All language subtitles for Miss Firecracker (1990)

Do you believe her hair?

She says she's
entering the contest.

Hell, she says that every year
and never has the nerve.

Hey, you, Mason head.

Lunch break's 45 minutes.

Hey, I got my eye on you!

Lookin' good,
Miss Hot Tamale.

- Ah!
- Excuse me.

Entrez-vous!

Hi, Miss Blue,
Mr. Drapper.

Well look, Carnelle!
What a coincidence.

Benjamin was just
sittin' here rhapsodizing

about your cousin Elain.

We were delighted
she's accepted our invitation

to appear at
this year's contest.

She's gonna be
delivering a speech,

entitled...

"My Life as a Beauty".

Yes, I know.
Isn't it grand?

But I'd...

Well, I'd like to register
as a contestant...

for the... contest.

- You would?
- Yes, sir.

But, Carnelle,

this contest requires a great
deal of preparation, you know.

It takes an enormous amount

of time and skill
just to develop a talent act.

Oh!

Mr. Drapper,
that won't be a problem.

I've been working on my talent
routine for the last five years.

It's very polished.

Ah.

I simply do not have the time.

Well, could you please recommend

someone to me that I can hire?

I really do require
some expert assistance.

Well...

I suppose you could
try that Popeye girl

I've just employed
to help with alterations.

She lives down by the river.

Oh, my!

So, um, you think you'll
be able to make my patriotic suit

for the talent contest?

Oh! I 'spect so.

Well, then, the job is yours.

- Thank you!
- You're welcome.

Now, um, I, I'm gonna be
needing this outfit right away.

I hope you'll be
able to work quickly.

Oh, sure. See, I've been making
clothes practically all my life.

I started out when
I was four years old.

I used to make
outfits for the bullfrogs

that lived out 'round our yard.

Bullfrogs! Ugh!

They's funny-lookin'
creatures, ain't they?

Hello, Nick!

I'd dress 'em up
and sell 'em as pets.

They make nice pets.

Well, I certainly hope
you don't think I'm ugly

looking like some
dumb bullfrog of yours.

- Oh, no, I don't.
- Well, of course, you don't.

I was just joking.

So long.

- So long!
- Bye.

Yeah! Ah-ha!

Hey, Mac Sam.

Well, wonders
never do quite cease.

Like now.

Mmmm! You look good.
Your hair looks nice.

I like that color.

Uh, it doesn't seem too loud?

Not a bit, sugar. Not a bit.

I had change...
I changed it for the contest.

I... I'm registered

to be a contestant
for Miss Firecracker Contest.

Yeah! Hell, that's great!
That's great!

Well, thank you, thank you.

- I got the three postcards you sent me.
- Uh-huh.

One from Milwaukee,

one from Jackson Hall,

one from Canoga Park.

You must go all over.

Well, I do work the carnival.

So... you're doing okay?

- Oh, sure.
- Yeah?

Well, I kinda got fired today.

Oh, yeah? What job?

Catfish farm.

Well, hell...
You won't miss it much.

No, I won't. I sure won't.

You still got that cough?
Didn't you go see a doctor?

Last year you said
you'd go see a doctor.

Relax, honey, relax. This life
of mine's strictly on the house.

Strictly a free roll
of the eternal dice.

Hey, listen.

I was almost
strangled to death

by my mama's
umbilical cord at birth.

It's the truth.

I spent...

three days all purple
and gasping for breath.

Now I'm tired out of gasping.

No, you're not.
Don't say that. Don't say it.

Hell, no.

Well, I still like
gasping at you, baby.

- You make me gasp real hard.
- I do?

Well, you sure do.

You make me want
to throw you around.

Come on, now. Come on.
Let's go for a whirl, huh?

Let's you and me
go for a whirl!

- Hello?
- Carnelle?

Oh! Oh, Elain!

Listen, honey.
I just wanted you to know

that I'll be there
sooner than I thought.

Oh, oh, wonderful! Perfect!

I'm in heaven!

And... please... um,

don't forget to
bring your red dress.

Oh, carnation, I don't really think
that old thing's what you want.

Oh...
Please, Elain. Um...

I have to have it.
It's exactly perfect. I do!

And I'm gonna make certain
to have plenty of Cokes

and cocoa and Red Hots
for you, when you come.

No. No, it was, um, Delmount...

...who always preferred Red Hots.
I prefer lemon drops.

Oh, yes, of course, I forgot.

Well... I'll get both

in hopes that Delmount
will return home, too?

I wouldn't put
much stock in that.

No one's heard a word from
him since he was released.

Oh, I sure wish we
knew where he was.

I'm concerned about him.

Well, I'm sure he's
scraping by somehow.

Yeah, that's a
pulverized one, all right.

That's a big size dog!

Come on,
move your butt, Delmount.

Got a lot more highway to cover.

Let's go! Let's go!

Busy day, busy day...
Another big carcass.

Move your butt, Jughead!

Hey! Take that shovel
an' scrape up that dog!

Hey, come back here and
scrape up that goddamned dog!

No! I'm tired of hiding
from my philosophical calling!

I have resources!
I have direction!

Destiny is mine!

God, you're crap, kid.
You got nothin'!

Zero, zip!

Aunt Ronelle would
just love all this.

I often told her how I
should move myself up--

Excuse me!

...how I just move myself up
to Memphis and become a model.

You live here with your auntie?

Oh, no, she died.
She had cancer.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Well, see, what she had was

this cancer of
the pituitary gland,

I believe it was.

So what they did was,
they replaced her gland

with the gland of a monkey to
see if they could save her life.

And they did, in fact,

keep her alive for a
month or so longer

than she was expected to live.

Well, that's good.

Of course, there were
such dreadful side-effects.

Mmm.

She, well, she started
growing long, black hairs

all over her body just,

well, just like an ape.

Gracious Lord!

- Are you about done?
- Mostly.

There!

Done.

Uh-uh!

And kick and
kick and kick and...

Dead.

Dead.

Both dead.

Funny, it seems like people
been dying practically all my life.

First, my mama passed,
when I was barely a year.

Then after a time, my daddy
couldn't stand me any longer,

so he dropped dead.

And then I got sent here,
to live with my Aunt Ronelle,

Uncle George,

and their own two children,
Elain and Delmount.

My cousin Delmount is wild!

Anyhow, we're
happy up until the time

when my Uncle
George is running out

to the tropical ice-cream truck

in the summer's heat,
and suddenly he drops dead.

I had a brother was bit
by a water moccasin

down the Pearl River,
and he died.

Well, you know, they say we
all gonna be dyin' someday.

I believe it, too.

Carnelle! Carnelle, honey!

Elain! It's Elain!

Elain!

Why, hello, my little carnation.

Oh, you really did
dye your hair, didn't you?

Don't you like it?

Well, it's just
as red as it can be.

Would you help me
with these bags here?

- My arms are just falling off.
- Oh.

Of course, of course.

Oh, Elain.

Did you bring the red dress?

I can't wait to try it on.

Oh... So, then, you
actually did enter the contest?

- Yes, I did.
- Ah.

It's the last year
of my eligibility.

Next year I'll be
over the age limit.

'Course... 'Course, I don't
expect to win like you did.

That's crazy.

I mean, the main thing
for me is gonna be

paradin' in that
red dress you wore

when you were crowned.

Oh, Elain. Mm... You know,
I forgot to tell you...

when I was--

You know what, Carnelle,
it really is good to be home--

Elain, this is my friend,
Popeye Jackson.

Popeye, this is my
cousin Elain Rutledge.

So nice to meet you.

Popeye's going to
be sewing my costume

for the talent section.
Um...

Elain's lending me
the beautiful red dress

- for the opening parade.
- Ah.

Oh, listen, Carnelle.
I'm sorry.

I thought you weren't gonna
be needing a formal dress,

for the preliminary audition.

Oh. Yeah. Yes, that's true.

We'll just need them
for the actual contest.

Oh!

Well, then, I thought we'd
just wait until after the audition,

see if you make
it to the contest,

and then we'd
send for the dress.

Excuse me.

Enter, please.

Hi.

I brought you up some
hot cocoa and lemon drops.

Your favorite.

How dear!

Oh, Carnelle, go look
over there on that dresser.

I have a little
remembrance I brought for you.

What?

Really?

You shouldn't have.

I just thought of
you when I saw it.

How elegant!

Aren't I elegant?

Oh, Elain, you're such a dear.
You're just perfectly perfect.

Now...

I know you're a little worried

about me being in the contest.

I'm not worried.

Well, you could be thinking
that I've ruined my chances,

'cause...
'cause of my reputation.

Oh, I don't know what you mean.

You're perfectly sweet.

It's just that
everything's different now.

I go to church now.

And I'm signed up
to where I take

an orphan home to
dinner once a week,

or to a movie.

People aren't calling me
Miss Hot Tamale anymore.

Everything's changed.

Listen, Carnelle...

I have some important
information to impart.

- I'm not just here on a visit.
- You're not?

No.

I've left Franklin.

What?

I can't believe it!

This is a sworn secret.

Not a single solitary
soul is to find it out.

I won't breathe a word
to anyone, I swear.

You see, I haven't
told Franklin yet and...

He still actually believes
things are bearable between us.

Gosh!

Aunt Ronelle said you
had it all up there in Atlanta.

Everything.
Just like a queen in a castle.

I know. I did.

I only hope I can
stand to give it all up.

We have such beautiful clocks.

Lemon drops first.

Excuse me, just a moment.

What a pleasure to see you!

So nice to see you, Benjamin.

Um, I... I must...
I don't... know I...

Oh, my tongue is tied!

That happens to me, sometimes.

Let me introduce you to
Reverend Mann and his wife.

Leticia, Preacher Mann,
This is Elain Rutledge.

I'm just so very happy
to make your acquaintance.

I'm so happy
to meet you, Reverend.

And this is my assistant,
Tommy Turner...

He's going to be
helping us at the pageant.

It's an honor.

Bless your heart.

Oh, y'all know
my cousin Carnelle.

Oh, sure. We all know Carnelle.

Elain, if you just come with
me, we've got a lovely pew

waiting for you in here...

Carnelle!

Woo-hoo! Carnelle! It's me!

- Hi. Is Carnelle home?
- No, she's not.

- I'm Popeye Jackson.
- Yeah?

This not my original name.
I wasn't born with it.

Actually, see,
what happened was,

my brother, Lucky, he threw a
handful of gravel in my eyes,

and it was stinging,

and then he give me this
little brown bottle of drops

to put inside my eyes,

telling me it was
drops for the eyes,

but, in fact, it was
drops for the ears...

causing this burning sensation

that made me scream out
and cry like the devil.

And I got me some glasses,

and my eyes
bulged out a little bit.

Folks were just
calling me Popeye.

And the name kinda
stuck with me. Popeye.

That's how I got the name.

It's a very tragic tale.

Oh, no.

Actually, the
fortunate part of it is,

I can now hear voices
through my eyes.

Through your eyes?

Every now and then,
I hear 'em laughing and carrying on.

I'm very busy here,
so please excuse me.

Oh... Okay.

What I'll do is
I'll call Franklin

and have him send the red dress.

That way, I'll have it,
in case it needs alterations.

Why, Elain Rutledge!

What are you doin' back in town?

Why, Clara Archer!

What a surprise.
I'll go talk to her.

Come over here
and kiss my new baby.

This is Willy.
This is Elain.

Mwah!

- How many does that make?
- Seven.

It is so good to see you!

Delmount!

Oh, child.

Look at you! What, are
you trying to look like

a bareback ride at the
Schuler Traveling Carnival Show?

- You don't like it?
- Hardly, honey! Hardly!

Carnelle!

Clara Archer wants an autograph,
so I guess I better...

Bitch!

Delmount?

What's the matter with you?
Are you still insane?

I'm not speaking to you.
I'm not...

- What is going on? What is it?
- Don't ask me.

Oh, no, no, no.
Don't ask her.

She would never tell.

The beautiful, the sweet,
the perfect Elain Rutledge

refused to help her own brother

get out of a dirty
lunatic asylum!

It was clean!

It was cheerful, it was the most
expensive money could buy.

Oh, what's wrong?
Tell me, please.

It's all quite simple,
child of mine.

They would have released me
after two months' time,

into Mrs. Rutledge's
loving custody

as she is my next of kin.

But she wouldn't have me.

She wouldn't sign the papers.

Please, Delmount, we thought
you needed professional help.

And Franklin thought...

Franklin! That troglodyte
with his Antediluvian brain!

I'd like to paste
that doughball!

Honestly, Delmount!

If it wasn't for Franklin,

you'd be rotting
away in a jail cell

instead of that
cheerful hospital.

You did commit
a violent act.

You hit the poor man
in the face with a bottle.

I challenged that man to a duel.

I can't help it if the weapons
he chose was broken bottles.

See? See?
That is not reasonable behavior!

It is not!
Just listen to you...

It's no wonder
you've had bad dreams.

It's no wonder.

Rub my face in it,
why don't you? Go ahead.

Just rub my face right in it.

Damn you, Delmount.

You always bring out
the worst in me.

You always have!

Have you got a dime?

Here.

Blow on it.
Blow on it!

♪ When we kiss,
my heart's on fire ♪

Delmount!

♪ Burning with a
strange desire ♪

Hi, Delmount.

When did you get back?

Recently.

Well, Tessy sure has
missed you a whole lot.

I have not!

You never shut up talking
about how cute his hair is.

She just loves how it sticks up.

She's a liar!
Liar!

So... we heard you were waiting
tables over in Tallahassee.

Was it terribly exciting?

Oh, yes, tell us all about it.
Everything!

Please, don't make
me treat you like dogs.

I don't wanna treat
you like common dogs.

Why'd you bring us over here?

I've never been so...

I feel sorry for ugly girls.
I really do.

Yeah?

Listen, little child of mine...

About the house
you're living in...

Yep?

Well, Mr. J.R. Biggs
has wanted the place

since the death of
my mama, the monkey.

See, his grandfather
built the atrocity,

and he wants it
back in the family.

But you wouldn't
sell that house.

You swore it on my heart.

I need the money.

But me... I live there!
I live in that house!

Where would I go?
What would I do?

- I've never been on my own...
- Shh.

- I got no job.
- Shut up.

- They fired me.
- Shut up...

before I break your neck!

I'm gonna give you
half of whatever I make.

That way, you can go
wherever you want to go.

Get out of this town for good.

But Delmount... I never thought
about leaving Yazoo City.

Well, think about it.

Never been anything here
for you but misery and sorrow.

Yes, that's true,
but still, I don't know.

Maybe if I could...
I don't know.

If I could just win first prize,

then I could leave this town
in a blaze of glory.

Yeah.

Shh... Wake up, you're
havin' a bad dream.

Oh, Dely! Come on,
it's only a dream.

It's okay. It's okay, Dely,
it's just a dream.

Oh, God...

Shh...

It was just a dream.
It's only a dream, Dely...

Poor Dely... Shh...

But it doesn't matter if I win or lose...

I still have God.

Caroline Jefferson sure is pretty.

Yeah, except
for them yellow teeth!

Stop!

Hi.

Delmount, his hair is wild.

Wild.

- Don't you think it's wild?
- What?

And his eyes, they're
like a blue lightning bolt!

Gather round! Girls!

Miss Blue.

Good luck, honey.
Come on.

Remember, contestants...

Projection, poise, moral values,

and beauty... are equally
as important as talents.

I see a lot of
pretty girls here today.

A lot of hopeful faces.

But remember, five of you,
and only five of you,

will make it to
the final pageant.

And only one of those five will
be crowned "Miss Firecracker".

Now, whoever wins
that very coveted crown,

must somehow stand out
above all the rest.

She must have that...
special "Firecracker" spark

the judges will be looking for.

Then, and only then,
will victory be hers.

Oh, Delmount, did Miss Blue
call about the contest?

Carnelle, I told you
20 times in the car,

they will not be calling
until later this evening.

Their calculator's broke,

they're adding it
all up in their heads.

I know,
but I'm just so fired up!

Oh, Delmount, I did good.

I'm gonna call Franklin again

and see if he found

- Elain's red dress...
- Carnelle!

Franklin told you
he would call you

when he found the dress.

There is no need to disturb him.

Okay!

But I can see
I'm gonna be needing it

for the opening parade
of Firecrackers.

I can see
I'm gonna be needing it.

She really do well?

I don't know!

I went out to get some air,
and I missed her act.

That girl has been
torturing my nerves

with all that hyper-energy!

Could you please
get her out of here

so I could get some peace?

Wow! Man, oh, man, oh, man,

the Biggs are rich!

I sure hope she gives us
a lot of money for our house.

- We need that money.
- Uh, listen, um...

I'll handle the rest
of this transaction.

You wait here.

Well... all right.

I just hope him bein' dead's
not gonna screw things up.

Not in the least,
I assure you.

Uh, excuse me, I'm here
to see Mrs. J.R. Biggs.

Excuse me, I'm here to
speak with Mrs. J.R. Biggs.

It's a matter
of some importance.

- I'm Mrs. Biggs.
- Ah!

What is this intrusion?

Mrs. Biggs,
I am Delmount Williams.

We spoke on the phone
regarding the house

on West Chippewa,

that your husband's
grandfather erected.

Oh, yes, of course!

Oh, ladies,
please welcome Mr. Williams.

He has graciously
offered to donate

his quaint little house
to our chapter

of the Women's
Historical Society.

Excuse me, did you say,
"donate"?

Wow!

Carnelle Scott!

Ronnie Wayne, hi.

What a coinkydink!

What the hell
are you doin' here?

Oh, me and my cousin are
conducting some business affairs

with Mrs. J.R. Biggs.

It's concerning our property.

Yeah?

Uh-huh.

Mm-hmm.

So, uh... you look different.

It's my hair. Duh.
I colored it red.

Yeah... yeah. I see.

Get him out of here!
Out! Out!

Carnelle!

Carnelle, let's get outta here!
These people are crazy!

Did you actually believe I
would buy that rat-ridden shack

- you call a house?
- Shut up.

Why, my husband's
as crazy as you were

for even suggesting such a...
a twisted preposition!

Inside! Back! Out!

I'll get it, I'll get it!
I know it's for me!

Hello? Oh, Franklin...

Did you...
did you find the red dress?

Oh, no, how awful!

Well, have you
searched for it everywhere?

But every, everywhere?

- Psst! Carnelle...
- Oh.

Tell Franklin I thank
him for the roses.

He's really outdone
himself this time.

Oh... okay.

Franklin, Elain thanks you
for all the roses.

Okay, I will, bye-bye.

So... did anybody call?

Not a soul, I'm afraid.

Okay.

Franklin told me to
tell you that he adores you

and begs you to come home.

Swine! Puss-head!
Him and his worm-like torso!

Oh, really, Delmount,
you're insufferable.

Oh, my God...
you look beautiful.

Just like a corpse.

Why don't you crawl
back to your coffin?

- You vile toad!
- I knew it!

I knew it!
You're not leaving him!

You didn't mean it!

I meant it!
I said it!

You know,
all you want is

for everyone to
think you're perfect!

Perfectly dull!

Well, at least,
I'm not being destructive.

What did you do
over at Mrs. J.R. Biggs?

Her attorney's been calling
to try and have you arrested!

I didn't do a thing to
that emaciated crow!

Let her caw all she wants.

Ha!

Mama always loved
you ten times better than me.

Oh, God! Here we go!

Well, everybody
always thought she was.

Till the day she died,
people were saying she...

Hello?

Oh... Yes, he is.

Would you like to talk to him?

- Just a minute...
- You shut up!

- You shut up!
- You shut up!

Delmount, it's for you.

Yeah, this is Delmount Williams.

I beg your pardon?

Don't you threaten me!

I'll pulverize
your entire bein'!

I'll throw your
eyeballs to the hounds,

you stupid warthog!

That was them, wasn't it?

Mrs. J.R. Biggs' attorney.
Imagine, castigating me!

Goddamn, those imbeciles!

I'm selling this wretched house
if I have to give it away!

That's right,
just give it away!

After all, Mama left it to you,
and only you.

- She left nothin' to me.
- Aw!

I don't understand it,
I tried so hard

- to please Mama...
- You tried too hard!

Oh, I despise you,
you irresponsible dolt!

- Hello?
- It's the doorbell!

- Oh. It's the orphan!
- What orphan?

Oh, Carnelle feeds orphans.

Well, here it is.

Look, I gotta run, fix up
that tuna noodle casserole...

Damn...

What time were they
supposed to have called by?

Six o'clock.
It's after seven now.

- Good meal.
- Excellent!

Marvelous.

Well, I guess I better go
and start up the dishes, then.

Tuna noodle really
sticks to your plates.

Hello?

Oh, Ronnie... just fine.

No, I wouldn't...

'Cause I don't go driving
around like that anymore.

I'm a respectable person.

Don't you call me that.

Don't say that!
I would not!

Why... Why, I'd rather...
I'd rather eat poison

than even spit on a
low-life scum such as you.

I hate all your guts,
and don't forget it!

Good-bye!

Wasn't Carnelle's
casserole just delicious?

Mmm.

Listen, I guess it doesn't
matter about not finding...

...not finding that red dress.

You should
consider yourself lucky.

That type of false
pageantry is way beneath you.

Yes, it is...

Since it's been integrated,

the quality of the contest has
really gone down, down, down.

Why it's nothing
but a garish display

of painted-up prancing pigs.
That's all there is to it.

Well...

the main thing
is it was gonna be,

I don't know, visible proof...

And I would have liked
to ride on a float

and wave out to people.

Carnelle!

All this is just gonna help
build up your character!

Remember,
the more Mama suffered,

the more divine she became!

Good Lord in heavenly butter!

Oh, God,

remember how Uncle Willie
dropped Carnelle off here

with nothing but a
pillowcase full of dirty rags?

I've never seen
anything quite so pathetic.

Ringworm’s in her head.

And remember
that little yellow cap

she wore pulled
down over her head

even in the summer's heat?

Mama told the people that
she just had short, yellow hair.

Oh, Mama was
such a brilliant woman.

Well, from a distance,
it did kinda look like that.

I do doubt it.

Oh.

Anyway, she never did
attain any self-esteem.

Had to sleep with every
worthless soul in Yazoo City

just to prove
she was attractive.

- Shut up.
- Oh, come on, swing.

I hate my hair! I hate it!

They didn't even want me.

I'm a failure! I'm ugly!

My thighs are fat!

No one loves me!

Oh, oh, oh!

I'll get it!

- I'll get it!
- One moment, please...

I'll get it!

Hello? Uh, yes, this is she.

What?

Oh, so sorry.

Oh, no, how sad,
how tragic!

What? Oh, yes, all right.
Thank you. Bye-bye.

That was... that was Miss Blue,
and well...

Do you remember her dog, Spider?

- Uh... the brown and white one?
- Yes, yes.

Well, Spider was hit
by a van and he died.

So Miss Blue was late in
notifying the five finalists, but...

Oh...

Oh, my God!

- What?
- What?

I made the pageant!

Oh, by God!
I made the pageant.

I did, I did. I made it!

Line up!

The photo session's
about to begin.

Stand tall, everyone.

Let's see that
Firecracker sparkle.

Remain still, please.

Everyone, keep your
necks long and proud.

Now look beautiful.

Stand up straight, Missy.

Remember, when it counts,
suck and tuck!

We're so glad we could
come to terms, Delmount.

You know, Susan set
our last house on fire.

I forgot to turn
the butter beans off.

Well, the house I've sold
you is completely fireproof.

Every inch of it has been
drenched with fire repellent.

It's a virtual atom bomb shelter.

Let's see,
I know I'll beat Sally Chin,

just 'cause she's
token Negro-Chinese...

Ah!

I'm not trying to be mean about it,
but it's the truth!

I am sweltering
in all this heat.

Where in the world is Delmount?

Delmount!

I have to go. I have to get
back to Miss Lily's dress shop.

Oh, well,
we'll just drop you off.

No... I can't get in that ride.

Because, well...

see, Delmount...

Delmount makes my heart hot.

Look at it now,
it's just burning!

I have to go!
I'll see you later!

Breaks my heart
to give this place up.

By the way, any article
you see is for sale

at the Firecracker
contest tomorrow.

I'll give you 10 percent off
because you're a nice couple...

and, uh...

Like I say,

there's hardwood floors...

Keys, keys, keys, keys!

Would you excuse
me for a minute?

What the hell are you doing?

Remember the
red Antebellum dress

she wore to the
Natchez pilgrimage?

You are not going
into that monkey's room!

You are not going
to clothe yourself

in any garment
that has clung to her

- grotesquely hairy loins!
- Oh!

You are not going
into that monkey's room!

For Heaven's sakes,
she wasn't a real monkey.

She was just excessively
furry for a human bein'.

Carnelle.

Carnelle... no.

No, no, this just might work.

- I need a red dress!
- No!

This won't do.
This will not do.

- Popeye.
- Hi.

Hi. I need a dress for
the contest tomorrow.

A crimson dress!

- For Carnelle?
- "For Car... "?

Obviously for Carnelle,
obviously.

Oh! Here, let me help you.

I'll show you around.

We have some
lovely things over here.

Well, now, actually,

this one is a burgundy beet,
rather than a true red...

We call it "eggplant."

No, that's pink.

No, no, no, no.

Oh! Mmm, no.

That one is a rose salmon.
And anyway, it don't move.

An evenin' gown has to flow.
It's gotta breathe, Delmount.

Oh...

Well, does this breathe?

Do you think it's breathing?

I don't think it's breathin'.

Besides, it's fuchsia...
hot pink.

- This breathes...
- Yes.

- And it's red.
- Yes.

And it moves!

Yes, but it's not a dress,
it's a fabric bolt, Delmount!

Of course...

Of course it's a fabric bolt!

- This one won't do.
- Won't do... won't do.

Delmount,
there's a bunch over here

- that won't do...
- Aha!

Oh, Popeye...
Popeye...

It's all hopeless.

My word.

What's goin' on in here?

It's Delmount!

What's he doin' here?

My God, it's those horrible two!

Delmount!

Oh, what has happened?

Popeye's gonna get in trouble.

I bet Miss Lilly's gonna fire her!

Well, it's red all right,
it's red.

Oh... I'm gonna need Popeye
to do some sewing on this.

- Hey! Hey!
- Hey. Can I help ya?

I'd like to look at the moon.

Sorry, kid we ain't
open for customers.

I wouldn't be a customer.

Um... okay.

Nothin's hopeless.

One of my most
memorable experiences

was being crowned
your Miss Firecracker,

an Ambassadress of Beauty.

It was a thrilling
episode in our history,

as the coveted crown
was placed upon my head...

♪ Are you from Dixie? ♪

♪ I said from Dixie ♪

♪ Where the fields of
cotton beckon to me ♪

♪ I'm glad to see you ♪

♪ Tell me how be you ♪

We gotta, we gotta,
we gotta, come on, come on...

Yeah! I got a winner!
Gotta winner, right here!

I want that bunny thing.
That bunny thing, up there.

Gracious Lord, if I have
another drop of lemonade,

I'll probably turn
right into a lemon!

Hey, Tamale, what's
that falling off your head?

Oh, look. Now my
hairpiece is falling off.

I worked all morning on that.

So, um, is your sister nervous?

Not really. I guess she knows
she doesn't have a chance.

Oh, what makes you say that?

'Cause she's humped-shouldered
from practicing that

Johann Sebastian Bach opus
on the piano all day long.

- What a shame.
- Of course...

Of course, Caroline Jefferson
is really a lovely girl.

Yeah. Yeah, except
for those yellow teeth.

Well, I hear that she
took medicine for seizures

that she had as a child,

and it scraped off most
of her tooth enamel.

Yeah, but I don't think the judges
are interested in sentimentality.

- Uh-huh.
- Just the teeth themselves.

Come on!
We don't have much time!

Ladies and gentlemen.

Ladies and gentlemen,
if I could have your attention

for a minute, please.

...we have on display,
Lizard Man.

I dare you to see
this reptilian creature

that time has forgot.

You hold the Mardi Gras
mask up over your face,

and you keep the side
of the dress covered

where... under your arm,
where the extra material is.

With your arm
and your elbow...

And... scoop.

And scoop.

And scoop.

Oh.

Okay.

And scoop...

And scoop.

Flip out your wrist.
Make it crisp.

And scoop.

Oh, you are getting it!

It's been more than an honor,
and so much of a privilege...

Mahoney girl!

to have served as
your Miss Firecracker.

I wish many blessings
on all of you...

Have you seen Miss Rutledge?

Yes, she's fine.

Where is she?

Oh. She's in
Carnelle's dressing room.

Thank you.

- Popeye?
- Oh, hello.

Hi... Carnelle,
she, uh, needed...

- she was searching for you earlier.
- She was?

Yeah, she needed your
help to help sew on this

torn up red dress
she found for the contest.

She's been looking
for you since last night.

Ah! Well, last night
I was up at the old observatory.

That man pointed up
right at the moon

so I could take me a look at it.

Yeah?

- Mm-hmm.
- How did it look?

Big... Orange...

It was kinda shiny and sparkly.

- Sounds nice.
- What?

Sounds nice.

It was!

You better... go.

Okay, I can work on her dress.

The dress... Look, Popeye,
I heard you lost your job.

Now, actually,
I was fired from it.

I know, I'm very, very sorry.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,
without further ado,

The Lady of the Magnolia,
Miss Elain Rutledge.

Thank y'all.

Thanks... too much.

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

"It will never, ever pass
into nothingness."

Ah, how aptly put
by Mr. John Keats back in 1818.

One of my most
memorable experiences

was being crowned
your Miss Firecracker,

an ambassadress of beauty
to represent our fair city.

It was a thrilling
episode in our history,

as the coveted crown
was placed upon my head,

and I proudly led the
parade as your queen.

Thank you!

Oh, please!

As you know...

It's all dreadful.

Did you see Carnelle
dressed up in that big red thing?

Yeah!
She's a knockout, ain't she?

In conclusion,
wherever I have roamed,

New Orleans, Atlanta,

Baton Rouge, Jackson,

or Yazoo City...

...I have deeply enjoyed
my life as a beauty.

Hey!

And now I'd like to
present the wonderful man

who presented me,
Mr. Benjamin Drapper!

Hit it, boys!

Now, here they
are, the parade of Firecrackers!

How she can put
herself through this,

I'll never understand.

Yeah, women are
funny about their looks.

My grandpapa used to say to me,

"Sam, all you have to do is
tell a woman you love her"

"and she goes just like that."

- How pithy.
- Yeah.

♪ Hey, hey, good-lookin' ♪

♪ What you got cookin'? ♪

♪ How's about cookin'
something up with me? ♪

Hey, Hot Tam! Nice dress!

Oh, yeah! Let's wiggle
that little light thing!

Whoo!

♪ We can find a brand new... ♪

Fortunately, I have yet
to make advances

to any woman
who did not possess

at least one classically
beautiful characteristic.

It's sort of a
romantic notion I have.

Well...

What I like is a
woman who can take it

right slap on the chin.

Put your hands together,

we want to hear
it for these girls.

Oh, yeah. That's better.
That's it.

Let's hear it. Come on now.

All right!

♪ I got a hot rod Ford
and a two dollar bill ♪

♪ And I know a spot
right over the hill ♪

♪ There's soda pop
and the dance is free ♪

♪ So if you wanna have fun
come along with me ♪

- Give that dog a bone!
- Hey, boys, stop that!

Oh! Oh, no!

Uh-oh!

- Oh... oh!
- That's all right, folks.

- Oh, God!
- Oh!

Carnelle!

Okay, I'm okay.
We're okay...

Oh, my! Oh, my!

Honey, I'll clean you up.

- It's a disgrace!
- What?

- Delmount, it's a humiliation!
- What?

That horrible Ronnie Wayne
is actually throwing peanuts,

trash, and ice
right there on the stage

- in front of everyone.
- At her?

He's throwing them at her?

Well, a peanut hit her
right between the eyes!

He dies.

Ronnie Wayne!

Ronnie Wayne!

Damn.

You want more, Ronnie Wayne?

Man, you're a looney tune!

They should lock you up
and throw away the...

You want more?

You want more, Ronnie Wayne?

It's all ruined! I'm destroyed!

- No, you're not.
- Oh, Carnelle,

I don't think
people really noticed

when you tripped.

My teeth are Grey!
They look like mule's teeth!

I should not have been born!

Woo-hoo! I showed 'em all!

Cold-blooded swine!

Delmount,
my patience is running thin

with this unruly behavior.

I'll go and get you some ice
to put on your swelled-up leg.

I hate this! I hate this!
I'm about to cry!

Don't worry, child o' mine,
nobody's hurt.

We enjoyed it!

You're making me sick here!

Sick!

With God as my witness...

With God as my witness,
they're not going to lick me!

If I have to lie,
cheat, steal... kill.

With God as my witness,

I'm going to live through this!

And when it's all over,

I'll never be hungry again.

Enter the infernal jaws of hell.

Oh! He gonna
burn up his throat!

Ta-dah!

How'd you like that, beautiful?

That was wonderful.
Do you know some more?

I know one.
I can do one.

- I can wiggle my ears!
- Ooh, let me see it.

All right.

Uh, I don't see 'em wiggling.

Nope. They ain't wiggling.

Hmm-mm.

Sure ain't.

Well, I gotta fly.
So long, Popeye.

Take it easy, Dumbo.

Well, I have to go
and help Carnelle.

It's almost time
for her routine.

Woah, that
was Caroline Jefferson.

Wasn't she a magnificent
Scarlett O'Hara?

Thank you, Caroline.

- Now, our next contestant...
- Thank you.

..will be Miss Sally Chin
and her electrifying hula-hoops!

Come on, Sally!

Carnelle, you're on next!

I'm on next.
I'm on next. I'm on next!

Carnelle...

Oh, Popeye, I should have done
a dramatic interpretation piece.

I like your act!

The boys got your bang-boom,
your shiny jacket,

I got my outfit.

You got your sparkle,
girl, come on!

- Whoa!
- Whoo!

Hey...
Carnelle's on next.

Yeah, I don't
think I can watch it.

I mean, she actually
thinks she's tap dancing...

She's just clomping
her feet around...

Poor Carnelle.
She wants to be beautiful

without understanding
the limitations it brings.

Well, it'll all be over soon.

Carnelle will go
on up to Memphis...

I'll start my life
in New Orleans,

And you'll go
wherever the winds take you.

- Delmount, I--
- Hey, don't worry explaining...

You're free!

Finally going to
find out why you're alive!

Yes! Oh...

Our final contestant,

in the talent section

of our contest,
will be Miss Carnelle Scott!

Miss Scott will be performing
a marching tap-dance routine

to the Star Spangled Banner!

- Do I look okay?
- Just great!

Let's go.

Whoo!

Miss Elain Rutledge?

Hey, come here.

I'll take care of this.

Get out of here.

What a conclusion!
What a finish!

Oh, God Bless America.
God Bless America.

Didn't I tell you?

Unbelievable!

Stupendous!

Oh Elain, did it really go well,
did it, really?

Oh... quite now,
you don't have much time,

you gotta change
into your bathing suit.

Oh, yes. Thank you,
Elain, thank you.

Hey, good luck, we'll be
out there cheering you on!

Oh!

Carnelle, what a hit!

You were just
like a firecracker.

Carnelle, you were so gorgeous,
it was insane! Whoo-hoo!

Oh, man, she was so beautiful.
She was so fine.

"Thrilled you'll be driving
home to me this evening."

"Your adoring husband, Franklin."

You'd think that after you
left me in that lunatic asylum,

I would know not to trust you.

Ah!

Delmount, you don't understand.

I'm used to better things now.

My face creams.
My clocks.

And he adores me.

Miss...
Miss Blue will be accompanying me

with a little singing number

while our beautiful beauty
contestants promenade

in their swimsuits!
Hit it, boys!

♪ She was afraid
to come out of the locker ♪

♪ She was afraid
that somebody would see ♪

♪ She was afraid
to come out... ♪

I think she's going to make
a perfect Miss Firecracker

with her red hair alone!

♪ ...as she could be. ♪

♪ Two, three, four ♪

♪ Tell the people
what you want ♪

♪ It was an itsy-bitsy
teeny-weenie ♪

♪ yellow polka-dot bikini ♪

♪ That she wore
for the first time today ♪

You're beautiful, baby!

♪ Yellow polka-dot bikini ♪

♪ So in the locker
she wanted to stay ♪

♪ Two, three, four ♪

♪ Stick around
We'll tell you more ♪

Man parading his
ridiculous pomposity

down his pathetic little streets,

cheering at his own
inane self-grandeur.

♪ Guess there isn't anymore
Cha-cha-cha ♪

Oh, thank you, Betsy!

Oh, all right.

Okay.

All right, it's now time
for the final crowning.

We have the winner,
right here, in this envelope.

So sayeth our judges.

All right! Here we go!

Everybody ready?
You girls ready?

I don't think they're ready,
do you?

Yeah, they're ready.
I think so.

Our fourth runner up is...

God, I hope she comes in first.

I swear, I hope
she beats 'em all.

Come on.

Put your hands together...

Come on, baby.

Put your hands
together, everybody...

Come on, let's hear it!
That's right, come on, come on!

Our first runner-up is...

Miss Joe Anne Jacobs!

Our new Miss Firecracker
is Caroline Jefferson!

Congratulations, Caroline!

♪ She's Miss Firecracker ♪

♪ Oh, let me tell you why ♪

♪ She's Miss Firecracker ♪

♪ Reigning queen of July ♪

♪ Well, she's young,
she can't lose ♪

♪ She chases away the blues ♪

♪ She's Miss Firecracker ♪

♪ She really lights my fuse ♪

♪ I said, she's young,
she can't lose ♪

♪ She chases away the blues ♪

♪ She's Miss Firecracker ♪

♪ She really lights my fuse ♪

I don't even know
what you're worried about.

It was a stupid,
meaningless contest.

If there was an ounce
of justice in this world,

you wouldn't have
come in fifth place,

you'd be up on that
float in third place.

Well... anyway...

It's the quality that matters.

I... I... don't want to hear it.

I wanted to win that contest.
I cared about it.

It was important to me.

Carnelle, you...

Carnelle, you don't
have to follow that float.

Hey!

You come in last,
you follow the float.

I took a chance,
I came in last...

So, by God,
I'm going to follow that float!

Hey, Red.

Mac Sam, dammit.
I don't want to be with anybody.

Well, I'm with you.

Come on, beautiful.

I'm lonely, too.

Delmount...

I wanted to say good-bye
before I departed this evening.

I don't understand you.

I look at you,
and I see you have this...

need to be excited by life.
And...

So why do you
always go running back

to what Mama
wanted you to do?

You know she was mean.

Yes, I know she was mean.

Just like you know your
dreams are bad and horrible.

Still, you can't change them.
You can't stop having them.

Yeah. I can.

Last night,
I stopped having them.

Really, darling?

Yeah.

I, uh, I dreamed I was on a lake,

and, uh, it was, uh, snowing.

The stars turned
all different colors.

You did.
You dreamed that.

Yeah.

It was nice.

Well, good.
That's good, then.

You're incredible, Miss Elain.

Yeah, well,
you always forgive me.

Be seeing ya!

You know, I went looking
for you right after the parade.

Where'd you get off to?

Nowhere. Just out
walking by the railroad tracks.

What was you doing down there?

Kicking rocks, thinking.

I thought maybe I was
a victim of broken dreams...

but then...

I thought maybe I wasn't.

I was trying so hard
to belong all my life, and...

I don't know.

I just don't know what you
can reasonably hope for in life.

Not too damn much.

But something.

Yeah, sure.

There's always eternal grace.

It'd be nice.

Yeah.

Popeye.

- Hi!
- Hi.

Ah...

Here, hold this.

So I hear you're going
to be leaving Yazoo City.

I reckon so.

It's funny, 'cause I'll
be leaving here, too.

Where was you planning to go?

Well, I thought I'd be
going to New Orleans,

and go to the university there,
and learn to be a philosopher.

That way, after I have
some time to study

and think it all through,

I'll be able to let everyone
know why we're living.

It would be a great relief,
I believe.

Where are you going to go?

Well, I don't know
the particulars,

but I heard tell of this
place named Elysian Fields.

- Elysian Fields.
- Right.

They got this ambrosia...

all you can eat...
and wine and honey to drink,

and all kinda people
just carryin' on.

Do you know what
state it's located in?

- It isn't in a state.
- It ain't?

No, it isn't even in the world.

It's fictional.
It's a made-up place.

It's only in books and stories.

Oh, well... Jeez.

I guess I won't be going there!

Popeye, would you like...

Ah... you probably
weren't planning... uh...

I... oh, never mind. Bye.

Popeye, would you like to go
watch the fireworks with me tonight?

- Yes!
- Good, good, then!

- Great, sure!
- Let's go.

God, you're beautiful.

I wouldn't trade them
times we had, not for nothing.

Really?

Not for a golden monkey.

Are you all right?

Hell, no.
I've got T.B.,

alcoholic's disease,
rotten gut.

I'm having fun taking
bets on which part of me

is going to cave in first.

The liver, the lungs,
the stomach, or the brain.

Hey, listen.

You sure you don't want to
go out pukin' with old Mac Sam?

Nah...

I just need some rest.

You'd be...
tiring me out awful fast.

Good-bye, baby.

I'll always remember you as
the one that could take it on the chin.

Good-bye, Mac Sam.

Good night.

♪ And the rockets' red glare ♪

♪ The bombs bursting in air ♪

♪ Gave proof through the night ♪

♪ That our flag was still there ♪

Pow... pow... pow...

Carnelle!

Carnelle, honey, are you home?

We were worried about--

I... just knew it wouldn't do.

But, Elain, you carried it here.

Why couldn't I use it?

Because it's mine.

Yeah.

Then I guess this is mine.

But I'm not wearing it
for the rest of my life.

Or this, either.

Here you go.
Here's your dress.

Carnelle.

Carnelle!

Where are you going?

To find some grace.

Some eternal grace.

Wow!

It's snowing!

What did you say?

I said, it's snowing.

Feel like my teeth are
going to fall out of my head.

Hey, you, up there!
You all right?

Yes, I am. I'm fine!

Nice night, isn't it?

Yeah.

Oh, yeah...

As nice as they come.

Synced and corrected by DarwinDesign