Crimes of the Heart (1986) - full transcript

Three sisters with quite different personalities and lives reunite when Babe, the youngest, has just shot her husband. Oldest sister Lenny takes care of their grandfather and is turning into an old maid. Meg, who aspires to make it in Hollywood as a singer and actress, has had a wild, man-filled life. Their reunion is joyful but also stirs up much tension.

Ah.

The damage to the spinal column's
not yet been determined,

but his breathing's stabilized.

His liver's been saved.

Oh, well, that's good news.

None of this is good news,
Lenny Magrath.

It's all a grueling nightmare.

You Mark my words,
those responsible will pay dearly.

Thank you.

Etty may, you be sure to
defrost that chicken for supper.

And there's a can of Vienna
sausages in the cupboard for your lunch,



and you give peanut butter
and jelly to those children.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm gonna smash you.

You take your stupid man.

Get him out of here.
I hate him.

Stop throwing my man!

You're breaking my man. Stop it!

I won't stop it!
I won't!

Lenny!

Aah! Aah!

Yoo-hoo, Lenny!

Well, this is just too awful.

How I'm gonna continue to hold
my head up high in this community,

I do not know.



Did you get those pantyhose I asked you--

they're in the sack.

Daddy has called me twice already.

He says we got to get ourselves to town

to help out with this thing with Babe

before they change their simple minds.

I was sort of hoping that Meg would call.

Meg?

Yeah, I sent her a telegram about Babe--

a telegram? Couldn't you just
phone her up or something?

Well, no, I couldn't because
her phone was out of order.

Out of order?
That's right. It was disconnected.

I don't know.
Well, now, that sounds just like Meg.

What all did you say in this telegram?

I just told her to come on home.

To come on home?

Lenny, have you lost
your only mind or what?

Babe is going to be incurring

mighty negative publicity in this town,

and Meg's appearance isn't
gonna help things out one bit.

These are awful snug.

Did you get my right size?

Well, let's see.
I think they're...

Size extra-petite.

Well, they are scrimping
on the nylon material.

Anyway, Meg is known
all over copiah county

as cheap Christmas trash.

Well, the her sordid dealings
with Doc Porter,

leaving him a cripple.
A cripple?

He's got a limp!
He just kinda barely has a limp.

His mother was gonna keep me out of
the ladies' social league because of that.

Oh, Chick, please, I'm sorry,

but you're in the ladies' league now.

That's right.
I am.

But quite frankly,
if Mrs. Porter hadn't developed

a tumor on her bladder the way she did,

I wouldn't be in the ladies' social league,

much less a committee chairman.

Anyway, I want you to stay
right here and wait for Meg to call

so that you can convince
her not to come home.

How's my hair?
Fine.

It's not pooching out in the back is it?

Oh, no.

All right, then, I'm on my way.

Oh, I almost forgot!

Here's a present for you.

Oh! Oh!

Happy Birthday to Lenny from the Boyles.

Well, thank you, Chick.

It's so nice of you to remember
my birthday every year like you do.

Oh, now, you know that's just the way I am.

That's the way I was brought up to be.

Go ahead, open it.

Oh, all right, all right.

It's a box of candy, assorted creams.

Candy. That's always such a nice gift.

Oh, well, speaking of which,

remember that that little polka dot dress

you got for P.K.
on her birthday last month?

Yes, the red-and-white one?

Yes, that's the one.
Well, the first time

I put that in the washing machine,

and I mean the very first time,

it just went all to pieces.

Those little dots just dropped
right off into the water.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.
I'll just get her something else, then.

I'll just get her a nice little toy or--

no, no. I just wanted you to know

so that you wouldn't spend any more of

your hard-earned money
on that make of dress,

you know, those inexpensive kinds?

They just don't hold up.

My word!
That's Doc Porter.

Whoo-hoo, doc!
Whoo-hoo!

Hey.

How in the world are you doing?

Fine.

I can't stay.
I have people waiting on me.

You know, it's this thing with Babe.

Yes.
Well, good-bye. Farewell.

Nice seeing you.

Hey.
Hi.

Uh, Lenny...

Yes?

Oh, here's some pecans for you.

Why, thank you, doc.

I just love pecans.

My wife and Scotty picked
them up around the yard.

Why, I can make a pie...

Like, a nice pecan pie with 'em.

Lenny, I got some bad news for you.

You do?

Yeah, last night Billy boy died.

Oh, he died?

Uh-huh.

He was struck by lightning.

He was struck by lightning

in that storm yesterday.

That's what we think, yeah.

Gosh.

Gosh, I've had Billy boy
for such a long time,

ever since I was 10 years old.

Well, he was a mighty old horse.

Mighty old.

Hey, today's my birthday.

Did you know that?

No! Happy Birthday!

Thanks, doc.

Oh, Lenny, come on now.
Hey, now, come on.

You know I can't stand it
when you Magrath women cry.

Oh, sure. You mean when Meg cries.

Meg's the one you never stand to watch cry,

but not me, oh, no.
I could just fill me up

a great big old pig's trough, couldn't I?

Lenny, come on, now.
Stop it, Jesus.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what's wrong with me, doc.

It's this thing with Babe,

and now granddaddy's gotten
worse in the hospital

and I can't even seem to
get in touch with Meg at all.

Is Meggie coming home?

Who knows? She hasn't called me.

She still living in California?

Yes, she is, out there in Hollywood.

Well, give me a call if she gets in.
I'd like to see her.

You would, would you?

Yeah, Lenny.
Sad to say, but I would.

Ok.

♪ Happy Birthday to me

♪ Happy Birthday to me

♪ Happy Birthday, dear Lenny

♪ Happy Birthday to me

Watch your step, please.

There she is!
Hey!

♪ Happy Birthday to me

♪ Happy Birthday to me

♪ Happy Birthday to Lenny

♪ Happy Birthday--

Lenny?

Meg?
Lenny?

Meg!
Meggie, is that you?

Yeah!

Meg! Why didn't you call?

I've been trying to get you.

Oh, Lenny!

I'm so happy to see you.

We're getting so old.

Oh, I called.

Of course I called.

I never talked to you.

I let the phone ring right off the hook.

As a matter of fact,

I was out most of the morning seeing Babe.

Yeah, now, what is all this
business about Babe?

Lenny, how could you send
me such a telegram about Babe?

I know. And Zackery?
You say somebody shot Zackery?

Yes, they have.

Well, good Lord.
Is he dead?

No, but he's in the hospital

and they shot him in the stomach.

In his stomach?

Yes.

Oh, how awful.

I know.

Do they know who did it?

Do they, Lenny?

Well, who?

Who? Who shot him?

Babe!

They're all saying Babe shot him.

They even took her to jail.

Good Lord! Jail!
Yes!

Oh, no.

Well, who? Who's saying that? Who?

Everybody's saying it--

the police, the sheriff, Zackery--

even Babe's saying it.

Even Babe herself!

Oh, for God's sake.

It's so terrible.

It's the worst thing in the whole world.

Now, Lenny, calm down.
Just calm down.

Okay.

Would you like a Coke?

Yes, I would.

Would you like me to get you one?

Yeah, I'd love a Coke.

Why would Babe shoot Zackery? Why?

Well, I hate to say this.

I do hate to say this,

but I believe that Babe is ill--

I mean, in her head ill.

Oh, now, Lenny, don't say that.

There are plenty of good, sane
reasons to shoot another person.

And I'm sure Babe had one.

Now what we got to do is get her

the best lawyer in town.

You got any ideas on who's
the best lawyer in town?

Zackery is, of course,
but he's been shot.

Count him out.

Count him and his whole firm out.

You don't have to worry anyway

because we've already got Babe a lawyer.

Who?

Barnette Lloyd, Annie Lloyd's boy.

He just opened up his office.

Uncle Watson said we'd
be doing Annie a favor.

By hiring him--

what about Babe?

Huh? Have you thought about that?

You want to do her a favor

of 30 or 40 years in jail, huh?

Have you thought about that, Lenny?

I'm just trying to do what's right

and I don't think you have
to snap at me like that, Meg.

Oh, boo-hoo-hoo.

Please stop it.

And what was that you were saying anyway

about how old we're getting?

Only I don't think you meant we.

You meant me, didn't you?

Oh, I know, I know.
My face is just getting pinched

and my hair's falling out in the comb

oh, my God, Lenny!

This is your birthday!

Oh, how could I have forgotten?

Happy Birthday!

My God, we're getting so old.

Is old granddaddy here?

Huh? Why, no.

Granddaddy's at the hospital, Meg.

Again?

Yes, but don't you remember?

I wrote you about those blood vessels

popping in his brain.

Popping?

Yes, and how excited
he was to hear from you.

And find out about your career.

Didn't you get my letters?

Oh, I guess I did. I don't know.

Sometimes I kinda don't read your letters.

What?

Well, I used to read 'em.

It's just since Christmas,
reading them gives me

these slicing pains right here in my chest.

Oh, I see. I see.

I suppose that's why
you didn't take that money

old granddaddy sent you at
Christmas to come on home,

because you just hate us so much.

Oh, come on now, Lenny.

You think I'd be getting pains in my chest

if I didn't care about you?

I mean, if I hated you?

Honestly, now, you think I would?

Well, no.

Lenny, I'm free.

I'm free!

Oh, Babe.

Take me home.

I'll take you home.
We're going to go home right now.

You ok, Babe?

Was it terrible in there?
I bet it was awful.

Don't you worry.

Babe!

Oh!

Oh, little Babe!

Oh!

Oh!

Oh!

I can't believe you're home!

I'm so glad to see you!

Oh, God! I'm so glad you're home!

Oh, my little Babe.

I'm so relieved.

Hello, Margaret.
You're looking mighty good.

Thank you uncle Watson.
And how have you been?

Not bad for a tired old fat man.

Uncle Watson thinks he's fat.

He is fat. I have him on a diet.

Why, Chick, hello.

Cousin Margaret, now, what
brings you back to Hazlehurst?

Well, I came on home--

I came on home to see about Babe.

Mm.

So how are things with you, Babe?

Well, things are dismal,
if you want my opinion.

She's refusing to cooperate with her lawyer,

that nice-looking young Lloyd boy.

And she won't tell any of us

why she's committed this heinous crime.

Oh, look.

Lenny brought my saxophone from home!

And my suitcase!

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Meg, look at my saxophone.

I went to Jackson and bought it used.

It's so heavy.

Now, listen, Rebecca,

that lawyer wants some concrete answers!

No more stubbornness,
or they're gonna put you in jail

and throw away the key.

Isn't that right, daddy?

Won't they put her in jail
and throw away the key?

Well, honey, I don't know about that.

Well, they will.
And they'll leave you there to rot.

So, Rebecca, what are you gonna
tell Mr. Lloyd about shooting Zackery?

What are your reasons going to be?

I didn't like his looks.

I didn't like his stinkin' looks.

I don't like yours either, Chicklestick.

So leave me alone, and I mean it!

Just leave me alone!

Well, I was just trying to warn her

that she's going to have to help herself.

She just doesn't seem to have any idea

how serious this situation is

now, does she?
She just doesn't have the vaguest idea.

Well, it's true.

She does seem a little confused.

That is putting it mildly, Lenny, honey.

That is putting it mighty mild.

So, cousin Margaret,

how's your singing career going?

We've been looking for you
in those movie magazines.

You shouldn't smoke--
causes cancer of the lungs.

Each one of those little
cigarettes is a stick of death.

That's what I like about it, Chick,

taking a drag off death.

Mmm...

What power!
What exhilaration!

Here.

You want a drag?

Did y'all hear that
Zackery's liver's been saved?

His sister told me his liver's been saved.

I think that's just the best news.

Oh, yes, that's fine news.

That's mighty fine news.

Did you hear all that news

about the liver, little Chicken?

I heard it.

Cluck.

And don't you call me Chicken.

Cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck.

I've told you a hundred times,

if I have told you once.
Do not call me Chicken!

I'm not 12 years old anymore.

Cluck cluck.

Cluck cluck cluck.



go to bed!

Mom, I'm thirsty!
I want some water!

Now, I mean it!

Don't give him any water.
He'll wet the bed.

Go to bed right now!

I said go to bed right now,

or I'm gonna send both of
you to reform school.

You know, Chick's hated us

ever since we had to
move here from Vicksburg

to live with old grandmama
and old granddaddy.

Well, she's an idiot.

Yeah.

You know what she said this morning

when I was still behind
bars and couldn't get away?

What?

She told me how embarrassing it was

all those years ago,
you know, when mama...

Yeah, down in the cellar.

She said our mama had
shamed the entire family,

and that we were known
notoriously all through Hazlehurst.

She went on to say how
I would now be getting

just as much bad publicity

and humiliating her and
the family all over again.

Just forget it, Babe.
Just forget it.

I told her mama got national coverage.

National.

And if Zackery wasn't a
senator from Copiah County,

I probably wouldn't even get statewide.

Of course you wouldn't.

Gosh, sometimes I wonder.

What?

Why she did it.

Why mama hung herself.

I don't know.

She was having a bad day, real bad day.

That old yellow cat.

Oh, it was sad about that old cat.

Yeah.

I bet if daddy hadn't left us,

they'd still be alive.

I don't know.

It was after he left that she started

spending whole days just sitting there

smoking on the back porch steps.

Well, I'm glad he left.

God, he was such a bastard.

I thought if she'd felt
something for anyone,

it would have been that old cat.

Grinning with white teeth.
Daddy was such a bastard.

Was he?

I don't remember.

Ouch! Get away!
Get away from me!

Do you want me to come in there
and jerk you both bald-headed?

Now, I mean it! If you two kids don't
shut up and get out here to this car,

I'm gonna call Santa Claus,

and I'm gonna tell him to come
down the chimney and eat you both up!

Ow!

I mean it!

I'm gonna smack your face in.

I'm as serious as a heart attack.

Babe, why won't you tell
anyone about shooting Zackery?

Oh.

You must have had a
good reason, didn't you?

I guess I did.

Well, then, Babe, what was the reason?

I can't say.

Oh, Babe, why not?

I'm sort of protecting someone.

Then you didn't shoot him.

No, I shot him all right.

I meant to kill him.

I was aiming for his heart.

But I guess my hands were shaking

and I just got him in the stomach.

So, I'm guilty, all right,
and I'm just gonna

have to take my punishment
and go on to jail.

Oh, Babe.

Don't worry.

Jail's going to be a relief to me.

I can learn to play my saxophone.

I won't have to live with Zackery anymore.

And I won't have his
snoopy old sister Lucille

coming over and pushing me around.

Mom? Mom!
Help me, mom!

Here's your lemonade.

Get away!

Thanks.
Thank you.

It tastes ok?

It's perfect.

I really don't feel very thirsty.

Well, I like more sugar in mine.
I'm gonna add some more sugar.

Babe, don't make such a mess here.

Please be careful with that sharp knife!

Honestly now, that sugar's
gonna get you sick! I mean it!

Really!

Boy.

I don't know what's happening to Lenny.

What do you mean?

Well, she's turning into old grandmama.

You think so?

Well, more and more.
Look there.

She's even taken to wearing
old grandmama's torn sunhat

and her lime-green garden gloves.

Lenny works in the garden

wearing the lime-green
gloves of a dead woman.

Oh, no. Yesterday was Lenny's birthday.

That's right.

I forgot all about it.

I know.
I did, too.

Oh, God.

That Chick is so cheap.

What?

This plastic has poinsettias on it.

Poor Lenny.

She needs some love in her life.

All she does is work out at the brickyard

and take care of old granddaddy.

Yeah, but she's so shy with men.

Yeah.

Probably because of that
shrunken ovary she's got.

Yeah.

That deformed ovary.

Yeah, old granddaddy was the one

who made her feel self-conscious about that.

It's his fault, old fool.

I bet Lenny has never even slept with a man.

I bet she's never even had it once.

I don't know.

Maybe she's had it once.

She has?

Maybe.

I think so.

When? When?

Well, maybe I shouldn't say.

Babe!

Oh, all right.

It was after old granddaddy went
back to the hospital the second time,

Lenny calls me up and asks me

to come right over

and bring along my polaroid camera.

But when I arrived,

she was waiting for me in the front parlor.

Babe, I need you to take
some snapshots of me.

But now, you swear you won't tell a soul?

But I'm sending my picture
to a lonely hearts clubs.

It's called "Lonely Hearts of the South."

I saw their ad in a magazine.

Two weeks later, she receives in the mail

this whole load of
pictures of available men,

most of them fairly odd-looking.

Maybe....

What?

But this one, this Charlie Hill

from Memphis, Tennessee,

- he calls her up.
- Yeah?

Well, he drives down here to Hazlehurst

about three or four different
times and has supper with her.

And then, this one weekend,
she goes up there to visit him.

I think that's when it happened.

What makes you think so?

Well, when I went to pick
her up at the bus depot,

she ran off the bus,
threw her arms around me,

and started crying and sobbing

as though she'd like to never stop.

And I asked her,
I said, "Lenny, what's the matter?"

She says, "I have done it."

You think she meant that she'd done it?

I think so.

Oh, goddamn!

She didn't say anything else about it.

She talked about the boot factory

where Charlie worked.

And about what a nice city Memphis was.

What happened to this Charlie?

Well, he came to Hazlehurst
just one more time.

Lenny took him to meet old
granddaddy at the hospital and

after that, they broke it off.

Because of old granddaddy?

Well, she said it was on account of

her missing an ovary.

Charlie didn't want to
marry her on account of it.

Who's that?

Shoot!
It's that lawyer.

I don't want to see him.

Babe, come on.
Babe.

You have got to talk to him sometime.

No, I don't.

Yes, you do.

Just tell him I died.

Babe, come down here.

No!

Babe!

No!

Get down here, Babe.

Shit.

How do you do?
I'm Barnette Lloyd.

I'm Meg Magrath.
Babe's oldest.

I know.
You're the singer.

I heard you five times when you
were singing at that club in Biloxi.

Greenies, I believe, was the name of it.

Yeah, Greenies.
You were very good.

There was something sad and moving

about how you sang those songs,
as though you had some sort of--

thank you.
That's very kind.

Now, about Babe's case?

Yes.

Well, we've just got to win it.

I intend to.

Well, of course, but it's just--
well, you're very young.

Yes, I am.
I'm young.

It's--

let me just think this out.

Exactly how do you intend to get Babe off,

I mean, you know, keep her out of jail?

Well, it seems to me we can get her off

with a plea of self-defense.

Or possibly we could go with innocent
by reason of temporary insanity.

But basically, I intend
to prove Zackery Botrelle

brutalized and tormented this poor woman

to such an extent she had no
recourse except to defend herself.

In the only way she knew how.

I like that.

Well, then, of course,
now I'm hoping this will break the ice

and we'll be able to go on to
prove the man's a total criminal

as well as an abusive bully
and a contemptible slob.

Yeah, that sounds good.

To me, that sounds very good.

That's our basic game plan.

Uh-huh.

Now, how you going to prove
Babe's been brutalized?

We don't want anyone committing perjury.

Perjury? According to my sources,

there'll be no need for perjury.

You mean it's the truth?

You should take a look at this.

It's a photo static copy of
Ms. Botrelle's medical chart

over the past four years.

What?

Oh, this is madness!

Did he do this to her?

Well--
did he?

Well, miss Magrath's--
oh, I'll kill him!

I will.
I'll fry his blood.

To tell you the truth,
I can't say for certain

what was accidental and what was not.

That's why I need to speak
with Ms. Botrelle.

It's very important that I see her.

What did Zackery do to you?

Did he hurt you?

Did he, Babe?

Goddamn it.

Yes, he did.

Why?

I don't know.

He started hating me 'cause
I couldn't laugh at his jokes.

Babe, this is very important.

I want you to tell me what all happened

right before you shot Zackery.

I told you, I can't tell you

on account of I'm protecting someone.

Babe, you just got to talk
to somebody about this.

You just do.
Why?

Because it's a human need

to talk about our lives.

It's an important human need.

All right, then.

Well, do you remember Willie Jay?

Cora's youngest boy?

Oh, yeah.

That little kid we used to give a nickel to

to run to the drugstore
and bring us a cherry Coke.

Right.
Yeah.

Well, Cora irons at my
place on Wednesdays now,

and she just happened
to mention that Willie Jay

had picked up this old stray dog.

He'd gotten real fond of him.

Now they couldn't afford
to feed him anymore,

so she was gonna have to tell Willie Jay

to set him loose in the woods.

Uh-huh.
I said I like dogs,

and if Willie Jay wanted
to bring the dog over here,

well, I'd take care of it.

So the next day, Willie Jay
brings over this skinny old dog

with these little crossed eyes.

Well, I asked Willie Jay what his name was

and he said they called him Dog.

Uh-huh.

Anyway, when Willie Jay was leaving,

he gave Dog a hug,

and he said, "Good-bye, Dog.

You're a fine old dog."

Well, I just felt something for him

so I told Willie Jay he could come over

and visit with Dog anytime he wanted.

His eyes lit right up.

Anyhow, time goes on,

and Willie Jay keeps coming over,

and we talk about Dog

and how fat he's getting,

and well, then, you know,

things start up.

No, I don't know.
What things start up?

Well, things start up, like sex.

Like that.

Babe, wait a minute.

Willie Jay is a boy,

a small boy, about this tall.

No, he's taller now.

He's 15 now.

When you knew him,
he was only about 7 or 8.

Even so, 15?

And he's a black boy,

a colored boy.

He's a negro.

Well, I realize that, Meg.

Why do you think I'm so worried

about his getting public exposure?

I don't want to ruin his reputation.

I am really amazed.

I am really completely amazed, Babe.

I didn't even know you were a liberal.

Well, I'm not.
I'm not a Liberal, I'm a Democratic.

I was just lonely,

and he was so good.

I never had it that good.

We'd always go out to the garage and--

it's ok.

I've got the picture.
I've got the picture.

Let's just get back to the story,

when you shot Zackery.

All right, then.
Let's see.

Willie Jay was over.
It was just after we--

yeah.

We were just standing around the back yard

playing with Dog.

Bring it back.

Come on!
Come on!

Come on.
Come here.

Bring it here.
Right here.

Come on, drop it.

Right here.
Go get it, Dog.

Suddenly, Zackery comes from
around the side of the house.

What you doing back here, boy?

He's not doing anything.
You just run on home, Willie Jay.

You just run right on home!

Uh!

Don't you ever come here again.

I'll cut your gizzard out.

Do you hear that?

You keep going, now.

Go on!

I was gonna shoot off my own head.

That's what I was gonna do.

And then suddenly I thought about mama

and how she hung herself.

Here I was about ready to shoot myself.

Then I realized--
that's right--

I realized I didn't want to kill myself,

and mama, she probably

didn't want to kill herself either.

She wanted to kill him.

I wanted to kill him, too.

I wanted to kill Zackery, not myself,

because I wanted to live.

You little idiot.

Oh, Christ.

All right, now.
Where were we?

I just shot Zackery.

Right. You've just pulled the trigger.

Tell me...

Do you think Willie Jay
can stay out of all this?

Believe me,
it's in our interest to keep him

as far out of this as possible.

Good.

All right, now.

You've just shot Zackery Botrelle

as a result of his continual

physical and mental abuse.

What happens now?

Well, after I shot him,

I put the gun down on the piano bench

and went out into the kitchen

and made a pitcher of lemonade.

Lemonade?

Yes.

I was dying of thirst.

My mouth was just as dry as a bone.

So in order to quench this raging thirst

that was choking you dry,

preventing any possibility of you uttering

any intelligible sounds or phrases,

you went out to the kitchen and
made up a pitcher of lemonade.

Right.

I made it just the way I like it,

with lots of sugar and lots of lemon,

and I added two trays of ice

and stirred it up with
my wooden stern spoon.

Then what?

Then I drank three glasses,

one right after the other.

They were large glasses,

about this tall.

And then suddenly...

My stomach kind of swole all up.

Hmm.

I guess what caused it was that sour lemon.

Could be.

Then what I did was I wiped off my mouth

with the back of my hand, like this.

I did that to clear off
all the little beads of water

that had settled there.

I see.

Then I called to Zackery,

"Zackery, I made up some lemonade."

Can you use a glass?

Aah.

Oh.

Lemonade?

No.

Lemonade, no.

What?
No.

You don't want any?

No, call--

would you like a Coke instead?

No. No Coke.

Get-- oh, Christ.

Get--

I guess that's gonna look kind of bad.

What?

Fixing that lemonade
before I called the hospital.

Well, not necessarily.

I tell ya, I think the reason
I made up the lemonade

was because I was afraid

they would see that I
tried to shoot Zackery.

The fact that I'd shot him and...

They would accuse me of possible murder

and send me away to jail.

Well, that's understandable.

I think so.

I mean, in fact,
that's just what did happen.

Yes, here I am,

practically on the brink of utter doom.

I feel so alone.

Now-- now, look.

Why, there's no reason
for you to get yourself

so all upset and worried.

Don't you worry, Ms. Botrelle.

We're gonna have a solid defense.

Please don't call me Ms. Botrelle.

My name's Becky.

People in the family call me Babe,

but my real name's Becky.

All right, Becky.

Are you sure you didn't
go to Hazlehurst high?

No. I went away to a boarding school.

Gosh. You look so familiar.

Well.
You sure do.

I doubt you'll remember,

but I did meet you once.

You did? When?

It was at the Christmas bazaar,
year before last.

You were selling cakes
and cookies and candies.

You bought the orange pound cake.

Right.

Of course.

Then we talked for a while.

We talked about the Christmas angel.

You do remember.

I remember it very well.

Hello.
This is Mr. Barnette Lloyd speaking.

Mrs. Botrelle's attorney?

Yes, that's correct.
I'm Mrs.-- Becky's attorney.

Well, listen to this, Mr. Barnette Lloyd.

I want you to get your attorney butt--

ooh!

I want you to get your attorney
butt over here right now,

and I'm gonna show you
some really blackenin' evidence

I got against your little lily-white client.

Why, certainly, Mr. Botrelle.

I'd be glad to check out

any pertinent information you may have.

RCA's releasing the album this spring.

I'm gonna have my picture on the cover.

I'll be eating a big pineapple,

sitting under a palm tree.

Won't that be as cute as a bug?

Yeah.

Look, child.
We really missed you.

I was sorry you weren't here at Christmas.

I was mightily ashamed you didn't come.

I'm sorry, old granddaddy.
I really am.

The reason I didn't use
that money you sent me

to come home for Christmas

was I was right in the middle

of making this huge,

multimillion-dollar motion picture,

and I was just under too much pressure.

Why, sure you were.

Listen, don't you give that
Christmas another thought.

You just tell me all about

that new motion picture you're in.

Well, it's coming out in the spring. Yeah.

And it's called "Singing in a Shoe Factory."

Oh.

But I don't really have
a large leading role.

It's more of a small leading role.

The director of the movie

thinks this is gonna be the big break

that I've been waiting for.

In fact...

My real name is Becky.

Good-bye, Becky.

Good-bye, Barnette.

Good-bye, Beck.

Oh.

Hi, Lenny.

Hello.

How's old granddaddy?

He's just fine.
He's just wonderful.

He's never been better.

Who ate this candy?

Meg.

Do you see?

This was my one and only
birthday present to me.

And look what she's gone and done.
Will you please see this?

She's taken one little bite

out of each piece of candy in this box.

Then she just put it right back in.

Oh, that is just so much like her!

Lenny--

I can't help it!

I can't help it.
It just gets me mad!

It just gets me upset!
Meg has always run wild.

You know she started smoking and
drinking when she was 14 years old.

She never even made her own bed.
She never made it--

yet somehow she always
seemed to get what she wanted.

You remember how

she's the one who got the
singing and dancing lessons.

And you know you remember how
she always had 12 golden jingle bells

sewed onto her petticoats,

while we were allowed three apiece.

Just tell me why! Why?

I don't know.

Maybe she didn't jingle them as much.

Well, I can't help it, Babe!
It just gets me so mad!

Look at this!

Lenny, things have been hard for Meg.

After all, she's the one who found mama.

I know she's the one who found mama.

That's always been the excuse.

But I tell ya, Lenny, after it happened,

Meg started doing all
sorts of these strange things.

Like what?

Well, like things I never
wanted to tell you about.

Well, what sort of things?

Well, for instance,
she used to force herself

to look in that horrible black book

in old granddaddy's study.

What horrible old black book?

The one called diseases of the skin.

Here, I'll show it to you.

You're not kidding.

What are you doing?
Be careful.

It's full of the most sickening pictures.

Aah!

Look here.
These rotting-away noses.

That's disgusting.

Oh!
Oh!

The eyeballs drooping down
the sides of people's faces!

That's the worst thing.

Sores and scabs.
It's so terrible.

Oh!
Oh!

God, that's just--
eaten-away places.

Oh, God, some people--

that's just the worst thing.
That's horrible. That's enough.

It's the same way she forced herself

to look at that poster of crippled children

stuck up in the window at Dixieland Drugs,

you know, the one where
they asked you to give a dime.

Meg would stand there and
stare at their little crippled legs.

Then she'd purposely go and spend her dime

on a double-scoop ice-cream
cone and eat it all down.

She'd say, "See? I can stand it.

Just look how I'm gonna
be able to stand it."

Well, I suppose you'd have
to be a pretty hard person

to be able to do what she
did to Doc Porter, Babe.

Oh, shoot.
It wasn't Meg's fault

that hurricane wiped Biloxi away.

Just because the roof fell in

and clunched the Doc's leg.

It wasn't her fault.

It was Meg who refused to evacuate.

She wanted to stay because
she thought a hurricane would be...

Oh, I don't know, just a
whole lot of fun or something.

And then everybody says that
she baited Doc into staying with her.

She said that she'd marry him if he'd stay.

Well, he has a mind of his own.

He could have gone.

But he didn't

because he loved her.

And then what'd she do?

She just left him to go to California,

just went and left because of her career.

That's what she said.

Hello.

Hi, Meg.

Here's your paper.

Thanks.

Here it is,

right on the front page.

All right, I lied.
I couldn't help it.

When I saw how sick and
tired old granddaddy had gotten,

those stories, they just flew out.

All I wanted was to see
him smiling and happy.

He is sick, isn't he, Meg?

Oh, God, he's just gotten
all white and milky.

He's almost evaporated.

But still, you shouldn't have lied, Meg.

It was wrong for you to tell such lies.

Well, I know that.
Don't you think I know that?

God, I hate it when I lie for that old man.

I do.
I feel so weak.

Then I gotta go out and do three
or four things I know he'd despise

just to get even with that
miserable, old, bossy man.

Oh, Meg. Please don't talk
that way about old granddaddy.

It's so ungrateful.

Why, he went out of his way
to make a home for us

and all he ever wanted was the best for us.

I guess so.

Sometimes I wonder what we wanted.

Well, one thing I wanted

was a team of white horses

to ride mama's coffin to her grave.

That's one thing I wanted.

Babe.

I don't understand

why you put in all those articles

about unhappy things in your life.

Why would you want to remember them?

Well, I don't know.

I just like to keep an
accurate record, I suppose.

Oh, Babe.

Oh, that's nice.

Mmm.

Oh, pictures of when I got married.

Meg, come over here.
Take a look at this.

Let's see.
You look about 12 years old.

I was just 18.

Look, you're smiling, Babe.

You were happy then.

I was drunk on champagne punch,

I remember that.

Look at you there.

Oh, Billy boy.

Oh, look!
There's Meg singing at Greenies.

I wish you were still singing at Greenies.

Meg, you looked so beautiful.

You are.
You're beautiful.

I did not.
Stop it.

Hey, Meggie.

What?

Are you starting to cry?

No, I'm not.

Oh, we don't want Meggie crying.

We better turn the page.

No, come on.
Oh, it's daddy.

Jesus, where'd you get that picture, Babe?

I thought mama burned them all.

I just found it around.

That smile.
Jesus, those white teeth.

Turn the page.

We can't get worse than that.

That's mama.
The cat.

I think you better turn the page, Babe.

That old yellow cat.

You know, I bet if mama
hadn't hung that old cat

along with her,

she wouldn't have gotten
all that national coverage.

Why are we talking about this?

Yeah, I think you're right.
I think Meg's right. This is too sad.

It's awfully sad.

I remember how we all sat on this bed

the very day at the service

all dressed up

in our little black velveteen suits.

We were just--
we were crying all morning long.

Now, hush all that crying, children.

Old granddaddy's going to
take you out for some breakfast,

and whatever you want,

you're going to have.

Looks like you need
some more silvers of nuts.

Bring this young lady here
a plate of nut slivers.

And this child's ready for another round.

Now remember, no pineapple
topping and plenty of syrup.

Just go on and bring a big
king-size bowl of chocolate syrup.

Banana splits for breakfast.

I think I ate about five.

We were so sick.

Oh, we were, weren't we?

Your face turned all green.
Lenny's face turned green.

I was sick as a dog.

Old grandmama was furious.

She was mad.

You know, the thing about old granddaddy

is he just tries to make us happy.

We keep getting stomachaches

and throwing up in the flower arrangements.

That was me.
I threw up in the flowers.

Babe, you're so embarrassing.

Oh, I love you, Babe.

Oh, Meg!

Oh, Lenny.

It's so good to be home.

I'm glad you're back.

Oh, wait a minute.
Oh! Oh! Oh!

I have an idea.
What?

I think we should play cards.

Oh, let's do!

It'll be just like when we
used to sit around the kitchen

playing Hearts all night long.

I know!
I'll go up and fix us up some popcorn.

Okay, that's a good idea.

Yeah, and hot chocolate.

Let's see now.
Let's see.

I think I have a deck of
cards in here somewhere.

Gosh, I hope I remember all the rules.

Are Hearts good or bad?

They're bad, aren't they, Lenny?

That's right, Hearts are bad,

but that black sister is the worst of all.

Oh, that's right, and the black
sister is the Queen of Spades.

And the spades are the black cards

that aren't the puppy dogs' feet?

Right.

She counts lots of points,
and points are bad.

Mm-hmm.

Here, I'm gonna get some paper

so we can keep score.

I know.
Here they are.

Goodness, will you look at these things?

Why they're a hundred years old.

Hello.

No, this is Meg.

Doc?

How are you?

That's good.

You're where?

Why, sure, come on over.

Yeah.

All right. Bye.

It's Doc Porter.

He's down the street at Al's Grill.

He's gonna come on over.

He is?

Yeah.

He said he wanted to come on over

and see me.

Well, you still want to play?

No, I don't think so.

Aw, Meg.

Well, it really isn't that much fun

playing cards with only two people.

Yeah, I'm sorry.
I just-- you know.

Maybe I'll join you after Doc leaves.

Well, I know.
Maybe Doc would like to join us.

We could have a game of Bridge.

No, I don't think so.
Doc never liked cards.

Maybe we'll just go out somewhere.

Meg?
Hmm?

Well, Doc's married now.

I know.
You told me.

Well, as long as you know that.
Just as long as you know that.

I know that.

She's the yankee.

Meg, could I ask you something?

What?

I just wanted--
I just wanted to ask--

I just wanted to ask you just why...

Why...

Did you take one bite out of
each piece of candy in this box

and then just put it right back in there?

I was looking for the ones with nuts.

The ones with nuts?

Uh-huh.

There are none with nuts.

This is a box of assorted creams.

All it has in it are creams.

Meg, if you'd please look
right here at the top of this box.

It says right here, in clear letters,

assorted creams. Not nuts.

And besides, I wanna tell you something.

It was my one and only
birthday present to me.

It was my only one!

Well, Lenny, honey,
I'll get you another one.

That's not the point!
I don't want another box!

What is the point?

Well the point-- I just-- well,
okay, I don't know what the point is.

It's just that you just have no
respect for other people's property.

You're just always
taking whatever you want.

Do you remember how you always had

layers and layers of jingle
bells sewn onto your petticoats

while Babe and I only had three apiece?

She's going on about those
stupid jingle bells again.

Well, that's right, Meg,
because it's a specific example

of how you got what you wanted.

Come on now, Lenny.

You're just upset because Doc called.

Who said anything about Doc Porter?

Why, I have long since given up worrying

about you and all your men!

Hey, listen, I know I've had too many men.

Believe me, I have had way too many men,

but it's not my fault you haven't had any.

Well, maybe just that one from Memphis.

What one from Memphis?

Well, the one Babe told
me about from the club.

Babe!

Meg!
What?

How could you, Babe?
I asked you not to tell anyone!

Why'd you open your mouth?

You never said not to say anything.

Can't you use your head just for once?

Did you tell anybody else, Babe?

No, I never told anyone else.

Somehow it just slipped out to Meg.

Really, it just flew out of my mouth.

What do you two have,
wings on your tongues?

I'm really sorry.

Well, I'll never--

I'm never gonna be able
to trust you ever again!

Lenny!

Come on now, Lenny.

We were just worried about you.

We just wanted to find a
way to make you happy.

Happy?
Happy?

Oh, no, I'll never be happy!

Not if you live your life as
old granddaddy's nursemaid!

Oh, Meg, shut up!

Oh, I can't help it.

Now, I just know the reason you
broke off with that man from Memphis

was 'cause of old granddaddy.

Oh, what? You mean Babe didn't
tell you the rest of the story?

Well, she said something
about your shrunken ovary.

Babe!
Meg!

I just mentioned it.
Oh!

I don't believe a word of that story.

I don't care what you believe, Meg.

It's always just been so easy for you.

You always have so many
men falling in love with you,

but I have this shrunken ovary
and I just can't have any children.

Look at my hair.
It's just falling out in the comb.

So you just tell me,
what man is gonna love me?

Oh, Lenny, lots of men.

A lot of men.
A whole lot of men.

It's only old granddaddy
who seems to feel otherwise.

Yeah, because he doesn't want
to see me rejected and humiliated.

Lenny, stop being so pathetic.

Now just tell me, did you actually ask

this man from Memphis all about--

no, I didn't because...

I just didn't want him not to want me.

Oh, Lenny.

Lenny--

no, don't!

Don't talk to me anymore.

I think I'm going to vomit!

I just hope this doesn't cause me to vomit!

See?

She didn't even ask him

about her stupid ovary.

She broke it off because of old granddaddy,

what a jackass--

oh, Meg, shut up.

Why do you have to make Lenny cry?

I just hate it when you make Lenny cry.

Lenny?

Oh, Lenny.

Lenny?

Well, Doc.

Well, it's Doc.

So, Meggie, you're home.

Yeah, I come on home.

I come on home to see about Babe.

How is Babe?

Fine...well, fair.

She's fair.

So you want a drink?

Sure, what you got?

Bourbon.

You changed your hair.

Yeah.

Hmm.

So, you want to take a ride in the country

and look at the moon?

So how's your wife?

She's fine.

I hear you got two kids.

Yeah. Yeah, I got me two kids.

Boy and a girl.

That's right, Meg.
A boy and a girl.

That's what you always
said you wanted, wasn't it?

Is that what I said?

Mmm.

It's been a long time.

Yeah, it has been a long time.

Let's see, when was the last time

we saw each other?

Hmm. I can't quite recall.

Wasn't it in Biloxi?

Biloxi?
Oh, yes, I believe it was.

And wasn't there a hurricane

going on at the time?

Was there?

Yes, there was, one hell
of a little hurricane,

Cordelia, I believe they called it.

Hurricane Cordelia.

Ah, yes, I remember now.

That was a beautiful hurricane.

Yeah, we had quite a time down there.

Drinking vodka,
eating oysters on the half-shell,

dancing all night long.

The wind was blowing.

Oh, God, was it blowing.

Goddamn, was it blowing.

Never been such a wind blowing.

Ah, Meggie.

I know, Doc. It was my fault

to leave you.

I was crazy. I felt choked.

I felt like a fool.

No.

I just kept wondering why.

I don't know why.

Because I didn't want to care.

I did care, though. I did.

Aw, hell.

You still singing them sad songs?

Nah.

Why not?

Ah, I don't know, Doc.

Things got worse for me.

I couldn't sing anymore.

Boy, I tell you,

I had one hell of a time over Christmas.

What do you mean?

I went nuts.

Ended up in an L.A. County Hospital,

psychiatric ward.

Oh, hell, Meggie, what happened?

I don't really know.

Couldn't sing anymore, so I lost my job.

Then one afternoon, I ran screaming

out of the apartment

with all my money and jewelry and valuables

and tried to stuff them all

into one of those March
of Dimes collection boxes.

That was when they nabbed me.

It's a sad story--
Meg goes mad.

I don't want to start up, Doc.

It would be too hard if we start up.

Who says we're gonna start up?

We're just looking at the moon.

For one night,
you and me just taking a ride

in the country and looking at the moon.

Just one night?

Looking out at the moon.

You got it.

Well, all right.







Becky?

Becky?

Barnette?

Yeah, it's me.
It's Barnette.

Barnette.

Just a minute.

Well, Barnette, come on in.

Look, I've just met with Zackery

over at the hospital.

Oh.

Well, it seems his sister Lucille

was somewhat suspicious.

Suspicious?

She hired a private detective.

They were taken a couple weeks ago.

It seems she wasn't going to show them

to Botrelle straight away.

She wanted to wait till the time was right.

These are pictures of Willie Jay and me

out in the garage.

I know.

You looked at these pictures?

Well, uh...professionally,
I looked at them.

Oh, mercy! Oh, mercy!
We can burn them.

It won't do any good.
They have the negatives.

Oh, no.

There.

Oh.

There now.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.
There now.

Babe?

What?

Babe?

What?

Are you all right, Babe?

Yeah-- what?
I'm fine.

I'm all right.
Go on back to bed.

What is going on down here?

Nothing.

We were just...
We were just dancing.

We're just dancing around down here.

Just dancing around down here.

Well, for heaven's sakes, Babe,

you frightened me half to death.

I thought--
I just don't know what I thought of that--

Hello.

Well, yes, this is Lenny Magrath.

Oh...oh...

♪ ...Of the cottonwood trees

♪ Send me off forever
but I ask you, please ♪

♪ Don't fence me in

♪ On my cayuse,
let me wander over yonder ♪

♪ Till I see the mountains rise ♪

Ha ha!

Meggie.

♪ Where the west commences

♪ Gaze at the moon
until I lose my senses ♪

♪ And I can't look at hovels
and I can't stand fences ♪

♪ Don't fence me in

Dr. Logan, please...

Oh, Babe, I feel bad.

I just feel real bad.

Why, Lenny?

Because I wished it.

You wished what?

I wished that old granddaddy
would be put out of his pain.

I wished it on one of my birthday candles,

and now they say that he's in this coma

and that he's feeling no pain.

When did you have a cake?

I don't remember you having a cake.

Well, you see, I didn't have a cake,

but I just blew out the candles anyway.

Oh, well, those birthday wishes don't count

if you don't have a cake.

They don't?

No.

A lot of times they don't even count

when you do have a cake.

It just depends.

Depends on what?

On how deep your wish is.

Lenny.

Well? Is he still in a coma?

Mm-hmm.

I think we ought to
start phoning people up.

I made out a list of all the people

we ought to notify about
old grandaddy's predicament.

And I'm gonna phone half,
and you're gonna phone half.

Whoo!

You all right?

Ha ha ha ha!

Ok.

Ha ha ha!

Oh, mighty.

I just knew you'd like that one.

This is WCSP,
Crystal Springs, Mississippi.

Say, don't forget the rodeo

starting tomorrow night at 7:00.

And tickets are only 3 bucks apiece,
so bring the kids for free.

Morning!

Good morning.

It's a wonderful morning.

I tell you, I'm surprised
that I feel this good.

I should feel like hell.

By all accounts,
I should feel like utter hell.

Hey, where's that glue?

Broke the damn heel off my shoe.

Oh, there it is.

Well, what's wrong with you two?

You look like doom.

I know, you're mad

because I stayed out all night long.

Well, I did.

No, Meg, we're not mad.

We're just--
we're kind of depressed.

Oh, now, Lenny, listen to me.

Everything's all right with Doc.

Really, nothing happened.

Well...actually a lot happened,

but it didn't come to anything,

and not because of me, I'm afraid.

I was out there thinking to myself,

"What are you going to say

"when he begs you to run off with him?

"Are you going to have pity on his wife

and those two half-yankee children?"

"I mean, can I sacrifice

their happiness for mine?"

"Yes.

Yes, I can."

But you know what?

He didn't ask.

He didn't even want to ask.

Oh, God.

Why aren't I miserable?

I should feel...
humiliated,

devastated,

but for now, I'm happy.

God, I realized

that I could care about somebody,

that I could want somebody...

And I sang!

I did. I sang all night long.

I sang right up into the trees,

and none of it was to
please old granddaddy.

Meg...

What?

Well, it's...

It's just...

It's about old granddaddy.

Oh, I know.

I told all those stupid lies.

I'm going over there
first thing this morning

and I'm gonna tell him the truth,

I am.
And if he can't take it,

if it sends him into a coma, well...

That's just too damn bad.

You're too late.

What?

Oh, no.

What?
Stop it, Meg.

What is so funny?
What?

It's not funny.

What is so funny?

It's not funny,
it's not funny.

What?

It's just that...

It's old granddaddy.

He's in a coma.

He's what?

He's in a...

He's in a coma.

Well, my God,

that's not funny.

No, it's not funny.

No, it's not funny.
I-- it's just...

It's kind of sad.

We're tired.

We're real tired.

My God, how is he?
Will he live?

They don't think so--

I think this is just terrible.

We shouldn't be laughing like this.

We're just like we're sick or awful--

we are, we're awful.

We're awful.

Oh, Meggie, I'm so sorry.

It happened again last night.

He had...
he had another...

stroke.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Things sure will be different around here

when old granddaddy dies.

Not for you two, really, but for me.

Aw, come on, Lenny,
you're your own woman.

Invite some people over.
Have a party.

Go out with strange men.

I don't know any strange men.

Well, you know that Charlie.

I told him we should never
see each other ever again.

Well, if you told him,
you can just untell him.

No, I couldn't.
I really couldn't, Meg.

I just would be too scared.

What harm could it possibly do?

I mean, it's not gonna make
things any worse than this--

never seeing him again,
at all, forever.

I suppose that's true.

Course it is, so call him up.

Come on, Lenny.
Take a chance.

You got to try, Lenny.

I think you do.

Yes.

You should.

All right. I will.

I will.

Meg.

What?

Nothing.

You ok?

Here.

Look.

Some evidence Zachary
has collected against me.

Looks like my goose is cooked.

Why, it's you.

Is that Willie Jay?

He sure has grown.
You're right about that.

My, oh, my.

Please don't tell Lenny.

She'd hate me.

I won't. I won't tell.

What are you gonna do?

What can I do?

Actually, senator Botrelle,

I don't think those photos
are gonna flatter you at all.

Folks around here might start to question

certain aspects of your, uh...

leadership abilities.

Well...tell me.

Just what sort of settlement

do you have in mind?

I don't want her serving time.

What, in jail?

No, I don't think we
have to send her to prison.

Then you'll drop all charges?

Tell you what I'm gonna do.

I'll seriously consider doing that,

but first you better do something

about that nigger kid of hers.

Or he just could end up

screwed, chewed, and barbecued.

Becky, I'm sorry.

It seemed like the only way.

Good-bye, Becky.

Good-bye, Barnette.

Good-bye, Willie Jay.

I can do this.

Ok.

Just-- just-- it's no big deal.

Ok. Ok.

Ok. All right.

Oh, I'm so ashamed.
I'm such a coward.

I couldn't make the call.

My heart was just sort of
beating like hammer, Babe.

I swear I could actually see my blouse

just moving back and forth
and back and forth-- Babe?

Oh, Babe.

You look so disappointed.

Are you?

Mm-hmm.

Oh, no. I can't stand it!

I just can't stand how
I've gone and disappointed

my little baby sister!

I just feel like howling like a dog.

Oh.

Lenny!

Oh, not her.

Lenny!

Well, I just don't know what to say.

I mean, I am so sorry for you,

to have a sister such as that.

What do you mean?

You don't have to pretend to me.

I saw Meg stumble out
of Doc Porter's pick-up truck,

and her looking like
such a disgusting mess.

You must be so ashamed.

Well, I've always said that girl
was nothing but Christmas trash.

Don't talk that way about Meg.

Lenny, everybody knows
that Meg is a low-class tramp.

And you need not have
one more blessed thing

to do with her or her disgusting behavior.

I said don't talk that way

about my sister Meg ever again.

Well, goodness gracious, Lenora,
don't be such a noodle. It's the truth.

I don't care if it's the Ten Commandments.

I don't wanna hear it
in my home ever again.

In your home?
This is my grandfather's home,

and you're just living here
out of his charity,

so don't you get highfalutin with me,
miss Lenora Josephine Magrath.

You get out of here.

Don't you tell me to get out.

I have just about had my fill
of you trashy Magraths

and your trashy ways--

hanging yourselves in cellars,

going around with married men,

shooting your own husbands.

And don't think she won't end
up in some state prison farm

or some mental institution.
Why, it's a clear-cut case

of manslaughter with intent to kill.

You get out! Out!
You get out of here!

That's what everybody's saying.
Deliberate intent to kill.

And you'll pay, you hear me?

Are you crazy?

Out! Out!

Aah!

Don't you come back here ever!

Don't ever, ever come back here again!

You're just all trash!

You get out!

Do you hear me?

They will never let you

in the ladies' league
when they hear about this!

Aah!

I'll clobber you!

Aah!

Stop it!
Help! Help!

I don't want you to come back anymore!

Stop that!

Whoo!

Aah!

This is my home, this is my house!

Help!

Help!

Hello?

Oh.

Hello, Zackery.

Yes, he showed them to me.

What do you mean?

You can't do that.

No!

He's not.

I'll do it.

I will,

and he won't.

Great.

I feel...

I really feel good.

I re--
I do.

I feel really good.

Good, Lenny.

You know what I'm going to do?

I'm gonna call Charlie.
You are?

Yes I am. I'm gonna do it.
I really feel like I can do it.

You do?

Yes, I do.

You know why?
My courage is up.

My heart's in it. There's no
more beating around the bush.

I figured, let's strike
while the iron is hot.

I'm going to do it, Babe.

Good!

Do it, Lenny.

I'm calling him up.

Good.

Ok...

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

Hello, Charlie?
This is Lenny,

Lenny Magrath.

Fine, I'm fine.

I'm calling to see how you're getting on.

Yes, I know I said that.

You see, the reason that I said that before

about us not seeing each other
ever again was because of me,

not because of you.

It's just that...

I can't have any children.

I have this ovary problem.

Charlie, what a thing to say!

They're not all little snot-nosed pigs.

Oh, you think they are.

Oh, dear, Charlie.

Stop it, now.

You're making me laugh.

I can't help it.

Oh, dear.

Oh, my.

Ha ha ha!

I know.
How about tonight?

You do?

Of course we can.

Why, they're just ripe for picking up.

All right.

Then I'll be right here waiting.

Bye.

Bye, Charlie.

Bye for now.

Aah!

Babe!

Babe!

Ha ha ha!

He's coming!

He said he's coming!

I swear, Babe!

Meggie! Meggie, Babe!

Hey, where are you?

Babe!

Where are you, Meg?

Oh, darn!

Where are you, anyway?

Yep, those papaws,

they look just ripe for picking up.

Come on. Come on.

I beg of you.

Hurry up.

Oh, please.

Please!

Oh, mama, please!

Oh, mama, please.

Mama.

So that's why you done it.

Oh, mama.

Babe?

Oh, my God.
What have you done?

What the hell have you done?

What? Nothing.

Get up.

Oh, Babe. Come here.
Just sit down.

Just sit right down here.

Babe, let me see.

I'm ok.

Put your head between your knees.

Now, breathe deep.

Meg?

Come on, do what I say.

Meg, I know why she did it.

Come on, just do what I'm saying!

Meg, I know why she done it.

What?
Why who did what?

Mama. I know why she hung
that old cat along with her.

You do?

It's because she was
afraid of dying all alone.

Was she?

She felt so unsure, you know,

as to what was coming.

It seems like the best thing coming up

would be a lot of angels

and all of them singing.

But I imagine they've
got high, scary voices

and little gold pointed fingers

that are sharp as blades...

You don't want to meet them all alone.

It wasn't what people was saying about her

hating that cat.

She needed him with her

because she felt so all alone.

Oh, Babe, why?

Why?

Why what?

Why did you put your head in the oven?

Oh, I don't know, Meg.

I'm having a bad day.

It's been a real bad day--

those pictures

and Willie Jay heading north

and Zackery called me up.

He says he's going to

have me classified insane

and send me on out to the Whitfield Asylum.

What?

Why, he can't do that.

Why not?

Well...

Well, 'cause you're not insane!

That's why.

I'm not?

No, of course not.

He's trying to bluff you.

You're just as perfectly sane

as anyone walking the streets
of Hazlehurst, Mississippi,

I am?

Even more so.
A lot more so.

Good.

We've got to find a way
to get through these bad days.

I mean, it's getting to
be a thing with this family.

And you're not like mama.

You're not all alone.

I'm not?

No, Babe.

Lenny!

Hey, Lenny!

What?

Come here!

Hurry up!

There's something in here!

What?

What is it?

Surprise!
Surprise!

Happy Birthday, Lenny.

Oh!

Oh, no!

I can't believe...

Oh, yes!

Oh!

Oh, I can't believe it.

Oh, Happy Birthday.

Oh.

Oh, God.

"Happy Birthday, Lenny,

two days late."

That is so cute.

Oh, my word.

Will you look

at all those candles?

It's just frightening.

Yeah.

No, it's not.
It's good.

Why?

'Cause the more candles
you have on the cake,

the stronger your wish is.

Well, mercy my, Babe.

Ha ha ha!

Oh, you silly thing.

Ok, come on.

♪ Happy Birthday to you

No, no, wait, wait.

♪ Happy Birthday to you

♪ Happy Birthday, dear Lenny ♪

♪ Happy Birthday to you

Come on.

Ok.

Ok.

Aah!

You did it!

I hope that wish comes true.
I certainly do.

What did you wish for?

I can't tell you that, Babe.

Sure you can.
No, I can't.

Then my wish won't come true.

Lenny, that's a superstition.

Of course it will if you
want it deep enough.

Come on, tell us.

Yeah, come on, Lenny, tell us.

Well, I guess it wasn't
exactly like a specific wish.

It's just...

This vision came over me.

A vision?

It did, yeah.

What was it of?

I don't know exactly,

but it was something about the three of us,

and we were all just smiling

and laughing together,

but you know something?

It wasn't for every minute.

It was just for this one moment,

and we were all laughing.
Oh, Babe.

What are we laughing about?

Well, I don't know.

Just nothing, I guess.

Just nothing.

Lenny, that's a nice wish.

Hey, Meggie.
Oh, good God.

Come on, here's the knife.

Cut the cake in celebration

of Lenny being born.

Ok.

Give each of us a rose.

Ooh, that icing is delicious.

A whole rose, Babe, all right.

Aah!

Oh, dear.

I'll take this one.

Ha ha ha!

Oh, how I do love birthday cake!

How I do!