Sounder (1972) - full transcript
The Morgans, a loving and strong family of Black sharecroppers in Louisiana in 1933, face a serious family crisis when the husband and father, Nathan Lee Morgan, is convicted of a petty crime and sent to a prison camp. After some weeks or months, the wife and mother, Rebecca Morgan, sends the oldest son, who is about 11 years old, to visit his father at the camp. The journey becomes something of an odyssey for the boy. During the journey, he stays a little while with a dedicated Black schoolteacher.
Think we'll get a coon tonight, Daddy?
- We'd better.
Jesus, will you come by here?
Oh, Jesus, will you come by here?
Jesus, will you come by here?
Now is a needy time...
Oh, now is a needy time...
Now is a needy time.
Come, if you don't stay long...
Oh, come, if you don't stay long...
Come, if you don't stay long.
Now is a needy time...
Oh, now is a needy time...
Jesus, won't you come by here?
He's got one already!
Come on, boy, let's go.
I hear you, boy, come on!
Give me that lamp,
boy, come on, let's...
Man.
There it is. Now come on, boy, let's go!
Go, Sounder! I hear you. Come on!
I think he's got him treed, boy.
It's all over now for you, old coon!
There he is. Come on, let's go.
Sweet meat on the table.
We hear you, boy. Come on!
Shoot!
Damn.
Oh, Sounder, don't give
up now. Come on, boy!
That dog done found one already.
Come on, sonny, let's go.
Sounder!
Sounder!
Aww, shoot!
Come on, Sounder, don't
give up now. Come on, boy!
Dammit!
I remember a time when a bull couldn't
stop that dog from catching that coon.
It's alright, son.
Old Sounder did his job.
It's just, when I realized there wasn't
gonna be no meat on the table, I just...
...acted foolish for a minute.
If anybody's to blame, it's me, 'cause
I oughta nailed him on that first shot.
It's too dark, Daddy.
Yeah.
Alright, well...
Well, I guess we better get on
back to the cabin. Sounder!
You know, son: there ain't
no dog as good as Sounder.
In all the years we've been tracking
coons and possums in these woods...
He ain't never tore one of
them up yet. Mm-mmm, no...
He always brought them
back whole and healthy.
Now you see?
Now that's the difference between
a hound dog that's mean and dirty...
...to one that's great.
Like old Sounder here.
We had one cornered, but he got away.
I bet you you're tired, little boy. Ain't you, David Lee?
- Yes, sir.
You ought to be tired, too, Sounder...
...cause that coon sure whipped
the hell out of you tonight.
He beat you too, Daddy, and
you had a big shootin' rifle.
You don't make funny with
your daddy like that, boy.
- David Lee.
- Yes, sir?
You had a rough time out
there tonight, so, uh...
...you stay home from
that school tomorrow.
But I want to go.
Are you learning anything at that school?
- Yes, sir.
When the night comes in these parts,
that old moon runs like a scared rabbit.
You can stay here all night just looking
and not see a thing out yonder.
Are we going hunting
again tomorrow, Daddy?
Oh, yeah.
I guess you wonder why, though, huh?
What with the luck we've been having.
But, like I always say...
"You lose some of the time
what you always go after..."
"...but you lose all the time
what you don't go after."
Now, who says I didn't
put my mark on you, boy?
David Lee?
Time to get to bed, son.
Goodnight, Daddy.
Goodnight, son.
Don't wake Josie Mae and Earl, now.
It's your bedtime too, hound dog.
Now go on, get under there. Go on!
I bet you could use a hot cup of coffee.
I sure could, Miss Rebecca...mmm.
Oh, Nathan Lee...
Dammit! That boy done bitten my walnuts.
I skin my fingers to the bone to pick 2
pounds that's worth almost nothing...
...at the commissary, and he
done took about half of it.
The boy is hungry, Rebecca.
We've been through these hard
times before, Nathan Lee...
...and we made it.
And what did we make it to, Rebecca?
Another season sharecropping
for old man Perkins?
Working ourselves to death...
...so he can get richer, and we can't
even eat when cropping time is done?
Nathan...
Nathan?
Nathan?
Nathan?
Nathan?
Come on, y'all, get up! There's
meat cooking in the kitchen.
Come on, get up! Come on.
- What's in there, Daddy?
- Sausage and ham bone.
Don't do that!
Where did it come from?
- Morning, Mama.
- Morning.
There's meat cooking
on the stove.
That's right. Go wash up.
- Where'd it come from?
- Where all meat comes from.
Now go wash up & be snappy about it. You
got 6 miles ahead of you to that school.
Morning, Nathan.
Morning.
Did you have any to eat?
Oh, no, I'll wait until after
the children. Rebecca...
Yes?
What's the weather like out there?
It's hot.
Gonna be good baseball weather
for our game today, then, huh?
Mm-hmm.
Morning, Daddy.
Well...morning back at you!
Hey, now, you save some
of that for me, huh?
Sounder?
Hey, Sounder! Come on.
There you go, boy. Now that ought to put
you in good shape for tonight, huh?
Now don't take all morning
at that table, David Lee.
Mama, when can me and Earl
go to school with David Lee?
Maybe soon.
Tell you one thing we
got plenty of, is wood.
Ready to go, Mama.
Well, tuck that shirt in, David Lee.
And when you get out of that school,
you come straight on home, you hear?
You're gonna have to take this laundry
work I've done for Ms. Boatwright.
Good day.
Bye, Daddy.
Bye, son.
Where was it you went
last night, Nathan?
I did what I had to do, Rebecca.
...and crown thy good with
brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!
Huckleberry Finn, Chapter 34.
- I'm sorry, Ms. Clay.
- You're late.
- Yes, ma'am.
- Well, take your seat.
Now where were we, before
we were interrupted?
Oh, yeah. Huckleberry Finn, Chapter 34.
her edition is abridged/censored.]
This chapter is called,
"We Cheer Up Jim."
Here we go:
Tom says: "What's the vittles
for? Going to feed the dogs?"
The "colored boy kind of smiled around
gradually over his face, and says:
"Yes, Mars Sid. A dog."
- Brought your laundry, Ms. Boatwright.
- Oh. Come on in, children!
Come on in.
Put it right up here on the
table, David. Thanks.
Yeah. Mmm, mmm.
You tell Rebecca there ain't a Chinaman
in all this world to beat her ironing.
Well...
Now, um...
Here's for your mama's work...
And, um...
...here's something for the 3 of you.
- Thanks, Ms. Boatwright.
- Thank you, Ms. Boatwright.
- Thanks, Ms. Boatwright.
Oh, by the way, David...
I got that book I promised you.
It's all about the Three Musketeers.
Thanks, Ms. Boatwright!
And when you've read it,
we're going to talk about it.
Yes, ma'am. We've got to hurry!
Oh: tell Rebecca "hi" for me, you hear?
Ms. Boatwright, what's a Chinaman?
Come on, Josie Mae. We gotta hurry!
Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go!
Let's go!
Let's get you to first base on that!
Alright, alright, let's
get 'em, let's get 'em!
Hi, Daddy!
Let's get 'em, let's get 'em!
Hi, Daddy.
Look at you, look atcha, look at ya!
Alright, alright!
Alright, let's get 'em. Let's get 'em!
Ball 4.
Alright!
Hi, Mama, what's the score?
Hi, y'all. 3-2, but the other team has
got the bases loaded with only 1 out.
What inning is it?
Last one. Now turn around
and watch the game!
Let's go, let's go, let's
get 'em, let's get 'em!
Let's get 'em.
2 more to go, Daddy!
Come on, Nathan!
Come on, Daddy!
- Let's get him!
- One time!
He ain't nothing but a rookie.
Hey, out!
One more to go, Daddy!
One more and that's it. Come on!
- Come on, Nathan!
- Let's go!
Throw him out, man, he ain't
nothing but a rookie. Let's get him!
One time.
- He ain't nothing but a rookie.
Speedball, Speedball, won't you
please pitch that ball to me...
He already pitched that ball
for you today. Yes he did!
Speedball, Speedball, won't you
please pitch that ball to me...
Well, the other team got 2 and Speedball's team got 3!
- Got 3!
You tell them, Ike! Yes, indeed.
Speedball, Speedball, I do believe
baseball is your game...
It's his game alright! He proved
that one today, didn't he?
Speedball, Speedball, I do believe
baseball is your game...
It's his game! Not his
shame, but his game!
Oh, you're a regular partner,
Nathan Lee Morgan is your name.
Nathan Lee Morgan! That's his name.
Oh, you're a regular partner,
Nathan Lee Morgan is your name.
Nathan Lee Morgan!
Look here, man, if they heard me
play like this up north, you know...
...I'd be richer than
the man I sharecrop for!
Oh, right!
And if they saw me
pitch the way I did...
...they'd hire me just
to strike out Babe Ruth!
Well, you know, that sure is
a- thrilling, yes Lord!
What they do in them
white churches, Mama?
Same as you do: they pray.
Naw...
One time by mistake I went to this white
church down there in Rye Parish, y'know?
And to this very day I don't know
how I ever got out of there alive.
Well, they probably thought you was crazy.
- Oh man, I guess so, I guess so.
But I went home. You know me: I did
me some praying to the good Lord...
Yeah, we know you...
I asked the good Lord about this white
church that I went to in Rye Parish...
...and I said, all I wanna know is how
the devil I ever got out of there alive.
And what did the good
Lord say to you, Ike?
Well, the good Lord said, "Ike, you
know, you're doing better than Me."
"'Cause I been trying to get in there
for 200 years and I ain't make it yet."
Oh, Ike, if ever there was a
devil in this parish, you's it.
You could make a song out
of that, couldn't you, Ike?
I believe I'll just do that, Speedball.
- Bye, y'all.
- Bye. Bye.
Going to the country,
Mama don't you want to go?
Going to the country,
Mama don't you want to go?
Going to the country,
Mama don't you want to go?
- Oh, yeah.
- Alright.
Well...
This here is where I'm going to
have to say goodbye to y'all...
It's been fun, Rebecca.
- Us too, Ike.
- Oh, yes.
Looks like it's going to be a nice
warm night coming up, Nathan.
- You going in them woods?
- Oh, yeah.
Them coons and possums better
hide deep from us tonight.
Mm-hmm!
- Critters in the woods better hide tonight, oh Lord, hide tonight...
Hide tonight, oh Lord, hide
tonight, hide tonight!
Oh Lord, hide tonight, hide tonight!
Critters in the woods better hide
tonight, oh Lord...
...hit it so hard it went through Ike's
legs and he bent down to get the ball...
...and all the dirt went
into his face, hahaha!
I tell you, Nathan Lee, you really did
hit that ball that time, I must say...
Didn't he, Josie Mae?
Oh Lord, I thought I would die...
Where's he going? Where you off to...
Daddy, there's two men in front
of the house. Who is that?
Nathan...
Hush up, Sounder.
I guess we'd better see who they is.
We've been in your house, Nathan.
- Hold that dog.
We found what we was looking for, too.
Now you took some food and stuff
from Jamie's smokehouse last night.
My deputy and me, we've got to
take you down to the county house.
- What they doing, Mama?
- Quiet, son, quiet!
Get him in the truck.
Sheriff Young?
You've been knowing Nathan for a long
time. You know the kind of man he is.
And you know the troubles we've
been having in these hard times...
Alright, let's go!
S...
David Lee!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Josie Mae, I'm fixing to go into
town to see about your daddy.
David Lee is in charge now, and you and
Earl do just like he tells you, hear?
- Yes, Mom - Yes, Mom.
- David Lee? Watch the fire.
And fix some of that corn
mush for y'all to eat.
Don't go too far now
looking for Sounder.
Anybody comes that's a stranger asking
you questions, don't say nothing, hear?
I won't.
- Bye, son.
- Bye, Mama.
I won't be gone too long.
- Bye, Mama.
- Bye, Mama.
How do you do?
Good morning, Rebecca.
I was sort of expecting
you this morning.
I've come to see Nathan.
Well...
I wish I could, but I can't let you.
I don't understand that, Sheriff Young.
Well, it's simple.
That's the rules.
I follow them.
Ain't no visiting, except
Sunday and holidays.
No womenfolk no time.
You mean to tell me,
I can't see my own husband?
Well, that's the way they do
things here in Lansdowne...
I just follow orders.
But...I've got to see him, Mr. Sheriff,
you know, I've got to see Nathan.
Well, I'd like to help you...
...but that wouldn't do anything
but get us both in trouble.
They gonna give him a trial?
Probably some time next week.
I'll tell you what I'll do...
Soon as I find out what day, I'll drive
on out to your place and let you know.
Rebecca.
You've got you a low-life
job, Mr. Sheriff.
Rebecca, you're just
the one I want to see.
I brought these walnuts to trade.
That's 1 dollar and 20 cents.
- I want to get me some things.
- I hope it ain't a lot, because...
...I can't give you no more credit
until cropping season gets back.
That is, if Nathan makes it.
I didn't say nothing about
no credit, Mr. Perkins.
- What you want to order?
- I need me some flour...
Nutmeg...
Chocolate...
Extract...
Oh, and some sugar...
And give me 2 eggs.
Now what I want to talk
to you about is Nathan.
He oughtn't have done what he did.
Sneaking into Jamie's place
and taking their goods.
That looks bad on me.
I been good to y'all.
Didn't I go to all that trouble
to get the people of Lansdowne...
...to let your David Lee go
to their school? Didn't I?
And another thing:
With Nathan in jail and all...
...how are you going to crop for me
when the spring season comes? Huh?
Dammit, I'm talking to you, woman!
I've got a farm to worry about,
and I need some answers.
Cropping season is a long
way off, Mr. Perkins.
By that time, Nathan ought to be home.
If he ain't...
...believe me, the children
and me will do the cropping.
If we have too.
Because we owe you all that money.
Mr. Perkins.
Do you think Sounder's dead, David Lee?
Will he stay dead?
He ain't dead. Now stop
asking crazy questions.
You don't have to get mad because
you didn't find our dead dog.
He's not dead!
David Lee?
Mama! Mama, Mama!
Mama, Mama!
Lord, it's hot.
- Anything for me?
- How have y'all been?
Anybody been here?
- No, ma'am. You see Daddy?
- No, son.
He'll have to wait until
the holiday comes.
Anyway, won't let womenfolk
see their men no time!
Can I see him when the holiday comes?
- You sure can, son.
Any sign of Sounder?
No, ma'am.
I looked all over these parts.
Well, I think maybe he was
whipped on the head by that shot.
I don't think he's dead.
Just gone off to heal himself somewhere.
Nothing in here.
No...
I'm fixing to bake a cake for David Lee
to take to your daddy this time.
Make a chocolate cake, Mama.
Daddy likes things that's chocolate.
Defendant will rise and
come before the bench.
Nathan Lee Morgan...
...you have been found
guilty of unlawful trespass..
...and robbery.
Is there anything you wish to
say to the court, prior to...
...the court pronouncing
sentence upon you?
No, sir.
The sentence of the court is that you be
immediately remanded to the custody...
...of the sheriff of this parish.
And that you be transferred forthwith to
serve a term of 1 year at hard labor...
...at a parish prison camp
to be hereafter designated.
Collect and call the next case.
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
David Lee...
Be sure to ask your daddy to tell you
what camp they're going to send him to.
Look perk-ish now, so you
don't grieve him none.
OK, that's all, son.
Don't forget what I told you, now!
What have you got there, boy?
A cake for my daddy.
Well, put it on this table,
and wait until I check it.
Can't be too careful, boy.
There just might be a steel
file or a hacksaw in it.
What's your daddy's name?
Nathan Lee Morgan.
OK, boy.
3rd cell down there on your right.
Well, look-y here.
Hi, Daddy.
Hi back at you.
Mama's outside with Josie Mae and Earl.
They is?
Well...
It sure is good to see you, son.
This was a real cake, before the man
outside put all these holes in it.
Oh, now, that don't make no difference.
If I know your mama...
...a few knife holes ain't gonna destroy
the soul that she done put in this cake.
Here. Now have a piece with your daddy.
Mmm...
Mmm.
Daddy...
We didn't find Sounder yet.
Well, he'll show up one day.
Think he's dead, Daddy?
No, son.
He'll come back to you just as soon as
his wounds heal. Now, you'll see.
Lord...
...this cake sure is tasty.
It's a shame they won't
let them come in here.
Boy, if I had the strength, I'd knock
down these damn walls just so I could...
...get my arms around your mama, just...
Are they on this side
of us, do you think?
I think so.
I'm going to see about that, if
I have to break both of my arms!
Son...
...don't ever let yourself get
caught in a place like this!
Daddy...
...can you say what camp
they're going to send you to?
No, they don't tell us things like that.
But I don't want y'all to
come here no more.
Why, Daddy? You won't be here?
Do like I tell you.
Time's up.
Come on, boy.
Son...
Oh, I'd rather be fishing
for bream in the creek...
...than working in the sun
out here all week.
I expect a gal, hey Lord,
I expects a gal, hey I got to
Keep on working, keep on pulling,
keep on hauling in the hot sun...
Lord...
Lord, children...
Lord...
Lord, child...
If I expect to get outta the way I live,
got to push and pull and deal and give.
If I expect to change my ways some
time, I got to do what I'm doing now...
...I got to do what I'm doing now.
I got to do what I'm doing.
Oh, Lord...
Oh, Lord...
Someday there'll be a change, Lord,
someday there'll be a change.
"Yes," said D'Artagnan,
"but we shall..."
"...inevitably...be shot."
"Yes," rejoined Athos.
"But you know very well that the
bullets most to be feared..."
"...are not those of the enemy."
"Yet it seems to me," said
Porthos, "that for such an..."
"...expedition...we should have
at least brought our muskets."
"You are a simpleton, friend
Porthos. Why should we...
Give me this old time religion...
Give me this old time religion...
Give me that old time religion...
Lord, it's good enough for me.
Yes, it's good in the time of dying...
Yes, it's good in the time of dying...
Yes, it's good in the time of dying...
Lord, it's good enough for me.
Lord, if this wasn't a
Sunday, I do believe...
...I'd do a dance to that
music Ike's playing.
Oh, go on, Harriet, and shake
them feet. God ain't looking!
Now, I might be a country
woman, but I ain't no fool!
Come on, Ms. Harriet. - Come on, Ms.
Harriet. - Come on, Ms. Harriet.
Well, you can't blame a girl for trying!
Good day, Reverend.
Rebecca...
David Lee, give the reverend a seat.
Word from Nathan?
No, I haven't got anything, Rebecca.
I went down to the courthouse...
...yesterday, to see about it, and
they wouldn't tell me nothing...
...as to what labor camp
Nathan was sent to.
And I'm sorry.
It's a damn shame, Reverend.
It's a damn shame.
Let us not take to
bitterness, Sister Morgan.
Why, in this same church, we have women
with the same trouble you are having.
What I tell them...
...whatever misery...or
trials...take it to God.
"Take it to God."
It's not that simple, Rebecca.
God works in a mysterious way.
We brought nothing into this life...
...and we carry nothing out.
Is that a blessing, Reverend?
It's a blessing.
Thank you.
Easy, boy. Easy now.
It's OK. It's OK.
He eats alright. His
throat ain't scarred.
Then why don't he bark like he used to?
Oh, he will.
Get down and act like a possum.
I don't look like no possum.
Act like one!
Get him, boy, get him!
Don't tell that dog to get me!
Oh, shut up.
Why don't you get yourself a new dog?
...after Dr. Anthony Lorring believed
a lie about her, and discarded her...
...and was tricked into marriage
by his wife Millicent.
For Ellen has just said to Michael:
"Michael, over and over you've asked
me to name a day for our marriage..."
"Well, now I'm ready to do it."
"I'll marry you this very afternoon, if you want me to."
- Ms. Boatwright?
"I'll go away from
Simpsonville with you..."
- Ms. Boatwright!
- "...whenever you want me to."
Half an hour ago...
...Ellen and Anthony Lorring and
his vindictive wife Millicent...
...who hates Ellen, and has sworn
to destroy both Ellen and Anthony...
Ms. Boatwright!
...faced the young playboy Bruce
Caufield in his hospital room...
...and heard Bruce reveal that Millicent
is...
David!
Would you like a cool drink?
No, thank you.
I've got some work to
do in the field today.
Ms. Boatwright?
Yes, David?
Would you help me find out what
camp they sent my father to?
Well, the courthouse has rules about
things like that, David, but...
Well, I'll ask around town about it.
See you tomorrow, Ms. Boatwright.
David...
I'll find out where
your daddy is for you.
Thanks, Ms. Boatwright.
You don't mention this to
anybody, David! Do you hear me?
I can't do that, Rita!
Now, we have a policy here
on colored prisoners.
And I ain't about to change that,
even though we're good friends.
Charlie, just because a man
and his family are colored...
Look: I don't make the rules, Rita!
And you're putting yourself out on a
limb, asking me to do such a thing!
And I'll be damned if I'm going to
jeopardize my job just because...
...you're in love with
a little colored boy!
Excuse me.
Young here. Sheriff Young here.
Yes, sir...yes, sir.
You bet your life, sir.
I'll be right over.
That was Judge Elliott.
When Judge Elliott calls me, I jump!
Goodbye, Rita.
But, Charlie...
No. N-O: no!
Did you find what you were looking for?
Well, I...
I did look, Charlie, but...
No "buts" about it, Rita.
Charlie, you have no legal right not
to tell that boy where his father is.
Do you hear that? You and
this whole damn courthouse.
What you're doing is wrong.
You tell me about wrong!
Now, you come in here as a friend, and
I find you going through the files?
You know I could have
you arrested for that?
If you give that information out, that's
exactly what I'm going to do to you!
And I'll tell this whole town
how you got that information...
...and who you're giving it to!
And you won't have a friend left in this
parish to...bring you a piece of candy!
You would do that, wouldn't you?
Now you're getting the
point, Mrs. Boatwright.
Let's get out of here, David Lee.
Ms. Boatwright...
You know where my father is, don't you?
No.
He was wrong, David: I didn't find out.
Ms. Boatwright, I saw you.
You looked in there, and you
found out where my father is.
If I say I didn't, David,
that's what I mean.
Ms. Boat...
- I don't know a damn thing. Now stop bothering me about it.
Come.
I'll take you home.
I'll walk.
Now, don't pout now,
David. It's a long trip.
I'm used to it.
Well, you can't say I didn't try.
Hello, David.
Hi, Ms. Boatwright.
I'm sorry about the way
I acted the other day.
Well, there's no need
to be sorry, David.
- Where's your mama?
- Here I is, Ms. Boatwright.
The camp where Nathan is at...
...is called Wishbone Labor Camp.
And, um...
...it's in Nolantown.
You sure is a crazy-acting woman
sometimes, Ms. Boatwright.
Now, um, we go from A-2, to, um...
Now, let me see where we go from here...
Are you having trouble, Ms. Boatwright?
Oh, no, no, no: these maps
are easy to read, but, um...
There it is, right there.
How do you get there, Ms. Boatwright?
Well, um...
There are numbers and letters on here
to show you where to look on the map...
...but, um...
Well, Nolanstown isn't under a number.
But we know that it's in
northern Lansdowne...
...and the number for
northern Lansdowne is H-7.
But, um...
Since Lansdowne is the largest parish,
it actually stretches across into A-2...
...and, uh...
A-2...is, um...
Am I making myself clear?
Oh, yes. Oh, yes, it's clear, Ms.
Boatwright. I'm sure we'll find it.
I mean, when the time comes for us
to find that place, we'll find it.
- Won't we, children? - Yes, ma'am.
- Yes, ma'am. - Oh, yes, we'll find it.
Yes we will.
Hey, boy!
Boy, you're getting heavy. Hey, Sounder!
Boy, you're looking good. Hey, I'll race
you to that tree stump. You ready?
Go! Come on!
You can run faster than that, come on!
Then, after you go by Nolan...
...the first road you're gonna
come to is that Jordan Road.
And, um...
...you go all the way down to
the end of the Jordan Road...
...to the labor camp,
that's where it is...
...right at the end of
the road. Now, look:
It's going to be a long trip.
And, uh, good luck to you!
Thanks, Mr. Ike.
- Alright, David Lee. Here's your food and things.
If you get tired, you go into a
railroad station or a church to rest.
Don't you go to nobody's house, you hear?
- Yes, ma'am.
And you tell your daddy to send some
word about what time he's gonna be home.
- And tell him I love him, hear?
- Tell him I said "hi," too.
Alright, now get a move on.
You're losing daylight.
Come on, Sounder. Come on.
Jesus, will you come by here?
Oh, Jesus, will you come by here?
Jesus, will you come by here?
Now is a needy time, oh,
now is a needy time...
Now is a needy time.
Come, if you don't stay long, oh,
come, if you don't stay long...
Come, if you don't stay long.
Now is a needy time, oh,
now is a needy time...
Now is a needy time.
Down on my knees and praying, I'm
down on my knees and praying...
Jesus, won't you come by here?
Jesus, won't you come by here, oh,
Jesus, won't you come by here?
Jesus, won't you come by here?
Come on, Sounder.
Can you visit here, mister?
You'll have to come
back on visiting day.
Well, when's that?
Sunday.
Do you know my father,
Nathan Lee Morgan?
Never heard of him, boy. We've
got lots of men in that prison.
Mister!
Boy, where did you come from?
I want to see about my daddy,
Nathan Lee Morgan. Is he here?
Yeah.
What are you doing there, boy? Move!
Mister, is Nathan Lee Morgan here?
There's nobody here named Morgan. Now
get away before you get us in trouble.
Come on, Sounder.
Come on, boy.
2 times 3 are?
6!
6 times 6 are?
36!
- How many?
- 36!
36 minus 12 are?
24.
How many?
- 24.
- 36 minus 12? - Yes.
- 24.
- That's right, 24.
24 times 2 are?
48.
- How many?
- 48!
48 plus 48 are?
- 96.
- 96! - Ninety-si...
Excuse me.
Yes, come in.
Come in!
Stay, Sounder.
Yes?
Well, can I please wash my hand
where it's got blood all over it?
Let me see that.
Sit down over there.
You don't live around here, do you?
No, ma'am...I've come a long way.
Me and my dog were just trying to
find my father, and we got lost.
Is he here in Borderdale?
I don't know.
He's in a prison camp.
My name is Camille.
Camille Johnson. I'm the
supervisor of this school.
- What's your name?
- David Lee Morgan.
And my dog's name is Sounder.
That feels better.
You keep looking around, David.
Don't you go to school?
Sometimes. But not like this.
Well, it's a good thing that this
hand did not become infected.
How did you hurt it like this?
Well, me and Sounder went to this
prison camp looking for my daddy.
And the guard hit me on my hand.
Did your mother know you were going to see your father?
- Yes, ma'am.
That does it.
Thanks, Ms. Johnson.
David?
Why don't you stay until school is
over? I don't live far from here.
You and your dog can come home with
me and have yourselves a hot meal.
Then we can talk about
how to get you back home.
Yes, ma'am.
Take a seat back there.
Stay, Sounder.
You've got a pretty house, Ms. Johnson!
I try.
You've got a lot of books, too.
Here. Let me tell you something
about the books on these shelves.
This book is about a woman who helped to
free slaves. Her name is Harriet Tubman.
She died in 1915.
Thanks, Ms. Johnson.
And this one is about a man
called Crispus Attucks.
He was the first black man to
die in the American Revolution.
The war that was fought to help this
country become the United States.
Ms. Johnson?
Don't you teach in your school
about folk who ain't dead?
Sure!
Here's one about a man
who's very much alive.
Dr. William E.B. DuBois.
- What does he talk about?
- Here, I'll read something he said:
" the longing of
black men must have respect:"
"...the rich and bitter depth
of their experience..."
"...the unknown treasures
of their inner life..."
"...the strange rendings of
nature they have seen..."
"...may give the world
new points of view..."
"...and make their loving, living, and
doing, precious to all human hearts."
"And to themselves in these the
days that try their souls..."
"...the chance to soar in the
dim blue air above the smoke..."
"...is to their finer spirits..."
"...boon and guerdon for what they
lose on earth by being black."
You're a nice lady, Ms. Johnson.
Alright. Alright.
Let's stop the laughing.
Who else has a story to tell us?
I got a story, Ms. Johnson.
A true story that happened to me.
You know the class is going to challenge
your story, don't you, Clarence?
Yes, Ms. Johnson.
Alright, go on.
Me and my little sister went down
to the water hole last Saturday.
You all was doing something wrong. You
didn't tell us the name of your sister.
Me and my sister Laura went down
to the water hole last Saturday.
We was playing along
the edge of the water.
Laura slipped and fell into the water.
I started to run back home. But I turned
around, ran back, dove into the water...
...and got her out
before she could drown.
How was your sister after you
pulled her out of the water?
She was dirty and wet.
What made you run?
I was going home to get my daddy.
What made you stop and go back?
Cause if I had ran home...
...by the time I should have got
back, my sister would have drowned.
How come you didn't know that at first?
Cause I was scared.
Hold it! Clarence's story ain't true.
Me and Clarence went to the river a
lot of times, and I know he can't swim!
Clarence? Would you tell us a story that
was not true, after telling us it was?
No, Ms. Johnson.
Can you swim?
Yes, ma'am.
Clarence! You know you can't swim.
Every time Mr. Richie showed you...
...you fell down. And I had
to always pull you out.
Yes, ma'am.
But when I saw my sister
about to drown in the water...
I tried, because I
wasn't scared anymore.
I was just swimming and kicking. I don't
know how I was doing it, but I was.
Because my sister was
drowning. She was drowning!
I believe Clarence's story.
Do you want to stand up
and tell us why, David?
Well...some people came
and took my father away.
And other people said we couldn't
work the farm. But we had to.
Or else we would have lost the farm.
But we planted the crops and they grew.
I believe Clarence's story
because of what he did.
He couldn't swim, but he had to!
Else his sister would have drowned!
And that's how he did it.
You know, that was a good thing you
did for Clarence in class today.
I believed his story.
But I was afraid the
other children wouldn't.
I knew he was scared nobody would
believe him as soon as he stood up.
You did? How?
I've been like that sometimes, myself.
Thinking nobody would believe me.
You want to hear another story?
- Not now, David.
It's getting late and you have a long
trip ahead of you in the morning.
What are you looking at out
there? There's nothing to see.
Daddy always looks out into the dark.
Even when there's nothing to see.
He says it's what you hear.
You think about your
father a lot, don't you?
Yes, ma'am.
You shouldn't worry about
him too much, David.
But what am I going to
tell Mama when I get home?
Tell her that I didn't see Daddy?
And that's what I wanted to do!
But you did all you could.
Not many little boys could have
gone on such a journey as you did.
But where's Daddy?
I can't answer that for you.
But it's no fault of your own that
you don't know where your father is.
Tell me what you did that kept you from
finding your father.
Hmm? Come on, tell me!
Nothing.
And so you did your job, right?
Yes, ma'am.
Boy...you sure keep my mind jumping!
And what does that mean?
That means you keep me using
my head, and that's good.
Ms. Johnson?
You think I can come back here and...
study school with the other children?
Full yet?
Fine.
Mama, mama! Josie Mae! Earl!
- David Lee!
- David Lee!
David Lee?
David Lee?
Lord, boy, where have you been?
You had me worried out of my mind!
You find your daddy?
No, I didn't see him.
The men said they didn't know Daddy.
Guess they sent him off to another camp.
Why's your bag so heavy?
What's in there?
Some books Ms. Johnson gave me.
Who's Ms. Johnson?
Oh, she's a teacher. And I stayed
over at her house some of the time.
So when I left, she gave me these books.
Well...
Ms. Johnson must be a right nice lady.
Oh, she is, Mama.
Mama...
When the fall comes, Ms. Johnson
wants me to go to her school.
Well, how can you do that?
You don't live nowhere near that school.
Well, she says I can live with
her while school's going on.
And when school's not going
on, I could come back home.
Well, who's going to help
me here in the house?
And in the field?
Well...
Maybe by that time,
your dad will be back.
If it's alright with him,
it's alright with me.
Giddyup, mule! Git! Git! Git! Git!
Yeah.
This finishes your share.
You did a good job cropping, Rebecca.
Giddyup, mule!
Dear Ms. Johnson,
How are you? I am doing OK.
I told my mama, my brother,
and my sister about you.
And they like you too.
I can't make this letter too long
because I have work to do.
Bless you,
David Lee Morgan
You sure write a good fine letter, son.
A good fine letter.
What's wrong with you, Sounder?
Oh, my God.
It's Nathan.
Nathan!
Nathan!
Mama! What's the matter?
Nathan!
Nathan! Nathan.
Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Daddy! - Nathan!
- Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Nathan!
- Daddy!
Daddy!
- Nathan.
- Daddy!
Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Daddy!
Rebec...Rebecca.
Daddy!
- Nathan.
- Uh-huh.
Hey! Hey!
It's good to...look at you!
Hey!
Earl.
What's the matter with your leg, Daddy?
Oh. I got it hurt.
In a dynamite blast.
When I wasn't no more use to them,
they took some time off my sentence...
...and let me come home!
That was some meal you fixed for us,
Ms. Rebecca, and I sure wanna thank you.
Well, I'm glad you like it, Nathan Lee!
You know, I missed them dumplings
almost as much as I missed you, Earl.
Alright, children, it's 2 hours past
your bedtime. Get a move on. Come on!
You too, Earl.
Goodnight, Daddy.
Goodnight, you pretty little thing you.
Goodnight, Daddy.
Goodnight back at you.
Go to bed. Take your
shoes off. You hear?
That was some journey you went on, boy!
Daddy, I'm so glad you're home.
Well...me too, son!
We going hunting again?
Well, sure we're going hunting again!
I cleaned and oiled your
stuff while you was gone.
- Good.
- Your turn now, David Lee.
Goodnight, Daddy.
Goodnight, son.
Daddy, you're home now.
That's all I want.
I don't want nothing else.
Just you to be home.
Come here, boy.
Hi-ya, Rebecca.
Hi.
Somebody told me
Nathan's back. How is he?
Why don't you pay him a visit, Mr.
Perkins? He'll tell you how he is.
I'll do that, Rebecca.
I'll do just that.
What does that old peckerwood want now?
Well!
He wants you to pay him a visit.
The two of you could sit
under a shady tree...
...drink ice-cold whiskey,
and shoot the breeze!
Well, I hope you told him I was
too busy for that kind of stuff.
Good morning!
Mm-hmm.
Yeah...
Yeah, now, y'all done did
a good job with this crop.
- Well, thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, come on, let's get to work!
Are you sure you feel up to it, Nathan?
- Yeah, I feel up to it!
- Why not?
- Alright.
Come on, mule.
Hey, come on! Come on, mule.
Go on.
You know, I sure am proud of the way you
helped your mama keep this place going.
Thanks, Daddy.
You know, some people, some people...
...may think this is hard work, but it
sure in the hell beats going to jail.
You won't be going to
jail, will you, Daddy?
They'd have to kill me before
I'd go back to that place.
Come on.
Ain't nobody going to jail,
and ain't nobody getting hurt.
Now, go on and get me
some more of that cane.
Oh!
Whoa, mule!
Whoa! Whoa!
Daddy!
Whoa! Whoa, mule!
You alright, Daddy?
I'm alright, I'm alright, just...
Damn leg just won't act like it used to.
You sure you're alright, Nathan?
Yeah, I'll be alright, I just have to...
I just have to rest for a minute or two.
Here, let me help.
- No, no, you just...stay where you is.
You feel alright, Daddy?
Yeah, I feel great. Just great.
...that double seam...
...and when you let it go, just zip
off that finger there, you got it?
Yeah.
- Let's see. Closer. Yeah, that's it.
Alright. Zip it, right in here,
right over home plate.
- Hey!
- Strike 1!
Aw, come on, Josie Mae.
Hey, Ike! How you doing?
Anytime it's Saturday, and I ain't
got no work to do, I'm doing fine.
- Hey, Ike.
- Hi!
Hey, what you got there?
It seems this piece of mail's come this
morning, over to Mr. Perkins' place...
...and, uh...he said for
me to bring it over here.
- Well, give it here.
- Mm-mmm.
Ain't for you. It's for the
little important man over here.
David Lee...
Well, son, ain't you going to
open it up and read it to us?
OK, I've got to go now. I'll
see y'all in church on Sunday.
Mm-hmm.
- Yeah, Ike, thank you for the trouble.
Have a good day, now.
Bye.
Who's it from, David Lee?
It's from Ms. Johnson, Daddy.
Well, read it to us.
"If you are coming to school here,
be sure to bring some warm clothes."
"The school term will
begin September 8th..."
"...and it would be good for you to be
here by the 4th or 5th of the month."
"I do hope everything is
fine and you will be here."
"Give my 'hello' to your family."
"Yours truly,
Ms. Camille Johnson"
September 4, how far away is that?
About a week.
Well, come on, children, let's go!
- Where you going?
To the commissary, to get
this boy some clothes!
In fact, I'm going to get
something for everybody.
Nathan, you can't do that, we
owe Mr. Perkins too much...
Oh, don't tell me what
we owe old man Perkins.
I'll do the owing, and let him
worry about the collecting.
Come on, David Lee. Come
on, didn't you hear me?
But Daddy, you just got home. I want
to stay home, and be with you.
Well, I want to be with you too, but...
...but this school is something
that's good for you, like, uh...
...like good air to breathe.
I want you to have it.
And that's the way it's going to be.
But Daddy, who's going to
help you in the field?
Your leg is hurt. You can't
work like you used to!
Who's gonna help you around the house?
Let me tell you something.
If I had both of my legs cut off...
...I could do more work in that
field than you could in 100 years.
I won't go, Daddy, I just won't go...
Wait just a minute. You don't tell me
what you ain't gonna do. I tell you!
And if I say you're going to that school
you're going. Now come on, I don't...
...wanna hear nothing more out of you.
David Lee! David Lee, come back here!
Nathan!
Please. Leave him be.
He missed you a great bit
whilst you were gone.
He sweated and worried to find out just
where you were & made that long journey.
You're home, and...it's only a natural
thing for him to wanna be with you now.
David!
David Lee!
David Lee!
David Lee!
David!
David!
David Lee!
David!
David Lee!
Can I talk to you for a minute, son?
You know, when I got this leg hurt...
...I was down in this rock quarry...
...and all of a sudden there was this
dynamite blast coming at me...
...with the kind of
force to kill 10 men.
Well, so I...
I got out the way of
most of them rocks...
...faster than the lightning
in God's mind, cause...
...I made it up in my
head, just that quick...
...that I was gonna beat the
death that was coming at me.
Well, that's what I'm going to
do with this trouble in my leg.
I'm gonna beat it.
Ain't nothing left for
me to do but to beat it.
But that's what I want you to do.
I want you to beat the life they got all
laid out for you in this place, cause...
There ain't nothing here, ain't nobody
here but them bastards that sent me...
Son, don't get too used to this place.
Cause wherever you is, I'm
gonna love you. I mean, me...
...your mama, Josie Mae, and Earl...
we're gonna love you even more.
Why, we're gonna come and see you
at that school every chance we get.
I love you, son.
Don't ever think that I don't love you.
You think we're gonna get to be friends?
Boy...
Alright. Get a move on, bag boy.
You carry your own bag!
I'll carry it.
Naw, I will.
Thanks, Josie Mae.
Alright, now, you be good.
And you be smart, young man. OK?
I ought to be back tomorrow evening.
- Careful, now.
- Giddyup, mule!
Bye.
You know something, Daddy?
What's that, son?
I'm gonna miss this old raggedy place...
...but I sure ain't
gonna worry about it.
Hey!
Hey!
Boy, did you see me pick
him off at 3rd base?
I tell you, my speedball makes
them all stand up and look!
I think I really could have made it in
the big leagues, if I really wanted to.
- We'd better.
Jesus, will you come by here?
Oh, Jesus, will you come by here?
Jesus, will you come by here?
Now is a needy time...
Oh, now is a needy time...
Now is a needy time.
Come, if you don't stay long...
Oh, come, if you don't stay long...
Come, if you don't stay long.
Now is a needy time...
Oh, now is a needy time...
Jesus, won't you come by here?
He's got one already!
Come on, boy, let's go.
I hear you, boy, come on!
Give me that lamp,
boy, come on, let's...
Man.
There it is. Now come on, boy, let's go!
Go, Sounder! I hear you. Come on!
I think he's got him treed, boy.
It's all over now for you, old coon!
There he is. Come on, let's go.
Sweet meat on the table.
We hear you, boy. Come on!
Shoot!
Damn.
Oh, Sounder, don't give
up now. Come on, boy!
That dog done found one already.
Come on, sonny, let's go.
Sounder!
Sounder!
Aww, shoot!
Come on, Sounder, don't
give up now. Come on, boy!
Dammit!
I remember a time when a bull couldn't
stop that dog from catching that coon.
It's alright, son.
Old Sounder did his job.
It's just, when I realized there wasn't
gonna be no meat on the table, I just...
...acted foolish for a minute.
If anybody's to blame, it's me, 'cause
I oughta nailed him on that first shot.
It's too dark, Daddy.
Yeah.
Alright, well...
Well, I guess we better get on
back to the cabin. Sounder!
You know, son: there ain't
no dog as good as Sounder.
In all the years we've been tracking
coons and possums in these woods...
He ain't never tore one of
them up yet. Mm-mmm, no...
He always brought them
back whole and healthy.
Now you see?
Now that's the difference between
a hound dog that's mean and dirty...
...to one that's great.
Like old Sounder here.
We had one cornered, but he got away.
I bet you you're tired, little boy. Ain't you, David Lee?
- Yes, sir.
You ought to be tired, too, Sounder...
...cause that coon sure whipped
the hell out of you tonight.
He beat you too, Daddy, and
you had a big shootin' rifle.
You don't make funny with
your daddy like that, boy.
- David Lee.
- Yes, sir?
You had a rough time out
there tonight, so, uh...
...you stay home from
that school tomorrow.
But I want to go.
Are you learning anything at that school?
- Yes, sir.
When the night comes in these parts,
that old moon runs like a scared rabbit.
You can stay here all night just looking
and not see a thing out yonder.
Are we going hunting
again tomorrow, Daddy?
Oh, yeah.
I guess you wonder why, though, huh?
What with the luck we've been having.
But, like I always say...
"You lose some of the time
what you always go after..."
"...but you lose all the time
what you don't go after."
Now, who says I didn't
put my mark on you, boy?
David Lee?
Time to get to bed, son.
Goodnight, Daddy.
Goodnight, son.
Don't wake Josie Mae and Earl, now.
It's your bedtime too, hound dog.
Now go on, get under there. Go on!
I bet you could use a hot cup of coffee.
I sure could, Miss Rebecca...mmm.
Oh, Nathan Lee...
Dammit! That boy done bitten my walnuts.
I skin my fingers to the bone to pick 2
pounds that's worth almost nothing...
...at the commissary, and he
done took about half of it.
The boy is hungry, Rebecca.
We've been through these hard
times before, Nathan Lee...
...and we made it.
And what did we make it to, Rebecca?
Another season sharecropping
for old man Perkins?
Working ourselves to death...
...so he can get richer, and we can't
even eat when cropping time is done?
Nathan...
Nathan?
Nathan?
Nathan?
Nathan?
Come on, y'all, get up! There's
meat cooking in the kitchen.
Come on, get up! Come on.
- What's in there, Daddy?
- Sausage and ham bone.
Don't do that!
Where did it come from?
- Morning, Mama.
- Morning.
There's meat cooking
on the stove.
That's right. Go wash up.
- Where'd it come from?
- Where all meat comes from.
Now go wash up & be snappy about it. You
got 6 miles ahead of you to that school.
Morning, Nathan.
Morning.
Did you have any to eat?
Oh, no, I'll wait until after
the children. Rebecca...
Yes?
What's the weather like out there?
It's hot.
Gonna be good baseball weather
for our game today, then, huh?
Mm-hmm.
Morning, Daddy.
Well...morning back at you!
Hey, now, you save some
of that for me, huh?
Sounder?
Hey, Sounder! Come on.
There you go, boy. Now that ought to put
you in good shape for tonight, huh?
Now don't take all morning
at that table, David Lee.
Mama, when can me and Earl
go to school with David Lee?
Maybe soon.
Tell you one thing we
got plenty of, is wood.
Ready to go, Mama.
Well, tuck that shirt in, David Lee.
And when you get out of that school,
you come straight on home, you hear?
You're gonna have to take this laundry
work I've done for Ms. Boatwright.
Good day.
Bye, Daddy.
Bye, son.
Where was it you went
last night, Nathan?
I did what I had to do, Rebecca.
...and crown thy good with
brotherhood, from sea to shining sea!
Huckleberry Finn, Chapter 34.
- I'm sorry, Ms. Clay.
- You're late.
- Yes, ma'am.
- Well, take your seat.
Now where were we, before
we were interrupted?
Oh, yeah. Huckleberry Finn, Chapter 34.
her edition is abridged/censored.]
This chapter is called,
"We Cheer Up Jim."
Here we go:
Tom says: "What's the vittles
for? Going to feed the dogs?"
The "colored boy kind of smiled around
gradually over his face, and says:
"Yes, Mars Sid. A dog."
- Brought your laundry, Ms. Boatwright.
- Oh. Come on in, children!
Come on in.
Put it right up here on the
table, David. Thanks.
Yeah. Mmm, mmm.
You tell Rebecca there ain't a Chinaman
in all this world to beat her ironing.
Well...
Now, um...
Here's for your mama's work...
And, um...
...here's something for the 3 of you.
- Thanks, Ms. Boatwright.
- Thank you, Ms. Boatwright.
- Thanks, Ms. Boatwright.
Oh, by the way, David...
I got that book I promised you.
It's all about the Three Musketeers.
Thanks, Ms. Boatwright!
And when you've read it,
we're going to talk about it.
Yes, ma'am. We've got to hurry!
Oh: tell Rebecca "hi" for me, you hear?
Ms. Boatwright, what's a Chinaman?
Come on, Josie Mae. We gotta hurry!
Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go!
Let's go!
Let's get you to first base on that!
Alright, alright, let's
get 'em, let's get 'em!
Hi, Daddy!
Let's get 'em, let's get 'em!
Hi, Daddy.
Look at you, look atcha, look at ya!
Alright, alright!
Alright, let's get 'em. Let's get 'em!
Ball 4.
Alright!
Hi, Mama, what's the score?
Hi, y'all. 3-2, but the other team has
got the bases loaded with only 1 out.
What inning is it?
Last one. Now turn around
and watch the game!
Let's go, let's go, let's
get 'em, let's get 'em!
Let's get 'em.
2 more to go, Daddy!
Come on, Nathan!
Come on, Daddy!
- Let's get him!
- One time!
He ain't nothing but a rookie.
Hey, out!
One more to go, Daddy!
One more and that's it. Come on!
- Come on, Nathan!
- Let's go!
Throw him out, man, he ain't
nothing but a rookie. Let's get him!
One time.
- He ain't nothing but a rookie.
Speedball, Speedball, won't you
please pitch that ball to me...
He already pitched that ball
for you today. Yes he did!
Speedball, Speedball, won't you
please pitch that ball to me...
Well, the other team got 2 and Speedball's team got 3!
- Got 3!
You tell them, Ike! Yes, indeed.
Speedball, Speedball, I do believe
baseball is your game...
It's his game alright! He proved
that one today, didn't he?
Speedball, Speedball, I do believe
baseball is your game...
It's his game! Not his
shame, but his game!
Oh, you're a regular partner,
Nathan Lee Morgan is your name.
Nathan Lee Morgan! That's his name.
Oh, you're a regular partner,
Nathan Lee Morgan is your name.
Nathan Lee Morgan!
Look here, man, if they heard me
play like this up north, you know...
...I'd be richer than
the man I sharecrop for!
Oh, right!
And if they saw me
pitch the way I did...
...they'd hire me just
to strike out Babe Ruth!
Well, you know, that sure is
a- thrilling, yes Lord!
What they do in them
white churches, Mama?
Same as you do: they pray.
Naw...
One time by mistake I went to this white
church down there in Rye Parish, y'know?
And to this very day I don't know
how I ever got out of there alive.
Well, they probably thought you was crazy.
- Oh man, I guess so, I guess so.
But I went home. You know me: I did
me some praying to the good Lord...
Yeah, we know you...
I asked the good Lord about this white
church that I went to in Rye Parish...
...and I said, all I wanna know is how
the devil I ever got out of there alive.
And what did the good
Lord say to you, Ike?
Well, the good Lord said, "Ike, you
know, you're doing better than Me."
"'Cause I been trying to get in there
for 200 years and I ain't make it yet."
Oh, Ike, if ever there was a
devil in this parish, you's it.
You could make a song out
of that, couldn't you, Ike?
I believe I'll just do that, Speedball.
- Bye, y'all.
- Bye. Bye.
Going to the country,
Mama don't you want to go?
Going to the country,
Mama don't you want to go?
Going to the country,
Mama don't you want to go?
- Oh, yeah.
- Alright.
Well...
This here is where I'm going to
have to say goodbye to y'all...
It's been fun, Rebecca.
- Us too, Ike.
- Oh, yes.
Looks like it's going to be a nice
warm night coming up, Nathan.
- You going in them woods?
- Oh, yeah.
Them coons and possums better
hide deep from us tonight.
Mm-hmm!
- Critters in the woods better hide tonight, oh Lord, hide tonight...
Hide tonight, oh Lord, hide
tonight, hide tonight!
Oh Lord, hide tonight, hide tonight!
Critters in the woods better hide
tonight, oh Lord...
...hit it so hard it went through Ike's
legs and he bent down to get the ball...
...and all the dirt went
into his face, hahaha!
I tell you, Nathan Lee, you really did
hit that ball that time, I must say...
Didn't he, Josie Mae?
Oh Lord, I thought I would die...
Where's he going? Where you off to...
Daddy, there's two men in front
of the house. Who is that?
Nathan...
Hush up, Sounder.
I guess we'd better see who they is.
We've been in your house, Nathan.
- Hold that dog.
We found what we was looking for, too.
Now you took some food and stuff
from Jamie's smokehouse last night.
My deputy and me, we've got to
take you down to the county house.
- What they doing, Mama?
- Quiet, son, quiet!
Get him in the truck.
Sheriff Young?
You've been knowing Nathan for a long
time. You know the kind of man he is.
And you know the troubles we've
been having in these hard times...
Alright, let's go!
S...
David Lee!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Josie Mae, I'm fixing to go into
town to see about your daddy.
David Lee is in charge now, and you and
Earl do just like he tells you, hear?
- Yes, Mom - Yes, Mom.
- David Lee? Watch the fire.
And fix some of that corn
mush for y'all to eat.
Don't go too far now
looking for Sounder.
Anybody comes that's a stranger asking
you questions, don't say nothing, hear?
I won't.
- Bye, son.
- Bye, Mama.
I won't be gone too long.
- Bye, Mama.
- Bye, Mama.
How do you do?
Good morning, Rebecca.
I was sort of expecting
you this morning.
I've come to see Nathan.
Well...
I wish I could, but I can't let you.
I don't understand that, Sheriff Young.
Well, it's simple.
That's the rules.
I follow them.
Ain't no visiting, except
Sunday and holidays.
No womenfolk no time.
You mean to tell me,
I can't see my own husband?
Well, that's the way they do
things here in Lansdowne...
I just follow orders.
But...I've got to see him, Mr. Sheriff,
you know, I've got to see Nathan.
Well, I'd like to help you...
...but that wouldn't do anything
but get us both in trouble.
They gonna give him a trial?
Probably some time next week.
I'll tell you what I'll do...
Soon as I find out what day, I'll drive
on out to your place and let you know.
Rebecca.
You've got you a low-life
job, Mr. Sheriff.
Rebecca, you're just
the one I want to see.
I brought these walnuts to trade.
That's 1 dollar and 20 cents.
- I want to get me some things.
- I hope it ain't a lot, because...
...I can't give you no more credit
until cropping season gets back.
That is, if Nathan makes it.
I didn't say nothing about
no credit, Mr. Perkins.
- What you want to order?
- I need me some flour...
Nutmeg...
Chocolate...
Extract...
Oh, and some sugar...
And give me 2 eggs.
Now what I want to talk
to you about is Nathan.
He oughtn't have done what he did.
Sneaking into Jamie's place
and taking their goods.
That looks bad on me.
I been good to y'all.
Didn't I go to all that trouble
to get the people of Lansdowne...
...to let your David Lee go
to their school? Didn't I?
And another thing:
With Nathan in jail and all...
...how are you going to crop for me
when the spring season comes? Huh?
Dammit, I'm talking to you, woman!
I've got a farm to worry about,
and I need some answers.
Cropping season is a long
way off, Mr. Perkins.
By that time, Nathan ought to be home.
If he ain't...
...believe me, the children
and me will do the cropping.
If we have too.
Because we owe you all that money.
Mr. Perkins.
Do you think Sounder's dead, David Lee?
Will he stay dead?
He ain't dead. Now stop
asking crazy questions.
You don't have to get mad because
you didn't find our dead dog.
He's not dead!
David Lee?
Mama! Mama, Mama!
Mama, Mama!
Lord, it's hot.
- Anything for me?
- How have y'all been?
Anybody been here?
- No, ma'am. You see Daddy?
- No, son.
He'll have to wait until
the holiday comes.
Anyway, won't let womenfolk
see their men no time!
Can I see him when the holiday comes?
- You sure can, son.
Any sign of Sounder?
No, ma'am.
I looked all over these parts.
Well, I think maybe he was
whipped on the head by that shot.
I don't think he's dead.
Just gone off to heal himself somewhere.
Nothing in here.
No...
I'm fixing to bake a cake for David Lee
to take to your daddy this time.
Make a chocolate cake, Mama.
Daddy likes things that's chocolate.
Defendant will rise and
come before the bench.
Nathan Lee Morgan...
...you have been found
guilty of unlawful trespass..
...and robbery.
Is there anything you wish to
say to the court, prior to...
...the court pronouncing
sentence upon you?
No, sir.
The sentence of the court is that you be
immediately remanded to the custody...
...of the sheriff of this parish.
And that you be transferred forthwith to
serve a term of 1 year at hard labor...
...at a parish prison camp
to be hereafter designated.
Collect and call the next case.
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
Sounder!
David Lee...
Be sure to ask your daddy to tell you
what camp they're going to send him to.
Look perk-ish now, so you
don't grieve him none.
OK, that's all, son.
Don't forget what I told you, now!
What have you got there, boy?
A cake for my daddy.
Well, put it on this table,
and wait until I check it.
Can't be too careful, boy.
There just might be a steel
file or a hacksaw in it.
What's your daddy's name?
Nathan Lee Morgan.
OK, boy.
3rd cell down there on your right.
Well, look-y here.
Hi, Daddy.
Hi back at you.
Mama's outside with Josie Mae and Earl.
They is?
Well...
It sure is good to see you, son.
This was a real cake, before the man
outside put all these holes in it.
Oh, now, that don't make no difference.
If I know your mama...
...a few knife holes ain't gonna destroy
the soul that she done put in this cake.
Here. Now have a piece with your daddy.
Mmm...
Mmm.
Daddy...
We didn't find Sounder yet.
Well, he'll show up one day.
Think he's dead, Daddy?
No, son.
He'll come back to you just as soon as
his wounds heal. Now, you'll see.
Lord...
...this cake sure is tasty.
It's a shame they won't
let them come in here.
Boy, if I had the strength, I'd knock
down these damn walls just so I could...
...get my arms around your mama, just...
Are they on this side
of us, do you think?
I think so.
I'm going to see about that, if
I have to break both of my arms!
Son...
...don't ever let yourself get
caught in a place like this!
Daddy...
...can you say what camp
they're going to send you to?
No, they don't tell us things like that.
But I don't want y'all to
come here no more.
Why, Daddy? You won't be here?
Do like I tell you.
Time's up.
Come on, boy.
Son...
Oh, I'd rather be fishing
for bream in the creek...
...than working in the sun
out here all week.
I expect a gal, hey Lord,
I expects a gal, hey I got to
Keep on working, keep on pulling,
keep on hauling in the hot sun...
Lord...
Lord, children...
Lord...
Lord, child...
If I expect to get outta the way I live,
got to push and pull and deal and give.
If I expect to change my ways some
time, I got to do what I'm doing now...
...I got to do what I'm doing now.
I got to do what I'm doing.
Oh, Lord...
Oh, Lord...
Someday there'll be a change, Lord,
someday there'll be a change.
"Yes," said D'Artagnan,
"but we shall..."
"...inevitably...be shot."
"Yes," rejoined Athos.
"But you know very well that the
bullets most to be feared..."
"...are not those of the enemy."
"Yet it seems to me," said
Porthos, "that for such an..."
"...expedition...we should have
at least brought our muskets."
"You are a simpleton, friend
Porthos. Why should we...
Give me this old time religion...
Give me this old time religion...
Give me that old time religion...
Lord, it's good enough for me.
Yes, it's good in the time of dying...
Yes, it's good in the time of dying...
Yes, it's good in the time of dying...
Lord, it's good enough for me.
Lord, if this wasn't a
Sunday, I do believe...
...I'd do a dance to that
music Ike's playing.
Oh, go on, Harriet, and shake
them feet. God ain't looking!
Now, I might be a country
woman, but I ain't no fool!
Come on, Ms. Harriet. - Come on, Ms.
Harriet. - Come on, Ms. Harriet.
Well, you can't blame a girl for trying!
Good day, Reverend.
Rebecca...
David Lee, give the reverend a seat.
Word from Nathan?
No, I haven't got anything, Rebecca.
I went down to the courthouse...
...yesterday, to see about it, and
they wouldn't tell me nothing...
...as to what labor camp
Nathan was sent to.
And I'm sorry.
It's a damn shame, Reverend.
It's a damn shame.
Let us not take to
bitterness, Sister Morgan.
Why, in this same church, we have women
with the same trouble you are having.
What I tell them...
...whatever misery...or
trials...take it to God.
"Take it to God."
It's not that simple, Rebecca.
God works in a mysterious way.
We brought nothing into this life...
...and we carry nothing out.
Is that a blessing, Reverend?
It's a blessing.
Thank you.
Easy, boy. Easy now.
It's OK. It's OK.
He eats alright. His
throat ain't scarred.
Then why don't he bark like he used to?
Oh, he will.
Get down and act like a possum.
I don't look like no possum.
Act like one!
Get him, boy, get him!
Don't tell that dog to get me!
Oh, shut up.
Why don't you get yourself a new dog?
...after Dr. Anthony Lorring believed
a lie about her, and discarded her...
...and was tricked into marriage
by his wife Millicent.
For Ellen has just said to Michael:
"Michael, over and over you've asked
me to name a day for our marriage..."
"Well, now I'm ready to do it."
"I'll marry you this very afternoon, if you want me to."
- Ms. Boatwright?
"I'll go away from
Simpsonville with you..."
- Ms. Boatwright!
- "...whenever you want me to."
Half an hour ago...
...Ellen and Anthony Lorring and
his vindictive wife Millicent...
...who hates Ellen, and has sworn
to destroy both Ellen and Anthony...
Ms. Boatwright!
...faced the young playboy Bruce
Caufield in his hospital room...
...and heard Bruce reveal that Millicent
is...
David!
Would you like a cool drink?
No, thank you.
I've got some work to
do in the field today.
Ms. Boatwright?
Yes, David?
Would you help me find out what
camp they sent my father to?
Well, the courthouse has rules about
things like that, David, but...
Well, I'll ask around town about it.
See you tomorrow, Ms. Boatwright.
David...
I'll find out where
your daddy is for you.
Thanks, Ms. Boatwright.
You don't mention this to
anybody, David! Do you hear me?
I can't do that, Rita!
Now, we have a policy here
on colored prisoners.
And I ain't about to change that,
even though we're good friends.
Charlie, just because a man
and his family are colored...
Look: I don't make the rules, Rita!
And you're putting yourself out on a
limb, asking me to do such a thing!
And I'll be damned if I'm going to
jeopardize my job just because...
...you're in love with
a little colored boy!
Excuse me.
Young here. Sheriff Young here.
Yes, sir...yes, sir.
You bet your life, sir.
I'll be right over.
That was Judge Elliott.
When Judge Elliott calls me, I jump!
Goodbye, Rita.
But, Charlie...
No. N-O: no!
Did you find what you were looking for?
Well, I...
I did look, Charlie, but...
No "buts" about it, Rita.
Charlie, you have no legal right not
to tell that boy where his father is.
Do you hear that? You and
this whole damn courthouse.
What you're doing is wrong.
You tell me about wrong!
Now, you come in here as a friend, and
I find you going through the files?
You know I could have
you arrested for that?
If you give that information out, that's
exactly what I'm going to do to you!
And I'll tell this whole town
how you got that information...
...and who you're giving it to!
And you won't have a friend left in this
parish to...bring you a piece of candy!
You would do that, wouldn't you?
Now you're getting the
point, Mrs. Boatwright.
Let's get out of here, David Lee.
Ms. Boatwright...
You know where my father is, don't you?
No.
He was wrong, David: I didn't find out.
Ms. Boatwright, I saw you.
You looked in there, and you
found out where my father is.
If I say I didn't, David,
that's what I mean.
Ms. Boat...
- I don't know a damn thing. Now stop bothering me about it.
Come.
I'll take you home.
I'll walk.
Now, don't pout now,
David. It's a long trip.
I'm used to it.
Well, you can't say I didn't try.
Hello, David.
Hi, Ms. Boatwright.
I'm sorry about the way
I acted the other day.
Well, there's no need
to be sorry, David.
- Where's your mama?
- Here I is, Ms. Boatwright.
The camp where Nathan is at...
...is called Wishbone Labor Camp.
And, um...
...it's in Nolantown.
You sure is a crazy-acting woman
sometimes, Ms. Boatwright.
Now, um, we go from A-2, to, um...
Now, let me see where we go from here...
Are you having trouble, Ms. Boatwright?
Oh, no, no, no: these maps
are easy to read, but, um...
There it is, right there.
How do you get there, Ms. Boatwright?
Well, um...
There are numbers and letters on here
to show you where to look on the map...
...but, um...
Well, Nolanstown isn't under a number.
But we know that it's in
northern Lansdowne...
...and the number for
northern Lansdowne is H-7.
But, um...
Since Lansdowne is the largest parish,
it actually stretches across into A-2...
...and, uh...
A-2...is, um...
Am I making myself clear?
Oh, yes. Oh, yes, it's clear, Ms.
Boatwright. I'm sure we'll find it.
I mean, when the time comes for us
to find that place, we'll find it.
- Won't we, children? - Yes, ma'am.
- Yes, ma'am. - Oh, yes, we'll find it.
Yes we will.
Hey, boy!
Boy, you're getting heavy. Hey, Sounder!
Boy, you're looking good. Hey, I'll race
you to that tree stump. You ready?
Go! Come on!
You can run faster than that, come on!
Then, after you go by Nolan...
...the first road you're gonna
come to is that Jordan Road.
And, um...
...you go all the way down to
the end of the Jordan Road...
...to the labor camp,
that's where it is...
...right at the end of
the road. Now, look:
It's going to be a long trip.
And, uh, good luck to you!
Thanks, Mr. Ike.
- Alright, David Lee. Here's your food and things.
If you get tired, you go into a
railroad station or a church to rest.
Don't you go to nobody's house, you hear?
- Yes, ma'am.
And you tell your daddy to send some
word about what time he's gonna be home.
- And tell him I love him, hear?
- Tell him I said "hi," too.
Alright, now get a move on.
You're losing daylight.
Come on, Sounder. Come on.
Jesus, will you come by here?
Oh, Jesus, will you come by here?
Jesus, will you come by here?
Now is a needy time, oh,
now is a needy time...
Now is a needy time.
Come, if you don't stay long, oh,
come, if you don't stay long...
Come, if you don't stay long.
Now is a needy time, oh,
now is a needy time...
Now is a needy time.
Down on my knees and praying, I'm
down on my knees and praying...
Jesus, won't you come by here?
Jesus, won't you come by here, oh,
Jesus, won't you come by here?
Jesus, won't you come by here?
Come on, Sounder.
Can you visit here, mister?
You'll have to come
back on visiting day.
Well, when's that?
Sunday.
Do you know my father,
Nathan Lee Morgan?
Never heard of him, boy. We've
got lots of men in that prison.
Mister!
Boy, where did you come from?
I want to see about my daddy,
Nathan Lee Morgan. Is he here?
Yeah.
What are you doing there, boy? Move!
Mister, is Nathan Lee Morgan here?
There's nobody here named Morgan. Now
get away before you get us in trouble.
Come on, Sounder.
Come on, boy.
2 times 3 are?
6!
6 times 6 are?
36!
- How many?
- 36!
36 minus 12 are?
24.
How many?
- 24.
- 36 minus 12? - Yes.
- 24.
- That's right, 24.
24 times 2 are?
48.
- How many?
- 48!
48 plus 48 are?
- 96.
- 96! - Ninety-si...
Excuse me.
Yes, come in.
Come in!
Stay, Sounder.
Yes?
Well, can I please wash my hand
where it's got blood all over it?
Let me see that.
Sit down over there.
You don't live around here, do you?
No, ma'am...I've come a long way.
Me and my dog were just trying to
find my father, and we got lost.
Is he here in Borderdale?
I don't know.
He's in a prison camp.
My name is Camille.
Camille Johnson. I'm the
supervisor of this school.
- What's your name?
- David Lee Morgan.
And my dog's name is Sounder.
That feels better.
You keep looking around, David.
Don't you go to school?
Sometimes. But not like this.
Well, it's a good thing that this
hand did not become infected.
How did you hurt it like this?
Well, me and Sounder went to this
prison camp looking for my daddy.
And the guard hit me on my hand.
Did your mother know you were going to see your father?
- Yes, ma'am.
That does it.
Thanks, Ms. Johnson.
David?
Why don't you stay until school is
over? I don't live far from here.
You and your dog can come home with
me and have yourselves a hot meal.
Then we can talk about
how to get you back home.
Yes, ma'am.
Take a seat back there.
Stay, Sounder.
You've got a pretty house, Ms. Johnson!
I try.
You've got a lot of books, too.
Here. Let me tell you something
about the books on these shelves.
This book is about a woman who helped to
free slaves. Her name is Harriet Tubman.
She died in 1915.
Thanks, Ms. Johnson.
And this one is about a man
called Crispus Attucks.
He was the first black man to
die in the American Revolution.
The war that was fought to help this
country become the United States.
Ms. Johnson?
Don't you teach in your school
about folk who ain't dead?
Sure!
Here's one about a man
who's very much alive.
Dr. William E.B. DuBois.
- What does he talk about?
- Here, I'll read something he said:
" the longing of
black men must have respect:"
"...the rich and bitter depth
of their experience..."
"...the unknown treasures
of their inner life..."
"...the strange rendings of
nature they have seen..."
"...may give the world
new points of view..."
"...and make their loving, living, and
doing, precious to all human hearts."
"And to themselves in these the
days that try their souls..."
"...the chance to soar in the
dim blue air above the smoke..."
"...is to their finer spirits..."
"...boon and guerdon for what they
lose on earth by being black."
You're a nice lady, Ms. Johnson.
Alright. Alright.
Let's stop the laughing.
Who else has a story to tell us?
I got a story, Ms. Johnson.
A true story that happened to me.
You know the class is going to challenge
your story, don't you, Clarence?
Yes, Ms. Johnson.
Alright, go on.
Me and my little sister went down
to the water hole last Saturday.
You all was doing something wrong. You
didn't tell us the name of your sister.
Me and my sister Laura went down
to the water hole last Saturday.
We was playing along
the edge of the water.
Laura slipped and fell into the water.
I started to run back home. But I turned
around, ran back, dove into the water...
...and got her out
before she could drown.
How was your sister after you
pulled her out of the water?
She was dirty and wet.
What made you run?
I was going home to get my daddy.
What made you stop and go back?
Cause if I had ran home...
...by the time I should have got
back, my sister would have drowned.
How come you didn't know that at first?
Cause I was scared.
Hold it! Clarence's story ain't true.
Me and Clarence went to the river a
lot of times, and I know he can't swim!
Clarence? Would you tell us a story that
was not true, after telling us it was?
No, Ms. Johnson.
Can you swim?
Yes, ma'am.
Clarence! You know you can't swim.
Every time Mr. Richie showed you...
...you fell down. And I had
to always pull you out.
Yes, ma'am.
But when I saw my sister
about to drown in the water...
I tried, because I
wasn't scared anymore.
I was just swimming and kicking. I don't
know how I was doing it, but I was.
Because my sister was
drowning. She was drowning!
I believe Clarence's story.
Do you want to stand up
and tell us why, David?
Well...some people came
and took my father away.
And other people said we couldn't
work the farm. But we had to.
Or else we would have lost the farm.
But we planted the crops and they grew.
I believe Clarence's story
because of what he did.
He couldn't swim, but he had to!
Else his sister would have drowned!
And that's how he did it.
You know, that was a good thing you
did for Clarence in class today.
I believed his story.
But I was afraid the
other children wouldn't.
I knew he was scared nobody would
believe him as soon as he stood up.
You did? How?
I've been like that sometimes, myself.
Thinking nobody would believe me.
You want to hear another story?
- Not now, David.
It's getting late and you have a long
trip ahead of you in the morning.
What are you looking at out
there? There's nothing to see.
Daddy always looks out into the dark.
Even when there's nothing to see.
He says it's what you hear.
You think about your
father a lot, don't you?
Yes, ma'am.
You shouldn't worry about
him too much, David.
But what am I going to
tell Mama when I get home?
Tell her that I didn't see Daddy?
And that's what I wanted to do!
But you did all you could.
Not many little boys could have
gone on such a journey as you did.
But where's Daddy?
I can't answer that for you.
But it's no fault of your own that
you don't know where your father is.
Tell me what you did that kept you from
finding your father.
Hmm? Come on, tell me!
Nothing.
And so you did your job, right?
Yes, ma'am.
Boy...you sure keep my mind jumping!
And what does that mean?
That means you keep me using
my head, and that's good.
Ms. Johnson?
You think I can come back here and...
study school with the other children?
Full yet?
Fine.
Mama, mama! Josie Mae! Earl!
- David Lee!
- David Lee!
David Lee?
David Lee?
Lord, boy, where have you been?
You had me worried out of my mind!
You find your daddy?
No, I didn't see him.
The men said they didn't know Daddy.
Guess they sent him off to another camp.
Why's your bag so heavy?
What's in there?
Some books Ms. Johnson gave me.
Who's Ms. Johnson?
Oh, she's a teacher. And I stayed
over at her house some of the time.
So when I left, she gave me these books.
Well...
Ms. Johnson must be a right nice lady.
Oh, she is, Mama.
Mama...
When the fall comes, Ms. Johnson
wants me to go to her school.
Well, how can you do that?
You don't live nowhere near that school.
Well, she says I can live with
her while school's going on.
And when school's not going
on, I could come back home.
Well, who's going to help
me here in the house?
And in the field?
Well...
Maybe by that time,
your dad will be back.
If it's alright with him,
it's alright with me.
Giddyup, mule! Git! Git! Git! Git!
Yeah.
This finishes your share.
You did a good job cropping, Rebecca.
Giddyup, mule!
Dear Ms. Johnson,
How are you? I am doing OK.
I told my mama, my brother,
and my sister about you.
And they like you too.
I can't make this letter too long
because I have work to do.
Bless you,
David Lee Morgan
You sure write a good fine letter, son.
A good fine letter.
What's wrong with you, Sounder?
Oh, my God.
It's Nathan.
Nathan!
Nathan!
Mama! What's the matter?
Nathan!
Nathan! Nathan.
Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Daddy! - Nathan!
- Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Nathan!
- Daddy!
Daddy!
- Nathan.
- Daddy!
Daddy!
- Daddy!
- Daddy!
Rebec...Rebecca.
Daddy!
- Nathan.
- Uh-huh.
Hey! Hey!
It's good to...look at you!
Hey!
Earl.
What's the matter with your leg, Daddy?
Oh. I got it hurt.
In a dynamite blast.
When I wasn't no more use to them,
they took some time off my sentence...
...and let me come home!
That was some meal you fixed for us,
Ms. Rebecca, and I sure wanna thank you.
Well, I'm glad you like it, Nathan Lee!
You know, I missed them dumplings
almost as much as I missed you, Earl.
Alright, children, it's 2 hours past
your bedtime. Get a move on. Come on!
You too, Earl.
Goodnight, Daddy.
Goodnight, you pretty little thing you.
Goodnight, Daddy.
Goodnight back at you.
Go to bed. Take your
shoes off. You hear?
That was some journey you went on, boy!
Daddy, I'm so glad you're home.
Well...me too, son!
We going hunting again?
Well, sure we're going hunting again!
I cleaned and oiled your
stuff while you was gone.
- Good.
- Your turn now, David Lee.
Goodnight, Daddy.
Goodnight, son.
Daddy, you're home now.
That's all I want.
I don't want nothing else.
Just you to be home.
Come here, boy.
Hi-ya, Rebecca.
Hi.
Somebody told me
Nathan's back. How is he?
Why don't you pay him a visit, Mr.
Perkins? He'll tell you how he is.
I'll do that, Rebecca.
I'll do just that.
What does that old peckerwood want now?
Well!
He wants you to pay him a visit.
The two of you could sit
under a shady tree...
...drink ice-cold whiskey,
and shoot the breeze!
Well, I hope you told him I was
too busy for that kind of stuff.
Good morning!
Mm-hmm.
Yeah...
Yeah, now, y'all done did
a good job with this crop.
- Well, thank you.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, come on, let's get to work!
Are you sure you feel up to it, Nathan?
- Yeah, I feel up to it!
- Why not?
- Alright.
Come on, mule.
Hey, come on! Come on, mule.
Go on.
You know, I sure am proud of the way you
helped your mama keep this place going.
Thanks, Daddy.
You know, some people, some people...
...may think this is hard work, but it
sure in the hell beats going to jail.
You won't be going to
jail, will you, Daddy?
They'd have to kill me before
I'd go back to that place.
Come on.
Ain't nobody going to jail,
and ain't nobody getting hurt.
Now, go on and get me
some more of that cane.
Oh!
Whoa, mule!
Whoa! Whoa!
Daddy!
Whoa! Whoa, mule!
You alright, Daddy?
I'm alright, I'm alright, just...
Damn leg just won't act like it used to.
You sure you're alright, Nathan?
Yeah, I'll be alright, I just have to...
I just have to rest for a minute or two.
Here, let me help.
- No, no, you just...stay where you is.
You feel alright, Daddy?
Yeah, I feel great. Just great.
...that double seam...
...and when you let it go, just zip
off that finger there, you got it?
Yeah.
- Let's see. Closer. Yeah, that's it.
Alright. Zip it, right in here,
right over home plate.
- Hey!
- Strike 1!
Aw, come on, Josie Mae.
Hey, Ike! How you doing?
Anytime it's Saturday, and I ain't
got no work to do, I'm doing fine.
- Hey, Ike.
- Hi!
Hey, what you got there?
It seems this piece of mail's come this
morning, over to Mr. Perkins' place...
...and, uh...he said for
me to bring it over here.
- Well, give it here.
- Mm-mmm.
Ain't for you. It's for the
little important man over here.
David Lee...
Well, son, ain't you going to
open it up and read it to us?
OK, I've got to go now. I'll
see y'all in church on Sunday.
Mm-hmm.
- Yeah, Ike, thank you for the trouble.
Have a good day, now.
Bye.
Who's it from, David Lee?
It's from Ms. Johnson, Daddy.
Well, read it to us.
"If you are coming to school here,
be sure to bring some warm clothes."
"The school term will
begin September 8th..."
"...and it would be good for you to be
here by the 4th or 5th of the month."
"I do hope everything is
fine and you will be here."
"Give my 'hello' to your family."
"Yours truly,
Ms. Camille Johnson"
September 4, how far away is that?
About a week.
Well, come on, children, let's go!
- Where you going?
To the commissary, to get
this boy some clothes!
In fact, I'm going to get
something for everybody.
Nathan, you can't do that, we
owe Mr. Perkins too much...
Oh, don't tell me what
we owe old man Perkins.
I'll do the owing, and let him
worry about the collecting.
Come on, David Lee. Come
on, didn't you hear me?
But Daddy, you just got home. I want
to stay home, and be with you.
Well, I want to be with you too, but...
...but this school is something
that's good for you, like, uh...
...like good air to breathe.
I want you to have it.
And that's the way it's going to be.
But Daddy, who's going to
help you in the field?
Your leg is hurt. You can't
work like you used to!
Who's gonna help you around the house?
Let me tell you something.
If I had both of my legs cut off...
...I could do more work in that
field than you could in 100 years.
I won't go, Daddy, I just won't go...
Wait just a minute. You don't tell me
what you ain't gonna do. I tell you!
And if I say you're going to that school
you're going. Now come on, I don't...
...wanna hear nothing more out of you.
David Lee! David Lee, come back here!
Nathan!
Please. Leave him be.
He missed you a great bit
whilst you were gone.
He sweated and worried to find out just
where you were & made that long journey.
You're home, and...it's only a natural
thing for him to wanna be with you now.
David!
David Lee!
David Lee!
David Lee!
David!
David!
David Lee!
David!
David Lee!
Can I talk to you for a minute, son?
You know, when I got this leg hurt...
...I was down in this rock quarry...
...and all of a sudden there was this
dynamite blast coming at me...
...with the kind of
force to kill 10 men.
Well, so I...
I got out the way of
most of them rocks...
...faster than the lightning
in God's mind, cause...
...I made it up in my
head, just that quick...
...that I was gonna beat the
death that was coming at me.
Well, that's what I'm going to
do with this trouble in my leg.
I'm gonna beat it.
Ain't nothing left for
me to do but to beat it.
But that's what I want you to do.
I want you to beat the life they got all
laid out for you in this place, cause...
There ain't nothing here, ain't nobody
here but them bastards that sent me...
Son, don't get too used to this place.
Cause wherever you is, I'm
gonna love you. I mean, me...
...your mama, Josie Mae, and Earl...
we're gonna love you even more.
Why, we're gonna come and see you
at that school every chance we get.
I love you, son.
Don't ever think that I don't love you.
You think we're gonna get to be friends?
Boy...
Alright. Get a move on, bag boy.
You carry your own bag!
I'll carry it.
Naw, I will.
Thanks, Josie Mae.
Alright, now, you be good.
And you be smart, young man. OK?
I ought to be back tomorrow evening.
- Careful, now.
- Giddyup, mule!
Bye.
You know something, Daddy?
What's that, son?
I'm gonna miss this old raggedy place...
...but I sure ain't
gonna worry about it.
Hey!
Hey!
Boy, did you see me pick
him off at 3rd base?
I tell you, my speedball makes
them all stand up and look!
I think I really could have made it in
the big leagues, if I really wanted to.