.

And when was that?

I don't know. Christmas.

Mm, things happen.

Not this wedding.

Shit. Is she pregnant?

Of course she's pregnant. Why
else would she be getting

married?

It's my dad. Daddy! I knew you'd
come. When did you get here?

Hi, baby.

Come meet Chris.

Look, we need to talk.

I know. We will, but I want you
to meet Chris now.

You're gonna love him.

Baby, we're smarter than this.

Smarter than what? I'm...

Than to pull a stunt like this.

A stunt? I'm... I'm getting
married!

The hell you are.

The hell I am. Who the hell do
you think you are?

Your father.

Thanks for reminding me.

Look, Nina, I wasn't expecting
you! Maybe I started this wrong.

Nina! Just... Nina!

Telegram said
you were getting married,

that was bad enough. I could
have put a stop to that.

Really?

Then Agnes tells me
you're pregnant.

Sometimes Aggie has a big mouth.

Look, you don't have to get
married. There are other...

What? No, Daddy. There are not
other alternatives. There's one

alternative. An abortion? Is
that what you're saying?

An abortion?

Yes. Yes, Nina, that is what I'm
saying. I know it's an awful

choice, but you are so young.
You have your whole life in

front of you! Look, I'm shooting
the Olympic trials this summer.

You can go with me. We can have
this taken care of in a week!

I can't believe this. I mean, if
you and my mother had done what

you're suggesting I do, I
wouldn't exist.

That was different.

There are clinics now.
You don't even have...

I have to take a shower. Chris
is picking me up.

Sam!

Hells Angels come back, I will...

You mean Chris? He goes to Duke.

I don't care where he goes. Nina
can go anywhere she wants.

She can go to the fucking
Sorbonne if she wants.

How much did she tell you?

That she's pregnant and she's
getting married.

She wants to have the baby.

She's just a baby, Kate. I could
have given her anything.

She can
have anything she wants.

I think she got what she wants.

She's 20 years old, Kate.

Nancy knew what she wanted.

What?

To marry Sam Grace and have his
baby and to love him the rest of

her life. And she did.

Well, that's not much
to aspire to.

Bye, Aunt Kate! I'm gone.
We'll be late.

It's every girl's dream.

Yours too?

Yep. Yeah, it was. I mean, I got
distracted by other things along

the way. Like anthrax and
heartworms. When I was growing

up, I thought I was gonna get
married, too. Have a husband

that loved me. I guess that's
what girls think they need to be

a woman.

Boys don't think they need a
wife to be a man, though,

do they?

No.

Lucky. What does a boy need to
be a man?

A car. He needs a car.

I'm up anyway.
I can just as easy come out here and start

those sprinklers than lay up in
bed looking at the ceiling.

I'm the yard man. I can get here
early and get the watering

started.

Do I look helpless to you?

Never been a time when I seen
the law get involved in watering.

It's a drought, Nathan. We got a
global problem here.

Only thing that grows by their
selves is weeds.

Hmm. You know, I thought this thing
looked better when we took it down.

It did. But that was 20
years ago.

Well, it hasn't been doing
anything but laying up in the shed.

Don't matter.
Things don't stay fixed.

They don't?

No, you gotta keep
coming back to 'em.

Mm. Well, did you find that
cradle out there?

It's around here somewhere. It
probably needs fixing too.

Mm-hmm. Oh, hey.

Good morning.

Oh.

Morning, Nathan.

You ready for breakfast, honey?

Not this morning. I gotta go.

Where you going?

I need a car, Agnes.

You're
wasting your time, Nathan.

There's not gonna be a wedding.

Hmm. You hear that?

Mm-hmm.

Miriam! Hello, Miriam.

Sam! Want a ride?

Too many miles
to get there in a car.

What's that?

Miles.

Too many miles? Yeah? To where?

You ain't going.

Well, I could be.

Not in a car you can't. Let me
out, stop here.

Miriam, we're not near anything.

Stop this car! You trying to
kidnap me! You want my hair!

I'm pulling over,
I'm pulling over.

What's mine is mine!

It certainly is.

Everybody is always everywhere.

Everybody is always everywhere.

Yeah, y... take... can you just... the
door, Miriam!

Everybody is always everywhere!
Everybody always everywhere!

Come on, gorgeous. Your
chariot awaits.

What do you think?

I love it.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Oh, gorgeous.

Wait 'til you see
how fast she goes.

Ooh-ooh, let's go
as fast as she can.

Let's do it, baby.

Hold on.

So how do you like it?

What?

How do you like it?

Oh, it's wonderful.

Any place special you
wanna go to?

The cemetery.

What?

The cemetery.

You said anyplace
I want, I hadn't been out there

since Easter.

You know I haven't
ever been back there.

Well, then it's high time you
went. Anything hadn't been done

in 15 years is something that
needs doing, so let's go do it.

No telling how long it'll be
before you're back here again.

Oh, I thought-

Like what we did with Nancy's
tombstone?

Yeah, it's nice.

Mm. Kate picked it out. Told her
what to put on it. I think it

suits Nancy. She was always
singing that little song. I'm

I'm glad Kate thought
to have it on there.

It's how I like to
remember Nancy.

Simple and free?

Mm, Uh-huh. Like a gift.

Oh, Sam,
Nina isn't Nancy, I know

she looks just like her, but
nothing's gonna happen to Nina.

I know they look just alike.
That child's gonna live forever.

Nobody lives forever, Ag.

Oh, I might. I keep on getting
replacement parts, I might just

keep on going 'til my brain
dries up. Ooh. I gotta go pee.

There's a Chevron up the road.

No, no, I'll just go in the
bushes over here.

I'll be right back.

Hi.

That your people there?

Huh? Um... yeah.

Mama? Daddy?

No, it's, uh, my wife.

Not a very big marker.

My baby brother has a bigger
marker than that one.

Your baby brother's buried here?

No, not here. Too rich for us.
Over at the Bethal Church

Cemetery. He had
the whooping cough.

I'm... I'm sorry.

How about your wife?
What'd she die of?

Uh, she... she fell.

Out a window?

No, it was off a mountain.

Whoo! How tall was she?

Five foot three.

See there? Where that foot
marker's is, makes her look like

she's tall. Want me to
move it for you?

Um...

I'll do it for a dollar.

Uh, no, no thanks.

Grave diggers ought to pay some
heed to how tall the bodies is.

People like to remember folks
like they were. Not all the

same. You sure you don't want me
to move that footstone. Set you

wife back to her actual height?

Um, well, okay, sure.

Won't take but a minute.

Boy, this one's in tight.

You do this a lot?

How long it been here?

Fifteen years.

Can you help me out a little?

Uh...

Well, here, let me... let me try.

Alright.

Okay. Now,
okay.

That look about right for her?

Yeah.

Good. Five three ain't five ten.
Any fool knows that.

Oh, uh... Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, and your shovel.

Thanks.

Hey, uh, can... I... I take your
picture sometime?

You got a Polaroid?

What's your name?

I'm William. William White.

Where can I find you?

We're out here most every
afternoon. Except Saturdays.

Saturdays we go out fishing at
the dam. Everybody knows me.

William White.

Harley, go clean
up the gravel around there.

Do you believe what happened?

Sam Grace, I love you.

You know
what those boys do, don't ya?

Yeah, they move
markers for people.

Uh, they steal flowers. That's
why I don't bother bringing 'em

anymore. They just get stole.

I'll tell you one reason he'll
stay and give her away.

What?

To keep Ben Partee
from doing it.

Mother, why don't
you like Ben Partee?

Oh, I like him. I never said I
didn't like him. I just don't

like talking to him. Do you?

No.

Look at this.

Aggie.

Ooh.

It's beautiful.

It's the most
beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Mm. Me too.

No, I'm... I'm not going to do
this if it's gonna upset you.

Oh, I'm not upset. Your mama was
the prettiest bride I've ever

seen when she walked down the
aisle in this dress.

And you will be too.

What about you, Aunt Kate, do
you think I'm doing the right

thing wearing Mother's dress?

Of course you're
doing the right thing.

I'll be right back.
I gotta look at my pies.

Let's try it on.
Ooh, look at this.

Oh, it's okay. Oh.

You sure run a lot.

I try to stay in shape.

You look pretty good.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

I used the,
uh... the zoom lens when we were

on Cumberland.

You did?

Yeah. I think I got some pretty
good shots of a wild pony on

the beach.

Was he moving?

Mm-hmm, and it was just at
sunset. Lot of clouds.

Great light.

Film or digital?

Film.

Good. You develop them yet?

Hmm-mm.

Well, I'd like to see
them when you do.

I taught you everything
you know.

Well, everything I know.

I, um... I think I'm gonna try to
get some freelancing work when

we go back to Duke this fall.
Well, until the baby comes,

I mean.

It's tough to break
into... freelancing.

Isn't that how you got started?

I wasn't pregnant.

Mother was.

So, what was a wild horse doing
running on the beach?

Not a horse. A pony.

Oh.

Didn't you ever go to Cumberland
Island when you were in high school?

No, we went to Daytona Beach.

Chris loves Cumberland. We like
to go camping.

You know, I saw them catch a
15-foot great white on the pier

at Daytona once.

On the pier?

Yeah. It took all night. Around
dusk, they paddle out in these

little lifeboats and they set
the hooks. Then they just go

back on up and wait. When that
shark strikes... they just keep

playing him for hours 'til they
finally wear him down.

And they just hoist him on back
up.

I'd never seen anything so
huge come out of the ocean

before. And the next day I went

back, because I
just had to see it again.

Was it still there?

Not on the pier. It was in the
sand. They had cut its jaws out

and left the rest. Flies were
swarming all around it. I mean,

I mean I couldn't believe it.
All that life I saw coming out

of the sea. And all that life
was just 15 feet of dead meat.

With these flies all over it.

Where did all that life go?

Are you still leaving before my
wedding?

I'm still hoping
you call it off.

I won't.

I have to tell you
something about Chris.

Mwah.

You know, Dad, you can't run
from everything.

BEN PARTEE You know, I have not had
lamb like this since the last time I

was in France. And we all know
about the French. They

like their lamb rare. In the
South, we're a little afraid of

the rare lamb. It's hard for us
to even think of lamb as lamb,

isn't it? We get it confused
unconsciously with pork. And we

have a memory in our... well,
somewhere. In our

In our bones, our solar plexus,
uh, our lower intestines,

somewhere very deep down, we
have a memory that tells us that

we do not eat pork unless it is
well cooked. Right, we don't eat

pork rate. But lamb's not pork.
No, it's not beef either, but

it's not pork.

And yet we seem inclined to
associate it with pork, so we're

a little uncomfortable eating
lamb even on the pink side. But

But not the French. Oh no,
not the French. They love their

lamb, rare, bloody even.

Well, you just go ahead and give
Chris some more, 'cause he loves

his lamb.

Are all the ladies served?

We are.

All right, Chris, here you go,
young man. Now, Samuel, I know

you'd preferred the French style
if we had it, wouldn't you?

We don't have it.

I thought your name was Samson.

Looks great, but I'm not really
into the French.

Ah, the French. They are the
genuine article.

Would you get some more rolls,
too, while you're in there?

Thank you, honey.

So, you went all the way to
Cumberland Island and

back on a motorcycle?

Uh-huh. Well, minus the ferry,
of course.

Jesus Christ. Are you
trying to kill my daughter?

No, sir. I don't go very fast
when she's on the bike.

I'm very careful with her.

It's okay.

Fine thing for you to be talking
about this, Sam Grace, with that

racing car of yours out there.

The Corvette is yours? It's a
beauty.

Yeah, thanks.

Where are you planning on going
with that?

I'm planning on driving to
California. You wanna go?

Oh, no thank you.
I'm getting married.

Mm.

So, Chris, you like fast things?

I guess I do.

When I was a little girl, I
wanted to have my own plane.

Like Amelia Earhart.

What about you, Kate? What'd you
wanna be when you were little?

Ginger Rogers.

Of course.

That's my girl. She'd rather
dance on an airplane

than fly one.

You know, maybe we could fly. I
mean, maybe we can already,

we just don't know it.

How do we find out?

Not be scared.

Of flying?

Of anything. I mean, I think
it's being scared that keeps you

from being light enough to take
off in the first place. I mean,

fear has a heavy density. And it
takes a lot of lightness to fly.

Hollow bones.

Mm-hmm.

You know, could be that when
we're all made out of artificial

parts, we would be light enough.

They got some real lightweight
plastics now.

Oh, Mama, you would like to fly
then, I see?

Honey, I would love to.

I heard they're training
Salvadorians at Fort Benning.

Mama, why do you repeat those
tales that Miriam makes up?

I believe Miriam. She knows more
than we do.

Don't the ETs live in Miriam's
hair?

No, her sisters from Saturn are
her hair.

Um, Chris and Miriam are
friends. She talks to him.

I talk to her, too.

Would she ride in a car with
you?

Uh, no, I don't think she would.

No, no, it isn't. I just... I'm
afraid that it's gonna be too

hard on you. Spending all that
time working on Nancy's wedding

dress.

What about
Nancy's wedding dress?

Aggie's altering it for me to
wear for the wedding.

You won't be there.

No, I won't.
I don't give a shit.

Mm.

It's all in the soil with wine.
Just like with the Vidalia

onions. The soil tells the tale.
The soil gives life.

How you like the wine, Sam?

Uh, I like it. It's good. It's,
um... daring.

The heat'd kill 'em anyway. But
even in cool weather, it just

doesn't make any sense to take
fresh flowers out there. Those

Mill Town boys just come out
there and get 'em and they take

'em and sell 'em to cut-rate
florists.

They're just trying to make a
buck.

Sam paid 'em good money to go
digging around Nancy's grave.

What are they doing on Nancy's
grave?

They just set her back to her
rightful height.

What?

Look, Kate, it's nothing. They
didn't hurt anything.

Oh, I'd love to take
gladiolus... at least on Easter

or Christmas. But as long as
those boys are out there,

there's just no point to it.

Their name's White. Harley and
William White. And I like

William. He is a smart kid.
God damn.

Probably wind up being a fucking
senator one day.

Well, I am stuffed.

I'm not stopping, but I'm
stuffed. Now, Nina,

can't you convince your aunt to
make this, uh, a double ceremony

Saturday?

No, thank you. I am too old to be
sharing the stage with this one.

Excuse number 45. I tell you,
friends, I... and, Samuel, I'd be

happy to have your advice on
this. I have run out of ideas to

get this lady to marry me. I've
done everything I know. As our

friend, Mr. Eliot says, "Though
I have wept and fasted, wept and

prayed"...

Have you?

What's that?

Have you? Wept and fasted, wept
and prayed?

Well, in a manner of speaking,
of course.

See, I don't think
it's a manner of speaking at

all. I don't think it's a manner
of speaking. I think it's

absolutely fucking literal. I
have wept and I have fasted. And

I have wept and I have prayed.
Real tears, real deprivation.

Real down on your knees pleading
to God. So, I don't think you've

wept or prayed for Kate.

As a
matter of fact, I know you

haven't fucking wept and prayed
for Kate.

Sam, you're making a fool of
yourself.

You know how I know you haven't,
Ben? You know how I know you

haven't wept and fasted, wept
and prayed?

No, Samuel, how do you know
that?

Because she's not
married. See, Kate is a strong

woman, but she is not impervious
to the will of God.

Well, I don't flatter myself
that my prayers would affect the

will of God.

No, yours wouldn't.

I guess you think yours would.

It did one time. When I was
seven. I was living down in

Jackson, Mississippi. This was
before my mother married my

stepfather. And one Sunday
night, I prayed for it to snow.

"It doesn't snow in Jackson,
Mississippi," my mother said.

And I said, "I don't care, I
want some. I'm going to pray to

God that it snows." She says,
"God won't answer that prayer.

God doesn't answer selfish,
silly prayers from selfish,

silly boys. "And I said," I bet
he does. I bet God answers my

prayer." And I never doubted one
second that he wouldn't. And I

knew that sometime that
week... it would snow in

Jackson, Mississippi.

And did it?

One Thursday morning I woke up
and I looked out the window, the

whole ground was covered. It was
still coming down. They canceled

school. And I played outside in
that snow all day long.

It does snow in the South. It's,
uh... it snowed here in '22 and

again in '73. So, it happens.

God answered your prayers.

I believe that time he did, when
I was seven years old. There's

been other occasions where I
have asked God for things, and

he hasn't responded.

There have
been other occasions where I

have wept and I have fasted, and
I have wept, and I have fucking

prayed, and God did not respond!

See, I think God only responds

to the pure at heart. Not to old
sinners like you and good ol'

fucking Samson!

It was
delicious, Agnes.

No, no, no, Mom, you sit still.
We'll get it. It's fine.

Come On.

I didn't know, uh, Daddy grew up
in Mississippi. Did you, Aggie?

There's a lot we don't know
about your daddy, honey.

What year is your Corvette?

Seventy-nine.

The Shark was the best look they
ever had.

Later ones are faster.

The Shark was the best. Uh, my
cousin had an '82.

Great car, except you couldn't
see anything behind you.

He wasn't interested
in that.

God, I could fucking kill you
for getting my daughter pregnant.

I'd love to drive it sometime.

You know, back in my day, I'd
have the right to shoot you.

I mean, what galls me is you
don't even seem sorry.

I apologize.

For what?

For Nina being pregnant, that's
what you're mad about, isn't it?

No, I'm mad at you getting Nina
pregnant.

I didn't.

What do you mean?

She did it. She tricked me into
letting her get pregnant.

But you were there.

Yeah, I was there.

You little shit.

Uh... Yeah, yeah.

You drive that like a pro.

Thanks. I raced a little.

Yeah?

Yeah, just small ones.
Charlotte, Taladega.

I got certified.

No kidding.

Mm-hmm.

Anywhere special I
should go, or...?

Just drive.

There's a cow in the middle of
the goddamn road.

We could be dead.

We could be.

Alright, let's see if we
can coax her off the road.

Hi.

You want some
forgiveness? Cows are very

forgiving animals.

Were you there?

When your wife fell?

Yeah, I was there.

Did you actually see her? Fall?

We were on a
picnic on Mount Placid. She'd

been picking wildflowers up on
this hill. Nina was with me. And

I looked up and... Nancy was
coming down the path, her arms

full of these flowers.

Sunshine
was pouring all over her.

I waved to her.

She saw the
camera and she started laughing.

That sunlight on her.

She was radiant.

Yeah, I don't know exactly

how it happened because I was
looking through the camera.

That path wasn't that
steep.

But I guess a rock slipped or
she stumbled.

And it
happened in that camera like I

was seeing a movie,
frame by frame.

Her startled face.

Flowers in the air.

There was a
second when my...

finger kept snapping,

before my mind knew
what was happening. I

I photographed my wife falling
to her death.

Jesus, look at that.

Hi, there! What you
doing?

Shining this light.

Yeah. She's a beauty.

What's the occasion?

No occasion. Mighty bright,
ain't it?

It sure is. You're just shining
it for no reason?

That's right.
It don't signify nothing.

Shining for its own self.

You mind if we stay and watch?

Make yourself at home. Stars are
pretty tonight, ain't they?

Yeah.

She was in a coma
for three days.

You pray for her?

Yeah. I pray.

You still got it?

The picture? Yeah.

Can I see it?

Never really showed
anybody before.

Kinda weird.

What?

Oh, man.

What?

She's flying through flowers.

She's not flying, she's falling.

No, she's flying.

See? No fear.

Sky full of flowers.

She is flying.

Alright, where to next?

My mom's.

I'll get you there.

You think she's up?

Yeah, she's up.

We usually talk about
it, but this confirms that Jesus...

Hello, mama. May I come in?

Who is he? He your kid, too?

Yeah, he's one of mine.

I'm Chris.

How are you, Mother?

Like you care. You can't buy my
forgiveness, you know.

I don't wanna buy your
forgiveness, I just wanna make

sure you're alright.

Hmm. Would you
do what your daddy did?

Run off and leave
your mama with a drunkard?

I begged you to leave him. I
couldn't stand it anymore.

Well, he's dead now. Burning in
everlasting hell for his sins.

And I pray that you'll repent
yours before it's too late.

Mama I do ask the Lord to
forgive me. And I asked you to

forgive me for not being a very
good son. And I forgive you for

never wanting me, and for never
loving me even one day. And I

forgive both of us for being
thrown into this world together

and not being able to save
ourselves. I will not be coming

to see you again. I will not see
you another time.

You hear that?

He loves his sin
more than he loves the Lord.

For Samson has a weakness for
the Philistine harlot.

His lust is greater than his
love of the Lord.

Come on, Chris, let's go.

God took your wife to punish
you.

He took my wife because she was
an angel and he wanted her to

come home. He set her free so
she could fly to heaven with

flowers all around her.

Don't you mock God.

Goodbye, Mother.

You know you can't buy me off
with those checks, I give 'em

all to the church. But it won't
be enough to save you, you were

born a child of sin and so you
shall remain!

You alright?

Hey.

Hi.

I decided to stay for the
wedding.

Great.

I'll give you away if you still
want me to.

Okay, Daddy.

Uh...

He's gonna give me away.

That's great.

Did you tell him about you last
night?

No.

You didn't?

No.

Huh. Then... why did he change
his mind?

I don't know. I was thinking
about telling him about me.

Mm-hmm.

Uh, then he... he told me he
could have me killed for getting

you pregnant.

Oh, no.

Then I said, you know, "She
tricked me into it."

That was gallant.

And then he called
me a little shit, so...

That was my moment,
huh?

Mm-hmm.

"Well, sir, you see, the reason
your daughter "got herself

pregnant, so that we'd have to
get married "is because... well,

the doctors told us there's a
good chance I'm not long for

this old world."

Hey.

I'm really not up for the
"What's so bad about dying?"

conversation this morning,
Chris.

Kate says it's not fair to not
tell him the truth.

She's right.

But you should tell him.

Hi, Daddy.

Idn't she a picture?

Yes.

Okay, I think we've got it.

Am I done? I can go?

Gon' be the prettiest bride I
ever saw.

Daddy, you need a haircut.

You are just so pretty, so
beautiful.

Thank you.

I remember the first dance he
took Nancy to. Showed up all

scrubbed and beaming, carrying
that white gardenia wrist

corsage. And wearing a tuxedo
with white socks.

So I had some rough
edges, but I was still

irresistible.

He was.

I love you, Daddy.

I love you, too.

Hey. Whew.

Oh, you want a cup of hot tea,
honey?

Yes, ma'am, please, thank you.

What am I missing?

You can tell old Ben Partee that
we will not be needing his

services no more.

You're staying?

I am staying.

Oh. Good.

I found it, Nathan. How much of
that paint you got left?

This paint got lead base, don't
use no lead-based paint on no

baby's crib.

Alright, then, you are the boss.

Sit tight!

Well, I'm just making sure
you're not messing up.

What do you think, boy?
What do you think?

He's gotta know about Chris.

Honey, if I knew how to help
you, I would.

Hi.

Ordered my tux already.

Great, um... I have to tell you
something.

Sure.

Then the bride and her
father will come from the back of the

church, down the aisle.

I wish that groom would
hurry up and get here. Nina, I'm afraid

we're going to have to go ahead,
dear. I have another rehearsal

in half an hour at First
Methodist.

Alright. I don't know where
Chris could be.

Uh, Kate, you should precede
them by ten feet. Mark it off.

Alright, everybody ready?

Dearly beloved, we are gathered
here in the sight of God in the

presence of these witnesses.
When that part is finished, I'll

say, "Who gives this woman to be
married to this man?"

That will be you, Mr. Grace.
You'll reply, "I do."

Oh, uh, I do.

And as soon as you've given the
bride away, you can go and have

a seat right over there, next to
Ms. Hampton, but, uh, if you

don't mind, just for the moment,
could you stand in for the

groom?

Oh, why don't I stand in for
Chris?

Nah, it's... it's okay.

It's just a rehearsal, after
all.

But Nina, I'm counting on you to
make sure Chris knows exactly

what is expected of him.

Yes, ma'am.

And then we'll say our vows. I
understand the two of you have

composed something.

Uh, Chris has it.

Reverend Lewis! Reverend Lewis!

What's the matter, Clark?

It's Miriam, Reverend Lewis.
She's out in the

middle of the dam, yelling like
a crazy person.

Chris is out there trying to get
her back.

They didn't have no sister
like Miriam, and no sweet mama to

save them, and so they drowned
'em all in the river Nile! But

the sweet sisters of Saturn,
they came out of Miriam's hair,

and then they took out they
hair. And they took all the baby

boys into they hair! And then
they placed them in the arms of

Jesus! And then they flew them
all to Saturn.

And when the baby
boys woke up, they laughed into

the heavens, and they swam into
the rings of Saturn while their

sisters made them garments of

gold. But you know, those other
baby boys, they drowned. And

Moses' mama said, "I don't care
what Pharaoh say, they ain't

gon' drown my baby boy, I'mma
save my baby." And his sweet

sister Miriam, she loved him,
and she gave her hair...

She's gonna hurt herself.

She's gonna jump.

Will she jump?

Miriam, come on. Let's go.

She said, "I can find somebody
to take care of that baby, you

want me to do that?"

Miriam, it's okay. It's okay.
Let's go.

She got her mama to help take
care of that baby. And Miriam,

that baby was saved.

She's gonna jump, sir.

She needs to be saved.

She's gonna jump.
She needs help.

She needs to be saved.
She needs to go to a mental hospital.

Nina, stay back, stay back, stay
back.

Daddy, don't let anything happen
to him.

She needs to be helped.

We lifted up all those other
baby boys they had drowned in

the river. We all lifted him at
the clouds, and we took 'em

home. so they
could swim and swim in the rings

of Saturn! They were saved! And
then they are weary.

It's me, Miriam. It's me,
Miriam.

Oh, my God, Sam!

Draw out the child!
Draw out the child!

Draw out the child!

Draw out... draw out the
child. Draw out the child.

Tomorrow? Alright. What time?

Okay. And the... parents.

Yours is in the dining room.

My what?

Tux.

And the shoes too?

Uh-huh.

Well, can't we just do it over
the phone?

I'm sorry, it's policy, sir.

Okay, I'm gonna have to come
over right now.

We have to order it today.

Right. Okay. Bye.

Where are you going? You've
gotta get yourself dressed.

I won't be long.

You've gotta get
dressed for the wedding.

Be right back.

Shit!

Hey, hey, hey! Where are you
going?

Funeral home, bring my clothes
to the church.

Sam! Oh, God.

Mm-mm-mm.

Sam! Chris!

I like this one.

It seems a little
bit fussy for William,

I think he
would like this.

It's pretty, it's soft.

You really like that one?

I do, I mean, it's not too
fussy, it's just the brass,

it
looks comfortable.

Ah, Mr. Grace. I'm sorry to have
kept you waiting. I understand

you're in something of a hurry.

Yeah, we've got a, uh, wedding.

Yeah.

And you're taking charge of the
arrangements for little William

White? That is truly generous, I
must say. Have we selected a

casket for little Will?

Yeah, um, I think this one.

Ah, the Birch Master. A tasteful
choice. This one is very popular

for our younger loved ones.

How much is this one?

About the same. There's very
little difference between the

two, if you prefer the Dresden
Oak. It's simply a matter of

personal taste. The Dresden Oak
is a little more ornate, a

little more plush, the Birch
Master is a little more austere,

but a choice with a great deal
of integrity, I would say.

What do you think?

Get him that one.

Done, um... have to go. Does this
take care of it?

That takes care of it. This will
be a quality service, Mr. Grace,

you have my word.

Thanks. Come on, Chris, we have
to go.

Uh, Sam.

Yeah?

Uh... the next time you get an
occasion to do this.

Yeah.

The Dresden Oak.

You got it.

There he is. There he is.

Oh, my God.

Never seen that before.

Oof.

Daddy, damn it, how could you do
this? You're late to my wedding.

You made the groom late to my
wedding!

Not yet.

I was all ready to take
over and give her away for you, Samuel.

Thanks, Ben, that won't be
necessary, the genuine article

is here.

That you are, Sam Grace.

How many times have I asked you
for anything, huh?! Not many.

All I asked was for you to come
home and to give me away on the

most important day of my life,
and then you steal Chris, and

you take off on a motorcycle and
I can't even...

Sweetheart! I am sorry. I truly
am.

Don't cry. Don't cry, no
crying.

Okay.

Let me finish getting dressed
real quick.

Okay.

Here we go.

Okay.

Pull it together, no tears.

Alright. Oh, I'm a little dizzy.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Let's do this.

You ready, baby?

I'm ready.

I love you, Nina.

I love you too, Daddy.

Come on.

Okay.

Amazing Grace,
how sweet the sound that saved...

Dearly beloved, we are
gathered here in the sight of God and the

presence of these witnesses. Who
gives this woman to be married

to this man?

A wretch like
me, I once was lost,

but now I'm found.

Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas Grace that
taught my heart to fear

And Grace, my fears
relieved

Oh, how precious

did that Grace appear the hour I
first believed

Oh, Lord. Mmm, ohhhhh.

I miss you.