Sudie and Simpson (1990) - full transcript

[lights clicking]

[dog barking]

[crickets hissing]

[distant train horn blaring]

[Sudie] In Linlow, we never did think much about them signs.

[dog barking]

They was just there,
like the rocks

and the trees
and everything else.

Besides, with the war and all,

only thing anybody
ever talked about

was the Germans and the Japs.



But that was before Simpson.

[owl hooting]

[Mary] Lord,
Sudie seen Lem Coker

kissing Elsie McDonald
on the bridge.

And you know they're married,
but not to each other.

So, I guess you'd
better do something about it.

Sudie?

For Pete's sake, Mary Agnes,

I wish you
wouldn't be telling God

all that stuff I tell you.

What are you doing here?

It's time, come on.

The moon is plumb-full.
Now, get dressed.

Sudie, I changed my mind,
I ain't going.



But we made a pact.
And a pact is a pact.

Friends don't back down
on pacts.

Now, are you my friend or not?

Yeah, but I ain't going.

I made up my mind,
Sudie Harrigan,

and you can't change it.

Sudie? Sudie don't you dare!

See?

There ain't no niggers
in that shack.

It's nearly fell in!

Besides, niggers is nine
or ten foot tall.

They couldn't even stand up
in there.

Yeah, but you know
a bunch lived there one time

before your Granddaddy
run 'em off.

Maybe they wasn't as big
in them days.

Come on, Sudie, let's go.

There ain't no niggers
in that shack.

-I bet you a nickel.
-You ain't got a nickel.

Well, I bet,
in case I ever get it.

-[branch cracks]
-[horse neighs]

Oh, my Gosh!

Come on, Mary Agnes.

No, Billy, go play out
in the street!

Go get your own friends!

Stop bothering me!
Get outta here!

Billy Harrigan,
get your butt in here!

[dog barking]

-Did you take that money?
-No.

[Mr. Harrigan] You take more
money, you won't sit for a week.

[Billy] Stop it! I didn't
take it! Sudie did it!

Liar!

[Mr. Harrigan] Your Mama
seen you! Now, quit your lying!

[Hester] Just stop it!

You'd think he took
a whole dollar.

He didn't take but a dime.

Make up your damn mind, Hester.

[birds chirping]

[dog barks]

Maybe he wouldn't be so bad
if he had a Daddy at home.

You ain't been here
in three weeks!

Preacher Miller said
any young 'un is doomed

if he ain't got a Daddy
to guide him.

I wish you'd quit quoting
the Bible according to Miller.

His kids ain't no bargain,

especially that one of his
that got knocked up!

Maybe you want me
to quit working

and let that job you got
to support us, huh?

Why can't you understand
my working Saturdays

pays for that room I sleep in?

You got another woman,
ain't you?

I tell you, I can't take
much more of this.

You know, it used to be
that we could talk.

-[crickets chirping]
-[dog barks]

[door shuts with a thud]

[birds chirping]

[Sudie] Daddy!

Daddy!

What is it?

Come to tell you "bye."

Bye, Sudie.

[birds chirping]

Nice, over where you staying?

It's all right.

Just a room.

It's got a radio, though.

But don't tell your Mama,

she'll think I got it
better than her.

I won't tell.

You like her anymore?

-She's your Mama.
-Yeah, but do you like her?

Did you do the dishes
this morning?

Yeah, I done 'em.

Well, I'll see you
in a few weeks.

[engine idling]

Sorry about your fight.

You help your Mama now,
you hear?

I hear you.

Thanks, Ray.
Thanks an awful lot.

Bye, Sudie.

[Mary] Sudie. Sudie!

The beauty parlor's open,
come on!

[Billy] Your Mama's
gonna be electrocuted,

-Mary Agnes.
-[Mary] Hush up, Billy.

[girl 1] That thing's scary.
Do you reckon it hurts?

[Billy] I hear, when you
get electrocuted,

your whole body flies up
in the air.

[indistinct chatter]

[girl 1] Look,
here comes Mrs. Moore.

[girl 2] And she's got him
with her.

[woman 1] ...four or five, now.

[woman 2] Yeah, but you know,
I'd've said that they usually

die by the time
they're three years old.

[Billy] I don't know why anybody
would go through all that mess.

[Billy] What's your Mama
doing it for?

[Mary] Mama says
it's every woman's duty

-to be as pretty as she can.
-[girl 1] But why?

[Mary] I guess because she knew.

[Sudie] But them women is old.

What's your Mama doing it for?
She's married.

[Mary] I don't know.

Maybe it's so they'll
keep being beautiful.

[Sudie] Nobody ain't never
putting that thing on my head,

even if I never get married.

Who's that pretty woman?

That's the new Yankee
school teacher.

She came down here
from up North.

Ain't you ever
seen her before?

-Never.
-Huh.

I seen her the first day
she come, Mr. Rice.

-Oh.
-Her name's Miss Marge.

She's married to a real Marine
from Middleton.

Daddy said the Yankee
won't last long in this town.

-Hey, Doc.
-[indistinct chatter continues]

Charlotte Clark's fixing
to get her brain fried.

I think I'll bring Annabelle
down here,

she could use a little brain
adjustment, too.

Well,
this is quite an attraction.

I'm paying Alice Thompson
to send me all the burn victims.

[laughs] I wouldn't mind at all
if Alice just sent me

that Yankee school teacher.

I sure would like
to heat her up.

[man] I'd like to warm
her bunk myself.

[men laughing]

You two get together
between teaching classes, Earl?

Lem, Mrs. Allen's
a married woman.

[Billy] Look, Miss Thompson's

fixing to turn on
the electricity.

-[people gasping]
-[woman 1] Oh, God! Stand back.

-[man] Look out.
-[woman 2] It'll explode!

[woman 1] I'm excited
to see this!

[people laughing]

[crow cawing]

[crickets hissing]

[twig snaps]

You don't have to be scared.

I ain't gonna hurt you.

Just gotta do me
a little doctoring. That's all.

[hushing]

I know how scared you must be,
but I ain't gonna hurt you.

Watch while I leave...

and you can turn around and go.

[Sudie] Mister?

Yeah.

You a nigger?

Name of Simpson.

You got a name?

You got a name?

Sudie.

You live around here?

Uh-huh.

Well, Miss Sudie,

I'd better take care
of this rabbit.

It's still bleeding, you know.

[crow cawing]

How are you gonna doctor it?

Got doctoring stuff?

Well, I'm gonna put
some soot on it,

then I'm gonna
bandage it real tight.

Sounds like you know what to do.

You ever see
a colored man before?

Not in person.

That's what I thought.

Thought I was gonna do you
some bad harm?

Yes, sir.

Thought you was gonna kill me
or eat me alive.

You scared now?

[birds chirping]

[Sudie] Mister?

What?

You like kids?

Yeah, I like kids.

Now, go on home before your Mama
starts worrying about you.

[dog barking]

[branch snapping]

Hey!

Ain't no use of you hiding.
I see you there.

Come on out!

Damn!

Why'd you follow me here?

I live here!

I worked my butt off
to fix up this place,

and now I got to leave
because of you.

Here!

Here, you take care
of this rabbit

while I get my things together.

And don't you even think
about running off till I'm gone!

[Sudie] But why?
Why are you leaving?

[Simpson] Why?
Why, after you spread the word,

every man in Linlow
will be here with a shotgun.

But I'm not gonna tell nobody,

-I promise you.
-If I let you go now,

how soon do you think
it'll be before I'll be hanging

from one of these trees
somewhere?

You don't know everything.

How come you think I'd tell?

How come?

It's because you white,
that's why!

Well, I ain't gonna tell,
honest!

I believed you when you said
you wouldn't hurt me.

Now, how come
you don't believe me?

Growed folks
don't never believe kids.

[dog barking]

It's nice, the way
you've fixed this place.

Listen, there are signs

at every end of this town
that says

what they think
about colored folks.

Now, what makes me think
you any different?

If I was you, I would tell.

Well, that's stupid.
If you was me, then you'd be me.

And I'd never tell.

I cross my heart and hope to die
if I lie.

[birds chirping]

Now, are you
just gonna stand there

and let this rabbit bleed
to death?

Gimme that rabbit.

Sometimes, I take care
of hurting animals.

I've got some magic salve
I could bring,

if you're fixing to stay.

No, that's all right,
some soot'll work just fine.

Besides, if you like taking care
of animals, you can...

carry this rabbit home
with you.

Does that mean
you ain't staying?

We ain't talking about that
no more.

[Simpson exhales]

Here you go.

Oh, it ain't gonna come off!

-It ain't?
-No.

Try.

[birds chirping]

-Surprise.
-[laughs]

You're a mighty lucky rabbit,
rabbit!

Sure is.

We could call him Lucky.

Right.

This pig got a name?

No. No.
Not that I can remember.

Well, how you doing there,
little Baby Grunts?

Come here.

[Simpson] "Baby Grunts."
[chuckles]

You sure got a way with names.

Thank you.

And Lucky, too.

Baby Grunts and Lucky, too.

[dog barking]

[door closes]

-Where's Billy?
-Don't know, Mama.

Where in the Bible does they
talk about niggers?

They ain't in Bible, as I know.

Did you do your homework?

Yeah, I done it.

I told you to fry some taters.

We ain't got none.

How come they
ain't in the Bible?

Preacher Miller
was just talking--

[Hester] We ain't got
no onions, neither?

Uh-uh. I wonder why
he did that? He was just--

Billy Harrigan, get in here.

Hi, Mama.

[Sudie] Simpson!

Hey, Simpson!

See, I didn't tell nobody.

I brought salve so we could
fix Lucky some more.

Oh, that's nice.

And guess what?

Lucky got better,
so I turned him loose.

You shouldn't be out here.

Why?
Ain't nobody ever comes

to this old home place.

Nobody's lived here
since before I was born.

When was the last time?

You mad at me for coming?

No. I ain't mad.

[birds chirping]

Where have you been today?

Well, been down in Cantor,

working for Mr. Crowder.

Cleaned out his barn for him,

chopped up some wood.

Did what needs doing.

[Simpson exhales]

You hungry?

You have lunch today?

Mama didn't have time
to fix me nothing,

-so I just took a apple.
-Oh.

I got me some hoecakes
and some sorghum.

They be ready soon.

-Okay.
-Good.

Is he nice, that Mr. Crowder?

He's been fair to me.

I'm glad of that.

They have them signs in Cantor?

[Simpson] No, not as many.

Ah-ah-ah!
You spelling it wrong.

-What?
-[erasing chalk]

That's the way they spell it,
and they spell it wrong.

-Well how do you?
-N...

E, G, R, O.

"Negro." Say it.

-Ne...
-Ne...

-...gro.
-...gro.

Negro.

Yeah! Good.

-I heard that word before.
-Uh-huh.

It's funny how they never taught
that to us.

I like my hoecakes a little
scorched around the edge.

-How about you?
-Okay.

Good. Let's go.

[Sudie and Mary]
Seven forty-one.

Seven forty-two.

Seven forty-three.

Seven forty-four.

Seven forty-five.

Seven forty-six.

Seven forty-seven.

Seven forty-eight.

[Mary] Oh, look!
There's Mrs. Moore and Tommy.

Mama says Tommy's Daddy
joined the army

'cause he was ashamed.

[girl] Yeah, he always
made Tommy stay inside

so no one could see him.

-Let's follow 'em!
-Okay.

[boy] Hey, Sudie!

Wonder why he's so odd-looking?

Maybe it's a curse.

-[blows raspberry]
-Oh, horse dookey, Mary Agnes!

Just 'cause
somebody's odd-looking,

don't mean they's cursed!

Wait up!

[birds chirping]

[dog barking]

[Simpson laughing]

You like it?

Oh, I guess it's okay for you
to come here,

now that I'm welcome
in Linlow, Georgia.

Or in the whole rest
of the United States of America,

as far as I'm concerned.

Well, what if you get caught
sign-stealing, Miss Sudie?

Oh, I won't get caught.

You like it?

Yeah. I do.

This is the best welcome
I ever had.

Oh, come on in here. Come on.

Come on.

[laughs]

[Mary] I ain't bringing
my paper dolls

down here no more
unless I get to be Scarlet.

You get to be Scarlet
all the time.

[Sudie] But you do Melanie
lots better than me.

[Mary] I ain't being
that whiny Melanie no more.

Mary Agnes?

You ever touched a growed man?

What do you mean, have I ever
touched a growed man?

-What kinda question is that?
-Just answer it.

Of course, silly.
Everybody touches their Daddy.

I don't mean just
when you bump into each other,

when he switches you.

I don't either.
Of course I touch him.

Like nice touching?

Like, does he hold
your hand, and...

pat you on the back?

Sure, all daddies does that.

Why are you asking?

Just because I wanted to know,
is why.

Well, you don't have to get ugly
about it.

So, can I be Scarlet or not?

Yeah, you can be Scarlet.

-[birds chirping]
-[dog barking]

[Miller] So, we must preach
the Gospel

to all people, everywhere.

We are at war

not only with the Germans
and the Japs.

We are at war
with the devil himself!

So, you can see why the message
must be taken

to the four corners
of the Earth.

If Columbus couldn't
find no corners.

I reckon we couldn't, neither.

[Mrs. Clark] Mary Agnes!

[Miller] We must go into Egypt
and into all of Africa.

We must save every man,
woman, and child.

-[boys whispering]
-Red, yellow, white, or black.

Or they will roast in the flames
of eternal hell,

doomed forever without Christ.

[coughing]

Now, hell is overflowing
with the unsaved.

Now is the time
to get right with God,

not tomorrow, the next day,
or the next week,

but now, while you are sitting
in this solemn worship,

for tonight, you may die
in your sleep,

or you may be struck dead
by the devil

while you are standing on
the steps of this church today!

Praise God.

[congregation] Amen.

[church bell chimes]

-[Miller] How are you, sheriff?
-[Sherriff] Good sermon.

[Miller] Nice to see you.
Hey, sweetheart. How are you?

Thanks for coming. How are you
doing? God bless you, son.

How are you, my darling?

Good to see you,
Preacher Miller. Good job.

I wanted to show you
some figures--

Now, we're gonna talk about that
in the Deacon's meeting, Earl.

Clifford, listen, I want
you to reconsider

about asking these people
for money.

It's not as if
we need a brick church.

I want to tell you
right now, the Board has met,

and we will brick this church,
the Lord willing, before winter.

Jack, I reckon you're looking
forward to school being out.

Oh, I always say there's three
things I like about my job.

That's June, July, and August.

[men laughing]

[Sudie] Preacher Miller,

does Negroes go to hell
even if they's nice?

How are you, Lem?

Sudie, people who have been
saved do not go to hell.

Yeah, but it's hell saving
a nigger, ain't it, Preacher?

[Lem grunts]

Damn kid.
Why she's asking about niggers?

-She never even seen one.
-Strange kid, that Sudie.

I'm always telling Charlotte to
keep Mary Agnes away from her.

Wouldn't be a bad idea, Lester.
"Niggers going to heaven"...

Why, if one just sets foot
in this town,

then we can go
the other way, and damn fast.

[Lester] You wouldn't be
alone, Lem.

-[indistinct chatter]
-[church bell chimes]

-[water rushing]
-[crickets hissing]

Simpson, how come you're doing
all that?

Almanac says
there's gonna be a dry spell.

On a nice day like today,
how come you're out here,

like I asked you not to be?

How come you're not playing
with your friends?

You got friends, don't you?

I got Mary Agnes.

She's the only one that lives
real close, except for Nettie.

Who's Nettie?

Well, she's rich,

Her mama don't really let her
play with...

Well, Nettie's a real bore.

[sighs]

[sighs]

[sighs]

All right.

Tell me about your family.

[grunts]

What's your Daddy do?

He in the army?

-Daddy?
-Yeah

No. He has a heart problem.

So he works at a shoe factory
in Buford.

He makes shoes for the soldiers.

He comes home about every...

Well, a lot.
He comes home a lot.

Mary Agnes' Daddy
ain't in the army, neither.

-He's got flat feet.
-Mm-hmm.

-Simpson?
-Yeah?

-How come you ain't in the army?
-Nobody ever asked me.

I bet if I laid out in the sun
every day,

I'd turn into a negro.

How long do you think
that'll take?

About a week.

Got a wife?

She died.

Where'd you live
when she died?

Alabama.

I was from Texas.
She was from Alabama

and wanted to live in Alabama.

She was a teacher.

Helped me to get my
high school diploma.

The night she was getting ready
to have our baby...

I put her in the car, took her
to the hospital.

They wouldn't accept
no colored folks.

So...

we had a baby
in the back of the car...

[birds chirping]

...and she died
birthing our baby.

Three days later...

the little girl died, too.

You had a baby?

Yep.

Life can be hard sometimes.

Do you have any idea
what will happen

if they catch a little white
girl with a colored man?

Wouldn't nobody hurt you.
I wouldn't let 'em.

And ain't nothing gonna happen
to me,

except I could get a whipping.
Whipping ain't nothing.

I get those all the time.

Miss Sudie, you can't come back
here no more.

You ain't my Daddy,
and you ain't my boss.

I'll make up my own mind
about coming here.

No, you can't!

Well, I'm coming back!

And if you don't want me to,
then you'll have to whip me!

So either way,
I'm getting a whipping!

I'm never gonna whip you,
Miss Sudie.

But you're stubborn as a mule!

[Mary] Every time
you see Mr. Rice, you run.

Now, is that the truth or not?

You drive me plumb-crazy, Sudie!

How come you don't
never answer me?

[Sudie] You sure
you've been saved?

[Mary] See there?
There you go again.

[Sudie] Just answer me,
and I'll answer you.

[Mary] Sure, I've been saved.

-[Sudie] What does it feel like?
-[Mary] Shoot, I don't know.

You got saved.
What's your saving feel like?

[Sudie] I ain't never got saved.

Well, you did, too.

I've seen you get baptized
the same day as Emily Smith.

So, how come you think
you ain't saved?

-I can't tell you that part.
-Why not?

'Cause it's a bad sin.

Well, I won't tell, honest!
Cross my heart and hope to die!

Well, I ain't saved, 'cause...

-Well, just 'cause.
-'Cause what?

'Cause I used my thing
to get nickels.

Your what?

My thing!

-What thing?
-My thing!

Like your thing, stupid.
My thing between my legs.

You mean, that thing?

-Yeah.
-Lord, have mercy.

How'd you get nickels
with that thing?

Oh, Rice gived 'em to me.

[Mary] Mr. Rice?

[dog barking]

You mean... You mean,
he gives you a nickel

to see your thing?

He don't see my thing.
I see his thing.

And then he gives me a nickel
to wiggle it.

A nickel?

Just to wiggle his thing?

Is it hard to wiggle?

Oh, good grief, Mary Agnes,

I don't wanna talk
about it no more.

Doggone it, Sudie,
you always start something

and won't finish it.

Here, I ain't never even seen
a growed-up thing,

and you won't even tell me
what it looks like.

What kinda friend are you?

A growed-up thing, Mary Agnes,
is just like a little thing.

Except it's bigger.
And uglier. And bluer.

Bluer?

You mean, growed up things
is blue?

No, they ain't blue all over.
They just got blue rows.

Blue rows? Blue rows of what?

Just blue rows of rows.
That's all.

And sometimes they get sick.

What do they get sick from?

I reckon it's dropsy.

Gosh, Mr. Higgins' Daddy died
of dropsy.

Yeah, well, Earl Rice
ain't never die of it,

'cause he gets it all the time.

Anyway, wiggling things
is a big sin,

and it's all my fault.

How come?

'Cause Eve
gived Adam that apple!

Don't you listen
to nothing the Preacher says?

Sure, I listen to the preacher.

Well, the big sin is my thing,
not his.

We got these awful things

that makes man
get some kind of madness.

It's like they was crazy.

Mama says they can't help it,
and we gotta face up to it,

just 'cause of the kinda things
that we got.

Mary Agnes,
we got wicked things.

Well, your thing maybe wicked,
but mine ain't.

Anyhow, I don't wiggle
Earl Rice's thing no more.

He's got Betty McMillan's
little sister

doing it for him now.

He brags on all the other girls
that wiggle it for him.

Clara Mae?
But she's just a kid.

-She probably ain't ten.
-She ain't. She's nine.

Shoot. Her hands are itty-bitty.

When it comes to wiggling
a big ol' thing,

I bet you done it a lot better
than her.

-Oh, Mary Agnes, horse dookey!
-[Mary] Sudie!

My husband will be home
on leave

starting next Thursday,
Mr. Etheridge.

I haven't seen him
in seven months.

I'd appreciate two days off.

Sure, I'll just call
a substitute

and we'll see you on Monday.

Thank you.

Oh, Miss Allen?

Don't let him wear you out,
you hear?

-Excuse me.
-You Miss Marge?

Yes.

-I've been waiting for you.
-You want something?

I just ain't never seen
a real Yankee before

so I wanted to see what one
would look like up close, so...

-Well, do we look any different?
-Uh-uh.

-What's your name?
-Sudie. Sudie Harrigan.

-[school bell ringing]
-Can I talk to you for a minute?

[Sudie] And I hadn't seen him
in a long time, and we got

to talking about everybody
in the family and all.

So, my cousin,
she knows this girl,

who knows this girl,
who has a negro friend.

I reckon up north, lots of folks
have colored friends.

I suppose so.

You ever had a negro friend
that was a growed man?

I can't say that I have.

I heard that up north,
it's different.

-I heard this. People up there--
-Sudie.

Why are you asking me
all these questions?

No reason. No reason at all.

I just like to learn stuff.

I see.

So, do Yankees look like
you thought they would?

No, ma'am. Yankees is purdy!

[laughs]

[Simpson] Here. Close your eyes.

-[Sudie] Close?
-[Simpson] Close your eyes.

Come on.

Got you.

[birds chirping]

Where are we going?
I can't see!

Will you just keep your eyes
closed? I'll lead you straight.

What is it, Simpson?
Please tell me.

You just keep your eyes shut.

Jut slide around in there.

Ah. Stand, right there.

[water rushing]

Now, open your eyes.

-[gasps]
-[Simpson chuckles]

[Sudie] Oh, my gosh!

How'd you do it?

-It's all yours.
-Look at that!

-Oh, Simpson!
-[Simpson chuckles]

You see this way?

You got a place for yourself.
Some animals, when you find 'em.

-You made this all for me?
-Yeah.

-[sighs]
-I can't believe it!

Yeah, I built this, Miss Sudie,
so you could have a place

that you can call your own.
Something that belongs to you.

But I don't mind sharing at all!

Oh, I know you don't mind
sharing, Miss Sudie.

You know, you have the most
generous spirit of anybody

that I've ever met.
But now, see, this place here?

It's so you don't have to go
all the way to my place no more.

What's that supposed to mean?

Just what I said.

Where you going?

You mean, you built this place

'cause you don't ever
wanna see me no more?

Oh, no, Miss... Miss Sudie,
I want to see you every day.

But it's like I said,
it's dangerous.

It's mean, Simpson!

It's the meanest present
I ever got.

Well, I didn't mean it
to be mean.

Miss Sudie, I built this place
so can you could have something

for yourself.

-I'll come visit you.
-No, you won't.

Yes, I will.

Hey.

We'll do our spelling lessons
right here, on this rock.

-But I can't come to see you?
-That's right, Miss Sudie.

That's the way it has to be.

I hate it,
but it has to be that way.

That's the way it is.

These are for you.

[dog barking]

Thank you, Simpson.

It's the nicest thing
anybody ever made for me.

You're welcome

Gosh! I just can't believe this!

-How'd you do it?
-Oh, I just done it.

You didn't build this place,
Sudie Harrigan.

You just lying.

You can't build stuff,
so who builded it?

Well, to tell you the truth,
my daddy builded it.

Your daddy done it? When?

Last time he was home.

Gosh, I just can't believe
he done it.

[birds chirping]

[Mary] This is the best place
I ever seen!

What do you call it?

-My secret place.
-[Mary] Oh.

-Did you hurt yourself?
-[Mary] Uh-uh. Why?

Looks like you cut your butt
or something.

Oh, my gosh!
I guess I did cut myself.

-Well, Does it hurt?
-Uh-uh.

I just can't see what's cut.

Maybe you cut your thing?

Oh, no!

Well, no, let's just say
that it ain't cut.

'Cause if it doesn't hurt,
then it can't be cut.

But if you do find out
that it's cut,

just put this salve on it,
and it'll get better. Use a lot.

Ugh.

How are you doing today?
Your thing get well?

[Mary] Yeah.

You must've hurt it bad!

I didn't hurt it none.

Mama said
I've turned into a woman.

Well, what she say that for?

'Cause I started menstruation.

-What's that?
-Bleeding.

Women does it once a month.

Can you believe it?
Once a month,

for four or five days,
for the rest of your life.

I could just puke.

Once a month
for the rest of your life?

-I ain't doing it.
-All women does it.

It's another one of them curses,

on account of Eve
giving Adam that apple.

I hate Eve's guts.

[birds chirping]

[Earl] Preacher!

Preacher Miller,
I'm sorry about being late

-with the money box.
-[Miller] Mm-hmm.

Looks like we're making
some money though, huh?

The kids're making the money,
Earl.

Oh, yeah, right.

Don't nobody get rich
cleaning bricks.

I've been here
half the morning,

and I ain't made
but eighteen cents.

You can do it if you want to,
but I'm going home.

Well, I'm gonna stay
and make some more money.

-I'll see you later.
-Bye.

Bye.

There's your 85 cents, Sudie.
That's a lot of brick.

Sure is. It's hard work, too.

Well, that's the best thing
for the soul, Sudie.

Best thing for the soul.
Well, good night.

Your soul must be starved.

[car engine revving]

[birds chirping]

[Sudie] Preacher Mill--

-Hi, Sudie.
-I ain't doing it no more.

-I ain't!
-You look pretty today, Sudie.

You made me drop my money!

-I'll give you some more money.
-No!

-Come on.
-I ain't doing it no more!

I ain't doing it no more!

I ain't gonna touch it!
I ain't gonna touch it!

I ain't! Get away! Get away!
No!

Come on!
I don't wanna do it no more!

Don't make me!
I ain't gonna do it!

I don't want to do it no more.
I don't want to.

[birds chirping]

Simpson!

Sudie, what happened?

-Oh, Simpson.
-Sudie.

Tell me what's happened?
All right, what's going on?

Tell what happened, huh?

He stole my money.
Stole my money.

-Your money?
-My money.

Shh, okay,
you don't have to say nothing.

You don't have to say another
word. Shh.

-[Sudie sobbing]
-Okay. Okay.

Mm. It's all right.

It's gonna be okay.
It's okay. All right.

Shh. It's gonna be all right.

It's gonna be all right. Oh,
it's okay. It's gonna be okay.

[door creaking]

You come in this house,
this late again,

I'm gonna blister you.

Where you been?

How come you're all wet?

Look at me!

How come your face
is so scratched?

Down in the creek, Mama.

Well, what was you doing
in the creek?

I swear to God,

you're gonna get eat up
by boogers if you don't

fall in the creek
and drown first.

Go on, change your clothes.

I'll fry you some taters.

[birds chirping]

[dog barking]

[Simpson] Hey, Miss Sudie.

Listen to God's music.

[Sudie] Uh-huh.

That's just about the best day
of the year. Don't you agree?

Uh-huh.

[birds chirping]

[Simpson] It sure is
a good thing I did this

irrigation ditch.

You wouldn't have
no vegetables no more.

[Sudie] We ain't got
none at home.

-Mom's garden dried up.
-Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

Everybody else's did, too.

I never knowed
I was the color of creek sand.

Simpson, I figured it out.

Figured what out?

I'm the color of creek sand.

And you, you's the color
of garden dirt!

And the Indians...

they's the color of red clay!

Doesn't that just
make you wanna sing out?

Everybody's made out of dust!

And God didn't make you black
to punish you for nothing.

He didn't make nobody no color
to punish them for nothing.

He made everybody the color
they is on account of

that just happened to be
the color He was standing on.

[clears throat] Well, you...

You sure figured that out,
didn't you? [chuckles]

[laughs] If that ain't it,

I sure don't know
what He had in mind!

[both laughing]

Wouldn't it be funny
if Mama got God

answering her prayers,
and he turned out

to be a negro?

[both laughing]

Hey, Miss Sudie.

I still got some of that salve
that you left.

Wanna put some of that
on your face?

No.

It's okay.

[Mary] Mama said
Doctor Stubs isn't in the army,

'cause he is the sole
surviving son.

His little brother's airplane
got shot down by Japs.

They're all gone.

[Mary] See, I told you
everybody picked most of

Mr. Henderson's berries.

How come you don't
pay attention to me?

Remember that time I told you
Miss Henderson dyed her hair?

I was right.

Mama said Lois Henderson
dyed her hair every month.

That just proves
you should pay attention.

[pig squeals]

-Oh, my God.
-Sudie, where are you going?

[Sudie] I wanna catch that pig!

[pig squeals]

Come on, Baby Grunts,
come on! Get going.

Come on, come on,
Baby Grunts, keep moving!

-Come on!
-[pig squeals]

Oh, God, is that a real nigger?

God, Sudie's gone plumb-crazy.

Well, if she thinks I'm talking
to a crazy girl,

she's got another thing coming!

Mary Agnes Clark, are you
gonna leave them berries

-after we got all scratched up?
-[Mary] Did you catch that pig?

Uh-uh. He run too fast.

Sudie Harrigan, if you
don't tell me the fair truth,

I'm gonna tell
everyone in Linlow

you handed over a pig
to a blacked-up nigger!

-Mary Agnes, I'm gonna get you.
-No, you're not!

[both grunting]

[man] Hey, hey, hey!
What's going on here?

She was giving a pig
to a real-life nigger!

He wasn't neither no nigger!

He was just a stranger,
and his pig jumped off

of his truck onto the road,
that's all!

It was, too, a nigger.

I seen him plain as day
with my very own eyes.

Where was he, Mary Agnes?

Up there, by them trees.

That's a pretty fair pace.
You just thought you seen him.

You know we don't allow
no niggers around here!

Now, why don't the two of you
just go on up to the house

and wash up and rest a while?

I don't wanna ever speak
to you again, as long as I live.

No!

No!

[Nettie] How come
you are not waiting for Sudie?

-'Cause she's a liar.
-How come?

It's not worth talking about.

Besides, Nettie,
you're much more fun.

[Clara Mae] No, no! [sobbing]

Fifty cents will...

buy you girls a...

[coins clinking]

...whole lot of candy.

[bell chiming]

[Mary] Nettie!

Nettie, wait!

[Mary] That's all
there is to it.

Their things get to tickling.

It's like itching.

And so, they need to wiggle it,

or get somebody
to wiggle it for him.

And whoever wiggles it
gets a nickel.

It's a lot of money
for not hardly doing nothing.

I'd be scared to wiggle it,

even for a nickel

Would you be scared, too,
for a dime?

Would you?

Maybe.

You think Clara Mae
will tell her Mama?

Not ever.

Would you tell?

No! I'd get a whipping for sure.

Would you ever tell
Clara Mae's mother about her?

Are you crazy?

Then we'd both get whipped.

Nah.

I reckon it's
one more of them Eve things.

What's an Eve thing?

Something serious and secret.

Maybe that's what's wrong
with Sudie.

No.

Eve never counted on anybody
being as strange as Sudie.

Simpson!

Simpson!

Hey, Baby Grunt!

I haven't seen you for a while.

Gosh, you stink.

Where's Simpson? Huh?

Simpson!

Where are you?

I got something for you!

Simpson?

[door opens]

-Simpson?
-[door closes]

Where are you?

Simpson!

What's wrong?

Uh... I think I got a touch
of the influenza.

Well, how long
have you been sick?

Two, three days, maybe.

You hungry?

I could fix you something.

Uh... I'm not hungry...

Don't worry about me.

-[Simpson clears throat]
-I brought you a present.

Have you?

It didn't cost nothing.

Unwrap it.

If you don't like it,
I could fix it or something.

I could change it.

Oh, no!

I like it.

You did this
with your own hands?

That makes it
that much more special.

Thank you, Miss Sudie.

You're welcome, Simpson.

Now, you lay real still.

I'm gonna make you
some tater soup, and...

You got any doctorin' stuff?

It's out there somewhere.

Simpson?

I brought you your soup.

[Simpson] Mm-hmm.

You're hot!

Simpson...

please don't die.

[children shouting]

[Sudie] Miss Marge,
I need you to help me.

My friend, he's sick,
and he ain't got no friends,

and he ain't got no folks.
Please come.

Sudie, I can't just
leave school.

But he might die!

Nobody knows your friend?
I find that odd, Sudie.

I don't understand why.

'Cause he's a negro.

Oh, my God.

Sudie, this-- I'm--

I don't know
what to do about this.

Well, just help him.
Just come with me and help him.

Sudie, I can't leave school.
Besides, you need a doctor.

Call Dr. Stubbs.

I reckon
everybody hates negros.

[Marge] That's not true.

Well, then how come you won't
come with me to help him?

Because I could lose my job.

[bell rings]

Sudie?

Stay here.
I'll call a substitute.

[sighs]

[door opens with a creak]

Simpson, you's better!

Miss Marge, he's better!

Come on!

You don't have to be scared!

This here's a teacher,
Miss Marge,

and she's a Yankee.

And she's nice,
and she likes negros.

Well, I'm mighty pleased
to meet you, ma'am.

Mighty pleased.

How do you feel, Mr. Simpson?

Uh? Oh, well, I'm...

Fair to middlin'.

-I've been sick, see?
-Why are you talking so funny?

That fever get to your mind?

Please, Mr. Simpson,

Sudie's told me all about you.

You can trust me.

I appreciate that, ma'am.

Thanks for coming.

You come down here by yourself?

Mm-hmm.

Linlow needed
an English teacher,

and I needed a change.

My husband is in the Marines.

-Overseas?
-Mm-hmm. He just went back.

-Have you known Sudie very long?
-Not too long.

She is a fine young 'un.

-You know her family?
-[Marge] No, no. I don't.

Don't even see them
in church with her.

Oh, you're a church-goer,
Miss Marge.

Yes.

Uh-- Fairly regularly.

How do you like our preacher?

Reverend Miller?

[Marge laughs]

I give him an "A"
for allocution.

[laughs]

[both laughing]

You all hungry?

Ah!

I hope you are getting used
to southern cooking, Miss Marge.

I am getting used to a lot

of interesting southern
phenomenon, Mr. Simpson.

[Sudie] What you want,
Mary Agnes?

I come to tell you something.

What?
I gotta get these clothes in

before my mama comes home.

Remember that time
you told me about Mr. Rice?

Well, Sudie, I've seen him
with my very own eyes.

Seen what?

He was trying to do it
with Clara Mae McMillian.

Me and Nettie came up on 'em,
and Clara Mae ran off.

Mr. Rice, he gave us 50 cents.

Me and Nettie ate candy.

Oh, Sudie I feel so awful.

I've been so mean, telling
everybody about that nigger,

but you don't have to worry.
Nobody believes me, anyhow.

It's all right, Mary Agnes.
Don't worry about it.

It-- It really--
It really was a nigger,

wasn't it?

A negro.

Yes, it really was a negro

How come you give him that pig?

'Cause it was his.

How do you know it was his?

I know that it was his,
'cause he's my friend.

Your friend?

Niggers ain't friends.

Yeah, they is!

[Mary] Well?

Does he live
in that nigger shack?

I ain't telling you
where he lives.

-And don't call him a nigger.
-Why not?

'Cause he is a negro.
N-E-G-R-O.

Negro?

Sounds better, don't it?

How come none of this stuff's
in the Bible?

I'unno.

-Come help me fold these towels.
-Sure.

[Sudie] Get the door.

You been sick?

You look awful pale.

No, I ain't been sick.

I just got a cold.

It ain't nothing.

[man talking indistinctly]

-[Sudie] Simpson?
-[Simpson] Yeah?

[Sudie] You ever make
a dirt castle?

[Simpson] No, not that
I can remember.

You wanna make one?
It's easy.

Miss Sudie, I'm trying
to plant these taters.

Well, I already started.
You could just help me.

Come on!

-[man laughing]
-[indistinct chatter]

[chatter continues]

[man] What's this?

What you doing there?

[chuckles] Well, nothing, sir.

Just planting me some taters.
That's all, sir.

Where'd you come from, nigger?

Well, I-- I stays with
some friends

over at Cantor, sir.

Whose taters are you planting?

[Simpson chuckles] Well,

I have to confess, sir, that...

Well, they mines.

You see, I works for Mr. Crowder
over in Cantor.

And...

He owns this here property,
and he said it was okay for me

to plant myself
a nice little garden.

Have you ever heard of Crowder
in Cantor?

Yeah, he's got land over in
Braselton and Hog Mountain.

He got any around these parts?

Hell, I don't know.
He probably does.

-[gun cocking]
-[hunter 1] Don't move!

I'll blow a hole
through your gut.

[hunter 2] What the hell's this?

Oh, that's--

I was just practicing,
making them tater hills.

[hunter 2] You ever raised
taters before, nigger?

[Simpson chuckles] No, sir.

Hell, this nigger's too stupid
to wake up in the morning!

Let's leave him be.

Dammit, boy,
I said don't move!

I'll empty your head of what
little brain's you've got!

Now, I'm gonna
ask you something.

How often do you come up here?

Ha! Once a week, sir,
on the freight train.

Once a week.
That's all, sir. [chuckles]

Well, you keep it that way,
you hear?

Oh, yes, sir. Just once a week.

Thank you, sir.

[hunters laughing]

[indistinct chatter]

Miss Sudie?

Yeah, Simpson?

Don't you move.

Stay right there
until I tell you what to do.

-You hear me?
-I hear you.

[Simpson] And I'm gonna walk
toward the well.

When I get to the path,
I want you to run

toward the house as fast
as your legs could carry you.

You got that straight?

I got it.

One more thing, Miss Sudie.

I love you.

I love you just like
you was one of my own.

I love you, too, Simpson.

There's lots of bad folks,

and I don't mean
just killing folks, either.

There's men that would
do bad things to you

if they knew
you just came here.

You think I don't know nothing
about men.

Well, I do.

I know lots.

There's a man in Linlow
who's doing bad things already.

He's been doing them
for a long time.

To you?

Lots of other girls, too.

Is that what happened
the night you came here crying?

It's my fault, 'cause
I'm a girl.

Miss Sudie...

Miss Sudie, listen to me.

You don't have to be
ashamed of anything.

What that man
did to you was not your fault.

It wasn't right.

And that preacher ain't right.

And your mama, if she listens
to that preacher, ain't right.

Miss Sudie...

Let me tell you.

I got the same Bible they got.
I read it from front to back.

That man committed a sin,
not you, Sudie.

Miss Sudie,

everything on your body
is good and right

in the eyes of the Lord.

It says so, right here on the
front page of this Bible.

Have you told anybody
about this?

Well, you got to tell somebody.

That's the only way
to stop that man!

Nobody listens to a kid
over a grown-up.

Nobody cares.

Well, I care, Sudie!

The trouble is how much I care!

You're the little girl
I never did get to raise.

Damn, I hate it,
that man who hurt you!

Sudie, you got
to tell your teacher.

You got to tell her!

Sudie, wait a minute!

Sudie!

Sudie!

[Simpson thinking]
Dear Mrs. Allen.

This afternoon,
Miss. Sudie told me something

that tore me up.

I know it may not be my place
to talk about this,

but I can't keep it to myself.

And maybe you can help.

There's a man in Linlow...

Miss Marge?

[Marge] Mm?

I know a teacher
who's a low-down skunk.

Why?

'Cause he makes little girls
wiggle his rotten old thing.

His thing?

You mean his penis?

Is that a Yankee thing?

Actually, it's the same thing,
North or South.

How do you know
about this teacher?

'Cause I wiggled it myself
a hundred times.

Do you believe me?

Of course I believe you.

Well then, can you do something
about it?

'Cause he does it
to lots of girls.

I think he's still doing it
to Clara Mae,

'cause Mary Agnes
and Nettie seen them

-behind the school yard.
-Sudie...

Will you tell Mr. Etheridge
about this if I go with you?

I ain't telling
Mr. Etheridge nothing.

[Marge] Sudie.
Sudie, wait a minute!

Sudie!

You teachers is like peas
in a pod.

No, we're not.

[sighs]

[sighs]

Do you trust anybody?

Nah.

You have to trust somebody.

Only Simpson.

What about your parents?

Nah, they lie.

Tell me about your parents.

They fuss a lot.

Well, you know, they work hard.

Maybe they're tired.

Daddy don't never go to church,

and Mama, she just
don't have time no more.

She works in a pants mill.

That ain't why they lie.

Church folks lie, too.

What do they lie about?

Well, they tell that
Negroes is boogers.

That girls' things
is an awful sin...

only, kids ain't got no sins.
All that stuff.

Do Yankees go barefooted?

Yes, Yankees go barefooted.

And stop trying to change
the subject.

Sudie.

Will you tell me
the names of the girls

that this teacher has molested?

Maybe.

But I thought
I ain't never got saved,

'cause I thought what
this man done was my fault.

But Simpson says it ain't.

And Simpson's right.

He's a fine man.

He wrote me a note this morning.

He-- He told me,
he was very upset

about what you told him.

That's why he wrote to me,

so that I could
do something about it.

-I gotta go home, Miss Marge.
-Sudie! Sudie, wait a mi...

Don't run from this.

It's all quite ridiculous,
Mrs. Allen.

Our teachers are
the finest men I know.

That child is telling the truth,
Mr. Etheridge.

Everybody knows
that Sudie is prone to lie.

Our teachers are good,
God-fearing Christians.

How many children
will have to be molested

before there's enough proof?

That's enough, Mrs. Allen.

I won't be put off like this,
Mr. Etheridge.

That's dangerous talk,
Mrs. Allen.

Now, I've got other things
to do.

[indistinct chatter]

-[boy] Pitcher.
-[all cheering]

I've tried to talk
to several other girls

about what happened.

They won't.
I know it's very difficult.

You two are my last hope.

Please, please tell me
if you've seen anything.

It's very important

for a lot others
just like the two of you

that someone have the courage
to tell the truth.

Please.

I already know one girl
who's been hurt

by this man, Mary Agnes.

You know her, too.

We need somebody else
to speak up,

because Mr. Etheridge
is not gonna believe just her.

Mary Agnes,
will you help us, please?

I'm sorry, Miss Allen.
I gotta be getting home.

Come on, Nettie.

[boy] You missed it.

I just don't know
where she could be,

'cause she's been acting
so strange lately!

-[Mr. McMillian hushing]
-Well, we just have to assume

that Clara Mae just simply
wandered off in woods

and got lost.

Alrighty? We've already covered
the town's close end

and the woods nearby?

We're gonna search the woods
a little further up. Walter?

Walter, you have the team
set up for the search?

Yeah, got everything covered,

including the woods
behind Mr. Henderson's.

Lester, I want you to, uh...

Your group, cover the mill area.

[indistinct chatter]

And I want-- Because Henderson's
gonna be covering the creek

all the way up to
just past the old Branden place.

All right.

Mattie, now you just wait here.
Alright?

Some of you wanna stay
with them.

I guess-- I guess
I'll go with the Doc.

Now, whoever finds Clara Mae,
I want you to come back here,

and I want you ring the bell.

I'm gonna be working
in the woods behind my house.

If I hear the bell,
I'll come running.

Sure.

Mattie...

We'll find her.

Mr. Simpson!

Mr. Simpson!

It's Marge Allen!

Mr. Simpson!

[Sudie] Simpson!

Simpson!

-What are you doing here?
-[Marge] Sudie, he's gone.

No, come on and stop dallyin'
or they'll shoot him.

No he-- They won't shoot him.
He's-- He's moved out.

-They're gonna shoot him!
-They won't shoot him.

He's gone, Sudie.

You're lying! You're just lying!

I'm... not lying. Sorry, Sudie!

He's gone!

Baby Grunts is gone!

Come on, Sudie,
I'll take you back. Come on.

[man] Come on, let's get
this business over with.

It's hotter than
red hell out here.

Henderson,
where the hell are you?

That irrigation ditch!

Somebody's getting ready
for another drought.

What's going on here?

That ain't no new ditch,
that's been here a year or two.

[girl] I guess somebody
had vegetables last year.

Our garden dried up.

-[man] What the hell is this?
-Well, everybody's did.

[man] Who the hell has got
a garden way down here?

Hey, look over here!

-[man 1] What?
-[man 2] What's there?

[indistinct chatter]

[man] Good lord.

[indistinct chatter]

[man 1] Whoever lived here,
ain't been gone long.

[man 2] If this don't beat all!

You wouldn't've thought anybody
could live in this old place.

-[bell chiming]
-[woman] They've found her.

[man 2] Come on, let's go.

[indistinct chatter]

Clara Mae, look at me,
sweetheart.

[sobbing] Why ain't she talking,
Dr. Stubbs? What's the matter?

I believe she is in shock.

Mac, I want you to run out.

Get my car and pull it around
the front.

-Just take her in my office.
-[Mr. McMillian] Yes, sir.

-Jack, grab my bag.
-[Jack] You got it.

[Walter] Come on, darling.

Mattie, she's gonna
be all right.

Come on, Mattie.

[man on speaker] All right,
everybody, listen please.

[Mr. Etheridge] I got
a pretty good idea

what happened to Clara Mae.

Higgins found her about a mile from the old Branden home place.

Henderson's group, here,

discovered someone's
been living there.

Whoever it was
moved out mighty fast.

-[man 1] Yeah.
-[man 2] Yeah, and he left

a damn good garden
with an irrigation ditch.

Sudie goes down the tracks,
past the bridge all the time.

Maybe she knows who lived there.

[Henderson] Yeah, the Branden
land backs up to mine.

Sudie and Mary Agnes
was picking berries

down by my creek last summer,

and Mary Agnes comes to me
with this story

about seeing Sudie
handing a pig to a nigger

down close to Branden land.

They got in a big fight over it.

[Rice] We all know
what that means.

Some nigger done something
to Clara Mae,

and there ain't no telling
what he done to Sudie.

That son of a bitch
has been pulling one over

on the whole town!

Now, men,

y'all get ready
and be back here in an hour.

We're gonna find that boy
and fix him good.

[indistinct chatter]

[Lester] Come on, Mary Agnes,
we're going home.

[indistinct chatter]

Sudie.

Simpson didn't do nothing.

Earl Rice was the one
who'd done it.

Earl Rice?

Sudie, we need more proof.

I knew it wouldn't do no good
to tell nobody.

Oh, it will. Believe me.

I cross my heart
and hope to die, it will.

But who will believe me?

Dr. Stubbs.

He'll listen.

But first, I have to tell
Mr. Etheridge about this.

Why? He'll just blame me.

[Marge] You wait
right here, Sudie.

It's worse than we thought.

I mean, Sudie is covering up
for that nigger,

because he's got
some kind of a hold on her.

You know damn good and well
Earl Rice had nothing

to do with any of this!

Sudie was already a big trouble.

But now it's worse.

-I mean, making up stories...
-I believe her, Mr. Etheridge.

Then you are being very foolish,
Mrs. Allen.

But that's your business.

Mr. Etheridge...

you and those men are making
a terrible mistake.

I'll be the judge of that,
Mrs. Allen.

[door closes]

Mary Agnes Clark,
you come here right now!

Mary Agnes, get back
in this kitchen!

[exhales] I always told you
that young'un wasn't

nothing but trash!

You knew all the time
that nigger was living

in that house, didn't you?

You'd better answer me,
Mary Agnes Clark!

We're gonna be the disgrace
of this town!

Did you go
to the nigger's house?

Did you?

[commentator on radio]
So, with two whole counts

on first base, Mr. Gary Roy.

Right-hander, Felix Carter,
will take them out...

[car engine revving]

[indistinct radio announcer]

Hey, nigger lover!

Your sister's a nigger lover.
You too, Billy?

[boy laughing]

Forget how
to talk, nigger lover?

[woman] What's going on here?

[boys laughing]

-Can't believe it.
-[boy laughing]

I can't believe Sudie was caught
with a nigger.

[indistinct commentator
on radio]

[housekeeper] Come on in.

[indistinct commentator
on radio]

Dr. Stubbs?

[Walter] In here!

-Hi.
-[Marge] Hi.

Thank you for seeing us, Doctor.

Sure.

-How about something to eat?
-[Marge] Oh, sure.

Sit down.

-Here you go.
-[Marge] Thank you.

Simpson says it wasn't my fault.

[Walter] Mr. Simpson's right,
Sudie.

Mr. Rice is a sick man.

My God, it's hard to believe.

And if Sudie feels guilty,

I'm sure the other girls feel
the same way.

Please don't let nothing happen
to Simpson!

He would never hurt nobody.

He couldn't.

First time I saw him,
he was saving a rabbit.

I'll do my best, darling.

-Where is he now?
-I don't know.

[inhales] Well...

We'll need a town meeting.

I'll get everybody there,
even if I have to tell them

I found the colored man.

[inhales] Sudie...

I'm gonna need your daddy there.
I'm gonna have to call him.

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct chatter continues]

Alright, I know
we are all tired,

so we'll get on with this.

[indistinct chatter]

You're looking
for the wrong man.

[Lem] Whatever the hell
you're up to,

we want you to know
the County Police knows

the whole story.
They're out looking

for him right now.
We ain't got time

-for what you think you know.
-That's right.

I'm glad you got
the police involved, Lem,

-'cause we're gonna need 'em.
-What did I tell you? Huh?

[indistinct chatter]

Alright, I had a long talk

with Clay and Hester Harrigan
last night.

I wanna thank them publicly
for coming here today.

I know it took
a great deal of courage.

Now I know, most of you think
that the... colored man

staying at
the old Branden place...

was the man who did something

to Sudie and Clara Mae.
But you're wrong.

-[man] You're wrong.
-You're dead wrong!

[Lester] You're wasting
our time here, Doc.

Now, Mary Agnes knows
all about this.

Speak up, Mary Agnes,
tell them what Sudie told you.

-Lester.
-She's my daughter,

-for Christ's sake!
-Lester!

[man] Just wait a minute.
You heard what they had to say.

Mary Agnes, it's alright.
Go ahead.

She-- She told me...

I mean...

Sudie told me that
the colored man was a friend.

[indistinct chatter]

I ain't never telling her
nothing ever again.

[Walter] Alright, quiet down.

What you doing this for?

We don't need no proof, Doc.

Why don't you shut
your damn mouth for a minute,

and I'll tell you?

Get on with it, Doc.

Sudie and Clara Mae...

and several other girls
in this town...

have been sexually molested.

Oh, my God, Doc.

-You mean, there's more?
-[indistinct chatter]

Everybody be quiet
and let Doc talk!

I'll say something now,
and I want every adult

to hear it, and I want
you to hear it good.

Not one, not one...

of these girls...
ever told their parents.

Or anybody else,
for that matter.

Now, you just let that
sink in a minute.

I'm ashamed,
and you should be, too.

Every last one of us...

is guilty of letting
these children

be victims of lies

that tell these girls
that their body's a sin.

[man] Their bodies are a sin!

[Walter] It's no wonder
they're afraid of us

and don't trust anybody!

Now, Sudie wouldn't
name the other girls.

And I respect her for that.

I know some of you here.

And I'm gonna have to ask you
girls a big favor.

I need just one of you...

to tell me who it is.

'Cause if you don't...

an innocent man...

is probably gonna die.

And a guilty man...

is gonna go on,

free as a breeze.

That colored man didn't do it.

[crowd murmuring]

[indistinct arguing]

[Sudie] Simpson!

[man] What's happening? Where
you going? What's going on?

[indistinct chatter]

-[girl] A colored man!
-[woman 1] A colored man?

-[woman 2] Come back here!
-[girl] Mama!

[man] What is he doing,
coming in here?

[indistinct chatter]

[Walter] Hello, Dan,
Thanks for coming.

Simpson.

[indistinct chatter]

[Walter] Okay, okay,
that's enough! Quiet!

[man] Go ahead now.

I'm Daniel Crowder.

I'm a business man and a farmer,
from over in Cantor.

This man here...

Mr. Simpson, has worked for me
for over a year.

Now, I'm here...

because I do not believe
he is guilty of anything,

except maybe trespassing
some of those damn signs

y'all put up everywhere.

Them signs were put there

in the first place to keep this
kind of thing from happening.

Maybe y'all should just
get on back to Cantor.

If he was guilty...

do you think he'd come back here
and face a bunch like y'all?

Looks to me like that nigger's
messed up your mind,

just like you messed up Sudie's.

Oh, for God's sake,
Lem, shut up.

Now, the reason
why I come here

is to get this little girl here
to speak her mind.

So that that sick man's poison

doesn't hurt
any other little girls

any more than it already has.

Mr. Harrigan, did...

Sudie tell you who molested her?

No, she didn't.

You mind?

Sudie.

You are the finest,
most honest,

smartest young lady
I have ever met.

And I hope my coming here will
help you get your life back.

[Lem] What the Sam Hill
is going on here, Doc?

Son, you need to shut your mouth
or I'm gonna shut it for you.

[indistinct arguing]

Sudie.

Now, Sudie, look at me.

What you about to say
is probably the hardest

and bravest thing
you'll ever have to do.

But you gonna have to speak.

Do it for yourself,
for Clara Mae...

and for all the others.

You get to tell, Sudie.

Let me tell your daddy
who molested you.

Miss Sudie?

Sudie, you know how dangerous
it is for me to come here!

Now speak.

Speak for me
and for yourself, please.

-Earl Rice done it.
-[woman gasps]

[Lem] Damn it,
I've heard enough!

Sudie Harrigan is
a born liar,

just like her father,
and y'all know it.

[Mary Agnes] No, she's not.

Me and Nettie seen him
with Clara Mae

the day he give us 50 cents
for candy.

-[woman] Oh, my God.
-[Indistinct chatter]

You hare-brained bastard.
Now, you wanna listen,

but it ain't gonna happen today.

Come on. Let's go. Let's go.

[indistinct chatter]

[sobs]

[man] You're gonna
burn in hell, Rice!

Why don't you drive him
off a bridge?

I was wrong, Sudie, for leaving
the way I did but...

I had to get away.

There was no way
I could talk to you about it.

You know, when...

we was in the field...

and I told you that I loved you?

I meant it.

I also know
that I should've told you

that a long time before that.

But I knew...

from the first time I saw you,
that sooner or later...

I'd have to leave this place.

I was having so much fun,
I didn't wanna think about it.

You know, Sudie...

I believe that the Lord
put us together.

But I also know...

we can't stay together.

I hope you can see that, now.

We can't change the world.

You've... got to be
with your family.

And me...

Well...

I wanna go to Houston.

I got two brothers.

Hey, uh...

I got a present
in there for you.

You wanna go see it, hmm?

Just out there.

-[Sudie sniffs]
-Yeah? Come on.

Oh, Simpson!

It's beautiful.

Now, go on! Open it!

Go on!

[gasps]

Wow.

It's beautiful.

Oh, Simpson!

[birds chirping]

[children shouting]

[girl] Hurry!

[indistinct shouting]

[girl] Hey,
look what we just done!