The Secret Path (1999) - full transcript

♪ You were on your own ♪

♪ Trying to survive ♪

♪ Living in danger ♪

♪ Looking for an answer up above ♪

♪ We were strangers ♪

♪ Now we gotta take a chance on love ♪

♪ Gotta take a chance on love ♪
- Did you see her outfit?

Yes.

- Total trailer trash.

- They live down by the highway
in, like, the worst area.

- You know, I don't even know why



people like that go to school?

You know they're just
gonna end up in jail,

or working at some donut
shop, or somethin'.

- I hear her mother is a cleaning woman.

Hey,
does she do windows?

- Yes, 1103, please.

Hello?
- Jo Ann?

- Hi, sweetheart.

So did you get it?

- Yeah.

Closed the book deal last night.

I'm so proud of you.

Hello?

Hello?
- What?



I'm sorry.

I was just thinkin'.

What's the matter, Jo Ann?

- I think I'm gonna go back after all.

Yeah, okay.

- Yeah, I think it's important

for all of us.

Lydia, your dad wants to talk to you.

♪ For an answer from above ♪

Dad says I have
to go with you on this trip?

- That's right.

- Why can't I just stay here?

- No, there's something
I need to show you,

something you need to see.

- It's my summer vacation!

- Go pack.
- But mom?

- Do it.

Where are we?

- This is where I grew up.

You're kidding, right?

- No.

- Why don't you ever
talk about this place?

I mean, I've never even
seen a picture before.

- Look like a kinda place
you'd wanna remember?

- Yeah, but it wasn't as bad this, was it?

Was it?

- I was born in this room.

Push!

- Mommy, get it out!
- No.

Push, Marie, come on now.

Come on!

Push, baby!

- Mom, help!
- More!

You're doin' fine.

Come on!

Just listen to me, push.

Keep pushing!

- I can't do it no more.
- You can do it, come on!

I don't want to.

Please, mama!

Help!

Now I got two babies to feed.

It's a girl.

- Don't matter to me.

Gonna tell us who the father is?

- I told you, Daddy, I don't know.

- The Foley's never had
no bastard children,

and ain't about to start.

- Hank, what are you planning to do?

- Gotta find a buyer for anything.

- You can't sell a baby, Hank!

Just watch me.

You just take care of our Bobby.

It's the only baby that's
gonna be in this house.

Damn!

- What's he doin'?

Well, here we go.

- Whole load, had to
dump the entire batch.

- I don't care about the liquor,

but you can't just leave a
baby by the side of the road!

- What was I supposed to do?

Hell's that?

There's a note.

- What's it say?

- "God is watchin' and so am I."

What did I tell you?

That can't be.

- Hank, if you go to jail-

- I'm not going to jail, woman!

The cops would've been here already.

Better give it back

to Marie for now.

- Come on, baby.

Come on.

It's okay.

Come on into this room.

What do you has on your neck?

That's all I get?

I need more food than this.

Sorry, but
you didn't make enough money.

I still gotta eat.

A grown man's gotta eat, woman!

Bobby, I
don't like being your wife.

Let's play a different game.

- No woman's gonna tell me
what game I'm gonna play,

you understand?

- Don't sound the same comin' outta you

as it does comin' outta grandpa.

- It will.

- They got to be in school, Hank.

It's the law.

- You know us Foley's, simple folk.

What they gonna learn there,

they ain't gonna learn here?

- How to read?

School starts at eight,

and make sure they're on time.

- Yes, sir, we'll surely do it.

- It might be all right.

- Just put a lot of uppity
ideas in their heads.

- Don't you want him to be something more

than a bootlegger for
the rest of his life?

- What, you think I chose this?

I like to live like this?

- No, Hank, but Bobby needs his chance.

All right.

They start tomorrow.

Don't need the sheriff
snoopin' around here.

♪ Here we go to Kokomo ♪

♪ It's the place that you should know ♪

♪ All the streets are paved in gold ♪

♪ Way down here in Kokomo ♪

♪ Well, you've got to get there soon ♪

♪ It's fun to live amongst... ♪
- Jo Ann!

What are you doin' here?

- I wanna see what you're doin', Mama.

- What is it look like I'm doin'?

- You're sittin' close to Karl.

- We're about to be dancin'.

♪ Kokomo ♪
Okay, then.

Jo Ann, come on, we'll dance!

Step on it.

Well, don't get his shoes dirty.

♪ Here we go to Kokomo ♪
Soldiers are supposed

to have clean shoes.

- It's all right.

- Are we going to Kokomo?

- We sure are.

Good,
I hope it's far away.

- Oh, it is, and it's beautiful there.

- Don't be puttin' ideas into her head!

Jo Ann, there ain't no
such place as Kokomo.

- Yes, there is,

and the three of us are gonna go there.

- Karl, now she's gonna
be talkin' about Kokomo

every second of every minute.

No, I won't!

- Don't lie to a soldier.

He'll arrest you.

- Will you?

Well, not while
I'm dancin' with you.

Come on!
♪ Kokomo ♪

♪ Here we go ♪

♪ Kokomo ♪

♪ Here we go ♪

- Please, Mama, don't make me go.

- We'll get in trouble if you don't.

What's the matter?

He's going to school,

and you're goin' with him.

- School?

- You know what school is, don't ya?

- Yes, Grandpa.

- And make sure nothin' happens to Bobby.

- Here, take my lucky rabbit's foot.

If you get scared,

take the foot, spin three
times, and make a wish.

- Lord have mercy, woman!

They'll think he's an idiot.

- Well, it don't matter if
it makes him feel better.

- All right, all right, let the boy go.

It ain't like he's goin' off to war.

You won't let
nothin' happen to him,

will you, darlin'?

- No, ma'am.

Go on, go on!

- Foleys.

Well, my name is Mrs. Kenny.

What is your first name?

- Jo Ann.
- She stays with me.

- Girls in one door, boys in the other,

that's the rules.

- She can get in trouble if she don't.

- Wait!
- Big trouble.

- I gotta make sure
nothin' happens to him.

- Nothin' is gonna happen to him.

- But...

I can't let him outta my sight.

Jo Ann and Bobby, please stand.

And Class, I wanna introduce
you to two new students,

Joanne and Bobby Foley.

- I can't go to this school.

- And why is that?

- Because me, and my mom,
and Karl are going to Kokomo.

- Oh, you are?

- That's right, so I have
to go to the school there.

- Well, where is Kokomo?

- Far away.

- Do you wanna show us where
it is on the map of the world?

- No.

- If you show me where Kokomo is,

I'll know that you don't need to learn,

and I'll let you go home.

Hmm?

Now, you show us where Kokomo is.

Are you sure that's Kokomo?

Well, Ms. Foley,

you seem to have a few
things left to learn,

because you have not pointed to Kokomo.

You've pointed to China.

Now, Jo Ann.

Now, Class, be quiet.

Shh.

Class!

- Well, why'd you let them take me away?

- I couldn't help it, Bobby.

They was all bigger than me.

- I hate it there.

- So do I.

Please don't tell Grandma
and Grandpa that I let them

take you away from me.

- I'll think about it.

Don't, Bobby!

The birds are pretty!

- Shut up, Jo Ann.

I can do what I want.

Jo Ann, wait for me!

You want me to tell?

Whoa now.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Well, now, children.

Y'all waitin' on us?

What do you think, old horsey?

Can we give 'em a ride?

Y'all want a ride?

- Up there?

- Right up here.

Right here.

- Well, okay.

That's right, big step.

There you come.

All right.

What's your name?

- I'm Jo Ann.

This is Bobby.

- I'm her uncle.

- Hmm, uncle, huh?

Okay, old horsey, let's go home.

Easy now, come on.

Go along.

Yeah.
- Come on, horse.

You're too slow.

- Hey, hey, hey.

Don't shout at old horsey.

He's doin' us a favor.

- Hey was mean to the birds too.

Throwin' rocks at 'em.

- My pa says, "Horses
ain't doin' us no favors".

"They're supposed to do their work,

or they don't eat."

Hey, hey, hey!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Now, I'm gonna draw the line
with you right now, boy.

I ain't gonna let you ride
nowhere with me anymore

until you learn how.

Now, get down.

- Who the hell do you think
you are telling me what to do?

- Well, I don't like having
to tell anybody what to do,

but I think the best thing
for you is to get on home.

So get down!

- You ain't nothing but a
crab in the pitch nigga.

- Well, how'd you get so
mean in so short a time?

- Jo Ann, get off that wagon,

and come home with me.

Jo Ann!

You be that way now, Jo Ann,
but you've gotta come home.

- Come on horsey.

Get up!

Honey?

Look what I got with me.

- Howdy.

Good and cold, huh?

Here you go, child.

Here, take it.

I ain't heard no thank you.

- Maybe you'd best be gettin' on home?

Your people probably
waitin' supper for you.

- What is she doing?

Too Tall, look like
you done found yourself

a good, little helper along the roadside.

- Well, maybe that's her
way of saying thank you?

- Maybe.

- You gonna be in a lot of trouble

if you don't get on home.

- No more trouble for me.

Me and my momma are going to Kokomo.

- Kokomo?

- Kokomo.

All right.

- Where's Jo Ann?

- She didn't stay with you?

- No, sir, she didn't.

She let them take me away at school,

and she didn't even care.

- Where is she now?

- With the old, broken down junk man.

- She's what?

What is the matter with you?

You let her stay there?

- He chase me away.

She stuck with him, not me.

It's not my fault, Pa!

- Get inside!

- You do good work,

and I want you to have
these two pennies, hmm?

So there!

And I appreciate the
help that you gave me.

Maybe
you should keep them?

- Oh, no, baby.

They's yours.

Now, we's going in and eat supper now,

and you'd best do the same.

All right?

Go on home now.

Go on.

Go on!

Too Tall?
- Hmm?

- I'm worried about that child.

She just about the strangest
tyke I ever done come across.

- Yeah, I don't know if
she's all that strange.

A little scared, maybe.

She is quiet, though.

- She too quiet for me.

I know somethin' wrong with that child.

It's hangin' over her like a cloud.

Now, you're just fussin'

'cause she didn't take you right off.

- Nah, that ain't it.

There's somethin' wrong
when a child is too quiet.

And I tell you somethin' else,

I ain't never seen that child smile,

and I know somethin' wrong

when a child don't smile back at me.

Lord, Honey.

Well, all I know, is she's
as nice as she can be,

- Yeah.
- And one of the best,

little workers I've ever seen.

- Momma, make sure Jo Ann
gets somethin' to eat.

- Where are you goin'?

I'm goin' where I'm goin'.

Jo Ann, come
on over to the table.

Your momma wants you to eat.

- She don't wanna eat with us.

She wants to eat with them niggers,

don't you, Jo Ann?

- What?

- Yeah, that's right.

Bobby told me the whole thing.

Now, you didn't look out for him, did you?

- I tried.

- Uh-huh.

Well, let me show you what happens

when people don't do what I tell 'em.

Now, you eat with the dogs tonight,

and maybe next time,
you try a little harder.

- But Grandpa, I'm starvin'.

- Well, you best not let the
dogs run off with your dinner.

What is it?

- There's somebody in the garden.

- Shall I get my rifle?

- No, no.

Come here, look at this.

She must be starvin'.

- Let me go out here
and see what I can do.

- Wait, child!

Don't run off!

Ain't nobody here gonna hurt ya!

Come on back!

Come inside!

- You all right?

- I guess.

- Were you out here all night?

- Yessum.

- You listen to your grandma now.

You gotta stay clear of
your grandpa for awhile.

You do that, and things
will get better, I promise.

- Am I gonna have to sleep

out here all night?
- No, hun.

I'll get that worked out,

but you gotta help me.

You gotta be on your
best behavior, all right?

- All right.

Grandma, how come
Grandpa hates me so much?

- Oh, he don't hate ya, little bug.

He's just got a bad tamper.

It won't last.

You do as I say, and we'll all be fine.

- Thanks for breakfast.

- Our secret.

Now, on the way home from school,

I want you to stop by
the preacher's house,

and get a dozen eggs from his wife.

Okay.

♪ Kokomo ♪

- Hello, little Foley.

- Grandma sent me for a dozen eggs.

- That right?

Does she know she hadn't paid me

for the last three dozen she got?

- If I go back with no eggs-

- You'll get a whoopin'.

- Yes, ma'am.

- You like flowers?

- I do.

- Flowers is how God laughs.

- Really?

- It's true.

I'll get the eggs for ya,

and you pick a flower, take it with ya.

- Thank you, ma'am.

- Oh, those are real nice eggs,

and a flower too.

Is they for me?

- Well, I took some tomatoes
from your garden last night,

and I'm sorry.

I wanted to pay you back.

- Oh, ain't no need for that.

Come on inside,

and we'll make somethin'
real nice for us to eat.

It's all right, sit down.

Sit on down.

We gonna make us somethin'
good out these eggs.

I'm not hungry.

- Well, you look hungry.

- If I tell people I'm hungry,

I'll get in trouble.

- Well, you don't have
to tell me you're hungry,

just tell me how much
you like the biscuits.

Now...

Now, tale this right here,

and I want you to stir this

till it's nice and smooth.

Oh, no, darlin'.

No, wait, sweetheart.

No, sweetheart.

You got to hold the bowl in one hand,

and take the spoon in the other hand.

You don't have to stir hard,

just make it nice and smooth.

See how smooth it's gettin'?

You're doin' a good job there.

- Well!

Looks like we got us a guest.

- That's right!

- We're makin' biscuits.

You are?

- Come on in, Too Tall.

We gonna have us a tea party.

- Oh, sounds good to me.

You's a good cook, huh, baby?

When you and your momma goin' to Kokomo?

- Oh, I think pretty soon.

- Well, I reckon you won't mind goin'?

- I reckon not.

- Well, now, listen to me baby.

When you get there,

I want you to remember
to listen and learn.

Listen to everything.

You got good, sharp ears,

so you ain't gonna have no trouble at all

teachin' yourself to learn.

You just listen and learn
from everything you see.

And if you got a problem,

you talk to somebody got some sense,

and then you think about it.

You think about it,

and you decide what you wanna do.

It's best to make your
own mistakes in this life,

because then, if you do make a mess,

it's your mess.

You understand what I'm saying to you?

Come on, let's go in the house.

They're telling
you lies about me, Karl!

- No, I heard it from fellas
in the barracks that I trust.

- You'd believe anybody
before you'd believe me.

- But this is no joke, Marie!

- You don't understand.

This is real trouble!

- No, please!

Please don't go.

Please believe me before you believe them!

- I tried to shut my eyes to a lot, Marie.

I wanted to take you away from all this.

I tried to convince myself

that it was only your
family that was trash,

but the truth is, you're no different!

- Then go!

Go, damn you!

Get out!

You think you're the
only man in the world?

- No, that's the trouble, Marie.

I know I'm not.

And I know you take money

to do what you're supposed to do for love.

- Yeah, what do you know about love?

You talk about it real good,

but you don't know anything!

Get out!

Fine.

- Don't worry about him, Jo Ann.

- I liked him.

You can't like nobody like him.

He sees somethin' wrong in everything.

He don't care how people gotta get by!

He just cares how it looks.

Well, survivin' ain't always pretty,

no matter how much makeup you put on it.

- Guess we ain't goin' to Kokomo?

- Nope, I reckon we ain't.

- So you ain't goin' to Kokomo, huh?

Well, that ain't the worst thing.

What letter's that?

- A "B"?

- Right.

Now, you make it.

Very good!

Now, you see how easy that is?

- Out here it's easy,

but in school with everybody watchin',

expecting you to get it wrong, I forget.

- Well, the next time,

you take that piece of chalk
just like it's this stick,

and you look at that blackboard
just like it's this dirt,

and you think about old Honey,

and you'll get it,

because you's right smart.

I can tell that about you.

You's right smart!

Yeah, she is too.

- Jo Ann?

Class!

Now, we are all here to learn.

Now, we need to do what
we can to help Jo Ann.

Go ahead.

- Are you goin' to The Joint?

- Well, now, just 'cause
I've put on makeup

don't mean I'm goin' to The Joint.

- Ain't makeup what you put on

before you're goin' out
to have a good time?

- I ain't doin' nothin' bad,

if that's what you're worried about.

- If it ain't bad, then
why can't you tell me?

- 'Cause what I do outside
this house belongs to me,

just to me.

It's like I ain't a Foley anymore.

I pretend I've got a big,
fine house and shiny, new car.

That's the life I want.

And I go out, and I live it,

even if it's just for a little while.

It's like a secret.

Don't you got a secret?

- Maybe.

- Jo Ann, you've got a secret?

- No, Mama.

- Won't be long before
you'll be goin' with them.

- Says who?

- Says Pa.

- So it don't mean nothin'.

- Nothin' but money.

I saw you sneaking back
the junk man's farm.

- No, you didn't.

- Yeah, I did, and I'm gonna tell Pa.

- I'll say it's a lie.

- He'll believe me before you.

- Bobby, please don't tell him.

- What will you give me if I don't?

- I'll give you money.

- You ain't got no money.

- Yes, I do.

Just promise!

- Go and get your money.

- Promise?

- I promise.

- Remember, you promised.

For now.

Listen, don't
you hear 'em calling?

Who?

These tomatoes is talkin' to us.

What
are they sayin', Honey?

- They sayin', we's ready.

Come on and get us.

They sayin', where's that
little gal and that old man

that been waitin' and watchin' for us,

so they can pick us?

Well, we's ripe,

why don't they come on and pick us?

- But don't it hurt 'em, Honey,

to be picked up and eaten like that?

No, child.

That's they place in this world.

You see, God made 'em to be eat up.

He made 'em to be food for his children.

You see, everything God
makes has a place and a time.

You see, that's why we has to use up

all the stuff he done sent us, you see?

Mm-hmm, sure as God makes you,

he got a job in mind for you.

Don't even bother if he don't,

'cause God don't like no waste,

and he don't like no wastefulness.

Makes him sad.

Makes him cry like a baby.

- God cries?

- Oh, sure he does, child.

Ain't nothin' wrong with a few tears.

Sometimes...

Sometimes them tears,

they help pass the pain away.

- Get off!

Stop!

- Say, "Uncle", white trash!

- I is no white trash.

- Get off of him!

Who you callin' white trash?

- Nobody!

Say you're sorry!

- All right, all right,
nobody's white trash!

- Say you're sorry like you mean it!

Ow!

I'm sorry!

- Bobby?

- Now, I told you look out for Bobby.

- I did.

- Then how'd he get a black eye?

- It wasn't my fault, Grandpa!

The bully was whoopin'
him before I got there,

and then I laid into him.

- Is that right?

- I whooped the stuffin' out of him.

Just ask Bobby.

- Did you make him cry?

- Almost.

- Well, you're a tough
little squirt, aint ya?

- I'm a Foley.

- Well, that's right, you are,

and you proved it today, didn't ya?

Good for you, Jo Ann.

Good for you.

I'm thinkin' of goin'
down to the river later,

do some fishin'.

You wanna come along?

- Sure.

- What about me?

- Well, you can stay
here with the women folk.

Here, let me.

- It's squirming.
- I know.

That's what makes 'em so delicious

to the fish, I mean.

- Grandpa, how long have you

been comin' down here to go fishin'?

- Oh, lordy, since I was
as young as you, I guess.

- You were little like me?

- Well, it's hard to believe, I know,

but your grandpa was always
a crooked leg moonshiner.

There was a day,

a day when the world was at my feet.

I could have been anything.

Foleys were respected in this county.

It's true.

And Papa died,

and I had my accident at the cotton gin,

and things went bad after that.

- But it'll get better.

- You sound like your grandma.

She's made me believe it too.

But the older you get,
the more you realize,

that day came and went.

Now, don't just sit there.

If you're gonna fish, fish.

- Now, I ain't got time
to keep turnin' this rope

when you ain't even jumping.

- Look, Honey, don't hurry me.

I have to get this just right.

- Don't make the girl do what
she don't wanna do, Honey.

- Will you butt out of this, Two Tall?

- It's no so easy to butt out

when I'm sittin' right here watchin'.

- Now, Jo Ann, this rope
is all your troubles,

and they gonna keep comin' around,

so you gonna to have to
learn how to jump over 'em,

so they won't trip you.

Now, come on, you gotta do it!

A man's gotta help himself.

- We gotta help ourselves too, Honey.

Us women.

Child, we's
all the same in God's eyes,

men and womens.

- Girls too, Honey?

Girls to.

- Cows too, Honey?

Yes, cows too.

- Roosters too?

- Yeah, roosters too.

I'm scared of your rooster.

- Oh, he ain't nothin' but
some old fluff and feathers.

Look how she jumpin', Too Tall.

And you told me,

"Don't make her do somethin'
she don't wanna do".

Sometimes I'd like to
put a stamp on your butt,

and mail you off somewhere,

but where would we find a
box big enough to fit him in?

Help me!

Yeah.

- You old rooster, do you hear me?

You scare this child,

you gonna end up in my stew pot,

and I ain't playin'.

Now, these hens may be bowin' down to ya,

but you mess with this child,

you'll be sittin' on my dinner table.

He ain't gonna bother you.

Honey!

Dammit, Honey, you scared me!

Wait!

He tried to kill me!

- Oh, baby.
- Honey, you lied to me!

You said it was fine!
- Oh, I'm just gonna hold you

until the bad comes outta you.
- Let go of me!

- Help us, Father.
- Let go!

Let go of me.

He's trying to kill me.

Why didn't you protect me, Honey?

Oh, my baby.

You my baby.

I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to you.

That rooster
wants to kill me, Honey.

What am I supposed

to do about that?
- Now, listen.

Now, you just don't look him in the eye.

You act like he ain't even there.

- But he's there.

He's there all the time.

- What?

Who?

Who's there all the time, baby?

Tell Honey.

Who?

You feeling all right, baby?

- Yeah.

- Now, you just remember,

ain't nothing gonna happen to
you as long as Honey's here,

and don't you forget it.

- No, I won't.

You always make things better, Honey.

- I'm glad, baby.

- You're the nicest nigger I met.

- You better go on now.

- What?

What's wrong?
- Just go on!

Your folks are waitin' on you!

Go on!

- Honey, what's wrong?
- Just go home!

But I...

- What's the matter?

- I must be outta my mind.

I can't help no white girl
just wanders up the road.

- Jo Ann?

- I don't want her in
here no more, you hear me?

Honey?

- I don't want her in here no more!

Too Tall, give me a pin.

- Where are they?

They're right there.

I'll try.

Right where?

- There, there, right there!

I declare, you must be blind.

- What's the matter?

- Nothin, except you useless.

What?

- You're thinking about Jo Ann.

- I can't get her off my mind.

- There may be things you can't change

no matter how hard you try.

The well's she gotta
draw from is polluted.

The Foleys, they used to
control this whole county.

Now, look at 'em.

Something's wrong over there.

Somethin' bad.

- I know it ain't right,

that's what got me worried about her.

She ain't got nobody but me,

and if I turn away from her,

what's she gonna do then?

- There's gonna come a time

when you won't be there to rescue her.

She gonna have to do it all by herself.

- Are you still mad at me?

- I ain't mad at ya, child.

- But the other day,

I said somethin' that made you mad?

- You hurt me.

- How did I hurt you?

I didn't hit you or scratch you.

- You called me a nigger.

- So?

- That word...

That word is used to hurt folk like me.

There's a lot of words
that folk use to hurt ya.

If you remembers, you, yourself,
got in a fight at school,

'cause somebody called Bobby white trash.

Them words hurt you, didn't they?

- Yeah.

- That's what I mean.

- I didn't wanna hurt you, Honey.

I wanted to make you feel good.

- I figured as much,

but it still hurt.

- I'm sorry.

I won't ever do it again.

I promise.

- I believe you, child.

Don't worry.

We's is still good friends.

- I want you to get Jo Ann ready.

She's goin' with us.

- She'll be 14 in a week.

Can't it wait?

- No, it can't.

We've been feeding her for 14 years,

her turn to give a little.

And Bobby's goin' too.

- Another generation of the Foley's.

- That's right!

Learnin' the family business.

Not a thing wrong with it.

- I ain't never been out
of the county before,

- Yeah, well, Bristol ain't much.

- That'll be your first lesson.

Never try nothing in your own
backyard where they know ya.

- What is it exactly we're gonna do?

- Oh, you'll see, son.

You'll see.

Okay, Bobby, you come with me.

Jo Anne, you stay here
and you watch the door,

and when your mama comes
out, you pay attention.

Whatever happens, don't
make a sound, you here?

All right.

♪ You were always on my mind ♪

♪ You are the one ♪

♪ I know it's you ♪
- Come on.

Give me a little kiss there now.

Watch your step, Miss Marie.

The car's just over here.

Get in the truck!

Did they hurt him?

- Just his pride.

Well, that ain't right.

How much you got there, Bobby?

- 82, plus a watch.

- Oooh-wee, I do love a payday.

- Want nothin' you could do.

- Your granddaddy's skatin' on thin ice.

- And you with him.

- Why me?

- If the police had a come,

your whole family be eatin'
bread and water right now.

- Jail food.

- I don't wanna go to no jail.

- Well, then the next
time they fixin' to go,

you got to use the smarts God gave you,

and get out of it.

- Yeah.

Oh, no!

Didn't you say that every woman needs

an apron to keep her dress
clean while she works?

- Apron around her waist,

and a song in her heart.

- Well, ain't I a woman
in need of an apron?

- You know, it don't seem right fittin'

seein' as all the work you do around here

you ain't got no apron.

- Wouldn't take much for Honey

to put together a apron for you.

- So I'm gonna get my own apron?

When, soon?

- Don't you go rushin' me.

An apron ain't made in a day.

You just have to wait.

- Wait don't do nothin'.

Now, didn't you say that
wait broke wagon, now?

Well, dear Jesus.

Do you see her blessin'
me out in my own kitchen?

Well, one of these days,
when the notion come over me,

you gonna have an apron of your very own,

but 'till then, you gonna have
to make do with what you got.

- She's full of fuss and feathers,

like a old setty hen.

Gonna sew her fingers to the
bone making you that apron,

and pester me to put up a
peg for ya to hang it out.

- You know, he's right, baby.

Jo Ann, you wrote this?

- Yes, ma'am.

- This is one of the best
compositions I have ever read.

Now, the people in here,
they're really your neighbors?

- No, I made that part up.

- Hey, Bobby.

How's school?

- I hate it.

- What's that?

- It's about Jo Ann.

- What'd the hell she do this time?

She in trouble?

Oh, my god!

She is gonna receive
an award at graduation

for her composition!

- What about Bobby?

Say anything about Bobby gettin' an award?

- No Foley's never done nothin' like this.

- It'd be better if Bobby was to get it.

- Well, he ain't.

It's my girl that done it.

She gonna be the smartest
Foley there ever was.

- No Foley ever made no
money out of bein' smart.

I'm really proud of you, honey.

- Thanks, Mama.

- Maybe when you grow
up, you can be a doctor,

or a lawyer, or somethin' like that!

- Maybe a teacher?

- Oh, a teacher's good.

Nothin' but smart, huh?
- Maybe.

Yeah.

- Get her ready.

We're going to The Joint.

- No, The Joint, Pa?

She don't even know anything about that.

She ain't never really been with a man.

- Well, it's time she started.

Tonight's just gonna be a looksie.

- What if I don't want to?

- Now, you do what I tell you,

or you'll be wearin' my slap.

And don't think you can smart mouth me

just 'cause you some kinda
fancy pants school girl.

You understand?

- Yes, sir.

Well, well,
look at what we got here.

- Ma'am.
- Ma'am.

- Now, Jo Ann, you stay here.

I'm gonna send some boys
out to have a look at ya.

You don't let 'em touch you now, you hear?

Okay?

♪ Early in the morning ♪

♪ I haven't slept at all ♪

♪ I've been sittin' on a barstool ♪

We was just
about drinkin' all day.

- Hi.

- Hi.

- So what you doin' out here all alone?

- I was about to ask you the same thing.

- I'm too young to go in.

- Yeah, I can see that now.

- And you?

- Well, I drove some friends here.

We're all waitin' to get shipped out,

and some of us needed
to blow off some steam.

They get a little drunk,
and I get 'em home.

- You're a good friend.

I think that that's about
the most important thing

a person can be.

- You do?

What makes you think that?

Well...

Oh.

- What's the matter?
- Just pretend like

I'm not here.

- Hey, soldier?

I'm lookin' Jo Ann.

Know her?
- No, sir.

- You're a fine boy, doing duty and all.

Keep it up.

Jo Ann!

The coast is clear!

- So what's your name?

- I'm Paul.

- Thanks, Paul.

- No problem.

♪ Oh, Lord ♪

♪ Oh, Lord ♪

- You excited about graduation?

- Sure am.

Oh, I can't believe it!

It's the most beautiful dress I ever seen!

I made it for ya.

When?

I never saw you workin' on it.

- When you was at school.

Well, here, put it on.

Hey, you're gonna wrinkle it!

You comin', Mama?

To the graduation?

- You want me to come?

- Yeah.

Sure, I'll be there.

I wish things would have
been different, Jo Ann,

but, well, they ain't.

- Look at her.

Over there.

And the Composition Award

goes to Miss Jo Ann Foley.

Congratulations, Jo Ann.

- How'd it go?

Is that your award?

Sorry I couldn't come.

Somethin' came up.

Now, don't get all in a mood.

I made you that dress, didn't I?

So you'd be the prettiest girl in school.

- You said you'd be there,

but you lied,

just like you always lie.

I ain't never
seen nothin' like it.

You are some kinda smart girl!

- And it all started
with letters in the dirt

out by the chicken coop.

That's right.

- Well, we got a little somethin' for ya.

What is it?

- A surprise.

Let me see!

Come on!
- Hmm?

Let me see!

Let me see!

- Here.

- Oh, Honey!

I knew'd it!

I knew you was gonna
make that apron for me!

Oh, and look at these flowers,

and these pockets.

I could fit a loaf of
bread in these pockets.

And my name.

Honey, my name.
- Mm-hmm.

- That's right, your name.

This is
the greatest gift ever, Honey.

- That's exactly how I
feel about you, baby.

And look a there, look a there.

Too Tall done put a peg up there for you.

Go on.

Thank you, Too Tall.

- No problem, no problem.

I'm gonna
keep my apron right here.

- Till you get a home of your own.

- I wished that this was my home.

- Baby.

Well, come on, y'all.

We gotta go.

We don't wanna be late.

Where is my pocketbook?

- The quartet is singing today,

and she don't wanna miss any of that.

- I ain't never been to church before.

- Then you's in for a double treat,

because them boys can really sing.

♪ Whoo-whoo ♪

♪ The gospel train is coming ♪

♪ It's coming around the bend ♪

♪ If you wanna get to heaven ♪

♪ Better get on board, my friend ♪

♪ Whoo-Whoo, she's coming ♪

♪ Cha-Cha, she's coming ♪

♪ The gospel train, she's coming ♪

♪ It's time to get on board ♪

♪ Now Jesus, he's the engineer ♪

♪ Disciples built the track ♪

♪ Saint Peter is the conductor ♪

♪ And there's no turning back ♪

♪ Whoo-Whoo, she's coming ♪

♪ Cha-Cha, she's coming ♪

♪ The gospel train, she's coming ♪

♪ It's time to get on board ♪

♪ The gospel train, she's coming ♪

♪ You can hear that whistle blow ♪

♪ The gospel train is coming ♪

♪ Time to bring your ticket too ♪

♪ Whoo-Whoo, she's coming ♪

♪ Cha-Cha, she's coming ♪

♪ The gospel train, she's coming ♪

♪ It's time to get on board ♪

♪ Got a one-way ticket in my hand ♪

♪ A smile upon my face ♪

♪ You need not miss me, Mother ♪

♪ In that big ol' heavenly place ♪

♪ Whoo-Whoo, she's coming ♪

♪ Cha-Cha, she's coming ♪

♪ The gospel train, she's coming ♪

♪ It's time to get on board ♪

♪ The gospel train, she's coming ♪

♪ I hear her ring that bell ♪

♪ Two toots if you're a Christian ♪

♪ And for a sinner, it means hell ♪

♪ Whoo-Whoo, she's coming ♪

♪ Cha-Cha, she's coming ♪

♪ The gospel train, she's coming ♪

♪ It's time to get on board ♪

♪ Whoo-Whoo, she's coming ♪

♪ Cha-Cha, she's coming ♪

♪ The gospel train is coming
and it's time to get on board ♪

♪ Rocks of ages ♪

♪ Why don't you clear for me ♪

♪ Lord, let me hide myself in thee ♪

♪ And let the water ♪

♪ The water and the blood ♪

♪ From thy wound inside which flowed ♪

♪ Be of sin, Lord ♪

♪ Be of sin ♪

♪ A double cure ♪

♪ Please save me from wrath, Lord ♪

♪ And make me pure ♪

- Never, ever feel that you are alone.

God knows.

God understands!

And never think that
Jesus has ever left ya.

Not for one second!
- No!

- And now, how do you know,

and how do I know, that Jesus,

Jesus understands my trouble?

- Tell us, Dr. Joe!
- Tell us!

- Just take a look
inside of your bulletins.

Take a good look inside.

Now, that is a man that
understands suffering!

That is a man,

that in his last days on Earth,

felt abandoned by everybody,

even God himself!

Praise the Lord.

- My God...

My God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Now, I don't know about you,

but I've said that a few times.

- Praise God!
- Amen!

- Said that, and a whole lot more.

Daddy!

Daddy!

- Daddy!
- Daddy!

- It'll be all right, yes, uh-huh.

I'll shoot you.

Come over here, old girl.

- You liked that music this morning, huh?

- I sure did.

- Let me show you somethin'.

What's this?

- It's a hymnal.

Every song we sang this
morning is in this here book.

- Even "Rock of Ages"?

- Page 32.

- That's right.
- Mm-hmm.

- You already know now how
to figure out the words,

and if you's a good girl,

maybe Miss Evelyn here will
teach you how to read the notes.

- You'd do that?

- Surely.

- 'Cause every woman needs
a song in her heart...

And an apron in her kitchen.

That's right!

- Now I got the song and the apron.

- Jo Ann, why don't you run outside

and see how Two Tall's
doing with that barbecue?

All right.

She's somethin' else, ain't she?

Mmm, she sure is.

Thank you.

You're awful attached to her.

Well, now, that's the truth.

- You think that's such a good idea?

- What do you mean?

- I know it's been tough on you

all these years since you lost the baby,

but don't you think you should

think this through a little more?

- Losin' my baby in childbirth

didn't have nothin' to do with Jo Ann!

- I don't mean to rile ya.

- I ain't riled!

- But she's white.

And a Foley on top of that.

- You think I don't know that?

- I'm sure you do.

But sooner or later,

there's gonna be a price to pay

for you takin' her in like this,

and it'll be high.

It's for you.

- Grandpa.

- Put it on.

We're going to The Joint.

- Where's Mama?

- We don't need your mama.

- I don't want to.

- Oh, come on.

It'll be fun.

Just you and me.

I'll teach you to play pool.

- I don't like The Joint, Grandpa,

and I don't wanna go there.

- Now, I bought the dress.

I spent good money!

- I like it.

It's nice, but I-
- Don't backtalk me!

Now, put it on, and let's go.

- I won't!

- Don't raise your

voice to me!

Get back here!

Think you're better than me, do ya?

Huh?

No!

Ow!

Ow.

Jo Ann!

Stay away from me!

- Honey got a crush on that quartet, boy!

Believe me.

- Just hush up, Too Tall.

Honey!

Honey!

Wait one minute.

Did you hear somethin'?

- Honey.

Honey!

- I did hear somethin'.

Honey!

Honey!

- Oh, look what they done to my baby!

Oh, honey.

Oh, my darlin'.

It's like you ain't payin'
no attention at all.

Just drop a child anywhere.

Oh, darlin'.

This is it.

This is all of it.

We got to take her away from them.

I ain't gonna let them keep
beatin' this child like this!

I ain't gonna stand for it!

I just ain't gonna stand for it!

Oh, my.

I ain't gonna take that child back.

- They're trash!

And that's the truth of it!

- But they're white.

- That don't make 'em right.

- But it does.

You know that you!

- You try and keep that child,

they're gonna take everything you have,

everything you ever worked for.

- You could start trouble for all of us.

- Y'all thinkin' about yourselves.

You ain't thinkin' about the child.

- We have to think about everybody.

Now, what's it gonna mean

when a poor black woman

go into a courtroom with
a white child, and say,

"I know better than her folks".

"I'm gonna keep her."

- They don't even want that child!

- And they never did!

We are the ones who love her!

- You're gonna set white
against black in this county.

That little girl's gonna be in the center,

and she is gonna get torn to pieces.

- I think Dr. Joe is telling us

that we'd do more good
staying in the background

and helping her when we can.

- And we'll be standing in the back

when they lower her in
her grave, Too Tall.

- Honey, it's the only
choice that we have.

- I can't send her back!
- Honey.

- I can't send her back!
- Honey, Honey!

Honey.

- You have such a pretty voice.

- Oh, I'm sorry, baby.

I didn't mean to wake you up.

- Will you teach me to sing like that?

- I surely will.

- You look sad.

- Some things even old
Honey can't make better.

- Like what?

- I got to take you back to
them wicked folks of yours

for the second time.

- What do you mean?

- Did you ever wonder

where that little cross
you wear really came from?

Yeah.

- When you was born,

I heard you cryin'.

And then I seen him lay somethin' down

by the side of the road.

Too Tall didn't want me
stickin' my nose in it,

but I knew somethin' was wrong.

I can't tell you what happened
when I looked in that sack.

You was lookin' at me
just like you knowed me,

and my heart burst open,

and the stars fell out.

I didn't know what to do
with you, so I took you home,

and that's when I gave
you that little cross,

and I gave you a bath,
and I wrapped you up.

And Too Tall, he just
worried me talkin' 'bout,

you can't keep her!

You can't keep her!

He was right then,

and he's right now.

I'm gonna have to take you back.

- But what if I don't wanna go back?

- Oh, baby, we don't get no choice.

You stay out here,

sooner or later, somebody
gonna come out here

and bring Too Tall and
me a mess of trouble.

I gotta take you back.

But this time,

we gotta be smarter than your grandpa.

You think we can do that?

- Sure.

- We may not have his strength,

but we got the brains to beat him, baby.

We can beat him.

We can beat it.

We're just gonna see about this.

I'm not gonna let him do you like this.

We gonna fix this now!

- Well, well.

- What happened?

- I found this child
wanderin' around in the woods.

She says she belongs here.

Somethin' bad done happened to her,

but she won't say what it is.

- Come on in the house, Jo Ann.

We'll fix you up.

- Must be some kind of a vicious animal

to treat a child like this!

- Thank you for your kindness.

- Least I could do.

- I'm glad that you've been there.

- It's a shame!

It's a dirty shame what
you're doing to that child!

- Now, that is enough, nigga woman!

You get along now!

- Yes, sir, Mr. Hank Foley!

Look like to me,

you done had some of that same stuff

that happened to that girl.

I bet the sheriff find
that pretty peculiar.

- I don't think the sheriff would believe

a thing you say, nigger woman.

- Well, I'm just an old woman.

But when you live long as me,

you sees things,

like a man layin' a newborn
baby by the side of the road

in the middle of the night!

It's a thing you'll never forget!

And I tell ya somethin'
else, Mr. Hank Foley.

I ain't gonna be still,

and let no more babies be hurt no more!

He done made me mad, now, Lord.

He's mean.

He's evil spirited.

He just beat that child.

I know vengeance is yours,

but when are you gonna start?

- I'm sorry, Jo Ann.

I'm really sorry.

- Did Grandpa take me
the night I was born?

- When you come out of me,

Mama was real happy for a second.

She said, "It's a girl, it's a girl!"

And then he come in.

When you come home,

I swore I wouldn't let nothin' else

happen to you in the world,

but I messed up.

I messed up many times.

You're better off without me.

You're better off with
that junk nigger woman.

- Her name's Honey.

- Honey, that's a nice name.

- She's gonna teach me how to sing.

- Is that right?

Well, you get some sleep now.

It's been a hard day.

Whatever I want.

- Come on.
- Come on, baby.

Gotcha!

Come on!

- Son of a bitch!

You can't leave, Hank.

What am I gonna do?

Who's gonna run the business?

Well, Bobby would have to.

And Marie goes too?

There's no other way.

If we can get across the state line,

everything will be all right.

Just give me some money.

Get the money!

Give her some too.

Why?

We can't travel together.

That's exactly what
they'll be lookin' for!

- Well, you can't leave us empty handed.

You'll look
after Jo Ann, won't ya?

Surely.

Lord have mercy, this is bad.

- Mama, are you leaving?

Hush, I got no choice.

- Well, can't I come with ya?

- No, it's too dangerous.

I'll send for you as soon as I can.

- How?

- Jo Ann, don't worry
about every little thing.

I'll go to New York.

I'll get a job there sewin'.

They pay really good there.

Maybe I'll get married.

But I'll send for you as
soon as I can, I promise.

- But Mama, what am I gonna do?

- Bobby will be taking you to The Joint

or some other places,

and you act like you like those men.

There's no harm in that.

Some of 'em are really nice.

- But Mama, I can't!

- Yes, you can!

That's just the way it is, Jo Ann!

- Yeah, well maybe for you,

but not for me.

- Jo Ann, you do what you're told,

and everything will turn out all right.

- Has everything turned
out all right for you?

I hope I never see you again!

Ever!

Mmm, mmm,
mmm, sure do smell good.

I
might've baked 'em too long.

- I'll be sure to let you
know if that's the case.

- What's the matter, child?

Why you cloud up like
that all of a sudden?

- My mama took off.

- Well, why didn't you
tell us about it right off?

- You know how she is, Honey?

She talk when she get ready to talk,

and not a second before.

- It's gonna get worse over there.

I have to make the money
my mama would've made.

- Well, what if you just don't go?

Don't go to The Joint.

- I guess I could try that for a while.

Grandma and Bobby are already
losin' patience with me.

We got no other way to make money.

- Well, what if you hide
out over here with us?

- They'd find me.

They always find me.

I just can't get away from those Foleys.

- I hate to say this,

but what kind of mother
would leave her child

in the middle of all that?

- Now, you just wait a minute, Too Tall.

Her mama tried.

Her mama was in the middle of that mess

over there too, you know?

- I'll never been that kind of mother.

- What kind of mother are
you gonna be, little darling?

I'm gonna be a mother

just like you've been to me, Honey.

And I'd be just like you.

- Let's eat this biscuits now.

We don't want 'em to get cold.

- Where is she?

- She says she ain't comin'.

- He's waitin' for you.

- I'm not going, Grandma.

- You gotta understand somethin'.

Sometimes a woman's gotta
do things she doesn't like

in order to get by,

in order to make it to the next day,

because tomorrow, the
thing you've been waitin'

your whole life for may happen.

But if you don't make it through today,

then tomorrow won't be there.

- But I don't want to.

- I'm not giving you a choice, Jo Ann.

If you don't go, we don't eat.

- Isn't there anything else we can do?

- If there was,

don't you think we would
have done it by now?

- That's right.
- Like you said, Pa.

♪ Too many women ♪

♪ So little time ♪

- Yeah.
♪ I'm still tryin' ♪

♪ To meet someone new ♪

- Now, just do as I say.

- Right.

♪ Sometimes I meet them
at the dance hall ♪

- Hey!

Jo Ann?
- Hi.

You remember?

- Oh, yeah, sure.

- So what you doin' here?

I thought you said, "This
wasn't your kinda place?"

- Oh, well, it isn't,

but I thought you might be here.

- You still driving your buddies?

- Oh, yeah.

But I just got discharged,

so this will be my last trip out this way.

- Hey there, soldier.

How are you holdin' up?

- Fine.

- Paul this is Bobby, my uncle.

- Is Paul your boyfriend?

- Shut up, Bobby!

- All right, I see how it is.

I'll be waitin' outside
when you're was ready to go.

See ya, soldier boy.

Yeah, just don't
spill your root beer

on your way out there, junior.

♪ Too many women, so little time ♪

- Your uncle?

- He's harmless.

♪ Too many women ♪

So did
you like being in the Army?

- No, not really.

Saw a lot of terrible things.

- Like what?

- Friends getting killed.

People's lives ruined.

You know, the first time we met,

I wondered if I'd ever see you again.

- Me too.
- Yeah?

- Bobby, get outta here!

Leave us be!

- Jo Ann!

That's not the way.

You're my own kind.

- Blood don't make you my own kind!

I've known Paul 10 minutes,

and he's better than you could ever be.

Bobby, get off of him!

Stop it!

Get off!

Oh, my god.

Ow!

Can you move?

- Yeah.

I know
someone who can help.

- There now.

You feel any better?

- Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

- I knew somethin' like
this was gonna happen.

- I don't wanna curse the family,

but the Foley's ain't nothing but bad.

- I can't take it anymore.

I mean it.

I gotta get out.

- Do you really mean that?

- I do.

If I stay there, it'll ruin me.

What am I gonna do, Honey?

Y'all take this here.

- Honey?

- Oh, I can't take that.

- Yes, you can.

You's gonna get us baby
outta trouble here.

We got some friends,

me and Two Tall, in Swanee,

and I'm gonna call him,

and tell him that y'all is on the way.

They got some good schools there.

I done been saving these here.

These is your school books.

You take 'em up there,

and show 'em how smart you is.

- Come on.

Let's get you a new shirt.

Maybe I got somethin' that'll fit ya.

- I probably won't be
seeing ya for a long time,

but I know, one day,

I'm gonna look down that road,

and I'm gonna say,

"Can this be that little child I took in?"

I know you're gonna be so pretty,

and a lady too.

Listen to me now.

God looks past all that pretty.

You got to be pretty,

but you knows that thing, don't you, baby?

- But Honey,

what if the Lord reaches down,

and takes you and Too Tall
from me before I can come back?

- Well, if that'd be the case,

I will just sit down on the
banks of the River of Jordan,

and I will tell Peter, I can't go,

'cause I got to wait on that little child

that ain't here yet.

- It'll be all right, Honey.

You'll see.

Now, don't you cry, because I love you.

I love you all to pieces, Honey.

- Baby?

Look up, and you'll
see me and old Too Tall

smilin' down at ya.

- Some day, Honey,

I'm gonna walk down that
path, like I always do,

and you're gonna see what a
good thing you've done for me.

And you're gonna see

that I turned out just
how you wanted me to.

- I know I will, baby.

I know I will.

You got to go now.

Go on.

Her apron.

She forgot her apron.

- Oh.

- I wanted her to have her apron,

and a fine home, and a peg.

Did your mother ever come back?

No.

Didn't really matter, though.

My real mother lived down this path.

I can't believe

you never told me any of this.

- You never asked.

I never saw much point of it until now.

You said something earlier

about someone you know,

someone who has less than you have.

- You heard that?

- You need to know, that
everything that you have,

everything that you enjoy,

was built on the hard work
of the people who lived here.

People didn't have your opportunities,

your choices,

but still, they found
a way to make it work.

Jo Ann?

- Elizabeth?

How are you?

- Oh, I'm fine.

Fine.

So you're here to start work on your book?

I sure am.

Oh, this is my daughter, Lydia.

Lydia, this is Elizabeth.

She's the daughter of Evelyn and Dr. Joe.

- Nice to meet you.

- The pleasure's all mine.

Well.

Paul?

What are you doin' here?

- Well, I thought you might need me.

Always.

Mm-hmm.

They sure did love them
some tea, didn't they?

- They did.

- I have something for you, Jo Ann.

Here it is.

- Thank you.

You take care of yourself.

- It's my apron.

Looks like a
lot of love went into it.

- That's true.

A lot of love.

♪ Let me hide myself in thee ♪

♪ Whoa-Oh ♪

♪ Let the water ♪

♪ And the blood ♪
♪ And the blood ♪

♪ From thy wound ♪

♪ Inside which flowed ♪

♪ Be of sin, Lord ♪
♪ Be of sin ♪

♪ A double cure ♪
♪ A double cure, yeah ♪

♪ Save from wrath ♪

♪ And make me pure ♪