All language subtitles for What.The.Deaf.Man.Heard.1997

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sammy!

sammy!

oh, please, sammy.

come on, honey, not now.

all right,
arms up.

how come
we're leaving?

if you don't hurry,
we're not.

how come?

tell me you love it here

and we'll stay.

where are we going?

a little step up
in the world, maybe.

time something good
happened for us, huh?

yeah.

okay, let's go, kiddo.

here you go.

we've got a bus to catch.

oop, come on, come on.

mom.

what?

oh, uh-oh, yes.

man on p.a.:
service to barrington
with intermediate stops in...

i know, somebody's
chasing us, right?

wind down, sammy.

we ditched them good.

sammy, nobody's
chasing us, okay?

get up there.

then how come
you won't say

where we're going?

because it's
a surprise.

okay, move over.

sure.

nobody i know,
right?

watch your step,
mr. ayers.

excuse me. miss?

ma?

hmm?

the kids ask me
how come.

how come what?

how come my mother's a miss
instead of missus?

all right, that's it.
lights out.

the next sound i want to hear
coming from this seat next to me

is a ten-year-old kid snoring.

but how come?

not one more word out of you.

not one.

bus driver:
anniston.

anniston station.

rest stop, 30 minutes.

30 minutes only.

30 minutes.

mind what i say.

do your thing.

do not stray.

if you ain't back on board

we leave anyway.

you like that?

i made that up
myself.

i never would
have guessed.

well, you think you
can do better?

um, stretch your legs
but don't be late.

we're pulling out when
the big hand's on eight.

watch your step,
ma'am.

hey, jitterbug,
huh?

i can't.

oh, sure you can.

come on, boogie-woogie
with me.

hey, hey, come on.

hey, that's it.
that's it.

oh, yeah.

bus driver:
okay, folks, take your seats.

all aboard now.

don't go now, baby.

i've got to get back...

bus driver:
barrington.

barrington, end of the line.

watch your step, folks.

watch your step.

thanks for riding
with us.

matthew.

morning, norm.

thanks for riding
with us, sir.

hello, mother.

oh, uncle charles,
let me get it.

come on, young fellow.

time to get off.

it's the end
of the line.

no use feeling
if it's warm.

your mama or whoever
is long gone.

i forget which stop.

i wouldn't be surprised

if she knew exactly
what she was doing.

not one more word out of you.

come on, let's go.

not one!

hey, is this yours?

hey, kid!

great.

deaf and dumb to boot.

what you got here,
finis?

oh... a leftover.

can't remember
when they got on.

his mother got off

and my guess is
she slipped off

along the way
and dumped him.

oh, now, why would
she do that?

you get to be
a student

of human nature
behind the wheel.

she's the type, you know,
men turn to.

not in front
of the boy.

oh, don't worry.

i think he's deaf
as a post

and dumb in the bargain.

watch this.

hey, kid!

hey!

got your pants
on backwards.

what'd i tell you?

i figure, i just seen her
a couple of times

but here's a gal

got a smart mouth.

good around the back,
you know my meaning.

i can spot them.

he's a drag on her...

pulling her down

so she dumps him.

well, maybe she got sick
or something.

sick and tired.

i don't...

looks like he's, uh,
expecting someone.

well, i hope he don't
hold his breath.

ah, well, norm,
he's all yours now.

i am through
when i park it.

oh, now,
now...
you know

he's sitting
on that bench.

he is terminal's
responsibility.

hold on...

no, i am not
taking him home.

you brought him in...

adult
it was at this exact
moment in time

that i was struck
by a revelation.

if people thought you were deaf
and not able to talk

they'd blurt out their true
feelings without holding back.

and i also began to notice

how they pay attention to you
in a special way.

it suddenly seemed to me

that in being deaf
and playing mute

i had a kind of power
over things.

at least until i saw
how the land laid.

well...

yes, sir, there are days i would
consider you downright lucky.

i guess that's not fair
to say, is it?

someone coming for you?

i'll bet you're hungry,
aren't you?

are you hungry?

hey!

that's all right.

want something to eat?

yeah, you'd like that?

okay, let's go get
something to eat.

now come on.

we'll go right on
in here.

all right, now you
let me handle lucille.

i wouldn't advise eating her
cooking on a regular basis

but in the case
of extreme starvation

it won't hurt you.

extreme starvation, huh?

you've gone up three belt sizes
sitting on that very stool.

thanks, lucille.

thanks, clyde...

norm.

see you tomorrow.

so, what'll it be?

he's deaf

and he can't talk.

he's just hungry.

well, you and your aunt lucille

have got a little
problem here.

um... here we go.

now you take your pick.

number one...

my specialty.

number two,
how about this?

number one.

thought you had that

bacon and eggs look.

let's see...

looks like you got
a fan, lucille.

don't you give me that.

i feed strays

and send them

on their way.

he just rolled in on a bus?

alone?

i don't believe a mother

would just walk off
and leave him.

i'm just repeating
what finis said.

finis is full of exhaust.

well...

i don't get people.

like finis saying
he's deaf and dumb.

just 'cause he can't hear
doesn't mean

his brain's turned off.

nothing dumb about that boy.

people. i think...

well, people just

don't know any better.

looks sharp as a tack to me.

yeah, he seemed to be
expecting someone--

hey, royal.
i don't know.

miss lucille.

well, he doesn't look
like he's on the run.

hey, you're not
on the run, are you?

could you sign here?

my autograph.

thank you.

mm-hmm.

i think you better
call harvey.

the police?

oh, i'm not going
to call harvey.

his answer to everything
is call someone else.

the fire department,
the highway patrol, whoever.

well, i mean,
maybe

somebody's
reported him

missing
or something?

oh, i think
a relative

will come looking
for him, you know?

and you know,
we keep a lookout

and his mom may come
rolling in on the next bus.

i know what you
are thinking.

oh, now, why don't you
just hang out a sign?

"i know everything."

you know, sometimes
you are an open book, norm.

oh, now, lucille...

he's not a stray cat,
for pete's sake.

you've got to do
more than just

put down a, a, a saucer of milk.

can a fella get a refill?

kids have school, clothes,
chicken pox...

i'm sorry
i okayed the lease...

you haven't the slightest...

...on this ptomaine factory.

norman.

i'm not go...

i'm not going
to scare him off.

in case somebody
comes looking for him.

well, maybe somebody
is looking for him.

if you were looking
for a kid, who would
you call first?

all right, i'll give...

harvey.

a jingle.

is he simple?

woman
honey, what do you think?

all right.

come on, now,
young fellow.

speak up.

i got better
things to do.

harvey, he's deaf,
i told you that.

how do i know he ain't
just being contrary?

you hear me, boy?

oh, harvey,
he can't hear you.

when you're deaf,
you can't hear.

i'm an
investigator.

i need to get
to the bottom of this.

harvey, i understand that

but you can't ask somebody

who can't hear you...

you're testing my patience,
young fellow.

i'd advise you not to try
to make a fool of the law

you hear?

wait up, tolliver.

tolliver.

tallasse?

he can't hear you.

maybe he's just shy, jenkins.

lucy and i talked to him
for an hour

asked him questions,
he would not respond.

is he talking to you?

no, but i'm looking real close

and this looks
like a boy who can talk.

but i said he was deaf.

will you just find out?

where do you come from, boy?

don't ask him.

well, if i don't ask him

who am i supposed to ask?

but what i'm saying is
how do you know he's deaf?

this isn't getting us anywhere.

how are they going to prove
that he's not deaf?

i feel like he can talk.

how can you tell?

i said he's deaf, not blind.

well, i understand...

harvey, not the gun!

tolliver tynan!

now you just get in
and sit down.

that was a beautiful service

for mr. tynan, ma'am.

been thinking about it
all weekend.

he was a fine,
fine man.

yes, well, the lord giveth

and the lord taketh away.

ain't that the truth.

herbert, drive on.

okay, so he's deaf and dumb.

what am i supposed
to do about it?

thanks for the pie, lucille.

uh-huh.

they got places
to handle that.

oh.

well.

now then.

well, so, here
we are, right?

right.

well, you just
stay planted there

in case somebody
comes along for you.

boy fit and smart
like you

somebody's going
to come for you.

of course there's another
possibility, just come to me.

maybe somebody sent you out here

because they thought
i had a place for you.

you think that maybe that's it?

no, that ain't it.

he isn't here

by divine intervention.

both of you better

hope somebody does show up

because this is

the world's poorest excuse

for an orphanage.

pay no attention.

you heard her in there

call herself
"your aunt lucille"?

well, uh, i mean...

you didn't hear,
of course

but that was her
talking.

she's all mush.

she took to you,
i can tell.

so, uh...

you just sit here
and keep an eye peeled.

oh, it's so good
to see you!

oh!

charlie, you get bob
to give you a ride home.

all right.

mosquitoes are going
to carry you off

if you continue
to camp out here.

oh, boy.

doesn't look like it's
going to happen, does it?

hey.

hey, you.

sleepy, huh?

a fellow can just keep
his eyes open so long, huh?

i got a cot
i keep out back.

you can stay
the night anyway.

if somebody doesn't come
and pick you up tomorrow

i'd be lying if i told you
i know what will happen.

i don't.

come on, hey.

let's go.

well, here you go, young fellow.

there's your cot.

careful you don't trip
over anything now.

look around and get familiar.

now this sink's

got a bit of a drip in it.

but i guess
that won't bother you.

this is a clean shirt.

you can wear this
as a nightgown.

and get out of those clothes
before they stick to you.

ah, i got something for you.

fig delights for you.

this is one of my favorites.

new, fresh package for you

in case you get hungry
during the night.

just take one of those.

over here, the light.

see that?

switch?

okay?

and that's about it, i guess.

okay.

well, i can't think
of anything else.

well, i hope tomorrow
looks a whole lot better

for you, young fellow.

good night.

you might wonder
how i felt that night

belonging nowhere
and to no one.

all in all, i hadn't done bad.

not every day a pretty girl
takes your side

and pounds out her big brother.

but down deep,
i had a pretty firm feeling

that i would never see
my mother again.

i didn't know why, exactly

except that we were
pretty close

and the connection
that we had was gone.

but somehow i felt okay.

maybe it was because
i knew for sure

i was going
to wake up the next day

and keep right on pretending
like i couldn't hear or speak.

i must have figured that it was
like some kind of armor

shielding me from something
i didn't want to think about.

at least not right then,
anyway.

it's funny how time goes by.

a whole lot of time, even.

the country was changing.

even barrington was adjusting
in its own way

which was slowly,
and not all at once.

i still lived rent-free
in the back of the bus station

thanks to norm jenkins,
who still managed the place

and had stayed on a couple
of years past his retirement.

all this time,
living in a bus station?

"how awful,"
some folks might say.

but i look at what some of them

have been doing
with their lives

and i wouldn't change places.

nice meeting you.

norm jenkins took off
every saturday

on what lucille called his
secret fishing expeditions.

on this particular day,
in the spring of 1965

he acted different
when he came back.

at least it sure appeared
that way to me at the time.

the one person who had changed
was tallasse tynan

that pretty girl who punched
out her brother, tolliver.

she'd given me
my first and only valentine.

then, a few years ago,
she'd gone off to college

and hardly ever came back.

man on
he's held that family
in an iron fist for 15 years

and the whole town.

you look like you need
a refill, merle.

i could use it.

hi, sammy.

uh... the toaster...

is on the fritz again.

well, right off,
if you've been listening

you know
that i'm three parts fraud.

but i'm one part handyman.

and the best there is
in barrington.

or so norm jenkins
likes to say.

morning, merle.

miss lucille!

tolliver.

guess who?

hey, dum-dum.

forget that old thing.

these first.

here's number one.

in the hallway... outside...
the minister's office

the baseboard needs
replacing and painting.

number two... two...
two.

mother dear... mother dear...
would like you

to wash
the patio furniture

and trim
the driveway hedge.

and three...

hey, look at me.

as a little commission
you owe me for this...

act of welfare

you can wash my car.

hey, get the whitewalls
this time... dum-dum.

good morning,
miss beatrice...

tolliver tynan's daddy died
rich, but he didn't die dumb.

he left all his estate
in a trust to his widow

to be disbursed to his children
only upon her death.

and the allowance that she gave
tolliver was piddling

which rankled him to no end.

boy, i wish sammy

would just beat the pulp
out of him one day.

oh, sammy will have his day,
don't you worry.

you want a ride?

where to?

hey!

thacker!

you're a menace
on the streets.

you could have hit me.

i decided against it,
mr. tynan.

don't get smart with me,
archibald thacker.

why can't you can't haul
this junk on the side streets?

you're a blot on the beauty
of downtown barrington.

oh, yeah, beautiful
downtown barrington.

waste of breath
talking to you.

i've tried for years

to find something
to like about that boy.

no luck so far.

tynan's place, huh?

okay, i'll get you there.
climb on back.

young man:
you sound like dad.

"i am not a risk-taker.

a.b.c.-- always be cautious."

you had baxton economics,
i had brown.

i heard he was once
a pit boss in vegas.

so there you are.

look, do you want
financial experience

running your portfolio

or do you bet the store

on some theoretical
nobel-winner from harvard?

"don't bandy the name harvard
around, son.

it's bad for our image."

where is dad
taking all this stuff?

wedding presents for
montgomery's new bride.

archibald thacker,
a widower with four sons

had become wealthy
over the years

hauling junk and cleaning up
after other people.

he had two businesses set up

in the name
of a white atlanta lawyer.

people thought
he was just eking by.

but what they didn't see

was him eking in and out
of atlanta banks

for the last 20 years.

stop that!
are you crazy?

good morning, rachel.

my goodness, you get
prettier by the day.

father thacker...

now, now, daughter,
not to worry.

what do you call this?

you're not accustomed
to our landscaping.

landscaping?!

now, montgomery
should have told you.

when you are our color

in this part
of our great nation

the key to getting rich
is to appear happily poor.

just blend in
and bide your time.

look upon these items
as stepping stones.

rachel, rachel...
wait a minute.

this is not so bad.

people pay good money
for some of this stuff.

we could actually use this.

it actually blends in

with the rest
of the neighborhood.

so, just relax.

the fact is, he and his boys

had a third and even more
profitable business which...

well, let's just say
it paid a whole lot better

than washing
mrs. tynan's patio furniture.

well, you certainly
took your time getting here.

taking advantage
of your handicap

won't get you
anywhere with me.

you'll get paid
what's on the slip

no matter
how long you dawdle.

gail?

mother, why do you insist

on berating poor sammy

when you know
he can't hear you?

on top of that

you certainly don't
need the practice.

mrs.
every time you come
home for a visit

you show less respect
for your mother.

watch your
blood pressure now.

as i mentioned,
tallasse tynan had gone away

up to some college in new york

and this was the first time
she'd been back in some while.

i knew i was a fool
to be taking a chance

but i couldn't help myself.

i was drawn to that tune
she was playing

and i just had to listen.

mrs.
must you play that?

you know i hate
that sentimental tune.

sorry, it just
came back to me.

you know, this is
the first piece

daddy ever asked me
to learn.

his face would light up.

still see him
standing there.

i want you to do
something for me

if it's not asking
too much.

of course.

the new minister
will be staying here

until the parish renovation

is completed

if the committee approves,
which your brother will see to.

who is it this time?

he is the top graduate

from the barrington seminary,
of course.

you know, barrington church
always gets the top graduate.

tops at barrington seminary--

that's like being
first in the slow lane.

we can do without
that kind of attitude

while he's here, thank you.

his name is perry ray pruitt.

you be civil to him.

it's our privilege
and our duty.

well, i certainly will try.

i want you to go
and pick him up

after the meeting.

take sammy with you.

tolliver has work
for him at church.

and make sure sammy
sits in back.

i don't want people to see him
sitting up front with you.

maybe i can tie a rope to him
and make him run behind.

i keep thinking

of when you
first came to town

and tolliver threw
that firecracker at you

to prove you were deaf.

i guess
if you had crutches

he would've kicked them
to prove you'd fall over.

and they make him
treasurer of the church.

people think if
your daddy struck it rich

you know
how to handle money.

like father, like son.

oh, not hardly.

sometimes it's a relief
to know i'm adopted.

guess my secret's safe
with you.

my daddy
was a doll, sammy.

i remember
he was a quiet man.

we'd take long walks

and he'd just let me
jabber on

just like i'm doing now.

you remind me of him
a little.

hey.

so we're going to have
a preacher at the house.

reverend
perry ray pruitt

hand-picked by the one
and only tolliver tynan.

reverend pruitt

the committee
has unanimously approved

your appointment as the new
pastor of barrington church.

the many affirmations
we have received

only underline what a privilege
it is for all of us

that you would consider
this position.

well, i think that's about it.

your academic record
speaks for itself.

would you excuse me?

hey, dum-dum.

for crying out loud!

hey!

shh!

i have a question.

if i might finish,
loretta.

i was only going to say...

we'll all be looking forward now

to giving you high marks
as a preacher.

the pulpit is the test, right?

the test?

loretta?

what?

you had a question.

oh... yes.

i was only going to say

we're, well, we're used
to the stability

of a good woman
in the parish house.

and you
being a bachelor.

do you think

it's appropriate?

i think that's
neither here nor there.

i am a member
of the committee

if i'm not mistaken,
rebecca.

no!

i mean, i...

i hadn't just thought
of up and marrying, i guess

as part of the job.

well, i think that
speaks very well of you

i think... reverend.

anyway, reverend pruitt...

we have
every confidence in you.

and, i'm sure
you'll be proud to know

you will be the first minister
of barrington church...

to initiate
the church's large

new baptismal font.

it's a regular lake.

which, being the case

i will, with god's help,
do my... earnestmost

to make this service
the very tops.

earnestmost?

fine, he'll do
just fine.

he'll drown someone
in the lake.

he's just nervous.

nervous?!

sammy!

he's perfect,
i tell you.

isn't the type to, uh,
ponder over financial reports.

reverend driscoll was
catching on before he retired.

an act of providence.

helping yourself
to the church insurance fund

is an act of larceny,
not of providence.

hey...

you don't trust me?

why should i?

i don't even trust me.

i'm the one not sending
in the premium payments.

you're the one losing it
on one bum deal after another.

what are friends for, percy?

for sharing a jail cell, maybe.

just relax. we'll put it back
with interest.

we've gone 100 years
without trouble.

the church is
only 87 years old, tolliver.

see, we got 13 years'
grace period.

i am in the insurance business,
not the numbers racket.

we've got to pay the premium.

calm down, percy,
you worry too much.

thacker
i'm not sure about this.

how do you know
it will all fit?

thacker brother
dad's figured it all out.
don't worry.

"don't worry." where have i
heard that before?

what do you think, abraham?

well...

it's the last place
i'd look.

timing might be
a problem.

"well, if it were done
when 'tis done

then 'twere well
it were done quickly."

well thought, macbeth.

two trash haulers
staging shakespeare

at the baptismal font
of a prominent church.

it's just a little thing,
probably

but it struck me something
peculiar was going on here.

wouldn't you say?

"and he said, 'go ye, therefore

"and teach all nations...'

"baptizing them

"in the name of the father

"and of the son

"and of the...

holy ghost."

okay, then.

anyone?

i mean...

anyone like to come forward
and be baptized?

anyone at all?

well, i mean anyone

who meets the eligibility rules,
that is.

eligibility rules?

what does he think this is,
the olympics?

you're sammy ayers.

you're...

sort of cut off
from people, i hear.

so am i.

reverend pruitt.

reverend.

call?

i didn't hear
any call.

my folks
heard the call

that's who heard it.

you can tell.

you can surely tell.

lord...

give me a sign.

please, lord,
any sign.

or let me go.

just let me go.

hi, sammy.

you want one or two?

four?

it seems like one saturday
out of the year

00.

saturday.

saturday, sleep in?

norm won't be in
today.

he decided to, uh...

take one of
his little trips.

you know norm
on a saturday.

just goes off.

never says where.

i don't know what
the big secret is.

but, i guess
everyone's entitled.

still, i don't see why
he can't take you along

once in a while.

what's this?

"hang the church bulletin
board immediately," huh?

people in this town

will not give you a rest,
will they?

now, norm figures
you've probably done more things

for more people in
this town than anyone

since the place was founded.

you were good for norm.

i saw it

when you first came.

i could see

he was going
to hang onto you

like his life
depended on it.

fresh maple syrup.

i guess when you get
right down to it

you could say...
we're family.

norm would have retired

and gone fishing
a long time ago

if it weren't for you.

and your aunt lucille.

well...

we found her body
laying around here.

a fellow was arrested
a couple of months later

in georgia on
another murder charge.

he confessed
to this one.

jane doe.

helen ayers.

yeah.

well, maybe now she can
have a proper headstone.

i guess this is
the end of it.

not quite.

no...

never is, is it?

got off the bus over there

to stretch her legs,
have a drink.

there's some unfinished business
at the end of the line.

running around the country

taking photographs when you
should be starting a family.

a woman your age
and still barren.

luckily.

thank you, gail.

i see we haven't taken
our pills this morning.

they're not doing me any good.

they should be taken internally.

"oh, sinner,
consider the fearful danger

of god's everlasting wrath."

uh... worm, worm,
worm, worm, worm.

right, right.

"the worms shall not die

neither their fire be quenched."

then, uh, moses... moses.

"as moses lifted up
the serpent..."

and then... what?

in the woods,
in the wilderness, yes!

even so...

"the son of man be lifted up...

"and whosoever believeth
in him...

"shall not perish...

hallelujah!

hallelujah!

ha-lle-lujah!

a sign!

a sign.

i asked for a sign
and here it is!

listen to this.

listen to what has been
put into my hands.

"dickie devil, lead singer

"of the top british rock group
the weevils proclaimed yesterday

'i am more important
than jesus christ.'"

it hurts even
to utter those words.

"gold records
by the millions

"me and my disciples,
the weevils

"are more famous
than jesus by far.

"look at our crowds.

"every record we make
is a smash.

the world gathers
when we walk on stage."

burn them, i say!

oh, he's good.

he's very good.

don't you think cremation
is a little bit dramatic?

dickie devil.

the devil at last
and his wicked weevils.

we'll build a fire...

a giant fire...

and we'll burn his records.

those sinful symbols

of lust and blasphemy
will go up in flames!

bonfire?!

tolliver,
i got a second notice

from the underwriters

asking about the church
insurance premium.

they want a check,
certified, now

or the insurance lapses.

well, just stall them.

the devil's bonfire.

can't you just see it?

cash, tolliver, is what
i need to see!

you want to see cash?

we're going to have...

good morning, miss lily.

good morning, tolliver.

we're going to have crowds
like you've never seen.

people want to be

where they've seen
the big bonfire rumpus on tv.

the collection baskets
will be spilling over.

i see a bank balance with
the zeroes going off the page.

listen, please.

we're talking about

eating our meals on trays,
tolliver.

we're talking about taking
showers in groups of 100.

okay, okay, okay.

take it easy,
take it easy.

the tynan name
is still good

for something
in this town.

i'll make some calls.

oh, boy, oh, boy,
oh, boy, oh, boy.

for pete's sake, hal,
you know i'm good for it.

oh, yeah? well, laugh.

when my inheritance comes in

it is worth 100 times
your entire business.

boy, am i going to enjoy
seeing your face

when everybody in town's riding
the gravy train and you're not.

damn!

so you're starting
to show up on me

when it suits you?
huh?

don't be surprised...
hey, look at me.

don't be surprised if
you're not paid on the dot.

go on, now,
before i call the cops.

you're on church property,
this is private.

i want to see a priest.

we don't have priests.

i got to talk
to a priest.

i've sinned bad.

no, no, out.
let's go, go on.

you don't know
who i am.

burley masters,
highway department.

good-bye, mr. burley,
highway department,
back to work.

no, masters.
and they fired me.

a little drink
and they fired me.

but i showed them.

i stole the secret plans
for the new state highway

where the new interchange,
where it's going.

i stole it.

i stol it.

hold it, hold it, hold it.

happens i screen
all confessions.

maybe i can make
an appointment.

w-w-well, i stole it
out of spite.

i confess.

you can give it back,
right?

this is morgan's corner.

this is where the new
highway interchange
is going?

shh! shh!

who knows about this?

well, just the two
commissioners and me.

oh, and you.

the new interchange.

200 acres
worth a mint.

prime commercial.

but it's
safe now, right?

safe with a servant
of the church?

oh, yes, sir,
it's safe indeed.

oh, thank you.

let's discuss this
over a beverage, huh?

oh, that would be
very nice, thank you.

i guess it was right
there and then

seeing that poor man
being victimized

by tolliver's selfish ambition

that i knew
i had to do something.

i knew i had to find some way
to get things straightened
out.

tv newscaster:
a huge bonfire will be lit
on the church grounds

as a church spokesman said

quote, "to destroy the works
of dickie devil and his weevils

which have undermined
world morals."

ironically,
it's been learned exclusively

by our barrington correspondent

that the town's
well-known deaf-mute

one sammy ayers, who has
obviously never been exposed

to the jarring
rock and roll of the group

has been chosen to build
and light the giant fire.

in other news,
the barrington high...

did you know that?

no.

that tolliver tynan thinks

he can push sammy around
like a trained chimpanzee.

chimp who laughs last,
laughs best.

you know,
it is useless

trying to talk
to you anymore.

doesn't seem to
stop you, does it?

oh! what i am saying, i...

i don't like to see
sammy made a fool of.

hmm...

you ever wonder what's
going through his mind?

mm-hmm.

i got a feeling it's way
more than average.

yeah.

wow. that is a lot
of wood, isn't it?

that's the new
padre, huh?

yeah, he still
can't coax anybody

in the big baptismal font.

be thankful for
small blessings, boys.

what's he
decided to do?

burn somebody
at the stake?

how much wood would
a woodchuck chuck?

right?

you say you want us

to do the south road
run on thursday?

yeah, i have to be
in atlanta.

i've represented
mr. ayers in a number

of modest investments
over the years.

solid things,
nothing speculative.

in the case
of this acreage

we'd like to enter
a counterbid

to acquire
a lease option.

well, the owner
is, uh, a little cautious--

in this case.

never having done business

with your
mr. ayers here.

well, i can vouch
for my client's

financial ability to pay.

i don't assume there's
a hearing test requirement

for buying property

in this state, hmm?

miss larson,
would you see

that we have some coffee
served, please?

well, the property
in question

wasn't advertised for sale.

and, well, when someone

develops a sudden
interest in it

it's natural for us
to wonder why.

i think i need
a moment alone

with your client.

shall we
wait outside?

i wondered who
it might be.

but it makes sense

it's you, sammy ayers.

you must have caught wind
of those stolen plans

when tolliver did, right?

i thought so.

you know, i figure you and i

are the two biggest frauds
in barrington.

me with my lawyer front man

and you with your
selective senses.

all right.

let me, let me guess.

you checked out
the property in question

and you found out that tolliver

was about to invest
in a bottomless swamp.

now how could that be,
you wonder.

how could those highway plans
be so far off?

well, first off

burley masters didn't get fired
for drinking on the job.

he got fired
for drawing up a map

that was so far off
the engineers' coordinates

it was in another county.

as a matter of fact, i own

that 182-acre mosquito swamp--

born on it, matter of fact.

so when i found out
that there was a second bid

i knew somebody was trying
to force tolliver's ante up

on his lease option.

ain't justice...

...sweet sometimes?

now, then, partner...

what do you say that, uh...

lawyer greer calls tolliver...

and tells him

that it'll take another...

more or less?

it's a done deal.

another offer came in

but i topped it by $2,000.

i took a loan from
the building fund.

just temporary.

cashier's check
for ten grand

is on its way!

man, oh, man, oh, m...

the building fund?

we're going
to put out the word

to just a handful
of real estate agents

the big ones,
deep pockets only.

they're going to be
on their knees

to buy our lease option

for a hundred times
what we paid for it!

two hundred would give us
a more secure margin.

do i hear three?

i hope.

ah, percy,
stick with me

we'll be standing
in clover.

take a look.

this isn't going to be
a highway interchange.

this is the nothingest
nothing i ever seen.

maybe there's oil
under here.

maybe we are floating
on a gusher, percy

and we don't even know it.

there's no oil
under here.

what we are floating on

is the church
insurance fund...

the parking lot
repaving fund...

the parish
renovation fund

the organ fund...!

uh-oh.

deputy myron's up from his nap.

man over police radio:
car five, car five...

car five, we got a little
accident on the corner of...

evening, myron.

you know why
i pulled you over

archibald thacker?

i don't think
it was for speeding.

this rig won't go
more than 40.

y-y-you been dropping
bits and pieces

along the way.

you're paid to pick up

not to, to distribute...

i mean, am i,
am i right about that?

when you're right

you're right, myron.

what can i say?

i'll tell you what.

i'm just going
to write you a warning

archibald thacker.

so's you don't think
i'm prejudiced.

you're a good man, myron.

never a doubt.

myron?

myron, you there?

listen up.

the revenue boys say
they just passed somebody

transporting
a load of moonshine

from billy hanson's still.

could be heading your way.

keep your eye out.

you boys are in luck.

i got bigger fish to fry.

get that rear latch fixed, hear?

"the quality of moonshine
is not strained.

"it droppeth as
a gentle rain from heaven

for 'tis twice blessed."

all right, all right.

one blessing is blessing
enough for one night.

plug that leak

and let's get on
to the church.

you plug it,
you were the one.

me? you do it.

oh, here, give me those.

no, no, i don't want you
doing my laundry.

who cares what
you don't want?

that laundry
you take them to

makes a mishmash
out of the collars.

you know, i've been thinking
about what you said.

it's not right them roping sammy
into that bonfire circus.

i'll tell you.

i'm going to talk
to that tynan kid.

i wouldn't.

no?

something you said.

sammy's his own man.

we have been bystanders
for a long time.

he's not ours,
you know.

the heck he's not.

lucille...

i mean, who has he got?

i know he's filled a space
for you.

just like i have, maybe.

you don't make sense
much of the time.

yes, i do.

oh...

i hear things.

i know you lost
a wife and a baby

to the big flu epidemic

when you were off in france.

don't you see?

i cook and argue
with you

sammy's leaned on you.

sort of a fill-in
family, maybe.

how... how come you never
said that before?

what for?

never take apart a clock
that's ticking.

isn't that what they say?

32 years.

33 and a half.

no starch!

okay, that's it,
roll the hose.

i learned later

that archibald thacker
occasionally made

an extra dollar or two

in the frowned-on,
but sort of fun-filled
business

of trucking moonshine whiskey
in bulk

from stills to wholesalers.

his delivery schedule

got a little jammed up
this particular week

forcing him to find temporary
storage in the baptismal font.

we love the weevils!

ban the weevils!

we love the weevils!

get rid of them!

we love the weevils!

ban the weevils!

ban the weevils!

ban the...

perry ray pruitt's big idea

had become
a runaway bucking bronco.

he'd been thrown off early

and hadn't the slightest idea
how to get back on.

protest!

yeah!

we love the weevils!

watching him like that,
i felt sorry for him.

he knew he should have been
consumed

with a burning desire
to preach right here and now.

he also knew he didn't
have a clue what to say.

he couldn't tell the saints
from the sinners in this
place.

tv announcer:
dickie devil and his rock band,
the weevils

will miss the big event
in barrington tonight.

interviewed in sydney, australia

where the band is on tour

dickie devil seemed pleased
with the uproar

as he had this to say.

hold on, patience is a virtue.

oh, i love georgia.

we did super fab in atlanta!

hello, loves!

have one on dickie, eh?

i love you very much.

he may do super fab in atlanta

but if the crowd gathering now
has its way

he'll burn
in barrington tonight.

let me get you a spoon.

on the sports front...

excuse me.

i'm running out
of everything.

the barrington fire chiefs will
host a double-header against...

it'll help if you
turn the tv off.

it'll be all right.

all right, folks!

everybody's got to finish up.

we're going to close
in ten minutes.

burn the weevils!

bonfire tonight!

bonfire tonight!

get your albums and burn them!

we should have gone back
and gotten it out last night.

now we'll have to wait
till tomorrow.

do you realize
what we could make

selling off that load of
moonshine to this crowd

at two bits a glass?

you have a retail mind, son.

unfortunately, we're in the
wholesale end of the business.

look at this,
percy, look.

that land thing was peanuts.

this is where the gold is.

we don't have to go get it.

they're bringing it to us.

i can pick
a winner, huh?

get your hot buttered popcorn!

i think i need something
in my stomach.

my, my, what have we here?

evening, governor!

governor, hear that?

governor.

ban the weevils!

ban the weevils!

it's a wake-up call.

we love the weevils!

ban the weevils!

...wzpz,
this is ned clark...

oh, it's reverend pruitt
himself.

reverend pruitt,
please.

can we get a few words
with you here?

reverend pruitt,
i know you must be

deeply moved
by the magnitude

of this event
you've inspired.

they're going to ruin

the lawn.

they got plenty fireworks.

y'all be careful!

don't get too close
to the bonfire!

mr. tynan.

your reaction to
all the excitement

building here.

i tell you, ned, this is
ennobling, inspiring.

i'm proud to be a part
of this crusade.

barrington tonight will send
a message to the country--

to the world.

this spot will be
long remembered.

the sin and blasphemy of
the likes of dickie devil

are about to be
devoured by fire.

this is a night
of reckoning.

something to tell
your grandchildren.

get a shot.

quick interview
with the guy

that's going to light
the bonfire.

be sure we got
the bonfire...

not long now.

blast-off time almost here.

i'm standing with the man
who will carry the torch over

and light the devil's bonfire.

sammy is his name.

sammy, you're
a deaf-mute, right?

and you think that's why

they chose you
for this fiery job, huh?

sammy, just nod,
just nod, sammy.

it'll be fine.

excuse me.

why don't you
just ask him

if he peels his bananas
before he eats them?

a talker.

well, and your name is?

uh, joan of arc.

i love bonfires.

oh, i see you
have a couple of

dickie devil records

for the blaze, no doubt.

no, these are frank sinatra
albums of my mother's

that i've been longing
to incinerate.

that's the story-- world's nuts,
00.

what?

cut.

we should have stuck
with the mute.

yeah?

you coming?

i'm coming,
i'm coming.

strike up the band, huh?

it's a party.

hit it, and...

come on, reverend

here we go.

here you go,
reverend.

take the torch.

take the torch,
reverend.

beaver, bring
your camera.

he's going
to light it!

now, give it to sammy.

give the torch to sammy.

give it to sammy, go on.

give it to sammy.

take it, sam...

take the torch.

it was kind of awful...

take it.

i could hear every sour note
from the band

every voice screaming...

sammy, sammy.

and i was picturing that day
over 20 years ago

when tolliver held the match
to a firecracker

to try to make me jump
and talk...

come on.

...and here i was

lighting
his biggest firecracker ever.

well, i just couldn't do it.

yay!

oh, there it goes!

praise jesus!

oh, sammy, stay back.

sammy will be all right.

now, don't you worry.

no! it's mine!

tommy, come back!

this, this is
what we want.

oh, boy.

oh, boy.

no insurance.

not a nickel.

get those hoses out now!

no, no, no!

some of my people
may be in there.

oh, please, god, no!

hey, reverend!

come back!

don't go in there!

i can't watch this.

don't!

sweet jesus

what's he doing?

no!

oh, no!

no, no, no.

it was a night to remember.

perry ray pruitt had finally
felt the hand of the almighty.

but the fallout
from the devil's bonfire

was far from over.

the reverend perry ray pruitt

found his true calling that
night in the fiery furnace.

the congregation was inspired

and flocked to his baptisms

pledging to rebuild his church

brick by brick,
dollar by dollar.

the volunteer fire department

also welcomed him
with open arms.

it just so happened

they needed a power player
for the softball playoffs.

i want a repeat
performance from you.

good to see you.

tolliver tynan wasn't so luck.

he was charged with embezzling
church funds for personal gain.

georgia v. tynan.

percy queen never really stole
a dollar for himself.

so georgia was not v. him
for anything.

as always, tolliver figured

he had money and influence
on his side--

that he could charm
his way out of trouble.

so, he wasn't exactly counting
on what came next.

all rise.

please be seated

and come to order.

your honor, the state
calls its first witness.

the state calls sammy ayers
to the stand.

he can't talk.

i know, what's he
going to say?

i don't want any more outbursts
in this court.

do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth

and nothing but the truth
in the matter before this court?

to my knowledge,
it's the only trial

in the history
of american jurisprudence

that was over
in just two spoken words.

i do.

first it was... it was...

it was just a way to hide,
you know, to protect myself.

then after a while

everybody, everybody
thought i was, i was deaf

and they started talking
around me like i wasn't there.

and so i just, i, i, i,
i kind of went with it.

and norm and lucille,
they were so nice to me

and after a while
i got in so, uh, deep

i was afraid it might all
go away if i told the truth.

the funny thing is

i liked how
people trusted me

how they talked to me.

i didn't want
to hurt anybody.

the worst thing was
back when we first met.

when tolliver
threw the cherry bomb.

well, ever since then
i wanted to tell you.

tell me what?

what?

everything.

you're not going to quit
talking again, are you?

no, never.

i just, well,
i'm not used to words.

explaining... how i feel.

i'm sorry
about your mother.

no, don't be.

no.

no, she did what she wanted.

there are generations
of heart problems

in that family.

she wouldn't listen.

no doubt about it

she sure was surprised
you could talk

but it wasn't your fault.

can i ask you
something?

you remember
a while back

i'd just come home
for my visit?

i was playing the piano

and i thought
i saw you listening.

listening...

but you had such
a strange look on your face.

my mama had a music box.

it played the same tune

as you were playing.

i used to listen to it

over and over

when she'd be gone
or i was having a bad day.

so many years ago.

you know, that was
my father's favorite piece.

well, that's nice.

i like having something
in common with you.

so now you're leaving?

yeah.

i got my voice.

it's time.

i got to go try it out.

i'll miss you.

well, all right, here it is.

you mean you had it
all these years

and you didn't tell anyone?

well, i had to find out...

not even me?

it wasn't the time.

time for what?

lucille, i'm trying to tell you.

first i had to find out
what happened to his mother

and then i had
to make sure
that nobody

complicated his situation.

well, seems to me you're the one
who's complicated the situation.

lucille, that boy heard

everything we said
all this time

and he never spoke.

now... i... i...

i feel... i don't know...

i feel...

cheated?

yeah, i guess.

betrayed?

yeah.

hurt?

well, don't you?

uh, well...

i just think he must have done
what he had to.

oh, lucille.

here he comes.

i suppose i, uh...

owe you a...

big apology.

an explanation.

some reason for...

i don't blame you for being mad.

i'm not mad.

i'm sorry, lucille.

it's just, well...

everybody got used to me
being the way that i was

and, well, you needed
someone to listen to

and norm needed
someone to listen to him

and see, everybody needed
somebody to listen to him

and well, the years went by
and time passed

and i just kept listening.

and i didn't want
to hurt anybody.

i certainly didn't...

norm jenkins

you get back in here
and explain this suitcase.

where'd that come from?

judge, may i
say something

on behalf
of my client?

no.

this is a sad day for me,
tolliver.

i must inform you
that i am

sentencing you
to two years in state prison

for the embezzlement
of church funds.

i say sad 'cause
i knew your father.

i used to fish with him.

a finer man never cast a fly.

hey, judge neely...

that's what
you're here for, right?

now, i figure with time off
for good behavior

i can do it standing
on one foot

no time at all.

i'll be off and running.

a better man for it.

let me finish,
if you please, tolliver.

your father's ironclad will

left all of his estate
upon the death of mrs. tynan

to his eldest son.

that's me, judge, and my sister,
tallasse, can't challenge that.

she's adopted.

we've known that for years.

heck, i'm the one who told her.

that's very impressive,
mr. tynan

but now let me tell you
a thing or two.

the eldest son
is the key here.

and among these documents

sworn to and verified
by your father before his death

is this notarized letter
dated a year before he died.

i'd like to read it

because it sounds
exactly like

the alfred tynan i knew.

this here part's the meat of it.

"i have met the lad

"and recognized him
to be in my own true image.

"blue of eyes, wide of brow,
bold of chin

"warm spirit.

"born to me
of the only person

"who showed me love

"and unselfish commitment.

her full name
being helen ayers."

now, the eldest son

born out of wedlock

to miss helen ayers

shortly before you were born

is sammy ayers.

tolliver...

this just ain't been
your summer.

well, there you go.

off and on i'd tell myself

"norm, you got no right
to keep him here."

and then you looked
so helpless

and i figured...

a little while longer.

well, maybe i didn't
do it right.

but i kept thinking

maybe i owe it to your mother.

at least i was right
about that one.

i mean, she didn't desert you.

she was trying to do
right by you back then

and it happened.

how'd you find her?

years of saturdays

riding on bus passes

back along the route
i figured you come.

i ordered
a proper headstone.

you can go look
at it someday.

if you feel like it.

you know, from time to time

i've thought if ever
i could pick out a father...

it might be somebody
pretty close

to being like you.

not exactly, but close.

oh, sammy.

in all my years

i don't recall anybody ever
saying anything that nice to me.

now, why don't you go on
and get out of here.

oh, i...

now get.

well, i guess
i'll just get.

i gave a lot of the money away.

norm and aunt lucille would
never have to worry a day.

tallasse could take pictures
around the world

to her heart's content.

the tynan house would become
a home for stray kids.

as far as tolliver
was concerned

well, i figured
i'd lost an enemy

and gained a brother

which made me feel
an obligation

to take care
of his pocket money

while he served time.

st. louis.

yes, ma'am.

so what are your plans?

well, i guess i don't
have any at the moment.

then i got on the right bus.

i got something i'd like
to show you.