Where the Lilies Bloom (1974) - full transcript

["Where the Lilies Bloom"
playing]

♪ I long to be

♪ Where peace fills the air

♪ The wind sings

♪ Softly in my ear

♪ I can hear the song

♪ That calls me there

♪ Where the lilies bloom

♪ I'll close my eyes

♪ And I can see

♪ A vision fair



♪ Is leading me

♪ To run through the green

♪ Where I can be

♪ Where the lilies bloom

[humming]

♪ Where the lilies bloom

[Mary Call] There is
a wonder known to few people,

and that's the coming
of spring to the mountains
we call Old Joshua.

I asked my teacher once
how old these mountains are,

and she reckoned them to be
two billion, five hundred
million years.

I cannot comprehend
this figure.

I only know that
when spring comes,

we use any excuse
to go to welcome her
on Old Joshua's ridges.

Our family name is Luther.



We are proud of the name

for our family has lived here
in a remote valley of
the Great Smoky Mountains

for over 200 years.

Fourteen years ago,
I was born in the shadow
of this mountain,

and given the name Mary Call.

If I could wish anybody
a fine thing in this world,

I'd wish them a father
like Roy Luther

for there has never been
a more loving man.

But since the death of
our mother, Cosby Luther,
four years ago,

he has been coughing
his life away.

And more and more, I've had
to take over the management
of this family.

By all rights,
this responsibility should
have fallen to my sister,

Devola, who is older.

But she's never had a head
for practical matters.

We are mountain people
and so we eat mountain food.

Today, we will harvest
lamb's quarters,

which is a potherb
that tastes like spinach.

[Roy] Wild marjoram.

When it blooms,
it smells sweet as honey.

Marjoram. It's got
a pretty name.

Means joy of
the mountain.

If you were an herb,
you'd be marjoram.

Am I one?

[Roy] No, you'd
be meadowsweet.

Looks like a rose
but got no thorns.

Pa, bet you
can't name me.

You'd be
a sassafras sapling.

[Roy] Mary Call?
She'd be yarrow.

Yarrow's weak
and ferny.

A strong wind
could blow it away!

It's stronger than it looks.
It's a spunky plant.

Well-nigh indestructible.

Papa.

[coughing]

[Romey] Hey, looks like
there's some lamb's quarters
over here.

[Mary Call] Good.

Get the brake,
Mary Call.

[Ima Dean]
Yeah, Mary Call,
get the brake.

[Roy coughing]

Uh-uh.

What's wrong with
the lamb's quarters
along here?

Well, it's better
on up yonder.

[turkey gobbling]

[shushing]

[Mary Call whispering]
Let's catch one!

[whispering]
Quiet.

[Roy coughing]

[squeaking]

There.

[screams]

[Romey] Hey,
you stupid turkey!

[Ima Dean]
Get him! Hurry up!

Shoot!

Get him, Romey.
Get him!

Ow.

[Mary Call] Looks like
lamb's quarters for supper.

Do you think I should
stay with him, Mary Call?

No, just get back
to work, Romey.

He just asked
a question, Mary Call.

Air's thin up here.

I want to get Roy Luther off
this mountain before he has
another one of his spells.

[Roy coughing]

[Mary Call]
Hit the brake, Devola.

[Ima Dean] Yeah, Devola,
hit the brake.

[Romey] Hold it, Devola.

Darn old rocks.

Easy now.

[Mary Call] If there's
anyone in this world

for whom we Luthers
have an unholy hatred,

it's Kiser Pease
and his sister, Goldie.

Four years ago
they stole our land

by paying some taxes
my father had allowed
to fall behind.

Since then we've worked
as sharecroppers on
the same land we once owned.

Goldie Pease has gone
to live in Asheville.

And we would have rejoiced
if Kiser had gone with her,

or even further.

You want to rest now,
Roy Luther?

Not in front of
Kiser Pease' house.

Well, they'd give us
a drink of water

and we could see
his yellow kitchen.

[Mary Call] You heard
what Roy Luther said.

I'd die of thirst before
I'd take water from
that greasy outlaw.

Kiser's not a greasy outlaw.

Get the brake,
Mary Call.

Yeah, get the brake,
Mary Call.

[cart squeaking]

Hang on,
Ima Dean.

-I am holding on!
-Devola,
get the gate!

-Easy now, Papa.
-Yeah.

Ima Dean, get that mangy
crow out of my snap beans!

[Ima Dean]
He's not a mangy crow.
He's my friend.

Come on, Rigs.
Come on, boy.

[Romey] Ima Dean!

We're gonna
have that mangy crow for
supper one of these nights.

Oh, boy, good boy.

What a cruel
thing to say.

[coughing]

Devola, come
help me some.

[Devola] Coming.

[coughing]

Come on over here
in Mama's old rocker.

[sighing]

Warm weather's just
gonna do wonders
for you, Roy Luther.

[sighs]

Romey, your turn
to ask the blessing.

Look out, Lord,
we're gonna eat.

[all chuckling]

How do you expect to go
to heaven when you die,
talking like that?

[Romey] Roy Luther says it.

Well, I wish he wouldn't.

Well, I figure the Lord
likes a joke as much
as anybody else.

It's just that you ought to
be making your peace with...

I've made that peace,
Devola.

Ima Dean, when's
the last time
you had a bath?

[Ima Dean] I don't know.

Well, I know when
you're gonna get one.

[all laughing]

♪ I love my love
and well he knows ♪

[playing guitar]

♪ I love the ground
whereon he goes ♪

♪ If you on earth
no more I see ♪

♪ I won't serve you
as you have me ♪

You're getting soap
in my eyes, Mary Call.

Okay, that's enough.

Come on, Ima Dean.

Everybody,
look away now.

Nobody's gonna
look at you.

[Mary Call] There is a part
of me known only
to Miss Fleetie Breathit,

the principal
of our school.

It was she who first
suggested that I should
record my thoughts,

and all the events of
my life in a journal.

Those moments of writing
at the end of a day

have become a secret joy.

But lately I've begun
to feel a bottomless fright,

for Roy Luther's health
is getting not better,

but worse.

He seems weaker.

And I... I don't
know what to do.

[Roy whispering]
Mary Call?

[Mary Call] Papa?

[shushing]

[Roy] Made of chestnut.

I always took pleasure
in chestnut trees.

Yes, Papa.

I want you to promise me
some things, Mary Call.

You're the strongest
and I'm depending
on you.

Yes, Papa.

Devola took
your mother's place.

And you're gonna
have to take mine.

Yes, sir.

When it comes
my time to die,

let me go real quiet.

No doctor, no undertaker,
no preacher.

They just take money.

Kiser Pease

has got his eye on Devola.

And Devola is interested.

Don't let him have her.

I'll never let
Kiser Pease marry her.

Anyway, you're gonna
get better, Roy Luther.

Up on Old Joshua,
I've made a place
to rest.

Papa.

I want you to promise me
that you'll keep the family
together.

That you'll take pride
in the Luther name

and not ever take charity.

I promise.

I got to warn you,
Mary Call.

Roy Luther?

He's had
a right bad spell.

We're gonna get you
well, Roy Luther.

Romey.

[Mary Call] Romey.

Romey, wait up.

Romey.

Come on, Romey,
wait a minute.

Where do you think
you're going?

We've got to get him
a doctor, Mary Call.

I don't want
Roy Luther to die.

I made some promises
to Roy Luther, Romey.

One of them was
no doctors.

[Mary Call]
No doctor had ever been
in Roy Luther's house

and none ever would.

I set Devola to making
poultices of gum camphor
and turpentine,

and they seemed to
ease his breathing.

In the nights and
days that followed,

we took turns keeping
watch over Papa.

At first he couldn't
take nourishment.

But when I made him
some tamarack tea,

he seemed to take
a turn for the better.

Uh-oh. Kiser Pease.

[Kiser] Mary Call?

Will you ask your daddy
to step out here?

I can't.
He's sick in bed.

Well, I'll just talk
to him in there then.

[Mary Call] Wait a minute.

Hey there, Kiser.

Watch out, Romey.

I'm right glad
you're around again.

Uh, how you been keeping?

She's been
keeping just fine,

so we don't have to stand
around yammering about it.

Mary Call, I sure do
pity the man you marry.

I feel the same for whoever
you hook up with, Kiser.

Mary Call, I had in mind
talking to Roy Luther
man to man.

Well, only a little while.

He's been mighty sick.

How you doing,
Roy Luther?

Well, I'd have been by
to see you before now,
but I...

I've been
laid up myself.

I'm gonna own right
up to it, Roy Luther.

There's been hard feelings
between you and me.

But to my way of seeing
it now, I've done you a favor.

Now, somebody else
could have come along
and paid them taxes off

and kicked you off
this place the same day.

What's your point, Kiser?

What I come here to say,
Roy Luther, is that...

Well, I'd make Devola
a good husband.

I'd make you Luthers
a good in-law.

What Roy Luther wants to say
is you can't marry Devola.

He's against it,
and I've promised
never to let it happen.

I'd be good to that
little girl, Roy Luther.

Now, if anything
ever happened to you...

[Mary Call] You're
getting him too excited!
You better go!

That's a mighty
sick man in there.

I've seen sicker
get better.

I don't reckon he's got
any money laid aside, has he?

Yeah.

Well, the only thing
I can think of is
the county welfare.

That's charity.
Luthers don't take charity.

Well, of course, Roy Luther
could have done a lot better
with this place

than he done, too,
you know.

You telling me he could
have worked harder?

No, just better.

You shut up, Kiser.
Stop running him down
and get off our land.

Whose land did
you say it was?

Well, I wish you luck.

He ain't gonna
run us off, is he?

No, Romey.

Kiser isn't gonna
run us anywhere.

We ought to be planting
potatoes instead
of digging them.

Some got left in
the ground after harvest.

Can't let them
go to waste.

Mary Call?

What, Romey?

Have you ever seen
a dead person?

Mama.

What'd she look like?

Kind of pale and

shrunk up.

Why?

Just wondering.

Roy Luther's gonna
leave us, isn't he?

He might.

If he does,
what'll we do?

Well, I don't know yet.

Where're we gonna go?

Somewhere.

Romey, we're gonna live.

Don't worry about things.

[horn honking]

[newscaster chattering
on radio]

Guess we'll just
have to go find him.

I don't want
to go in there.

You want him to say
we didn't bring him his share
of the potatoes?

Old skinflint.

Hello. Who is it?

Oh.

[Kiser coughing]

[Kiser groaning]

Sick.

[Romey] What do you
reckon he's got?

-[shouts]
-Whoops.

Oh, hell.

[Mary Call] I know
what he's got.

-He's got pneumonia.
-Oh!

[Romey] Are we gonna do
anything for him?

Sure.

We're gonna
keep him alive.

Wouldn't be any
good to us dead.

He's no good to us now.

Yeah, but he's gonna be.

Listen, we need onions.
Lots of onions.

Oh, no, not that cure.

Now, when we get
done with this,

I want you to run home
and bring Devola back here.

We're gonna need all
the help we can get.

Poor Kiser.

Save your pity
for somebody
that deserves it.

Oh, Romey, please.

Where are you
taking me?

[Devola] He smells.

[Kiser] What are you doing?

[Devola] We ought
to give him a bath.

[Mary Call] Well, he's gonna
need a bath is after we're
through with him.

[Devola] Now,
let him down easy.

Why should we?

[Kiser groaning]

[Kiser]
Oh, the devil's got me!

The devil's gonna get
you soon enough, Kiser.

You be still.

[Mary Call] Hold him, Romey.
Hold him.

Romey, you come sit on him.

[Kiser groaning]

[Devola] Be careful.

Ow, that's hot.

[Mary Call]
Not hot enough for Kiser.

[Kiser screaming]

[Romey] Mary Call,
this stink is terrible.

You stay right there, Romey.

[Kiser] Oh, God.

[Ima Dean]
What are you doing?

[Devola] I thought
I told you to stay home.

I wanted to see.

Ima Dean!

God!

[Kiser] Oh, God!

[rooster crowing]

Mary Call?

Is that you?

[Mary Call]
Yeah, Kiser.

You came close
to dying, Kiser!

You're still real sick.

You know, if I went away
and left you now, you'd die.

Don't leave me.

Well...

Can't think of any
reason for staying.

I'd pay you.

Uh, $5?
Maybe...

I don't want your money.

It's Roy Luther's land.

I want it back!

In our name,
free and clear.

And I want you to sign
a paper that says so.

Here, let me read it to you.

"To who it may concern.

I, Kiser Pease,

who's in my rightful mind

do tell the world

that the land I took

from Roy Luther is
rightfully his again

and belongs to
the Luther family forever,
so help me God. Amen."

If...

If I sign,
you won't let me die?

I promise.

Well, I... I trust you,
Mary Call.

-Morning, Mr. Nelson.
-Morning, Mr. Nelson.

Morning,
how are you?

-Hello, Mr. Knight.
-Hello, Mr. Knight.

[Knight] Mary Call.
Romey.

That you, Mary Call Luther?

What brings you all
in from the sticks?

I needed some supplies,
Mrs. Connell.

Where's Mr. Connell?

He'll be out
in a jiffy.

Hear your daddy is
on the go-down.

Yes'm, he took
a little spill.

Well, howdy, Mary Call.
Hey, Romey.

What can we do for
you this fine day?

I have a list,
Mr. Connell.

Uh-huh.

All right.

[Mrs. Connell] Both of
my parents passed on
when I was a little girl.

Had to go live with
a cranky old aunt.

We don't have anything
to worry about like that.

Nothing bad is gonna
happen to Roy Luther.

Now, that's for God,
and God alone to decide.

And if he decides
to take Roy Luther,

you all Luthers gonna
have to look for help.

Don't you worry.

There's institutions
for folks like you.

Old bat.

Here you are, Mary Call.

I got to run on over
to Banner Elk.

You all want a ride
to the turnoff?

[both] Yes, sir!

Show this to
your daddy, Mary Call.

[girl] Hi, Romey.

"Balm of Gilead.

Boneset herbs.

Witch hazel."
What's this for?

Well, that's a price list
I got from a botanist down
in Asheville.

Your daddy'll
know what it is.

You mean people pay
for things you can
just pick up in the woods?

What'll they
do with them?

Same things
your mama did.

Make medicine.

You know, half the people
old Doc Jenkens cured,

he did with the help
of the herbs he got
from your mama.

Cosby Luther was
the best wild-crafter

and herb doctor we had
in these mountains.

[Mary Call] We got
a book at home Mama gave
Roy Luther called,

A Guide To Wild-Crafting.

[Romey] Look at this.
Twenty-five cents a pound
for witch hazel.

[Mary Call] If people
are paying prices
for these things,

how come we didn't
know about this before?

[Mr. Connell] Well, botanists
say that the doctors have
found out

that there's a lot more worth
in these old-timey remedies.

If Roy Luther
don't feel up to it,

you children might
go wild-crafting.

Make yourself
a lot of money.

[Romey] Old Joshua's just
covered with this stuff.

Mary Call,
we could get rich.

[Mr. Connell] Well,
you keep your eyes
peeled up there,

and don't go sucking
on any roots,

for some of them
is deadly poison.

[Mary Call] Oh, Roy Luther,
what a day it's been.

Romey called Mrs. Connell
a bat and I can't blame him.

And Mr. Connell gave us
a price list
of wild-crafting things.

Just wait till I tell you...

Tell you...

[Devola]
♪ Been a long time

♪ Traveling

♪ Here below

♪ Been a long

♪ Time traveling

♪ Away from my home

♪ Been a long time

♪ Traveling

♪ Here below

♪ To lay

♪ This

♪ Body down

Before we go,

I want each of us
to say some good things.

The good things in our heart
we remember about our father.

Well, he was good.

And he loved us all,
fair and square.

I was proud to have
him for my daddy.

And I hope he'll
stay peaceful in here.

The Lord is your shepherd now,
Roy Luther.

Be happy with him.

And don't worry about us.

Goodbye, Papa.

♪ Been a long time

♪ Traveling

♪ Here below

♪ Been a long

♪ Time

♪ Traveling

♪ Away from my home

♪ Been a long time

♪ Traveling

♪ Here below

♪ Been a long

♪ Time traveling

♪ Away from my home

♪ To lay

♪ This

♪ Body down

[Mary Call] I have kept two
of my promises to Roy Luther.

There has been no doctor
and no undertaker.

But other promises
were made.

To take pride in our name.

To keep our
family together.

And to never let
Kiser Pease marry Devola.

But what worries me most,

is keeping Roy Luther's
death a secret.

If anybody ever finds
out he's passed away,

they'll take us
to the county home
for sure.

[hatchet chopping]

I don't know if I'll
be able to do all
Roy Luther asked me.

Since I've nothing
to depend on
but my wits

and wild-crafting.

[Mary Call] Here's yarrow.

What Roy Luther said I was.

[reading] "Among
superstitious people,

yarrow is thought
to have the properties
of a love potion."

Hear that, Devola?

[Devola] Wouldn't do me
any good,

the way everybody around
here hates Kiser so.

[Mary Call]
Well, pick it anyway.

"The lady's slipper
is a noble plant.

An infusion of the roots

is a sure remedy
for sleeplessness."

[change clinking]

What are you gonna
buy with your money,
Romey?

I'm gonna buy me
a book that tells me how old
the Great Smoky Mountains are.

I'm gonna buy
me a radio.

How about you,
Devola?

Well, I'll put my money with
yours, sugar, to help buy
the radio.

[Romey] Mary Call'll put hers
in an old sock and save it.

I don't know where you got
the idea I was a tightwad.

-Uh-oh.
-[Ima Dean] Uh-oh.

[Devola] Company.

[Mary Call]
Not the kind we want.

Y'all come on!

Get all this wild-crafting
stuff out of sight.

Why?

Because Kiser'll
probably want a share of it.

[Romey] I know that.

[Mary Call] Get moving.

[Romey] Stop bossing
me around.

Devola, grab
this one. Here!

Hurry, y'all!

[Devola]
Hurry up. Come on.

[Romey] Hurry, Ima Dean.

[Ima Dean] I am hurrying.
I'm hungry.

Romey?

Go make your bed.

[Ima Dean] Yeah, Romey,
make up the bed.

-[Romey] I am, Ima Dean.
-[Devola] Look out, sugar.

[hen clucking]

I'll help you, Romey.

[Ima Dean] Romey,
where'd you put my doll?

Everybody ready?

[Ima Dean] Where's my doll?

[Devola] Did you get
all the roots?

-Pick this up.
-Where's my doll?

Come on, Ima Dean,
hurry up.

[Devola]
Take the broom, Ima Dean.

[Romey] Hurry, Ima Dean.
Get this one.

[Ima Dean] Which one?

[Ima Dean] Everybody ready?

[horse neighing]

Hi, Kiser.

Hi, Mary Call,
how you doing?

Just fine, Kiser.

Your daddy around?

What do you want with him?

Well, now, Mary Call,
I think that's between
Roy Luther and I.

He's real sick, Kiser.

I'm Roy Luther's
spokesman now.

Head of the family, doing
all planning, and making
all decisions.

You know, you're
enough to scare a man.

Why can't you be sweet
and nice like your sister?

Because sweet and nice girls
get themselves run over
by people like you.

Mary Call, I aim
to marry Devola.

What you got
in those gunny sacks?

I brought Devola
a couple of hams.

Listen, Mary Call,
why don't you help me?

Why don't you talk
to Roy Luther for me.

You know
how to talk to him.

Remind him how I already
gave him his land back.

Tell him I'd take him
for rides in my car.

Car rides might
scare Roy Luther.

He's not used to cars.

Well, I'd bring it over here
and let him sit in it
every day for a spell.

You know,
get him used to it.

Then, after
Devola and me married,

why, we'd take him for rides
and he wouldn't get scared.

I can't let you marry Devola,
and you know that.

But as long as you're here,
you might as well come on in.

[exclaiming disgustedly]

And don't forget the hams.

Well, how you been
keeping, Devola?

All right, Kiser.

Um...

[clearing throat]

You always been partial
to yellow. I got this shirt.

That's real pretty.

Uh...

Uh, listen, Devola,
I thought you might be
hungry for some ham meat.

Oh, that was real
nice of you, Kiser.

Wasn't it, though?

I'll just put them someplace
cool before this hot weather
makes them go rank.

You know, them hams
come off of old Bugle.

That big old white pig?

Yeah.

Every time she'd see me
coming, she'd just squeal
her head off.

Must have liked you.

She always acted
like she did.

[Ima Dean] Look what I got.

Well, that's...

Real nice, sis.

[humming]

I bought this old razorback
hog one time, that he went
wild or something.

You know...

[thumping]

Howdy, Romey.

Anyway, uh,
this old razorback,

all one night he tried
to break his pen down,

and, uh...

Did he huff and puff
and blow his house in?

Sis, it'd be worth
a dime of my money

if you'll take them play
pretties someplace else.

But Mary Call told me
to stay here.

Ima Dean?
Just let Kiser finish
telling his story.

I forgot where I was now.

He was huffing and puffing.

Oh. Oh, yeah.

Well, all that night...

[Mary Call] Kiser?

I told Roy Luther you'd
be bringing your car by.

And he said he'd be glad
to sit in it for you.

Mary Call, if Roy Luther's
awake, I'd appreciate
a word with him.

Well, he fell right off back
to sleep after I finished
talking with him.

Well...

I reckon I'll just
mosey along.

You want to walk
to the gate with me,
Devola?

[Mary Call] Devola's got
stuff to do in the house,

but I'll be glad
to walk you there, Kiser.

Never mind, Mary Call.
I know the way.

You think he believed
you about Roy Luther?

Yeah. I think he did.

Phew.

[Devola] Lobelia.

"An infusion of lobelia is

said to bring relief
from asthma and influenza."

[Ima Dean and Romey laughing]

[Romey] I'm gonna
get you, Ima Dean.

Romey! Back to work.

You, too, Ima Dean.

Mary Call, I'm tired.

And don't give me
any excuses.

Who put you in charge?

-[Ima Dean] Yeah, Mary Call.
-I did.

[Romey] Okay for you,
Mary Call.

Leave him be, Mary Call.

Have you got
a better idea?

You could be
a little patient.

I promised Roy Luther
I'd keep this family together.

Mary Call, we can't keep
it hidden forever that
Roy Luther's gone.

[Mary Call] We have reached
a milestone in our lives.

We have kept the death
of Roy Luther a secret,

and the family
is still together.

With the money we earned
wild-crafting,

we have survived
a dangerous summer.

I know Devola thinks
I'm cruel and heartless,

but we have no other choice
if we are to stay out
of an institution.

Through it all,
I've led a double life.

Wild-crafting by day,

writing in my journal
at night.

I don't know what I would
do without my journal,

for there's no one else
to whom I can pour out
what is in my heart.

There are so many things
I long for,

soap that smells
of flowers,

a dress that's
not a hand-me-down.

I know these are not
important things,

but I long for them.

School begins tomorrow.

I've looked forward
to this day,

yet I'm uneasy.

For no one must know
Roy Luther is gone.

Damn.

Can I take my
rooster, Mary Call?

To school?

Sure.

I should say not.

Romey takes things.

[Romey] Show and tell.

You don't show and tell
the first day.

Besides, we've got
more important things
to think about.

We'd better practice
all the things I told you.

Remember your answers?

[Ima Dean] Yeah.

Ima Dean,
how's Roy Luther?

He's just fine.

Right.

Uh, Romey can I
see you a minute?

This doesn't look like
Roy Luther's signature
on your report card.

He's been sick,
Miss Fleetie.

His handwriting's
kind of shaky.

[Mary Call] Good.

Devola, this is Kiser.

Is your Daddy in?

You can't see him, Kiser.
He's asleep.

What's he got?
Sleeping sickness?

He's on the mend, Kiser.
Just go away before
you wake him up.

Ima Dean, how's Roy Luther?

He's got sleeping sickness.

No. No.

He's just fine.
You remember that now.

[children shouting]

[crying]

Don't be scared, honey.

Uh-oh.

Come on, it's all right.

[Ima Dean] He's scared.

But you're not.

Uh-uh.

Anyway, Luthers don't cry.

Hey, Romey, you going
out for basketball?

-Yeah. Sure.
-Watch it.

Watch it.

Not right now, anyway.
No time to practice.

Where you Luthers
been all summer?

Came by your place
one day. Nobody home.

Well, we've been
busy, Gaither.

We're in the wild-crafting
business.

Connells say your dad's
been right bad off.

Well, he was.

But he's all better now.

Why don't you all come
by the mill after school?

[Mary Call]
Afraid we'll have
to get on home.

Maybe some other time.

[Romey] Phew,
that was close.

[Alma] Mary Call Luther,
I'm mad at you.

What'd I do?

Didn't come and see me
the whole summer.

Hi, Romey. Ima Dean.
Where were you?

We were busy.

We did some wild-crafting.

You gonna run for class
president again this
year, Mary Call?

I don't know. Maybe.

[girl] Did you hear about
Joyce-Lynn Taylor?

What's she done now?

Going steady with
Luke Fitzgerald.

Oh, you're kidding.
See y'all.

Hello, Luthers.

Hello, Miss Fleetie.

Oh, all three
of you this year.
Oh, how wonderful!

-We're in
the wild-crafting business.
-This is Ima Dean.

Welcome, Ima Dean.

How's Roy Luther?

He's just fine.

"Most exciting thing all
summer was when my uncle
came to see us.

He came on his motorcycle.
He took me for a ride on it.

He showed me
how to work it.

I would like to have
a motorcycle
and one day when...

When I get the money,
I will get myself one."

[Miss Fleetie]
That's very interesting, Bob.

You know, I've always
had a secret yen

to ride one of those
things myself.

[students laughing]

Uh, who else has
a composition?

It's not what I did
on my summer vacation.

[Miss Fleetie]
Oh, well, it needn't be.

"Last night I stood
alone on a hill

and watched
the distant stars.

The wind swept down from
the sky like a dark river

and in its flow and whisper

I heard the music
of the planets.

Suddenly,
a great star burst

and fell to earth in
a shower of star fire.

Where the star fell
is a fair land.

You can find it if you
follow the arbutus trail

to where the lilies bloom."

[bell ringing]

Uh, class dismissed.

[all chattering]

[girl laughing]

Miss Fleetie,
may I see you?

You certainly may.

Do you think you can fix it
up for me and Romey to work
in the cafeteria this year?

You know, so we get
the free hot lunches.

I'll take care of it.

I've got another problem,
too, Miss Fleetie.

My schedule's been
switched around.

I signed up for one class,

and somebody changed
me to typing.

I'm that somebody.

I'd love to take typing

but I'd planned
to take home ec
in that period.

Do you remember last spring,
Mary Call,

when I told you that you have
an unusual ability with words?

Yes, ma'am.

I've been keeping my journal.
Like you said.

I've had my heart broken,
Mary Call, in this room more
times than I care to say.

I've seen young men and women
with the makings to be doctors
or lawyers,

musicians or artists.

I've seen them graduate
and leave me,

not to go on
into the world,

but to go back into
the hills and hollows.

I'm not gonna let that
happen to you, Mary Call.

Your life should
count for something.

I'm sorry, Miss Fleetie.

I've got to go find
Romey and Ima Dean.

Carry your books,
Mary Call?

They're not heavy, Gaither.

Have you seen anything
of Romey and Ima Dean?

They walked home
with my sister.

It's really going neat.
I'm gonna check
on the corn.

Good.

Real good.

The meal's coming out fine.

It sure is.

[Romey] See?

[Rose] You want another
slice of cake, sugar?

Uh-huh.

I vow, doesn't Roy Luther
give you enough hugging
Ima Dean?

He's just fine.

It sure is nice to have
a baby around to hug again.

Alma and Gaither push me
away and say, "Oh, Mama"

every time I get
close to them.

[Ima Dean giggling]

Where's Gaither?
I could sure use
that boy to help me.

[Alma] He waited to walk
home with Mary Call.

Well, if that boy going
to start to courting,

he can do it
on his own time.

Because he knows I've got
work waiting for him.

Love bug bites a boy,
he loses all sense.

Don't you remember,
old man?

I didn't marry you
for love, old woman.

I married you
for your chocolate cake,

and I'm ready for some now.

Devola got a sweetheart yet?

No, ma'am.

Has too. Kiser Pease.

Well, I do vow.

What does Roy Luther
say about that?

Roy Luther is...

Roy Luther has
no use for Kiser.

Says she can't marry him.

Well, Devola could do
worse than Kiser...

[Mary Call]
Romey? Ima Dean.

[Ima Dean] Hi, Mary Call.

Y'all come on.

Come on by, Mary Call.

I've got a chocolate cake
warm from the oven.

Thanks all the same,
Mrs. Graybeal.

But we got a lot of work
to do before dark.

Y'all come on.

Bye, bye, sugar.

Want to do homework
together, Mary Call?

I can come over
right after supper.

-I did mine
in study period.
-[Ima Dean] Bye.

[Romey] See y'all.

-[Ima Dean] Bye.
-Well, I could
come over anyway.

Well, better not,
Gaither.

I'll see you
tomorrow in school.

[Ima Dean] Don't you want
some cake, Mary Call?

[Romey] Gosh sakes,
what's the big hurry?

You almost blew it.

And besides,
we got work to do.

[Ima Dean]
♪ Rabbit in a log

♪ And I ain't got no dog

♪ How will I get him?

♪ I know

♪ I'll get me a briar
and twist it in his hair ♪

♪ That's the way
I'd get him, I know ♪

[humming]

Do little ones count?

At $3 a pound,
they all count.

I can't see why anybody would
pay that just for an old root.

Maybe that's why
they call them goldenseal.

[Mary Call] Very funny,
Romey. Very funny.

[Ima Dean humming]

[Devola reading]
"The roots must be dried
evenly, by artificial heat

of not more
than 100 degrees."

[Romey] How you supposed
to know that?

"After several hours of this,
they should be moved to
a warm, dry place,

and turned at least four
times a week to prevent rot
or dampness from setting in."

Ain't it awful we didn't
know about making money
wild-crafting sooner?

You're never gonna
learn anything that way.
Do it in your head.

Darn homework.
Whoever thought it up
in the first place?

Smart people.
Stop fussing and do it.

[Ima Dean] Want to hear
how high I can count?

One two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight...

[Mary Call] Why don't you
write your numbers, honey?

I can't write them.
I can only say them.

Well, a little later.
Romey's having a hard time.

Want me to help you, Romey?

Sure, Ima Dean.
Figure this out for me.

Mr. Brown's living room is
10 feet, seven inches long

by 12 feet,
two inches wide.

His kitchen is eight feet
by 11 feet, ten inches.

His bedroom is 10 feet
by 13 feet, four inches.

How many square feet are
in Mr. Brown's house?

Tell it to me again.

[Mary Call]
It's your homework.
You figure it out.

Yeah, Romey.

Surprised I got enough energy
to stay awake, much less do
homework.

The way you wake me up
at the crack of dawn

and order me
around all day.

We all have our burdens
to bear, Romey.

I guess I'm yours.

Well, you're one heavy
burden, let me tell you.

[honking]

It's the Connells.

Keep them outside.
Don't let them in
till I'm ready.

I'll get the bread out.

[Romey] Hi, y'all.

[Mr. Connell] Evening, Romey.

Howdy, Mr. Connell.
How are you, Mrs. Connell?

Well, I just wheeze
for days if I breathe too
much of this mountain air.

Well, here, let me
get the gate for you.

You got to open it a special
way or the hinges will fall
off.

Roy Luther ought
to fix that gate.

It could fall and mash
somebody's toe.

He'll get around to doing
it one of these days.

Well, I vow, this place has
gone to rack and ruin

since Cosby Luther's
not around.

This whole yard was
a flower garden in her day.

Uh, we've planted vegetables.
You want to see the tomatoes?

Can't say as I do.
You see one tomato plant,
you've seen them all.

You want to see
Ima Dean's rooster?

I do not.

I was pecked by
a rooster once when
I was a little girl

and I can't
abide 'em since.

It sounds like an interesting
story, Mrs. Connell.

Tell me about
that time you got
pecked by that rooster.

Well, it was
down yonder.

I was about seven,
eight years old and...

Romey, will you
kindly step aside
and let me pass, please?

Oh. Well, I didn't
know we had company.

Y'all come on in.

Romey, what kind of host
are you keeping company
in the yard?

Not company, Mary Call.

Just us Connells.

Oatmeal bread.

It's a present for Roy Luther.
Still warm from the oven.

Oh, well, he'll
appreciate that.

Are you all in a hurry?

Or can you come in
and sit awhile?

No hurry whatsoever,

and while I'm here
I intend to take a look
at Roy Luther,

and see for myself
how he's coming along.

Oh, well, he's
asleep right now,

but y'all have a seat
on the porch.

Well, I'd rather sit inside
if it's all the same to you.

Well, come on in.

[Ima Dean] Hi, Mrs. Connell.

Oh, Romey, move Roy Luther's
sweater and slippers.

[Romey] Ima Dean, will you
stop biting your nails?

[Mary Call] And Ima Dean,
you let company have
Mama's rocker.

All right.

[Devola] Well, why didn't
somebody tell me
we had company?

We're not company, Devola.

Mrs. Connell's been baking

and we just thought
we'd bring your daddy
some fresh bread.

I told them
Roy Luther was asleep.

He is still sleeping,
isn't he?

Oh. Yeah, I just checked
in on him a minute ago.

Certainly goes to bed
with the chickens.

Roy Luther must
still be poorly.

'Course, he never was
what I'd call
a tower of strength.

Not a practical man
in any way, shape or form.

Mrs. Connell?

Just because
a body's got faults,

it's no excuse
not to love him.
Don't you reckon?

I vow, Devola.

I used to worry about you.

Dreamy and impractical
like your daddy,

but you're developing
into a regular person.

Well, I certainly would
like to have a word
with Roy Luther.

Maybe he's awake, what with
all the talking out here.

You want me to
peek in and see?

Why don't I just
peek in myself?

Now, Olive I don't want
you going into any strange
man's bedroom.

Son, you take a look.
If he's asleep,
you leave him be.

Out like a light.

[Mr. Connell] Good.

Well, Mary Call,

you tell Roy Luther
next time we'll drop by
earlier in the day.

Yes'm, I'll do that.

[exclaiming in relief]

[Romey] Old bat.

[Mary Call]
Mrs. Connell had no right to say what she did to Devola.

It's simply that Devola's
head is sometimes
in the clouds,

and she has to be
brought back to earth

even as our mother had
to do with Roy Luther.

[whining] Mrs. Connell.

Mrs. Connell what?

Tried to catch me.

Honey, you've had
a bad dream.

Now, you know I wouldn't
let anybody hurt you.

Why don't you crawl into
bed with me and just forget
about that old bat?

There you go.

[horn honking]

[Mary Call] Mmm.

[yawning]

Who the devil is that?

[chickens clucking]

It's Kiser Pease.

[exclaiming in disgust]

I wasn't expecting you.

Yeah, well, I'm on my way
over to Wilkes County
to buy hogs.

Uh, you want me to tow
Roy Luther out here so
he can sit in it for a while?

Roy Luther's
still asleep.

Well, I'll just
leave her here then.

But she'll stay locked
till me and Roy Luther
can sit together in it.

Devola will be
powerful put out.

She planned on sitting in it
and listening to the radio.

Oh. Oh, where is Devola?

She's in the bathroom.
Want me to go get her?

No. No, no,
don't get her if she's...

Oh, well, here...

Tell her I don't want nobody
sitting in that car but her
and Roy Luther.

And then tell her to turn
the radio off when she gets
through listening to it.

I don't want to run
that battery down.

If Kiser Pease had
the smidgen of an idea
Roy Luther was dead,

he'd have all of us but
Devola put in the county
home, just like that.

-[Devola] Kiser?
-I could take
Roy Luther's shotgun

and blow Kiser's head off.

Now, Romey, don't go
talking like a happy pappy.

Where's Kiser?

He lit out for Wilkes County,

but he said you could
listen to the radio.

[Ima Dean] I want
to hear the radio.

Just for a minute.
We're getting a late
start as it is.

Everybody get in.
Get in.

Where we going?

-Come on.
-I don't know.

Oh, look how pretty
the car is, Ima Dean.

-Man, this is nice.
-Come on.

[Ima Dean] I want to
listen to the radio.

[exclaiming]

[Devola] Yeah, let's go.
Come on.

Hey, look.

Nothing's happening.

Turn the key.

[Mary Call] Oh, yeah.
That's right.

Now, I think you pull
this thing down.

[exclaiming]

[Ima Dean] I've got
to go to the bathroom.

[Romey] Look out!

Devola, stop this thing!

[Romey] Help!

[all screaming]

[horse neighing]

Damned hippies.

[indistinct shouting]

[Ima Dean]
I'm gonna throw up.

You're not gonna cross
that bridge are you?

[cows mooing]

[Ima Dean] Look out
for the cows.

[horse neighing]

[all screaming]

[Ima Dean] I've got to go.

Bumpy ride.

How we gonna get
out of here?

I don't know.

I'm not very good
at going backwards.

[Romey] You're no master hand
at going forward, neither.

Do you want me to
drive, Mary Call?

Why didn't you tell me
you could drive?

[Mary Call] Devola,
did Kiser Pease show you
how to drive?

[Devola] That's right.

[honking]

[honking]

[honking continues]

Ima Dean.
Stop that racket.

Romey, go down
there and tell her
to stop horsing around

and get back to work.

Can I take a break, too?

A quick one.

[honking continues]

Quiet.

Knock it off, Ima Dean.

[Ima Dean]
You're not the boss, Romey.

Cut it out.

[radio playing country music]

[horn honking]

There is a limit
to human endurance.

Maybe it's time we all
stop for a bite to eat.

[Mary Call] Romey!
Turn off that radio!

One more honk out of you
and I'm gonna lay
my hand on your bottom.

Now back to work, Romey.

I didn't get my nap.

No time for naps.

Half a Saturday gone
on account of Ima Dean
and this car.

She's only five, Mary Call.

And I'm only fourteen.

Now go get me
a fresh gunny sack.

Go get it yourself.
I'm not your slave.

You're the hatefullest
person alive, Mary Call,

and I'm hungry,
and we came off
without any lunch.

Good. We can all
starve to death!

Mary Call?

I'm gonna take everybody
for a little ride.

Get them calmed down.

You do that, Devola.
I don't care if you never
come back.

You wouldn't say that
if Roy Luther was here
and I sure wish he was.

[Mary Call] So do I.

You think I asked
to be put out here on
this blasted mountain

working myself to a frazzle?

Nobody but some old crazy
would do what I'm doing.

Taking me on three
snotnosed kids to raise.

If I had the sense
of a rabbit,

I'd take off across
that mountain and never
even look back.

[exclaiming]

[bees buzzing]

[exclaiming]

[screaming]

[screaming]

[Kiser laughing]

Hey. Oh, Lord 'a' mercy,
Mary Call,

what did you gone
and got yourself into now?

Ha, ha, ha.

What?

Very funny.

While I was waiting,
I took the freedom of
speaking to Roy Luther,

but the door was locked.

So I went around
and looked in his window.

He ain't in there,
Mary Call.

Well, he must be off
on one of his joy rides.

Why don't you come back
another time, Kiser?

No. No hurry.

I got all the time
in the world.

Boy, you look like you been
shot through the apple orchard
and hit every tree.

[giggling]

Very funny.

Oh, that must be
Roy Luther now.

Come on, sugar.
Here we go.

Kiser Pease.

Now, Mary Call,
what happened to you?

[Mary Call]
I got too friendly
with a bunch of bees.

Where is Roy Luther?

You know where
he is Mary Call.

Up on Old Joshua.

Hush. Why didn't he
come home with you?

[Romey] We couldn't get him
to come with us.

He got disgusted
at Ima Dean.

All she ever does
is whine.

Well, uh, hey, Devola,
look here. I brought you
something.

Huh?

[pig squealing]

-Pick of the litter.
Arkansas razorback.
-Oh, thank you, Kiser.

Let me have him.
Let me have him, Devola.

-Be gentle, sugar.
-[Kiser]
Hold on to him now, honey.

-I can't hold him.
He wants down.
-Go get him.

-Don't let him get away.
-[Ima Dean] Get him, Devola.

[Devola] Hang on to him, honey.

-[Kiser] Ima Dean, get him now.
-Kiser?

I think you can take
your car home now.

Roy Luther's had
his share of sitting in it.

No. No, no, Devola can
keep on driving that car
if she's a mind to.

But she ought to have
a license, though.

Well...

[Romey] He's going
around in back of the house.

Okay. You can take
us to school one day,

and then you and Devola
can go on to Burn and get one.

Well, well,
if she wants to go,
we'll go.

Devola likes that pig,
don't she?

Yeah. She likes
most any animal.

She likes cows, too.

-Oh, yeah?
-Yeah.

[mooing]

[Kiser] Hey, Devola,
lookie here.

[Ima Dean]
A cow. A cow.

She's for you.

-Oh, Kiser.
-[Romey] Is she for us?

-She's so sweet and pretty.
-[Ima Dean] Can I pet him?

I'm much obliged
to you, Kiser.

Yeah, well, I think
you'll like her.

She's real gentle
and she just come
fresh two weeks ago.

Tie her in
the back yard, Devola.

Yeah, we can tie her
by the pig.

They'll be company
for each other.

[Ima Dean] Yeah,
they'll be company.

Come on.

[Ima Dean] Come on, cow,
come on, boy. Come on.

[cow mooing]

Mary Call, I want to
talk to Roy Luther now.

Kiser, I'd let you
but Roy Luther's not
here this morning.

He's root-digging
up on Old Joshua.

-Root-digging, huh?
-Yep.

At the crack of dawn?

Mary Call, there's deception
of the rankest kind
going on here.

Get in the truck.

Why can't we take the car?

Well, I learned you
on the truck, honey.

It'll make the test
easier for you.

[school bell ringing]

Home before dark, Kiser.

Roy Luther may be
queer in the head,

but he still knows
how to use a shotgun.

♪ My country, 'tis of thee

♪ Sweet land of liberty

♪ Of thee I sing

♪ Land where my fathers died

♪ Land of the pilgrims' pride

♪ From every mountainside

♪ Let freedom ring

May I speak to you
a minute, Mary Call?

Yes, Miss Fleetie.

It's about your brother.

I don't know
what's come over him.

He used to be one
of my best students.

But this year his mind wanders
and his grades are slipping,

and then this morning
in American history,
he fell asleep.

I'm mentioning it
to you first, because I know
you're close to Romey.

[Romey] What did I do?

[Mary Call]
Falling asleep in history.

So, Miss Fleetie
told you, huh?

Thank your lucky stars
she came to me

instead of trying to go
speak to Roy Luther.

You want us all to end up
in the county home?

No boss there could be
any worse than you are.

You stay awake
from now on.

What do you think I am?
Some kind of machine
that doesn't need sleep?

"Wake up, Romey.
Turn the roots, Romey.
Build a fire, Romey.

Bring in the firewood,
Romey.

Do your homework,
Romey." Huh?

And you're gonna have
to bring up your grades.

When am I gonna do that?

Spare time.

You make me laugh, Mary Call.
You're real funny. Ha, ha.

I'm not joking with you,
Romey.

I feel like shaking you.

Better not try.

Romey, grow up.

What are you
worried about?

I'm keeping promises,
Romey,

and I need
you to help me.

Okay.

[Romey] Here they come.

[Mary Call]
Now, let me handle it.

[Mary Call] All right
for you, Devola.

Where in the blazes
have you been?

Staying away this late
and worrying me to death.

Something awful's happened,
Mary Call.

Where's Kiser?

A truck ran over him.

He was crossing the street
and it hit him.

They said it broke both
his legs and maybe his jaw.

I've wished Kiser
some bad things,

but not that bad.

I just didn't know
what to do

so I got in Kiser's truck
and I came on home.

Well, at least Kiser Pease
won't be bothering us
for a while.

Kiser's not as bad
as people make out.

I've heard all I want
to about Kiser Pease.

I love him, Mary Call.

Well, I'm glad Papa's not
here to hear you say that.

Maybe Papa was
wrong about Kiser.

[Mary Call]
Weather had been
kind to us that year,

but suddenly it turned
on us with a vengeance.

[thunder rumbling]

There is a storm
building up inside me too.

And I know that
when it bursts,
it'll be a terrible thing.

And I'm trying with all
my strength to keep it
from happening.

[squealing]

[Devola] Hold still, Ernie.

I will not live
in the same house
with a pig.

Aw, Mary Call,
he's just a baby.

Romey, if what I think is on
the other end of that rope,

the answer is no.

Mary Call, she won't
take up much room.

Romey, cows thrive on water.

They love it.
It runs off their sides
like a duck's back.

What if this cow
got struck by lightning?

[Ima Dean] Yeah.

Oh, Romey.

"Oh, Romey" what?

Nothing. Lord help us.

[mooing]

[squealing]

Romey? Where is
she gonna poop?

If she looks like
she's got to go,

I'll take her
for a little walk.

You could build her
a little potty like the one
I used to have.

How you gonna make
a cow sit on a potty?

You're the one
that brought her in here.
You figure it out.

[rain pattering]

[thunder rumbling]

[door creaking]

[thunder rumbling]

[clattering]

[Devola] What happened?
Ima Dean?

Are you all right?

What the heck
is going on? Huh?

Mary Call.

[Mary Call] What happened?

[Ima Dean] I'm sleepy.

[Devola] Be careful, honey.

Lord, what next?

[Romey] Must have blown
off the old tree.

[Mary Call] Close the door.

[Ima Dean]
Look at the big old tree.

We're gonna get all wet.

Close the...
Well, it doesn't make
any difference anyway.

Maybe we can fix it.

There's nothing
we can do about it now.

Let's get in
out of the rain.

Come on, honey,
let's get inside.

[rooster crowing]

[mooing]

[Romey] If you'd have fixed
that roof, nothing like that
would have happened.

That was Roy Luther's job.

Roy Luther never
fixed anything.

It just wasn't
in his nature.

He had a lot of other
things to think about.

Well, what are we
gonna do now?

We're gonna get
ready for school.

School today?

School every day.

You want somebody to come
snooping around and see
why we're not there?

From now on, we're gonna
have to keep everybody out.

[Mary Call]
I routed my family
and stood over them,

prodding them to open their eyes, to dress, to wash,

to eat
and get ready for school.

At that hour they hated me.

And I hated myself knowing
how I appeared,

a pinch-faced crone,

straggle-haired, bony,

too desperate for anyone
with only 14 years on them.

Something had flown out
of my brother and sisters.

I would try to get them
to sing or talk,

do anything to
raise their spirits,

but they remained
somber and silent.

I'd give anything for
a Thanksgiving turkey.

Here, take this squash.

We'll have it boiled up with
some pinto beans, and turnips,
and potatoes.

It'll be just great.

When Roy Luther was alive,
we always had more.

Well, can't argue
with you about that.

We glutted ourselves
on Thanksgiving,

and then went back
to starving the day after.

I'm glad Roy Luther
can't hear you say that.

I wish he could.

I wish
he could see the fix
he's left me in.

[vehicle approaching]

[Mary Call]
See who it is, Romey.

Holy smoke.

It's Kiser's sister.
Goldie Pease.

I'll deal with her.

Get down.

[Ima Dean] You leave
old red alone. Tell her
to stop, Devola.

[Devola] Hush, Ima Dean.

Tell her to stop.

Where's Roy Luther?

He's sick. I think
it's something catching.

You tell him to come talk
to me through the door.

He's asleep right now.

Name of God.

What have you Luthers
done to Kiser's roof?

We didn't do it,
and it's not Kiser's roof.

He signed it back
over to Roy Luther.

Roy Luther paid him?

Not exactly.
Kiser signed a paper.

I'd like to see that paper.

[squealing]

[Ima Dean] Here, Ernie.

Pigs? In Kiser's house.

Just one pig.
And it's not Kiser's house.

It's not a house at all.
It's a barn.

Well, whatever it is,
it's ours.

See for yourself.

Where do you think
you're going?

Roy Luther, you ain't got
sense to pound sand down
a rat hole

if you think this thing
Kiser's signed is any good.

You hear me?

Sometimes he doesn't answer.

He's always been queer
in the head. Shiftless
to boot.

Don't you talk about
my Papa like that.

If he had any spunk,
you all wouldn't be living
the way you do.

Roy Luther, I know
you're in there!

And I know you can hear me.

I want you Luthers out
of this house in 48 hours.

But the paper's legal.
Kiser signed it.

Worthless. Just like Kiser.

Him and his hoojer deals.

[Devola] Ima Dean.

Papa!

Papa!

Papa!

[nurse paging on intercom]

Mary Call? Mary Call.

Good morning. I've been
dying to see somebody.

How you been keeping, huh?

Fine, Kiser. Just fine.

My goodness,
you've turned thin.

Yeah. Uh, here.
Have one of these doodads.

I can't stand these
damn kind of cookies.

No, thanks.

Uh, uh...
Sit down. Sit down.

Shouldn't you be lying down?

No, I been lying down.

I'm sick and nobody cares.

Nobody.
This place is killing
my nerves,

and I ain't got nobody to
watch out for me till I get
well again. Nobody.

Kiser, how would you
like to get married?

Well, uh, what'd you just...
What'd you just say?

I said, "Kiser, how would
you like to get married?"

Uh, I'd like it.

I'd like it. I would.

I'll be good to her.
I'll be good to you all.

How soon can it be,
Mary Call?

Kiser.

Listen, I'll get you all
another pig. Maybe two.

And I'll get Roy Luther
a little car,
maybe a pickup truck.

He always told me
he wanted a pickup truck.

-Kiser.
-What?

Kiser, I'm not talking
about you marrying Devola.

I thought you might
like to marry me.

You?

I don't care
how old you are.

I love you.

And I want to marry you.

Oh, Mary Call,
you don't love me.

You know you don't.

How do you know I don't?

Listen, Kiser, when somebody
tells you they love you,

you're not supposed
to act like that.

Now, Mary Call,
you've got no more
use for me

than you've got
for a clod of dirt.

I have so got use for you.

Listen, Kiser, you're
making me mad now.

I didn't come all this way
just to be insulted.

I ain't insulted you.

You have so.

You as much as
called me a liar.

Liar?

Listen, Kiser, do you want
to marry me or don't you?

No. No, I don't.

Damn you.
You treasoner, you.

-You sent Goldie there
to tell us to vacate.
-Huh?

You knew she'd given us
48 hours to get off the place.

Well, Mary Call,
I never even...

You treasoned me the same
way you did Roy Luther.

[Kiser] Now, wait a minute.

And you treasoned him
right into his grave.

Uh, Mary Call,
there ain't no use to bawl.

Who's bawling?

Now, listen, honey,
if I'd known Roy Luther
was dead...

You tell anybody,
and I'll blow your head off.

Oh, damn.

Now, you wait a minute.
Mary Call!

Mary Call, come back
here now, honey!

Please, Mary Call,
come on back!

Mary Call!

[nurse] Can I help in here?
What's going on here?

["All the Things Inside of Me"
playing]

♪ Wish there was a place
that I could go ♪

♪ Where I could do
as I please ♪

♪ There I could be all
the things inside of me ♪

♪ No one else can see at all

♪ Sometimes when
I am all alone ♪

♪ I imagine myself as a bird

♪ Flying free

♪ No one to talk to

♪ No words I can say

♪ I can't give away
what I feel ♪

♪ Someday I'll take the time

♪ To do what's on my mind

♪ And I'll learn
who I really am ♪

♪ But for now the night time
is all I have ♪

♪ When I'm alone

♪ I'll close my eyes

♪ And dream

[Mary Call] Damn.

[Kiser] Mary Call!

-[horn honking]
-Damn!

Hey, Mary Call!

Mary Call!

[honking]

Mary Call, we've been looking
high and low for you.

Leave me alone, Kiser.

Now, you've got
to listen to me.

I don't have to listen
to anybody. Especially you.

Listen. Your brother
and sisters are worried
to death about you.

Oh, really?

Well, it's time
they did some worrying,
let me tell you.

I'm not gonna do it
for them anymore.

Mary Call, now, come on now.
I'm taking you home.

I'm not going back there.

Mary Call,
now lookie here now.

I'm going as far from
this place as I can get.

-Mary Call,
listen to me, now.
-Richmond, Virginia.

Washington, D.C.
New York City.

Let somebody else worry.

You try hustling up
enough to eat
for three sniveling kids.

Try wild-crafting right up
till dark to keep clothes
on their backs.

Try keeping it a secret you've
buried your Papa without
a doctor or a preacher.

-Will you listen to me?
-Or even an undertaker.

Try keeping a house going
where nothing's been fixed
in the last hundred years.

Try fighting off every
busybody in the county
who's snooping around.

[Kiser] Will you just shut up
for a minute, please?

Try to do homework
while every minute

-you're afraid there'll come
a knock on the door.
-Mary Call, shut up!

Mary Call, Roy Luther
put a lot off on you
that didn't belong.

I let him down.

No, no, you didn't
let him down.

Now, you ain't got
nothing to be ashamed of.

You done all them things,

and you done them better
than a lot of grown people
could have done them.

You know something?

You ain't
nothing but a little
old shirt-tailed girl.

[fiddle playing
"Wedding March"]

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

and in the face of this
company to join together
this man and this woman

in holy matrimony,

which is
an honorable estate
instituted of God,

signifying unto us the
mystical union that is betwixt
Christ and his Church,

which holy estate Christ
adorned and beautified with
his presence and first miracle

that he wrought
in Cana of Galilee,

and is commended of St. Paul
to be honorable among all men,

and therefore is not by
any to be entered into..."

[Mary Call] It's not
an easy thing to say,

but Roy Luther was wrong
about Kiser.

He's a good man
and will be gentle
with Devola.

I know now that it is
possible to love someone

even though they fail you.

I still love Roy Luther
and I always will.

Perhaps that is
the true test of love.

Kiser's not as bad
as we thought he was.

I'll keep an eye
on him and Devola.

Oh, this is a fair place
to spend eternity.

The air smells
like honeysuckle.

And the wind in the pine trees
makes a joysome sound.

Sometimes on the wind,
I feel something say my name,

telling me to come
to some far-off place.

Mary Call.

Mary Call.

Once I'm through raising
Romey and Ima Dean,

I think I'll go.