Holiday in Your Heart (1997) - full transcript

♪♪

♪ Standing on the border

♪ Looking out onto

♪ The great unknown

♪ I can feel my heart beating

♪ Faster as I step out

♪ On my own

♪ There's a new horizon

♪ And the promise of

♪ A favorable wind

♪ I'm headin' out tonight



♪ Travelin' a little light

♪ I'm gonna start

♪ All over again

♪ And buy a one-way ticket

♪ On a westbound train

♪ To see how far I can go

♪ Because I can

♪ Gonna go out dancin'

♪ In the pourin' rain

♪ Talk to someone I don't know

♪ Because I can

♪ I will face the world

♪ Around me

♪ Knowing that I'm strong



♪ Enough to let you go

♪ And I will fall in love...

I don't know why they say

all little girls dream of

becoming a princess.

I didn't.

I wanted to sing at the

Grand Ole Opry.

♪ I have walked through

♪ The fire...

But there's a lot of miles

between the dream and

getting there.

♪ Through the valley of

♪ The shadow of death

♪ And the truth came shinin'

♪ Like a light on me...

We weren't even close to

being there.

♪ I'm going...

Working small gigs at night

and draggin' ourselves onto

the bus after the show,

and then traveling all day.

Daddy drove the bus.

(horn honking)

Hey, you can't have 'em both.

One lane's for me,

one's for you.

Which didn't help

his disposition any.

♪ Buy a one-way ticket

♪ On a westbound train

♪ Gonna have my breakfast

♪ Pink champagne

♪ Gonna sail the ocean

♪ Gonna spread my wings

♪ Gonna climb that mountain

♪ Gonna do everything

With a country singer,

the bigger his career

the better his bus.

(engine sputtering)

So you can see where we were.

You drop that turkey

drumstick, everyone.

Hear what he's doing,

smooth, it rolls.

But Hamlet wasn't the only

one who saw the ghost of

his father, Horatio saw it and

so did all the palace guards.

That's right, but Hamlet

was the only one who heard

what his father told him about

the murder.

He was the one who was supposed

to avenge his father--

Wait.

♪ Over me

LeAnn!

Audrey!

Oh-- Oh!

♪ Blue

Oh, my God!

I can't believe it.

(cheering and laughing)

On that bus, on Daddy's old

beat-up boombox, all those days

and nights on the road paid off.

♪♪

♪ Now that it's over

♪ I realized

♪ Those sweet words

♪ You whispered

♪ Were nothing but lies

♪ Blue

♪ Oh, so lonesome for you

♪ Why can't you be blue

♪ Over me

♪ Why can't you be blue

♪ Over

♪ Me ♪

(cheers and applause)

Between Thanksgiving and

Christmas, my whole world

changed.

Oh! We got it!

They're booking you all the way

through next July.

Cleveland, Nashville, Peoria,

then we go Missouri, Wisconsin,

back to Ohio, then we go east

to Pennsylvania, Delaware.

Doesn't she get any time off?

I don't want any time off.

This is great, this is the best.

You think this old boy

will make it?

Who you callin' an old boy?

But not everything changed.

Demands were high but pay

was still real low.

And that rickety old bus

was still all we could afford,

even with a big hit like "Blue".

Daddy still drove the bus

and Mama took care of everyone.

There are three types of

these you're gonna have to

remember--

What do you think of this

for the chorus of "Light"?

♪ Don't ever lose

♪ That light in your eyes

(both) ♪ Don't ever lose

♪ That light in your eyes

We're studying here, Larry.

So are we.

I like that, that's great.

Cool.

(both) ♪ Don't ever lose

♪ That light in your eyes

LeAnn.

Mom, I gotta get this.

You can get it after

you study.

♪♪

Like I was saying...

♪ Christmas

♪ Time for love and care

♪ Christmas

♪ Joy for all to share...

Night after night on the road

somehow Christmas lost

its magic.

(trailer horn blaring)

Avery?

You up, babes?

Yep.

Just checkin'.

Ohh.

Didn't the government put a ban

on prisoners living like this?

That's prisoners,

not musicians.

Someday I'm gonna have my own

fleet of buses.

Mm-hmm, in the meantime

why don't you turn off that

light and go to sleep?

I'm working on a new verse.

It'll be there tomorrow.

Go to sleep.

After a show, I could never

turn my head off.

I kept seeing myself up there,

onstage, singing.

I wanted it so badly.

When you want something like

that, you can't let go 'til

you get where you're going.

That was one of my Grandma

Teeden's sayings.

She always popped up when

I needed her.

(laughing)

I got you!

(screams and laughter)

No fair, Grandma Teeden!

You come around the side.

Well, you're too fast for me.

I had to be a little sneaky.

Ah, look what I got, Granny!

A nice, tender morsel.

Should we put gravy on her

and just gobble her up?

No, Grandpa,

then I wouldn't be here anymore.

Oh, yes, baby, you'll

be here.

Once you're in the heart

you're always there.

Come on.

Grandpa Luther was a cobbler,

but when the shop was closed

he got laid off.

He stood on that unemployment

line for weeks until finally

it ran out.

Made me sad to see it,

but Grandpa and Grandma

wouldn't have no sadness.

They made those summers I spent

with them the happiest of my

life.

Grandma Teeden believed

whatever you do in your life

you do it right.

You shaved yet?

I ain't even out of bed.

It's 5:30 AM, woman.

I'm putting up buns,

getting the milk, you get

yourself down here.

Your shirt's all pressed.

She believed a man gets up

and gets dressed and looks

for work, whether there is any

or not.

Where's my shirt?

On the chair.

If it was a snake it'd bit ya.

You are something else,

Theresa, going through this

foolery every day.

Well, I won't have the

neighbors thinking just 'cause

you was laid off you lie around

in bed all day in your

nightclothes.

Okay.

Just sit right there.

Right here, where everyone

can see you.

Right here-- sit down.

Grandpa was a good sport.

That's right.

Well, he made a fuss,

but in the end if it made

Grandma Teeden happy he'd sit

on the porch all day in his

suit and tie and wave at

the neighbors.

I called her Grandma Teeden

'cause when I was little

I couldn't say her name.

So she just stayed Grandma

Teeden.

She sat in the same seat

three times a week, rain or

shine, 'cause it was near the

piano and she wanted me

close to the music.

There's someone sitting

in your seat.

No one else dared sit

in Grandma Teeden's seat.

(clearing throat)

Young man, the Lord spoke

to me not minutes ago, and He

told me, "Theresa, this little

girl needs to sit

near the piano."

And-- And then He told me,

"You go over there and you

explain to him how important

it is for him to move."

♪♪

That was very nice of him.

♪♪

♪ Shall we gather

♪ At the river

♪ Where bright angel feet

♪ Have trod

♪ With its crystal tide

♪ Forever...

Grandma loved to sing.

She said it was God putting

a holiday in your heart.

And I'm gonna sing on television

and records.

Well, I bet you are.

And I'm gonna be at the

Grand Ole Opry, like The Judds.

Now how do you know all that?

I just do.

I believe you.

Well, that means you're gonna be

away a lot, and you'll be

traveling here and there.

And-- And there's gonna be times

when you feel far away.

Grandma, what if you get

so far away God can't find you?

Oh, no, baby, He can always

find you.

When you start feeling that way

you just say to yourself,

"Who moved, me or God?"

I moved.

That's right.

God never moves.

We're the ones.

Good night.

Good night.

LeAnn, honey,

LeAnn, baby, wake up.

We're pulling into Nashville.

You need to get up and get

dressed-- ooh!

Watch the head.

Nashville: across that bridge

was everything I dreamed about.

Hey, look, y'all, it's

The Grand Ole Opry.

But we weren't playing there.

We were playing the Graystone

Auditorium on West Fourth.

(cheers and applause)

But you know what?

Our bus pulled in and for

the first time in my career

there were people, fans,

wanting my autograph,

knowing my music.

It was amazing.

They put you in your own

dressing room.

It's got a shower.

Tomorrow you rest 'cause

the next day we got wall to wall

meetings.

Gotta be at the record company

at 10:00, then they're taking us

over to see some publishers.

Can I have your autograph,

please?

Sure, sweetie.

Here you go.

Thank you.

Uh, Lee, they want a picture

over here.

These gentlemen right here.

Hi.

Lee, you wanna go over

the set list?

You wanna do "Blue" right here

or where we talked about?

If we talked about it,

why would we move it?

That's what I told you.

You guys are driving me nuts.

Here's the rundown, no changes.

I don't care if the President

calls.

I do!

Leave it, Mom.

It's hanging in your face.

I like it, it's natural.

Looks like one of Grandma's

old mops.

I like it.

Okay, guys, it's time.

Okay, everybody.

LeAnn needs to get herself

together.

Let's take our office outside

in the hall.

(applause)

I've been asking you this

question since you were five

years old...

Go for it.

You sure this is what

you want?

Oh, yeah, I'm sure.

Okay, then.

♪♪

♪ Now that it's over

♪ I've realized

♪ Those sweet words

♪ You whispered

♪ Were nothing but lies

♪ Blue

♪ Oh, so lonesome for you

♪ Why can't you be

♪ Blue over me?

♪ Why can't you be blue

♪ Over

♪ Me? ♪

(cheers and applause)

♪♪

What?

LeAnn, this is it.

One of the acts fell out at

the Opry.

They want you to play there

tomorrow night.

The-- The Grand Ole Opry?

That's right.

Tomorrow night?

The record company is

thrilled.

Of course they're all gonna

be there.

Now, they want us to have supper

with 'em tonight at the Opry

restaurant, okay?

Okay.

Tomorrow night, the record

company, supper, the next album,

recording, tomorrow night...

...window of time

and they are setting up...

The Opry.

The Opry.

The Grand Ole Opry.

Can you believe it?

LeAnn, the next two days,

the most important of your life.

This is what we've been

dreaming about.

I gotta go there.

Oh, honey, they're closed

right now.

I don't care, I got to

see it.

Well, uh, they'll

let us in, come on.

Well, no, you don't

understand, I want to go alone.

Oh, no, honey, we'll go

with you.

Mom, everything will be fine.

Don't worry, the restaurant's

right next door.

I'll meet you there, okay?

(sighs) Dad?

Let her go.

Go.

You. (chuckling)

♪ So grab a piece

♪ Of mistletoe

♪ Put a log upon the fire

♪ 'Cause winter nights in

♪ Nashville ♪

♪♪

This is how I like it.

Wow.

Wow. (chuckling)

Is it really you?

Well, I don't know.

I think so.

(chuckles)

You're my Grandpa Luther's

favorite singer.

Oh, honey, I'm everybody's

grandpa's favorite singer.

It's hell getting old.

Oh, I didn't mean that.

I mean, you're my dad's

favorite and my favorite and--

I know all your records, but...

is it really you?

Well, now, that's the second

time you asked me that, and

I'm beginning to get insecure.

You're an itty bitty thing,

ain't you?

Need color.

First time in Nashville?

Mm-hmm.

And tomorrow's my first time

on the Opry.

I bet you've been dreaming

about it since you was a little

baby.

Well, we've got work--

Honey, you need spray.

I don't use that, it makes

my hair all stiff.

You mean like mine?

I love it.

My hair goes to bed looking like

this and gets up in the morning

looking better than me.

I heard you sing tonight.

You got the gift.

Really?

God knows where to give it.

My Grandma Teeden always

says that.

But... you could tell me

what it would be like.

Like nothing else.

Honey, there's things that are

here and things that are coming.

Keep your eye on what's here,

'cause after tomorrow night

they're gonna be pulling you

every which way.

They already are.

You just hang on to you.

You see that circle of wood?

I know, it's a piece

of the original Opry floor.

Well, ain't you

the smart one? (chuckling)

When you stand there,

you're standing where all the

great ones stood.

Like you.

The real great ones,

like Kitty Wells,

Patsy Montana, Johnny Cash,

Hank Williams.

You know what I'm talking about?

Well, yeah, but you forgot

to mention Roy Acuff and

Bob Wills--

You don't know them.

"Take Me Back to Tulsa",

"Wabash Cannonball".

What about Merle Travis?

"Sixteen Tons", "Divorce Me",

"Old Mountain Dew".

Well, that was long before

you was born.

How do you know all this stuff?

Boys know baseball

statistics, I know country.

I grew up on it.

What about Patsy Cline?

Hmm, Patsy Cline.

Well, I think you got me there.

♪ Crazy

♪ I'm crazy for feeling

♪ So lonely

Why, you little dickens,

you had me going.

♪ Crazy

♪ Crazy for feeling

♪ So blue

♪ I knew

♪ You'd love me as long as

♪ You wanted

Whoa, girl.

♪ And then someday

♪ You'd leave me for

♪ Somebody new

(both) ♪ Worry

♪ Why do I let myself worry?

♪ Wondering

♪ What in the world

♪ Did I do?

♪ Oh, crazy

♪ For thinking that my love

♪ Could hold you

♪ I'm crazy for trying

♪ And crazy for crying

(both) ♪ And I'm crazy

♪ For loving

♪ You ♪

I thought singing on the

stage at the Grand Ole Opry

with Faith Shawn was as strange

and as high as it could get.

But things were gonna get

a whole lot stranger.

(chuckling)

I want to do "Crazy"

in my act.

I used to.

We're going out tomorrow.

I know where you're staying,

I'll pick you up.

I got some things to show you,

even a smarty pants like you

doesn't know about.

What?

Gotta show you while

I tell you, can't do it here.

Why not?

Can't.

Well, you know what's going

on tomorrow, what if I can't

get away?

Then you'll miss it.

(scoffs) That's not fair.

You want something, you make

it happen, don't you?

What if I can't get out?

You've got a car, right?

'Cause I'm not old enough

to drive.

Yeah, I got a car,

but what's wrong with walking?

Walk?

I see legs down there.

Well, yeah, but I mean,

on the street you're

too famous--

Honey, you keep thinking

people's gonna bother me?

Ain't nobody remembers.

The tourists in Nashville

weren't born when I was hot.

And the ones who know me

is too old to care.

You're gonna be the problem.

Now here's what we're

gonna do, Missy.

You wear loose clothes,

you put your hair in a ponytail.

You pull it through the back

of an old baseball cap

and you slap on the biggest

sunglasses you can find.

Looking like that, you can go

anywhere in this town.

I don't know.

It's true, girl.

Reba does it, and she can walk

into any Walmart in the nation.

You think?

I know.

It's your turn, honey.

Tomorrow night.

It's all happening so fast,

I feel like I should stop and

take it all in.

That's what memories are for.

You remember every single

second of it.

For the rest of your life.

LeAnn! LeAnn!

(clamoring)

What'd I tell you?

Just one.

(clamoring)

Can I take a couple more?

I promise I'll get it to you.

That's it.

Thanks, guys.

We'll see you tomorrow.

Thank you.

That was so great.

I cannot believe I just got

my picture taken with you.

My dad's gonna go so crazy.

(laughs) Well, he's probably

the only one.

Honey, they wasn't interested

in me, it's you they wanted.

I'll pick you up tomorrow

outside your hotel, 1:00, okay?

Great.

And don't tell anyone.

It's our secret.

Okay.

♪♪

♪ Christmas joy to you

♪ And yours this happy holiday

Finally, a real bed.

You sleep as late as

you want to.

You've got a big date

tomorrow night.

Your mom and me got some

meetings with Jason, but you go

ahead and sleep in.

What meetings?

You think I need to be there?

Oh, no, honey, your rest

is much more important.

Um...

do you think I could go out

tomorrow afternoon?

Oh, sure.

We ought to be back by 3:00.

No, I-- I mean, by myself.

Oh, honey, no, not here.

You don't know your way around.

Well, I could go out with

some other singers or something.

I don't think it's a good

idea.

Okay, look.

I need some time by myself

to go Christmas shopping.

It's the only free time

I'm gonna have.

Well, where would you go?

Near the hotel I'm sure

there's tons of shops.

I'll be back in a couple

of hours, please?

I don't know, what if

somebody followed you?

I think it's a horrible idea.

It's too dangerous.

Mom.

I know, honey.

We'll find time to go Christmas

shopping next week.

How can I shop for you

and Dad when you and Dad

are right there?

Dad?

Your mother's nervous.

Daddy.

It'll work out.

♪ Have a very merry Christmas

She's 14, Avery.

I know the numbers, but she's

more sensible than most of the

people I deal with.

Sensible does not mean--

I know, but I trust her.

So do I.

Here's the thing, she's

leading a real difficult life.

Now she doesn't get to do things

kids her age get to do

and most of them go to the mall

and shop without their parents.

They're not LeAnn.

Since "Blue" she hadn't been

able to go anywhere without--

But no one has ever tried

to hurt her.

Now we've got to give her some

freedom, some time on her own.

It's just not right.

Avery.

We've got to let her.

The next day I did just what

Faith told me, except for

the baseball cap.

I am sorry, who did you say

you were?

(telephone ringing)

Hi, are you downstairs?

LeAnn?

Grandpa Luther.

I have been thinking about you

and Grandma Teeden all week.

You won't believe what happened.

Someone canceled, I'm singing

at the Grand Ole Opry tonight.

Grandpa, the Grand Ole Opry,

just like I always said.

That's wonderful, sweetheart.

Uh, do you know where Mom

and Dad are?

I couldn't get an answer

in their room.

Well, they're at some

meetings.

Is everything all right?

Well...

LeAnn, your Grandma Teeden's

had a bad spell.

Oh. What do you mean?

Is it her stomach?

Yeah.

Is she all right?

I don't know, darling.

Grandpa, she always rallies,

you know that.

She gets these stomach fits

all the time.

LeAnn, I'm calling from

the hospital in Jackson.

Oh, my God.

Well, what's wrong with her?

Well, they don't know yet.

They started her on a bunch

of tests and they said they'd

tell us something tomorrow.

Okay.

Okay, tomorrow.

LeAnn, I think maybe you

should all come.

You can get here tonight,

couldn't you?

Well, Grandpa, tonight's

the... Well, Jason said it's

like the biggest night

of my life.

I... And Grandma Teeden always

said I shouldn't walk out on

something I had to do.

LeAnn, they're gonna have

to operate.

The doctors are worried her

heart's weak.

She could have a heart attack

on the operating table,

what with her age and all.

I'll come, Grandpa.

After the show, I'll fly right

down to Jackson, I promise.

Grandpa?

Pray for her, honey.

Pray for her.

(telephone beeps)

(ringing)

Grandpa?

You ready?

I'm out front.

LeAnn?

You there?

Come on, girl, we gotta go.

♪♪

All right.

♪ They ring and sing

♪ Songs full of light

♪ Making each heart

♪ Feeling so bright

(choir singing in a round)

(car horn honking)

Get in.

Get in, I was afraid you

wouldn't recognize me.

Are you kidding?

Get in!

My Lord, child, you are slow.

We've got a lot of ground

to cover.

What's the matter?

You look more peaked than usual.

Oh, nothing.

Just things on my mind.

Well, better than nothing

there.

Are you hungry?

You don't eat meat?

Oh, yeah, I do, but I'm--

just-- I'm fine.

Well, then, you'll probably

eat these.

All right, you ready?

Where are we going?

Around.

(car engine starting)

(tires screeching)

♪ Oh, it's Christmas

♪ And there's a lot this year

♪ Friends and family...

Okay, I think you're in.

Got such itty bitty things

on wheels nowadays.

Ain't no space for a real car.

Come on, honey.

Oh, forget it, honey.

Ain't nobody gonna tow that car.

The towing fee is more

than the car is worth.

I kept waiting for somebody

to recognize her.

I couldn't understand it.

I mean, she hasn't made a record

in years but she was the biggest

and the best, a real legend.

Nashville, heh.

Looks more like Times Square.

Oh, this street, this street--

now there's Ernest Tubbs' place.

She must've known more about

Nashville than anyone alive,

but I still couldn't get her

to tell me what we were

doing here.

I'm pretty sure that's--

that's the place.

Oh, thank you!

Oh, this is wonderful.

Never know when you need 'em.

Merry Christmas!

(ringing)

Ho ho ho!

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

(chuckling)

We'll have to see what we can

do about that, darling.

Now Santa's got to go and

deliver presents to all the

other good little girls

and boys.

Okay, Santa.

Ho ho ho ho!

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

How did Grandpa Luther

get that cotton on his cheeks?

Ohh... (chuckling)

What you thinkin'?

Nothin'.

Well, Miss Nothin',

we gotta get serious here.

I've got things to show you--

Ooh!

Hey!

Didn't you used to be

Faith Shawn?

No, I didn't.

Faith Shawn used to be

Faith Shawn and she still is.

Didn't you used to be sober?

It was like she wanted me

to see things, but she wouldn't

tell me why.

♪ Remember Christ

♪ Our Savior

♪ Was born on Christmas Day...

Look.

What?

Watch him.

♪♪

Look at all them lives

in there.

He had to hock it to get home.

(bells on door jingling)

Did you bring me here

to depress me?

Then life's gonna

depress you.

It does sometimes, but I

don't go out looking for it.

Honey, you can see the Grand

Ole Opry every Friday and

Saturday night.

All glitter and shine.

This here's the Opry that goes

on 365 days a year.

Come on, I've got a couple more

things to show you,

then the story.

What story?

The one I'm gonna tell you.

This part you're gonna like.

I don't like this.

I gotta get back, I gotta go--

You're gonna be back with

plenty of time...

for whatever you have to do.

Come on.

Are you crazy?

I'm not going in here.

Ax murderers hang out in places

like this.

I've got ax-murderer spray

in my purse.

Okay, get up there, girl.

Oh, God, what is this place?

It looks haunted.

I don't like it.

How do you know

until you get there?

Well, you really don't have

to lay an egg to know

it's rotten.

Okay, it's locked, let's go.

(birds cooing, wings flapping)

Oh, this I wore the night

I first played the Opry.

Are these all your costumes?

Mmm, not just mine.

(screaming)

(chuckling)

Oh, that's just Horace.

We put him here to discourage

folks from breaking in.

We?

This is your place?

No, honey, this nice old man

used to let us keep our costumes

and stuff here when we went

on the road.

Pickle?

Who wore this?

Ernest Tubbs.

No way.

Yep, and these are his boots.

Bo Riddle made 'em.

Well, what are they

doing here?

Why doesn't anybody know

about this?

I know about it,

you know about it.

I mean--

It's private.

Oh, wow!

It's beautiful, what is it?

It's a set they built

for a movie I was gonna make.

Oh, look at the cute little--

Oh, it's Nashville.

But it doesn't snow

in Nashville.

Oh, yeah, it does.

But not like this.

It did once.

Look at the cute little bus.

Yeah.

It's an old one.

Them buses was always cold

in the winter, hot in

the summer.

Here.

What's this?

Part of the reason

I brought you here.

It was Tennessee's worst

snowstorm.

The temperature fell 62 degrees

in 24 hours.

An Arctic onslaught.

Them big newspaper words.

Took a lot of lives, that storm.

What does this have to do--

If you was on the road when

the blizzard hit,

you was in trouble.

Were you?

Why do you think I'm

telling you?

We had our own bus, but it was

forever breaking down.

And this day we had to ride

public.

♪ A poor old country

♪ Christmas

♪ A clear and starry night

♪ The snow lies white

♪ Upon the grass

♪ And everything feels right

Is this gonna fit in here,

do you think?

You're gonna have to put

that up in a seat.

♪ We sit around the hearth

♪ And the crackling of

♪ The pine cones

♪ Is music to your heart

♪ Let's have a good old

♪ Country Christmas

♪ The family's all here

♪ The tree is done

♪ The stockings hung

♪ What a magic time of year

Miss Shawn!

Can I get your autograph?

Sure.

Okay, what's your name?

Alana.

Alana.

Oh, that's a pretty name.

Thank you.

She has all your albums.

Oh, thank you.

Okay, there you go.

Thank you.

♪ Have a good old country

♪ Christmas

♪ One full of joy and fun...

May I help you?

♪ A good old country Christmas

Thank you, miss.

Here, take my arm.

Step here.

It started out nice enough.

It was snowing and we was

freezing but that was natural

for back then.

♪ There's snowflakes

♪ In the air

♪ A good old country Christmas

♪ A clear and starry night

Miss Shawn.

Over here.

♪ It's a good ol' country

♪ Christmas

Do you mind?

♪ And the crackling of

♪ The pine cones

♪ Is music to your heart

I suppose you're wondering

what a blind man wants with

an autograph.

Not really.

Well, it's my secret.

♪ A real country Christmas

♪ The only way to go

Thank you.

♪ Friends and neighbors

♪ Smiling all aglow

♪ It's a real country

♪ Christmas

I had a show that night

in Arkansas and it started

coming down something fierce.

The windshields of the bus

was like milk, and you can't

see nothing through milk.

Why didn't they just

turn around?

They was country roads.

Two lanes with a stripe

in the middle, and the driver

couldn't see to turn around.

You want to sit back by

the back window, tell me if

anything's coming up on my left.

Do my best.

Excuse me, sir, I need to try

and see out this window here.

Better you than me.

Yeah, I guess.

I think we should stop

and let this blow over.

Stop where?

Can't, ma'am.

If I can't see nothing,

the cars behind me can't

neither.

They'll plow right into us.

(tires screeching)

(people screaming)

Are you all right?

Is everyone okay?

All right, yeah.

Everybody okay back there?

We didn't know what hit us

or what we hit.

Are you okay?

Is everyone all right?

I'm real sorry, folks.

We must have left the main road.

It feels like we hit something.

I'll try and get the door.

Looks like we're wedged

between two trees or something.

Can you get it open?

Nope.

She's wedged.

You mean we're stuck here?

It looks that way, ma'am.

See, it took a while for

everyone to realize the

situation we were in.

Well, how long were

you there?

Long.

All night?

All night and then some.

Makes me hungry thinking

about it.

Well, so, what happened?

I mean, couldn't the driver

radio for help?

This old bus didn't have

no radio, girl,

what are you thinking?

Pork rind?

Mm-mmm.

When we went into those

trees, we were on a blacktop

road just off the old state

highway between Lyles

and Wrigley.

Did you ever hear of

them places?

No.

I don't think nobody

but God had either.

(engine sputtering)

Once the motor went dead,

there was no more heat.

Well, how come you didn't

make a fire?

Carbon monoxide poisoning

in that closed place.

We would have fallen asleep

and woke up dead.

Speaking of which...

I ain't feeling so good.

I hope you don't got

a weak stomach, honey.

I'm just gonna give myself

a little injection here,

and soon...

I'll be feeling right fine.

Why did she bring me here?

To show me that she was

a junkie?

I didn't want to see it.

It made me sick.

Why do people always show you

things that hurt you?

I couldn't look at her.

She had been my idol and now

she was just a pathetic

drug addict.

I hated her for it.

I hope I didn't make you

uncomfortable, honey.

I-- I saw you was looking away.

Well, it embarrasses me, too,

but there's-- gotta do what

you gotta do.

I don't know why.

Honey, there's things

that you can't help.

But aren't you afraid of

going to jail or getting

arrested or something?

What did you think that was?

Dope?

Well, of course.

What else could it be?

Oh, my Lord.

Oh. (chuckling)

Insulin.

Oh.

I'm a diabetic.

I take insulin to regulate

my sugar.

Ain't you never heard

of a diabetic before?

Well, yeah, but...

I've never-- just never met one.

Well, there's thousands

of us out there.

People used to die from it

'til they discovered insulin.

I only need to inject it

twice a day, though,

then I'm fine.

Oh, I see.

Well... (chuckles)

I'm so sorry, I just thought

that... well, next time you

do it, I won't turn away.

I won't need to do it

until way late tonight.

What happens if you don't

take your shot?

I go into a coma.

Leave me that way long enough

and poof!

But it hasn't happened yet,

can't you tell?

Okay, so finish your story.

Where was I?

Are you testing me?

Well, you and all those people

were locked in this bus

in the blizzard, freezing.

That's right.

Well, in those days it took

a long time to get from one

place to another so people

packed lunches.

Picnic baskets.

This here sandwich

is froze solid.

Pass it over here,

I'll thaw it out for you.

Did you have enough to eat?

Yes, thank you.

I had me some sandwiches from

that kind little girl

and her mama.

He's blind.

We fetched him over and

took care of him.

They shouldn't be traveling

by themselves.

He's blind, not deaf.

Hey, hey, folks, folks,

we ain't at a church picnic.

Now look, we've got to have

some kind of plan.

If someone doesn't come for us

soon we're gonna be in

big trouble.

Do you know what the temperature

is here?

Cold.

Yeah.

Well, now, look, I think

some of us ought to go for help.

Come on.

Go where?

It's below zero out there.

You wouldn't get ten feet

in that blizzard.

At least we're safe in here.

When we don't get to where

we're supposed to be

they'll send people for us.

Well, well, now,

Miss Singing Star,

what makes you think so, huh?

I mean, you heard any cars

pass by out there in the last,

what, six hours?

We'd run out of water

hours before.

We was so cold and so thirsty,

the only thing left was to

try and sleep.

I wish we had a radio.

(chuckles) I'll give you

the news: Tennessee is under

ten feet of snow.

I mean for music.

You should go to sleep.

♪ I need thee every hour

♪ Stay thou nearby

♪ No tender voice

♪ Like thine

(both) ♪ When thou art nigh

♪ I need thee

♪ Oh, I need thee

♪ Every hour I need thee

♪ O, bless me now my savior

♪ I come to thee

♪ I need thee every hour

♪ In joy or pain

♪ Come quickly and abide

♪ Or life is vain

Well, wait a minute.

What about your insulin?

Did you have enough with you?

In time.

That's a big part of the story.

Well, I guess I'll hear it,

but I'd like it to be

in this lifetime.

What?

I was thinking,

how's your Grandma Teeden?

How'd you know about her?

You mentioned her.

I did?

When?

At the Opry.

Oh.

She's not doing too good.

She's in the hospital.

She gonna be all right?

Well, she always rallies and

she's real strong, but...

I really don't know.

How old is she?

About 60 or 70, I guess.

That's a big spread, honey.

How am I supposed to know?

She always looks the same to me.

I bet she knows

how old you are.

Well, of course.

She was there when I was born.

I wasn't there when she was.

That's a point.

Whoops!

Gotta go, come on.

Well, what about the story?

Come on, come on,

we gotta go.

Go.

We're always going.

We never finish anything.

We don't got all night.

You're singing at the Grand

Ole Opry.

I couldn't believe what

I was doing here with this

crazy woman in an alley

miles from anywhere.

I wanted out.

Where are you going?

That's our ride.

Get in.

Hi.

LeAnn, this is Carl,

my husband.

Well, you're...

(chuckling)

Wait a minute, he was the guy--

Things ain't always

what they seem, are they?

Well, get in, girl.

I don't know why I got in.

I just did.

That was the thing about her.

She made you think the

craziest thing was normal.

Then I started seeing headlines:

"Singer Kidnapped By Maniacs".

Seems like we were driving

forever.

It started getting dark and

I started getting real worried.

Where are we going?

Oh.

We're going to where you had

the bus accident?

Is there anything there?

All right,

it's right about here.

Get out, this is it.

Are we going to see the bus?

Where are you taking me?

What do you think, honey?

Ain't it a dandy?

It's got a steel frame

covered in weatherproof plastic.

You can almost see through it.

What's the word?

Translucent.

Yeah.

And the insides is filled with

12-volt bulbs, like car

headlights.

You can see it for miles.

Trouble is there usually ain't

nobody around for miles.

Did you think you was meeting

your maker when that light

came on?

How do you know about this?

I mean, how does it work

way out here in this field?

Carl and me made it.

He was a welder by trade

back when he worked.

But how does it...

It's got a motion detector.

This here is where 18 people

nearly breathed their

last breath.

Soon as we move on,

lights go off, it's black again.

Don't you know this cross has

scared a few people half

to death when it come on

way out here. (chuckling)

Why did you do it?

Memory.

I got one more story

to tell you.

I had a visitor that year

when I was in Nashville:

my dad.

He had ridden the bus all the

way from Conway, Arkansas,

where I was raised.

He had written me three letters

saying he'd be at my house

for Christmas, but I didn't

answer one of 'em.

Why not?

Well, honey...

my daddy and me hadn't spoken

for nigh on 25 years.

But--

Back when I left home,

nice girls didn't go into

show business.

Least not where I come from.

♪ I need thee

♪ Oh, I need thee

♪ Every...

I was always singing.

I guess everybody sung

back then, but I wanted to sing

country...

at the Grand Ole Opry.

If you'd open your Bibles

with me please to the book

of Isaiah.

As soon as I graduated

high school, I bought a bus

ticket out of town.

(voices arguing, muffled)

Listen, I can't give her

my blessing.

Listen to me, you step out

of this house, and you have

no daddy!

I mean it, girl!

You have no daddy.

You'll never see her again.

Daddy kept his word.

The only time he contacted me

was to tell me my mama had died.

I got his letter the day

after the funeral.

When I had them hit records and

everybody started to know me

all of a sudden people I hadn't

heard from in years

was related to me.

That's when I got them letters

from Daddy telling me

he was coming to see me.

You know what I thought

he wanted?

I thought he was coming to

ask me for money.

That's what everybody else

wanted.

You'll find that out.

But you didn't...

That's right.

I couldn't let go of my hurt,

my pride.

I didn't see my own daddy

when he came to town...

for Christmas.

I was still so angry,

I didn't ever want to see him

again.

I left him a note

and went off to do my show.

In two hours I knew I'd be

on that bus and out of town.

Then I discovered I didn't

have my insulin.

It must be in there.

It's not.

My whole purse is missing

and my medicine.

Maybe-- Maybe we put it in

with the music.

My shot was way past due.

If the cold didn't kill me,

I knew for sure the diabetic

coma would.

What's wrong, honey?

Nobody could've heard me

crying except a mouse.

I, um, I-- it's okay.

Uh, you wouldn't understand.

Maybe I would.

Never can tell.

Or a blind person.

I'm diabetic and I don't have

any insulin.

That disease took my sight.

I'll be danged if I let it

take my life.

It ain't gonna take yours

neither, honey,

'cause I got enough insulin

in here for both of us.

Seems like that old man

was there whenever I needed

something on that trip.

Your speaking voice is as

pretty as your singing.

You know me?

I know exactly who you are.

That's why I asked for your

autograph.

You're my favorite singer.

I can't believe you

recognize me just from

hearing me speak.

I see with my ears.

You also sang a hymn.

I'm hoping someday you'll

record a gospel album.

Gospel's what I love.

I guess you say things

in a situation like that.

Things you never share

with a stranger.

He was a harsh man,

and he couldn't tell I had

this burning dream.

Well, sometimes you can't

see someone else's dreams.

People say you should take

pride, then in the next breath

they say you should swallow

your pride.

I didn't know what to do

with mine so I did the wrong

thing.

Oh, honey, it is so easy

to do the wrong thing.

Before you know it,

there's no time left

to do it right.

We all wait too long.

I don't know if I have

the time.

You have plenty of time.

Plenty.

Use it right and get some sleep.

♪♪

He had this little cross

on his satchel.

I just stared at that cross

for hours.

I knew as long as I could see it

I was still alive.

It was time for my shot,

and I hated to wake him.

(door creaking)

That's when we heard the men

beating on the bus door.

Hey, hey!

We're in here!

Let us out!

All right.

Hey, guys, come on in.

Hey, come on, everybody,

let's go.

Wake up.

Wake up, they're coming for us.

Come on.

Wake up.

Come on, come on,

you need your medicine.

Let's get you your shot.

Truth was he didn't have

no more insulin in that box.

He gave me the last...

to save my life.

The man died in the night.

I didn't even know he was dead.

(sniffling)

That man who saved my life

was left inside that bus,

alone in the cold and dark.

Those people who came within

inches of dying themselves

didn't want to ride with

a dead person.

We left him.

All alone.

The men had to come back later

with a wagon and get him.

That's why you and Carl

built the cross.

A few weeks later, I was

getting ready to go on stage.

I'll be right there.

They returned your stuff

from that bus ride.

Oh, that's not mine--

We've got five minutes,

everyone.

(sniffling)

The blind man was my daddy.

When I didn't see him in

Nashville he got on the bus

back to Conway.

Why didn't you recognize him?

I mean--

I hadn't seen him in over

20 years and he looked

so different.

He had all that white hair

and a hat and I didn't know

he had gone blind.

He probably didn't even know

I was on the bus 'til he

heard my voice.

Maybe he thought you all

would be rescued before

he had to take his own shot.

No.

He knew giving me his last dose

could kill him.

He just did it anyway.

He gave his life for me

and I refused to see him.

I can't take back nothing

I did in my life.

I ain't got no family no more,

but if I did,

they'd come first.

First before money, career,

success, fame.

You see, honey, you're gonna get

where you're going.

The question is...

who's gonna be there with you?

Well, we had us a good time.

Thanks for coming with me.

Will I ever see you again?

I'll see you around.

Bye-bye.

Say hi to your Grandma Teeden.

(door opens)

How's Grandma Teeden?

She's not good, honey.

Daddy just talked to Grandpa

Luther on the phone,

and they're gonna operate

tomorrow morning.

I want to be there before

they take her in for surgery.

LeAnn.

Look, I know what playing

the Opry tonight means,

but the Opry can wait.

Grandma Teeden can't.

I'll call and cancel.

Would you please tell 'em

a family emergency came up.

Yes, I need Barton Mathers

now.

You call the airline and

get the tickets, I'll be ready

in about ten minutes.

(mouthing) Okay.

We've got to cancel

the Opry tonight.

Something's come up.

I know, it's a family emergency.

You remember when I was in

the hospital with that

infection?

Mm-hmm.

You and Dad were working...

and Grandma Teeden slept in a

chair by my bed all night.

She held my hand and sang.

Now, honey, we can't sing

as loud in here as we do

at home or in church

'cause we might bother some

of the other patients.

So we're gonna kind of sing

in whispers.

That way nobody'll hear us

but the Lord.

(both) ♪ Amazing grace

♪ How sweet the sound

♪ That saved a wretch

♪ Like me

(man clearing throat)

Would you excuse us, ma'am?

I need to examine the child.

Well, I think I'll just

wait right here, doctor,

while you do that.

♪♪

She never left my side.

Hi, Grandpa.

Don't disturb her.

She needs her rest.

LeAnn, baby.

Hi, Grandma.

You don't have to talk.

Mom and Dad are here, too.

They say...

I got cancer.

I know, Grandma.

Don't talk.

I'm proud of you, honey.

I seen you on TV a whole lot.

Try to sleep, Grandma.

Remember how we used to

sing on the porch swing

when you was little?

I remember.

You know...

you're never as close to God

as when you're with family.

Are you still close to God,

LeAnn?

Do you still talk to Him

every day?

Yeah, Grandma.

'Cause if you're away

from God, you know who moved?

I moved a little, Grandma,

but... I'm back now.

Would you, baby?

It's the medicine.

She doesn't know what she's

saying.

I do too, Avery.

Would you?

I want to hear you sing

one more time.

I can't sing real loud like

we do at home or in church,

but I'll sing in a whisper.

Nobody'll hear us but the Lord.

♪ Amazing grace

♪ How sweet the sound

♪ That saved a wretch

♪ Like me

♪ I once

♪ Was lost

♪ But now

♪ I'm found

♪ Was blind

♪ But now

♪ I see

♪ When we've been there

♪ Ten thousand years

♪ Bright shining

♪ As the sun

♪ We've no less days

♪ To sing God's praise

♪ Then when

♪ We've first

♪ Begun ♪

You can't go any further.

I can go to the operating

room.

I'm sorry, you can't.

Well, what if she's not

asleep?

I want her to know I'm here.

She's sleeping, honey,

and she's dreaming of

your beautiful voice.

♪ Today I watched a robin

♪ In our front yard

♪ I thought by now

♪ That they should all

♪ Be gone

♪ With winter around

♪ The corner

♪ And snow on its way

♪ Surely there must be

♪ Something wrong

♪ Then in that old oak tree

♪ I finally saw her...

Mom, she looked so scrawny.

Not even Grandma.

Grandpa says she's been

eating like a little bird.

Grandma loves to eat.

You know your Grandma Teeden.

She wouldn't go to a doctor.

That cancer's probably been

eating at her for months.

She kept saying it was

indigestion.

She could hardly

digest a thing.

How long now?

Three hours and some.

What you making, Grandpa?

Gloves.

Gonna line 'em with fur.

Soft.

They're for your Grandma

Teeden to wear to town,

when she gets well.

She'll like that, Grandpa.

Yep.

♪ It's just a broken wing

(vocalizing)

♪ It's just a broken wing ♪

Mr. and Mrs. Rimes?

She's doing fine.

I think we got everything.

Oh, thank the Lord.

Her liver was clear and

that's what we were most

worried about.

We won't know for sure until

all the lab results are back,

but I'm real satisfied.

Can I see her?

No, they'll be bringing her

up in a little while.

Your grandma's one strong woman.

She came through like a trooper.

I knew it.

Thank you, God.

Where do we go from here?

Well, she is gonna need

several weeks.

I am gonna recommend some

chemotherapy,

just as a precaution.

I thought you said--

Well, we got everything

we can see and feel,

but there can always be

microscopic cells we don't catch

and we don't want this thing

spreading, okay?

Grandma Teeden pitched a fit

over that.

I ain't doing it.

All my hair's gonna fall out.

You don't need any hair,

woman.

Besides I hear that baldness

improves your disposition.

Look it here, darlin'.

They're beautiful.

You can still stitch better than

any old machine.

I hope you like yours, too.

Grandpa.

It fits like a...

Glove.

How did you know the size

of my hand?

From years of holding it,

darling.

The next six months were

the roughest yet.

We were booked clear across

the country.

But we got our new bus,

and Daddy designed it.

And of course nobody could

drive it but him.

The record company...

(indistinct conversation)

(cheers and applause)

The funny thing about dreams

is that they really do come

true, but in their own time.

I was finally opening at

the Grand Ole Opry.

(cheering)

It was thrilling,

but like most good things

it was going by too fast.

I just wanted to stop and

take it all in.

Faith was right.

I did get there,

but the question was

who was gonna be there with me?

LeAnn.

Just talked to the record

company.

They're throwing a big party

after the show.

They're gonna announce the

release of the new record.

They're very high on it.

Think we're gonna get at least

three big singles...

Look at this place.

So nervous I can barely breathe.

It'll be fine.

Take deep breaths.

In and out, in and out.

♪ 'Til I find myself

♪ Another pot of gold

♪ I can't help the love

♪ That I deserve...

Excuse me. Thanks.

Honey, I know this is the

big one, but I still have

to ask you.

Yes, Mom, I want this

more than ever.

(whispers, inaudible)

Hey, guys, quiet time, okay?

Thanks.

Oh, Miss Rimes.

I told you I'd get you these.

Oh, great! Thank you.

Can I get some more

pictures tonight?

(mouthing) Yeah, sure.

I couldn't wait to see

the photographs that night with

Faith Shawn and me.

What you got, honey?

Oh, I can't wait for you

to see these, you won't

believe this.

Where is she?

Oh, they're lovely.

She's not in them.

Who?

When we were here last time,

I didn't tell you about it

because, well, I don't know,

but, anyways, I couldn't wait

to get these pictures so I could

show you but--

Honey, what are you

talking about?

Remember when Grandma Teeden

got sick?

Faith Shawn, I met her at the

Opry, and we took pictures

together and we spent a whole

day together and she told me

about this horrible bus accident

and how her father saved her

life, and-- and...

she's not here.

Honey, you must be mistaken.

Faith Shawn died two years ago.

Daddy said most folks didn't

even know she had died.

(applause, distant)

She spent her last years with

some old boy she married helping

the homeless in a mission.

Someone sent Daddy a clipping

from a Nashville paper because

he had been such a big fan.

She died in an accident.

Do good, honey.

It's your night, Lee.

She is one of the youngest

country music performers to have

a top ten record on all...

There was a storm.

She and her husband were hit

by lightning, near a cross

somewhere.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Miss LeAnn Rimes.

♪♪

(cheers and applause)

This is a very special night

for me.

First, because I'm finally here

singing at the Grand Ole Opry.

(cheers and applause)

And second...

well, so many country performers

have grown up singing in church.

I did, too,

but even before that, I sang

with someone very special,

and she's here with me tonight--

my Grandma Teeden.

(cheers and applause)

She taught me that real music

doesn't come from the throat,

it comes from somewhere deep

down.

It's God, putting a holiday

in your heart.

May you always have a holiday

in your heart.

For you, Grandma.

(applause)

♪♪

♪ I've never been so certain

♪ I've never been so sure

♪ We're on the side of angels

♪ If we believe

♪ This love is pure

♪ Is it so hard to trust it?

♪ 'Cause we've been wrong

♪ Before

♪ There comes a time

♪ In every life

♪ We find the heart

♪ We're waiting for

♪ After all

♪ The might-have-beens

♪ The close and instant calls

♪ After all the try-agains

♪ Don't be afraid to fall

♪ We're on the side of angels

♪ After all

♪ Every time you touch me

♪ Don't you feel it too?

♪ The gentle hand

♪ That's guiding us

♪ You to me

♪ Me to you

♪ After all

♪ The might-have-beens

♪ The close and instant calls

♪ After all the try-agains

♪ Don't be afraid to fall

♪ We're on the side of angels

♪ After all

♪ Heaven only knows

♪ Why this took so long

♪ But only heaven knows

♪ If love is right or wrong

♪ After all

♪ The might-have-beens

♪ The close and instant calls

♪ After all the try-agains

♪ Don't be afraid to fall

♪ We're on the side of angels

♪ On the side of angels

♪ On the side of angels

♪ After all

♪ Ooh, yeah

♪ On the side of angels ♪

(cheers and applause)

♪♪

I never saw her again.

Someday I'll get a chance

to thank her for coming.

But I know it won't be

in this life.

♪♪