All language subtitles for The.Learning.Tree

[man] & Where grows the learning tree? &

J By rivers that flow &

I When the night winds &

& That blow

3 After sundown &

d That's what a boy I

3 Should know c

I Fireflies and restless stars &

3 In tall fields of corn �

& Where all june bugs are born &

3 In the dew time &

d That's where a boy &

& Should grow &

3 Broad skies �

& Round as pies &

$ Clouds puffed &

3 White as snow �

& With two dogs I

I By his side

I And a nice girl &

3 To know c

3 Out where the sparrow flies c

3 Where bluebirds can sing &

$ Overhead ?

$ In the spring &

3 After moon down

d There grows &

' The learning tree &

-Hi, Mabel.
-Hi, Newt.

[birds cawing]

-Well, where's Newt?
-Ain't he here?

Oh, my God.

Well, maybe he's with Jack.
Now, don't start worrying, Sarah.

-I'll find him, Mama.
-Hurry, Pete.

[wind howling]

Newt!

Newt!

Take it easy. Take it easy.

-I can't find Newt, Papa!
-Did you try the swimming hole?

-No.
-Well, get going!

You better go with him, Jack.
| can manage.

[thunder rumbling]

[man] I'm your pa!

You learn to respect me, boy,
or I'll kill you!

[boy] Go to hell, you old drunk.

[objects clattering]

-[Pete] Hey, Marcus! Marcus!
-[horse whinnies]

-You wanna go over to our house?
-Hell, no!

Newt!

[thunder rumbling]

[wind howling]

Who's that coming?

It's Papa and Pete.

Come on, Newt.

Can't get over that Booker Savage
kicking his kid out in a storm like that.

That poor boy.
No mother, and a father like that.

It's awful.

Come and sit at the table, Rob.

You can help, Newt.

| still give the orders around here,
Miss Prissy.

Newt's going straight to bed after supper.
Church tomorrow.

This town must really be messed up now.

[Jack] Place is due for some punishing,
all the sinning going on around here.

[Prissy] Newt, you can help me
with the dishes tonight.

Prissy, that's enough.

Bless us, O Lord,
for this food we are about to receive.

And we thank thee, O Lord,
for saving us from the storm.

[man] Lord, may the storm
you brought upon us

leave us repentant.

Let those of us who survive
give thanks to your goodness.

Soften the hearts of those who oppress us.

Spare us the violence and hatred
that visits our daily lives.

Deliver our young from cigarettes,

from dancing, from drinking,

from lipstick and flapper skirts.

Yes, Lord, deliver us from all evil.

And finally, O Lord,

help us to live our lives
as you would have us live them.

This we ask in Jesus's name. Amen.

Before the services end,

I'd like the congregation
to meet the wonderful family

that's come to us from way up in Canada.

Brother Jefferson, will you,
your wife and daughter please stand?

Thank you. Be seated.

This marks the end of our services.

God be with you till we meet again.

[chattering]

[bell tolling]

-Hey, I'll see you guys later.
-You know where.

Okay, Newt.

You feel pretty good
for a boy who just got hurt in a storm.

That Jefferson family looks real nice.

Oh, so that's it.

-Hey, Newt!
-Oh, hi, Jappy.

Hiya.

Heard about you and Big Mabel.

Gettin' caught in the storm.

What all did you hear?

| hear you ain't got no cherry no more.
[laughing]

-How'd it feel, Newt?
-How'd what feel?

Aw, come on. I ain't gonna snitch.

Look, I don't wanna talk about it.

Oh, come on, Newt. Big Mabel got you, huh?

How did it feel, Newt?

Come on. I ain't gonna snitch.

We was wrapped up
in a gunny sack together.

Naked?

Naked.

Boy, oh, boy, oh, boy. What else?

-You gonna do it again, Newt?
-Oh, shut up! I told you everything.

[boy] Come on, fellas. Get the lead out.

Aw, what's the hurry?

Where you guys headed?

-Where you going, Winger?
-I'm going swimming.

Old man Kiner's apples are good and ripe,
and I'm for going there first.

Anybody against me?

-Feel like apples, Beansy?
-I could eat some, I guess.

How about you, Jappy?

-It's okay with me.
-Well, then, let's go.

-Those boys are stealing our apples.
-Ho! Ho!

Hey! There's old man Kiner!

[grunts]

[woman] Jake!

Jake!

Oh! You'll pay for this!

That old buzzard pushed his luck too far.

What do you think they'll do?

Don't give a damn what they gonna do.

You all saw him hit me
with that whip first.

You didn't have to beat him like that
after he was down.

Well, fellas, ain't that something?

Winger's stickin' up
for the poor white trash, a peckerwood,

over one of his own gang.

Mr. Kiner ain't that bad.

He gives us just as much work
as he does white folks.

How about all that cornmeal
he gave Beansy's pa last winter?

To hell with last winter. He hit me today.

Wasn't we stealing his apples?

Look, Winger, all I wanna know is,
you with us or not?

I'm always with the fellas here.

You don't like nothing I do, Winger.
Nothing. You're always against me.

| don't know what you mean.

Yeah, you know what I mean.
You know exactly what I mean.

Just keep it up.
You'll see what I'm getting at.

Just keep it up.

[Jappy] Last one in is a chicken's rump!

[chattering, exclaiming]

On!

[boys laughing]

[Jappy] Come on, Marcus!

[boys shouting]

[yells]

[laughing, chattering]

[engine turns off]

Where's Newt?

Swimmin' at the river, I 'spect.

-You "'spect"? You don't know for sure?
-Yes?

What is it?

I'm hunting Newt and that gang of his.

They stole Jake Kiner's apples
and beat up on him.

Newt might have stole apples,
but he sure didn't hit Jake Kiner.

Well, Mary Kiner says different.

And Jake is damn near dead
in the hospital!

You watch your tongue, Kirky.

Run and get your papa from the barn.

[engine starts]

-[boys chuckling]
-[boy] The water was fine today.

-[boy 2] Boy, oh, boy.
-[boy 3] Yeah.

Wonder what Marcus is doing?

[boy 2] I don't know.
He's a sorehead anyway.

[boys chuckling]

[boy 2] You wanna go in again?

-[man] Roll again!
-That Marcus cut my pants off.

Look what he did.
Did the same thing to mine.

-[chuckles]
-Come on, Silas.

-Here it is, Tuck.
-We gon' get drunk �

-Oh!
-Good one.

All yours.

Fifty. I got you.

Boy, they sure are having a good old time
at that crap game.

[engine off]

[men chattering]

[Silas] Eight a-rollin'. A beautiful,
gallopin' horse. Come on, dice!

[chattering continues]

-Come on, Tuck!
-Everybody down. Let's go.

Knock 'em back.

[men chattering, exclaiming]

Hey, there's Kirky.

[men continue chattering]

Tuck! Tuck! Kirky's coming!

[Newt] Run, Tuck! Run!

[boys whimpering]

-[Kirky] Stop, damn it, or I'll shoot!
-[gunshot]

You didn't have to shoot Tuck.

Well, now you can see
what happens to criminals,

especially the kind that goes around
beatin' up on white folks

and running from the law.

Tuck didn't beat up nobody.

No, but you young hyenas did, didn't you?

Huh?

Now, where's that nigger Marcus?
Jake said he did the dirty work.

Is that so?

What do you mean, "nigger"?

I'm asking you if he's the one
who did the beatin', boy.

Y'all better tell the truth,
or I'm gonna lock all of you up.

Mr. Kiner was beating him first.

Kiner shoulda kilt him.
That's what he shoulda done.

Now, y'all stay here.

I'm gonna get some help
and drag that criminal out there.

And don't you all try escaping
like he did.

[Kirky] Hold it! Right in there.
Don't go any further, Bob.

That's it. About in there.
This way a little bit.

-You see anything?
-No.

What's the matter now? You giving up?

-You don't think we can get him dragging?
-I know we can't. Haven't had any luck.

Hey. Y'all come down here a minute.

Bet he wants us to dive for Tuck.

Come here. I wanna talk to you a second.

| just figured a way
| can go easy on you fellas,

and you make yourself, uh,
two bits apiece besides.

How's that?

All you gotta do
is dive down in them shallows

and undo Tuck's body
so's we can haul him in.

-Not for no two bits, we ain't.
-[chuckles]

Listen, I got a lot on you kids. I can...

Okay, half a buck.

No less than six bits apiece.

Look, I'm doing you a favor.
| could lock you up.

Okay, okay. Six bits. Six bits.

After.

Go back out. They're gonna dive for him.

Go back out over the spot.

The water's pretty dirty. I don't know
if they'll be able to find him.

| found him.

[cheering, laughing]

Here's the rope.
Take that down and tie it on to him.

There it is. They got him.

[men applauding, cheering]

Them little niggers is good swimmers.

What about our money?

Yeah, yeah.

Six bits apiece.

We're short a quarter.

A colored lady and her son
brought these flowers.

You wanna see 'em?

Uh, that'll be all right.
Ask them to come in.

Hello, Jake. Mary.

-Sarah.
-Sarah.

I'm sorry about what happened, Jake.

We didn't think Marcus would do
something like that.

Mama baked you a pie.

Oh. Hmm.

That Savage boy is gonna get the rest
of you in trouble. You watch my word.

Ain't there something else
you want to tell Mr. Kiner?

I'd like to work the summer for you
for nothing.

-Sorta make up for things.
-You mean that, Newt?

Yes, Sir.

All right, Newt.
I'll be expecting you weekends.

Is Saturday and Friday all right?

Mama's against Sunday workin'.

And Sunday stealin'.

It's all right with me, son.

Well, hello, Sarah. Newt.

-Hello, Timothy.
-Evening, Doc.

You feeling better, Jake?

Oh, fair to middlin', Timothy.

We ought to be going, I guess.

Thank you, Sarah,
for the flowers and the pie.

-Goodbye, now.
-I'll give you a ride, Sarah.

I'm going your way.

All right, Timothy.

I'll be back, Jake.

Say, that pie looks awful good.

Oughta be. It's my apples.

[Mary chuckles] Oh, Jake.

-Good night, Jack.
-Good night, Sarah.

Run, Tuck! Run!

Tuck!

Pull him up! Pull him up!

Tuck! Tuck!

Tuck! Tuck!

Son! Having bad dreams, Son?

-Yeah, Mama.
-What about?

About Captain Tuck.

And death.

Death's a long way from you, Son.

Tuck's gone. Resting in peace somewhere.

| keep seeing him turning over and over
in the water.

Tuck liked you, Son.

He wouldn't hurt you, not even in death.

I'm scared of death, Mama.

I'm afraid of death.

Go back to sleep, Son.

[hammering]

Good morning, Mrs. Jefferson.
I'm Sarah Winger.

Good morning. Pleased to meet you.

Saw you in church Sunday.
This is my son, Newt.

-My, what a nice-looking boy.
-[Newt] Hello.

And this is my daughter, Arcella.
Say hello, Arcella darling.

-Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Winger.
-Pleased to meet you, Arcella.

-Coming to the picnic, I hope?
-Hope so.

Arcella's starting piano lessons today.
We're going for sheet music.

How nice.

-It was an awful storm.
-Oh, it was just terrible.

-Bye-bye.
-Just terrible.

Judge, can I talk to you for a minute?

You ought to go easy on Marcus.

The fault is not so much with him
as it is his father.

Poor boy grew up without a mother.

No one's given him an ounce of love
since he's been born.

Oughta be something we all could
get together and do for him.

| can't send the father to the reformatory
for something the son did.

It was a brutal act by a brutal boy.

-I just don't think that's the answer.
-Take it from me, Sarah.

He'll be better off at Spits Reformatory,
where he can learn discipline.

Good day, Sarah.

[door opens, closes]

[moaning]

Chauncey?

[moaning continues]

[chuckles, moans]

[Sarah] Chauncey, you all right?

Good gracious!

-Chauncey!
-Huh?

-Chauncey!
-Huh?

You'd better come to and get that girl out
before your father gets here for lunch.

-You hear me, boy?
-Okay, okay. Quit hollering, Sarah.

You two shut that door.

[man whistling tune]

Newt, come here. Wanna see something?

[judge]
Marcus, this thing you did to Mr. Kiner

brought disgrace to your people
and to our town.

| ain't got no people.

This town don't want me,
and I don't want this town.

Boy, that ain't no way to talk.

You got a nerve telling me what's right.

I've just committed you
to Spits Reformatory for six months.

| hope for your sake
that you can rid yourself

of this evil in you before you come back.

Because if you don't, you're going to rot
in jails for the rest of your life.

| ain't rotting nowhere but in my grave.

[sighs] Get him out of here, Kirky.

[cell door slams]

Come on.

Get right in here, black boy.

One of these days, it's gonna be
me and you, you hairy peckerwood.

You remember that. You tell that Winger
bastard I'll be thinkin' about him too.

Be sure and tell him, peckerwood.

I'll be remembering, boy.
Don't you worry none about that.

-Good day, Sarah.
-Good day, Silas.

Mama, can I ask you a question?

Sure, Son. What is it?

Is there a heaven?

| don't rightfully know, Newt.

Maybe there ain't no hell either.

| believe God made us and expects us
to do good here on earth.

Can't say if God's his real name.

All my life
I've been told about a better world

somewhere beyond this one.

It's awful hard at this late date
not to believe.

-I'm gonna hate dyin'.
-None of us will like it, Son.

The important thing is to be ready
when the time comes.

You mean, be a Christian?

In a way.
But there's more to it than that.

It's being able to love
when you feel like hatin',

to tell the truth
when you feel like lyin'.

Are we gonna live here all our lives?

Don't you like it here, Son?

| don't know.

| ain't been no place else.

Well, I hope you won't have to live here
all your life.

It's not an all-good place.
Not an all-bad place either.

Sorta like fruit on a tree �
some good, some bad.

Understand?

No matter if you go or stay,

think of Cherokee Flats like that
till the day you die.

Let it be your learning tree.

[chattering, laughing]

Uncle Rob, this is Arcella.

Arcella, this is my Uncle Rob.

-You the Jefferson girl?
-Pleased to meet you, sir.

Well, I'm pleased to meet you.

Now, you children enjoy yourselves.

See you later.

Newt? Don't you want to eat now, Son?

We'll get something later.
We're gonna go row-boating.

> Newts got a girlfriend
Newt's got a girlfriend F

Oh, look, Newt. A garden of daffodils.

They're even too pretty to pick.

Then don't.

Let's just sit and look.

That would be silly, wouldn't it?

| don't think so.

All right, just for a minute or two,
and then we go back, okay?

This could be our private little garden.

Would you like to come here sometimes?

Maybe. Who knows?

When?

Oh, I don't know.

Come by after my piano lessons tomorrow,
and we can talk about it then.

Okay?

Okay.

They'll be shootin' off fireworks
when it gets dark.

-That should be lovely.
-[kissing sound]

[Arcella giggles]

[fireworks whistling]

[plays melody]

[no audible dialogue]

-[cell door shuts]
-[man] Hey, look.

They caught our black boy.

Welcome home, Marcus.

-Hell of a way to spend a Christmas Eve �
-[lock clicks]

chasin' after a runaway nigger.

[Marcus panting]

[cell door shuts]

Mama, from all of us.

-Merry Christmas.
-Mm, thank you, darling.

[knocking]

-Merry Christmas.
-Merry Christmas, everybody.

-Hi!
-Merry Christmas, Arcella!

- I got my new coat.
-Oh, it's pretty!

Oh, thank you, thank you. [chuckles]

Oh, Newt, it's beautiful! Just beautiful!

Newt Winger and the gang
sent you this present.

[package thuds]

Let us pray.

O Almighty God,

we ask for the soul of this young sinner.

Wash him in the white snows
of thy holy Christmas.

Bring peace to his tormented soul

and let him leave this place
a better young man someday.

O God, show him the light.

-Show him �
-Shut up!

Shut up! Get the hell out of here!

| don't want no Uncle Toms
prayin" over me.

You don't know what you're ea yin', son.

| know about as much
of what I'm saying as you do.

Just get the hell out! [sobs]

Read the scripture on the back, son.

Pray to the savior. He'll help you.

| don't want no part
of your poor-white-trash God.

He ain't gonna do nothing for me,

and he ain't gonna do nothing for you
as long as you stay black.

Why don't you tell Crapper
to stop beatin' on us nigger boys?

Yeah, that's what he calls us �
nigger, nigger, nigger.

Tell him, Crapper.

Tell him what you're gonna do to me
when they leave. Tell him.

[minister] Son �

Don't "son" me.

Just get going so Crapper can ride me
about you niggers comin' to pray over me.

And, hey, Reverend,
you can tell that Winger bastard

I'll be giving him a big greeting
soon as I get out of here.

Let's go.

[door shuts]

Here you are.

Now you got a black God.

Merry Christmas, nigger.

Old lady McClintock asked Jappy
if he was gonna take physics next term,

so Jappy looks at her real stupid-like,

and he scratches his head,
and then he says,

"Mama gives us castor oil
for things like that."

[Arcella laughs]

[klaxon horn honks]

-Hi, Newt.
-Hi, Chauncey.

You want a ride home?

No, thanks. It's okay.

Why not?

Might as well. I'm going the same way.

I'll buy the two of you a Coke
at the drugstore.

Well, I �
| guess it's okay, if you want to.

[people chattering]

Thank you.

[klaxon horn honks outside]

Uh, three Cokes, Bert.

With, uh, plenty of ice, huh?

Three?

To go?

Uh, three, Bert. Three.

You never told me where you found
this pretty girl, Newt.

She's been around for quite a while now.

He didn't just find me. We met.

Oh, I see. You � You just met.

Well.

Okay, buddy, you and your girl
have to drink outside.

What do you mean, Bertie?

They're friends of mine.

Then go outside and drink with 'em
if they're such good friends of yours.

[chattering quiets]

| ain't goin' anywhere.

I'm pa yin' for this stuff,

and we're gonna drink it right here.

It's okay.

We have to go anyway.

You slob.

Here.

Taking these with you?

[chattering resumes]

[klaxon horn honks]

[people chattering]

Wait for me outside.

| gotta see about this mark she gave me.

Okay. Don't be too long.

Yes, young man? What is it?

| think I should have better than a C
on this paper.

Are you telling me how to grade?

No, I'm just saying
that I think I should have a better mark.

Well, what you think and what I know
are miles apart.

Now, you got a C, and a C it will stay.

And that brings me to another point.

| was going through your records
yesterday, and I was amazed to notice

that you've signed up
for a college preparatory course.

That's right. I plan on going to college.

-Are you serious?
-Yes.

Well, let me tell you something.

Very few Negro students go to college.

They just aren't college material.

And the few who do go
wind up as cooks and porters in any case.

Now, I just think
that's an awful waste of money and time.

That's not gonna happen to me
whether I go to college or not.

Now, Newton, don't get upset.

I'm here to advise you.

And I advise you to take a general course.

It'll be much easier for you
and wiser for you.

You just hate us colored kids, don't you?

Young man �

Well, we hate you too.

Every last one of us.

Young man, you and I are going
to the principal's office right now.

Come on.

Newton, you sit right there and wait.

Looks like you're in hot water.

Looks that way.

Newton, come in here.

Sit right there.

Miss McClintock tells me you sassed her.

-Well �
-You accused me of downgrading you.

That right, Newton?

Well, that's not all there was to it.

Well, out with it.
What are you trying to say?

Miss McClintock and |
don't see things the same way.

Miss McClintock
happens to be your instructor

as well as your guidance teacher.

| just don't like the way
she wants to guide me.

And that caused you to, uh,
tell her you hated her?

-Well, I didn't say �
-Don't lie. You know you said it.

| didn't say I hated you alone.

| said all the colored kids hate you.

And we do.

-Why do you say such a thing?
-She's always telling us the same thing.

"Don't go to college.
You're just gonna be porters and maids."

Is this true, Miss McClintock?

Do you tell the Negro students
such things?

Mr. Hall, I have been class adviser here
for over 20 years.

| tell them
what I was instructed to tell them.

Who? Who instructed you?

Mr. Hornsby, the principal before you.

Oh, I see, I see. Hmm.

Miss McClintock �

Well, that'll be all.

| would like to talk to Newton.

Why don't you sit over here?

To explain Miss McClintock, uh...

one would have to go back to a tragic time
before either you or I was born.

And although she must share the blame
for this awful wrong,

Miss McClintock
is somewhat a victim herself.

She thought it was right because it was
a situation that existed for so long.

Mr. Hornsby is more to blame than she.

But then, so is his father.

And my father.

And millions of others.

Now,

there are still things at this school
that I don't like, Newton �

the fact that you boys can't play
on the football and basketball teams,

that you can't attend
the school dances and parties.

If it were left up to me
and a few others who care,

all this would stop.

But there are still
too many Mr. Hornsbys left around.

But...

well, maybe someday. [chuckles]

[sighs] You can go now, Newton.

| intend to have a long talk
with Miss McClintock

and a few of the other teachers
when the board meets next.

I'm sure that their attitudes
and thinking...

they'll be different.

Oh, Newton,

you're to show Miss McClintock
the highest respect.

Hmm?

Hello, Newt. Jappy.

Where is Arcella?

Oh. I thought she'd be home by now.

| had to stay � We had to stay late.

Oh, she said something about
going to the library before it closed.

Oh, I see.
Well, I'll tell her you boys stopped by.

Oh, Newt?

Come here a minute.

| thought I ought to tell you.

Arcella's birthday
is the 27th of next month.

-Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
-Okay.

[door shuts]

Arcella's sure enough at the library.

What's it to you where she's at?

It's okay, it's okay. I just asked.

| gotta go.

Hello, Newt.

Hello, Arcella.

You wanna go for a little walk?

No.

I'm sorry.

| have to get in the house and do
some homework and a few things.

| could help.

No.

No.

You wanna go to the show tomorrow?

I'm sorry, Newt. I can't.

Is something wrong?

Wrong?

No. Why did you say that, anyway?

It's nothin'. I just asked.

I'll be going now.

| told your mother
you went to the library.

[engine stops]

Hiya, Son.

Nobody told me you was gettin' out today.

You his old man?

That's right.

You have to sign this here paper.

-What's all this for?
-He's on probation.

That means we turn him over to you.
Sign it right here.

[spits]

Hell, boy, that ain't no signature.
That's an X.

How old's a man gotta be
'fore you people stop callin' him "boy"?

Now, if it's my signature you want,
as you call it,

that's it.

Take it or leave it.

He can't write.

You better keep your ass
out of trouble, boy.

Next time we're gonna throw away
the key on you.

[dog barks, whines]

[engine starts]

"Boy." "Boy."
That's all those people know.

They'd call Jesus Christ "boy"
if he was black.

Got so I hate the sight of a white man.

'Tain't much.

I'd have done better
if I had heard you was comin'.

Well, come on, boy. Get something to eat.

How'd they treat you up there?

I-I meant to come to see you,
but things got busy around here.

Well, you're glad to be back, ain't ya?

Did they beat up on ya?

Those sons of bitches.

I'll kill me a peckerwood sure as hell
one of these days.

The dirty, lousy...

Hey � Hey �

What's the matter, Son?
You hurtin' or somethin'?

[Newt] What's Doc Cravens's car
doing here?

Mama came home from work
with a dizzy spell.

Is she real sick?

Don't think so.

Doc ought to be out soon.

You worried about Marcus coming home?

No.

You sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

How about a few boxing lessons?

What for?

Oh, just for the fun of it.
Come on. Come on.

Now, the right up. Elbow down.

Now, left, left. Throw it.
Throw the right. Throw it.

[groans]

Now, let that teach ya.

Never leave your belly wide open
like that again.

See that she gets two of these
every four hours, Jack.

-Call me if you need me.
-Thanks, Tim.

Hiya, Newt.

-You look all tuckered out.
-How's Mama?

She's all right.
Just needs a couple of days' quiet.

Come on in the house, boy.
| want to talk to you some.

[car door shuts]

[engine starts]

[car drives away]

What happened between you
and that Jefferson girl?

Nothin'.

She's actin' kinda funny.

| want the truth, boy. You hear me?

-It's nothing serious, Papa.
-Nothing serious?

Her pa was here this afternoon
saying she's gonna have a baby.

-Ain't that serious?
-[Sarah] Jack, is that Newt?

| want the truth, boy. You hear me?

[Sarah] What's going on down there?

Sarah,
you shouldn't be bothered with this.

| want to know what's going on.

Well, I might as well tell you.

Jefferson was over to see me
about his daughter Arcella.

-What's wrong with her?
-Well, says she's gonna have a baby.

Thinks Newt here
had something to do with it.

Oh, my Lord.

Son?

Mama... I didn't do nothin' like that.

You sure, Son?

I'm sure, Ma.

| love Arcella.

[Sarah] He's telling the truth.

I'm sure he's telling the truth.

We just have to face the girl with him

and then see what she says.

-Sarah, you have to stay in bed.
-I'm going, Jack. I'm going with him.

-[groans]
-Sarah!

Mom.

Sarah, don't worry about nothin'.

I'll go with him to see the Jeffersons.

Speak up, girl.

Is this boy responsible or not?

No, Papa! Why don't you listen?

Then who was it? Who was it?

Bob. Bob. Do you want to tell
the whole neighborhood?

Arcella. Baby, tell Mother.

-Newt!
-I'll help you, honey.

Newt. Newt. [sobbing]

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry Papa got you mixed up
in all this.

And I'm sorry for what has happened.

| guess that's all I can say.

You will try to forgive me, won't you?

Papa, you wanted to know who it was?

Well?

It was Chauncey. Chauncey Cavanaugh.

[Arcella sobs]

[mother] Oh, my Lord.

Oh, my Lord.

[Newt] Uncle Rob, why do white people
do so many awful things?

Is a white boy responsible for Arcella?

Yes, Sir.

Chauncey Cavanaugh.

Newt, I've been blind for 30 years.

| don't know
what color people are anymore.

If somebody does something, good or bad,

| don't figure his color into it.

| figure his deed.

Do you remember what it was like
before the explosion?

What color the sky was? Things like that?

[chuckles]

Oh, at times. At times, Newt.

Sometimes the colors do come.

And I think they're much brighter
in my darkness than in your light.

| see blue and green and yellow

coming and going in all directions.

They seem to soften the black.

[sighs] Strange.

| don't remember white at all.

But sometimes...

[chuckles]

...I have a little fun.

Like imagining you are green

with pink ears, blue nose, purple hair.

Oh, sometimes I fill my world
with all kinds of colors.

-Really, Uncle Rob?
-That's right, boy.

And I think sometimes
if all the people in the world

were made up of colors
instead of just black and white,

it'd be a happier world.

A wonderful world all mixed up
with wonderful colored people.

Nobody being the same as anybody else.

Maybe your world is a lot prettier
than mine, Uncle Rob.

| gotta be going now.

Goodbye, Uncle Rob.

God bless you, son.

Could I see this?

Is it for your girl?

Yeah.

Could you wrap it up like a present?

We have one already gift-wrapped.

See?

Do you have birthday cards?

Here's a real pretty one. Specially made
to go with the violet water.

Hey, kid. When did you get back to town?

Tuesday.

Hey, come here a minute.
| wanna ask you something.

-Yeah, what do you want?
-What do you aim to do now?

- I don't know.
-Want a job here?

Doing what?

What I want you to do, that's what.
Something to keep you out of trouble.

Come on in.

[piano playing soft melody]

-Hey. How much do I get?
-[piano playing stops]

Five bucks a week and your grub
when you're workin'.

-When do I start?
-Right now.

[piano resumes soft melody]

Now, this is my room.
| want you to clean it up.

Come away from there, boy.

| don't want you touchin' nothin' here
but this bed,

the floor, and this wash basin.

| want you to wash that every day.

Come on with me,
and I'll show you the rest of the place.

Now, I want two towels
under every pillow in every room.

Is this here a whorehouse?

[chuckles] With talk like that,
you won't be around here long, boy.

You just change the beds, sweep the floor,

and mind your own business.

Go ahead and clean up the place.

Damn.

[exhales softly]

[piano continues playing, faint]

Whew! A hell of a joint.

Hey, boy, hang this picture
right over there on the wall.

About right here?

About there. You know.

-[calliope playing]
-[people chattering]

-[man] All right, ladies and gentlemen...
-[barking]

You are now eyeballing Princess Zetia,
the fabulous bearded lady.

Everybody come right on up
and see what the show is about.

-You're all welcome. Come one, come all.
-[man whooping, laughing]

Come right on in, ladies and gentlemen.
Put your money right where your mouth is.

Aw, aren't you a cute little thing.

Get your hand out of there!

Hey, boys. You boys, come here.

-You boys want to make some money?
-What do we gotta do?

Simple. Ain't nothin' to it.

There'll be seven of y'all
fightin' in the ring for ten bucks' stake.

The last two standing
keep swinging till the other one falls.

The winner gets four bucks,
and the loser gets one.

-What happens to the other five?
-Smart boy, ain't ya?

-[boy] Yeah. Who gets the rest?
-Old Spikey, the promoter.

Every fight's gotta have a promoter.

| gotta pay for the ring,
for the winner and loser.

| gotta pay for everything.

Give us a minute to think about it, huh?

Okay. Okay. Take your time.

But hurry up, now,
because a crowd's gatherin'.

Nobody has to get hurt.

We gang up on the other three guys
and let Newt and Jappy win,

then we split the five bucks.

-Okay. That sounds good. Let's go.
-Good.

All right. We'll do it.
But where's the other fighters?

Don't worry about that.
Let old Spikey take care of that.

You boys get in, take your shirts off
and start warming up.

Old Spikey'll take care of that there.

Humma-humma-humma-humma-humma!

Folks, I need three more fighters.
Just three more.

[shouting]

Come on in closer, folks. You're gonna see
a fight like you ain't never seen before.

Come right on in here, boys.
Step right up here.

Right up in here, boys. Yes, sir.

Take your shirts off and start warming up.

All right, all right, all right,
all right, folks!

We can get rid of them real quick, fellas.

| need one more young buck
in the 135-pound class.

Just one more!

-[shouting]
-[banging on can]

Right here. I'll do it. Right here.

[shouting]

-Here's one. Here's one.
-[Spikey] Get that boy.

Come right on here. Let that boy in.

Ho! Ho! Ho! You're gonna be all right.
Another Jack Johnson.

Yeah, you and me, Winger.
We'll be the very last to be up.

-I'll take that big black buck up there.
-He looks tougher than the rest of 'em.

I'll bet on that black one
with the big behind.

I'll take that bet.

Them little greasers look scared,
don't they?

| want you to put on a good fight
for old Spikey. No rabbit punches.

All right, fellas,
we're all ready to start.

No rabbit punchin'.
Put on a good fight for old Spikey.

When you fall,
scoot right off the platform.

And when I fire this here pistol,
start swingin'. You ready?

-[gunshot]
-Go!

[excited chattering]

Hit him!

-Hit him, hit him!
-Come on! Fight!

-[crowd shouting]
-Come on, boys!

[Spikey] All right, keep that �
Keep that right up!

-Hit him! Come on. Let's go!
-[crowd continues shouting]

-He didn't hit you, fat boy!
-What's the matter with him?

Come on!

Keep that right up! Hit him!

Hit him! Hit him! That's it!

[crowd continues shouting]

Hit him!

Come on!

Come on, Sambo! Hit that black buck!
Hit him in the belly!

Come on! Come on!

[shouting continues]

Watch that rabbit punch!

Come on, Newt!

[man] Come on! I'm for ya!
Hit him, Newt! Hit him! Come on!

[Spikey cackling]

-You got him, Newt! You got him!
-Hit him!

Come on, Newt!

[crowd exclaiming, cheering]

[Spikey] Come on! Take out your money!

[crowd continues shouting]

Hey, hey, stop it! Wait! Stop it!

Hey, don't stop him!
He ought to be kicked!

| shouldn't oughta give it to you
because you thrown a rabbit punch.

Come on, champ.

Should've never stopped him.
He should've murdered him!

Nice to know you can �

All right, you boys,
come get your clothes outta here!

Get outta here. Get out fast.

Humma-humma-humma-humma-humma!
Yes, sir!

Gonna have another fight here in another
half an hour, ladies and gentlemen!

Humma-humma-humma! Right over at
the Ferris wheel! Get over there, folks!

That Spikey made nuts out of us.

-Yeah.
-I'm glad you won, Sambo.

Get the hell out of here!

[bottle shatters]

Good bottle of peach brandy, gone.

Okay, keep shoving 'em up.

Mornin', Jake.

Storin' your booze away, huh?

Mornin'?

It's past noon,
and you're tanked up again.

Just a little spirits.

Here's your pay.
| won't be needin' you no more.

Wait a minute, Jake.
You can't do that to me.

Get out and stay out.

You old drunk.

-Hey.
-[Jake] You stay up there.

This here's a day short.

You ain't got one cent comin' for today.
Now, go on. Get out.

Get out!

-[billiard balls clacking]
-[people chattering]

[blues music playing on piano]

Wow! Gotta cook this stuff longer.
Tastes like panther pee.

[all laughing]

Hey, Chappie, how 'bout singing us a song?

-[man] Yeah! Yeah! How about it?
-[people applauding]

Big Mama Mabel.

Do that again, Clint,
and you'll get a chili shampoo.

Damn. Looks like you ran into a bear.

[Chappie] &' My baby done gone &

-[Mabel] What happened to you?
-8 Got up and gone &

[Chappie] &' She didn't say nothin'
'Bout comin' back &

& My baby's gone &

J Hauled off and gone

I Took herrags in an old gunny sack... &

-[Chappie continues singing]
-That old goat.

Holdin' out a whole day's pay on me.

[scoffs] I'll get it tomorrow,
one way or the other.

I She didn't say where &

> She didn't say why... I

Sure wish I had a key
to that liquor bin of his.

-[Chappie continues singing]
-Where does he keep his booze?

Right there in that damn barn.
He's got gallons of it.

You know something?

He comes into town to market
on Saturday mornings.

-Oh?
-Yeah.

Every Saturday morning.

J 'Cause nothing's right
When my woman's away I

3 It rains all the time
The sun never shines �

J Nothin' left for this poor fool to say &

& My baby's gone &

& My baby's gone, my baby's gone
My baby's gone &

& My baby's gone
My baby's gone &

& My baby's gone
My baby's gone &

& My baby's gone
My baby's gone &

& My baby's gone
My baby's gone &

& My baby's gone &

[Jake] You drunken bum.
Get off my property 'fore I throw you off.

That ain't fair, Jake.
Damned if I leave 'fore you pay me.

I'm warning you for the last t �

I've come to get what you owe me!
Now, come on, Jake! Give it to me!

-[horse whinnies]
-[chickens clucking]

[groans]

[Mary] Jake. Dinnertime.

Dinnertime, Jake. Jake?

Oh! Oh, Jake! [gasps]

[gasps] Oh, Jake!

On!

Help! Help!

Help! Help!

[grunting]

-[Kirky] Easy.
-[man murmuring] All right.

What do you got me cuffed to the bed for?

You know that as well as I do.
Jake Kiner's dead, and you killed him.

Jake's dead?

You heard me the first time.
Why don't you just tell me why you did it.

You must be loony.
Why'd I do somethin' like that?

Should've asked yourself that before
you clobbered him with that crowbar.

Crowbar? What crowbar?
| ain't seen no crowbar!

-Why don't you tell me the truth?
-All right, that's enough, Kirky!

Any more questions,
you can come back tomorrow morning.

[door shuts]

| didn't kill nobody, Doc.
| didn't kill nobody!

Did Mary Kiner take it hard?

Yep. Saddest funeral service
I've ever seen.

Poor woman's loaded down with grief.

Sure glad a black man didn't do it.

[Pete] Hurry up, Newt.

Pete?

Yeah?

What did Papa mean by, "There'd be trouble
if a Negro had killed Mr. Kiner"?

Meant just what he said.

It could be real trouble, like they had
over in Bartsville a couple of years back.

Freddie Sears shot a white man
who hit his sister.

What happened?

Well, the whites lynched Freddie
and burned down half the Negro homes.

I'm glad you don't know nothing about it.

That way you don't have to
open your mouth. Understand?

Yeah.

[people chattering]

Stay out of it, now.
Just stop right there!

-Bye-bye, Silas.
-Hangin' is too good for ya!

You don't look so happy now,
you old buzzard!

They gonna string you up, Silas.

[man] You gonna hang!

The witnesses and brutal evidence

will bring home to you
more than any statement of mine

the vileness of this offense

against heaven and all humanity.

And there,
gentlemen and ladies of the jury,

there sits the beast who is responsible �

Your Honor, I object to such reference
to the defendant.

[judge] Objection sustained.

Watch your language, Counselor.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

We intend to prove that the defendant did,

with premeditation and willfulness,

murder the deceased with this crowbar.

Circumstantial evidence
isn't always enough.

We beg you to judge
this defendant's guilt or innocence

solely upon the events, uh,
presented in this case.

With that, I place the fate
of the defendant in your hands.

Thank you.

[Judge Cavanaugh] Because of the
late start, court will adjourn until 1:00.

We can expect to hear from the state's
witnesses at that time, Counsel?

We shall be ready, Your Honor.

-Court is dismissed.
-[gavel raps]

[wolf whistle]

[man] He looked guilty as hell to me.

Old McCormack'll make a dunce
out of that kid lawyer.

[man 2 chuckles]
Old Silas really jumped

when McCormack slammed that crowbar
on the table.

[man] Silas ain't got a sucker's chance.

What else did you see,

other than the deceased and the defendant
lying on the floor?

A hoe and a whip
and that crowbar la yin' over there.

It was between Jake and Silas.

What else do you recall?

He was ea yin', "I'm gonna get my money
from that old skinflint or die tr yin'

and something about, "Over my dead body."

To whom was he saying this?

To Booker Savage in Chappie Logan's place.

[McCormack] Thank you, young lady.
That will be all.

He said he was goin' back for
his day's pay. He told me that, all right.

Did he seem angry?

Oh, he was fussin' some.

Thank you. That will be all.

[door shuts]

Newt?

-Mama, I got something to tell you.
-What's troubling you, Son?

Silas didn't kill Mr. Kiner.

| saw the whole thing.

It all happened so fast.

[Sarah] Go on, Son. Finish it.

| was up in the hayloft.

-Go on.
-And then Mrs. Kiner came in.

She was screaming and everything.

And then she went out,

| got down and went home.

| guess that's all.

This is incredible.

Newt, have you told
anyone else about this?

Just Mama and Papa.

Well, Sarah, Jack,

it would be wrong for me
as the judge in this case

to divulge this information.

You'll have to do it.

The man who should get this information
is Harley Davis, Silas's attorney.

-Are you willing to do that?
-If that's what you want.

Now, Newton here will have to
take the stand and testify.

It's going to be rough on the boy,
but there's simply no other way.

| think you'd better go and have a talk
with Mr. Davis just as soon as possible.

He's staying
at Jenny Brighton's boardinghouse.

Thank you, Judge.

Jack.

Could I speak to you and Sarah
for just a minute?

Go ahead, Son.

-About Chauncey and the Jefferson girl.
-[door shuts]

I'll personally see to it
that Chauncey takes care of the baby.

I..o

[sighs] I'm sorry.

Mr. Davis, you may call your witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Would Newton Winger please take the stand?

[spectators murmuring]

[murmuring subsides]

Please stand and raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?

-Yes, sir.
-Be seated, please.

Would you tell the court your full name?

Newt � Newton Buchanan Winger.

-How old are you, Newton?
-Fifteen.

Would you speak
just a little louder, Newt?

Did you know the deceased, Jake Kiner?

Yes, Sir.

And what was the last day
you worked for him?

June the 14th.

-On the day that Mr. Kiner was killed?
-Yes, sir.

Now, Newt, I want you to tell the court
in your own words exactly what happened.

Well, I was eating my lunch
up in the hayloft,

and I heard some noise down below.

What kind of noise?

Somebody was rippin' off the door

to where Mr. Kiner keeps his peach brandy
and cider and stuff with a crowbar.

And what happened then?

Mr. Kiner and Mr. Newhall came in,
fussin' about something.

Mr. Kiner got real mad.

He started hitting Mr. Newhall
with his whip handle.

Mr. Newhall tried to grab the hoe,

but Mr. Kiner knocked him down
before he could get a blow in.

-[spectators murmuring]
-And then he saw this other man.

But the other man hit him in the head
with the crowbar,

and he kept beating after he was down.

[spectators gasping, murmuring]

Newt, I want you to tell the court

why you didn't come forth
with this information before.

-Well, I was scared.
-Scared of what?

| thought it might cause some trouble

"tween the white folks
and the colored folks here.

Now, Newt, I want you to
look around this room very carefully

and tell the court if you see the man,

the one who broke into the room
and beat Mr. Kiner.

It's him.

The � The man with the red shirt on.
Booker Savage.

-[murmuring continues]
-He's lyin'! He's lyin"!

[gavel raps]

Order! Order!

[murmuring subsides]

Proceed, Counsel.

-That's all, Newt.
-Cross-examine.

Prosecution waives.

You may step down.

Your Honor, the defense requests

that this man, Booker Savage,
take the stand.

[Judge Cavanaugh] Officer Kirky, would you
please escort Mr. Savage to the stand?

[spectators murmuring, exclaiming]

-Get that nigger!
-[spectators clamoring]

-Order! Order!
-Kill him! Kill him!

Kill that black bastard! String him up!

-[Kirky] Stay there!
-Order! Order!

[groans]

[pistol cocks]

Now, just hold it! Hold it! He's trapped.

The door to the outside is locked anyway.
Just stand back.

[gunshot]

[spectators murmuring]

-Back to your seats. Back to your seats.
-[gavel raps]

He shot himself dead.

Well, Counsel,

it looks like your move.

Your Honor,

in view of all that has taken place here
before us today,

the state wishes to withdraw all charges
against the defendant, Silas Newhall,

if the court will permit.

The court will permit.

| now order the defendant released.
This case is closed.

But I would like to say this.

We have a judicial system in this country

that gives every man the right
to a fair trial when accused.

You who shouted so viciously

frightened Booker Savage
out of that right.

You pulled the trigger.

You decided
that he had killed a white man,

So you judged him, and you executed him.

Have you forgotten that it was a black boy

who saved a white man's life here
just a few minutes ago?

It took courage to do that.

A lot more courage than you have.

It was what he feared from you
that kept him from revealing what he knew.

And your actions justified that fear.

This moment should haunt
your minds forever.

This court is dismissed.

Newt? Newt?

It was a good thing you did, Newt.
A brave thing.

We're both thankful to you.

Thank you, Newt.

Thank you.

No matter what you're thinking, Son,
you did the right thing.

We're sorry about Booker and Marcus, but...

Oh, Jack!

Newt, get Doc Cravens.

Hurry!

What's the matter?

-Marcus.
-Yeah?

| have some bad news for you.

Your pa is dead.

He just shot hisself
over at the courthouse.

Why? Why did he do that?

Turns out he killed old man Kiner.

It all happened just now

at the trial.

What happened to my old man?

He shot hisself with my gun.
That's what happened to him.

He didn't kill old man Kiner,
and I know it.

Well, Newt Winger says different.
And he saw it all, every damn bit of it.

I'm gonna kill that bastard.

Jack?

You'd better come up.
Sarah's asking for Newt.

Mama?

Mama?

Newt, your mother's gone.

Newt.

Come on, boy.

[train whistle blowing in distance]

[train whistle continues blowing, faint]

| ain't afraid, Mama.

| ain't afraid anymore.

[exhales]

This is the last resting place
of Sarah Winger,

to await resurrection
in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sarah Winger,
who gave of her love, her hope,

understanding and devotion

to her family and to all who knew her.

Sarah Winger knows God's love.

Come on, Son. Let's go.

Step down, Uncle Rob.

How far from the road?

Just a little ways.

What are you doin' with that gun, boy?
Come back here!

Maybe he's going after the Winger kid.
Call Kirky!

[bell ringing]

[train whistle blows]

Are you gonna like living up there in
the north with your sister Clara, Newt?

[Newt] I don't know.
I'm gonna miss my friends.

[Rob] Well, it's best for you.

Better schools and everything.

You got a chance up there.

That's what your mama
always wanted for you.

Yeah, I know.

Well, I'll talk to you
before you leave tomorrow.

Okay, Uncle Rob.

[train whistle blows]

Winger!

[hammer clicking]

[panting] I oughta kill you!

-But I can't.
-[motorcycle approaches]

Kirky will kill me. Let me up, let me up.

Let me up.

[engine stops]

Well, where's he at?

Where is he?

He went in the woods.

-[gunshot]
-[screams]

[sniffling]

Well, Winger, you can rest easy now.

Won't be botherin' with him no more.

[Newt sobs]

Aren't you gonna try to get him out?

No hurry about that.
He ain't goin' anywhere.

Cut deep?

It's okay.

Get on the back.
I'll give you a lift home.

| can make it by myself.

Okay by me... boy.

[engine starts]