Love's Unending Legacy (2007) - full transcript

♪

[Wind blowing]

[Crows calling]

- Hey, Mr. Bartender.
- [Laughing]

I'll see you.

- Come here, darlin'!
- Read 'em.

- Sheriff!
- Evening, sheriff.

- Pleasure doing business...

[Men yelling]

[Gunshot]
- [Screams] Sheriff!

- Mama, it's getting late.



- Come here by mama.

- Do you think...

Pa and Kathy
are watching over us?

- Yes, sweetheart. I do.

Is there anything you want
to say to them before we go?

- I love you,

and I miss you every day.

- Why don't you go on ahead?

I'll be there in a minute, ok?

It seems wrong
to leave you here, Willie...

And I know that you and Kathy
will look after each other.

And no matter how far away I am,

you will always be in my heart.

I'll see you again.



[Horses flutter and neigh]

- Pa and I are going
to Pennsylvania

to see my sister
and her husband.

Who are you going to visit?

- We're not visiting anyone.

We're going to live
with my grandpa and grandma.

- You're leaving home?

- My pa was the sheriff
of Tedsford junction.

He got himself killed
a couple years back.

- Gosh, I'm sorry to hear that.

[Horses whinnies]

- Oh, look, Mattie.

- [Man yelling]

- Ho! Whoa!

- Hey! Hey!
- Hey, pa!

- Come here. I missed you.
- Oh, I missed you so much.

- Come here, young man. [Laughs]
- Grandpa!

- Go ahead.
- [Giggles]

- Grandma!

- My, my, my, Mattie.
How you have grown.

And looking more like
your father with every year.

- You really think so, grandma?

- I really do, sweetie.

I bet you're hot and thirsty.

There's fresh-churned buttermilk
inside.

- All right!
- [Laughs]

- Mm.

Welcome home, missie.

- It's good to be home, mama.

I just wish...

- I know, I know.

- All right,
let's see what you do now.

Your move.

- Yeah, right.
King me.

- [Laughs]
Somebody's been practicing.

- Yes, I have.

- Your father found you
a house in town.

It's small,
and it needs some work,

but it's near the school,
and the rent is reasonable.

- Good. On my teacher's pay,
I can't afford much.

- I really wish you'd reconsider
staying with us,

at least for a little while.

- Do you need the help, mama?
- No.

- I really appreciate
you and pop wanting

to help me and Mattie.

But I need to stand
on my own two feet right now.

Mattie needs to see that
even though his daddy's gone,

he still has one parent strong
enough to take care of him.

[Sighs]

The other day, Mattie asked me

what color
his father's eyes were.

Couldn't remember.

- Mattie might forget
details like that,

but he won't forget the things
his father did with him

or the things Willie taught him.

- I'm starting to forget
little things about Willie too.

Like that last morning,

when we said goodbye,

did I kiss him?

I...I think I did,
but I don't remember.

It's only been three years,
mama.

- Just like with Mattie,

you'll remember
the things that mattered.

Like how much you and Willie
loved each other.

- No one will ever love me
that way again.

And I will never love
anyone else.

I can't imagine being
truly happy again.

- That's how I felt
when my first husband died.

And then I met your father.

- See, I feel if I were
to love someone else,

that I would be betraying
Willie in some way.

- Willie would want you
to be happy.

- [Making kiss noises,
clicking tongue]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

It's going to take
a little bit of work,

but I can help you out
with that, missie.

- That's all right, pa,
it's going to be just fine.

Mattie...

Look what I found.

It's our Christmas star.

I promise you, Mattie,

I will make this
into a nice place.

- It won't be like home, though.

- Do you know
what makes a house a home?

- No.

- Home is where
you'll always have a place,

where you will always
feel loved,

and where you will never,
ever be alone.

It might not seem like it
now, Mattie,

but this place
will come to feel like home.

Come here.

- O lord, how manifold
are your works.

We thank you
for the sun and the rain

which help nourish the crops

and help them grow
into sustenance

for our minds and bodies.

In wisdom,
you have made them all.

Amen.
All: Amen!

- I have an announcement.

I received this notice from

the children's aid society
of New York.

And it says:

"Wanted, homes for children.

"A company of homeless children
from the east

"will arrive on Friday.

"These children are of
various ages and of both sexes

"having been thrown
friendless upon the world.

"We seek good homes
with decent families

who will love them
as their own."

Distribution of these children
will take place

right here at the church.

I know I can count on all of you
to open your hearts

to these precious
children of god.

God bless you all.

- Pastor Joe.
Excuse me. Hi...

- Well, I've heard
a lot about you, missie.

- Oh, all good, I trust?

- Your father
thinks the world of you.

Seems we're neighbors.

My husband and I are just two
farms away from your new house.

- All right,
see you tomorrow morning.

- Pastor.
- Ah, Mrs. Pettis.

- Morning, sheriff.
- Sheriff.

- We missed you
at Sunday services today.

- Come on, now.

Clara...
- He should be coming, honey.

- Well, that's his choice, now.
- I know, I know.

- We'll see ya.
- Bye-bye.

- Sheriff Tyler couldn't be
bothered to attend church...

Again.

- Well, he's pretty busy
keeping the peace.

- Every Sunday...

[Horses whinny]

- We should be going,
Mrs. Pettis.

- Well, it looks like
your husband had a reason

for not showing his face
in church as well.

- There is much work
to be done on a farm,

and we can't afford hired help.

If my husband
doesn't do the work,

we don't eat come winter.

[Knocking]

- Good day, ma'am.
I'm sheriff Tyler.

- Hello, sheriff.
I'm Mrs. Lahaye.

- Yes, I know.

Small town.
Word gets around.

I heard about the new teacher.

- Oh, what else have you heard?

- Well, your folks are
Clark and Marty Davis,

and you have a little boy.

- Mattie.

- Mattie.

Pleasure to make
your acquaintance, Mrs. Lahaye.

- Mm.
- Can I have some more, grandma?

- Mattie.

- It's all right, missie.
Sure you can.

- You spoil him.

- Of course I do.
It's my job as a grandma.

So tell me more
about this orphan train

pastor Joe was talking about.

- Now, Marty, you know
you're not well enough

to be chasing after a child.

- I will be soon.

- Well, for now, we're going to
have to let other people

handle that responsibility.

- Would you consider
taking in one of those children?

- Yeah, mom!

Then I get to have
a brother or sister.

- No.
- But all my friends have

a bunch of brothers and sisters.

But since Kathy died,
I've had none.

I'm sorry, mama.

- It's all right, Mattie.

It's good to talk about her.

We don't want to forget her,
right?

- Right.

- [Whispering]
Here they come.

[Scattered conversations]

[Door closes]

- Don't stand so close.

- But I'm scared, Lindy.

- I told you.
Get away from me.

Folks don't want
a brother and sister.

- Whoa.

- Oh, look he's so cute.
Don't you think?

- You mean the one on the right
or on the left?

- Yeah.
- Good day, Mrs. Lahaye.

- Oh, sheriff.

- You going to take
one of these kids?

- No.

I was just passing by,

and I thought I would stop in
and see how it was going.

- Good day.

- Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you for coming today.

These children
are putting their faith

in the kindness
of strangers like you.

Let's begin with Alice Moore.

Alice, you want to come up here
next to me?

- Go on.

- Alice is 7 years old.

She was orphaned
when her parents died

in an influenza epidemic.

- Oh, Paul.

She's the same age as Lily was
when we lost her.

Do you think that we could...

May we take Alice aside and get
acquainted with her, pastor?

- You certainly may.

Why don't you go
with these nice folks?

Jonas Sikes is 9 years old.

His parents were killed
three years ago in a fire.

- Well...
- Oh, he's such a nice boy.

- Come on.

- Ruth Linda is 5 years old.

She was left on the doorstep
of the battery park orphanage

as an infant.

- Well, I'm sure certain.
Let's do it.

- Hello.

- Next is Belinda Marshall.

She's 14 years old.

- We need a boy.

- The boy's too young
and scrawny.

She's older.

She looks like she could
handle herself on a farm.

- [Sighs]

I'll look her over, pastor,

see if she might do.

Open your mouth.

- Why?

- I want to make sure
you're healthy.

Spirited, huh?

That's all right.
It means you're tough.

You'll be a good worker.
We'll take her.

- I'm not going with you!

You smell. You probably
haven't had a bath for a year!

- Watch your mouth, girl.

- Ow! Jesus!

- She's incorrigible.

- He looks healthy enough.
We'll take him.

He looks like he'll grow
into a good farmhand.

- That isn't the point, Hank.

- I thought the point was to
find homes for these young'uns.

Anyone else here want 'em?

- If he comes with us,
he gets a decent home

with plenty of good food.

And I'll see he comes to church.

- The choice is yours, Jacob.
You don't have to go with them.

Would you rather go back
to the orphanage?

- No.

- All right, then.
Sign a paper, sheriff.

- Come here, boy.
Come on.

Let's go. Come on.

[Pen scratching]

- Come on.

- I'm sorry, child.

Looks like you'll have to
get back on the train.

- Unless someone
can find room for her?

- My house is small.

There's barely enough room
for me and Mattie.

I'm missie lahaye.

I'm the school teacher here,

and I have a little boy.

I can't offer you much,

no fancy dolls
or store-bought dresses,

but if you come to live with me,
I'll treat you kindly.

Ok?

I'll take that as a yes.

Welcome to your new home.

Mattie,
this is Belinda Marshall.

She's going to be living
with us.

- For how long?

- Just 'til I'm old enough
to leave, not a day longer.

- Let's just say
for the foreseeable future,

and we'll leave it at that
for now.

You can put your things
over here.

Um, I'll make up a bed
over here,

a...and I'll hang some curtains
around it for some privacy.

- I'd rather sleep in the shed.

- Oh, no.

It's too dirty,

and there's lots of broken-down
old furniture and stuff.

- I don't care.
I'll fix it up myself.

- Mattie, will you go over
to Mrs. Hudson's

and ask her if we can borrow
her spare mattress

just for a while?

[Door opens and closes]

Belinda, I would like
for you to stay in the house

with me and Mattie.

- Why?
- Because this is your home now.

Belinda, we're your family.

- You're not my family.

I've got a papa
back in New York.

He'll be coming for me
as soon as he gets a job.

I won't be staying here long.

So, don't think I will.

- [Sighs]

This should do for now.

At least until it turns cold.

Is that your family Bible?

Is it something
your parents gave you?

- No.

We each got one
at the orphanage.

- Have you read much of it?

Maybe we could read a passage
tonight after supper.

- No.

- What grade are you in,
Belinda?

- No grade.

- I mean, in New York,

what's the last grade
that you finished?

- First.

- That's as far
as you've gotten in school?

- I had work to do.
There was no time for school.

- Belinda...

Can you read?

- And...what if I can't?

Doesn't matter.

Don't need to know how to read
to sweep a floor

or bake biscuits
or wash clothes.

- But books open up
a whole world to you.

They teach you things, like...

How much
an African elephant weighs

or how Betsy Ross
came to make the first flag.

- Why would I need to know
any of those things?

- Well, it's not just
facts and history.

There are stories
that touch your heart

and make your imagination soar.

And books can take you anywhere.

You could go to China

or be in the court
of queen Elizabeth.

- I'm going outside.

[Door closes]

- Grandma! Grandpa!

- Hey!
- Hey, sweetheart.

[Kissing sounds]

- Hey there.

- [Sighs] Mama, papa,
this is Belinda.

- Welcome to the family,
Belinda.

- We hope that you'll come
to think of us

as your grandparents.

- I'm not your granddaughter.

- We're not trying
to take the place

of your other grandparents.

We just think a child

can't have too many people
who love her.

- Do you have grandparents
back in New York?

- No. And I don't need none,
either.

- Hmm.

- Well, I think it's just about
time to sit down to supper.

- Belinda.
- What?

- We say grace first, Belinda.

Do you know what that is?

- Of course I do.

We had to pray over our food
at the orphanage.

I don't know why.

- Well, it's important.

We're very fortunate.
A lot of people go hungry.

- Bet I know that
a lot better than you do.

- Mm.

Let's bow our heads and pray.

Dear lord, we thank you

for everything
that you have given us,

especially for the new member
of our family, Belinda.

Amen.
- Amen.

- Amen.

- Amen.

- Yeah!
- Let's go!

- We're going to go play with
the puppies now in the barn.

Do you want to come?

- No.

- Well, if you change your mind,

you're more than welcome
to join us.

Ah, getting big there, boy.

Come here.
- I'll beat you to the barn.

[Laughs]

- [Sighs]

For the life of me,

I don't know what possessed me
to take in that child.

I sure didn't need
any more responsibility.

- Then why did you?

- Well, I didn't intend to.

But when I rode
past the church that day,

something stopped me.

And then when I heard
pastor Joe say,

"will someone take this child?"

It was as if another voice
came out of me saying, "I will."

- Maybe it was another's voice.

- You think god was speaking
through me?

- I think god knew
that Belinda needs you.

And maybe, for some reason
that you don't understand yet,

you need her.

- Oh, look, they're playing.

- Little snowball.
- He's so cute.

- I think he makes a nice hat.

- Snowball.
[Laughs]

- There you go.

[Crickets chirping]

- [Breathing heavily]

- Come here, boy!

Come over here!
Get over here!

What are you doing, huh?
What do you think you're doing?

Sneaking around,
trying to get away?

Is that it?
You're trying to get away?

Answer me! Huh?
Come here, boy.

Come here! Get over here!

You think you can just run away

because you don't like
your chores?

Huh? I can make you work
as hard as I want.

Don't you run away!
Get in here!

- No!
- Take what's coming to you!

- Get!

[Birds screeching]

- Well, that's rising nicely.

- If I get the berries,

can I use your oven
to bake some pies?

- Pies? Of course.

Is that one of your favorites?
Berry pie?

- Not mine.
My mother's.

[Dog barking]

- Belinda's going to bake us
some fruit pie.

- That's nice.

- What's the matter, Clark?

- I've got to take care
of something

for the Fletcher widow.

Go back inside, Belinda.

- What are you going to do?
- Something I have to.

- I'm coming with you.

- The Fletcher widow's horse
broke loose.

He fell in a gully
and broke his leg.

She asked me to put him down
for her.

- You're going to shoot
an innocent animal?

- Because it needs doing.

Now, please, go back inside.

- What if the horse's leg
can be fixed?

Shouldn't you at least try?

Why is everybody so cruel?
Why doesn't god stop you?!

Please don't kill it!
Please!

- Child, listen to me.
I'll check his leg.

If I can save his life, I will,
but if the bone is shattered,

would you rather I leave him
out here to be eaten alive

by coyotes and wolves?

[Bird squawks]

Wait here, child.

[Horse flutters and groans]

[Gun cocks]

[Gunshot]

[Gunshot echoes]

[Owl hooting]

- Belinda, your food
is getting cold.

- [Whispering]
What's the matter?

Can I?

Lindy?

I brought you some food.

- Mattie?
- Yes?

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

- So, do you think this is
enough berries for a pie?

- Not hardly.
Don't you know nothing?

- I know a bunch of things.

I just don't know
how to make a pie.

- Well, we need
a lot more berries.

So, quit talking,
and start picking.

- Which ones are the better?
Squishy ones or the hard ones?

Ah!
- Mattie!

- Ah!

[Screams]

Ow!
- Mattie!

- [Groans]

- Mattie, are you ok?
Oh, my gosh.

- No. My arm hurts real bad.

- We have to get you into town.

Can you stand?
Can you stand up?

- [Groans]

[Whimpers]

[People talking]

- What happened?
- I fell.

- Well, I can see that.
Here.

Oh.

Ooh. Let's take you over
to Mrs. Lahaye's.

- What happened?

Mattie, are you ok?

- Apparently, he fell.

- I tore my clothes.
I'm sorry, mama.

- That's all right, sweetheart.

Will you take him inside?
- Sure.

Come on, little fella.

[Grunts]

- Come along, Belinda.

- I don't think it's too bad.
He bled a lot,

but it's not broken.

- [Sighs]
Thank you, sheriff.
- Oh, I didn't do anything.

She managed to get him
into town.

- Thank you, Belinda.

- I'll go get a towel
and a bowl of water.

- Oh, sweetheart,
does it hurt?

- Yeah.

- What is it?

- Nothing.

I'd best be going.

- Oh. You're a very brave boy.

- Missie told me about
how you took care of Mattie.

How did you know how to get
the bleeding to stop?

- My mama taught me stuff.

She used to be a midwife,

so she knew
all about fixing people.

At the orphanage, there were
300 kids and only one nurse.

So, I helped out.

- Did you like doing that?

- Yeah.

It made me feel good.

- Belinda, have you ever thought
about becoming a nurse?

- Me, a nurse?
I don't think so.

- Why not?

- Someone like me
can't do something like that.

- What do you mean
someone like you?

- You know...Poor.

- Plain old poverty
can't keep you

from doing something
you really want to do.

Only poverty of spirit
can do that.

- My mama always wanted
to be a nurse.

But she never got
the chance to.

- Your mama was never able
to pursue her dream.

I think she'd be very proud

if you were able to do
something she couldn't.

[Horse whinnying]

- No matter how early we leave,
we are always running late.

- Is that why
we're always running?

- What's the matter with you,
boy?

We ain't got money to go
wasting on your clumsiness!

- Hello, Mr. Pettis.

- Mrs. Lahaye.

- Jacob only tripped.
It was an accident.

- Money's tight, Mrs. Lahaye.

A couple more accidents might
well put me in the poor house.

And you might want to keep
an eye on your own young'uns.

Let's go.

- Ready, set, go!

[Kids yelling]

[Kids yelling]

- Go! Go! Go!

- Can I play?

- Of course not.

- Why not?

- Nobody likes you,
that's why.

You're just a no-account orphan.

- You take that back, liar!

[Grunting]

- All right, that's enough.

- Hey!
- [Grunts]

- Get up.

I said that's enough.

Now, someone want to tell me
what happened here?

Why don't you and I
go over here and talk?

- But it wasn't my fault!
I didn't start it!

- I know that Stevens boy
well enough

to be pretty sure
he did or said something mean.

You want to tell me
what that was?

[Kids yelling]

Must have been pretty bad
if you don't want to say.

- He just...

He wouldn't let me play, is all.

- It's hard being the outsider.

In fact, I imagine

your whole life's
pretty hard right now.

But you can't give up, Belinda.

- I can run faster
than all of them.

- I bet you can!

Why don't you go back there
and show 'em? Go on!

[Kids yelling]

- I can outrun any of you.

- No, you can't.
You're a girl.

- Yeah, and you're
a stupid bully,

but I can still outrun you.

- You want to get beat bad?

Come on in.

- Once around the old oak.

Ready, set, go!

- Come on!
[Kids yelling]

- [Grunts]

[Kids cheering]

- Recess is over!
Everybody back inside.

- Next time, I want you
on my team, ok?

- Good job.
- [Laughs]

- Why do I get the feeling
that something just happened

and you were a part of it?

- [Snickers] Nothing
I couldn't handle, ma'am.

But if I were you,
I'd keep an eye on that Belinda.

If she does run,
you're not going to catch her.

[Horse grunts]

[Thunder claps]

- [Sighs]

- Hey, Mr. Bartender.
- [Laughing]

I'll see you.

- Come here, darlin'!
- Read 'em.

- Sheriff!
- Evening, sheriff.

- Pleasure doing business...

[Men yelling]
[Gunshot]

- [Gasps]

[Thunder claps]

[Loud thunder crack]

[Loud thunder crack]

- [Whispering] Come on.

I brought food.

- Smells really good.

- You've got to hide it
from him.

- I'll put it under my bed.

- I'll try to bring something
better tomorrow night.

- I hate it here, Lindy.

He hits me,
and she yells at me.

I don't want to stay.

Can't I come live with you?

- I don't know how Mrs. Lahaye
would feel about that.

Even if she were ok with it,

Mr. and Mrs. Pettis probably
wouldn't let her take you.

- I miss you something awful.

Let's run away from here
right now.

- Jacob, you know
we can't leave.

Even if we could leave,
how would papa find us?

At least this way, the orphanage
can tell him we were sent here.

I promise I'll get you
out of here, Jacob.

It just can't be tonight.

[Thunder strike]

- You're going to leave me
again?

- I'll never leave you
longer than I have to.

I'll be back tomorrow, ok?

[Loud thunder clap]

[Rain pattering]

- At least you're safe.
Thank god.

Look, it is late,
and we are both exhausted.

So we will talk about this
in the morning.

Now, go to bed, Belinda.

- Last night wasn't
the first time you sneaked out,

was it?

I want to know where you went

and why you stole food.

- [Sighs]

- Members of a family
need to trust each other.

- So?

- I don't understand.

What do you want?

- I have to stay here.

If you don't want me,
I can find work somewhere.

I'm a hard worker.
All I ask for is food and a bed.

- Belinda, I want you.

My family wants you.

And I'm not going to send you
to work

when you should go to school
and be a child.

- I haven't been a child
for a long time.

[Townspeople talking]

- I'm worried about her safety.

I'll keep a close watch
over her, of course,

but I can't stay up
all night, every night.

And if she's determined
to sneak out,

she's going to just do it.

- Instead of trying to stop
something you can't stop,

just let her go...

- Let her go?

Have you lost your mind?

- You didn't let me finish.
Let her go, and follow her.

See what this is all about.
It may be nothing.

She could be sneaking out
just to prove

she doesn't have to
stay with you, or...

- Or, it could be
something serious,

something dangerous even.

- There's only one way
to find out.

[Night sounds]

[Door closes]

- [Gasps]
- Shh, shh.

- [Whispering]
What are you doing here?

- [Whispering]
Same thing you are.

Finding out
what that little girl's doing.

- I brought peaches.

- Oh, boy! Ain't had nothing
like this in a long time.

- How are you doing?

- He hit me again.

I didn't do nothing.

I just didn't move fast enough

when Mrs. Pettis told me
to fetch something.

- Jacob, I'll get you out of
here just as soon as I can.

- I hope that's soon, Lindy.

- Goodnight, Jacob.

[Breathing heavily]

Oh...

[Owl hooting]

- Belinda, why have you been
sneaking out to see Jacob?

And why are you
bringing him food?

- We need the truth now,
Belinda.

It will be better for you
to get it all out.

- Jacob looks thinner than when
I saw him the last time.

Are Mr. and Mrs. Pettis
treating him right?

- We need the real story.

- It's not a story!
It's true!

They're being real mean
to Jacob.

- What's Jacob's last name?

Is it "Marshall"?

- Is Jacob your brother?

Belinda, why did you keep this
a secret?

- At the other towns
the train stopped at,

I saw brothers and sisters
having a real hard time.

Most folks only want one kid,

and others feel bad
about breaking up families.

They don't take any kid.

- I would have taken
both of you, Belinda.

- You say that now,

but you know you wouldn't have
wanted more than one kid.

[Sighs] Jacob had
a better chance on his own.

- Why?

- Because he's younger.

Folks want younger kids.

Once you get to be
around my age,

it's harder to find
people to take 'em.

- You need to go to bed.

But I promise you, Belinda,

we will go over there

first thing tomorrow morning,
and I will talk...

- Ms....ms. Lahaye, may I speak
to you outside, please?

- Go to bed.

Why did you stop me?

I was going to tell her

that we'll go get her brother
out of there.

- That's why I stopped you.

I didn't want to
get her hopes up.

- So you think that
I won't do what I said?

- No, I know you'll try to do
exactly what you said.

But when Mr. and Mrs. Pettis
took Jacob,

they got legal guardianship,

and unless we can prove
that he's being seriously hurt,

no court will interfere.

- So you're not going
to do anything?

- Oh, I'll go over there
tomorrow

and check the situation out.

But I've got to be careful
how I handle this.

I don't want to make Hank
so mad

that he takes it out on Jacob.

- Well, I'm going over there
with you.

- No, you're not.
- You can't stop me.

- [Sighs]

You be at my office
at 8:00, sharp.

I won't wait a minute longer.

- I'll be there.

[Whispering]
Belinda Marshall,

you are an amazing girl.

And I love you very much.

- Just want to see the boy,
Hank.

- We know you've been
mistreating him.

- You watch your mouth,
young woman.

- Let us see the boy,
and we'll leave.

- Come on out here, boy!

You just stay right here.

- Jacob, I'm sheriff Tyler,
and this is Mrs. Lahaye.

- Lindy's foster mama?

- Yes. Your sister is
very worried about you, Jacob.

She believes that
Mr. and Mrs. Pettis

aren't feeding you enough

and that they're working you
too hard.

- Is that true, Jacob?

[Rooster crows]

- Don't be afraid of him.
We won't let him hurt you.

- Has he laid a hand on you,
Jacob?

- Are they feeding you enough?

You said you were going
to bring him to church.

Why haven't you done that?

- That's enough.

You got your answers, sheriff.
Now, get!

Hya!

- I wanted to ask them

why they aren't sending Jacob
to school.

- Well, no law says
they have to.

- But...
- Even parents,

let alone guardians, don't have
to send their kids to school.

- That's just wrong.

Jacob needs an education

if he's going to have
any kind of future.

- Unless we can persuade
pettis of that,

Jacob's future's on that farm.

- You don't understand
how desperately

Belinda and Jacob
love each other,

what it means to be separated

from someone you love
that deeply.

I don't think
you've ever felt that way

about anyone in your life,

or else
you wouldn't let that happen.

Ho!

- Did you see Jacob? Is he ok?
Is he going to come live here?

- Belinda, I'm sorry.

Sheriff Tyler and I
talked to Mr. Pettis,

but Jacob's going to
have to stay there for now.

- Our papa's going to
come for us someday.

And he's going to get Jacob
away from that terrible man.

And he's going to take
both of us home with him.

[Door slams]

- For those of you
in the second grade primer,

please open your books
to page 13.

For the rest of you,

you can continue doing
your multiplication tables.

Belinda?

Will you open your book
to page 13?

I would like for you
to read aloud.

- "The ta...

"Tales

"of Pete...

Peter Rab... Rab..."

- Rabbit.

You're doing very well. Go on.

- I can't read it.

- You can try.

- I don't want to.

- All right, class,
that's enough for today.

We will pick up tomorrow
where we left off.

You're excused.

She doesn't want to be
part of a family.

She really resents me,
maybe even hates me.

- You and I didn't take to
each other at first, remember?

- [Sighs] And I am so ashamed
about how I resented you.

- It's perfectly natural.

You'd lost your mama and didn't
want me to take her place.

Just like with your papa and me.

I'd lost my husband,

and I didn't want Clark
to take his place.

- But then you fell in love
with papa,

and things changed.

- I fell in love
with both of you.

- But Belinda has
so much anger in her.

She's had it much harder
than I did.

- Which is exactly why
she needs you.

Even if she's not ready
to admit it right now,

she needs what you have
to give.

- But I have so little to give.

I can barely keep enough food
on the table for Mattie and me.

Those other parents
that adopted those children,

they have so much to offer.

- You will leave Belinda
a legacy of character

and of a love for others

and of faith.

- That's a beautiful legacy.

- That's the kind of legacy
that lasts.

- Well, we've gone through
all the books at school

and all the books here,

and you can't seem to find
anything

that you're interested in.

There must be something that
you want to be able to read.

- Well...

When my pa dropped me
and Jacob off at the orphanage,

he pinned this letter
to my dress.

I was supposed to
give it to him,

but I kept it.
- Why?

- These are his last words
to us.

They're important.

I just know it's going to say
how much he loved us

and wanted to keep us

and how he'll come back
for us someday.

Will you read it to me?

- Oh...

Belinda, this letter is private.

It's between you children
and your papa.

I can teach you how to read it.

- Ok, I'll learn how to read,

but will you just
read it to me now?

- All right.

"To whom it may concern:

"This is to certify that
the biological father

"and only legal guardian
of Belinda and Jacob Marshall

"freely and of his own will

"requests that
the children's aid society

"provide a home
for his minor children

"until they are of age.

"Samuel Marshall promises...

"Not to interfere

"in any arrangements
the children's aid society

"may make for them.

Sincerely..."

Your father put his Mark.

- Is that all?

- I'm so sorry, Belinda.

I know it must have been
very difficult

for your father
to give up you and Jacob.

- Last one to the swimming
hole's a rotten egg.

- Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

- Mrs. Lahaye, what's wrong?

- I lost my locket.

The chain must have broken.

- Is it valuable?
- Yes.

I'm sorry, it's just that
my mother gave it to me

a long time ago,

and it is very dear to me.

- Let me help you look for it.

- Thank you.

- You know, it's starting
to get dark out here.

We can look again tomorrow.

- There's no point.

It's gone.

[People chattering]
- Mmm. That sure looks good.

- Big piece of cake.
- Uh-huh.

- Some of this?

- He asked for
the biggest piece I could get.

- Mabel made this.
Oh, I'll see you in a bit.

- All right.

- You ought to be out there,
sheriff.

- Oh, I'm not much of a dancer.

- It's not how good you are.

It's just an excuse to wrap
your arms around a pretty girl.

All: [Laughing and chattering]

- Why don't you ask her
to dance?

- You're just all right, ma'am.

- Well, you're a little bit
all right yourself.

- Well, maybe I will.

[Applause]

- And I love that cobbler.
I'll see you later.

- Mrs. Lahaye,
may I have this dance?

- I...

- [Laughs]

Both: [Laughing]

♪

- Mrs. Lahaye, I...

That's...

A peddler came through town
the other day,

and I got this for you.

I know it won't replace
the one your mother gave you,

but I thought maybe
it might make you feel better.

- Zach,
this looks like real gold.

- Well, if it isn't,
I got taken.

There's enough room
for two pictures...

Mattie's and Belinda's.

- I can't accept this.
- Well, it's just a gift.

It doesn't mean anything.

- That's just it.

I could only accept
an expensive gift like this

if it did mean something,

if it came from
the man that I love.

- [Whispering]
Could I be such a man?

- [Sighs] No.

- [Crying]

- I know, sweetheart.

- I just never wanted
to feel this way again.

[Sniffs]

It was so much easier
when I didn't feel anything.

- Oh, unfortunately,
it doesn't seem like god

put us on this earth
to have it easy.

But he did put us here
to love one another.

- I'm so ashamed of myself.

I have two children at home
to think of,

and I'm acting like a child
myself.

- You're not acting
like a child.

You're acting
like a woman in love.

- [Sighs] I have to get home
to the children.

- If there's anything your
father and I can do to help...

- Thank you, mama.

Thank you.

[Knocking]

- Mrs. Lahaye?

There's something I...
I need to tell you.

You asked me a while back

why I care so much
about Belinda.

You see, she reminds me
of someone.

- Someone you loved?

- Eleanor. Ellie.

We grew up together.

Her daddy was the town drunk,

and when he wasn't passed out,

he was just full of meanness.

And he took it out on her.

- Nobody did anything?

- No.

Then when I finally
got big enough,

I stood up to him.

- What happened?

- Well, let's just say
he didn't hit her again.

- Did you marry Ellie?

- I was going to.

- What happened?

- Bank robbery.

She wasn't a threat in any way.

They didn't have to kill her.

But they did,
and they got away with it.

They're alive and...

And Ellie is dead.

Just no rhyme or reason to it.

- Oh, Zach, I'm so sorry.

I understand your bitterness
toward god.

I felt the same way once.

My husband, Willie,
was the sheriff

in the town that we lived in.

He was killed
in the line of duty.

- How did it happen?

- It was stupid, really.

[Men yelling]

- Men in a saloon,
they got into a fight.

Willie went in to break it up.

Should have ended
with nothing worse

than a black eye or two
and a broken nose, but...

One of the men
pulled out a gun.

[Gunshot]

He was dead
by the time I got there.

I didn't even have a chance
to say goodbye.

- I'm so sorry, missie.

You must have loved him
very much.

- With all of my heart
and soul.

[Horse whinnies]

- We're just about done.

Sure goes fast
when you're not doing it alone.

- Grandma! Mama! Come quick!

One of the puppies
won't wake up.

- Oh...

Poor little thing.

- Can I hold him for a minute?

- Yeah.

[Dog yelps]

[Horse neighs]

- [Blowing]

[Blowing]

[Puppy yips]

You're all right now.
You're all right.

- Belinda!

How did you do that?

[Dog yaps]

- Belinda?
- [Crying]

[Sobbing]

- Belinda. Oh, Belinda.

You just did an amazing thing.

What's the matter?

- Mama didn't only have
Jacob and me.

There was a baby girl.

Jenny.

- I'm so sorry, honey.

- [Sniffs] I tried to take care
of baby Jenny

and to keep her warm

and to get her milk,

even though we didn't have
much money.

- How old were you, Belinda?

- Eight.

- That is far too big
a responsibility

for a little girl.

- There wasn't anyone else
to do it.

- What happened to Jenny?

- She got sick.

And we couldn't afford
a doctor.

So...one day, she just...

Stopped breathing and...

And I tried to do
what mama told me to do,

like with the puppy,

but it didn't work.

It's all my fault Jenny died.

- Belinda, listen to me.

Sometimes things happen,
terrible things,

and there is nothing
that we can do about it.

- [Sniffs] You don't understand.

- Yes, I do.

- How can you?!

- Because I lost a baby, too.

Her name was Kathy,

and she was so very precious
to me.

- What happened to her?

- She just stopped breathing.

I don't know why.

One minute she was
in her cradle asleep,

and then, the next, she...

- It wasn't your fault.
- I felt like it was.

I felt like
there must have been some way

that I could save her,

just like you thought
that you could save Jenny.

But we couldn't.

It was out of our hands.

It was in god's hands.

- I couldn't save Jenny.

And you couldn't save Kathy.

But we can save Jacob.

- I'm going to bring you
and Mattie home now.

- And then what?

- Then I am going to get Jacob.

- Sheriff!

- What is it?
Is something wrong?

- I think Mrs. Lahaye
might be in trouble,

and it's all my fault...
I made her go out there.

- Go where?
- To get Jacob.

But she's all alone,
and that man is so mean.

I'm afraid he might hurt her!

- You go on home, Belinda.
- But...But, sheriff...

- I'll take care of this,
but I can't worry about you too,

so go on home and stay there.

- If anything happens
to Mrs. Lahaye...

- Nothing's going to happen
to her. I won't let it.

[Kissing sounds]

- All right, what is it
this time, Mrs. Lahaye?

- Where's Jacob?

- None of your business,
that's where.

- Let him come with me.

He needs to be with his sister.

Surely you can see that,
Mr. Pettis.

- All I know is,
I got a good hand.

- You can hire someone.

A grown man can do
much more work

than that little boy can.

- Men don't work for nothing.

That boy does.

- Search your heart, Mr. Pettis.

I know that somewhere
deep inside,

you must feel something
for him.

- Well, now, that's where
you're wrong, Mrs. Lahaye.

- [Sighs] You are
a cruel and selfish man,

and I am not going to let
Jacob spend

one more day in your power.

- And just what do you think
you can do about it? Huh?

You come onto my land
threatening me.

I'm within my rights to do
whatever I want to you.

Even the law
can't say otherwise.

- Let go of me!
- Let her go, Hank.

- Nobody tells me what to do
on my own land.

- You let her go.

[Gunshot]

- [Cocks gun]
[Grunts and coughs]

You can't arrest me
for defending myself

on my own property.

- If we weren't on
your property,

you'd be heading to jail
right now.

Either way,
you shoot anyone here

or anywhere else,
I will arrest you,

let the courts decide
whether it's right or wrong.

Ms. Lahaye, come on.
- But what about Jacob?

- Can't do anything about him
right now.

- [Sighs]

Whoa. Ho.

He shot at you.
Why didn't you arrest him?

- Well, that was just
a warning shot.

If he wanted to hit me,
he would have hit me.

You were trespassing
on his land, missie.

By law, you should have been
the one arrested.

- Where's Jacob?

- I'm sorry, Belinda.

But we couldn't get him away.
- Why not?

- We don't have the legal right.

- What about Jacob's rights?

- Look, I am not giving up.

I promise you
that I will get Jacob back.

Ho!

- Hey, mama.

- Where's Belinda?

She came in, grabbed her stuff

and left through the back door.

- Oh, no. Stay here.

Belinda!
Belinda!

She's gone.
She took all of her things,

and she's not coming back
this time.

- Well, she won't leave
without Jacob.

I'll go to the pettis place.

- I'm coming.

- No. Go home and wait for her.

[Sheep bleating]

[Knocking]

- If my husband sees you,
he'll run you off again.

- I think Belinda
might have come for Jacob.

- You're wrong.

He's in the barn
feeding the cow.

- Well, I'd like to check,
if you don't mind.

- [Sighs]

- What are you doing
back here?

- The boy's run off.

- [Sighs]

[Thunder rolling]

[Rain pattering]

- All right, everybody,
let's gather around.

I have no idea where these kids
might be going,

so we'll go
in different directions.

I'll go north.
Clark, you go east.

Anderson, you go south.
Missie, you go west.

Pastor, if you don't mind,
go back to the church

in case the kids
seek refuge there.

Let's everybody meet back here
by sundown.

All: [Chattering]

- Let's go, boys.

- Hya!
[Horse snorts]

[Thunder rolls]

- Belinda!

Jacob!

- Belinda!

[Thunder crack]

- No one found them?

We have to go back out.

- No.
- But they can't stay out there.

Not in the dark
alone in the storm.

- Zach's right, missie.

It's too dark
to look for 'em now.

We have to wait until dawn.

- Belinda's
a smart, tough little girl.

She'll find shelter
for her and Jacob.

- What if there is no shelter
where they are?

What if there's a wash?

They don't know that it's not
safe because of flash floods.

- No, it will be no help
to them if you get lost, too.

Mattie needs you.
Stay with him.

- I'll talk to
more parishioners,

arrange for a search party
to go out in the morning.

- We'll stay with you tonight,
missie.

I'll stay with you.

- [Sighs]

I'm so scared, papa.

- All right, let's go, boys.

[Thunder crack]
All right, Clarence, you ready?

- Right behind you.
- Let's go.

All: [Chattering]

- Hya!

- Jacob! Right there!
Come on!

[Screams]

- [Grunts]

- [Gasps]

- [Coughs]

- It's ok, Jacob.
It's all right.

We're just going to stay here
until the rain stops.

- What do we do then?
Where do we go?

- Don't worry, ok?

I've got a plan.

- Belinda!

Jacob!

Belinda!

Jacob!

- Let's pray.

Dear lord, please give
those little children

the strength and the courage

to make it through
this dark night,

and give us the faith
to accept your will.

Amen.

All: Amen.

- I don't know
if you can hear me or not, god.

I'm not sure
I even believe in you.

But I know I can't find
those children without you.

Hear my prayer, lord.

- [Distant sobbing]

I'm so cold.

- Jacob?!

Belinda!

- We're over here!
We're over here!

- Keep talking, Belinda!

I'll follow your voice.

- Over here!
We're over here!

- Sheriff Tyler?
- Yes.

You're safe now.
I'm going to get you back.

- Back to Mr. Pettis?

- No, son. Home.
To Missie's.

[Birds tweeting]

- Why don't you come inside?

Zach, there are no words

that can begin to describe
the depth of my gratitude.

- None are necessary, missie.

- So, what happens now?

Does Jacob have to go back
to pettis?

- No.

No, we talked on the ride back,

and he admitted to me
that Hank's been beating him

and practically starving him.

I'm going to tell Hank

if he doesn't voluntarily
give up

his legal guardianship of him,

I'll arrest him.

- [Laughs]

I don't think that
Belinda and Jacob

should be separated again.

I would like for him
to come and live with us.

- Well, I think
the children's aid society

will go along with that.

- I can't believe that
you found them in that storm

all by yourself.

- Hmm.

I wasn't alone out there,
missie.

- What do you mean? I thought
that you rode out by yourself.

- Yeah, I searched for hours,

calling them over
and over again.

It got to the point
where I felt hopeless.

I knew I would never find them
on my own.

So I prayed to god for help.

- Oh...Zach.

- And then I was
absolutely silent,

and in that silence,

I heard what I couldn't hear
while I was riding,

calling them.

- What?

- A child crying.

The thing is,
is, even standing still,

I shouldn't have heard that
little voice over the storm.

- Maybe it wasn't
Jacob's voice you heard.

You spoke to god,

and he answered you.

- With a miracle.

- When did you start
coming here, pa?

- When your mama died.

This is where I said goodbye.

- How do you do that?

How do you let go
of someone you love?

- When we love someone,

that love doesn't die
when they do.

It stays in our hearts
forever.

But we do have to say goodbye
to the life we shared with them,

go on with a new life,

a chance at happiness.

- Willie would want me
to be happy.

- Mm-hmm.

- I know that.

- He'd approve of Zach.

He's a good man.

- Hmm...

But it feels like a betrayal.

- It isn't.

And it doesn't matter
how I tell you that.

You're going to have to
feel it, missie.

I think I'm going to
go on back to the house.

[Inhales] You want to sit here
for a while?

- Hmm.

[Exhales]

I will always love you, Willie.

But I am finally ready
to be happy again.

Goodbye, sweetheart.

[People chattering]

Do you still have that locket?

- Why yes, right here.

- If you still want
to give it to me,

I'll take it.

- But you said you couldn't
accept a gift like that.

- Unless it came from
someone that I loved.

Will you put it on me, Zach?

- Gladly.

- There's something else
I couldn't do

unless it was
with the man I love.

All: [Cheering and clapping]

- [Laughing]

- Bye, darling!
- Bye-bye!

- I love you!
- Come on, you guys.

Come on, let's go!

All: Bye!
[Children laughing]

All: [Cheering]

- Bye! Be good!

- Bye-bye!

All: [Cheering]
- I'll miss you.

♪