Barn Red (2004) - full transcript
Michael Boloni, a simple farmer living on his family farm, refuses to sell his family's plot of land to a developer. With the help of Lydia, a woman whose family once worked Boloni's farm, Michael makes a stand to keep his cherished land.
(emotional music)
(geese honking)
(whetstone grinds)
- Great, yes, I gotta go, okay?
Mr. Bolini.
I'm Paul Haight.
I'm with Pine Cone Properties.
Here's my card.
- What can I do for you?
- Man, this is a beautiful place here.
I just wanted to come out and meet you.
I'm just driving around the
neighborhood introducing myself.
- Neighborhood, huh?
My nearest neighbor's
over a half a mile away!
- Well that's what I wanted
to talk with you about.
Mr. Bolini, time's are changing.
You know as well as I do that nobody
makes any money at farming anymore.
And frankly, this land is worth a hell of
a lot more developed into home sites.
Wait, wait, I'm sorry.
That just kind of blurted out like that.
I'm sure this land must mean a lot to you.
- Mister, this homestead was
in my family before I was born.
I know every square inch of it.
So you don't know how
much this means to me.
- Well, maybe not, but this is
a great opportunity for you.
- Some other time.
- Look, I represent a group of investors
to manage a land use shift
here in the township.
You know, bring in some nice roads,
utilities, that sort of thing.
You stand to make a fortune.
- Is that what they call it?
Land use shift?
- It's all around you, Mr. Bolini.
The Fullers over to the south?
They're ready to sell their
whole deal to us, 185 acres.
And to the north, the Eschs.
They're totally ready to cash in!
And others are all set too.
Man, your place is smack in the middle
of a big, modern neighborhood.
You have to sell!
- I don't have to sell nothing!
And you're trespassing, mister!
- Okay, I'll give you some
time to think about it.
(emotional music swells)
(engine starts)
- I thought you got rid of those horses.
- I did, got some goats instead.
- You got goats?
- Yep, last spring.
I thought they might
give me a hand, you know,
getting rid of all that
poison ivy on my farm.
- Do they do that kind of thing?
- Hey, they'd eat roofing
nails if I let 'em!
(laughs)
- Can't imagine that it's good for 'em.
- Well, they seem to like it.
You know, I feed 'em
other stuff of course,
but the best part is, they work cheap.
(laughs)
- Your next door neighbor
Mr. Esch came in, yesterday?
- [Michael] Oh?
- He said he was thinking
of selling his farm.
What's up with that?
- Well some guy is going around,
you know, wanting to
buy up the whole world.
Ha, he's been bugging me too.
All they want to do is
make home sites out of it.
- Yeah, everybody's talking about it.
You know, you've got a
real nice spot over there.
You could retire with the
money they'd give you.
- I don't want to retire.
Besides, retire to what?
- I'm guessing they're going
to get it one way or another.
- Yeah?
Well, come on, keep tossing.
I gotta get on home.
(upbeat music)
(honks horn)
Yes sir!
Something I can do for you?
- Hi, Mr. Bolini, I'm Ed Bennett.
I work at the Bennett
and Swinehort law firm?
- Oh, I know your dad!
- Yeah.
- Yeah, nice man.
- He said to say hello.
- Well thank you, thank you.
Yeah boys, hey ho.
(laughs)
- I'm just trying to get out and meet
all the clients I might be working with.
- Yeah but Mr. Bennett, you didn't come
out here just to chitchat.
- Well I do have some
business we should go over.
It's about your property.
- Well, what's it about then?
- 50 years ago or so, your folks
got the title to your
farm from your grandpa.
Now, when your dad died it went
to your mom because it was jointly owned.
When she passed away, it
was still in her name.
- So, what's the problem?
- Well the title should have been put
in your name before she passed away.
- Who cares?
It's all in the family, no?
- The Internal Revenue Service cares.
(sighs)
- I haven't saved up that much, you know.
- Mr. Bolini, don't worry, I just wanted
to let you know that there
might be a problem here,
but I'll start checking into it.
- You got a minute, Mr. Bennett?
- Sure.
- Come with me.
Come in, Mr. Bennett.
Come on here, in here.
I want to show you something.
1922, that was the year we
brought in our first crop.
Rodriguez and the Mitchell families.
And they used to work
the farm with my grandpa.
You know, I often wonder about
the future of this place.
I have no kids.
My niece in California, she comes out here
and in ten minutes she goes stir crazy.
I haven't seen her in four years.
You know, Mr. Bennett, sometimes
I get a big lump in my throat
when I see the peacefulness of this place.
But then I know that there's a big change
knocking on my door.
- Well first things first,
let me see about the title.
(jazz music)
(humming)
(chopping)
(sizzling)
(praying in Italian)
(sighs)
What the devil?
Morning.
Would you mind telling
me what's going on here?
- We're marking the lot lines.
- You're marking what lot line?
- These.
- You're way off that lot line, sister.
Way off!
- No, he's right.
- What's going on up there anyway?
- Well I heard they were gonna try
and start construction in the spring.
- Should be a pretty nice deal.
135 lots.
- Yeah, it's gonna be pretty nice.
(engine sputters)
- I'll be right back.
(engine revs)
Maybe you might want to
keep that engine running
until you get a new battery.
- Thanks.
- [Susan] Just sell the place.
- I may just have to, Susan, but--
- [Susan] Uncle Mike, times are changing.
I don't know why you don't
just retire, take it easy!
- Yeah, and then what?
- [Susan] You can come
out here to California.
There's a great new condo near here.
You'd never have to shovel snow again.
- I don't mind shoveling.
I like shoveling!
- [Susan] That's crazy!
- So, so how've you been?
- [Susan] Things are fine.
I just got promoted to partner.
- Oh, well that's nice, I guess.
- [Susan] I sure wish you lived out here.
- Oh, I just couldn't sit around, Susan.
- [Susan] You wouldn't, are you kidding?
There's tons to do here.
Walking, shopping, movies.
- Oh, no, no, I hate shopping!
- [Susan] What?
- I said I hate shopping!
- [Susan] You know, I feel bad for you
all by yourself out there.
- Well, don't feel bad, honest, because
well (sputters) I like to do
things around here, you know?
Honest.
Besides, this place
needs me you know, yes.
- [Susan] I don't know
what you're waiting for.
- Can you hang on just a minute?
Just a minute, darling.
- [Susan] Sure, I guess.
What are you up to?
- Just a minute.
Okay, go ahead.
- [Susan] What's that noise?
- Nothing, nothing.
- [Susan] Yeah right, you see
that's what I'm talking about.
Out here all that stuff is handled
so you can enjoy the things
that you really like.
- Well, I like taking care of my place.
- [Susan] So what are you trying to prove?
- Ow, doggone it.
- [Susan] What's the matter?
- Ah, nothing, nothing, nothing.
- [Susan] Ah, you're hopeless.
Look, I've got to get going.
- Well, Susan, I appreciate
you worrying about me
and for some people, you
might be right you know, but--
- [Susan] I guess I can only imagine
what that farm must mean to you.
Think about what I said, all right?
I love you.
- I love you too, sweetheart.
Yeah, bye-bye darling, bye.
- [Susan] Bye-bye.
(ethereal music)
(coughs)
(ghostly voices speaking Spanish)
- Hello, Mr. Bolini?
Hello?
Mr. Bolini!
- Can I help you?
- I'm Lydia Bailey.
- Bailey?
We used to have a family by the
name of Bailey who worked here.
- That's us.
That was my mom, my dad, aunts,
uncles, everybody worked here.
I was just a kid then.
Probably seven or so.
- Your mom used to make
the best apple pies!
She used maple syrup, right?
Haha, good to see you, yeah.
That was over 25 years
ago, for heaven sakes!
So, how's everyone?
- Mom passed away a few years back.
- Aww.
- Daddy's good though.
He works for DeSoto County in Florida,
working in social services.
- So what are you doing up here?
- Well, I had some vacation time coming
and I work for the county too.
- Uh-huh?
- And just thought I'd take a road trip,
see if I could find your place.
- Well, good!
I'm glad you did.
- It seems a little bit smaller.
I remember the orchard seemed
so far away from the house!
- Well that's 'cause you were smaller.
(laughs)
(sighs)
- I used to love running around here.
This was such a big part
of my life back then.
Hey, how's your wife Miss Margaret?
- Uh, she died about ten
years ago this month, yeah.
- I'm so sorry.
- She went out to hang up the wash one day
and she had a heart attack
and died that afternoon.
- That's so sad.
- Well, it's all part of
the big deal, you know?
My mom died just last month.
She lived to be 104 years
old, can you imagine that?
God bless her.
- She was always such a strong lady.
- Yeah.
(laughs)
- So, how's your year?
- Well, not too bad, not too bad.
Yeah, well you know they shake
the trees now with machines.
You don't have to hand pick anymore, yeah.
Well, I still hire some
help but it's not like
the good old days anymore, you know?
- Hey Mr. Bolini, do you mind
if I look around a little bit?
- Help yourself, not at all!
You go ahead.
Listen, I'm going to be through
here in about a half hour.
And I'll meet you up on the porch.
- Sounds like a plan.
- All right, good to see you.
(laughs)
Oh listen, there's some great
cherry juice in the refrigerator.
Help yourself.
- I just might do that.
(chuckles)
- By golly.
I see you found the straggly things, huh?
- They are so cute!
- Yeah, everybody likes to pet 'em.
Listen, you gotta be careful of the
poison ivy around here, you know?
These screwballs eat the stuff.
- Really?
Oh, leaves of three, leave it be.
Poison ivy, right?
(laughs)
- I got five acres up in the back.
This stuff grows like myrtle.
They ought to make it the state flower.
- Can't you spray it or something?
- Nah, listen, I just let
these guys nibble away at it.
Hey, I'm in no hurry.
Did you get some juice yet?
- Didn't make it that far.
- Well come on, let's go!
- Bye guys.
- Did you know that cherry
juice cures arthritis?
- No I didn't!
- Yeah we sell a lot of cherries to the
juice companies, you know?
And they make concentrate, pretty popular.
Cheers!
- To you and the place!
- Ooh, yeah.
(both sighs)
Eh?
- That brings back so many memories.
- You know, I was looking
at some photographs
of the different families that used
to be here working here, you know?
Let me take a look, I wonder.
Let me see.
Let's see.
That's my father.
That's...
Here!
Now isn't that your mom and dad, huh?
And that's you!
- It is!
- Huh?
- Oh, this seems like so long ago!
- It was!
And look at me, I still got the same hat.
- You do!
(laughs)
(phone rings)
- Ah, excuse me.
Hello!
- [Paul] Yeah, I wanted
to give you the heads up
that there might be some
surveyors in the neighborhood.
- They already were, in my front yard!
- [Paul] Ah, geez, I'm sorry about that.
I'll talk to 'em.
Hey look, I hope we have a chance--
- I am not interested!
- [Paul] Well I'll try and keep you posted
as to what's going on.
- Oh, I'm sure you will, goodbye!
- Friend of yours?
- You know sometimes I feel
like I'm being invaded.
- What'd he want?
- Oh, some land developer
wants to buy my farm.
And I don't know what to do
'cause I don't want to sell!
- Maybe you don't have to do anything.
- What?
- Well you own the land,
the farm, everything.
Just ignore the guy.
- Ah, well, that's what
I used to think too,
but it's not just me
and my farm, it's other
farms and the industry and
the way of life, you know?
(sighs)
- Mr. Bolini, is there more to this?
- Well, yes there is.
I got hit with a tax thing here and it
kind of took me by surprise, you know?
- Well, you don't have to sell, do you?
- No!
Well, I hope not anyway.
- I don't know much about taxes
but I do know something about zoning
and they can't just go
carving up the farm next door
without community approval.
Do you know anything about this?
- No.
- Has the township sent
you a notice or anything?
- Uh...
I don't think so.
- Well then it must not have happened yet.
I know they have to notify neighbors
if there's some kind of
big zoning in the works.
At least, that's the
way it works in Florida.
- Huh.
- Look, would you mind if
I looked into this for you?
I mean, my calendar's pretty
empty and I'm here anyway.
- Hey, what can it hurt?
- Well, it's early yet.
Maybe I can run into town and
check out the township office.
Do you know where it is?
- Well you go right out here to the road
and turn right and go down about
three miles, you can't miss it!
- Right.
All right, I'll be back.
- Listen, if you haven't
got a place to stay
I've got plenty of room here.
- I already booked a room in town.
But, I could cancel it, if your'e sure?
- The room at the top
of the stairs is yours!
I'm so thankful that
you're willing to help.
- It's my pleasure.
All right.
(laughs)
I'll be back.
- All right dear, bye-bye.
(sighs)
(speaks Italian)
- Everything from here
on up is agricultural
except for the gas station and the store.
- I heard there might be a new
development up here somewhere?
- There is one fella
who was trying to change
the zoning from
agricultural to residential.
The way the zoning law is right now
pretty much every five acres
can have a house on it.
He is pushing real hard to
put a house on every acre.
- Aren't the farms out here pretty big?
- 200 to 400 acres.
- Well where does it stand?
- It was tabled at the last meeting.
But I think his site plan wasn't complete.
- A site plan, so he is pretty far along.
- Oh yeah.
Plus, he didn't have the proper drainage
and a couple of other things.
- Where is it, exactly?
- It's right here, south of Hawks Road.
It's the Louie Esch farm.
(sighs)
- When are these meetings?
- The first Tuesday of every month.
- That's next week.
What are the chances this
guy's gonna get them to rezone?
- If he fixes the plan, I suppose
there's no reason it wouldn't pass.
He's made a pretty convincing case.
- And it sounds like a pretty big deal.
- Oh yeah, definitely.
He's applied for a
planned unit development,
wants 135 home sites.
So far this guy has done
everything by the book.
- And is that a complicated process?
- Not really.
To rezone we have to allow public comment
and then a vote is taken and if it goes
that far and it probably will, we'll have
to watch and see how
good the engineering is.
Erosion has been a huge issue lately.
Basements flood, people sue, I get
caught in traffic, stuff like that.
The thing that bugs me the most
about all of this is the traffic!
The boundaries are up to here.
- Oh I see, wow.
(laughing)
- I've said enough.
- I'm Lydia Bailey.
- I'm Joanne Martin, you live out here?
- No, no, I'm just visiting.
My family used to work the
Bolini farm when I was a kid.
I ran into Mr. Bolini and heard about some
of his troubles and
offered to help if I could.
He's not really much into the
mechanics of local government.
- His place is right next to this plan.
- I know.
He said some surveyors were
already out on his property.
- Oh, that's part of the process.
Is he in trouble?
- He said something
about a tax on his farm?
- Property taxes?
- I don't know, I don't think so.
- Oh, his mom just died.
Is this about an estate tax?
- It may be.
- Well if it is, it's not the first time
it's happened out here.
- I just think he wants
things to stay the same.
- Most of the old farmers
want to keep things simple
and I really can't blame them.
There are people coming
out of the woodwork
tempting these guys to give up
the family farm and cash in.
- And it's not just here.
- Oh, I know, it's everywhere.
(sighs)
Look, I've got to get some
things finished before we close.
- Oh gosh I'm so sorry for
taking up so much of your time.
- No, it's no problem.
Come by anytime.
- Thanks.
Joanne, one more thing.
Are people concerned about this?
- They're starting to see how one project
can impact the whole community.
That's why you need to bring Mr. Bolini
to the meeting next Tuesday.
- Well I will do my best.
Thank you so much.
- Seven o'clock.
- Seven o'clock.
Hey there.
- Mom always liked barns painted white.
She said they always
looked cleaner, you know?
But I thought I'd give red a try.
What do you think?
- I think you're gonna
need some more paint.
- No, no, I mean the color.
- Oh, red's good.
- You think she'd mind?
- I don't think so.
Besides, it's your decision now.
- Yeah well, you know,
everybody around here
has red, you know, and I kind of like it
and it's sort of traditional, you know?
Are you hungry?
- Famished.
- Follow me.
Come on.
(laughs)
- Get your coat.
- Ah, thank you.
I'll get some squash all steamed up,
and we'll be all set, all right?
- Sounds good!
- Tell me, what'd you learn today?
- Well, there is a meeting next Tuesday
night at the township office.
I'm sorry it's like you were afraid of.
There's a guy trying to develop
the property to the north.
- Oh, I don't believe it!
It's Esch's place!
- 135 houses.
- That old coot has been
here as long as I have.
What's he thinking about?
(phone rings)
Hello.
- [Paul] Mr. Bolini, this
is Paul Haight again.
Look, we need to talk.
I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time.
- It's dinner time, mister!
- [Paul] I'll keep it brief.
I was hoping you had a chance
to think about my offer.
- The answer is I am not interested!
- [Paul] I know it's a big decision.
Could we just meet?
I'd like to explain what I'm proposing.
- Aha, I got a good idea of what
you're proposing, no thanks.
- [Paul] Wait, can I just come
out tomorrow around three?
Just for a couple of minutes.
- Have him come out, just meet with him.
See what he has to say.
- [Michael] What?
- Have him come out.
- Well all right, tomorrow then
and listen, pick me up some bird seed
at the feed store will ya?
- [Paul] Bird seed? Sure!
Whatever it takes.
I'll see you at three.
- Make it two bags.
I'll call it in and they'll
have it ready for ya.
- [Paul] Two bags it is!
- Bye.
- Two bags of bird seed?
- Saves me a trip.
(laughs)
Would you mind pass the salt
and pepper please, darling?
- Sure.
- Thank you.
So, besides your dad,
do you have a family?
- I have a boyfriend.
And a little kitty cat.
He's really sweet, he's a teacher.
- The cat?
(laughs)
- No, my boyfriend.
- Well I'd like to meet him someday.
- That'd be nice.
Do you eat like this every night?
- Hm, pretty much.
- Wow.
You have such a good life here.
- Yeah.
Can you imagine that
just a couple of days ago
my lawyer came and told
me about my estate tax?
Before that, everything
was running hunky dooly.
Hard to believe, you know?
- I don't see how that could happen.
Your family has had this farm for so long!
- Well ya see, my mother
had the farm in her name
and according to them, it was never
officially turned over to
me, signed over, you know?
- So, it's like an inheritance tax?
- That's what you want to call it, yep.
Anyway, my lawyer says
he's looking into it
and, you know...
- Is the whole farm, all
the original farm intact?
- All 240 acres of it, you bet.
- Wow.
You know lately, I've
really been wishing for
something meaningful to
do with my life, you know?
That's why I jumped in
the car and came up here.
I mean I didn't know why.
But, it just felt like I might
find myself on an adventure.
And it seems like I have landed
smack in the middle of one.
- Well, I don't know
what kind of an adventure
it'll be, but you're welcome to stay
as long as you want my dear.
- Hey, if you cook like this
every night, I'm staying!
(laughs)
So, tell me more about this guy
that's coming tomorrow at
three with your bird seed.
- He's a developer.
Been circling around waiting for me
to kick the bucket, I guess.
- Has he made you an offer?
- Well, I don't know.
Sort of, I guess.
- Well just remember, you hold
the cards in this situation.
- Yeah, well I'll agree with you on that.
Except for that lousy estate tax.
Ahh.
- I don't get it.
Does the township want to lose farmland?
- No, but our job is to enforce the laws.
If somebody wants to develop
something, it's their right.
We just make sure it's done legally.
- Even if it's not in the best
interest of the community?
- Look, I just work here.
Everything's handled by
a committee or a board.
We've got a master plan that
deals with this sort of thing.
Ugh, cost the township 150,000 bucks.
It's been sitting on that
shelf for five years.
- They spent that kind of money
and they aren't following it?
- Well, actually the money
came from a state grant
to help deal with sprawl, but nobody
seems to really pay attention to it.
- And most people are probably too busy
to make it to all the meetings.
- We elect officials to manage it.
Look at this.
- Is this around here someplace?
This is unbelievable.
How far along is it?
- It died, the developer went bankrupt.
But he put a lot of work into that.
He had big plans.
- And people went along with this?
- Yeah, most did.
- Well Mr. Bolini wouldn't have.
- Yeah I know, but everybody's
got a dream, even developers.
- Mr. Bolini, he sees the whole picture.
- He won't last forever.
He's a dying breed, and he has no kids.
- He has a niece.
- You know what I mean.
- Still, we should respect the land.
Mr. Bolini or not.
- I'm not disagreeing with you.
(phone rings)
Excuse me.
Hello, this is Joanne.
I was just looking for that.
Yes, excuse me one second.
- Can I borrow this?
- It's not supposed to leave here.
- I will guard it with my life, please?
- Fine.
- Oh here, here, let me give you a hand.
- Thanks.
- Okay.
- Wow, something smells good.
- Warmed up leftovers.
- So, how did your meeting
with Mr. Haight go?
- I must have missed him.
So, what's that?
- This is your township's master plan.
Cost them 150,000 dollars.
- Do you want some wine?
- Sure.
So how can I help?
- Get washed up.
- Yes sir.
(emotional music)
- You know, I'm dying to
know but I'm afraid to ask.
Can you tell me about that master...
- Master plan?
- Master plan, yeah.
- Absolutely.
Believe it or not, no one's even looked
at the thing since they
delivered it five years ago.
- So how come they don't use it?
- I don't know.
- Well is it because it's no good?
- It looks pretty thorough,
has graphs and sketches.
Looks like it took a lot of work.
It's not like it's hidden or anything.
- Well, how do they treat this farm?
Is it still a farm or is it
some kind of a shopping mall?
- It's a farm, this whole
area is set aside for farm.
The only place they've used expansion
was down by the gas station and the store.
They pretty much kept it all there.
- I think Esch sold out.
Those surveyors told me that somebody's
gonna be breaking ground
up here next spring.
- Maybe, see I think the master plan
isn't really the law,
it's more like a community
vision or a guide or something.
- Well what's it good for then?
- I don't know.
Hey, I did check on the zoning though.
This whole area is set
aside for agricultural use.
- Well then how can they carve up
agricultural land for houses?
Huh, isn't that what the zoning is for?
- Well, yeah, but get this,
a developer can come in,
he can make a pitch to the township,
and then the township can decide
whether they want to keep the
zoning or change it completely.
- So the zoning isn't worth anything?
- It's not set in stone, no.
- So, so what should I do?
- You should be a that
meeting Tuesday night.
- Want some ice cream?
- Sure.
(muffled crooning)
(singing)
(laughing)
- You're daddy's little girl, huh?
Yes you are, yes you are.
That's a girl, yes.
Yeah, you love that water, yes you do!
Yes you do, oh boy!
(laughs)
(emotional music)
(gravel crackles under car tires)
- Mr. Bolini, you are not
gonna believe who I saw...
What?
I'm so sorry.
- Hey, you know what?
Susan sent me a tape here.
It's from her condominium people.
(chuckles)
So, what'd you find?
- Oh.
I thought I would make us some pasta.
- Pasta?
You know how to make pasta?
Well come on, I'll help
you make the sauce.
- That stubborn old--
- Here's the plans.
- Oh, excellent.
Is that beautiful or what?
- It's amazing how much stuff you
can jam into that place, that's for sure.
- Right.
So, check this out.
Imagine you're driving home
and you enter into this.
You go through a gateway that says
Oak Winds subdivision across
the archway, like Ponderosa!
You know, Bonanza.
Never mind.
So, you go in here, drive up this way.
If you live in the north, you
turn here, and you're home.
- Oak Wind's a good name.
Bolini has a ton of oaks up there.
- Yeah actually, we'd cut those down
and plant, there it is,
juniperus something.
They grow faster and there's no leaves.
No messy yards to clean
up, so they're perfect.
And no lousy squirrels.
Oh, and check this out.
I got a super deal on this ground cover.
Purple loosestrife, grows anywhere!
I don't know why it's so darn cheap.
Yep, 200 houses.
And once we add in the
Esch's property to the north
and the Fullers to the
south, we'll be rich.
Yeah, but Bolini's smack dab
in the middle of all this.
If we can't get him out of
here, those subdivisions
will have to look out over his barns
and crap and that old house.
- Well maybe people want
to look at that old house.
- Don't be ridiculous,
that house is a tear down.
Nobody wants to look at
that old stuff anyways.
Ah, stuff's driving me crazy.
(phone rings)
- Pine Cone Properties, this is Annie.
He's right here.
- Thanks, Paul Haight.
Are you sure?
That is great news, thanks!
That was Vanderwall.
He's doing a little work for Bennett
and Swinehort, the lawyers, and he
overheard a conversation about Bolini.
Looks like Mr. Bolini's
gonna have to come up
with some quick cash for the IRS.
Now he'll sell.
(chuckles)
He has to sell.
- I am not selling!
(wood clatters)
- Maybe you should talk
to somebody about this.
I'm sure somebody's
been through it before.
- Well you know, seems
to me like Louie Esch
talked about something like that one time.
Maybe it's time for me
to go see the old geezer.
- There you go.
Don't they make, like, mechanical
splitters or something for this?
- Yeah, I got one.
In the barn.
It needs a new head gasket.
- Can't you get somebody to fix it for ya?
- Ain't no big deal, I just
haven't got around to it yet.
Besides, it's too noisy.
Oh.
- Are you okay?
- Oh yeah, yeah.
(sniffs)
Don't you just love the
smell of fresh cut wood?
Here, smell, smell.
Huh?
Oh, I think that's enough for today.
(pleasant music)
Louie!
Hey, Louie!
Ha.
- How you doing, Michael?
- All right.
- Did you get remarried?
- Yep, yesterday.
No, this is Lydia Bailey.
Her family used to work for us.
- What are you hanging
around this old coot for?
- I just came up for a visit.
I wanted to see the farm again.
- Things look different now, I suppose.
- In some ways, yeah.
- So what's up?
- Hey, Louie, what are you doing?
- I guess I might as well spit it out.
I'm thinking of selling the place.
They made a pretty good offer.
Look, my kids are grown.
None of them want to work the farm.
Why not take the money?
- How can you say that?
- What?
We struggle year after year to come up
with some fruit that gets thrown
into some freezer for God knows how long?
I don't know, with the
insurance and labor costs
climbing this seems like a
pretty good time to sell.
- Ah Louie, I like looking over here
and seeing your farm and
knowing that you're my neighbor.
- I understand.
- Have you signed anything yet, Mr. Esch?
- They just brought
the offer by yesterday.
I told 'em I'd have to read it over
and have my lawyer look at it.
- Did they give you a timetable?
- Yeah, five days I think.
- Louie, how can you say that?
- Look, I am not the only one doing this.
- We used to work together, Louie.
If you needed help, we
were there to help you.
If Sullivan got into trouble
hey, we were there to help.
- But that barn fire was 30 years ago!
- Look, maybe you should
get everybody together.
You know, have a meeting.
I'm sure Mr. Esch doesn't
take any of this lightly,
but you guys need to talk.
- Yeah, if you can pound any sense
into this old coot's head.
- After all these years,
I don't want to leave
this farm any more than
you want to leave yours.
- Well that township meeting
is coming up pretty fast.
Can you meet on Monday?
- I suppose.
I can do it after four.
- After four, are you going to come over
to my place on Monday?
- It's fine, but it won't change my mind.
- This is a big deal, Louie, huh?
See you Monday, Louie, all right.
We'll see ya.
(emotional music)
(engine starts)
Might as well pick up the mail, huh?
- Will do.
See if I can get you closer
than I did last time.
Ooh.
- There, you did fine.
- There we go.
- All right.
Okay, home and mother.
- Here we go.
Did you win the sweepstakes?
What is it?
- I'll open it later, the IRS.
(gasps)
- Mr. Bolini, just get it over with.
It is the IRS.
What does it say?
- Mr. Bolini, we have
made several attempts
to contact you re--,
blah blah blah blah blah.
- What do they mean by
we've made several attempts?
- I don't know.
- Have there been other letters?
- Probably.
Yes, yes.
Yes!
In my case, my parents didn't think
to sign the title over to me
while they were still alive.
So, the IRS figures I came
into some inheritance,
and now they want their moolah.
- Same thing happened to me,
so I sold off those 20 acres down
by Murphy Road there where
that cluster of houses is.
Worked out okay.
- Well, listen Charlie,
those houses didn't do us
any favors being jammed
into a place like that.
- I didn't have any choice.
- I know, I know, it's a
tough situation partner.
- At least I got to keep
the rest of my farm.
- Well listen, I've got
a chance to sell off
this whole spread, the whole place.
- Well what's the problem?
- Well what would you do if they offered
you a million dollars
and a month to get out?
What would you do then, huh?
- I'd move someplace warm.
- Oh that's ridiculous, come on!
Then what, huh?
- Nobody wants to be in debt.
- That cold snap last
spring really hurt my crop.
A couple years in a row like
that and I'd be done anyway.
If this opportunity would give me
a fresh start I'd say take it.
- Fresh start?
What about the rest of us?
And the community?
- That's what I'm talking about!
That's exactly what I'm talking about!
- You don't have a choice.
Sell a small piece, settle your debt.
What happens after that
is out of your control,
but at least you've got most of your farm.
- No, I can't, I just can't!
- Oh come on, Bolini, times are changing.
- That's what I've been saying.
- If somebody wants to offer us easy money
to move on, I'm not
gonna stand in their way.
- I got a purchase agreement sitting
on my kitchen table right now.
If I sign it, I'm rich, my debts are gone
and I find something else to do.
- [Michael] Come on
Louie, what would you do
if you're not farming, huh?
What would you do?
- I don't know!
But it's kind of exciting
thinking about it.
- Oh, for crying out loud.
- Mr. Bolini tell them about the meeting.
- Oh, no, you tell 'em sweetheart.
Come on, you tell 'em.
Tell 'em.
- Hi gentlemen.
I know I'm an outsider, but I just wanted
to let you know that there's going
to be a meeting tomorrow
night at township hall.
They're going to vote
whether or not to rezone
this entire area from
agricultural to residential.
Now I would never presume to
tell any of you what to do
with your land, but I am asking that you
don't let them make this decision
without your voice being heard.
- Well, what do you think?
- [Voiceover] Welcome
to Southern California,
where the climate is always perfect.
A place where you can
be yourself and enjoy
one of the most stunning and
beautiful vistas in the world
and create for yourself a
lifestyle that dreams are made of.
Through one of our many timeshare
or purchase opportunities,
you can select the option
that serves you best.
From just a week, a year,
to full time, your choice.
Just imagine what the year
round fresh air will do for you.
In addition, all maintenance for your
home and grounds is taken care of.
- That's enough of that.
Did you ever get that feeling
where you're going along
a little bit too fast,
you know, and you pass by that police car
and he's got his radar
out at ya, you know?
- I know the feeling.
- Well that's exactly
how I feel when they talk
about selling, you know, the
farms and everything else.
I get butterflies in my stomach.
Oh, terrible.
- I'm sure your niece just
wants you to be happy.
- Oh, well listen, she's wonderful anyway.
She's always thinking
about me, God bless her.
- Mr. Bolini?
I haven't been completely honest with you.
About the reason I'm here.
I feel like I need to
tell you the whole story.
- Well?
(sighs)
- I work for the county, for the
Health Department, actually.
Well, one day this guy came in
to have a vaccination
and I gave him a shot
and after it was over, I accidentally
pricked my hand with the needle.
A couple of days later we found
out the guy was HIV positive.
- Oh dear God.
- I don't know if I'm infected.
I still have some tests to
take after Thanksgiving.
- Don't they have any medicine for that?
Can't they give you something?
- Well yeah, there's a couple of things.
But, until after Thanksgiving,
I just, all I can do is wait.
- Oh you poor thing.
No wonder you wanted
to take some time off.
Well, listen, I know everything's
going to be all right.
Don't you worry about it, you hear?
- Yeah some, well most days, I think that.
But then there are others that are just...
- Lydia, listen to me.
Your whole world is
ahead of you, believe it!
Your whole life is ahead
of you, you understand?
(cries)
- I'm so glad I'm here, I'm so glad.
And it's gonna sound really weird,
but I'm kind of glad
the accident happened.
Maybe I would have never come up here.
Not now, anyway.
Plus, what would you have done without me?
- Well.
I'd have probably
watched that whole video.
(laughs)
- I'll get our plates.
(phone rings)
- Hello?
Yes.
No, no, no, he's dead.
Yes, he's dead!
Terrible tractor explosion, that's right.
Yeah, take him off the list.
That's it, bye-bye.
I hate those guys.
- Oh, there was a tractor explosion!
- Oh, never mind that.
Listen, Lydia, I got a secret for you too.
- What?
- About two weeks ago I went
to Minnesota to see a specialist.
- Why?
- Well, you know, my
heart, and after a while
you know, at my age, parts
start wearing out, you know?
- Well what did they say?
- Ah, I'm getting old.
But I can deal with it, you know?
Hey listen, right now I feel fine
and I'm getting along just fine, okay?
Look at my pop.
He died when he was 56, 56!
Just a kid.
- Still, there's gotta be some--
That's it, no more pie
and ice cream for you!
- Ah, are you kidding?
You know the way I figure,
if I didn't have that
and I died about a half
hour later, I'd kick
myself for not having eaten it!
Make sense?
- Yes, yes it makes sense.
(laughs)
I'm gonna turn in.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Night night, bye-bye dear.
(phone rings)
Hello?
- [Susan] Uncle Mike, did I wake you?
- Oh, Susan, yes yes.
I thought maybe it was somebody else.
No, never mind, never mind.
- [Susan] Well I just wanted to say hi
and see how it's going.
- Well, everything's fine,
everything's fine dear.
Oh, you know Louie Esch
next door, don't you?
- [Susan] Yeah, sure.
- Yeah, well he got an
offer to sell his farm
and I think the coward's gonna take it.
- [Susan] Oh really?
- Yeah.
- [Susan] Well he's smart.
Have you thought about my idea?
- Yeah, but I'm gonna hold still yet.
I don't want to sell yet.
- [Susan] I worry about you.
- Ah, well, I thank you
very much for your concern.
But everything's fine, and I'm okay.
I'm just a little tired is all.
- [Susan] I'm sorry to call so late.
I'll call back in a couple of days.
- I'll know something
better tomorrow night
because there's gonna
be a township meeting.
- [Susan] About what?
- Oh, it seems the developer wants
to go in there and try
to convince the township
as to how he can slice up
Esch's property, you know?
- [Susan] Oh, do you
think they'll let him?
- Well I don't know.
We're all supposed to be there.
It's probably going to be a
three ring circus if you ask me.
- [Susan] Huh, well maybe then you'll
come to your senses, and sell!
- Oh, yeah, okay, maybe.
- [Susan] All right then, call me anytime.
- All right, dear.
Thank you for calling.
- [Susan] Okay Uncle Mike.
- Bye-bye.
- [Susan] Bye-bye.
- The power company came through about
ten years ago or so.
They would not have it any other way.
They took out this whole
line of Norway spruce.
- Isn't this the row that you planted?
- My pop and me, that's
right, and those over there,
and those over there.
Yep.
- Couldn't they have just moved the lines
over and saved all these beautiful trees?
(laughs)
- Are you kidding?
We pleaded, we cajoled, we did everything!
And you see how much success we had, huh?
And you know, all we did was plant it
so that we could have a
windbreak for the orchard.
- How do you feel about
that, I mean even now?
- Ah, sometimes I feel
mad, sometimes I feel bad
and sometimes I well,
what are you gonna do?
Fight city hall?
But it's gone.
Yet, it's still beautiful.
- Oh, what's this?
- Let's see.
- It's from that guy that
wants to buy the farm.
- I always thought that
was a crazy expression.
Bought the farm.
Means to die, doesn't it?
- Well, are you gonna open it?
- Are you hungry?
- I'm starved.
- Well I'm making you the
most perfect breakfast.
- You are?
- Yep, in a few minutes you will have
the greatest cornbread
muffins in the world.
- Yum.
- Huh?
Smell that!
- So, do you think there would be enough
time for me to look through your letters?
- Oh, help yourself.
- Alrighty, here goes.
All right, let's see we've
got Pine Cone Properties,
IRS, IRS, Pine Cone
Properties, State of Michigan.
This one's certified,
you even signed for it.
- So what can I tell you?
I've been busy!
(laughs)
- Um.
I've prepared some plans that will allow
you to visualize what I see
for the Oak Winds subdivision.
Now you know, the north, this
stuff is just making me nuts.
My God.
- Oh, try that my dear.
- Mmm, this is excellent!
- Uh-huh, my grandpop's
recipe, good for ya!
- Even with the butter?
- What do you want to do, live forever?
- Mm, do you need anything from town?
- Not that I know of.
- I'm gonna run in to the township office
and pick up an agenda for tonight.
- What do you thinks gonna happen?
- I don't know.
I just don't want people to listen to that
developer and run to cash in.
Louie Esch might be the first one.
- Well maybe for him it's the right thing.
I just wish it wasn't right next door.
- Well like it or not,
you're all in this together.
And that'll be our goal tonight, to get
everybody to work together.
And hopefully the township board
will put as much thought
into this as it deserves.
- You should have been a lawyer.
Uh-huh.
- Ooh, ow!
- Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!
Oh, I wasn't paying attention.
- It's okay, I've been hit with worse.
- I feel so bad.
- Are you from around here?
- No, I'm visiting.
- Oh, well I'm Paul.
- Paul, Lydia.
- Nice to meet ya.
- You too.
- Are you heading in?
- Uh yeah, I was, why?
- Oh there's a township meeting tonight.
You know, a lot of fuss as usual.
- Really, what's the fuss all about?
- Well, the farmers have
this great opportunity
to sell their land, and
they'll make out like bandits,
but there's always some
troublemaker screwing something up.
It's kinda complicated.
- Sounds like it.
- Yeah.
- Looks like a pretty
nasty rash you got there.
- I don't know what the heck it is.
I'm doing all I can not to scratch it,
but it seems to be spreading.
- Looks like poison ivy to me.
Good thing you put that pink stuff on it.
- Oh, yeah, I sure hope it clears it up.
I don't know where I
could have gotten it at.
- So, Paul right?
- Yeah.
- What is your interest in all this?
- Oh, well I don't want
to brag or anything,
but I'm the guy that's trying
to put this whole deal together.
I'm the developer.
- Wow.
- Yeah.
- So, you must have your
work cut out for ya.
- I've been through this stuff before.
This is like shooting fish in a barrel.
- Right, well I better
get in before they close.
- Oh yeah, hey, sure.
Don't let me hold you up.
- Okay, well, bye-bye.
- Goodbye.
Wow.
(rain patters)
(somber music)
(knocks)
- There you are.
- Hi!
- Hey, I was wondering if I
could get an agenda for tonight.
- Oh, sure.
Here you go.
- Perfect.
You are gonna be there, right?
- No I can't.
(gasps)
I've got a date.
- Ooh.
Hey, do you mind if I use your phone?
- Sure, go ahead.
- Thanks.
(phone rings)
Have fun tonight.
- Good luck.
- Thank you!
(rain patters)
Mr. Bolini?
Mr. Bolini!
(ominous music)
(rain patters)
Mr. Bolini?
Mr. Bolini!
Mr. Bolini!
Mr. Bolini!
(panting)
(sniffles)
- Must be almost 5:30, huh?
- We better head back or
we're gonna miss the meeting.
- I dreamt I was at the meeting!
Somebody brought a cow
and they had a couple
chickens and they're
stuffed in their pockets
and they were dipping 'em to a sauce.
And they were selling them
for ten dollars apiece.
It was Louie Esch!
He was selling them
for ten dollars apiece!
(laughs)
Up there with the guy with the gavel.
Oh, oh.
Boy.
I oughta fall asleep more often, huh?
You ready?
- Yes.
- Come on, I'm ready.
(murmuring)
- Let's get this show
on the road, shall we?
I hereby call this meeting to order.
First order of business.
John Miller wants to request a variance
on a setback requirement from
30 feet to ten for his new garage.
- Didn't we just have a request
like this at the last meeting?
- Meeting before last.
- Well according to Mr. Miller, who wants
to build a garage for his tractor,
says that this is the only sensible place.
- Doesn't the Miller farm
have 150 acres or so?
How can this be the
only place for a garage?
- Is Mr. Miller here?
John, why the request?
I mean, surely there's a better spot
that doesn't need a variance.
- Well I sold off some
of my land last summer
and the new lot line
shoots right by the house.
I've got it shoved up against the
other barn as close as I can.
I'd like to build it even bigger, but--
- What does the person that
bought your property think?
- I don't know.
- Well what do you want us to do?
- I'd like you to consider
allowing me the variance.
- Seems like there
oughta be a better spot.
- Well now I regret
selling off that much land.
- With all due respect,
it's not really our problem.
- John, this is really an awkward request.
I'm not sure there's a hardship here.
- So how much land do you have?
- 75 acres, more or less.
- So you sold off half?
- About, yes.
- There's gotta be another
place for this garage.
- This is the best spot!
- It takes a pretty special argument
to allow for a variance.
- If I can keep all of
my buildings together,
I can use the orchards
pretty much as they are.
I need to keep as many trees as I can.
- I'm still not seeing the hardship here.
- We've got a lot of
things to cover tonight.
We've got to keep things moving.
Should we take a vote?
- Sure.
- All in favor of giving
Mr. Miller his variance?
All opposed?
Sorry John, you know the deal.
We have guidelines.
Okay, next up is a request
for a zoning change
with a planned unit
development from Paul Haight.
Mr. Haight.
- On behalf of my partners
and myself, thank you.
Mr. Wells, commissioners,
ladies and gentlemen,
we're here tonight to share
with you a vision of the future.
You know how the township
is always perpetually,
well, how can I say it?
Broke.
We're always looking for new
ways to bring in revenue.
Well I have a plan that
would create a solid tax base
and infuse fresh, new money
into your depressed economy.
Oak Wind subdivision.
A beautiful scenic residential community
with a great view and
full access to utilities.
Starting with phase one, 135 houses
patterned after the classic
American theme, the ranch.
Now I've done some homework and not only
will these homes provide
a warm and maintenance
free environment for
families to live and grow,
but they will also add, on an average,
of 2,600 dollars per year
in taxes to the township.
- Phase one?
- Phase two and three would
make a total of 675 homes,
but that could take a couple of years.
I know what you're thinking.
Where could we do this?
Can he really pull this off?
Can we do it and still be Earth friendly?
Well I'm here to tell you, yes, yes!
I've already optioned five separate farms,
three of which connect together
to make one super large parcel
so when it's time to expand, we're ready.
If you share this vision
with me, you will benefit
from the fruits of a strong economy,
and the knowledge that you have been
a part of this new and
exciting development.
Everybody wins!
- Mr. Haight, this is pretty different
from your first presentation.
- Yes, yes, I've improved it.
Thanks for noticing.
Are there any questions before I continue?
- Yeah, how many farms have you actual--
- Would you please stand up?
- How many farms have you
actually signed up for this plan?
- Uh, two.
Well all right one, one actually.
Mr. Esch's place, but there's
four others ready to go.
I'm all set to get financing
from a bank out east
and they love projects up here.
- I've signed nothing yet.
According to his offer, I got until nine
tomorrow morning to decide.
- Well yes, that's true, but looks
pretty good, right Mr. Esch?
- I'm not so sure anymore.
(murmuring)
- All right, order, order, quiet.
Please, Louie, sit down.
Mr. Haight still has the floor.
- Two months ago you
brought a preliminary plan
to us for review.
As I recall, it sort of made sense.
What happened?
- It's the same basic plan, it just
got a little bit bigger
and even more successful.
(chuckles)
May I continue?
So, imagine you're driving
up center highway there.
Just as you come down over the hill
off to the right you see
this big beautiful entrance.
As you pass through the gate,
you read Oak Wind subdivision.
Not really a gated community with security
and things like that,
but it feels that way.
But, it is safe.
Now as you enter the
complex, you have your usual
roads, sidewalks, everything,
but the best thing of all is the view.
Each home will have a beautiful
view of the rolling meadows.
Now this is unprecedented for
housing in this price range.
It will be a great place to
live and raise your kids.
We've got a generous curb cut here
by the side of the road
for the school buses.
All the utilities would
be buried of course,
and the engineering would meet
or exceed state and local codes.
Each homeowner will have their choice
of six different styles of houses to keep
the uniformity and consistency.
Starting with a modest two
bedroom, two car garage
and going all the way up to a
five bedroom three car garage.
So, as you can see, there really
is something for everybody.
Any questions?
- Over here.
- Yes.
- You said that each home has
a view of the open meadow.
Is it not true that phases two and three
extend into that very same area?
- Well, the land is far too
valuable to just let lay there
so even if we were to build
these meadows, this field,
the area all to the west, even if that
were built on, the view
would not be blocked.
The houses that we would build there
would not be high enough
to cause any problems.
Yes, in the red sweater.
- I'm guessing that the people
who are buying into this
aren't expecting that their
houses will eventually
be looking out over rooftops.
- Well like I said, it
technically won't block the view.
Ah yes, you in front.
- I know that land.
There's a stream that runs through
it on the southeast corner.
You've got houses drawn there.
- Okay, you know I'm really
glad you brought that up.
This is really neat.
We have preliminary approval
to put a culvert in there.
And without even diverting the stream!
We simply bury it.
The best part of all is
the runoff from the road
comes right over there, over the culvert,
and into a retaining pond that we built.
Of course, it'd be fenced off
to keep it safe for the kids.
- There's trout in that stream!
- Uh, just a second, hang on.
I gotta back up a bit.
Mr. Haight I have a
number of problems here.
Now first, while your idea
of generating more money
for the township is
noble, the infrastructure
won't support a development of that size.
It'll cost more than we could possibly
raise with any additional tax revenues.
- We've tried to include as much of the
upfront cost in our plans as possible.
We'd even pay for installing
a new expanded sewer pipe
and running it all the
way out to the main road.
All of this will be paid for by us.
We'd simply tap into
the existing sewer line.
We've even created a nice little two acre
green space for the kids to play in.
- But the sewers are at capacity now!
- What about traffic?
I don't want to live in an urban area,
and that's just what you're creating here.
- For every household you can count
on ten extra vehicle trips per day.
Ten times 675?
- Ah, perhaps, but you spread
that out over an entire day--
- That's an extra 6,000
cars converging eventually
down here on Center
and Hardwick every day.
- That road was designed to
carry 10,000 a day, right?
- When it was built,
what, eight years ago.
- Well the wear and tear on that road
is part of the infrastructure
we can't ignore.
We're over 10,000 now.
- We concluded that
there would be no impact.
- I don't agree.
- Believe it or not, new
subdivisions cost us money.
They never make any money, not out here.
I mean, before you know it
we have to beef up police,
fire, schools, more roads, more sewers,
I mean that kind of stuff
costs serious money!
- As for the sewers, our studies
shows there's plenty of room left.
- Excuse me, sir, excuse me.
We could fight about the details
engineering and sewer and numbers,
but it seems to me that
there's a bigger issue here.
It's the question, do we want to turn
our farmlands into neighborhoods?
Or don't we?
If we do, fine!
Let's accept Mr. Haight's
proposal and work the bugs out.
Let's get it over with!
But if we don't, then we
got to hang tough together!
And not spoil this place.
We got to hang tough together,
and not foul this place up.
Things like this have
happened thousands of times
all over this great country of ours.
Do we want to wake up some morning
and look and say, what the hell happened?
Do we?
(applause)
- Wait a second, I'm on the agenda here!
- Order, order, quiet please.
- I have a lot of time and
money riding on this project
and I need to know whether
you see the opportunity
so that I can move forward!
- All right, let's take a vote.
- No wait!
Do we all understand the
exciting potential here?
- All those in favor of
Mr. Haight's project?
All opposed.
(applause)
- Listen to those hayseeds.
We'll be back!
- I don't know, they seem
kind of firm on this.
- Yeah, well just wait and see!
Aw, come on!
Are you kidding me?
This stuff's making me crazy!
I got a flat tire!
- It looks like you ran over a nail.
- This place is haunted.
- I guess I'm stuck being an
old farmer for a while longer.
- What the heck?
- I sure liked the idea
of a pile of money.
- Oh sure.
- I suppose this isn't worth anything.
- Fellas, you were amazing tonight!
- You know, if he had been a little
smoother, we might have bought into it.
- It was close, it was close.
- Gentlemen, there's someone
I would like you to meet.
Mr. Meyers this is Mr.
Esch and Mr. Bolini.
- Meyers.
Meyers, do I know you?
- Well I'm with the Conservancy.
- You deal with birds?
- No, land actually.
Lydia here's been giving me some
background about your situation.
I hope that's okay.
- I guess.
- Now, I know this might
put a new spin on things,
but if you would consider a contribution
of your development
rights to the Conservancy.
Just hear me out.
A couple of things would
happen to help you.
- Look, I got enough debt for one man.
I can't afford to give
this land away, too!
- Well, if the gift is
made within nine months
of the death of the owner of the farm,
in this case your mom, there's no
inheritance tax liability
to you, whatsoever.
- Oh?
- We try to preserve the character
of the region in a way that
is consistent with the donors.
We'll attach that language
right to the deed.
You can even stay as long as you want
and continue farming.
- You mean I could just give you enough
to avoid the tax and keep the rest?
- We'll need to look at your situation.
- I don't have his tax troubles,
but I've been thinking a lot lately
about getting out of farming.
- We have a budget too.
Every situation's a little different.
- So I wouldn't have to listen to
Bolini here whining all the time?
(laughing)
- We've been at it for years.
We're even getting federal grants now.
Preserving farms is a big issue.
- Where have you been during all this?
- Well, we've actually been following this
particular development for some time just
to see what the consensus was.
You know, some developments work out fine.
- Well that sure wouldn't
have been the case here.
- You know, I sent you a
couple of letters about this.
- You wrote me letters?
- Bet I know where they are.
- Well it's an important
issue and I just want
to make sure that you
understand your options.
If you folks will excuse
me, I've got a kid
in a basketball game tonight and I still
might be able to catch it.
- Go, go, by all means!
It's a pleasure, thank you!
- It's been a pleasure.
- Thank you Mr. Meyers.
- Thanks for your time.
- All right.
Hot dog!
Suddenly I, suddenly
I don't feel so stuck!
(laughs)
- Looks like your buddy's
got some car troubles!
(laughs)
- You know, stop itching!
(laughing)
- Scratch mister, scratch!
- For a second there, I
felt sorry for the guy.
You know when he started
itching his poison ivy?
- I knew those old goats of
mine would pay off someday.
(laughing)
No, no, no, that's shameful.
No, we shouldn't say that.
- I don't know.
- Well that went pretty well, considering.
- Well that's no skin off their nose.
Giving me a year to figure it out.
You all know where I live!
- Yeah but still.
- Yeah, I know.
What would you do?
- About the donation?
- Yeah.
- It's a great fit!
You get to stay where you
are as long as you want
and the tax problem goes away.
- I set up a meeting for next Wednesday.
- You did.
You're not gonna make the guy
bring you bird seed are you?
- No!
I'm actually going to his
office, thank you very much.
- Well, good for you.
(laughs)
- What's the matter Lydia?
Something wrong?
- I got curious and had a blood test.
- So?
- I'm still negative.
- Oh, see I told you, it's nothing!
- I still have to take
a test in two months.
- Yeah, but this is the best news yet!
- All right.
- All right!
(emotional music)
(geese honking)
You know, you might be getting
a call one of these days.
- Well I hope so, at least write to me!
- No I mean, in case
something happens to me.
- Do not talk like that!
- Well it happens, you know.
- I know it happens.
Just don't want to think about it.
- I'm gonna miss you, dear Lydia.
(emotional music)
- This meant a lot to me.
I'll never forget it.
- God bless ya.
Bye!
(emotional music)
(birds chirping)
My dear Lydia, you are the perfect friend
to come into my life when you did.
I thank God for your visit.
I decided to give half of the farm
to the Conservancy after all.
That was a deal I worked out
with the IRS to avoid the tax.
But I saved the other half, 120 acres
including the house and barns for you.
I thought you should have them.
I made sure that if you ever wanted
to work the land, that you could.
The deal with the county is
to stop sprawl, not farming.
You know the rest.
I wish, oh how I wish
I could see your face.
I'm sure you're surprised.
That makes me very happy.
Love, Michael Bolini.
(emotional music)
♫ I have seen the golden summer
light flicker in the trees
♫ In the orchard where the
long grass sways in the breeze
♫ In the shade across the
fence an old man in a chair
♫ Dreams of the names and
faces who've been there
♫ But lately I have seen you fading
♫ As the world is changing
♫ As the seasons fly
♫ Still my heart in secret
holds onto the deepest colors
♫ Of the earth and sky
♫ I will come and find you
♫ When the spring unbinds you
♫ Singing of an older time
♫ Still my heart in secret
holding to the deepest colors
♫ Of the earth and sky ♫
(geese honking)
(whetstone grinds)
- Great, yes, I gotta go, okay?
Mr. Bolini.
I'm Paul Haight.
I'm with Pine Cone Properties.
Here's my card.
- What can I do for you?
- Man, this is a beautiful place here.
I just wanted to come out and meet you.
I'm just driving around the
neighborhood introducing myself.
- Neighborhood, huh?
My nearest neighbor's
over a half a mile away!
- Well that's what I wanted
to talk with you about.
Mr. Bolini, time's are changing.
You know as well as I do that nobody
makes any money at farming anymore.
And frankly, this land is worth a hell of
a lot more developed into home sites.
Wait, wait, I'm sorry.
That just kind of blurted out like that.
I'm sure this land must mean a lot to you.
- Mister, this homestead was
in my family before I was born.
I know every square inch of it.
So you don't know how
much this means to me.
- Well, maybe not, but this is
a great opportunity for you.
- Some other time.
- Look, I represent a group of investors
to manage a land use shift
here in the township.
You know, bring in some nice roads,
utilities, that sort of thing.
You stand to make a fortune.
- Is that what they call it?
Land use shift?
- It's all around you, Mr. Bolini.
The Fullers over to the south?
They're ready to sell their
whole deal to us, 185 acres.
And to the north, the Eschs.
They're totally ready to cash in!
And others are all set too.
Man, your place is smack in the middle
of a big, modern neighborhood.
You have to sell!
- I don't have to sell nothing!
And you're trespassing, mister!
- Okay, I'll give you some
time to think about it.
(emotional music swells)
(engine starts)
- I thought you got rid of those horses.
- I did, got some goats instead.
- You got goats?
- Yep, last spring.
I thought they might
give me a hand, you know,
getting rid of all that
poison ivy on my farm.
- Do they do that kind of thing?
- Hey, they'd eat roofing
nails if I let 'em!
(laughs)
- Can't imagine that it's good for 'em.
- Well, they seem to like it.
You know, I feed 'em
other stuff of course,
but the best part is, they work cheap.
(laughs)
- Your next door neighbor
Mr. Esch came in, yesterday?
- [Michael] Oh?
- He said he was thinking
of selling his farm.
What's up with that?
- Well some guy is going around,
you know, wanting to
buy up the whole world.
Ha, he's been bugging me too.
All they want to do is
make home sites out of it.
- Yeah, everybody's talking about it.
You know, you've got a
real nice spot over there.
You could retire with the
money they'd give you.
- I don't want to retire.
Besides, retire to what?
- I'm guessing they're going
to get it one way or another.
- Yeah?
Well, come on, keep tossing.
I gotta get on home.
(upbeat music)
(honks horn)
Yes sir!
Something I can do for you?
- Hi, Mr. Bolini, I'm Ed Bennett.
I work at the Bennett
and Swinehort law firm?
- Oh, I know your dad!
- Yeah.
- Yeah, nice man.
- He said to say hello.
- Well thank you, thank you.
Yeah boys, hey ho.
(laughs)
- I'm just trying to get out and meet
all the clients I might be working with.
- Yeah but Mr. Bennett, you didn't come
out here just to chitchat.
- Well I do have some
business we should go over.
It's about your property.
- Well, what's it about then?
- 50 years ago or so, your folks
got the title to your
farm from your grandpa.
Now, when your dad died it went
to your mom because it was jointly owned.
When she passed away, it
was still in her name.
- So, what's the problem?
- Well the title should have been put
in your name before she passed away.
- Who cares?
It's all in the family, no?
- The Internal Revenue Service cares.
(sighs)
- I haven't saved up that much, you know.
- Mr. Bolini, don't worry, I just wanted
to let you know that there
might be a problem here,
but I'll start checking into it.
- You got a minute, Mr. Bennett?
- Sure.
- Come with me.
Come in, Mr. Bennett.
Come on here, in here.
I want to show you something.
1922, that was the year we
brought in our first crop.
Rodriguez and the Mitchell families.
And they used to work
the farm with my grandpa.
You know, I often wonder about
the future of this place.
I have no kids.
My niece in California, she comes out here
and in ten minutes she goes stir crazy.
I haven't seen her in four years.
You know, Mr. Bennett, sometimes
I get a big lump in my throat
when I see the peacefulness of this place.
But then I know that there's a big change
knocking on my door.
- Well first things first,
let me see about the title.
(jazz music)
(humming)
(chopping)
(sizzling)
(praying in Italian)
(sighs)
What the devil?
Morning.
Would you mind telling
me what's going on here?
- We're marking the lot lines.
- You're marking what lot line?
- These.
- You're way off that lot line, sister.
Way off!
- No, he's right.
- What's going on up there anyway?
- Well I heard they were gonna try
and start construction in the spring.
- Should be a pretty nice deal.
135 lots.
- Yeah, it's gonna be pretty nice.
(engine sputters)
- I'll be right back.
(engine revs)
Maybe you might want to
keep that engine running
until you get a new battery.
- Thanks.
- [Susan] Just sell the place.
- I may just have to, Susan, but--
- [Susan] Uncle Mike, times are changing.
I don't know why you don't
just retire, take it easy!
- Yeah, and then what?
- [Susan] You can come
out here to California.
There's a great new condo near here.
You'd never have to shovel snow again.
- I don't mind shoveling.
I like shoveling!
- [Susan] That's crazy!
- So, so how've you been?
- [Susan] Things are fine.
I just got promoted to partner.
- Oh, well that's nice, I guess.
- [Susan] I sure wish you lived out here.
- Oh, I just couldn't sit around, Susan.
- [Susan] You wouldn't, are you kidding?
There's tons to do here.
Walking, shopping, movies.
- Oh, no, no, I hate shopping!
- [Susan] What?
- I said I hate shopping!
- [Susan] You know, I feel bad for you
all by yourself out there.
- Well, don't feel bad, honest, because
well (sputters) I like to do
things around here, you know?
Honest.
Besides, this place
needs me you know, yes.
- [Susan] I don't know
what you're waiting for.
- Can you hang on just a minute?
Just a minute, darling.
- [Susan] Sure, I guess.
What are you up to?
- Just a minute.
Okay, go ahead.
- [Susan] What's that noise?
- Nothing, nothing.
- [Susan] Yeah right, you see
that's what I'm talking about.
Out here all that stuff is handled
so you can enjoy the things
that you really like.
- Well, I like taking care of my place.
- [Susan] So what are you trying to prove?
- Ow, doggone it.
- [Susan] What's the matter?
- Ah, nothing, nothing, nothing.
- [Susan] Ah, you're hopeless.
Look, I've got to get going.
- Well, Susan, I appreciate
you worrying about me
and for some people, you
might be right you know, but--
- [Susan] I guess I can only imagine
what that farm must mean to you.
Think about what I said, all right?
I love you.
- I love you too, sweetheart.
Yeah, bye-bye darling, bye.
- [Susan] Bye-bye.
(ethereal music)
(coughs)
(ghostly voices speaking Spanish)
- Hello, Mr. Bolini?
Hello?
Mr. Bolini!
- Can I help you?
- I'm Lydia Bailey.
- Bailey?
We used to have a family by the
name of Bailey who worked here.
- That's us.
That was my mom, my dad, aunts,
uncles, everybody worked here.
I was just a kid then.
Probably seven or so.
- Your mom used to make
the best apple pies!
She used maple syrup, right?
Haha, good to see you, yeah.
That was over 25 years
ago, for heaven sakes!
So, how's everyone?
- Mom passed away a few years back.
- Aww.
- Daddy's good though.
He works for DeSoto County in Florida,
working in social services.
- So what are you doing up here?
- Well, I had some vacation time coming
and I work for the county too.
- Uh-huh?
- And just thought I'd take a road trip,
see if I could find your place.
- Well, good!
I'm glad you did.
- It seems a little bit smaller.
I remember the orchard seemed
so far away from the house!
- Well that's 'cause you were smaller.
(laughs)
(sighs)
- I used to love running around here.
This was such a big part
of my life back then.
Hey, how's your wife Miss Margaret?
- Uh, she died about ten
years ago this month, yeah.
- I'm so sorry.
- She went out to hang up the wash one day
and she had a heart attack
and died that afternoon.
- That's so sad.
- Well, it's all part of
the big deal, you know?
My mom died just last month.
She lived to be 104 years
old, can you imagine that?
God bless her.
- She was always such a strong lady.
- Yeah.
(laughs)
- So, how's your year?
- Well, not too bad, not too bad.
Yeah, well you know they shake
the trees now with machines.
You don't have to hand pick anymore, yeah.
Well, I still hire some
help but it's not like
the good old days anymore, you know?
- Hey Mr. Bolini, do you mind
if I look around a little bit?
- Help yourself, not at all!
You go ahead.
Listen, I'm going to be through
here in about a half hour.
And I'll meet you up on the porch.
- Sounds like a plan.
- All right, good to see you.
(laughs)
Oh listen, there's some great
cherry juice in the refrigerator.
Help yourself.
- I just might do that.
(chuckles)
- By golly.
I see you found the straggly things, huh?
- They are so cute!
- Yeah, everybody likes to pet 'em.
Listen, you gotta be careful of the
poison ivy around here, you know?
These screwballs eat the stuff.
- Really?
Oh, leaves of three, leave it be.
Poison ivy, right?
(laughs)
- I got five acres up in the back.
This stuff grows like myrtle.
They ought to make it the state flower.
- Can't you spray it or something?
- Nah, listen, I just let
these guys nibble away at it.
Hey, I'm in no hurry.
Did you get some juice yet?
- Didn't make it that far.
- Well come on, let's go!
- Bye guys.
- Did you know that cherry
juice cures arthritis?
- No I didn't!
- Yeah we sell a lot of cherries to the
juice companies, you know?
And they make concentrate, pretty popular.
Cheers!
- To you and the place!
- Ooh, yeah.
(both sighs)
Eh?
- That brings back so many memories.
- You know, I was looking
at some photographs
of the different families that used
to be here working here, you know?
Let me take a look, I wonder.
Let me see.
Let's see.
That's my father.
That's...
Here!
Now isn't that your mom and dad, huh?
And that's you!
- It is!
- Huh?
- Oh, this seems like so long ago!
- It was!
And look at me, I still got the same hat.
- You do!
(laughs)
(phone rings)
- Ah, excuse me.
Hello!
- [Paul] Yeah, I wanted
to give you the heads up
that there might be some
surveyors in the neighborhood.
- They already were, in my front yard!
- [Paul] Ah, geez, I'm sorry about that.
I'll talk to 'em.
Hey look, I hope we have a chance--
- I am not interested!
- [Paul] Well I'll try and keep you posted
as to what's going on.
- Oh, I'm sure you will, goodbye!
- Friend of yours?
- You know sometimes I feel
like I'm being invaded.
- What'd he want?
- Oh, some land developer
wants to buy my farm.
And I don't know what to do
'cause I don't want to sell!
- Maybe you don't have to do anything.
- What?
- Well you own the land,
the farm, everything.
Just ignore the guy.
- Ah, well, that's what
I used to think too,
but it's not just me
and my farm, it's other
farms and the industry and
the way of life, you know?
(sighs)
- Mr. Bolini, is there more to this?
- Well, yes there is.
I got hit with a tax thing here and it
kind of took me by surprise, you know?
- Well, you don't have to sell, do you?
- No!
Well, I hope not anyway.
- I don't know much about taxes
but I do know something about zoning
and they can't just go
carving up the farm next door
without community approval.
Do you know anything about this?
- No.
- Has the township sent
you a notice or anything?
- Uh...
I don't think so.
- Well then it must not have happened yet.
I know they have to notify neighbors
if there's some kind of
big zoning in the works.
At least, that's the
way it works in Florida.
- Huh.
- Look, would you mind if
I looked into this for you?
I mean, my calendar's pretty
empty and I'm here anyway.
- Hey, what can it hurt?
- Well, it's early yet.
Maybe I can run into town and
check out the township office.
Do you know where it is?
- Well you go right out here to the road
and turn right and go down about
three miles, you can't miss it!
- Right.
All right, I'll be back.
- Listen, if you haven't
got a place to stay
I've got plenty of room here.
- I already booked a room in town.
But, I could cancel it, if your'e sure?
- The room at the top
of the stairs is yours!
I'm so thankful that
you're willing to help.
- It's my pleasure.
All right.
(laughs)
I'll be back.
- All right dear, bye-bye.
(sighs)
(speaks Italian)
- Everything from here
on up is agricultural
except for the gas station and the store.
- I heard there might be a new
development up here somewhere?
- There is one fella
who was trying to change
the zoning from
agricultural to residential.
The way the zoning law is right now
pretty much every five acres
can have a house on it.
He is pushing real hard to
put a house on every acre.
- Aren't the farms out here pretty big?
- 200 to 400 acres.
- Well where does it stand?
- It was tabled at the last meeting.
But I think his site plan wasn't complete.
- A site plan, so he is pretty far along.
- Oh yeah.
Plus, he didn't have the proper drainage
and a couple of other things.
- Where is it, exactly?
- It's right here, south of Hawks Road.
It's the Louie Esch farm.
(sighs)
- When are these meetings?
- The first Tuesday of every month.
- That's next week.
What are the chances this
guy's gonna get them to rezone?
- If he fixes the plan, I suppose
there's no reason it wouldn't pass.
He's made a pretty convincing case.
- And it sounds like a pretty big deal.
- Oh yeah, definitely.
He's applied for a
planned unit development,
wants 135 home sites.
So far this guy has done
everything by the book.
- And is that a complicated process?
- Not really.
To rezone we have to allow public comment
and then a vote is taken and if it goes
that far and it probably will, we'll have
to watch and see how
good the engineering is.
Erosion has been a huge issue lately.
Basements flood, people sue, I get
caught in traffic, stuff like that.
The thing that bugs me the most
about all of this is the traffic!
The boundaries are up to here.
- Oh I see, wow.
(laughing)
- I've said enough.
- I'm Lydia Bailey.
- I'm Joanne Martin, you live out here?
- No, no, I'm just visiting.
My family used to work the
Bolini farm when I was a kid.
I ran into Mr. Bolini and heard about some
of his troubles and
offered to help if I could.
He's not really much into the
mechanics of local government.
- His place is right next to this plan.
- I know.
He said some surveyors were
already out on his property.
- Oh, that's part of the process.
Is he in trouble?
- He said something
about a tax on his farm?
- Property taxes?
- I don't know, I don't think so.
- Oh, his mom just died.
Is this about an estate tax?
- It may be.
- Well if it is, it's not the first time
it's happened out here.
- I just think he wants
things to stay the same.
- Most of the old farmers
want to keep things simple
and I really can't blame them.
There are people coming
out of the woodwork
tempting these guys to give up
the family farm and cash in.
- And it's not just here.
- Oh, I know, it's everywhere.
(sighs)
Look, I've got to get some
things finished before we close.
- Oh gosh I'm so sorry for
taking up so much of your time.
- No, it's no problem.
Come by anytime.
- Thanks.
Joanne, one more thing.
Are people concerned about this?
- They're starting to see how one project
can impact the whole community.
That's why you need to bring Mr. Bolini
to the meeting next Tuesday.
- Well I will do my best.
Thank you so much.
- Seven o'clock.
- Seven o'clock.
Hey there.
- Mom always liked barns painted white.
She said they always
looked cleaner, you know?
But I thought I'd give red a try.
What do you think?
- I think you're gonna
need some more paint.
- No, no, I mean the color.
- Oh, red's good.
- You think she'd mind?
- I don't think so.
Besides, it's your decision now.
- Yeah well, you know,
everybody around here
has red, you know, and I kind of like it
and it's sort of traditional, you know?
Are you hungry?
- Famished.
- Follow me.
Come on.
(laughs)
- Get your coat.
- Ah, thank you.
I'll get some squash all steamed up,
and we'll be all set, all right?
- Sounds good!
- Tell me, what'd you learn today?
- Well, there is a meeting next Tuesday
night at the township office.
I'm sorry it's like you were afraid of.
There's a guy trying to develop
the property to the north.
- Oh, I don't believe it!
It's Esch's place!
- 135 houses.
- That old coot has been
here as long as I have.
What's he thinking about?
(phone rings)
Hello.
- [Paul] Mr. Bolini, this
is Paul Haight again.
Look, we need to talk.
I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time.
- It's dinner time, mister!
- [Paul] I'll keep it brief.
I was hoping you had a chance
to think about my offer.
- The answer is I am not interested!
- [Paul] I know it's a big decision.
Could we just meet?
I'd like to explain what I'm proposing.
- Aha, I got a good idea of what
you're proposing, no thanks.
- [Paul] Wait, can I just come
out tomorrow around three?
Just for a couple of minutes.
- Have him come out, just meet with him.
See what he has to say.
- [Michael] What?
- Have him come out.
- Well all right, tomorrow then
and listen, pick me up some bird seed
at the feed store will ya?
- [Paul] Bird seed? Sure!
Whatever it takes.
I'll see you at three.
- Make it two bags.
I'll call it in and they'll
have it ready for ya.
- [Paul] Two bags it is!
- Bye.
- Two bags of bird seed?
- Saves me a trip.
(laughs)
Would you mind pass the salt
and pepper please, darling?
- Sure.
- Thank you.
So, besides your dad,
do you have a family?
- I have a boyfriend.
And a little kitty cat.
He's really sweet, he's a teacher.
- The cat?
(laughs)
- No, my boyfriend.
- Well I'd like to meet him someday.
- That'd be nice.
Do you eat like this every night?
- Hm, pretty much.
- Wow.
You have such a good life here.
- Yeah.
Can you imagine that
just a couple of days ago
my lawyer came and told
me about my estate tax?
Before that, everything
was running hunky dooly.
Hard to believe, you know?
- I don't see how that could happen.
Your family has had this farm for so long!
- Well ya see, my mother
had the farm in her name
and according to them, it was never
officially turned over to
me, signed over, you know?
- So, it's like an inheritance tax?
- That's what you want to call it, yep.
Anyway, my lawyer says
he's looking into it
and, you know...
- Is the whole farm, all
the original farm intact?
- All 240 acres of it, you bet.
- Wow.
You know lately, I've
really been wishing for
something meaningful to
do with my life, you know?
That's why I jumped in
the car and came up here.
I mean I didn't know why.
But, it just felt like I might
find myself on an adventure.
And it seems like I have landed
smack in the middle of one.
- Well, I don't know
what kind of an adventure
it'll be, but you're welcome to stay
as long as you want my dear.
- Hey, if you cook like this
every night, I'm staying!
(laughs)
So, tell me more about this guy
that's coming tomorrow at
three with your bird seed.
- He's a developer.
Been circling around waiting for me
to kick the bucket, I guess.
- Has he made you an offer?
- Well, I don't know.
Sort of, I guess.
- Well just remember, you hold
the cards in this situation.
- Yeah, well I'll agree with you on that.
Except for that lousy estate tax.
Ahh.
- I don't get it.
Does the township want to lose farmland?
- No, but our job is to enforce the laws.
If somebody wants to develop
something, it's their right.
We just make sure it's done legally.
- Even if it's not in the best
interest of the community?
- Look, I just work here.
Everything's handled by
a committee or a board.
We've got a master plan that
deals with this sort of thing.
Ugh, cost the township 150,000 bucks.
It's been sitting on that
shelf for five years.
- They spent that kind of money
and they aren't following it?
- Well, actually the money
came from a state grant
to help deal with sprawl, but nobody
seems to really pay attention to it.
- And most people are probably too busy
to make it to all the meetings.
- We elect officials to manage it.
Look at this.
- Is this around here someplace?
This is unbelievable.
How far along is it?
- It died, the developer went bankrupt.
But he put a lot of work into that.
He had big plans.
- And people went along with this?
- Yeah, most did.
- Well Mr. Bolini wouldn't have.
- Yeah I know, but everybody's
got a dream, even developers.
- Mr. Bolini, he sees the whole picture.
- He won't last forever.
He's a dying breed, and he has no kids.
- He has a niece.
- You know what I mean.
- Still, we should respect the land.
Mr. Bolini or not.
- I'm not disagreeing with you.
(phone rings)
Excuse me.
Hello, this is Joanne.
I was just looking for that.
Yes, excuse me one second.
- Can I borrow this?
- It's not supposed to leave here.
- I will guard it with my life, please?
- Fine.
- Oh here, here, let me give you a hand.
- Thanks.
- Okay.
- Wow, something smells good.
- Warmed up leftovers.
- So, how did your meeting
with Mr. Haight go?
- I must have missed him.
So, what's that?
- This is your township's master plan.
Cost them 150,000 dollars.
- Do you want some wine?
- Sure.
So how can I help?
- Get washed up.
- Yes sir.
(emotional music)
- You know, I'm dying to
know but I'm afraid to ask.
Can you tell me about that master...
- Master plan?
- Master plan, yeah.
- Absolutely.
Believe it or not, no one's even looked
at the thing since they
delivered it five years ago.
- So how come they don't use it?
- I don't know.
- Well is it because it's no good?
- It looks pretty thorough,
has graphs and sketches.
Looks like it took a lot of work.
It's not like it's hidden or anything.
- Well, how do they treat this farm?
Is it still a farm or is it
some kind of a shopping mall?
- It's a farm, this whole
area is set aside for farm.
The only place they've used expansion
was down by the gas station and the store.
They pretty much kept it all there.
- I think Esch sold out.
Those surveyors told me that somebody's
gonna be breaking ground
up here next spring.
- Maybe, see I think the master plan
isn't really the law,
it's more like a community
vision or a guide or something.
- Well what's it good for then?
- I don't know.
Hey, I did check on the zoning though.
This whole area is set
aside for agricultural use.
- Well then how can they carve up
agricultural land for houses?
Huh, isn't that what the zoning is for?
- Well, yeah, but get this,
a developer can come in,
he can make a pitch to the township,
and then the township can decide
whether they want to keep the
zoning or change it completely.
- So the zoning isn't worth anything?
- It's not set in stone, no.
- So, so what should I do?
- You should be a that
meeting Tuesday night.
- Want some ice cream?
- Sure.
(muffled crooning)
(singing)
(laughing)
- You're daddy's little girl, huh?
Yes you are, yes you are.
That's a girl, yes.
Yeah, you love that water, yes you do!
Yes you do, oh boy!
(laughs)
(emotional music)
(gravel crackles under car tires)
- Mr. Bolini, you are not
gonna believe who I saw...
What?
I'm so sorry.
- Hey, you know what?
Susan sent me a tape here.
It's from her condominium people.
(chuckles)
So, what'd you find?
- Oh.
I thought I would make us some pasta.
- Pasta?
You know how to make pasta?
Well come on, I'll help
you make the sauce.
- That stubborn old--
- Here's the plans.
- Oh, excellent.
Is that beautiful or what?
- It's amazing how much stuff you
can jam into that place, that's for sure.
- Right.
So, check this out.
Imagine you're driving home
and you enter into this.
You go through a gateway that says
Oak Winds subdivision across
the archway, like Ponderosa!
You know, Bonanza.
Never mind.
So, you go in here, drive up this way.
If you live in the north, you
turn here, and you're home.
- Oak Wind's a good name.
Bolini has a ton of oaks up there.
- Yeah actually, we'd cut those down
and plant, there it is,
juniperus something.
They grow faster and there's no leaves.
No messy yards to clean
up, so they're perfect.
And no lousy squirrels.
Oh, and check this out.
I got a super deal on this ground cover.
Purple loosestrife, grows anywhere!
I don't know why it's so darn cheap.
Yep, 200 houses.
And once we add in the
Esch's property to the north
and the Fullers to the
south, we'll be rich.
Yeah, but Bolini's smack dab
in the middle of all this.
If we can't get him out of
here, those subdivisions
will have to look out over his barns
and crap and that old house.
- Well maybe people want
to look at that old house.
- Don't be ridiculous,
that house is a tear down.
Nobody wants to look at
that old stuff anyways.
Ah, stuff's driving me crazy.
(phone rings)
- Pine Cone Properties, this is Annie.
He's right here.
- Thanks, Paul Haight.
Are you sure?
That is great news, thanks!
That was Vanderwall.
He's doing a little work for Bennett
and Swinehort, the lawyers, and he
overheard a conversation about Bolini.
Looks like Mr. Bolini's
gonna have to come up
with some quick cash for the IRS.
Now he'll sell.
(chuckles)
He has to sell.
- I am not selling!
(wood clatters)
- Maybe you should talk
to somebody about this.
I'm sure somebody's
been through it before.
- Well you know, seems
to me like Louie Esch
talked about something like that one time.
Maybe it's time for me
to go see the old geezer.
- There you go.
Don't they make, like, mechanical
splitters or something for this?
- Yeah, I got one.
In the barn.
It needs a new head gasket.
- Can't you get somebody to fix it for ya?
- Ain't no big deal, I just
haven't got around to it yet.
Besides, it's too noisy.
Oh.
- Are you okay?
- Oh yeah, yeah.
(sniffs)
Don't you just love the
smell of fresh cut wood?
Here, smell, smell.
Huh?
Oh, I think that's enough for today.
(pleasant music)
Louie!
Hey, Louie!
Ha.
- How you doing, Michael?
- All right.
- Did you get remarried?
- Yep, yesterday.
No, this is Lydia Bailey.
Her family used to work for us.
- What are you hanging
around this old coot for?
- I just came up for a visit.
I wanted to see the farm again.
- Things look different now, I suppose.
- In some ways, yeah.
- So what's up?
- Hey, Louie, what are you doing?
- I guess I might as well spit it out.
I'm thinking of selling the place.
They made a pretty good offer.
Look, my kids are grown.
None of them want to work the farm.
Why not take the money?
- How can you say that?
- What?
We struggle year after year to come up
with some fruit that gets thrown
into some freezer for God knows how long?
I don't know, with the
insurance and labor costs
climbing this seems like a
pretty good time to sell.
- Ah Louie, I like looking over here
and seeing your farm and
knowing that you're my neighbor.
- I understand.
- Have you signed anything yet, Mr. Esch?
- They just brought
the offer by yesterday.
I told 'em I'd have to read it over
and have my lawyer look at it.
- Did they give you a timetable?
- Yeah, five days I think.
- Louie, how can you say that?
- Look, I am not the only one doing this.
- We used to work together, Louie.
If you needed help, we
were there to help you.
If Sullivan got into trouble
hey, we were there to help.
- But that barn fire was 30 years ago!
- Look, maybe you should
get everybody together.
You know, have a meeting.
I'm sure Mr. Esch doesn't
take any of this lightly,
but you guys need to talk.
- Yeah, if you can pound any sense
into this old coot's head.
- After all these years,
I don't want to leave
this farm any more than
you want to leave yours.
- Well that township meeting
is coming up pretty fast.
Can you meet on Monday?
- I suppose.
I can do it after four.
- After four, are you going to come over
to my place on Monday?
- It's fine, but it won't change my mind.
- This is a big deal, Louie, huh?
See you Monday, Louie, all right.
We'll see ya.
(emotional music)
(engine starts)
Might as well pick up the mail, huh?
- Will do.
See if I can get you closer
than I did last time.
Ooh.
- There, you did fine.
- There we go.
- All right.
Okay, home and mother.
- Here we go.
Did you win the sweepstakes?
What is it?
- I'll open it later, the IRS.
(gasps)
- Mr. Bolini, just get it over with.
It is the IRS.
What does it say?
- Mr. Bolini, we have
made several attempts
to contact you re--,
blah blah blah blah blah.
- What do they mean by
we've made several attempts?
- I don't know.
- Have there been other letters?
- Probably.
Yes, yes.
Yes!
In my case, my parents didn't think
to sign the title over to me
while they were still alive.
So, the IRS figures I came
into some inheritance,
and now they want their moolah.
- Same thing happened to me,
so I sold off those 20 acres down
by Murphy Road there where
that cluster of houses is.
Worked out okay.
- Well, listen Charlie,
those houses didn't do us
any favors being jammed
into a place like that.
- I didn't have any choice.
- I know, I know, it's a
tough situation partner.
- At least I got to keep
the rest of my farm.
- Well listen, I've got
a chance to sell off
this whole spread, the whole place.
- Well what's the problem?
- Well what would you do if they offered
you a million dollars
and a month to get out?
What would you do then, huh?
- I'd move someplace warm.
- Oh that's ridiculous, come on!
Then what, huh?
- Nobody wants to be in debt.
- That cold snap last
spring really hurt my crop.
A couple years in a row like
that and I'd be done anyway.
If this opportunity would give me
a fresh start I'd say take it.
- Fresh start?
What about the rest of us?
And the community?
- That's what I'm talking about!
That's exactly what I'm talking about!
- You don't have a choice.
Sell a small piece, settle your debt.
What happens after that
is out of your control,
but at least you've got most of your farm.
- No, I can't, I just can't!
- Oh come on, Bolini, times are changing.
- That's what I've been saying.
- If somebody wants to offer us easy money
to move on, I'm not
gonna stand in their way.
- I got a purchase agreement sitting
on my kitchen table right now.
If I sign it, I'm rich, my debts are gone
and I find something else to do.
- [Michael] Come on
Louie, what would you do
if you're not farming, huh?
What would you do?
- I don't know!
But it's kind of exciting
thinking about it.
- Oh, for crying out loud.
- Mr. Bolini tell them about the meeting.
- Oh, no, you tell 'em sweetheart.
Come on, you tell 'em.
Tell 'em.
- Hi gentlemen.
I know I'm an outsider, but I just wanted
to let you know that there's going
to be a meeting tomorrow
night at township hall.
They're going to vote
whether or not to rezone
this entire area from
agricultural to residential.
Now I would never presume to
tell any of you what to do
with your land, but I am asking that you
don't let them make this decision
without your voice being heard.
- Well, what do you think?
- [Voiceover] Welcome
to Southern California,
where the climate is always perfect.
A place where you can
be yourself and enjoy
one of the most stunning and
beautiful vistas in the world
and create for yourself a
lifestyle that dreams are made of.
Through one of our many timeshare
or purchase opportunities,
you can select the option
that serves you best.
From just a week, a year,
to full time, your choice.
Just imagine what the year
round fresh air will do for you.
In addition, all maintenance for your
home and grounds is taken care of.
- That's enough of that.
Did you ever get that feeling
where you're going along
a little bit too fast,
you know, and you pass by that police car
and he's got his radar
out at ya, you know?
- I know the feeling.
- Well that's exactly
how I feel when they talk
about selling, you know, the
farms and everything else.
I get butterflies in my stomach.
Oh, terrible.
- I'm sure your niece just
wants you to be happy.
- Oh, well listen, she's wonderful anyway.
She's always thinking
about me, God bless her.
- Mr. Bolini?
I haven't been completely honest with you.
About the reason I'm here.
I feel like I need to
tell you the whole story.
- Well?
(sighs)
- I work for the county, for the
Health Department, actually.
Well, one day this guy came in
to have a vaccination
and I gave him a shot
and after it was over, I accidentally
pricked my hand with the needle.
A couple of days later we found
out the guy was HIV positive.
- Oh dear God.
- I don't know if I'm infected.
I still have some tests to
take after Thanksgiving.
- Don't they have any medicine for that?
Can't they give you something?
- Well yeah, there's a couple of things.
But, until after Thanksgiving,
I just, all I can do is wait.
- Oh you poor thing.
No wonder you wanted
to take some time off.
Well, listen, I know everything's
going to be all right.
Don't you worry about it, you hear?
- Yeah some, well most days, I think that.
But then there are others that are just...
- Lydia, listen to me.
Your whole world is
ahead of you, believe it!
Your whole life is ahead
of you, you understand?
(cries)
- I'm so glad I'm here, I'm so glad.
And it's gonna sound really weird,
but I'm kind of glad
the accident happened.
Maybe I would have never come up here.
Not now, anyway.
Plus, what would you have done without me?
- Well.
I'd have probably
watched that whole video.
(laughs)
- I'll get our plates.
(phone rings)
- Hello?
Yes.
No, no, no, he's dead.
Yes, he's dead!
Terrible tractor explosion, that's right.
Yeah, take him off the list.
That's it, bye-bye.
I hate those guys.
- Oh, there was a tractor explosion!
- Oh, never mind that.
Listen, Lydia, I got a secret for you too.
- What?
- About two weeks ago I went
to Minnesota to see a specialist.
- Why?
- Well, you know, my
heart, and after a while
you know, at my age, parts
start wearing out, you know?
- Well what did they say?
- Ah, I'm getting old.
But I can deal with it, you know?
Hey listen, right now I feel fine
and I'm getting along just fine, okay?
Look at my pop.
He died when he was 56, 56!
Just a kid.
- Still, there's gotta be some--
That's it, no more pie
and ice cream for you!
- Ah, are you kidding?
You know the way I figure,
if I didn't have that
and I died about a half
hour later, I'd kick
myself for not having eaten it!
Make sense?
- Yes, yes it makes sense.
(laughs)
I'm gonna turn in.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Thank you.
- Night night, bye-bye dear.
(phone rings)
Hello?
- [Susan] Uncle Mike, did I wake you?
- Oh, Susan, yes yes.
I thought maybe it was somebody else.
No, never mind, never mind.
- [Susan] Well I just wanted to say hi
and see how it's going.
- Well, everything's fine,
everything's fine dear.
Oh, you know Louie Esch
next door, don't you?
- [Susan] Yeah, sure.
- Yeah, well he got an
offer to sell his farm
and I think the coward's gonna take it.
- [Susan] Oh really?
- Yeah.
- [Susan] Well he's smart.
Have you thought about my idea?
- Yeah, but I'm gonna hold still yet.
I don't want to sell yet.
- [Susan] I worry about you.
- Ah, well, I thank you
very much for your concern.
But everything's fine, and I'm okay.
I'm just a little tired is all.
- [Susan] I'm sorry to call so late.
I'll call back in a couple of days.
- I'll know something
better tomorrow night
because there's gonna
be a township meeting.
- [Susan] About what?
- Oh, it seems the developer wants
to go in there and try
to convince the township
as to how he can slice up
Esch's property, you know?
- [Susan] Oh, do you
think they'll let him?
- Well I don't know.
We're all supposed to be there.
It's probably going to be a
three ring circus if you ask me.
- [Susan] Huh, well maybe then you'll
come to your senses, and sell!
- Oh, yeah, okay, maybe.
- [Susan] All right then, call me anytime.
- All right, dear.
Thank you for calling.
- [Susan] Okay Uncle Mike.
- Bye-bye.
- [Susan] Bye-bye.
- The power company came through about
ten years ago or so.
They would not have it any other way.
They took out this whole
line of Norway spruce.
- Isn't this the row that you planted?
- My pop and me, that's
right, and those over there,
and those over there.
Yep.
- Couldn't they have just moved the lines
over and saved all these beautiful trees?
(laughs)
- Are you kidding?
We pleaded, we cajoled, we did everything!
And you see how much success we had, huh?
And you know, all we did was plant it
so that we could have a
windbreak for the orchard.
- How do you feel about
that, I mean even now?
- Ah, sometimes I feel
mad, sometimes I feel bad
and sometimes I well,
what are you gonna do?
Fight city hall?
But it's gone.
Yet, it's still beautiful.
- Oh, what's this?
- Let's see.
- It's from that guy that
wants to buy the farm.
- I always thought that
was a crazy expression.
Bought the farm.
Means to die, doesn't it?
- Well, are you gonna open it?
- Are you hungry?
- I'm starved.
- Well I'm making you the
most perfect breakfast.
- You are?
- Yep, in a few minutes you will have
the greatest cornbread
muffins in the world.
- Yum.
- Huh?
Smell that!
- So, do you think there would be enough
time for me to look through your letters?
- Oh, help yourself.
- Alrighty, here goes.
All right, let's see we've
got Pine Cone Properties,
IRS, IRS, Pine Cone
Properties, State of Michigan.
This one's certified,
you even signed for it.
- So what can I tell you?
I've been busy!
(laughs)
- Um.
I've prepared some plans that will allow
you to visualize what I see
for the Oak Winds subdivision.
Now you know, the north, this
stuff is just making me nuts.
My God.
- Oh, try that my dear.
- Mmm, this is excellent!
- Uh-huh, my grandpop's
recipe, good for ya!
- Even with the butter?
- What do you want to do, live forever?
- Mm, do you need anything from town?
- Not that I know of.
- I'm gonna run in to the township office
and pick up an agenda for tonight.
- What do you thinks gonna happen?
- I don't know.
I just don't want people to listen to that
developer and run to cash in.
Louie Esch might be the first one.
- Well maybe for him it's the right thing.
I just wish it wasn't right next door.
- Well like it or not,
you're all in this together.
And that'll be our goal tonight, to get
everybody to work together.
And hopefully the township board
will put as much thought
into this as it deserves.
- You should have been a lawyer.
Uh-huh.
- Ooh, ow!
- Oh my gosh, I am so sorry!
Oh, I wasn't paying attention.
- It's okay, I've been hit with worse.
- I feel so bad.
- Are you from around here?
- No, I'm visiting.
- Oh, well I'm Paul.
- Paul, Lydia.
- Nice to meet ya.
- You too.
- Are you heading in?
- Uh yeah, I was, why?
- Oh there's a township meeting tonight.
You know, a lot of fuss as usual.
- Really, what's the fuss all about?
- Well, the farmers have
this great opportunity
to sell their land, and
they'll make out like bandits,
but there's always some
troublemaker screwing something up.
It's kinda complicated.
- Sounds like it.
- Yeah.
- Looks like a pretty
nasty rash you got there.
- I don't know what the heck it is.
I'm doing all I can not to scratch it,
but it seems to be spreading.
- Looks like poison ivy to me.
Good thing you put that pink stuff on it.
- Oh, yeah, I sure hope it clears it up.
I don't know where I
could have gotten it at.
- So, Paul right?
- Yeah.
- What is your interest in all this?
- Oh, well I don't want
to brag or anything,
but I'm the guy that's trying
to put this whole deal together.
I'm the developer.
- Wow.
- Yeah.
- So, you must have your
work cut out for ya.
- I've been through this stuff before.
This is like shooting fish in a barrel.
- Right, well I better
get in before they close.
- Oh yeah, hey, sure.
Don't let me hold you up.
- Okay, well, bye-bye.
- Goodbye.
Wow.
(rain patters)
(somber music)
(knocks)
- There you are.
- Hi!
- Hey, I was wondering if I
could get an agenda for tonight.
- Oh, sure.
Here you go.
- Perfect.
You are gonna be there, right?
- No I can't.
(gasps)
I've got a date.
- Ooh.
Hey, do you mind if I use your phone?
- Sure, go ahead.
- Thanks.
(phone rings)
Have fun tonight.
- Good luck.
- Thank you!
(rain patters)
Mr. Bolini?
Mr. Bolini!
(ominous music)
(rain patters)
Mr. Bolini?
Mr. Bolini!
Mr. Bolini!
Mr. Bolini!
(panting)
(sniffles)
- Must be almost 5:30, huh?
- We better head back or
we're gonna miss the meeting.
- I dreamt I was at the meeting!
Somebody brought a cow
and they had a couple
chickens and they're
stuffed in their pockets
and they were dipping 'em to a sauce.
And they were selling them
for ten dollars apiece.
It was Louie Esch!
He was selling them
for ten dollars apiece!
(laughs)
Up there with the guy with the gavel.
Oh, oh.
Boy.
I oughta fall asleep more often, huh?
You ready?
- Yes.
- Come on, I'm ready.
(murmuring)
- Let's get this show
on the road, shall we?
I hereby call this meeting to order.
First order of business.
John Miller wants to request a variance
on a setback requirement from
30 feet to ten for his new garage.
- Didn't we just have a request
like this at the last meeting?
- Meeting before last.
- Well according to Mr. Miller, who wants
to build a garage for his tractor,
says that this is the only sensible place.
- Doesn't the Miller farm
have 150 acres or so?
How can this be the
only place for a garage?
- Is Mr. Miller here?
John, why the request?
I mean, surely there's a better spot
that doesn't need a variance.
- Well I sold off some
of my land last summer
and the new lot line
shoots right by the house.
I've got it shoved up against the
other barn as close as I can.
I'd like to build it even bigger, but--
- What does the person that
bought your property think?
- I don't know.
- Well what do you want us to do?
- I'd like you to consider
allowing me the variance.
- Seems like there
oughta be a better spot.
- Well now I regret
selling off that much land.
- With all due respect,
it's not really our problem.
- John, this is really an awkward request.
I'm not sure there's a hardship here.
- So how much land do you have?
- 75 acres, more or less.
- So you sold off half?
- About, yes.
- There's gotta be another
place for this garage.
- This is the best spot!
- It takes a pretty special argument
to allow for a variance.
- If I can keep all of
my buildings together,
I can use the orchards
pretty much as they are.
I need to keep as many trees as I can.
- I'm still not seeing the hardship here.
- We've got a lot of
things to cover tonight.
We've got to keep things moving.
Should we take a vote?
- Sure.
- All in favor of giving
Mr. Miller his variance?
All opposed?
Sorry John, you know the deal.
We have guidelines.
Okay, next up is a request
for a zoning change
with a planned unit
development from Paul Haight.
Mr. Haight.
- On behalf of my partners
and myself, thank you.
Mr. Wells, commissioners,
ladies and gentlemen,
we're here tonight to share
with you a vision of the future.
You know how the township
is always perpetually,
well, how can I say it?
Broke.
We're always looking for new
ways to bring in revenue.
Well I have a plan that
would create a solid tax base
and infuse fresh, new money
into your depressed economy.
Oak Wind subdivision.
A beautiful scenic residential community
with a great view and
full access to utilities.
Starting with phase one, 135 houses
patterned after the classic
American theme, the ranch.
Now I've done some homework and not only
will these homes provide
a warm and maintenance
free environment for
families to live and grow,
but they will also add, on an average,
of 2,600 dollars per year
in taxes to the township.
- Phase one?
- Phase two and three would
make a total of 675 homes,
but that could take a couple of years.
I know what you're thinking.
Where could we do this?
Can he really pull this off?
Can we do it and still be Earth friendly?
Well I'm here to tell you, yes, yes!
I've already optioned five separate farms,
three of which connect together
to make one super large parcel
so when it's time to expand, we're ready.
If you share this vision
with me, you will benefit
from the fruits of a strong economy,
and the knowledge that you have been
a part of this new and
exciting development.
Everybody wins!
- Mr. Haight, this is pretty different
from your first presentation.
- Yes, yes, I've improved it.
Thanks for noticing.
Are there any questions before I continue?
- Yeah, how many farms have you actual--
- Would you please stand up?
- How many farms have you
actually signed up for this plan?
- Uh, two.
Well all right one, one actually.
Mr. Esch's place, but there's
four others ready to go.
I'm all set to get financing
from a bank out east
and they love projects up here.
- I've signed nothing yet.
According to his offer, I got until nine
tomorrow morning to decide.
- Well yes, that's true, but looks
pretty good, right Mr. Esch?
- I'm not so sure anymore.
(murmuring)
- All right, order, order, quiet.
Please, Louie, sit down.
Mr. Haight still has the floor.
- Two months ago you
brought a preliminary plan
to us for review.
As I recall, it sort of made sense.
What happened?
- It's the same basic plan, it just
got a little bit bigger
and even more successful.
(chuckles)
May I continue?
So, imagine you're driving
up center highway there.
Just as you come down over the hill
off to the right you see
this big beautiful entrance.
As you pass through the gate,
you read Oak Wind subdivision.
Not really a gated community with security
and things like that,
but it feels that way.
But, it is safe.
Now as you enter the
complex, you have your usual
roads, sidewalks, everything,
but the best thing of all is the view.
Each home will have a beautiful
view of the rolling meadows.
Now this is unprecedented for
housing in this price range.
It will be a great place to
live and raise your kids.
We've got a generous curb cut here
by the side of the road
for the school buses.
All the utilities would
be buried of course,
and the engineering would meet
or exceed state and local codes.
Each homeowner will have their choice
of six different styles of houses to keep
the uniformity and consistency.
Starting with a modest two
bedroom, two car garage
and going all the way up to a
five bedroom three car garage.
So, as you can see, there really
is something for everybody.
Any questions?
- Over here.
- Yes.
- You said that each home has
a view of the open meadow.
Is it not true that phases two and three
extend into that very same area?
- Well, the land is far too
valuable to just let lay there
so even if we were to build
these meadows, this field,
the area all to the west, even if that
were built on, the view
would not be blocked.
The houses that we would build there
would not be high enough
to cause any problems.
Yes, in the red sweater.
- I'm guessing that the people
who are buying into this
aren't expecting that their
houses will eventually
be looking out over rooftops.
- Well like I said, it
technically won't block the view.
Ah yes, you in front.
- I know that land.
There's a stream that runs through
it on the southeast corner.
You've got houses drawn there.
- Okay, you know I'm really
glad you brought that up.
This is really neat.
We have preliminary approval
to put a culvert in there.
And without even diverting the stream!
We simply bury it.
The best part of all is
the runoff from the road
comes right over there, over the culvert,
and into a retaining pond that we built.
Of course, it'd be fenced off
to keep it safe for the kids.
- There's trout in that stream!
- Uh, just a second, hang on.
I gotta back up a bit.
Mr. Haight I have a
number of problems here.
Now first, while your idea
of generating more money
for the township is
noble, the infrastructure
won't support a development of that size.
It'll cost more than we could possibly
raise with any additional tax revenues.
- We've tried to include as much of the
upfront cost in our plans as possible.
We'd even pay for installing
a new expanded sewer pipe
and running it all the
way out to the main road.
All of this will be paid for by us.
We'd simply tap into
the existing sewer line.
We've even created a nice little two acre
green space for the kids to play in.
- But the sewers are at capacity now!
- What about traffic?
I don't want to live in an urban area,
and that's just what you're creating here.
- For every household you can count
on ten extra vehicle trips per day.
Ten times 675?
- Ah, perhaps, but you spread
that out over an entire day--
- That's an extra 6,000
cars converging eventually
down here on Center
and Hardwick every day.
- That road was designed to
carry 10,000 a day, right?
- When it was built,
what, eight years ago.
- Well the wear and tear on that road
is part of the infrastructure
we can't ignore.
We're over 10,000 now.
- We concluded that
there would be no impact.
- I don't agree.
- Believe it or not, new
subdivisions cost us money.
They never make any money, not out here.
I mean, before you know it
we have to beef up police,
fire, schools, more roads, more sewers,
I mean that kind of stuff
costs serious money!
- As for the sewers, our studies
shows there's plenty of room left.
- Excuse me, sir, excuse me.
We could fight about the details
engineering and sewer and numbers,
but it seems to me that
there's a bigger issue here.
It's the question, do we want to turn
our farmlands into neighborhoods?
Or don't we?
If we do, fine!
Let's accept Mr. Haight's
proposal and work the bugs out.
Let's get it over with!
But if we don't, then we
got to hang tough together!
And not spoil this place.
We got to hang tough together,
and not foul this place up.
Things like this have
happened thousands of times
all over this great country of ours.
Do we want to wake up some morning
and look and say, what the hell happened?
Do we?
(applause)
- Wait a second, I'm on the agenda here!
- Order, order, quiet please.
- I have a lot of time and
money riding on this project
and I need to know whether
you see the opportunity
so that I can move forward!
- All right, let's take a vote.
- No wait!
Do we all understand the
exciting potential here?
- All those in favor of
Mr. Haight's project?
All opposed.
(applause)
- Listen to those hayseeds.
We'll be back!
- I don't know, they seem
kind of firm on this.
- Yeah, well just wait and see!
Aw, come on!
Are you kidding me?
This stuff's making me crazy!
I got a flat tire!
- It looks like you ran over a nail.
- This place is haunted.
- I guess I'm stuck being an
old farmer for a while longer.
- What the heck?
- I sure liked the idea
of a pile of money.
- Oh sure.
- I suppose this isn't worth anything.
- Fellas, you were amazing tonight!
- You know, if he had been a little
smoother, we might have bought into it.
- It was close, it was close.
- Gentlemen, there's someone
I would like you to meet.
Mr. Meyers this is Mr.
Esch and Mr. Bolini.
- Meyers.
Meyers, do I know you?
- Well I'm with the Conservancy.
- You deal with birds?
- No, land actually.
Lydia here's been giving me some
background about your situation.
I hope that's okay.
- I guess.
- Now, I know this might
put a new spin on things,
but if you would consider a contribution
of your development
rights to the Conservancy.
Just hear me out.
A couple of things would
happen to help you.
- Look, I got enough debt for one man.
I can't afford to give
this land away, too!
- Well, if the gift is
made within nine months
of the death of the owner of the farm,
in this case your mom, there's no
inheritance tax liability
to you, whatsoever.
- Oh?
- We try to preserve the character
of the region in a way that
is consistent with the donors.
We'll attach that language
right to the deed.
You can even stay as long as you want
and continue farming.
- You mean I could just give you enough
to avoid the tax and keep the rest?
- We'll need to look at your situation.
- I don't have his tax troubles,
but I've been thinking a lot lately
about getting out of farming.
- We have a budget too.
Every situation's a little different.
- So I wouldn't have to listen to
Bolini here whining all the time?
(laughing)
- We've been at it for years.
We're even getting federal grants now.
Preserving farms is a big issue.
- Where have you been during all this?
- Well, we've actually been following this
particular development for some time just
to see what the consensus was.
You know, some developments work out fine.
- Well that sure wouldn't
have been the case here.
- You know, I sent you a
couple of letters about this.
- You wrote me letters?
- Bet I know where they are.
- Well it's an important
issue and I just want
to make sure that you
understand your options.
If you folks will excuse
me, I've got a kid
in a basketball game tonight and I still
might be able to catch it.
- Go, go, by all means!
It's a pleasure, thank you!
- It's been a pleasure.
- Thank you Mr. Meyers.
- Thanks for your time.
- All right.
Hot dog!
Suddenly I, suddenly
I don't feel so stuck!
(laughs)
- Looks like your buddy's
got some car troubles!
(laughs)
- You know, stop itching!
(laughing)
- Scratch mister, scratch!
- For a second there, I
felt sorry for the guy.
You know when he started
itching his poison ivy?
- I knew those old goats of
mine would pay off someday.
(laughing)
No, no, no, that's shameful.
No, we shouldn't say that.
- I don't know.
- Well that went pretty well, considering.
- Well that's no skin off their nose.
Giving me a year to figure it out.
You all know where I live!
- Yeah but still.
- Yeah, I know.
What would you do?
- About the donation?
- Yeah.
- It's a great fit!
You get to stay where you
are as long as you want
and the tax problem goes away.
- I set up a meeting for next Wednesday.
- You did.
You're not gonna make the guy
bring you bird seed are you?
- No!
I'm actually going to his
office, thank you very much.
- Well, good for you.
(laughs)
- What's the matter Lydia?
Something wrong?
- I got curious and had a blood test.
- So?
- I'm still negative.
- Oh, see I told you, it's nothing!
- I still have to take
a test in two months.
- Yeah, but this is the best news yet!
- All right.
- All right!
(emotional music)
(geese honking)
You know, you might be getting
a call one of these days.
- Well I hope so, at least write to me!
- No I mean, in case
something happens to me.
- Do not talk like that!
- Well it happens, you know.
- I know it happens.
Just don't want to think about it.
- I'm gonna miss you, dear Lydia.
(emotional music)
- This meant a lot to me.
I'll never forget it.
- God bless ya.
Bye!
(emotional music)
(birds chirping)
My dear Lydia, you are the perfect friend
to come into my life when you did.
I thank God for your visit.
I decided to give half of the farm
to the Conservancy after all.
That was a deal I worked out
with the IRS to avoid the tax.
But I saved the other half, 120 acres
including the house and barns for you.
I thought you should have them.
I made sure that if you ever wanted
to work the land, that you could.
The deal with the county is
to stop sprawl, not farming.
You know the rest.
I wish, oh how I wish
I could see your face.
I'm sure you're surprised.
That makes me very happy.
Love, Michael Bolini.
(emotional music)
♫ I have seen the golden summer
light flicker in the trees
♫ In the orchard where the
long grass sways in the breeze
♫ In the shade across the
fence an old man in a chair
♫ Dreams of the names and
faces who've been there
♫ But lately I have seen you fading
♫ As the world is changing
♫ As the seasons fly
♫ Still my heart in secret
holds onto the deepest colors
♫ Of the earth and sky
♫ I will come and find you
♫ When the spring unbinds you
♫ Singing of an older time
♫ Still my heart in secret
holding to the deepest colors
♫ Of the earth and sky ♫