Raggedy Man (1981) - full transcript

For over three years now,

I have run.

this office.

I make.

fifty-five.

dollars.

a month

Which is not enough
to keep a boy alive.

Good morning, Miss
Waller. Just a moment.

I am hoping.

you had a chance.



to look into.

a transfer.

for

As we've discussed all these
months since I took this job.

I swear, Henry. Why is it
you're always up in that tree?

I'm looking for Tojo.
Have you seen him?

No, I certainly
ain't seen Tojo.

Hey, wait a minute.

Damn, boy. Watch that
fool thing, will ya?

Here's what they look like.

Why don't you plant
a garden or somethin'?

No, sir. I'm not getting
an answer on that line.

Would you like me to
place the call again later?

You oughta keep them two
boys of yours in the backyard.



We can't have them bothering
everybody that walks up here.

Good morning, Mr.
Rigby. Bad for business.

Henry settin' up in
that tree all day!

He looks like a damn idiot!

Well, if looks were gold, you wouldn't
exactly be a rich man yourself,

would you, Mr. Rigby?

These the receipts? Yes, sir.

Mama. Would you
like a cup of coffee?

Mama. No, thank you.

Mama. Honey, I'm at work now.

Mr. Rigby, you
know my situation.

I'm a divorced woman A
war is going on, Nita.

Nobody's on easy street.
Oh, yes, sir. I know that.

But I've got two fine
young boys to think about.

Harold Allen and
William Henry!

Henry's gonna be in the
first grade this year.

Harry's gonna be
Yes, sir. I know that!

Well, what I was wondering is.

have you had any luck
on that transfer for me?

I'm workin' on it.

Yes, sir.

Well, how you doin' on it?

Something'll turn up.

I don't see where Clarence
Miller paid this month.

He paid. It's there.

Oh, yeah. Here it is.

If it was a snake, it woulda
jumped up and bit ya. Huh?

Uh, the transfer,
Mr. Rigby, remember?

We talked about something
secretarial with regular hours?

This is me typin', Mr. Rigby.

Look, Herman
Calloway's late again.

You tell him if he
can't pay on time,

we'll just have
to disconnect him.

Mr. Rigby, I'm sure I could get
another job somewhere else if you'd ju

I'm sorry, Nita, but
you're frozen here.

Yes, sir.

But they might just change my
status if you'd recommend it.

Oh, Mr. Rigby.

I'd really like to situate
myself in a better situation.

The way things are now, I hardly get a
chance to kiss my boys good night without

Number, please.

One moment. I'll connect you.

Mr. Rigby?

Oh!

*

Pool shooters and domino
players. And beer drinkers!

Hey, Arnold, look. There's
her two little boys again.

Hey! You boys, what
are you lookin' at?

Hey, hang on there.
Where're y'all goin' so fast?

Home. Home? Home
to Mama, hein?

That ain't no bad deal.

Why ain't y'all off
fighting the war?

You're a real little
smart aleck, you know that?

I don't like him, Calvin.

Come on, Henry.
We've gotta go.

Hey. Y'all don't want an
Orange Crush or somethin'?

I'll take me an Orange Crush.
You're gonna have to win it.

We ain't gonna
just give it to you.

Come on, Henry. They're
just teasing you.

What do I have to do?

Set down there with your
legs around this puddle.

We'll show you.

It's an old Indian
game, ain't it, Cal?

Yep. I learned it
from an Indian chief.

Now, here's the bet.

I bet Arnold there
can wipe up that

puddle before you
can stab his hand.

Henry, let's go. You
just hold your horses.

Ok, you ready? We got a
Orange Crush on the line here.

- I don't wanna hurt him.
- You're not gonna hurt him.

No, he likes it.

Yeah, I like it. Makes
my hand feel good.

Looky here! This
boy wet his britches!

I hope old Tojo gets you!

You better git,
you little monkey,

before I take a mind
to paddle your behind.

You and your brother both!

Loony old raggedy
man son of a bitch.

*

Where you been? Out
back, takin' a leak.

I'm about ready to
ask her out. Ain't you?

Tonight? Yeah,
tonight. What the hell?

We can't put it off forever.

I don't know.

Well, what are you afraid
of? Every time, you back off.

She won't go. Ain't
no need to ask her.

How you know that? Hell,
you don't even know her!

I don't care.

She ain't goin' out with
us. Nobody else, neither.

She keepin' herself special.

Arnold.

You remember how we
used to get to itchin'.

when they had us in them tight
little cells in Huntsville?

Same thing happens to a woman. Especially
one that's already been married.

Know what I'm sayin'?

She ain't that way.

Arnold, she's just like us.

She ain't got nobody.

You'd like to do her
a favor, wouldn't you?

Arnold, how's it gonna look, both
of us goin' up there to ask her out?

Well, it's both of us gonna
be takin' her out, ain't it?

Yeah, but you better
let me do the askin'!

Hell, I can do the askin' as
good as anybody can, by God!

Fine, then, Arnold. Go on
up there and do the askin'.

Yes? Mrs. Longley?

Yes. Could I help you?
My name's Calvin Triplett.

General haulin'. Maybe you
seen my truck goin' by sometime.

Do you need to use the
phone, Mr. Triplett?

No. I was just hopin' to
talk to you for a minute.

Yes?

I mean, how ya doin'?

Everything goin' ok?

Just fine.

I was wonderin' if maybe you wouldn't
like to go out with me sometime?

Um, well, I

I work most of the time.
I don't get to go out much.

That must get old,
all that workin'.

It's all right. There's a war.

Yeah, I know. Everybody gotta
take a break once in a while.

You oughta let me take you out and show
you a good time one of these nights.

I know how it gets, bein'
all cooped up like you are.

I'm sorry. It's nice
of you to offer, though.

Good night. How 'bout if I
brought you a Coke sometime?

We could sit in
there and visit.

What would you
think about that?

That'd be fine, but
this is a company here.

They don't permit people
comin' in to visit,

you know, unless it's
strictly strictly business.

- All business in there, huh?
- Yeah.

I mean, we live here,
but it is a business.

I guess I'll just have to think
up some business with you, won't I?

I have to go now, Mr.
Triplett. Good night.

I told you she
wasn't that way.

She's gotta work. Ain't
got time to go out.

I'm gonna go up there
and talk to her sometime.

Nothin' else.
Just talk a little.

Yes?

I'm sorry to wake you. The man at the
gas station said you had a pay phone here.

Ok.

Phone's over there.

I appreciate it.

I'm sorry. That's ok.

Just give me a minute.

Thank you, ma'am.

Number, please.

Is that you, ma'am?

Sorry, habit.

That's n That's number 1-8-2.
It's in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Operator, this is
number zero in Gregory.

The number
is 1-8-2.

Ardmore, Oklahoma.
My party's holding.

It'll be just a minute.

That's gonna be 65 cents for the
first three minutes after they answer.

Yes, ma'am.

It's ringing.

Maybe nobody's home.

They're probably asleep.

Hello, Mr. Quinn?

This is Teddy.

I'm callin' from Texas.

Yes, sir, I sure am
fine. How are you?

That's good. I'm glad.

That's real good.

Mr. Quinn, may I
speak to Jalene?

I'm hitchhikin' in from Texas.

I got a four-day liberty, and I
want to let her know I'm on the way.

Sir?

Well, why not, Mr. Quinn?

Sir?

When was that, Mr. Quinn?

Mr. Quinn, you're teasin' me.

No, sir, uh

No, sir, I guess you wouldn't.

Who to, Mr. Quinn?

Him? Really?

Yeah.

Uh, no, no, uh

No, I'm all right. Just kinda
caught me off guard, I guess.

W
- Well, I know Mrs. Quinn always liked him a lot.

Yes, sir. I know that.

Well, you must be proud.

That guy's got a big
reputation around town.

Oh, yeah.

People say he's the sorriest son
of a bitch in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

All through?

Yeah.

You better hang up. You're
still on long distance.

Thanks.

Sixty-five
cents? Mm-hmm.

Let's see here.

There's twenty-five,

fifty. and sixty-five.

Thank you. Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Would you like
a cup of coffee?

Maybe the rain'll slow
down out there in a bit.

Oh, well

What's a little water
to a sailor, anyway?

Thanks, though.

Sugar? No, I wouldn't want
to take any of your sugar.

Oh, that's ok. I don't get
the chance to bake much anyway.

Besides, I have to hide it or
Henry'll eat it by the handfuls.

Henry's your husband.
No, one of my boys.

Oh. I have two of
them. Henry and Harry.

Henry's the little one.

Your, uh, husband's
off in the war?

No, I'm divorced.

Oh.

- Look at me.
- Let me get you another cup.

No, this is just
the way I like it.

You just out of boot camp?

Mm-hmm.

I'm gonna be a gunner's mate.

Oh.

Oh, for heaven's sakes.

It'll come back
on in a minute.

You there?

Yeah, yeah, I'm right here.

What's a gunner's mate?

That's the guy that
passes him the ammo.

Oh. Yeah.

Passes who the ammo?

The gunner. Oh, yeah.

When are you shipping
out? I got three more days.

You know where you're going?

No.

I guess I'll find out
when I get there, though.

They don't tell us much.

- Do you want a Lucky?
- No, thank you.

I'm Teddy Roebuck,
Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Nita Longley, Gregory, Texas.

The lights. Yeah.

Well, I'll put
your sugar up. Ok.

I appreciate the
coffee. That's all right.

Good luck. Thanks.

Look. What's that?
Shh. I don't know.

Who are you? Put
those hands up!

Uh, yeah, look. I don't want any
trouble. I'm just passin' through town.

Hey, you're a sailor. You bet.

You better keep
those hands up!

Henry, you can put the gun
down now. He's one of ours.

Thank you. Boys, run get
Mrs. Lester right quick.

It's Washington. Look,
I hope you don't mind.

I laid down No, that's ok.

Hurry, Jean.

Is it Jim? Jim?

Jean, hurry, they're holding.

Here. Wha

Operator, your call is
ready. I'll connect you.

I don't know.

Hello?

Yes, it is.

What did you do to her?

Thank you. Thank you!

Her husband's been wounded,
but he's comin' home.

Well, that's just fine.

Why don't you boys
walk Jean home, ok?

You ain't leavin', are ya?

Well You wait right
here. We'll be right back.

All right.

Boy.

You get a little bit of
everything through here, don't you?

Yeah. Seems like it sometimes.

You get a lot of
phone calls like that?

Yeah.

He's kinda messed up.

Faster, Mommy, faster.

Oh, shoot. I'm hurryin'
as fast as I can, honey.

Ok.

Ok!

Faster, Teddy, faster!

Faster, Teddy, faster!

Hey, Mama. Come on!

Yeah, come on, Mama.
No, honey, I can't.

Please? Yeah, please?

Come on.

Please?

Ok.

Here, Nita. Take it. Oh, no.

No, take it, take it.

Oh! All right, run with it!

Run with it! Come on!

I'm gonna answer that.

Oh, Mama!

Oh, Mama.

Oh, I'm sorry.

What are we gonna
do tomorrow, Teddy?

I'm afraid I go
back tonight, Harry.

Teddy, don't go.
You don't have to go.

Does he, Mama?
No, really, now.

I don't wanna wear
out my welcome.

You're not gonna wear out
your welcome. Is he, Mama?

Honey, Teddy's got
more important things

See? She said you could
stay. Didn't you, Mama?

Really, you're welcome
to stay if you want to.

See? Will ya?

Yeah, will ya? Shoot. Come on!

Well, I got a couple
of days of liberty left.

You sure it's all
right, Nita? Really?

No, really, it's fine. We'll just make
a pallet for him in the front room.

Hot dog!

Hot dog!

Mrs. Longley? Oh, Mr.
Calloway. How are ya?

I'd be doing better if the end of
the month didn't come around so fast.

Sorry I'm late with this.

Fifteen-twenty,
isn't it? Yes, sir.

He owes money. Shh.

Fourteen,

50, 75, 15, 10 and 20.

Fifteen-twenty. I'll
get your receipt.

Thank you.

Hi.

How ya doin'?

- Oh, just fine. How are you?
- Ok.

This is Teddy. He's
stayin' with us.

Well, isn't that nice?

Well, uh How's the war goin'?

Oh, pretty good.

Sure wished I could be
over there with you boys.

Yes, sir. I wish you could
too. I got a store to run.

Shirts, shoes, whatnot. You
know how confinin' that is.

But someone's gotta keep
that home front goin'.

Yes, sir. We don't necessarily
like it, but we gotta do it.

Yes, sir. We understand that.

Yep. Truth is,
don't like it at all.

I'd rather be over
there with you boys.

Yes, sir. Well, we know that.

Mr. Calloway, got
your receipt. Oh, fine.

Well, you give 'em a
good lickin' for me, ok?

You bet. Nice boy.

Brother? Cousin? No.

Mama, is Teddy gonna
be our daddy? Henry.

- Just asking.
- Oh, kids.

Yeah, kids.

That don't look good, that, uh

that young man in there.

Mr. Calloway, if it's givin' you any
ideas, why don't you call Mrs. Thompson?

She's always glad to hear from
you about this time every day.

Ma'am.

I don't see any spiderwebs.
Better make sure.

It's ok. You go first.

Mama. What, honey?

Is Teddy gonna stay with
us? For a few days he is.

We like him.

I know, honey. I like him too.

Do you, Mama? Mm-hmm.

Old Tojo ain't gonna
get him, is he, Mama?

No, I don't think so, honey.

Ok, you kids go to sleep.

Hello?

Number, please. That thing
was about to eat me up!

Number, please.

I'm sorry.

Well? What'd I tell ya?

I thought she weren't supposed
to have no visitors over there.

That's the line she give me.

She lied to us.
Didn't she, Calvin?

She's a divorced
woman, Arnold.

You know about 'em, don't you?

Where the hell you
been not to know?

Where you goin'?

Coffee's ready. Can I get
you a cup? Oh, I'd love one.

You bet.

You know, today sure
has been fun for me.

For the boys too.
They're in hog heaven.

Yeah, I know it.

They don't get a chance to play
with much of anybody around here.

Yeah.

I don't mean to pry,

but does their daddy
ever come visit?

No, he never has.

That's a shame.

Well, our marriage ended kinda
messy. I guess that's why.

I heard he joined the army
when the war broke out,

but we never heard from him.

I have trouble
understandin' that.

Number, please.

Hello, Mr. Calloway.

You don't have to worry
about that, Mr. Calloway.

Well, I don't listen in
to conversations, anyway.

You could have been talkin' about
shoes and socks, for all I know.

And other dirty laundry.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir, I do know
it's just your business.

Yes, sir, well

Well, I'll remember that.

Yes, sir, I will.

And thank you too.

Thank you. You bet.

Listen. What would you think
about me takin' the boys.

over to Corpus Christi
to see a picture show?

Oh, Teddy. It's so far.
It's just a few miles.

We can go on the bus.

Well, they'd love it.

Neither one of them's ever
seen a picture show before.

All right.

Any chance of you
comin' along with us?

Goodness, no! Oh,
come on and go!

Oh, Teddy, I just I couldn't!

Who'd run this? You can get
somebody to run that thing.

Mr. Rigby'd have a fit.

Hey.

John Wayne.

Teddy. I wish I could, though.

*

*

*If you ever go down Trinidad

*They make you
feel so very glad *

*Calypso sing and
make up rhyme *

*Guarantee you one
real good fine time *

*Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola *

*Go down Point Cumana

*Both mother and daughter *

*Workin' for the
Yankee dollar *

*Oh, beat it, mon, beat it *

*Since the Yankee
come to Trinidad *

*They got the young
girls all goin' mad *

*Young girls say
they treat 'em nice *

*Make Trinidad like paradise

*Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola

*Go down Point Cumana

*Both mother and daughter

*Workin' for the
Yankee dollar *

*Oh, you vex me, you vex me *

Comin' in low. Hey,
hey! Get up! Get up!

Is that what happens?

What the hell

Start working Selby and Maclntosh
as a team. They're about ready.

Ok, Jim. Don't
worry about a thing.

I'll try and take care of
things while you're away.

Ok. And no gin
rummy with Brooke!

She's my pigeon.

'Bye, pigeon.

There's no one out
there, Mrs. Longley.

Well, there was somebody.

And there was that man kinda
watching the house this afternoon.

What man is that?

He pushes a lawn
mower around town.

You mean Bailey?
Face all buggered up?

Well, I never saw that.

Oh, I think he's all right.

Been around here a couple of
years, mowin' lawns and stuff.

You just had a window peeker.
I wouldn't worry about it.

Wait a minute, Sheriff!

I do worry about it.

I'm in here by myself
with just two little boys.

Well.

It was my
understanding that, uh,

you had a young friend over here
- a sailor, I believe.

People do talk, Mrs. Longley.

And what do they say?

Well, they say, um

- An experienced woman like yourself is
- You mean a divorced woman.

A divorced woman like yourself has got
no business with some young boy over here.

It's nobody's
business what I do.

This town doesn't own me.

Well, people wondering what kind
of deal you run over here, anyway.

This is a telephone office. They want
to feel like they can depend on you.

There's a war
going on, you know.

Well, thank you for
coming by, Sheriff Watson.

Good night. Good night.

Up. Give me your gum.

*

Those are the cutest
little sailor suits.

You shouldn't have done that.

Aw, listen, I
was glad to do it.

I brought you something too.

It's for me? Yeah.

What is it? I'm not gonna tell
ya. You gotta open it and see.

Nylons.

Uh well, they're rayons.

But the lady at the store said they
was just as sheer as nylons, though.

Oh, they are! Look
how sheer they are.

*

*If there's a
gleam in her eye *

*Each time she
straightens your tie *

*You'll know the
lady's in love *

*With you

*

*...the lady's
in love with you *

*And when your
friends ask you over *

*To join their table

*But she picks a
faraway booth for two *

*Well, sir, here's
just how it stands *

*You've got romance
on your hands *

*Because the lady's in love *

*With you

One, two, three, heil Hitler!

One, two, three, heil Hitler!

One, two, three, heil Hitler!

Morning, Miss Pud, Miss Beulah!
One, two, three, heil Hitler!

Boys, stop that. One,
two, three, heil, Hitle!

Did you hear me?
Henry! One, two, three,

heil Hitler!

I want y'all to march in
the house right this instant.

and wash those silly
moustaches off your faces.

Heil Hitler! We're
just playin', Mama.

They saw it in
a newsreel, Nita.

Oh, Lord, Teddy. Couldn't
you've just stayed inside?

Why?

Hi. How y'all doin'?

Well, I never!

Hmm!

I'm sorry.

Cripes! Use some sense, walkin'
out in front of them half naked.

I just put my shirt on.

I've gotta live here, Teddy.

And there's
already enough talk.

Excuse me. Good morning.

Was a good morning.

Are ya in?

I'll tell you what.

You guys get on home with the
groceries, and I'll go get the mail.

Pick a hand.

Open your mouth.

Ok, see you at home. Ok.

*You're in the navy now
You're not behind the plow *

*Digging a ditch You'll never
get rich You're in the navy now *

Well, now, would you
look here, Arnold?

Them damn boys went
and joined the navy.

Got 'em tiny little
sailor suits, don't they?

Y'all better get
out of the way.

Aw, now, we just
tryin' to be friendly.

We figure maybe we owe
you them Orange Crushes.

for that joke we played
on you the other day.

It wasn't funny!

Wasn't funny at all, was it?

Well, come on in here and let
us make it up to you, then.

No, Henry. Let's go. Come on.
Let's have an Orange Crush.

Y'all come on.
Ain't often we treat.

Henry, I said no!

You're not the boss of me!

Give us an Orange Crush
for this sailor boy.

He's about to ship out.

How's that drink?
All right? Just fine.

How's that mama of
yours been doin'?

Just fine. She got her boyfriend
stayin' over there with her?

You mean Teddy?

Come on, Henry.

They been takin' their clothes
off together over there?

Don't fool with these boys.
Come on, Henry. We gotta go.

You ain't goin' nowhere.

You let me go! Let
me go! Let me go!

- You want your butt whipped?
- No, he don't.

Teddy!

Goddamn, if it ain't the
rest of the U.S. Navy, Arnold!

Harry, go stand by the door.

Henry, you get
down off the bar.

We're talkin' here. Ain't we?

I'm gonna kick you if
you don't move. Henry?

You ain't gonna do no
such damn thing. Oh, yeah?

Back off, you boys!

Teddy!

Let go of me! Goddamn it!

Let me go! Teddy! Teddy!

Siguiente van a ser voc? sesos.
Agarre voc? hermano y vete pronto.

Thank you.

Come on.

Don't, Nita!

Good night nurse, Harry! What were you kids
thinkin' of goin' into a place like that?

I just can't get over it. What
were you thinkin' of, Harry?

Nothin'. Nothin'?

You weren't thinkin' of
nothin', were you? Henry?

I wasn't thinkin' of
nothin', either, Mama.

Well, from now on,
I want you kids here!

I do not want you gallivantin'
all over this town!

That's over and done with. I want you
here, or in the yard and nowhere else!

- But, Mama
- No, sir.

Not one word, Harry.
I won't have it!

As old as you are, not showin'
any more sense than a rock.

Nit
- Ow! Good G Sorry.

Number, please.

Just scared her. She'll get
over it. Hello, Miss Ol?.

No, I'm fine. Can I help you?

Look at these shoes.

How 'bout if you boys were to take these
out on the porch and clean 'em up for me?

Yeah? It's 2:18, Miss Ol?.

No, ma'am, I don't believe everything
that comes over the radio, either,

but they're usually
pretty close on the time.

Yes, ma'am. You're welcome.

You kids, do not
leave this yard!

Don't be too
hard on 'em, Nita.

I can't keep an eye on this
switchboard and them too.

if they're runnin' here,
there and yon all over town.

Yeah, well, you can't lock 'em
up, either. They're just kids.

I know they're kids, Teddy.
They happen to be my kids!

I meant what I said.

And don't you go tellin'
'em anything different.

God, I feel so so caught!

Nita. Oh!

Hey, you oughta quit this job.
You can get somethin' better.

I can't quit this
job. I'm frozen here.

They can't do that. Can they?

They can do whatever
they want in wartime.

Look what they're doin' to you. They're stickin'
you on a ship, you don't even know where to.

Yeah, but I wanna go.

I mean, I'm not afraid
to go. Not anymore.

There's a whole world out there
you don't know anything about.

That's ok with me. I'm not
gonna run and hide from it.

No, I know you're not.

I want you to leave, Teddy.

I still got one more day.

No, I want you
to go on and go.

This doesn't work for us.

I can't make it work.

I'm sorry.

Here you go, Teddy.

Here you go, Teddy.

Whooee! Don't
these look snappy!

Thanks.

You know, maybe
some rainy night.

and you'll hear a
knock at the door,

it'll be me again.

Maybe. Yeah.

I love you, Nita.

Number, please.

Oh, hi, Doc Wood.

Just a minute. Let me
get a piece of paper.

At the Phelps 'til 9:00.

Then to the Higgins.

Where ya goin'? I got a call from
a ship. They want me to come on in.

Do ya have to go?
Yeah, I have to.

You don't have to go.

Harry.

Yeah.

You know what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna name
this shoe Henry,

and I'm gonna name
this shoe Harry.

Henry and Harry? You bet.

And that way, wherever I go, it'll be
Henry and Harry right there with me.

Ok?

You take care of your mama.

We will.

Good-bye, pigeon.

Henry and Harry.
Henry and Harry.

Henry and Harry.
Henry and Harry.

Henry and Harry.
Henry and Harry.

Henry and Harry.

Did you make Teddy leave?

Eat your supper,
Harry. And, Henry, eat!

You made him
leave, didn't you?

Honey, he was gonna have
to leave tomorrow anyway.

Now let's just
eat our supper, ok?

We're not gonna stay around
the house like you said.

You're gonna do what I tell you
to do, young man. I'm your mother!

You're not a mother,
you're a telephone operator.

I know you're upset,
Harry, but things

You made Daddy leave too!

Don't talk to me in
that tone of voice!

Now eat your
supper! Both of you!

We don't wanna
live here anymore.

I don't wanna live
here, either, Mama.

We wanna go live
with our daddy.

Well, whatever gave you
the ideia he wants y'all?

Did he write you a
letter or somethin'?

I don't hear him
knockin' at the door.

He wants me and Henry.
He just don't want you.

We'll just give
it to the chickens.

Now go to bed, both of
you! Right this instant!

Come on, Henry.

Mr. Rigby?

Yes, sir, I do know it's late.

Hey, watch out there, kids!

What do you think
you're doin', huh?

Come in, Mr. Rigby.

Now, what is it
that's so important.

I had to come all
the way over here?

We've been through all this.

Yes, sir, but you haven't
been listenin' to me.

You know there's a war.

Yes, I know there's a war, and I know
things are bad all over because of the war.

And everybody's gotta work. And you
know, I'm not afraid to work, Mr. Rigby.

Well, this is not a bad place.

I've seen worse.

The boys in the Philippines
don't have it this good, I bet.

No, sir, I'm sure they don't, but
I Everybody's makin' sacrifices.

I make 'em too. I
make 'em all the time.

Yes, sir, but when
I took this job,

you said it was gonna lead to
somethin' with regular hours.

This was supposed to be a
stepping-stone, remember?

Don't you get uppity
with me now, Nita.

I'm askin' for
help, Mr. Rigby.

Now, if the company
can't give me a transfer,

I'd at least like to be free
to look for a job on my own.

Well, you're frozen here,
Nita. It's not my doin'.

They've got laws in wartime.
Now, let's stop this nonsense!

No, sir.

What are you doing? MX, this
is number zero in Gregory.

Yes, thank you. I'll hold.

My God, Nita, there
is a war going on!

Will you please stop tellin' me
there's a war! I know there's a war!

It all comes through here!

Tommy Patterson got
his arm blown off!

And Billy Patrick's
comin' home in a box!

And Charlie Jones isn't comin' home at all,
because they couldn't find enough pieces!

So don't tell me
nothin', Mr. Rigby!

I hear the wives and the mamas and the
daddies cryin' and sayin', "No, no, no!"

I hear it! Day in
and day out I hear it!

So don't you stand there
and tell me there's a war!

I can tell you plenty
about there bein' a war!

San Antonio. The
number's 2872.

Are you callin' the company?

I've got my own boys to
think about, Mr. Rigby.

Yes, personnel office, please.

Nita Longley, you won't get a job anywhere
else. I'll put the word out on you.

Do what you have to do.

Disconnect.

Personnel office?

I'll tell you what, Mr. Rigby.

No law is gonna keep me
from doin' right by my boys.

War or no war,
frozen or unfrozen!

You cannot stop me
from making this call.

Ah, you're not frozen. MX,
this is number zero in Gregory.

You don't make enough money to be
frozen. Yes, thank you. I'll hold.

You're not frozen!

You'd do that to us?

This is a company, Nita!
I've got responsibilities!

A company?

A company!

Excuse me!

You oughta thank your lucky
stars I even gave you a job.

A woman in your situation,
divorced with two kids!

The fact is, Mr. Rigby, that's
a fine situation for me to be in!

Nita, you come back here!

Mama, where we goin'?

Yeah, Mama, where we goin'?

Good morning, Mr. Bueford.
Good morning, Mrs. Longley.

I'd like three tickets. One adult
and two child. Where to, Mrs. Longley?

San Antonio. One way.

Will this be today? No,
sir, that'll be tomorrow.

All right. And your
bus will leave 7:10,

and that will be
six dollars, please.

Ok.

Five, six.

Thank you.

Thank you. See
you in the morning.

Mornin', Miss
Pud, Miss Beulah.

We're moving!

You kids play outside
for a little bit, ok?

Ok.

Nita Longley, don't you ever,
ever leave me settin' there again!

Just who the hell
do you think you are?

I'm the lady who just quit
this job! That's who I am!

Y'all come on. We
got our packin' to do.

Mama, did our daddy love us?

Maybe we'll find ourselves
a new daddy someday.

You really think
so? We just might.

We'll be there watchin' in
case a good one walks by.

Mama, are we gonna live
in a telephone office?

No, sirree! I'm gonna get a job
at one of the military bases.

There's a lot of
paperwork during a war.

They need people who can
type. And I can sure type.

William Henry Longley, I'm gonna
paddle your little back porch!

Give me that sugar bowl!

Oh! Hey, don't tickle
me! No, please, don't!

Oh!

Could I help you?

Uh, excuse me, ma'am.

I'm sorry to be botherin' you this
time of night. I need a telephone.

Well, it's awfully
late. We're closed.

I know, ma'am. I'm broke
down out on the highway.

I need to call somebody
to come and git me.

Well, all right.

Just give me a minute, though,

and the phone is, uh,
in here on the wall.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you.

Number, please.

Number, please!

Hello?

I don't have a number.

Well, then, uh. what's
the name, please?

I'll have to look it up.

Nita Longley.

I told you I'd think up some
business with you one of these days.

Didn't I?

I'm gonna have to
call the sheriff.

Oh, no!

Please. I've got
two little boys.

I'll tell you what, ma'am.

You don't give us no trouble,

and we won't give
them boys none.

Please don't do this.

Please!

Make 'em bounce.

- Make 'em bounce!
- No!

Mama? Mama!

Calvin?

Shh.

Who was it? Sailor?

Go see.

Go on!

Mama?

Arnold!

Arnold!

Arnold, where are you?

Hey! Who is that?

Mama?

Oh!

Ow! Oh, God!

Arnold! Arnold!

Harry! Honey, where's
Harry? Where's Harry?

I don't know.

Oh, God! He must be outside.

Honey, listen to me.

I want you to crawl under the bed and
don't move for nothin', ya hear me?

Not nothin'!

Ok, honey, hurry!

Mama? Mama!

Mama?

Mama, is that you?

Oh!

Mama!

Mama! Mama!

Oh, Mama!

Harry! Harry! Harry! Run!

Harry, run!

Oh!

Come on!

Come on, Harry.

Mama.

Oh!

Come here.

Don't move.

Harry!

Mrs. Longley and
the boys all right?

Yeah. Yeah, they're ok.
Still a little scared.

And I don't see any reason to keep
'em around here for this sorry mess.

Our daddy saved
us, didn't he, Mama?

Yes, he did, honey.

Must've loved us a l
- a lot.

More than anybody
else in the world.

More than anybody.

Mama, I hope we see Teddy
again someday, don't you?

I hope so too, honey.

Mommy, when are
we gonna get there?