Raising Flagg (2006) - full transcript
A comedy centered on a handyman (Arkin) and his lifelong competition with his neighbor (Pendleton.)
- Me and Gus been playing
checkers every Tuesday,
must be 20 years now.
Of course we been playing one kind of game
or another since we were kids.
But now it's checkers.
Most folks think I'm
crazy to keep playing him.
It's not that he's smarter
than me or a better player,
he's just got this way
of wearing you down.
- That's quite a move flag,
you've been cooking that
one up for quite a while haven't you?
- Take your medicine Gus all
the stalling in the world
isn't gonna help you now.
- Shoot.
Oh well.
- Maybe it was cocky way
he took those checkers
off the board, maybe it
was the way he wrote down
my losing, I don't know.
All I know is my whole trouble
with Gus started right after
that game.
- Okay that's 1,278.65.
I suppose you wanna let it ride.
- Where'd that piece come from?
- I put it there three moves
ago, I guess you weren't
looking very close.
- No I was looking very closely,
I'm sure it wasn't there.
- Just like you're sure I
took your shovel last week.
- Found the shit didn't you Flagg?
- I ain't playing no game
of checkers where the pieces
move by themselves.
♫ I think I hear the train here coming
♫ Coming down to Caribeo way
♫ Go my ticket in my hand, I've
always been a traveling man
♫ That trains coming, today's the day
♫ Don't remind me but I'm leaving
♫ Doesn't really matter in the end
♫ All the money that I wasted
♫ The whiskey that I've tasted
♫ it still comes down
to who you call a friend
♫ Well come with the
boy down to the station
♫ Did need farewell as I go
♫ Don't you shed a tear as
the train rolls down the line
♫ I'm on my way to glory don't you know
♫ Come with the boys down to the station
♫ Did need farewell as I go ♫
- Hey pull it around.
Pull it around.
♫ I'm on my way to glory don't you know ♫
- Ada.
Ada!
Ada.
- Good morning Ed.
- Ada.
- Well I think
she's just after his money.
Hm.
What makes you think that?
- Hey Gus.
- Hi Ada.
- I don't think
this is about this woman
or how she treats your daddy,
I think you're mad at him
for the way he treated you
and your mama.
This is Anne Marie no PhD
just common sense Purdy.
And I'm talking with Paula.
- 12 dollars.
- Having a
little sex with daddy maybe?
My daddy's riding around in
his wheelchair having sex.
- Where'd she get that stuff?
- Not from me.
- At 95 you should
be able to live with whoever
you want don't you think darling?
- She's always been real good
at figuring these things out.
At least for other people.
Flagg was gonna fix
that fence this morning.
- He was up half the night
fixing the Campbell's pump.
- Morning Flagg.
- Flagg.
- You know what woke me up this morning?
- Your zest for life.
- No it was the sound of sheep
pissing on my pump house.
- I always said you had
remarkable hearing for your age.
- I can't have sheep
pissing on my pump house
polluting my water.
- I've known you since you
fell off the turnip truck
Flagg Purdy and this
ain't about sheep piss.
- You never told me you
were gonna bring sheep in
over there.
- Well I guess forgot to mention
that since it's my pastor
and my well I figure I
can graze elephants there
if I want.
- Well Purdy's have been
using that well since you were
a gleam in your daddy's one good eye.
Purdy's have always used that well.
- And I never charged you for it.
- That's right Flagg.
- And I told you how I felt
about listening to that radio
program didn't I?
- Flagg lets talk it over come on.
- No talking about it.
I will not have the sheep over there.
- I think you know better than
to come in here demanding.
- I'm not demanding anything
I'm telling you if you keep
your sheep over there I'm gonna sue you.
- You're gonna what?
- I'm gonna sue you.
- Now you don't mean that Flagg.
- You mule headed flat lander.
- You can compliment all you like.
I ain't gonna tolerate it.
- Okay, okay you go ahead
and sue and in the mean time
you get off my property.
- You ask me you're both
sounding like a couple
of puffed up roosters.
- And you can forget about
checkers next week too.
Yes sir, forget about it.
He's spreading something
out there I know he is.
We ain't gonna get away with
it if you don't take 'em
away, we're gonna have
lamb stew all winter.
- How doing Flagg?
- I been better.
- When you think you'll be
around to clear that brush?
- Well I just canceled a
fence job so I can be over
almost anytime.
- Well I hope so.
You know what they say.
Time waits for no man.
- Nice sheep Flagg.
- These are the no luck
generation of deaf children.
- I heard that.
- Que dijo?
- Not importante.
Come on.
- If I let him get away with
it he will be grazing elephants
out there.
Spoke to cousin Dale
about a lawyer in town.
I hate to bring the law into
it but we have no choice.
- Well you could make amends.
- Why can't he make amends for a change?
Why is it always me?
He's the one that started it.
- Be the one to finish it.
- No, it's too late.
He said some things he
shouldn't have said.
And besides, there is a
principal at stake here.
- What principal is that?
- Well I forget.
But we gotta protect our rights Ada honey.
Otherwise people'll be
walking all over poor folk.
- Seems to me Gus is pretty
much poor folks like us.
- There you go, protecting him again.
- It don't seem right to sue a friend.
Goodnight.
- He's been getting his way
since he was three years old.
Time somebody taught him
not to be so stubborn.
- Well it'll take
a little while for people
to know that I'm back in town but...
No, no, no, there's plenty
of legal work in a town
this size.
With all the lawyers and
judges spouting their opinions
on TV, everybody's ready to
sue with a drop of a hat.
Listen I gotta go, somebody just came in.
I love you too Mom.
Okay, okay.
Bye bye.
Mr and Mrs. Purdy.
What can I do for you?
- We know each other?
- I used to hang out with Travis.
- Oh of course.
How are Scooter?
- Please sit down.
- You the fella that
took Travis joy riding in
the sheriff's car?
- Yeah.
That was quite a thing.
- Sheriff didn't think so.
- Well he got over it.
- And now you're a lawyer.
- If you think my criminal
background's gonna get
in the way of me giving
you good legal council,
I'll be happy to recommend
another lawyer in town.
- Well my cousin Dale said...
- I just opened so I'd be cheap.
- Yeah.
- What seems to be the problem?
- Well this got this neighbor,
owns the general store
and he over charges people.
So they have a choice of either
shopping with him or going
all the way into town.
- Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Now you've been friends with
Gus for a long time right?
- Yes sir until he started
polluting our drinking water
with sheep piss.
- Sheep piss?
- Sheep piss.
- Exactly how's
he been doing that Mr. Purdy?
- Well the way I see it,
he's been spreading special
treats around my pump house.
And when the sheep come
to eat the treats...
- That makes the...
- Exactly.
I have never seen sheep piss
so much in my entire life.
- Mr. Purdy I'm gonna
give you a fair assessment
of your case.
But what I'm gonna need
from you are the facts.
Not colored by your anger with Gus.
Mrs. Purdy you gonna be
a party to this case?
- Well I am worried about
our drinking water too.
I know you gotta get
this off your mind Flagg
and I will stand by you.
But I don't believe in suing.
So I won't be in on the party.
- What are you doing there you
running up our bill already?
- I can't run up your
bill until you hire me.
- Well I can't hire you
till I know you ain't been
in trouble with the law since you was 13.
- Are we counting parking tickets?
- Good luck Gus.
Ain't a nicer man in the county.
- We're with you Gus.
- I can't wait to get
the details on this one.
- Here comes the trouble maker now.
- Poor Ada having to go through all this.
- Hell I'd do the same
thing if somebody messed
with our water.
- I don't think you can park here Flagg.
- Oh yeah you can.
If it's your case you can.
- You wouldn't wanna
wade your 10 bucks on his
chances would you?
- What are you giving odds?
- Morning Ada.
- Good morning.
- Lynette hi.
- Mama wait.
- Hey Papa.
- Hey sweetheart.
- I just want
you to know I'm right back
here okay.
- Good, good.
- All right good luck Papa.
- I don't need to luck sweetheart,
I got the law on my side.
- Ladies and gentlemen.
For the past 30 years, the
Purdy family's been getting
their drinking water from the well.
It's currently owned by
their neighbor, Mr. Gus Falk.
Now in our state if the Purdy's
have been using the well
without comment or objection from Mr. Falk
for at least 10 years
which is the case here.
Well then they have the right
to continue getting clean,
uncontaminated drinking
water from the well.
- Ladies and gentlemen of the jury.
My opponent has stated
his case very clearly.
There's just one problem.
He has no case.
Now it's true that Mr. Falk
never objected to the Purdy's
use of the well.
However, on at least one
occasion, he granted Mr. Purdy
specific permission to use
the well in exchange for
Mr. Purdy building a
pump house over the well.
Now it's through that
permissive use, that Mr. Falk
retains ownership of the
well, without interference
from Mr. Purdy.
- Mr. Purdy has Mr. Falk ever
talked to you about the well
that you draw your water from?
- Yes he did.
- What?
- Yes he did.
- Are you sure Mr. Purdy?
- Yeah I'm sure I told
him to keep his sheep away
from my pump house.
- I mean before that.
- No I don't recall he ever
talked to me before that.
- You mean before the sheep
started grazing near the well.
- It ain't the grazing I'm
concerned about it's the pissing.
- Mr. Purdy could you
please use some other word
to describe, perhaps
urination would be better.
- Sure judge I'll be happy to.
You see, the urination
is what causes the piss
to pollute the drinking water.
- I understand that Mr. Purdy.
- And I'll tell you something
else, he's got 20 acres
of land for them sheep to urinate on,
so how come they're always
pissing in my pump house?
- I'm sure that they don't
make a decision to go...
- I'll tell you why.
Diarrhetic treats and he's
the one that's doing it.
- Objection your honor,
there's no evidence to
substantiate...
- Sustained.
- Mr. Purdy, do you remember
when you built that pump house
for Mr. Falk?
- I don't recall maybe 10 years ago.
- Well let me refresh your memory.
It was 14 years ago this summer.
- 10, 14 what difference does it make?
- And do you recall the
conversation you had with Mr. Falk
why you were building the pump house.
- Now how in the world am I
gonna remember a coversation
I had 14 years ago.
- Mr. Purdy would you
please be more responsive
to the questions.
- Okay judge.
Oh I don't.
- Mr. Falk thanked you for
building that pump house
since it improved the
value of his property.
Mr. Purdy.
- Mr. Purdy.
- Sorry judge, I don't remember any stuff.
Don't pay no mind.
They'll come around once
they see we're in the right.
- So you gonna come to
Jenny's volleyball with us?
- You haven't been to
a game all year Flagg.
- Could be good you know,
to kind of keep your mind
off of all this stuff.
- I don't need to take
my mind off nothing.
- Well never mind
I don't really care anyway.
Just so you know your
lawyer's gonna cost a lot more
than digging a new well wood.
This is so embarrassing.
- You gonna let your daughter talk to me?
- Well she's your daughter too.
You get half the blame.
- When your toilet backs
up on Christmas Eve you'll
be singing a different tune.
- When Flagg was
building that pump house
I told that since it would add
the the value of my property
I'd continue not charging him for water.
He couldn't get that
through his thick skull.
- It would get through all
right if you ever said it.
- Mr. Reed please control your client.
- I'm sorry your honor.
- Say objection.
- Well I can't object to his recollection.
- Why not everybody objects to mine.
- Quiet down.
- Mr. Falk has there ever
been a written agreement
about the Purdy's use of the well.
- I never saw one.
- You ever use the well yourself?
- I never needed to but
I'm planning to use it
one of these days, when I
put up some mobile homes
on the land.
- Mobile homes.
- Mr Purdy.
- Well, we really have a
dilemma here then don't we?
I mean it all boils
down to Mr. Purdy's word
against yours.
- That ain't exactly true.
- Who are you?
- Ed Mclvor I thought I
might as well put in my two
cents here.
- What do you
know about this case?
- And you say you were
present when Mr. Falk
and Mr. Purdy discussed
the pump house Mr. Purdy
was going to build on
the adjacent property.
- Gus told Flagg he'd count the pump house
as payment for the water, that's all.
All this fuss over nothing.
Until the poker game.
- What poker game?
- The one we used to play
every Wednesday night
until Gus and Flagg got in a fight.
Ain't played since.
- Well what does this
got to do with the well?
- Flagg called Gus a cheater, Gus got mad
and said he couldn't
use the water anymore.
- I didn't mean that.
I was mad.
- Mr. Falk sit down.
Will you and Mr. Purdy
stop jumping up and down
like this is a kangaroo court.
- When was this poker game?
- 11 years ago.
- Did Mr. Purdy stop using the well?
- He don't know Flagg
very well does he Bill.
- Why didn't you come
forward with this information
before now?
- How'd I know you needed
it, the only reason
I come down to the courthouse
no one around to talk to.
Everyone's here wasting their time.
- Thank you Mr. Mclvor.
No further questions.
- Mr. Reed?
- No, no questions your honor.
- Wasn't me.
- Ladies and gentlemen of
the jury have you reached
a verdict?
- We have your honor.
- Although I strongly
disagree with the verdict.
Unfortunately in this case
we must follow the law.
The jury finds that the Purdy's
have used the well without
Mr. Falk's permission
for at least 10 years.
And therefore have the right
to continue getting clean
water from that well.
- Order, this trial is not over.
Quiet down now.
- She said quiet.
- Yes.
- What about the piss?
- Mr. Purdy I have had
just about enough from you.
- Your honor I apologize you are right.
But he does have a point.
- Yes, yes I know.
To protect the plaintiff's
right to use the well
for domestic water purposes,
I will allow him to protect
the area within 10 feet
of the well with a fence.
Court is adjourned, ladies
and gentleman thank you
for your service, you are excused.
Hey, hey, hey!
Hey where are you going?
Hey, hey!
Hey, hey wait.
Won't start?
- Nope, won't start.
- Change the gas since last summer?
- No, I didn't.
- You know old gas is gonna
clog up the carburetor.
I can flush it out and drain for you.
- Oh that's okay Flagg,
I'll do it myself okay.
Thanks for coming by.
- Tractor working?
- Okay Flagg.
- You got about four feet of
fence knocked out in front.
Want me to take care of that?
- Nope, I got it Flagg, thank you.
- Okay.
- Okay Flagg.
- Sorry Flagg I couldn't wait no more.
Ray's getting real nervous
about not seeing him coming.
- Seen who coming?
- Feds.
FBI, CIA, DEA.
- Yeah right.
Okay well I'll see you next week.
- About that you know Scott
and Ernie aren't too keen
on your whole bow and arrow thing.
We're taking AK47's.
- Well I'll stick with my
bow and arrow that way I give
them a fighting chance.
- No you know, I think we're
just gonna be more without you.
- This wouldn't have
anything to do with my win
in the court case would it?
- My daddy says you stole Gus's well.
- Well your daddy's wrong boy.
You boys are going to
need a doctor when they
get through burning up poison oak.
- Did you touch that with your hands?
Did you touch that with...
Boys!
Get away from there.
- Oh I'm real glad you liked them.
I'm happy with the brown.
- I gotta go.
- See ya.
You finished the Durban's already?
- Boys are doing it.
- Oh well I guess you can't blame 'em.
It's been nearly a month.
- You'd think they was Gus's
relatives the way you were
siding with them.
What'd Rachel want?
- Oh she just came by to say hello.
- Guess she's got more
important things to do
than talk to me.
- No she was late for a...
meet.
- I'm sorry Ada.
But people don't think
it's right for me to have
the Purdy name in my store.
- I'd never thought I'd see
the day you'd hide behind
the neighbors Gus Falk.
- It's nothing against you personally Ada.
- I hear the Millers
wanna build a car port.
- They already got somebody.
There isn't any work for me anywhere.
I don't know how we're gonna get by.
- Well something's bound
to turn up sweetheart.
- Yeah when I'm dead and buried.
- What happened?
- Some kids at school were
saying bad things about
Mr. Purdy.
- They'll forget about
it in a few days Jen.
- No they won't.
Why did he have to do this?
- It's just his way.
He's got his principals.
- I don't really care about
his stupid principals.
I'm not going back to that school.
- What's wrong with that school?
Now what did I say?
- Oh it's what the kids
at school are saying.
- It ain't the kids
Ada it's their parents.
I never took anything in my
life that didn't belong to me.
- Well I know that Flagg.
But people see it differently.
- Well I can't be responsible
for what people think.
Get.
Get the hell out of here.
Lie down!
- Just wants to be near you Flagg.
- What's that sign for?
- Gus won't sell my eggs anymore.
- He can't do that.
- Well he done it.
- I'm...
- Now we had enough of that.
- No I won't stand for that.
- Now where are you going?
- I'm going to the supermarket in town.
I'm gonna buy a lot of
groceries and I'm gonna drive
past his place real slow.
- There's Jenny's old man.
- Yeah you think
he paid for the groceries?
- No, no he probably stole them too.
What, what?
- Yeah.
Can't believe she has
an old man like that.
- Hop in Ed.
- My legs are doing just fine.
- No come on let me give you a ride.
It's the least I can do.
You helped me win the case.
- If I knew what I was
doing I'd never done it.
- I have a right to clean water.
- I ain't denying your right.
I don't like the way you
went about getting it.
- I did what I thought was right Ed.
- Flagg, you're a mean,
stubborn, self righteous man.
Just like your Pa, only worse.
- I'm not like my father.
I'm not like my father.
- What happened?
- Talk about it later.
Now what did I do?
I can't say anything right.
- She was worried about you.
- Can't do a damn thing,
can't say a damn thing.
Doesn't piss somebody off.
- Now you go get out of those wet things
you'll catch your death a cold.
Fix you a cup of hot tea.
- Tea ain't gonna help me none.
- It's passed 10 o'clock Flagg.
Brought you some coffee.
You want me to fry you up some sausages?
Coffee's there if you want it.
- It's come Ada.
- What's come?
- The coldness in my legs.
It comes to all the Purdy's near the end.
- They don't feel cold.
- They're cold on the inside.
- Now I'll get the hot water bottle.
- Ada, call the children.
- What for?
I wanna say goodbye.
- I think maybe you got a little cold.
- I need to see them.
- Okay I'll start calling.
- Ada, I'm sorry I ain't
been a better husband to you.
- I knew what I was getting
when I married you Flagg Purdy.
All right then you go for you
and for you, thanks so much.
You know I'll be exclusively
selling eggs from right here
so I do appreciate you coming out.
Okay thanks Linda.
See you next week.
- Hi.
- More trouble at school?
- No, teacher meetings.
- Well there's some water
heating on the stove,
would you take the hot
water bottle into your Pa.
- He's still in bed?
Hi.
- What are you doing home?
Did you quit school?
- No, why would I do that?
- Well I know the kids have
been giving you a hard time.
- Thanks.
But, I took care of them.
- I'm sorry I missed your game Jenny.
- It's okay we got killed anyways.
- Don't matter I should,
I should have been there anyway.
- Well you know what
basketball seasons coming up
and I think they're gonna start me
so, you can come to one of those games.
- I won't be here.
This is for you
So you're not late for your games.
- Your Timex.
Thanks Papa.
- Well it's his way
of saying he loves you.
- He could just say it.
- He's feeling a little
down because the trial.
- But he won.
- Well.
- This is so stupid.
- You wanna help me call
your brothers and sisters?
He wants to see them.
- I'll call Anne Marie.
- He didn't say nothing about Anne Marie.
My darlings.
Hi.
Hi.
You've been minding your
Ma and Pa not fighting?
- Yeah.
- Well then there just might
be some ginger bread cookies
on the kitchen table for you.
Travis Jr.
You ain't bringing no worms
into my kitchen are you?
Thank you.
- Wash your hands before you...
- Hey Travis.
Look at you.
How beautiful grandma.
You are so beautiful.
Well I'll get the sleeping
bags for the children.
- Oh don't trouble yourself
I'm driving back tonight.
We don't want Porter and
Travis Jr. to miss school.
- Yeah and I'm gonna
stay with Tammy's folks.
- Well I'm glad you came.
The way you sounded on
the phone I wasn't sure
you'd come.
- Well, he thought about it some more.
- How are your chickens mama?
- Fine.
- How's Flagg?
- I don't know what the big
deal is if it's just a cold.
- Well he's acting like
he's about to meet his maker.
- Well it isn't like he
asks you to come everyday.
Is Eldon coming?
- He should be coming later.
- Oh great, we haven't
seen him in a long time.
Isn't that great Travis?
- Yeah.
Hey mama we passed Flagg's
truck on the way in.
Can I fix the flat while I'm here?
- Oh that'll be fine Travis.
Say hi to grnadpa.
- Hello everybody.
- Hi grandpa.
- Thank you, thank you.
Watch your knee.
Watch your knee on grandpa.
Thank you dear.
Thank you.
Oh look is that for me?
To Grandpa.
Look at that.
I don't know what it is
but I like it very much.
Let me see the baby.
- Here she is.
- Let me see the baby.
I'm sorry I'm not gonna get
to see you grow up Brittanya.
- Flagg you're gonna see
all the children grow up.
- Are you taking your nap grandpa?
- No grandpa's dying Porter.
You gonna remember grandpa when he's gone?
- Mhm.
- Yeah.
- I remember when you yelled at daddy.
- Grandpa was just kidding sweetheart.
- Where you going grandpa?
- You ask your Pa to tell you Travis Jr.
- Now Flagg don't be
giving them any money.
- No, no now I can give
my grandchildren something
to hold to.
- Share that with your
brother and your sister.
- Hey share.
- Share it you hear me.
- You're supposed to share.
Give me!
Give me!
- Hey, hey okay come on.
- I'll see you before you head for home.
- Now don't forget
your grandpa now hear.
I'm okay.
Sit Travis.
We may not have another chance to talk.
- Ma told me that Scooter
Reed was back in town.
- Yeah he did a pretty
good job on the trial too.
Just haven't gotten his bill yet.
- I guess you can wake up
one morning and know you're
gonna die.
I just never heard of it before.
- Purdy's ain't like other people.
- You're the master or
understatement Flagg.
- Yeah.
Travis, I want you to
have my outboard motor.
- Well that's nice of you
Flagg but I don't have a boat.
- You don't have a boat?
- No.
- How do you fish?
- Well I ain't been fishing
since I was Travis Jr.'s age.
- Well what are you doing
with all them worms then?
- Well they're not bait worms Flagg,
they're compost and
garbage in the fertilizer.
- You compost garbage for a living?
- I sell the worms that do that.
Here.
- I'll be damned.
I didn't know you were
helping the environment.
- There's a lot of things you
don't know about me Flagg.
- Yeah.
Like what?
Travis, take that board,
buy yourself a boat
and take the kids out
fishing while you can.
- It's amazing the insights
grandparents get about kids
'cause I would have given
anything to have you take
me fishing when I was their age.
- I don't remember you ever asking.
- None of the other kids had to ask.
And their Pa's were working.
- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...
- You can buy my coffin Travis,
make sure it's worm proof.
- Well she got a bunch of money from
her third or fourth divorce.
I don't know.
And of course I get an
appointment to show her a house.
She shows up dressed to
the nine, pointing out
all the stops just trying to
impress me with her money.
You know the beamer, the mint coat.
The silicon bazoomies out to here.
- What?
Beverly Baker?
No way she was flat as a pancake.
- More like five day old roadkill.
Honk, honk.
So I'm shocked...
- He's pissed because I wouldn't
take his outboard motor.
- You're still eating dairy aren't ya?
I can smell it.
- You're still
raiding worm farmers slightly
below people who sell their
owns homes aren't you?
- Ooo good one.
- I'll call you back.
Oh my god.
- Hello Jenny.
- I'm doing my homework.
- Mama.
Get, get in there.
- Jeez already.
- That is one hell of a
mistake you and papa had.
- Whatever he gives you, you take.
- Hi papa.
- Hi dear.
- Here's a fresh one for you.
- Thank you.
Derek wanted to come but
he's working days now so.
- Oh, maybe you two can
start having a family of
your own now that you're
sleeping in the same bed
at the same time.
- You find that funny?
- No.
I just can't stop thinking
about silicon bazoomies.
- I'm on my deathbed
and you're making jokes.
- Oh papa you're not on your
deathbed you're just feeling
sorry for yourself.
- Rachel.
- Now that your sister's
a big developer she thinks
she can insult me.
- I'm not a developer.
- Your selling houses on
prime farmland graden sprawl,
what do you call it.
- You know if you would just
take the time to find out
what it is that I do you
would know that I'm...
- You're the final one to talk!
You didn't even come to the courthouse!
- Oh and watch you make
a fool of yourself.
You know if you were
just reasonable with Gus.
- I will not hear that name in my house.
- Linette, I'm gonna go talk
to Gus, about helping Gus
build those mobile homes that
Gus is putting up next door.
- Papa, papa, breath, breath, breath.
- Sweetheart, go get mama's
jewelry box over there.
You'll be laughing on the
other side of your face
when I'm lying out there in
a pine box six feet under.
Here sweetheart, I want you to have it.
- Papa these are mama's.
- That's okay I bought 'em for her.
- No, no I don't
feel right about that.
- No, no it's all right dear.
They're not real anyway.
If you don't want 'em
save 'em for your children
when you have 'em.
Here, here.
Give these to her.
- I'm out of here.
- Papa, breath, breath. breath.
- I'm all right now.
- Looks like the cold
went right to his brain.
Time we had a litte talk.
- Yoohoo, I've brought my
famous funeral casserole.
- I'm sure Flagg will
appreciate the thought Melinda.
- That'll kill him for sure.
- I figured with all the
youngins coming for the funeral.
- Anne Marie's not coming.
- Oh, I didn't think Anne
Marie was gonna be here.
- Sure you did.
- I'll tell Flagg you brought it.
- Well, I'll be going then.
- Ada, who you
gabbling with out there?
- Oh it's Melinda.
She brought you her famous casserole.
- Well send her in so I can thank her.
- Well hi there.
Linda says you both wanna buy some eggs.
- How many would you like?
Oh that's my son.
I gotta greet him.
Hello.
There you are.
How was your trip?
- Long.
- Look at your and your stuff.
Oh good to see you.
- Hey.
How's the spiritual real estate game.
- Don't knock it I bet my
congregations bigger than yours.
- Yeah I bet it is.
Hey there.
- How are you.
It's good to see you.
- Hows Derek?
- Oh he's fine.
He wanted to come but
he had to work today so.
- Oh ah, I'm gonna be
right back with your eggs.
Come with me a minute Eldon.
- So hows pop?
- I know better.
I've been telling the
others it's just a cold but,
I'm beginning to think it's
got more to do with the trial.
- How so?
- Well I think he knows it
was a mistake to sue Gus,
and he can't find a way out
of it because of his pride.
- No wonder you fell
in love with them mama.
These are beautiful.
- Fertilized eggs are supposed
to be lower in cholesterol
and I figure the market'll brew.
Strictly organic.
- Hey did you do something
new to your hair?
- I cut it a bit.
- Well it looks nice.
Hey Travis.
What do robbins do before breakfast?
- I don't know, what?
- Warm ups.
Ha!
All right I keep telling
the to give it up
but they just keep coming
up with more worm jokes.
- Whatever.
- Hows the new church?
- Well we're raising the
money for the walls while
the good lord lays the
foundation and I guess it's just
my job to make sure
everybody knows he's keeping
his end of the bargain.
- Well you can't count me
in for a contribution bro.
- Okay.
- As long as you'll take a credit card.
- Oh yeah we'll max you out.
- I hope you can help
papa Eldon I really do.
- Well I'll try but,
you know how he is about
being ministered to.
- About the same as the rest of us.
- So tell me reverend, what's
god's cost for new square
foot construction?
- Well, that's a
very complicated question.
I don't know.
- Square footage.
- Oh, mama that's your set.
- He insisted I take them Ada.
I didn't want to upset him.
- Sorry.
Mama he can't give away your stuff.
- I reckon he can give
away anything he wants to
in his own house.
- Except it ain't just his house.
- He's giving away
everything they own Eldon,
including mama's things.
- Mama I think you better get
all your things out of there.
- You know why don't we
just move him out of there
and give those sheep
something else to piss on.
- Will you talk to him son?
He listens to you.
- It's good to see you son.
- It's good to see you too papa.
- I can't keep a thing down.
- It came on kind of a sudden didn't it?
- Yeah well, can't predict these things.
- That's true.
But I never would of been
predicting that you'd be giving
away all your things and mama's.
- I want people to think
kind of me after I go.
- Yeah see I told them that had to be it.
That it couldn't be that
you were seeking salvation.
- Who was saying that?
Who said I'm not seeking salvation?
- You know just...
folks, you know how they are.
- Yes I do I know how people are.
I know how they are.
You didn't know my pa did you son?
- No he was pretty ill when
he died but I do remember
being afraid of him.
- Yeah he did that to people.
- Sang to him on his Bible
thumping, his temper.
You know nobody showed up at his funeral.
Not even family.
Just me and ma.
Hurt my ma real bad.
- You're afraid the same
thing will happen to you.
You're nothing like your pa.
- No.
- You know that trial
might have been a mistake
but it's not too late to change that.
- I don't know what good that'll do.
- You might be surprised.
You can start by getting out of this bed.
- This is a good place that
I need to wait for the end.
Whoa.
Here son.
Here, here.
Here this is for the church building fund.
I'd like you to say a few words over me.
When my time comes.
- Don't they have
pills for this kind of thing?
- Ther you go
lets slip some prozac into
his hot water bottle.
- I think we should call Anne Marie.
- Forget it.
- Oh you don't know what it
was like between her and papa.
- Like when she told him
she was marrying Jurvis.
- Oh god I thought the
roof would come off.
I mean a used car
salesman for a son in law.
- Yeah they're worse than developers.
- I thought things would get
better after her divorce.
- Why should she bother with us?
She's a big star.
The perfect talk show host.
Full of opinions and a big mouth.
- You have a nice thing to
say about everyone don't
you Rachel?
- Oh come on Travis it
wouldn't hurt her to drive
two hours to see mom
every once in a while.
- Well she does call.
- I don't really care what you guys say,
mama I know she can help.
- Oh my lord.
Oh god.
- I'm outta here.
- Who is it?
- Wait Rachel I'm going with you.
- Now don't be rude.
- Who is it?
- Aunt Edith.
- It's your uncle Ben's widow.
She hasn't been here since
before you were born.
- God what a family.
- You'll get used to it honey.
- Hello Purdy's.
- Hello Edith.
It's been a long time.
- I heard my brother in laws dying.
I guess there's some justice
in the world after all.
- Oh no Edith.
- If you're gonna start
with your nasty comments,
you can just march
yourself out here they way
you come in.
- I'm sorry Ada, you never
did appreciate my humor.
I'm here to pay my respects.
- How'd you find out?
- Nothing the Purdy's do in
this county I don't hear about.
Lets see now, this is...
- Linette.
- You moving back to town Eldon?
- I wasn't planning on it.
- I thought you might.
'Cause praying for Flagg
is a full time job.
Well Travis, I'm
surprised to see you here.
- You're not the only one aunt Edith.
- He is part of the family Edith.
- You come to sell the house Rachel?
- Hello?
- Is that because she never
could stand the smell of pigs.
Now, now who's this one here?
- It's our youngest, Jenny.
- She must have your jeans Ada.
You sure are growing up in
the right places sweetheart.
- You know what aunt
Edith, I have to be going.
So you take care now.
- I come visit once in 20
years, you can't stick around
for a few minutes.
- No, I'm sorry.
I'm late for the doctor
so I gotta get going.
So, bye bye.
- Flagg ain't got nothing
that's catching does he?
- We're not sure.
- We ain't been that
close of a family child.
I gotta tell you.
I sure miss having family.
So, where is the old coop?
You look like hell.
- Come to cheer me up did you?
- I could
recommend a good mortician.
Remember what your pa always said
We all gotta go sometime.
And the sins of the father
shall be visited upon the sun.
I brought you some of Ben's things.
Maybe they'll comfort you in the end.
- You should of told me his
time had come so I could
of made my peace with him.
- There's only one way
to find peace Flagg.
Right in all your wrongs.
- So you're taking Spanish
now I take it here.
- Yes.
- Do you have...
- I hate it.
- Do you have Mrs. Walsh?
Oh my god, can you tell me how to say
I know I want a beer
because I'm gonna sneak into
a bar very soon.
- It's mamacita.
- Egg money?
- Egg money.
- He gave it to me.
- What the heck is she talking about?
- But you can't let
her take your bed mama.
- Giving away the bed
is like giving up on us
being together.
- But do you remember when
I had to watch that TV show,
for biology class remember.
It had the live birth.
- I won't
tolerate that kind of thing in
my house.
- And he took
the TV and he threw it
in the crack.
- Oh it's still down
there I saw it this morning
on my walk.
It is.
- You could see the
rabbit ears sticking out.
- Do you remember that time
when Travis failed health?
That one semester, and papa
goes down to the school
and he says, you can't fail my son!
You can't fail my son, he's healthy!
He's never been sick a day in his life!
- Yeah.
- Do you think we
should be laughing like this
with him laying in there?
- Oh please.
- Travis, you didn't happen
to see Jenny downtown
did you?
- No I was hanging out with
Scooter doing some catching up.
Why?
- She's usually home by now.
- Well please let me know
if you hear from her Lupe.
And could you call Jeff, okay then thanks.
She wasn't at practice.
Lupe thinks she went some
place with her friend Jeff.
- I'm gonna call the sheriff.
- No, no.
Travis, lets go look for her.
- Well that's a good idea.
Why don't you two go along and I will keep
the supper warm.
- Well I'll go with you.
- No, no, no.
Rach let me and Eldon do it.
- Oh.
- She come home yet?
- No.
Boys went looking for her.
- She run off because of me Ada.
- Now don't out that on yourself too.
- I heard them laughing out there.
They're all gonna be happy when I'm gone.
- They were just having fun.
They were remembering
when they was growing up.
There is no one of them
that wouldn't do anything
they could to make you well.
- Eldon says I have to forgive myself.
- Well Eldon's pretty
smart about such things.
- What goods a preacher
that tells you what to do
but don't tell you how to do it.
Boil them duds Ada honey.
You cold?
- Oh I was just a little chilly so.
- Mama, telephone.
- Hello?
- Hi mama, don't
worry Jenny's here with me.
- Oh thank goodness.
- She just
popped in at the station
and surprised me.
She got a ride from one of her friends.
- Oh I guess I should have known.
She's been talking about
nothing but you helping papa.
- How are you doing?
- Well to tell you the
truth, I'm worried about him.
- Really?
Well I'm gonna put Jenny on
the early train tomorrow.
- Why don't you come with her?
Maybe she's right, maybe you can help.
- Oh having me
there would probably sink
him completely.
- Well won't you think
about it Anne Marie?
- No I think I've been
through all this with Jenny.
I got my show in the morning.
But I love you mama.
- I love you too.
Bye.
- Is she coming?
- I'm so going to
live like this one day.
But maybe in San Francisco or LA.
- One of the ambitious Purdy's.
- Well I'm definitely going
to get out of there like
you did.
- Well you'll do it a lot
better way than I did.
If I have anything to say about it.
- Was it hard, with Jurvis I mean.
- There are easier ways to grow up.
- What is that?
- It's sushi.
- Okay.
Mmm.
It's good.
So Anne Marie, why don't you come home?
I mean, are you really
still that mad at papa?
- Well I think I'm over that.
I'm not really sure how he would react.
- Well I think that you
should know even though papa
doesn't let us to listen
to your show in the house,
mostly all of us do anyway.
And I know that you can
change things I mean
I listen to you on your show.
If you came home, I
hear you helping people
every single day on your show.
- You know that that's not my own family.
- Yeah but if you just talk to him.
I know I don't really know
what went on between you guys
but I really do believe
that he respects you.
- That doesn't mean that he
wants me to come back home.
- So you're not even gonna try.
- You really love him a lot don't you?
- I don't even know anymore.
I mean he won't listen to
a thing any of us have to
tell him.
Not that he really ever has anyway.
But like I've never seen him
do anything like this before.
I mean he will not get out of bed.
And it's not like I really
do want him to die either.
- He's not going to die.
- You don't know that
you haven't seen him.
- You want this or should
I pack it up for the worms?
- I won't tell the worms if you don't.
Thank you mama.
- Mama.
- Anne Marie.
Oh you came.
- Oh how are you?
- Oh well I'm a little tired.
- Yeah?
- And I can't sleep any
place but my own bed.
Well at least it used to be my own bed.
- Are you wearing all of your clothes?
- Well yes I am.
It's s long story.
- Well you look gorgeous
no matter what you got on.
- Guys come inside it's freezing.
- Oh my gosh look at you here.
- Hey mama, Jenny said you
haven't called the doctor yet,
how come?
- Oh well I tried but you know your pa.
Why should I spend good
money for some doctor
to tell me what I already know.
- Hey stranger.
- Hi Mr. Ponytail.
- Ada, is that Jenny?
- She'll be right in.
- Okay.
I might as well,
get it over with.
Thank you.
Okay.
- Nobody told me you were coming.
- Well I didn't know I was
myself until this morning.
- And why'd you run off
why'd you do a fool thing
like that?
- I can visit my sister if I want to.
- Not without telling us so.
- Well there wasn't time.
- You scared me and mama half to death.
Don't run off when I'm talking to you!
- She's glad to see you too.
Well I'm happy to see her but
she shouldn't have done that.
She shouldn't have run off
without telling anybody.
- Well maybe you could get
her a pager so you could
keep track of her.
- Yeah that's all we need,
teenagers with pagers.
As if those cellular
phones wasn't bad enough.
- Hey that's
a good idea you could get
her one as a Christmas gift.
Or you could just you know
hire a private detective
to keep track of her.
- Well you haven't changed a bit have you?
Still as contrary as ever.
- The fact that I'm here
should tell you that I have
changed quite a lot.
- Well it took my dying
to get you here didn't it?
- Yes.
- I was right about Jurvis wasn't I?
- I don't know how I've
been able to live my life
without your advice.
- Yeah.
- He has a lot of problems
but he's a good man.
We were just, too young
to get married and I was
too anxious to get away from here.
- Well there's a lot more
to be said on that subject
isn't there?
- Great to see you too papa.
- He gets me so mad.
- You have to learn to stand up for him.
You know instead of
running away like I did.
That's something that
would help you and help
everybody else around here too.
- Ada, I'd like my hot water bottle.
- You know slavery was
abolished in 1863 mama.
- Jenny's right mama.
- Maybe should I ignore
him, see if that makes him
feel better.
- Well that's not what she means mama.
- Well, I know what she means.
You just ain't used to seeing
him sick like this Jen.
And till we can figure out a
better way I'm gonna be a slave
or whatever else it takes
to show him I love him.
- Well while you're showing
him that you love him
could you just take
off some of the clothes
'cause I feel really, really
hot just looking at you.
- Well where am I gonna put 'em?
- Well you can put everything in my car.
- Come in.
- Andrea, Sarah!
Hi!
- Ada.
What's all that ruckus out there?
- It's Anne Marie's friends
and they're here to see her
not you.
- Has everybody in this family gone crazy?
- Well I'm not
exactly sure why you all
asked me here because I
don't think there's anything
wrong with him really.
- That's about the only thing
I've ever agreed with you on.
- Rach, Rach, Rachel.
Rach you would have died.
- Jenny gave it to him head on.
They're Anne Marie's friends
they're here to see her
not you!
- Who told you to do that?
- Nobody told me.
- You sure Anne Marie
didn't tell you to do it.
- Yeah I'm sure.
- She did exactly the right thing.
I mean she stood up to him
instead of walking away
into your own eggshells.
- What makes you the expert?
- If he gets all riled up
he'll just get out of this
funk, this.
- Can't I just put Rachel
in there with him for five
minutes.
- Wait can I say something.
You know that new age
psycho babble may work
on your radio show.
But it's not gonna do diddly swat for him.
- You know can we just now get into...
- He's dying.
He's dying.
Let him go in peace.
- Oh my god.
Travis.
Don't even say that.
- He's not dying.
- He's just depressed.
- Are there any more cookies?
- You could have the rest of this one.
- No these aren't right
for you blood type.
- Oh well thank god the cookies are right
for my blood type.
- You know stirring up his anger might not
be a bad idea.
- When he does get angry
he does get moving.
- Gus.
- What's that sweetheart?
- If you wanna get him mad.
I mean god forbid anybody
mentions the G word around here.
- Oh wow.
- God how beautiful it is
out here when it snows.
- Okay come on, lets keep moving.
- Papa.
- Hello dear.
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Can I get you anything else?
- No I'm fine.
Where's ma?
- She went for a walk with
Rachel and Anne Marie.
- Can I maybe get you
some tea or something?
- I won't have it.
- No.
- You're the only one of
my children that cares
whether I live or die.
- Or no that is not true papa.
It's just not.
We all care.
- Well I feel it from you.
I don't feel it from nobody else.
Things are gonna better for you Linette.
I know they will.
- I know.
I always have hope.
- Okay.
You didn't have to prove anything to us.
We can see what great shape you're in.
- I don't have to prove anything to you.
- Are you still mad about Jurvis?
- I could of had Jurivs
anytime I wanted him.
- There was nothing
going on between you two
so why are you making such
a big deal out of it still?
- Who told you there was nothing going on?
- He told me, he only took you out once.
- Yeah.
It's just that you were too
afraid to tell me that you
were gonna go out with him, it was easier
for you to run away.
Just like it's easier for you
to deal with everybody elses
problems instead of dealing with your own.
- Okay so this is not about
Jurvis, this is about how
I live my life.
- Look, if you think I'm jealous
of you, you can forget it
because I have been in the
million dollar sales club
for three years.
- Rachel.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that I ran away and
I didn't tell you about him.
I thought if I came home I
could maybe clear things up.
But...
- Well it wasn't really a date.
We just parked behind the
high school and made out.
- Oh.
Guess what I heard about Jurvis?
- Remember how I ate these?
No more.
- You loved them.
- Very bad area.
- Hey Jackson you want one of those?
How about this one?
No?
Okay.
Okay get grape.
Hi Rachel it's good to see you.
- Gus.
- Yeah.
Anne Marie.
- Hi.
- Hi Anne Marie I really
enjoy your show I listen
to it.
- Oh thanks, it's good to see you.
- You too, Anne Marie yeah.
Ada, I've been thinking a
lot about this whole thing
and what I did troubles
me it just isn't right.
I'd be glad to sell your eggs again.
- Well thank you Gus.
I'll think on it.
- How's Flagg?
- No better.
- I'd come over and pay my
respects if i didn't think
it would make things worse.
- Now isn't that an interesting idea.
I walked right into that one.
- Mama, I thought you'd
be happy that Gus would
sell your eggs again.
You sure could use the money.
- Well I've been doing some
figuring and I made more money
last week than I do in a
month selling through Gus.
I don't think I need a middle man anymore.
- Oh you fox.
- What are you doing mama?
What's going on?
- Hi Linette.
- Hi Gus.
- He's in the bedroom.
- Is he sleeping?
- I don't know.
- What's he doing here?
- It's a long story.
Never even played checkers this long.
- Travis, Eldon, it's good to see you.
Nice fence Flagg put up by the pump house.
Could use some paint though.
Sure is a nice day.
I'll see you tomorrow.
- What?
- Yeah that's what we'd like to know.
- Yeah what's Gus so happy about?
- We came to an understanding.
- What kind of understanding?
- I gave him back the rights.
His lawyers drawing up the papers.
- Lord mercy.
- After all that time
and money you're just...
- What are you getting so upset about?
It's a good deal.
He's gonna drill us a new well.
- I don't believe this.
- Yeah I should have never gone
to court in the first place.
We just put things back the way they were.
- You're missing the point Flagg.
Those rights belong to both of us.
Well I'm sorry I can't do anything right.
But you won't have to put
up with it much longer.
- Poor papa.
Must be hard to be rejected by everybody.
- Well it is.
- And it must feel terrible
to feel like you're dying
and no one understands you.
I know what you're doing.
- Even though you've been a good husband
and a good father.
- I'm not gonna fall for it.
- And we all see that the
husband and the father that
took care of all of us
and had to support us all.
- That was hard.
- I know that.
The rest of the family knows that.
We love, we support you,
we understand that you've
been a good husband even though at times
you've been difficult to
live with but we love you.
- I don't need to hear no
radio program psychology lady.
- Do you know that we all love you papa?
- No.
- We wouldn't all be here
if we didn't love you.
That's why we're all here.
We're here 'cause we love
you and we worry about you.
- I don't wanna talk about it right now.
- Why don't you just
get up out of that bed.
- I'm not getting out of the bed.
- Come on.
- I'm dying.
- But daddy what I'm trying
to say is you can get
out of the bed...
- I'm dying.
- All right lets go.
- So, what do we do now?
- Well I don't rightly know.
I'm afraid your pa'll just
up and die out of pure
stubbornness.
- What will you do then mama?
- Since you're all grown,
the only thing I've known
is taking care of him and Jenny.
And my chickens.
It's pretty sad ain't it?
Well,
he'll be wanting his hot
water bottle about now.
- Papa's not the only
one who needs to get out
of the house.
- Mommy.
- What's that?
- Hey mama.
Excuse me I'll take this.
- Now what are you doing?
- Thank you very much.
- Now will you tell me
what this is all about?
- Okay shh.
- Okay Linette.
Linette.
- Tada.
- Whoa.
- Beautiful mama.
- Mama where are the gingerbread cookies?
- Mamacita.
- What's going on?
- Oh not bad
for such short notice Travis.
Mama, this gentleman insists on taking you
out for a date this evening.
- My mama taught me
never to go out on a date
unless I know exactly where I'm going.
- I know your date and
I know what he's driving
and I strongly recommend
that you take some
tab money.
- We're going dancing mama.
Come on,
- Dude green means go, red means stop.
- Ada, where you going?
What's going on?
- This is brilliant.
- Oh thank you but I wish
you didn't have to be high
to tell me.
- Grass is very natural.
- What's going on?
Where you going?
- Mama I haven't had
such a serious date in years.
- Thank you for doing this.
And for coming to see your pa.
I know it wasn't easy for you.
- I'm glad I came mama.
- Travis, would
you mind taking a little
side trip.
Well it's been so long since
I did anything like this,
I don't know how to act.
- Just act natural.
Everybody will handle the rest.
♫ Well come with the
boys down to the station
♫ Did need farewell as I go
♫ Don't you shed a tear as
the train rolls down the line
♫ I'm on my way to glory don't you know ♫
- Why Ada, it is so good to see you.
Hello Travis.
- Hello Mrs. Cooper.
- What's going on with Flagg?
- Well it's hard to tell.
But this is my date tonight.
- Where's your ma?
- She went out for a while.
- She went out?
- Yeah she, went out with Travis.
- Went out with Travis?
Where'd they go?
- There's a dance tonight at The Grange.
- A dance at The Grange, she
went to a dance at The Grange?
What she do a damn foolish
thing like that for?
- Why, 'cause she felt like
she'd been cooped up here
much lately.
- Well it was good enough for
her to be cooped up before
I was dying.
- Yeah but, all that's
changing now isn't it?
- I suppose she'll be doing
a lot of that kind of thing
then huh.
Dancing carried on.
- Yeah I see all the
time in my line of work.
How quickly widows become free spirits.
- You don't suppose she's
found somebody else already
do you?
- Well she is a mighty fine looking woman.
- Yes.
Yes, that's a problem isn't it?
That is the problem.
♫ I'm on my way to glory don't you know ♫
- Can I have the first dance?
- You'll have to wait your turn Foster.
♫ Since I walked down that road
♫ And I still don't know why
♫ I was a young man
♫ I didn't know ♫
- We're not careful we'll be
an item in tomorrow's paper.
This brings back a lot of memories.
The school dances.
Hayrides.
And hikes to the falls.
I know, I know, I know.
It's not right to...
To pry on you in those days.
But it really struck me
when you came without Flagg.
- Felt strange to me too.
- Well, whatever happens
you won't ever have to worry
about anything.
I'll always look after you.
- I don't need anybody to
look after me Gus Falk.
Now if you really cared about
me you would do something
to support Flagg.
- You think this is
about him being jealous?
- He's always believed that
there's still something
between you and me.
- I sure would not mention
that we were dancing
together tonight.
- Flagg.
Flagg?
You want some tea?
- How was the dance?
- Fine.
Gwen and Foster said to say hello.
And Gus.
We even danced.
One dance.
- He couldn't wait till I
was gone before he started
to pounce.
- Now don't get yourself
all worked up over nothing.
- You never even thought
about dancing until
Anne Marie got here.
- I wasn't thinking about a lot of things.
- Next thing she'll be
taking you to chippendales.
- Don't go blaming anything on Anne Marie.
She only come to make
amends with you and you
didn't exactly welcome it.
- I heard what she said.
- She wants you to accept
her no matter what mistakes
she made.
That's all any of our
kids ever wanted from you.
- Kids should know how I
feel about them by now.
- Sometimes it's hard to tell for sure.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
- Ada?
I wanna show you something.
My pa wrote this to my mom
when they just got married.
He wrote it before I was born.
Read it out loud.
- Dear little wife of mine,
Here I am sitting in my
cold room thinking of what
I am missing at home.
- He was driving for a long
distance hauler at the time.
- My beautiful little
wife has a world of plans
that I'm doing everything
I can to help come true.
When we were single I thought
I was in love with you.
But at that time I didn't
know what love was compared
to how much I love you now.
The X's I put on the bottom
of this letter are kisses
for you.
Save all your love for
your lonesome husband.
So lonesome sweetheart.
Love Hugh
- I didn't know the man
that wrote that letter.
The man I knew couldn't write such things.
- The man who wrote this
was filled with love.
He might have been angry
and confused but he was
still a decent man and he loved you.
- I have a hard time believing that.
- Well you keep trying.
Papa's having trouble forgiving himself.
You think forgiving his
pa would do just as well?
- It's not really a
question of who he forgives,
it's the forgiving that counts you know.
Letting go of his anger.
- The whole thing hinges on forgiveness.
Forgiveness is like a key
that opens a door in the heart
and when that door is
open then the lord can...
Sorry.
- No that's okay Eldon
you're absolutely right.
- Well I wanna hear from you Eldon.
- You know it's funny
how a little water can
start something so complicated.
- What?
Mama?
What is it?
- I'll be right back.
- Ada.
Ada what's going on?
What's going on?
What the hell are you doing woman!
- I'm just seeing how
firm the mattress is.
- Ada.
Ada!
Ada.
Ada.
- Don't waste your breath.
I think she went over to Gus's place.
- What are you doing?
- I just wanna see where
it'll best fit in my bedroom.
- Well it don't fit no where
'cause it ain't going no where!
- That's what I get for trusting you!
This time they're gonna
throw you in the slammer!
- Now what's got into you?
- You know damn well
what's gotten into me.
- See I thought we settled
this yesterday when you
were on your death bed.
- That was before you turned my water off!
- Turned your water off,
Andy have I been out of this
store today?
- We've been putting up
stock all day Mr. Purdy.
- Well then you hired somebody to do it!
- Why would I do a fool
thing like that when you gave
the water rights back to me?
Andy why don't you go and
chop me some fire wood
will you?
Okay.
Doggonit Flagg.
You haven't learned a thing
from all this have you?
Now Ada and I were dancing last night.
That's not what this is about is it?
- No.
- I respected Ada's decision
when she decided to marry you.
And that has not changed.
She loves you Flagg.
Now, you go home and I'm
sure you'll figure out
what happened to your water.
I'm sure it's the breaker.
- You're right.
- Sure I'm right I mean that breakers old.
- No I mean about me
not learning anything.
- I'm sorry.
I was wrong.
You have learned something.
You apologized to me
yesterday for what you did
and today just now you listened to me.
Pa you were hopping mad I
know how hard that is for you.
- Well it's hard for you too.
- Yeah it's hard for me too.
I'll tell you what.
I think maybe I've been
too set on beating you
at whatever we do.
- Well I'm glad to hear
you finally admit it.
- I will try to change that.
- Okay.
I will too.
- So checkers tomorrow?
- Yeah.
Usual time.
- No Porter
grandpa's not dead yet.
Porter give the phone back to mommy.
Okay sweetheart.
I'll talk to you later.
Love you, bye.
Amy can't get here until tomorrow.
So its it okay if I stay here tonight?
- Hey, your welcome.
Guys.
Mama has something she
wants to tell everyone.
About your eggs.
- Oh well.
I spoke to the manager at
the supermarket in town
about not selling organic
eggs and so next week
there will be Purdy Eggs in their cooler.
- Hey way to go mama.
- You guys, he's coming.
- Glad you're up and about.
- Well there's a lot of work to do.
Not gonna have time for a lot of dancing.
- Well dancing's exactly
what you need Flagg Purdy.
- Yeah.
- Everynight.
- What time's that show of yours on?
9:00 AM Monday through Friday.
AM610.
- I'll try to watch it.
- You done good papa.
- Thanks for your help Eldon.
- I did very little.
You did hard work, and
thank you for giving me
the inspiration for this weeks ceremony.
- Is the road to forgiveness
paved with gifts.
- Send me a tape.
I'm gonna bring the outboard
over one of these days
and we're gonna take the kids out fishing.
- Okay pop.
- Okay.
- Papa.
I'm really glad you're up.
- A lot of fuss over nothing.
- Papa.
- Yeah?
- There's a little gift on the
kitchen table from all of us.
- Oh okay.
Well I don't know what I
learned from the whole thing.
What that checkers game or that
forgiving business had to do
with it.
But it really doesn't matter much.
What does matter is we got through it.
And even with all our
differences, we're still a family.
You know it's not easy to
get your wife and children
to change.
But laying in bed like
that sure seemed to help.
Maybe I learned that.
checkers every Tuesday,
must be 20 years now.
Of course we been playing one kind of game
or another since we were kids.
But now it's checkers.
Most folks think I'm
crazy to keep playing him.
It's not that he's smarter
than me or a better player,
he's just got this way
of wearing you down.
- That's quite a move flag,
you've been cooking that
one up for quite a while haven't you?
- Take your medicine Gus all
the stalling in the world
isn't gonna help you now.
- Shoot.
Oh well.
- Maybe it was cocky way
he took those checkers
off the board, maybe it
was the way he wrote down
my losing, I don't know.
All I know is my whole trouble
with Gus started right after
that game.
- Okay that's 1,278.65.
I suppose you wanna let it ride.
- Where'd that piece come from?
- I put it there three moves
ago, I guess you weren't
looking very close.
- No I was looking very closely,
I'm sure it wasn't there.
- Just like you're sure I
took your shovel last week.
- Found the shit didn't you Flagg?
- I ain't playing no game
of checkers where the pieces
move by themselves.
♫ I think I hear the train here coming
♫ Coming down to Caribeo way
♫ Go my ticket in my hand, I've
always been a traveling man
♫ That trains coming, today's the day
♫ Don't remind me but I'm leaving
♫ Doesn't really matter in the end
♫ All the money that I wasted
♫ The whiskey that I've tasted
♫ it still comes down
to who you call a friend
♫ Well come with the
boy down to the station
♫ Did need farewell as I go
♫ Don't you shed a tear as
the train rolls down the line
♫ I'm on my way to glory don't you know
♫ Come with the boys down to the station
♫ Did need farewell as I go ♫
- Hey pull it around.
Pull it around.
♫ I'm on my way to glory don't you know ♫
- Ada.
Ada!
Ada.
- Good morning Ed.
- Ada.
- Well I think
she's just after his money.
Hm.
What makes you think that?
- Hey Gus.
- Hi Ada.
- I don't think
this is about this woman
or how she treats your daddy,
I think you're mad at him
for the way he treated you
and your mama.
This is Anne Marie no PhD
just common sense Purdy.
And I'm talking with Paula.
- 12 dollars.
- Having a
little sex with daddy maybe?
My daddy's riding around in
his wheelchair having sex.
- Where'd she get that stuff?
- Not from me.
- At 95 you should
be able to live with whoever
you want don't you think darling?
- She's always been real good
at figuring these things out.
At least for other people.
Flagg was gonna fix
that fence this morning.
- He was up half the night
fixing the Campbell's pump.
- Morning Flagg.
- Flagg.
- You know what woke me up this morning?
- Your zest for life.
- No it was the sound of sheep
pissing on my pump house.
- I always said you had
remarkable hearing for your age.
- I can't have sheep
pissing on my pump house
polluting my water.
- I've known you since you
fell off the turnip truck
Flagg Purdy and this
ain't about sheep piss.
- You never told me you
were gonna bring sheep in
over there.
- Well I guess forgot to mention
that since it's my pastor
and my well I figure I
can graze elephants there
if I want.
- Well Purdy's have been
using that well since you were
a gleam in your daddy's one good eye.
Purdy's have always used that well.
- And I never charged you for it.
- That's right Flagg.
- And I told you how I felt
about listening to that radio
program didn't I?
- Flagg lets talk it over come on.
- No talking about it.
I will not have the sheep over there.
- I think you know better than
to come in here demanding.
- I'm not demanding anything
I'm telling you if you keep
your sheep over there I'm gonna sue you.
- You're gonna what?
- I'm gonna sue you.
- Now you don't mean that Flagg.
- You mule headed flat lander.
- You can compliment all you like.
I ain't gonna tolerate it.
- Okay, okay you go ahead
and sue and in the mean time
you get off my property.
- You ask me you're both
sounding like a couple
of puffed up roosters.
- And you can forget about
checkers next week too.
Yes sir, forget about it.
He's spreading something
out there I know he is.
We ain't gonna get away with
it if you don't take 'em
away, we're gonna have
lamb stew all winter.
- How doing Flagg?
- I been better.
- When you think you'll be
around to clear that brush?
- Well I just canceled a
fence job so I can be over
almost anytime.
- Well I hope so.
You know what they say.
Time waits for no man.
- Nice sheep Flagg.
- These are the no luck
generation of deaf children.
- I heard that.
- Que dijo?
- Not importante.
Come on.
- If I let him get away with
it he will be grazing elephants
out there.
Spoke to cousin Dale
about a lawyer in town.
I hate to bring the law into
it but we have no choice.
- Well you could make amends.
- Why can't he make amends for a change?
Why is it always me?
He's the one that started it.
- Be the one to finish it.
- No, it's too late.
He said some things he
shouldn't have said.
And besides, there is a
principal at stake here.
- What principal is that?
- Well I forget.
But we gotta protect our rights Ada honey.
Otherwise people'll be
walking all over poor folk.
- Seems to me Gus is pretty
much poor folks like us.
- There you go, protecting him again.
- It don't seem right to sue a friend.
Goodnight.
- He's been getting his way
since he was three years old.
Time somebody taught him
not to be so stubborn.
- Well it'll take
a little while for people
to know that I'm back in town but...
No, no, no, there's plenty
of legal work in a town
this size.
With all the lawyers and
judges spouting their opinions
on TV, everybody's ready to
sue with a drop of a hat.
Listen I gotta go, somebody just came in.
I love you too Mom.
Okay, okay.
Bye bye.
Mr and Mrs. Purdy.
What can I do for you?
- We know each other?
- I used to hang out with Travis.
- Oh of course.
How are Scooter?
- Please sit down.
- You the fella that
took Travis joy riding in
the sheriff's car?
- Yeah.
That was quite a thing.
- Sheriff didn't think so.
- Well he got over it.
- And now you're a lawyer.
- If you think my criminal
background's gonna get
in the way of me giving
you good legal council,
I'll be happy to recommend
another lawyer in town.
- Well my cousin Dale said...
- I just opened so I'd be cheap.
- Yeah.
- What seems to be the problem?
- Well this got this neighbor,
owns the general store
and he over charges people.
So they have a choice of either
shopping with him or going
all the way into town.
- Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Now you've been friends with
Gus for a long time right?
- Yes sir until he started
polluting our drinking water
with sheep piss.
- Sheep piss?
- Sheep piss.
- Exactly how's
he been doing that Mr. Purdy?
- Well the way I see it,
he's been spreading special
treats around my pump house.
And when the sheep come
to eat the treats...
- That makes the...
- Exactly.
I have never seen sheep piss
so much in my entire life.
- Mr. Purdy I'm gonna
give you a fair assessment
of your case.
But what I'm gonna need
from you are the facts.
Not colored by your anger with Gus.
Mrs. Purdy you gonna be
a party to this case?
- Well I am worried about
our drinking water too.
I know you gotta get
this off your mind Flagg
and I will stand by you.
But I don't believe in suing.
So I won't be in on the party.
- What are you doing there you
running up our bill already?
- I can't run up your
bill until you hire me.
- Well I can't hire you
till I know you ain't been
in trouble with the law since you was 13.
- Are we counting parking tickets?
- Good luck Gus.
Ain't a nicer man in the county.
- We're with you Gus.
- I can't wait to get
the details on this one.
- Here comes the trouble maker now.
- Poor Ada having to go through all this.
- Hell I'd do the same
thing if somebody messed
with our water.
- I don't think you can park here Flagg.
- Oh yeah you can.
If it's your case you can.
- You wouldn't wanna
wade your 10 bucks on his
chances would you?
- What are you giving odds?
- Morning Ada.
- Good morning.
- Lynette hi.
- Mama wait.
- Hey Papa.
- Hey sweetheart.
- I just want
you to know I'm right back
here okay.
- Good, good.
- All right good luck Papa.
- I don't need to luck sweetheart,
I got the law on my side.
- Ladies and gentlemen.
For the past 30 years, the
Purdy family's been getting
their drinking water from the well.
It's currently owned by
their neighbor, Mr. Gus Falk.
Now in our state if the Purdy's
have been using the well
without comment or objection from Mr. Falk
for at least 10 years
which is the case here.
Well then they have the right
to continue getting clean,
uncontaminated drinking
water from the well.
- Ladies and gentlemen of the jury.
My opponent has stated
his case very clearly.
There's just one problem.
He has no case.
Now it's true that Mr. Falk
never objected to the Purdy's
use of the well.
However, on at least one
occasion, he granted Mr. Purdy
specific permission to use
the well in exchange for
Mr. Purdy building a
pump house over the well.
Now it's through that
permissive use, that Mr. Falk
retains ownership of the
well, without interference
from Mr. Purdy.
- Mr. Purdy has Mr. Falk ever
talked to you about the well
that you draw your water from?
- Yes he did.
- What?
- Yes he did.
- Are you sure Mr. Purdy?
- Yeah I'm sure I told
him to keep his sheep away
from my pump house.
- I mean before that.
- No I don't recall he ever
talked to me before that.
- You mean before the sheep
started grazing near the well.
- It ain't the grazing I'm
concerned about it's the pissing.
- Mr. Purdy could you
please use some other word
to describe, perhaps
urination would be better.
- Sure judge I'll be happy to.
You see, the urination
is what causes the piss
to pollute the drinking water.
- I understand that Mr. Purdy.
- And I'll tell you something
else, he's got 20 acres
of land for them sheep to urinate on,
so how come they're always
pissing in my pump house?
- I'm sure that they don't
make a decision to go...
- I'll tell you why.
Diarrhetic treats and he's
the one that's doing it.
- Objection your honor,
there's no evidence to
substantiate...
- Sustained.
- Mr. Purdy, do you remember
when you built that pump house
for Mr. Falk?
- I don't recall maybe 10 years ago.
- Well let me refresh your memory.
It was 14 years ago this summer.
- 10, 14 what difference does it make?
- And do you recall the
conversation you had with Mr. Falk
why you were building the pump house.
- Now how in the world am I
gonna remember a coversation
I had 14 years ago.
- Mr. Purdy would you
please be more responsive
to the questions.
- Okay judge.
Oh I don't.
- Mr. Falk thanked you for
building that pump house
since it improved the
value of his property.
Mr. Purdy.
- Mr. Purdy.
- Sorry judge, I don't remember any stuff.
Don't pay no mind.
They'll come around once
they see we're in the right.
- So you gonna come to
Jenny's volleyball with us?
- You haven't been to
a game all year Flagg.
- Could be good you know,
to kind of keep your mind
off of all this stuff.
- I don't need to take
my mind off nothing.
- Well never mind
I don't really care anyway.
Just so you know your
lawyer's gonna cost a lot more
than digging a new well wood.
This is so embarrassing.
- You gonna let your daughter talk to me?
- Well she's your daughter too.
You get half the blame.
- When your toilet backs
up on Christmas Eve you'll
be singing a different tune.
- When Flagg was
building that pump house
I told that since it would add
the the value of my property
I'd continue not charging him for water.
He couldn't get that
through his thick skull.
- It would get through all
right if you ever said it.
- Mr. Reed please control your client.
- I'm sorry your honor.
- Say objection.
- Well I can't object to his recollection.
- Why not everybody objects to mine.
- Quiet down.
- Mr. Falk has there ever
been a written agreement
about the Purdy's use of the well.
- I never saw one.
- You ever use the well yourself?
- I never needed to but
I'm planning to use it
one of these days, when I
put up some mobile homes
on the land.
- Mobile homes.
- Mr Purdy.
- Well, we really have a
dilemma here then don't we?
I mean it all boils
down to Mr. Purdy's word
against yours.
- That ain't exactly true.
- Who are you?
- Ed Mclvor I thought I
might as well put in my two
cents here.
- What do you
know about this case?
- And you say you were
present when Mr. Falk
and Mr. Purdy discussed
the pump house Mr. Purdy
was going to build on
the adjacent property.
- Gus told Flagg he'd count the pump house
as payment for the water, that's all.
All this fuss over nothing.
Until the poker game.
- What poker game?
- The one we used to play
every Wednesday night
until Gus and Flagg got in a fight.
Ain't played since.
- Well what does this
got to do with the well?
- Flagg called Gus a cheater, Gus got mad
and said he couldn't
use the water anymore.
- I didn't mean that.
I was mad.
- Mr. Falk sit down.
Will you and Mr. Purdy
stop jumping up and down
like this is a kangaroo court.
- When was this poker game?
- 11 years ago.
- Did Mr. Purdy stop using the well?
- He don't know Flagg
very well does he Bill.
- Why didn't you come
forward with this information
before now?
- How'd I know you needed
it, the only reason
I come down to the courthouse
no one around to talk to.
Everyone's here wasting their time.
- Thank you Mr. Mclvor.
No further questions.
- Mr. Reed?
- No, no questions your honor.
- Wasn't me.
- Ladies and gentlemen of
the jury have you reached
a verdict?
- We have your honor.
- Although I strongly
disagree with the verdict.
Unfortunately in this case
we must follow the law.
The jury finds that the Purdy's
have used the well without
Mr. Falk's permission
for at least 10 years.
And therefore have the right
to continue getting clean
water from that well.
- Order, this trial is not over.
Quiet down now.
- She said quiet.
- Yes.
- What about the piss?
- Mr. Purdy I have had
just about enough from you.
- Your honor I apologize you are right.
But he does have a point.
- Yes, yes I know.
To protect the plaintiff's
right to use the well
for domestic water purposes,
I will allow him to protect
the area within 10 feet
of the well with a fence.
Court is adjourned, ladies
and gentleman thank you
for your service, you are excused.
Hey, hey, hey!
Hey where are you going?
Hey, hey!
Hey, hey wait.
Won't start?
- Nope, won't start.
- Change the gas since last summer?
- No, I didn't.
- You know old gas is gonna
clog up the carburetor.
I can flush it out and drain for you.
- Oh that's okay Flagg,
I'll do it myself okay.
Thanks for coming by.
- Tractor working?
- Okay Flagg.
- You got about four feet of
fence knocked out in front.
Want me to take care of that?
- Nope, I got it Flagg, thank you.
- Okay.
- Okay Flagg.
- Sorry Flagg I couldn't wait no more.
Ray's getting real nervous
about not seeing him coming.
- Seen who coming?
- Feds.
FBI, CIA, DEA.
- Yeah right.
Okay well I'll see you next week.
- About that you know Scott
and Ernie aren't too keen
on your whole bow and arrow thing.
We're taking AK47's.
- Well I'll stick with my
bow and arrow that way I give
them a fighting chance.
- No you know, I think we're
just gonna be more without you.
- This wouldn't have
anything to do with my win
in the court case would it?
- My daddy says you stole Gus's well.
- Well your daddy's wrong boy.
You boys are going to
need a doctor when they
get through burning up poison oak.
- Did you touch that with your hands?
Did you touch that with...
Boys!
Get away from there.
- Oh I'm real glad you liked them.
I'm happy with the brown.
- I gotta go.
- See ya.
You finished the Durban's already?
- Boys are doing it.
- Oh well I guess you can't blame 'em.
It's been nearly a month.
- You'd think they was Gus's
relatives the way you were
siding with them.
What'd Rachel want?
- Oh she just came by to say hello.
- Guess she's got more
important things to do
than talk to me.
- No she was late for a...
meet.
- I'm sorry Ada.
But people don't think
it's right for me to have
the Purdy name in my store.
- I'd never thought I'd see
the day you'd hide behind
the neighbors Gus Falk.
- It's nothing against you personally Ada.
- I hear the Millers
wanna build a car port.
- They already got somebody.
There isn't any work for me anywhere.
I don't know how we're gonna get by.
- Well something's bound
to turn up sweetheart.
- Yeah when I'm dead and buried.
- What happened?
- Some kids at school were
saying bad things about
Mr. Purdy.
- They'll forget about
it in a few days Jen.
- No they won't.
Why did he have to do this?
- It's just his way.
He's got his principals.
- I don't really care about
his stupid principals.
I'm not going back to that school.
- What's wrong with that school?
Now what did I say?
- Oh it's what the kids
at school are saying.
- It ain't the kids
Ada it's their parents.
I never took anything in my
life that didn't belong to me.
- Well I know that Flagg.
But people see it differently.
- Well I can't be responsible
for what people think.
Get.
Get the hell out of here.
Lie down!
- Just wants to be near you Flagg.
- What's that sign for?
- Gus won't sell my eggs anymore.
- He can't do that.
- Well he done it.
- I'm...
- Now we had enough of that.
- No I won't stand for that.
- Now where are you going?
- I'm going to the supermarket in town.
I'm gonna buy a lot of
groceries and I'm gonna drive
past his place real slow.
- There's Jenny's old man.
- Yeah you think
he paid for the groceries?
- No, no he probably stole them too.
What, what?
- Yeah.
Can't believe she has
an old man like that.
- Hop in Ed.
- My legs are doing just fine.
- No come on let me give you a ride.
It's the least I can do.
You helped me win the case.
- If I knew what I was
doing I'd never done it.
- I have a right to clean water.
- I ain't denying your right.
I don't like the way you
went about getting it.
- I did what I thought was right Ed.
- Flagg, you're a mean,
stubborn, self righteous man.
Just like your Pa, only worse.
- I'm not like my father.
I'm not like my father.
- What happened?
- Talk about it later.
Now what did I do?
I can't say anything right.
- She was worried about you.
- Can't do a damn thing,
can't say a damn thing.
Doesn't piss somebody off.
- Now you go get out of those wet things
you'll catch your death a cold.
Fix you a cup of hot tea.
- Tea ain't gonna help me none.
- It's passed 10 o'clock Flagg.
Brought you some coffee.
You want me to fry you up some sausages?
Coffee's there if you want it.
- It's come Ada.
- What's come?
- The coldness in my legs.
It comes to all the Purdy's near the end.
- They don't feel cold.
- They're cold on the inside.
- Now I'll get the hot water bottle.
- Ada, call the children.
- What for?
I wanna say goodbye.
- I think maybe you got a little cold.
- I need to see them.
- Okay I'll start calling.
- Ada, I'm sorry I ain't
been a better husband to you.
- I knew what I was getting
when I married you Flagg Purdy.
All right then you go for you
and for you, thanks so much.
You know I'll be exclusively
selling eggs from right here
so I do appreciate you coming out.
Okay thanks Linda.
See you next week.
- Hi.
- More trouble at school?
- No, teacher meetings.
- Well there's some water
heating on the stove,
would you take the hot
water bottle into your Pa.
- He's still in bed?
Hi.
- What are you doing home?
Did you quit school?
- No, why would I do that?
- Well I know the kids have
been giving you a hard time.
- Thanks.
But, I took care of them.
- I'm sorry I missed your game Jenny.
- It's okay we got killed anyways.
- Don't matter I should,
I should have been there anyway.
- Well you know what
basketball seasons coming up
and I think they're gonna start me
so, you can come to one of those games.
- I won't be here.
This is for you
So you're not late for your games.
- Your Timex.
Thanks Papa.
- Well it's his way
of saying he loves you.
- He could just say it.
- He's feeling a little
down because the trial.
- But he won.
- Well.
- This is so stupid.
- You wanna help me call
your brothers and sisters?
He wants to see them.
- I'll call Anne Marie.
- He didn't say nothing about Anne Marie.
My darlings.
Hi.
Hi.
You've been minding your
Ma and Pa not fighting?
- Yeah.
- Well then there just might
be some ginger bread cookies
on the kitchen table for you.
Travis Jr.
You ain't bringing no worms
into my kitchen are you?
Thank you.
- Wash your hands before you...
- Hey Travis.
Look at you.
How beautiful grandma.
You are so beautiful.
Well I'll get the sleeping
bags for the children.
- Oh don't trouble yourself
I'm driving back tonight.
We don't want Porter and
Travis Jr. to miss school.
- Yeah and I'm gonna
stay with Tammy's folks.
- Well I'm glad you came.
The way you sounded on
the phone I wasn't sure
you'd come.
- Well, he thought about it some more.
- How are your chickens mama?
- Fine.
- How's Flagg?
- I don't know what the big
deal is if it's just a cold.
- Well he's acting like
he's about to meet his maker.
- Well it isn't like he
asks you to come everyday.
Is Eldon coming?
- He should be coming later.
- Oh great, we haven't
seen him in a long time.
Isn't that great Travis?
- Yeah.
Hey mama we passed Flagg's
truck on the way in.
Can I fix the flat while I'm here?
- Oh that'll be fine Travis.
Say hi to grnadpa.
- Hello everybody.
- Hi grandpa.
- Thank you, thank you.
Watch your knee.
Watch your knee on grandpa.
Thank you dear.
Thank you.
Oh look is that for me?
To Grandpa.
Look at that.
I don't know what it is
but I like it very much.
Let me see the baby.
- Here she is.
- Let me see the baby.
I'm sorry I'm not gonna get
to see you grow up Brittanya.
- Flagg you're gonna see
all the children grow up.
- Are you taking your nap grandpa?
- No grandpa's dying Porter.
You gonna remember grandpa when he's gone?
- Mhm.
- Yeah.
- I remember when you yelled at daddy.
- Grandpa was just kidding sweetheart.
- Where you going grandpa?
- You ask your Pa to tell you Travis Jr.
- Now Flagg don't be
giving them any money.
- No, no now I can give
my grandchildren something
to hold to.
- Share that with your
brother and your sister.
- Hey share.
- Share it you hear me.
- You're supposed to share.
Give me!
Give me!
- Hey, hey okay come on.
- I'll see you before you head for home.
- Now don't forget
your grandpa now hear.
I'm okay.
Sit Travis.
We may not have another chance to talk.
- Ma told me that Scooter
Reed was back in town.
- Yeah he did a pretty
good job on the trial too.
Just haven't gotten his bill yet.
- I guess you can wake up
one morning and know you're
gonna die.
I just never heard of it before.
- Purdy's ain't like other people.
- You're the master or
understatement Flagg.
- Yeah.
Travis, I want you to
have my outboard motor.
- Well that's nice of you
Flagg but I don't have a boat.
- You don't have a boat?
- No.
- How do you fish?
- Well I ain't been fishing
since I was Travis Jr.'s age.
- Well what are you doing
with all them worms then?
- Well they're not bait worms Flagg,
they're compost and
garbage in the fertilizer.
- You compost garbage for a living?
- I sell the worms that do that.
Here.
- I'll be damned.
I didn't know you were
helping the environment.
- There's a lot of things you
don't know about me Flagg.
- Yeah.
Like what?
Travis, take that board,
buy yourself a boat
and take the kids out
fishing while you can.
- It's amazing the insights
grandparents get about kids
'cause I would have given
anything to have you take
me fishing when I was their age.
- I don't remember you ever asking.
- None of the other kids had to ask.
And their Pa's were working.
- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...
- You can buy my coffin Travis,
make sure it's worm proof.
- Well she got a bunch of money from
her third or fourth divorce.
I don't know.
And of course I get an
appointment to show her a house.
She shows up dressed to
the nine, pointing out
all the stops just trying to
impress me with her money.
You know the beamer, the mint coat.
The silicon bazoomies out to here.
- What?
Beverly Baker?
No way she was flat as a pancake.
- More like five day old roadkill.
Honk, honk.
So I'm shocked...
- He's pissed because I wouldn't
take his outboard motor.
- You're still eating dairy aren't ya?
I can smell it.
- You're still
raiding worm farmers slightly
below people who sell their
owns homes aren't you?
- Ooo good one.
- I'll call you back.
Oh my god.
- Hello Jenny.
- I'm doing my homework.
- Mama.
Get, get in there.
- Jeez already.
- That is one hell of a
mistake you and papa had.
- Whatever he gives you, you take.
- Hi papa.
- Hi dear.
- Here's a fresh one for you.
- Thank you.
Derek wanted to come but
he's working days now so.
- Oh, maybe you two can
start having a family of
your own now that you're
sleeping in the same bed
at the same time.
- You find that funny?
- No.
I just can't stop thinking
about silicon bazoomies.
- I'm on my deathbed
and you're making jokes.
- Oh papa you're not on your
deathbed you're just feeling
sorry for yourself.
- Rachel.
- Now that your sister's
a big developer she thinks
she can insult me.
- I'm not a developer.
- Your selling houses on
prime farmland graden sprawl,
what do you call it.
- You know if you would just
take the time to find out
what it is that I do you
would know that I'm...
- You're the final one to talk!
You didn't even come to the courthouse!
- Oh and watch you make
a fool of yourself.
You know if you were
just reasonable with Gus.
- I will not hear that name in my house.
- Linette, I'm gonna go talk
to Gus, about helping Gus
build those mobile homes that
Gus is putting up next door.
- Papa, papa, breath, breath, breath.
- Sweetheart, go get mama's
jewelry box over there.
You'll be laughing on the
other side of your face
when I'm lying out there in
a pine box six feet under.
Here sweetheart, I want you to have it.
- Papa these are mama's.
- That's okay I bought 'em for her.
- No, no I don't
feel right about that.
- No, no it's all right dear.
They're not real anyway.
If you don't want 'em
save 'em for your children
when you have 'em.
Here, here.
Give these to her.
- I'm out of here.
- Papa, breath, breath. breath.
- I'm all right now.
- Looks like the cold
went right to his brain.
Time we had a litte talk.
- Yoohoo, I've brought my
famous funeral casserole.
- I'm sure Flagg will
appreciate the thought Melinda.
- That'll kill him for sure.
- I figured with all the
youngins coming for the funeral.
- Anne Marie's not coming.
- Oh, I didn't think Anne
Marie was gonna be here.
- Sure you did.
- I'll tell Flagg you brought it.
- Well, I'll be going then.
- Ada, who you
gabbling with out there?
- Oh it's Melinda.
She brought you her famous casserole.
- Well send her in so I can thank her.
- Well hi there.
Linda says you both wanna buy some eggs.
- How many would you like?
Oh that's my son.
I gotta greet him.
Hello.
There you are.
How was your trip?
- Long.
- Look at your and your stuff.
Oh good to see you.
- Hey.
How's the spiritual real estate game.
- Don't knock it I bet my
congregations bigger than yours.
- Yeah I bet it is.
Hey there.
- How are you.
It's good to see you.
- Hows Derek?
- Oh he's fine.
He wanted to come but
he had to work today so.
- Oh ah, I'm gonna be
right back with your eggs.
Come with me a minute Eldon.
- So hows pop?
- I know better.
I've been telling the
others it's just a cold but,
I'm beginning to think it's
got more to do with the trial.
- How so?
- Well I think he knows it
was a mistake to sue Gus,
and he can't find a way out
of it because of his pride.
- No wonder you fell
in love with them mama.
These are beautiful.
- Fertilized eggs are supposed
to be lower in cholesterol
and I figure the market'll brew.
Strictly organic.
- Hey did you do something
new to your hair?
- I cut it a bit.
- Well it looks nice.
Hey Travis.
What do robbins do before breakfast?
- I don't know, what?
- Warm ups.
Ha!
All right I keep telling
the to give it up
but they just keep coming
up with more worm jokes.
- Whatever.
- Hows the new church?
- Well we're raising the
money for the walls while
the good lord lays the
foundation and I guess it's just
my job to make sure
everybody knows he's keeping
his end of the bargain.
- Well you can't count me
in for a contribution bro.
- Okay.
- As long as you'll take a credit card.
- Oh yeah we'll max you out.
- I hope you can help
papa Eldon I really do.
- Well I'll try but,
you know how he is about
being ministered to.
- About the same as the rest of us.
- So tell me reverend, what's
god's cost for new square
foot construction?
- Well, that's a
very complicated question.
I don't know.
- Square footage.
- Oh, mama that's your set.
- He insisted I take them Ada.
I didn't want to upset him.
- Sorry.
Mama he can't give away your stuff.
- I reckon he can give
away anything he wants to
in his own house.
- Except it ain't just his house.
- He's giving away
everything they own Eldon,
including mama's things.
- Mama I think you better get
all your things out of there.
- You know why don't we
just move him out of there
and give those sheep
something else to piss on.
- Will you talk to him son?
He listens to you.
- It's good to see you son.
- It's good to see you too papa.
- I can't keep a thing down.
- It came on kind of a sudden didn't it?
- Yeah well, can't predict these things.
- That's true.
But I never would of been
predicting that you'd be giving
away all your things and mama's.
- I want people to think
kind of me after I go.
- Yeah see I told them that had to be it.
That it couldn't be that
you were seeking salvation.
- Who was saying that?
Who said I'm not seeking salvation?
- You know just...
folks, you know how they are.
- Yes I do I know how people are.
I know how they are.
You didn't know my pa did you son?
- No he was pretty ill when
he died but I do remember
being afraid of him.
- Yeah he did that to people.
- Sang to him on his Bible
thumping, his temper.
You know nobody showed up at his funeral.
Not even family.
Just me and ma.
Hurt my ma real bad.
- You're afraid the same
thing will happen to you.
You're nothing like your pa.
- No.
- You know that trial
might have been a mistake
but it's not too late to change that.
- I don't know what good that'll do.
- You might be surprised.
You can start by getting out of this bed.
- This is a good place that
I need to wait for the end.
Whoa.
Here son.
Here, here.
Here this is for the church building fund.
I'd like you to say a few words over me.
When my time comes.
- Don't they have
pills for this kind of thing?
- Ther you go
lets slip some prozac into
his hot water bottle.
- I think we should call Anne Marie.
- Forget it.
- Oh you don't know what it
was like between her and papa.
- Like when she told him
she was marrying Jurvis.
- Oh god I thought the
roof would come off.
I mean a used car
salesman for a son in law.
- Yeah they're worse than developers.
- I thought things would get
better after her divorce.
- Why should she bother with us?
She's a big star.
The perfect talk show host.
Full of opinions and a big mouth.
- You have a nice thing to
say about everyone don't
you Rachel?
- Oh come on Travis it
wouldn't hurt her to drive
two hours to see mom
every once in a while.
- Well she does call.
- I don't really care what you guys say,
mama I know she can help.
- Oh my lord.
Oh god.
- I'm outta here.
- Who is it?
- Wait Rachel I'm going with you.
- Now don't be rude.
- Who is it?
- Aunt Edith.
- It's your uncle Ben's widow.
She hasn't been here since
before you were born.
- God what a family.
- You'll get used to it honey.
- Hello Purdy's.
- Hello Edith.
It's been a long time.
- I heard my brother in laws dying.
I guess there's some justice
in the world after all.
- Oh no Edith.
- If you're gonna start
with your nasty comments,
you can just march
yourself out here they way
you come in.
- I'm sorry Ada, you never
did appreciate my humor.
I'm here to pay my respects.
- How'd you find out?
- Nothing the Purdy's do in
this county I don't hear about.
Lets see now, this is...
- Linette.
- You moving back to town Eldon?
- I wasn't planning on it.
- I thought you might.
'Cause praying for Flagg
is a full time job.
Well Travis, I'm
surprised to see you here.
- You're not the only one aunt Edith.
- He is part of the family Edith.
- You come to sell the house Rachel?
- Hello?
- Is that because she never
could stand the smell of pigs.
Now, now who's this one here?
- It's our youngest, Jenny.
- She must have your jeans Ada.
You sure are growing up in
the right places sweetheart.
- You know what aunt
Edith, I have to be going.
So you take care now.
- I come visit once in 20
years, you can't stick around
for a few minutes.
- No, I'm sorry.
I'm late for the doctor
so I gotta get going.
So, bye bye.
- Flagg ain't got nothing
that's catching does he?
- We're not sure.
- We ain't been that
close of a family child.
I gotta tell you.
I sure miss having family.
So, where is the old coop?
You look like hell.
- Come to cheer me up did you?
- I could
recommend a good mortician.
Remember what your pa always said
We all gotta go sometime.
And the sins of the father
shall be visited upon the sun.
I brought you some of Ben's things.
Maybe they'll comfort you in the end.
- You should of told me his
time had come so I could
of made my peace with him.
- There's only one way
to find peace Flagg.
Right in all your wrongs.
- So you're taking Spanish
now I take it here.
- Yes.
- Do you have...
- I hate it.
- Do you have Mrs. Walsh?
Oh my god, can you tell me how to say
I know I want a beer
because I'm gonna sneak into
a bar very soon.
- It's mamacita.
- Egg money?
- Egg money.
- He gave it to me.
- What the heck is she talking about?
- But you can't let
her take your bed mama.
- Giving away the bed
is like giving up on us
being together.
- But do you remember when
I had to watch that TV show,
for biology class remember.
It had the live birth.
- I won't
tolerate that kind of thing in
my house.
- And he took
the TV and he threw it
in the crack.
- Oh it's still down
there I saw it this morning
on my walk.
It is.
- You could see the
rabbit ears sticking out.
- Do you remember that time
when Travis failed health?
That one semester, and papa
goes down to the school
and he says, you can't fail my son!
You can't fail my son, he's healthy!
He's never been sick a day in his life!
- Yeah.
- Do you think we
should be laughing like this
with him laying in there?
- Oh please.
- Travis, you didn't happen
to see Jenny downtown
did you?
- No I was hanging out with
Scooter doing some catching up.
Why?
- She's usually home by now.
- Well please let me know
if you hear from her Lupe.
And could you call Jeff, okay then thanks.
She wasn't at practice.
Lupe thinks she went some
place with her friend Jeff.
- I'm gonna call the sheriff.
- No, no.
Travis, lets go look for her.
- Well that's a good idea.
Why don't you two go along and I will keep
the supper warm.
- Well I'll go with you.
- No, no, no.
Rach let me and Eldon do it.
- Oh.
- She come home yet?
- No.
Boys went looking for her.
- She run off because of me Ada.
- Now don't out that on yourself too.
- I heard them laughing out there.
They're all gonna be happy when I'm gone.
- They were just having fun.
They were remembering
when they was growing up.
There is no one of them
that wouldn't do anything
they could to make you well.
- Eldon says I have to forgive myself.
- Well Eldon's pretty
smart about such things.
- What goods a preacher
that tells you what to do
but don't tell you how to do it.
Boil them duds Ada honey.
You cold?
- Oh I was just a little chilly so.
- Mama, telephone.
- Hello?
- Hi mama, don't
worry Jenny's here with me.
- Oh thank goodness.
- She just
popped in at the station
and surprised me.
She got a ride from one of her friends.
- Oh I guess I should have known.
She's been talking about
nothing but you helping papa.
- How are you doing?
- Well to tell you the
truth, I'm worried about him.
- Really?
Well I'm gonna put Jenny on
the early train tomorrow.
- Why don't you come with her?
Maybe she's right, maybe you can help.
- Oh having me
there would probably sink
him completely.
- Well won't you think
about it Anne Marie?
- No I think I've been
through all this with Jenny.
I got my show in the morning.
But I love you mama.
- I love you too.
Bye.
- Is she coming?
- I'm so going to
live like this one day.
But maybe in San Francisco or LA.
- One of the ambitious Purdy's.
- Well I'm definitely going
to get out of there like
you did.
- Well you'll do it a lot
better way than I did.
If I have anything to say about it.
- Was it hard, with Jurvis I mean.
- There are easier ways to grow up.
- What is that?
- It's sushi.
- Okay.
Mmm.
It's good.
So Anne Marie, why don't you come home?
I mean, are you really
still that mad at papa?
- Well I think I'm over that.
I'm not really sure how he would react.
- Well I think that you
should know even though papa
doesn't let us to listen
to your show in the house,
mostly all of us do anyway.
And I know that you can
change things I mean
I listen to you on your show.
If you came home, I
hear you helping people
every single day on your show.
- You know that that's not my own family.
- Yeah but if you just talk to him.
I know I don't really know
what went on between you guys
but I really do believe
that he respects you.
- That doesn't mean that he
wants me to come back home.
- So you're not even gonna try.
- You really love him a lot don't you?
- I don't even know anymore.
I mean he won't listen to
a thing any of us have to
tell him.
Not that he really ever has anyway.
But like I've never seen him
do anything like this before.
I mean he will not get out of bed.
And it's not like I really
do want him to die either.
- He's not going to die.
- You don't know that
you haven't seen him.
- You want this or should
I pack it up for the worms?
- I won't tell the worms if you don't.
Thank you mama.
- Mama.
- Anne Marie.
Oh you came.
- Oh how are you?
- Oh well I'm a little tired.
- Yeah?
- And I can't sleep any
place but my own bed.
Well at least it used to be my own bed.
- Are you wearing all of your clothes?
- Well yes I am.
It's s long story.
- Well you look gorgeous
no matter what you got on.
- Guys come inside it's freezing.
- Oh my gosh look at you here.
- Hey mama, Jenny said you
haven't called the doctor yet,
how come?
- Oh well I tried but you know your pa.
Why should I spend good
money for some doctor
to tell me what I already know.
- Hey stranger.
- Hi Mr. Ponytail.
- Ada, is that Jenny?
- She'll be right in.
- Okay.
I might as well,
get it over with.
Thank you.
Okay.
- Nobody told me you were coming.
- Well I didn't know I was
myself until this morning.
- And why'd you run off
why'd you do a fool thing
like that?
- I can visit my sister if I want to.
- Not without telling us so.
- Well there wasn't time.
- You scared me and mama half to death.
Don't run off when I'm talking to you!
- She's glad to see you too.
Well I'm happy to see her but
she shouldn't have done that.
She shouldn't have run off
without telling anybody.
- Well maybe you could get
her a pager so you could
keep track of her.
- Yeah that's all we need,
teenagers with pagers.
As if those cellular
phones wasn't bad enough.
- Hey that's
a good idea you could get
her one as a Christmas gift.
Or you could just you know
hire a private detective
to keep track of her.
- Well you haven't changed a bit have you?
Still as contrary as ever.
- The fact that I'm here
should tell you that I have
changed quite a lot.
- Well it took my dying
to get you here didn't it?
- Yes.
- I was right about Jurvis wasn't I?
- I don't know how I've
been able to live my life
without your advice.
- Yeah.
- He has a lot of problems
but he's a good man.
We were just, too young
to get married and I was
too anxious to get away from here.
- Well there's a lot more
to be said on that subject
isn't there?
- Great to see you too papa.
- He gets me so mad.
- You have to learn to stand up for him.
You know instead of
running away like I did.
That's something that
would help you and help
everybody else around here too.
- Ada, I'd like my hot water bottle.
- You know slavery was
abolished in 1863 mama.
- Jenny's right mama.
- Maybe should I ignore
him, see if that makes him
feel better.
- Well that's not what she means mama.
- Well, I know what she means.
You just ain't used to seeing
him sick like this Jen.
And till we can figure out a
better way I'm gonna be a slave
or whatever else it takes
to show him I love him.
- Well while you're showing
him that you love him
could you just take
off some of the clothes
'cause I feel really, really
hot just looking at you.
- Well where am I gonna put 'em?
- Well you can put everything in my car.
- Come in.
- Andrea, Sarah!
Hi!
- Ada.
What's all that ruckus out there?
- It's Anne Marie's friends
and they're here to see her
not you.
- Has everybody in this family gone crazy?
- Well I'm not
exactly sure why you all
asked me here because I
don't think there's anything
wrong with him really.
- That's about the only thing
I've ever agreed with you on.
- Rach, Rach, Rachel.
Rach you would have died.
- Jenny gave it to him head on.
They're Anne Marie's friends
they're here to see her
not you!
- Who told you to do that?
- Nobody told me.
- You sure Anne Marie
didn't tell you to do it.
- Yeah I'm sure.
- She did exactly the right thing.
I mean she stood up to him
instead of walking away
into your own eggshells.
- What makes you the expert?
- If he gets all riled up
he'll just get out of this
funk, this.
- Can't I just put Rachel
in there with him for five
minutes.
- Wait can I say something.
You know that new age
psycho babble may work
on your radio show.
But it's not gonna do diddly swat for him.
- You know can we just now get into...
- He's dying.
He's dying.
Let him go in peace.
- Oh my god.
Travis.
Don't even say that.
- He's not dying.
- He's just depressed.
- Are there any more cookies?
- You could have the rest of this one.
- No these aren't right
for you blood type.
- Oh well thank god the cookies are right
for my blood type.
- You know stirring up his anger might not
be a bad idea.
- When he does get angry
he does get moving.
- Gus.
- What's that sweetheart?
- If you wanna get him mad.
I mean god forbid anybody
mentions the G word around here.
- Oh wow.
- God how beautiful it is
out here when it snows.
- Okay come on, lets keep moving.
- Papa.
- Hello dear.
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Can I get you anything else?
- No I'm fine.
Where's ma?
- She went for a walk with
Rachel and Anne Marie.
- Can I maybe get you
some tea or something?
- I won't have it.
- No.
- You're the only one of
my children that cares
whether I live or die.
- Or no that is not true papa.
It's just not.
We all care.
- Well I feel it from you.
I don't feel it from nobody else.
Things are gonna better for you Linette.
I know they will.
- I know.
I always have hope.
- Okay.
You didn't have to prove anything to us.
We can see what great shape you're in.
- I don't have to prove anything to you.
- Are you still mad about Jurvis?
- I could of had Jurivs
anytime I wanted him.
- There was nothing
going on between you two
so why are you making such
a big deal out of it still?
- Who told you there was nothing going on?
- He told me, he only took you out once.
- Yeah.
It's just that you were too
afraid to tell me that you
were gonna go out with him, it was easier
for you to run away.
Just like it's easier for you
to deal with everybody elses
problems instead of dealing with your own.
- Okay so this is not about
Jurvis, this is about how
I live my life.
- Look, if you think I'm jealous
of you, you can forget it
because I have been in the
million dollar sales club
for three years.
- Rachel.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry that I ran away and
I didn't tell you about him.
I thought if I came home I
could maybe clear things up.
But...
- Well it wasn't really a date.
We just parked behind the
high school and made out.
- Oh.
Guess what I heard about Jurvis?
- Remember how I ate these?
No more.
- You loved them.
- Very bad area.
- Hey Jackson you want one of those?
How about this one?
No?
Okay.
Okay get grape.
Hi Rachel it's good to see you.
- Gus.
- Yeah.
Anne Marie.
- Hi.
- Hi Anne Marie I really
enjoy your show I listen
to it.
- Oh thanks, it's good to see you.
- You too, Anne Marie yeah.
Ada, I've been thinking a
lot about this whole thing
and what I did troubles
me it just isn't right.
I'd be glad to sell your eggs again.
- Well thank you Gus.
I'll think on it.
- How's Flagg?
- No better.
- I'd come over and pay my
respects if i didn't think
it would make things worse.
- Now isn't that an interesting idea.
I walked right into that one.
- Mama, I thought you'd
be happy that Gus would
sell your eggs again.
You sure could use the money.
- Well I've been doing some
figuring and I made more money
last week than I do in a
month selling through Gus.
I don't think I need a middle man anymore.
- Oh you fox.
- What are you doing mama?
What's going on?
- Hi Linette.
- Hi Gus.
- He's in the bedroom.
- Is he sleeping?
- I don't know.
- What's he doing here?
- It's a long story.
Never even played checkers this long.
- Travis, Eldon, it's good to see you.
Nice fence Flagg put up by the pump house.
Could use some paint though.
Sure is a nice day.
I'll see you tomorrow.
- What?
- Yeah that's what we'd like to know.
- Yeah what's Gus so happy about?
- We came to an understanding.
- What kind of understanding?
- I gave him back the rights.
His lawyers drawing up the papers.
- Lord mercy.
- After all that time
and money you're just...
- What are you getting so upset about?
It's a good deal.
He's gonna drill us a new well.
- I don't believe this.
- Yeah I should have never gone
to court in the first place.
We just put things back the way they were.
- You're missing the point Flagg.
Those rights belong to both of us.
Well I'm sorry I can't do anything right.
But you won't have to put
up with it much longer.
- Poor papa.
Must be hard to be rejected by everybody.
- Well it is.
- And it must feel terrible
to feel like you're dying
and no one understands you.
I know what you're doing.
- Even though you've been a good husband
and a good father.
- I'm not gonna fall for it.
- And we all see that the
husband and the father that
took care of all of us
and had to support us all.
- That was hard.
- I know that.
The rest of the family knows that.
We love, we support you,
we understand that you've
been a good husband even though at times
you've been difficult to
live with but we love you.
- I don't need to hear no
radio program psychology lady.
- Do you know that we all love you papa?
- No.
- We wouldn't all be here
if we didn't love you.
That's why we're all here.
We're here 'cause we love
you and we worry about you.
- I don't wanna talk about it right now.
- Why don't you just
get up out of that bed.
- I'm not getting out of the bed.
- Come on.
- I'm dying.
- But daddy what I'm trying
to say is you can get
out of the bed...
- I'm dying.
- All right lets go.
- So, what do we do now?
- Well I don't rightly know.
I'm afraid your pa'll just
up and die out of pure
stubbornness.
- What will you do then mama?
- Since you're all grown,
the only thing I've known
is taking care of him and Jenny.
And my chickens.
It's pretty sad ain't it?
Well,
he'll be wanting his hot
water bottle about now.
- Papa's not the only
one who needs to get out
of the house.
- Mommy.
- What's that?
- Hey mama.
Excuse me I'll take this.
- Now what are you doing?
- Thank you very much.
- Now will you tell me
what this is all about?
- Okay shh.
- Okay Linette.
Linette.
- Tada.
- Whoa.
- Beautiful mama.
- Mama where are the gingerbread cookies?
- Mamacita.
- What's going on?
- Oh not bad
for such short notice Travis.
Mama, this gentleman insists on taking you
out for a date this evening.
- My mama taught me
never to go out on a date
unless I know exactly where I'm going.
- I know your date and
I know what he's driving
and I strongly recommend
that you take some
tab money.
- We're going dancing mama.
Come on,
- Dude green means go, red means stop.
- Ada, where you going?
What's going on?
- This is brilliant.
- Oh thank you but I wish
you didn't have to be high
to tell me.
- Grass is very natural.
- What's going on?
Where you going?
- Mama I haven't had
such a serious date in years.
- Thank you for doing this.
And for coming to see your pa.
I know it wasn't easy for you.
- I'm glad I came mama.
- Travis, would
you mind taking a little
side trip.
Well it's been so long since
I did anything like this,
I don't know how to act.
- Just act natural.
Everybody will handle the rest.
♫ Well come with the
boys down to the station
♫ Did need farewell as I go
♫ Don't you shed a tear as
the train rolls down the line
♫ I'm on my way to glory don't you know ♫
- Why Ada, it is so good to see you.
Hello Travis.
- Hello Mrs. Cooper.
- What's going on with Flagg?
- Well it's hard to tell.
But this is my date tonight.
- Where's your ma?
- She went out for a while.
- She went out?
- Yeah she, went out with Travis.
- Went out with Travis?
Where'd they go?
- There's a dance tonight at The Grange.
- A dance at The Grange, she
went to a dance at The Grange?
What she do a damn foolish
thing like that for?
- Why, 'cause she felt like
she'd been cooped up here
much lately.
- Well it was good enough for
her to be cooped up before
I was dying.
- Yeah but, all that's
changing now isn't it?
- I suppose she'll be doing
a lot of that kind of thing
then huh.
Dancing carried on.
- Yeah I see all the
time in my line of work.
How quickly widows become free spirits.
- You don't suppose she's
found somebody else already
do you?
- Well she is a mighty fine looking woman.
- Yes.
Yes, that's a problem isn't it?
That is the problem.
♫ I'm on my way to glory don't you know ♫
- Can I have the first dance?
- You'll have to wait your turn Foster.
♫ Since I walked down that road
♫ And I still don't know why
♫ I was a young man
♫ I didn't know ♫
- We're not careful we'll be
an item in tomorrow's paper.
This brings back a lot of memories.
The school dances.
Hayrides.
And hikes to the falls.
I know, I know, I know.
It's not right to...
To pry on you in those days.
But it really struck me
when you came without Flagg.
- Felt strange to me too.
- Well, whatever happens
you won't ever have to worry
about anything.
I'll always look after you.
- I don't need anybody to
look after me Gus Falk.
Now if you really cared about
me you would do something
to support Flagg.
- You think this is
about him being jealous?
- He's always believed that
there's still something
between you and me.
- I sure would not mention
that we were dancing
together tonight.
- Flagg.
Flagg?
You want some tea?
- How was the dance?
- Fine.
Gwen and Foster said to say hello.
And Gus.
We even danced.
One dance.
- He couldn't wait till I
was gone before he started
to pounce.
- Now don't get yourself
all worked up over nothing.
- You never even thought
about dancing until
Anne Marie got here.
- I wasn't thinking about a lot of things.
- Next thing she'll be
taking you to chippendales.
- Don't go blaming anything on Anne Marie.
She only come to make
amends with you and you
didn't exactly welcome it.
- I heard what she said.
- She wants you to accept
her no matter what mistakes
she made.
That's all any of our
kids ever wanted from you.
- Kids should know how I
feel about them by now.
- Sometimes it's hard to tell for sure.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
- Ada?
I wanna show you something.
My pa wrote this to my mom
when they just got married.
He wrote it before I was born.
Read it out loud.
- Dear little wife of mine,
Here I am sitting in my
cold room thinking of what
I am missing at home.
- He was driving for a long
distance hauler at the time.
- My beautiful little
wife has a world of plans
that I'm doing everything
I can to help come true.
When we were single I thought
I was in love with you.
But at that time I didn't
know what love was compared
to how much I love you now.
The X's I put on the bottom
of this letter are kisses
for you.
Save all your love for
your lonesome husband.
So lonesome sweetheart.
Love Hugh
- I didn't know the man
that wrote that letter.
The man I knew couldn't write such things.
- The man who wrote this
was filled with love.
He might have been angry
and confused but he was
still a decent man and he loved you.
- I have a hard time believing that.
- Well you keep trying.
Papa's having trouble forgiving himself.
You think forgiving his
pa would do just as well?
- It's not really a
question of who he forgives,
it's the forgiving that counts you know.
Letting go of his anger.
- The whole thing hinges on forgiveness.
Forgiveness is like a key
that opens a door in the heart
and when that door is
open then the lord can...
Sorry.
- No that's okay Eldon
you're absolutely right.
- Well I wanna hear from you Eldon.
- You know it's funny
how a little water can
start something so complicated.
- What?
Mama?
What is it?
- I'll be right back.
- Ada.
Ada what's going on?
What's going on?
What the hell are you doing woman!
- I'm just seeing how
firm the mattress is.
- Ada.
Ada!
Ada.
Ada.
- Don't waste your breath.
I think she went over to Gus's place.
- What are you doing?
- I just wanna see where
it'll best fit in my bedroom.
- Well it don't fit no where
'cause it ain't going no where!
- That's what I get for trusting you!
This time they're gonna
throw you in the slammer!
- Now what's got into you?
- You know damn well
what's gotten into me.
- See I thought we settled
this yesterday when you
were on your death bed.
- That was before you turned my water off!
- Turned your water off,
Andy have I been out of this
store today?
- We've been putting up
stock all day Mr. Purdy.
- Well then you hired somebody to do it!
- Why would I do a fool
thing like that when you gave
the water rights back to me?
Andy why don't you go and
chop me some fire wood
will you?
Okay.
Doggonit Flagg.
You haven't learned a thing
from all this have you?
Now Ada and I were dancing last night.
That's not what this is about is it?
- No.
- I respected Ada's decision
when she decided to marry you.
And that has not changed.
She loves you Flagg.
Now, you go home and I'm
sure you'll figure out
what happened to your water.
I'm sure it's the breaker.
- You're right.
- Sure I'm right I mean that breakers old.
- No I mean about me
not learning anything.
- I'm sorry.
I was wrong.
You have learned something.
You apologized to me
yesterday for what you did
and today just now you listened to me.
Pa you were hopping mad I
know how hard that is for you.
- Well it's hard for you too.
- Yeah it's hard for me too.
I'll tell you what.
I think maybe I've been
too set on beating you
at whatever we do.
- Well I'm glad to hear
you finally admit it.
- I will try to change that.
- Okay.
I will too.
- So checkers tomorrow?
- Yeah.
Usual time.
- No Porter
grandpa's not dead yet.
Porter give the phone back to mommy.
Okay sweetheart.
I'll talk to you later.
Love you, bye.
Amy can't get here until tomorrow.
So its it okay if I stay here tonight?
- Hey, your welcome.
Guys.
Mama has something she
wants to tell everyone.
About your eggs.
- Oh well.
I spoke to the manager at
the supermarket in town
about not selling organic
eggs and so next week
there will be Purdy Eggs in their cooler.
- Hey way to go mama.
- You guys, he's coming.
- Glad you're up and about.
- Well there's a lot of work to do.
Not gonna have time for a lot of dancing.
- Well dancing's exactly
what you need Flagg Purdy.
- Yeah.
- Everynight.
- What time's that show of yours on?
9:00 AM Monday through Friday.
AM610.
- I'll try to watch it.
- You done good papa.
- Thanks for your help Eldon.
- I did very little.
You did hard work, and
thank you for giving me
the inspiration for this weeks ceremony.
- Is the road to forgiveness
paved with gifts.
- Send me a tape.
I'm gonna bring the outboard
over one of these days
and we're gonna take the kids out fishing.
- Okay pop.
- Okay.
- Papa.
I'm really glad you're up.
- A lot of fuss over nothing.
- Papa.
- Yeah?
- There's a little gift on the
kitchen table from all of us.
- Oh okay.
Well I don't know what I
learned from the whole thing.
What that checkers game or that
forgiving business had to do
with it.
But it really doesn't matter much.
What does matter is we got through it.
And even with all our
differences, we're still a family.
You know it's not easy to
get your wife and children
to change.
But laying in bed like
that sure seemed to help.
Maybe I learned that.