The Cabin in the Cotton (1932) - full transcript
Sharecropper's son Marvin tries to help his community overcome poverty and ignorance. While working in the general store he learns that the owner has been cheating his tenants. He is in love with owner's daughter, Madge, but sides with the tenants in his threat to expose the planters and their cheating.
Here comes Mr Norwood, Ma.
Evening, Tom.
- Evening, sir.
How you feeling today?
- A little better, thank you, sir.
That's good, because you need
to get your cotton out.
Bad fall weather will be coming soon.
How are you, Lilly?
Alright, sir.
Where's your boy, Marvin?
He ain't picking today, sir.
I see he's not.
Yes, sir .. he ..
Where is he?
Well.
Marvin started at school, Mr Norwood.
The devil he has ..
Did you hear that, Scott?
- Yeah.
Tom, you can't afford to let Marvin
go to school now. You need him here.
Yes, sir.
Yep, I've heard about him and
his books .. studying at night.
'Abraham Lincoln' stuff, eh?
You put Marvin back in
the field tomorrow.
They are my orders.
- But Marvin is going to be something.
I ain't .. I ain't never been nothing.
Nothing.
I want him to go to school, sir.
Now, don't get upset.
Your crop comes first.
You'll do what I said.
Put Marvin back in the field.
- Yes, sir.
[ Bell chimes ]
Quitting time, Tom.
Yep.
Hello, Sis'.
- Hello, Marvin.
I'm home, Ma.
- Hello, Marvin.
I brought the paper, Pa.
- Thank you, son.
How did you come out today?
- I'm getting the arithmetic down pat.
How you feeling?
- Alright, I guess.
Let me fix you up again.
- Would you, son.
Better, now?
Sure .. yes, better.
Pa's got some bad news for you, Marvin.
Now, Lilly.
What is it?
We'll talk about it after supper.
You and Mr Norwood have another row?
A little fuss. Nothing much.
Just a little fuss.
About me?
Rub my arm, will you, son?
Don't you worry about Mr Norwood, Pa.
Yeah, we'll talk about it after supper.
You just sleep and rest.
Go on now. Close your
eyes and rest, I tell you.
Is that better?
- Hmm.
There is a great piece in the paper, Pa.
The speech the Governor made.
All about education.
What did he say?
- I'll read it to you later.
It tells how he plans
everybody to have a chance.
The rich and poor. To have a chance.
That's fine son .. that's fine.
Is that alright?
Yeah.
Listen, Pa.
'Our wealth lies in our people'.
'The hundreds and
thousands of our people'.
'The poor and the downtrodden'.
'Who, through education ..'
Shush ..
Yoo-hoo.
Howdy, Marvin.
Howdy, Betty.
Can I come in?
How is he?
He's sleeping.
Ma sent me over to get
some coffee for supper.
You'd better go back outside
until I get out of my breeches.
I ain't ashamed if you ain't.
Close your eyes and
go in the kitchen, then.
I see my Pa every morning that way.
Howdy, Mrs Blake.
- Hello, Betty.
Ma said, could she borrow
some coffee for supper?
Sure.
Ready for supper.
Come on, it's ready.
Tom .. wake up, Tom.
- No, let him sleep.
Look at them.
Him and the baby. They're sound asleep.
Wake up, Tom.
Tom .. wake up.
Wake up, Tom.
Tom.
Tom.
Oh.
Oh .. Marvin.
Liza.
He's ..
He's dead.
No, Ma .. no.
Pa.
Pa.
Wake up.
- Marvin.
Get some help.
Get Mr Norwood.
Oh, Ma ..
All the kids at school laughed at
him too, because he's a Peckerwood.
And it's so awkward.
But he's the smartest boy in
school. They'll tell you that.
I can't pick cotton in his place, can I?
No. But it will nearly break his heart.
Poor-white is poor-white,
and books won't change him.
Who are you two arguing about?
We're not arguing, Miriam.
- Marvin Blake, mother.
Daddy wants to keep him from ..
I remember him. A nice, quiet boy.
Mr Norwood. Come quick, please.
Pa is lying there on the bed,
right still. His hands are limp.
He's dead.
Bert, get my car.
- Yes, sir.
I'll run along and see what I can do.
Let's go, Marvin.
Tom Blake, of all people ..
And so, all Israel shall be saved.
The Lord gave.
And The Lord hath taken away.
Mr Norwood said to tell
you to ride in his car.
Why, thank you.
Come on, Marvin.
- No, Ma.
You go with Liza.
Looks like he's giving
you something, don't it?
Well, he ain't.
He ain't.
He'll use Marvin.
He'll use Marvin for his own ends.
He'll keep on robbing you of everything.
What you need Lilly is a ..
Protector.
Right now you do.
You need a head of the house.
I need a cook.
It's a little sudden, Lilly. But ..
That's how it is.
Marvin Blake, how do
you spell 'fabulous'?
'F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S'.
- Fine.
Marvin Blake. Congratulations.
So, you're Norwood's man now, ain't you?
Bought body and soul
and educated by him.
Sure he is.
Your account is overdrawn
already Mr Fisher.
'Pa', Marvin. Ain't you ever
going to call me 'Pa'?
A man's gotta eat.
He can't work without eating.
Mr Norwood can't keep feeding you unless
you bring in enough cotton to pay him.
Who said he couldn't?
Why is your cotton coming in short,
lately? What are you doing with it?
What you mean by that?
- What do you think I mean?
Now Jake, Marvin didn't mean a thing.
Yes he did. He means we're stealing it.
- Oh, sure.
We want a sack of flour and a
side of beef, credit or no credit.
I can't give it to you.
- Yeah? Well, we aim to get it.
Can't you charge it to yourself
the way you did before, Marvin?
Alright, Ma.
And a stick of that striped
candy for the baby.
Alright.
Hello, Marvin.
How about a little light, honey?
Excuse me, Ma.
That's all, I guess.
He says for us to get along, Pa.
He's got a little business.
Come on, Lilly.
Goodbye, 'son'.
Don't be late for supper, brother.
Goodbye, Ma.
Your folks stick close
to you, don't they.
Cigarette?
- No thanks.
Don't smoke .. don't drink ..
You'll be a preacher yet,
won't you, Marvin.
Or something different.
But you'll have to get loose from them.
You don't like me, do you?
- Why, of course.
Well then, come close.
I won't bite you.
Why are you so serious?
Always thinking.
What about?
- I don't know.
Hoo.
Aren't you hot here in the store?
No, I'm alright. Cool.
A crowd of us is going swimming down
at the lake. It's beautiful down there.
The water is blue and deep
and .. and it's windy.
Get daddy to let you
off and come with us.
Why, I can't do that.
I got to work.
You don't have any fun, do you?
Fine.
The tenants trust you.
You're sort-of one of them.
You keep your eyes open. Poke about.
Get all the information you can.
Your stepbrother Jake Fisher is in it.
The Clinton boys too .. I know it.
And you're living right among them.
You keep your eyes open.
Sock Fisher.
Amount still due: 72 dollars.
Joe Wright.
Amount still due: 64 dollars.
That's gratitude for you. Every last one
in my debt, yet they steal my cotton.
Mister Marvin.
Mister Marvin.
Miss Betty Wright said to tell you to
be sure and come to her party tonight.
Yes, I know about that.
Yes, sir.
Look here, Marvin.
After all, you're getting up
out of the poor-white class.
You been to school. A good bookkeeper.
A sort of right-hand man to me now.
And Betty is a sweet little ..
Well .. a tenant girl. I know.
But you don't want to
get tangled up with her.
Not if you're going
anywhere in this world.
You are sort-of on the Planter side now.
And we're the people who
keep the country going.
Well, you know what I mean.
Yes, sir. I know.
Well, I've got to get
back to the cotton mill.
Say.
Maybe it would be a good idea for you
to go to Betty's party tonight anyhow.
My tenants will all be there.
You keep your eyes open. Listen.
They'll talk.
Somebody will say something.
Something about the stealing.
A good idea .. you go.
I've got to have evidence .. evidence.
Hello Marvin.
Glad to see you again. Boys.
The boys are glad to see you, Marvin.
I knew we could count on him.
Marvin.
How are you, Betty?
- I thought you were never coming.
Want to dance?
- Sure. That would be fine.
We'll have him on our side.
Marvin.
What's the matter?
- Oh, nothing.
That's a pretty dress.
Yes, Pa bought it for me.
And these slippers.
He said the cotton was
coming in fine this year.
Yes, they're pretty too.
As pretty as her?
Who?
You know.
Sure.
It's been ten days since I've seen you.
I've been busy lately.
There has been a Sunday in between.
Did you miss me?
You know.
Hi-hi.
You are mighty sweet, Betty.
Let's dance again.
Excuse me, Betty.
Hey, Marvin, I want to see you a minute.
Come on out here on
the edge of the field.
Come on.
This will do. We'll be alone here.
I want to ask you something.
It's about this here cotton business.
- What?
Ain't no use beating the
devil around the stump.
You know what I'm talking about.
There is cotton-stealing
going on over at Norwood's.
Though I don't call it stealing.
I call it taking back what's yours.
Lane Norwood done the stealing.
Been doing it for years.
Now, with hard times we've
got to get our chance back.
Speak up. The cat got your tongue?
- No, uncle Joe.
Well, the whole point and
purpose of my talking is ..
We want you in with us.
Well, say something.
- I don't know what to say.
Then listen to what I say.
We got a lot of cotton stored up.
Call it stolen cotton if you
want to, but we've got it.
But it won't do us good unless we get a
man on the selling end of the business.
Kyle Jackson down on the
levee, is ginning for us.
But we can't sell it
unless we got an agent.
Now .. we want you go to Memphis
like a regular cotton grower.
Set up an office and ..
That's ambition for you.
There's a good, fat
commission in it for you, too.
You see the point now?
Yes.
You know a lot about business.
You got a good head
on that pair of shoulders.
Norwood knows it.
That's why he sent you to school.
To give you learning.
Now, you're under obligations
to him. He uses you.
He uses you to cheat us, your own folks.
Keeping his books there, at the store.
Well, we want to use you.
We want you to help us.
Well, say something.
- I don't know.
Hey .. don't make up your mind tonight.
Think about it.
I'll get in touch with
you in a day or two.
And I know Tom Blake's boy
will stand by his folks.
Go on back to the dance.
Betty is waiting for you.
No thanks, uncle Joe.
I believe I'll walk on down the road.
Oh, shucks. Come on ..
Where's Marvin?
Gone on down the road,
looking at the stars.
Come on in ..
If any action is to be taken.
It must be done now.
Marvin. This is Mr Carter,
District Attorney.
Glad to meet you.
- Glad to meet you, Marvin.
Mr Carter's come over to talk to
you about this cotton stealing.
Get any news last night?
- No sir. Nothing yet.
They're a slick lot, Carter. Slick.
You got your hands full to catch them.
I'll leave him with you, Marvin.
Maybe the two of you can
work out some scheme.
Call me at the Gin if you need me.
I'll see you at supper.
Have a seat, Mr Carter.
- Thanks.
Can I be of some help, Mr Carter?
- Well, I don't know.
How long have you worked for Mr Norwood?
Four or five years now.
You see, he sent me to school.
Yes, I know about that.
Nice of him.
Yes, he's been awfully nice.
They all have.
All of them?
- Yes, sir. The whole family.
Norwood, and Mrs Norwood and Madge?
- Yes, sir.
All nice to you?
And Madge is nice?
Yes, sir.
Look here, Blake. Do you know
anything about this cotton stealing?
No, sir.
- Yes you do.
Well, Mr Carter ..
- It's alright. I know how you're fixed.
You're caught between
two sides, aren't you?
Yes, sir .. I reckon so.
Well, I'm not going to put any of
your folks behind the bars just yet.
Let me look at your ledger there.
- Yes, sir.
Mister Marvin.
If you don't mind, sir.
I'd like to get my seed
money for the shopping.
I'd like to let you have
something, Boyd.
But you still owe the store
something like fifty dollars.
You lack one bale of paying out.
- Yes, sir. I see.
I sort of thought, I'd have something
coming .. to buy some things.
You ought to be able to make some more
cotton. Four or five more bales, easy.
Then you'd have more
than enough to pay out.
Then you could have
a big time, Christmas.
Yeah, I see. That's right, Mr Marvin.
He took it easy.
- Nothing else for him to do.
Same old system.
Thirty, forty percent interest,
and carrying charges.
A devil of a situation.
The big fish and the little fish.
The weak and the strong.
And what's to be done about it?
Yes, sir. I been thinking
myself a lot, lately.
Seems like some way could
be found, Mr Carter.
But there don't seem to
be anywhere to start.
Stealing and cheating and
fighting. Both sides.
We must find some way, Blake.
- I wish we could.
Excuse me a minute, will you.
Howdy, Marvin.
- Howdy, Betty.
What can I do for you?
Five pounds of sugar, please.
Mister Storekeeper.
There you are.
Sorry you didn't like
the party last night.
Oh, I liked it alright.
We had a lot of fun after you left.
- Did you?
They had a lot of fun.
Oh.
Marvin, what did Pa want
to see you about last night?
Nothing much.
Didn't he?
- No.
Yes, he did.
I didn't come down here
for the sugar really.
Pa sent me to get you to come
down to the house this evening.
He wants you to come.
It's awfully important.
He's got something to tell you.
What is it?
I don't know.
Alright .. tell him I'll come.
Hello.
The same old things Marvin. Cigarettes.
Sorry to interrupt
your little t?te-?-t?te.
This is Miss Madge, Betty.
I guess you know Betty alright.
She used to be your
sweetheart, didn't she?
Oh.
I guess I'll be going.
Nearly forgot my sugar.
Got a surprise for you.
I'm giving a party too.
A big one .. Saturday night.
I got a jazz band coming from Memphis.
- Well, that's fine.
I want you to come.
And be my boyfriend.
Honest?
- Sure.
It will be a bit formal, but you needn't
doll up. Just something dark and nice.
Well, thanks. Thanks, Miss Madge.
You'd look nice. All dressed out.
Wouldn't you.
And don't call me 'Miss Madge'.
Saturday night about 8:30, honey.
My cigarettes.
It will be keen.
I'll be seeing you. Don't work too hard.
We're going to dance the
'Peckerwood Wiggle'.
Or whatever you call it and I
want you to lead the figure.
Well, I'd be glad to.
Madge.
Cute.
I'd like to kiss you but
I just washed my hair.
Bye.
Don't forget. Eight o'clock.
I'm counting on you.
Hey .. is he coming?
Well, if he's coming he ought
to be here by now, I reckon.
I never did see no sense in
letting him in on it, no how.
Well, stealing cotton is one thing,
and selling it is another.
Now if we can get him mixed up in
the stealing end of it, just once.
He's got to stick by us
to save his own hide.
Joe's right, Jake.
- Why, sure he is.
Here he comes now.
Hiya, Marvin. You join us on the spot.
- Hi, uncle Joe.
It's alright now, boys. We've
got a businessman with us.
Come along, you.
- Wait a minute.
Where you all going?
- Just for a little walk. Come on.
A stroll down the road.
- What's the idea?
We'll keep four or five
sacks in here, Marvin.
Let me carry one of those, uncle Joe.
Well I don't care if you do, Marvin.
What's the matter, uncle Joe?
I can't get it down on my back.
How do you like stealing
cotton from old Norwood?
That's a right sizeable
pile of cotton, Marvin.
Kyle Jackson's Gin will
soon by plumb full.
You're on the right side now, Marvin.
Just keep your mouth shut
about that Memphis business.
We're going to send you
up there to be our agent.
There's money in it for you. Big money.
I reckon we'd better
make ourselves scarce.
Seems like day is about breaking.
So long until the next meeting, boys.
Is this here the home of
Mr Lane Norwood? May I ask?
Who wants to know, may I ask?
Well, we was sent for. And here we is.
You're here alright.
Marvin, show them around to
their rooms in the back, will you.
And draw water for them, Marvin.
Be a chambermaid for a bunch
of yellow saxophone students.
[ Singing: ]
"It hung down .. oh Lord."
"I heed your talking, Lord."
That Norwood girl, ain't got
a bit of soul, she ain't.
But she's sure got a body. Some body.
Give me it out here.
Look who's there.
Yeah, look at him.
Look at him. Trying to be somebody.
Ah Marvin, you're late.
- I hurried as fast as I could.
Come on, darling.
They're waiting for you.
Don't be bashful, Marvin.
It's a lot of fun.
Ladies and gentlemen.
And now for the surprise of the evening.
We're going to do the Peckerwood Wiggle
and Marvin Blake will lead the field.
Choose your partners.
Will the ladies please stand on the
right, and the gentlemen on the left.
Step forward and back.
They're making fun of us.
If I had me a gun, I'd make him wiggle.
I'd let him have it
right between the eyes.
Look at him. Hugging up
to the high and mighty.
My ..
You look nice in your new suit.
- Well, I wanted you to think so.
I've got a surprise for you.
- What's that?
You're going to come and live with us.
- What?
Uhuh. Father said he wanted you nearby.
Got a room all fixed for you, upstairs.
No fooling?
- Father needs you here.
Close to his business.
Love me, honey.
I do love you, Madge.
I love you more than
anything in this world.
There is nobody but you.
But I never dreamed you'd like me.
- You're so sweet, Marvin.
Of course I like you.
Imagine.
Here you are. With me,
Lane Norwood's daughter.
Up in the world. Going
somewhere. Oh, darling.
I will be something. I'll make you
proud of me. I love you, Madge.
Not so fast, honey.
Just love me.
Love me.
[ Singing: ]
"Did you ever hear the story .."
"About Willie the Weeper."
"He made his living,
as a chimney sweeper."
"He had a dope habit,
and he had it bad."
"Listen, while I tell you
about a dream he had."
"Na, na, na .."
Your head is full of plans.
Isn't it, darling?
Full of plans.
I hear music and dancing, ain't it, son?
- Yeah.
Folks cutting up big and loud, Pappy.
And lights shining.
The great glory of the white man.
Yeah.
"In the black."
"Of night long."
"There goes my true love."
Liza.
Liza.
Well, did you have a good
time at the big party?
A wonder you come back
to the poor folk's shack.
After cutting a shine up at
that dump with them big-guns.
Acting a cussed fool,
making fun of poor folks.
They're turning you into a lousy spy.
That's a lie.
Give him his duds.
I don't want you in my home.
Your home?
Go live with Norwood. You think so much
of him and that stuck-up girl of his.
Get out before I break your neck.
Open that door!
So, you've moved into
Norwood's house, have you?
Yes.
Just for the busy season, may.
The Cotton Gin's running at night now.
I got a lot of bookwork to do.
Yeah. I heard Sock and Jake
throwed you out of your house.
They're both sore-tailed
anyhow, so don't mind them.
We all know how it is.
Here you are.
You better charge that, Marvin.
My credit is still good.
Yes. You've a little coming
to you on the books.
Yeah .. a little bit.
Don't let the busy season
last too long, Marvin.
Remember, that Memphis job will
be open in two or three weeks.
Well, I've been thinking, uncle Joe.
- No, no. Think some more.
You got plenty of time. In here.
Some of the boys got kind of het up when
they heard you're to live at Norwood's.
They said it looked a
little might suspicious.
Shucks, I said. Can't you see how
everything works for our side?
There's Marvin now right with Norwood.
And he'd know every thought
and move Norwood makes.
If Norwood starts to go after us
with the Sheriff or the law ..
Marvin will know it, won't he?
Like a flash, he'll let us know.
'That's right' they said.
'We never thought of that'.
Now Marvin, everyone tickled to death to
know that you're going to be right in ..
Well .. in the camp of the
enemy, day and night.
Thanks.
- Shucks. No thanks.
The brunt of everything
is on you, now my boy.
And we know you won't go back on us.
Say, there's a meeting tonight, down
at our house. You got to be there.
As soon as you get your
supper, come on over.
Betty will be expecting you.
What's it all about, uncle Joe?
Business. What else?
Oh, I can't go tonight.
Why can't you?
Well I've got to .. I've got to work
on the books with Mr Norwood.
We need you tonight, Marvin.
- I've got an awful lot of work to do.
Well, I'll put the meeting
off for a day or two.
Well I wish you would.
- You'll be there then?
I'll see .. yeah, put it off.
You better come the next time, Marvin.
Some folk get suspicious mighty easy.
Mighty easy.
But daddy, I need a new roadster.
The old one rattles like a wagon.
With this stealing and everything, we'll
be lucky we're all not riding a wagon.
No action from Carter.
None from the Sheriff.
Why can't Marvin get some
evidence against these fellows?
Don't worry, honey. You're
bound to catch them soon.
Well, I suppose I'll have to send to
Chicago for a mail-order detective.
I'm sure he's in the dining room.
- Mr Norwood?
Mr Norwood, a Peckerwood just shot down
one of the planters over in Seed County.
What? Why?
We got Ezzy Daniels and the bloodhounds.
We meet at the crossroads
down the road a mile.
They want you to come
and lead the posse.
Marvin, get my coat.
- Yes, sir.
Let me go, daddy.
- No. You stay here.
Now Lane, be careful.
- Now don't worry. Come on, Neal.
Let's go down.
Take this, Marvin.
He went that way.
I picked the scent up over here.
Marvin.
Bill.
Help me, Marvin.
Don't let them get me.
Why did you do it?
- I lost my head.
He won't give me a cent for my cotton.
Said I owed him money.
Shush.
Run .. run, Bill.
Run!
Marvin, Marvin!
What you hanging back for?
Why don't you come with the boys?
There he is, boys. Come on.
Come on, with the dogs here. Come on.
Get him.
- There he is!
No .. stop it.
No .. no.
[ Gunshot! ]
Look there .. a fire.
It's my house, Marvin.
- No, no. It's your store.
Hurry. Hurry.
The books, Marvin. The safe.
Don't go in there.
Marvin!
The safe is blown open.
Somebody stole the books.
The accounts gone?
Then I'm ruined.
You hear Marvin? Ruined.
Which one of you fired my store?
Who stole the books?
I'll find out so help me, and when I do
somebody will go to the penitentiary.
And he'll go to stay.
I guess there's nothing more we can do.
I'll fix them for this.
Every last one of them.
They can't get away with this.
The Clinton boys are at the back of
this, and that no-account Jake Fisher.
Don't you worry, daddy.
Don't you worry.
You got spunk, Marvin. Real spunk.
Everything is going to be alright, dear.
But I'm ruined. Ruined.
Books burned. Accounts gone.
I have a copy of the
accounts, Mr Norwood.
What?
Yes, sir. I made a duplicate set.
Thank God.
My boy .. you've saved me. Saved me.
Ha .. well that makes everything right.
Why, the store can be built
again. And the accounts ..
Let's go in and have some coffee.
- We have some on the stove, dear.
My boy, you've brought the
blood back to my heart.
Cheer up. Don't look so sad.
Don't you understand?
You've made everything right.
Made everything right?
No.
No. What happened out there in
the woods tonight wasn't right.
Nothing can make that right.
Come now, Marvin, come on my boy.
You are all in.
Now the coffee will do you good.
Better luck next time.
- I'll see you at Carmen's, Thursday.
I'll give you a ring. Do you hear?
Marvin.
Hello, Marvin.
What you do?
- Nothing.
Oh.
Come on down to lunch.
We'll be all alone.
Pa just phoned from town and said
he was conferring with Mr Carter.
He and mother won't be back until late.
- Well, I'm not hungry. Thanks.
Oh come on, Marvin.
[ Radio: ]
"Go forth in this spirit, through
all the affairs and duties of life."
Here. Drink some scuppernong wine.
It will take the blues away.
Here's to .. well, here's to the future.
"For love is the greatest
thing in the world."
"And love is the hope of the world."
The hope of the world.
[ Radio music ]
Don't be so blue, darling.
Hmm. Doesn't this wine warm your tummy?
Yes, thanks.
Today is your afternoon off, isn't it?
- Yes, ma'am.
Well, you can go now.
I'll take care of everything.
Oh, thank you, Miss Madge.
Have a good time.
- Yes, ma'am.
Drink your wine.
You're not hungry, are you?
No.
- I'm not either.
Don't you just love Sunday afternoons?
Everything quiet.
Nobody at home .. to disturb you.
Madge, there's something I must say.
- You were going away, weren't you?
Packing to leave.
Oh, honey-lamb.
You mustn't do that.
What would father say if he
came back and found you gone?
And I would cry.
Cry.
You're for father, aren't you?
And you're going to help him
find the men who burnt his store.
Oh, Madge, I don't know.
I don't know.
Come up to my room for a minute.
I want to talk to you about something.
Turn your back and look at
those snapshots for a minute.
While I get into something more restful.
Turn your back.
[ Madge singing: ]
"Did you ever hear the story about .."
"Willie the Weeper."
"He made his living,
as a chimney sweeper."
"He had a dope habit."
"And he had it bad."
"Listen, while I tell you about a .."
"Dream .. he .. had."
Marvin.
Madge.
[ Doorbell ]
Who is it?
Oh .. what do you want?
Is Marvin home?
Here?
I'll call him.
Marvin.
Did you want to see me, Betty?
- I've something important to tell you.
What is it?
Pa wants you to come down to
the house. Quick as you can.
What's the matter?
He said to come quick as you could.
They're all upset.
They're talking about you.
Please come.
I want to talk to you, too.
Alright, Betty.
Wait just a minute.
Wait a minute, boys.
You all heard what
Norwood said last night.
About them that burnt his store.
How he's going to put
them behind the bars.
Well, y'all know that early this
morning the Sheriff came ..
And arrested my boys .. Cleve and Ross.
And Sock Fisher's Jake.
They are all in jail over
there in town now.
I didn't know that, uncle Eph.
I swear I didn't. When did it happen?
That ain't the point.
Now Norwood don't know nothing.
He'll never know nothing.
He arrested the boys on suspicion.
We'll get a lawyer and fight him.
He can't prove nothing.
And that ain't the point, though.
The point is .. Marvin here.
Marvin Blake.
Tom Blake's boy.
Marvin is the point here.
Everybody knows that Norwood ..
Had our accounts set out on his books.
The amount of money he's been a
sucking away from us all, don't they?
Well.
The books is burnt up .. ain't they?
Sure is ..
Ain't they, Marvin?
- They're gone.
The safe was blown open.
- Yeah.
The books is burnt up.
And we don't owe him nothing.
- We sure don't.
We're square with him for
the first time in our lives.
The fire squared us.
That ain't the point, though.
The books is burnt up.
But Marvin here has got a copy of them.
That's what we're talking about.
Alright. Speak up, Marvin. Tell us.
I've got nothing to tell.
Wait a minute.
Marvin.
There is another set
of books, ain't there?
Suppose there is?
You made a copy of them, didn't you?
Maybe so.
- Maybe so?
Where are they?
I won't tell you.
Has Norwood got them?
Has Carter got them?
Ain't you going to tell us?
No.
How can I tell you?
I'm working for Mr Norwood.
He's hired me. I can't go
back on him like that.
But you can go back
on us, your own folks?
You can give us away and cause
us to be put behind the bars.
I didn't do that. I did not
know those boys were in jail.
I can hardly keep my hands
off you, Marvin Blake.
If you weren't Tom's boy,
I don't know what I'd do.
You may not have told on the boys, but
you're siding with Norwood, ain't you?
Ain't you?
Come here, Marvin.
Sit on my bed.
Come here, son.
I've knowed your daddy, son.
There weren't a better man that
ever walked behind a plow.
He ought to be here today.
He wouldn't be proud of you neither.
Not with all your
learning and your sense.
And you're walking high
and mighty with Norwood.
And the planters.
I ain't proud of you.
But we love you just the same.
And we know how hard it's been on you.
How you are pulled both ways.
But son.
There ain't but one way that's right.
And that's ours.
All you got to do to know it ..
Is to remember your daddy.
Didn't Norwood work him to death?
Send him to his grave before his time?
That's what he done, son.
I know something about it.
If you go up there to Norwood's house.
Somewhere, you'll find an old ledger.
In that book is writ down the records.
Of how Norwood cheated your daddy.
Charged him high rates.
Took everything.
Made him give up all he
had from his own hand.
From his own mouth.
Made you and Liza and your Ma ..
Go to bed hungry
Many a night.
Please, uncle Eph.
- I don't want to hurt you, son.
But you got to stand with us.
We want you to let us have
that other set of books.
They'll be thrown in the
fire and burned up, too.
My record wiped clean.
And ..
We can all make a new start, maybe.
Norwood's got plenty.
He's made a plenty out
of the sweat of all of us.
Give us the books.
Will you do it?
Come on, Marvin.
We were going to send
you to Memphis, boy.
Let me alone, won't you.
I'm not crooked. I'm not spying on you.
But I'm not going to play
Mr Norwood crooked, either.
I won't give you the books.
I know what's in his mind.
It's that Norwood girl.
He's tagging around on her coattails.
Hoping someday he'll tie up with her.
- Shut up.
Alright, Marvin.
We've done asked you for the books.
We've done asked you to be on our side.
You won't.
But I reckon you will, when you get
a little time to think about it.
We're going to give you a little time.
But if you ain't delivered them books
to us here, by tomorrow at sundown ..
You won't be on Norwood's side
and you won't be on nobody's side.
We done told you, now.
Marvin.
1915.
1916.
What are you doing, Marvin?
Alright, what is it?
- This.
What?
- There.
What do you mean by that?
- That's what I mean. In these records.
1917. Credit balance due: 185 dollars.
Interest and carrying
charges: 210 dollars.
Balance due from Blake.
My father worked for you for 15 years.
One year like another.
And the money that might have brought
him a little happiness you took away.
He's dead.
And you've worked him to death.
Now look here. Sit down Marvin.
Let me talk to you.
You're all excited, and no wonder.
I'm on edge myself.
Who was talking?
- I was thinking, is all.
Where you going?
- Please let me go, Mr Norwood.
Marvin, now don't be all upset.
You've known my method all along.
You know I have to do that.
It's not all one-sided like that.
There's many a thing I did for your
father. Things not entered in the book.
Yes, yes. I've argued up and down
with myself a thousand times.
But I know this, and these books
prove it. You killed my father.
You ..
Now, Marvin.
Marvin.
What's the matter, daddy?
- Nothing, nothing. Now go to sleep.
Now, you've got to listen to reason.
I've done a lot for you, haven't I?
I saw you had good stuff
in you so I helped you.
No, Mr Norwood.
- You should appreciate it.
You helped me, so I'd help you.
Now, Marvin.
- I'm quitting.
If I owe you anything I'll
pay you back someday.
No you're not. Now you get some
sleep and tomorrow you'll feel better.
I don't blame you for being mixed up.
So much happened in the last few days.
But everything is going to clear up now.
Now we've got a lot to do
getting things straightened out.
We've got to work on the old accounts
tomorrow. Clear up the year's work.
And say. I want you to get the duplicate
set of books for me in the morning.
We'll start early. You hear me now?
Marvin, you won't leave me, I tell you.
Marvin.
Daddy, let me talk to him. Please.
Alright, Madge.
See what you can do with him.
He's got some crazy idea about leaving.
Forgotten everything I've done for him.
Wants to walk out.
You're going to stay right here, Marvin.
Sure you are.
You wouldn't slide out now.
- I've got to, Madge.
You're not that ungrateful.
- Ungrateful?
That's what I said.
Hasn't daddy made you what you are?
You'll not go out that door I tell you.
- I can't stay.
Don't you understand?
I don't belong here.
You're a fool.
Alright.
Alright. A fool, that's what I am.
Marvin.
Marvin .. wait.
Please wait.
Marvin.
Please listen to me.
You're not going off.
You're not.
- Yes, I am.
But where, darling?
This is your home now.
No, I'm leaving it.
I'll go somewhere, I don't where.
You see?
I won't let you go.
What a mess.
You've got to stick by daddy, Marvin.
You're like his own son almost.
The only help he's got.
Please stay.
Please. For my sake.
I didn't mean to speak hard to you.
Honest I didn't.
Remember that other night we sat here?
You talked about your future.
Your work, what you'd be.
You said.
You said you loved me, then.
- Madge.
I knew what was in your
mind that night, Marvin.
I knew.
And then you said you loved me, and ..
And I'll say now ..
What I wouldn't say then.
And what I'll say now is ..
I love you too, Marvin .. I do.
If you love me and want to get
somewhere in this world ..
You'll stick by daddy.
Why, hello.
- Morning, Mr Carter.
You're out early.
- Yes, sir.
You look serious. What's on your mind?
- I want to see you.
You look all in.
Come into my office.
Sit down.
Well .. you must have some
hot news about that stealing.
Well, no sir .. not exactly.
So what is it?
You know the duplicate set
of accounts I left here?
Yes.
I've been ordered to deliver them today.
Lucky you took my advice.
I mean, lucky for Norwood.
After the fire, I guess he needs them.
No, you see. It's the other side.
Uncle Joe Wright and all the others.
They gave me until sundown tonight
to deliver the books to them.
Hmm .. I see.
So what are you going to do?
That's what I had to see you about.
Last night, Mr Norwood told me that he
wanted me to give him the books today.
I never saw such a mess.
I've tried to forget it but I can't.
Something's got to be done, Mr Carter.
That's what I wanted to see you for.
As a citizen, I could call a meeting
of the tenants and the landlords.
If you will handle it.
Me?
Well, I couldn't do that.
- Why, you're the very man to do it.
You know every phrase of the question.
And they all know you do.
They know you're honest
and do what's right.
You're the very man to do it.
- I couldn't.
Sure, you could.
You stay here with me for a few days.
They won't bother you here.
We'll get out placards calling for a
meeting in the courthouse on Thursday.
And we'll have a showdown.
The planters won't come. The tenants
might but the planters won't.
Yes they will. I'll write a personal
letter to each of the planters.
I guess after all the trouble
there's been, they'd come alright.
Here, let's get busy.
We'll get out a placard.
Mass meeting ..
What's this meeting all about?
Sock here, ought to know as it's
Marvin that's going to tell us.
It had better be good news.
Good news he tells us.
Well, he can't stay here
with Carter always.
The problem before this
meeting is not to fix guilt.
But to try to find some way to
remedy the unfortunate situation.
Existing between tenant and planter.
Look here, Carter.
We didn't come here to listen
to a lot of idiotic junk.
We're here to get at who
stole cotton and how much.
And what we'll do about it.
That's our business.
Gentlemen.
Gentlemen.
We're lucky at this time to
have someone with us ..
Who is qualified in every way.
To deal with the question involved.
He knows both sides of the question.
And there is no-one here, I'm sure,
who doubts his honesty and integrity.
I turn this meeting
over to Marvin Blake.
Yes, there's been trouble.
Plenty of it.
Stealing and murder and
burning and lynching.
You all know about it.
And that's why we're here.
To see if we can do something about it.
The planters are against the tenants.
The tenants are against the planters.
Each side fighting against the other.
The planters furnish the mules and the
land and the feed and the implements.
And he carries all the risk
of the flood and the drought.
And all through hell and high water.
I reckon a planter's got a
right to charge high interest.
But the poor tenant keeps asking ..
Where does he come in?
Times without number, I've seen
them out there in the field.
A man, his wife, and skinny little boys
and girls that ought to be in school.
And a little measly baby
that needed its mother.
But she didn't have time.
She had to pick cotton.
And if she did have time, she didn't
have any milk for the baby. And why?
Because she didn't have the right kind
of food and attention. That's why.
All day long out there in the cotton
fields in the hot sun and dust.
And the Gin blowing its whistle out
yonder in the hot, baked land.
Work.
Working for what?
Nothing.
Nothing but the long summer.
The long winter.
And in the end, the grave.
When settling time comes
they got nothing left.
When advances are paid, and the interest
taken out. Nothing, for a year's sweat.
A man and his whole family.
You can't blame the tenant for standing
up and asking where does he come in.
And the answer is, he don't come in.
He's got nothing left.
He's had a little old shack down
there in the cotton patch to live in.
The stores let him have some sowbelly
meat, and some compound lard ..
And molasses and cornmeal all the year.
Some cheap shoes and
no-account dress stuff.
Charge them four of five prices for it.
He's used all his credit
and he's in debt.
No wonder he gets sore and tries
to settle matters some other way.
Steal, if necessary.
How can you blame him?
Lately, I've been living
where things are different.
Where folks talk about buying a new
car as the old one's a little scratched.
Where money is spent like water.
Four hundred dollars for a jazz band.
And that money was sweated
out of the blood of my people.
Shut up, you fool!
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Let the boy finish.
Let's hear what he's got to say.
Maybe I'm a fool. I don't know.
But I do know this.
You can't forever take from the
land and give nothing back to it.
Not if you want to make cotton.
You've got to play fair with the land.
You got to give it fertilizer and
work and the plow and attention.
A man's made out of the same dirt as the
earth, and he's got to have attention.
You got to play fair with him.
If a planter wants to rob the farmhands.
You can't blame the farmhands for
wanting to steal back from him.
Look at Mr Scott over there.
He tries to play fair with his tenants.
Everyone knows he don't have trouble.
Not like some of the others.
Why can't they all play fair?
Marvin Blake will now tell you something
about his scheme for cooperation.
Cooperation?
Well in this cooperative scheme.
- Cooperation.
Who has tried cooperation?
Not you tenants, you Peckerwoods.
Mr Norwood has the floor for the moment.
You talk about getting together.
Cooperation. I'd like to see you do it.
And I refuse to sit here and listen
to the ravings of a schoolboy.
Who knows nothing of
what he's talking about.
He does, too.
He ought to, Norwood. You learned him.
Be quiet!
Marvin Blake is right on one thing.
He's right when he says we
planters take all the risks.
Stand for everything.
When you're sick, when your crop fails.
When you're down and out.
Who do you come to for credit, for help?
Does John D Rockefeller help you?
Does Wall Street hear your cries?
No. You come whining to us planters.
We look after your young ones,
your granddaddies and yourselves.
And what do you do?
You go about in the night burning
up the very store that feeds you.
And stealing cotton from
us who keep you alive.
You're stealing the bread
out of your own mouths.
If you had sense enough to see it.
We build your tenant houses.
Put screens on the doors to keep flies
and typhoid fever from the children.
Give you gardens so they
can have balanced food.
And what do you do?
Mess up the house.
Spit on the floor. Let your
gardens burn up in the sun.
I helped you buy a milk cow.
So that you could have
milk for your children.
And you did like Marvin Blake's father.
Complained. Saying she
didn't give much milk.
You wouldn't feed her.
Yeah .. talk about cooperation.
Alright, cooperate then.
But don't come bellyaching, accusing us
planters of every crime in high heaven.
If you quit lying around
the front of my store.
Sleeping in the sun like
a gang of hound dogs.
Then go to work.
Straighten up your shoulders.
Get some manhood in you.
Then, we might talk about cooperating.
Alright, Marvin Blake.
Go ahead with your scheme.
Don't let me stop you.
No. You won't stop me, Mr Norwood.
Your speech sounds like all the
right is on your side, don't it.
Well, you've got the
cart before the horse.
Why don't my folks keep up their house?
Why don't they have a garden?
Why haven't they got
milk for their children?
Why don't they live like
you planters? Why?
The same old answer.
Because everything
belongs to you planters.
In their hearts, a thing always belongs
to somebody else, and always will.
From generation to generation.
Let the boy finish.
- Let's hear what he has to say.
Now here's the new terms contract.
In which the landlord and the tenant
agree to work on a cooperative basis.
These terms are for a one-year trial.
You already received copies
of these through the mail.
I'll sign.
Gentlemen, I think we ought to
all go in this. For a trial anyhow.
I will.
- I will, too.
And I'll not sign.
What do you think?
- No.
I won't sign it.
Don't you do it, daddy. Don't let a
Whickerbill white get the best of you.
Mr Norwood is going to ask for a
True Bill against the Clinton boys.
For burning his store.
Well, I'm going to ask
for a True Bill against him.
For extortion and fraudulent collection,
and mishandling the accounts.
They might put me in jail, too.
I don't know. For helping you steal.
You told me what to put in
your books and I put it down.
But so help me, I will
testify against you.
Against my own self if it comes to that.
Those Clinton boys stole
cotton alright. I saw them do it.
But you stole their crop,
because I helped you do it.
You belong in jail as
much as those boys do.
And if you don't mind,
I'll send you there.
It's catching, Norwood.
You'd better give in.
No .. no.
Don't you go out that door, Mr Norwood.
If you do, I'll tell everything I know.
You sign one of these contracts.
If you don't, I'll tell.
And you know what I'll tell.
You know what the State
Governor will do to you.
And everyone else that followed
the bloodhounds that night.
There won't be enough money in all the
banks, to get you out from behind bars.
Stop.
Alright, Mr Norwood?
Alright.
Marvin.
Marvin is a great boy, ain't he?
There. You sure did
my heart good, Marvin.
Come on. We'll all ride home together.
- I can't. I got to go see Mr Carter.
I'll see you Sunday, Betty.
Yes. Sunday.
Great stuff, boy.
It means a new day in this neighborhood.
You know, I've been thinking.
I'll need a partner, one of these days.
Oh, here is Mr Norwood.
You win, Marvin.
Thank you, Mr Norwood.
..t-g..
Evening, Tom.
- Evening, sir.
How you feeling today?
- A little better, thank you, sir.
That's good, because you need
to get your cotton out.
Bad fall weather will be coming soon.
How are you, Lilly?
Alright, sir.
Where's your boy, Marvin?
He ain't picking today, sir.
I see he's not.
Yes, sir .. he ..
Where is he?
Well.
Marvin started at school, Mr Norwood.
The devil he has ..
Did you hear that, Scott?
- Yeah.
Tom, you can't afford to let Marvin
go to school now. You need him here.
Yes, sir.
Yep, I've heard about him and
his books .. studying at night.
'Abraham Lincoln' stuff, eh?
You put Marvin back in
the field tomorrow.
They are my orders.
- But Marvin is going to be something.
I ain't .. I ain't never been nothing.
Nothing.
I want him to go to school, sir.
Now, don't get upset.
Your crop comes first.
You'll do what I said.
Put Marvin back in the field.
- Yes, sir.
[ Bell chimes ]
Quitting time, Tom.
Yep.
Hello, Sis'.
- Hello, Marvin.
I'm home, Ma.
- Hello, Marvin.
I brought the paper, Pa.
- Thank you, son.
How did you come out today?
- I'm getting the arithmetic down pat.
How you feeling?
- Alright, I guess.
Let me fix you up again.
- Would you, son.
Better, now?
Sure .. yes, better.
Pa's got some bad news for you, Marvin.
Now, Lilly.
What is it?
We'll talk about it after supper.
You and Mr Norwood have another row?
A little fuss. Nothing much.
Just a little fuss.
About me?
Rub my arm, will you, son?
Don't you worry about Mr Norwood, Pa.
Yeah, we'll talk about it after supper.
You just sleep and rest.
Go on now. Close your
eyes and rest, I tell you.
Is that better?
- Hmm.
There is a great piece in the paper, Pa.
The speech the Governor made.
All about education.
What did he say?
- I'll read it to you later.
It tells how he plans
everybody to have a chance.
The rich and poor. To have a chance.
That's fine son .. that's fine.
Is that alright?
Yeah.
Listen, Pa.
'Our wealth lies in our people'.
'The hundreds and
thousands of our people'.
'The poor and the downtrodden'.
'Who, through education ..'
Shush ..
Yoo-hoo.
Howdy, Marvin.
Howdy, Betty.
Can I come in?
How is he?
He's sleeping.
Ma sent me over to get
some coffee for supper.
You'd better go back outside
until I get out of my breeches.
I ain't ashamed if you ain't.
Close your eyes and
go in the kitchen, then.
I see my Pa every morning that way.
Howdy, Mrs Blake.
- Hello, Betty.
Ma said, could she borrow
some coffee for supper?
Sure.
Ready for supper.
Come on, it's ready.
Tom .. wake up, Tom.
- No, let him sleep.
Look at them.
Him and the baby. They're sound asleep.
Wake up, Tom.
Tom .. wake up.
Wake up, Tom.
Tom.
Tom.
Oh.
Oh .. Marvin.
Liza.
He's ..
He's dead.
No, Ma .. no.
Pa.
Pa.
Wake up.
- Marvin.
Get some help.
Get Mr Norwood.
Oh, Ma ..
All the kids at school laughed at
him too, because he's a Peckerwood.
And it's so awkward.
But he's the smartest boy in
school. They'll tell you that.
I can't pick cotton in his place, can I?
No. But it will nearly break his heart.
Poor-white is poor-white,
and books won't change him.
Who are you two arguing about?
We're not arguing, Miriam.
- Marvin Blake, mother.
Daddy wants to keep him from ..
I remember him. A nice, quiet boy.
Mr Norwood. Come quick, please.
Pa is lying there on the bed,
right still. His hands are limp.
He's dead.
Bert, get my car.
- Yes, sir.
I'll run along and see what I can do.
Let's go, Marvin.
Tom Blake, of all people ..
And so, all Israel shall be saved.
The Lord gave.
And The Lord hath taken away.
Mr Norwood said to tell
you to ride in his car.
Why, thank you.
Come on, Marvin.
- No, Ma.
You go with Liza.
Looks like he's giving
you something, don't it?
Well, he ain't.
He ain't.
He'll use Marvin.
He'll use Marvin for his own ends.
He'll keep on robbing you of everything.
What you need Lilly is a ..
Protector.
Right now you do.
You need a head of the house.
I need a cook.
It's a little sudden, Lilly. But ..
That's how it is.
Marvin Blake, how do
you spell 'fabulous'?
'F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S'.
- Fine.
Marvin Blake. Congratulations.
So, you're Norwood's man now, ain't you?
Bought body and soul
and educated by him.
Sure he is.
Your account is overdrawn
already Mr Fisher.
'Pa', Marvin. Ain't you ever
going to call me 'Pa'?
A man's gotta eat.
He can't work without eating.
Mr Norwood can't keep feeding you unless
you bring in enough cotton to pay him.
Who said he couldn't?
Why is your cotton coming in short,
lately? What are you doing with it?
What you mean by that?
- What do you think I mean?
Now Jake, Marvin didn't mean a thing.
Yes he did. He means we're stealing it.
- Oh, sure.
We want a sack of flour and a
side of beef, credit or no credit.
I can't give it to you.
- Yeah? Well, we aim to get it.
Can't you charge it to yourself
the way you did before, Marvin?
Alright, Ma.
And a stick of that striped
candy for the baby.
Alright.
Hello, Marvin.
How about a little light, honey?
Excuse me, Ma.
That's all, I guess.
He says for us to get along, Pa.
He's got a little business.
Come on, Lilly.
Goodbye, 'son'.
Don't be late for supper, brother.
Goodbye, Ma.
Your folks stick close
to you, don't they.
Cigarette?
- No thanks.
Don't smoke .. don't drink ..
You'll be a preacher yet,
won't you, Marvin.
Or something different.
But you'll have to get loose from them.
You don't like me, do you?
- Why, of course.
Well then, come close.
I won't bite you.
Why are you so serious?
Always thinking.
What about?
- I don't know.
Hoo.
Aren't you hot here in the store?
No, I'm alright. Cool.
A crowd of us is going swimming down
at the lake. It's beautiful down there.
The water is blue and deep
and .. and it's windy.
Get daddy to let you
off and come with us.
Why, I can't do that.
I got to work.
You don't have any fun, do you?
Fine.
The tenants trust you.
You're sort-of one of them.
You keep your eyes open. Poke about.
Get all the information you can.
Your stepbrother Jake Fisher is in it.
The Clinton boys too .. I know it.
And you're living right among them.
You keep your eyes open.
Sock Fisher.
Amount still due: 72 dollars.
Joe Wright.
Amount still due: 64 dollars.
That's gratitude for you. Every last one
in my debt, yet they steal my cotton.
Mister Marvin.
Mister Marvin.
Miss Betty Wright said to tell you to
be sure and come to her party tonight.
Yes, I know about that.
Yes, sir.
Look here, Marvin.
After all, you're getting up
out of the poor-white class.
You been to school. A good bookkeeper.
A sort of right-hand man to me now.
And Betty is a sweet little ..
Well .. a tenant girl. I know.
But you don't want to
get tangled up with her.
Not if you're going
anywhere in this world.
You are sort-of on the Planter side now.
And we're the people who
keep the country going.
Well, you know what I mean.
Yes, sir. I know.
Well, I've got to get
back to the cotton mill.
Say.
Maybe it would be a good idea for you
to go to Betty's party tonight anyhow.
My tenants will all be there.
You keep your eyes open. Listen.
They'll talk.
Somebody will say something.
Something about the stealing.
A good idea .. you go.
I've got to have evidence .. evidence.
Hello Marvin.
Glad to see you again. Boys.
The boys are glad to see you, Marvin.
I knew we could count on him.
Marvin.
How are you, Betty?
- I thought you were never coming.
Want to dance?
- Sure. That would be fine.
We'll have him on our side.
Marvin.
What's the matter?
- Oh, nothing.
That's a pretty dress.
Yes, Pa bought it for me.
And these slippers.
He said the cotton was
coming in fine this year.
Yes, they're pretty too.
As pretty as her?
Who?
You know.
Sure.
It's been ten days since I've seen you.
I've been busy lately.
There has been a Sunday in between.
Did you miss me?
You know.
Hi-hi.
You are mighty sweet, Betty.
Let's dance again.
Excuse me, Betty.
Hey, Marvin, I want to see you a minute.
Come on out here on
the edge of the field.
Come on.
This will do. We'll be alone here.
I want to ask you something.
It's about this here cotton business.
- What?
Ain't no use beating the
devil around the stump.
You know what I'm talking about.
There is cotton-stealing
going on over at Norwood's.
Though I don't call it stealing.
I call it taking back what's yours.
Lane Norwood done the stealing.
Been doing it for years.
Now, with hard times we've
got to get our chance back.
Speak up. The cat got your tongue?
- No, uncle Joe.
Well, the whole point and
purpose of my talking is ..
We want you in with us.
Well, say something.
- I don't know what to say.
Then listen to what I say.
We got a lot of cotton stored up.
Call it stolen cotton if you
want to, but we've got it.
But it won't do us good unless we get a
man on the selling end of the business.
Kyle Jackson down on the
levee, is ginning for us.
But we can't sell it
unless we got an agent.
Now .. we want you go to Memphis
like a regular cotton grower.
Set up an office and ..
That's ambition for you.
There's a good, fat
commission in it for you, too.
You see the point now?
Yes.
You know a lot about business.
You got a good head
on that pair of shoulders.
Norwood knows it.
That's why he sent you to school.
To give you learning.
Now, you're under obligations
to him. He uses you.
He uses you to cheat us, your own folks.
Keeping his books there, at the store.
Well, we want to use you.
We want you to help us.
Well, say something.
- I don't know.
Hey .. don't make up your mind tonight.
Think about it.
I'll get in touch with
you in a day or two.
And I know Tom Blake's boy
will stand by his folks.
Go on back to the dance.
Betty is waiting for you.
No thanks, uncle Joe.
I believe I'll walk on down the road.
Oh, shucks. Come on ..
Where's Marvin?
Gone on down the road,
looking at the stars.
Come on in ..
If any action is to be taken.
It must be done now.
Marvin. This is Mr Carter,
District Attorney.
Glad to meet you.
- Glad to meet you, Marvin.
Mr Carter's come over to talk to
you about this cotton stealing.
Get any news last night?
- No sir. Nothing yet.
They're a slick lot, Carter. Slick.
You got your hands full to catch them.
I'll leave him with you, Marvin.
Maybe the two of you can
work out some scheme.
Call me at the Gin if you need me.
I'll see you at supper.
Have a seat, Mr Carter.
- Thanks.
Can I be of some help, Mr Carter?
- Well, I don't know.
How long have you worked for Mr Norwood?
Four or five years now.
You see, he sent me to school.
Yes, I know about that.
Nice of him.
Yes, he's been awfully nice.
They all have.
All of them?
- Yes, sir. The whole family.
Norwood, and Mrs Norwood and Madge?
- Yes, sir.
All nice to you?
And Madge is nice?
Yes, sir.
Look here, Blake. Do you know
anything about this cotton stealing?
No, sir.
- Yes you do.
Well, Mr Carter ..
- It's alright. I know how you're fixed.
You're caught between
two sides, aren't you?
Yes, sir .. I reckon so.
Well, I'm not going to put any of
your folks behind the bars just yet.
Let me look at your ledger there.
- Yes, sir.
Mister Marvin.
If you don't mind, sir.
I'd like to get my seed
money for the shopping.
I'd like to let you have
something, Boyd.
But you still owe the store
something like fifty dollars.
You lack one bale of paying out.
- Yes, sir. I see.
I sort of thought, I'd have something
coming .. to buy some things.
You ought to be able to make some more
cotton. Four or five more bales, easy.
Then you'd have more
than enough to pay out.
Then you could have
a big time, Christmas.
Yeah, I see. That's right, Mr Marvin.
He took it easy.
- Nothing else for him to do.
Same old system.
Thirty, forty percent interest,
and carrying charges.
A devil of a situation.
The big fish and the little fish.
The weak and the strong.
And what's to be done about it?
Yes, sir. I been thinking
myself a lot, lately.
Seems like some way could
be found, Mr Carter.
But there don't seem to
be anywhere to start.
Stealing and cheating and
fighting. Both sides.
We must find some way, Blake.
- I wish we could.
Excuse me a minute, will you.
Howdy, Marvin.
- Howdy, Betty.
What can I do for you?
Five pounds of sugar, please.
Mister Storekeeper.
There you are.
Sorry you didn't like
the party last night.
Oh, I liked it alright.
We had a lot of fun after you left.
- Did you?
They had a lot of fun.
Oh.
Marvin, what did Pa want
to see you about last night?
Nothing much.
Didn't he?
- No.
Yes, he did.
I didn't come down here
for the sugar really.
Pa sent me to get you to come
down to the house this evening.
He wants you to come.
It's awfully important.
He's got something to tell you.
What is it?
I don't know.
Alright .. tell him I'll come.
Hello.
The same old things Marvin. Cigarettes.
Sorry to interrupt
your little t?te-?-t?te.
This is Miss Madge, Betty.
I guess you know Betty alright.
She used to be your
sweetheart, didn't she?
Oh.
I guess I'll be going.
Nearly forgot my sugar.
Got a surprise for you.
I'm giving a party too.
A big one .. Saturday night.
I got a jazz band coming from Memphis.
- Well, that's fine.
I want you to come.
And be my boyfriend.
Honest?
- Sure.
It will be a bit formal, but you needn't
doll up. Just something dark and nice.
Well, thanks. Thanks, Miss Madge.
You'd look nice. All dressed out.
Wouldn't you.
And don't call me 'Miss Madge'.
Saturday night about 8:30, honey.
My cigarettes.
It will be keen.
I'll be seeing you. Don't work too hard.
We're going to dance the
'Peckerwood Wiggle'.
Or whatever you call it and I
want you to lead the figure.
Well, I'd be glad to.
Madge.
Cute.
I'd like to kiss you but
I just washed my hair.
Bye.
Don't forget. Eight o'clock.
I'm counting on you.
Hey .. is he coming?
Well, if he's coming he ought
to be here by now, I reckon.
I never did see no sense in
letting him in on it, no how.
Well, stealing cotton is one thing,
and selling it is another.
Now if we can get him mixed up in
the stealing end of it, just once.
He's got to stick by us
to save his own hide.
Joe's right, Jake.
- Why, sure he is.
Here he comes now.
Hiya, Marvin. You join us on the spot.
- Hi, uncle Joe.
It's alright now, boys. We've
got a businessman with us.
Come along, you.
- Wait a minute.
Where you all going?
- Just for a little walk. Come on.
A stroll down the road.
- What's the idea?
We'll keep four or five
sacks in here, Marvin.
Let me carry one of those, uncle Joe.
Well I don't care if you do, Marvin.
What's the matter, uncle Joe?
I can't get it down on my back.
How do you like stealing
cotton from old Norwood?
That's a right sizeable
pile of cotton, Marvin.
Kyle Jackson's Gin will
soon by plumb full.
You're on the right side now, Marvin.
Just keep your mouth shut
about that Memphis business.
We're going to send you
up there to be our agent.
There's money in it for you. Big money.
I reckon we'd better
make ourselves scarce.
Seems like day is about breaking.
So long until the next meeting, boys.
Is this here the home of
Mr Lane Norwood? May I ask?
Who wants to know, may I ask?
Well, we was sent for. And here we is.
You're here alright.
Marvin, show them around to
their rooms in the back, will you.
And draw water for them, Marvin.
Be a chambermaid for a bunch
of yellow saxophone students.
[ Singing: ]
"It hung down .. oh Lord."
"I heed your talking, Lord."
That Norwood girl, ain't got
a bit of soul, she ain't.
But she's sure got a body. Some body.
Give me it out here.
Look who's there.
Yeah, look at him.
Look at him. Trying to be somebody.
Ah Marvin, you're late.
- I hurried as fast as I could.
Come on, darling.
They're waiting for you.
Don't be bashful, Marvin.
It's a lot of fun.
Ladies and gentlemen.
And now for the surprise of the evening.
We're going to do the Peckerwood Wiggle
and Marvin Blake will lead the field.
Choose your partners.
Will the ladies please stand on the
right, and the gentlemen on the left.
Step forward and back.
They're making fun of us.
If I had me a gun, I'd make him wiggle.
I'd let him have it
right between the eyes.
Look at him. Hugging up
to the high and mighty.
My ..
You look nice in your new suit.
- Well, I wanted you to think so.
I've got a surprise for you.
- What's that?
You're going to come and live with us.
- What?
Uhuh. Father said he wanted you nearby.
Got a room all fixed for you, upstairs.
No fooling?
- Father needs you here.
Close to his business.
Love me, honey.
I do love you, Madge.
I love you more than
anything in this world.
There is nobody but you.
But I never dreamed you'd like me.
- You're so sweet, Marvin.
Of course I like you.
Imagine.
Here you are. With me,
Lane Norwood's daughter.
Up in the world. Going
somewhere. Oh, darling.
I will be something. I'll make you
proud of me. I love you, Madge.
Not so fast, honey.
Just love me.
Love me.
[ Singing: ]
"Did you ever hear the story .."
"About Willie the Weeper."
"He made his living,
as a chimney sweeper."
"He had a dope habit,
and he had it bad."
"Listen, while I tell you
about a dream he had."
"Na, na, na .."
Your head is full of plans.
Isn't it, darling?
Full of plans.
I hear music and dancing, ain't it, son?
- Yeah.
Folks cutting up big and loud, Pappy.
And lights shining.
The great glory of the white man.
Yeah.
"In the black."
"Of night long."
"There goes my true love."
Liza.
Liza.
Well, did you have a good
time at the big party?
A wonder you come back
to the poor folk's shack.
After cutting a shine up at
that dump with them big-guns.
Acting a cussed fool,
making fun of poor folks.
They're turning you into a lousy spy.
That's a lie.
Give him his duds.
I don't want you in my home.
Your home?
Go live with Norwood. You think so much
of him and that stuck-up girl of his.
Get out before I break your neck.
Open that door!
So, you've moved into
Norwood's house, have you?
Yes.
Just for the busy season, may.
The Cotton Gin's running at night now.
I got a lot of bookwork to do.
Yeah. I heard Sock and Jake
throwed you out of your house.
They're both sore-tailed
anyhow, so don't mind them.
We all know how it is.
Here you are.
You better charge that, Marvin.
My credit is still good.
Yes. You've a little coming
to you on the books.
Yeah .. a little bit.
Don't let the busy season
last too long, Marvin.
Remember, that Memphis job will
be open in two or three weeks.
Well, I've been thinking, uncle Joe.
- No, no. Think some more.
You got plenty of time. In here.
Some of the boys got kind of het up when
they heard you're to live at Norwood's.
They said it looked a
little might suspicious.
Shucks, I said. Can't you see how
everything works for our side?
There's Marvin now right with Norwood.
And he'd know every thought
and move Norwood makes.
If Norwood starts to go after us
with the Sheriff or the law ..
Marvin will know it, won't he?
Like a flash, he'll let us know.
'That's right' they said.
'We never thought of that'.
Now Marvin, everyone tickled to death to
know that you're going to be right in ..
Well .. in the camp of the
enemy, day and night.
Thanks.
- Shucks. No thanks.
The brunt of everything
is on you, now my boy.
And we know you won't go back on us.
Say, there's a meeting tonight, down
at our house. You got to be there.
As soon as you get your
supper, come on over.
Betty will be expecting you.
What's it all about, uncle Joe?
Business. What else?
Oh, I can't go tonight.
Why can't you?
Well I've got to .. I've got to work
on the books with Mr Norwood.
We need you tonight, Marvin.
- I've got an awful lot of work to do.
Well, I'll put the meeting
off for a day or two.
Well I wish you would.
- You'll be there then?
I'll see .. yeah, put it off.
You better come the next time, Marvin.
Some folk get suspicious mighty easy.
Mighty easy.
But daddy, I need a new roadster.
The old one rattles like a wagon.
With this stealing and everything, we'll
be lucky we're all not riding a wagon.
No action from Carter.
None from the Sheriff.
Why can't Marvin get some
evidence against these fellows?
Don't worry, honey. You're
bound to catch them soon.
Well, I suppose I'll have to send to
Chicago for a mail-order detective.
I'm sure he's in the dining room.
- Mr Norwood?
Mr Norwood, a Peckerwood just shot down
one of the planters over in Seed County.
What? Why?
We got Ezzy Daniels and the bloodhounds.
We meet at the crossroads
down the road a mile.
They want you to come
and lead the posse.
Marvin, get my coat.
- Yes, sir.
Let me go, daddy.
- No. You stay here.
Now Lane, be careful.
- Now don't worry. Come on, Neal.
Let's go down.
Take this, Marvin.
He went that way.
I picked the scent up over here.
Marvin.
Bill.
Help me, Marvin.
Don't let them get me.
Why did you do it?
- I lost my head.
He won't give me a cent for my cotton.
Said I owed him money.
Shush.
Run .. run, Bill.
Run!
Marvin, Marvin!
What you hanging back for?
Why don't you come with the boys?
There he is, boys. Come on.
Come on, with the dogs here. Come on.
Get him.
- There he is!
No .. stop it.
No .. no.
[ Gunshot! ]
Look there .. a fire.
It's my house, Marvin.
- No, no. It's your store.
Hurry. Hurry.
The books, Marvin. The safe.
Don't go in there.
Marvin!
The safe is blown open.
Somebody stole the books.
The accounts gone?
Then I'm ruined.
You hear Marvin? Ruined.
Which one of you fired my store?
Who stole the books?
I'll find out so help me, and when I do
somebody will go to the penitentiary.
And he'll go to stay.
I guess there's nothing more we can do.
I'll fix them for this.
Every last one of them.
They can't get away with this.
The Clinton boys are at the back of
this, and that no-account Jake Fisher.
Don't you worry, daddy.
Don't you worry.
You got spunk, Marvin. Real spunk.
Everything is going to be alright, dear.
But I'm ruined. Ruined.
Books burned. Accounts gone.
I have a copy of the
accounts, Mr Norwood.
What?
Yes, sir. I made a duplicate set.
Thank God.
My boy .. you've saved me. Saved me.
Ha .. well that makes everything right.
Why, the store can be built
again. And the accounts ..
Let's go in and have some coffee.
- We have some on the stove, dear.
My boy, you've brought the
blood back to my heart.
Cheer up. Don't look so sad.
Don't you understand?
You've made everything right.
Made everything right?
No.
No. What happened out there in
the woods tonight wasn't right.
Nothing can make that right.
Come now, Marvin, come on my boy.
You are all in.
Now the coffee will do you good.
Better luck next time.
- I'll see you at Carmen's, Thursday.
I'll give you a ring. Do you hear?
Marvin.
Hello, Marvin.
What you do?
- Nothing.
Oh.
Come on down to lunch.
We'll be all alone.
Pa just phoned from town and said
he was conferring with Mr Carter.
He and mother won't be back until late.
- Well, I'm not hungry. Thanks.
Oh come on, Marvin.
[ Radio: ]
"Go forth in this spirit, through
all the affairs and duties of life."
Here. Drink some scuppernong wine.
It will take the blues away.
Here's to .. well, here's to the future.
"For love is the greatest
thing in the world."
"And love is the hope of the world."
The hope of the world.
[ Radio music ]
Don't be so blue, darling.
Hmm. Doesn't this wine warm your tummy?
Yes, thanks.
Today is your afternoon off, isn't it?
- Yes, ma'am.
Well, you can go now.
I'll take care of everything.
Oh, thank you, Miss Madge.
Have a good time.
- Yes, ma'am.
Drink your wine.
You're not hungry, are you?
No.
- I'm not either.
Don't you just love Sunday afternoons?
Everything quiet.
Nobody at home .. to disturb you.
Madge, there's something I must say.
- You were going away, weren't you?
Packing to leave.
Oh, honey-lamb.
You mustn't do that.
What would father say if he
came back and found you gone?
And I would cry.
Cry.
You're for father, aren't you?
And you're going to help him
find the men who burnt his store.
Oh, Madge, I don't know.
I don't know.
Come up to my room for a minute.
I want to talk to you about something.
Turn your back and look at
those snapshots for a minute.
While I get into something more restful.
Turn your back.
[ Madge singing: ]
"Did you ever hear the story about .."
"Willie the Weeper."
"He made his living,
as a chimney sweeper."
"He had a dope habit."
"And he had it bad."
"Listen, while I tell you about a .."
"Dream .. he .. had."
Marvin.
Madge.
[ Doorbell ]
Who is it?
Oh .. what do you want?
Is Marvin home?
Here?
I'll call him.
Marvin.
Did you want to see me, Betty?
- I've something important to tell you.
What is it?
Pa wants you to come down to
the house. Quick as you can.
What's the matter?
He said to come quick as you could.
They're all upset.
They're talking about you.
Please come.
I want to talk to you, too.
Alright, Betty.
Wait just a minute.
Wait a minute, boys.
You all heard what
Norwood said last night.
About them that burnt his store.
How he's going to put
them behind the bars.
Well, y'all know that early this
morning the Sheriff came ..
And arrested my boys .. Cleve and Ross.
And Sock Fisher's Jake.
They are all in jail over
there in town now.
I didn't know that, uncle Eph.
I swear I didn't. When did it happen?
That ain't the point.
Now Norwood don't know nothing.
He'll never know nothing.
He arrested the boys on suspicion.
We'll get a lawyer and fight him.
He can't prove nothing.
And that ain't the point, though.
The point is .. Marvin here.
Marvin Blake.
Tom Blake's boy.
Marvin is the point here.
Everybody knows that Norwood ..
Had our accounts set out on his books.
The amount of money he's been a
sucking away from us all, don't they?
Well.
The books is burnt up .. ain't they?
Sure is ..
Ain't they, Marvin?
- They're gone.
The safe was blown open.
- Yeah.
The books is burnt up.
And we don't owe him nothing.
- We sure don't.
We're square with him for
the first time in our lives.
The fire squared us.
That ain't the point, though.
The books is burnt up.
But Marvin here has got a copy of them.
That's what we're talking about.
Alright. Speak up, Marvin. Tell us.
I've got nothing to tell.
Wait a minute.
Marvin.
There is another set
of books, ain't there?
Suppose there is?
You made a copy of them, didn't you?
Maybe so.
- Maybe so?
Where are they?
I won't tell you.
Has Norwood got them?
Has Carter got them?
Ain't you going to tell us?
No.
How can I tell you?
I'm working for Mr Norwood.
He's hired me. I can't go
back on him like that.
But you can go back
on us, your own folks?
You can give us away and cause
us to be put behind the bars.
I didn't do that. I did not
know those boys were in jail.
I can hardly keep my hands
off you, Marvin Blake.
If you weren't Tom's boy,
I don't know what I'd do.
You may not have told on the boys, but
you're siding with Norwood, ain't you?
Ain't you?
Come here, Marvin.
Sit on my bed.
Come here, son.
I've knowed your daddy, son.
There weren't a better man that
ever walked behind a plow.
He ought to be here today.
He wouldn't be proud of you neither.
Not with all your
learning and your sense.
And you're walking high
and mighty with Norwood.
And the planters.
I ain't proud of you.
But we love you just the same.
And we know how hard it's been on you.
How you are pulled both ways.
But son.
There ain't but one way that's right.
And that's ours.
All you got to do to know it ..
Is to remember your daddy.
Didn't Norwood work him to death?
Send him to his grave before his time?
That's what he done, son.
I know something about it.
If you go up there to Norwood's house.
Somewhere, you'll find an old ledger.
In that book is writ down the records.
Of how Norwood cheated your daddy.
Charged him high rates.
Took everything.
Made him give up all he
had from his own hand.
From his own mouth.
Made you and Liza and your Ma ..
Go to bed hungry
Many a night.
Please, uncle Eph.
- I don't want to hurt you, son.
But you got to stand with us.
We want you to let us have
that other set of books.
They'll be thrown in the
fire and burned up, too.
My record wiped clean.
And ..
We can all make a new start, maybe.
Norwood's got plenty.
He's made a plenty out
of the sweat of all of us.
Give us the books.
Will you do it?
Come on, Marvin.
We were going to send
you to Memphis, boy.
Let me alone, won't you.
I'm not crooked. I'm not spying on you.
But I'm not going to play
Mr Norwood crooked, either.
I won't give you the books.
I know what's in his mind.
It's that Norwood girl.
He's tagging around on her coattails.
Hoping someday he'll tie up with her.
- Shut up.
Alright, Marvin.
We've done asked you for the books.
We've done asked you to be on our side.
You won't.
But I reckon you will, when you get
a little time to think about it.
We're going to give you a little time.
But if you ain't delivered them books
to us here, by tomorrow at sundown ..
You won't be on Norwood's side
and you won't be on nobody's side.
We done told you, now.
Marvin.
1915.
1916.
What are you doing, Marvin?
Alright, what is it?
- This.
What?
- There.
What do you mean by that?
- That's what I mean. In these records.
1917. Credit balance due: 185 dollars.
Interest and carrying
charges: 210 dollars.
Balance due from Blake.
My father worked for you for 15 years.
One year like another.
And the money that might have brought
him a little happiness you took away.
He's dead.
And you've worked him to death.
Now look here. Sit down Marvin.
Let me talk to you.
You're all excited, and no wonder.
I'm on edge myself.
Who was talking?
- I was thinking, is all.
Where you going?
- Please let me go, Mr Norwood.
Marvin, now don't be all upset.
You've known my method all along.
You know I have to do that.
It's not all one-sided like that.
There's many a thing I did for your
father. Things not entered in the book.
Yes, yes. I've argued up and down
with myself a thousand times.
But I know this, and these books
prove it. You killed my father.
You ..
Now, Marvin.
Marvin.
What's the matter, daddy?
- Nothing, nothing. Now go to sleep.
Now, you've got to listen to reason.
I've done a lot for you, haven't I?
I saw you had good stuff
in you so I helped you.
No, Mr Norwood.
- You should appreciate it.
You helped me, so I'd help you.
Now, Marvin.
- I'm quitting.
If I owe you anything I'll
pay you back someday.
No you're not. Now you get some
sleep and tomorrow you'll feel better.
I don't blame you for being mixed up.
So much happened in the last few days.
But everything is going to clear up now.
Now we've got a lot to do
getting things straightened out.
We've got to work on the old accounts
tomorrow. Clear up the year's work.
And say. I want you to get the duplicate
set of books for me in the morning.
We'll start early. You hear me now?
Marvin, you won't leave me, I tell you.
Marvin.
Daddy, let me talk to him. Please.
Alright, Madge.
See what you can do with him.
He's got some crazy idea about leaving.
Forgotten everything I've done for him.
Wants to walk out.
You're going to stay right here, Marvin.
Sure you are.
You wouldn't slide out now.
- I've got to, Madge.
You're not that ungrateful.
- Ungrateful?
That's what I said.
Hasn't daddy made you what you are?
You'll not go out that door I tell you.
- I can't stay.
Don't you understand?
I don't belong here.
You're a fool.
Alright.
Alright. A fool, that's what I am.
Marvin.
Marvin .. wait.
Please wait.
Marvin.
Please listen to me.
You're not going off.
You're not.
- Yes, I am.
But where, darling?
This is your home now.
No, I'm leaving it.
I'll go somewhere, I don't where.
You see?
I won't let you go.
What a mess.
You've got to stick by daddy, Marvin.
You're like his own son almost.
The only help he's got.
Please stay.
Please. For my sake.
I didn't mean to speak hard to you.
Honest I didn't.
Remember that other night we sat here?
You talked about your future.
Your work, what you'd be.
You said.
You said you loved me, then.
- Madge.
I knew what was in your
mind that night, Marvin.
I knew.
And then you said you loved me, and ..
And I'll say now ..
What I wouldn't say then.
And what I'll say now is ..
I love you too, Marvin .. I do.
If you love me and want to get
somewhere in this world ..
You'll stick by daddy.
Why, hello.
- Morning, Mr Carter.
You're out early.
- Yes, sir.
You look serious. What's on your mind?
- I want to see you.
You look all in.
Come into my office.
Sit down.
Well .. you must have some
hot news about that stealing.
Well, no sir .. not exactly.
So what is it?
You know the duplicate set
of accounts I left here?
Yes.
I've been ordered to deliver them today.
Lucky you took my advice.
I mean, lucky for Norwood.
After the fire, I guess he needs them.
No, you see. It's the other side.
Uncle Joe Wright and all the others.
They gave me until sundown tonight
to deliver the books to them.
Hmm .. I see.
So what are you going to do?
That's what I had to see you about.
Last night, Mr Norwood told me that he
wanted me to give him the books today.
I never saw such a mess.
I've tried to forget it but I can't.
Something's got to be done, Mr Carter.
That's what I wanted to see you for.
As a citizen, I could call a meeting
of the tenants and the landlords.
If you will handle it.
Me?
Well, I couldn't do that.
- Why, you're the very man to do it.
You know every phrase of the question.
And they all know you do.
They know you're honest
and do what's right.
You're the very man to do it.
- I couldn't.
Sure, you could.
You stay here with me for a few days.
They won't bother you here.
We'll get out placards calling for a
meeting in the courthouse on Thursday.
And we'll have a showdown.
The planters won't come. The tenants
might but the planters won't.
Yes they will. I'll write a personal
letter to each of the planters.
I guess after all the trouble
there's been, they'd come alright.
Here, let's get busy.
We'll get out a placard.
Mass meeting ..
What's this meeting all about?
Sock here, ought to know as it's
Marvin that's going to tell us.
It had better be good news.
Good news he tells us.
Well, he can't stay here
with Carter always.
The problem before this
meeting is not to fix guilt.
But to try to find some way to
remedy the unfortunate situation.
Existing between tenant and planter.
Look here, Carter.
We didn't come here to listen
to a lot of idiotic junk.
We're here to get at who
stole cotton and how much.
And what we'll do about it.
That's our business.
Gentlemen.
Gentlemen.
We're lucky at this time to
have someone with us ..
Who is qualified in every way.
To deal with the question involved.
He knows both sides of the question.
And there is no-one here, I'm sure,
who doubts his honesty and integrity.
I turn this meeting
over to Marvin Blake.
Yes, there's been trouble.
Plenty of it.
Stealing and murder and
burning and lynching.
You all know about it.
And that's why we're here.
To see if we can do something about it.
The planters are against the tenants.
The tenants are against the planters.
Each side fighting against the other.
The planters furnish the mules and the
land and the feed and the implements.
And he carries all the risk
of the flood and the drought.
And all through hell and high water.
I reckon a planter's got a
right to charge high interest.
But the poor tenant keeps asking ..
Where does he come in?
Times without number, I've seen
them out there in the field.
A man, his wife, and skinny little boys
and girls that ought to be in school.
And a little measly baby
that needed its mother.
But she didn't have time.
She had to pick cotton.
And if she did have time, she didn't
have any milk for the baby. And why?
Because she didn't have the right kind
of food and attention. That's why.
All day long out there in the cotton
fields in the hot sun and dust.
And the Gin blowing its whistle out
yonder in the hot, baked land.
Work.
Working for what?
Nothing.
Nothing but the long summer.
The long winter.
And in the end, the grave.
When settling time comes
they got nothing left.
When advances are paid, and the interest
taken out. Nothing, for a year's sweat.
A man and his whole family.
You can't blame the tenant for standing
up and asking where does he come in.
And the answer is, he don't come in.
He's got nothing left.
He's had a little old shack down
there in the cotton patch to live in.
The stores let him have some sowbelly
meat, and some compound lard ..
And molasses and cornmeal all the year.
Some cheap shoes and
no-account dress stuff.
Charge them four of five prices for it.
He's used all his credit
and he's in debt.
No wonder he gets sore and tries
to settle matters some other way.
Steal, if necessary.
How can you blame him?
Lately, I've been living
where things are different.
Where folks talk about buying a new
car as the old one's a little scratched.
Where money is spent like water.
Four hundred dollars for a jazz band.
And that money was sweated
out of the blood of my people.
Shut up, you fool!
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
Let the boy finish.
Let's hear what he's got to say.
Maybe I'm a fool. I don't know.
But I do know this.
You can't forever take from the
land and give nothing back to it.
Not if you want to make cotton.
You've got to play fair with the land.
You got to give it fertilizer and
work and the plow and attention.
A man's made out of the same dirt as the
earth, and he's got to have attention.
You got to play fair with him.
If a planter wants to rob the farmhands.
You can't blame the farmhands for
wanting to steal back from him.
Look at Mr Scott over there.
He tries to play fair with his tenants.
Everyone knows he don't have trouble.
Not like some of the others.
Why can't they all play fair?
Marvin Blake will now tell you something
about his scheme for cooperation.
Cooperation?
Well in this cooperative scheme.
- Cooperation.
Who has tried cooperation?
Not you tenants, you Peckerwoods.
Mr Norwood has the floor for the moment.
You talk about getting together.
Cooperation. I'd like to see you do it.
And I refuse to sit here and listen
to the ravings of a schoolboy.
Who knows nothing of
what he's talking about.
He does, too.
He ought to, Norwood. You learned him.
Be quiet!
Marvin Blake is right on one thing.
He's right when he says we
planters take all the risks.
Stand for everything.
When you're sick, when your crop fails.
When you're down and out.
Who do you come to for credit, for help?
Does John D Rockefeller help you?
Does Wall Street hear your cries?
No. You come whining to us planters.
We look after your young ones,
your granddaddies and yourselves.
And what do you do?
You go about in the night burning
up the very store that feeds you.
And stealing cotton from
us who keep you alive.
You're stealing the bread
out of your own mouths.
If you had sense enough to see it.
We build your tenant houses.
Put screens on the doors to keep flies
and typhoid fever from the children.
Give you gardens so they
can have balanced food.
And what do you do?
Mess up the house.
Spit on the floor. Let your
gardens burn up in the sun.
I helped you buy a milk cow.
So that you could have
milk for your children.
And you did like Marvin Blake's father.
Complained. Saying she
didn't give much milk.
You wouldn't feed her.
Yeah .. talk about cooperation.
Alright, cooperate then.
But don't come bellyaching, accusing us
planters of every crime in high heaven.
If you quit lying around
the front of my store.
Sleeping in the sun like
a gang of hound dogs.
Then go to work.
Straighten up your shoulders.
Get some manhood in you.
Then, we might talk about cooperating.
Alright, Marvin Blake.
Go ahead with your scheme.
Don't let me stop you.
No. You won't stop me, Mr Norwood.
Your speech sounds like all the
right is on your side, don't it.
Well, you've got the
cart before the horse.
Why don't my folks keep up their house?
Why don't they have a garden?
Why haven't they got
milk for their children?
Why don't they live like
you planters? Why?
The same old answer.
Because everything
belongs to you planters.
In their hearts, a thing always belongs
to somebody else, and always will.
From generation to generation.
Let the boy finish.
- Let's hear what he has to say.
Now here's the new terms contract.
In which the landlord and the tenant
agree to work on a cooperative basis.
These terms are for a one-year trial.
You already received copies
of these through the mail.
I'll sign.
Gentlemen, I think we ought to
all go in this. For a trial anyhow.
I will.
- I will, too.
And I'll not sign.
What do you think?
- No.
I won't sign it.
Don't you do it, daddy. Don't let a
Whickerbill white get the best of you.
Mr Norwood is going to ask for a
True Bill against the Clinton boys.
For burning his store.
Well, I'm going to ask
for a True Bill against him.
For extortion and fraudulent collection,
and mishandling the accounts.
They might put me in jail, too.
I don't know. For helping you steal.
You told me what to put in
your books and I put it down.
But so help me, I will
testify against you.
Against my own self if it comes to that.
Those Clinton boys stole
cotton alright. I saw them do it.
But you stole their crop,
because I helped you do it.
You belong in jail as
much as those boys do.
And if you don't mind,
I'll send you there.
It's catching, Norwood.
You'd better give in.
No .. no.
Don't you go out that door, Mr Norwood.
If you do, I'll tell everything I know.
You sign one of these contracts.
If you don't, I'll tell.
And you know what I'll tell.
You know what the State
Governor will do to you.
And everyone else that followed
the bloodhounds that night.
There won't be enough money in all the
banks, to get you out from behind bars.
Stop.
Alright, Mr Norwood?
Alright.
Marvin.
Marvin is a great boy, ain't he?
There. You sure did
my heart good, Marvin.
Come on. We'll all ride home together.
- I can't. I got to go see Mr Carter.
I'll see you Sunday, Betty.
Yes. Sunday.
Great stuff, boy.
It means a new day in this neighborhood.
You know, I've been thinking.
I'll need a partner, one of these days.
Oh, here is Mr Norwood.
You win, Marvin.
Thank you, Mr Norwood.
..t-g..