Run the Wild Fields (2000) Movie Script

( birds twittering )

Adult Pug:

THESE WERE

MY FIELDS THEN--

FIELDS WILD, RICH

AND WAITIN'--

FALLOW SINCE MY FATHER LEFT.

MY FATHER'S NAME

WAS FRANK MILLER,

AND HE'D BEEN MISSIN'

IN THE PACIFIC

FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS

IN THAT SPRING OF 1945.

ON THOSE BRIGHT MORNINGS,

MY HOPE AND I WOULD RUN

THOSE WILD FIELDS, SEARCHING

FOR SOME PIECE OF HIM,

OR FOR SOME OTHER SEED

LEFT TO GROW WILD

AND UNTENDED, LIKE ME.

TO ME, MY FATHER WAS A GREAT

AND TRAGIC HERO.

IN MY DREAMS, HE WOULD RETURN

TO MY MOTHER AND ME,

HANDSOME AND COVERED

IN GLORY.

( man groans )

BUT THIS STORY ISN'T

ABOUT DREAMS.

THIS STORY IS ABOUT ONE

GROWING SEASON.

AND IN THAT SEASON, THERE WAS

MY MOTHER, THERE WAS

THE FARM, AND THERE WAS TOM,

WHO WANDERED INTO OUR LIVES

HUNGRY, TIRED AND HURT.

LITTLE GIRL...

LOOKIN' FOR PEACE IN

A WORLD THAT HAD

PRECIOUS LITTLE TO SPARE.

MAMA!

MAMA! MAMA!

MAMA!

MAMA! MAMA!

MAMA!

PUG, WHERE YOU BEEN?

I NEED YOU OUT HERE, YOU KNOW.

I'M OUT HERE DOING

YOUR CHORES.

I GOT CHORES OF MY OWN, GIRL,

AND ONLY TWO HANDS TO

DO 'EM WITH.

MAMA--

CATCH YOUR BREATH, CHILD.

YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE

A HEART ATTACK.

MAMA, I FOUND A DEAD MAN.

A DEAD MAN, MAMA.

A WHAT?

A DEAD MAN, MAMA,

ONLY MAYBE HE AIN'T DEAD YET.

HE CALLED ME A LITTLE GIRL.

HIS LEG'S ALL BLOODY.

BLOODY?

YES, MA'AM, UP BY THE FIELD.

PUG, IF THIS IS ONE OF

YOUR STORIES...

IT AIN'T A STORY, MAMA!

HE'S THERE!

PUG!

YOU SEE, MAMA?

MISTER?

MAMA.

DON'T BE SCARED, DARLIN'.

JUST GO ON UP TO THE HOUSE

AND CALL DOC ANDERSON.

RIGHT AWAY, PUG.

MISTER?

( groans )

I'M GONNA GET YOU UP

TO THE HOUSE.

AND YOU GOTTA HELP ME.

HOW'D THIS HAPPEN ANYHOW?

DOG.

DOG?

ABOUT A MILE UP THE ROAD,

THERE'S A BIG FARM

WITH AN ORCHARD.

THAT'D BE SILAS' PLACE.

WELL, YOU JUST LEAN ON ME

AND PUT YOUR WEIGHT

ON THE OTHER LEG.

THAT'S MINE.

I WASN'T STEALIN' IT.

LORD.

COME ON.

( mutters )

COME ON, MISTER.

KEEP WALKIN'.

HE DEAD, MAMA?

HE AIN'T DEAD.

JUST A POOR FELLA WHO GOT HURT,

THAT'S ALL.

WHAT YOU READIN'?

A BOOK.

I CAN SEE IT'S A BOOK.

WHAT'S IT CALLED?

RANGER'S ROMANCE.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

A RANGER AND HIS ROMANCE.

HOW'D HE GET HURT?

DOG BITE.

WHY DON'T YOU PUT ON THEM

GLASSES INSTEAD OF BURYIN'

YOUR FACE HALFWAY THROUGH

YOUR HANDS LIKE THAT?

LORD, WHAT I PAID FOR THEM

GLASSES, AND YOU'RE INTENT ON

MAKIN' YOURSELF BLIND ANYHOW.

I DON'T LIKE THOSE GLASSES.

MAKE ME LOOK LIKE A BUG.

THEY DO NOT.

THEY DO.

CAN'T WEAR THEM IN SCHOOL.

I PUT 'EM ON, SURE AS SHOOTIN'

SAMMY CARLIN'S GONNA COME UP

AND SAY, "WELL, LOOKIE HERE,

HERE COMES THE BUG.

PUG THE BUG."

HE WILL?

THAT'S WHAT HE CALLS ME--

PUG THE BUG.

THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL CALL ME.

WISH I HAD A DIFFERENT NAME.

WELL, YOU DO.

YOU HAVE A LOVELY NAME.

OPAL.

THAT'S RIGHT. OPAL.

IT'S WORSE THAN PUG.

IT'S A PRETTY NAME.

NAME OF A GEMSTONE--

LIKE MINE'S RUBY,

YOURS IS OPAL.

THAT'S WHAT YOUR DADDY WANTED.

SAID HIS GIRLS WAS JEWELS,

AND HE WANTED THE NAMED

AS SUCH--

A RUBY AND AN OPAL.

WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST

NAME ME RUBY LIKE YOU?

'CAUSE YOU AIN'T A RUBY,

YOU'RE AN OPAL.

YOU SEE, A RUBY'S KIND OF HARD

AND BRIGHT RED AND YOU CAN

SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT.

BUT AN OPAL--WELL, AN OPAL

IS PURE WHITE, LIKE FRESH SNOW,

ON THE OUTSIDE.

AND INSIDE, IT'S ON FIRE.

BRIGHT SPARKLES ON THE INSIDE,

PURE AND SWEET ON THE INSIDE,

AND THAT'S YOU, SWEETIE.

OH, MAMA...

THAT'S JUST TO YOU.

TO SAMMY CARLIN, I'M JUST

"PUG THE BUG",

OR "OPAL THE BUG", OR ANY OTHER

BUG--JUST "BUG, BUG, BUG".

IT'S ALL ON ACCOUNT

OF THEM GLASSES.

YOU GO PUT 'EM ON ANYWAY,

OR YOU'LL BE PUG THE BAT,

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL BE

BLIND AS.

YES, MA'AM.

GO GET DOC A COOL

GLASS OF TEA.

EXTRA SWEET?

YEAH, EXTRA SWEET.

THANK YOU.

WELL, IT'S A BAD BITE.

BUT THE BONE ISN'T BROKEN.

SO, WHO IS HE? SOME HOBO?

HIS NAME IS TOM WALKER,

GENTLEMAN OF THE ROAD.

NOT THE FIRST ONE

TO COME THROUGH HERE.

THINK THEY JUMP UP AROUND THE

BEND BEFORE THE COTTON GIN.

WELL, I GUESS

I CAN TAKE HIM WITH ME.

YES, SIR.

I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE

MOVIN' HIM TONIGHT, THOUGH.

HE CAN STAY HERE THE NIGHT.

HERE YOU ARE, SIR.

OH, THANK YOU, OPAL.

HERE WE GO.

THANKS, THAT WAS JUST PERFECT.

YOU'RE WELCOME, SIR.

KNOW WHAT, DOC?

SAID ON THE RADIO RUSSIANS

ARE IN GERMANY.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA BREAK

THE SIEGFRIED LINE.

OH, IS THAT A FACT?

MORE BOYS COMIN' HOME

EVERY DAY.

WAR CAN'T GO ON MUCH LONGER.

I EXPECT WE'LL BE HEARING

FROM FRANK SOON.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE

TOWN'S PULLIN' FOR FRANK, RUBY.

WE'LL NEED HIM WHEN

THIS IS ALL OVER.

HE'LL BE HERE.

I'M SURE HE WILL.

WELL...THAT FELLA SHOULD BE

ABLE TO WALK TOMORROW.

I'D SEND HIM ON HIS WAY, OKAY?

YES, SIR, I'LL DO THAT.

THANKS, DOC.

♪♪

MISTER?

( dogs barking )

GO ON, GET DOWN THERE!

EVENING, OPAL.

BRUNG YOU SOME PECANS.

EVENING, MR. GREEN.

THOSE HOUNDS OF YOURS

TOOK A HUNK OUT OF A HOBO.

HUH?

OH, HE'S OKAY.

GOT HIM RESTIN' UP INSIDE.

CAN'T WALK, AND HE'S NOT

WAKIN' UP, EVEN TO EAT.

HE LOOKS HARD. HE DON'T LIKE

NO ONE TO TOUCH HIS THINGS.

I'M THINKIN' HE'S MYSTERIOUS.

WHERE'S YOUR MAMA?

INSIDE.

EVENING, RUBY.

SILAS. COME ON IN.

I FIGURED YOU COULD USE

THESE PECANS.

PIE.

THANK YOU.

HEARD YOU HAD SOME

EXCITEMENT UP HERE

WITH A FELLA.

NO TROUBLE.

DOC HAD TO PATCH HIM UP

A LITTLE.

YOU OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT

THEM DOGS OF YOURS, SILAS.

LOTS OF MEN WANDERIN'

AROUND THESE DAYS.

WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE UP TO?

WHERE YOU GOT HIM?

IN PUG'S ROOM.

HE'S ASLEEP.

I RECKON HE'LL SLEEP

FOR A WHILE.

I COULD TAKE HIM UP

TO MY PLACE.

DOC SAYS HE SHOULDN'T

BE MOVED.

BESIDES, I'M THE ONE

TOOK HIM IN.

WELL, I GUESS I COULD ASK

CHARLIE OR HIS BOY TO COME OUT

AND STAY THE NIGHT.

STRANGE MAN IN THE HOUSE,

DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS

OR WHAT HE'S CAPABLE OF,

YOU ALONE WITH A LITTLE GIRL.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM.

WE'LL BE FINE.

FIX YOU SOME TEA

OR SOMETHING?

WON'T TAKE A MINUTE.

NO.

JUST BRUNG THEM PECANS.

MY BOYS SHOULD START BREAKIN'

UP SIGN PINE NEXT WEEK

IF WE'RE GONNA GET CORN IN

BY THE END OF APRIL.

I STILL WOULD LIKE TO PLANT

THAT LAND OF YOURS.

LAND IS AT A PREMIUM.

I'D PAY YOU TOP DOLLAR.

LETTIN' IT REST.

IT'S BEEN RESTIN'

THREE YEARS.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

I'D GIVE YOU A VERY HEALTHY

PERCENTAGE OF WHAT I BRING IN,

MORE THAN I'D GIVE

ANYONE ELSE.

IT'D BE THE SMART THING TO DO.

WELL...BEST BE GOIN'.

HOLLER IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.

THIS FELLA--IF YOU HAVE TO

HAVE HIM UP HERE,

KEEP AN EYE OUT.

SOME OF THESE BUMS, YOU SHOW

'EM A LITTLE KINDNESS,

AND THEY ROB YOU BLIND.

OR WORSE.

WE'LL BE FINE.

WELL, KEEPIN' AN EYE OUT,

JUST THE SAME.

JUST SHOWIN' MY CONCERN.

APPRECIATE IT.

( starts engine )

BYE, MR. GREEN!

BYE!

( dogs barking )

YOU SAY YOUR PRAYERS?

YES'M. GOD BLESSED YOU

AND DADDY, AND MR. GREEN

FOR THE PECANS.

SAID A "GOD BLESS THE MAN

IN MY BEDROOM."

THAT'S HOW I CALL HIM

ON ACCOUNT OF I DON'T KNOW

HIS NAME.

I SAID, "GOD BLESS THAT

HARD MAN IN MY BEDROOM."

YOU FIGURE THAT'S OKAY?

WELL, I EXPECT GOD KNOWS

WHO YOU'RE REFERRING TO.

YOU READY TO GO TO SLEEP?

JUST SEVEN TIMES.

WHY DIDN'T DADDY TAKE HIS

WATCH WHEN HE WENT AWAY?

WELL, I GUESS HE FIGURED

IT'D BE SAFER WITH US

THAN WHERE HE WAS GOIN'.

THINK WHEN DADDY GETS BACK,

HE'LL STILL LET ME

WIND HIS WATCH?

WE'LL TALK TO HIM.

GO TO SLEEP, NOW.

YES'M.

( clattering )

( groaning )

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

I FELL, MA'AM.

WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'

OUT OF BED ANYHOW?

WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOIN'

LIKE THIS?

THINK YOU'RE GOIN' FAR?

I THINK NOT, MISTER.

DON'T WANT TO BE NO TROUBLE.

WELL, YOU ALREADY

IS

TROUBLE.

JUST LAY HERE.

YOU'LL BE GONE SOON ENOUGH.

YOU DIDN'T NEED THE SHOTGUN.

IT AIN'T LOADED ANYHOW.

GO TO SLEEP.

OH!

HELLO.

MA'AM.

I BETTER MOVE ON. I--

I FEEL FINE.

WELL, YOU SET ON GOIN',

I'LL FIX YOU SOMETHING

BEFORE YOU GO.

I COULD WAIT OUTSIDE.

YOU JUST SIT DOWN THERE.

WON'T TAKE A MINUTE.

I'M THE ONE WHO FOUND YOU,

MISTER, UP BACK AT THE FIELD.

REMEMBER?

YOU CALLED ME A LITTLE GIRL.

REMEMBER?

MY NAME'S PUG.

MY REAL NAME'S OPAL, BUT THEY

CALL ME PUG ON ACCOUNT OF

WE HAD A PUG DOG ONCE, AND I

GUESS I SORT OF RESEMBLE HIM.

OR I

DID...

ON ACCOUNT OF

HE'S DEAD NOW.

OPAL'S A GEMSTONE.

GOT MILK ON THE OUTSIDE

AND FIRE ON THE INSIDE.

HOW'S THE LEG?

FINE.

IS THAT SOME SORT OF

SCHOOL PROJECT?

NO, IT'S JUST FOR US.

WE KEEP TRACK OF EVERYONE

WE KNOW WHO'S IN THE WAR--

BOYS FROM AROUND HERE.

RED PINS WHERE THEY ARE.

THIS ONE'S MY DADDY'S.

BLACK PINS WHERE PEOPLE DID

HEROIC THINGS, LIKE WON MEDALS

AND SUCH.

GOLD PINS WHERE THEY DIED.

LET THE MAN BREATHE, PUG.

HERE YOU GO.

HOPE THAT'S TO YOUR LIKIN'.

THERE'S MORE IF YOU WANT IT.

PUG?

WHAT?

YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE,

WE'LL BE IN THE BACK GARDEN.

WE GOT SOME CHORES TO DO.

COME ON, PUG.

PUG?

HELLO AGAIN.

HELLO.

MY STARS.

HERE.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

MY NAME'S TOM.

YOU A RUMMY?

A WHAT?

A RUMMY, A DRUNK.

WE GET A LOT OF THEM THROUGH

HERE OFF THE TRAIN LINES.

THANKS.

HURT WHEN THE DOG BIT YOU?

I NEVER BEEN BIT BY A DOG.

I DON'T RECOMMEND IT.

YOU'RE VERY BRAVE.

DIDN'T CRY OR NOTHIN'.

PUG...

DON'T BE BOTHERIN' THE MAN.

I AIN'T BOTHERIN' HIM.

I'M JUST TALKIN' TO HIM.

HIS NAME'S TOM,

AND HE AIN'T A RUMMY.

HUSH, NOW.

WELL, I DONE SOME FARMIN'

TIME TO TIME.

I COULD HELP YOU OUT

IF YOU'VE A MIND.

I'M A GOOD WORKER.

I COULD REALLY BUST UP

THOSE ACRES FOR YOU.

I DON'T NEED NO HELP

JUST NOW, THANKS.

SURE.

I PACKED YOU SOME FOOD.

AND THERE'S AN OLD SHIRT

AND A PAIR OF TROUSERS.

LOOKED LIKE YOURS WERE

APPROACHING RETIREMENT.

YES, MA'AM.

AND THIS.

THIS WAS MY HUSBAND'S.

SLEEVE'S A LITTLE TORN.

HE'LL BE NEEDIN' A NEW ONE

WHEN HE GETS BACK ANYWAYS.

HE'S IN THE PACIFIC?

MISSIN' IN ACTION...

SINCE BATAAN.

HOPE TO BE HEARIN'

SOMETHING SOON.

WHEN DADDY GETS BACK,

THERE'S GONNA BE A PARADE IN

TOWN, RIGHT DOWN MAIN STREET.

AIN'T THAT RIGHT, MAMA?

THAT'S RIGHT, HONEY.

WELL, I SURE HOPE

IT ALL WORKS OUT FOR YOU.

MISS. MA'AM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHY'D YOU GIVE HIM

ALL THAT, MAMA?

WE'RE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE, PUG.

BESIDES, SOMEPLACE ELSE,

IN SOME OTHER PART OF

THE WORLD, THAT MIGHT BE

YOUR DADDY.

I HOPE STRANGERS TREAT HIM

AS WELL.

ANYHOW, WE GOT A FARM TO RUN.

LET'S GO, MISSY.

WE GOTTA GET INTO TOWN

THIS AFTERNOON, AND CHORES

TO DO BEFORE THEN.

♪♪

Pug:

IN FRONT OF OUR

CHURCH WAS A GRANITE MARKER

HONORING THOSE BRAVE SONS

OF HANOVER WHO WOULD

NEVER RETURN.

NOT THAT THERE WAS

MUCH TO RETURN TO.

YOU SEE, HANOVER WAS THE

CLOSEST THING WE HAD

TO A CITY--

A GRAY FENCEPOST OF A TOWN

THAT WAS LEFT TO WEATHER

ON ITS OWN, WITHOUT A SOUL

WHO COULD REMEMBER ITS

ORIGINAL PURPOSE.

EVEN IN THOSE DAYS, IT WAS

A PLACE YOU CAME

FROM,

NOT ONE YOU WENT

TO.

THANK YOU, DEEK.

CAN I GIVE YOU A HAND

WITH THAT, RUBY?

I'M FINE.

BYE, MR. PARSON.

BYE-BYE, OPAL.

♪♪

HEY, MAMA, AIN'T THAT TOM?

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

I'M COMIN' WITH YOU.

YOU STAY HERE, MISSY.

I'M COMIN'.

ALL RIGHT, FELLA,

EMPTY YOUR POCKETS.

THEY'RE ABOUT AS EMPTY

AS THEY GET, SIR.

BOB?

WELL, HELLO, RUBY.

MISS OPAL.

GO SIT DOWN.

I WAS JUST GONNA HAVE

TO CALL YOU.

PICKED UP THIS FELLA

DOWN AT THE TRAIN YARD

TRYIN' TO JUMP A FREIGHT.

NAME'S TOM WALKER.

I KNOW THAT.

YOU DO?

HE SAYS HE GOT THIS STUFF

FROM YOU.

SAYS YOU GAVE IT TO HIM.

WELL, I DID.

YOU DID?

WEREN'T THAT FRANK'S JACKET?

YES, IT IS.

SEE? IT'S GOT THAT RIP IN

THE SLEEVE WHERE IT GOT CAUGHT.

I BELIEVE THAT WAS FRANK

HELPIN'

YOU

GET YOUR FOOL

HIDE UNTANGLED WHEN YOU RAN

SMACK INTO THAT BARBED WIRE

LAST DEER SEASON

BEFORE HE WENT AWAY.

I DIDN'T EXACTLY RUN

INTO IT. I TRIPPED.

ANYHOW, I GAVE IT TO HIM,

SO YOU CAN LET HIM GO NOW.

WELL, THERE'S STILL THE

MATTER OF JUMPIN' THE TRAIN

AND VAGRANCY.

HE AIN'T A VAGRANT IF HE'S

GOT A JOB HEREABOUTS, IS HE?

WELL, NO.

WELL, HE DOES.

HE'S WORKIN' FOR ME.

SINCE WHEN?

SINCE NOW, BOB.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND GOOD DAY.

COME ALONG, NOW.

I AIN'T GOT ALL DAY.

CAN I GO NOW?

I GUESS SO.

KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN, BOY.

IS TOM GONNA COME LIVE

WITH US, MAMA?

GET IN THE TRUCK, PUG.

I AIN'T GOT NO MONEY.

I CAN GIVE YOU A ROOM

IN THE BARN AND YOUR MEALS

JUST FOR A WHILE.

THAT'D BE FINE.

YOU CAN RIDE IN THE BACK.

( starts engine )

I DON'T LIKE IT.

I GOT SOME FENCES

NEED FIXIN'...

SOME THINGS IN THE HOUSE.

I SEEN YOU'RE HANDY

WITH THINGS.

YES, MA'AM.

THANKS FOR FIXIN' THE SINK.

I WON'T HAVE DRINKIN'...

WOMEN.

YOU CAN BUNK IN HERE.

WON'T BE ANY REAL FIELDWORK.

RICH LAND.

LOOKS LIKE 30, 35 ACRES.

38.

I WORKED FOR A FELLA

IN SOUTH CAROLINA

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

LAID IN CORN, COTTON,

SOYBEAN, PEANUTS, ALL ON

A LOT LESS ACREAGE THAN THAT.

WE AIN'T WORKIN' THE LAND

TILL DADDY GETS BACK.

WE GOT PLENTY

TO CARRY US THROUGH.

YES, MA'AM.

CHURCH TOMORROW.

YOU LIVE ON MY FARM, MISTER,

YOU GO TO CHURCH.

YES, MA'AM.

BE HAVIN' DINNER

IN A LITTLE WHILE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

Pug: MISTER?

MISTER?

I WASN'T SNOOPIN'. I WAS--

IT'S ABOUT SUPPER TIME.

YES, SIR. BETTER HURRY UP.

WE'RE HAVIN' CATFISH.

BLESS, O LORD, THIS FOOD TO

OUR USE AND US TO THY SERVICE.

MAKE US EVER MINDFUL

OF THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.

AMEN.

SURE LOOKS LIKE HE'S HAD

A BAD TIME.

HE DOES THAT.

FIGURE HE'S A CRIMINAL?

WHY'D YOU SAY THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

HE LOOKS HARD.

IN RANGER'S ROMANCE,

THERE'S A FELLA

CAME UP TO THE HOUSE, SHOT.

TURNED OUT HE WAS A CRIMINAL

WHO'D JUST ROBBED A BANK

AND KILLED TWO PEOPLE.

WELL, LOTS OF PEOPLE

LOOK HARD NOWADAYS.

DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE BAD.

TIMES IS HARD.

WHEN'S DADDY COMIN' HOME,

MAMA?

SOON, BABY, SOON.

I REMEMBER HE USED TO

SING TO ME.

I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER THE SONG.

THEN YOU JUST LAY HERE

NICE AND QUIET AND THINK HARD,

AND MAYBE IT'LL COME TO YOU.

MAMA?

YES, BABY?

YOU THINK WHEREVER DADDY IS,

HE'S THINKIN' OF ME?

YES, BABY.

HE'S THINKIN' OF YOU?

YES, BABY.

YES, MA'AM.

YOU GO TO SLEEP NOW,

YOU HEAR?

ALL RIGHT, MAMA.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪ THE MOON

♪ SEES ME

♪ THE MOON

( continue singing

indistinctly )

( singing continues )

♪ ...OVER US ALL

I REMEMBERED, MAMA!

GOOD, HONEY.

MAMA? WHO DO YOU THINK

TOM IS, REALLY?

JUST A FELLA.

GO TO SLEEP, NOW.

( chuckling )

I ASK YOU NOW TO BOW

YOUR HEADS AND SAY A SMALL

PERSONAL PRAYER TO OUR SAVIOR

TO PROTECT OUR BOYS,

AND ESPECIALLY THOSE

FROM THIS COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE OUR LOVE.

PLEASE, JESUS, BRING THEM

HOME SAFE AND VICTORIOUS.

BLESS YOU, JESUS.

Woman: PRAISE JESUS.

♪♪

All: ♪ FOR THE BEAUTY

♪ OF THE EARTH

♪ FOR THE GLORY

♪ OF THE SKIES

♪ FOR THE LOVE

♪ WHICH FROM OUR BIRTH

♪ OVER AND

♪ AROUND US LIES

♪ LORD OF ALL

♪ TO THEE WE RAISE

♪ THIS OUR HYMN OF...

MISS MATTY.

OH, RUBY, DEAR.

DON'T YOU LOOK PRETTY?

SILAS.

I WANT THAT

BUTTERMILK PIE RECIPE.

OH, EASIEST PIE

IN THE WORLD, CHILD.

I'LL WRITE IT DOWN FOR YOU.

RUBY, I AIN'T ONE TO KEEP

MY MOUTH SHUT WHEN SOMETHING'S

BOTHERING ME, AND THIS

SITUATION WITH THIS FELLA HERE

IS BOTHERING ME.

YOU KNOW WHO THIS FELL IS,

RUBY?

HIS NAME'S TOM.

WELL, THE SHERIFF GOT

KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT HIM

RIGHT OFF, SO WE MADE

SOME CALLS.

YOU KNOW WHERE HE COMES FROM?

HE SPENT TIME IN THE FEDERAL

PENITENTIARY, AND FOR THE LAST

TWO YEARS, HE'S BEEN IN

THE C.P.S. CAMPS.

GOT CALLED FOR THE DRAFT...

AND WOULDN'T SERVE.

CIVILIAN PUBLIC SERVICE.

HE'S A COWARD, RUBY.

YOU AND BOB MADE THE CALLS

WITHOUT CALLIN' ME?

THE MAN'S STAYIN' AT MY PLACE.

I FIGURE IF IT DON'T BOTHER ME,

IT AIN'T ANYONE ELSE'S

BUSINESS.

THE MAN IS AN EX-CON, RUBY,

AND A DRAFT-DODGER.

WHATEVER HE DONE, I RECKON

HE PAID HIS DEBT IN PRISON.

AND AS FOR THE WAR,

WELL, THERE'S LOTS OF FOLK

AROUND HERE WHO DIDN'T SERVE.

I WOULD'VE GONE IN A MINUTE,

BUT THEY PEGGED ME AS TOO OLD.

AND AS FOR THESE OTHERS, THEY

FARM DEFERMENTS AND SUCH.

BUT A HEALTHY YOUNG MAN

WHO WON'T GO AND FIGHT--

THERE'S ONLY ONE REASON.

HE'S SCARED.

HERE.

WHATEVER I'M SAYIN', RUBY,

I'M SAYIN' OUT OF FRIENDSHIP

FOR YOU AND THE GIRL.

YOU KNOW HOW IT IS, RUBY.

WELL, I GUESS I DON'T.

MORNIN', SILAS.

MORNIN', MISS THURMAN,

MR. THURMAN.

MORNIN'.

FINE DAY.

RUBY, I SENT OFF THOSE

GLOVES TO GEORGE.

I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

IT WEREN'T NOTHIN',

MRS. THURMAN.

I HOPE GEORGE WILL BE

HOME SOON.

HIS DIVISION'S

IN THE THICK OF IT.

DON'T KNOW WHERE.

LAST LETTER, UH, SAID HE WAS

GETTIN' THE BRONZE STAR.

IMAGINE THAT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I WANT TO HEAR ALL ABOUT IT.

WELL, SEEMS OUR GEORGE

GOT HIMSELF INTO A BIT

OF A FIX.

THERE WERE THESE BOYS IN--

WE'LL LEAVE THAT TO GEORGE

WHEN HE GETS BACK.

THIS ONE WILL TALK

YOUR EAR OFF, HONESTLY.

YOU'D THINK

HE

WON

THE MEDAL.

( chuckles )

DIDN'T I TELL YOU?

MYSTERIOUS.

AH, HE DON'T LOOK

ALL THAT TOUGH.

I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU WALK

RIGHT UP TO HIM AND SAY THAT

TO HIS FACE,

MR. SAMMY CARLIN.

I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU DO THAT.

UH-HUH. WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED

IF HE'S ROBBED A BANK

OR KILLED A MAN.

( kids gasp )

YOU'RE A WOMAN ALONE, RUBY.

YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH OUT.

A SINGLE WOMAN ALONE FOR

MORE THAN THREE YEARS WITH

A MAN LIKE THAT IN THE HOUSE--

IT DON'T LOOK GOOD.

TOM AIN'T IN THE HOUSE.

HE'S IN THE BARN.

AND I AIN'T NO SINGLE WOMAN,

SILAS.

I GOT A HUSBAND.

RUBY...YOU AIN'T HEARD

FROM FRANKIE IN THREE YEARS.

HE AIN'T ON THE P.O.W. LIST.

THAT DON'T MEAN NOTHIN'.

IT MEANS...

MAYBE IT'S TIME TO START

THINKIN' AHEAD.

♪♪

MRS. THURMAN.

MR. THURMAN.

( moans )

OH, GEORGE.

GEORGE!

THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD...

MY BOY!

GET HER SOME WATER!

( sobbing )

HE LEADS ME BESIDE

THE STILL WATERS.

HE RESTORETH MY SOUL.

HE LEADS ME IN THE PATH...

GEORGE!

YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH

THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW...

GEORGE!

FOR YOU ARE WITH ME...

( continues indistinctly )

WHERE WAS IT, MAMA?

NEAR MANILA, BABY.

THAT'S IN THE PHILIPPINES.

GOLD PINS WHERE THEY DIE.

DEAR GOD, THIS PIN'S FOR

GEORGE--GEORGE THURMAN--

DIED IN SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY.

SLEEP IN PEACE, GEORGE.

TOM?

FIRST THING TOMORROW,

WE START CLEARIN' THE FIELDS.

I'M SICK OF LOOKIN' AT IT

THE WAY IT IS.

PUG, I'LL NEED YOU

RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL.

YOU GO ON UPSTAIRS AND

GET OUT OF YOUR GOOD DRESS.

YES, MA'AM.

I FIGURE WE CAN CLEAR

AN ACRE, AND ACRE AND A HALF

A DAY.

TOM...

I KNOW ABOUT YOU.

I KNOW YOU REFUSED

TO FIGHT IN THE WAR.

I AIN'T GONNA ASK YOU

YOUR REASONS.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY...

I GOT A HUSBAND MISSING.

MY BROTHER MICHAEL

DIED AT ANZIO.

ALMOST EVERYBODY WE KNOW

HAS GOT SOMEONE OVER THERE.

I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS--

EVERYBODY'S GOT A RIGHT

TO THEIR OPINIONS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DONE.

I FIGURE YOU GOT YOUR REASONS.

BUT I DON'T WANT YOU FILLIN'

MY DAUGHTER'S HEAD WITH ANY

PACIFIST NONSENSE.

I JUST--I JUST DON'T WANT IT.

I AIN'T NO PACIFIST, MA'AM.

YOU HEAR?

YES, MA'AM.

ONE WORD, AND YOU'RE GONE.

YES, MA'AM.

"TELL ME NOT, SWEET,

I AM UNKIND

THAT FROM THE NUNNERY

OF THY CHASTE--"

WHAT'S "CHASTE" MEAN?

"CHASTE"?

LIKE "PURE".

OH, "PURE".

I THOUGHT IT WAS "CHASTE"

LIKE HE WAS CHASING HER BREAST.

COULDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE OF IT.

SO, HER BREAST IS PURE,

LIKE CLEAN.

SORT OF. GO ON.

OKAY.

"...OF THY CHASTE BREAST

AND..."

WHAT WAS THAT?

"QUIET..."

"...AND QUIET MIND,

IN WAR--

AND ARMS TO WAR I FLY."

"TRUE..."

I GOT IT, I GOT IT.

"TRUE MISTRESS I CHASE--"

"A NEW MISTRESS."

"A NEW MISTRESS I CHASE--"

THAT'S REGULAR "CHASE", RIGHT?

RIGHT.

OKAY. "THE FIRST FOE

IN THE FIELD;

AND WITH A STRONGER FAITH

EMBRACE A SWORD,

A HORSE, A SHIELD."

THIS IS A STUPID POEM.

I WISH I HAD TO REMEMBER

EDNA'S POEM.

IT'S A BETTER POEM.

WHAT MAKES IT BETTER?

IT'S SHORTER.

WHERE WAS I?

LAST VERSE.

"YET THIS INCONSTANCY

IS SUCH

AS YOU TOO SHALL ADORE..."

"I COULD NOT LOVE THEE,

DEAR, SO MUCH,

LOVED I NOT HONOUR MORE."

GOOD NIGHT.

Franklin Roosevelt:

MY FELLOW AMERICANS

OFF ALL THE AMERICA,

MY FRIENDS,

ALL OUR FIGHTING MEN OVERSEAS

TODAY HAVE THEIR APPOINTED

STATIONS ON THE FAR-FLUNG

BATTLEFRONTS OF THE WORLD.

WE AT HOME HAVE OURS, TOO.

WE NEED, WE ARE PROUD OF,

OUR FIGHTING MEN

MOST DECIDEDLY.

BUT DURING THE ANXIOUS

TIMES AHEAD, LET US NOT

FORGET THAT THEY

NEED US, TOO.

IT GOES ALMOST WITHOUT

SAYING--

( turns off radio )

♪♪

( engine starts )

WHOA, WATCH OUT.

( laughs )

( indistinct chatter )

PUG THE BUG.

I'LL MAKE YOU A FARMER YET.

TOM.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SAYS

WE'LL BE IN BERLIN BY MAY.

FIRST ARMY CROSSED THE RHINE

LAST MONTH--

A PLACE CALLED REMAG--REMAGEN--

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT A FACT?

YES, SIR. FIRST TIME

SINCE NAPOLEON AN INVADING ARMY

CROSSED THE RHINE.

THAT'S A RIVER.

YEAH. YEAH, I THINK

I HEARD THAT.

TOM, YOU NEVER TALK

ABOUT THE WAR.

MOST FOLKS I KNOW TALK ABOUT

THE WAR ALL THE TIME.

YOU NEVER TALK ABOUT THE WAR.

WHY IS THAT?

I DON'T KNOW. JUST DON'T

THINK ABOUT IT, I GUESS.

DON'T THINK ABOUT IT?

IT'S THE BIGGEST THING

THAT EVER HAPPENED.

IT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT

EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SAYS--

ALL RIGHT, THERE SHE IS.

SHE'S LAYING, BUT SHE

WON'T NEST.

WHY'S THAT, TOM?

TURKEYS--NOT A LOT OF

BACON IN THE BRAIN PAN.

HER NEST'S GOTTA BE OUT BACK

IN THE STRAND OF TREES.

BUT YOU GOTTA FOLLOW HER.

DON'T LET HER KNOW YOU'RE

FOLLOWING HER, OR SHE AIN'T

GONNA GO BACK TO THE NEST.

WHEN YOU GET THERE,

USE THIS.

THAT'LL FOOL HER

FOR THE TIME BEING.

SHE'LL FORGET ALL ABOUT IT.

NOW, THERE SHE GOES.

RIGHT BEHIND.

OKAY.

GO BEHIND THIS TREE HERE.

READY, SET, GO.

YOU GOTTA BE REAL QUIET.

SHH. WE'LL GO IN THE TREES.

GO, GO, GO, GO.

LOOK, THERE IT IS.

YOU GOT THE ROCK?

YEAH, RIGHT HERE.

I'M GONNA GO GET IT.

I GOT IT.

HERE.

THERE YOU GO.

LET'S GO, LET'S GO. HA HA!

( clucking )

THERE YOU GO.

AFTER A WHILE, YOU'LL HAVE

YOURSELF ANOTHER TURKEY.

I HOPE IT'S A SMART ONE.

( laughs )

I DOUBT IT.

THEY'RE SAYIN'--

THEY'RE SAYIN' PRESIDENT

ROOSEVELT--HE'S DEAD.

( crying )

Newscaster:

THE PRESIDENT,

STRICKEN BY A CEREBRAL

HEMORRHAGE, PASSED FROM

UNCONSCIOUSNESS TO DEATH

ON THE 83rd DAY OF HIS

FOURTH TERM, AND IN AN HOUR

OF HIGH TRIUMPH.

THE ARMIES AND FLEETS

UNDER HIS DIRECTION AS

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF WERE AT

THE GATES OF BERLIN

AND THE SHORES OF

JAPAN'S HOME ISLAND

AS MR. ROOSEVELT DIED.

AND THE CAUSE HE REPRESENTED

AND LED WAS NEARING THE

CONCLUSIVE PHASE OF SUCCESS.

LESS THAN TWO HOURS AFTER

THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT,

HARRY S. TRUMAN,

THE VICE PRESIDENT,

TOOK THE OATH AS

THE 32nd PRESIDENT OF

THE UNITED STATES.

♪♪

SHE GO DOWN OKAY?

YEAH.

SHE'S PRETTY UPSET.

YEAH.

SHE IDOLIZED THAT MAN.

THE ONLY PRESIDENT

PUG EVER REALLY KNEW.

YOU KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH

SO MUCH TOGETHER--

THE DEPRESSION AND THE WAR.

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GONE.

WHAT YOU THINKIN', TOM?

RADIO WAVES.

RADIO WAVES?

WHEN I WAS A KID, MY DADDY

AND I BUILT A CRYSTAL SET.

YOU KNOW, JUST A BOARD,

FOUR NAILS, A PIECE OF WIRE

AND A CRYSTAL.

COST ME TEN CENTS.

HAD TO SAVE FOR A SOLID

TWO MONTHS.

HAD A SET OF OLD BAKELITE

HEADPHONES SOMEBODY GAVE ME.

YOU HAD A RUN THE WIRE

ACROSS THE CRYSTAL.

IF YOU HELD IT REAL STILL,

THEN YOU COULD GET ONE--

SOMEBODY'S VOICE.

THAT'S HOW I FIRST HEARD HIM.

"THE ONLY THING TO FEAR

IS FEAR ITSELF."

MM-HMM.

I REMEMBER ONE TIME HE SAID...

"WE ARE COMMITTED TO FULL

SUPPORT OF THOSE PEOPLES

EVERYWHERE WHO ARE RESISTING

AGGRESSION."

SORT OF STUCK WITH ME.

IT'S GOOD WORDS.

NOBLE WORDS.

THEY SAY RADIO WAVES NEVER DIE.

ALL THOSE VOICES,

ALL THOSE THOUGHTS,

IDEAS AND SONGS--

MIGHT JUST BE BOUNCIN' AROUND

THE STARS OUT THERE...

LIKE SOULS.

I KEEP THINKIN' ABOUT

HIS WIFE.

SHE'S SLEEPIN' NOW.

TOMORROW SHE'S GONNA WAKE UP.

JUST FOR A MOMENT,

SHE WON'T REMEMBER.

IT'LL BE LIKE...

YOU COLD?

YOU WANT MY JACKET?

NO.

GUESS I'D BETTER GO IN.

GOOD NIGHT, TOM.

GOOD NIGHT, RUBY.

( sighs )

Pug:

NOTHIN' WAS SAID.

BUT AFTER THAT DAY,

MY MOTHER SEEMED TO PUSH

HARDER IN THE FIELDS.

I'VE OFTEN WONDERED IF SHE

WAS PREPARING A PLACE TO

PLANT HER GRIEF,

OR MOVING ON TO FACE

A TRUTH THAT SHE COULD NOT

BEAR TO BE TRUE.

IT WAS MIGHTY HARD WORK

FOR ONE BROKEN MAN,

A WOMAN, AND A GIRL.

BUT AS THE WEEKS WENT BY,

BIT BY BIT, WITH TOM'S HELP,

WE TOOK BACK CONTROL

OF THE LAND.

AND WITH IT BEGAN THE SLOW

PROCESS OF RECLAIMING

OUR LIVES.

AS FOR ME, I THINK I HAD

ALREADY MOVED ON, ALLOWING

TOM TO MOVE SO NATURALLY

INTO THE PLACE THAT HAD BEEN

EMPTY FOR SO LONG.

SING IT TO ME AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT.

♪ LONG JOHN SILVER

♪ WENT TO SEA

♪ WITH A CASK OF ALE

♪ UPON HIS KNEE

♪ AND A BRUSH AND A COMB

♪ AND A SCRIMSHAW BONE

♪ AND A...

LOOKING GLASS.

♪ AND A LOOKING GLASS...

I'LL NEVER GET IT.

YEAH, YOU WILL.

ALL RIGHT, LOOK--

I'M GONNA DIG HERE.

YOU GO OVER TO THAT SHADY SPOT.

LOOKS LIKE A GOOD PLACE FOR

WORMS--YOU AFRAID OF WORMS?

NO, SIR.

( singing )

( gunshot )

PUG?

PUG?!

CLEAN SHOT, BOSS.

CLEAN.

MORNIN', TOM.

MORNIN'.

YOU MET MY BOYS?

THIS HERE'S LEN UPSHALL,

HIS SON CHARLIE.

PUG.

HELLO, MISS OPAL.

YOU TWO DOIN' SOME FISHIN'?

JUST OVER YONDER.

CLEAN KILL.

ONE THROUGH THE EYE.

BEST WAY--QUICK.

WELL, WE BEST GET GOIN'.

UH, THAT PIECE OF

THE LAKE'S ON MY LAND.

AIN'T GOOD FISHIN'.

ALL RIGHT.

IF RUBY NEEDS DINNER, I'LL

SEND UP SOME OF THIS DEER MEAT.

RUBY MAKES A WONDERFUL

VENISON STEW.

YOU HAD THAT STEW, BOY?

I SAID, YOU HAD THAT STEW?

NO, SIR, NOT YET.

CARROTS, ONIONS,

THICK GRAVY, CORNBREAD.

MANY'S THE SUNDAY SUPPER

RUBY HAD ME UP FOR THAT STEW.

LOOK FORWARD TO BEING

INVITED AGAIN.

I'LL TELL HER.

I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

( squawking )

THIS IS A MUCH BETTER SPOT

ANYHOW.

YEAH.

DON'T SEEM LIKE MR. GREEN

LIKES YOU MUCH, TOM.

WELL, I DON'T SUPPOSE

THERE'S MUCH I CAN DO

ABOUT THAT.

I THINK IT'S ON ACCOUNT OF

HE LIKES MAMA.

♪ LONG JOHN SILVER

♪ WENT TO SEA WITH A CASK

♪ OF ALE UPON HIS KNEE

♪ WITH A BRUSH AND A COMB

♪ AND A SCRIMSHAW BONE

♪ AND A LOOKING GLASS AND A--

♪ CHUNK OF BRASS

♪ AND A PIPE AND A BOWL

♪ AND A BAG OF GOLD

♪ AND A PARROT NAMED

♪ POLLY WOLLY WIGGINS

♪ LONG JOHN SILVER

♪ WENT TO SEA WITH A CASK

♪ OF ALE UPON HIS KNEE

♪ BUT THE CREW WENT SLACK

♪ SO HE NEVER CAME BACK

♪ NEITHER DID POLLY

♪ WOLLY WIGGINS

LATE THAT APRIL,

IN A LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE

IN A PLACE CALLED REIMS,

THE GERMAN ARMY SURRENDERED

UNCONDITIONALLY, AND THE WAR

IN EUROPE ENDED.

IT WAS A QUIET VICTORY

FOR US.

THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC--

WHERE DADDY WAS--

STILL DRAGGED ON.

AND ON THE HOME FRONT WE HAD

OUR OWN BATTLES BEGINNING.

( all shouting )

HONEY! THAT IS ENOUGH!

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

I JUST SAID SOMETHING

THAT WAS TRUE, I CAN'T HELP IT

IF PUG THE BUG CAN'T

STAND THE TRUTH.

IT ISN'T THE TRUTH!

IS SO! HEARD THEY GOT

A HIRED MAN UP AT HER PLACE,

AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A NAZI-LOVER.

EVERYONE SAYS SO.

( all shouting )

THAT IS ENOUGH!

YOU CLEAR OUT.

INSIDE AND WASH UP!

THE REST OF YOU, TOO!

RECESS IS OVER ANYHOW.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE

OF THIS NONSENSE, UNDERSTAND?

AND IF I WERE YOU, YOUNG LADY,

I'D WATCH WHAT KIND OF PERSON

I'D BE SO EAGER TO DEFEND

HURRY!

YOU LAY DOWN WITH DOGS,

YOU GET UP WITH FLEAS.

NOW, COME ALONG INSIDE.

♪♪

PUG?

YEAH?

I CAME OUT HERE

TO LOOK FOR YOU.

YOUR MAMA'S WORRIED SICK.

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HOME

2 1/2 HOURS AGO.

WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' OUT HERE

ALL ALONE ANYHOW?

DIDN'T WANT TO COME HOME.

HIDIN' OUT.

HIDIN' OUT?

WHAT ON EARTH FOR?

ARE YOU A NAZI-LOVER, TOM?

WHAT DO YOU THINK, PUG?

OKAY, THEN.

COME ON, YOUR MAMA'S

GONNA BE WORRIED.

WHAT DO I DO ABOUT MY DRESS?

DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT

YOUR DRESS.

I'LL TALK TO YOUR MAMA.

COME ON. SHE'S GOT FRIED

CHICKEN.

Pug:

HE MOVED INTO

OUR LIVES BIT BY BIT.

IN TIME, IT WAS LIKE HE'D

ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

I TURNED 11 IN JUNE.

WE HAD A CAKE, AND MAMA

GAVE ME A NEW DRESS.

IT WAS WHITE AND, TO THIS

DAY, THE PRETTIEST THING

I'VE EVER SEEN.

I RUINED IT THE NEXT DAY

IN ANOTHER FIGHT WITH

SAMMY CARLIN.

I HAD A LOT OF FIGHTS

ABOUT TOM--FIGHTS WITH

WITH OTHER PEOPLE,

AND FIGHTS WITH MYSELF.

THERE WERE THE THINGS

I KNEW ABOUT TOM, AND THE

THINGS I HAD HEARD

HEARD ABOUT TOM, AND THEN

THERE WAS TOM HIMSELF.

AND NONE OF THOSE THINGS

SEEMED TO GO TOGETHER.

BUT THEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD,

AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME

I'D EVER FELT THE WEIGHT

OF A FULL-BLOWN CRUSH.

( laughter )

HOLD STILL.

I

AM

HOLDING STILL.

WELL, HOLD STILLER.

WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE DOIN' THIS

IF YOU HADN'T GONE AND RUINED

YOUR GOOD DRESS.

OW!

I'M SORRY.

MAMA, YOU STUCK ME!

I'M SORRY. LORD!

NOW...JUST GOT THIS

LITTLE BIT TO DO.

WHAT DO I DO IF SOMEBODY

ASKS ME TO DANCE?

YOU'LL DANCE WITH THEM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO,

JUST WALK AROUND OUT THERE AND

FLAP MY LEGS LIKE A JACKASS?

TOM?

WILL YOU TEACH ME

HOW TO DANCE?

YOU OUGHT TO ASK YOUR MAMA.

IT AIN'T THE SAME--SHE DON'T

KNOW HOW TO DANCE GOOD.

I USED TO BE

A PRETTY FAIR DANCER.

YEAH, BUT IT'S DIFFERENT

WITH A BOY.

WHEN DID YOU START WORRYIN'

ABOUT BOYS?

THAT'S WHO I'LL BE

DANCIN' WITH, AIN'T IT?

STOP BOTHERIN' TOM, PUG.

HE'S ALREADY PUT IN

A FULL DAY.

( static )

I'M WARNIN' YOU,

I AIN'T REAL GOOD AT THIS.

I AIN'T ANY GOOD AT THIS,

EITHER, SO I DON'T SEE

HOW IT MATTERS.

♪♪

ALL RIGHT.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DANCE?

( laughs )

WHAT DO I SAY?

YOU SAY,

"I WOULD BE CHARMED."

I WOULD BE CHARMED.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW YOU TAKE HIS HAND,

AND YOU LET HIM LEAD YOU

OUT TO THE FLOOR, ALL RIGHT?

EXCEPT YOU DON'T STOMP

OUT THERE.

YOU SORT OF...GLIDE.

IT'S A DANCE FLOOR.

GLIDE?

GLIDE.

LIKE THIS?

LIKE THAT.

NOW, THESE HANDS STAY TOGETHER.

THIS HAND HERE

GOES RIGHT THERE.

THIS HAND GOES RIGHT HERE.

NOW, REAL LOOSE, REAL LIGHT.

FOLLOW ME. ALL RIGHT?

HERE WE GO.

♪♪

( laughs )

LIKE THIS?

LOOK AT YOU--

YOU'RE DANCIN'.

HOW DO I LOOK?

YOU LOOK GREAT, PUG.

WHOO!

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

NO, THAT'S MY FAULT.

OOPS, I'M SORRY--

GOT MY BUTTON--HA HA!

CAUGHT IN YOUR HAIR.

I'M SORRY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WE CAN FIX THAT UP.

WE'RE JUST GETTIN' STARTED.

ALL RIGHT.

LISTEN TO IT.

ARE YOU GONNA BE

AT THE DANCE, TOM?

MAMA'S GONNA BE THERE.

YOU WANT TO LEARN

TO DANCE OR NOT?

SORRY.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE YOU GO, PUG.

THERE YOU GO.

( laughs )

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I DON'T KNOW!

YOU'RE JUST SPINNIN' ME

RIGHT OUT!

( laughing )

( laughter continues )

AAH! HA HA HA!

( cheering )

FOLKS HAVEN'T MADE THIS MUCH

FUSS IN A LONG TIME.

LIKE WHEN I WAS A KID.

WHERE'D YOU GROW UP, TOM?

I GREW UP ON A FARM

OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DADDY WAS A DOCTOR.

A DOCTOR?

THAT'S RIGHT.

HE INHERITED THE FARM

FROM MY GRANDDADDY.

LIVED ON IT AND RAN IT

WITH HIS TWO BROTHERS.

THEY'RE ALL GONE NOW.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN PRISON?

PUG!

I'M JUST TALKIN' TO HIM.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, RUBY.

WASN'T THAT BAD, ACTUALLY.

YOU'D WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,

THEY'D FEED YOU AND YOU'D GO

TO WORK ON THE ROADS

OUT IN THE FOREST.

THE DINNER, THE MORE WORK,

THEN SUPPER, THEN BED.

DON'T SEEM MUCH DIFFERENT

THAN OUR PLACE.

( laughter )

( chattering )

♪♪

( indistinct chatter )

Ruby: I REMEMBER

THAT FEELING.

YEAH.

BOYS ARE SHY AT THAT AGE.

SHE'S LOOKING AT YOU.

HE'S LOOKING AT ME.

THEY GROW OUT OF THAT,

DO THEY?

EXCUSE ME A MINUTE.

( indistinct whispering )

HOW YOU DOIN'?

YOUR NAME'S SAMMY, EH?

YES, SIR.

MINE'S TOM.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A WORD

WITH YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

SEE, SAMMY, THIS HERE'S

A DANCE.

PEOPLE COME HERE TO DANCE.

THE WAY I SEE IT, A MAN

OUGHT TO DO WHAT HE

SETS OUT TO DO.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

PUG HATES ME.

SHE'LL PROBABLY SAY NO.

WELL, GIVE IT A TRY ANYHOW.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DANCE?

I'D BE CHARMED.

YOU WOULD?

♪♪

WELL, I'LL BE.

I'M GAME IF YOU ARE.

HMM?

( both chuckle )

I HAVEN'T DONE THIS

SINCE FOREVER.

ME, NEITHER.

( indistinct chatter )

♪ HOOK AND SINKER

♪ TOOK THE BAIT

♪ THE BAIT WAS GREAT

♪ AND I WAS READY FOR MORE

♪ WHEN WE WERE DANCING

♪ OOH, HOW MY HEART WENT...

( laughs )

( laughter )

♪ THE GUY I MET THIS EVENING

♪ HAD A PAIR OF EYES

♪ A GIRL COULD ADORE

♪ I'M TELLING YOU THE GENT

♪ WAS HEAVEN-SENT...

( laughter )

OH, I FORGOT MY PIE TINS.

I WON'T BE A MINUTE.

MEET YOU AT THE TRUCK.

ALL RIGHT.

LEAVING SO SOON?

I GUESS THIS AIN'T

YOUR CELEBRATION.

FOURTH OF JULY IS

FOR AMERICANS.

FOR

REAL

AMERICANS.

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT--

YOU SAY THE PLEDGE OF

ALLEGIANCE, WE'LL LET

YOU LEAVE.

COME ON.

"I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE

TO THE FLAG..."

COME ON.

MAYBE HE'S TOO SCARED

TO SAY IT.

SCARED OF EVERYTHING ELSE.

GOT CALLED UP AND DIDN'T

WANT TO SERVE, HUH?

I ONLY PRAY THIS WAR LASTS

ANOTHER YEAR SO I CAN GO.

GO ON, YELLOW-BELLY.

SAY IT. DO IT.

( laughter )

COME ON, FIGHT, YOU COWARD.

TOM.

LET'S GO, BOYS.

GUESS HE FOUND A SKIRT

TO HIDE BEHIND.

STINKIN' ANIMALS.

GOOD FOR YOU, TOM, NOT LOWERIN'

YOURSELF TO THEIR LEVEL.

( starts engine )

YOU HANG UP YOUR DRESS?

YEAH.

GOOD.

OKAY, GO TO SLEEP, NOW.

HE DIDN'T EVEN FIGHT BACK.

NOT ONE LICK.

HE JUST LET 'EM PUSH HIM

AROUND, MAKE FUN OF HIM.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT

UNLESS IT WAS TRUE.

WHAT'S TRUE?

HE'S A COWARD.

GO TO SLEEP, NOW.

WANT SOME TEA OR SOMETHING?

NO, THANK YOU.

THEM UPSHALLS NEVER WAS

ANY GOOD.

HE'S JUST A BOY, LOOKIN' FOR

A WAY TO PROVE HE'S A MAN.

MY BROTHER BUDDY WAS LIKE THAT.

JUST A KID.

WANTING TO GROW UP TOO FAST.

BACK IN '36, HE HITCHED UP

WITH THE LINCOLN BATTALION.

HE FOUGHT IN SPAIN?

WASN'T EVEN 19.

THEY BURIED HIM OUTSIDE OF

SOME...VILLAGE.

I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THE NAME.

OR MAYBE I NEVER KNEW IT.

JUST STUPID.

GETTIN' HIMSELF KILLED

FOR PEOPLE HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW.

I AIN'T SAYIN' THAT

YOUR HUSBAND--

TOMORROW, I'D LIKE TO START

PLOWING THE FIELD.

I KNOW IT'S LATE IN THE SEASON,

BUT I FIGURE WE CAN

GET IN SOYBEANS.

YEAH.

THAT SHOULD BE FINE.

♪♪

( engine starts )

PUG, YOU GOT THE MAIL THERE?

YES, MA'AM.

COME ON IN.

YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY QUIET

ALL NIGHT.

YOU OKAY?

YEAH.

REMEMBER--SEVEN TIMES.

I'M TIRED.

OKAY.

YOU SLEEP TIGHT, NOW.

AND WHAT ELSE?

CORNMEAL, PLEASE, SIR.

I GUESS ABOUT FIVE POUNDS.

I GOT THAT OUT IN THE BACK.

RUBY ASKED IF WE COULD PUT

THIS ON THE FARM ACCOUNT.

SHE DIDN'T THINK YOU'D MIND.

RUBY HASN'T USED HER

FARM ACCOUNT FOR A WHILE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO SIGN.

JUST SIGN THERE AND DATE IT.

REMEMBER TO DATE IT.

( car horns honking )

WHAT'S GOIN' ON?

THE WAR'S OVER!

YEAH! HA!

( cheering and shouting )

OH, GOD, IT'S OVER.

GOOD GOD! IT'S OVER!

( chatter continues )

( honking horn )

TOM!

IT'S OVER.

IT'S OVER. THE WAR--

IT'S FINALLY OVER.

SWEET JESUS!

♪♪

Tom: PUG?

I FIGURE WE'D BETTER GET GOIN'.

WHAT'S WRONG?

NOTHIN'.

ALL RIGHT, THEN. LET'S GO.

YOUR MAMA'S WAITIN'

AT THE PARK.

( cheering and shouting )

♪♪

( cheering and shouting )

♪♪

WELL...

I FEEL LIKE AN ASS.

YOU LOOK NICE, TOM,

REAL NICE.

WELL, PUG SAID MAYBE

I SHOULD...

YOU LOOK FINE.

WELL, I FEEL LIKE AN ASS.

WHERE IS PUG?

I DON'T KNOW.

SHE WENT OFF SOMEWHERE.

WANT SOME TEA?

YEAH, SURE. I'LL GET IT.

NO, NO. IT'LL ONLY

TAKE A MINUTE.

COME ON, YOU GUYS.

WHY'D YOU DRAG US ALL THE

WAY IN HERE, PUG THE BUY?

OH, YOU'RE SO SMART.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW SO MUCH.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW TOM.

YOU THINK HE'S A COWARD?

JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS,

MR. SAMMY CARLIN.

IT'S A RING HE TOOK OFF OF

THE FINGER OF A MAN HE KILLED.

HE HAD TO CUT THE FINGER

DEAD OFF.

WHERE'D YOU GET THAT?

IT'S TOM'S.

GO ON.

WHAT IS THIS?

IT AIN'T EVEN ENGLISH.

IT'S A WARRANT FOR HIS

ARREST IN SOME OTHER

FOREIGN COUNTRY.

TOLD YOU HE WAS MYSTERIOUS.

WE'RE GONNA NEED

SOME MORE TEA, MATTY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE MISS MATTY.

HEH.

QUITE A DAY.

THAT IT IS.

PEOPLE PRETTY GLAD TO SEE IT

ALL OVER, SEE EVERYBODY

COME HOME.

IT'S SOMETHING

TO BE GLAD ABOUT.

YOU THINK SO?

OF COURSE.

NO, I WAS JUST--

I'M SAYIN' IT COULD GET

PRETTY COMPLICATED NOW.

YOU GET USED TO

A CERTAIN WAY OF LIFE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT

YOU'RE TALKIN' ABOUT.

AND I DON'T THINK I CARE

TO FIND OUT.

WHAT--

GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!

YOU CRAZY?

FRANK AIN'T COMIN' BACK,

RUBY, AND THIS OTHER GUY,

HE AIN'T NO GOOD.

BUT I'M HERE. I'M HERE FOR YOU.

I AM HERE.

YOU'RE TALKIN' CRAZY.

JUST GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!

COME ON, RUBY.

WE'RE HAVIN' A PRIVATE WORD.

SEEMS TO ME

SHE'S DONE TALKIN'.

SEEMS TO--GO ON,

GET OUT OF HERE, YOU COWARD.

MISTER, I THINK YOU JUST

HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK.

YOU THINK I DON'T SEE

HOW IT IS?

YOU THINK THE WHOLE TOWN

DON'T SEE HOW IT IS?

YOU YELLOW-BELLIED SNAKE.

YOU WANDER IN HERE

AMONG GOOD FOLK,

THIS GOOD LAND, GOOD PEOPLE.

WHAT IN THE HELL IS WRONG

WITH YOU, RUBY?

YOU ALREADY LOST A HUSBAND

TO THE WAR, AND YOU TAKE UP

WITH A MAN LIKE THIS?

WHAT KIND OF WOMAN ARE YOU?

WATCH IT, MISTER.

A WOMAN TAKIN' UP WITH

A MAN LIKE THIS IS NOTHIN'

BUT A TRAMP.

TOM!

I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.

I'M SORRY.

JUST GETS SO QUIET

UP AT MY PLACE--NIGHTS--

SINCE MAMA DIED.

IT JUST GETS SO QUIET.

I WAS ALWAYS GONNA ASK YOU,

RUBY--DID YOU EVER WONDER

WHY I NEVER TOOK A WIFE?

MAMA'D SAY, "SILAS,

YOU GOT TO GET A WIFE."

AND I'D SMILE, 'CAUSE I WAS

JUST WAITIN', FIXIN' THE PLACE

UP, MAKIN' IT NICE.

SHE ALWAYS LIKED YOU, RUBY.

BUT I JUST WAITED TOO LONG.

THEN YOU TOOK UP WITH FRANK.

WHAT DID I DO WRONG, RUBY?

I TRIED TO BE A GOOD MAN.

I TRIED TO BE A GOOD FRIEND.

YOU DIDN'T DO

ANYTHING WRONG, SILAS.

IT JUST AIN'T YOU.

I WON'T BOTHER YOU NO MORE.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.

I DIDN'T HAVE TO HIT HIM.

HE WAS ASKIN' FOR IT, TOM.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA--

HE'S RIGHT.

I AIN'T NO GOOD.

IT AIN'T YOUR FAULT.

IT

IS

MY FAULT.

I WANTED TO HIT HIM, RUBY.

AND EVEN AFTER I DID,

I WANTED TO HIT HIM MORE...

AND MORE...

FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.

REASONS?

REASON ENOUGH--HE WAS--

THIS ISN'T ABOUT HIM.

DON'T--

MYRA'S PUSHIN' HER

PECAN PIE! HA HA!

IF I TAKE ONE MORE BITE,

I'M GONNA BURST.

DID YOU GET ENOUGH TO EAT?

EXCUSE ME.

AND THIS.

LET ME SEE.

HEY!

GIVE ME THAT!

WHAT YOU KIDS GOT THERE?

PUG'S GOT A RING THAT TOM

CUT OFF THE FINGER OF

A MAN HE KILLED.

HEH. THAT STINKIN'

YELLOW-BELLY PROBABLY BOUGHT IT

AT SOME PAWN SHOP.

HE COULDN'T HURT A FLY.

YOU'RE A LIAR.

WHY, YOU LITTLE...

HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?

FIRE!

GET OUT OF HERE!

RUN!

HELP!

SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!

FIRE IN THE LIVERY STABLE!

CHARLIE UPSHALL AND PUG.

THEY'RE INSIDE.

YOU BOYS OKAY?

YEAH.

Pug: HELP!

SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!

PUG? PUG?!

HELP!

PUG?

PLEASE!

PUG?

TOM!

( coughing )

( men shouting )

PUG.

( coughing )

TOM, NO!

WHERE'S HE GOING?

( overlapping chatter )

SHE'S OKAY.

JUST A LITTLE SMOKE.

WHAT WERE YOU KIDS

DOIN' IN THERE?

PUG HAD THIS.

( gasps )

( coughing )

SON, ARE YOU OKAY?

THIS YOURS?

DOC.

THESE ARE DISCHARGE PAPERS.

LINCOLN BATTALION--

SPANISH CIVIL WAR.

THEY'RE HIS BROTHERS--

BUDDY.

NO, IT SAYS "THOMAS--

THOMAS WALKER".

WOUNDED TWICE. A WAR HERO.

ARE YOU FINISHED?

PUG?

SHE'S SLEEPIN'.

I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY PUG TOOK YOUR THINGS

AND BROUGHT 'EM INTO TOWN.

WELL, AT LEAST THEY KNOW

THE TRUTH NOW.

THEY KNOW YOU AREN'T A COWARD.

YOU THINK I CARE ABOUT THAT?

THINK I CARE THEY THINK

I'M A COWARD?

YOU THINK I CARE IF

YOU DO?

YOU KNOW, BUDDY DIDN'T

WANT TO GO.

HE DIDN'T SEE THE SENSE IN IT.

SAID IT WAS SOMEBODY

ELSE'S FIGHT.

BUT TO ME, DEMOCRACY

WAS A RELIGION.

ONE SIDE WAS FRANCO,

MUSSOLINI AND HITLER.

AND THE OTHER SIDE WAS US.

ONE MAN'S FIGHT

WAS EVERY MAN'S FIGHT.

I BELIEVED.

BUDDY JUST FOLLOWED.

WE ENDED UP IN A PLACE

CALLED BRUNETE.

ABOUT THE THIRD DAY IN, WE--

WE GOT HIT REAL HARD.

BUDDY GOT THE WORST OF IT.

IF HE'D BEEN ON THE LEFT

AND I--I'D HAVE BEEN

ON THE RIGHT--

IT'S JUST...

SO RANDOM.

BUDDY DIDN'T THINK

HE COULD DIE.

NOT LIKE THAT.

WHEN HE FINALLY UNDERSTOOD,

HE JUST--HE JUST WENT CRAZY

FROM THE TRUTH OF IT.

THIS IS ALL I GOT LEFT OF HIM.

BUDDY DIDN'T DIE FOR DEMOCRACY.

HE DIDN'T DIE TO KEEP

THE WORLD SAFE FROM FASCISM.

BUDDY DIED 'CAUSE HE JUST

HAPPENED TO BE THERE.

AND HE JUST HAPPENED

TO BE THERE 'CAUSE OF ME.

AND HE JUST HAPPENED

TO BE THERE 'CAUSE OF ME.

HAVING YOU THINK I WAS

A COWARD--THAT'S EASY.

WHAT'S HARD IS HAVING YOU

KNOW THE TRUTH.

WHEN I GAVE UP ON FRANK

COMIN' HOME...

SOMETHING INSIDE ME JUST DIED,

AND I WANTED THE REST OF

THE WORLD TO DIE WITH IT.

BUT...YOU'VE TAUGHT ME

HOW TO FEEL AGAIN.

YOU'VE GIVEN ME HOPE, TOM.

♪♪

"BUT I AM SAFE...

AND COMING HOME."

YOU READ IT?

IT'S THE WORST THING

I EVER DONE.

I KNOW I SHOULD'VE SHOWED IT

TO MAMA, BUT...

I DIDN'T WANT--

DIDN'T WANT DADDY TO COME HOME.

NOT NOW.

( crying )

I WANT

YOU

TO BE MY DADDY.

I'D HAVE BEEN PROUD

TO BE YOUR DADDY, PUG.

DID YOU TELL MAMA?

NO.

TIMES LIKE THESE,

LETTERS GET LOST.

I'LL TRADE YOU SOMETHING--

MY SECRET FOR YOURS.

BUT YOU GOTTA PROMISE ME

SOMETHING.

THAT YOU'RE GONNA HOLD IT

IN YOUR HEART

AND NEVER TELL A SOUL.

SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA

LOSE A BATTLE TO WIN A WAR.

GO BACK TO SLEEP.

EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE FINE.

MORNIN'.

NEED A LIGHT, BUDDY?

PLEASE.

THAT'S YOUR LAST MATCH.

BEG YOUR PARDON?

I TOOK YOUR LAST MATCH.

IT'S OKAY.

I'M ALMOST HOME.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME.

YEAH.

Ruby: PUG.

MAMA?

( whistle blowing )

Man: HEY.

GOIN' SOMEPLACE SPECIAL,

BROTHER, OR JUST WANDERING?

HOME.

I'M GOING HOME.

Pug:

I OFTEN FIND MYSELF

TURNING THAT TIME OVER

IN MY MIND, AS ONE CAREFULLY

TURNS THE PAGES OF A

FAVORITE AND OFTEN-READ BOOK.

TOM WAS MY FRIEND.

HE TAUGHT ME TO DANCE

AND GAVE MY MOTHER AND ME

HIS HANDS, HIS HEART

AND HIS HOPE,

IN A VERY SMALL WAY

AND FOR A VERY SHORT TIME.

TOM WALKER IS ALWAYS

AND FOREVER ALIVE IN ME...

RIGHT NEXT TO MY DADDY,

AND SILAS, AND MAMA.

TOM?

( train whistle blows )

TOM?

I ONCE READ SOMETHING

THAT SAID, "TO TRAVEL WITH

HOPE IS MORE IMPORTANT

THAN ARRIVING."

THROUGH MY FORTUNATE LIFE

SINCE AS A DOCTOR, WIFE

AND MOTHER, I TRAVEL

WITH HOPE.

♪♪

♪ THE GUY I MET THIS EVENING

♪ HAD A PAIR OF EYES

♪ A GIRL COULD ADORE

♪ I'M TELLING YOU THE GENT

♪ WAS HEAVEN-SENT

♪ SWEPT ME RIGHT OFF

♪ OF THE FLOOR

♪ THE GUY I MET THIS EVENING

♪ HANDED ME A LINE

♪ I COULDN'T IGNORE

♪ HOOK AND SINKER

♪ TOOK THE BAIT

♪ THE BAIT WAS GREAT

♪ AND I WAS READY FOR MORE

♪ WHEN WE WERE DANCING

♪ OOH, HOW MY HEART WENT

♪ FLIP-FLOP

♪ AND THEN ROMANCING

♪ I MEAN ROMANCING

♪ I KIND OF MURMURED

♪ "BABY, DON'T STOP"

♪ THE GUY I MET THIS EVENING

♪ TOOK ME HOME

♪ AND USHERED ME TO MY DOOR

♪ I WON'T TELL YOU HOW

♪ THE GUY WAS A WOW

♪ BUT I WON'T BREATHE

♪ TILL SATURDAY NIGHT

♪ BUT I WON'T BREATHE

♪ TILL SATURDAY NIGHT

♪ WHEN WE WERE DANCING

♪ OOH, HOW YOUR HEART WENT

♪ FLIP-FLOP

♪ AND THEN ROMANCING

♪ I MEAN ROMANCING

♪ I HEARD YOU SAYING

♪ "BABY, DON'T STOP"

♪ THE GUY I MET THIS EVENING

♪ TOOK ME HOME

♪ AND USHERED ME TO MY DOOR

♪ I WON'T TELL YOU HOW

♪ THE GUY WAS A WOW

♪ BUT I WON'T BREATHE

♪ TILL I SEE HIM

♪ ON SATURDAY NIGHT

Run the Wild Fields (2000) - full transcript