Happy as the Grass Was Green (1973) - full transcript

A Mennonite boy is beaten to death at an unnamed NY university protesting the Vietnam War. His best friend and another college student, Eric Mills, attends his funeral in the Mennonite country in Pennsylvania.

When did they ship his body?

Yesterday.

[Man] Hotdog, something

to drink, sandwiches?

No thank you.

(train whistle tooting)

(train engine whirring)

How come you weren't with

us for one confrontation man?

You know why, I've told you.

Well tell me again

I didn't think most of those

demonstrations were helping,

besides I was busy studying.

You were studying while some

pig was killing your brother?

John and I went to

New York to study Eric,

that was the whole

idea, now cool it.

I know how much you love

John, I loved him too.

You're mad and you wanna fight,

you won't get it with me.

(train bells ringing)

North Philadelphia,

North Philadelphia.

North Philadelphia.

Half an hour 'til Lancaster.

♪ Life is like the seasons,

quickly changing to the years ♪

♪ Youth is like the springtime

when the flowers first appear ♪

♪ When trees are

green in summer ♪

♪ Mans in his prime

♪ Then the autumn winds announce

the snow and winter time ♪

♪ So little time, a year

has gone, a lifetime ♪

♪ So man must learn

while he is young ♪

♪ Seeking answers and a

wisdom for beyond his years ♪

♪ For too soon

his time is done ♪

♪ And he finds he's in

the wintertime of life. ♪

Are all your folks Mennonite?

Yeah.

Do they drive horse and buggies?

No, some do but

it's usually Amish.

They're not the same?

♪ The tiny little baby soon

leaves his mothers knee ♪

♪ A child of today will

tomorrow find us free ♪

♪ To face the worldly problems

that he must face alone ♪

♪ Seeking answers to the

questions of his summertime ♪

♪ For all too soon

the summer's gone ♪

♪ It's wintertime.

♪ So man must learn,

while he is young ♪

♪ Seeking answers and a

wisdom for beyond his years ♪

♪ For all too soon,

his time is done ♪

♪ And he finds he's in

the wintertime of life ♪

♪ So man must learn,

while he is young ♪

♪ Seeking answers and a

wisdom far beyond his years ♪

♪ For all too soon,

his time is done ♪

♪ And he finds he's in in

the wintertime of life. ♪

Amish.

Eli!

Eli, Eli.

It's good your home

Jim, good your home.

Eli, I want you

to meet Eric Mills.

He was a good friend of Johns.

Eric, welcome.

Hi.

Let's get you home.

- Everyone all right?

- Yes, they're all right,

they're waiting for you.

How's Hazel?

Fine, asking about you.

It's been hard, since

the news of John,

nobody really understands.

But it's corn picking time,

there's lots of work to be done.

They Amish?

[Jim] Wenger Mennonites,

a lot like the Amish.

Thanks for meeting

us Eli, take care.

[Eli] See you tomorrow,

glad you're home.

Goodnight Eric.

What's out there?

Simon, the family graveyard.

Simon?

He was the oldest,

then John, then me.

He was killed in a tractor

accident a few years ago.

I've never been up there

since we buried him.

Welcome home son.

Hi dad.

Hi Jim, how are

you? How was the trip?

[Jim] Okay, where's mom?

How are ya?

- Fine momma, fine.

Glad to be home.

I forgot Eric.

Sorry Eric.

This is Eric Mills, he was

a close friend of Johns.

Pleased to meet you Eric.

There's something to

eat, you must be hungry.

No thanks mom, we had

a sandwich on the train.

Just tired, Eric?

No, I just wanna crash.

I didn't make up the

extra room, I didn't know.

It's okay, I'll

take care of him.

No need to help with the

chores tomorrow morning,

meetings at 12, to

settle on the funeral.

I'll be up anyway.

Goodnight.

[Eric] Who's the little

guy with the bald head?

Ben, he works on the farm,

sort of a member of the family.

Never seen one of

them close up before.

(gentle guitar music)

(machinery whirring)

Good morning Mr. Mills,

did you sleep well?

I did thanks.

Jim's out in the

field with his dad.

I'll fix you something to eat.

(chickens clucking)

Did he have many friends

besides yourself?

Yeah.

He had a lot of friends.

We loved him.

Used to sing a lot.

Yeah, he had a

good singing voice,

he and his brothers used

to sing much together.

Did he have a girlfriend?

Yeah, well he had

a lot of friends,

both chicks and guys.

But no one girl?

No.

No one.

Well once I thought

he'd marry a girl here.

There was one.

Hazel?

You know her?

Oh I heard Jim talking

to Eli about some girl,

and I thought it was probably-

- Yes er, she's Eli's daughter.

She's a good girl, smart,

Jim liked her too.

Do you want some more coffee?

Yes please.

In New York where did John eat?

Oh mostly round

the campus, you know,

small restaurants, dumps.

Why is there so much

trouble in the cities,

and with the army?

Well it's very complicated.

You'd have to er be

there to understand.

It should be

simple, shouldn't it?

The simple life

is best isn't it?

Well that's what we want.

Simple things like

you've got here.

(whispered conversation)

They're good people Eric,

they don't mean to be rude,

but you're-

- But I'm a freak

from the big city.

In a way yes, you're

something different.

The way outsiders feel about

them, something different.

But they're good people,

they just feel betrayed.

Betrayed, by what?

They knew John,

and they loved him.

They can't understand

what happened.

Well I can tell 'em, if

they really wanna know.

Politics and violence, they

wouldn't understand that Eric.

Jim, I'm sorry but I'm concerned

about what some of

them are saying.

I hope we can have the

service in the church.

Thanks Uncle Jacob.

What's that all about?

[Jim] Because of

the circumstances,

the way John died, some

don't think he should have

a service set in the church.

Oh for Christ's sake.

[Jim] Eric, please

try and understand.

Who the hell do

they think they are?

[Jim] His people Eric.

Yeah, well they didn't

know him, I knew him.

They didn't know him.

I'm going outside, I

gotta get some air.

(door clattering)

Too many Mennonites

all at once huh?

I guess.

We're just people Eric.

Judge us slow,

this is a sad time.

Leaves are falling fast now.

Hey is Eli some

kind of a holy man?

A holy what?

A holy man, a prophet.

You know that isn't

such a dumb question.

Eli is a holy man, a man of God.

He's a good preacher,

he's my best friend too.

Well I guess that puts

you pretty close to God

yourself then Ben huh?

Do you like looking like a girl?

Your hair, your hair?

You don't mind

looking like a girl?

Know a lot of girls

with mustaches Ben?

Hey Ben!

Look I'm sorry Ben,

I'm putting you on.

I don't think I

look like a girl.

But if I do so what, I

mean I just don't care

what people think.

What's the matter?

Menno mustn't see this,

he knows enough already.

This is awful.

Oh what garbage!

How could John do

a thing like this,

he was a Mennonite, a good boy.

He worked on the farm with

me, never hurt anyone.

Now he's a criminal.

Hey wait a minute

John wasn't a criminal.

He was killed by these goons

because he wouldn't let them

persecute another human being.

John loved people.

He was killed because he

tried to help someone.

He was violent.

He was beautiful

man, they were violent.

He wasn't willing to

sit back on his ass

while people are being

humiliated and thrown in jail.

Oh man, what,

what the hell do you

know living out in this.

God damn wilderness.

You've got no right

to judge anyone.

No one.

Know who the criminals are?

They're the ones who

sit back and do nothing.

I don't believe the service

should be held in the church.

I don't think John

should be buried

in the family graveyard.

Under the circumstances I think

there would be more suitable

burial grounds, and I

say this with sadness,

with due deference to my sister.

Rufus, we had all

agreed before you arrived.

But I did not agree Eli,

and I'm part of this family.

We do not dispute

your position Rufus.

I've got no thoughts of

vengeance, that's the Lords.

But neither must we permit

unbelief to be tolerated.

John believed in God.

There must be no weakness

on the part of the church

simply because the violator is

a dear member of the family.

John was, was violent

towards people,

and he destroyed property.

We're talking here

about God's word,

and we must not condone

those that violate it.

I want the service

held in the church.

It is for all of us to agree,

not just Anna and Me.

Rufus, to avoid further

discussion and pain,

would you agree to this?

A simple service

beside the grave,

but in the family plot.

I'll agree to that.

It is agreed then?

It is agreed then.

I guess you belong to

the people who bury you.

Uncle Rufus sounds

like a real sweet guy.

Yeah, we don't see him

much, Christmas and Easter,

important times like that.

We'll fix John up real

good Jim, he'll look fine.

Thank you.

That's Daniel Wenner,

the undertaker.

Wonder who they are?

I'll go check it

out, wanna come?

(zipper rasping)

Hi.

What are you doin'?

We're gonna take some pictures.

You got permission?

We're just gonna

take some pictures.

Yeah I know but, but,

you should get permission.

Look Mac, we're not

bothering anyone are we?

I don't know, but you

should get permission

before you take any pictures.

- You live here?

- No.

No I don't live here.

(photographer grunts)

Okay buster, that's

enough, now beat it.

(man groans)

(photographer screams)

(fists connecting)

(man groaning)

(dramatic guitar music)

(distant preaching)

For all flesh is as grass,

and all the glory of man

as the flower of grass.

The grass withereth, and the

flower thereof falleth away.

But the word of the

Lord, endureth forever.

Eight year ago, when

I first came here,

there were three Witmer

boys, Simon, Jim and John.

We called them Peter,

James and John.

And I came to love them as

though they were my own sons.

Four year ago we buried Simon,

we came here then as we do now,

and we wept and prayed,

and tried to understand.

Today, most of us have

not wept nor prayed,

neither have we

tried to understand.

(somber music)

Hello Eli, you disappointed me.

Why that boy doesn't even

believe in the Risen Lord,

and you spoke about him as

though he were a Christian.

You had a chance to

speak out, you didn't.

I do not believe we can

judge Rufus, any of us.

Surely you must understand this?

I don't go along with a lot

of this traditional mish-mash,

wearing plain clothes

and such like, but,

but when it comes to

the word of God Eli,

the word of God, there

must be no backing off.

That boy was not saved,

and he should not

have had those

words said over him.

Poor Rufus, God was

here and Rufus missed him.

I wanna thank you,

for what you said.

For John.

He would have appreciated that.

Is that why you came here Eric?

To make sure we

buried him properly?

We loved him too Eric, even

if we didn't understand.

I'm gonna stay here

with Jim right now,

I hope I see you again soon.

I hope so.

(somber music)

Oh Eric,

this is my daughter Hazel.

Hazel, this is Eric, I've

been telling you about.

- Hello Eric.

- Hi.

Sort of stuck up isn't he?

Well he is.

Coming down to the house?

No, not yet.

You meet Hazel?

Yeah.

John really liked her,

they'd have been married

if he had stayed here.

She couldn't go with him?

You don't know us,

he didn't ask her.

She'd never have gone.

What about you?

Me and Hazel?

Oh I don't think so.

She comes on a

little strong for me.

He used to like to walk here,

they were always together

when we were home.

I often wondered what

that would be like John.

To be so sure I would

know what I should do.

He loved people so much,

I mean, really loved them,

more then anyone I ever knew.

And still he hated them.

[Eric] He didn't hate people,

he hated things that

were done to people.

[Jim] I wish I'd have

been with him more,

I wish I'd have talked

with him more then I did.

I remember one day,

Simon and John and I,

were up here fixing the fence.

Simon said something

about it was strange

to love life so much, and

yet be so close to the dead.

John said, were as happy

as the grass was green.

Doesn't look very green now.

(chickens clucking)

[Eric] Hey Ben.

Hey that's no way to

walk in on 500 chickens,

you'll scare 'em half to death.

Well how else do

you get in there?

You knock, that's how.

Oh yeah, you knock,

then what do you do?

Wait for one of

them to say come in?

Oh you're really funny,

why don't you just watch,

maybe you'll learn something.

(knocking on door)

I don't believe that.

I bet there's a lot of

things you don't believe.

I do not believe it.

Where you been anyway?

Walking.

Where's Jim?

Oh he's up on

the hill somewhere.

Is that Eli's car?

Yeah, meet his daughter yet?

Yeah.

[Ben] What do you think of her?

I don't know, I

couldn't see her,

I had something in my eye.

How you doing man?

Okay.

You know what Hazel asked

me before the funeral.

She wanted to know

if John had to die,

that's what she said, did

John really have to die?

What'd you say?

Told her I don't know.

Told her John wanted to

change the world today,

not tomorrow or next

year, but today,

and that's dangerous.

She's here.

[Jim] Who Hazel?

Yeah, with Eli.

Where's Dad?

Oh he went for a

walk with Eli, maybe.

How's your eyes now Eric?

Something wrong with your eyes?

No.

You really a hippy?

No I'm a hippopotamus.

(laughs)

You don't have to act smart,

can't you give a straight

answer to a straight question?

I'm sorry, there's

nothing straight about me.

(laughs)

Stop teasing that girl now

and get on with your dinner.

Hazel was really giving it

to you, but she can't take it.

She likes things her own way.

Yeah.

Just like she's got a bonnie.

She's just testing you.

What's she testing me for?

For strength or weakness,

it's a game she plays,

she likes the challenge.

Yeah well, I

wouldn't try anything

under these

circumstances anyway.

I know Eric, I'm

not worried about her.

(metal clattering) I thought

you should see one barn raising

before we go back

to the big town.

[Eric] All right, just tell

me what you want me to do,

and where I go.

[Jim] Here, right up the ladder.

(hammers banging)

This is fantastic huh.

[Man] Yeah.

Yeah, this whole thing, I

mean it's just, just wild.

It's fantastic.

All you neighbors coming out

to help another neighbor,

it's incredible.

I heard you the first time.

What do you want me to do?

You can um,

put a row of nails up

here, nail this facing into

the back post there, about

one every six inches,

and put another row over there.

You got some nails?

- You Amish?

- Hmm.

(hammers banging)

Hey, what's that?

What?

What you're chewing, what

you just spat out there.

Oh tobacco.

- Yeah?

- Uh-huh.

Can I have some?

(laughs)

You?

Yeah.

It's pretty strong stuff.

You like it?

Hmm.

My names Bart Byler.

How are you, my

name's Eric Mills.

Yeah. (Car horn blaring)

Well, it's about lunch

time huh, you ready to eat?

I just got here.

[Bart] Oh, well

that's good timing.

(people chattering)

Hey I don't wanna sound stupid,

but what exactly

is the difference

between the Amish

and the Mennonites?

Well they both came

from the same roots,

ever hear of the Anabaptists?

Yeah, 14th-15th century Europe.

Girls getting burnt at

the stake, all that jazz.

Yeah well basically they,

we are non-conformists.

Rejecting the worldly

world for the simple life.

Yeah, what about

your uncle Rufus?

Well he doesn't reject

things as much as he should.

(Jim laughs)

But the simple

things are important.

Follow the teaching of Christ,

non-violence, brotherhood.

But the Amish go a

lot further don't they?

I mean no cars, no electricity,

what's that got to

do with brotherhood?

The further you get

from simple things,

the further you

get from Godliness.

Oh.

Sarah, don't just stand there,

there's plenty to wait on.

Look out won't

yah, the mans waiting

for that stuff over there.

Why'd they give

her such a hard time?

Who?

- Her?

- Who?

She's had trouble in the

family, she's a little strange.

Oh that's logical.

Both the Mennonites and

Amish keep breaking up

and forming new churches.

As if they were always searching

for the right things to do,

they get caught in the

middle of wealthy America.

Some reach out,

grasp new things,

some hold on the,

the old traditions.

Some, most of the people,

are somewhere inbetween.

Some groups are afraid of

falling behind the times,

and another group is afraid

of falling in with the times,

make sense?

Well it makes

about as much sense

as anything else in this world.

But there's still

something that unifies

the whole thing, isn't there?

I mean-

- Hi.

I didn't know you

were leaving tomorrow.

Yeah, I'm leaving

tomorrow morning.

My father would like you to

come over for supper tonight,

could you?

I'll drive him over.

Uh yeah, I guess so.

Okay, have him there at six.

(Eric laughs)

What were you preparing

yourself for in college?

English Major.

But I'm more

interested in politics.

That's how I first met

John at a political rally.

What made you so angry?

It's hard, being out here,

where everything's so

peaceful, everyone loves you,

to know what it's

like in the city.

Like when I first met John,

we were doing a

demonstration to put pressure

on the university

and the city agencies

to clean up this slum

area near the campus.

A little baby had been bitten

by a rat the week before,

and it died, and nobody cared.

We moved in with

the anti-war people,

I mean it's the same thing.

I mean killing is wrong,

whether it's done with a gun

or through neglect.

The war went right up.

A week later another

baby was bitten,

nobody did a thing.

But why the violence?

Our people weren't

into any violence,

not at the beginning.

All we did was march

and demonstrate,

and circulate petitions

for those guys

who refused to be

inducted into the army.

The guys who had to go

to Canada or wherever.

But there was violence?

Yeah, there was violence.

See the whole anti-war

movement began to fall apart

once the draft ended.

John couldn't understand that.

I mean, we were

still killing people,

the cause was still there.

Well we'd call a rally, and

instead of 1000 kids showing up,

maybe 50 or 60 would.

See they hadn't really cared,

about the killing.

They just didn't

wanna get drafted

because they were

afraid of being killed.

Around about a month ago,

John brought this guy in

who'd gone AWOL about

three years ago.

Been on the run ever since then.

He was really in bad shape.

So we vowed to protect him.

(people shouting)

(people screaming)

And then last Friday,

last Friday I came home,

(sirens wailing)

And found the apartment

house surrounded by cops,

and the gang from the FBI.

They're yelling for

John to come out.

No way.

(gun firing)

So the cops started pumping

tear gas into the apartment.

They broke in through

the back door.

And the next thing I heard,

(gun firing)

Shots.

They claimed that John

had fired at them first.

Maybe he had.

Anyway, John was dead.

Are you ready for

family worship father?

Let's sing "Spirit of God" okay.

♪ Spirit of God

♪ Descend upon my heart

♪ Wean it from Earth

♪ Through all it's pulses move

♪ Stoop to my weakness

♪ Mighty as thou art

♪ And make me love thee

♪ As I ought to love

That which is born

of the flesh, is flesh.

And that which is born

of the spirit, is spirit.

Marvel not that

I said unto thee,

thee must be born again.

The wind bloweth

where it listeth,

and thou can'st hear

the sound thereof.

Thou can'st not tell

whence it cometh

and wither it goeth.

Dear Lord, bless Eric,

and show him your love.

And may he find you,

and come to love you.

(gentle music)

Never heard anybody ever

mention my name in

a prayer before.

Will you come back again ever?

Eric.

Safe journey tomorrow.

God bless ya Eric,

thank you for spending

the evening with us.

And remember, God loves

you, don't settle for less.

Goodnight.

Hey give me the keys?

- What for?

- Give me the keys, come on,

- come on.

- What for?

I've gotta go.

Where you going?

I'm going to Eli's.

[Eli] The wind

bloweth where it listeth

and thou hearest

the sound there of.

Thou can'st not tell

whence it cometh,

and wither it goeth.

(car engine revving)

Do you know what time it is?

[Eric] I don't

care what time it is.

(car horn blaring)

(dramatic music)

(knocking on door)

What are you doing here?

I don't know.

I thought I came to see

you, but that's not it.

And what would you have

done if I hadn't waked up?

Honest Hazel, I

want you, really bad,

but that's not why I'm here.

I have to see your father.

Earlier tonight,

when I was here,

love and hate were so

mixed up inside of me

that I just wanted to get up

and run out of this house.

But you didn't.

And later on Eli, I kept

hearing your children singing.

I thought I was going nuts.

I believe God is

calling you son.

(Eric laughs)

I've found him.

You're right, I found him Eli.

I found him.

(gentle music)

You sure you wanna stay?

Yeah, I'm sure I wanna

stay, for a while anyway.

Hazel got to you?

Yeah, maybe she got

to me, that's not all.

Well I hope it's

what you think it is.

Just remember you're

still a rare bird here

with the Mennonites, but

you're not one of them.

I'm not sure you ever can be.

Yeah, well I think

you're jealous.

(Jim laughs)

Maybe I am, it's

supposed to be my home.

Take care friend.

I'm glad he

decided to stay here.

Hmm?

How long do you

think he'll stay?

Until the novelty wears off.

What if the novelty

doesn't wear off?

(upbeat music)

Come on.

He's sort of a

funny looking goof

to have following you around.

Well he's a nice boy

I think, works hard now.

Yeah, I guess.

I wonder how long his

conversion will last?

I, I, I just meant with his

peculiar background and all,

I, we'll give him a chance.

(stone scraping)

Maybe he could cut

his hair a little.

Maybe?

But I guess hair's

his own business.

Well I didn't mean real short.

(hammer banging)

(bright bouncy music)

Hey, hold this sack.

Open it.

It's open.

Your hair's still too long.

Yeah, but I got

rid of my mustache

so you wouldn't mistake me

for one of your girlfriends.

(Ben laughs)

This is the life my buddies in

New York keep dreaming about,

the simple life.

Yeah, this is what

it's all about.

[Ben] Then why'd they go around

blowing up all those buildings?

Ben I've told you, they're

angry because they see

so much human misery around 'em.

Shouldn't make 'em violent,

but you gotta try and understand

why they get that way.

When you see a wrong,

and you can't see any way

how to right that wrong,

then it makes you frustrated.

I mean, how would you feel

if one of your neighbors

was hungry and you didn't

have anything to give him?

And no one else

seemed to give a sh...

Seemed to care.

Now that's what you

might call mighty fine

bunch of cattle.

Right.

Oh come on Menno, you know

good stock when you see it.

Sure do.

And a too high price for me,

can't afford more then 35 cents.

Menno look, you

can't do this to me.

Now I'm an honest man,

now what have you got

against those cattle?

The price?

(Ben laughs)

41 and a half, now

that's the best I can do,

even for you.

Menno look, I paid

39 and a half cents

for this cattle myself.

Now what am I supposed to do?

39, that's my last offer.

40 and a half.

39.

- 39 and a half.

- 39.

All right, 39.

Pleasure doing business

with yah, Shorley.

(Ben laughs)

Well that was a good boy,

Shorley's fit to be tied.

Hey, how much

would you have paid?

One cent more, it's

worth 40 cents a pound.

[Man] Hi Menno.

[Hazel] I heard you stayed.

I thought most girls didn't

come to the stock yards.

I'm not most girls.

How'd you know I

was still around?

Why do you always

ask so many questions?

Me?

First time we met you

asked me if I was a hippy.

Are you?

What do you mean by hippy?

All questions, no answers.

I came with my father,

he's doing some buying.

I have to meet him soon.

You wanna take a walk?

Yeah.

(bright gentle music)

That's John's coat.

Yeah, Mrs. Witmer gave it

to me, it's a good old jacket.

I didn't ask you

if you were a hippy

the first time we met.

No.

No the first time we

met I said hello Eric,

and you said hi, I thought

you were pretty stuck up.

Second time we met I asked

you if you were a hippy.

Oh yeah, I remember.

(gate creaking)

Ah there you are.

I figured you'd

found each other.

Time to get home,

see you Sunday.

Bye Eli.

Eric!

I've been thinking about you,

I'd like for you

to say a few words

at harvest service on Saturday.

What about?

Oh about the way you feel,

your new walk with God.

It would mean a lot

to them and to me.

Thank you Eric.

♪ Praise to God,

immortal praise ♪

♪ For the love that

crowns our days ♪

♪ Bounteous source

of every joy ♪

♪ Let thy praise

our tongues employ ♪

♪ For the blessings

of the fields ♪

♪ For the stores

the garden yields ♪

♪ And for these our

souls shall raise ♪

♪ Grateful vows and

solemn praise. ♪

We have a stranger

among us today

who is no longer a stranger.

He comes to us from New York,

and I have come to love him.

And in this young man, I

think all of us will discover

a new meaning in our own faith.

Eric.

Um.

I forgot what I

was gonna say, um,

I, I didn't make any notes

because I wanted the words

just to come.

And they're not coming.

You see when I first came here,

I thought I knew everything

there was to know

about Mennonites.

I, I even thought all of

you drove horse and buggies,

and that some of you

lived in monasteries.

I want you to accept me.

I found God here, because

of the simple things

I've found here.

I've felt a peace.

See before in my life,

there was darkness,

and now there's light.

There was despair,

and now there's hope.

There was hatred,

and now there's love.

My name is Noah Dunbar,

glad to have you here.

Thank you.

I'm Isaac Frederick,

I liked what you said.

(baby cries)

I'm Mrs. William Stodder,

and I just wanted you to know

how please we are that

you found the Lord.

I was telling my

husband at home,

it must be so difficult-

(drowned out by baby crying)

We'll be praying for you.

Hi, we're having a hayride

tonight, will you come?

Sure, where?

Roger Martins,

here's the address.

(tractor whirring)

(jaunty music)

[Hazel] Here he is.

Hey Hazel.

Broke my leg.

I started out 10

years ago with a little

roadside fruit stand,

and built it into this.

The Puerto Ricans

gave me some trouble,

they don't like to work.

You probably know what I

mean, being from New York.

As Christians we must

help the unfortunate,

even if they don't

appreciate it.

Carolyn, have Stanley

come in will you.

You know my sister

speaks highly of yah,

Anna's a good woman, and

I respect her opinion.

I'll be glad to

give you a job here,

most of the employees

are Christians,

except for a few, some

that do the cleaning,

people like that, but

the Christian atmosphere

pervades the whole business.

This is Stanley,

Stanley's our foreman.

This is Eric Mills, we're

gonna give Eric a job here.

Help us with the

Thanksgiving rush.

It'll do you good

to work with him.

Glad to meet you Eric,

I'm sure we'll get along

just fine, follow me.

I'll take care of him sir.

10 years ago this

was little more

then a roadside fruit

stand, now look at it,

built into this,

fruits, and vegetables.

We grow 'em out

back, always fresh.

I'm not a Mennonite

myself, but I'm a Christian

and Rufus and I get

along very well.

Here, fill these forms out

and bring 'em in

with you tomorrow.

Er, what's a Christian hippy?

Huh?

Rufus said you were

a Christian hippy,

I was just wondering, that's

sort of a contradiction

in terms, wouldn't you say.

Um no, not really.

It all depends what

you mean by it.

I mean a lot of people

appreciate nature.

Nature, oh right yes.

I like to go hunting

myself now and then.

Rufus never did well at school

but he was always a go-getter.

Not like a lot of us Mennonites,

never did learn to be obedient.

He was sort of

wild in his teens,

went to movies, and dances.

Then one day he straightened up,

he got changed at the

Shepherd Hill Church.

They're real liberal up there,

and it's a sin some of

the things they allow.

Dress and things.

They helped Rufus.

Where's Ben and Menno?

They're up the road

visiting a sick neighbor

they'll be late, so we'll eat.

Now, go ahead and eat,

you've worked hard all day.

Were you born in New York Eric?

No, Michigan, a little

town near Pontiac.

Oh.

People travel far

from home these days,

makes it hard to come back.

My grandmother

moved across the road

from one farm to another.

And my mother and father

lived 13 miles down the road

from here.

I moved into this house

when I was married.

Furthest away I've ever

been is Washington,

and Philadelphia.

It was a few years ago, but

today people travel far away.

(bright guitar music)

♪ A lot of things

are hard to say ♪

♪ It takes a lot of time

♪ To get to know

your fellow man ♪

♪ To get your

thoughts to rhyme ♪

♪ Different folks have

different dreams ♪

♪ And live a different way

♪ So reach out to

your fellow man ♪

♪ And hear what he was to say

♪ Sometimes you won't

agree with them ♪

♪ And other times you may

♪ For different thoughts

and different dreams ♪

♪ Make our world this way

♪ So reach out for

your fellow man ♪

♪ And hear what he has to say

(people shouting

over each other)

We wanna do a good

job for the Garmens,

so's things are ready when

they get out of the hospital.

- Right on Mac.

- Oh shut up.

All right now quiet, now listen.

This room needs a

complete paint job,

I want Dimp here to

get two other guys

and make this your

project, okay Dimp?

Where's Dimp?

He's in the bathroom.

- No I wasn't, I'm here.

(all cheering)

All right, okay, now Johnny,

you get the rest of the guys,

and start cleaning

out the garage.

Everyone got mops?

[All] Yeah.

Well I haven't, well

someone took mine.

(all talking over each other)

Hey, great to have you.

Okay, look why don't you

two guys start in here,

and I'll send someone

else in to help you.

- You ready?

- Ready.

Great, let's get going.

(people chattering)

Find your broom yet Sarah?

Hey Sarah, why don't you

go out front and help Hazel.

Or better yet Sarah, why don't

you start on those toilets,

they really need a going over.

Do you mind if I

have a drink first,

I've been working too you know.

Sure Sarah, that's all right,

the toilets can wait.

(all giggling)

(Sarah sobs)

It's hard to look that pretty

after you've been crying,

how do you do that?

Practice.

I'm sorry, they're stupid,

people are stupid.

They hurt other people and

they don't even know it.

You're Sarah?

I remember you, you

were at John Silks barn.

It was nice of you not

to laugh at me just now.

I like you, I hope

I see you again.

And whatever they tell you

about my father, it's not true,

he was not a bad man.

(thunder rumbling)

[Hazel] It was nice

of you to take her side,

they're very mean to her.

But why?

Her father took

his life last winter,

she's been sort of

strange ever since.

So they laugh at her?

I know, it's awful.

Why'd her father kill himself?

That's none of

anyone's business,

we don't talk about

things like that.

If you want to be

accepted around here

you'll have to understand that.

(girls screaming)

(people chattering)

Hey come on, don't

just sit there.

I told yah, I only

skated once before,

I'll be out in my own good time.

Are you afraid of falling?

Of course I'm afraid of falling.

Look why don't you go back

and join your boyfriends.

Oh haven't you met

Marv or his brother.

No I haven't met

Marv or his brother,

and I don't want too.

Suit yourself.

It's easier to skate

fast then it is to stand.

Right, skate fast.

No standing.

(Eric yells)

Help!

(dramatic comical music)

Coming through!

Help!

(Hazel laughs)

I want you to be

one of the speakers

at my church next Sunday.

We're gonna put on

a program that'll

knock some people on their ears.

I'm having three

other hippy types,

converted ones of course.

They're gonna come tell

us like it was really was

in hippy land, and I

want you to do the same.

(singing in foreign language)

(baby crying)

(dog barking)

(dramatic music)

Stanley!

Oh my hippy friend,

I've been looking-

- What are those people

doing out in those sheds?

Eric, shush for heavens

sake, not so loud.

Well why not?

Puerto Ricans work

for us in the summer,

out on the fields in back.

In the winter Rufus

let's some of them

who have no place to

go, stay in those huts.

You mean they stay

out there all winter,

Stanley it's 35 degrees outside.

Eric shush, we can't talk here.

Look, I was out

there, I saw kids,

it's reeking damp,

the place is a dump.

Puerto Ricans used to

give us a lot of trouble,

drinking and all

that sort of stuff.

Last summer Rufus got a hold of

a Spanish speaking Evangelist

and since then we've

hardly had any trouble.

They're very simply people,

and Rufus charges them

practically no rent.

Rent?

Only 40 dollars a month,

you can't give these people

something for nothing you know,

they'll just take

advantage of you.

What's the matter with you?

Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm all right, I'm

just trying to fight down

a terrible urge to knock

you flat on your arse.

(banging on door)

Eric?

Hi, may I come in?

Oh sure, come in, come in.

Want some coffee?

Um no.

Take your coat off, sit down.

I feel like everything's

falling apart.

Everything?

I guess I just won't

accept not being accepted.

Are you sure

you're not accepted.

Oh I know you accept

me, you accept everybody

that's just the way you are.

But I don't think Hazel

accepts me, or Ben or Menno.

I don't know maybe

Mrs. Witmer does.

Is it so important

to you to be accepted?

I found something here

that I don't wanna lose.

I don't know, myself I guess,

and I just feel it

all slipping away.

Have our people changed?

No I guess not.

But, I'm losing the feeling

of peace that I had,

something's gone.

Eli, did you know

that Rufus had a bunch

of Puerto Ricans living

in some run down sheds

behind his store?

Yes.

I know.

It's a bad thing.

Is that why you're angry?

Shouldn't everybody be angry?

We do not do so many

things that need to be done.

Rufus has not changed

since you came here,

Rufus is the same as

he has always been,

and so am I Eric.

It's you who have changed.

You cannot expect everyone

else to change too.

You've found a refuge

here, not a home perhaps,

but a refuge.

You expect too much of us Eric.

We disappoint you.

(gentle music)

You're not going to work today?

Yeah, I'm just gonna

arrive a little late.

I'm all right.

Just don't feel like

seeing some of those people

this early in the morning.

Rufus has been fair to you?

Yeah,

I've got no complaints

about the way he treats me.

But something's wrong?

Rufus has done or

said something bad.

It's hard to love someone

when you don't like them,

poor Rufus, he

needs to be loved.

But he's too proud to accept.

Don't let Rufus make

you angry again Eric,

you can do so much good

if you don't get angry.

Dear friends in Christ,

I promised you a rare

experience today.

Four persons, former hippies,

who's lives have been spent

in degradation and unholiness,

have come here to tell yah

how they were lifted from

the clutches of the devil.

Of their journey from

the depths of depravity

to this platform in

the house of God.

You can bring them in.

(upbeat jaunty music)

My mother began to drink.

Right here ladies and gentlemen,

you can see the

marks of the needles.

It was here, in this book.

There was a God who loved me.

Praise the Lord.

A cloud was pulled away

from the face of the sun.

I was transformed.

I was saved.

Why do you people put

other people in cages?

You put us up here so

you could sit down there

and stare at us

and feel superior.

Now it's getting near Christmas,

the message of Christmas

is supposed to be peace

and love, and brotherhood.

Let's not build anymore cages

for our brothers and sisters.

No more Mennonite cages,

no more Amish cages,

no more hippy cages, no

more Puerto Rican cages.

Let's find the keys to those

cages we've already built,

lets open all those doors

and throw the keys away.

(gentle guitar music)

You're going away

aren't you Eric?

I don't know, what

are you doing here?

I wanna go with you.

Sarah.

Look we can't stay here.

I know a place, I'll show you.

All right, but get down.

Aren't you gonna come

back and sit with me?

I think it's better if I don't.

I love you Eric, I really do.

I know you think

that's silly but I do.

I don't think it's silly,

but I don't think you love

me like you think you do.

Look Sarah, you've been

hurt by your own people,

and because you and

I like each other,

you turned from them, and

you think you love me.

I didn't turn from

them, they turned from me,

just like they turned

from my father.

One night about a year ago I,

I had this terrible dream.

I dreamed that my father was

running through the streets

shouting that no one loved him.

The dream woke me

up, I was scared,

I guess I knew

that papa was sad.

He never could talk

much to anybody,

he was very gentle.

But he could never

say much to anyone.

I went into my parents room and,

my mother was there

sleeping alone,

and then I really knew

why I was scared and I,

I ran up the steps and I saw

him hanging from the rafters.

(Sarah sobs)

(somber music)

You're in love with

Hazel aren't you?

I'm not sure.

Look Sarah, you wouldn't

be happy away from here,

and they need you.

The people here need you.

I know you might not

believe that, but it's true.

They need your strength,

they need your honesty.

I'll stay.

But I'll write you okay, and

let you know how I'm doing.

I think if I can do

that I'll be all right.

Sure, I'd like that.

(door slamming)

(somber string music)

Anna, I just got word from Jim,

he'll be home for Christmas.

Mum really needs a radio.

She was really excited

about you coming home.

Yeah, she doesn't show much,

but I knew she'd want me here.

Hi Jim, it's great having

you home at Christmas time.

Hi Joe, thank you.

Ma'am this boy was here first.

I was here this

morning, and that's first.

You gave me the wrong plug.

We don't have plugs

at this counter ma'am.

Oh yes you do, I bought it here.

No we don't ma'am, plugs

and that stuff's over there.

Where's the manager?

Over there.

Some Christmas spirit huh?

Yeah, everyone goes

mad this time of year.

Can you wrap this?

Are you kidding?

(bright tinkling music)

Merry Christmas Eric.

Merry Christmas Noah.

- Welcome home Jim.

- Thank you. Merry Christmas.

(people chattering)

What was that all about?

Merry Christmas Eli.

Merry Christmas Eric.

Merry Christmas Jim.

Merry Christmas.

Did you hear about Eli

and your old employer?

No what?

I guess Rufus had

some poor people

living in his brooder

houses, old chicken huts

at the back of his store.

Now everyone's known about it,

but no one ever did anything.

I guess Eli went over and

confronted Rufus in his office.

What happened?

Well I don't know for sure,

but the brooder houses

have all been knocked down,

and I hear Eli has

found jobs for the men.

He must have scared the

daylights outta Rufus.

♪ Oh come all ye faithful

♪ Joyful and triumphant

♪ Oh come ye, oh come ye

♪ To Bethlehem

♪ Come and behold him

♪ Born the King of angels

♪ Oh come let us adore him

♪ Oh come let us adore him

♪ Oh come let us adore him

♪ Christ the Lord

♪ Sing choirs of angels

♪ Sing in exultation

I've gotta talk to you.

I've gotta see you

tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow's Christmas.

I know tomorrow's Christmas.

But I gotta talk to you,

I'm leaving tomorrow night.

[Woman] Hazel, Hazel.

Pick me up at three o'clock.

(somber music)

No, not here.

Three o'clock tomorrow.

Eric I want you to

meet my cousins,

Marv and Merv Berkholder.

Hi.

I thought I was seeing double.

(bright festive music)

Dad, can you give me a

hand with the boxes of gifts,

they're in the attic.

You all right mom.

Boxes of gifts, I hope

everyone didn't go spending

a lot of money.

Oh I don't think so.

(knocking on window)

[Ben] That's our

signal, let's go.

How is it possible for

a boy not to have one?

What's wrong?

Merry Christmas Menno.

My, my, for me mom?

Sit down now, that's

what it's for you know.

Eric picked it up

for me at a sale,

I made the afghan myself.

It makes me sleepy.

(laughs)

He'd want you to have this.

Where'd you get it?

When I picked up his

stuff at the morgue.

He was wearing this

when he was killed.

I know.

Thanks a lot Jim, I'll

take good care of it.

You know it's

funny, not long ago

seeing this would have made me

so mad, I would have gone out

and done God knows what.

I've changed too.

I think I've come home this

time, I do belong here.

Why don't you stay,

you belong too,

just give 'em a little time.

No, no I belong back

where this came from.

I think I can do some good now.

(Jingle Bells)

We're ready, I'll

get the turkey.

You get the children

into the kitchen.

- Menno gave me these.

- What?

Menno gave me these.

He gave me a cap too.

(people chattering)

Jim, good to have you home.

Hi Uncle Dan, this is Eric.

I remember, merry

Christmas Eric.

I think Jim'll stay

a while this time.

I can put him to work.

♪ All is calm, all is bright

♪ Round yon virgin

mother and child ♪

♪ Holy infant so

tender and mild ♪

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace

Turkey time everybody.

Willis would you

ask the blessing.

Dear God, we're

thankful for Christmas,

we're thankful for

parents and for children.

Lord we thank you for this food.

Continue to bless us

with healthy bodies,

we pray in Jesus name Amen.

Amen.

(all chattering)

What exactly is the difference

between a hippy and a yippy?

A yippy?

Yeah you know, you read

about hippies and yippies

all the time, what's

the difference?

Well,

I guess it's sort of the same

as the difference between an

Amish man and a Mennonite.

(Jim laughs)

Boy Eric, you sure

give good presents,

those tools are all right.

I'm glad you liked them

Ben, have you seen Jim?

Yeah, he's over by the door.

Excuse me.

(all chattering)

Hi Eric.

Eric this is Barbara

Metzler, Barbara this is Eric

I was telling you about.

Hi.

Look Jim, I've gotta duck

out for about an hour

is that all right?

Sure, anyone I know?

Could be.

(bright gentle music)

[Hazel] But you know all

about me, about all of us,

and we know nothing about you.

That's not so.

I, I bared my soul

to your people.

I came here a stranger, and

now you know all about me.

You're the one who

never lets go Hazel.

I know your father

and your family,

and I know what you look like,

what you need and how you laugh,

but I don't know you.

I don't think I ever will.

You're too private,

you're too jealous,

you're too sure of yourself,

you're invulnerable Hazel,

that's the way you are.

No Eric you're wrong,

I'm not sure of myself,

not really, but I know

who I am, where I belong.

I don't think I'll ever leave,

and I don't think

you'll ever come back.

Hazel!

Eric has come to

say goodbye papa.

I'm sorry you're leaving.

So am I.

You've been an

inspiration to me Eric,

it's meant a lot to me

having you here this long.

Thank you.

God go with yah.

And remember he loves you,

never settle for less.

I was born here Eli.

I heard about the brooder huts.

Bye Eric, have a good trip.

Appreciate your hospitality.

You've been welcome,

come back and see us again.

Just some sandwiches

for the train.

Take care of yourself now.

I will.

All set, let's go.

I'll be back shortly.

It will be green

again in spring.

(car engine revving)

(gentle upbeat music)

♪ So man must learn

♪ And he must grow

♪ With his knowledge

he must try to change ♪

♪ The wrongs in life

♪ Though winter comes

and he must go ♪

♪ Other eyes will see the

green again in spring ♪

♪ So man must learn

♪ And he must grow

♪ With his knowledge

he must try to change ♪

♪ The wrongs in life

♪ The winter comes

and he must go ♪

♪ Other eyes will see the

green again in spring ♪