Where the Red Fern Grows: Part Two (1992) - full transcript
An embittered WWII veteran returns to his grandfather's home in the Louisiana woods. The old man helps his grandson readjust by giving him two hound dog puppies to care for.
(Multicom Jingle)
(dramatic music)
(train horn blowing)
(upbeat music)
(train horn blowing)
(soft chatter)
(upbeat music)
- [Rainie] Billy, wake up.
(upbeat band music)
(excited chatter)
("The Army Goes Rolling Along")
- We're home?
- We're home.
(train horn blowing)
(people applauding and cheering)
(people cheering)
(upbeat music)
- [Sara] Billy!
- Sara!
- [Sara] Billy!
- Sara!
Oh, oh my God!
Look at you.
- [Sara] Oh Billy.
- Oh God.
- I missed you so much.
- Look at you, I leave
you alone for four years
and look what happens to
you, you've grown up on me.
Rainie when I saw her
last she was a skinny,
freckle-faced girl,
now look at her, golly.
She's a knockout, isn't she a knockout?
- [Rainie] Knocked me out.
- Wait, where's grandpa?
- Grandpa's not doing so good Billy.
- I wanna go see him.
- Let's go.
- [Billy] Well how'd you get here?
- I drove.
- You're driving now!
- Yeah, so next week I get
to take the training wheels
off my bicycle.
- God, okay.
- Say you mind if I catch a ride
to the bus station with y'all?
- It's okay with me if you don't mind
riding with a baby sister.
- Be my baby any day.
- You're Rainie Pritchard aren't ya?
- [Rainie] The one and only.
- That's Stumpy?
- That's Stumpy.
- [Rainie] That's what
they used to call me.
- Boy this place has sure built up
since the last time I was here.
So you're a college girl now, huh?
- If I don't get through this trig course
I won't be for long.
- What college are you going to?
- Centenary.
- Isn't that expensive?
- I'm on a scholarship.
- For what?
- Choir.
- Watch where you're going.
- I see him.
- Choir, they give scholarships for that?
(chuckling)
So, how come you haven't
asked me about my leg yet?
- What happened?
- Iwo Jima.
Caught a slug right below the knee.
I woulda bled to death if old Rainie here
hadn't pulled me to safety.
- They couldn't save it?
- They didn't even have time to try.
Not with all the casualties
they were tending to.
You know what that's called?
What?
Rainie you know exactly
what I'm talking about.
It's called triage.
- What's triage?
- Well let's say you
got a boy in a stretcher
with a chest wound and
in the next stretcher
you got someone else
with a severe head wound,
well the doctors are gonna
treat the chest wound,
because the poor sap that
got shot in the head,
well he's a gonner anyhow.
And if you've got a mangled leg,
well it's a heck of a lot easier
to take a hacksaw to it than it is
to piece it together again, that's triage.
And that's what happened
to my leg little sister.
And that is what the war is all about.
(dramatic music)
- I'm sorry Billy.
- We're home Billy, we made it.
So what's for supper Sara?
(snoring)
- [Billy] Grandpa.
Grandpa.
- Who's that?
- Hey, it's me, Billy.
- [Will] Billy?
- Yeah.
- Billy!
Oh my goodness my boy, good to see you!
How are ya, you made it home did ya?
Let me look at ya.
- [Billy] I did, I made it back.
- My golly, look at them medals
and stripes, and everything,
how in the world are you?
- [Billy] I'm good, how are you?
- Well I'm fine as frog's hair.
- Oh, that's not what I hear.
- Who's this fella here?
- Rainie Pritchard, sir.
- You remember Rainie, from back home?
We were in the same outfit together.
- He's the one that saved Billy's life.
- Why I sure do, welcome
here my boy, good to see ya.
- [Sara] Grandpa now, let's
not get yourself too worked up,
boys let's let grandpa.
- Now wait a minute, they just got here.
- You'll see plenty of them after supper,
now I'll bring yours in directly.
- You will not, I'm getting up,
I'm having supper at the table.
(upbeat music)
- Come on.
(laughing)
- Rainie let me get you
another piece of pie.
- No, no, no I can't, I'm full.
- Oh, come on you've only had two.
- Billy, will you do something
about your little sister,
she's killing me.
- I can't help you there buddy,
she's got a mind of her own.
- I'll have a piece of that pie.
- Grandpa, you know
you can't have any pie.
- You can't control the girl.
- Well I don't think she's all that tough.
- Well you just might be surprised.
- You never can tell.
Say, anybody know what time it is?
- I do!
Quarter to 9:00.
- The last bus leaves at
9:30, I better be going.
- Oh I can get you there, but
we'd have to leave right now.
- [Rainie] You don't mind?
- No, no, not at all.
- [Rainie] Sorry I gotta
eat and run partner.
- Well you want me to go with ya?
- [Sara] Oh, no thanks Billy.
- No, no, that's okay, I'll be happy to.
- No thanks, Billy.
- Nice seeing you Mr. Coleman.
- Good to meet you sir.
- Take care.
- I'll be back soon.
- [Will] You drive carefully you hear?
- [Sara] Okay.
- Well, what's the matter with you?
(scoffing)
- You're just gonna let her go like that?
- Why not?
- Grandpa, Rainie's my best
friend, but that doesn't mean
I like that fact that
he's with Sara, alone.
I've seen this guy in action,
and I don't mean the battlefield.
- I don't think you're
giving your little sister
enough credit, she's a
grown woman you know.
- I know, and that's what worries me.
- Don't worry, she can
take care of herself.
Now I'm going out on the
porch, why don't you bring
your coffee and come with me?
- Gosh, it sure feels good
to drive a car after all this time.
It's funny the things you
miss when you're away.
- I read your letter and
I'm sorry about your leg.
You know, they tell me
that the coon hunting
around here is number one.
- Is that so?
(chuckling)
Well, I haven't been coon
hunting in a long time grandpa,
not since I was a kid.
(soft music)
- Maybe it's about time
you tried it again?
- No, I don't think so, not with this leg.
- Billy,
you remember when you was a young fella
and you had a tough time saving
up the money for that dog,
what was it Red Boy?
- Old Dan and Little Ann.
- You remember how we
talked about you making
a deal with God, and how
if he held up his end
of the bargain you'd meet him halfway?
Did you do that, did you meet him halfway?
How do you know?
- 'Cause I got my dogs.
- No different now you know?
Just gotta meet him halfway.
Would you be at all interested in
looking and seeing what's out in the barn?
(chuckling)
- You better not have.
- Welcome home my boy, this
old man's going to bed.
- Grandpa, come on.
- What?
- I'm not gonna go stumbling around
in the dark just to check out the barn.
- There's a lantern
hanging right on the corner
of the house.
- [Billy] What about the yard is it level?
- No sir, it's bumpy,
it's bumpy all the way.
There's nothing guaranteed you know?
- You're messing with me old man.
(upbeat music)
- Well Sara, thank you for the ride.
And you take care of that
no good brother of yours.
- When will we see you again?
Billy would wanna know.
- Well that depends.
- Depends on what?
- If we're gonna go out Saturday night.
- Saturday, Saturday let me see.
- I'll pick you up at 8:00.
- Old man.
Oh boy I'm gonna drown you
if you're messing with me tonight.
(soft music)
(puppies whimpering)
(chuckling)
I don't need this!
(upbeat music)
(scoffing)
(chuckling)
Look at this.
Huh, look at this, yeah
you like that don't you?
Great.
You ready to go out, huh?
You ready to go out with me?
Come here.
I don't have time for this.
Come here you, come on.
(sighing)
Come on get back in.
You're gonna drive me nuts, no stay.
Get in there, get back down,
you're gonna drive me crazy.
Get in, come on.
There you go, get your tail off.
Get in there.
(chuckling)
I don't have time for this!
Come on.
(chuckling)
- Well he knew the trouble we went to
to get the dogs for you,
not to mention the money.
Think of all the clothes
I could've bought.
- Sara, I'm sorry okay, but
you should've asked me first.
I mean I don't want the dogs,
I don't need the responsibility.
Look, it was a very sweet
thing that you and grandpa did
but I just I can't have
it, it's not gonna work.
- It wasn't something me and grandpa did,
it was all his idea, and all his money.
- Well fine then, fine I'll pay him back.
- You're gonna break his heart.
Billy, just keep the dogs!
- Sara I can't, I don't know
how long I'm gonna be here.
I'm planning on sending
out job applications,
that might take me away from here.
Sara, I just, I have
to get on with my life.
I can't keep doing this.
- Then just keep the dogs
while grandpa's still with us?
- How long's that gonna be?
Sara, he doesn't look that critical to me.
- Well I know he doesn't look it,
but the doctors have given him two months,
three months at the
longest to live, who knows,
you may get lucky, he may
die before you get a job.
- That's nice, that's really nice.
- Okay, I'm sorry.
Just look at the dogs.
- I looked at the dogs all last night.
- Good morning sweet pea,
isn't she the sweetest thing?
Hello.
(soft music)
Just long enough for grandpa to see.
What are you gonna name 'em?
- Well the other dogs
were named Ann and Dan,
and they looked a lot like these two.
- Well then, why don't you
just call them Ann and Dan?
- I guess I could couldn't I?
What do you say about that Little Ann?
Huh, you like that name?
- I think she likes it.
- What do you think about Old Dan, huh?
What do you think about Old Dan?
I think he wants to get
back to bed, don't you?
Thank you for keeping him.
- Hey, let's go into grandpa's room,
let's wake grandpa up.
- Ah!
- Okay?
- Okay, all right.
- What's going on here?
What's going on here?
What's going on here?
Oh my goodness, that's a heck of a way
to wake an old man up
out of a sound sleep.
- I think they like him.
- Oh grandpa, you done it again.
All right guys, get the
coon scent, come on.
Get the coon scent, there you go.
Okay Sara, I want you to rub
this good in the ground first,
then drag it along,
and bring it around the
corner of the house.
- Okay,
like this?
- Right, even more.
Okay, and then go around and hide it
behind that pecan tree.
Let's just see if these mutts have
a nose on 'em old man.
Okay guys, here's the deal,
if you want me to train
you to be coon hunters
you better do your end of
the bargain, you understand?
And I promise to do my part.
But, if you don't turn out to
be as good as I used to have,
if you just wanna be a
bunch of lazy, flea bitten,
front porch biscuit eaters,
well, that's fine by me.
I won't have nothing to do
with you then, you understand?
- Homer!
(honking horn)
- Who's that?
- That's Homer Jeffries
and his boy Wilson,
they live up the road.
- Sara, you ready?
Okay, here goes nothing.
Go get it, go on.
Well if you clear a space
for them there on the porch
I'll just tell Sara to
go cook those biscuits.
- Come here, come here.
Come here, come here.
(upbeat music)
Slow down, come here.
(dogs growling)
Good boy.
Good, yeah.
Good boy.
- Old Dan, Little Ann, come on, come on.
Dan, puppy, puppy, puppy,
puppy, puppy, come here.
Little Ann, Little Ann
come on, come on let's go.
Little Ann, come here
girl, come here girl.
Good girl, good girl.
Good boy, you want another one?
You have to listen to me.
Come here, Little Ann, Little Ann come on.
Don't eat the flowers, come on.
Come on dude.
Come on Little Ann, Little
Dan come on, come on, come on.
There you go.
(upbeat music)
(happy chatting)
Come on, come on.
(both talking)
Go get it, go get it Dan.
You're gonna have to fight for it.
Fight for it, come on get in there.
You tired, you had enough?
Good boy, they're pretty good.
- [Sara] Good girl.
- Old Dan.
- Did he wear you out?
- Way to go.
- Let's go to sleep, let's get
a good night's sleep, okay?
All right get down and go to sleep.
- [Billy] You gonna be
nice to your sister, huh?
- [Sara] Come on.
- [Billy] No fighting.
- Now you go to sleep.
Get a good night's rest, give me a kiss.
Goodnight.
- [Billy] Watch out.
- Let your legs go to sleep, night-night,
go on to sleep Old Dan.
(soft music)
- [Billy] Tell me about choir.
I didn't know you had a good voice.
- I have a great voice.
- [Billy] Do ya?
What's your favorite song,
what do you like to sing?
- [Sara] Amazing Grace.
- [Billy] Oh, everybody
sings Amazing Grace.
You gotta stand out, you gotta be like.
- [Sara] I'm studying very carefully.
- [Billy] If you want to
stand out at Centenary
you gotta sing something
else like Stars and Stripes.
(upbeat music)
- Here, you tore my book for heck's sake.
Don't you have no wrecks on my bed here.
- Go, go team go!
(dogs barking)
Get up Dan, come on buddy,
come on, come on, come on,
come on, come up, that's right,
there you go, there you go!
Come on, come on Ann.
(soft music)
(people chatting)
- All right, I can get this, I've got it.
(chuckling)
- I'm sorry.
- You know those people act like
they ain't never seen
no one in a wheelchair.
- Or, with a gimp leg.
- Yeah, or with a gimp leg.
- And we were going up Mount Suribachi.
- Say, did you help raise the flag?
- No, no, I didn't get quite that far.
Anyhow,
all of a sudden, I mean from
all around, every direction.
- Both flanks.
- Both flanks.
My buddies were falling left and right,
and I caught one right below the knee.
And you know what the
funny thing about it was?
It wasn't even that
serious, it missed the bone.
- Triage.
- Yep.
- What'd you do that for?
What if somebody saw you.
- Well, what if they did little sister?
(upbeat band music)
- Rainie.
- Now, don't Rainie me little sister.
You know from the first moment I saw you
at the train station I knew
we were gonna be together,
and you did too.
And don't try and deny it.
Well you're not gonna try
and deny it now are you?
- Stop it, Rainie.
Rainie stop it or I'll scream, I will.
- Well now that won't be necessary,
if you want me to leave you
alone I'd be more than happy to.
- I don't want you to leave me alone, but.
- But what little sister?
- I wish you'd stop calling me that.
I don't want you to leave, but
I'm not that kinda girl.
- There's something
you've got to understand,
I'm not one of your little
fraternity boyfriends.
I've been to war, and I've seen killing,
a whole lot of killing,
and if there's one thing
that I learned you know what that is?
That life is short, very short,
it can be over just like that.
No warning, no tomorrow.
So if there's something
you want out of life
you've got to take it,
'cause it might not be there tomorrow.
And darling there's something I want,
right here and right now.
- [Sara] Rainie no, Rainie.
- Go on, run back to big brother, go on.
God!
- She doesn't have to Rainie, I'm here.
- Look Billy, your sister and I.
Billy.
Look, Billy I am not gonna fight you.
- Too proud to fight a
one-legged man, is that it?
- That has nothing to do
with it, we're buddies Billy.
- Yeah, you shoulda thought of that
before you messed with my sister.
- But you don't understand!
- I don't understand, I don't understand!
- Look, are you sure you
didn't catch some shrapnel
in the back of the head?
'Cause you're acting like a crazy man.
- [Billy] Oh yeah, I'll
show you crazy if I get
my hands on you.
- Go home Billy.
- [Billy] Come here.
- Go home.
(dramatic music)
- How long you been standing there?
- Just a little bit.
I'm very, very sorry if I
frightened you last night Sara.
I really am.
Well.
- Well, what?
- I said I was sorry.
- I got that, see ya later alligator.
You still here?
- Your bow.
- It's not a bow, it's a rag roller.
- That right there, that's that tendon
that's runs down along the inside.
- [Rainie] Hey Billy.
- It's a little sore isn't it?
Well, we'll fix that.
- [Rainie] Your dog hurt his leg.
- We'll put some of this on
it, time heals everything,
well almost everything.
- Listen Billy, I came by
to apologize to your sister.
- Did you?
- Yeah.
- Come on, let's put you
back inside your house,
you stay off that leg, you hear?
There you go, good boy.
Something I can do for you?
- I wanted to apologize to you too.
I like your family Billy, I really do.
I mean you grandfather, and your sister?
She's the sweetest,
prettiest, young thing I know.
- She's also a sweet, and
pretty young lady, Rainie.
- Yeah I know.
But I don't know how to treat her Billy.
I mean, you know the kinda women
I've been around the past five years.
I don't know how to treat a good girl.
And I didn't have any sisters growing up.
- Rainie come on, having sisters
ain't got nothing to do with this.
Sara wants to be treated
with a little respect.
To be treated as a different person.
What would your daddy
have done if he caught
another man being rough with your mom?
- He woulda killed them.
- [Billy] That's right.
- Billy!
Look,
we've been through a
long, hard fight together.
And even though our side
won I don't feel like
much of a winner, and I
know you don't either.
I mean all that pain.
The killing.
Just when you think this
world is this horrible,
terrible place to live
someone like your sister
comes into your life
and it doesn't seem like
such a terrible place after all.
- Well don't tell that to
me Rainie, tell that to her.
(dramatic music)
Want me to shoot him?
I'll be happy to beat
him up if you want me to?
- No thanks, but I'll
holler if I need you.
- Okay, you do that.
Rainie listen to me, okay?
I can't speak for Sara,
she's old enough to
make her own decisions.
But, if you treat her
anything less than the Queen of England,
Lord help me boy I'm
gonna put a hurt on you
kerosene won't wash off,
do you understand me?
- Yes sir, Sergeant.
Sara, listen.
- No, you listen, and
you listen good buster.
If you ever wanna kiss me
again, you ask me first.
And if I say yes, which I don't often do.
Then I want you to give me
a short, sweet, gentlemen like kiss.
Not one of those wet,
slobbery, bathe my face kisses.
- Like that?
- You didn't ask me first.
(sighing)
- Sara, may I kiss you?
- I suppose.
- Is that okay?
- Howdy neighbor.
- Howdy, how are ya?
Homer Jeffries.
- Billy Coleman, pleased to meet you sir.
- [Homer] This is my son Wilson.
- Hi.
- You know we only live just
a mile and a 1/2 up the road.
- Yes sir, I know, I've seen
you pass by a couple of times.
My grandfather speaks
very highly of you sir.
- Billy, how is he?
- Well, with all things
considering I'd say
he's doing quite well, thanks.
- Anyhow, the reason why I
stopped is to ask you a favor.
My boy here has been driving me crazy
to stop here and see if you might let him
take a look at them dogs.
(chuckling)
- Is that so.
(dog barking)
Well sure, come on down, be my guest.
- Wilson, just a couple of minutes now,
we gotta get into town.
- Yes, sir.
- Okay.
- How are you Wilson?
Pleased to meet ya.
- Redbones?
- You bet, you a coon hunter?
- You bet.
- You got some dogs?
- No, sir.
- Tell me something Wilson,
is there coom back in here?
- You bet, if you know where to look.
- Yeah, do you know where to look?
- Well, yes, sir, I go
hunting and trapping
just about every night,
and I do all right.
Do a lot better if I
had me some dogs though.
(soft music)
- You know I've been training these dogs
for quite some time now,
and I was thinking about
taking 'em out tonight.
You see, I don't get along
very well on this leg,
and I was hoping I could get some help.
Think maybe you'd like
to come along with me?
- Yes, sir, you mean it?
- You bet, why don't you go ask your pa?
- I'm so excited, I hope
they do good for you.
- Well being that it's their first time,
I'm not expecting too much.
Could you pack another
one of those please?
- [Sara] Oh sure.
- Thanks.
- Where you going?
- I'm taking the dogs
out tonight, first time.
You know your neighbor, Mr. Jeffries?
He stopped by today and
I asked his son Wilson
to come along with me.
- Oh, that's nice.
- Yeah.
- You're not gonna be too late.
- Well no, I don't think I'll be.
Why?
- Well, I think tomorrow
morning I'll go to church.
(chuckling)
- All right, would you
like me to go with you?
- Yes I would.
You too.
- Yes, sir.
- Good, well good hunting,
and goodnight.
- He looks really tired,
doesn't he look tired to you?
I mean do you think he's
gonna be up to getting dressed
and going to church tomorrow?
- I think it'd be good for him.
I was thinking about asking
Rainie to go to church with us.
- Hmm.
Gee, I haven't seen much
of my ex-best buddy.
Is everything okay?
- He is so nice.
Have fun.
Thank you.
- Be careful.
- Well, you look like you're about ready.
- Yes, sir.
- Hold this.
How is my gang doing tonight?
Little Ann you're looking
very, very pretty.
And Old Dan, you're the
dignified gentlemen, isn't he?
- Yes, sir.
- I'm counting on you
two, let's not forget
what I've been teaching ya, huh?
You ready to do a little
hunting tonight, huh?
- Yes, sir, Little Ann
looks about ready to go.
- Yeah, she sure is,
okay, grab your lantern.
Now, Wilson, hold on.
Wilson, see there very fired up?
- Yep.
- This is why you have to
listen to me at all times.
It's very important, hey, back!
You have to listen to me at all times,
that is first and foremost,
you understand me?
- Yes, sir.
- Okay, that's why I
invited you to come along,
to experience this, and the second thing,
you must remain quiet, okay?
Do not speak unless you're
spoken to, is that clear.
- [Wilson] Yes, sir.
- All right, now I was gonna
let you handle the dogs tonight
but you gotta be able to pull them back
whenever you have to.
- Yes, sir.
- You can't let them run
off on you like that.
- Yes, sir.
- Okay, come on back Dan.
Think you can do it?
- Yes, sir.
- Okay, you hold onto here.
And give me the lantern.
Hey, are you a good runner?
- Yes, sir, pretty good.
- Pretty good, come on
Wilson, this isn't a time
for laziness now, there's
a lot of endurance
involved in this.
Come on, suck in your stomach boy!
Pull back those shoulders.
You gonna be able to run with my dogs?
- Yes, sir.
- I can't hear you.
- Yes, sir!
- Let's do ourselves a little hunting.
Woo hoo!
Let's go!
That a boy.
(upbeat music)
Give 'em a ya-hoo every once in a while.
- Ya-hoo!
- You gotta work on that Wilson.
- [Wilson] Yes, sir.
(dogs barking)
(raccoon chittering)
- They got one?
- Sure sounds like it.
- What do you want me to do?
- Okay, I want you to
run as fast as you can
and follow 'em, and when you find 'em
you stay with them until I get there.
- [Wilson] Yes, sir.
- Okay, get going.
- [Wilson] Ya-hoo!
- Ya-hoo!
(dramatic music)
- Great, now what?
Mr. Coleman, Mr. Coleman!
(groaning)
- Damn.
(groaning)
(dogs barking)
(dramatic music)
Wilson!
- [Wilson] Sir, over here,
I'm just ahead of you.
- Come on I thought you
said you were a coon hunter?
You gotta keep moving.
- Which way?
- There, there are the tracks, that way.
That a boy, you gotta tough it out now.
Woo, way to go team!
Huh?
You got 'em in the tree?
Way to go team, okay let's
get the leashes ready.
Way to go Dan,
my boy!
(laughing)
How do ya like that, first time out!
- [Wilson] Now what?
- Well, looks like we're just
gonna have to wait 'em out.
Either that or cut down the tree.
- I've got my hatchet.
(chuckling)
- That little thing?
No, we'd be down here all week long
cutting this tree down with that.
You know?
When I was your age I used
to have a hatchet like that.
First time I went out coon hunting,
came up to a big tree like
this and I was cutting away
all night long, I got so tired.
(chuckling)
Grandfather gave me heck for it too.
We just have to sit down and wait 'em out,
that's the only thing we can do.
And that's liable to
take quite a spell too.
Let's see what time we got here.
Way to go team, I'm so proud of you!
It's 10:30!
I promised my grandfather
I'd take him to church in the morning.
- Church?
- Wilson, I gave him my
word, I've gotta keep it.
- But you gave your word to them too.
- I know.
- [Wilson] I'll stay with 'em.
- What, I'm supposed
to give you the rifle?
- Yes, sir.
- Have you ever shot one of these before?
- [Wilson] You bet.
- Well, you know Wilson there's no telling
how long this ringtail's
gonna stay holed up in here.
I mean you could be here all night long.
- Yes sir, but doesn't that also mean
it could be 15 minutes from now?
- Well,
you got a point there.
But it's more likely you're
gonna be here all night long.
Okay.
All right, now look.
This is not a toy, you understand me?
- Yes, sir.
- Now, hold it, put it in your hands.
Now you see here, this is the safety.
Okay, you keep that pressed in
when you're not gonna use it.
- Yes, sir, I know.
- [Billy] You do?
- Yes, sir.
- Now, you're gonna be here
awhile it's not gonna be
coming out in no 15 minutes
so, let's put you over here.
- Come on Ann.
- Let's get you comfortable.
- Come on.
- Come on.
Come on.
I bet you don't like
fried chicken much do ya?
- Hate it.
- Yeah, I bet.
Boy, you're making out
like a bandit tonight.
Got fried chicken, got my dogs.
Got a ringtail holed up there.
That looks pretty good.
- I'm starving.
- Say Wilson, I really do appreciate
you watching my dogs for me.
- [Wilson] No problem.
- [Billy] Okay you guys.
(soft music)
- Dan, Little Ann,
here you go.
Here you go.
(upbeat music)
(birds chirping)
(dramatic music)
(raccoon chittering)
(dogs barking)
What's happening, did it run?
(upbeat music)
(shot gun shooting)
Ya-hoo!
(organ music)
(dogs barking)
♪ Sing in exultation ♪
♪ Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above ♪
♪ Glory to God ♪
♪ In the highest ♪
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪
♪ Christ the Lord ♪
- We're going to honor
one of our oldest members
of our congregation, Brother Will Coleman,
let's give him a hand.
(all applauding)
Come on brother Will, come
on up here, come on up.
- Well I want to bring my grandson up.
He's just back from the
war and he's a war hero!
Come on Billy.
- Come on Billy.
- [Man] Come on Billy.
- [Man] Praise God!
- Brother Will, in appreciation
for what you've done for this church,
for the community and for the Lord's work.
We want to give you a small
token of appreciation.
We thank you and appreciate ya.
- Well thank you, thank you darling.
(upbeat music)
(dogs barking)
(screaming)
- Oh no.
(screaming)
- Hey, come back here!
(screaming)
(dogs barking)
- Come on Billy, we're on the trail again.
We're just about to get him.
- Wilson!
- Mom.
- [Mom] Where have you been young man?
- [Will] I'll go get them dogs.
- You better answer me.
- Coon hunting.
- Coon hunting!
- Yes, ma'am.
- Mrs. Jeffries I can explain everything.
- And where did you get that rifle?
- Billy gave it to me.
- Billy?
- Mrs. Jeffries, no, no Mrs. Jeffries.
Listen everybody, I'm really sorry about
what happened this morning.
(laughing)
- That wasn't your fault son.
- Well, I was partially
responsible for that.
- Well, if you ask me, Mrs. Jeffries
was completely out of line.
But she swings a mean purse boy.
(all laughing)
- Or when my leg landed in her lap.
(all laughing)
(soft music)
- Billy,
did you have a little bit of fun
out there during the hunting?
- Well, to tell you the truth
it's not like what it used
to be when I was a kid.
But then again, I'm not a kid anymore.
- Rainie and I have an
announcement to make.
- Well listen, as you know me and Sara,
we've been seeing a lot of each other.
And well, I've fallen in love with her.
(soft music)
And I was thinking if it was okay.
- Rainie's asked me to
marry him, and I said yes.
Gosh, I kinda expected
you'd be happy for me.
Well, aren't you gonna say anything?
- Grandpa, I'm gonna knock his head
from his shoulders with one
hand tied behind my back.
- Billy!
- I'm gonna help ya.
- [Sara] Grandpa!
- Does that mean I have your blessings?
(all laughing)
- [Sara] Grandpa!
- What is it honey?
- Grandpa, Rainie and
I are going into town,
can I bring anything back for you?
- No, no, I'm just fine, you go ahead
and have a good time, be careful.
- Feeling okay today?
- I feel just fine.
- Okay, you get some rest,
I'll be back in a minute.
- Feel like I'm kinda running out of gas.
- Son.
Your father and I have had
a long talk, and he feels
very strongly about this,
we're gonna let you have your own dog.
- A coon dog?
- No, but Mr. Davis down
at the dry goods store
has a brand new litter of chihuahuas.
- I don't want a stupid
chihuahua, I want a coon dog!
- Well, I am sorry sir,
but you are not going out
hunting coons with dogs, and
running all over the place,
and staying out there with a loaded rifle.
Wilson,
Wilson honey, I love you too much,
I'm sorry.
- Hello, is Mr. Renfro there please?
Mr. Renfro, how do you do sir?
My name is Billy Coleman,
I sent you my resume
a little while back, I was
in charge of my outfit's
radio operations, yes sir.
Oh you did, okay.
(chuckling)
Yes, sir I think I could start right away.
Oh no ca, no, I've been to California,
I stayed there a little while
when I was in the Marine Corps.
No, I'm sure I would,
I'm sure I'd love it.
But sir, this is happening a little fast.
My grandfather, he's not
feeling very well right now,
and I can't leave him at
this moment, yes, sir.
Well that's nice, I
really appreciate that.
No, thank you, and I'll keep in touch.
I'll let you know what's happening,
thank you for being patient.
Right, thank you sir, bye-bye.
Come here, Little Ann, come here.
Now you stay here, you
understand me Old Dan, stay.
I'm sorry, but you just
can't go with us this time.
I know you wanna go big
guy, but we just gotta let
that leg of yours heal.
(upbeat music)
Little Ann, come here girl, you stay.
How's my girl doing tonight, huh?
Ready to go, huh?
You stay Old Dan.
Okay, let's go.
Good boy.
- You gonna need to
double that wire won't ya?
- No, need to, now with
him, he can't figure out
how to open it anyhow,
now, if it was her, I'd
have to chain it closed
with a combination lock.
Of course you'd probably
figure out the combination
wouldn't you girl?
Let's go.
Where do you think you're going?
- Well, I'm going with you.
- The heck you are,
Sara would skin us both.
Don't be ridiculous grandpa,
you probably haven't been
coon hunting in over 10 years anyway.
Grandpa, I can't take you.
I'll tell you what, I will
make you the warmest pair
of coonskin slippers you ever had.
How 'bout that?
- I'd like that.
- What do you think you're doing?
- Like I said, I'm going with you.
- [Billy] No, you're not,
I'm not gonna let ya.
- How are ya gonna stop me?
- Don't make me lock you up
in the kennel with Old Dan,
then I'll have Old Dan and
old man, how do ya like that?
- If you think you can
put me in that kennel
with them dogs you just
get right at it mister!
I ain't had a good tussle in years.
- Grandpa come on!
Please, I don't want you to come, okay?
You're not invited.
Not invited.
Can't you take a hint.
- You're right you know,
I'm an old man, if you think
for a minute you'll have to wait on me,
don't worry about that.
You know I could out
run you in a foot race
before you was a one-legged smart aleck.
- Okay, fine, you suit
yourself, but I' am not
gonna hold up for you,
you understand that?
- You won't have to.
(dramatic music)
- You okay?
- [Will] I hope you're not waiting on me.
(Old Dan barking)
(owl hooting)
- Well, listen up now,
we let that coon dog
flat outsmart us last night,
you know it, and I know it.
But I feel different tonight,
tonight's gonna be better.
You just have to, well you
have to stick to the basics.
Pay attention to detail now,
and I know you can do it
'cause you've turned out to
be one crackerjack coon dog.
You know that?
You know you're on your own tonight,
but let's face it, you happen
to be the pair of the two
with the brains, good Old
Dan, what he lacks in brains,
he definitely makes up
for in determination.
Girl, come on.
You gotta stick with 'em you understand?
Don't leave there until you're done.
And I'll be right behind ya.
- I will too.
- Now, I might take a
little while to get there,
but I'll get there.
- And I'll probably be just ahead of him.
- Not a fat chance.
You gonna get me a coon tonight?
Are you girl?
Huh?
Go on, go to it girl.
That a girl.
Ya-hoo!
(Old Dan barking)
(upbeat music)
(Little Ann barking)
(Old Dan barking)
I think that old coon is fooling us again.
- Could be.
- How 'bout a breather?
(upbeat music)
(Old Dan barking)
Over there, you hear that?
- She's on to one son.
- Yep.
(chuckling)
Woo!
Dan, oh dag gonnit, how'd
he get out of there.
- Maybe next time you'll double that wire.
- No Dan, you big dummy, not that way!
I'll tell you what, you
go after wonder dog,
I'll go after Little Ann.
- I'll tell you what,
you go after wonder dog,
and I'll go get the coon.
- All right we'll flip for it.
- Heads I win, tails you lose.
Good luck with your dog,
and say hello for me.
I'm coming Annie!
I'm coming Annie get
the coon, get the coon.
(upbeat music)
(breathing hard)
(upbeat music)
(whistling)
- Dan!
Idiot.
(whistling)
Dan?
You see?
I was afraid this might happen.
Yep, sure was.
You just had to come along didn't ya?
You and grandpa.
Now what are we gonna do?
You can't walk on that can ya?
This is just great.
Lord, I'm stuck out here
with a crippled, dense,
hard-headed, aggravating animal!
Well now what?
Well forget it pal.
There's no way I'm about
to carry you outta here.
Man I'll tell you what, I'm gonna
put you down for a second.
Okay, let's set you down now, easy.
No, easy, easy, steady,
you okay?
Dan,
you are a load.
I don't think I'm gonna feed you
anymore biscuits from now on.
(Little Ann barking)
I knew it, you hear that?
Your sister's treed a coon.
(Little Ann barking)
I knew it.
(breathing hard)
Let's look at your leg.
It's gotten real sore.
I'll tell you what,
I don't know why I put
up with you so much.
Life just isn't fair is it?
That'll do.
Let me catch my breath before we continue.
Smell something?
What's out there?
You picking up on a trail are ya?
(upbeat music)
Hurt leg and all.
Awe, you're just kidding me aren't ya?
There's nothing out there.
(Old Dan barking)
Dan!
I wish you'd give me a warning, Dan!
Dan.
Dan!
Dan!
Where'd you go off to now?
Dan?
(soft music)
What the heck are you doing up there?
Dan, what the devil are you doing?
You just can't stay
out of trouble can you?
Listen, if you think
I'm gonna come up there
and bring you back down
again, you're crazy!
Dan, I mean it, get down from there now!
Wait, stay, stay right there.
Don't move.
I'll come and bring ya back down.
Dang it dog!
Lord.
I get my leg shot off in the
war, you'd think that'd be
enough bad luck to last
me a lifetime, oh no.
I gotta get a stupid dog
that likes to climb trees all of a sudden.
Wagging your tail like a stupid fool.
You don't know how much trouble you're in.
You sure know how to get
into trouble, you know that?
You certainly don't have the
brains in the family do you?
(Little Ann barking)
- What a good girl.
(laughing)
I'm proud of ya sweetheart,
you got him up there,
he ain't going nowhere,
let's go wait for Billy.
The old man's gotta get his air.
- Dan I need you to turn your head around,
just to look at me, okay?
I know you're surprised because
we're very, very high up,
and I don't wanna make you react more.
Just listen to me, okay?
Dan please, we gotta use
our heads about this now,
we're in a lot of trouble,
just listen to my voice.
I'm gonna come and get you, okay?
Just stay right where you are.
Dan please, Dan.
(dramatic music)
Oh my God, Dan, no!
(dramatic music)
Dan?
Dan?
Boy?
Dan.
Dan?
(crying)
♪ I'm better bred than old dog Trey ♪
(chuckling)
Who's coming?
Billy?
Bill, what happened son?
- Fell out of a tree.
- Oh my God.
Sit down honey.
Oh Dan, my God.
Are you all right?
(crying)
- You know grandpa.
(somber music)
I always thought I knew what fair was.
You taught me that.
When I was a boy running
through these forests I
learned how to trust, and care,
and believe
in life, I always have.
I've always done my part.
- Well,
it don't seem quite fair does it?
Your leg,
and your dog.
But you know, nobody said it
was gonna be fair, or easy.
Your dog done what he was bred to do.
I'm gonna tell you something now I learned
a long time ago son,
I learned that if you surround yourself
with living things, sooner or later
you're gonna watch 'em die,
and that ain't fair either!
Hell I don't know the answers,
I don't even know the questions.
I'm gonna tell you something else.
You know, you talk about these woods and
I don't know what makes these trees
turn green in the spring, and
shed these leaves in the fall.
And I don't know what makes
them creeks run downhill,
and I don't know what makes that dog crazy
to get a coon in the tree.
I don't know what that
is, whatever that is,
whatever that power is
it's a heck of a lot
bigger than me or you!
And I feel like sometimes
I have to give thanks to it
and call it God, I
don't know what fair is.
I don't.
But I know that dog gave his life doing
what he was bred to do.
And I know this one ain't dead.
She treed a coon you know?
I think it'd be fair if me
and you went and got it.
I love you my boy.
And I wanna help you through
this, and I don't understand.
Maybe I'm too old, maybe
I never was smart enough.
You oughta meet me halfway.
(crying)
Let's go.
Come on Little Ann!
Come on Little Ann!
- I'll catch up with you.
- Come on sis, come on.
Catch a coon, catch a coon.
Catch a coon.
(grandpa coughing)
Not now,
not now.
(grandpa breathing hard)
(grandpa coughing)
(grandpa breathing hard)
♪ But thou bidst me ♪
♪ Come to Thee ♪
♪ O Lamb of God ♪
♪ I come ♪
♪ I ♪
♪ Come ♪
(thunder clapping)
- Let not your heart be
troubled, ye believe in God,
believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions,
I go to prepare one for you.
And if it were not so,
I would have told you.
If I go and prepare a
place for you, where I am,
ye shall be there also with me.
Let us pray.
(soft music)
Father in the name of Jesus,
we thank you for Brother Will Coleman.
We thank you for the years
you let us enjoy with him.
And we ask you to prepare
a special mansion for him.
And thanks for all the good
things he did for people
while he was here, and for
the work he did for the Lord.
And we thank you and
give you all the praise
and glory in Jesus name, amen.
- Hello, Wilson.
Can I talk to you for a minute buddy?
Wilson,
I decided to take a job in Los Angeles,
I'm gonna be moving to California.
- [Wilson] Can't.
- [Billy] Why not?
- [Wilson] I don't think
they coon hunt out there!
(chuckling)
- Well, you might be right there.
And that's why it's
important to keep the spirit
of coon hunting alive back here.
So I want you to have Little Ann.
- [Wilson] I don't know if my
parents will let me, I mean.
- [Billy] Well, I think they will.
- Can I have her?
- You promise me you'll be careful?
- [Wilson] I promise mama.
- Okay.
(soft music)
- Now Wilson, ain't it great
having a dog like this,
it requires a lot of commitment
and a great deal of responsibility.
Now do you think you can handle that?
- I'll do my honest best.
- Hey girl, how would you like
to go home with Wilson here?
He promises to work with ya,
and take you out hunting.
And love her, and take care of her,
and you're gonna feed her biscuits, right?
Okay, 'cause that's
meeting her halfway Wilson,
that's doing your part, you understand?
You're a good soldier Wilson.
Little Ann she's one of the best,
I know you're gonna do right by her.
- I'll do my honest best.
- Go on, take her,
before I change my mind.
You be good to Wilson, you're gonna listen
to what he says, go on.
- Ya-hoo!
- Wilson.
- Bye, Little Ann.
(sighing)
(soft music)
(chuckling)
(crying)
- [Sara] Rainie and I are
going on up to the house,
you coming with us?
- Nah, I think I'd like
to hang around here
for a little while.
- [Sara] Okay.
(train horn blowing)
(dramatic music)
- [Billy] After grandpa died
I could still hear his voice.
- [Will] Billy, did you do that?
Did you meet him halfway?
- [Billy] Well, not exactly
grandpa, he found me.
And you know what else?
He's been there all along, for everyone.
Sara and Rainie got married in the spring.
Wilson had him the best coon dog ever was.
And Little Ann, she found
herself the perfect home.
And me, well I'm doing just fine.
And only the good Lord
knows, but maybe one day
he'll help me find another red fern.
♪ Somebody once said to me ♪
♪ That life's like a river ♪
♪ And there will be days when it seems ♪
♪ The water's too high ♪
♪ But don't feel defeated ♪
♪ When all your courage is gone ♪
♪ 'Cause just when you need it ♪
♪ You'll find the strength to go on ♪
♪ Look for somewhere in between ♪
♪ Where the river runs the deepest ♪
♪ That's where faith begins ♪
♪ When we come to him God
is willing to meet us ♪
♪ Somewhere in between ♪
♪ How many times have you
tried to reach past tomorrow ♪
♪ With so many questions inside ♪
♪ You can't face today ♪
♪ But just for a moment
try to believe once again ♪
♪ And before you know it you'll
find the courage to stand ♪
♪ For somewhere in between ♪
♪ Where the river runs the deepest ♪
♪ That's where faith begins ♪
♪ When we come to him God
is willing to meet us ♪
♪ Somewhere in between ♪
♪ Somewhere in between ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
(dramatic music)
(train horn blowing)
(upbeat music)
(train horn blowing)
(soft chatter)
(upbeat music)
- [Rainie] Billy, wake up.
(upbeat band music)
(excited chatter)
("The Army Goes Rolling Along")
- We're home?
- We're home.
(train horn blowing)
(people applauding and cheering)
(people cheering)
(upbeat music)
- [Sara] Billy!
- Sara!
- [Sara] Billy!
- Sara!
Oh, oh my God!
Look at you.
- [Sara] Oh Billy.
- Oh God.
- I missed you so much.
- Look at you, I leave
you alone for four years
and look what happens to
you, you've grown up on me.
Rainie when I saw her
last she was a skinny,
freckle-faced girl,
now look at her, golly.
She's a knockout, isn't she a knockout?
- [Rainie] Knocked me out.
- Wait, where's grandpa?
- Grandpa's not doing so good Billy.
- I wanna go see him.
- Let's go.
- [Billy] Well how'd you get here?
- I drove.
- You're driving now!
- Yeah, so next week I get
to take the training wheels
off my bicycle.
- God, okay.
- Say you mind if I catch a ride
to the bus station with y'all?
- It's okay with me if you don't mind
riding with a baby sister.
- Be my baby any day.
- You're Rainie Pritchard aren't ya?
- [Rainie] The one and only.
- That's Stumpy?
- That's Stumpy.
- [Rainie] That's what
they used to call me.
- Boy this place has sure built up
since the last time I was here.
So you're a college girl now, huh?
- If I don't get through this trig course
I won't be for long.
- What college are you going to?
- Centenary.
- Isn't that expensive?
- I'm on a scholarship.
- For what?
- Choir.
- Watch where you're going.
- I see him.
- Choir, they give scholarships for that?
(chuckling)
So, how come you haven't
asked me about my leg yet?
- What happened?
- Iwo Jima.
Caught a slug right below the knee.
I woulda bled to death if old Rainie here
hadn't pulled me to safety.
- They couldn't save it?
- They didn't even have time to try.
Not with all the casualties
they were tending to.
You know what that's called?
What?
Rainie you know exactly
what I'm talking about.
It's called triage.
- What's triage?
- Well let's say you
got a boy in a stretcher
with a chest wound and
in the next stretcher
you got someone else
with a severe head wound,
well the doctors are gonna
treat the chest wound,
because the poor sap that
got shot in the head,
well he's a gonner anyhow.
And if you've got a mangled leg,
well it's a heck of a lot easier
to take a hacksaw to it than it is
to piece it together again, that's triage.
And that's what happened
to my leg little sister.
And that is what the war is all about.
(dramatic music)
- I'm sorry Billy.
- We're home Billy, we made it.
So what's for supper Sara?
(snoring)
- [Billy] Grandpa.
Grandpa.
- Who's that?
- Hey, it's me, Billy.
- [Will] Billy?
- Yeah.
- Billy!
Oh my goodness my boy, good to see you!
How are ya, you made it home did ya?
Let me look at ya.
- [Billy] I did, I made it back.
- My golly, look at them medals
and stripes, and everything,
how in the world are you?
- [Billy] I'm good, how are you?
- Well I'm fine as frog's hair.
- Oh, that's not what I hear.
- Who's this fella here?
- Rainie Pritchard, sir.
- You remember Rainie, from back home?
We were in the same outfit together.
- He's the one that saved Billy's life.
- Why I sure do, welcome
here my boy, good to see ya.
- [Sara] Grandpa now, let's
not get yourself too worked up,
boys let's let grandpa.
- Now wait a minute, they just got here.
- You'll see plenty of them after supper,
now I'll bring yours in directly.
- You will not, I'm getting up,
I'm having supper at the table.
(upbeat music)
- Come on.
(laughing)
- Rainie let me get you
another piece of pie.
- No, no, no I can't, I'm full.
- Oh, come on you've only had two.
- Billy, will you do something
about your little sister,
she's killing me.
- I can't help you there buddy,
she's got a mind of her own.
- I'll have a piece of that pie.
- Grandpa, you know
you can't have any pie.
- You can't control the girl.
- Well I don't think she's all that tough.
- Well you just might be surprised.
- You never can tell.
Say, anybody know what time it is?
- I do!
Quarter to 9:00.
- The last bus leaves at
9:30, I better be going.
- Oh I can get you there, but
we'd have to leave right now.
- [Rainie] You don't mind?
- No, no, not at all.
- [Rainie] Sorry I gotta
eat and run partner.
- Well you want me to go with ya?
- [Sara] Oh, no thanks Billy.
- No, no, that's okay, I'll be happy to.
- No thanks, Billy.
- Nice seeing you Mr. Coleman.
- Good to meet you sir.
- Take care.
- I'll be back soon.
- [Will] You drive carefully you hear?
- [Sara] Okay.
- Well, what's the matter with you?
(scoffing)
- You're just gonna let her go like that?
- Why not?
- Grandpa, Rainie's my best
friend, but that doesn't mean
I like that fact that
he's with Sara, alone.
I've seen this guy in action,
and I don't mean the battlefield.
- I don't think you're
giving your little sister
enough credit, she's a
grown woman you know.
- I know, and that's what worries me.
- Don't worry, she can
take care of herself.
Now I'm going out on the
porch, why don't you bring
your coffee and come with me?
- Gosh, it sure feels good
to drive a car after all this time.
It's funny the things you
miss when you're away.
- I read your letter and
I'm sorry about your leg.
You know, they tell me
that the coon hunting
around here is number one.
- Is that so?
(chuckling)
Well, I haven't been coon
hunting in a long time grandpa,
not since I was a kid.
(soft music)
- Maybe it's about time
you tried it again?
- No, I don't think so, not with this leg.
- Billy,
you remember when you was a young fella
and you had a tough time saving
up the money for that dog,
what was it Red Boy?
- Old Dan and Little Ann.
- You remember how we
talked about you making
a deal with God, and how
if he held up his end
of the bargain you'd meet him halfway?
Did you do that, did you meet him halfway?
How do you know?
- 'Cause I got my dogs.
- No different now you know?
Just gotta meet him halfway.
Would you be at all interested in
looking and seeing what's out in the barn?
(chuckling)
- You better not have.
- Welcome home my boy, this
old man's going to bed.
- Grandpa, come on.
- What?
- I'm not gonna go stumbling around
in the dark just to check out the barn.
- There's a lantern
hanging right on the corner
of the house.
- [Billy] What about the yard is it level?
- No sir, it's bumpy,
it's bumpy all the way.
There's nothing guaranteed you know?
- You're messing with me old man.
(upbeat music)
- Well Sara, thank you for the ride.
And you take care of that
no good brother of yours.
- When will we see you again?
Billy would wanna know.
- Well that depends.
- Depends on what?
- If we're gonna go out Saturday night.
- Saturday, Saturday let me see.
- I'll pick you up at 8:00.
- Old man.
Oh boy I'm gonna drown you
if you're messing with me tonight.
(soft music)
(puppies whimpering)
(chuckling)
I don't need this!
(upbeat music)
(scoffing)
(chuckling)
Look at this.
Huh, look at this, yeah
you like that don't you?
Great.
You ready to go out, huh?
You ready to go out with me?
Come here.
I don't have time for this.
Come here you, come on.
(sighing)
Come on get back in.
You're gonna drive me nuts, no stay.
Get in there, get back down,
you're gonna drive me crazy.
Get in, come on.
There you go, get your tail off.
Get in there.
(chuckling)
I don't have time for this!
Come on.
(chuckling)
- Well he knew the trouble we went to
to get the dogs for you,
not to mention the money.
Think of all the clothes
I could've bought.
- Sara, I'm sorry okay, but
you should've asked me first.
I mean I don't want the dogs,
I don't need the responsibility.
Look, it was a very sweet
thing that you and grandpa did
but I just I can't have
it, it's not gonna work.
- It wasn't something me and grandpa did,
it was all his idea, and all his money.
- Well fine then, fine I'll pay him back.
- You're gonna break his heart.
Billy, just keep the dogs!
- Sara I can't, I don't know
how long I'm gonna be here.
I'm planning on sending
out job applications,
that might take me away from here.
Sara, I just, I have
to get on with my life.
I can't keep doing this.
- Then just keep the dogs
while grandpa's still with us?
- How long's that gonna be?
Sara, he doesn't look that critical to me.
- Well I know he doesn't look it,
but the doctors have given him two months,
three months at the
longest to live, who knows,
you may get lucky, he may
die before you get a job.
- That's nice, that's really nice.
- Okay, I'm sorry.
Just look at the dogs.
- I looked at the dogs all last night.
- Good morning sweet pea,
isn't she the sweetest thing?
Hello.
(soft music)
Just long enough for grandpa to see.
What are you gonna name 'em?
- Well the other dogs
were named Ann and Dan,
and they looked a lot like these two.
- Well then, why don't you
just call them Ann and Dan?
- I guess I could couldn't I?
What do you say about that Little Ann?
Huh, you like that name?
- I think she likes it.
- What do you think about Old Dan, huh?
What do you think about Old Dan?
I think he wants to get
back to bed, don't you?
Thank you for keeping him.
- Hey, let's go into grandpa's room,
let's wake grandpa up.
- Ah!
- Okay?
- Okay, all right.
- What's going on here?
What's going on here?
What's going on here?
Oh my goodness, that's a heck of a way
to wake an old man up
out of a sound sleep.
- I think they like him.
- Oh grandpa, you done it again.
All right guys, get the
coon scent, come on.
Get the coon scent, there you go.
Okay Sara, I want you to rub
this good in the ground first,
then drag it along,
and bring it around the
corner of the house.
- Okay,
like this?
- Right, even more.
Okay, and then go around and hide it
behind that pecan tree.
Let's just see if these mutts have
a nose on 'em old man.
Okay guys, here's the deal,
if you want me to train
you to be coon hunters
you better do your end of
the bargain, you understand?
And I promise to do my part.
But, if you don't turn out to
be as good as I used to have,
if you just wanna be a
bunch of lazy, flea bitten,
front porch biscuit eaters,
well, that's fine by me.
I won't have nothing to do
with you then, you understand?
- Homer!
(honking horn)
- Who's that?
- That's Homer Jeffries
and his boy Wilson,
they live up the road.
- Sara, you ready?
Okay, here goes nothing.
Go get it, go on.
Well if you clear a space
for them there on the porch
I'll just tell Sara to
go cook those biscuits.
- Come here, come here.
Come here, come here.
(upbeat music)
Slow down, come here.
(dogs growling)
Good boy.
Good, yeah.
Good boy.
- Old Dan, Little Ann, come on, come on.
Dan, puppy, puppy, puppy,
puppy, puppy, come here.
Little Ann, Little Ann
come on, come on let's go.
Little Ann, come here
girl, come here girl.
Good girl, good girl.
Good boy, you want another one?
You have to listen to me.
Come here, Little Ann, Little Ann come on.
Don't eat the flowers, come on.
Come on dude.
Come on Little Ann, Little
Dan come on, come on, come on.
There you go.
(upbeat music)
(happy chatting)
Come on, come on.
(both talking)
Go get it, go get it Dan.
You're gonna have to fight for it.
Fight for it, come on get in there.
You tired, you had enough?
Good boy, they're pretty good.
- [Sara] Good girl.
- Old Dan.
- Did he wear you out?
- Way to go.
- Let's go to sleep, let's get
a good night's sleep, okay?
All right get down and go to sleep.
- [Billy] You gonna be
nice to your sister, huh?
- [Sara] Come on.
- [Billy] No fighting.
- Now you go to sleep.
Get a good night's rest, give me a kiss.
Goodnight.
- [Billy] Watch out.
- Let your legs go to sleep, night-night,
go on to sleep Old Dan.
(soft music)
- [Billy] Tell me about choir.
I didn't know you had a good voice.
- I have a great voice.
- [Billy] Do ya?
What's your favorite song,
what do you like to sing?
- [Sara] Amazing Grace.
- [Billy] Oh, everybody
sings Amazing Grace.
You gotta stand out, you gotta be like.
- [Sara] I'm studying very carefully.
- [Billy] If you want to
stand out at Centenary
you gotta sing something
else like Stars and Stripes.
(upbeat music)
- Here, you tore my book for heck's sake.
Don't you have no wrecks on my bed here.
- Go, go team go!
(dogs barking)
Get up Dan, come on buddy,
come on, come on, come on,
come on, come up, that's right,
there you go, there you go!
Come on, come on Ann.
(soft music)
(people chatting)
- All right, I can get this, I've got it.
(chuckling)
- I'm sorry.
- You know those people act like
they ain't never seen
no one in a wheelchair.
- Or, with a gimp leg.
- Yeah, or with a gimp leg.
- And we were going up Mount Suribachi.
- Say, did you help raise the flag?
- No, no, I didn't get quite that far.
Anyhow,
all of a sudden, I mean from
all around, every direction.
- Both flanks.
- Both flanks.
My buddies were falling left and right,
and I caught one right below the knee.
And you know what the
funny thing about it was?
It wasn't even that
serious, it missed the bone.
- Triage.
- Yep.
- What'd you do that for?
What if somebody saw you.
- Well, what if they did little sister?
(upbeat band music)
- Rainie.
- Now, don't Rainie me little sister.
You know from the first moment I saw you
at the train station I knew
we were gonna be together,
and you did too.
And don't try and deny it.
Well you're not gonna try
and deny it now are you?
- Stop it, Rainie.
Rainie stop it or I'll scream, I will.
- Well now that won't be necessary,
if you want me to leave you
alone I'd be more than happy to.
- I don't want you to leave me alone, but.
- But what little sister?
- I wish you'd stop calling me that.
I don't want you to leave, but
I'm not that kinda girl.
- There's something
you've got to understand,
I'm not one of your little
fraternity boyfriends.
I've been to war, and I've seen killing,
a whole lot of killing,
and if there's one thing
that I learned you know what that is?
That life is short, very short,
it can be over just like that.
No warning, no tomorrow.
So if there's something
you want out of life
you've got to take it,
'cause it might not be there tomorrow.
And darling there's something I want,
right here and right now.
- [Sara] Rainie no, Rainie.
- Go on, run back to big brother, go on.
God!
- She doesn't have to Rainie, I'm here.
- Look Billy, your sister and I.
Billy.
Look, Billy I am not gonna fight you.
- Too proud to fight a
one-legged man, is that it?
- That has nothing to do
with it, we're buddies Billy.
- Yeah, you shoulda thought of that
before you messed with my sister.
- But you don't understand!
- I don't understand, I don't understand!
- Look, are you sure you
didn't catch some shrapnel
in the back of the head?
'Cause you're acting like a crazy man.
- [Billy] Oh yeah, I'll
show you crazy if I get
my hands on you.
- Go home Billy.
- [Billy] Come here.
- Go home.
(dramatic music)
- How long you been standing there?
- Just a little bit.
I'm very, very sorry if I
frightened you last night Sara.
I really am.
Well.
- Well, what?
- I said I was sorry.
- I got that, see ya later alligator.
You still here?
- Your bow.
- It's not a bow, it's a rag roller.
- That right there, that's that tendon
that's runs down along the inside.
- [Rainie] Hey Billy.
- It's a little sore isn't it?
Well, we'll fix that.
- [Rainie] Your dog hurt his leg.
- We'll put some of this on
it, time heals everything,
well almost everything.
- Listen Billy, I came by
to apologize to your sister.
- Did you?
- Yeah.
- Come on, let's put you
back inside your house,
you stay off that leg, you hear?
There you go, good boy.
Something I can do for you?
- I wanted to apologize to you too.
I like your family Billy, I really do.
I mean you grandfather, and your sister?
She's the sweetest,
prettiest, young thing I know.
- She's also a sweet, and
pretty young lady, Rainie.
- Yeah I know.
But I don't know how to treat her Billy.
I mean, you know the kinda women
I've been around the past five years.
I don't know how to treat a good girl.
And I didn't have any sisters growing up.
- Rainie come on, having sisters
ain't got nothing to do with this.
Sara wants to be treated
with a little respect.
To be treated as a different person.
What would your daddy
have done if he caught
another man being rough with your mom?
- He woulda killed them.
- [Billy] That's right.
- Billy!
Look,
we've been through a
long, hard fight together.
And even though our side
won I don't feel like
much of a winner, and I
know you don't either.
I mean all that pain.
The killing.
Just when you think this
world is this horrible,
terrible place to live
someone like your sister
comes into your life
and it doesn't seem like
such a terrible place after all.
- Well don't tell that to
me Rainie, tell that to her.
(dramatic music)
Want me to shoot him?
I'll be happy to beat
him up if you want me to?
- No thanks, but I'll
holler if I need you.
- Okay, you do that.
Rainie listen to me, okay?
I can't speak for Sara,
she's old enough to
make her own decisions.
But, if you treat her
anything less than the Queen of England,
Lord help me boy I'm
gonna put a hurt on you
kerosene won't wash off,
do you understand me?
- Yes sir, Sergeant.
Sara, listen.
- No, you listen, and
you listen good buster.
If you ever wanna kiss me
again, you ask me first.
And if I say yes, which I don't often do.
Then I want you to give me
a short, sweet, gentlemen like kiss.
Not one of those wet,
slobbery, bathe my face kisses.
- Like that?
- You didn't ask me first.
(sighing)
- Sara, may I kiss you?
- I suppose.
- Is that okay?
- Howdy neighbor.
- Howdy, how are ya?
Homer Jeffries.
- Billy Coleman, pleased to meet you sir.
- [Homer] This is my son Wilson.
- Hi.
- You know we only live just
a mile and a 1/2 up the road.
- Yes sir, I know, I've seen
you pass by a couple of times.
My grandfather speaks
very highly of you sir.
- Billy, how is he?
- Well, with all things
considering I'd say
he's doing quite well, thanks.
- Anyhow, the reason why I
stopped is to ask you a favor.
My boy here has been driving me crazy
to stop here and see if you might let him
take a look at them dogs.
(chuckling)
- Is that so.
(dog barking)
Well sure, come on down, be my guest.
- Wilson, just a couple of minutes now,
we gotta get into town.
- Yes, sir.
- Okay.
- How are you Wilson?
Pleased to meet ya.
- Redbones?
- You bet, you a coon hunter?
- You bet.
- You got some dogs?
- No, sir.
- Tell me something Wilson,
is there coom back in here?
- You bet, if you know where to look.
- Yeah, do you know where to look?
- Well, yes, sir, I go
hunting and trapping
just about every night,
and I do all right.
Do a lot better if I
had me some dogs though.
(soft music)
- You know I've been training these dogs
for quite some time now,
and I was thinking about
taking 'em out tonight.
You see, I don't get along
very well on this leg,
and I was hoping I could get some help.
Think maybe you'd like
to come along with me?
- Yes, sir, you mean it?
- You bet, why don't you go ask your pa?
- I'm so excited, I hope
they do good for you.
- Well being that it's their first time,
I'm not expecting too much.
Could you pack another
one of those please?
- [Sara] Oh sure.
- Thanks.
- Where you going?
- I'm taking the dogs
out tonight, first time.
You know your neighbor, Mr. Jeffries?
He stopped by today and
I asked his son Wilson
to come along with me.
- Oh, that's nice.
- Yeah.
- You're not gonna be too late.
- Well no, I don't think I'll be.
Why?
- Well, I think tomorrow
morning I'll go to church.
(chuckling)
- All right, would you
like me to go with you?
- Yes I would.
You too.
- Yes, sir.
- Good, well good hunting,
and goodnight.
- He looks really tired,
doesn't he look tired to you?
I mean do you think he's
gonna be up to getting dressed
and going to church tomorrow?
- I think it'd be good for him.
I was thinking about asking
Rainie to go to church with us.
- Hmm.
Gee, I haven't seen much
of my ex-best buddy.
Is everything okay?
- He is so nice.
Have fun.
Thank you.
- Be careful.
- Well, you look like you're about ready.
- Yes, sir.
- Hold this.
How is my gang doing tonight?
Little Ann you're looking
very, very pretty.
And Old Dan, you're the
dignified gentlemen, isn't he?
- Yes, sir.
- I'm counting on you
two, let's not forget
what I've been teaching ya, huh?
You ready to do a little
hunting tonight, huh?
- Yes, sir, Little Ann
looks about ready to go.
- Yeah, she sure is,
okay, grab your lantern.
Now, Wilson, hold on.
Wilson, see there very fired up?
- Yep.
- This is why you have to
listen to me at all times.
It's very important, hey, back!
You have to listen to me at all times,
that is first and foremost,
you understand me?
- Yes, sir.
- Okay, that's why I
invited you to come along,
to experience this, and the second thing,
you must remain quiet, okay?
Do not speak unless you're
spoken to, is that clear.
- [Wilson] Yes, sir.
- All right, now I was gonna
let you handle the dogs tonight
but you gotta be able to pull them back
whenever you have to.
- Yes, sir.
- You can't let them run
off on you like that.
- Yes, sir.
- Okay, come on back Dan.
Think you can do it?
- Yes, sir.
- Okay, you hold onto here.
And give me the lantern.
Hey, are you a good runner?
- Yes, sir, pretty good.
- Pretty good, come on
Wilson, this isn't a time
for laziness now, there's
a lot of endurance
involved in this.
Come on, suck in your stomach boy!
Pull back those shoulders.
You gonna be able to run with my dogs?
- Yes, sir.
- I can't hear you.
- Yes, sir!
- Let's do ourselves a little hunting.
Woo hoo!
Let's go!
That a boy.
(upbeat music)
Give 'em a ya-hoo every once in a while.
- Ya-hoo!
- You gotta work on that Wilson.
- [Wilson] Yes, sir.
(dogs barking)
(raccoon chittering)
- They got one?
- Sure sounds like it.
- What do you want me to do?
- Okay, I want you to
run as fast as you can
and follow 'em, and when you find 'em
you stay with them until I get there.
- [Wilson] Yes, sir.
- Okay, get going.
- [Wilson] Ya-hoo!
- Ya-hoo!
(dramatic music)
- Great, now what?
Mr. Coleman, Mr. Coleman!
(groaning)
- Damn.
(groaning)
(dogs barking)
(dramatic music)
Wilson!
- [Wilson] Sir, over here,
I'm just ahead of you.
- Come on I thought you
said you were a coon hunter?
You gotta keep moving.
- Which way?
- There, there are the tracks, that way.
That a boy, you gotta tough it out now.
Woo, way to go team!
Huh?
You got 'em in the tree?
Way to go team, okay let's
get the leashes ready.
Way to go Dan,
my boy!
(laughing)
How do ya like that, first time out!
- [Wilson] Now what?
- Well, looks like we're just
gonna have to wait 'em out.
Either that or cut down the tree.
- I've got my hatchet.
(chuckling)
- That little thing?
No, we'd be down here all week long
cutting this tree down with that.
You know?
When I was your age I used
to have a hatchet like that.
First time I went out coon hunting,
came up to a big tree like
this and I was cutting away
all night long, I got so tired.
(chuckling)
Grandfather gave me heck for it too.
We just have to sit down and wait 'em out,
that's the only thing we can do.
And that's liable to
take quite a spell too.
Let's see what time we got here.
Way to go team, I'm so proud of you!
It's 10:30!
I promised my grandfather
I'd take him to church in the morning.
- Church?
- Wilson, I gave him my
word, I've gotta keep it.
- But you gave your word to them too.
- I know.
- [Wilson] I'll stay with 'em.
- What, I'm supposed
to give you the rifle?
- Yes, sir.
- Have you ever shot one of these before?
- [Wilson] You bet.
- Well, you know Wilson there's no telling
how long this ringtail's
gonna stay holed up in here.
I mean you could be here all night long.
- Yes sir, but doesn't that also mean
it could be 15 minutes from now?
- Well,
you got a point there.
But it's more likely you're
gonna be here all night long.
Okay.
All right, now look.
This is not a toy, you understand me?
- Yes, sir.
- Now, hold it, put it in your hands.
Now you see here, this is the safety.
Okay, you keep that pressed in
when you're not gonna use it.
- Yes, sir, I know.
- [Billy] You do?
- Yes, sir.
- Now, you're gonna be here
awhile it's not gonna be
coming out in no 15 minutes
so, let's put you over here.
- Come on Ann.
- Let's get you comfortable.
- Come on.
- Come on.
Come on.
I bet you don't like
fried chicken much do ya?
- Hate it.
- Yeah, I bet.
Boy, you're making out
like a bandit tonight.
Got fried chicken, got my dogs.
Got a ringtail holed up there.
That looks pretty good.
- I'm starving.
- Say Wilson, I really do appreciate
you watching my dogs for me.
- [Wilson] No problem.
- [Billy] Okay you guys.
(soft music)
- Dan, Little Ann,
here you go.
Here you go.
(upbeat music)
(birds chirping)
(dramatic music)
(raccoon chittering)
(dogs barking)
What's happening, did it run?
(upbeat music)
(shot gun shooting)
Ya-hoo!
(organ music)
(dogs barking)
♪ Sing in exultation ♪
♪ Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above ♪
♪ Glory to God ♪
♪ In the highest ♪
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪
♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪
♪ Christ the Lord ♪
- We're going to honor
one of our oldest members
of our congregation, Brother Will Coleman,
let's give him a hand.
(all applauding)
Come on brother Will, come
on up here, come on up.
- Well I want to bring my grandson up.
He's just back from the
war and he's a war hero!
Come on Billy.
- Come on Billy.
- [Man] Come on Billy.
- [Man] Praise God!
- Brother Will, in appreciation
for what you've done for this church,
for the community and for the Lord's work.
We want to give you a small
token of appreciation.
We thank you and appreciate ya.
- Well thank you, thank you darling.
(upbeat music)
(dogs barking)
(screaming)
- Oh no.
(screaming)
- Hey, come back here!
(screaming)
(dogs barking)
- Come on Billy, we're on the trail again.
We're just about to get him.
- Wilson!
- Mom.
- [Mom] Where have you been young man?
- [Will] I'll go get them dogs.
- You better answer me.
- Coon hunting.
- Coon hunting!
- Yes, ma'am.
- Mrs. Jeffries I can explain everything.
- And where did you get that rifle?
- Billy gave it to me.
- Billy?
- Mrs. Jeffries, no, no Mrs. Jeffries.
Listen everybody, I'm really sorry about
what happened this morning.
(laughing)
- That wasn't your fault son.
- Well, I was partially
responsible for that.
- Well, if you ask me, Mrs. Jeffries
was completely out of line.
But she swings a mean purse boy.
(all laughing)
- Or when my leg landed in her lap.
(all laughing)
(soft music)
- Billy,
did you have a little bit of fun
out there during the hunting?
- Well, to tell you the truth
it's not like what it used
to be when I was a kid.
But then again, I'm not a kid anymore.
- Rainie and I have an
announcement to make.
- Well listen, as you know me and Sara,
we've been seeing a lot of each other.
And well, I've fallen in love with her.
(soft music)
And I was thinking if it was okay.
- Rainie's asked me to
marry him, and I said yes.
Gosh, I kinda expected
you'd be happy for me.
Well, aren't you gonna say anything?
- Grandpa, I'm gonna knock his head
from his shoulders with one
hand tied behind my back.
- Billy!
- I'm gonna help ya.
- [Sara] Grandpa!
- Does that mean I have your blessings?
(all laughing)
- [Sara] Grandpa!
- What is it honey?
- Grandpa, Rainie and
I are going into town,
can I bring anything back for you?
- No, no, I'm just fine, you go ahead
and have a good time, be careful.
- Feeling okay today?
- I feel just fine.
- Okay, you get some rest,
I'll be back in a minute.
- Feel like I'm kinda running out of gas.
- Son.
Your father and I have had
a long talk, and he feels
very strongly about this,
we're gonna let you have your own dog.
- A coon dog?
- No, but Mr. Davis down
at the dry goods store
has a brand new litter of chihuahuas.
- I don't want a stupid
chihuahua, I want a coon dog!
- Well, I am sorry sir,
but you are not going out
hunting coons with dogs, and
running all over the place,
and staying out there with a loaded rifle.
Wilson,
Wilson honey, I love you too much,
I'm sorry.
- Hello, is Mr. Renfro there please?
Mr. Renfro, how do you do sir?
My name is Billy Coleman,
I sent you my resume
a little while back, I was
in charge of my outfit's
radio operations, yes sir.
Oh you did, okay.
(chuckling)
Yes, sir I think I could start right away.
Oh no ca, no, I've been to California,
I stayed there a little while
when I was in the Marine Corps.
No, I'm sure I would,
I'm sure I'd love it.
But sir, this is happening a little fast.
My grandfather, he's not
feeling very well right now,
and I can't leave him at
this moment, yes, sir.
Well that's nice, I
really appreciate that.
No, thank you, and I'll keep in touch.
I'll let you know what's happening,
thank you for being patient.
Right, thank you sir, bye-bye.
Come here, Little Ann, come here.
Now you stay here, you
understand me Old Dan, stay.
I'm sorry, but you just
can't go with us this time.
I know you wanna go big
guy, but we just gotta let
that leg of yours heal.
(upbeat music)
Little Ann, come here girl, you stay.
How's my girl doing tonight, huh?
Ready to go, huh?
You stay Old Dan.
Okay, let's go.
Good boy.
- You gonna need to
double that wire won't ya?
- No, need to, now with
him, he can't figure out
how to open it anyhow,
now, if it was her, I'd
have to chain it closed
with a combination lock.
Of course you'd probably
figure out the combination
wouldn't you girl?
Let's go.
Where do you think you're going?
- Well, I'm going with you.
- The heck you are,
Sara would skin us both.
Don't be ridiculous grandpa,
you probably haven't been
coon hunting in over 10 years anyway.
Grandpa, I can't take you.
I'll tell you what, I will
make you the warmest pair
of coonskin slippers you ever had.
How 'bout that?
- I'd like that.
- What do you think you're doing?
- Like I said, I'm going with you.
- [Billy] No, you're not,
I'm not gonna let ya.
- How are ya gonna stop me?
- Don't make me lock you up
in the kennel with Old Dan,
then I'll have Old Dan and
old man, how do ya like that?
- If you think you can
put me in that kennel
with them dogs you just
get right at it mister!
I ain't had a good tussle in years.
- Grandpa come on!
Please, I don't want you to come, okay?
You're not invited.
Not invited.
Can't you take a hint.
- You're right you know,
I'm an old man, if you think
for a minute you'll have to wait on me,
don't worry about that.
You know I could out
run you in a foot race
before you was a one-legged smart aleck.
- Okay, fine, you suit
yourself, but I' am not
gonna hold up for you,
you understand that?
- You won't have to.
(dramatic music)
- You okay?
- [Will] I hope you're not waiting on me.
(Old Dan barking)
(owl hooting)
- Well, listen up now,
we let that coon dog
flat outsmart us last night,
you know it, and I know it.
But I feel different tonight,
tonight's gonna be better.
You just have to, well you
have to stick to the basics.
Pay attention to detail now,
and I know you can do it
'cause you've turned out to
be one crackerjack coon dog.
You know that?
You know you're on your own tonight,
but let's face it, you happen
to be the pair of the two
with the brains, good Old
Dan, what he lacks in brains,
he definitely makes up
for in determination.
Girl, come on.
You gotta stick with 'em you understand?
Don't leave there until you're done.
And I'll be right behind ya.
- I will too.
- Now, I might take a
little while to get there,
but I'll get there.
- And I'll probably be just ahead of him.
- Not a fat chance.
You gonna get me a coon tonight?
Are you girl?
Huh?
Go on, go to it girl.
That a girl.
Ya-hoo!
(Old Dan barking)
(upbeat music)
(Little Ann barking)
(Old Dan barking)
I think that old coon is fooling us again.
- Could be.
- How 'bout a breather?
(upbeat music)
(Old Dan barking)
Over there, you hear that?
- She's on to one son.
- Yep.
(chuckling)
Woo!
Dan, oh dag gonnit, how'd
he get out of there.
- Maybe next time you'll double that wire.
- No Dan, you big dummy, not that way!
I'll tell you what, you
go after wonder dog,
I'll go after Little Ann.
- I'll tell you what,
you go after wonder dog,
and I'll go get the coon.
- All right we'll flip for it.
- Heads I win, tails you lose.
Good luck with your dog,
and say hello for me.
I'm coming Annie!
I'm coming Annie get
the coon, get the coon.
(upbeat music)
(breathing hard)
(upbeat music)
(whistling)
- Dan!
Idiot.
(whistling)
Dan?
You see?
I was afraid this might happen.
Yep, sure was.
You just had to come along didn't ya?
You and grandpa.
Now what are we gonna do?
You can't walk on that can ya?
This is just great.
Lord, I'm stuck out here
with a crippled, dense,
hard-headed, aggravating animal!
Well now what?
Well forget it pal.
There's no way I'm about
to carry you outta here.
Man I'll tell you what, I'm gonna
put you down for a second.
Okay, let's set you down now, easy.
No, easy, easy, steady,
you okay?
Dan,
you are a load.
I don't think I'm gonna feed you
anymore biscuits from now on.
(Little Ann barking)
I knew it, you hear that?
Your sister's treed a coon.
(Little Ann barking)
I knew it.
(breathing hard)
Let's look at your leg.
It's gotten real sore.
I'll tell you what,
I don't know why I put
up with you so much.
Life just isn't fair is it?
That'll do.
Let me catch my breath before we continue.
Smell something?
What's out there?
You picking up on a trail are ya?
(upbeat music)
Hurt leg and all.
Awe, you're just kidding me aren't ya?
There's nothing out there.
(Old Dan barking)
Dan!
I wish you'd give me a warning, Dan!
Dan.
Dan!
Dan!
Where'd you go off to now?
Dan?
(soft music)
What the heck are you doing up there?
Dan, what the devil are you doing?
You just can't stay
out of trouble can you?
Listen, if you think
I'm gonna come up there
and bring you back down
again, you're crazy!
Dan, I mean it, get down from there now!
Wait, stay, stay right there.
Don't move.
I'll come and bring ya back down.
Dang it dog!
Lord.
I get my leg shot off in the
war, you'd think that'd be
enough bad luck to last
me a lifetime, oh no.
I gotta get a stupid dog
that likes to climb trees all of a sudden.
Wagging your tail like a stupid fool.
You don't know how much trouble you're in.
You sure know how to get
into trouble, you know that?
You certainly don't have the
brains in the family do you?
(Little Ann barking)
- What a good girl.
(laughing)
I'm proud of ya sweetheart,
you got him up there,
he ain't going nowhere,
let's go wait for Billy.
The old man's gotta get his air.
- Dan I need you to turn your head around,
just to look at me, okay?
I know you're surprised because
we're very, very high up,
and I don't wanna make you react more.
Just listen to me, okay?
Dan please, we gotta use
our heads about this now,
we're in a lot of trouble,
just listen to my voice.
I'm gonna come and get you, okay?
Just stay right where you are.
Dan please, Dan.
(dramatic music)
Oh my God, Dan, no!
(dramatic music)
Dan?
Dan?
Boy?
Dan.
Dan?
(crying)
♪ I'm better bred than old dog Trey ♪
(chuckling)
Who's coming?
Billy?
Bill, what happened son?
- Fell out of a tree.
- Oh my God.
Sit down honey.
Oh Dan, my God.
Are you all right?
(crying)
- You know grandpa.
(somber music)
I always thought I knew what fair was.
You taught me that.
When I was a boy running
through these forests I
learned how to trust, and care,
and believe
in life, I always have.
I've always done my part.
- Well,
it don't seem quite fair does it?
Your leg,
and your dog.
But you know, nobody said it
was gonna be fair, or easy.
Your dog done what he was bred to do.
I'm gonna tell you something now I learned
a long time ago son,
I learned that if you surround yourself
with living things, sooner or later
you're gonna watch 'em die,
and that ain't fair either!
Hell I don't know the answers,
I don't even know the questions.
I'm gonna tell you something else.
You know, you talk about these woods and
I don't know what makes these trees
turn green in the spring, and
shed these leaves in the fall.
And I don't know what makes
them creeks run downhill,
and I don't know what makes that dog crazy
to get a coon in the tree.
I don't know what that
is, whatever that is,
whatever that power is
it's a heck of a lot
bigger than me or you!
And I feel like sometimes
I have to give thanks to it
and call it God, I
don't know what fair is.
I don't.
But I know that dog gave his life doing
what he was bred to do.
And I know this one ain't dead.
She treed a coon you know?
I think it'd be fair if me
and you went and got it.
I love you my boy.
And I wanna help you through
this, and I don't understand.
Maybe I'm too old, maybe
I never was smart enough.
You oughta meet me halfway.
(crying)
Let's go.
Come on Little Ann!
Come on Little Ann!
- I'll catch up with you.
- Come on sis, come on.
Catch a coon, catch a coon.
Catch a coon.
(grandpa coughing)
Not now,
not now.
(grandpa breathing hard)
(grandpa coughing)
(grandpa breathing hard)
♪ But thou bidst me ♪
♪ Come to Thee ♪
♪ O Lamb of God ♪
♪ I come ♪
♪ I ♪
♪ Come ♪
(thunder clapping)
- Let not your heart be
troubled, ye believe in God,
believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions,
I go to prepare one for you.
And if it were not so,
I would have told you.
If I go and prepare a
place for you, where I am,
ye shall be there also with me.
Let us pray.
(soft music)
Father in the name of Jesus,
we thank you for Brother Will Coleman.
We thank you for the years
you let us enjoy with him.
And we ask you to prepare
a special mansion for him.
And thanks for all the good
things he did for people
while he was here, and for
the work he did for the Lord.
And we thank you and
give you all the praise
and glory in Jesus name, amen.
- Hello, Wilson.
Can I talk to you for a minute buddy?
Wilson,
I decided to take a job in Los Angeles,
I'm gonna be moving to California.
- [Wilson] Can't.
- [Billy] Why not?
- [Wilson] I don't think
they coon hunt out there!
(chuckling)
- Well, you might be right there.
And that's why it's
important to keep the spirit
of coon hunting alive back here.
So I want you to have Little Ann.
- [Wilson] I don't know if my
parents will let me, I mean.
- [Billy] Well, I think they will.
- Can I have her?
- You promise me you'll be careful?
- [Wilson] I promise mama.
- Okay.
(soft music)
- Now Wilson, ain't it great
having a dog like this,
it requires a lot of commitment
and a great deal of responsibility.
Now do you think you can handle that?
- I'll do my honest best.
- Hey girl, how would you like
to go home with Wilson here?
He promises to work with ya,
and take you out hunting.
And love her, and take care of her,
and you're gonna feed her biscuits, right?
Okay, 'cause that's
meeting her halfway Wilson,
that's doing your part, you understand?
You're a good soldier Wilson.
Little Ann she's one of the best,
I know you're gonna do right by her.
- I'll do my honest best.
- Go on, take her,
before I change my mind.
You be good to Wilson, you're gonna listen
to what he says, go on.
- Ya-hoo!
- Wilson.
- Bye, Little Ann.
(sighing)
(soft music)
(chuckling)
(crying)
- [Sara] Rainie and I are
going on up to the house,
you coming with us?
- Nah, I think I'd like
to hang around here
for a little while.
- [Sara] Okay.
(train horn blowing)
(dramatic music)
- [Billy] After grandpa died
I could still hear his voice.
- [Will] Billy, did you do that?
Did you meet him halfway?
- [Billy] Well, not exactly
grandpa, he found me.
And you know what else?
He's been there all along, for everyone.
Sara and Rainie got married in the spring.
Wilson had him the best coon dog ever was.
And Little Ann, she found
herself the perfect home.
And me, well I'm doing just fine.
And only the good Lord
knows, but maybe one day
he'll help me find another red fern.
♪ Somebody once said to me ♪
♪ That life's like a river ♪
♪ And there will be days when it seems ♪
♪ The water's too high ♪
♪ But don't feel defeated ♪
♪ When all your courage is gone ♪
♪ 'Cause just when you need it ♪
♪ You'll find the strength to go on ♪
♪ Look for somewhere in between ♪
♪ Where the river runs the deepest ♪
♪ That's where faith begins ♪
♪ When we come to him God
is willing to meet us ♪
♪ Somewhere in between ♪
♪ How many times have you
tried to reach past tomorrow ♪
♪ With so many questions inside ♪
♪ You can't face today ♪
♪ But just for a moment
try to believe once again ♪
♪ And before you know it you'll
find the courage to stand ♪
♪ For somewhere in between ♪
♪ Where the river runs the deepest ♪
♪ That's where faith begins ♪
♪ When we come to him God
is willing to meet us ♪
♪ Somewhere in between ♪
♪ Somewhere in between ♪
♪ Ooh ♪