Falling from Grace (1992) - full transcript

Hell, I've done this
a million times.

What's the point?

There's nothing else
I can do.

♪ I got the hungries
for your love ♪

♪ awaitin' in
the welfare line ♪

Boy, you're lookin' good,
ain't ya?

Man, you just look
like you threw up.

Well. Mitch.
Hello, bud.

Hi, Mitch.
Hi, Alice.

How's grandpa doin'?

Hey, ramey!
Hi, Alice.



Oh,
he's pissed off.

Why? Didn't we just all come
for his birthday?

Oh, he's got
girlfriend problems.

Oh, gosh.
Which girlfriend this time?

Well, he just had one left,
not countin' granny.

Oh, I don't think
any of the parks boys
make it a practice

of countin' their girlfriends.

Well, this one's
name's Mabel.

And she talked grandpa
into buyin' her
this brand new dress,

and then she runs off
and marries
somebody else in it.

He's been sulkin'
ever since.

He'll get over it, man.

Oh.

Hey, uh, Mitch?
Why don't you go ahead



and take the folks
back to the house

and I'll ride back
with ramey.

All right.
Bye.

Come on, Mitch.

Tell me who's mad at whom,
over what.

Start with the old folks
and work down.

Well, mainly they're all
mad at me. Especially Sally.

Only I don't know
what I done, Alice.

Oh, come on.

Where'd you get
the new deer rifle at, ray?

God!

Oh, speck bought that
for me.

Hell, they should have
bought you another truck.

Linda! Linda?

Boy, this ol' thing
looks like it's
in a state of inertia, bub.

What
do you mean?

Uh, right next door
to, uh, limbo.

Oh, uh-huh.

That damn thing
about killed both of us, bud,
once upon a time.

Yeah, it's funny
what kids'll do
for kicks, ain't it?

Linda! Linda?

Hey.

Hey.
Hi.

Hey, bud, hi.

I'm so glad you are here.
Thanks for coming by.

How are you?
Ah, I'm squeakin' by.

Um, can I introduce you
to these ladies?

Sure.

We've got Mrs. England.

Hi, how are you?

I listen to all
your records.
Thank you.

And then
Mrs. Pendergrass
from over at Beetown.

How're you?

Hi, bud. You make
the most beautiful music
I ever heard!

Thanks.

Well, you girls just go ahead
and get beautiful.

I didn't mean to
interrupt anything.

Ah, shut up,
you shit-eater!

♪ Well, when I woke up
this morning ♪

Man, I wish I could
sleep like Bobby.

It takes
a simple heart, honey.

One of the few things
you don't have.

Hell, I got
a simple heart.

I can't even sleep
when I lie down
in my own bed.

I wish Sally weren't
workin' nights.
We never get to see her.

She don't dare quit.

There's 15 people waitin'
on every job that comes up
around here.

Well, she could come
to work for me, Mitch.

I already work
for you, bud.

I guess Sally thinks
there ought to be

one member of the family
that ain't on charity.

Now, Mitch, we've talked
about that.

You ain't on charity.
You earn every dime you get.

Well, I'm gonna
put this little girl to bed.

The rest of you
are gonna have to do
what you can with Bobby.

Say good night to your daddy,
sweetheart.

Night, kiddo.

Hey, I'll tell you what.

I'll bet he could sleep
just fine on the floor

if we could just get
his fat ass outta that chair.

Well, aren't you brave,
now that he's sound asleep.

♪ I've sent
your saddle home ♪

Well, let's get to
gettin' him out, then.

Lord, I hope
he don't wake up.

Here.
I got him.

♪ It's crystal breaking in
the light of day ♪

♪ it's the heat of the moon
that's gone it's way ♪

♪ and everybody's packing
their wings to fly home ♪

♪ leaving me here

♪ in the cradle
of the interstate alone ♪

♪ And fair-weather friends
are a damned disease ♪

♪ they drink my wine
and take my money ♪

♪ fools are reachin'
for a dim spotlight shine ♪

♪ if you want that shine

♪ you're gonna have to
write your own damn lines ♪

Oh, you smell
great first thing
in the morning.

Yeah,
you always say that.

Any clean animal
smells good to you.

Ahh!

Tell everybody!
Tell everybody!

Oh, god, I love you, bud.

Tell everybody!

I love you, buddy!

Mmm.

Boy, you do get frisky
when you get back home.

♪ We can drive down
to the wrong side
of the tracks ♪

♪ just a poor girl

♪ lookin' for a way out ♪

Well, is there anybody alive
who lives here?

Oh, my god. Not you.

And you're cryin'?

I'm fine, I'm fine!
Leave me alone.

Cryin' somethin' that goes on
regular around here
every mornin'?

Oh, quite often,
if you wanna know the truth.

Maybe it's this table.

Why didn't I
think of it sooner?

It must be this
goddamn ugly table

makes me start cryin'
every morning.

Well, we can get you
another table.

No, please don't.
Just don't buy us
anything else, bud,

not for a while.

No, I didn't mean that
quite the way it sounded.

It's just that you buy us
too much as it is.

I got plenty of dough.
You are my only sister.

And did you help me
out of jams
when we were kids, or what?

You were just a punk.
You were never that bad.

Anyway, that's not the point.

The money's your money.
The debts are our debts.
Period.

All righty, then.

Just forget about the table.
What is goin' on?

I, uh...

Mitch wasn't home
when I got here.

He just about never is.

So, you reckon
it's another woman?

No.

I just think
he's depressed.

You know, he never
could hold liquor.

Mainly, I just think
he drinks a few beers

and falls asleep
in the pickup.

Then, when he wakes up,
he's afraid to come home.

We don't see one another
for days at a time.

You know, I didn't really
realize you and Mitch
still had all them debts.

Where'd you think
they went, bud?

God, you never did have
any sense about the dollar.

We owed $62,000 when we
had to close the farm.
I mean, it's hard

to whittle that down
when you got 2 kids
to raise.

But don't you
go offerin' Mitch a raise.

He thinks he's takin' money
for nothin' as it is.

Are you hungry?

Uh, no. If that's
what you're servin',
I ain't hungry.

Shit.

I'm never invitin' you
to my house again.

How're you girls
doin' today?

Good. Better now.

Can I have one
for her, too?

She's too shy
to ask.

You're
my biggest fan.

There you go, girls.
Thanks.

Thank you.

Well, hey, brother.

Hey, Parker, how you doin'?
How's the chicken business?

Well, I found out
we have to vaccinate
about 20,000.

And the old man's
in Atlantic city, gamblin'
away all the profit.

But you Don wanna
hear about that.
It's not glamorous enough.

Don't get tired
of signin' autographs
for those weirdos?

No,
it's part of it.

Well, I tell 'em all
I taught you how to sing.

That's right,
that's what I tell 'em.

Where would I be
if you hadn't taught
me how to sing?

Hey, p.J.,
how you doin'?

Hello, bud.

Welcome home.

It's good to be home.
You doin' all right?

Fine, as usual.

Where's Alice?

She said she was gonna be
givin' you a call.
She didn't call yet?

No. Parker's been
on the phone all morning.

I'm sure it was busy.

You doin' all right?

Just fine.

We gonna have
us a big time
at the party?

Always do, don't we?

Do a little family
reminiscin'.

Well, we'll see you guys.

All right, bud.

All right, p.J.

Telegram!

Bud!

Good night!

Pants! I never seen you
in pants before, woman!

Well, everybody else
in this family's crazy,

so I thought
I might as well join 'em.

I just went out
and bought myself
a pair of blue jeans.

Now, grandma,
you know we
ain't that bad.

Don't you
ever shave anymore?

Yeah, momma, I shave.
But I'm on vacation now.

Grandma,
where's grandpa at?

The old sot's upstairs
getting' drunk.

And I suppose you know
I'm gonna divorce him.

♪ Love is just a gamble
and everybody gambles ♪

♪ when they play
a game called love ♪

When did you get in
down here, bud?

I just got here.

Well, I guess you heard
what that bitch done to me.

Yeah. I wouldn't be
too discouraged
by that, though.

There's too many fish
in the sea, grandpa.

There's a heap of goddamn fish
in the sea, bud.

But there's very few available
piece of ass in Doak City,

and that's what
I'm interested in.

Well, you got grandma,
don't you?

Granny? Shit.

She ain't about to
give me none.

She says I got a bad back
and ought not even
think about it.

I didn't know
you had a bad back.

I ain't got no bad back!

I just put that story out
to keep the women off of me.

They was a crawlin'
all over me a year or 2 ago.

Well, see,
now the damn story's
worked too good.

Uh, you bring that
California girl home with you?

Yeah, I got her here
with me, grandpa.

What's her name?
Alice.

You what?

Alice. Her name's Alice,
grandpa.

Yeah. She's my favorite.
She's got a heap of sense.

And that's a rare thing
you find in a person
from California.

Rare damn thing.
Did, uh, bud,

uh, did you make
a million dollars
this year yet?

Well, I think I've spent
a million dollars, grandpa.

I ain't...I ain't made
a million, but I think
I've spent a million.

Well, I know.

Life's pretty expensive.
You know somethin'?

What?

I bought Mabel a dress
and I paid 85 damn dollars
for it. A white dress.

And damn if she didn't get up
and run off and marry
newt Jones in that dress.

I'm tellin' you right now,
that's...That's $85
done gone with the wind.

Well, don't worry about it
too much, grandpa.

Well...

Wait till you see
what I got you
for your birthday.

Yeah?
Yeah.

Well, I sure as hell hope
it's a shotgun.

There's 5 or 6
assholes around here
that I'd like to shoot.

And by god,
I'm the man to do it.
I'll tell ya right now.

I'm the man that can
do that job. I've been
summonary justice,

and I believe in takin'
the law into my own hands!

You seen Parker?

Yeah, I think him
and p.J. Are on their way
over here right now, grandpa.

You know somethin'?
I always figured that
you'd marry p.J.

Surprised the livin' shit
outta me when Parker
ended up with her.

No livelier than he is.

Now you might be surprised
the way he's, like,

throwin' off
offspring around here.

Well, yeah.
Well, I reckon so.

You...you married that
California girl,
what's her name?

Alice.

- You what?
- Alice.

Yeah, you married her.
And that meant Parker was
about left in...

In the city here,
so p.J. Ups and marries him.

Now, that's how I score
that one.

Bud, you know somethin'?
What?

If you bought me a Cadillac

I could cruise around town
in here,

and I bet you
Mabel would drop newt Jones
just like a hot turd!

Well, if it ain't a Cadillac,
I sure as hell hope
it's a Lincoln.

♪ love is just a gamble

♪ and everybody gambles

♪ when they play
a game called love ♪

This is a whole lot better
than the Cadillac.

That old fool!

Boy, grandpa!
It didn't take you long

to catch onto that thing,
did it?

You damn right,
it don't take me long!

Bud, I sure appreciate it.
You know somethin'?

It looks like
a goddamn tractor,

you know that?
A midget tractor.

But you can bet your sweet ass
I can drive it, bud.

You know that, don't ya?
I'll see you next bird season.

Thanks for
the birthday party, bud!

Oh, there's speck!

Oh, father!
Your grandkids were goin' to
watch the tape.

Here.

Hey, that old boy
almost run over me.

What the hell is
he ridin', anyway?

Oh, that's just somethin'
to keep him entertained.

Say, did you win any dough?

Give them some of that.

You ever known me
to lose, junior?

Here ya go.

Hope you won a lot, papa.

'Cause we lost about
5000 pullets
while you were gone.

Well, I ain't gonna
cry about that.

Not as long as I got such
fine lookin pullets here.

Papa, I came to see you,
and you weren't there!

Well, I'm here now, pumpkin.

Bud! You have to
point that thing at me
every minute?

Now, 79 years
of grandpa's birthdays have
been lost to human memory,

and I plan to shoot
every single second
of this one.

Here's a shot for you, bud.

Ooh. Wow!

That's too hot, woman!
That's way too hot to print.

Bud, will you put
that camera down
and carve the roast?

Junior don't do the carvin'
in this house.

There you go, baby.

I do the carvin'
in this house.

And most
of the eatin' too.

Well, I gotta keep up
my strength, momma.

There's lots of demands
made on it.
Don't you know what I mean?

Uh-huh.

What's he doin' here?

He knows
it's grandpa's birthday.

Momma. Now, Ramey's
his grandson too, all right?

Just because you chose
to adopt that boy

don't mean I'll have to have
him at my table.

Listen, old lady.
I not only chose
to adopt him, I sired him.

Now, just because you didn't
happen to be the lucky filly
in this case,

don't mean you can get
your nose out of joint.

If I'd sired a child
out of wedlock I wouldn't be
braggin' about it.

Well, I'll brag on ramey.
He's the best worker I got.

And if you old hens
don't like it, you can
just go peck a rock.

Now, don't start
hollerin' at me.

I been out there
since 5:00 this morning,

and we're still losin' 'em
right and left.

Well, you sure you got
enough men?

Hey, look, I got just
about as good as
you can get around here.

Maybe me and you could
help out when we get done
with this party stuff inside.

When was the last time
you vaccinated chicken, bud?

Well, if I can't vaccinate 'em
I can sure help catch 'em.

You want somethin' to eat?

No, I had some potato chips
a while ago.

They got the big feed bag
goin' on in there.

I can bring you out
a plate.

No. I'd sure hate
to ruin Marian's day.

I'd just as soon
catch chickens.

♪ Let me be a little kinder

♪ let me be a little blinder

♪ to the faults of those
about me ♪

♪ let me praise
a little more ♪

♪ let me be when I am weary

♪ just a little bit
more cheery ♪

♪ Let me be when I am weary

♪ just a little bit
more cheery ♪

♪ let me serve
a little better ♪

♪ those that I am
strivin' for ♪

Boy, I can't believe
how much it hurts
to get vaccinated.

Ain't it great?

Ramey, just what is it
I am inoculated to, anyway?

Well, I'm not real sure, bud.

Just don't be surprised
if you got a couple of eggs
in your bed in the morning.

You fellas want to go
to the, uh,

to the country club dance
this evening?

I cannot go. I can't go.
I will not attend.

Bye, Luke.

Oh.

Now, do I look
like a member
of the country club?

It's a country, country club.
Free drinks.

I'm stuck.
I'm stuck here.

It's a country,
country club.

Well, let's just have
a little drink

and think about her.

♪ I got the hungries
for your love ♪

♪ waitin'
in the welfare line ♪

Hey. Hey, hey,
hey, hey, hey, hey.

You see that truck there?

Yes, sir.

Now that's a vintage antique.
That's a classic.

Yes, sir.

Don't let nothin' happen
to it, ok?
Ok.

I'd be forced to sue.

Ok.
Ok. All right.

♪ Hey now, hey now, hey now

♪ it's finger

good evening, Mr. Parks.
Glad to see you.

How ya been, beanie?

I'm fine.

Uh, your family's all here,
I believe.

You know my brother, ramey,
don't ya?

Don't believe I do,
but pleased to meet you.

You gentlemen'll have to
get on a coat and tie.

This is one of our
coat-and-tie dinners.

All right.

If you'll go this way,
we'll fix you up.

All right. Great.
Let's go.

♪ Hey, now. Hey, now.
Hey, now. ♪

♪ Hey, baby,
come along with me ♪

♪ hey, hey, now, baby

♪ come along with me

oh!

If Mabel could only
see me now!
Newt Jones, shit!

♪ Just wait and see

hi, bud.

♪ Here comes Mary,
here come sue ♪

♪ here comes Bobby
and Charlie too ♪

♪ it's finger
pop poppin' time ♪

♪ well, it feels so good

hey, granny. How come
you're the only one
sittin' here,

the only wallflower
in the whole place?

You don't think
I'm gonna get out there
and make a fool of myself

like that old fart, do ya?

Hey.

♪ Hey now, hey now.
Hey now, hey now ♪

♪ it's finger
pop poppin' time ♪

♪ finger poppin',
poppin' time ♪

♪ well, I feel so good

♪ and that's a real good

♪ and that's a real good
and that's a real good sign ♪

Hey, ramey.
Well, what a nice jacket.
Does that come in green?

Daddy, we're gonna
drink a toast to you.

Huh?

I said, we're gonna
drink a toast to you.

Uh-huh.

And you better hope you're
gonna live 80 more years,
you old goat,

'cause you know
where you're goin'
when you die.

Shit, woman. I'm gonna
do one of them
deathbed conversions

when I die! Ha!

Here's to you, daddy.

80 more years, grandpa.

That bubbly stuff
gives me gas. Come on, boy.
Let's get us a real drink.

♪ Yeah, yeah

Alice.

♪ Yeah, yeah

Alice.

Would you dance with me?
It's my life long dream.

Well, shoot, I'd love to
dance with you, ramey.

♪ That wicked picked picket

♪ singing mustang Sally

♪ oh yeah, oh yeah

♪ spotlight
on Otis Redding now ♪

♪ singing bam-bam-bam-
bam-bam-bam ♪

♪ singing bam-bam-bam-
bam-bam-bam ♪

♪ oh yeah, oh yeah

♪ oh take it Otis

hey, p.J.
Hello, bud.

I'd ask you to dance,
except for I know
you went through enough

of that in high school.
Mmm.

I wouldn't worry about it.
Dancin' isn't everything.

Boy, Alice thinks it is.
Look at her go.

♪ He's the king
of the motion ♪

♪ he's the king

and old Ramey's fittin' in
a lot better than
I thought he's goin' to.

Wanna go for a walk, bud?
It's hot in here.

Yeah, might as well.
I can't dance. Come on.

♪ Otis Redding got
the feeling ♪

♪ James brown got
the feeling ♪

♪ hound dog's got
the uh uh ♪

Now, where the hell
do you two think you're goin'?

We're goin' for a walk.
You've heard of walkin',
haven't you?

Don't get lippy with me,
junior. I'll knock you
on your ass.

Just don't be gone
too long, beautiful.

I still want some more dances.

So, uh.

What was all that in there
with the old man?

He's in love with me.

In love with you?

And you're married
to his favorite son?

No, I'm not.
Ramey's his favorite son.

He likes it that
ramey's illegitimate.

He pretends to
like Parker more than you
'cause he's jealous of you.

But he don't like Parker
all that much, either.

Well, how come?

Well, Parker's married to me.
That's one reason.

So, you're tellin' me then
that the old man
is in love with you.

Well, you know him.
He's your father.

What do you think
I'm tellin' you?

Uh, what I think you're
tellin' me is that
he's chasin' you.

No, he's not chasin' me.

He caught me.

Cat got your tongue, bud?

I'll say it for you.

I'm screwin' speck.

Well, that's not much
of a comment.

I expected better.

Yeah, well,

p.j., you're gonna have to
let me get used
to the idea that, uh,

you're havin' an affair
with the old man.

Screwin' your father.

Anyway, affair sort of

implies romance.

Speck's not romantic.

He's somethin',
but he's not romantic.

If you think that any of this
has to do with you,

it's just your vanity
speakin', bud.

You like to think that
anything that happens
to any of your women

must relate to you.

It's your way
of never lettin' go.

You never did let go,
you know.

Like father, like son.

Now, wait a minute.

I ain't nothin'
like that guy.

Yes, you are.

You're greedy.

You want everybody,
just like speck.

You're nicer than he is,
and you got your talent,

but it's the same greed.

Well.

You don't seem all broken up
by any of this.

Why should I be?

Speck's
a force of nature.

I just happened
to lie in his path.

Yeah, well, gal, I don't know
if you know it or not,

but you're kind of
a force of nature yourself.

I never could get you
to stop doin' anything
you didn't wanna do.

You didn't stop, period.

Not that I blame you.

You saw the chance
for a better life,
and you went for it.

And you got it.
You got Alice.

I knew perfectly well
you weren't comin' back,
either.

Not for me
or anything else.

I married Parker.

He was the best thing
left in town,

and I didn't feel like
leavin'.

I got it too easy here.

We got nice kids.

Kinda formal, mostly,
me and Parker.

But we do ok.

Well, does anybody else
know about
these shenanigans?

No.

A few may have
their suspicions.

Well.

What I want to know is,

how come you're tellin' me
all this?

Well, who else
would I tell?

I never told my secrets
to anyone but you.

Hmm.

Well, maybe.

Bye.
Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Would you shut up?

What's the matter with you?

Ain't nothin' the matter
with me.

So bite my head off,
why don't you? I just asked.

Yeah, you're always
just asking
what's the matter with me.

That ramey
is a great dancer.

What's his mother like?

She's just some old woman
at the ironing board factory,
that's all.

Does speck support her?

Speck supports nobody!

I'm surprised some husband
hasn't just shot him.

Has my daddy ever
made a pass at you before?

Speck?

Well, you'd tell me about it
if he did, wouldn't ya?

I wouldn't have to tell you,
you'd hear it.

I'd knock his block off
if he tried
anything like that.

What's eating you, buddy?

Speck has never
bothered me.

Anyway,
we'll be back in...

In California
in a couple of days.

California.

We ain't gonna go to
no California.

Why not?

I'd like to spend
a little bit more time
with my family.

Is that all right with you?

♪ I wish you love
and happiness ♪

♪ I guess I wish you
all the best ♪

♪ I wish you don't
do like I do ♪

♪ and never fall in love
with someone like you ♪

♪ 'cause if you fell
just like I did ♪

♪ you'd probably walk around
the block ♪

♪ like a little kid

♪ but kids Don know,
they can only guess ♪

♪ how hard it is
to wish you happiness ♪

♪ I guess that love

♪ is like a Christmas card

♪ you decorate a tree

♪ and you throw it
in the yard ♪

♪ it decays and dies

♪ and the snowmen melt
when I lost your love ♪

Hi there, bud!

♪ I knew how love felt

♪ yeah, I knew love,
and love knew me ♪

♪ when I walked,
love walked with me ♪

♪ and I got no hate

♪ and I got no pride

♪ well, I got so much love
that I cannot hide ♪

Hello, Mr. Parks,
how are you today?

Hello, Mrs. Green.

♪ That I cannot hide

kind of a bad day
for me today.
Came out here to the river

and forgot my fishin' pole.

Well, you can have mine.

I've already caught
a batch today.

You can have my stink bait.

Smells bad.

Fish sure like it.

Well, that's real nice of you.
I appreciate it.

And when I get done with it,
I'll bring it back to you,
all righty?

That'd be all right.

♪ Say you drive a Chevy,
say you drive a Ford ♪

♪ you say
you drive around the town ♪

♪ till you just get bored

♪ and then
you change your mind ♪

♪ for somethin' else to do

♪ and your heart gets bored
with your mind ♪

♪ and it changes you

♪ well, it's a doggone shame

♪ and it's an awful mess

♪ I wish you love

♪ I wish you happiness

♪ I wish you love
I wish you happiness ♪

♪ I guess I wish you
all the best ♪

Hey, p.J.?

Anybody here?

Who is it?

I have to do this
for 45 seconds.

I'll do it with you, then.

Ok.

45 more seconds.

Surely, time's up.

Ok, ok.

Oh god.

Boy, you sure are
a nervous adulterer.

Yeah, I'm nervous.

Hell, anybody could drive up
right now.
Alice could drive up.

I don't know why in the hell
you're not more nervous
than you are.

Are you plannin'
on goin' somewhere?

No, I just looked
at my watch.

It's kind of
a nervous thing.

Oh, yeah. Particularly
when you're scared shitless.

Yeah. Particularly
when I'm scared shitless,
that's right.

You do this all the time?
I mean, not with the old man,
but just in general?

When I can find someone
vaguely interesting.

Which isn't all that often,
not in Doak City.

Why?

Did you have me pegged
as a model
of marital chastity?

Or did you just think that
I would make do with Parker

until you got around to
comin' back to me?

Well, no, I kinda thought,
maybe, that you would...

What?

Be a little bit more proper?

More like what a mother
or a wife

or a school board member
should be?

Oh, I kinda thought
maybe you'd be
a little bit more careful.

I'm not that interested
in careful.

I take good care of my family,
and what I do
on the side's my lookout.

What the hell's so funny?

What're you laughin' about?

I was just...

I was just thinkin' about
what an interesting bunch
you parks boys are.

You don't hang out together,
and you're not much alike.

And yet, here
I've ended up in bed
with 3 of you.

Yeah, that's real funny.

You can scratch
one of the 3 though.

Ooh...

Are you gonna start
tellin' me what to do now?

When it comes to the old man,
I'm gonna start tellin' you
what to do.

Oh, yeah? And what
should I tell him?

"Gee, I'm sorry, speck.
I'm switchin'
to your famous son."

I don't give a shit
what you tell him.

I don't even know
why the hell I'm here.

Did you know
this was gonna happen?

Yes.

How? Why?

Because you didn't get enough
when we were in high school.

You left,
but you didn't finish.

So, you're really just
gonna go out and have lunch
with Alice? Right now?

I don't see why not.

I like Alice a lot.

One of the things
I like best about her
is the way she handles you.

Well, you're not gonna say
anything about the way
you just handled me, are you?

I imagine I'll listen
to her talk about
how moody you been lately.

How ambivalent you are
about your music.
Stuff like that.

Now, Alice has to live
with you full time.

It's a lot different
from a little frolic.

A little frolic?

And that's what this was,
was a little frolic?

A frolic's a frolic.

Although, you know
what they say?

You never quite
get over your first love.

Yeah, well,
what about speck, then?

What the hell
does all that mean?

Oh, speck doesn't mean.

Speck just is.

What're you gonna
tell him?

I'm not gonna
tell him anything.

You want him
to know somethin',
you tell him.

Nobody ever controlled you,
and nothin' ever stopped you.

I was your girlfriend
for 4 years.

Some of that was bound
to rub off.

You got what you wanted
by doin' exactly
what you pleased.

Now, I may not get exactly
what I want,

but I'm not gonna
be bored.

In this town, that takes
a certain talent.

Yeah, well, it wasn't
just a little frolic.

It was definitely more than
just casual.

Lots of folks gonna
be hurt by this,
besides me and you.

You know that, don't you?

Higher.

Higher? If I swung you
any higher,

You'd probably do
the loop-d-loop and fall off,

you silly kid.

Higher!

What're you lookin' at?

I just keep hopin'
if I look at you long enough,

I'll understand you,
but it isn't working.

I'm a pretty thin book.
There's not much
to understand.

Sure there is.

We're supposed
to be here 3 days,
and we been here 2 weeks.

Terri Jo and I
are gettin' restless.

Terri Jo don't look
too restless.

I thought things
were goin' so good we'd just
move in here or somethin'.

And think of all the money
we'd be savin'.

Think of the money
we might lose
if you stop performin'.

Or think of the money
that I might spend if I get
bored with rural life.

Which I did
several days ago.

I might start buyin' furs
and stuff, like your mother.

Know what I mean?

I'm slowing down.

I guess I don't need
to remind you that you
start recording in a week.

Bud, music has gotten you
everything you have.

Even you?

No, not me.

Higher.

I guess it was your
cheerful, upbeat personality
that won me over.

Push me, mom!

If you're gonna quit
the music business,
just do it!

All right, I will.

Bud, what're you telling me?

That you're never, ever
gonna sing again?

No, what I'm tellin' you
is that

I'm tired of goin' out
every night, makin' a monkey
out of myself.

Ok, fine.

Stay here and work
for speck.
Mommy, I'm slowing down.

Is he hirin'?

You are so full of shit
sometimes, I'm surprised
you can even walk.

Mom, push me!
I've had it up to here

with your hick-town
fantasies, bud.

You hitchhiked
out of here, remember?

Your father didn't even
like your music.

He crushed your guitars.
He didn't give you a cent.

You didn't grow up here!

Growing up is exactly
what you didn't do here.

You grew up in L.A.
and Nashville and New York.

I mean, if you stay here,
you're just gonna end up
just like your father.

Oh, great. Well, that's
a great thing to aspire to,
isn't it, bud?

Girl, what in the world
is goin' on
with these fingernails?

It's a hillbilly manicure.

I just bite 'em
because I'm nervous.
I worry all the time.

What do you got
to worry about?

I got lots.

My mother's an alcoholic,
only she won't admit it.

My dad's taken up
with this old slut
from bedford.

Takes all his money
and don't care nothin'
about him.

Well, then you got ramey.

Don't mention him.

I'll finish off my fingernails
and start eating my hand.

I ain't seen him
for 2 days.

Hmm.

Where you reckon he goes?

Louisville. Maybe.

Roller rink. I don't know.

Well, when we get done
with this hair dye job,

maybe I'll go out
and look for him.

You wanna go along?

No.

He'd think I was checkin' up
on him, and he'd quit me
in a minute.

If it's you,
it's different.

You're the only person
in the world he even respects.

You won't regret it.

I hope not.

Trust me.
You'll love it.
All right.

♪ It's got to better
than where I am ♪

♪ but I see it all now
as the lights grow dim ♪

♪ and the world
starts to close its eyes ♪

♪ I just wanted to say ♪

Excuse me, Mr. Parks,
can I have your autograph?

Sure.

There you go, big guy.

Thanks.

Hey, who you lookin' for?

Well, I'm lookin' for you.

Good damn thing
I didn't go down louisville.
I'd've never found you.

I don't know
why you'd bother
in the first place.

Pool, man,
let's shoot some pool.

You sure you didn't come here
to save my soul
or somethin', did ya?

No, no, no.

I ain't lookin'
to save nobody's soul.

I got enough trouble
of my own.

Yeah,
that's what I think.

What do you mean,
that's what you think?

Thank you.

Hey man, I seen
where your car's been
parked in the afternoons.

That thing's like
a signature out there.

Man, I hope you don't
do nothin' to hurt Alice.

She's the only decent person
I know around here.

You know, I'm gettin' tired
of this decent bull from you
and Bobby all the time.

If you guys like her so much,
why don't you marry her?

Hey, I wish I was.

Well, you ain't, I am.
I'm not beatin' that woman.

I love her, too.

Just things get complicated.
Hell, uh, you know that
as well as anybody.

Complicated.
There's a nice word for it.

How come p.J.'S always around
when things get complicated
in this family?

Look, suckroy, you wanna go
shoot pool or don't you?

Better not today, bud.

I'm startin' to feel
a little complicated.

Hey!

Oh. Look what
you have there.

Well, I know junior
never brought you no fish.

I'll even clean 'em
for ya myself.

Bud and Bobby went
to Indianapolis.
They'll be back for supper.

Where's my grandbaby?

Linda came and got her.

She likes to go
to the beauty parlor now.
She thinks she can do hair.

What's Marian up to?

Buyin' clothes, I guess.
That's what she usually does.

I thought
I had some cornmeal.

Oh. Hey.

I can't do that shit
you and ramey were doin'.

But I'm hard to beat
when it comes
to hug dancin'.

Oh, yeah, that ramey.
He's a great dancer.
That's all there is to it.

I'm not bad myself, am I?

Oh, no, you're not bad.

Oh.

Oh, don't do that, speck.
I can't be fryin' fish
and dancin' at the same time.

Well, then,

why don't we just forget
the fish fry?

Sissy, here!

Well, that's the end
of that fish fry.

Get outta here!

You're lucky you had
that dog, California.

There was no luck involved.
I planned it that way.

Good girl, sissy.

♪ If you had not fallen

Who caught these fishies?

Fish, not fishies.

Papa caught them.

Papa caught 'em.

He probably paid
some fisherman to catch 'em
for him

just to try and impress you.

Fishing's way too slow
for old papa.

Well, he impressed me
all right.

Drink your juice,
Terri Jo.

Thanks.

Bobby, will you take t.J. Up
and read her a story?

No, I want you to.

Oh, I can't tonight.

Why not?

Because I want to sit
and talk to your daddy
for a few minutes.

You go on. I'll come
and kiss you good night.

What about him?

Well, I can't speak
for him.

There's no telling
what he might do.

Come here, baby.

Goodnight, baby.

♪ Leave me, if you need to

♪ I will still remember

t.j. And I are going back
to California tomorrow.

Yeah. All right.

I'll have, uh, Bobby
call about the plane.

No.

Don't spend your money.

I already made reservations.
We'll go to Indianapolis.

Just lookin' out for ya.

Thanks.

I'm so glad to see
you're trying to take
such good care of us.

Well, I wish
you'd reconsider.

And why would you wish that?

You haven't looked at me
or spoken to me in 2 weeks.

Besides, once I'm gone,
it'll make it a lot easier
for you

to see your girlfriend,
whoever she is.

You won't have
to tax your brain,
thinkin' up little excuses

to disappear
for an hour or 2.

That's right.

Yeah, I know
that's right!

I mean, you're a parks,
aren't you?

2 women are better
than one! 3 are probably
better than 2!

And on up to
whatever the parks limit is!

♪ I'd rather see you up

anyway, I'm going.

I have certain obligations
to fulfill.

And I don't want
to be your doormat.

♪ Leave me, if you need to

♪ I will still remember

your father made
a pass at me today.

♪ Angel flying too close
to the ground ♪

Not that you give a shit.

Big shot.

♪ Leave me, if you need to ♪

I guess
that explains the fish.

♪ Born to lose

hey, Robert Lee.
I didn't think
you'd still be up.

Wanna shoot a little pool
with me?

I don't wanna shoot
no pool.

♪ Every dream has only
brought me pain ♪

It was just a suggestion.

♪ All my life

can I interest you
in anything?

♪ I've always been so blue

like, maybe we could, uh,

scratch our asses together
or play some basketball

or some tiddlywinks.

Learn our abc's together.

Maybe some readin' and writin'
and arithmetic.

I don't wanna play
nothin' with you, bud.

What's your problem?

Tell you the truth,

I'm thinkin' about quittin'.

You know what, man?
You better think real hard
about that.

We been through a lot
together.

Thick and thin, so they say.

Yeah, that sure is true.

Only now,
thin's gettin' thinner.

It's too thin
to skate on, bud.

What's the matter?
Don't I pay you enough?

Yeah, you pay me enough.
Too much, in fact.

I just don't respect you
no more, bud.

♪ Born to lose

♪ my every hope is gone

well, if you're really
gonna drag up,

♪ it's so hard
to face an empty dawn ♪

Could you go back
to California and just kinda
keep an eye on her for me?

♪ You were all the happiness
I knew ♪

♪ born to lose

♪ and now I'm losing you

♪ there's no use

♪ to dream of happiness

♪ all I see

♪ is only loneliness

♪ all my life ♪

Don't touch me, bud.

I sure hate a crying woman,
you know.

Oh, I bet you do.

But I am crying.

You know,

we had a great marriage
and a really nice family.

And you're gonna
boff it all away.

Don't try
to make up to me, bud.

I'm too angry.

And you blew it.

I really hate you for this.

I hate you for it.

Right now,

right now, I think you're
the most selfish human being
I've ever met.

Bud, just get out
of this house, please.

Say goodbye
to your daddy, Terri Jo.

Bye.

Bye, baby.

Aren't you goin' with me?

Not this time, darlin'.

I'll see you
real soon though, ok?

Bobby, will you help her
in the car?

Well,

bye, big shot.

I won't be taking you away
from your home anymore.

Aren't you layin' it on
just a little thick?

All things considered,
I don't think so.

Bye, bud.

Hey, Bobby.

Just a little bit of dough.

Kind of keep your eye
on them.

See you, bud.

♪ I keep a close watch
on this heart of mine ♪

♪ I keep my eyes
wide open all the time ♪

♪ I keep the ends out
for the ties that bind ♪

♪ because you're mine
I walk the line ♪

Heard Alice left.

Yep, that's accurate
information. She left.

♪ I find myself alone
when each day is through ♪

♪ yes, I'll admit
that I'm a fool for you ♪

I used to think I was
the most self-destructive

guy in this family.

I'm startin' to wonder.

♪ Because you're mine,
I walk the line ♪

Well, what makes you think
I'm so self-destructive?

You did just run off
the best thing you ever had.

♪ I keep you on my mind
both day and night ♪

Well, I guess it's gonna be
up to me to go out

and get something
better then, ain't it?

Yeah, right.
Dream on, sucker.

You know what?

If I had that girl's p.R.,

I'd be president
of the United States.

♪ You've got a way
to keep me on your side ♪

Hey, did you hear
about Mitch?

♪ You give me cause for love
that I can't hide ♪

No. What happened to Mitch?

You're gonna love this.

He fell asleep.
Well, he passed out
in his truck.

Rolled it right into a creek.

Did he get hurt?

Broke his collarbone.

And they just
bought that truck, too.

I don't know why you people
just don't drive my trucks.

I got a thousand vehicles.

I guess we're just
free spirits, bud.

I guess we'd rather
wad up our own trucks
than wreck one of yours.

Get in there.

3. 3.

Hi, uncle bud.

Hey, uncle bud.

2. 2. 2.

4. 4. 4.

Wow! What do ya think?

3. 3. 3.

2. 2.

1. 1. 1, 1, 1. 1!

Yes!

Oh, no!

Hi, uncle bud.
You wanna come play?
I'm winning!

Come on, bud. Sit down,
play with us.

No, I...I ain't very good
at games, you guys.

Parker, how you doin'?
I didn't see your car
out there.

Yeah, it's in the shop,
gettin' a new stereo system.

Yeah? Well, I just stopped
by to ask if you folks
heard about Mitch.

Yeah, I went over
to see him with Sally
in the emergency room.

Thanks, honey.

They only made about
5 payments on that truck.

Want a drink, bud?

No, I'll tell ya what.
I think I'm gonna
get out of here

and get outta you folk's life,
all right?
I'll walk you out.

Bye-bye.

Bye!

All right, again?

I'm gonna tell you,
I'm spanking whoever
gives me the bull this time.

Hey, buddy.

Terra's makin' ice cream.

So, how's Mitch?

He's asleep.

They gave him some pain pills
for his shoulder.
He fell asleep at supper.

How bad did he tear up
that pickup truck, then?

Well, it don't help a pickup
much to roll it into a creek.

I'm just thankful
Mitch didn't drown.

Hey, you guys,

let's go get
on your p.J.'S, huh.

By the time you're ready
for bed, this ice cream'll
be ready for eatin'. Come on.

Hey, don't let her beat you.
Don't let her beat you.

Here. Go, go. Quick,
quick, quick, quick!

Good night.

Sally, how come Mitch has been
so depressed lately?

Well, if you don't know that,
buddy, I can't explain it
to you.

Well hell,
you're married to him.

Seems like it'd concern you
a little bit more than that.

Oh, well, right now it's hard
to think of one thing
in my life

that don't worry me.

I used to have you
as my one thing.

Until you came home
and ran Alice off.

It's about the dumbest thing
anyone in this family
has done for years.

I'd a million times rather
you just roll that old cage
down the street

like you used to.

Now, wait a minute.
I didn't run Alice off.
She left.

Bullshit.

That's right.

You don't believe that
yourself.

She wanted to live out there,
and I wanted to live here,

and we just had ourselves
a difference of opinion,
I guess.

That's all.

I shouldn't say this,
but I'm gonna.

I don't want you
to live here, bud.

Huh.

Well, that's nice, comin'
from my favorite sister.

That's right.

Oh god, this is hard.

Buddy,

we gotta live here.

We're trapped here.

Now, I don't...I don't mean
that it's bad,

but you're our star.

When you're in Hollywood,
that's fine. No, no,

we...we can come see you
once in a while

and get a little
of that glamour.

But when you come here
and hang around,

then pretty soon
that trap starts rattlin'.

We all get
kind of crazy.

I don't know what this all
has to do with me.

Because everything
you got is better
than anything we got.

You know, all I wanted to do
was come back here and just

be with my family again.

Your family.

You know, I saw you on t.V.
The other night, bud.

You were...You were up there
on stage with Willie Nelson

and Waylon Jennings
and Dolly Parton.

And you were all singin'.

And I thought, well,

bud has finally found
some folks of his own.

He's finally
found some friends.

You just looked like
you fit in with those folks.

You never did really fit in,
in Doak City, you know.

I love you a whole lot,
but that's the bone truth.

You never did really fit.

I'll tell you what.

If I don't fit in here,
I don't know where I would.

♪ Suzanne takes you down

♪ to her place
near the river ♪

♪ you can hear
the boats go by ♪

Okay, come here.

Sit down and talk to me
while I get dressed.

♪ And you know that
she's half crazy ♪

♪ but that's why
you want to be there ♪

You know, what's, uh,
the big hurry about?

School board business.

Pickin' team uniforms
today.

I wanna be there to help
pick out the girls' stuff.

Where you been
the last couple days?

Mopin' around.

Alice left me.

Yeah, I heard. Sally told me.
What's that all about?

She found out
I had another girlfriend.

She find out
it was me?

No.

Well, that's good.

I'd sure hate
to go crosswise with Alice.

So, she just ticked off?

Is it a little more serious
than that?

I don't know.

Oh, I can't do that stuff.

♪ And Jesus was a sailor

you thinkin' of
givin' me up, bud?

♪ When he walked
upon the water ♪

Well, I ain't thinkin'
too clear, that's for sure.

What's that mean?

It means I don't know
what I'm thinkin'.

I come over here the other
day, and there's the old man's
car out front.

The next day I come over here,
you, Parker, and the kids
are happier than pigs in shit.

I don't know
what I'm thinkin'.

Well, what's wrong
with that?

I have good times
with my family.
I always have.

What'd you think?

That I'd sit around
the last couple of days
and cry

'cause you weren't here?

Don't you have good times
with your family, bud?

Yeah. I had good times
with my family.

When I had one.

What is it you want?

I want you.
I thought you wanted me.

Of course, I do.

You are the main love
of my life.

Yeah, well.

This love don't seem
to be affecting your life
the way it's affecting mine.

Well, why should it?
I got a great life.

I was a little concerned
about that thing with speck
for a while,

but I think I got that
under control.

Yeah. You got it
pretty well worked out,
don't you?

You got me
pretty well worked out.

You have Parker
pretty well worked out.

Pretty damn good manager,
aren't you?

Yes, I am. Don't you get
huffy with me.

Don't you come over here
acting possessive.

Yeah, but I am possessive,
and you know it.

I'm not a good manager
like you.

I come back here,
and you get me
to fall in love with you.

You start jugglin'
speck and Parker

and who knows
how many other men.

There are other men,
aren't there?

Not at this minute.
All the slots are taken.

Though I'm sure I can fill
any that come up.

Listen, young lady.

I want you.

I don't wanna share you
with anybody.

You're making me late.

And I'm never late.

I'm gonna be here
all afternoon.

You can come back then.
We can work this out.

Either I'm more important
than a damn school board
meeting or I'm not!

Why the hell are you
actin' this way?

I would have
married you, bud.

But you never asked.

You just left.

I would have gone with you,
but you never
asked that either.

You left me here
to make my own happiness.
And I did.

So, this is
just an affair for you?

I didn't say "just."

This isn't just an affair.

This is the best affair
I'll ever have.

But you're married.

And I'm married.

I don't see you
for months at a time.

Maybe you got a girlfriend,
maybe you don't. I don't know.
I don't care.

But don't criticize me.

P.j.

Where you goin'?

You seem to think that
because I like sex,

I'm irresponsible
or somethin'.

But I'm not.

I worked hard to be a member
of the school board,
and I do a good job.

P.j.!

What would you say
if I said I wanted
to marry you?

Did you hear
what I said to you?

Yes, I did.

I was gonna be nice
and pretend I didn't hear
you say it.

That proposal's about
16 years too late.

Look, why would you want
to tear up your nice family

and tear up my nice family
to do what we can do anyway

if we're smooth?

Smooth? Hell,
I hate smooth.

Well, I'm afraid that's not
a very good prognosis then,
Mr. Parks.

Because I'm about as smooth
as they come.

Not that
you'd give a damn,

but I'm thinkin' about
leavin' this town anyway.

That'd be a pity.

Yeah, you'd live,
wouldn't you?

Yes, sir, I would.

Ramey, what the hell's
goin' on around here?

You guys movin'
or somethin'?

Followin'
your example, bud.

You left,
now we're leavin'.

Where you gonna go?

I don't know.

Probably Colorado.
Linda's got folks out there.

I don't get this part!

Hey, it ain't complicated.

Hey, you left.

Man, we ain't gettin'
nowhere here.

I'm tired of bein'
the...The leftover parks boy.

Man, I'm goin' somewhere
where they ain't heard
of no parks. Except you.

I got the same family feelings
as the rest of you guys.

You got somethin' else.

Yeah, I'll come and see you
when you're gone! Great!

You're just feelin' sorry
for yourself, man!

Whole-wheat toast
and some coffee.

That be all?

That be it.

Ok, thank you.

Thanks.

Morning, speck.

I guess that'll teach you
to be fuckin' around
with my old lady.

You got a mouth
like a slop bucket, junior.

I don't remember invitin' you
to sit down.

Well, I thought we could
just have one of them
heart-to-heart talks, pa.

Well, I don't particularly
care about your heart.

No, you ain't particularly
cared about nothin'
about me, have you?

Nope.

You were always
the runt of the litter.

I tell you what
I am interested in though.

I'm interested in
all that money you make.

I thought someplace
along the line you might
send me a little bit of it,

but you never have.

Give you some?

Well, I mean, the credit
ought to go to the sire.

That's the way it is
in horse racing.

Yeah. Every time
I was tryin' to be somethin',

you was right there
to cut my feet out
from underneath of me.

I was just tryin' to
teach you to be a man.

Playin' music in a
honky tonk ain't work.

No, but it sure
enables me to make

all this money
you're so interested in.

Well, I understand
there's a lot
of little black boys

who make more money at it
than you do.

Yeah, well.

Next time you come sniffin'
around the old lady here,

you're gonna look
a damn sight worse
than you do right now.

Now, don't say I never did
anything for you, kid.

I just bought your breakfast.

Hey, turdis,
you left the truck on.

Oh, shit.

This be it, fellers.

♪ I got the hungries
for your love ♪

♪ waitin'
in the welfare line ♪

Oh, god, it's good,
the whiskey, turdis.

Again?

Let's get this thing
loaded up, guys.

God, bud, you sure
are a daredevil.

Hell, I've done this
a million times.

Drink. It's on me.

It always is.

We're already drunk.
It's late.

This is crazy.

What you think, Luke?

What's the point?

There's nothin' else
I can do.

What?

What, you guys can't
spend an hour with me?

Damn! Oh, damn!

God. Bud!

I think he's dead.

This family's
all accident-prone.

I've spent more time
in the emergency room

than I have
in my own home.

I wouldn't call bouncin'
yourself off a pickup
an accident.

Neither would I.

Bud?

You're in the hospital, bud.

Buddy? Ramey's here, too.

Man, I'm never gonna
understand you, bud.

I've spent my whole life

tryin' to be like you.
And then you come back here,
and you start actin' like me.

It hurts, doesn't it?

Alice just drove up.

Are you leavin'?

Oh, she's your wife.
I imagine she wants
to talk to you alone.

I'm gonna say this
just once.

Then we're not ever
gonna talk about it again.

I'm gonna keep you
in my heart, bud,

just like I always have.

Hi.

Hi.

I'm glad you're here.

That's hard to believe.

You didn't even call me.

I was scared.

Tryin' to buy
a little time.

Time for what?

I don't know.

How's Terri Jo?

She misses her daddy.

Alice, why'd you come back?

Goodbye's don't make you gone,
bud.

If cutting somebody loose
were that easy, then
nobody'd care about a soul.

You know,
when our marriage was good,

it had originality.

People are
so mysterious, bud.

It's a great feeling to think
that you actually know
somebody in this world.

That they've shown
themselves to you.

And I don't think I could ever
be as curious about anyone
as I am about you.

Thing is, bud,

you can't have some
secret life in your head

and then another one
on the street.

When you tell people
what you really want,

it's gotta be the truth.

Could you do that, bud?

Could you find some unafraid
way to tell the truth
on yourself?

All I want is the first thing
that comes from your heart.

Say, "I love you, buddy."

Say, "I love you, buddy."

I don't have to.

♪ I have sat in a room

♪ full of angels

♪ and none of them
would look ♪

♪ at my face

♪ for they told me

♪ my failure
was in my living ♪

♪ and they told me

♪ I had fallen
from their grace ♪

♪ fallen from grace

♪ and I can't find a place
in the sun ♪

♪ fallen from grace

♪ and I've run out of places
to run out of places ♪

♪ to run

♪ now my mind's made up

♪ and I know my time is over

♪ so I try to right
the wrongs ♪

♪ that I have done

♪ I have drank

♪ from the cup

♪ of inspiration

♪ throwin' in with those

♪ who have no bounds

♪ stared down

♪ at the steely eyes

♪ of desperation

♪ I've been lost

♪ never to be found

♪ fallen from grace

♪ and I can't find a place
in the sun ♪

♪ fallen from grace

♪ and I've run out of places
to run out of places ♪

♪ to run

♪ well my mind's made up

♪ and I know my time is over

♪ so I try to right
the wrongs ♪

♪ that I have done

♪ and you may think
that life ♪

♪ is full of dangers

♪ an unsuspecting heart

♪ that might go astray

♪ it's not just our love

♪ that we wager

♪ and our conscience
holds the markers ♪

♪ to be paid

♪ fallen from grace

♪ and I can't find a place
in the sun ♪

♪ fallen from grace

♪ and I've run out of places
to run out of places ♪

♪ to run

♪ now my mind's made up

♪ and I know my time is over

♪ so I try to right
the wrongs ♪

♪ that I have done ♪